Southern Illinois Meets NYC

Wow, I haven't blogged in over two months! By now anyone who might have read this has definitely lost hope. I still want to share places and events, though!

New LES spot for rare beers and wine: Sweet & Lowdown
123 Allen St (at Delancey), 212-228-7746

And in other news, Salukis at Madison Square Garden!
Friday, November 21— Madison Square Garden
• Basketball Game – 5 p.m.

And click here in case you have no clue what a Saluki is...

ATTN: Female Night Owls

This is not so much a nice To-Do, as it is a nice To-Know. There is a service called Right Rides that will pick up women between 12am-3am on Saturday nights (a.k.a. Sunday morning) within certain parts of the 5 boroughs. The service is meant to get women home safely late at night.

It caters to Bed-Stuy, as well as most of the surrounding areas, so I am all about it! Click here for a full list of the areas they provide service to. But if you have a dude with you, they won't pick you up. Tell your guy to be a man and protect you as you walk home!

Free Stuff for last week of July

I have been a terrible little blogger as of recently. I am DOING fun things, just not blogging about what is to come.

Here are the remainder of my July FREE activities that I have planned for myself:

Thursday, July 24th
Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were Rabbit, Movies with a View @ Brooklyn Bridge: FREE
Synopsis:

"The annual Giant Vegetable Competition is days away and Wallace & Gromit’s humane pest control service, “Anti-Pesto,” is doing big business. But who exactly is changing into the mysterious Were-Rabbit, trashing and eating all the prized veggies? Find out in this 2005 Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature."

Friday, July 25th (in the wee-morning hours)
Feist performing for Good Morning America @ Bryant Park: FREE

Sunday, July 27th
MGMT and the Ting Tings @ McCarren Park Pool: FREE

Wednesday, July 30th (also other dates available)
12 Ophelia's @ McCarren Park Pool: FREE
Synopsis:

"Twelve Ophelias centers on Hamlet's Ophelia coming back to life, out of the water, to try to overcome her history and forge a new destiny for herself. She finds herself in an Appalachian Elsinore, Denmark by way of Deliverance—where Gertrude runs a brothel, Hamlet and Horatio slum it, and nothing is what it seems. In this squarely American and gritty interpretation of the Hamlet myth, Twelve Ophelias asks how it is possible to break old cycles and start afresh when the past so completely permeates your life."

Union Pool will let you do BBQ Parties?

Blog from July of last year on Union Pool's Myspace:

Birthday BBQs @ Union Pool!!!

Hey all,

All summer long Union Pool is offering up our hot grill for your party needs. All you have to do is contact us via unionpoolbooking@yahoo.com with the details of the party you'd like to hold, and we'll let you know the availability. We supply the grill and sell the booze from 3pm-7pm. You supply the people and the food. Weekend dates only, now through September.

Love, UP

I wonder if they are still doing this again in 2008? Afternoon BBQ, anyone?

Bubble Battle NYC 2008

June 21st at 6:16pm, NewMindSpace will be organizing another Bubble Battle scheduled in Manhattan. Location TBA shortly.

RSVP to the NYC Facebook Invite here.

Here is more info on the after party from the NewMindSpace email I received:

The afterparty will be at an incredible space, and if everything goes according to plan, will feature the amazing giant Lite-Brite built by Jason Eppink for our party BRITE! in Toronto last weekend (which featured New York's own AC Slater and Udachi) among many other awesome creations and chiptunes music all night long!

See photos of the Lite-Brite here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasoneppink/tags/litebrite/

BrooklynVegan and I totally think alike

I have been working on my own excel-version of a Free Events Calendar for NYC, but today BrooklynVegan released their own online-version (http://www.brooklynvegan.com/events.html) which totally kicks my ass.

Bookmark it and live by it for the summer.

Big Apple BBQ!

Ahhh! Big Apple BBQ is back in a big way on June 7th-8th in Madison Square Park. It all goes down between 12-6pm each day and it's 8 bucks a plate.

Once again, 17th Street Bar & Grill of Murphysboro, IL will be in attendance, showing the rest of them how BBQ is done. I am totally bringing my SIUC student ID with me when I go to their booth. And yes, I have still held onto my ID after all this time, thank you very much.

My Ideal City Getaway

I know this blog is supposed to highlight city events. However, I am so burnt out on NYC right now, all I can think about is escaping from it!


Here is the rundown on my fantasy weekend:


Friday:
Head upstate to the Catskill mountains
Once I have arrived at the Breathe Inn located in a small town called Lanesville, immediately flop down on the comfy bed in my Mali Studio bedroom

Saturday:
Wake up for some yummy breakfast
Go canoing or tubing on the Esopus
Maybe take a cooking class if I feel like it
Drive 20 minutes over to Woodstock, NY for a Midnight Ramble with Levon Helm

Sunday:
Sleeeeeep in
Have one more yummy breakfast
Begrudgingly head back downstate to reality




Sigh.... does it have to be a dream?

Bryant Park events announced!

Bryant Park announced their Monday movies for the summer, which makes me look forward to June even more than before! Also they announced their GMA concerts line-up, if I can get my ass outta bed early enough. Though I think Feist on July 25th might be a good enough reason for me to head to Bryant Park early on a Friday! =)

2008 HBO Bryant Park Summer Film Festival

The lawn opens at 5:00pm for blankets (no plastic tarps please) and picnicking. The films begin at dusk (typically between 8pm and 9pm).

June

Mon 16: Dr. No

Mon 23: Bride of Frankenstein

Mon 30: Hud

July

Mon 7: The Man Who Came to Dinner

Mon 14: Fail Safe

Mon 21: Arsenic and Old Lace

Mon 28: The Apartment

August

Mon 4: Lifeboat

Mon 11: The Candidate

Mon 18: Superman

http://bryantpark.org/

Museum Mile Festival on June 3rd

Taken from the official Museum Mile Festival website:

One day a year, for the past 29 years, nine of the country's finest museums, all ones that call Fifth Avenue home, collectively open their doors for free to New Yorkers and visitors for a mile-long block party and visual art celebration. This traffic-free, music- and art-filled celebration fills the street and sidewalks of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th street, the mile now officially designated as Museum Mile. Over 50,000 visitors attend the festival annually.

