Thursday, December 26, 2013

What can you do with your kids these Holidays???? (besides loving them)

For Children Ages 2 to 102
12.20.13 12:00 pm - 1.23.14 6:00 pm
Ukrainian Institute of America,
Ukraine children’s book publisher A-BA-BA-HA-LA-MA-HA will host “For Children Ages 2 to 102,” an exhibit featuring original hand-drawn illustrations from famed Eastern European children’s books at the Ukrainian Institute of America. Exhibit is open Tuesday-Sunday.


Holiday Open House
Where: Queens County Farm Museum
When: noon–4pm
Situated on the largest remaining tract of farmland in NYC, the Queens County Farm Museum traces its history back to 1697. This holiday open house event includes tours of the festively decorated farmhouse as well as craft activities for children. Guests can enjoy mulled apple cider, made with cinnamon and maple syrup and served hot.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Amazing lights show tonight at 7 pm in the Empire State Building

Monday December 23, 2013 the Empire State Building will put on a LED tower light show nightly at 7pm which will be synchronized to a mix of holiday music and broadcast on New York’s radio station 106.7 Lite fm. According to the press release, the best light show public viewing locations will include the Brooklyn Bridge, Bryant Park, The Highline, Hoboken/Jersey City Waterfront, Hudson River Esplanade, Long Island City, Madison Square Park, Tribeca Park, Union Square, Jackson Square, and the Williamsburg Waterfront. But, don’t fret if you can’t see it live, because each night videos of the shows will be featured on the Empire State Building’s YouTube page. For complete details click this link https://www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIDYXAnOezo&feature=youtu.be

Friday, December 20, 2013

The perfect after Xmas night! 12/26 around Columbus Circle

First get a table in front of the stars show in the Bouchon bakery located in the 3 rd floor of the Time Warner center http://bouchonbakery.com/,
then visit the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) pay as you wish 6-9 pm
http://madmuseum.org/

And then the strawberry of the dessert:
Sofía Rei concert for free!

Thursday, December 26, 2013 at 7:30pm
Target Free Thursdays
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, Frieda and Roy Furman Stage

Sofía Rei of Buenos Aires, Argentina, inventively explores and charismatically connects the various traditions of South American folklore, jazz and electronic sounds. With a new creative series described as “philosophical wanderings,” Sofía delivers a haunting yet uplifting performance, sharing with us Latin American stories filled with loneliness and laughter, religious doubt, political protest and true love. Having worked with renowned musicians from around the world, from Bobby McFerrin to La Bomba de Tiempo, Sofía’s contribution to the global music scene has earned her a lasting following from “New York City audiences from Carnegie Hall to the hippest downtown haunts” - Phil Lutz- The New York Times.

Sofia Rei: vocals and charango
Josh Deutsch: trumpet
Eric Kurimski: guitar
Jorge Roeder: upright bass
Yayo Serka: drums/percussion
Plus special guest: tba

Thursday, December 19, 2013

For Brooklyn lovers: watch out for Bill Murray random appearance

For Brooklyn lovers: watch out for Bill Murray random appearance
13 Amazing Things From 2013 (from DoNYC)


1. Mister Sunday

These parties combined everything we love about the summer: music, dancing, sangria, tacos, being outside with friends. Each week, Justin and Eamon did a masterful job of digging deep into the vinyl to gradually transition the atmosphere from afternoon hang to evening dance party. There were plenty of highlights — Dan Snaith’s takeover and the All My Friends grand finale come to mind immediately — but our favorite part was always the collective cheer that erupted when the lights came on, signaling the beginning of the night and the final chapter of another summer week in the city.

2. Deerhunter



Every time we see Deerhunter, we can’t believe that they’ve pulled off the seemingly impossible feat of actually getting better live —and 2013 was another huge year for the band. They dropped an incredible new album, played a standout set at Governors Ball, and graced the city with 3 superb shows in September. On the final night of the run, Bradford Cox expressed his love and gratitude for New York, explaining that listeners in their hometown of Atlanta never really paid attention to the band until people in NYC started taking notice.

Bradford also mentioned that their new record, Monomania, was written and recorded in Greenpoint — and largely inspired by Let There Be Neon, the signage supply store in Tribeca. So, yeah - Go New York.

3. Free Evening Shows at Radegast



All year long, Radegast was our go-to weekday concert destination — and it never failed to disappoint. Jazz is the name of the game here, with post-war, New Orleans and gypsy-inspired groups throwing down multiple no-cover sets every weeknight at 9. We loved to sit back with a palm ale and a delicious sausage from the grill, though we’ve also been known to join in for some swing-dancing from time-to-time. The environment is always quite welcoming, even for modest amateur dancers like ourselves.

4. Output


Output opened in January and everything changed immediately. A dance club designed for music lovers? Why didn’t this exist before? Friends who never went dancing were suddenly seeing the sun rise on the regular. The moment we read the “Output isn’t for everyone…” warnings, we knew it was going to be special. We just didn’t know to what extent. First of all, the sound quality is unparalleled. It’s not loud - it’s just clear. And it’s oddly cool inside. And it’s nice. And the roof has an incredible view of the city. And Giorgio Moroder played there. Giorgio Moroder!

5. Motorino Pizza



Ah, food. We had to talk about food. Guys, this is, in our opinion, the best pizza in New York City. By far. Even the delivery is superb; always early and always delicious. With locations in East Village and Williamsburg you have no excuse not to try it. Just look at the photo!

6. Baby’s All Right


It just so happens that right across the street from our favorite pizza is one of our favorite new venues, Baby’s All Right. For all of us Brooklyners who complained that there were no good concerts right off the J, this feels like a magnificent hallelujah to our cold-weather prayers. Baby’s kicked off in grand fashion with BrooklynVegan’s CMJ day parties - and the programming has continued to be nothing short of stellar since, with last-minute performances by Real Estate and this stacked 5-band NYE bill on the horizon.

7.Breakfast Wraps from Jessi’s Bakery


Right off the Montrose L stop, Jessi’s Bakery does everything that normal breakfast places do, just better. With low prices, speedy service, fantastic food and addictive iced coffee, it’s reallyhard to stay away. If you don’t believe us, check out these passionate reviews on Yelp.

8. Lamb Pizza from The Bedawi Cafe



We found this awesome Middle Eastern cafe on Prospect Park West before going to a Celebrate Brooklyn! event one night. It’s a cute little hole in the wall with the most delicious tapas-style dishes. The backyard is decked out in tapestries and lights, making it the perfect spot to hang on a warm evening. Plus, it’s B.Y.O.B.

9. Hilarious Twitter Feuds



Everyone loves a good social media feud — and Twitter might just be the perfect battleground for these short exchanges. This year, we saw back and forth battles between Justin Bieber vs. Patrick Carney (The Black Keys), Kanye West vs. Jimmy Kimmel, and most recently, HAIM vs. Los Campesinos.

We’re not surprised when we see someone like Kanye West making absurd outbursts on his Twitter account but we did not expect HAIM to follow a similar suit — And we were especially impressed when they stuck it to the man by bringing their entire audience into this pay-back selfie directed at the lead singer of Los…we dig it though, HAIM can do no wrong this year.

10. Gregory’s Coffee



doNYC simply would not exist without Gregory’s. These folks keep us going all year long. Their brewed coffee is sensational and the evening pastry specials have been totally making us fat. But that’s OK.

11. The Oval Lawn Series at Madison Square Park



This was the sneak attack show series of the summer. These Wednesday evening concerts offered a great chance to lay down in the grass and catch a much-needed respite from the frantic pace of the city. We treated ourselves to plenty of pulled pork sandwiches and summer ales to start the nights, then settled in for free performances by artists like Ben Sollee and The Dafnis Prieto Sextet. There were plenty of highlights, but this particular tune seemed to especially embody all of the atmosphere that this series brought about.

12. Foxygen, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down + The Aves at Hudson River Park


This was a doNYC staff favorite. After all the hype about Foxygen’s live shows we had been hearing throughout the first half of the year, we couldn’t NOT go. It was probably one of the most entertaining shows we’ve ever been to - everyone in the band was super into it, and the crowd (us included) were completely captivated through every moment. To top it all off, it was free! Definitely a high point of the summer.

