Kick Off 2012 on Broadway!

2012 is already proving itself to be a fun year, especially with these 2 awesome show deals that I just found out about today and couldn't wait to share with you all.  Thanks to newyorkology.com for the post - btw love this site for all things NYC!

SHOWS IN PREVIEW - Only $10!

SHOW 1: Don't Dress for Dinner
IN PREVIEW: Mar 30-Apr 1 shows
DISCOUNT CODE: Access10
TIX: Purchase HERE, $10 total (reg. $67-$117)!  Choose Mezzanine seats for the deal.
WHY I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT: This is the sequel to one of my absolute fave b'way plays, Boeing-Boeing, which won the 2008 Tony for Best Revival.  I saw it at least twice when it was still on broadway.

ABOUT: From Roundabout, it's "about “a husband, a wife, a lover, a mistress and a cook thrown together in the same house for one riotous weekend - and it’s going to be an affair—or three!—to remember."

SHOW 2: Harvey
IN PREVIEW: May 18th -20th shows
DISCOUNT CODE: Access10
TIX: Purchase HERE, $10 total (reg. $37-$122)!  Choose Mezzanine for the deal. 
WHY I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT:  Stars Golden Globe and Emmy Award® winner Jim Parson (of "Big Bang Theory"!) as the invisible 6-foot-tall rabbit friend.  Love: )

ABOUT: Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy by Mary Chase, first showed on broadway in 1944.  Parsons stars as one of modern theatre’s most lovable characters, Elwood P. Dowd. Charming and kind, Elwood has only one character flaw:  an unwavering friendship with a six-foot-tall, invisible white rabbit named Harvey. In order to save the family’s social reputation, Elwood’s sister Veta (Jessica Hecht) takes Elwood to the local sanatorium. But when Dr. William Chumley (Charles Kimbrough) mistakenly commits the anxiety-ridden Veta, Elwood—and Harvey—slip out of the hospital unbothered, setting off a hilarious whirlwind of confusion and chaos as everyone in town tries to catch a man and his invisible rabbit. 

OTHER THEATER DEALS in Jan+Feb
And there's more! 

• Broadway Week - 2-for-1 tix go on sale JAN 4 to see more than 20 shows from JAN 17 - FEB 4, including “Wicked,” “Lion King,” “Jersey Boys” and “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.”
• Off-Broadway Week - same deal, tix also on sale JAN 4, different timeframe - JAN 30 - FEB 12, including “Avenue Q,” “Blue Man Group,” “Rent” and “Stomp.”
• 20at20 - JAN 18 - FEB 16, get $20 tix to over 30 off-broadway shows, 20 min before the show!

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
I have seen some great shows with many of you while they've been in preview (The Importance of Being Earnest (one of my fave), Death Takes a Holiday, Present Laughter), all with the Roundabout Theatre Company, and there isn't a much better deal (except free, which happens occasionally too: ) to experience Broadway.  Seats are in the back, but you see the show all the same!  And if you really like it, you can pay full price and see it again : ).

No thinking involved - just get the tix, take a friend or two (or make it a nice dinner + show date), and enjoy an afternoon/night out in NY! 

Email me (nycolorislife@gmail.com) or check the NYColor Facebook page to find out exact dates I'm going, if you want to meet up with us: )

Holiday Cheers!

Yes, it gets cold in New York, and days like today (on and off drizzle of rain) doesn’t make living here much better, but we are blessed to be able to celebrate the holidays in such a great city, which I think makes it all worth it.  There’s just something magical about this time of year, and we should celebrate each day this season, as much as possible.  And there are lots of things to help us do just that (most of them are FREE too!) – here are a few.

HOLIDAY

Tues 11/29

• 1230p + 6p: NY Theatre Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” Performance and Tree Lighting (evening only) – 100,000 lights!  No tix needed [World Financial Center (200 Vesey St), Winter Garden - directions]. 

