The New Museum

The New Museum was founded 37 years ago by Marcia Tucker, who had served as a curator of the Whitney Museum of American Art from 1967 to 1976.Tucker was inspired to create a new space when she realized how difficult it was for new work by living artists to be absorbed into the conventional exhibition and collection structure of a traditional-style museum.
As a result of that insight the New Museum was born. Tucker “imagined an institution devoted to presenting, studying, and interpreting contemporary art.”

Among the New Museum’s past exhibitions was “NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star.” This show displayed works of art which were created during the tumultuous 1990s, specifically, during the year 1993. The exhibition was created as a kind of a “time capsule;” “an experiment in collective memory that “attempts to capture a specific moment at the intersection of art, pop culture, and politics.”

The name of the show came from a music album produced by the New York-based rock band Sonic Youth, which was recorded in 1993. The title was meant to signal the complex relationships between mainstream culture and the underground counter-culture which was flourishing at the time. That cross-pollination through cultural barriers and across artistic genres is what came to eventually define the artistic impulses of that time.

NYC:1993 was a journey to the past which became a defining moment in artistic development, leading directly to the artistic milieu of today.

Native Plant Garden

A relative newcomer in New York City, The Native Plant Garden of the New York Botanical Garden only just opened in the spring of 2013. In actuality, however, there has been a native plant display since the 1930s on the same 3.5 acre site where a newly landscaped and redesigned habitat has been created to better showcase the wide assortment of plants that grow in a variety of habitats throughout the northeastern part of North America.

The garden does more than just display native plant life, but also exhibits a sustainable and environmentally friendly landscape created with local, recycled materials. The centerpiece of the garden is a lovely pool which is fed from recycled storm-water collected on site and filtered naturally by aquatic plants. The buildings and benches in the garden are made from salvaged, recycled, and sustainably harvested materials. The wood for the boardwalks comes from the black locust tree, a native hardwood.

The Native Plant Garden holds within its small secluded paths, shaded woodland, dry open meadow and lush wetlands close to 100,000 plants, heritage oak trees, shrubs, wild flowers, ferns and meadow grasses.

The garden is truly an oasis in the middle of the bustling metropolis of New York. Visitors will no doubt find a few moments of peace and tranquility to reboot their nervous systems before they get back into the crazy pace of life in the Big Apple.

For more information call: 718.817.8700

John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Join Joan Osborne, Marc Cohn, Raul Malo, Grammy Award winner Steve Earle and others at the 33rd Annual Tribute to John Lennon. Lennon was a superstar in his time, changing the way a generation, and beyond, saw music and the world around them.

Hosted at Symphony Space, the tribute is pulled together by the efforts of members of Theatre Within, and experimental theatre workshop. Begun in 1981 by Theatre Within founder Alec Rubin and his student at the time Joe Raiola, who took over organization of the tribute in 2001 when Rubin retired.

Now with full creative control of the Tribute, which has already been around for 20 years, Raiola, as a comedian and Senior Editor at Mad Magazine, had his own vision for the evening. Referring to the fact that he performed a Lennon-themed comedy sketch at each Tribute Raiola said,

“It wasn’t what you’d except from a Lennon Tribute, but it reflected Alec’s vision as an artist and it was very powerful.”

Over the past several years the Tribute has continued to grow in size and prominence. Not only is the venue used to remember and honor Lennon, but serious fund raising is accomplished as well, mostly to bring food to the hungry and build music schools in the Third World.

This year’s Tribute will donate a portion of the take the Spirit Foundation. This non-profit was created in 1978 by John and Yoko as a way to help charities that help the aging population, abused women and children and victims of terrorism and natural disasters.

The 33rd Annual John Lennon Tribute will take place at Symphony Space at 2537 Broadway; at 8pm on December 6, 2013. For more information call: 212-864-5400.

Take a tour of one of the world’s greatest landmarks. You get a boat ride, too!

You probably already knew this, but it is nice to have one’s suspicions confirmed- according to NYCTourist, the five “must-do” activities for families in New York are:

•    The American Museum of Natural History: Dinosaurs; giant whales on the ceiling; an awesome sky show at the planetarium. You name it, its inside this amazing building filled with mysteries revealed, little-known creatures and anything else your imagination can, or sometimes cannot come up with.

