Archive for July, 2010

Lucky 13 in the Hamptons. It’s Super Saturday 13, where retail therapy and retail philanthropy are at their best. And Camp Divalysscious will be there to entertain Junior. If you’re staycationing in the city, consider onion tie-dyed t-shirts and ginormous puppets.

Go
Camp Divalysscious: Lights, Camera, Action!
Super Saturday 13
Super Saturday is the fundraiser maximista for the fashionista. It’s a designer garage sale that benefits the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Kelly Ripa, Twilight actress Ashley Greene, Donna Karan, Ariel Foxman and InStyle magazine are hosting Super Saturday this year. Divalysscious Moms is running Camp Divalysscious at the event. The “camp” will feature s’more-making, tote bag- and instrument-decorating, mini manis, balloon artistry, performances by Broadway Babies and Laughing Pizza, and, of course, snacks.
When: Sat., 7/13, 1-6pm. Camp Divalysscious is free with the purchase of tickets for Super Saturday. Visit ocrf.org to buy tickets. Kids under 5 are free.
Where: Nova’s Ark Project, Water Mill, NY

Garden & Taste
Garlic and Onion Festival
“The Edible Garden”
New York Botanical Garden
Celebrate pungent produce at The New York Botanical Garden. Family activities include: hands-on gardening, tie-dying t-shirts with natural dyes made from plants in the onion family, and “pungent produce” snacks. Mints not included.
When: Sat., 7/31 and Sun, 8/1, 1:30-5:30pm. Free with admission. Buy weekend tickets online and save up to 50%.
Where: Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden, The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) at Fordham Rd. nybg.org. (718) 817-8700.

See
The Silly Jellyfish
Hudson Vagabound Players
Puppet Show
Catch this larger-than-life puppet show where performers borrow from the traditional Japanese Bunraku style of puppetry.
When: Fri., 7/31, at 11am. Free.
Where: Brower Park, Brooklyn Ave. and Park Place, Brooklyn

Do
Maya & Miguel: Big Ideas
at The Scholastic Store
Characters Maya and Miguel will transport kids to Mexico during their Scholastic story time. M&M will be on hand for a meet-and-greet/photo opp, and they’ll share recipes and entertain with quizzes and games.
When: Sat., 7/31, at 3pm. Free.
Where: The Scholastic Store, 557 B’way (bet. Prince and Spring Sts.). Stroller entrance is at 130 Mercer St. scholastic.com.

It’s obvious Larry has no access to any cool map apps …

Larry is the Larry of the Larry Gets Lost series. He’s already wandered aimlessly around L.A., San Fran and Chicago. Now Larry the dog is trying to figure out NYC after getting separated from his family in the subway system. He hits all five boroughs and many of the tourist hot spots - Radio City Music Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Central Park, Madison Square Garden and Wall Street. (Don’t worry, Larry, a lot of people have lost their way on Wall Street. At least you didn’t lose millions in the process.)

Larry, GPS and Foursquare could change your life.

Larry Gets Lost in New York City, written by Michael Mullin and John Skewes, and illustrated by Skewes, is available at amazon.com.

This weekend in NYC, celebrate H20 and dragon boats, and get ready to say goodbye to Curious George.

Go
City of Water Day
Governors Island
On the waterfront: free harbor boat tours on historic vessels; a flotilla of rowers and paddlers; plus a children’s fair with live performances, races, a science barge lesson, arts ‘n’ crafts and tree planting.
When: Sat., 7/24, 10am-4pm. Free. (All ages)
Where: Governors Island, citywaterday.org. Other Water Day activities are taking place at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Liberty State Park and the Atlantic Boat Basin.

Hear
Justin Roberts at the Highline Ballroom
Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players are hitting the Highline Ballroom for a summer concert in connection with their latest release, Jungle Gym. Roberts, a heavy hitter on the indie family music scene, has been compared to Buddy Holly and Weezer.
When: Sat., 7/24 at noon. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Tickets available at highlineballroom.com.
Where: Highline Ballroom, 431 W. 16th St.