• 7p: Bryant Park Tree Lighting - Check out this 53 foot tree with 3,000 ornaments, topped off with a night of free performances (on ice, b’way, and music - headliner: Sarah Maclachlan). [42^nd bet 5^th and 6^th Ave] 

Wed 11/30

• 7p: Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting – A whole line up of musical guests including Justin Bieber, Michael Buble, Mariah Carey and more light up Rockefeller Center and one of NY’s most iconic Christmas trees filled with 30,000 LED lights – and a Swarovski crystal on top! [W48 & 51 Bet 5^th and 6^th Ave]  
• Unless you can get there really early (5p?), or have an office you can watch the show from (if you do, let me know haha), I would recommend watching on TV (NBC is airing it live at 8p) and checking out the tree on another night.  Even with this weather, it will be packed out in true NY style. 

Other Christmas trees to check out, while you’re at it:

• Now thru 12/24 - South Street Seaport 40 ft tree + light show, M-F from 5-10p, every hour on the hour 
• Lincoln Center – 63^rd and B’way
• About.com’s top 7 NYC Christmas trees 

Thru 12/31

• Free Admission to the Bronx Zoo OR NY Aquarium in 2012, with donation of new, unwrapped toy OR 10 nonperishable food items
• Also upcoming at the Bronx Zoo – ice sculpture competition, presents to the animals (details TBC), see here. http://www.bronxzoo.com/plan-your-trip/events-calendar/ice-sculpting-weekends.aspx

MORE FUN

·         DANCE

• This Wknd 12/3-12/4: Big Apple Dancesport Challenge – Amateur ballroom competition at Columbia Univ, Free to watch day session, with professional showcase at night, more details on the website. 
• You can see me dance if you come at the right time: )

·         ICE SKATE

• Now Open: Ice skating rink @ The Highline (under Standard Hotel) - $12 admission + $3 skates.
• An even better deal: City Pavilion ice skating in LIC - $5 M-F, $8 Sat and Sun + $5 skate rental [Indoor, 1 stop after Queensboro Plaza on the 7]

·         SHOP

• Today 11/29 – Sat 12/3: J. Crew Sample Sale - 60% (to 90%, some reports say?) off! [Opens at 10a + T-F until 8p, Sat until 6p | 260 5^th Ave bet 28^th and 29^th st] 
• Now Thru 4/1: Brooklyn Flea Market/Fort Greene has moved inside to 1 Hanson Place.  Great place to find some unique gifts!
• New fave market: Artist and Fleas in Williamsburg – we like Helena's jewelry (bouh)!
• Preview on 12/15, open 12/16 – 12/31: Chelsea Market Holiday Pop-Up Shop 

·         EAT

• Now - Thru 11/30
• $5 Café Metro Sandwiches, Wraps, and Pitas if you order online HERE. 
• 50% Off Burritos at Blockheads, 91^st and Amsterdam location 
• BOGO 6in Subway sandwiches, Daily before 9am

·         WATCH

• Now - Thru 12/23: She Kills Monsters @ 7p – fantasy role-playing show based on Dungeons & Dragons, Pay-What-You-Can on Tues, $10 Matinee on Sat (reg $25) [The Flea - 41 White Street between Church and B’way]
• New movies on my list: The Muppets, Hugo, Tin Tin, Arthur Christmas, Puss in Boots (why not: )

More fun is on its way! I wish you a merry holiday season: )

Upcoming Fun!

It's one month before my half birthday, yay!  I know you're excited as well.

Here are some other things I'm excited about today:

1. Raining Cats and Dogs - I just bought tix (under $10!) to go to Meet the Breeds, the World's Largest Showcase of Cats and Dogs (over 200 breeds!) - this weekend 11/19 - 11/20 from 10a-5p @ Jacob Javits Center.  And even better that I found a promo code for 30% off: "friend"! 

Tix prices go up tomorrow 11/18, so get it today!  Email me to meet up: nycolorislife@gmail.com.

2. BOGO Starbucks - Buy 1 holiday drink Nov. 17 (today!) - 20th between 2-5p, and get one FREE! (website)

Options - Peppermint Mocha, new Skinny Peppermint Mocha, Caramel Brulée Latte, Gingerbread Latte and Eggnog Latte.

