Ted's Hot Toddy Tea Wins for Taste of Summer!

It might be strange to contemplate that drinking a hot beverage could be refreshing during the summer, but with a rainy forecast on the rise, you'd surprised just how comforting a hot beverage could be.

Thanks to Ted G. for his creative hot toddy recipe submission which was the winner of the WGINY's Lipton Taste of Summer contest. Want to know how to make it? 

First gather the following ingredients:

1 bag Lipton tea

1 cup hot water

1 tablespoon honey (or enough to coat the bottom of your cup)

1 shot Calvados

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cinnamon stick 

Lemon slice

Then, get your mixing stick and:

1. Coat the bottom of the glass with honey.

2. Add Calvados and lemon juice.

3. In a separate glass, combine tea bag and hot water to make tea. Add tea to glass containing mixture. 

4. Add cinnamon stick and allow to steep until sufficiently cinnamon-y.

5. Stir. 

6. Garnish with a lemon slice. 

7. Enjoy!! 

This Summer, Lipton Seeks to Redefine Refreshing.

This summer, forget that Long Island Iced Tea, which isn't actually made with tea at all, and go in for a really refreshing beverage. Lipton Tea has teamed up with New York City mixologist, Scott Fitzgerald, to help New Yorkers "feel the taste of summer" with innovative concoctions that incorporate Lipton Iced Tea products into delectable adult beverages, such as a White Citrus Sangria. What goes into such a drink? Watch Fitzgerald and actor Mario Lopez teach you how to make this special sangria here, including variations for a kid-friendly version.

Katharine McPhee and the Lipton Sun
photo by Insider Images/Andrew Kelly for Lipton

This past Thursday, on a clear, balmy night with the East River and Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop, and marking the summer solstice, Katharine McPhee played celebrity host to Lipton's "Summer Taste" party at South Street Seaport. McPhee was radiant as she unveiled the "Lipton Sun," a spherical, illuminated sun sculpture created by students at Pratt Institute, and representing the brighter side of summer beverages. Lipton bartenders served up the refreshing White Citrus Sangria, alongside Fitzgerald's stronger cocktail creation, a surprisingly low calorie Mint Tea Julep, made with Lipton's Ready to Drink Diet Green Tea Citrus, fresh orange juice, mint and bourbon. Looking for a light, crisp feel, WGINY staff sipped on another Fitzgerald favorite, Berried Green Iced Tea with Pomegranate, made with vodka, fresh strawberries, and Lipton's Tea & Honey Blackberry Pomegranate Iced Green Tea Mix to Go Packet. This flavorful, sweet cocktail was really a delight to drink.




What's YOUR favorite way to use Lipton Iced Teas as a mixer this summer? Become a mixologist for a day and send your own Lipton recipe cocktail or mocktail idea to whatsgoodinny@gmail.com by Wednesday, June 26 at 5pm, and you could win a prize package from Lipton. The most creative and palatable recipes will be featured on WGINY.

One lucky reader will win this prize package from Lipton.
Winner will be announced on or about June 28. 

Summerstage Goes "Airborne" at Central Park

Following the recent release of their third studio album, "The Airborne Toxic Event" was churning out nothing but addictive music at their recent Summerstage* show in Central Park. If you like bands like "The National" and "Stars," then you'll love these indie darlings whose beautiful, haunting ballads can't help but captivate you.

"The Airborne Toxic Event" plays Summerstage at Central Park
Photo by Heather-Ann Schaeffner**

With a versatile array of instruments, including incorporating the Calder Quartet into many of their live shows, "The Airborne Toxic Event" mixes just the right amount of tranquility and edginess to create a unique sound for their audiences. Tuesday's show began with a slower, more mellow rock repertoire, gradually working up to faster paced jams, and the fans were loving it. This marked the group's 869th show as a rock band, lead singer Mikel Jollet explained as he introduced the song "The Storm," written about living life on the road. "The Storm" debuted last month on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," as "The Airborne Toxic Event" was promoting their latest album, "Such Hot Blood."

Anna Bulbrook on viola
Photo by Heather-Ann Schaeffner 

"The Airborne Toxic Event" will be taking to the festival circuit this summer, and if you're wondering which band they might be, just look out for the best looking band you've ever seen close up, ever. Also keep an eye out for Anna Bulbrook, whose viola skills are prominently featured in many of the band's songs.

Though "The Airborne Toxic Event" has rarely a song that exceeds three minutes long, each song says so much. Listen to Jollet sing, and with his charming stage presence and charisma, you'll be sure he's singing directly to you. Some fan favorites that were raved about at Summerstage included "Sometime Around Midnight," from the band's eponymous first album, and the sing-songy "Timeless" from "Such Hot Blood." Drum, guitar, violin, and especially bass solos were highlighted, as Jollet noted there are just not enough bass solos in modern music.

Noah Harmon on the upright bass
Photo by Heather-Ann Schaeffner

The Summerstage show ended with "The Airborne Toxic Event" performing seemingly impromptu covers of
classics from Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springstein, bringing their wannabe Americana-style home full circle. "The Airborne Toxic Event" is making waves in the indie rock community and the small splashes they've achieved over the last few years are sure to only continue to propel them into stardom in coming years.

*"Summerstage" is a three month long festival that brings free cultural events to parks in every borough of New York City.  There is something for everyone whether your interest is dance, opera, theater, music or family events.  See the full calendar of events for more information. 

**See Heather-Ann Schaeffner's full photo reel from the show here.

"Frankenstein Upstairs" Breathes Modern Life into an Old Tale.

Nearly 100 years after the publication of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," even the most avid fans sometimes forget that "Frankenstein" is a story not so much about a creature of the night, but rather about the monsters that live inside of us all. How far might we be willing to go to achieve our most desired objectives in life? What could we create if there were no limits? What might we destroy in the process? In an imaginative new drama, award-winning playwright, Mac Rogers, examines these and other lofty questions, and brings Shelley's old tale into the 21st century.

