Thursday, May 26, 2011

"Under a Latin Sky"

Now that the 2011 Kips Bay Designer Showhouse is closed we are all going into ID withdrawl!  Here is the remedy:  The Kips Bay Summer Cruise with Kips Bay Designers!


June 9, 2011
6:15 p.m. Boarding
7:00 p.m. Sailing
Pier 81
(West 41st St. @ the Hudson River)

Enjoy a luxury Cruise around Manhattan on a chartered Yacht, including cocktail, dancing, dinner, live entertainment and more as you admire truly breathtaking views of New York City.  
They've Suggested Festive Attire
for Latin Dancing! Ole!

I'm sure you know already, but if you do not: The Proceeds go to support the wonderful Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club.

Please call for more information or tickets - 718-893-8600 ext. 245
Tickets start at $300
You can purchase one here

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Empire State of Mind

The Junior Committee of The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Cocktails Party to be held at The Empire Room in the Empire State Building May 26th 8-10pm. For tickets please contact Maryann Lauria (212) 233.5500 x216 or mlauria@nyspcc.org or click here.


Photo: GILT CITY New York

The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the oldest charity of its kind in the United States, is dedicated to helping at-risk kids in New York City.

This is the quintessential New York gathering of young professionals and philanthropists, and it benefits the amazing work of The NYSPCC, one of the most admired child-protective organizations in the world.

You are invited to step into the new Empire Room in the Empire State Building (through a new, private entrance!) to enjoy cocktails, appetizers and a silent auction at the “Empire State of Mind” benefit on May 26. (Donate a bit extra and gain access to “ESB After Dark” at the 86th floor Observatory, where a live jazz saxophonist will be accompanying the breathtaking sights of Manhattan until the wee hours.)

The Empire Room is a 3,500-square-foot lounge in the former post office space of the landmark building’s ground floor. The plush space (the creation of Mark Grossich, who also designed the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central Station) celebrates the iconic Art Deco heritage of the building with modern takes on 1920s decadence: mohair and velvet banquettes, and embossed-leather furniture.

Sources: GILT CITY New York & The NYSPCC

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

MooT

I ran across this just in time for a rainy Memorial Day weekend at the beach house:  The word game MooT!




My family loves Scrabble TM, crossword puzzles and puns (well I do!)  and we all appreciate witty repartee so this sounded like a perfect game for us.  There are free questions if you want to see what it is like and the user feedback is VERY enthusiastic.  If you do order it let me know what you think.

(I was not paid for this post.)

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Are you a Dog or a Rabbit?

There's a great exhibit by the artist Ai Wei Wei  in the fountain in front of the Plaza, it is made up of 12 amazingly detailed bronze sculptures of the heads of animals. They represent the animals in the Chinese zodiac
Click Photo to Enlarge
Find the year of your birth
That is your animal
 Did you notice someone has written Free Wei Wei on the sign? 
See link to read about it.


Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram
 
Rat, Ox, Tiger



I'm a ram, what are you?
 

Monkey, Rooster, Dog & Pig.

I like the dog best, what about you?

Up now through July 15, 2011


All photos of Zodiac Animals by ABG.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Rooms with a View

Current exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 



Caspar David Friedrich (German, 1774–1840)
Woman at the Window, 1822
Oil on canvas; 17 3/4 x 12 7/8 in. (45 x 32.7 cm)
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Alte Nationalgalerie



