Westminster Dog Show 2010: Dogs Hit the Streets

I got a little 'inside doggie scoop' on the greatest dog show ever, the 2010 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden! Breeds of all shapes and sizes roamed the streets of NYC in preparation for the two-day event. This is one of those quirky, fun NYC events that everyone looks forward to. It may even rival Fashion Week! 

Apparently, it was a tight race between Toy Poodle Walker, Doberman Pinscher C.J., Brittany Spaniel Tally, and a few others, but it was Scottish Terrier Sadie who took home the champion cup for "Best in Show!" Such a cutie pie. Click here to check out all of the finalists.  Better yet, check out this slide show of all the doggies on the streets of NYC. Congrats again, Sadie!

Halloween in NYC

Oh sure, there are the Haunted House tours, the parade in the Village, the tiny trick-or-treaters traipsing from apartment building to brownstone. But the fact is that in NYC, people dress up like its Halloween on any given day, and freaks and ghouls roam free in a marvelous, all-are-welcome-here kinda way. True scariness can be found in the stories of haunted happenings behind the many, many closed doors of this insanity-inducing island. The New York Times put a few together in this article for our spooky amusement. Read at your own risk. Oh, and hope that your pre-war one bedroom isn't one of the fright-infested. 

New York en Español... and other languages???

This city is a cacophony of multilingual dialogue, with certain sections truly singing like another world. With such a diverse population, it is great to have resources in languages other than New York City American (i.e. Brooklynese, 'Queens' English, etc...) and blogs that cater to those that moved here from elsewhere. After all, that is what New York is about (think Statue of Liberty, ya'll). 

So it was great to be contacted by Mia, who moved here from Argentina in 2002 and started Viva New York, an en Español guide to life in NYC. She covers everything from where to get the best Jimmy Choo's to what is happening on holidays to just plain how to survive here. Its a great resource. 

I'd personally love to add to Newbie NYC a list of other NYC-centric blogs written in other languages, but this regretfully only-English speaking gal can't locate them with a simple Google search. So if you know of any, please comment and share. They'll be added to my blogroll for sure. 

Live Hard with LVHRD

Cool stuff begets cool stuff. At Lucid NYC the other night, I saw a presentation by the viral buzz genius behind thehappycorp. He is also involved in an inspired event series LVHRD.

There is a similar premise to Lucid NYC - bring together like minded people in a way that is mind expanding, not numbing. The next happening is Monday, Nov. 24 at 8pm, something to do with on-the-spot fashion design out of material yet-to-be-determined. The event is in the mecca of hip, Williamsburg, at a mystery location. Get more info here.

Awaken Your Social Self with Lucid NYC

There are enough social things to do on a Thursday nite in NYC to make your head spin. Most are fun, frivolous, fancy. But if you are searching for a night out that mixes the whirl of massive mingling with a drop of social enlightenment, then come to a Lucid NYC event.

Lucid NYC is a new social experiment. The model is simple - throw a party in a chic Manhattan loft space and let a few presenters onstage to gab briefly about how they are changing the world. People interface on what they have heard and are inspired to also change the world. Not too ambitious now, is it?

Luckily, Lucid NYC exists totally without pretension and holier-than-thou preachiness. Every event I've attended has an overstock of humor. Presentations have covered every topic from ending world hunger (The Hunger Project) to the world's worst automobile race (The Mongol Rally). I've learned about Freegans as well as a recent corporate innovation exercise at an NPR station. Attendees are of the hip, arty, whipsmart and enlightened variety. Let's just say its a good time.

So hope to see you at the next event, which is scheduled for November 20. Check Lucid NYC's website for more details.

Here is New York

My friend Katherine, who followed her dream of living in NYC all the way from Australia, read this passage from E.B. White and sent it along to me. It makes us both cry:

There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born there, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size, its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter--the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Of these trembling cities the greatest is the last--the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. It is this third city that accounts for New York’s high strung disposition, its poetical deportment, its dedication to the arts, and its incomparable achievements. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness, natives give it solidity and continuity, but the settlers give it passion. And whether it is a farmer arriving from a small town in Mississippi to escape the indignity of being observed by her neighbors, or a boy arriving from the Corn Belt with a manuscript in his suitcase and a pain in his heart, it makes no difference: each embraces New York with the intense excitement of first love, each absorbs New York with the fresh yes of an adventurer, each generates heat and light to dwarf the Consolidated Edison Company. . . .

"Here Is New York" was written in 1948 and appears in Essays of E.B. White, Harper, 1977

Quentin's Friends-the Human Way to Network Online

I wanted to expand my New York City knowledge base and shake things up a bit socially. A friend with the most rockin' social calendar I know was a member of Quentin's Friends, and had passed me information from that list from time to time. So I asked her to sign me up, and now I feel more 'in the know' than I know what to do with. Fabulous.