This year's 30th annual festival kicks off at Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum with an opening ceremony, at 5:45pm, on the steps of its landmark building on Fifth Avenue @ 91st Street.

Plus, follow the mile with street muralist De La Vega – grab a piece of chalk and make your mark!

I think the chalk-drawing is meant for children, but screw that - I fully intend to get my chalkin' on!

Tuesday, June 3rd from 6:00-9:00pm
Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th street

Walton Ford

Press Release from Paul Kasmin Gallery:

With meticulous detail, Ford's work depicts animals embodying degrees of personification in the context of isolated historical events. Transient moments recalled in Ford's work comment on, in his words, "the cultural history of our relationship with animals." Ford is especially interested in the perceptions of animals by humans as evidenced by documentation. After researching specific stories, Ford offers his interpretation—sometimes exaggerating the animal's supposed humanness and in other instances, stripping the animal of imposed metaphors, and thereby restoring the candor of the animal's bestial state. The anthropomorphic nature of Ford's animals is often compared to the work of artist, John J. Audubon, one of Ford's many influences.

At Paul Kasmin Gallery (293 Tenth Ave.) until July 3rd

I <3 BBQ

First there was Hill Country on 26th Street (which I have been to with my work crew) and now there is Wildwood Barbeque on Park Ave @ 18th. Both are from the BBQ brain of "Big Lou" Elrose.

Details from UrbanDaddy:

You might be familiar with Texas-style barbecue from Hill Country, Big Lou's previous gig, but Wildwood casts a wider net. To prepare the menu, Lou went on a pilgrimage to the best barbecue joints in the country, stockpiling 500 jars of sauce and visiting pits from Raleigh to St. Louis. The result is a menu chock full of the best regional American barbecue, with pulled pork courtesy of North Carolina, baby back ribs from Memphis, pork ribs from Kansas City and lamb spare ribs from...his imagination.

Naturally, you'll want something to wash all that down, so they've stockpiled 30 different bourbons for your sipping pleasure, along with suitably refined cocktails like a spot-on Mint Julep (fortified with "Kentucky Colonel" mint).

Wildwood Barbecue, 225 Park Ave S. (at 18th), 212-533-2500

Karaoke Marathon: The Sequel

As quoted on my Facebook Event Invite:


Event Info

Name:			Karaoke Marathon: The Sequel
Tagline:			Because we didn't finish our karaoke queue last time...
Host:			Arminda
Type:			Music/Arts - Jam Session

Time and Place

Date:		Sunday, April 27, 2008
Time:		3:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:		Duet 35
Street:		53 W 35th Street (between 5th and 6th Ave)
City/Town:		New York, NY

Description
On that fateful Sunday afternoon in March when Jesse, Heidi, Bob, Billy-Bob and I went to Duet, magic happened. Party lights flashed, tambourines rang, and microphones melted. Songs have forever been altered in history due to our amazing renditions and sweet, passionate crooning. Sadly, 8pm came before we knew it and were forced to leave behind an amazing queue of songs still crying out to be sung.

If you miss out the second time around, you are just plain dumb.

$12 All You Can Sing Karaoke Marathon from 3-8pm. We will have a private room, so you will only be embarrassing yourself in front of those that love you dearly. Besides, what happens in Duet stays in Duet.

Please RSVP on this invite by APRIL 23th so that I can reserve a room big enough to hold everyone!

And so did Heidi's.

Heidi knows what this girl likes!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Heidi Vanderlee '**************@gmail.com'
Date: Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Subject: please tell me you love both of these things
To: Arminda Klier '************@gmail.com'


http://nymag.com/nyxny
--
Heidi Vanderlee(/slice)
Tiny Mix Tapes
www.tinymixtapes.com

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the gist of the link Heidi sent, if you are too lazy to hover your mouse and click:
New York mag brings to you this summer,

• Indie Rock Trivia Night (with host Zach Galifianakis and musical guest Les Savy Fav, Highline Ballroom on May 21st @ 8pm, tix on sale now)
• Best Rooftop Party Ever (tix on sale June 2008)
  
• Highbrow Backyard Barbeque (tix on sale July 2008)
  
• Bad Art Auction (tix on sale November 2008)
  
• Indie Rock Karaoke Returns Again (tix on sale January 2009)
  

Chrissy's email made my day.

They all sound lovely, Christine. Now we just need to plan a time to go to all of these!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Christine Huhn '***********@gmail.com'
Date: Tue, Apr 22, 2008 at 7:28 PM
Subject: exhibits
To: Mindy Klier '**********@gmail.com'


1. http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.3639335/
(this one, you'd have to pay.. 8$ I think it is. so I can go it alone
if you're not interested)
-there's also the MFA show at ICP which is free

2. http://www.teamgal.com/exhibitions/131
of course! duh!

3. http://www.nrgallery.com/index1.php
pretty excited about this one.

4. http://www.bellwethergallery.com/current_01.cfm?fid=495
Tableau's! Yessss.

5. http://www.phhfineart.com/main.html
Jeff Olsen, North Woods
makes me feel like home, in PA.

6. http://www.luhringaugustine.com/index.php?mode=current#
OMG OMG!!! I LOVE Gregory Crewdson.
his lighting is unbelievable
4/5 - 5/3

7. http://www.jenkinsjohnsongallery.com/exhibitions/08yoon/yoon_thumbs.htm
Finally, this will be over, so I don't think we'll get to see it.. but
it sure is awesome!!