Marisol (Diana Oh) and Sophie (Autumn Dornfled) share a moment
photo by Deborah Alexander used with permission

"Frankenstein Upstairs" begins with a young couple, Sophie (Autumn Dornfeld) and Marisol (Diana Oh), living together in a hip Brooklyn apartment, and trying to come up with ideas to merge their small social media start-ups. Awkward as can be, Sophie is as serious and high strung about her business as she is about her relationship with Marisol, who happens to be her polar opposite in every way. Marisol is a goofy, carefree spirit with little interest in things like planners and time management, while Sophie schedules every minute of her life, including "sexy time" with Marisol (interestingly, that the couple's romantic chemistry is a bit less than believable, only makes their polarizing archetypes more believable). 

Sophie becomes more annoyed as her efforts to nail down a "SWOT" strategy (Strategies, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for their companies keeps getting interrupted by momentary lapses in power, as well as Marisol's complete inability to actually focus on anything that might constitute working. Enter the elusive upstairs neighbor, Victoria Frankenstein (Kristen Vaughan), who too easily takes responsibly for causing the power outages in Sophie and Marisol's apartment, and jumps on the opportunity to befriend the girls. With a mysterious ancestry, an old journal from her grandfather, and a secretive work project she's reluctant to reveal, "Vic" impresses Sophie and Marisol, and especially begins to win over their friend and social media contact, Taylor (Rob Maitner). 

Victoria Frankenstein (Kristen Vaughan) examines an unconscious Marisol (Diana Oh)
photo by Deborah Alexander used with permission

Relations don't stay chummy for long, as the more the four players interact, the weirder and more oppressive things get for all involved. Following an argument between Sophie and Marisol, Sophie awakes to find Marisol unconscious. Usually cool and collected, Sophie begins to panic, until Victoria Frankenstein appears with an idea that will literally shock this couple to their core. Sophie is forced to make a choice that will forever change her, and she learns that every choice has consequences, and every action a reaction. 

Including a 10 minute intermission, "Frankenstein Upstairs" has a running time of nearly 3 hours, and could probably be cut in a few places, but overall it is a thought-provoking work of science fiction that will leave audiences questioning their own ideals, faiths and pragmatism. "Frankenstein Upstairs" is now playing at The Secret Theatre, in Long Island City, through June 30. This show may very well end up reanimating itself on a larger stage one day soon, but don't miss your opportunity to see it in this intimate setting. Purchase tickets now, and if you enjoy the play, vote for it to win a New York Innovative Theatre Award.

Read more about this and other of Mac Rogers' intriguing plays in his interview with The Brooklyn Rail.  

Let The BTK Band Rock Your F---king Face Off.

The BTK Band
photo by KL Thomas used with permission 

It's 9pm on a rainy Monday and I'm waiting at the door to UNDER St. Marks while "The BTK Band" can be heard rehearsing downstairs for their regular rock improv show. A small line is forming behind me, but the lady accepting the $5 admission fee at the door is so far only letting in "Storytellers and go-go dancers! Only storytellers and go-go dancers please!..." My interest is now officially piqued, and so begins what becomes the most fun I can ever remember having on a Monday night.

Go-Go Dancer with The BTK Band
photo by KL Thomas used with permission

Known for drinking hard and rocking out even harder, The BTK Band plays every second Monday of the month, welcoming storytellers to beguile audiences with witty yet true tales of sex, love, lust and other life experiences, as BTK literally makes up lyrics in the background to complement the stories. Their June 2013 show happens to fall during Pride month, and just when you think they couldn't ham things up more, BTK decides to become "BTGay" for the evening, and band members emerge in various assortments of rainbow outfits and transgender apparel. Surrounding the band and offering tantalizing interpretive dance moves are buxom, rainbow outfitted, scantily clad male and female go-go dancers (who, by the way, apparently work for tips). This is all especially fitting, given that the band got its start at the infamous Stonewall Inn, oft credited with being the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement.


Immediately shocking and hilarious, the BTK Band, led by the larger than life Peter Aguero (who sometimes goes by his mother's married name, The Duchess Barbara Pillsbury, especially when he's in drag), introduce some of their go-go dancers. There's "Cliff Hanger," and "Amelia Bareparty," to name a few. To get the party started, after an outrageous rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," the band calls on a random audience member to come to the stage and reveal a bit about himself. Giving up nothing more than that he is a gay drummer who likes baseball, audience member "Ian" is awkwardly serenaded by the catchy tune "Ian, When Will You Be Mine?"

Shortly after, the featured storytelling begins. We first hear from John Flynn, who describes, in three parts, a lascivious story of his first ever one night stand, while traveling in St. Louis, as the band chimes in, "He's in St. Louis and he's lookin for a man..." As the twisted lyrics continue, it becomes easy enough for the audience to join in, if they can stop laughing long enough to actually sing along. (Sidenote: John Flynn also hosts a Thursday night storytelling open mic show at UCB East, which I now feel compelled to catch soon).

All puns aside though, this band is really no joke. Their songs are clever and creative, and the band's obvious zest for life is just unstoppable. Rory Scholl, who sings and plays several instruments for BTK/BTGay, has got some impressive pipes on him, as does the band's one female vocalist, Margo Bercy. This is musical improvisation at its finest. Consider, for example, the band's alluring accompaniments for storyteller Tara Clancy's "coming out" experience, or playwright Edgar Oliver's good/bad dream.

The saddest part of the night was learning that The BTK Band, performing since approximately 2007, will be ceasing their residency at UNDER St. Marks at the end of this year. As they are also entering a summer hiatus, that means there are very few opportunities left to catch The BTK Band live, and I certainly wouldn't want to miss them if I were you. Look for them to play UNDER St. Marks on the second Monday in September,  Monday the 9th, to be exact (WGINY surely plans to attend again!). While you are listening to new and interesting stories and songs, you may even find the answers to some burning questions, such as, "Will harmonica player, 'Handsome Brad,' take his shirt off during the show?"

In the meantime, follow The BTK Band on facebook and twitter where you can learn more about upcoming shows and appearances, and also amuse yourself with their sort-of NSFW youtube channel. (Hint: check any of these pages for official videos from their June 2013 Pride show and other gigs from as far back as 2009). As you explore, just think of this motto: "BTKwill rock your f---king face off!", but remember, you have to see it live to get the full effect.