Quentin's Friends is a by-invitation-only, values based online community that operates on simple principles. You post information that can be useful to others (services, events, stuff for sale) or needs of your own (apartment searching is a popular one in here) and members of the list respond. It is extraordinarily useful at times, and at the very least entertaining and mind expanding. For example, there was a recent post for web copywriting in exchange for Reiki sessions. Bartering is big on Quentin's Friends.

To become part of the group, you have to be recommended by a member. They must attest to your 'good character' and you must in turn commit to the group's core values (honesty, respect, fun, etc.) The group is great for networking as well. At a recent Quentin's Friends Party at the Star Lounge (located under the Hotel Chelsea, so cool!) I met NYC dwellers that embodied such values and were just fantastically delightful, fun, interesting people (that is the back of my head in the pic.) Oh, and the founder of it all, Quentin English? A charmer!

Quentin's Friends is an invaluable service for anyone new to New York. Get hooked up and feel connected to the human side of the city.

Spring '09 is here with Fashion Week New York

Its Fashion Week New York, with Spring '09 collections being shown around town, not just at Bryant Park. For textile art of the highest order, I hightailed it to the Jolibe collection being shown at the Hosfelt Gallery. Stunning, colorful modernist frocks with an homage to the ancient, this is clothing worthy of wear. Better yet, the collection was associated with Afghan Hands, the group that empowers Afghanistan women to support themselves through textile arts. View more photos here.

Where Does All the Time Go... In NYC?

Beware - your free time will dwindle to obscurity in New York City. I want to update my blog regularly, really I do. But what the heck happens to that thing called 'down time' in this town? Some strange clock warp happens here, as time just whips on by with nary a dillydally. Some days I feel I blink my eyes and the day is half gone. Why is that?

The pace of New York City is headspinningly fast and frantically frenetic. The commutes around the city are often loooong, so that eats up a few hours. Work life is notoriously stress-filled, taking over a good 10+ hours in many industries. There is always some out-of-towner visiting NYC that just has to see you, gobbling up precious weekend errand-running time. And with so much happening on the cultural and night-life fronts, evenings are packed with event after event after event. If you are lucky, you could be out every night of the week.

It took me about a year to get accustomed to the pace of this town, and I still have my days. But I am in no way complaining. After a lifetime spent in boredom, oh what a wondrous whirlwind this is.

Out Pride Outside: NYC's Gay Pride Parade!

What can you say? Its the best parade with the most fabulous costumes around, dancing its way down 5th Ave. to the gay mecca that is Christopher Street. Floats galore, terrific transvestites and a crowd loud and proud, the New York City Gay Pride Parade is a delight of fun fun fun. Favorites included Wonder Woman and Super Girl, a pair of Hilton sister look alikes, and men in platform heels showing off legs better than Gisele Bundchen's. Its just not fair! Here is to celebrating the diversity and flamboyance that is New York City.

Mermaids, Mermaids Everywhere at Coney Island's Mermaid Parade!

Nothing is more quintessentially New York fun and freaky than the fin-fabulous Mermaid Parade at Coney Island. Dress code ranges from Broadway quality aquatic costumes to teeny weeny bikinis on gals full figured and proud. Glitter and sea shell bras are prerequisites. The parade's cast of characters included voluptuous flesh baring pirate babes, shark finned macho men and drag queens shaking their mermaid tails. And the crowd ate it all up like fried calamari.

This year's parade had a tinge of the somber as Coney Island is under attack by yet another attempt to commercialize and commodify New York City. Talk about swimming with sharks. Looks like some in the city feel that Coney Island would do better as yet another generic shopping mall. Can we stop pouring Purell all over our city, please?

But despite the dip into the political, the day remained wacky, hot and humorous like any day at the beach should. For great images, check out New York City Daily Photo or the fingers-on-the-pulse Gothamist.

Saved from Shopping by Rev. Billy

Can I hear a hallelujah? Rev. Billy preached his freakalicious gospel at the Highline Ballroom this fine Sunday afternoon, compelling all to put down their credit cards and raise their hands to heaven. That is right, children, the holy spirit was among us in the form of trapeze artists, Coney Island freaks, a talented choir in green robed glory, and a message that speared your shopaholic sternum.

Leader of the Church of Stop Shopping, Rev. Billy is perhaps best known outside NYC as the subject of the documentary What Would Jesus Buy? produced by Morgan Spurlock. But he is a staple of the New York arts and activist scene, protesting corporatization, capitalism, and commodification of our once divinely diverse city. Delivered in a Southern Baptist style, his stop the buy buy buy madness message is aimed at big business and consumers alike.