By Sabine Rewald
“Everything at a distance turns into poetry: distant mountains, distant people, distant events: all becomes Romantic.” With these words, the German poet Novalis anticipated the appeal of one of richest motifs in the visual arts: the open window. Beginning with two sepia drawings by Caspar David Friedrich, images of windows—with or without human figures, starkly bare or draped with billowing fabric—filled up artists’ sketchbooks and portfolios and resonated through the art academies and annual exhibitions of Germany, Denmark, France, Russia, and the other northern countries.
In contrast to examples from earlier centuries, such as the celebrated works of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer, the early nineteenth-century pictures usually show the windows straight on, with views seen through them—pastoral and alpine views, views of sea and sky or moon and clouds, and urban views of rooftops, steeples, shipyards, or the skyline of Rome, where so many northern artists went to complete their studies. Sabine Rewald’s informative and perceptive texts set these works in the context of their creators’ lives and careers, apartments and studios, families and professional circles. Following the motif from Friedrich’s sepia drawings in the early 1800s through the flowering of Romanticism to the midcentury emergence of Realism in the works of Adolph Menzel, Rewald provides a much-needed perspective on this important period in Europe even as the works themselves, gathered together here for the first time, offer pure visual pleasure.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Caroline Weld Jewelry

Really fabulous jewelry from a really fabulous girl!  Who also happens to have the coolest voice I have ever heard.



More pix & info here:
http://www.carolineweld.com/

Friday, May 13, 2011

Daddy Daycare

Bacon is on Nantucket with his "Daddy"

"Mommy" is at work in NYC...
Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic - A Free Event!

Sunday, June 5, 2011,  The Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Governors Island

New Yorkers are welcome to come enjoy the event for free!

Gates open at 11:00 a.m. - Gates close at 5:30 p.m.

Free Ferry Rides begin at 10:00 a.m.


New this year, the event will include two large Veuve Clicquot Lounges offering champagne and a variety of gourmet snacks developed by Gabriel Kreuther, Executive Chef of The Modern. The event's “Restaurant Row” will once again be executed by Danny Meyer's renowned Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG). The concessions will include USHG's beloved barbecue restaurant Blue Smoke, Tabla's Chef Floyd Cardoz's El Verano Taquería, Public Fare and more.




This year, the majority of the playing field will be designated for members of the public, so there will be plenty of room for picnicking, drinking champagne and socializing. Bleachers will also be provided for watching the match. Merchandise tents will dot the event grounds and offer a variety of picnic essentials, including Veuve Clicquot items such as blankets, hats, polo shirts, umbrellas, sunglasses and more.

Photos: VC season website
Starting at 10am, public ferries run regularly from the Battery Maritime Building, adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. The ferry is free and the event site is just a short 10 minute walk from the ferry drop-off point.
http://vcseason.com/polo/

Pop Up Shop

There will be a Pop Up Shop benefitting the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club - Opening on Monday



Featuring: Furniture, artwork, lighting, china, silver, carpets, garden items, jewelry & more.
May 16 - 24, Noon - 5:00 p.m. - Open late (8:00 p.m.) on the 19th & 24th
(closed Sunday the 22nd)

Hayes Fine Art Storage & Logistics

305 East 61st Street (btw. 1st & 2nd Aves.)

Please call 718-893-8600 x 245 for information

The  Pop Up Shop runs in conjunction with the
38th Annual Kip's Bay Decorator Show House
Open thru May 26th
163 E. 63rd St.


Present your Show House admission ticket at the Pop Up Shop for a 10% Discount! 

You can also "Shop the Show House" on GILT.com




 

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Hair Color Mousse!

I used to go to a very fancy salon in a very fancy hotel to have my hair colored but I just discovered this stuff




 it is so easy and ~$10! Plus there are coupons available on the L'Oreal website.

I do wish they made it in more shades though, I used "40 Pure Dark Brown" which was a tad too dark for my taste.

John Freida makes one & so does Clairol but I have not tried them, though I'm sure they're good too.

What's your favorite hair product?

Monday, May 9, 2011

Forecast: Dark & Stormy

Hudson River Sailing
Start of Summer, 4th Annual Dark n' Stormy Benefit

Wednesday, May 11th
If you buy tix by Midnight tonight they are only $85

Check out the facebook page

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

To all the moms out there, including my own, thank you for all of your hard work!  None of us would be here without you.  Enjoy your day.

Save the Date for the Bidawee Ball - June 13





Dogs welcome!  (Well, they do need a ticket but they are allowed to attend.)