"Lesbian Love Octagon" -- Eight Times the Fun!

By Guest Contributor: Tami Shaloum

What do you get when you mix a recently single lesbian, her long list of ex-girlfriends, and an even longer list of exes’ girlfriends and their exes? You get “Lesbian Love Octagon,” a fun, campy, tongue-in-cheek musical comedy about a group of gay women living in the Lower East Side. The incestuous cast of rotating bedmates centers around the likeable, serial monogamous Sue, who tends to turn her exes into close friends. Rounding out the cast are more lesbian stereotypes than you can shake a dildo at. They all hang out at the lesbian bookstore, drink at the lesbian bar, and shop at the lesbian sex shop. The drama between the eight main characters reaches a fever pitch when Sue and Darla, her girlfriend of two years, break up. This sets in motion a series of events in which the characters fall in and out of bed with each other, hearts are broken, and new relationships are formed.

Caitlin Lee Reed as "Sue" and Jax Jackson as "Jerry" in "Lesbian Love Octagon"
photo by KL Thomas used with permission

The music brings to mind Sondheim, with its layered medleys and sparse, speech-like solos. The singing is solid, with strong and clear voices comprising an array of diverse vocal styles. The cast weaves seamlessly in and out of the minimalist set design, and the characters are deliciously fun, from fashionable, sex-crazed femme Anya to scene-stealing, outspoken Wendy. Sue is, of course, the "normal" one, almost milquetoast in comparison to her flamboyant friends. Her role serves mainly to ground the others. Another sincere character is Jerry, another ex of Sue’s back when Jerry was Jenny. Now a transgender male, Jerry is dating the bisexual Darla who, Jerry suspects, is using him to add to her collection of alternative relationships. The strength of this character is his insistence on not being a token for his mate. When Sue goes through an identity crisis, there is a sweet exchange between her and Jerry. He reminds her that there are a thousand things that make her who she is, and only one of those is that she is a lesbian.

The humor of “Lesbian Love Octagon” exists mainly to poke fun at lesbian culture, including an entire song listing things lesbians like: camping, Sleater-Kinney, cats, tofu scrambles... Whatever political message the play espouses about acceptance and equality usually goes so over the top it becomes satirical. At the same time, there is a real celebration of the culture and the way New York City helps it thrive. Above all, the show celebrates female sexuality and friendship. With each character oozing more sensuality than the next, you are never left wondering why they go through so much drama to be together.

"Lesbian Love Octagon" is playing at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery) only through June 29, so purchase your tickets now. 

Spotlight on Spring Dumpling House

Interior of Spring Dumping House -- 36 W. 38th Street 

You don't have to head to Chinatown to find some of the best dumplings in town.  Instead, try Spring Dumpling House, conveniently located in midtown, at 36 W. 38th Street between 5th and 6th Ave.  The chic, minimalist decor compliments the exposed brick, as mellow lighting and eclectic world music set a smooth dining scene. Peppy, friendly waitstaff provide you with some complimentary peanuts to snack on, as is Chinese tradition, and iPad is presented to patrons highlighting menu and daily specials such as staff (and WGINY) favorite, pork belly sliders. Your server will describe each dish and sauce in detail and, if you ask, even explain exactly how to eat and dip these Chinese "tapas."  

Spicy Pork Dumplings -- One plate is never enough!

Priding itself on being "The House of Pot Sticker, Yummy Dumpling and Tasty Noodle," Spring Dumpling House is full of delicious surprises, like the savory meat exploding out of their popular spicy pork dumping. The name of the game is definitely pork here, and you'll find several combinations of it-- pork and chive, pork and cabbage, pork and scallion-- as you look over the extensive menu of dumplings and potstickers. Each plate of dumplings or potstickers is served piping hot and ready to be devoured. Potstickers are lightly pan seared while dumplings are boiled, and the chefs at Spring Dumpling House seem to have perfected the art of blending just the right amount of sweet and sour and spice in each creation.

Of course a tour of Northeast Chinese delights would probably not be complete without some shellfish, so make sure to order a plate of sesame shrimp toast. Served with a side of vinegar-based sriracha sauce, this is a delicacy that will melt in your mouth. For another shrimp specialty, try the shrimp, chive and mushroom dumpling.

Sesame Shrimp Toast

The most difficult part of a visit to Spring Dumping House is knowing when to stop. You can't eat it all, but you'll probably want to. If you go and you love it like I did, don't forget to "like" Spring Dumpling House on facebook. Live close by but don't feel eating out? Spring Dumping House also delivers.

"Showgirls! The Musical" Moving to "Different Places" With an Off-Broadway Run!

Audiences can't get enough of drifter Nomi Malone, so it's time for "Showgirls! The Musical! to drift over to its own Off-Broadway stage at XL Nightclub, on W. 42nd between 10th & 11th Ave.  From May 15 through June 15, "Showgirls!" will really shine in its new home home at XL's 200-seat theater. Actress Rena Riffel will even be reprising her role as "Penny" from the Showgirls and Showgirls 2 films, through May 25.

Talented stage acting, witty writing, catchy tunes and, of course, nudity, make this a show that is heading to the top, even if it has to push you down the stairs to get there.

Purchase tickets now for upcoming performances on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 8pm. For more info, watch the show's trailer, check out the slightly-NSFW website, and read WGINY's in-depth review from the show's premiere at the Kraine Theater.

"Trust the Thurst," Darling, With New Parody: "Showgirls! The Musical!"

"Showgirls! The Musical!" 

Remember when the zany "Zack Attack" came back in "Bayside! The Unmusical!"? Well the devious minds behind that unauthorized parody have created yet another sensational show that's wilder and more naked than anything you'd ever see at Bayside High -- "Showgirls! The Musical!"