13. Song For Zula



Brooklyn’s Matthew Houck had to go all the way to Tulum, Mexico to find this song, but we’ll gladly fund any future travel expenses if they catalyze more music this closely in touch with the core of human emotion.

We heard this washed-up-on-the-shore ballad all over NYC — in BAM, at McCarren Park, outside coffee shops, on the subway — and it has slowly become an anthem for our year, regularly surfacing amidst the clamor of the city, lifting our spirits and providing a moment of honest reflection on everywhere we’ve been — and everywhere we’re capable of going.

We’re thrilled and honored to have been a part of it all this year — and we are STOKED for 2014 and everything that it will bring. Stay tuned y’all — we’re just getting warmed up.

Monday, December 16, 2013

Beyoncé - XO A M A Z Z Z Z Z I N G

Happiness : 50 % genes.... the rest it is up to you...

A Formula for Happiness

Brian Rea
By ARTHUR C. BROOKS

HAPPINESS has traditionally been considered an elusive and evanescent thing. To some, even trying to achieve it is an exercise in futility. It has been said that “happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
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Social scientists have caught the butterfly. After 40 years of research, they attribute happiness to three major sources: genes, events and values. Armed with this knowledge and a few simple rules, we can improve our lives and the lives of those around us. We can even construct a system that fulfills our founders’ promises and empowers all Americans to pursue happiness.

Psychologists and economists have studied happiness for decades. They begin simply enough — by asking people how happy they are.

The richest data available to social scientists is the University of Chicago’s General Social Survey, a survey of Americans conducted since 1972. This widely used resource is considered the scholarly gold standard for understanding social phenomena. The numbers on happiness from the survey are surprisingly consistent. Every other year for four decades, roughly a third of Americans have said they’re “very happy,” and about half report being “pretty happy.” Only about 10 to 15 percent typically say they’re “not too happy.” Psychologists have used sophisticated techniques to verify these responses, and such survey results have proved accurate.

Beneath these averages are some demographic differences. For many years, researchers found that women were happier than men, although recent studies contend that the gap has narrowed or may even have been reversed. Political junkies might be interested to learn that conservative women are particularly blissful: about 40 percent say they are very happy. That makes them slightly happier than conservative men and significantly happier than liberal women. The unhappiest of all are liberal men; only about a fifth consider themselves very happy.

But even demographically identical people vary in their happiness. What explains this?

The first answer involves our genes. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have tracked identical twins who were separated as infants and raised by separate families. As genetic carbon copies brought up in different environments, these twins are a social scientist’s dream, helping us disentangle nature from nurture. These researchers found that we inherit a surprising proportion of our happiness at any given moment — around 48 percent. (Since I discovered this, I’ve been blaming my parents for my bad moods.)

If about half of our happiness is hard-wired in our genes, what about the other half? It’s tempting to assume that one-time events — like getting a dream job or an Ivy League acceptance letter — will permanently bring the happiness we seek. And studies suggest that isolated events do control a big fraction of our happiness — up to 40 percent at any given time.

But while one-off events do govern a fair amount of our happiness, each event’s impact proves remarkably short-lived. People assume that major changes like moving to California or getting a big raise will make them permanently better off. They won’t. Huge goals may take years of hard work to meet, and the striving itself may be worthwhile, but the happiness they create dissipates after just a few months.

So don’t bet your well-being on big one-off events. The big brass ring is not the secret to lasting happiness.

To review: About half of happiness is genetically determined. Up to an additional 40 percent comes from the things that have occurred in our recent past — but that won’t last very long.

That leaves just about 12 percent. That might not sound like much, but the good news is that we can bring that 12 percent under our control. It turns out that choosing to pursue four basic values of faith, family, community and work is the surest path to happiness, given that a certain percentage is genetic and not under our control in any way.

The first three are fairly uncontroversial. Empirical evidence that faith, family and friendships increase happiness and meaning is hardly shocking. Few dying patients regret overinvesting in rich family lives, community ties and spiritual journeys.

Work, though, seems less intuitive. Popular culture insists our jobs are drudgery, and one survey recently made headlines by reporting that fewer than a third of American workers felt engaged; that is praised, encouraged, cared for and several other gauges seemingly aimed at measuring how transcendently fulfilled one is at work.

Those criteria are too high for most marriages, let alone jobs. What if we ask something simpler: “All things considered, how satisfied are you with your job?” This simpler approach is more revealing because respondents apply their own standards. This is what the General Social Survey asks, and the results may surprise. More than 50 percent of Americans say they are “completely satisfied” or “very satisfied” with their work. This rises to over 80 percent when we include “fairly satisfied.” This finding generally holds across income and education levels.

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Arthur C. Brooks is the president of the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C.

Monday, December 9, 2013

COOKIE DANCE - CHIP CHOCOLATE, brace yourself...xmas parties are coming



In only 20 min you can cook amazing chocolate cookies, perfect for all the holidays parties coming soon:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

1 cup butter, softened
 1 cup white sugar
 1 cup packed brown sugar
 2 eggs
 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 3 cups all-purpose flour
 1 teaspoon baking soda
 2 teaspoons hot water
 1/2 teaspoon salt
 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
 1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans.
Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Commemorate the 80th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition

Repeal Day Celebration Thursday, December 5th 8:00 PM 80 years ago today, the so-called Noble Experiment—Prohibition, came to a glorious halt. The selling and consumption of liquor was legal again. Our first 80 guests will raise a toast to its passing with an Old Fashioned, compliments of your friends at George Dickel Tennessee Whisky. huckleberry bar, celebrate the 80th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition and the 2nd anniversary of the new york distilling company with $2 dorothy parker gin martinis (6-7pm) and free food. the shanty (79 richardson st., bet. lorimer + leonard, williamsburg)

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Lightening night! get a romantic NYC mood, with some passion poems!

Rockefeller tree in gonna be on fire tonight! e The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Giant in stature and sentiment, the Tree has been a true crowd-delighter for over 75 years. The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony attracts star-studded names and floods of eager faces, but you can admire those brilliant lights all season long. FELT i felt your heart beating with mine, i felt your breath in sync i felt our souls merging together I felt your eyes seeing inside of me seeing me, the real me, the naked me. I felt you absolutely, complete. I felt the energy collapsing together i felt your skin softener behind my touch i felt your dreams becoming reality i felt our goal being reach i felt the french- latin passion losing the nationality i felt your dark eyes mirroring mines i felt you as you felt me. i felt the amazing connection i felt that we were one i felt 2 puzzle pieces binding in a perfect match i felt a completely new feeling I felt us alive, traveling in time and space. i felt intimacy, deep, strong and hard. I felt you and you felt me. but i don't feel you anymore.

Monday, December 2, 2013

happy monday! lets start with cool events!

Monday, December 2 Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square : On Monday, December 2, 2013 the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District and presenting sponsor Time Warner will host the Fourteenth Annual Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square – New York’s largest holiday festival! Join legendary folk artist Arlo Guthrie, Rosie’s Theater Kids, Michael Bacon, Frank London’s Klezmer Brass All-Stars, and WABC-TV’s Sade Baderinwa as we welcome the holiday season and light up the Upper West Side with an evening of music, food, dancing and fun for everyone.Admission to Winter’s Eve is free, but event attendees are encouraged to bring and donate gently used or new coats of all sizes to Dante Park at 63rd Street and Broadway as part of the 25th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive. Holiday Train Show Where: The New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store, Grand Central Terminal When: 8am–8pm The New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal is back with its 12th Annual Holiday Train Show. The installation features Lionel trains traveling through a two-level, 34-foot-long miniature New York City and countryside scene, with the route going all the way to the North Pole, where a certain Mr. Claus is readying his holiday plans. Illustrations by artist Maira Kalman—showing characters from her book Next Stop Grand Central—will accompany the exhibition, in addition to vintage trains from the museum's collection, among them New York Central models. Kids will be doubly entertained by a visit here if they take advantage of the Grand Central scavenger hunt—pick up clues at the Transit Museum Gallery. Tuesday, December 3 Trend-ology Where: The Museum at FIT When: 8am–8pm Trends may come and go, but in the fashion industry nothing ever really goes out of style for too long. Trend-ology focuses on a 250-year old trend cycle—starting in the 18th century—and follows the emergence (and reemergence) of fads up to the present day. This exhibition features 100 influential and sometimes flash-in-the-pan pieces including a tartan dress made in the early 1800s, a chunky gold Chanel necklace inspired by late 1980s and early 1990s hip-hop, and a Takashi Murakami–designed Louis Vuitton satchel that became a massive success and inspired numerous knockoffs. The show also explores how crazes develop in mediums such as art, music and film, and how fast-fashion stores like H&M and Zara have become a crucible for trends—catalyzing both their debut and demise. The exhibition runs until April 30.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

