Calling All Ghouls & Boogie Monsters..

Saturday, Oct 26

12-4PM

Come Join Us For A Halloween Craft-A-Bration

Art in a Box Company

31 Main Street @ One Station Plaza

Ossining, New York

First Thursdays in Dumbo

Every 1st Thursday of the month from 5:30- 8:30 participating galleries in the D.U.M.B.O. (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) area of Brooklyn are participants of the Gallery Walk. Bars and othe venues join in on the fun.

Check out http://dumbonyc.com/ for more information on this night and other happenings in the area.

Or for up to date information on participating galleries and venues email

culture411@twotrees-dumbo.com

Happening for the Fashionistas and History Buffs

The Humanities and Social Science Library at 42nd and 5th Avenue is offering a lunch time class in on-line research technique that will make accessing their extensive fashion, costume and dress materials, which includes back issues of popular fashion magazines as well as 18th and 19th century publications, simple and fruitful. The class takes place on April 7th at 12:30pm.

EARTH HOUR TODAY!

Today at 8:30PM join in the Earth Hour!

Millions of individual, businesses, governments and civic organizations around the globe will turn off their lights for for one hour today starting at 8:30 local time. This event, which started in Sidney, Australia, hopes to have over 1 billion people join together in a global effort to show that its possible to take action on global warming

info at http://www.earthhour.org/

New York Library Happening - Japonisme

On February 17th the Humanities and Social Science Library at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street will host a 12:30pm lecture on the Influence of Japanese Art on the fine and decorative arts, architecture and even Haute Couture of the 19th and 20th centuries. It's Free!

Happening - Xin Nian Kuai Le

Today the Chinese New Year celebrations begin. 

It is the year of the Ox. 

A year of reflection, hard work and prosperity

The Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival begins at 11:30AM in Chatham Square (Bowery, Mott & East Broadway intersection). There will be traditional and contemporary performances by Asian Americans including singing, music and dancing lions, dragon and unicorn troupes. Today's celebration ends at 2:30 PM so get there early!

Unfortunately I will have to wait. So on Sunday, February 1st along with thousands of others I will find my spot along  the Mott, Canal and Bayard Street route for the 10th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade and Festival. The parade, which starts at noon, will include elaborate floats, dance troupes, musicians, acrobats and an estimated 5,000 participants. it will end at 3PM, but hang around as there will be continued performances at Bayard Street.

For My Cantonese Friends -

Gong Hei Fat Choy

Happening - Fashioned Images

There was a time when I had subscriptions to almost every mainstream fashion magazine out there but after more than a few years of pawing through them I finally realized that they each pretty much presented the same articles and clothing trends every month. To give my postman a break I cut down to just 3 subscriptions and now only receive Vogue, Bazaar and InStlye. Though they may all hit on some of the same trends each magazine has a different demographic so each differs in layout, price point and content presentation, offering some things the others don't, that includes the advertising they carry.

From these magazines I cull images that I keep in inspiration files. I refer to those files when I am rehashing my wardrobe by either buying classic pieces or low end versions of those trends. More importantly some of the images are so beautiful I just can't part with them. So if you love fashion images as much as I do beginning this month the International Center of Photography at 1133 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave & 43rd St) hosts an exhibition of the high fashion photographs of Edward Steichen.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Mr Steichen it was his lens that shaped and changed the perception of the American in Fashion and Film (i.e., alluring images of Greta Garbo and Gloria Swanson, see his picture of Paul Robeson in the Emperor Jones here, recall those of Gary Cooper and Charlie Chaplin). Most of the 175 photos being presented are from the archives of Conde Naste where Mr Steichen worked from 1923-1937 and are expected to cover the full range of the iconic images he created. The exhibition runs from January 16th through May 3rd. Admission is $12, children and museum members are always free and there are discounts for seniors and students.

http://www.icp.org/site/c.dnJGKJNsFqG/b.850259/k.B70/Upcoming_Exhibitions.htm

Happening - FIT Exhibition

When people think of the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) they think of a school that offers education in the business and art of fashion but they rarely think of the school's museum.
The museum, which started in 1967, maintains and chronicles the history of fashion by archiving, exhibiting, publishing and offerring various programs that document and explore
clothing, accessories, textiles and visual materials pretaining to fashion.

The current exhibiton SEDUCTION, running from Dec 9, 2008 through June 16, 2009, explores the role of sexuality in fashion. Using selections form the museums's permanent collection the exhibition will feature over seventy looks from the mid-eighteenth century to the present.

If you visit before February 21, 2009 you will also be able to catch the GOTHIC: Dark Glamour exhibition before it closes. With more than 75 ensembles set in theatrical mise-en-scene suggesting iconic gothic settings this exhibition explores the history and present day representation of what has come to be known as the "Goth" look.

Check out the site for location and visiting hours
http://www.fitnyc.edu/aspx/Content.aspx?menu=FutureGlobal:Museum

Winter Solstice Celebration

I have always been reminded that the Yule log fire and Christmas tree were really in honor of the Winter Solstice, not Christmas. Winter Solstice or Mid Winter marks the shortening of the long dark nights and the lengthening day light hours. For many cultures this occurrence is welcomed by festivals, rituals and gatherings in honor of the rebirth taking place. The celebration of Christmas and all our current traditions during this time of year is no coincidence.

This Thursday, Dec 18th, and Friday, Dec 19th, at 8pm The Cathedral Church of St John the Divine at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue will join in the celebration with their 29th Winter Solstice Celebration. Gospel singer Theresa Thomason, Brazilian singer/guitarist Renato Braz and Woodwind Master Paul McCandless as well as a host of other amazing musicians will celebrate the Sun's journey. This gathering also marks the first time since the fire in the Cathedral 7 years ago that the newly restored Great Aeolian-Skinner Pipe Organ will be played.