With their musical interpretation of the 1995 cult classic film, "Showgirls," Medium Face creators want you to "Trust the Thrust" as you follow drifter "Nomi Malone" on her hilariously despondent journey to rise through the ranks of topless starlets in Las Vegas. This show forces audiences to do some serious soul searching to find the answers to hard questions, such as "Will Nomi lick that pole?" "Will Nomi's past come back to haunt her from different places?" "Will Nomi and Molly give in to the tension and become 'special' best friends?" Actress and Elizabeth Berkley look alike, April Kidwell, who also played "Jessie Spano" in "Bayside", portrays a tenacious Nomi Malone, complete with a fair share of freak outs and french fries. Her crazy eyes are so crazy, you'll forget she's acting!

The love-hate chemistry between "Nomi Malone" and "Cristal Conners," played by the dazzling Rori Nogee, is electric as they toggle for top-billed performer in the revue, "Goddess". Nogee thrusts herself far into the spotlight with her Southern Rock stylings, as she belts out "Look at Me," a song in which she tells of her superior status as Vegas Royalty. Marcus Desion, who portrays both Nomi's best friend "Molly" and one of Nomi's several love/lust interests, "James," also impresses with his talents as a skilled singer and dancer. Desion clearly excels as a physical movement artist, and brings a special comedic flair to an already absurd stage.

Recreated scenes at famed movie locations such as the "Krave Club," "The Cheetah," the "Boat Show," and "Kyle MacLachlan's pool" are wildly entertaining and completely over-the-top, as well as under the top, topless, on top of laps, and around poles. Kidwell's pole performance at "The Cheetah" is so incredibly athletic and poised, that the audience must wonder whether she has some classical dance or pole training, as she could probably match wits with some seasoned pole dancers.

Trust the Thrust! with April Kidwell as "Nomi Malone"

As if it couldn't get any more awesome, "Showgirls! The Musical!" is full of memorable dialogue and one-liners from the movie such as "You burn when you dance," "Dancing Ain't F*king," (also the title of one of the songs in the "Showgirls!" score) and "If you're the only one left standing, they'll hire you."

Unfortunately, any parody of "Showgirls" could not be complete without some references to the grievous sexual assault scene. The topic is at first addressed only suggestively, in passing comments, but the Medium Face team carries it out just a tad more than to a suggestion, and that part could probably be left out. Don't worry though, the show overall more than makes up for this faux pas, and Nomi climatically returns to kick some serious behind, and front, to the man who hurt her friend.

You won't want to miss this "Pollyanna's" limited engagement at the Kraine Theater, starting April 17. At only $18 each, tickets will sell out faster than Elizabeth Berkley did. Even if you're not familiar with the movie -- Come for the Dancing! Come for the Debauchery! Come for the Costumes, or lack thereof... Catch the show's trailer here and visit the "slightly NSFW" website to learn more.

Promotional photos used with permission.

Art Comes Alive in NYC with "Season of Cambodia: A Living Arts Festival"

Officially kicking off this Saturday, April 13, Cambodian Livings Arts (CLA) presents "Season of Cambodia," a "living arts" festival of culture, performance and visual art across the city. Music and dance performances, theater, and film, populate April and May, while visual art exhibits continue through early summer.

CLA has humble beginnings as a creative arts organization founded in 1998 to revitalize and promote artistic development in a region debilitated by the Khmer Rouge regime. Cambodia has come a long way since then, and CLA proudly sets a model for other international non-profits to follow. With its "Season of Cambodia: A Living Arts Festival," CLA highlights over 125 visual and performance artists, bringing these talented artists right to New Yorkers' backyards.

The festival had its "soft" opening on February 23, with the visual art exhibition, "Cambodia Rattan: The Sculpture of Sopheap Pich," at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Pich uses natural and organic materials such as rattan and bamboo to create abstract forms often inspired by anatomy and biology. "Cambodian Rattan" is the longest running exhibit of the festival, showing through July 7. If you visit this exhibit on April 14, you may even get a chance to meet the artist himself and learn more about his inspirations. Learn more about others artists' talks and symposiums here.

The festival's official Opening Ceremony event takes place on Saturday, April 13, from 3pm to 5pm at the Rubin Museum of Art, a local museum known for its focus on Himalayan art and sculpture from ancient through modern times. The opening ceremony is set to coincide with the celebratory start of the Cambodian New Year, and will feature traditional Cambodian music and chanting.

What else can you expect to see, hear and experience during this "Season of Cambodia"?

If performance art is what you seek, consider purchasing coveted tickets to the festival's first major production, "A Bend in the River," which is currently playing at the Joyce Theater, through April 14. SOC notes that renowned Cambodian performance and visual artists collaborated to produce a richly narrated story of "love, heartbreak, vengeance, consequence and redemption," interpreted by Cambodia's own Khmer Arts Ensemble, as choreographed by transcendent choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro. "A Bend in the Rivier" is set to an original, live musical score composed by Him Sophy, and also features puppets created by Sopheap Pich ("Cambodia Rattan" sculptor).

Put yourself right in the middle of the arts festival by taking a Master dance class in general movement, Cambodian Classical Dance or Khmeropedies III. If you'd rather be off the dance floor watching others perform, there is a great lineup of dance performances at the festival throughout the beginning of May. You may want to marvel at the opulent costumes and gracefulness of the performers of the Royal Ballet of Cambodia at "The Legend of Aspara Mira," which will be showcased May 2 through May 4 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

For indie rock fans, you'll want to head to Le Poisson Rouge this Saturday night at 7:30pm
to catch "Dengue Fever," a band based out of Los Angeles that mixes Cambodian pop with American indie rock styles. Preview their dynamic music here. Learn about other musical performances sponsored by SOC here.

Photography and visual art fanatics have a plethora of options to choose from as well. Exhibit themes include the U.S. bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, rare images of female Royal Ballet of Cambodia principal dancers from 1927, as well as contemporary art and sculpture exhibitions throughout the city.

