Flower Power!

Look at what's blooming on Park Ave between 57th and 67th, from tomorrow Jan 25 to May 31: 40 flower buds between 5-10 feet (and bugs too), by artist Will Ryman!  Read more HERE. 

Curbed NY - [Via Flickr/twi-ny]

Thanks to Susan L. for the tip!

NYChar Adventure: Sat 2/5 Ice Skating in LIC!

Let's go ice skating!

I recently came across a fun Meetup.com group called RANDOM EVENTS, and they have some neat events that I look forward to going to!  Here's one that's close to home...well, used to be close to home, since I recently moved from LIC, but this is the perfect excuse to go back for a visit!  Besides, I didn't go ice skating this winter season yet, so this checks off that box too: ).

THE PLAN: SAT Feb 5th

730p: A few quick stops on the 7 train will get you to City Ice Pavilion (47-32 32nd Place), NYC's only rooftop skating rink, and for only $8 includes - free skate rentals, lessons, and approx 3 hrs of skating!

SIGN UP: I RSVP'ed for 4, so the first 3 people who respond can come with me (nycolorislife@gmail.com)!  Otherwise - to get the discount, go to the link below to sign up for the group, and then you're all set. 

More details here:
Random Events: ICE SKATING, Free skate rentals, Free lessons, extended time for ONLY $8!!!!

I have a few more events in mind to plan, so get excited!  See you soon: )

Last Min Weekender: 1/22-1/23 + Upcoming

Coming to you late night, as I'm watching the Australian Open on the tube (Go Isner!).  It is cold, but don't let it stop you from some of these fun things going on this weekend: )

SAT 1/22

• 11a-6p: BROOKLYN FLEA MARKET - this is my fave default event when I have an open weekend, not only b/c it's so close to me, but there are so many gems to pick up from the various vendors!  I always end up buying something totally cool (like my little teacup ring for our British night last weekend, love it:) [One Hanson Place, Fort Greene - all major lines come here!]
• 1p: BARGEMUSIC - chamber music on a barge under the Brooklyn Bridge! Approx. 1 hr, FREE [A/C to High St, F to York St, or 2/3 to Clark St; directions]
• 5p: Bryant Park's WINTER FILM FEST - kicks off with "Happy Feet" this Sat and then the next 4 Mondays, FREE.  Might be a little cold, but all the more excuse to grab a warm blanket and  cuddle up! [42 bet 5th and 6th]
• Monday, Jan. 24 (6:30pm) – March of the Penguins (G) 
• Monday, Jan. 31 (6:30pm) – Ice Age (PG) 
• Monday, Feb. 7 (6:30pm) – Blades of Glory (PG-13) 
• Monday, Feb. 14 (6:30pm) – The Cutting Edge (PG) 

SUN 1/23 - Score some good deals around the city!

• Last Day! Stop by any Bath + Body Works to pick up your FREE 2 oz. Carried Away lotion (with this COUPON)
• 11a-6p: 
• PARK HERE: Indoor Pop-Up Park - I'm sure you've heard about it, now go check it out!  P.S. Weekends only there are some local vendors featured who would normally be closed in the winter, yum! [Thru 1/30; 201 Mulberry St, 6 train to Spring St]
• BROOKLYN FLEA MARKET - One can never go too many times in one weekend: )
• 12-3p: FREE Grimaldi Pizza @ the Limelight Market [Until 1/25 or so; 656 Ave of the Amer]
• 12-7p: TASCHEN WAREHOUSE SALE - 50-75% off books!  They may be a little damaged, but they'd still make lovely coffee table books: ) [107 Greene St, bet Prince and Spring]

UPCOMING

• 1/24 - 2/6: NYC Restaurant Week - $24.07 for lunch, $35 for dinner at some hot spots around the city, like A Voce, Perilla, db Moderne, Morimoto, etc!
• 1/24 - 2/13 (20@20 ends 2/6): 2-for-1 or $20 B'Way Tix - score cheap(er) tix to some great off broadway shows, like Avenue Q, Blue Man Group, Fuerza Bruta, etc!
• Good date idea: book a nice dinner and then go to an off b'way show (I mean, that sounds like a great night to me...and easy to plan, guys! hehe: )
• 2/3 Chinese New Year of the Rabbit!
• 2/5 @ 730p - ICE SKATING in LIC (only rooftop rink in NY) w/ Random Events - only $8, including skate rental, private group lesson, and approx 3 hrs of skating!

More on the way.  Bundle up and have a great weekend!

Let's PLAY!

There are 3 good theater deals going on now, check them out! 

