Inner-city Sanctuary (literally!)

Two weeks ago I was helping out at a photo shoot at one of the best kept delightful little spots of peace in Manhattan. The General Theological Seminary.
Though it's a school for those of us more religiously inclined, it's an amazing spot with ancient buildings, towering cathedrals and plenty of green grass and chairs for those looking for a quiet respite from what is known to some as the hub of the universe. I'm not positive when it's open to visitors, ()there were a few walking through the grounds on the saturday I was there) (more research will soon be had!) but it's on 9th between 20th and 21st and the guards are quite nice, especially so if you beg a spiritual need.

The greatest love story ever told....for FREE!

Another one of summer's all too sweet perks in the city include the infamous Shakespeare in the park presented by The Public theatre. Featuring top notch in-city and imported (from hollywood that is) actors, the shows promise to be filled with big stars, breathtaking sets, and some of the best Shakespeare and classical theater this side of the Rose. Yesterday I had the (ahem) pleasure of waking up at 6am to get in line for the coveted free tickets being handed out at the Delacorte Theater in central park (where the show takes place). Arriving at 7 40 (fucking A train on the weekend) made us number 143 in line, on a Sunday and on opening night. With Scattergories, novels, Othello, cards, blankets, pillows, H and H bagels, hand fans and comic books in tow it ended up being QUITE an enjoyable six hours (thanks Zach and Linds for the great company)! Then, at 1, we were finally given the precious tickets. Our seats were actually quite good, a little off to the right and up but definitely full view, and we brought supplies (you can eat and drink (yes even wine, Shakespeare would be proud, no glass bottles though so be ready to transfer at the gate to a nalgene) in the theater! The set was breathtaking, a water landscape circular and moving (which lead to a hilarious incident when Juliet's bed fell into the fathoms below and the show had to be stopped in the middle, quite wonderful fun!) with various bridges guiding the story's way. Starring Lauren Ambrose as Juliet (and many other wonderful people whose names I do not know off the top of my head) it was probably the best production of R and J I have ever seen. Something about the way the leads were played was just so YOUNG and not in a hurrah I am skipping and have a teddy bear young but I am falling recklessly and passionately and irrationally into love young. And, instead of coming off as TRUE LOVE, it presented itself as a sort of wonderful depiction of that very first time when all bets are off and you'd do anything to be a glove upon that hand.

Here are my tips for the show!

Get tickets Tue- Sun, they are given out at 1pm at the Delacorte in Central Park (near 81st street and west entrance) and at the Public theater at 425 Lafayette just below astor place. They are also distributed throughout the boroughs but you'll have to find that on your own! I would say def get there by 9 if you'd like decent tickets but on other days you can get there much later and still snag a seat! Just beware of the weather, if it rains and the show is canceled you're out of luck! Definitely bring a pillow and a novel and LAYERS. I went in between a sweatshirt freezing to a bikini boiling (and tanning!) throughout the day. They say you all have to arrive at the same time, which is nice for the line but they don't REALLY start monitoring until around 10. That's all my advice, remember 2 tickets per person so if you have an extra give me a call!!!

oh, and the show runs through July 8th, go now!

BRYANT PARK MOVIES!

Does this even need an explination? A perennial favorite of mine, the bryant park films offers free movies on Monday nights to all those with a blanket and a sense of patience! The lawn officially opens at 5pm for viewing the movie (which starts sometime between 8 30- 9 30 depening on sundown) with a race for the best space. Bring a large blanket (potluck picnics are also a favorite) and elbow your way to the front of the masses before the countdown to ensure a great spot! Featuring old time classic movies, it is THE best way to start off the workweek.

Bryant park is located at 40-42 streets between 5th and 6th.

Here is the Sched.

June 18th- Annie Hall
June 25th - The Thing
July 2nd- Paper Moon
July 9th- Wait Until Dark
July 16th- To Sir, With Love
July 23rd- The Sting
July 30th- All the King's Men
August 6th- Bus Stop
August 13th- Casablanca
August 20th- Psycho

The most fun you'll have with a cocktail and five friends!

So it's not exactly the cheapest drink around but I just HAD to share my experience with Sugarcane, the branch off lounge of next door's Sushi-Samba. After dragging our feet around lower Manhattan in search of a strong drink a girl on a stipend could afford our group finally descended upon this swanky dark lounge next door to the Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant. After being scooted to the back (front tables are reserved for eating-only) we scoured the menu until Zach found just what we were looking for, the cocktail tree. (disclaimer: it may be called something else but you'll find it on the menu). At the end of a page long listing of delicious cocktails, the tree offers 12 mini cocktails in splendid little glasses, hanging from a metal tree, complete with a fruit garnish. You can chose any three cocktails you like and receive four of each drink (I HIGHLY recommend the lemon one with peach and guava!). Split between 6 friends we each got 2 drinks, each spent only 10 bucks (it's 60 for the tree) and each definitely got a little tipsy. Enjoy!