Finally, a living arts festival wouldn't be complete without a film series. Season of Cambodia's documentary film series features films that explore multifaceted themes in Cambodian culture and history, ranging from "Five Lives," a collection of documentary shorts about modern life in Cambodia's capital city, Phnom Phen, to "S21: The Khmer Rouge Death Machine," which explores atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge regime from the point of view of former prisoners and the very guards who essentially enslaved them. All films will be screened at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

"Season of Cambodia: A Living Arts Festival" presents an incredible opportunity for Americans to experience Cambodia like we've never seen it before, raise cross-cultural awareness, and promote and inspire artistic expression and more importantly, artistic freedom, worldwide. Browse the festival's Program of Events to find the experiences that most strike your fancy, though I can't promise it will be easy to choose!

5 Things I Want To Do In NYC When I Win The Lotto.

WGINY guest author, Li Chen, of Vimbly, tells What's Good in New York what she would do in NYC if she won the lottery, in her own words. 

5 Things I Want To Do In NYC When I Win The Lotto 

by Li Chen 

I recently filled out a questionnaire sheet and one of the questions was, "If you woke up as a millionaire, what's the first thing you'd buy?" I gave it a lot of thought. Unlike those chick flicks, I don't care for a Prada or a Porsche. I am not Miss Universe so I won't say "world peace" to every question and I won't donate my share either. Instead, this is what I'd do:

1. Visit the Empire State Building. The day I win the lotto will be the day I visit the Empire State Building. It costs $45 dollars for a NY Skyride and Empire State Building Observatory ticket...that's equivalent to a box of 24 Packs of King Size Kit Kat bars ($41.99!). Unless I get to take a picture with King Kong on top of the Empire State, I am spending my money on curing my sweet tooth cravings. Besides, time is money too. Did you see the line? Waiting in line...heck to the no!

2. Go on food tours everyday. I initially thought of eating at a buffet everyday, but having worked at one, I know waiters and waitresses look at you (they do!) when you go up for seconds or thirds. I prefer food tours where everyone is busy trying out food samples and no one is paying attention to you wolfing down a cannoli. Definitely food tours for the win!

3. Invest in micro apartments. There has been a shortage of affordable housing in New York City since the beginning of mankind. Micro apartments are definitely a better investment than clothes from Macy's. You can either sell it for a higher price when it's finished, or rent it and collect rent. Hey, planning for retirement wasn't that bad after all!

4. Buy parking lots. Wherever you see empty lots, buy it! Space is money in the city. You don't even need to decorate or renovate or anything. Simply put up a sign that spells P-A-R-K-I-N-G and you are guaranteed to make money.

5. Start my own company. There are numerous start startup companies in New York City. If money is not a concern, why not start a company of your own? Yes, you run the risk of failing but what do you have to lose? Most importantly, you are helping your community by creating time-saving web and phone apps like OpenTable: NYC Reservations for restaurants and Vimbly for recreational activities.

For more info on Vimbly, see WGINY's previous post about how this very nimbly site helps navigates NYC for busy activity-seekers. 

NYBG's Annual Orchid Show is Upon Us Again!

Spring is right around the corner, which means it's time for the New York Botanical Garden's Annual Orchid Show!

Read all about last year's colorful show, and purchase tickets to the 2013 show, which runs through April 22, here. WGINY readers can get a special discount by entering code "9926" when purchasing an All-Garden pass.

Last but not least, don't forget about those steamy Orchid Evenings!

NYC Alumnae Chapter of “TriDelta” Raises Funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital on March 21

On Thursday, March 21, the NYC Alumnae Chapter of national college sorority, Delta Delta Delta will be hosting its fourth annual “Stars& Crescent Evening,” a fundraiser event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  “NYC DDD” has a strong philanthropic foundation, and is frequently acknowledged as the top national alumnae chapter for fundraising by St. Jude. At their 2012 fundraiser, hosting over 300 guests, NYC DDD raised $28,800 for St. Jude! Can you help them raise more this year?

Taking place at the elegant Bowery Hotel, the “Stars & Crescent Evening” will be a night to remember with music and mingling to the beats of DJ Brian Gaffey, a high end open bar with signature cocktails, appetizers and dessert fare, and a silent auction with an amazing array of prizes. You can enter to win Knicks tickets, a roundtrip Jet Blue flight, tickets to “Watch What Happens LIVE!,” a helicopter ride around NYC, a Long Island winery experience, and so much more. 

Still not convinced? Watch this video from last year's event. Then check out the invite below and click here to purchase general admission or VIP tickets, or become a sponsor. VIP guests have special access to whiskey, wine and champagne tastings throughout the night, as well as some other surprises. Individual tickets start at $65. 

Even if you can’t attend, consider donating to the fundraiser.

There's Magic in the Air at the SoHo Playhouse!

For the past eight years, world premiere sleight-of-hand artist, Simon Lovell, has been winning over audiences at the SoHo Playhouse with New York City's longest running one-man show, "Simon Lovell's Strange and Unusual Hobbies". Author of at least sixteen books, esteemed recipient of the 2009 Merlin Award (like an "Oscar," "Tony" or "Emmy" for Magicians), and self-proclaimed con-artist, Lovell is also known for acting, writing and consulting on TV shows and movies, such as USA Network's "White Collar".

Lovell, who learned his first magic trick when he was four years old, amazes with impossible card tricks and other close-up magic, and his witty British charm adds a special flair to his "shindigs" at the Playhouse. He has mastered a one-handed shuffle and four-way card cut, and impresses when he asks six different audience members to secretly chose cards from his deck, building suspense as he finds each and every card after it has been mixed back in. He may even teach you ways to cheat your friends and become a "grifter" (aka con-person) yourself!

Perhaps the most intriguing part of Lovell's show is the sassy way in which he performs his tricks, encouraging audience participation and essentially posing many of his "tricks" like riddles -- you'll have that "aha" moment when he's done, but you never saw it coming. Though the "Strange and Unusual Hobbies" show typically runs 70 minutes, don't expect to be bombarded by magic the entire time, as much of the show comes down to outrageous props and perfect comedic timing.

Lovell's show takes places in a sleek downstairs lounge at the Playhouse, The Huron Club, offering a full bar and seating for about 40 people. Despite playing every Saturday night at 6:00 p.m., the show consistently sells out, so purchase tickets in advance, and get there early to ensure a seat right up front, where Lovell will be most likely to force you to interact with him during the show.