We're going today @ 315p, Spring St location.  Looking for a 4th - anyone?: ) I want to try Caramel Brulee and Gingerbread! 

3. Edible Exhibition @ MoMA - Food as art, FREE (with MoMA entry)!

Enjoy Rirkrit Tiravanija's curry exhibition on the 2nd floor, Nov 17 2011 - Feb 8 2012 - AKA free veggie curry lunch noon-3p (except Fridays, where it's served from 4-7p - perfect: get FREE admission Fridays after 4p) -see NYTimes Article.

Also on exhibit that I like: Diego Rivera!

 
 

4. Burrrrrrito - Get 50% off Blockhead Burritos at their newest location, 91st and Amsterdam all month - Nov. 15-30th!

5. Gobble Gobble - Don't have plans for Thanksgiving yet?  Even if you do, make plans to go to Bubby's Tribeca for a pay-as-you-wish Thanksgiving buffet with all your favorites, and a "generous portion" of the proceeds go to a local homeless shelter!  We went last year, and it was delicious.

Sample Thanksgiving Day Thurs 11/24:

• 11AM Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
• 1PM Shopping + Lunch
• 330PM Dinner #1 @ Bubby's
• 7PM Dinner #2, as planned: )

More fun to come!  Stay dry, NYC!

-NYChar

11/11/11!

Yes - of course we will need to celebrate this "ones upon a time"* (only happens every 100 years!) event of 11/11/11 @ 11:11 (am and pm!) - and why not celebrate with the "ones" you love?

Like this couple who's celebrating their 11th anniversary on 11/11/11 in the 11th state - which is New York, naturally!  We really should just do what they have planned:

• 11:11am Brunch at 11th St Cafe on 11th St
• Watch Titanic and/or Lord of the Rings, which both won 11 Academy Awards
• 11:11pm Dinner at Gene's on 11th St and Greenwich

Other reasons to get excited about this day**:

• 111111 x 111111 = 12345654321 
• Last 2 digits of the year you were born + Your Age = 111 - lucky money for everyone, Confucius says (thanks for sharing, Brittany B.)
• You are allowed to make 2 wishes - 11:11am and 11:11pm 
• It's the 93rd anniv of Armstice Day (aka Veteran's Day), the last day of WWI.  There's a 1 min moment of silence at 11am.
• The "Great Blue Norther" took place on 11/11/1911 - a "cold snap" in Kansas City that went from a high of 76 degrees F in the morn to 11 degrees F at night - in only 14 hrs!
• The star Antares, Earth, Venus, and Mercury are all expected to align - what's known as a conjunction.

Have a great time!

*phrase by retired HS teacher Ronald Gordon - see article
**"World Set to Celebrate 11.11.11"

Happy Autumn!

It was a busy late summer for me, but I look forward to having some more adventures with you this Fall now that I'm more free. My weekends are starting to fill up already, but here are a few fun things to consider doing over the next few days.

UPCOMING EVENTS (Yay Street Fests!)

Sat Oct 1

• 11am-4pm: Union Square Autumn Fair (FREE, B'way bet 17th and 23rd)
• A perfect little walk to pick up some local veggies and treats, and get a cup of hot apple cider to enjoy while you're there.
• 11am-6pm: Chile Pepper Fiesta ($10-15, BK Botanical Garden)
• It’s back! I’ve never gone before, but I’d love to check out the Chocolate and Chili Takedown and just see the sweat on everyone’s faces as they’re sampling all of the hotness.
• 1pm-7pm: 13th Annual Czech Street Fest (FREE, E73rd btwn 1st+2nd Ave, 6 train to 68th St/Hunter College)
• Fest to celebrate the Czech Independence Day 
• 6pm-12pm: Bring to Light – Nuit Blanche New York (FREE, 6-12pm, Greenpoint, BK)
• Neat event that we went to last year and would highly recommend going to! 
• “The event, pegged to similar happenings in Paris, Brussels and Toronto, gathers 50 artists from around the world to transform the cityscape into a glowing urban scene.”

Sun Oct 2
Here we go, October!