AND, I love the ones you wanna see. Especially the horizon one.
I thought that was a good amount, otherwise I would look into some
painting exhibits.

Lastly...
NEED TO SEEEEE
http://www.blackandwhiteartgallery.com/exhibition-w.html
dioramas!!!

--
Christine Huhn
Brooklyn, NY

Mark, come back.

There is a gallery exhibit just especially for you!

PRESS RELEASE:

"Caren Golden Fine Art is pleased to present Mirror Universe, the first solo exhibition by Devorah Sperber with the gallery. Mirror Universe will feature an entirely new body of work by Sperber based on images from the television series Star Trek. The title, Mirror Universe, alludes to the 1967 Star Trek episode Mirror, Mirror in which a transporter mishap swaps the crew of the Enterprise with evil counterparts, trapping them in a “savage parallel universe.” The concept of a mirror or parallel universe is a dominant theme in the show, and, in keeping with this metaphor, many of the works incorporate mirrors to view the work. For Sperber the exhibition is an opportunity to look at the relationship between popular science and art, and how they relate to larger metaphysical issues. In particular, she is interested in how consciousness and the act of seeing create the illusion of a stable, predictable, singular world."

Word.

Mirror Universe: March 20 - April 26, 2008
539 West 23rd Street

Simply want.

Stephan Floyd's work isn't on display right now, but can I just say that I really love these Hurricane Portraits? I emailed him asking the price and he said they were $250 a pop for the originals. It was tempting...

Gary Panter: Pictures from the Psychedelic Swamp: 1972 – 2001

Cool Hunting did it, yet again. This time, it's trippy. Here is what Cool Hunting had to say:

Fans of Pee Wee’s Playhouse, RAW and SLASH magazines and the comic character Jimbo know and love the work of Gary Panter. You probably know it too, having seen his “jagged lines and surreal cartoons” in magazines, on TV and on the internet too. “Pictures from the Psychedelic Swamp: 1972 – 2001” a micro-mini retrospective of thirty years of drawings, sculptures, painting and installations opening at Clementine Gallery tonight. The show was inspired by the imminent release of the “Gary Panter: the Book” a two volume, 686-page, full-color monograph published by PictureBox. You can also catch Panther's work at the Aldrich through 31 August 2008. See below for details.

4 April-10 May 2008
Clementine Gallery
623 West 27th Street

Sze Tsung Leong: Horizons

Cool Hunting occasionally brings things to me I decide I need (like Bananagrams, which I just purchased today). Thanks to their RSS feed, this exhibit is now on my to-do list:

Over the past seven years, Sze Tsung Leong has produced a series of photographs called "Horizons," which provide an expansive view of different environments from across the globe. On view at the Yossi Milo Gallery in New York through 17 May 2008, "Horizons" consists of over sixty works each measuring 14x 24 inches.

Born in Mexico City in 1970, Sze Tsung Leong spent his childhood between Mexico, Britain, and the United States and this conglomerate of cultures is evident in his photographs. Regardless of their geography (including Mexico City, Cairo, Tokyo, or Inner Mongolia), Leong manages to connect rivers, cityscapes and industrial zones into a consistently beautiful accumulation of textures and colors.

"Horizons" - 3 April through 17 May 2008
Yossi Milo Gallery: 525 West 25th Street

Free: 'Wordless Music' at the Whitney

My oh my, I really dropped the ball this month. My email inbox is to the brim with my daily newsletters that I have left unopened and I have bookmarked a few things that I wanted to do, but never posted. Let's catch up, shall we?

Fridays in June are looking pretty good, thanks to the Wordless Music series being put on at the Whitney.

This is what Brooklyn Vegan told me:

At the Whitney's invitation, we asked four of our favorite groups-The Berg Sans Nipple, A Sunny Day in Glasgow, Prefuse 73, and Times New Viking -to do one Friday-night set apiece at the museum's indoor/outdoor Lower Gallery space. We then invited another of our favorite groups-ACME, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble-to choose music from a broad and representative range of contemporary composers, and to come up with four complementary "classical" programs. What did they end up choosing? Chamber music, ranging from solo percussion to seven strings, by Ingram Marshall, Kevin Volans, John Adams, Chen Yi, and Jefferson Friedman.

Total cost to you, the consumer? $0.00.

About getting into these: museum admission is pay-what-you-wish during Whitney After Hours, Fridays 6-9 pm. Shows begin promptly at 7.
Space is *extremely* limited. Seating and admission for Whitney Live is on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are not accepted.

June 06 - The berg sans nipple
June 13 - A sunny Day in Glasgow
June 20 - Prefuse 73
June 27 - Times New Viking
July 18 - Deerhoof (@ Prospect Park)

The Whitney Museum
Madison Avenue
& East 75th Street

Quitzow at Rehab (formerly Club Midway)

I love it when I can promote an event related to a friend! My friend, Heidi, plays cello occasionally for the group, Quitzow. According to their Myspace page, they Sound like "getting lost in a Japanese strip mall while slightly intoxicated from love and otherwise..." I agree. This Thursday they are playing at Rehab (the venue formerly known as Club Midway), going on at 10pm. You can download a free MP3 of "On TV!" and possibly swing by on Thursday for more. Seeing a moog and cellos all rocking on the same stage is worth it!


Rehab, 25 Ave B (between 2nd and 3rd)

GATH at Union Pool on Tuesday

Gregory and the Hawk will be playing at Union Pool this coming Tuesday (4/01). Oh, and other bands are playing too: Silje Nes, Curtis Harvey, My Favorite Things.



Did I mention that I love love love GATH? Let's go sing along.


Union Pool (Lorimer L Stop); $ TBD

Let's get Down & Derby!

I wanna get my swerve on! Just hand me some skates and a strong drink!

Unfortunately, prior engagements might prevent me from attending this AMAZING event, but I really, really, really wish I could go. Get more info here (official site), here (Myspace page), and here (Studio B).