You can read more about the mysterious history of Simon Lovell here. If you happen to be a budding magician yourself, you may want to consider inquiring about Lovell's lectures for performers.

Spoltight on "FM Belfast"

Who or what is "FM Belfast," you ask? Don't expect to be in the dark too long about these guys as they light up the electro-pop music scene. Hailing from Iceland, FM Belfast headlined the 2008 Iceland Airwaves music festival, around the time of the release of their first official album, "How to Make Friends". As often happens with good music, it was their European fan base that really propelled them, but Americans are starting to take notice.

Perhaps they just can't stop singing along to catchy tunes such as "[I'm gonna learn] American" or "I don't wanna go to sleep either," or dancing to the hip beats FM Belfast pours out. Whatever the reason, it is clear that where FM Belfast goes, so does a surge of musical energy and excitement. Whether they are getting low with the crowd, rapping, throwing out confetti and silly string, or singing in their underwear to the tune of their single, "Underwear," FM Belfast knows how to have fun.

According to their website bio, FM Belfast was formed by couple Árni and Lóa in late 2005, because they simply wanted to make a Christmas song recording for friends. However, there was such a clear, cheerful passion and talent evident in their music, that they were encouraged to continue making music and begin performing. They have been doing so since 2006, despite their first album release being delayed until 2008.

Apparently, while the group usually performs with a core of four members, as many as forty musicians have appeared on stage in their shows over the years.  This past Sunday, a moderately-sized FM Belfast lit up the Studio at Webster Hall with their peppy, upbeat tunes, perhaps set to follow in the footsteps of now-well known bands such as Vampire Weekend, Mumford and Sons, Spoon, Florence and the Machine, and so many others. The stage was vibrantly decorated and the sounds of cowbells and maracas merely further accessorized the party in which the crowd became engrossed.

Get more familiar with FM Belfast here, and keep an eye on their tour dates. You don't want to miss their next NYC show.

New York Art Museums You Can't Miss!

Guest Author for Post: Dan Patterson, author bio appears below

Edited by: Heather K., WGINY 

New York City plays host to some of the finest art museums in the world. Art buffs know that any art tour of New York City simply is not complete without a visit to "The Met" and "The MoMA". Of course, you’re not going just to see the buildings, so you’ll need to know which paintings not to miss once you’re there. Some of the most famous are also housed at other Big Apple hot spots. Here’s a quick guide about where to go and what to see once you’re there.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Many people will tell you that no trip to NYC is complete without a visit to The Met, but once you get there, you’ll need to know what not to miss. The Met houses more than two million pieces of artwork and is one of the largest art museums in the world, so it is easy to understand why patrons become easily overwhelmed by the volume of works to see. If you plan ahead, you can easily navigate to the highlights, such as Michelangelo’s The Musicians (1595), Poussin’s The Abduction of the Sabine Women (1633-1634), Stuart’s portrait George Washington (1975-1796), Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm (1950), David’s The Death of Socrates (1787), Dali’s Crucifixion (1954), Picasso’s Dying Bull (1934), Homer’s Snap the Whip (1872), Monet’s Garden at Sainte-Adresse (1867), Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses at the Hauute Galline Near Eygalieres (1889), Vermeer’s Young Woman with a Water Pitcher (1662), Manet’s The Monet Family in Their Garden at Argenteuil (1874), Klee’s Static Dynamic Gradation (1923), Matisse’s Nasturtiums with the Painting Dance (1912), El Greco’s View of Toledo (1596-1600), Singer-Sargent’s Madame X (1883-1884), and Cezanne’s The Card Players (1894-1895), to name a few. You may need more than a full day to discover all of the pieces you want to see. While you’re there, make a very worthy detour to the rooftop. It has one of the best views of the city.

The Museum of Modern Art

You may not be able to adequately recover from your affair with one famous painting before you engage with the next at MoMA. Yes, Van Gogh’s The Starry Night (1889) is there and Edvard Munch’s The Scream (1895), normally at home in Oslo, will be there until the end of April. One of the largest works of art on display is Monet’s Reflection of Clouds on the Water Lily Pond (1920), which occupies a very large amount of real estate on its own wall at MoMA. Here you’ll also find, Rousseau’s The Dream (1910), Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907), Dali’s Persistence of Memory (1931), Mondrion’s Broadway Boogie-Woogie (1942-1943), Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans, Matisse’s The Dance (1909), Chagall’s I and the Village (1911), Pollock’s Number 31 (1950), John’s Flag (1954-1955), Wyeth’s Christina’s World (1948), Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl (1963), and Klimt’s Hope II (1907-1908).

These highlights are simply a snapshot of the great works on display in New York City art museums, but you’ll be delighted to check these off of your “to see” list. 

The Guggenheim

Gaze upon Frank Lloyd Wright's building, and you will see that the modern art experience here begins outside. Inside, The Guggenheim features ever-changing, notable modern art "from the 20th Century and beyond." Many of the paintings and sculpture found in the museum's permanent collection once belonged to founder Solomon Guggenheim and his family. Within the museum's permanent collections, it is impossible to pass by works by such as Cézanne's Man with Crossed Arms (1899) or Still Life: Flask, Glass, and Jug (1877), or Picasso's first Parisian work, Le Moulin de la Galette (1900). Through April 17, 2013, Vasily Kandinsky is once again brought to life as a rotating Guggenheim exhibit that includes Kandinsky's On the Spiritual in Art (1911).

The Frick Collection

The Frick Collection is the former 5^th Avenue residence of Pittsburgh industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919). It was built in 1914 and is one of New York City’s few remaining Gilded Age mansions, making it a work of art in and of itself—visitors are particularly captivated by the exquisite courtyard. Some of the masterpieces not to be missed are Whistler’s Harmony in Pink and Grey (1881), Degas’ The Rehearsal (1878-1879), Renoir’s Mother and Children (1876-1878), Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait (1658), Goya’s The Purification of the Temple (1600) and Vermeer’s Mistress and Maid (1667).

