AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Pairs of Tickets to 9/11 Remembrance Concert at Lincoln Center

Any concert at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center is special, but on Friday, September 11, 2015 at 7:00pm, True Concord Voices and Orchestra will perform a special commemorative concert featuring Mozart’s Requiem along with the New York premiere of Stephen Paulus’ Prayers and Remembrances, originally commissioned for the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

True Concord Voices & Orchestra draws upon the first rank of professional choral and instrumental musicians from around the United States in service of its artistic mission: to enrich lives through the transformational power of classical music. True Concord seeks to bring together hearts from Tucson with those from New York and around the world through the power of music by two towering and beloved composers.

Tickets start at just $20, but you can use the code DCINY20 to save 20% online, over the phone (212.721.6500) or in person at Lincoln Center (Box Office: 1941 Broadway at 65th Street).

A portion of all ticket proceeds will benefit the FDNY Foundation, a charity which directly supports the men and women of the Fire Department of New York.

All Awesome in New York readers have a special opportunity to win one of 2 pairs of tickets to this concert event. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below and make sure to follow all instructions (only those who comment below telling me about their favorite NYC concert venue will be eligible to win!). The contest runs through Friday 8/21. Good luck!


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Fall In Love Further With New York (And Enjoy a Film Outside!)

Looking for something cool to do tomorrow evening? Rooftop Films is presenting a showing of "New York Nonfiction" in partnership with Spin and Juul at Industry City (220 36th Street. Sunset Park, Brooklyn) at 9 pm (doors at 8).

The film follows unique characters from the Upper West Side to Brighton Beach, from the Civic Center courts to Red Hook’s baseball parks. Bootleg toy‐makers, pickle‐selling skaters, taxi drivers hurt by life: they wouldn’t have anything in common if they didn’t share the same city. Each of them has a story to tell, and as unbelievable as they may sound, their chaotic pasts, uncommon ways of life and weird pick‐up techniques are very real. They’re what makes New York, New York. For more info, click here.

Stick around after the movie for an after-party sponsored by New Amsterdam Vodka and Ommegang Brewery. There will also be live music at 8:30 pm by Jojo Abot.

Tickets are $15 online or at the door and include live music, film and after-party. In the event of rain, the show will go on indoors at the same location.

Party with DoNYC and Jack Daniel's Tonight!

DoNYC and Jack Daniel’s have teamed up to host some awesome events lately and their last and 4th one is tonight, Thursday, May 14th!

Doors open at 8pm for live performances by SKATERS, Team Spirit, and The Bergamot, plus a DJ set by Justin Miller, amazing custom video-mapped art installation by Rhizome NYC, and photo booth by the Self-Portrait Project.

Must be 21+ with valid ID for entry. RSVP here for location details.

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Concerts at Carnegie Hall

It's been a while since I've hosted a giveaway so it's high time that gets fixed! If you have never been to Carnegie Hall, or even if you have been a hundred times, it is a wonderful place--perhaps the best in the city--to listen to music. Here are a couple concerts you should check out coming up in May with giveaways for both of them!

A HIGH LONESOME BLUEGRASS MASS

Friday, May 22, 2015 at 7:00 PM

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall

Tickets from $20 (Use code DCG21214 for 50% off!)

Call CarnegieCharge at 212-721-6500 or Visit CarnegieHall.org

Southern hymns and down-home harmonies blend with the traditional instrumental sounds of a bluegrass band to create Come Away to the Skies: A High, Lonesome Mass. This exciting new choral work makes its New York premiere at Carnegie Hall, courtesy of Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers International. Composed by Wes Ramsey and Tim Sharp, who'll be on hand to conduct, the piece is set to be accompanied live by the Chuck Nation Band.

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VERDI REQUIEM

Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 8:30 PM

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall
Tickets from $20

Call CarnegieCharge at 212-721-6500 or Visit CarnegieHall.org

Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem offer the drama of opera and the thrill of wonderful symphonic writing combined with stellar, virtuosic solo moments. The progression of the piece tells the ultimate dramatic story, from profound loss in the subdued key of A minor at the start to sheer terror at what lies ahead on judgment day. Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and the Distinguished Concerts Singers International perform this piece in a unique and larger-than-life rendition rarely seen on the New York Stage!

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The Best Piano Man Show EVER

As a blogger, I am invited to a lot of events. Of the ones I attend, they are not always great, but usually I can at least go home with a couple glasses of some good wine and some hors d'ouevres in my stomach. But last night, I went to an INCREDIBLE show and had one of the best times I've had in a long while. Bonus...I got to bring a friend along for the ride.

The premise of Vintage Live is similar to a "piano man" kind of show where you can request songs and the pianist will play and sing them...or try to. This specific show is currently playing at Le Qube--a unique take on a cabaret set on Pier 97 in the Hudson River (@57th Street). The location alone is pretty breathtaking, especially with the gorgeous weather we've been getting blessed with lately.

