Monday, May 30th 8 pm
Alan Gilbert conducts the New York Philharmonic with Rudolf Buchbinder as soloist at Avery Fisher Hall, 2/14/13. Photo by Chris Lee
The New York Philharmonic will be hosting it’s 25th Annual Free Memorial Day Concert at The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. The concert will feature Brahm’s Symphony No. 2, as well as performances by Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Wynton Marsalis and baritone Thomas Hampson.
Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave.
With it’s 1940’s-style interiors and the smell of fresh baked goodies seducing your senses, score some major brownie points (no pun intended!) this Mother’s Day by bringing that special lady a treat from Billy’s vast array of delicious delectables. Every one of their mouth- watering temptations (I’d kill for their carrot cake!) is guaranteed to add a lot more sweetness for Mom’s Day and every day!
Billy’s Bakery:
After being under consideration for the last 28 years the Landmarks Preservation Commission has designated the Queens Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City an official New York City landmark. “Its prominent setting and its frequent appearances in pop culture have made it one of the most endearing and recognizable icons on the Queens waterfront,” Meenakshi Srinivasan, the chairwoman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, said in a statement.
Installed in 1936 on top of the long-since-demolished Queens Pepsi bottling plant, the sign has been dismantled and shifted along the Queens waterfront multiple times since the late 1990’s (the current sign is actually a 1994 restoration, as the original sign was severely damaged in a storm). In 2013, a 25 story apartment tower on the Queens waterfront was partially recessed to give the sign more prominence.
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Known for a spare streamlined aesthetic, this Japanese retailer takes minimalism to a whole new level; from the design of the space and product to the packaging and production. Muji prides itself in selling no (name) brand quality goods in fashion, cosmetics, stationary, food and home goods. A true original and standout from the clutter of all things “designer”.
Muji:
April showers bring May flowers… hmmm.
For the price of this fabulous blowout that I just “blew” big bucks on and which has now gone awry in an unexpected torrential downpour, there better be some pretty spectacular florals in the coming weeks!
On this first Saturday morning of April, I am walking my beloved 4-legged friend traversing Central Park, east to west. It has been our routine for years now and I dare say my little buddy knows every inch of these glorious 843 acres. She is a celebrity in her own right; prancing and pawing her way through every season for everyone she meets. When there’s a smattering of snow, she on it doing her “shimmy” dance of ecstacy in Sheep Meadow. If it’s 98 degrees and 100% humidity, she finds her way to Bethesda Fountain, basking in the glory of the cool, lilly-covered waters. In autumn she loves to venture to Strawberry Fields, or over to the Conservatory Water to watch the last of the model boats sail off into the sunset before being shelved for the winter. Now here we are in these virgin days of spring, heralding it’s arrival with a seismic, totally unpredicted opening of the heavens as it were. I’m freaking out about my hair whereas she’s loving every big, fat arrogant rain drop that has found it’s way to our corner of the world!
We take temporary cover under the Naumberg Bandshell. I figure I’ll wait this deluge out and eventually hail a cab when I get to thinking… .Why am I so concerned about trivial vanity when I should be embracing the same unabashed “joie de vivre”, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants spirit of my little friend? … With that the two of us leave our safe overhang and venture back out into the dark grey, drenched landscape towards home. We savor every glorious, rain-soaked moment.
The next time you find yourself in a downpour, do yourself a favor and go jump with joyful abandon into a puddle – it’s good for the soul. Trust me… I’m NO April Fool!!!
March 30 – April 3rd
The concept of the Affordable Art Fair is simple, yet unique: an inspiring and friendly atmosphere in which you can find thousands of original paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs all under one roof, ranging from $100-$10,000, with more than half priced under $5,000.
The Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street tickets and more info @http://affordableartfair.com
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DUMBO = Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass
Local artists named the neighborhood in the 1980’s, as they began flocking to this industrial relic. Blending a gritty industrial past with urban chic: Belgian block streets, old train rails and former warehouses. DUMBO is bustling with the creative vibrancy of artists, theaters, restaurants and two waterfront parks. Brooklyn’s DUMBO amazes with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline. This small walkable neighborhood is fun to explore by foot and no matter where you wander, you’re bound to stumble upon amazing places to eat, shop and explore.
Whether you’re to the city born, just “passing through” or an enthralled tourist, no time spent in our fair city would be truly complete without a stroll across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
Built in 1883, this grande dame reaches majestically over New York City’s East River, linking the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. More than 120,000 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 3,100 bicyclists cross it every day. It has inspired the works of such notable artists as Georgia O’Keefe and Andy Warhol, the playwright Arthur Miller, poet Jack Kerouac, musician Wyclef Jean and has had featured roles in time-honored films like “Moonstruck” and Woody Allen’s “Manhattan”.
On any given day you’ll exchange pleasantries with fellow footmen from around the globe, pay homage to the possibility of endless love when viewing the “love locks” or offer congratulatory wishes to those fearless newlyweds taking their first official stroll straight from taking the plunge at City Hall.
It all there and it’s free. Go take a hike!
Starting in the 1990’s, the tradition of affixing engraved locks to bridges has been seen all around the world from Paris’s Pont des Arts, to Rome’s Pont Milvio, to the Brooklyn Bridge. Couples secure their locks then throw the keys into the East River often hitting cars below. The Brooklyn Bridge is a beloved National Historical Landmark and must not be damaged or altered. Because of its iconic status, The New York City Department of Transportation has started cracking down on these locks of love due to safety concerns. So far the city has removed more than 6,000 locks of love.
Early April through mid-May
Pack a picnic, pop open a bottle of champagne and plop down on the cherry esplanade to enjoy the cherry blossoms in full swing. Every spring more than 200 cherry trees bloom over the course of several weeks in a spectacular show of beauty and color at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The very first trees to blossom do so at the same time as the daffodils and each tree will flower for no more than a week.
Saturday, April 30-Sunday, May 1st 10 am-6 pm
Don’t miss, Sakura Matsuri which is BBG’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the festival. The weekend offers over 60 events and performances that celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden 150 Eastern Parkway, More info and directions @ http://bbg.org