Dragon Boat Festival Family Day
Museum of Chinese in America
Michele Wong McSween, author of the popular Gordon and Li Li Mandarin books for kids, will be on hand to teach the six-and-under set a few Mandarin words and sign copies of her books. Dragon boat stories, dragon boat puppet and xiang bao making (a xiang bao is a scented sachet for good health) are also part of the day’s festivities.
When: Sun., 7/25, 10am-5pm. $10 per person. Free for kids under one and MOCA members. Visit mocanyc.org for specific event times.
Where: Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St. (bet. Howard and Grand Sts., one block north of Canal St.)

See (Last call!)
“Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey”
The Jewish Museum
This exhibit will only be at the museum through August 1st, so you have about a week more to catch it. Illustrator H.A. Rey and his wife, Margret, an author and artist, brought Curious George to America 70 years ago. This exhibit chronicles the Reys’ incredible back story: a dramatic escape from the Nazis, their survival and the creation of the world’s most famous monkey. The Jewish Museum’s exhibition features nearly 80 original drawings and watercolors; many of the works are on display for the first time. The exhibition also includes an interactive, touch-screen timeline, preparatory dummy books, a reading room and H.A.’s journals detailing the Reys’ journey to freedom.
When: Runs through 8/1/10. Free with the price of admission.
Where: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St., 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org.

Suffering from Workout Boredom Disorder (WBD), you need to change it up every few months on the exercise front.

Introducing ViPR. Pronunced “viper,” the workout program, which is exclusive to Equinox’s clubs nationwide, uses a colorful, hollow tube with multiple hand grips. ViPR combines movement with load training, so you can work on your core, balance and agility simultaneously. You’ll also raise your metabolism, burn calories and work your muscles through resistance, endurance and strength training. University of Alberta kinesiologist Michael Dalcourt developed ViPR, which stands for Vitality, Performance and Re-conditioning. Dalcourt grew up on a farm, where it was necessary to work the entire body as a whole in order to accomplish the tasks at hand. And that’s the underlying philosophy of ViPR.

The ViPR regimen includes lifting, flipping, squatting, lunging, carrying, tilting and rotating. Trainers have 9,000 exercises at their disposal. So no two sessions are the same. Group classes begin next winter, but Equinox is currently offering ViPR workouts with a personal trainer.

Should be able to hold your interest.

Visit equinox.com.

Free access to some of the city’s premier museums plus a pop-up playground …

Go
Target Arts & Wonder
This weekend, more than 120 cultural institutions in 30 cities will be participating in Target’s Arts & Wonder extravaganza. That means free access to and special activities at Cooper-Hewitt, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, MoMA, El Museo del Barrio, the Brooklyn Museum plus other NYC museums and arts meccas.
When: 7/16-7/18. Visit target.com/arts for a full list of participating cultural institutions and specific event times.

Play
Imagination Playground Pop-up Tour
Carl Schurz Park
You’ve heard of art exhibits going on tour. Well, this is a traveling playground … at least for now. Imagination Playground is touring NYC until it settles into its permanent home at Burling Slip in Lower Manhattan. Conceived and designed by architect David Rockwell, the playground consists of loose components such as gigantic blue foam blocks, mats, wagons, fabrics and crates. Kids can reconfigure and transform their play space.
When: Sat., 7/17, & Sun., 7/18, 11am-5pm.
Where: Carl Schurz Park Playground, E. 84th St. and East End. (Next weekend, Imagination Playground will be at Pierrepoint Playground in Brooklyn.)

Do
Mardi Gras Meets Carnaval
Roosevelt Live
Hear the New Orleans music of Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra, and enjoy Nation Beat’s Brazilian-style Carnaval.
When: Sun., 7/18, 3pm. Free.
Where: Riverwalk Commons on Roosevelt Island. (Take F train to Roosevelt Island. Note: The Roosevelt Island Tram is currently shut down for renovation.) Visit rooseveltlive.com.

New York City has more than 20,000 restaurants. But even with all of that competition, Shake Shack, a modern-day “roadside” burger stand, has still managed to develop a cult following.

