Pushing Daisies and Free Pie in Times Square

Free pie in Times Square! Yes, ABC is being uber-inticing in promoting Pushing Daisies, that kookily cute TV show, by driving their Mobile Pie Hole right into the heart of NYC and giving out (I'll say it again) FREE PIE.

The Mobile Pie Hole is an RV-type contraption that is traveling the country this month to kick off the second season of the show. It will be in New York on Monday, 9/29 from 7-9am, in Times Square at Good Morning America's Broadway Studios. Cutiepie waitresses will be serving up spatulas, pie-cutters and more, in addition to the main draw of, yes, free pie.

For the technically current, more details are on Yelp or Twitter. How fun?

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.

NYC is a Running Town: Nike+Human Race Aug 31

There is the world famous New York City Marathon (I swear I'm gunna run that puppy one day) and every weekend there seems to be a charity race going on in Central Park (personally, I'm looking forward to running the Komen Race for the Cure on Sept. 14!). Basically, NYC is a running town, with plenty of opps to get your jog on.

There is an interesting new 10K race in town. On August 31, 2008, runners from around the globe will take part in the world’s largest running event, the first ever Nike+ Human Race. The goal is to get 1 million runners racing at the same time, in 25 cities around the world including Buenos Aires, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Quito, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and more. Since we'll all be going through Olympic withdrawal at that point, this looks like a great way to get back in the global athletic groove.

In New York City, the race will take place along the waterfront at Randalls Island beginning at 8 p.m. There is a give back aspect too, with runners supporting the Lance Armstrong Foundation, World Wildlife Federation or ninemillion.org. Sounds cool to this running New Yorker. Get more info at www.nikeplus.com.

Music the Central Park Way

Take a walk through Central Park and you are bound to see sights unexpected. But it is the sounds you hear that are truly startling.

Each weekend (and many a weekday) musical artists of all kinds flock to the park and congregate to jam, bam and wail in the open air. Taking a walk today in the oppressive heat, I heard African drums, super funk, New Orleans jazz, electro pop, forceful folk and world sounds. Some nights the park has offered up symphonies and sounds more classical. Most impromptu concerts are free, or solicit only a small donation, so anyone can listen in. With more musicians per square foot than just about anywhere else in the world, NYC offers a level of tune talent that amazes time and again.

Check out the Summer Stage, NY Philharmonic in the Park and other more scheduled concerts. Upcoming acts include Crosby, Stills and Nash, Mark Knopfler, and other funkier stuff that I'm just not hip enough to recognize.

NYC Sound Tracks: Searching for the Best Underground Sounds

As a sometimes weary, daily NYC subway commuter, I am ever grateful for the subway musicians that break up my journey with talent I'd pay money for in a club. So it was nice to get word on a new show, MSG's NYC Sound Tracks. This eight episode series goes underground into the subways of NYC to find New York's best subway musicians. 16 musicians from all 5 boroughs will compete for the title, and the viewers will have a chance to vote for their favorite. Watch NYC Sound Tracks Sunday, July 13 at 8:00 p.m.

NYC Sound Tracks will be holding an open call on Tuesday, July 15 for underground talent from noon to 4PM at Foley Square in Lower Manhattan. The “Open Call” is a chance for any and all subway musicians to audition in public to be one the 16 finalists for the show.

For more information about NYC Sound Tracks, including more info on the open call, photos and trailers, visit www.msg.com/soundtracks. I'll be interested in checking out the winner's music - below or above ground.

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.

Standing Clear: Your Theatrical MetroCard to All Things Subway

Standing Clear, a new play by Coffee Cup theater company, takes you on a subway ride without the commuter torment of the N or W line. But even if you take a cab to the theater, beware - you'll be met with a barrage of wackadoo subway staples that are the human grid of New York City public transportation.

Written by performers Ishah Janssen-Faith and Jack McGowan and created with input from the entire cast, Standing Clear is an ode to the daily here-to-there grind. You'll identify with hapless subway sheep as they are surrounded by freaks, weirdos, arguing lovers and clueless tourists. The subway shenanigans shift from poignant to horrifying to humorous smoother than the trains run, largely due to the talents of an able cast playing a diverse array of characters.

Melinda Ferraraccio, with her sharp tongued strength, plays full tilt. Becca Hackett has a real girl presence so sweet it makes you wonder if she's even acting. Jack McGowan ably juggles cute boy and fed up husband among others, and Ishah Janssen-Faith is spot on as a talks-too-much butt-in-ski that we just want to shush, and then shames you with her palpable loneliness. But it is Ben Holbrook's perfect portrayal of a not-all-there subway dude with a heroic streak that steals your heart.

While the plots and pace occasionally veer off track, it is nicely directed by Barbara Karger. The real fun of the show is the nodding laughter of recognition that bonds the audience, met as we are with clueless iPod blasters and cramped crowd choreography. Commute on down to the Access Theater at 380 Bway at White Street before Standing Clear closes on June 21, for a show we can all relate to. Tickets are $20 or $15 for students.

Bonus: There will be a talk back on June 16 at 7pm with Hollaback NYC and Girls for Gender Equity at $30 a ticket.

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.)