weekends are perfect for high quality museum time:

the Frick collection (71 st st and 5 av) has long hours on fridays for free also on sundays pay as you with, the Vemeer plus other dutch painters is an amazing collection (enjoy the girl with the pearl earrings)and the breathtaking W. Turners sea storms landscapes (my fav painter btw). The Jewish museum (92 nd st and 5 av) is free on saturdays (11-5 pm) and they have a great Art Speigelman exhibition (from the little pailfacekids to the Maus to the New Yorker front), int he 1st floor. The Chagall paintings are in the second floor plus a very cool pop modern fashion expo. The short movies in the sounds expo are worth to watch too ( and only 3 min each. The MOMA ( 54st bt 6th av and 5th av) has a very cool photography expo (as always), the Magrite "wait for ever in line" exhibition on the top floor is a must! free on fridays after 4 until 8 pm. Tip: go to the top floor and then go downstairs floor by floor. The Museum of the City of New York (103 rd st and 5 th av)is free if you leave or work in the neighborhood :), if not just buy something in the shop and you will get free entrance! the central park paintings are very nice. The best now is the sandy related photography exhibition. The Whitney museum (madison and 75 th st) is pay as you wish on fridays after 6 until 9 pm. The Indiana installation/drawings is a must seen for a newyorker. And do not forget the MET, the Brooklyn museum and the National history Museum are pay as you wish!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

where to help tomorrow!

looking for help on Thanksgiving: The Bowery Mission, 227 Bowery (between Prince and Rivington streets), Lower East Side The Bowery Mission, which serves as many as 7,000 meals on Thanksgiving Day, already has 600 volunteers registered for this year, but would be happy to have more, Winans said. Volunteers should expect to work about two hours, either helping to serve dinner or packing and delivering food to the church's partners in all five boroughs. For those who’d rather donate, the Bowery Mission is accepting coats, gloves, scarves, toothbrushes, new underwear, shampoo and toys to package into “blessing bags,” which will be given out to those who come for the meal on Thursday. Meals will be served at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Additional meals will be added based on demand. Volunteers are free to show up on Thanksgiving Day without registering beforehand, Winans said. Brother Jimmy’s BBQ, 181 Lexington Ave. (at 31st), Kips Bay Brother Jimmy’s BBQ will be giving out 1,000 free meals to the needy on Thanksgiving Day, in front of its Kips Bay location. The restaurant will need volunteers to help package the food in the kitchen — the meals will include pulled pork sandwiches, mashed potatoes and bottled water — as well as to transport the food outside and begin handing it out at noon. Volunteers are asked to arrive early at 11:30 a.m. To volunteer, contact Leigh Shirvan at leigh@diningentertainmentgroup.com Masbia Soup Kitchen Network, 1372 Coney Island Ave., Midwood For those looking to volunteer in Brooklyn and Queens, Masbia Soup Kitchen Network still needs help serving food and packaging groceries in its three soup kitchens on Thanksgiving Day. “Everyone is welcome,” Alexander Rapport, executive director of Masbia, said Tuesday. “At our main kitchen [in Midwood]…volunteers will be prepping the five pallets of fresh produce we are receiving tomorrow from the Food Bank of NYC. We will freeze the prepped vegetables…to make soup and side dishes.” In addition to bagging vegetables and assembling groceries, the soup kitchen will need help cooking a turkey meal on Thursday morning. Locations needing help include the Masbia Soup Kitchen at 1372 Coney Island Ave. in Midwood, another kitchen at 4114 14th Ave. in Borough Park and another at 98-08 Queens Blvd. in Rego Park. The main kitchen on Coney Island Avenue will be serving meals from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the rest will be serving from 2 to 9 p.m. Those interested in volunteering should contact Avi at volunteer@masbia.org or at (718) 972-4446 ext. 209. St. George’s Church, 209 E. 16th St. (between Third Avenue and Rutherford Place), Gramercy St. George’s Church will be serving a community Thanksgiving meal at noon on Thanksgiving Day at the Olmsted Hall. Space for volunteers is limited, but for those who want to help can call the church office at (646) 723-4178. CHIPS, 200 Fourth Ave. (between Degraw and Sackett streets), Park Slope Although CHIPS, a soup kitchen based in Park Slope, has all the volunteers it needs for its Thanksgiving Day meal, it's still looking for food donations. The organization is accepting donations of pies, cookies, cupcakes, cooked food and canned food on the day of its Thanksgiving feast, which will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For those looking to volunteer on Christmas Eve, CHIPS is also looking for helpers for its holiday party on Dec. 24. To donate or volunteer, contact Denise Scaravella at Denise4chips@gmail.com. St. John's Bread and Life, 795 Lexington Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant St. John's Bread and Life will not be open on Thanksgiving, but it’s already recruiting volunteers for the Christmas season. The church will be distributing food and toys to 2,000 families in December as part of its Sponsor a Family program, and 400 volunteers are needed to sort, assemble, load and distribute the gifts. St. John's will have two shifts for volunteers from 9 a.m. to noon and noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 14 and 15. Those who’d like to help can contact volunteer coordinator Jennifer Stephen at jstephen@breadandlife.org.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Santa con is happening on december 14 at 10 am!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drnY01eZEyA Santacon is a charitable, non-commercial, non-political, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year for absolutely no reason. When is Santacon? Saturday, December 14th 2013 Where is Santacon? Santacon is where Santa says to go Where will Santa say to go? Text “follow @santacon” to 40404. It’s really that easy.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

with hundreds of free museums, NYC offers a great oportunity to smart folks!

Art Makes You Smart Alain Pilon NYtimes By BRIAN KISIDA, JAY P. GREENE and DANIEL H. BOWEN FOR many education advocates, the arts are a panacea: They supposedly increase test scores, generate social responsibility and turn around failing schools. Most of the supporting evidence, though, does little more than establish correlations between exposure to the arts and certain outcomes. Research that demonstrates a causal relationship has been virtually nonexistent. A few years ago, however, we had a rare opportunity to explore such relationships when the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in Bentonville, Ark. Through a large-scale, random-assignment study of school tours to the museum, we were able to determine that strong causal relationships do in fact exist between arts education and a range of desirable outcomes. Students who, by lottery, were selected to visit the museum on a field trip demonstrated stronger critical thinking skills, displayed higher levels of social tolerance, exhibited greater historical empathy and developed a taste for art museums and cultural institutions. Crystal Bridges, which opened in November 2011, was founded by Alice Walton, the daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart. It is impressive, with 50,000 square feet of gallery space and an endowment of more than $800 million. Thanks to a generous private gift, the museum has a program that allows school groups to visit at no cost to students or schools. Before the opening, we were contacted by the museum’s education department. They recognized that the opening of a major museum in an area that had never had one before was an unusual event that ought to be studied. But they also had a problem. Because the school tours were being offered free, in an area where most children had very little prior exposure to cultural institutions, demand for visits far exceeded available slots. In the first year alone, the museum received applications from 525 school groups requesting tours for more than 38,000 students. As social scientists, we knew exactly how to solve this problem. We partnered with the museum and conducted a lottery to fill the available slots. By randomly assigning school tours, we were able to allocate spots fairly. Doing so also created a natural experiment to study the effects of museum visits on students, the results of which we published in the journals Education Next and Educational Researcher. Over the course of the following year, nearly 11,000 students and almost 500 teachers participated in our study, roughly half of whom had been selected by lottery to visit the museum. Applicant groups who won the lottery constituted our treatment group, while those who did not win an immediate tour served as our control group. Several weeks after the students in the treatment group visited the museum, we administered surveys to all of the students. The surveys included multiple items that assessed knowledge about art, as well as measures of tolerance, historical empathy and sustained interest in visiting art museums and other cultural institutions. We also asked them to write an essay in response to a work of art that was unfamiliar to them. These essays were then coded using a critical-thinking-skills assessment program developed by researchers working with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Further, we directly measured whether students are more likely to return to Crystal Bridges as a result of going on a school tour. Students who participated in the study were given a coupon that gave them and their families free entry to a special exhibit at the museum. The coupons were coded so that we could determine the group to which students belonged. Students in the treatment group were 18 percent more likely to attend the exhibit than students in the control group. Moreover, most of the benefits we observed are significantly larger for minority students, low-income students and students from rural schools — typically two to three times larger than for white, middle-class, suburban students — owing perhaps to the fact that the tour was the first time they had visited an art museum. Further research is needed to determine what exactly about the museum-going experience determines the strength of the outcomes. How important is the structure of the tour? The size of the group? The type of art presented? Clearly, however, we can conclude that visiting an art museum exposes students to a diversity of ideas that challenge them with different perspectives on the human condition. Expanding access to art, whether through programs in schools or through visits to area museums and galleries, should be a central part of any school’s curriculum. Brian Kisida is a senior research associate and Jay P. Greene is a professor of education reform at the University of Arkansas. Daniel H. Bowen is a postdoctoral fellow at the Kinder Institute of Rice University.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Giving to others is gonna make you happy! (scientifically tested!). Come on dec 2nd at 5:30 to help NYCares and donate a coat