Holy Fuck, it's M.I.A.!

M.I.A. is playing McCarren Pool on June 6th with Holy Fuck as the opening act. To quote a snippet of gchat conversation with Jesse:

me: duuuuude, i just found out M.I.A. is gonna be at McCarren Pool on June 6th with Holy Fuck opening

jesse: holy jesus! hipster hellllll!

You may be right, Jesse, but it will be worth it. Tickets go on sale this saturday (3/29) at 11am. I will set my alarm to wake up from whatever hungover stupor I may be in so that I can secure my spot in the deep end of the pool.

BBQ, Bourbon, Brews, & Blues in Brooklyn

Those are arguably the five best possible "B" words ever, and they all come together at one spot in Brooklyn (obviously). The Daily Specials information below is pulled directly from the Bar BQ homepage:

Daily Specials
Monday Nights: Blue Monday. Live Blues. Free bourbon of the week fron 7-9:00 and $2 Blue Point pints. Music starts around 7:00.
Tuesday: $2 Yuengling Kegger and live music. Starts at 8:00
Wednesday: Brooklyn Fire Eaters meet for a hot sauce hootenanny. Live Bluegrass starts around 9:00.
Thursday: Kids eat free from the kid menu
Friday: $3 Happy Hour Drafts
Saturday/Sunday: All day happy hour 12:00-6:00

Any day but Thursday (kids? they don't drink bourbon!) sounds like a sure-fire good time.

Nitty Gritty Details:
Kitchen open: M-F 3-11PM. Sat/Sun Noon-11PM. Bar stays open later.
Weekday Happy Hour 3:00-8:00.
689 6th Avenue (Corner of 20th St.)
The location might seem a little daunting to get to, but HopStop seems to think the R train from Atlantic would do just fine.

Get ready to Stitch & Bitch

Chrissy and I fully plan to attend the Stitch & Bitch crafting happy hour on Wednesdays from 6-9 at Southside Speakeasy in Brooklyn. You can work on your crafts and enjoy very cheap PBR tallboys and Jameson shots. Currently, I am not much of a stitcher, I do not know how to knit, and my one-time-try at crocheting when I was eight years old left me in tears of frustration. I do know how to bitch though, so I doubt anyone would kick me out. Besides, Chrissy said she would teach me how to knit, and the best way to learn how to knit is with a nice PBR tallboy by your side.

Urban Outfitters donating to BAM this weekend

You know how much I shop at Urban (more than I like to admit) and how much I love BAM (something I will gladly admit). Now one love can help another, this weekend only at the new Urban Outfitters store in Brooklyn. It is walkable from the Bergen G stop, which makes me happy!

Urban Outfitters opens its first store in Brooklyn today (166 Atlantic Avenue) and 10% of the first week of sales (through March 18) will be donated to BAM.

BAM has provided me with such amazing entertainment like Sufjan Stevens, Joanna Newsom, soon to be Paul Simon, as well as a great movie theater. Hopefully I will shop my heart out this weekend for them. <3

*** *** *** RECAP *** *** ***

Well, I ended up donating 20 buckaroos to BAM (and picked up a few cute items for Spring). Store was nice overall, but thought their shoe selection was lacking and there is no housewares section. And where were the bathing suits?!

Muzi Quawsom photo exhibit

Press Release on Yossi Milo Gallery website:

Focusing on “outsiders”, Ms. Quawson explores the various social, financial, and political structures that define American society. With photographs that possess a cinematic style, Ms. Quawson investigates the identity of Amanda Jo Williams, a young musician and mother in Woodstock, New York. After a chance meeting in Manhattan in 2002, Ms. Quawson created Pull Back the Shade over the course of the following four years while staying with Amanda in Woodstock and traveling with her around the country. By photographing Amanda’s relationships with her partner and young twin daughters, Ms. Quawson’s photographs comment on the frustrations of young motherhood, domesticity and social alienation.

The style of the photographs recalls the cinematography of New American Cinema of the 1970s and its aggrandizement of the anti-hero. Pull Back the Shade was first shown at the Tate Britain in London where the works were displayed as a slideshow, bringing their collective effect closer to that of a film. For this exhibition, the color negatives have been developed as Duratran prints and placed in light boxes; the result is a series of illuminated photographs that resemble stills from a color film.

Yossi Milo Gallery (525 W. 25th Street)
February 21, 2008–March 29, 2008

*** *** *** RECAP *** *** ***
I saw this exhibit last weekend and just had to say that I thought it was really great. Having the photographs illuminated in light boxes was the perfect touch and really did lend to the idea of film stills. I highly recommend checking it out while it is still at Yossi Milo.

New west-side spot: The Rusty Knot

99 cent beers! Pigs-in-Blankets! Sunsets over the Hudson! And do I see a jukebox and pool table in that picture?!

Let's go to The Rusty Knot on the (way) west side for all of the above.

Urban Daddy gives us the details:

Here, in an unassuming storefront, you'll find The Rusty Knot, the brainchild of Ken Friedman (The Spotted Pig) with the all-star cast of Taavo Somer (Freeman's), Tobey Maloney (Milk & Honey) and a Momofuku alum. The result is a detail-rich, high-pedigree Manhattan cocktail spot colliding with a kitsched-out cruiseliner and an old-school tiki room.

All you'll see from the sidewalk is the leftover awning from former incarnation West Bar, but trust us, it's another world inside. Make your way to the bamboo-paneled bar—past the large, dingy fish tank and the trophy fish mounted above the pool table—and you'll find a bar dedicated to the lost art of rum. That means you'll get classic tiki drinks, served in a coconut or a plastic totem glass, but made with homemade bitters to avoid the typical sweetness and somewhat mitigate the swipe at your manhood.