Sugarcane is on Park between 19th and 2oth!

More blissful gardens!

I took my own advice this morning and enjoyed breakfast at incredible atlas before heading to the 6 and B garden (see previous posts) to enjoy an afternoon of reading and relaxation. To my dismay, however, 6 and B did not open til 1 and it was 12 30 and my current read, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, weighs approximately 30 pounds! What's a girl to do? Discover another garden right near by!

On 6th street between avenue A and B lies "The Creative Little Garden". Fitting into the space of a townhouse or two, this joyful little area hosts a variety of benches and tables, little design elements and sculptures, small areas of flowers and a birdbath with one VERY bold blue jay. Sitting underneath a towering tree, hearing birds chirp around me in this quiet sanctuary was exactly the sort of respite I was looking for within which to indulge my novel side. Go immediately, I say, just don't tell EVERYONE you know, at least not while I'm there!

The garden is open Sat and Sunday, 12-5

Cheapest Mani/Ped around!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I believe I have found it, the cheapest Manicure/ Pedicure on the little island of Manhattan at a mere 17 bucks! (plus tax, reads the sign, which comes to 18). I went into Kim's Nail today by luck as I was headed to the L train and realized I had my "emergency" $20 in my wallet to spare because, well, when you see a deal like this it's what you're "emergency" $20 is for! It's a full pedicure and manicure complete with mini though chill inspiring hand and foot massages, buffing and your choice of color. Ask for the older guy who is beyond amazing and light-handed in his work and you won't be disappointed, plus, it's 18 bucks!!!

Where? Kim's nail (though the florescent sign in the window looks more like it says the nail)
1st ave just south of 14th street.
Take the L to first ave.

Amazing sample sale!

Just wanted to let you know about a sample sale going on the next three days, it's Lilla P. and they have really really great solid colored items at these sales, think T's and long sleeve Henley's. I've been to three and have never spent more than 40 for a boatload of items and have never left disappointed. They often have five dollar bins (go digging for the good stuff) and their clothes are always great quality, light and fun, fantastic for summer, work and play!

Here's the info:

SAMPLE SALE

Samples and Stock from Fall and Summer

Wednesday 6/13 – 8am-7pm

Thursday 6/14 - 8am-7pm

Friday 6/15 - 8am-4pm

CASH ONLY

Location:

Lilla P

420 W 14th Street

6th Floor

New York, NY 10014

Buzzer #17

Museum Mile!

Tonight is another one of those annual favorites, museum mile festival! run on over now to the upper east side for a whole array of your favorite museums open for free, plus chalk drawing on the street and street performers! whoo hoo!

Taste of Times Square!

Keeping with the food events, next up is the Taste of Times Square the annual event featuring food samplers from an array of vendors near the area that IS. (You can define what "is" means, tourist hell? Center of theater world? Center of the entire world? It's up to you). Taking place on west 46th between Broadway and 9th ave, over 50 food vendors including Carmine's and Havana Central will be selling incredible dishes while street performers and free swing lessons provide you with entertainment on the historic restaurant row! Food tickets go on sale starting at 3 for a dollar each which you can then redeem for food at the booths. The food is served 5- 8 30 though your recommended to get there early for more selection because, well, it's times square and will be crowded!

The event takes place Monday, June 11.

Big Apple BBQ!

For the next half hour today and all day tomorrow, Madison Square park is graced with the presence of dozens of Barbeque vendors from all over the US who have descended upon our great city to bring us some good old country cooking at the Big Apple BBQ! Featuring BBQ seminars, pulled pork shoulders, babyback ribs, corn bread and more this heaven of food outings bangs out amazing BBQ to those waiting in the v long lines for 8 bucks a heaping plate! Live music adds to the festivities as our mouths water and the sky's fill with smoke, the good kind!

Saturday June 9th and Sunday, June 10th from 12-6 in and around Madison Square Park located from 23rd- 26th streets between Madison and fifth avenue!

Free Stars! (and baseball)

First off, sorry about the lack of posts. Seems the wireless I steal from has been malfunctioning, leaving me sad and on my lonesome with no internet connection (luckily I am in the midst of Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Brilliant piece of work, I recommend it, but I digress).