•    Broadway: Singing, dancing, drama- the Great White Way will light up you and your family’s life like no other experience. Yes, its expensive, but there are ways of saving lots on your tickets, either on the internet or getting tickets at the last moment in Times Square. Don’t miss giving your family memories that will last a lifetime.

•    NY Skyride: Take the elevator up, up, up to the top of the Empire State building and enjoy a 30 minute virtual tour in a simulator which is a one-of-a-kind. Passengers move in synch with the 18-foot high-definition screen while flying above the streets and landmarks of NYC.

•    Statue of Liberty and Skyline Cruise: going to the SOL is like getting two great activities rolled into one. A fun boat ride with the best view of the NYC skyline imaginable; and an exciting and educational tour of one of the greatest landmarks found anywhere in the world. Take the kids, you won’t regret it.

•    NYC Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tours: really get down to the nitty-gritty of what NYC is all about. It’s about the culture, and where better to explore the culture than in the neighborhoods and the unique foods offered. It’s something different and sure to please.

Hispanic Society of America Museum

Want to explore some of New York’s most fascinating sights without spending a dime? Here is a brief sampling of a much longer list of great things to do without breaking the bank.

•    Hispanic Society of America Museum & Library- Go and see America’s largest collection of Spanish art and more than over 600, 000 rare books and manuscripts. An upcoming gallery talk will be presented on October 19, at 11am. Located on Audubon Terrace between 155 and 156 Streets. Call for more information: 212-926-2234.

•    National Museum of the American Indian– This excellent collection of Native American art focuses more on the culture rather than history of America’s indigenous population. In honor of Halloween come celebrate Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead – 2013 on November 2, 2013 at 12 pm. The museum is located on the south side of Bowling Green, in lower Manhattan, adjacent to the northeast corner of Battery Park. Call 212-514-3758 for more information.

•    Sony Wonder Technology Lab- Take the kids to a place they will love, and so will you. Explore 21 exhibit areas and 69 interactive stations found in this 14,000 square foot museum. Sony Wonder Technology Lab is located in the Sony Plaza at 56th Street and Madison Avenue. For more information call (212) 833-8100.

SmorgasBar/Burg on the South Street Seaport

Have you been out to the South Street Seaport lately? Check out the new Smorgasburg and enjoy the 300-seat beer garden and eight different hamburger sellers under one roof. From now until October a dozen market favorites including Pizza Moto, Landhaus, Asia Dog and Oyster Bar will be selling their wares at the market on Front Street.

There are two temporary bars created for the Smorgasburg experience, one inside, and the other on top of old shipping containers which bring brews to the patrons of the beer garden. On tap are favorites such as Captain Lawrence Kolsch and Sixpoint Sweet Action. Wines and cocktails are also available. For the teatotalers among us there are slushies from Kevin Natural Slush Company. Prefer your slushie spiked? Bartenders on hand are glad to help.

Location: Front Street in New York’s Financial District between Beekman and Fulton Streets
Hours: Monday-Thursday and Sunday- 11am-10pm; Friday and Saturday 11am-11pm

There is no shortage of what to do in New York, everyone will agree. But what is truly astounding is how many of those things require little, or even no money to enjoy. Here is a short list of a much longer one containing a wide variety of cultural events that will not cost you a penny.

•    Concerts in the Park with the New York Philharmonic: All five boroughs will play host to one of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras, with Alan Gilbert conducting in four of them. They will be performing Dvorak’s Cello Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in Brooklyn on July 10; Queens July 11; Manhattan July 15 and in the Bronx on July 16. The program in Staten Island will take place on July 14, but the program has not been announced yet. For more information go to Concerts in the Park.

•    Paul McCarthy: Life Cast: At the age of 67 McCarthy has gained the reputation as the “bad boy” of the art world. In his latest, and largest extravaganza, utilizing the huge space at the Armory, McCarthy parodies, or spoofs, or something, Walt Disney’s version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and calls it WS for White Snow. The entire production lasts seven hours, but it’s free, so feel free to leave at any time.

•    Carol Bove’s “Caterpillars”: The Rail Yards are the last undeveloped stretch of the High Line elevated park, but it is going to be a morphed

Caterpillars on the High Line

into a landscaped public green space during 2014. Therefore now is a fantastic time to see the area as it was and is, but won’t be for much longer. Take advantage of this reservations-only exhibit of abstract spiral sculptures by Brooklyn artist Carol Bove. The seven pieces are spread over the 300-yard length of abandoned railroad tracks and are on display for free; it is only necessary to make reservations to enjoy them. Enter at 34th St between Eleventh and Twelfth Avenues. Make reservations here, Carol Bove.