http://www.newyorkcares.org/events/winters-eve-lincoln-square On Monday, December 2, 2013 the Lincoln Square Business Improvement District and presenting sponsor Time Warner will host the Fourteenth Annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square - New York's largest holiday festival - which will feature FREE live entertainment, food tastings from over 30 local eateries at nominal cost, and family fun along Broadway from Time Warner Center to 68th Street. Starting at 5:30pm in Dante Park, Tony Award-winning, Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell will help light the Upper West Side's Holiday Tree. This year's 35 foot Norway Spruce and lighting have been made possible by generous local restaurateur P.J. Clarke's. Old-fashioned silver glass glitter ornaments have been designed by Wendy Addison and Tinsel Trading and the tree will be installed by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Brian Stokes Mitchell will be joined by Rosie's Theater Kids and WABC-TV's Sade Baderinwa, who will lead the countdown. Also at Dante Park's stage will be Frank London's Klezmer Brass All-stars and Bond Street Theatre's Shinbone Alley Stilt Band ensuring an exciting evening for the whole family. The streets, sidewalks, and public spaces will come alive with free music, children's performances and food tastings at three outdoor venues: Time Warner Center, East Broadway and Richard Tucker Park. The food tastings will feature flavors from over 30 different eateries including Atlantic Grill, Rosa Mexicano, The Smith, Bar Boulud, Boulud Sud, MASA & Bar MASA, Asiate, Lincoln Ristorante, American Table Cafe and Bar, P.J. Clarke's and many others. Admission to Winter’s Eve is free, but event attendees are encouraged to bring and donate gently used or new coats of all sizes to Dante Park at 63rd Street and Broadway as part of the 25th Annual New York Cares Coat Drive. Other locations for dropping off coats on the night of Winter’s Eve will be posted here as the event approaches. Visit winterseve.org to see everything we have planned for New York's largest holiday festival.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

toxic NYC

http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/ny/New-York-City/Maps?map=nyc2&x=0.6533333333333333&y=0.5&zoom=0&basemap=default&overlay=toxic&tab=themes&ll=40.7130630998563,-73.8691790385263

Sunday, November 17, 2013

give me your hand, and lets go travel around the world...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_zZmsFZDaM

fireplaces to keep the warmess of NYC

Alewife NYC The white-brick mantel gives the gas-fueled fireplace at this two-story beer bar a homey feel, even when the place is packed. Brewhounds can hunker down with one of the 100-plus international beers by the bottle or one of 28 on tap, but we recommend going with one of the hot punches (often mulled wine or spiked cider), served in a teakettle and ideal for sharing with a friend or romantic flame ($18). 5-14 51st Ave, (between Vernon Blvd and 5th St) Black Mountain Wine House On weekends when escaping the city isn’t a viable option, head to this cabinlike space for a rustic retreat. Your objective: Snag a seat around the wood-burning brick hearth. Though the wine list offers a wide variety of options, sip the mulled vino ($8) to eradicate any chill left in your bones. 415 Union St, (at Hoyt St) Black Rabbit Bar Hightail it to the back of this long, narrow space to secure your spot by the gas fireplace. If the hearthside benches are already filled, you’ll still feel the festive spirit as you sit in a carved-wood booth beneath strings of colorful, twinkling lights. Wash down the traditional German bratwurst sandwich ($6.50) with a whiskey-laden hot toddy ($8), which riffs on the recipe from an erstwhile bartender’s Scottish granny. 91 Greenpoint Ave, (between Franklin St and Manhattan Ave) Brinkley's Station Brothers Tom and Anthony Martignetti are behind this midtown sequel to their Nolita gastropub. This location occupies a landmark building dating back to 1890, and is outfitted with original tile floors, dark mahogany walls and a wood-burning fireplace. Choose from among pubby fare such as a grilled strip steak with sweet-potato fries, a lobster club sandwich and a grass-fed burger. 153 E 60th St, (between Lexington and Third Aves), 10065 The Flatiron Room More than 400 varities of whiskey line the shelves at this bar from nightlife maven Tommy Tardie and cocktail ace Miguel Aranda (Bar Masa, Apotheke). Check out the ancient flooring (the planks are 100-year-old reclaimed wood) while nibbling cured meats, cheeses, oysters and ceviches and enjoying nightly jazz performances. 37 W 26th St, (between Broadway and Sixth Ave), 10010 Lantern's Keep Ease into a seat near the gas-powered, black-laquered hearth and scan the list of tipples, including the frothy New York Harvest (bourbon, applejack, lemon, egg white, red wine; $15). The bar often has limited hours and can be rented out for private parties; be sure to call ahead and make a reservation so you’re not left out in the tourist-ridden streets of Midtown. The Iroquois New York, 49 W 44th St, (between Fifth and Sixth Aves), 10036 Le Barricou As pleasant as it is to dine in the front room of this bistro and nosh on coq au vin, the best seats in the house are hidden in the cozy back room, where you’ll find lounge furniture and a vintage cast-iron stove. Warm up by the wood-burning device and mull the affordable, all-French wine list; nine selections are offered by the glass, 60 by the bottle. We’re partial to the Cahors malbec (glass $11, carafe $32, bottle $44), a spicy, medium-bodied red with hints of cranberry. 533 Grand St, (between Lorimer St and Union Ave) Lobby Bar at the Bowery Hotel MY FAV! You’ll have to battle the hotel’s out-of-town guests to score a seat in the Art Deco–inspired environs, but it’s well worth it if you can secure one of the overstuffed couches or chairs by the gas furnace. Arrive early, pretend like you own the place and enjoy a stiff Negroni ($14), crafted with Bulldog gin, Antica Formula and Campari. 335 Bowery, ( at 3rd St) Union Hall This cavernous, bi-level venue may not fit the textbook definition of intimate, but the flickering stone fireplace is damn cozy. Commandeer the plush couch or one of the chairs near the hearth and settle in for the night with a hot Irish Nut (Bailey’s, amaretto coffee; $10). 702 Union St, (between Fifth and Sixth Aves) Whitman & Bloom Liquor Company This venue is expected to open fall 2013. With his former watering hole Bruckner Bar & Grill destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, Alex Abeles embarks on a new project with the owners of Cask Bar & Kitchen. Bearing a name that references Ulysses, the lit-themed bar will display bookstore antiques. The drinks program will highlight local wines, along with tweaked classic cocktails by Darryl Robinson. Late September. 384 Third Ave, (between 27th and 28th Sts), 10016 The back room with a speak easy living room ambiance and drinks served in a cup of tea, this place is very charming. specially on mondays when they have a live jazz band Norfolk 230

Friday, November 15, 2013

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

gallery Perony is showing an exelent exhibition and a 2x1 dealin starbucks!

