Photographs: NYC in the Spring!

Above: Art, trash or both? Only on the streets in NYC...

Left: View from the East Side Greenway. Go biking!

And, in honor of April being Bike Month in NYC:

(This was spotted by Grand Central in Manhattan. Use Metrocards for bikes... ?)

And on that note of being healthy, below is a picture of my local farmer's market, Saturdays in McCarren Park:

And finally, a May Day mural, made by Shepard Fairey, located on Houston and Bowery:

Yes, NYC, I love you... or continue to be addicted to you, anyway.

New York and Stressors... !

I have to say, I was thinking about how and why I am still living in New York after nearly seven years.

Yes, it is an addiction. And it's become my home. And it's exciting. But...

I am also going through the top stressors, which are:

• Finances
• Relationship
• Career
• Health
• Safety
• Home

(See "The Top Six Stressor Areas in Life: How to Recognize & Handle the Stress")

Seriously, I don't have full-time work, I don't have health insurance, I am about to get new roommates, I recently bumped my head pretty hard and had all sorts of worries, and I am probably spending more than I'm earning... But I'm still relatively young and healthy, and my relationship issues could be worse... much worse... and I probably want all of this excitement anyway, after all... And aren't these stressors part of the allure of NYC?

I am balancing it all with lots of shows, from Amanda Blank to Hole to the Gossip, all this week...!

Pics to come.

Amanda Blank Tonight!

It is almost unreal to me that I was able to score Amanda Blank tickets for a little under $20 each, for tonight at The Bell House. Amanda Blank is sure to blow up much more in the near future!!

Described in Time Out New York as a performer who, "like her contemporaries—M.I.A., Santigold—Blank looks fondly upon the ’80s, with spare beats and a voice befitting her surname." (Read more at newyorktimeout) Seriously, she knows how to make some catchy, dancey, infectiously happy songs!!

Tonight's show is also a benefit for keep-a-breast.org, to which 100% of the profits from the event will go toward. This is mighty in keeping with recent events I've been attending... seems like it's a new trend to have events, from shows to shopping to parties, in the name of charity! Not a problem to me.

The show is all-ages, doors are at 7:30 pm, and MDNR opens. Click here to buy tickets!

See you at the show!

New York Restoration Project and Real "Earth Day" Events

So after all the hullabalo of Earth Day in NYC, I had a subsequent few days that were a little more genuine in their celebration of Earth Day.

My Saturday afternoon took me to check out the Buffalo Eachange $1sale, which admittedly was incredible, but I decided to resist the urge for purchases I didn't need (or really want) and continued my walk on the mellow, sunny Saturday afternoon. Then I came across the McCarren Park Greenmarket - the farmer's market at my local Williamsburg park - where I sampled a variety of apples, people-watched and picked up a flyer on Grow NYC's Clothing & Textile Recycling operation. Next time I have clothing to discard, I think I will bring it to my local greenmarket to be recycled -- pretty impressive! And, after having recently finished Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, I will be sure to shop more frequently at my local greenmarket.

And, in culmination of my Earth Day weekend, I spent the day today at Union Square Park, where I participated in what New York Restoration Project (NYRP) called "New York City's gardening event of the season"- a series of workshops and rows and rows of booths on everything from wildlife to organic gardening on your rooftop to ConEd's green energy. My friend and I estimated afterward that we had acquired around $35 worth of booty in assorted (mostly organic) goods after we walked away from the event -- that and several packets of seeds, which has all served to plant its own seed of inspiration for me to attempt some fire escape/windowsill gardening of my own!! I have managed to keep houseplants alive, so why not some tomatoes and herbs...?



Here's to a relaxing, green weekend...

Saturday Day Pick: $1 Shopping in the Name of Earth Day!

Buffalo Exchange is having a $1 day sale today, Saturday, April 24, in honor of Earth Day. This sale will be going on at both their Williamsburg and East Village locations, and the stores will be replenishing the $1 bins throughout the day.


Here are the details from their website:

SAVE WILDLIFE FROM TRASH! DOLLAR DAY SALE FOR EARTH DAY

All Locations
Apr 24, 2010

Save wildlife from discarded trash while shopping for hip used clothing at a bargain! In celebration of Earth Day, all proceeds from Buffalo Exchange’s Dollar Day Sale benefit The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest animal protection organization. All sale items offered for just $1 each at your local Buffalo Exchange on April 24 will go to the Don’t Trash Wildlife campaign of The HSUS, and three HSUS wildlife centers that rescue and rehabilitate wild animals. Earth Day benefits at Buffalo Exchange stores have raised over $274,000 for environmental causes since 1997.