Now patrons of these “burger stands,” owned by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, have one more spot to get their fill of ShackBurgers, Concretes and cheese fries. Shake Shack has just opened an outpost in the theater district. The menu features all of our Shack faves - custard, burgers and hot dogs - plus a selection of Concretes inspired by the restaurant’s new nabe. There’s a Great White Way (vanilla custard, marshmallow sauce and crispy crunchies) and Pretzel! The Concrete, (chocolate custard, peanut butter and marshmallow sauces with chocolate-covered pretzels).

Something to look forward to next time you have to brave Times Square and all of those tourists. And in August, the UES is getting its own Shack.

Theater District Shake Shack, 691 8th Ave. (southwest corner of 8th Ave. and 44th St.) (646) 435-0135.
Hrs.: Daily from 11am - midnight

Photo credit: William Brinson

This weekend, we’re focusing on activities to escape the heat. Think penguins, milkshakes (well, just one Milkshake), seining and shopping.

See
Wild, Wild World: Live Penguins
American Museum of Natural History
Meet a Black-Footed Penguin at AMNH. Jarod Miller, host of the nationally syndicated series “Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller,” will discuss how these penguins live … and parent! The penguin “meet-and-greet” is in conjunction with AMNH’s exhibit Race to the End of the Earth.
When: Sat., 7/1/0, 11am-noon & 1-2pm. Museum admission is $12 for adults and $10 for kids (members’ tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for kids). (All ages)
Where: Linder Theater, first flr., American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th St. amnh.org.

Hear
Milkshake Concert
The Jewish Museum
Award-winning tot rockers Milkshake will perform Sunday at the Jewish Museum. Milkshake has appeared on PBS Kids, Nick Jr. and Discovery Kids. As long as you’re at the museum, check out the Curious George exhibit (Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey.)
When: Sun., 7/11, at 2pm. Tickets are $16 per adult, $11 per child (for members, $13 per adult and $9 per child). Tickets may be purchased by calling 212-423-3337 or by visiting jewishmuseum.org. (All ages)
Where: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave. at 92nd St.

Do
Seining the River Wild
Brooklyn Bridge Park
Join experts from the Coastal Marine Resource Center in using a 30-foot seining net to catch fish and who knows what else. Kids can eyeball the fish before the “catches of the day” are released back into the water. Past “hauls” have included striped bass, flounder, shore shrimp and puffer fish.
When: Sat., 7/10, 1-2:30pm. Free. First-come, first-served. (Ages 5 and up)
Where: Beach under Manhattan Bridge at Brooklyn Bridge Park. brooklynbridgepark.org.

Shop
Jacadi, Baby CZ, Marie-Chantal
Sample Sale
Save on spring and summer clothing, footwear and accessories for kids. Brands include Jacadi, Baby CZ, Marie-Chantal and Beatrix. Clothingline is running the event; the company also does fab sample sales for adults (Rag & Bone, Tory Burch, Kooba). The Theory and Helmut Lang sale (for you) starts July 19th.
When: Sun., 7/11, 11am-4pm. Mon., 7/12, 10am-6pm and Tue., 7/13, 10am-6pm. Admission is free. Accepted forms of payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, ATM bank cards and cash.
Where: SSS Sample Sales, 261 W. 36th St. (bet. 7th and 8th Aves.), 2nd flr.
*Note to self: Sign up for Clothingline’s free newsletter so you can find out about upcoming sales.

Plan
The Pregnant New Yorker’s
Alternative Health Event
(CPR, safety, postnatal workouts and more)
Get tips on CPR and First Aid, and learn about unsafe cribs and dangerous infant products. Discover how acupuncture and massage therapy can help during pregnancy. Find out about baby stroller classes that infuse pilates and strength training.
When: Tue., 7/13, 6:30-9pm. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Pre-register at thepregnantnewyorker.com.
Where: Yummy Mummy, 1201 Lexington Ave. (bet. 81st and 82nd Sts.)

Photo credit: Emperor Penguin diorama, Race to the End of the Earth, AMNH/D.Finnin.