As New York City is bulldozed into just another megamall filled with Banana Republics and Best Buys, Rev. Billy tirelessly takes to the pulpit with a trinity of prayers - stop gentrification, preserve culture, and suspend your spending. The preacher strives to save your soul with a communion plate of performance art and cleverly lyric-ed gospel music. For me, it was more cathartic than any wafer and grape juice divinity I was ever served.

Catch the Rev in action at Union Square Park on Thursday, June 5 at 5pm on the NW corner. Face the Shopocalypse, confess your carnal commerce sins, and be saved!

(credit: Photo by Dogseat.)

Manhattanhenge Tonight!

Dude. Tonight, there will be a rare occurrence in New York City. As I read in today's daily Metro, according to Neil deGasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium (located at my neighborhood hotshot American Museum of Natural History) the setting sun will perfectly align with streets north of 14th. He says to look west from First Ave., and has dubed the event Manhattanhenge. 

This is a delightful side affect of the grid plan for the city, made more dramatic by today's skyscrapers. Check it out at sunset and maybe make an offering to the city gods of old. 

World Pillow Fight Day 2008

How the heck did I miss out on this? While I was trolling about the Whitney Biennial (more on that in a post to come) thousands of pillow-wielding hooligans were out on a sunny Saturday in Union Square, channelling their pent up angst into a massive pillow fight.

Again, New York City plays host to some of the oddest social gatherings ev-ah, and the World Pillow Fight Day ranks almost supreme. On the subway, my friend rode next to a pillowfight participant covered in feathers. Giddy, no doubt, from the experience of bonding with others over thwacking fluffy plumage-ladden bags at total strangers.

Don't you just love New York?

Elephants Trot Across Manhattan!

The circus came to town early early this morning, and they brought their elephants with them. The annual tradition in NYC is that when they arrive, pachyderms and humans alike march down 34th St. all the way from the Queens-Midtown Tunnel to Madison Square Garden. With beautiful beasts emerging from the tunnel at roughly 12:45am, its one of those latelate night, wackadoo, 'only-in-New-York' events that remind you of the unique joie de vivre this place embraces, matched with a hearty lust for revelry (and any excuse to act like a loon) that is rarely rivaled elsewhere.

Unfortunately, my camera was persnickety and the only half-decent photo I got was an out of focus elephant butt, so you can see better photos on Flickr and a video on YouTube. But let's face it - the site of an elephant marching through the greatest city on earth is something that must be witnessed in person!

Bye, Bye, Gov

This former DC-ite, that land of plenty where political scandals are concerned, has witnessed a doosey of one here in New York. Our Gov. Spitzer resigned today due to... uh... transgressions. I am super-pleased that Lt. Gov. David Paterson will step in, and also become New York's first black governor. I heard Paterson speak at the 92nd St. Y last year on the topic of stem cell research, and he came across as sharp, smart and outspoken. Being legally blind, Paterson has not only a professional but a personal interest in medical research and the politics that can hinder or help such advancement. Don't know about you, but I am quite pleased with such a nice improvement over Sir Spitz.

How To Live an Adventurous First Year in New York City (and Some Blogs that Guide You There)

Being a writer and blogger has been my lifeline in this town of total strangers, moving to New York City a year ago as I did desperate to come alive after, to quote a friend, "falling asleep in my life." Doing so jobless, in mid-life and knowing all of 5 people, blogging has allowed me access to all persons creative and cool, those intimidating folk who I'd be too shy to approach otherwise. Despite being a vibrant redhead with a high 'EQ' and a dollop of sass, fear makes talking to strangers about as appealing as chewing dirt, and makes me just as nauseous.

To survive in New York City, you must walk through fear. So despite its panic attack fuel, this past year I've interviewed celebs; reviewed dozens of plays by invitation; chatted up diverse likes of writers, comics, historians and Nobel prize winners; snuck in at the last moment to popular TV tapings and swanky cultural events; auditioned for cool voice over work; returned to my acting roots as an extra in an MTV promo; approached lit agents; started two, three, a dozen business ventures; handed out Dove chocolate in Bryant Park to make a quick buck; organized the home office of an heiress; had the time of my life temping at a major tv network; obtained clients eager for my interior design eye and was inspired to enroll in Parsons; been approached by a rep for my jewelry creations; partook of a hearing at City Hall for my historic block; started collaborating on a play with an admired playwright; interviewed for jobs glamorous and bizarre; and basically done everything I can to stay out past my bedtime. I've also had the pleasure of being connected with other writers and blogging observers of life, in this town and beyond. Recently meeting talents (and occasional NewbieNYC readers) from the UK and Japan have made me feel culturally broadened and even worldly.