The Whitney Museum of American Art

The Whitney Museum was created by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in the early 1930s and features a wide variety of contemporary and American art, such as George Bellows Dempsey and Firpo (1924). The Whitney received a substantial donation from the estate of Edward Hopper in 1970, which included around 2,000 pieces of his work, most notably, Early Sunday Morning (1930) and Seven A.M. (1948).

Author Bio: 

This post was provided by Dan Patterson, who works for CityPASS. You can save on admission to some of the museums listed above with the New York CityPASS. To plan the best trip to New York, check out their plan your visit to NYC page. 

Another Superstorm?

Stay safe out there New York City, as another potential "superstorm" barrels our way today.  The storm, or rather, potential blizzard, "Nemo," may dump more than a foot of snow on our city streets tonight into tomorrow morning.

Be sure to check with the MTA frequently to ensure that your subway, bus or train line is running. Long Island Railroad and Metro North have added extra afternoon trains so that commuters who may be able to depart work early will be accommodated.

While public schools did open today, all after-school activities are cancelled. Many city events scheduled to take place tonight and tomorrow are also cancelled. Please confirm before venturing out.

Looking out my window now, I see flurries turning into rain. But weather officials confirm that this could end up being another "storm of the century," quite literally, the likes of which our region has not seen in a hundred years. Take extra precaution and stock up on food and necessities in case of power outages.

Depending on your wireless carrier, you may already be getting severe weather alert messages from the National Weather Service on your cell phone (read more about this here). If you are not, visit weather.com to sign up for their alert service.

NYC Skeeball League Wants You!

Looking for a fun, social sport that doesn't require you to kick a ball or run on a field? Think back to your childhood... No, not your soccer days, and not your softball days either... Remember your days at the arcade? Think about the first time you placed a quarter (or a game token) in a Skeeball machine, got your nine balls and aimed high to outscore your friends. Now, add a beer or three, and you've got yourself the NYC Skeeball League. 

NYC Skeeball League 

You don't have to be an athlete to throw a skeeball, and in fact, the creators of the league ask that you leave your athletic skills at home, and instead bring your socializing skills. The NYC Skeeball League focuses not on competition, but on camaraderie. You can come with your own team, or come solo and join a team. Best of all, your membership in the league gets means all of your Skeeball games are FREE while you're playing for the league. 

A typicaly Skeeball "season" consists of several game nights over seven or eight weeks, taking place between 7pm and 9:30pm, during which your team plays two matches against other teams.  (A "match" is a best out of seven games series... so the first team to win four games takes that match). Games are located at bars around Manhattan and Brooklyn and typically take place on the same night weekly. During a single season, your team will always play at the same location, and your membership also includes a league t-shirt, and drink and food specials at the bar where you play. Game play also promises prizes and parties! 

Read an overview here, or view the full set of rules here. Membership fee for an entire season costs only $50 to $65. The earlier you sign up, the better rate you'll get. 

Skeeball Brings People Together

In addition to league games, by joining the NYC Skeeball League, you'll also be privy to special member-only happy hours, movie nights and other fun events. Learn more on the league's meetup and facebook pages. There are still a few spots left for various game locations in the Winter season league, so sign up now.  

Current open team locations include:

Ace Bar (East Village/Alphabet City, E. 5th btwn Aves A & B) -- season begins Thursday, January 24.

Brother Jimmy's (Murray Hill, E. 31st and Lex) -- season begins Thursday, January 31; registration closes January 25. 

Bar East Ale House (Upper East Side, 1st & 90th)  -- season begins Thursday, February 7; registration ends January 27.

Boss Tweeds Saloon (Lower East Side, Essex btwn Rivington and Delancey)-- season begins Thursday, February 7; registration ends February 1.

(**Note, registration at any of the above locations may end earlier, based on availability**).

All photos and logos in this post were used with permission and are the property of the NYC Skeeball League.

2013 "Professional Bull Riders" Season Opener Invitational Rode into NYC This Weekend

Professional Bull Riders 2013 Season Opener at MSG

This weekend, cowboys ruled the streets of the city as New Yorkers put on their boots and spurs and saddled up for the 2013 "Professional Bull Riders" season opener at Madison Square Garden.  The 3-day "Monster Energy Invitational" was the first of approximately twenty-five national invitationals in the "Built Ford Tough Series," which will culminate in a winner-takes-all world championship event in Las Vegas from October 23-27, 2013.

It's no easy feat to maintain this kind of control...

New York City is the only northeast stop for the Built Ford Tough Series, where 40-odd riders vied for top scores.  With tough bulls like "Bushwhacker" and "Asteroid" in the competition this year, it is no wonder that many riders could barely stay atop the bulls for 3 seconds, let alone the 8 seconds granted for judging.  Finding just the right combination of bull and rider is what can help one make it to the top, as judges look for how challenging the bull itself makes the ride, as well as the rider's own determination.  Find a full explanation of the scoring rules here.  There's much more to bull riding than meets the eye, as even a rider who can maintain his posture for 8 seconds may become disqualified in other ways, such as using two hands to ride.

Some riders had less than elegant falls, while others performed steadfastly upon the furious animals leaping and kicking below them.  A horse and rider pair stayed nearby to rope in any bulls that were reluctant to return to the pen after a ride, but aside from a few errant charges here and there, most of the bulls strutted back without a care.  Complete with a rodeo clown to tell jokes, "Moonwalk," and otherwise keep the crowd warmed up between rides, the PBR event brought wholesome family fun.

Down and out!

The top rider at the New York Invitational was 29 year old Robson Palermo, from Rio Branco, Brazil, who scored a total of 816.50 points, with an average ride score of 86.58.   Next weekend, riders will head to the PBR's Chicago Invitational, and the events across 18 states will continue just about every weekend through May 10, stop for the summer, and then pick up again in August as the October finals in Las Vegas draw nearer.  Check the series schedule to see if you might be traveling to a town or city where the PBR will be held this year, and purchase tickets on ticketmaster.

