New York

Each year I post some ideas about what is fun to do in NYC around the holidays. The usual cliche events are often included (tree lighting, ice skating, holiday windows, Rockettes, etc) and shouldn’t be missed, but if you’ve seen and done all of that (although seeing that tree never gets old) here are some holiday type things to do THIS year.

1. Go cheer up employees at Old Navy at 34th & Broadway because they are likely NOT in the holiday mood as that location is open 24/7 through the 24th. WTF? Those poor employees.

2. If religion is your thing, go see the Ten Commandments with your own eyes (not the movie—the actual document included as part of the Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit). Running until Jan 2nd in Times Square.
Discovery at Times Square 226 W 44th between 7th & 8th Ave.

Charlton Heston as Moses (but looking a bit Planet of the Apes-like)…

3. Run (or Walk) in the 2nd Annual Christmas Day Marathon in Westchester County!

Designed to bring new people to the sport of running, there is no entry fee (donations are accepted) and you can sign up for 1/8 marathon, 1/4 marathon, half marathon, 3/4 marathon and full marathon and according to the organizers, all paths loop back, are paved and scenic. PLUS- Santa hats are available and all finishers get a candy cane!
Tibbetts Brook Park 120 Teresa Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704 11:00am on 12/25

4. For some adult only fun, go enjoy the annual reading of the Dickens’ classic: A Christmas Carol. Read by burlesque professionals with names such as Legs Malone and Franny Fluffer. Oh yeah, the girls are completely naked during the reading.
One showing (no pun intended) on the 21st at Under St. Marks at 94 St. Marks Place

photo from the Naked Girls website

5. See lights and over the top Christmas decorations in the Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn. Very traditional. Very cool. Word has it, that he greatest concentration of decorated homes is around 12th Avenue and 84th Street. The Gothamist site has a good write up and includes pics like this:

6. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy some of the fun had during Hanukkah! Check out the Beer + Latke Hanukkah Celebration on the 22nd in Tribeca. Brooklyn Brewery will be there to help you choose the best brew to compliment the variety of freshly made latkes on hand! And don’t miss the dreidel competition!
December 22, 7PM at 92YTribeca, 200 Hudson Street $22.

7. Go see Harry Potter Daniel Radcliffe on Broadway in ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ before his run is over on the 1st of January. This really isn’t “Christmasy”, but Harry Potter always feels a little festive to me so I thought I’d add it in here!

I know the title of this post doesn’t reflect the correct lyrics to the popular Christmas tune, but this year, unlike my normal Christmas’ where I walk in a sunny wonderland (Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii) or a magical winter wonderland at home in NYC, these substitute lyrics are appropriate as I am venturing to a place known for rain and gloom–but also the place I grew up and where my family and friends still live– Seattle.

If you are a follower of this site, you already know that I am from Seattle and have absolutely zero desire to go back there ever again (permanently), but short visits are something I can do and this will be the first Christmas that the husband and I will open gifts in the Pacific NW since we moved to the East Coast over 4 years ago.

Living out East for the past four Christmas’ has been awesome! There is no other place in the country (or World??) that can match the holiday spirit that NYC generates! From the windows at Macy’s to the computerized yet realistic snowflakes at Saks to seeing the tree at Rockefeller and shopping the Christmas markets at Union Square and Central Park to ice skating at Bryant Park– and the list goes on.

Ice Rink in Central Park (photo credit: D Ellefson)

Regardless of how horribly depressing the gloomy gray skies of Seattle will be (dare I even wish for snow?), I will make this trip as CHRISTMASY as possible!!! First and foremost, I am excited to see my nephew and niece and wake up super early with them on Christmas morning to see them open THE BEST presents EVER (from Uncle and me of course, even though Uncle will likely sleep in a bit later than me). Also, my grandparents are making the trek over the mountains and through the woods JUST to see hubby and me (I mean, of course they’re coming for us–who cares about those cute great-grandkids…).

While in Seattle, the lack of snow or even sunny, crisp temps won’t bother me too much with family and friends close by AND these totally Christmasy things to do:

The famous Seattle Space Needle

1) The Christmas Carol Improv! I have been to this show in the ghost of Christmas past and it is awesome! Always different, (it is Improv) and based on the original Dickens story but sprinkled with audience suggestions on how the story should be acted out, this performance called “Seattle’s Funniest Christmas Show” is a Pacific NW tradition!