Ticket prices vary, reserved - $75 and General Admission - $50 and/or $35, and can be purchased on line, which I strongly suggest since the Cathedral's concerts sell out quickly.
http://www.stjohndivine.org/WinterSolstice08.html

Happening - Sitting On Santa's Knee

The weekend brings the luxury of getting up, puttering around the apartment and then crawling back into bed with or without an agenda (wriggling eyebrows here). It is one of the finest luxuries I partake of, time and silence in my space. Last Sunday I crawled back into bed with a cafe latte and fresh three-berry muffins to watch a few of my favorite holiday movies. After a few hours of snow covered illusions and Christmas pageantry I was left wondering whether children still ask their parents to take them to see Santa Claus. When I was a kid dressing up and heading over to the Herald Square Macy's to wait in line to see and petition the jolly man himself was a yearly event. I have since found and destroyed the pictures my mother made us take each year but this year I think I will head on down to Macy's with the niece and nephew to pass along the tortur...errrrr tradition.

Macy's Santaland, located on the 8th floor of Macy's Herald Square, is open daily from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. from Friday, November 28th through Wednesday, December 24th (5:30PM - Santa has to get moving!). Admission is free and the gratification of seeing your child talking to the jolly old elf is immediate as Santa's workshop now takes digital photographs. While there stop by the 9th floor’s Puppet Theater to see the holiday puppet musical Miracle on 34th Street. Admission is $5 per person and shows run nine times daily from November 28th through Wednesday, December 24th. For more information, call 212-494-4495.

Happening - I Can Promise You the Moon!

I almost forgot to share this wonderful event.

Tonight, December 12, 2009 the moon will be at it's largest and most illuminated for the year. The weather is to be clear and cold.
Grab a bottle of wine, a special someone(s) and give yourself the luxury of a gaze at the year's most brightly lite moon...

Holiday Happening in da Bronx

I encourage a visit this coming weekend to the Bronx to enjoy the annual holiday events that take place at both the Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden. They are close enough so that you can visit both in one day. You will be exhausted, but then isn't that what holidays happenings are for?

The Bronx Zoo ( http://www.bronxzoo.com/) is located at Fordham Road and the Bronx River Parkway and easily accessible by car and mass transit. This Saturday, Dec 13th and Sunday, Dec 14th starting at 11:30AM and again at 1 and 2 PM LuAnn Adams will be sharing stories with the little ones and Ice Sculptures of NY will be bringing animal and holiday sculptures to life from 12 -3:30pm. There will be photo opportunities with Stilt Walkers, Choral performances throughout the day, craft and ornament making and even a S'more share. But the stand out of this weekend's events will be the performances by the New England Ballet Company under the direction of Artistic Directors Kenneth Hopkins and Karen T. Goodman. The troupe will perform excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at 11:30AM, 1pm and 2:30PM.

After spending some time at the zoo make your way down the road to the New York Botanical Garden (http://www.nybg.org/) to take in the yearly Holiday Train Show which features a landscape of 140 replicas of New York landmarks made from various plants and parts.

I strongly suggest going to both sites and purchasing your tickets before you begin your adventure.

Happy Holidays!

Happening - Fritz Scholder @ NMAI New York

This month both the Washington and New York City locations of the National Museum of the American Indian will have retrospectives of one of my favorite Artists, Fritz Scholder (1937-2005) .

From Nov 1, 2009 through May 17, 2009 there will be 135 paintings, works on paper and sculptures produced by this American artist on display at each location. This is the 1st comprehensive retrospective of his works since his 2005 passing and many of the pieces are from private collections.

The National Museum of the American Indian in New York City is located at the

George Gustave Heye Center

One Bowling Green .

(4 or 5 to Bowling Green stop or the R or N to White Hall Street)

Admission is always free and on Thursday evenings they are open until 8pm.

For More information -
http://www.nmai.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=exhibitions&second=ny&third=current

Painting - Fritz Sholder - Man in Blue

VICTORY!!

When I first started this blog I promised to keep my opinions and politics from the posts. After last night’s victory I must break that promise. I apologize.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible," Mr. Obama told the crowd, "tonight is your answer."

Happening - Running with Take Out - NYC Marathon

This Sunday, November 2nd is the yearly New York Marathon. It's also the beginning of day light savings times so fall behind that hour at 2am so you take your spot along the race's course bright and early and cheer on all those athletes! www.nycmarahton.org/home for more details.

I have never run the marathon, walking 5 miles a day is enough tyvm!, but my friends and I have joined hundreds of others along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn with thermoses of hot coffee, snacks and even folding chairs to cheer on friends who have. Today the New York Times has a great article about places to eat along the the 26.2 mile course, many of which reflect some of the 100 countries represented by runners in the race -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/dining/29marathon.html

I can't even begin to consider and comment on all the options listed but I can tell you this year we will be picking our cheering post based on what we want to eat!!

Happening - Kiku

Readers I have to admit when I spied the sign on the side of this bus I thought my favorite Brooklyn Japanese sushi place had become a fast food chain. Instead the sign announced the month long event of Kiku at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx.

http://www.nybg.org/kiku08/

From October 20 through November 18th the garden will host the art of Kiku, which is a traditional Japanese art of meticulously cultivating chrysanthemums. The New York Botanical Garden's website claims that this will be the most elaborate floral and cultural exhibition shown in the gardens 116 years. There will be dancing and druming and Kiku for kids and opportunities to learn Japanese gardening techniques and of course lots of books, prints and other gift shop items for consideration. I have already planned my visit!