Galerie Perrotin and Mary Boone join forces to present a two-space extravaganza showcasing the work of KAWS, the former street artist and limited-edition toy designer and current art-world heavyweight. 909 madison av. UES 2-5pm (thru 11/17): buy one holiday drink at starbucks, get one free: peppermint mocha, gingerbread latte or caramel brulée latte

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Museums state of mind!

this weekend is a museumlicious time New expos in the Whitney, Historical Society, japan Society, MOMA and NYC museum Films in the Morgan library: Poe Double Feature Adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's most beloved short stories, these films are shown in conjunction with the exhibition Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul. House of Usher (1960, 79 minutes) Director: Roger Corman Philip Winthrop journeys to the Usher mansion to meet his fiancée Madeline. Their union is discouraged by her twin brother Roderick (Vincent Price), who explains that Madeline is cursed by a fatal madness. Philip's attempt to run away with Madeline builds to a terrifying climax. followed by Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932, 61 minutes) Director: Robert Florey A maniacal doctor's failing attempts to prove ape-human kinship result in the deaths of many young women. Medical student Pierre Dupin discovers his experiments and must stop them before it is too late to save his fiancée. Starring Bela Lugosi as Dr. Mirakle. Friday, November 8, 2013, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

tonight: sci-cafe in the natural history museum or guiness world records in times sq?

http://www.timessquarenyc.org/events/2320/guinness-world-records-unleashed-arena/details.aspx#.Unqed0qgQQo http://www.amnh.org/calendar/scicafe-the-story-of-the-human-body-with-daniel-lieberman

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

join NYcare today, to discover how rewarding helping others is! (God helps those who help... some old books said!)

Happy International Volunteer Managers Day Nov 05, 2013 If, after volunteering on one of our projects, you've thought to yourself "man, that was really easy and fun," it's because of our volunteer managers. While our staff does a lot of volunteer managing, our Team Leaders are also amazing volunteer managers. Whether they're emailing their group with updates, buying supplies, or coordinating with organizational staff, they do a lot of work to make sure projects run smoothly. Today is International Volunteer Managers Day, when we stop to recognize all the people who go into making volunteering possible - and easy. Our projects simply wouldn't be possible without our Team Leaders, and we want to thank them all for using their spare time to make New York City better. If you're already volunteering all the time, it doesn't take much to go to the next volunteering level. If you've been on 3 of our projects you can apply to be a Team Leader. After reviewing your application, we'll call you in for an interview. If we decide you're leading material, we'll train you and then you'll be on your way to managing your own projects. Thank you once again to all our Team Leaders who work so hard to make our programs successful all year long. If you communicate with a Team Leader today, make sure to say thanks! We will be. - See more at: http://www.newyorkcares.org/blogs/happy-international-volunteer-managers-day?sf19134658=1#sthash.q3pbbyNx.dpuf

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

If you have to leave paradase (aka NYC) in 1 month, this is the mandatory list of activities to do before quiting the elysium life!

Saturday: Brooklyn museum, this saturday 2nd is free after 5 pm to 11 http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/home.php or the Jewish museum 11-5:45 pm http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/Visit Friday: moma free on fridays after 4 pm http://www.moma.org/visit/index the historical society of new york museum (79th and 5 th av) free on fridays the Whitney, 76ths t free on fridays ( after 6 pm) ice skating in Bryant park or the rock, not in weekends! The museum of New york city (103st and 5th av)

Monday, October 21, 2013

next step mice..

http://nautil.us/blog/decapitation-but-not-cannibalism-might-transmit-memories

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Pumpkin pie season coming... (waiting for 2 of them that are cooking in the oven....)

The must does of october: the pie: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/perfect-pumpkin-pie/ the parade on thrusday 7 pm in the village: http://www.halloween-nyc.com/ the extravaganza:www.stjohndivine.org/ Queens Farm Halloween Haunted House October 26, 27, and 28, 2012 from 4-7 p.m. you can visit the Queens County Farm Haunted House. This haunted house is appropriate for children ages 4-12. Admission is $4 and hayrides are $2. Halloween treats, mulled cider, pumpkins and apples also for sale. The Queens County Farm also has a Children's Fall Festival on Sunday, October 28 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for just $5/person. 3. Halloween in the Galaxseum at CMA CMA celebrates Halloween this year with costume making and animation workshops inspired by their current exhibition The RAMMELLZEE Galaxseum on Saturday, October 27, 2012. Costumes are encouraged. 4. Halloween Celebration at American Museum of Natural History From 4-7 p.m. on October 31, 2012 join families for an evening of trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, costumed characters, and a special Halloween space show in the planetarium at AMNH. Admission is $11 ($10 for museum members). 5. Ghouls and Gourds at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden On Saturday, October 27, 2012 the whole family can enjoy celebrating Halloween at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. There will be a costume parade, crafts, music and many other Halloween-themed activities during the Ghouls and Gourds at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and children under 12 are admitted free! 6. Jack-o-Lantern Storytime at the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden On Friday, October 19, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden's monthly story time will have a Halloween theme, as well as a chance to see the museum's exhibits and to make a craft. For children 6 and under. Free with museum admission.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

9/11 concerts and events

Non free concerts, absolutly worthy!

Yeah Yeah Yeahs Track Yeah Yeah Yeahs Barclays Center w/ Har Mar Superstar - Brooklyn, NY Thu, Sep 19, 2013 Blink-182 Track Blink-182 Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY Wed, Sep 11, 2013 Jason Mraz Jason Mraz Roseland Ballroom - New York, NY Sun, Sep 15, 2013 T Café Tacuba Track Café Tacuba Manhattan Center Hammerstein Ballroom - New York, NY Mon, Sep 16, 2013 Maybe Pixies Track Pixies Bowery Ballroom - New York, NY Tue, Sep 17, 2013 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Theater at Madison Square Garden - New York, NY Wed, Nov 13, 2013

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Fashion week and 9/11

This week will be glowing posh-ness from MB fashion week and honoring memories for the 9/11: http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/september-11-memorial-events-and-commemorations-in-2013

Monday, September 9, 2013

Blessed monday???? -_-' “We often see what we want to see, and don’t see what we don’t want to see.”- Prof. Scott Plous

Today we can start the week with a terrific square-line-cowboy-country dance in Bryant park, follow by fireworks in the intrepid museum, and comedy in the citizen union!!!!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

brace yourselfs... fashion week is coming

Some free fashion goodies... The Allure Lounge Allure and Maybelline New York are teaming up on a week-long NYFW lounge, starting Thursday at the Empire Hotel. Stop by for an express makeover and manicure by the Maybelline team, hair styling by the DreamDry experts, and product samples. Thursday, September 5th through the 12th, 10am—5pm; 44 West 63rd Street Beauty treatments at L'Occitane The Flatiron L'Occitane outpost will offer complimentary beauty treatments on Thursday, as well as cocktails designed by PDT Mixologist Jim Meehan. If you spend $65 or more, you'll also receive a free L'occitane drawstring pouch filled with products, including the Almond Shower Oil and the Shea Butter Hand Cream. You can also cash in on a 10% discount here. Thursday, September 5th; 5pm—9pm; 170 Fifth Avenue I-DIY Denim Night at Levi's Join Refinery29 at the Levi's store on Broadway for a night of "crafting jeans, craft doughnuts, and craft beer." There will be a DIY station for jean customization, as well as complimentary snacks: doughnuts from Donuttery, and a beer bar. Reserve your spot by emailing rsvp@refinery29.com. Thursday, September 5th, 6pm—9pm; 495 Broadway Sunset Takeovers at Opening Ceremony BTW Opening Ceremony's week-long market at Pier 57 debuts today, and tonight there's a party to celebrate. DJ sets begin at 6pm, and at 9pm there will be a presentation of PENDV x Zana Bayne's "Magnum Opus" Capsule Collection. Also: free beer! RSVP here to attend. Thursday, September 5th, 6pm—10pm; 25 11th Avenue

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Just put a smile on your face...it is contagious