Its summer, and that means biking, beaching, and, at least for many tried and New Yorkers, ice creaming! Here is a list of some of the best cold licks New York has to offer:

•    Je & Jo—Every one of this lusciously decadent ice cream parlor’s flavors includes some type of cookie dough. Check out one of these: fresh mint with lemon lavender shortbread cookie dough or coffee ice cream with spicy chocolate cookie dough. Either way, you can’t go wrong. 515 West 47th St between 10th & 11th; Spring Hours: 7:30am-8:30pm, 7 days a week.

•    Coolhaus—Do you love ice cream sandwiches? You know, a cookie on top and bottom and some incredible ice cream in between? At Coolhaus they offer potato chip and butterscotch cookie with molten chocolate cake ice cream. Sounds good to me!

•    Chinatown Ice Cream Factory—Have you been to this Chinatown landmark yet? If not then run, don’t walk. You will see what traditional Chinese flavors, like red bean, black sesame and almond cookie can do to traditional ice cream fare. The answer is awesome. 65 Bayard St, New York, NY. Open every day from 11am to 11 pm.

•    Van Leeuwen Ice Cream—For the connoisseurs among us Van Leeuwen does not scrimp on anything. From the basics like fresh milk and cream, cane sugar and egg yolks this specialty ice cream soars to the heights for its flavors. For example, the pistachios come from Mount Etna in Sicily; the hazelnuts are from Piedmont; and Sri Lanka is the source of the hand crushed quills of Ceylon cinnamon. Yumm! 48 E 7th St New York, NY. Open Monday – Thursday 8am to 11pm; Friday 8am to 12am; Saturday 9am to 12am and Sunday 9am to 11pm.

A Flavor for Everyone!

Every Friday at 5:30pm until 7:30pm the American Folk Art Museum will present free live music with a cash wine bar to help enjoy the good vibes. Musician who would like to perform at this venue

Free Music on Fridays at the American Folk Art Musem

are invited to contact Lara Ewen. She will examine your special sound and contact you if she believes you will fit into the program. Send an email to: lewen@folkartmuseum.org

The collection at the museum includes objects of the highest quality dating from the 18th century until today. The focus of the collection is to increase the appreciation of traditional folk art and creative expressions of contemporary self-taught artists from the US and elsewhere.

The American Folk Art Museum is located at at 2 Lincoln Square, at Columbus Avenue and 66th Street. The hours are: Tuesday–Saturday: 12pm–7:30 pm; Sunday:12pm–6:00 pm; closed on Mondays.

The upcoming schedule of free performances is:

• March 8: Kevin Johnston, Michael Patrick Flanagan Smith, and Casey Shea
• March 15: Ari Swan, Ellen Adams, and Andy Fitzpatrick
• March 22: Scott Rudd, Adam Day, and Abby Ahmad
• March 29: Jeremiah Birnbaum, Caleb Caudle, and Haley Dreis

Orchids at the New York Botanical Garden

Hidden away in a beautiful corner of New York City at 2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx, is an amazing place for all those in love with the plant kingdom, The New York Botanical Garden.

Just 20 minutes from the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, this center for all things green will surprise you with the wealth of things there to do and to see. Right now there are three exhibits and special events of interest:

•    Tropical Paradise from January 19 until February 24, 2013: Feel like you are on vacation to a tropical paradise while still in New York, in the middle of the winter.
•    Manolo Valdés: Monumental Sculpture: Until May 26, 2013: Seven huge sculptures by the famed Spanish artist are on exhibit, highlighting to observers the connection between art and nature.
•    Magnificent Trees: November 17, 2012 until April 14, 2013: Incomparable photography that highlights the beauty of the Botanical Garden’s trees by landscape photographer and member of the Board of Advisors Larry Lederman. The photographs accumulated over the years as Larry explored the Gardens throughout the years and seasons.

Aside from the special events the Garden is involved in crucial issues affecting all of us every day, including: conservation, research, education and much more. So treat yourself to a wonderful exploration of the diversity of the plant world at the New York Botanical Garden.