The show offerings are almost identical between the first and third deals, with the only difference being that the 2-for-1 is slightly more expensive but guaranteed.  For 20at20, you have to go a little early to wait in line.  Even though the actual tix sell 20 min before the show, people start waiting in line at least an hour before popular shows (that's how Ben and I saw Fuerza Bruta last year, which was great!).

1. Now-2/6: 20at20 - $20 Tix 20 Min before the show!
2. Now-2/10: 2-for-1 BROADWAY (promo code: BW211)
3. Now-2/13: 2-for-1 OFF-B'WAY Tix (promo code: NYCGO)

Shows I want to see: The Fantasticks, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Freud's Last Session, Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, & Marriage, The Perfect Crime...well, I wouldn't mind seeing any of them, really!

Save the Date: Stop n' Swap in Feb

This could be something fun to check out in Feb, especially if you have a few things you don't need anymore and could be of good use in a new home...or just to pick up a few things for yourself.  Free!

Stop n' Swap is community swap where people can bring "clean, working, portable" items (clothing, books - I have a few I can donate! - electronics, etc) for the taking, but this isn't a requirement.  Anyone can check out the items and take on a first come, first serve basis. No doubt most of it we may not want or need, but there might be a few gems in there.  Not something I'd go out of my way for (one loc is near me, so it works out:), but it's all in the name of Recycling - a cause I can support: ).

There are a few locations, but here are the 2 that I think most people can get to more easily.

Saturday, February 12, 11am-2pm - Queens (Jackson Heights)
Renaissance Charter School, basement cafeteria
35-59 81st St. b/t 37th & 35th Aves

Saturday, February 26, 11am-2pm - Brooklyn (Ft. Greene)
M.S. 113 lobby, 300 Adelphi Street b/t DeKalb and Lafayette

Check out the website for more details: http://www.grownyc.org/swap.

NYColor Meal & Movie: The King's Speech, Sat 1/8!

Friends,

To kick off the new year, let's start with a Meal & Movie this Saturday January 8th!  This is where we watch a recommended or well-rated movie and pair it with a meal appropriate to the genre or movie theme.  We usually go before noon to AMC for $6 tickets and grab lunch afterwards, but we're making an exception this week (using discount tickets, of course: ).

Upon recommendation from my mom and a few friends, we're going to watch THE KING'S SPEECH, starring Colin Firth (see the trailer HERE).  Bring your fake British accents and join us for dinner and a movie!


NOTE: Meeting time and location will be emailed through the NYColor email list (sign-up HERE, if you haven't already!) or email me: nycolor.is.life@gmail.com

 See you then!

NYChar Review: New KTown Food Court!

We might have a new favorite hang out place in NY, and it's in KTown, right across from Woorijip - another favorite of ours.  Featuring over 200 seats, 3 floors, and free water for the long walk down 32nd st (note: from a water dispenser, but you get your choice of hot or cold: ), we foresee this new food court as a convenient place to grab a quick bite at one of the 7 restaurants (for a reasonable price, all pretty well under $10) that may rival Woorijip but won't make it obsolete (at least we hope not!).  I'm interested to see what happens on a busy day - currently, it seems inefficient with having to order everything at the front.  Let me know what you think (see photos and review from MidtownLunch.com HERE).

From the NYCCravings Food Truck

As for the food options, 6 of the 7 stands are Korean (w/ Japanese and Chinese influence), naturally, but all a little different, so I look forward to trying them.  The 7th stand is one familiar to me: Bian Dang (formally NYCCravings).  I used to work next to the truck and think it's pretty good Taiwanese food, especially for this area.  There's a "Taiwanese Sampler Platter" that's only $4 that you should start with, and then you can build up to the pork chops (see left: ).

It will take a few months before it's fully ready, but it's already a cool spot to check out, even just for the Korean music videos on the 3rd floor.  Just ignore the random paintings - not sure what chocolate, popcorn, sashimi, soup spoon, and a drum w/ a pepper have in common haha.  We're also not sure what to call this place yet (don't quite like Food Gallery), but the best unofficial name to date is "Ktown Kafeteria".  Other thoughts?

Sweet Taro Ice Cream Crepe

Crepe Monster - 3rd Floor

***FREE ALERT***: One reason to check it out this week is to see Josh at Crepe Monster - a not-yep-open crepe place on the 3rd floor, because he's practicing and making savory (bul-go-gi) and sweet (w/ Chinatown Ice Cream Factory ice cream) crepes that he's giving out for FREE (after 7p).  

Our little secret - try it out! Disclaimer: this isn't an official free deal, and he only makes a few to hand out, but if you're there at 7p, you have a good shot.  I've gone 2 days in a row now to hang out and can confirm the offer.  

I'm sure we'll be back to visit soon (see how much fun we have there: ).  Enjoy!