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!

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.

Best Day Ever (rice balls, pinkberry and modern art oh my!)

Just walked in from spending one of the best NYC days ever (though I tend to have a lot of those) with my bud Aaron. It's Friday night and if you're looking for an all star line up of cheap yet amazing fun (it's date night too) then you've gotta check out the below.

1. Dinner (or lunch or bfast) at Oms/b. Located on 45th street between Lex and 3rd (take 456 to Grand Central) this little haven of a shop offers up dozens of rice balls ranging from crab salad to salmon roe to ume plum, these mounds of delight are healthy, refreshing and varied, and, get this, cheap! Aaron and I each got the A box where you can chose any three balls of your liking plus a soup for 7 50. If you're willing to let them chose you get 3 balls a soup and an appetizer for 6.50, a heck of a deal and lunch! The plum was a bit too sour for me but I almost died when I bit into the flavorful eel (not the baked one the one with rice and eel on top) and the light crab salad. Heaven.

Next, take a 15 minute walk up to 53rd between 5th and 6th and check out Moma. (Free on Fridays 4-8) This weekend is the last you can check out inquisitive photography by Jeff Wall and the Comic Abstractions closes on the 11th but my favorite current exhibit by far is the installation Projects 85: Dan Perjovschi. Featuring humorous and provocative sketch drawings taking up three floors of wall space, and creeping around the sides, this piece offers not only comic respite but food for thought. Lay back on the plush black benches (I literally lay on them for about 15 minutes dissolving into laughter) and enjoy! The sculpture garden outside is great too, just don't run or spin through the giant metallic pieces winding around the space, the security gaurds don't like it too much :)

Last but not least take another walk to 32nd between 5th and 6th for
3. Pinkberry dessert! Hard to describe (like tart yogurt?) but beyond addictive, these bowls of deliciousness might be more than the regular cost of ice cream (5.95 for a medium with three toppings) but you'll never get over the incredibleness they can contain on a hot muggy day (or any day infact). Ask for it with rice cakes, (a chewy substance they hide below the counter so it's not on display for the mere mortals), raspberries and chocolate chips and it's the perfect end to the PERFECT NYC day.

POP! kA-pOW! Slam! STREB!

Finally I was able to soak in one of, I believe the most innovative and heart pumping shows in NYC, STREB! A "modern dance" group around since 1985, Streb's pieces take the form of pop action where members through themselves from incredible heights, slam themselves into planks of wood, run and tumble into and off of what can only be described as a giant hamster wheel and crash, bang, fall and amaze in their SLAM (Streb Lab for Action Mechanics) studio. While the place is always packed with kids I assure you this show is not only awe inspiring (see how far water can be flung and how many different ways to jump into a pool with splsh) and gasp inducing (dance between concrete blocks as they swing inches from your face anyone?) But also is beyond inspiring in showing what our bodies can take and in how many different ways they can take it. It just urges you to move and explore what can be done with yourself as well as we push the bounds of not only imagination, but ourselves.

The show runs Fri- Sun until June 17th. Find out more info here. Watch video demos here. (just watch them, even if you don't want to go) You're truly missing out if you don't catch this show and don't forget to get CLOSE!

When: Fri and Sat at 7, Sat and Sunday at 3pm through June 17th
Where: SLAM, 51 North 1st street in Brooklyn. Take the L to Bedford walk down to first, take a right onto first and walk towards the water. (If you want to grab food before hand I suggest the Bagel Place, when you get to Bedford and first (before the studios) take a right on Bedford and walk two blocks, the BLT's (4.25) are to die for.
How much: 20 adults, 10 kids.

Free as I like it (Picasso would too)

Here's a list of museums in the city and the nights they have "pay as you wish" aka free days. Keep in mind that many museums are pay as you wish all the time (ie the Met, though the guards might stare you down if you don't give a buck or two) these are just the nights that museums allow you to go all out on your broke-ness. These nights can be more crowded but enjoy away!

Tuesdays:
Brooklyn Botanical Garden, all day!
Wave Hill, all day


Thursdays:
New Museum of Contemporary Art, 6-8pm (note! I got this one from another website, it might need verification!)
Children's Museum of the Arts, 4-6pm

Fridays:
MOMA, 4: 30- 8: 15pm
Whitney, 6-9pm
Guggenheim, 5:45- 7:45pm (last ticket issued at 7:15)
Asia Society, 6-9pm
Bronx Museum of the Arts, All day!
International Center of Photography, 5-8pm

Saturdays:
Brooklyn Botanical Garden, 10am-noon
Jewish Museum, 11 am - 5: 45pm
Wave Hill, 9am- noon
Studio Museum in Harlem, First Sat of each month

what about the met you ask? sillies, it's ALWAYS "pay as you wish"! ;)

DISCLAIMER: clearly I do not advocate putting these fine fine institutions, least of all the Met, out of business by failing to pay admissions. For the time being while we are broke 20somethings though, I think we could all use a little relief. Those of you who will actually be making big bucks some day can pay back for the rest of us when you wish you were young and eating only mac and cheese again!