The show is regularly shown at their home smack dab in the middle of Pike Place Market at the Market Theater, but since its currently being renovated, this year I will see it at the equally cool Intiman Theater at Seattle Center.

2) Christmas Lights Shining Bright!
When I was a kid, driving to and walking around neighborhoods decked out Clark W Griswold style was, and still IS, a highlight (and also free). One of the best stops (and longest running) in Seattle is Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna! The neighborhood has been doing this light show since 1941.
Address: Northeast Park Road, off Ravenna Boulevard, Seattle, WA

Ravenna Neighborhood

3) Seeing the Lights & the Sights from the Water
Seattle locals may humbug the Argosy (“Its so touristy”) and even I used to poo-poo it until I went on an Argosy summer cruise a few years back and saw Bill Gates’ mansion. One word: GINORMOUS. Anyway, at Christmastime, all of the touristy labels go out the window because tourists and locals will love the lights seen from the water. In its 62nd year, this parade of Argosy Christmas Ships sails the Puget Sound waterfront communities and if you are lucky enough to get tickets on the lead ship, THE Christmas Ship, onboard choirs will sing carols throughout your journey. This runs through December 23rd. Did I mention the outer decks on the ships are heated. Oh yes! I’ll see you there! ($35 adults $31.50 seniors $19 kids ages 5-12 (4 and under no charge)

The Argosy Ship

4) Molbaks
Annual Festival of Poinsettias

Molbaks is a Christmas tradition for Seattleites and a must stop for anyone that lives in the general vicinity (Molbaks is in the suburb of Woodinville and well worth the short drive from Seattle). Aside from the numerous wonderful ornaments and decorations to shop (I love the Department 56 collections they have), fresh trees to meander through and hot chocolate to sip–they boast one of the most colorful sights in all of Washington State: the Annual Festival of Poinsettias.

With over 25 varieties (25, really? Wow!) and tons of family photo ops (even with Santa!!), this is a MUST STOP to get into or get more into the holiday spirit. They are open all the way through Christmas Eve at 4! I’ll see you there–after the Argosy ride of course, and lets hope for snow, or at least not rain.

Going out in New York is not for the weak. For those just visiting (or in some cases, those of us over 30), a day of walking the city, dinner, a show and a stroll back to the hotel is enough to wipe ‘em out.

But for the die-hards who need to wind down with other night owls after the partying and before they go home; OR for the locals that work 13 hours a day to pay 4x the rent any other city would realistically charge for a similar apartment; OR the folks that work the off hours schedule to keep their family going down the Shore on weekends, the normal “day-time” activities or stores that are open in the still dark hours of the morning are a true blessing!

CHOW DOWN
Tried to eat light to impress that guy you just met at the Buddha Bar? Or did you dance off all the appetizers and need a refill to keep going? You may have the happy luck to come across a falafel food cart open all night, but save yourself (hopefully) from a future stomach ache and hit up one of these places when the hunger pains hit. These spots are all open 24hrs.

L’Express
Craving seared tuna or roasted rabbit? Have your most exotic food late at night and visit L’Express for fine dining any time of the night.
I249 Park Ave South at 20th
212-254-5858

Sarge’s Deli

This Jewish delicatessen is top notch. Nothing more needs to be said. 548 Third Ave (between 36th and 37th
212-679-0442

Yaffa Café
Up to no good in the East Village and need a quick hideout? This basement is a definite must visit when partying near St. Mark’s. The Middle Eastern food isn’t the best, but it is vegetarian friendly and your fellow dining patrons are anything but boring.
97 St. Marks Pl between First Ave and Ave A
212-674-9302

Han Bat

Craving Korean? Go here for your fix. Food is not bad.
53 W 35th St between Fifth Ave and Sixth Ave
212-629-5588

HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD
Have an urge to lay some tile? Want to finally change the lightbulb that your super keeps saying he will change? Nuthouse Hardware has three hardware filled floors that will keep you browsing into the wee hours–oh wait, it already is the wee hours.
202 E 29th St between Second and Third Aves
212-545-1447

GET PRETTY
Did you chip your pedicure dancing? Lose a hair extension running for that cab? Or are you just really busy and only have free time at 4 am to get that cut and color? Hop the #6 train to 28th Street and visit Hair Party 24 Hours
76 Madison Ave (at 28th St) Midtown East
212-213-0056

PUMP IT UP

We all know that 24 hr fitness is open all hours, but for something different — head to The Rock in Queens (believe me it is worth the trip) and shake up your workout with a rock wall climb (its 30′ tall)!
Mon–Fri open 24hrs; Sat ’til 11pm; Sun ’til 10pm

STEEEEEEEEEEEERIKE!

