RECAP: Earth, Wind, and Fire + Chicago Concert

On Sunday 8/30, Becca and I hopped on the LIRR to Jones Beach to catch the Earth, Wind, and Fire + Chicago, and boy, it was a great time!

We had our own little VIP box seats, compliments of Citibank (one of the LiveNation sponsors and JMW's clients - thanks!), and it was definitely fun jammin' to old time favorites (see a few clips below).

Nikon Jones Beach Ampitheater

E,W,&F + Chicago

Playing together! They have such a great friendship that really carries through in their music and energy. Each of them are so talented too - they do it old school, just straight up raw talent in voice and playing music, it's great.

Some favorites you should recognize:
"You're the Inspiration" - Chicago


"September" - E,W,&F, w/ Chicago

Drinking with Gary V. on WineLibraryTV.com!

As many of you know, I won the MidtownLunch.com drawing to be one of the guests at Gary Vaynerchuk's table yesterday, and I had such a great time!! The taping took place at the Roger Smith Hotel on 47th and Lex, and it was right on the corner so people could stop and watch the show too.

The episode focused on French wines, and it definitely gave me a greater appreciation for wine and the depth you can go in smelling and tasting it. I learned so much, and it's incredible how sensitive our senses can be. I realized that I only know the basics (sweet, sour, bitter), and there are so many more levels of taste and smell that we can develop to enjoy a food or drink even more. Will work on that, but in the meantime, my fave wine of the show was the 3rd one, the Beaujolais, and I am hoping to have it with a nice fish dinner sometime soon!

Thanks Gary for opening my senses to something new to enjoy! Also looking forward to reading your new book, "Why NOW is the time to Crush It! Cash in on your passion". Love "sniffy sniff" haha.

A big thanks also to my new friend, Zach Brooks (photo above, left), creator of the great MidtownLunch.com, someone doing what he loves and sharing it with others in NY--and giving me a chance to do the same. Look forward to another food and wine adventure soon!

Check out the episode (click on link below):

French Wine Tasting – NYC Week Day 4 – Episode #729

This Week in NYC! Exciting: )

Friends,

So many fun things passed this past week that I am sad I didn't get a chance to send a heads up about! I'm in full swing on my project at work, but know that I am always thinking of yall and will do my best to keep up: ).

This is exciting news: for those of you who follow or know about MidtownLunch.com, a great food blog dedicated to the eats in Midtown and around NY really, there was a drawing that I entered for a spot at the taping of Wine Library TV + free dinner at Lily's Restaurant...and guess what: I WON (proof)!! I'm going to the taping tomorrow! and Zach from ML will be there too! You can watch from the outside too - Roger Smith Hotel, 47th and Lex, 6p taping. I'm so excited--stop by! Will let you know how it is: ). Got free VIP tix for Earth, Wind, and Fire/Chicago this Sun too--oh what fun!

Here are a few very cool things coming up. I can't decide, I want to do it all!

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Today Thurs 8/27 - MADCrush Pop-Up Wine Bar: temporary wine and small-plates bar at Mus of Arts & Design - Columbus Circle, 6-1030p
  
• Fri 8/28
• FREE Dancing at Stepping Out. Lesson 830-930p, Open dancing 9p-12a. 37 W 26th St, 9th F. Come dance!
• Food Science Friday, FREE @ BK Kitchen, 4p - demo experiments using common ingredients + free samples!
  
• Sat 8/29
• 5th Annual Chihuahua Races, 1p Free! 83rd and Riverside Park - BYOD (Bring Your Own Dog, hehe)
• Michael Jackson's Birthday - lots of parties and things going on, like Spike Lee's celebration in Prospect Park now, apparently.
  
• YES: NYC's Largest Water Balloon Fight! 1p, Central Park Sheep Meadows, 5th Ave and 67th St- who else is in?? I'll be at the park already, ready for you!
• Sun 8/30 - 27th Annual White Castle Kingsboro Golden Arm Wrestling Championship - Noon, Coney Island
  
• Fri-Sat 8/28-29: Last 2 days of Jazz Mobile - Vocal Competition
  
• Last weekend for Shakespeare in the Park - The Bacchae!
• 8/31-8/13: U.S. Open Tennis!

FREEBIES - yay! lots of good ones, sign up!