In NYC you have the opportunity to discover or rediscover well comedians, most of the places asked you for drinking at least 2 beverages... plus and entrance! On the other hand, and because this is a free based website, here are some sugestions of "we wont gonna impose you to drink" comedy clubs: 8:30pm: comedians tyler fischer and sagar bhatt's weekly 'tyler and sagar' show at the west village's cafe vivaldi features guests janeane garofalo, george flanagan, jason burke and charlie kasov. free, no drink min. 1-7pm (9/6 @ book court): comedian dave hill celebrates the paperback release of his new book tasteful nudes with a six-hour reading at the west village's big gay ice cream (61 grove st). free. Whiplash – If you’re only gong to see one standup show while in New York, you’re doing it wrong. Nonetheless, Whiplash is the clear winner, one of the crown jewels of the alt scene. The free late night show is a mix of up-and-comers doing their best material and established comics trying out new stuff. It’s also a favorite for really big names, with recent drop-ins including Chris Rock, Aziz Ansari, and David Cross. With regular host Leo Allen splitting time between coasts, you’re as likely to get a guest host these days, chosen from the best of NY’s rising comics. Monday, 11pm • Free, but reservations recommended • Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Big Terrific – Despite the departure of former co-hosts Jenny Slate and Gabe Liedman, this Williamsburg standup show remains a must-see in the New York standup scene. Hosted by Max Silvestri in an airless black box behind the Lovin' Cup Cafe, the show is a hipster haven and favorite spot for local and visiting comics alike. New Yorkers like John Mulaney and Jessi Klein can be seen regularly, while visitors like Sarah Silverman make a point of swinging by when in town. Wednesday, 8:30pm • Free • Cameo last but not least....Comedy as a Second Language – Tucked into an always crowded room at the back of this East Village bar, Comedy as a Second Language has a loyal following of both crowds and comics. Host Chesley Calloway and producer Rebecca Trent have cultivated a comedy friendly crowd, giving lesser-known comics a chance to shine in an enthusiastic environment. Nationally known visiting comics are also likely to including CSL on their itinerary while visiting New York. Thursday, 9pm • Free • Kabin Ben & Josh and produced by Giulio Gallarotti (of MTV’s Totally Clueless), starts at 10 p.m. in the basement of Lower East Side bar Fat Baby — and includes the occasional strange prize and a DJ with a scary face mask. You’ll laugh, things will get very weird, it will be fun; you never know who’ll make a guest appearance. (Bonus: The bar next door, Verlaine, has $5 HAPPY HOUR UNTIL 10 if you’re OK with shelling out a couple of bills and you like getting drunk.

Monday, September 2, 2013

movie stars

Be aware tomorrow the white collar super handsome stars are gonna be filming in el barrio!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Long weekend

The broadcast is announcing rain follow for ...more rain... if it stops the place to be is williamsburg or lower east side for the art+food festivals on saturday, sunday is the brazil parade in 5th av and 45 th st, and monday the west indian ( similar customs than the brazilean one!) in Brooklyn. Furthermore, this weekend is the last chance to enjoy the beaches and the outdoor pools... so enjoy!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

cruel truth

New Yorkers Aren’t Rude. You Are. by Jhon Skylar And I mean that title with the utmost of respect. I’ve been a denizen of this fair[ly crappy] city my entire life, in one way or another. I spent some time in LA during college, but don’t worry, I got over it. The one thing, though, that I’ve consistently heard from around the US is that New York is a rude city. This is, I feel, based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what this place is. New York is a massive city where most people have high-pressure jobs and their time is very precious. That isn’t unique, though it’s to an extreme in New York that most people from other parts of the US haven’t experienced. It is also a city where the American infatuation with the combustion engine has been replaced by walking and public transportation. This is a small city, geographically, with an extensive system for getting you where you need to be without a car. Add to that tons of people, and it’s going to be one of the most crowded foot traffic experiences that most people have ever been a part of. This matters because it affects the basic rules of politeness within New York to a degree that you might not expect. Many people realize, when they enter a small town, that there are unwritten codes of conduct amongst the people there that have been arrived at by years of social interaction. One of the things that an outsider has to do if they wish to be accepted is learn and respect these rules. The same thing with foreign countries. The concept of rudeness in a foreign country will be alien to you. Many travelers wonder why they have a bad experience abroad; the answer is often that they didn’t learn the local rules for politeness and came off as total jerks. New York also has its unwritten code of conduct. Yet, for some reason, a huge number of tourists to New York seem to totally forget that when you are a guest somewhere, it behooves YOU to learn the unwritten rules of conduct so that you will not upset the delicate social balance of the place you are visiting. Because New York relies so much on foot traffic, these people often utterly disrupt the flow in the subway or on the street, and then complain that New Yorkers are “rude” when we do not accommodate their interference with our lives. Don’t understand what I’m talking about? At peak hours, there can be 150 people walking on a given avenue block trying to get to work. There can be 1000 or more people on a subway train. There can be 50 people trying to get off of a bus or a subway car. 100 people may be trying to go up or down a staircase or escalator at any given time. And yet, every day I see tourists and just general social malefactors who stop in the middle of sidewalks, who hold up entire subway trains because they try to force the doors open, who block a stairwell or who try to get on a subway car before they let anyone else off. This is a sense of entitlement that the pace of this city cannot abide. I assure you, you do not have an excuse for delaying 1000 people who are trying to get to work. If you do, you’d be in a job where you’d have a car with sirens, at the very least. Your trip to the bank or to the American Museum of Natural History is not something that should interfere with the professional lives of 1000 people. So when you hold that subway car, and people curse at you, or when you prevent them from getting off the train and they barrel right into you, there’s a simple lesson: this is your fault, as much as it would be your fault if you blocked three lanes of the highway so you could get out and look at your map. You’re not necessarily a bad person. You may just be unaware, you may have failed to learn about the city before you came to it, you may have forgotten to keep in mind that you’re inconveniencing a horde of other people. No doubt many of the times this happens, it’s just inconsiderate absentmindedness. That said, it’s still rude. And when someone is rude, they will be treated rudely in return. If you come to this city, and you wonder why everyone is rude to you, what you should be asking yourself is this: What am I doing wrong? In life in general, you will get farther with other people if you do not always blame them for the things that go wrong in your life. Asking yourself what you are doing to produce a certain response from others will take you far in reaching a greater harmony. And in the case of moving through New York City, it’ll help you get a long way on the road to not being rude.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

tips for citizens

new york magazine http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/08/10-nyc-subway-tricks-and-neighborhood-tips-gifs.html

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Calendar for free fun in NYC