Want some late night fun that doesn’t require a lot of thinking? Go Bowling! But wait — if you are like many of us, we are tired of having to dress up to go bowling at all of these new chic “alleys” that try to make bowling a high society event. In Queens, Whitestone Lanes is possibly the last remaining REAL bowling alley in the city. Take the No. 7 train to the end of the line, walk through Flushing and end up in 48 lanes of bowling heaven.
Families, League bowlers, couples and the lone wolf with his own engraved ball (you know the type) frequent Whitestone and best of all–no one will look down on you for wearing that old shirt with the teeny-tiny mustard stain.

DRUGS

No — not THOSE drugs. Throughout the city 24hr Duane Reade’s are literally a sight for sore eyes. Visine, Listerine, Cold Meds, gummy bears and pajamas (don’t ask me how I know that) are all readily available. For a list of 24hr locations go here.

FIND OUT YOUR FUTURE PARTNER’S NAME

There is nothing like a psychic reading and although Zena closes at midnight — that may work out perfect if you’re making it an “early” night. A $20 reading gets you 10 minutes to find out whatever you need to know. She is in the Village and accepting of groups–as long as they wait their turn outside.
82 Seventh Ave South at Bleecker St
212-807-0498

I am happy to re-proclaim my aspiring (and inspiring) travel writing career but I also have to do a little self promotion with my recent published articles at a newspaper in the greater New York City area. The paper—the Daily Record– covers the hub of New Jersey: Morris County (in Northern New Jersey about 25 miles outside of Manhattan).

I am happy and proud to be a freelance writer for this paper and lately my articles have consisted of interviews with bands that have been either new to me and/or prominent bands that are known for their ability to ROCK.

So is Rolling Stone next for me? YES! OF COURSE! Who knows! But my love of music combined with my love of travel— that can only mean one thing: Groupie! Music Road Trip!! Now if I can only convince my husband to agree to me having a VW bus again…

Here is my latest article on the legendary band Little Feat on their latest acoustic venture.

Little Feat

Stay tuned, especially if you are a fan of Western Swing, Gypsy Jazz and Traditional Irish Music!

New York City is known for being a leader in movies, fashion, food and of course, music.

New York’s position as the musical center of the United States started in the mid-1800′s and continues to present day. It started with groups singing religious hymns, military bands and family groups (those family groups really stood the test of time didn’t they…) and morphed into Opera with the opening of the Metropolitan Opera House in 1882 and Carnegie Hall in 1891,

In the 60′s, Greenwich Village was arguably the biggest musical neighborhood in the United States and in the 70′s and 80′s things really took off with the clubs like CBGB that offered new artists their first stage. (Side note: my good friend Lisa saw one of the first shows the Police ever did in a small club in Greenwich Village with basically a pallet for their stage. I am so jealous).

Each decade has its list of stars that made NYC their own and of course tons of these musicians are NYC natives including Lou Reed, Neil Diamond, Joan Baez, Sammy Davis Jr. and Billy Joel.

NEIL!!

But perhaps no decade can claim a bigger dent on the global music scene than what New York generated in the ’90′s. I know what you are thinking: “the 90′s? Wait, wasn’t that the grunge decade? Didn’t that happen on the West Coast”?
True, grunge did have a huge impact on music, but it wasn’t the only musical genre born in the 90′s — New York City actually was a very big player in the 90′s music scene and introduced some long term rockers and perhaps more well known— birthed most of the pioneers of hip hop and rap. In fact, New York was the only city with a major hip hop scene for many years. Guys like LL Cool J brought hip-hop to the mainstream for the first time while rap reached near perfection here from artists such as Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy Run DMC and Jay Z.