If that doesn't do it for you, you might think about settling in for an ice-cold beer (which starts at the way-back price of 99 cents), nibbling on a few pigs-in-blankets, throwing back an oyster or two and watching the sun fade away over the Hudson.

The Rusty Knot, open 12pm-4am, 425 West St. (at 11th St.)

Vegetarian-Friendly Food at Broadway East

Because I want to eat with my herbivore friends more!

Regurgitated from an Urban Daddy newsletter:

This mostly vegetarian, semi-speakeasy just opened on the very-Lower East Side, the perfect spot for the organic-leaning woman in your life. Fulfill your shellfish desires with the Nantucket Bay Oyster Gratin, or go with the Peking-Style Snow-Dried Tofu if you're feeling a little more zen.

Plus they are eco-friendly!

Former Angelica Kitchen chef Peter Berley brings his plant-based, meat-as-a-garnish philosophy to this eco-friendly restaurant, which will compost its waste and filter and carbonate its own water. — Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld of NYMag.com

Broadway East: 171 East Broadway (near Canal Street)

Nick Cave Melted My Face

I saw Nick Cave seriously rock Terminal 5 at the 2008 PLUG Awards. I mean, seriously. Also saw Jose Gonzalez perform maybe 15 feet from me, which got me really giddy for this coming Wednesday's show at Brooklyn Masonic Temple (I still have an extra ticket, so I better find someone to go with me!).

Also in PLUG Award news, Jesse and I got caught by the Dell Lounge camera crew:

Wow, Jesse is way taller than me.

Girls Rock!

So very true; girls do rock. And this movie sets out to prove it! Opening in NYC this Friday the 7th, Girls Rock! is a documentary about The Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls where girls ages 8-18 learn to how to be self-motivated rockers (forming bands, writing songs, and building community).

The primary subjects of “Girls Rock!” are Laura, an articulate adopted Korean obsessed with death metal; Misty, who is emerging from a life of meth-addiction, homelessness and gang activity; Palace, a sweet-seeming 8-year-old with a heavy metal sneer, and Amelia, who's writing a 14-song cycle about her dog Pippi. Forming bands, writing songs and playing a gig in one week, these girls and the rest of the camp engage in an experiment in empowerment that will leave no-one unchanged.
-- Girls Rock! Website

I wish I could have learned how to rock out when I was eight.

Opening March 7th at Village East Cinema

Burger Shoppe opening in Financial District

I don't go near the Financial District all that often, but it is still important to have a burger spot handy within different parts of the city, just in case. Burger Shoppe just opened on Water Street and they are serving their patties super old-school style.

Born from the grill-crazed mind of Pop Burger's Kevin O'Connell, Burger Shoppe takes its retro décor seriously—the display was salvaged from an abandoned diner in Philly—and proves it by serving up 1925-style patties. That means tiny 4-oz nuggets of beef, served fast enough that you'll have no problem managing the crowds. Add in a few boardwalk-style onion rings or some skin-on shoestring fries—bundled with a pair of burgers and a soda for a sawbuck—and you should have more than enough to keep you busy.

And if you stick around for happy hour, you can check out the meatier barroom menu in the more subdued digs upstairs. The real prize here is a trio of items you don't usually see at the local diner: Roasted Marrow Bones, Hot Short Rib "Pudding," and the house filet with goose-fat hash browns and creamed spinach.
-- Urban Daddy Newsletter

Here is their All Day Menu
Here is their bitchin' Bar Menu
Here is where to find the place:
30 Water Street (between Broad St and Coenties Slip)

The Plug Awards are fast approaching...

...and it is sold out! I guess you will just have to check out the live stream on DellLounge.com on the 6th while I see it LIVE at Terminal 5.

Part 1



Part 2

Absolut Quartet

Pretty neat, huh?

This week's Urban Daddy Weekender newsletter made a very vague reference to this Absolut Quartet that is on display at 186 Orchard Street. I investigated further and found an article on CoolHunting that gave a bit more info. It is on display starting tonight until the end of April.

"Absolut Machines is Absolut's promotional initiative that explores where technology meets design in the form of two "machines." Last night we got to check out one, the Absolut Quartet, an interactive multi-instrumental robotic machine. It consists of a marimba played by rubber balls precisely shot from a robotic cannon, a series of spinning wineglasses dampened by robotic fingers and an array of percussive instruments."
-- CoolHunting.com

You can check out Absolut's microsite on the machines, but surfer's beware - the site kept crashing my browser.

Surely someone will be interested in checking this out, if not merely for curiosity's sake.

186 Orchard Street and Stanton Street
February 28th - April 30th

All Points West Fest

I think I have died and gone to a melodious heaven. All Points West Festival kicks off its first year at Liberty State Park this August. Three days of amazement and wonder, but the $260 price tag is a bit too steep. I am going to go with a One-Day Pass for $90. Friday is my personal day of choice. Check out the line-up below and be prepared to weep sweet tears of joy:

Friday, August 8th

• Radiohead !!!!
• Underworld
• The New Pornographers !!!
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
  
• The Go! Team !!

• Girl Talk !!!
• CSS
  
• Forro in the Dark
• Juana Molina
  
• Little Brother

• Andrew Bird !!!!
• Mates of State
• Duffy

The presale sold-out in 4 hours, so I am a bit nervous though I am sure it wouldn't sell out once tickets officially go on sale this Friday...would it?
*Mindy has an extremely nervous facial expression*

August 8th, 9th, and 10th at Liberty State Park in Jersey City

Elettaria in the West Village

The new West Village restaurant Elettaria may not have a good grasp on the importance of Search Engine Optimization (search for them organically on Google and you will see what I mean), but as long as they have a firm grasp on good food, I will forgive them.