Time: 6:30pm - 10:30pm

Guastavino's
East 59th Street
New York City

Rolling Rescue info.: http://www.rollingrescue.org/Site/Welcome.html


Our little Bacon came from Bidawee.  They told us he was rescued from a mini-doxie puppy mill in TN.  A great group called Rolling Rescue saves the puppies taken in the mill raids & drives them to NYC (& other spots.) Please consider supporting Rolling Rescue or Bidawee by volunteering, giving a donation or attending an event.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Kentucky Derby 2011

CONGRATULATIONS ANIMAL KINGDOM!

Wow!  What an exciting race.

1st:  Animal Kingdom
2nd: Nehro
3rd: Mucho Macho Man

My bet was on Stay Thirsty.  Who was your pick?

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/

Daffy Daze


Last weekend was the Daffodil Festival on Nantucket. It is always a good time.  After a long Winter everyone is more than ready for Spring and it is reflected in the amount of prep (as in preparation, but I guess in this instance it could mean Preppy-ness too) put into the event.  People put a lot of effort into their cars, hats, outfits, dog costumes, bike/wagon decoration & tailgate parties which is what makes it such a special weekend & so much fun! 

The first event (I think) was the judging of the Window Decorating Contest in the stores around town on Friday.  Winners:
Most Traditional-1st: Nantucket Pharmacy 2nd: Cold Noses 3rd: Young’s Bicycle Shop
HM: Johnston’s Cashmere.
Most Creative -- 1st: Vis-à-vis 2nd: J. McLaughlin 3rd: Nantucket Gourmet
HM: Sweet Inspirations.

The next, around 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, was the Children's Parade, kids decorated their bikes, wagons & scooters, etc, with daffodils and anything else the could think of. Then at 10:45 a.m., the Hat Pagent kicked off, both of these took place down at Children's Beach. After that the Antique Car Parade began at Noon on Main Street.  Then came the Dog Parade at 12:30 p.m. This is a free event but I think they should have a suggested donation of $1 (those who can't afford it don't have to pay, those who can afford it would gladly give more) the proceeds of which would go to the MSPCA.  My dog, Bacon (pictured), always shakes off his costume so we never win. I took the half of his costume that ended up on the cobblestones and pinned it to my head like a fascinator a la a royal wedding guest, it did not help our chances.



Photo: Amanda Morgan
 
By far, the main events are the Antique Car Parade & following Tailgate Picnic.  The cars are decorated with varying degrees of daffodils and many have a theme (e.g., "The Nantucket Hillbillies".) Awards are given to the Best Decorated, Oldest, Most Creative, etc. Then the cars all drive out to 'Sconset on the Eastern most part of the island (7 miles away.) There they have a giant tailgate picnic where more prizes are awarded for the best fare & various themes.  We ran into our friend George at the tailgate picnic, he'd restored an old Jeep that he'd found on Craigslist. They only made a few of this model so it was very unique. 




There was also a flower show at Barlett's Farm and a book sale at the Antheneum (very dangerous, as you end up with 20 pounds of books that you have to cart around/get off the island.)

This year from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. there was a party at the Cisco Brewery (dogs welcome!) with a band.  At 6:30 p.m. the "Spring Down the House" dinner dance at the Yacht Club kicked off to benefit The Small Friends of Nantucket.  At 7:30 p.m., the "Daffodil Swing Dance" started a few blocks away at 11 Centre St., to benefit the alzheimer's group, Rythym Brake Cares.  They offered dancing lessons at the begining of the event which I thought was a very good/fun idea.

A number of bars & resturants opened for the weekend after being closed all winter.  A few new bars & restaurants opened up too. Some places offered special drinks & tasting menus.  At Dune, the bartender had what looked like a floral arrangement of irises on the bar but she told us she was preparing the flowers to use in a drink!

There were numerous art shows, gallery openings (free wine!) and lots of other events too.

Some of the best pictures are on the Inky MirrorMahon About Town sites.


Plan ahead for next year! "Daffy" is usually the third weekend in April but it was pushed back by one week this year due to a late Easter.  All the info is on the Chamber of Commerce site.