How do I know all of this? Well, aside from the regular research any good writer does and the fact that I am a big ’90′s music fan (yes, there are some exceptions: N’Sync, Backstreet Boys), I recently had the pleasure of leisurely roaming around the newest exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art : Looking at Music 3.0. This exhibit runs through June 6 and displays, through collected art in various forms, the influence NYC artists had on the music we listen to today.

The exhibit focuses mainly hip-hop/raps’ roots, but ample attention is also paid to the NYC Rock scene with videos from Grace Jones and eclectic recordings from David Byrn and Brian Eno.
Other ’90′s topics are also featured with festivals and ad campaigns focusing on the fight against AIDS, the impact of graffiti and MTV’s continuing presence.

In the center of the exhibit, a massive projector rotated music videos from featured artists and the videos emitted a blue and white flash that induced a prominent “head-nod” reaction by this visitor.

Original lp’s, cassettes (ahhh Nostalgia), interactive displays and smaller tv’s complete with wrap-a-round headphones that let you listen to music or watch videos of these NYC artists that kept MTV in the picture (come back MTV, please… no more reality shows…) such as my favorite-the Beastie Boys and their video Sabotage directed by the brilliant Spike Jonze.

Diana rocking out to the Beastie’s

a picture of the Beastie Boys featured in the exhibit

Nirvana and Pearl Jam will always have a place in my heart; grunge is part of my formative years growing up in Seattle, but these NYC artists really brought it and like the grunge heros from the opposite coast, they are music trailblazers that deserve their claim on the 90′s.

Some of the artists featured in the exhibit but not mentioned in this article include:
KRS-One
Slick Rick
Grandmaster Flash
Fab 5 Freddy
the Wu-Tang Clan
Salt and Peppa
Public Enemy

Ahhhhhhhh the beach, or as we say here, the shore. I can’t wait to be down the shore this summer and on days like today, where I once again see flurries floating from the sky, it seems like summer may never come.

This picture was taken on a hazy humid day in Pt. Pleasant, New Jersey

Whoo hoo — check it out!
See my guest post on GotSaga on some things to do in NYC that aren’t technically mainstream, including: the Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park and the church turned rave club turned boutique shopping center known as the Limelight Marketplace… click here to see what else!

Brooklyn Museum

Prospect Park

Limelight

Read, enjoy and come visit the best city in the world!

I love to read and I admit that I have a bit of an addiction to buying books. I have always been a book “junkie” and I look forward to my next “fix” even as I enjoy my current one–which believe me, is a curse as much as it is a passion.

Lately, my purchases consist mainly of the electronic kind (BIG shout out to the Kindle here) but I still can’t pass up regular, old fashioned books–especially at a used bookstore.
Visiting used bookstores for me is not just for book buying. My visits to these hopefully never dying institutions bring me pure happiness. From my first steps through the door onto the creaky wood floorboards (that I’ve started to think are a requirement of used bookstores since they all, well the good ones, seem to have them) to having my breath momentarily stifled by the strong scent of musty pages thick in the air, I have a smile on my face.

Shelves in one of the most famous used book stores in the World–the Strand Bookstore in NYC

Moving to the East Coast broadened my interest of this geographical area and especially of New York City–my new home. My visits to a few of the multiple used book stores within the city resulted in me purchasing nearly a dozen books focused on NYC. Three years later, the “to-read NYC” stack is still piled high, but I managed to get through a few and below are four that I highly recommend if you love New York City, live in New York City, want to live in New York City, or–have an urge to just escape to this great city for a while.

Notes From the Night: A Life After Dark
Taylor Plimpton

Aimed at the young, the once young party crowd or at least to the stereotype the young in Manhattan have, this short book may have you reading open mouth in amazement, nodding in understanding or–depending on your lifestyle, with occasional closed eyes. Various club scenes are the setting and the goal of Plimpton is to have and find fun.
This is not one of my favorite books on the city, but reading it I do have to appreciate Plimpton’s successful efforts to meet his goal–plus I do think it is an essential read to get the full grasp of what goes on in NYC between the hours of midnight to 5 am.