check out the book: Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School

The Top 10 Worst Things About Working in a Lab By Adam Ruben January 27, 2012 Sure. That’s why you have no social life. It’s the lab work. I have found that, no matter what the context, I will click on nearly any article with a number and a superlative in the title. I don’t really need to know anything about cheeseburgers that I don’t already know, but call an article “The Eight Best Cheeseburgers You’ve Never Heard Of” or “The Five Largest Cheeseburgers That Appeared in Films,” and suddenly I’ve got a bit of required reading to do. And now, so do you. Maybe you’re an ordinary person, not a scientist (we call you “Non-scis” behind your backs), and you’ve just clicked here for some light lunchtime reading. But if you’re a scientist, perhaps you can relate as we identify … drumroll please … The top 10 worst aspects of working in a lab. 10. Your non-scientist friends don’t understand what you do. Even when talking about their jobs to outsiders, your friends in other professions can summarize their recent accomplishments in understandable ways. For example, they can say, “I built an object,” or “I pleased a client,” or, if your friend works on Wall Street, “I ate a peasant.” But what can you say? “I cured … um, well, I didn’t really cure it, but I discovered … well, ‘discovered’ is too strong a word, so let’s just say I tested … well, the tests are ongoing and are causing new questions to arise, so … yeah. Stop looking at me.” At least you’re doing better than your friends with Ph.D.s in the humanities, who would answer, “I put sheets on my mom’s basement couch.” 9. The scientist who is already the most successful gets credit for everything anyone does. If you discover something, your principal investigator (PI) gets credit. If you write a paper, your PI gets credit. If you submit a successful grant proposal, your PI gets credit (and money). And what do you get? If you’re lucky, you get to write more papers and grant proposals to bolster your PI’s curriculum vitae. 8. Lab equipment is expensive and delicate. And you, you’re not so coordinated. Nope. Not so much. Oops! You could pay to replace this one broken piece, or you could hire another postdoc. 7. Sometimes experiments fail for a reason. Sometimes experiments fail for no reason. As anyone who works in a lab knows, things that work perfectly for months or years can suddenly stop working, offering no explanation for the change. (In this way, lab experiments are like Internet Explorer®.) This abrupt and inexplicable failure changes your work to meta-work, as you stop asking questions about science and start asking questions about the consistency of your technique. You can waste years saying things like, “When I created the sample that worked, I flared my nostril in a weird way. So this week, I’ll try to repeat what I did last week but with more nostrils flarin’!” 6. Your schedule is dictated by intangible things. Freaking cell lines, needing to be tended on a regular basis regardless of your dinner plans. Freaking galaxies visible only in the middle of the night. If it weren’t for your lab work you’d have such a vivacious social life! Sure. That’s why you have no social life. It’s the lab work. 5. Science on television has conditioned you to expect daily or weekly breakthroughs. Have you ever had a breakthrough in the lab? Yeah, me neither. Sure, I’ve had successful experiments, which usually means that the controls worked and no one was injured. But a real, eureka, run-down-the-hallway-carrying-a-printout, burst-into-a-room-full-of-military-personnel-and-call-the-President-even-though-it’s-three-in-the-morning breakthrough? Not yet. Unless you count the programmable coffee maker that, after much cajoling, made decent coffee at the appropriate time. Maybe I should publish that. 4. Your work is dangerous. People say their jobs are killing them, but you work with things that could actually kill you -- things like caustic chemicals, infectious agents, highly electrified instruments, and angry PIs. CREDIT: Hal Mayforth Click image to enlarge 3. Labs are not conducive to sex. Unless you work in a sex lab, which may or may not be a real thing, it’s unlikely you can convince anyone to crawl under your lab bench with you (“Just ignore the discarded pipette tips, baby”) and, as protein biophysicists say, put their zinc fingers in your leucine zipper. But hey, prove me wrong, people. 2. You have to dress like a scientist. When I worked at an amusement park, I had to wear a purple polo shirt tucked into khaki shorts with giant white sneakers, so I suppose things could be worse. But some of our (scientists’) uniform choices are pretty unflattering. Disposable shoe covers look like you stepped in two shower caps. Safety goggles trap humidity as though you’re cultivating a rainforest on your face. And white lab coats with collars and lapels make men look like nerds and women look like men who look like nerds. 1. You can feel time creeping inexorably toward your own death. If you think I’m being melodramatic, you were obviously never a grad student or postdoc. As a grad student or postdoc, you spend longer than you’ve planned working on something less interesting than you’d believed, all while earning less money than you assumed reasonable with an endpoint that’s less tangible and less probable than you thought possible. If this was the kind of article with a “Comments” section, you’d scroll there and see people berating the spoiled scientist for complaining about his work when there are far worse jobs in the world. You’d also see anonymous nastiness, blatant ignorance, and a rant about Ron Paul. Luckily, there is no “Comments” section (thanks, Science!), so I can preemptively tell you that yes, I know there are worse jobs than “scientist” -- “baby thrower,” for example, or “cow exploder.” But this is Science, so if you want to read about the top 10 worst aspects of being a cow exploder, go borrow a copy of Cow Exploder Digest. And wash your hands after reading it. And yes, I know that there are great aspects of working in a lab as well. You get to work with your hands. You experience the beauty of a well-designed experiment. You can even ask questions about the universe and, occasionally, answer them. But since these last points were neither in list format nor preceded by an overreaching superlative, I’ll understand if you’ve already stopped reading. Adam Ruben, Ph.D., is a practicing scientist and the author of Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School. 10.1126/science.caredit.a1200012

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Speakeasy bars in NYC and rooftops with a great view

Fig. 19 is a secret one room Cocktail Bar, behind an art gallery entry revealing a cozy, chandelier-lit hideaway spotlighting craft cocktails. Address: 131 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002, USA
Next to Fig.19, better to said under it, you can also check out "Home sweet home" more like an "under" bar with pop/hiphop music and a vintage lounge look.

Bathtub Gin Bar, New York Eighty years ago, America's short-lived flirtation with a ban on alcohol came to an end. With no Prohibition, gone was the thrill of secret passwords, false storefronts and a bit of lawlessness. But in the last decade, New York has enjoyed a harkening back to those days of excess – unmarked bars on streets that deviate from the gridiron and stiff cocktails prepared into the late hours. Bars like PDT (Please Don't Tell) which is accessed through a vintage phone booth in an East Village hot dog joint, and the Campbell Apartment, a former mogul's office with towering stained-glass windows and an enormous fireplace in Grand Central station, are well-known despite their 'secret' entrances, but there are other equally glam, more under-the-radar bars. For your own taste of Jazz Age New York, here are a series of gin joints and back-alley speakeasies celebrating the underground culture of the 1920s.

Apotheke, New York Sundown on Doyers Street, you can hear the wind whistle it's so empty. Pass the signs for foot-rub storefronts and the smells of pungent fish markets and you might end up at the barely marked door of Apotheke, a former Chinatown opium den. It's a cure-all for the well-worn soul: order a "Pain Killer", such as Mezcal Mayan Summer, or a "Euphoric Enhancer", such as the Rum Opium Uplifter. Over 250 speciality cocktails (most in the range of $14-16) are prescribed from the bar. Ask the waiting staff and they might tell you about the house absinthe, made from a secret 200-year-old recipe with fermented sugarcane juice. There's a weekly line-up of live music on Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays. "Prohibition Wednesdays" feature a house jazz band and require a password for entrance (follow @apothekenyc on Twitter for the month's equivalent of "open sesame"). • 9 Doyers St, +1 212 406 0400, apothekenyc.com. Mon-Sat 6.30pm-2am, Sun 8pm-2am

The Raines Law Room, West 17th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in the Flatiron District is the kind of New York street you walk by without paying much attention. But if you notice a black door at the bottom of some subterranean stairs, ring the doorbell – someone will be right with you. The Raines Law Room is named after an 1896 New York State law prohibiting the sale of alcohol on Sundays … except in hotels. The idea was to stop workmen from spending their days off in a saloon-stool stupor. But this is New York; if there's a loophole, there's a way. Saloons added makeshift rooms to qualify as hotels (rampant prostitution, of course, following soon after). Today, cocktails provide a more licit thrill. Take a seat in your train compartment-like room and tug the pull-chain for the waiting staff to take your order. Make it a Mamie Taylor ($14), a classic whiskey concoction. And while you wait, look closely at the wallpaper, which provides a twist on the ubiquitous damask in most modern speakeasies. • 48 W 17th St, raineslawroom.com. Mon-Thur 5pm-2am, Fri 5pm-3am, Sun 8pm-1am

The Richardson, New York In 1920, the 18th Amendment theoretically turned New York into a dry town, but authorities who enjoyed a nip themselves quickly turned a blind eye to drinking establishments. So rather than password-protected peepholes, bars often opened their doors and poured without fear or pretence. The Richardson echoes the feel of those forebears. The capably poured cocktails are reasonably priced ($9-11), the snacks are spot on (devilled eggs for $5; a "beer drinker's plate" of pretzels, pickles, and cheddar for $8), and a laid-back crowd of locals who aren't looking to see or be seen. • 451 Graham Ave, Brooklyn, +1 718 389 0839, therichardsonnyc.com. Open daily 12pm-4am

Angel's Share, New York Long before absinthe spoons, hand-cracked ice and tight-vested mixologists found new life in the NYC bar scene, Angel's Share was speakeasy-cool. The owners and managers of trend-setting bars like Milk & Honey and PDT freely pay homage to this East Village staple that opened in the mid 1990s. Make your way through a Japanese comfort food joint and head upstairs for delicious drinks and a view of the scuttling street below. Maybe it's the jazz, maybe it's the Suntory whiskey cocktails ($15-16), but this is Prohibition with a Tokyo-noir twist. Angel's Share is perfect for couples – no standing and no parties greater than four admitted. • 8 Stuyvesant St,+1 212 777 5415. Sun-Wed 6pm-1.30am, Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-2.30am

Death and Company, New York Death + Company's ominous entrance. Cocktails were popularised in the 1920s when speakeasy patrons needed something sweet to make the bathtub gin go down a little easier. Concoctions involving lemon juice, simple syrup and anything fizzy were basic, but did the trick. These days cocktail experts at Death + Company have nothing to disguise. Their craft spirits could no doubt stand on their own, but why leave a liquor lonely? A drink like the Javanese Daiquiri ($14) packs enough rum to satisfy a privateer, but the addition of a lime cordial and fresh curry leaves transforms it into a drink to savour. The bar doesn't accept reservations and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. If the place is full, however, they'll take your number and call when room becomes available. Waiting time on a recent Monday night was about 20-30 minutes. • 433 E 6th St, +1 212 388 0882, Sun-Thu 6pm-1am, Fri-Sat 6pm-2am