New York Botanical Garden's Whimsical "Holiday Train Show" Runs Full Speed Ahead Through Iconic NYC Landmarks.

Holiday Train Whirls Past New York's "City Hall"

Add some whimsical imagination to your holiday season this year at the New York Botanical Garden's Holiday Train Show. Creator Paul Busse pairs garden or "g-scale" model trains (the largest model trains ever manufactured), steam engines and street cars together with his world renown building replicas made entirely from tree bark, berries, pine cones and other plant parts.  Busse first showcased his innovative, nature-inspired designs at the NYBG's inaugural Holiday Train Show in 1992, and his structures have been delighting visitors of all ages ever since.  In fact, so much detail is included in his model structures, down to the last window and gargoyle, that the buildings themselves nearly become the real highlight of this show.

New York Public Library

Your visit to the Holiday Train Show begins at the entrance to the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, where you must have a timed ticket for entry. A larger-than-life conductor greets guests as they enter the exhibit and begin the journey through over 100 of New York City's most recognizable buildings such as the New York Public Library, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the original, iconic Penn Station (circa 1910-1969). Famed local bridges built from bark tower overhead, as model trains cross back and forth. There's even a model of the Conservatory itself!

Learn how Busse designs his structures in "The Artist's Studio"

Following the path Busse creates, you'll find yourself transported even beyond the city, as his structures branch out throughout the exhibit to replicas of buildings in outer boroughs and towns, such as the Wave Hill house in Riverdale, Bronx, or Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. Take a detour off the main exhibit to visit "The Artist's Studio," where you can see how Busse builds his models, as well as view some of his models of international iconic structures.

A model train peeks its way out of a bridge built from bark

If you travel to the Train Show during peak times (midday on weekends, holiday week), be prepared to wait in line at the beginning of the exhibit, where you can pause to capture pictures of the "Statue of Liberty" and "Ellis Island." Keep that camera handy;  you won't want to put it down once you enter the main exhibit.  As the foot traffic clears up, you can really begin to enjoy the imaginative designs all around you. Christmas music sings over speakers and the scent of a tropical rain forest fills the air.

Train tracks wind around "St. Patrick's Cathedral"

For the first time this year, the Train Show even features some trains themselves that have been made exclusively from botanical parts. Back to the buildings, notice that any "stone" you may see is actually made from sand, glue and tile grout.

A total of a quarter mile of train tracks wind in, around and above these prominent buildings, bridges and other landmark replicas, and one can't help but feel a sense of fanciful amusement. As Busse notes, "[g]ardens are normally seen as still lifes, but the trains add a sense of time and motion."

Learn more about the creation of the Holiday Train Show at a documentary film about the show that plays during the early afternoon on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at the Garden's Ross Hall. This and other special programs, such as a children's "Little Engine That Could" puppet show or "Thomas and Friends" performances complete the Train Show experience for the whole family.

Make sure to bring the kids to see "Gingerbread Adventures"

Your day at the Botanical Garden's doesn't have to end (or start) at the Holiday Train Show and surrounding programs. Walk around the grounds to see monumental steel, bronze and aluminum feminine sculptures by Spanish artist, Manolo Valdez. Children will enjoy the interactive activities at "Gingerbread Adventures," where they can grind fresh spices, decorate a gingersnap cookie and view professionally-baked gingerbread houses. Warm apple cider is available at the Garden Cafe, and merrily decorated pine trees delight outside the Visitor's Center and Garden Shop.

An All-Garden Pass to the Botanical Garden's, which includes admission to the Holiday Train Show, starts at $20 for adults, and $10 for children ages 2-12, and 30% off may be available for select weekday tickets using code 9036 online.

The Holiday Train Show is closed on Christmas Day, but has extended hours through the rest of this holiday week. Don't delay because these trains leave the station (until next year...) on January 13th.

"Cougar The Musical" Follows Women "Of a Certain Age" On a Journey of Self-Discovery.

Looking for the latest theatrical tale of romantic rendezvous? Take your mom, take your sister, or better yet, take yourself, over to St. Luke's Theater, to follow three women "of a certain age" on a journey of self-discovery in "Cougar The Musical," though you don't have to be over 40 to enjoy the fun and original story and songs by playwright and composer, Donna Moore.

First, meet Mary-Marie (played by Babs Winn), the vibrant and comical owner of the new "cougar" bar in town, "Elder Grill and Boys Lounge".  Mary-Marie may be over-the-hill, but her age doesn't stop her over-active libido from seeking out any young man who will have her. Next up, Lily (played by Mary Mossberg), a recent divorcee whose voice and stage presence dazzle as beautifully as her slim, sexy figure, stumbles upon Mary-Marie's bar in her naivete, and is first introduced to the idea of being a "cougar"(an older woman who dates younger men). Finally, enter Clarity Jackson (played by Brenda Braxton), a savvy, self-reliant woman who has all but given up on finding a real man, and is writing a thesis paper on how the term "cougar" has developed as a derogatory term for women. Jackson wonders why a man who dates a younger woman can just be called a man, while a woman who dates a younger man must be pigeonholed as a "cougar," and she sets out to prove her theory of cougars as women who are less than empowered, and certainly not women to be taken seriously.

The show is peppered with witty one-liners and clever banter among the three women themselves as well as versatile actor, Danny Bernardy, who single-handedly plays every male character in the show, and even one female character, all with charm and charisma (not to mention some darling dimples!). As the storylines play out, each woman discovers her own personal strength and independence, and each finds her own story resolved in an unexpected way.

There is no intermission during the show, but the 90-minute performance seems to fly by as quickly as Mary-Marie's latest fling. With so many parody shows on the scene, it is refreshing to see a fairly new off-Broadway musical comedy (previews began in August) that isn't just recycling someone else's music (with one slight exception, a song to the tune of "Hush Little Baby"), but rather pairs judicious lyrics with creative, classy choreography.

Get yourself excited with some preview videos, and then purchase tickets to "Cougar The Musical" while they're still available (today's matinee show was sold out!). Tickets for performances through December 30 may also be available at a discount through at broadwaybox.com.