• 1130am-6pm: 2011 Medieval Festival (FREE, Fort Tryon Park, A train to 190th St)
• Step back into the Middle Ages and enjoy the fare, activities, and costumes of the era, jousting and all!
• 12pm-6pm: Atlantic Antic (Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn)
• “Shops, Music, Food, & Fun at Brooklyn’s Largest Street Festival”
• Check out 1 mile of over 500 booths, whoa.
• 12pm-5pm: 23rd Annual Upper Broadway Harvest Festival (FREE, B'way bet 96 and 110)
• Here's one for those of you who like to stay on the mainland: )

DEALS

• $1 for $25 Restaurant.com Certificates – the last time I saw this was at least 2 years ago, so take advantage and scoop some up for fun Fall dinners with friends - no code needed - extended to today 9/30.

OTHER TID BITS

•  This week is an ode to hot drinks!
• THURS 9/29: Happy National Coffee Day! I bet many of you didn't even know you celebrated it: )
• FRI 9/30: Mulled Hot Apple Cider Day: )
• Weather.com is showing 50-60% chance rain tonight into the weekend (rain boots time!), but get out there and enjoy as much as you can of NY before it truly gets too cold to do anything.
• Take a look at the night sky when you can - see the really bright star to the East about 10 or 11p?  It's JUPITER (thanks Jason Kendall from the Amateur Astronomy Assoc for confirming: ).  Rises tonight at 8p.

Game. Set. Match.

We made it through the night, right?  It still remains uncertain as to when NYC will be back up and running, but let's enjoy this time "off" while we can (but still staying indoors and safe, if possible).

It's still windy and a little rainy in my part of town, but other parts of the eastern seaboard are still seeing the affects of this hurricane turned tropical storm (and newscasters are already talking about the next one - named Jose!).  I hope and pray that our friends in NC, VA, NJ and other affected areas will keep your head up and have hope for the better day that will come soon.

So what can we look forward to next?  That would be the 2011 US Open Tennis Championships! The USTA is still projecting an 11am start time tomorrow (gates opening at 10am) but looks like a final decision will be made later tonight.  Check the website (linked above) or follow along on Twitter for the latest: @USOpen.

To prepare:

• Check out Esquire's article on what to eat!  Definitely looking forward to trying out the lobster roll, Top Chef Master Mantuano's Wine Bar Food, ACES (where Morimoto will be making the sushi and sashimi? yes!), and my favorite - the crepes.
• Be sure to take advantage of the American Express check-in offers on Facebook and FourSquare!  Link your card, spend $20 at concessions, restaurants, and retails stores, and get a $10 statement credit.  Awesome. And for sure check out the new US Open American Express Fan Experience.  Read about other onsite benefits here.
• This is for a good cause: Tweet to #GONEXTCONTENDERS and Amex will donate $1 for Fresh Courts for kids - yay (I just did it - your turn!).
• Lots of other good info can be found on USOpen.org - like the Men's and Women's draw, Day 1 schedule, and more about the players.

Onward to September!

Come on, Irene!

How is your hurricane day going, friends?

Irene is a true lady keeping us all in waiting, haha, but I hope you are making the most of it (and staying safe and dry, of course!)

Here's a question for you: what kind of foods did you stock up on?  I'm sure we all got about the same kinds of things - foods that don't require cooking or heating, can last for a while.  The problem is, I just want to eat it all at the same time because it's here!

This is what I did with some of the things I bought (in a crazy long line at Pathmark last night...), very simple ingredients that you should already have around the house:

• Peanut Butter (I like a little crunch in mine)
• Honey
• Banana
• Bread

Put it all together and enjoy!

But take it one step further and stick it in the toaster, and it brings it all together even more (thanks to Chris C. and Michelle S. for the idea - we talked so much about it that I had to try it: ).

Note - one thing I would do differently next time is to put the bananas on AFTER toasting - I found it to be a little dry after the heat.

As my own final little touch, I sprinkled some granola, almond, raisin cereal on top for added texture.

And that was my little Hurricane Irene treat for today (with a cup of kumquat and honey tea: )  Feel free to share your ideas too! Heart!