Here is what Daily Candy had to say:

The first-generation Americans are doing riffs on the flavors and spices of their homelands, India (Nawab) and the Philippines (Cruz). Wild boar with cumin. Saag paneer gnocchi with cloves. Fried coconut cream with ginger mousse and tamarind sorbet.
Elettaria (Latin for “green cardamom”) was once home to 8th Wonder, a venue where Jimi Hendrix performed. It still has a clubby feeling with velvet curtains, exposed brick, and an open kitchen where the cooks are very much on stage.

Could be interesting and NYMag didn't make it sound too excessive as far as cost is concerned.

Elettaria, 33 West 8th Street, at Macdougal Street

Flight Attendants

"Flying the friendly skies, Brian Finke began photographing flight attendants as he crisscrossed the country on Delta, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Hooters Air, Southwest, and Song airlines, before going abroad on Air France, Qantas, and British Airways. In London, he visited a flight attendant school, complete with emergency rafts and billowing smoke. Continuing east, Finke traveled Air Asia, Thai, Tiger, ANA, Japan, and Cathay Pacific. For the grand finale of his two-year trip, Finke traveled the illustrious Icelandair."
- Artcal

Flight Attendants, PowerHouse Books, on display at ClampArt through March 29th, 525 W. 25th St (between 10th and West Side Highway)

John Chiara: Land's End

I will be M.I.A. from the city this weekend as I journey to the midwest for some much needed SIU-Crew time with Mark, Pat, & Amanda (and apparently Tommy boy, too) in Chi-town. BUT, upon my return, I have yet another gallery exhibit that I would like to attend.

Enter John Chiara, a San-Fran based photog who has a rather unique approach to landscape photography. According to the Von Lintel Gallery website:

Chiara takes stunning landscape photographs that involve much more than what is in front of the camera. They are, in essence, images of photography itself. Chiara operates a hand-built, room-sized camera that is mounted on a flatbed trailer. He works inside the camera, physically becoming a part of the process. During the long exposures, he dodges and burns by passing his hands in front of the camera’s lens. The one-of-a-kind, positive images are then developed utilizing an adapted sewer pipe that he fills with photo chemicals.

Sewage pipes and flatbed trailers? I gotta see this.

VON LINTEL GALLERY
555 W 25th St (bet. 10th and 11th ave)

I feel a Rick Astley "Never Gonna Give You Up" Moment fast approaching!

Yesterday was a drunken affair with a microphone at Duet, Kyle's I-am-temporarily-back-in-Manhattan bash in Midtown. It was an amazingly fun time and Jesse and I both agree we need to do Round 2 with the Brooklyn crew. So Sunday, March 2nd it shall be. Why not waste away another Sunday afternoon in a small room with about 10 of your closest friends? Sidenote: the establishment does not take kindly to patrons that bring their own alcoholic substances. Solution: just be even sneakier about it the second time around.

Duet's Website makes me want to laugh, but then I feel like I am laughing at someone, and not with someone:

Everyone can be "Britney Spears"
and everyone can be "John Toravolta."

Aww, Duet. Please don't kick us out again.


*** *** *** RECAP *** *** ***
This was the most fun I have had in a long time. Having the chance to be a complete (drunken) goofball in the privacy of friends was just what I needed. Plus, Jesse and I's heartbreaking rendition of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" was a show-stopper. I suspect we shall be doing this again very soon!

Matthew Rogriguez; an unexpected delight

This past Saturday, Chrissy and I went to more galleries then I can count on one hand (though I think two hands would suffice). We stuck to the exhibits we had predetermined, with the exception of one that was in the same building as Scott Schuman's. I was struck by the window display of a giant, plastic lobster with a huge ashing cigarette in it's pincher, so I decided to explore further. What I found inside won me over. Descriptions written in pencil (sometimes erased and re-written) next to the art work displayed on the walls. "Monsters" that were more endearing than scary. A Christmas tree laid out in the middle of the floor with an angry, cartoonish face at the tip, and a bloody stump at the other end. Colorfully painted 8x8 baking pans. Every piece on display made me smile and laugh, all for different reasons.

Who was behind this feel-good scene? Urban-artist-turned-multi-medium-dabbler Matthew Rodriguez; that's who. Check out more of his art here on Flickr. Even better, check out his exhibit, Scruffy Kitty, at the Rare gallery until March 8th. I hope it makes you smile/laugh, too.

Make Out like it's 1999!

The Below is from this NewYork.Going.com Post:

Live at Arlene's Grocery
95 Stanton Street (between Orchard & Ludlow)
Subway: F to 2nd Ave.

"It's slippery. It's weird. It's fun. It's Disco Crisco Twister at Arlene's Grocery. Come on down and make those Equinox yoga classes really pay off." - RareDaily.com

"My head is killing me and WHERE are my PANTS??!! Well, let's see… the last thing I remember was something about Left Foot on Blue- OH MY GOD… that's right- last night I was at Disco Crisco Twister!!!!!" - Uncoolkids.com

Come with your friends and play as a team, or just bring yourself and we'll introduce you to your new teammates.

Games include:
* Spin the Bottle: Anyone who's seen the Wonder Years knows this game makes a lifelong impression!
* Truth or Dare Jenga: Pick a Truth or Dare, but don't knock the tower over.
* Kissing Booth: Like Lucy's Lemonade stand with sweet and sour options.
* Seven Minutes in Heaven: Oh, to be in Heaven.
* Purity Test: How do you score?
* Intimate Orange Relay Race: Pass a citrus between your neck and chest to a complete stranger/new friend!

* Live Musical Chairs: Just like when you were four, but with a live band!
* Sing That Tune: Let your karaoke/musical Jeopardy freak flag fly!
* Flip Cup: Show off your dexterity & drinking skills!
* Twister (with a twist): Grapple 1/2 drunk teammates while reaching for that red dot!

With free heart shaped cookies by Missy aka Strawberry Shortcake. Check out her tasty creations at italiaRicankitchen.com

www.discocriscotwister.com

Ahhh, to be young again!

