Quick Weekender: 11/27-28

It's already the last weekend of Nov, can you believe it?: )

Let me know if you're interested in meeting up this weekend!

• 11/27 @ 615 - 830p: 2nd Annual Lighted Boat Parade - starts at Pier 66 (north of Chelsea Piers), makes it's way down the Hudson River around...should be lovely!
• 11/27 - 12/5: "Nutcracker in the Lower", Urban Ballet Theater - Nutcracker set in Manhattan! In it's 9th season - $20

Did you make any good Black Friday purchases?  Or too stuffed from Thanksgiving Dinner? p.s. the pay-as-you-wish Thanksgiving buffet (plus photo booth!!) @ Bubby's Tribeca was great, would definitely recommend it for next year.  I only wish I had leftovers: ).

Blessings, all.

Happy Thanksgiving, NYC!

Thanksgiving really kicks off the holiday season, and I can't believe it's already here!  I'm excited for these next few weeks, and I look forward to celebrating with as many of you as possible.

Besides food and football, be sure to check out 2 other perfect Thanksgiving things to do in the city:

TODAY WED 11/24

• 3-10p: The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade balloons get inflated in Central Park! [Between 77th and 81st between CPW and Columbus Ave; website]

TOMORROW THURS 11/25

• 9a: The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade takes place, starting at 77th and CPW, ending at 34th St/Herald Sq.  Organizers say best viewing spots is between 61 and 72nd, CPW.  It's so fun! 

I'm thankful for you!

Weekender: 11/20-21

Too many fun things not to share!

SATURDAY 11/20 

• 10a: First 400 people in line get free gift cards ($10-210) to the new 5th Ave Forever 21!
• 10a-5p: Last Day to enjoy the Brooklyn Flea Mkt outside before it moves indoors for the winter. 
• 11a: See Tina Fey and other '30 Rock' stars @ the NBC Experience Store for the show soundtrack release, free [Rockefeller Ctr].
• 1p: Enjoy chamber music on a large barge, for an hour, free.  A/C to High Street.
• 4p: See my friend Michelle Chai's film Tango Volta on a huge screen as a part of NY Foundation for the Arts Big Screen Project, free.  Go Michelle! [6th Ave bet 29 and 30].
• 12a: UCB's The Hogwart's Improvisation Society - see which team can out-curse each other in this fun improv event, in theme with HP7 in theaters, now! [$5; W26th and 8th Ave]

See I planned a great day for you - the timing actually works out so you can do everything!  Go for it: )

SUNDAY 11/21

• Day of rest, from all the Sat fun!

ALL WEEKEND + UPCOMING

• Until 11/20 - 5 Dutch Days - 5 day cultural event celebrating Dutch influence in NYC. 
• Until 11/21 - Starbucks BOGO Holiday Drinks @ 2-5p - yums!  Who wants to go with me?  I want to try the caramel brulee!
• Until 11/22 - Check out the 18th Annual CANSTRUCTION Competition - structures made of full food cans, later to be donated to City Harvest, awesome! [10a-7p; WFC Winter Garden - directions here!]
• 11/25 - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
• It's pomegranate season!  Check out my step by step photo instruction on how to de-seed them and enjoy right away! [NYColor Post: "How to Eat a Pomegranate"] 
• Check out the holiday window displays in NY - tis the season!  TimeOut NY puts together a list so it's easy - see HERE.
• Until 12/24 - Union Square Holiday Markets are open, yay.

ENJOY!

November Time

Hello November! 

This Fall is going by fast, right?  I do love the holidays in NYC - something so magical about being here during this time of year.  What are your favorite things to do?  It's the little things for me - getting hot apple cider at the holiday markets, eating everything pumpkin, wearing my winter gear, Christmas decorations everywhere, writing and receiving cards, holiday parties, enjoying the warmth of friendships old and new...and looking forward to a new year and new adventures together.  Indeed, much to look forward to.

As you've probably guessed, when I get busy, I don't get to play as much, and as a result I don't post as much here, but that's why you should also be a NYColor Facebook Fan or follow on Twitter (@NYChar), because I do post a few tid bits here and there that I don't want you to miss!  See the side bar on right to add: ).

Stay warm, NYC - more fun to come!

Happy Oct Fun!

A post just in time for the start of Oct and all things pumpkin!  Here are some some fun events to check out this weekend:

SAT Oct 2

• 12-6p: CHILE PEPPER FIESTA - Music, samples, cooking demos...BK Botanical Gardens, $15 (includes garden admission)
• I'm not a fan of peppers, but I like festivals celebrating one food: ).
• 6-7p: It's IMPROV EVERYWHERE'S MP3 Experiment - Midtown Manhattan!  Go to the website for full instructions. 
• I think I can actually do it this year!
• 7p-12a: BRING TO LIGHT NYC - Greenpoint, BK waterfront (Take G to Greenpoint Ave), FREE: "A Nuit Blanche is an all night arts festival of installations and performances celebrating the magic and luminance of light."
• Sounds so cool, can't wait to see it.

