In October 2011, Daniel and Eli Russell had a bake sale to benefit children in need.  With their parents’ help, they created chocolate mint, butterscotch sprinkle and raspberry-chocolate flavored rice crispy treats.  Selling on their Upper West Side street corner they sold out in less than two hours.  Inspired by the success of the bake sale, it occurred to them that there might be a business in selling gourmet crispy treats. After 2 years of tweaking they created TREAT HOUSE  which has over 24 different types of treats such as, Bananas Foster, Caramel Sea Salt and Rocky Road.   http://treathouse.com

TREAT HOUSE   452 Amsterdam Ave.  (between 81st & 82nd)   and 1566 Second Ave. ( between 81st and 82nd)

Local girl turned international headpiece impresario, Dora Marra for Head Dress NY is known for her unique, whimsical handmade hair accessories, fascinators, crowns, masks and floral headpieces.  Coveted by celebrities and discriminating museum goers alike  (her collection has sold at the Metropolitan Museum of Art), you have to go no further than the Chelsea Market to sample her vast collection.  You’ll be the most talked about gal in the Easter Parade!

Dora Marra /Headdress NY,  Chelsea Market@ Artists and Fleas,  15th Street and 10th Ave. http://etsy.com/people/doramarra

March 13th @11am   and March 19th @1pm

1929 photograph of an Irish Family shortly after their arrival in New York

A special Big Onion walking tour for St. Patrick’s weekend.  Explore the former “Little Ireland” district of the  Lower East Side, between City Hall and Houston Street examining the tremendous role of Irish immigrants in the history of New York City.  The tour is approximately  2 hours long.

Big Onion Walking Tours  (888) 606-walk     http://bigonion.com/tour/st-patricks-day-irish-new-york

In 1992, a bronze by Jo Davidson of Gertrude Stein was installed in Bryant Park, the first public statue of an American woman in the city.  The author and arts supporter sits in miniature on a pedestal, based on a 1920 model Davidson made while Stein was living in Paris.  Davidson remarked, ” to do a head of Gertrude was not enough- there was so much more to her than that.  So I did a seated figure of her – a sort of modern Buddha.”  When the statue was unveiled in 1923 critics called it ugly and unflattering, Gertrude loved it.  It was donated by art dealer Maury Leibovitz and is only one of five public statues of historic women in NYC.

April 6 – 8th

Women in the World 7th Annual Summit where you will meet the women in the headlines and the women on the front lines.  Activists, artists, entrepreneurs and feminist firebrands – they’re all on the stage at this annual summit of influential, iconic women of our time.  Some of this years participants are Meryl Streep, Former First Lady Laura Bush, First Lady of Afganistan Rula Ghani, Diane Von Furstenberg, journalist Tom Friedman and Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards to name a few.

David Koch Theater, Lincoln Center   program schedule and tickets go to: http://davidkocktheater.com

Friday, March 25th  7pm

54 below celebrates David Bowie, the extraordinary singer, actor, trendsetter and icon.  Honor David Bowie’s life with some of Broadway and cabaret’s top talents as they come together for a musical performance of his greatest works.

Feinstein’s 54 Below  254 West 54th Street   Tickets and info @(646) 476-3551   http://54below.com

March 22-30th

Louis Andriessen is one of Europe’s most eminent and influential composers, whose music is marked by the combination of forward propulsion, sparseness and clarity from large blocks of sound to minimalism.  But there is nothing minimal about De Materie, starting with it’s all-encompassing theme: the relationship between matter and spirit.  Like four chapters of a book or movement of a symphony, this exceptional music theater masterwork is better thought of as a series of visions, as much choreographic as it is operatic. Stunning visual imagery helps convey it’s meaning, with references to Mondrian and Madame Curie as well as floating zeppelins and a flock of sheep.

Park Avenue Armory   643 Park Ave. at 66th Street    http://armoryonpark.org

Through May 7th

Denim: Fashion’s Frontier explores the multifaceted history of denim and its’ relationship with high fashion from the 19th century to the present. The exhibition features more than 70 objects from the museum’s permanent collection, many of which have never been on view. In addition to the history of jeans, “Denim” examines a variety of denim garments from work wear to haute couture. The exhibit sheds light on how a particular style of woven cotton has come to dominate the clothing industry and the way people dress around the globe.

Because of it’s durability, denim  began as an ideal fabric for work wear. The most famous example  is Levi Strauss & Co.who began by clothing the fortune hunters of the 19th century California gold rush. Today denim is the most frequently worn fabric and it is speculated that on any given day, more than half the worlds’ population is wearing denim.

The Museum at FIT  Seventh Avenue at 27th Street  (212) 217-4558    http://fitnyc.edu/museum/visit

Saturday,  March 12th 8pm

The legendary folklorist, bandleader and National Heritage Award- winner Mick Maloney leads a talented cast of world musicians, singers and dancers the fifth annual Celtic Appalachian Celebration a rousing tribute to the thriving Irish and Appalachian traditions.

Symphony Space   Broadway at 95th Street  Tickets @http://symphonyspace.org