I almost forgot about Coney Island

Brooklyn Museum is holding an exhibit entitled "Goodbye Coney Island?" through April 6th.

"An exhibition of more than fifty photographs from the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings, Goodbye Coney Island? traces the evolution of this fabled part of New York over the past 125 years. Coney Island has undergone many transformations since it first became a popular resort in the nineteenth century, and in the near future a prospective redevelopment plan may yet again change this section of Brooklyn."
- BROOKLYN MUSEUM WEBSITE

Hopefully I do not forget about this exhibit.

Study Center, 5th Floor
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn

A Plethora of Photo Exhibits

Thank you, Christine, for the long list of photo exhibits!

John O'Reilly | Echo: Recurrent Themes 1965-2007
Julie Saul Gallery (535 W. 22nd St.), Closes February 16, 2008

Ken Heyman | Humanity
Sundarm Tagore Gallery (547 W. 27th St.), Closes February 23, 2008

Nicholas Nixon | Patients
Yossi Milo (525 W. 25th St.), Closes February 16, 2008

Sarah Pickering | Fire Scene
Daniel Cooney (511 W. 25th St.), Closes March 15, 2008

It shall be a busy, busy weekend!

*** *** *** RECAP *** *** ***
Saw them all; probably enjoyed Ken Heyman's the best even though it was very overwhelming with the amount of photographs on display!

Let's Get Gussied Up

I was looking for something to blog about and, lo and behold, I needed look no further than Mark Sperry's blog for just the information I desired. Of course, Mark's post is much more inspiring than this post will be, so I suggest reading his first, in order to get the appropriate emotional and attitudinal tone.

Gus Powell (a photographer I don't know) is on exhibit at the Musuem of the City of New York (a museum I have never set foot in) through March 16th (a day never to be forgotten in history).

Descriptive Phrases Concerning This Exhibit:
Color. Street Photography. NYC. Spontaneous.

Museum of the City of New York
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St.
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Juergen Teller

The Lehmann Maupin gallery started an exhibit yesterday on prints by German photographer, Juergen Teller, who has gained fame through his photography for Marc Jacob ads. It is too early in the morning for me to think for myself, so I will let Daily Candy do the talking:

"Teller, who was commissioned to interpret the Ukraine for the 2007 Venice Biennale show, infuses fashion, luxury, and youth into his fantastical stills and portraits. Shots from a recent Vivienne Westwood campaign are also in the mix (along with celeb photos of Gisele, Posh Spice, and Harmony Korine)."
-- Daily Candy Newsletter

Lehmann Maupin, 540 West 26th Street (212-255-2923).

Moto, a sweet spot in Bushwick

I haven't been giving Brooklyn enough love - so here is a love note to Moto, a teeny, tiny Nuevo American cafe underneath the JM train in South Williamsburg. I have ate there a few times and have always enjoyed myself. It is small, dark, and mysterious - filled with good food, chocolatey beer, and sometimes even live music (though it is quite the feat to squeeze in the entertainers). Someone take me on a date. I'll split my mac-n-cheese with youuuu.

349 Broadway, Brooklyn NY 11211 (Corner of Hooper)

Back Forty is in my Top Forty

I have already ate at Back Forty, but I enjoyed it so much that I have been craving a return visit! They specialize in local/seasonal fare and do a good job of it. Anna and I had dinner there last year not long after its grand opening. The food left me smiling (burgers and apple-cider doughnuts - need I say more?) and their beer selection is rather impressive. They don't take reservations, but it is ten steps away from B-Side, so a PBR while waiting would help to kill the time.

190 Ave B and 12th Street

Hidden Sushi in East Village

I have an itching to find the unmarked entrance to Kyo Ya, a relatively undiscovered, but apparently de-li-cious Japanese eatery.

Even if you're looking for it, it's easy to miss. On the south side of East 7th street, look for a little wooden sign on a wrought-iron gate reading simply "Open." Head down the short flight of stairs, and you'll find a cozy underground sliver of a posh Japanese izakaya*.
-- Urban Daddy

* An izakaya (居酒屋, izakaya) is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. The food is usually more substantial than that offered in other types of drinking establishments in Japan such as bars or snack bars.

Thanks Wikipedia.


94 E. 7th St (between 1st Ave and Avenue A)

Commerce Opens Today; 20% off meals for a week!

I can't find an official website for Commerce, but from what I have read, it is opening tonight in the West Village, filling the shoes of the former Grange Hall (and before that, Blue Mill). It may be new, but apparently the appearance is a restoration of Grange Hall, complete with "intricate tile work, original murals by artist David Joel, restored booths originally made from English Chestnut and a stunning art deco Brunswick bar circa 1941."

My favorite quote comes from the Daily Candy newsletter:

"June, a nice lady who's lived upstairs for almost 50 years, says it reminds her of the old old Blue Mill."

Cheers to June. Let's go get food and drink, and then knock on her door to say hello.

50 Commerce Street, between Bedford and Barrow Streets (212-524-2301). Opening Thursday with a 20 percent discount for the first week.

26 Seats on Ave B

I am going on an Ave B binge right now, so just bear with me.

I don't particularly care for the 26 Seats' official website, but I do like the review on NYMag.com:

None of the 26 chairs match in this satisfying sliver of a restaurant near Tompkins Square Park. But that seems to suit the young, happy regulars just fine, because the owner has made quite a show of putting a hallway to good use as a restaurant. The French are famously eclectic, and this exceptional little place is no exception to the rule. Framed mirrors, tiny yellow lights, the hinged, empty panels of a wooden diptych occupy the wine-dark walls. Expect little to no elbow room, but in exchange you get an exceedingly good meal at an exceedingly good price. Service is friendly and professional. Tables are small, but the southern French food has a big personality. The chef elevates bistro food to the hilt by adding smart, zingy touches: cherry juice to offset a hearty duck breast, and a sweet corn cake and champagne vinaigrette makes an unpretentious striped bass bucolic. Wine is priced to sell.
— Natalie Danford

168 Ave B and 11th Street (hel-lo B-Side)

Max Restaurant in East Village

Max appears to be affordable, yummy, and in my favorite area to have libations. Sounds good for a cheap-eat night. Plus they have an outdoor garden area (once it is warm enough again for such things). It's cash only, so don't let me forget to make the needed ATM pit stop.