• Today Thurs 8/27 - FREE Custard from Spoon City, 3-7p, 5th Ave b/t 33 and 34th
  
• Dessert-Bikini Giveaway from Lovescool - this is SO cute, from a new friend's blog: Leave a comment about the dessert that you'd love to see in bikini form and win a dessert-bikini, winner picked at random. Yum!
• Rock of Ages Tix Giveaway from MidtownLunch.com - Leave a comment with a restaurant around 47th and B'way for the profiled luncher to try by Fri noon to enter into the contest!
  
• Free fragrance sample from Mary Kay
• Free Victoria Secret Beauty Travel Kit ($25 value) with any purchase using this coupon, until 9/24
• Remember, August babies, you get a free chocolate crunch lava cake on your b-day from Dominos!

What are you up to for Labor Day Weekend?

This one was so worth staying up an extra hour to write, I'm so excited about all the upcoming fun and sharing it with you...enjoy!!: )

Yes, I won! Thanks ML!

Thank you, Zach Brooks, for picking me randomly to win a spot at the taping of Wine Library TV next week and free dinner at Lily's!! I can't wait!

http://midtownlunch.com/2009/08/18/gary-vaynerchuk-is-bringing-wine-library-tv-to-midtown/

Will let you know how it goes: )

Burn the Floor!

Tonight after a crazy crazy day, met up with my dear friend Becca W., who gave me an extra ticket for the new ballroom show that just opened on Broadway, Burn the Floor. It was HOT! SO much energy, packed with really great ballroom dancers (pretty much all Latin), great costumes, and amazing bodies haha. Plus, guess who I saw...(I know you're going to scream, Tony...: )

ANYA AND PASHA from So You Think You Can Dance!! They are the feature couple, after Maxim and Karina finished their debut. Pasha is so nice, I wanted to talk to him all night: )



Thank you so much to Becca, the amazing runner who just finished her first half marathon this weekend (NY) - your friendship is the best...and love going to shows with you too!!

Top Chef Premiere! Las Vegassss

Yes, another season of Top Chef is ON! I actually haven't seen the past few seasons b/c I thought it got a little old after a while...but after a few seasons, and watching the finale of the Top Chef Masters show, I think I can get into it again this season. Lots of different personalities on the show this year, though tattoo chefs seem to be the thing this year. And sorry, couldn't tell if Ashley was a girl or guy...but I think she's a girl. Next week's show will tell us for sure, b/c it's girls v. boys!

We wanted to kick this show off with a little dinner and catching up, so we put on our cowboy hats (I had a bunch extra from work haha) and had a nice evening together! Thanks to Greg R. for cooking such a yummy dinner! Look forward to the next one: )

Yeehaw! Las Vegas! haha
TOP CHEF - Las Vegas - on Bravo, Wednesdays at 10p

What Happens When a Ken Liu Comes in Town...

We love having old friends come in town because it gives those of us from CHS already here the perfect excuse to get together (since just living in the same city isn't enough: )...hehe, it feels like old times anyways, don't you think? No time lost, just new memories to make together...

So great you could come for a visit, Ken! I really think you and JJ made the most of your trip: ).

Here's how it all happened:

SATURDAY 8/15
11AM - Started my morning standing in a room full of smelly guys of all sizes wearing white and running back and forth on a gray panel, attached to a wire, no less, with a long sabre = yes, that's right, fencing! Went to see Jerry L. do his thing against US Olympians and the bunch, and it was such a neat experience! Thanks for inviting me, Jerry!

8PM - I enjoyed the afternoon, and then we all met up for dinner at Ippudo! I've heard such good things but never had a chance to go. It was quite an experience, much in part to having to wait 2 hours before getting seated! But, no worries, because the "it was life changing". I think I ate it too quick b/c I was so hungry haha, but it was good! (grabbed some photos from Ken's fb album too: ).

While we waited though, we enjoyed Momofuku's Milk Bar, where my new friend Steven hooked us up with soft serve, cereal milk, and each of the cookies! Delicious!

11PM - Ended the night at my favorite drink/lounge place, Wine Bar near St. Marks!



THURSDAY 8/20
One more breakfast on their last day! Met up at Essa-A-Bagel, "The Best Bagels in NY".

Until next time!