While two blocks from my apartment at this very moment are Leo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet filming their new movie, I had an even BIGGER star encounter today that I had to share with you all. In case you haven't noticed, I am quite the broadway junkie. I'm obsessed with the shows, the stars, the music and haven't shut up about spring awakening since I first saw it in December, just ask Anthony. Being a new yorker (and a regular viewer of seinfeld) I've heard of the famed Broadway summer softball league where cast, crew and tech of shows battle it out for the jockiest of the theatre dorks. Long have I wished to happen upon a game, to see a star walking by, John Gallagher Jr. (soon to be TONY winner) with a bat poised casually over his shoulder (shit, I digress again!) but never did I believe I'd actually find it. WELL my friends, today I was sitting at Columbus circle taking lunch break from a conference with my new friend Melissa when a woman walking her dog wearing a Grey Gardens shirt walked by. Now this was not your ordinary Gray Gardens shirt, no no no, it was a three quarter length sleeve shirt with buttons. AKA, a baseball shirt. I thought I hallucinated and moved on until a similarly dressed woman walked by, this time with a shirt emblazoned with WICKED across the front. Melissa, I say, we have to follow her, I think she's going to the broadway summer softball league!

I literally thought I had died and gone to heaven. Laid out before my very eyes were SIX, SIX fields full of my favorite broadway shows! Company v Frost/ Nixon, Merry Poppins versus Legally Blonde. Ladies and Gentlemen, I was overcome with joy! THEN I spent about 20 minutes talking to the guy who plays Zazu from the Lion King getting the details, turns out games are every Thursday in the park (ask for the baseball fields closest to columbus circle) they start at 11 and go to around 3. When I inquired to the whereabouts of spring awakening, he said they already played as the newer shows tend to go on the fields earlier because they "supposedly" (his words) have less rehearsals. Well my friends, if you are bored on a Thursday and looking for the perfect harmony of music, theater and the all american past time, look no further than central park. I may call in sick and be there too!

Speaking of free comedy....

....and in case you're bored TONIGHT, there is more UCBT lovin happening at 11pm with another FREE show entitled "Crash Test". Hosted by Human Giant's Aziz Ansari, the show features various NYC comics ("top comics" according to the website) and special guests and short videos. I went awhile ago and it was like the PIT, funny and amusing but in the end, I was glad I wasn't paying a whole ton. But hey, someone wants to make me laugh? For free? and it's within walking distance to pinkberry? Dude, I'm THERE (sometimes).

Monday night 11pm at UCBT theater, west 26th between 8th and 9th aves.

Wednesday night comedy at the PIT

Finally! Something to do on a WEDNESDAY night! Ben and I, frequenters of the amazing ASSSSCAT 3000, found ourself bored last Wednesday night and in need of a laugh. Luckily the People's Improv Theater (aka The Pit) hosts a comedy palooza on Wednesday nights to suit our comic needs. At 7 there's a one man show followed by four in-house improv teams, two at 8 and two more at 9 30, lastly there's something called the impodrome at 11. Now there are definitely some positives about this place, one being you don't have to show up 2 hours in advance to get tickets (a mere 15 minutes seemed to do for the 8pm show which ben and I frequented) and the theater is tiny meaning that you can see and hear all the action with ease. But, well, there was just something MISSING. The two groups we saw at 8 (Big Black Cat and Fancy Dragon) were, well, just less than a sixteenth of a hair off but it made a difference. Don't get me wrong, there were times that I laughed and it was well worth an hour of free time, but there was something which didn't catch me falling off my seat even after I've waited 2 hours in line for a partial view lack of hearing side seat at UCBT. In the end, their attempts at being un-PC made even Ben uncomfortable (which I thought was impossible) and their goofier spoofed fell short. Worth the buck donation but Sunday nights will continue to rule my guttural laugh in comedy land.

At the Pit on 29th between 6th and 7th aves. Shows at 7, 8, 9 30 and 11. Free baby!

Shakespeare on the Run!

Welcome to the beginning of summer and the plethora of events occurring right in NYC which are outdoors, fun, entertaining and best of all free! I'll kick off June with my absolute most favorite of events, Shakespeare on the Run brought to you by The New York Classical Theatre.
This twist on Shakespeare summer loving is that you get to move through Central Park throughout the show! While the story begins at 103rd street and central park west (take the C to 103) right inside the park, you run after actors as they show progresses (ok ok, not actual running but you can make it into a sport by dodging trees and bikers!). They actors use the scenery of the park well, are dressed in full period costume and incorporate flashlights as dusk settles. PLUS it's a great introduction to classical theater for kids as you can move around the park! grab some Bombay Frankie's before the show and bring a blanket that you can easily scoop up and move along!

Now playing through June 24th, Love's Labour's Lost, Thu through Sunday at 7pm.