SUN Oct 3

• 1130a-6p: 2010 MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL - Fort Tyron Park (190th and Fort Wash Ave), FREE: music, dance, food...and jousting knights!
• 11a-4p: Queens Country Farm's APPLE FESTIVAL - see and enjoy a variety of apples, ciders, and the "nation's largest apple cobbler", whoa!  FREE.

ALL WEEKEND/ONGOING

• 10a-5p: 2ND ANNUAL KITE FESTIVAL in Coney Island, FREE.
• Until 10/10: ART IN ODD PLACES - It's...art in odd places, yea: ).

DEALS

• TODAY Fri 10/1 Only - Get $25 gift certificates for only $1, on Restaurant.com!  Enter Promo Code: WOW.  Perfect for dinner with you and a friend or as gifts!
• Sign up for FREE tix to tapings of COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS shows - only a few shows open still!
• Check out these Oct $31 NYC SPA DEALS from PrettyCity.com, for Nat'l Breast Cancer Awareness month!  Sign up on the link and book your service today (haircut, massage, mani/pedis, facials, and more)!

I won?!

Wow, this means so much!!  My amazing friend Jen K. nominated me for one of the 10 Shecky's Nat'l Girlfriend Awards ("Best Life of the Party Girlfriend" Award, hehe), and what do you know, I got it! 

Read more here: http://www.sheckys.com/2010/08/31/national-girlfriend-award-winners/.  Thanks to Shecky's for the great prizes too!

How can this be? haha...it's having truly good friends like Jen and so many of you in my life that make it easy to have a blast and live it up each day.  Thank you all for sharing in all the adventures in NYC, and many more to come!!

Love! NYChar

End of Summer: Weekend+Onward!

Isn't it crazy that it's almost end of Summer?  Here are a few things from TimeOutNY and my other favorite blogs to check out through the end of the month, in our summer dresses and shorts, before it's time for Fall jackets!  I'm going to try to go to as many as possible: ).

Sign up for the NYColor email subscriptions to find out WHEN!  Goodbye Summer!

THIS WEEKEND:

• Thru Aug - Cranford Rose Garden - smell the roses and other late summer blooms like orchids and sunflowers! [BK Botanical Garden, $8 or FREE Sat 10a-12p and Tues]
• Sat 8/21 - Good Good Trouble on Bad Bad Island - see my friend Josh's play, as a part of the Fringe Festival NYC (see my recent POST, a few more shows left!]
• Don't miss it!
• Sun 8/22
•  10a-4p: Volkswagen Traffic Jam - vintage VW car show (dune buggies and more!) [Governor's Island]
• 11a-6p: Healthy Food and Green Festival - learn the Japanese healthy way! Try snacks (around $5 each) and hear discussions on different food topics [NY Japan Town, Madison Ave bet 43 and 45]
• 2-9p: Blues BBQ Festival - jazz and BBQ, the best combo! I've missed it every year, but I'm determined to make it this year [Blues BBQ, Pier 54 @ W 14th St]
• yes please!

UPCOMING:

• Tues 8/24-Sat 8/28 - Central Park Conservatory Film Festival - see FREE "Iconic NY" movies! [CPC Film Fest, 8p (but get there early!), near Sheep Meadow]
• Tues., Aug. 24: Fame
  Wed., Aug. 25: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
  Thurs., Aug. 26: Saturday Night Fever
  Fri., Aug. 27: King Kong
  Sat., Aug. 28: Manhattan
• Tues 8/24 - The Story of Sushi - Hear Trevor Corson (Iron Chef America Judge) chat about how sushi got to where it is now.  No promise of a sampling, but you'll be full of new sushi knowledge! [Museum of the City of NY, 630p, $12 adults, $8 students.  Must RSVP]
• Do ASAP - Berry Picking @ Patty's Berries and Bunches - Head out for a mini-day trip to Long Island for raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries!  Season is almost over, so get picking! [Patty's, 631-298-4679, $5/bunch]
• Sat 8/28-Sun 8/29 - Pirates and Knights @ The Ren Faire - enough said? Break out your eye patch and take a walk on the high seas....with your local knights and queens, hehe [The Renaissance Faire, $20]
• Until Sun 8/29
• Shakespeare on the Run - yay! roaming Shakespeare, this year's play being "Much Ado About Nothing", which is great fun [NYClassical, Central Park (103rd + CPW), Thurs-Sun 7p]
• Definitely going: )
• Grand Central Dining Week - try the restaurants in Grand Central Terminal, on the cheap(er)! [GCT Dining Week]
• Mon 8/30-9/12 - US OPEN Tennis!!  The best of tennis, only 30 min away from Manhattan.  Love-love it like it's my job (because it is haha) [US Open, check out website for sched and tix]
• Let me know if you go, I'll meet up with you there!