The Ace Hotel, NYC
My new favorite hotel in NYC
The hipster “bellhops” smoking butts in skinny jeans as you pull up to the entance upon arrival is actually a nice touch. (They put them out before they open the car door. It really works well. I swear.)
So cool. Almost painfully hip. But very comfortable and relaxed.
You’ll see … (more to come)
Last night The Joyce Theater presented six companies from its upcoming season, in the first dance performance of Bryant Park Fall Festival presented by Bank of America. Ballet Hispanico, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Complexions, Keigwin + Company, Parsons Dance, and Rioult were the troupes that lit up the stage before one of the largest crowds we’ve had at Fall Festival yet!
There’s more dance to look forward to tonight at 6pm in the park. Talented young dancers from Ailey II, the second company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, will perform Ailey Highlights (choreographed by Alvin Ailey), Splendid Isolation solo (choreographed by Jessica Lang), Hope (The Final Rise) (choreographed by Troy Powell), and When Dawn Come (choreographed by Christopher L. Huggins). Public seating opens on the Upper Terrace at 5pm and there’s room for thousands more on the lawn.
Visit bryantparkfallfestival.org for more information about the performances happening every night this week in the park. Check out special Fall Festival offers and prize giveaways from some of our participating performing arts organizations here.
Should the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station be renamed for the King of Pop? The attached video was shot at the station and is a proud moment for Brooklyn. Keep an eye out for a young Wesley Snipes in this famous short film.
The Basics, NYC is a neighborhood guide podcast. If you can get over the girl humor this is a very nice snapshot of a place you might want to go. Ok, there are only two episodes right now; and you have to listen to a lot of bullshit about cat sitting and how serious they are about finding a healthy public toilet.
Keep an eye out for more content, because the concept is sound. You can even follow them on twitter. Hopefully they will start using tumblr or wordpress for thier blog.
Do you need a place to live in NYC. Are you less afraid of craigslist than a real estate broker? Take a look at HousingMaps.com. This website aggregates all of the craigslist housing listings. You can conveniently see the locations on a google map. You can organize listings by price, rent, sale, rooms, and sublets. Great way to see what neighborhood you fit into and get an idea of the market. You may even find that you would like to live in another city (where you can pay rent and eat in the same month).
Do you need something a little bit more serious? Roomates.com is a site that requires membership. Here you can communicate with prospective roomates a little bit more anomalously and get an idea about their major character flaws before the front door locks behind you on your tour.
Has anyone used these sites to find a successful living situation?
If you are really into audio tours, then Matthew Broderick’s soundwalk of Bryant park may be for you (also easily found on iTunes). One of our favorite NY actors talks about the fountain, about the chess tables and the rest of the little park behind the NY Public Library.
I found it to be a little bit over produced. It is a characteristic of social media and podcast type stuff that the home grown stuff is more successful; more authentic. Props to Soundwalk for using Tumblr for the Blog though!
These street fairs run from April-November. Every week a different street will be shut down to vehicle traffic so vendors can sell food, discounted merchandise, T-shirts, you name it.
There is some controvercy surrounding street Fairs. One company, Mardi Gras Festival Productions runs most of these events. This means that the vendors are always the same. But the food is good and people watching is fun.
Photo credit to: gowanuslounge
Hashing … it’s a mixture of athleticism and sociability, hedonism and hard work; a refreshing break from the nine-to-five routine. Hashing is an exhilaratingly fun combination of r*nning, orienteering, and partying, where bands of Harriers and Harriettes chase Hares on eight-to-ten kilometer-long trails through town, country, jungle, and desert, all in search of exercise, camaraderie, and good times.
If you are a runner, jogger, or walker this is a great way to meet people, see the city, and have a good time. Click the banner above for more content.
![Diaroogle is a guide to finding quality public toilets on-the-go. You can find a great place to poop on your phone. Currently available for Manhattan. Simple for when you don’t have George Costanza:
[Setting: Jerry’s apartment]
JERRY: Anywhere in the City?
GEORGE: Anywhere in the city - I’ll tell you the best public toilet.
JERRY: Okay.. Fifty-fourth and Sixth?
GEORGE: Sperry Rand Building. 14th Floor, Morgan Apparel. Mention my name - she’ll give you the key.
JERRY: Alright.. Sixty-fifth and Tenth.
GEORGE: (Scoffs) Are you kidding? Lincoln Center. Alice Tully Hall, the Met. Magnificent facilities.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kq4u2ntKqb1qa3gtuo1_250.jpg)
Diaroogle is a guide to finding quality public toilets on-the-go. You can find a great place to poop on your phone. Currently available for Manhattan. Simple for when you don’t have George Costanza:
[Setting: Jerry’s apartment]
JERRY: Anywhere in the City?
GEORGE: Anywhere in the city - I’ll tell you the best public toilet.
JERRY: Okay.. Fifty-fourth and Sixth?
GEORGE: Sperry Rand Building. 14th Floor, Morgan Apparel. Mention my name - she’ll give you the key.
JERRY: Alright.. Sixty-fifth and Tenth.
GEORGE: (Scoffs) Are you kidding? Lincoln Center. Alice Tully Hall, the Met. Magnificent facilities.
Pictures above: the now missing Pennsylvania Station, where did this amazing building go? Lombardi’s Pizza, the original NY pizza parlor; Boss Tweed, New York’s most corrupt politician; the great fire of 1835; Williamsburg’s landmark factory.
These are just a few of the stories you will find on the Bowery Boys history podcast (listen on thier website or in iTunes). This free show is a great format because you can take it with you. Listen in and add a little perspective to the places you live and work, or visit a neighborhood and see it in a whole new way. Make sure you are in the right mood for a history lesson before you listen, because it is history and a little dry sometimes. Trivia Question: How many Ray’s Pizz are there on the island of Manhatten?