Manderley Bar at the McKittrick Hotel
An invitation to Please Don't Tell at the McKittrick Hotel An invitation to Sleep No More, the Punchdrunk show at the McKittrick Hotel. The Manderley Bar first rose to prominence as the pre-show departure point and post-show decompression zone for the sensationally immersive 2011 theatre production Sleep No More. These days you can enjoy a cocktail and a musical act whether or not you've attended the evening's main performance. With an abundance of red velvet and some help from literal smoke and mirrors, the environs handily recreate the feel of a Jazz Age venue. Manderley regulars the Candy Shop Boys, featuring chanteuse Sophia Urista, perform tunes that were hot back in the 1920s and continue to sizzle. • 532 W 27th St, manderleybar.com . Sun-Thu doors open at 10pm, Fri-Sat doors open at 2am

Bathtub Gin bar, New York The back wall inside the Stone Street Coffee Company pulls out: a trick door opening to Bathtub Gin, a hopping Chelsea gin joint harkening back to the days of false store fronts. Since there's no hooch steeping in any tubs, order a round of the good stuff (gin shaken, stirred, or on the rocks). There is a copper bathtub in the middle of the place, and you're welcome to hop in if the spirit moves you. The Martinez ($14) is nice and stiff (made with junipero gin, dolin rouge, maraschino liqueur, bokers bitters and lemon oils). Raise a glass to the end of prohibition. • 132 Ninth Ave. +1 646 559 1671, bathtubginnyc.com. Sun-Wed 6pm-2am, Thu-Sat 6pm-4am

Hotel Delmano, New York in Williamsburg needs no password (and, for those in the area, no introduction, as it was one of the early joints to kick start the speakeasies' return). The ceilings are high and big shop windows let in the setting sun, dappled light bouncing from bar mirror to whiskey bottle to cocktail glass. The cops aren't breaking this party up. But you come for the old-timey feel. At the marble topped bar, ask for an Old Fashioned or one of the bartender's speciality concoctions (drinks range between $9-14). This is a social club, so order oysters or a cheese board to share in one of the two rooms in the back. And while you can't actually spend the night, it's a fine place to linger until last call. • 82 Berry St, Brooklyn, +1 718 387 1945, hoteldelmano.com. Mon-Thu 5pm-1.30am, Fri 5pm-2.30am, Sat 2pm-2.30am, Sun 2pm-1.30am •



124 Old Rabbit Club 124 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012 Though the vibe is more punk rock than prohibition (the owner once managed CBGB), Rabbit is a speakeasy in the truest sense, a secretive escape from the accepted norms of frat-heavy Greenwich Village. Descend the stairs beneath the number “124” and ring the buzzer. Rabbit is a beer-lover’s speakeasy, with an impressive list of rare European imports and American crafts. Take a date who appreciates beer and ask the expert behind the bar for recommendations.



Back Room 102 Norfolk St., New York, NY 10002 Down a dark subterranean alley in the Lower East Side you’ll find a warm living room of plush velvet chairs where the cocktails are served in teacups and beers hidden in brown paper bags. Towering paintings of voluptuous maidens look down on the bi-level space. Go on a weeknight and find a pair of chairs in the back by the fireplace for an illicitly romantic evening. On Mondays Svetlana & The Delancey Five
play swing and jazz.

Please don't tell. PDT. Call in advance to reserve your place, then enter through a phone booth in Crif Dogs, next door sip novel cocktails in a dark space.
Address: 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009, USA
Opens 6PM
Menu: places.singleplatform.com
Phone: +1 212-614-0386


Rooftops:
Rooftop Season, that is. So, come on up for cocktails under the stars…

Le Bain in the Standar hotel. ( mandatory visit tot he restrooms :), you are welcome) 13th st and 11 th av.


Rare view. With outside flat-screens, summer cocktails, DJ's & those stunning 360-degree NYC Views, Summertime at RARE View is one for the books. 303 Lexington Ave, Manhattan, NY 10016

The Kimberly hotel, for a classy romantic night. 145 E 50th St, New York, NY 10022


Ava Lounge. You’ll need to make yourself presentable to gain entry to the roof terrace of the Dream Hotel—no hats, sneakers or ripped jeans here; you’d only ruin the chic, palm-tree-studded decor. Come for sunset and gaze at the neon dream of Times Square. 210 W 55th St between Broadway and Seventh Ave

Empire hotel. with live jazz music, in front of the Lincoln center.



Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Monday, July 29, 2013

MIT (Must Inteligent Team)

Never complain that you're bored ever again.

This is genuinely an amazing resource, check it out here: http://bit.ly/16qtJDq

This isn't new, this resource (and many others like it) has been available for a long time. People just don't know about it! So check it out, and TELL YOUR FRIENDS. Spread the knowledge.

8 hugs per day... at least ;D

Very interesting talk!
http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_zak_trust_morality_and_oxytocin.html
Who we are when love is what it wants to be,
We are free, and we are having the best day ever by far,
Being treated to the light like a superstar
JM

Thursday, May 23, 2013

THURSDAY MAY 23RD: OLD SCHOOL FUNK & HIP-HOP DANCE PARTY Due to tonight's severe weather forecast, BRIC and Brooklyn Bridge Park announce that the Old School Funk and Hip-Hop Dance Party is moving to The Bell House (149 7th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, Brooklyn) and will start at 8:00PM/doors at 7:00PM. Please note space is limited. First 500 with password "Brooklyn Bridge Park" get in free. 21 and over. http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/events/calendar/celebrate-brooklyn-dance-parties

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Friday!!

Time Out says: Bike to work day Leave your MetroCard at home and claim part of the road during the annual Bike to Work Day. Aside from promoting a more cycling-friendly metropolis, you can grab coffee, Kind Bars, coconut water and more at seven commuter-friendly spots such as the Manhattan Bridge, Joyce Kilmer Park and the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, as well as commuting tips from Transportation Alternatives reps. On your way home, stop at the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge (Water St between Adams and Pearl Sts) for a party with food, drinks, pop-up bike shops and a reflective-clothing fashion show (6:30–9:30pm). AND Spring Night ’This the season for alfresco drinking, so head to the Frick Collection’s garden court, where you can listen to soprano Margaret Astrup while you imbibe. The free event also includes 15-minute curator talks about the three exhibits currently on view, The Frick Collection 1 E 70th St, between Fifth and Madison Aves

Monday, May 13, 2013

Agenda

Arrested update

Bluth Banana Stand Radio City Music Hall Want some frozen bananas compliments of the Bluth family making their triumphant return? Look no further than diagonally across from Radio City Music Hall to find the best Arrested Development publicity stunt ever. The stand will remain open until the banans run out, or until George Michael burns the whole thing down.
https://www.google.com/calendar/render?tab=mc&pli=1

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Japan day

TOMORROW!!! Location:Central Park’s Bandshell Area (See the map below)          Main Entrance: 69th Street and 5th Avenue Admission:Free Event Description:  ◆ Activity Tents(7 Tents) 9:30AM – 4:30PM Calligraphy, Hello Kitty, Kabuki Face Painting, Language, Origami, YoYo Fishing, Yukata Try On ◆ Food Tents(6 Tents) 11:30AM – 2:30PM Gyoza, Miso Soup, Okonomiyaki, Ramen, Snacks, Tea (*Food will be provided while supplies last) Please click here for Activity & Food tents information. ◆ Stage Program ( 14 ACTS / 19 Artist (s) )10:30AM – 4:30PM Host:Sandra Endo Performers (in the order of appearance) Taiko Masala, Koki Takehara, Yosakoi Dance Project 10tecomai, Home Island Project, The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York, Inc., International Karate Organization Kyokushinkaikan, KOOan, Tore Bell Hyneekleiv, Diana Garnett, Chris Hart, CHRONOGENESIS, Nicolas Edwards, Glory Gospel Singers, Kai Rivera, Soh Daiko, MIREI, MINE, KYLEE, Emi Meyer

New calendar

Friday, May 10, 2013