New York the Novel
Edward Rutherfurd

This is the one of the thickest books I’ve ever read. Don’t get me wrong-I’m not in fear of large books, in fact I look forward to them hoping that I will become so engrossed that I will that I will rejoice in its length and curse the author for not making it longer.
New York takes place over 350 years and touches on all the history making up this city from the 1600s to the present. Like Rutherfurd’s other novels, the characters, although fictional, will pull you into the story and assist you effortlessly in learning the history of this epic city.

Here is New York
E.B. White

This is more of an essay in length rather than a book in the traditional sense and was written by the king of grammar and style (and, yes, the same man that brought you Charlotte’s Web) about New York while he was visiting New York. One of my favorite quotes from the book (and there are many) is: “The city is like poetry: it compresses all life … into a small island and adds music and the accompaniment of internal engines.”
Although short in length, the New York Times chose Here Is New York as one of the ten best books ever written about the city.

Aside from being well written (of course) and although it was written decades ago in 1949, this book gives an insider view of NYC that makes you want to wander the same streets and consider never going home–wherever that is.

Let the Great World Spin
Colum McCann

Now counted among one of my favorite books of all time, this read planted me smack in the middle of New York City in the 70′s and 80′s and jolted me into the lives of the characters making me feel like an intruder secretly and silently witnessing their lives.

New York during those decades was a different place when compared to present time. Today, Times Square is no longer a haven just for pimps, hookers and drug dealers, Harlem and Queens are areas where people actually choose to live rather than just being stuck there and the Twin Towers no longer stand.

McCann–through multiple characters that intertwine and are in their own ways all connected to the main subject of the book, a tightrope walker that strung a line across the World Trade Center towers and walked across during morning rush hour (a true event) — does an incredible job of describing the city in its darker days through the lives of the characters. Instead of writing specifics about the city, McCann lets his characters bleed, shock and sweat their emotions, the temperatures, the conflicts, the small “non-events” and their vital roles in the foundation of New York City giving the reader an intimate feel for the city and the people.

Reading this book was a wonderful experience for me and as a New Yorker now myself, I feel it should be required reading for all New Yorkers to see how their city has progressed over the decades.

As a side note, McCann’s book Dancer also gives an insightful look into New York City (as well as Russia and France) in the 80′s through multiple characters as these places fits into their lives and THE life of Rudolph Nureyev — the famous ballet dancer originally from Russia. It is based on the life of “Rudi” as he is known, but much of the instances are imagined by McCann. Nevertheless, it was an excellent book and I never thought I would be interested in a book centered on a ballet dancer. McCann’s writing lured me in and kept me entertained the entire read.

Rudi Nureyev

I love football.
I am proud to say I can hold my own against pretty much anyone (except my brother) on football stats, teams, etc. I impress most of my male friends (including my husband) and confuse most of my female friends–and regardless of what my brother says, I do not rate the Quarterback’s on their cute-ness level (anymore).

My love of football has given me the chance to pen an article for www.seenyc.com on seeing the NFL in NYC. Of course live football in NYC is hard to pass up, but the cost of tickets, the nose freezing cold weather and the hard, frozen seats can turn away even a hearty fan like myself. So what is a fan to do? Well, you can start by checking out the article and then get on your replica jersey, choose your team (even if it is no where near NYC) and head to a comfy bar stool at one or more of THE best football bars in the city.

I try to live by the following motto: Break a sweat every day.
Lately that has been easy just by doing nothing in the high heat and humidity in the city, but I try to break a sweat each day via some sort of physical activity.

I am obsessed with tennis and play 4-5 times a week, and my favorite sweat breaking activity is kickboxing. Punching and kicking real 100lb heavy bags brings on the sweat fest more than anything else I do.

Aside from these sports, I’d always thought it’d be amazing to do a multi-sport event, like a triathlon.
The running I could maybe handle. I do run because I like the results I see and it justifies my addiction of athletic shoes. I have done 5K’s and I can get through trail runs (treadmills make me crazy–so boring) but I am far from a natural runner. Due to this fact and that swimming for me really just means me laying on a floatie–my dream of participating in a triathlon is not really plausible.

Knowing this about myself has only made me work harder to find a multi-sport activity I can proudly participate in.
I don’t want to walk or push a stroller (besides, I’d have to borrow a kid for that) and stair climbing for charity is a great idea, but I want to combine some sort of running/biking with it.