We’ve got some super chic little bakeries (with prices to match) here in the city. The problem is, some of their gorgeous confections don’t score major points in the taste category. Not true of e.e. cookies.

UWS mom Kori Stanton launched e.e. cookies after years of searching for a great cookie in NYC. Her chocolate chip cookie is what a chocolate chip cookie should taste like. It’s thin enough so the chunks of milk chocolate take center palate. Other e.e. temptations include mint chocolate chunk; triple chocolate chip with pecans; oatmeal with dried cranberries, blueberries and walnuts; and peanut butter (peanut butter cookie with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Reese’s Pieces and peanut butter chips).

Stanton has already developed quite the following. Her e.e. cookies were featured as the “Snack of the Day” (under the name “Taste Cookies”) on the Rachael Ray Show, and they’ll be part of Martha Stewart’s “Milk and Cookies” event at the New York City Food & Wine Show in October. Lucky for us, she offers hand delivery in Manhattan. (Nationwide shipping is also available.) Perfect for hostess presents, parties and summer picnics.

Got milk?

A 6-pack is $9.95, a 12-pack is $17.95, and a party tray for 10 people sells for $49.95. Stanton offers catering (baby showers!) and has a Cookie of the Month Club. Visit eecookies.com.

This holiday weekend in NYC - Bieber, berries and, of course, fireworks.

See
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
The nation’s largest 4th of July fireworks display returns to the Hudson. This year’s theme is American Harmony. The 26-minute extravaganza will feature more than 40,000 shells. And they’re ramping up the “fire power;” Macy’s is increasing the number of shells that can reach heights of 1,000 feet. The 34th annual Macy’s show will include The New York Pops and teen phenom Justin Bieber.
When: Sun., 7/4, at 9pm. Free. (All ages)
Where: Visit macys.com for info. on access points.

Go
River to River Festival & Dan Zanes
Grammy-Award winner Dan Zanes headlines the River to River Festival’s July 4th event line-up. During his finale, Zanes will lead a massive marching band made up of members of the public (on their own brass instruments) playing “76 Trombones.” The acclaimed Colombian band La Cumbiamba eNeYe kicks off the concert. Jugglers and stilt walkers are also part of the celebration.
When: Sun., 7/4, 1pm “doors” open. Space is limited and entry is first-come, first-served. 2pm - La Cumbiamba eNeYe. 3pm - Dan Zanes and Friends/76 Trombones parade. Musicans, visit rivertorivernyc.com for sheet music for the parade. Free. (All ages)
Where: Battery Park at State St. and Battery Place.

Eat & Educate Yourself
Garden-to-Table Weekend
The New York Botanical Garden
This weekend is a Garden-to-Table Weekend at the NYBG; G-to-T themed weekends celebrate in-season local veggies, herbs and fruits. Berries will be front and center, starting this Friday. Enjoy The Edible Garden and take in one of the cooking demos offered at 1pm and 3pm. We’re all over Sunday’s featured dishes: Raspberry Yogurt Fool with Basil and Chocolate Raspberry Upside-down Cake.
When: All cooking demos are at 1pm & 3pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for children, ages 2-12. Kids under 2 are free. Tickets are available at nybg.org. Free for members.

Sat., 7/3 - -Alissa Dicker Schreiber, cooking instructor/food writer/creator of The Kitchenista Web site.

Sun., 7/4 - Jansen Chan, Exec. Pastry Chef, Oceana

Mon, 7/5 - Dan Latham, Exec. Chef, Cornelia Street Cafe.

Where: The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Rd., Bronx, NY. (718) 817-8700.

Play
FIGMENT 2010 Mini-Golf Course
If MoMA had a golf course, it would look like this one. Figment projects bring together artists and the public to “find new ways to create, share, think and dream.” This year’s 11-hole course on Governors Island has a World’s Fair theme.
When: Through 10/3/10. Fridays - 10am-4pm, Saturdays & Sundays - 10am-6pm. Free.
Where: Governors Island.

Happy Fourth!