I've had my share of heartbreak too, as only being open to life on the edge can allow. Tried the 'Sex in the City' version of dating with a smooth entertainment dude, only to find out over brunch with friends that he was also seeing another redhead at the table (what are the odds?) I got oh-so-close to jobs that were the culmination of dreams but sadly weren't meant to be. And most devastatingly, lost a friend to the horrors and torments that are part of the tragic underbelly of New York City.

But then I moved here to be open to life as never before, good-bad-horrific. So if there is any advice from this newbie, it is that this town is what you make of it. Get out and live as only this island allows-full on, frightening, but oh-so deeply fulfilling and fabulous. Falling asleep in your life here is just not an option.

NYC Blogs to Live By: The city is filled with opinionated, whipsmart writers, all just ruffled enough under their feathers to post honest, full-on rants on the city. Let these be your guides to NYC survival of the fittest. Be it the gentrification of town down-and-outs as frequently bemoaned on Hoover Factory (also a hipass music commentary) or the whimsical camera lens look at cityscapes on New York City Daily Photo, you've got blogs that assess the city to match any mood, 'tude or curiosity. Some of my other faves include: Walking Off the Big Apple, a guide to footpower 'round about town; NYC Taxi Photo and its unique take from a yellowcab window perspective; Miss Adventurous and her fresh-as-a-daisy view on life in NYC; Lost City and Jeremiah's Vanishing New York for their cynical keeping tabs on the bulldozers; Becoming a New Yorker's coming of age tales; Overheard in New York and all its 'only in NYC' quotes; and the mother-of-all-city-blogs Gothamist.

Dave Hill Blows Your Mind, Like, Wide Open

Dave Hill is some kinda wonderfully weird. A mashup of Andy Kaufman, lounge lizard and frat boy metrosexual, this comedic genius is just this side of certifiable. Seeing his show The Dave Hill Explosion at the UCB Theater at 307 26th St. (home to the Upright Citizens Brigade) was true NYC art on the edge. While I was disappointed that the promised hornets did not make an appearance (yeah, I read his blog) it was made up for by fab guests Amy Sedaris and Bob Mould. Throw in a wrestling match with a midget and creepy sidekick Phil and you've got all kinds of fun goings on onstage.

His twisted take on a talk show uncovered truths never before revealed in the history of man. Like, who knew pioneer punker Mould composed the theme to The Daily Show? Who knew Sedaris could spit beans out of her mouth, making them resemble knocked-out teeth? (0kay, so that one we already knew about, but to see it live was just delicious).

Bonus: Seriously, David Hill has some major buzz going and is on the cusp of becoming a major pop culture phenom. Catch him now while you still can. Besides, at $5 a ticket, this is the best comedy bargain around.

Westminster Dog Show Worth Woofing About

Its the greatest dog show on earth. The Westminster Dog Show, taking place Feb. 11-12 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, is the premier gathering of top breeds from across the nation. The area around the Garden is overrun with magnificant doggies looking chic and red-carpet ready.

Adding spice to this year's event is the fact that my friend Kathy's adorable pup Calvin is half-brother to pre-show favorite Uno, a beagle who is causing alot of buzz. Despite being a popular breed, no beagle has won the Best in Show prize in the show's history. But one look at the super-precious Uno (whose official name is Park Me in First) will get your tail wagging.

New York City knows how to keep these elite canines happy, with special "poop stations" set up in the Hotel Pennsylvania (where many of the contestants stay) and high end, gourmet dog treats galore. As for show tickets, there is reserved seating (running $60 on upupup), general admission for $40, and a children's pass for $20. The show runs 8am-11pm each day, and if you can't make it in person watch live coverage of the group competitions on the USA Network. And if you just want to get in the doggone mood, check out this slide show or a personal favorite, The Daily Puppy.

Super Tuesday: How Do You Vote In This Town, Anyway?

Since moving from Washington DC almost a year ago, I've not given politics alot of thought. Its been refreshing to be in a town where culture and moolah reign supreme, rather than congressional shenanigans. But it was exciting to be in NYC on Tuesday for the primary, with all the passionate campaigners flambouyantly drumming up support for their gal or guy. But don't be like me and (accidentally) not register in the state until it is too late. I'm currently undecided, but I still feel guilty (kinda-sorta) for not casting my ballot.

So, to help others avoid such peril, below are some links for getting your civic duty on and being prepared for future votes:
Board of Elections: Info on all things political in the city.
Voter Registration Form: Fill it out. Send it in. Get ready to vote.
Poll Site Locator: Find out where you vote in advance, so you don't get lost.
NYC Voter Assistance Commission: I don't really know what they do, but cool info nonetheless. Apparently, 2008 is Voter Awareness Year. Who knew?
League of Women Voters: A friend pointed this important group out to me, and in this election year in particular, it is an essential resource.

The general presidential election is Tuesday, November 4, so get ready to do your patriotic duty and get out and vote!