In the mid 90′s I was introduced to what in another life just might be what I’d dedicate my life to: Adventure Racing. The extreme athletic image, the physical shape of the participants, running and biking in nature, teamwork–getting sponsored and therefore obtaining lots of swag…I was instantly obsessed.

It is very simple in theory. Adventure Racing combines adventure sport disciplines, usually including navigation, trekking, mountain biking, white water paddling, climbing, sea kayaking and swimming in order to cover a variety of outdoor terrain. In nearly all organized Adventure Races, teams are made up of four people and must include both men and women.

Adventure Races typically take between five and eleven days with no designated rest periods so it is up to the participants to choose when, or if, they rest. Check points are set up along the route and when there is to be a change of events such as canoeing to climbing, teams will exchange their equipment at these points, taking what they need for the next leg.

The first Adventure Race that really sucked me into this multi-sport lifestyle was Eco-Challenge. A multi-day expedition race, this was a Mark Burnett (pre-Survivor) production and it aired on the USA channel for 9 seasons. It consisted of seasoned professional adventure racers as well as the average “joe” that raced non-stop, 24 hours a day, over a 300 mile course. The locations over the years varied, including Borneo, Utah, British Colombia, Australia and Fiji. As awesome as this race was, the last year it ran was 2002 and that is why I cannot participate in it… (um yeah, thats why…).

photo credit here

photo courtesy of adventure.mountainzone.com

Perhaps the most famous and challenging Adventure Race in the world is the Patagonian Expedition Race in Chile.
Like Eco-Challenge, teams of 4 compete in treacherous natural terrain that very few, if any, humans have ever witnessed in person. The route is kept secret to the participating teams until the night before the race is to start which is when all maps and route instructions are supplied to the teams.

taking a look at the map courtesy of sportrock.ning.com

As the website states, the Patagonia Expedition Race is a true expedition. Racers receive minimal assistance as they traverse through the pristine southern Patagonia by means of trekking, climbing and related rope work, kayaking, mountain biking, and backcountry navigation. They often cover hundreds of kilometers without seeing a soul.

trekking Patagonia photo courtesy of www.mountain.ru

paddling Patagonia
photo courtesy of funsporting.com

OK, so its doubtful that I will make it into this race. The cutoff for registration has just passed. … maybe next year.

Primal Quest is another adventure race that follows the same pattern as Eco and Patagonia. Their latest race, covering 600 miles, took place in the Badlands of South Dakota in 2009.

The cost of entry to most high profile adventure races such as these three can vary, but will at least run $10,000 USD a team. Prizes though, especially in the more major races such as Patagonian, can exceed $150,000 in cash.
While the races are unsupported (meaning no-one there to bring you water or help carry your gear), medical personnel and volunteers are present to assist in emergency cases.

Check out this link showing a preview of the Badlands Race on DVD.

Primal Quest Badlands DVD Now Available!.

A 2010 race date/location for Primal Quest hasn’t been named yet due to lack of funding. Dammit. Just as I was about to register…

OK, so these three races seem just out of my reach. What can I do? In my search for more attainable races that wouldn’t cost me thousands of dollars (and tons of laughs at my expense), I discovered the Warrior Dash. This race covers nearly 3.3 miles and includes 13 obstacles that must be dominated by the participant, such as mud crawling, fire leaping, beer drinking… wait? What? Wow.

As the website says–this will be the “craziest freakin’ day of your life”!

Now I am not sure about that, but what I am sure about is that Warrior Dash has race routes all over the US including eight in 2010 and so far two already scheduled for 2011. I am participating in the North East route in Windham, NY this fall with my kickboxing instructors and friends. We will be a team of 30 and willing and ready to do whatever we need to do to fulfill our Warrior ambitions! Although we are a team, we compete individually and although it is a race, its more of an event.

Unlike the high costs to race in other Adventure Races, the Warrior Dash costs just $65 to register and all finishers get a Warrior Helmet, a medal to wear proudly around your neck and a t-shirt!

Here are some pictures from the Warrior website to give you an idea of the type of day I will likely have. Check the website for even more pictures and information on the races and where you can register yourself, unless of course you are already registered for one of the other races I have mentioned above…

Happy Adventure Racing!