Don’t Trash Wildlife. Thousands of wild animals are injured or killed every year because of carelessly discarded litter. Food containers become death traps when animals get their heads stuck inside, reaching for tasty residues at the bottom. Plastic floating on the water’s surface looks like food to sea turtles and other marine creatures. Shore birds and other animals become ensnared by fishing line and plastic six-pack rings. By safely disposing of containers, wrappings, and other trash, you can help prevent these tragedies. Three of the wildlife care centers operated by The HSUS often treat wild animals with life-threatening injuries caused by discarded trash. For more information, visit www.humanesociety.org/buffaloexchange or email wildlife@humanesociety.org.

 Stores are open today from 11 am - 8 pm! Vintage shopping for a good cause, I like the sound of it.

Swing House Party this Saturday!

So much going on, so little time. The below info is courtesy of Gemini & Scorpio.

Gemini & Scorpio present:

Swing House - Second Anniversary
A dazzling vintage dance event: "Gatsby-era fun with a twist of new-school vibe" (Village Voice)

Sat, April 24, The Green Building, 450 Union at Bond, Carroll Gardens, BK
(M/R to Union or F/G to Carroll)
8pm doors, 8:30pm dance class, 9pm party; $15 with RSVP + themed dress,
$20 door, $10 after 12am; 21+
Details & RSVP: http://www.geminiandscorpio.com/events.html
FB: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=109404192414668
Secret $10 presale: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/107987 (pass "secret")

A costumed dance ball with live swingin' sounds by authentic vintage jazz bands, re-bopin' DJs remixing and reinventing vintage grooves, dazzling dance numbers and blazing burlesque, held in an enormous and aged warehouse with soaring peaked ceilings, peeling whitewashed brick walls, old wood beams and glowing chandeliers.

Featuring...Live music all night by authentic swing cats Nick Palumbo and the Flipped Fedora Orchestra and special guests from Berlin swing/ska/gypsy punk rockers BudZillus. Renown burlesque divas Amber Ray and The Maine Attraction. After the glitter settles, eclectic mixmaster DJ Shakey throws down vintage grooves and modern beats late into the night. Charming hostess and songstress Kim Boekbinder of "Vermillion Lies" guides you through the night. Exotic cocktail menu featuring herbal concoctions by The House of St Eve and other delectable potions. FREE basic swing dance class before the event by Akemi Kinukawa of Dardo Galletto Studios.

The Jazz Age never ended, it just got funky. Dress accordingly: "An event worth wearing that ridiculous zoot suit for" - TimeOut NY. "Corsets and top hats tweaked with studs and leather are totally appropriate" - The New York Times. No casual attire. Past Swing House details & photos: http://www.geminiandscorpio.com/e09-03-15.html

Bushwick Thunder Gumbo Party Saturday!

This Saturday, April 24, is another large arts party in Bushwick!

Thunder Gumbo party details below:

This Saturday…

Thunder Gumbo episode VI: “Dr. Moreau’s Holiday Island”

319 Scholes St. Brooklyn (Montrose stop on L train)
10p-6am, $10

Free Jungle Juice before 11!

The story:

Thunder Gumbo needs a vacation.

After reviving Zombie Warhol, we were exhausted. He was so grateful for his re-animation that he booked us a vacation on a remote, exclusive holiday island! It’s run by a kindly old man named Dr. Moreau, who used to have some sort of laboratory on the island. Apparently it didn’t really turn out too well, so he decided to convert it into a fabulous resort! AND he asked us to bring along all of our friends- that’s you!

H.G. Wells let us borrow his speedboat, so we sent Dr. Adventure down to check out the island. Apparently there was talk of a revolution among the anthropomorphic, half-beast locals…but Dr. Adventure whipped ‘em into shape and they were serving tropical beach-side cocktails in no time. However, being the hero that he is, Dr. Adventure ventured to a neighboring island to quash a blood revolution by the natives and was taken prisoner. Though he will not be joining our festivities in person, his captors have agreed to provide a live video feed from his prison cage.

This is Thunder Gumbo’s Spring Break! For one night only, through mysterious methods that even we don’t fully understand…our crew has transported this island paradise back to Brooklyn for Thunder Gumbo episode VI.

Costume Suggestions:

Fangs, whiskers, claws, tails, antlers. Ears on the top of your head. Tropical attire, Hawaii 5-0, coconut bra’s., 6 cup bikini tops, spots,. SPECIAL GIFTS THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT TO THOSE IN THE MOST UNTAMED ENSEMBLE!