51 Ave B between 3rd and 4th St

The 2008 Show Round-Up Post

I feel like I post about shows all the time, so here is in its most current state:

Previous
January:

• Kimya Dawson, 1/16, Europa Club: Write-up by Heidi Vanderlee
  
• Quitzow, 1/27, Mercury Lounge (proud Heidi supporter)
  
• Joanna Newsom, 1/31, Brooklyn Academy of Music: Pictures
  

Upcoming
February:

• I am the Heat, 2/13, Lit Lounge (to support Mike)
• The Magnetic Fields, 2/21, Town Hall *SOLD OUT*
  

March:

• 2008 PLUG Awards (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds/Dizzee Rascal/St. Vincent/Jose Gonzalez), 3/06, Terminal 5
• Jose Gonzalez, 3/12, Brooklyn Masonic Temple *have extra ticket*
  

April:

• Paul Simon, April, Brooklyn Academy of Music *purchasing ticket soon*
• French Kicks, April, Mercury Lounge *purchasing ticket soon*

May:

• The Black Keys, 5/15, Terminal 5

Wish List:

• Colin Meloy, 4/16-4/17, Music Hall of Williamsburg
• Feist, 4/28-4/29, Hammerstein Ballroom
• La Vita-Williams Guitar Duo, 4/28, St. Paul's Chapel
  

2008 Plug Awards

Plug Awards at Terminal 5 on March 6th. Jesse and I already plan to purchase tickets, so anyone else that is interested should do the same.

Quick rundown of what to expect:

• Nick Cave and Bad Seeds - headlining performance
• St. Vincent, Dizzee Rascal, Jose Gonzalez also performing
• Patton Oswalt - host

Can purchase tickets starting Friday here.

Colin Meloy in Williamsburg

Colin Meloy (lead singer of The Decemberists) is playing two nights in April at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (Wed. 16th and 17th to be exact).

It will be beautiful, sweet, sweet music. Looking for someone who would want to get tickets with me.

So, yeah.

Joanna Newsom, after the fact

I saw Joanna Newsom perform with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at BAM last night. It was a breathtaking performance and now I forever want to be Joanna's friend and learn to play harp so we can play harp duets (if people do such things in real life).

The reason I am writing an after-the-fact blog is to point out that there was an empty seat next to mine. In the second row! (So close, I felt I could jump up and pluck her harp strings). And my ticket was only $35. Someone could have joined me to share in the experience. Too late now. Sigh. No one will believe how great it was.

The Sartorialist

Yet another exhibit I want to go see (they are really starting to add up).

Scott Schuman, The blogger-turned-digital photographer, is exhibiting his pictures of street fashion. He has gained fame through his blog, where approximately fifty thousand people visit each day. This "blogenomenon" (totally trademarking that) has caused Schuman to be listed as one of TIME Magazine's top 100 design influencers, and now does photo shoots for style.com, the official VOGUE website.

Plus he originally hails from Indiana, my neighbor-state. Let's give two Hoorays for blogs, photos, and Hoosiers*.

When: thru February 23rd, Wed-Fri 11am-6pm; Sat noon-6pm
Where: Danziger Projects, 521 W. 26th St., between Tenth & Eleventh Aves


*Interesting sidenote, Anna, a native of STL, uses this term in a different way as I have seen witnessed before. Courtesy of Wikipedia, "In St. Louis, the word is used in a derogatory fashion in similar context to "white trash".^[6]"

Aussie Love in East Village

SATURDAY DOWN UNDER
Two Aussie Buffets
In honor of Australia Day, two of Manhattan's Aussie establishments are following their national tradition of excess, in the form of Beer Chugging and Pie Eating contests at the Sunburnt Cow and free beach juice shots at Bondi, along with all-you-can-eat shrimp and a buffet. Ozzie ozzie ozzie, oi oi oi...
411: The Sunburnt Cow, 137 Ave C (between 8th and 9th), 212-529-0005
Bondi Road Fish and Chips, 153 Rivington St (between Suffolk and Clinton) 212-253-5311
-- content taken from UrbanDaddy Newsletter

Horst P. Horst Exhibit

Horst P. Horst
What: An exhibition of fashion-shoot perfection from the avant Vogue photographer.
Why: A Horst is a Horst, of course, of course.
When: Thru Mar. 15. Opens Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Regular hours, Tues. & Wed., Fri. & Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: The Forbes Galleries, 60 Fifth Ave., at 12th St. (212-206-5548).
--- taken from Daily Candy Newsletter


I know Chrissy is down for this.

Jose Gonzalez on March 12th

Jose Gonzalez is playing at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple (Clermont & Lafayette) on March 12th and I have two tickets. Want to come along with me? This is part of a "green" tour, so just think of the good you will be doing by coming along!

Etiquette at Velseka

U.S. Premiere of Etiquette
What: Take a seat at a 24-hour Polish diner, put on headphones, listen, and follow directions to pre-recorded live theater.
Why: The chance to be the audience and the actor? It’s your pierogi-tive.
When: Thru Jan. 20. Daily, every half hour, noon-midnight.
Where: Veselka, 144 Second Ave., at 9th St. (212-228-9682). Tickets can be purchased (pairs only) at 866-811-4111; online at thefoundrytheatre.org.
--- taken from Daily Candy newsletter

Also covered on NYTimes.com in this video. Looking for someone to partner up with me so that we can eat Ukrainian food and put on our acting hats!