Upon arriving, you fill out the back of your ticket with a song request, and I spent a good long time trying to figure out something unique enough that might stump him, but not embarrassing enough for other people to have to listen to. I went with "I Want You" by Savage Garden aka: the chika cherry cola song (hey! I'm a 90s girl!).

You then use your smartphone to go to log onto their online system and take a brief quiz about your music preferences and even order drinks--how very 2015! 

When the band came out, I was impressed. Not only was Gregory Charles (the aforementioned pianist) going to roll off the cuff all night, but so were a drummer, guitarist, bassist, female singer, keyboardist, and a 3-man wind section. 

The first half was a good mix of classic rock (Scorpions' Rock You Like a Hurricane and U2's Beautiful Day) and modern tunes (Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk). He even did an amazing job mashing up random but surprisingly complementary songs so that the audience would hear a maximum variety. You could chat with him and make requests using the app, and while my friend had 2 of her songs chosen, sadly none of mine made the cut.

The second half of the show was devoted to everyone's hand-written requests, which Charles arbitrarily picked out of a box. The first was a 1931 classic called Minnie the Moocher, which we all were dumbfounded with at first but soon realized we all know it (think, hidy hidy hidy ho). The gentleman who requested it was sitting right behind us and LOVED every minute of Charles' and the band's rendition). 

We were also super impressed when one of the selections was Muse's Supermassive Black Hole, which no one except Charles knew. He proceeded to basically teach the song to his amazingly talented band in about 3 minutes. I have no idea if the performance was accurate, but it was incredible to watch.

They ended the show with medley's chosen by the audience responses--Queen and then a 70s mix. Everyone was up and dancing in the aisles and having the best time. The last song was Celebration by Kool & the Gang, which is the best song to end any party if you ask any bar mitzvah kid.

You can catch Vintage Live every night through May 2 at Le Qube, and I highly recommend that you do. To get BOGO tickets, use the code VINT2F1 here. If you miss them this time around, they travel the world, but definitely find a way to catch one of their shows. Be prepared to have the BEST time. The only person who wouldn't like this show is someone who doesn't like music, and let's face it, you don't want to be friends with that person anyway.

Disclosure: I received free tickets from Yelp NYC for this event, but I was not required to write a post or even tell you guys about this. It's just that good. So go!

AWESOME RECAP: Broadway Sings P!nk

After seeing Broadway Sings Justin Timberlake back in July (oh how I miss you summer!),  I knew that I couldn't miss Broadway Sings P!nk. So I grabbed a friend and went back down to (Le) Poisson Rouge for a night we knew would be memorable.

I've been a fan of P!nk's music for many years now, but I admit, some of her songs are hit or miss for me. They often come across angry and I think that turns a lot of people off. One thing I really liked about this concert was how the arrangements were often drastically changed in order to suit the singer's voice. In doing that, the lyrics were able to shine and some of them are pretty spectacular.

It was also a fabulous concert in that I dined over 3 fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk ($5) while listening. I'd highly recommend this treat!

Here are some photos from the event:

Lena Hall sings "Sober"

Chelsea Packard and Colin Hanlon sing "Try"

Kate Rockwell

Mike Schwitter

Ciara Renée

And thanks to Broadway sings, here are some videos:

Broadway Sings is hosting a "Best of" concert in March that will include 14 songs from all 7 previous concerts. It's sure to be a fun one! Who even needs pop stars when you've got Broadway?

Some Chamber Music With Your Meal?

Every so often I hear about an event concept and think, "well, that's unusual." It isn't until I actually experience the final product altogether that I'm amazed at not only how well it works, but how much I want to share it and let others in on the action. Tertulia is just that.

Helmed by Artistic Directors Julia Villagra and James Austin Smith, Tertulia was founded in 2007 as a way to bridge the delights of chamber music, good food, and unique venues. The organization plans a monthly series of concerts--with changing musicians--planned around a 3-course menu at a variety of NYC restaurants. We were invited to the most recent event at Harding's NYC, which featured clarinetist Todd Palmer with violinist Jesse Mills and pianist Rieko Aizawa.

Todd Palmer with Jesse Mills and Rieko Aizawa at Harding's

The "itinerary," as my program described, was planned around an amuse bouche, main entree and dessert. Your ticket price ($80-$140) includes food but not drinks, but "bar only" tickets are available for $25 that do not include dinner. What a steal!

First course was pumpkin soup with Stravinsky's 3 Pieces for Clarinet Solo and Milhaud's Suite for Violin, Clarinet and Piano Op. 157b. The soup was adorably served in a mini shot glass, but it was so tasty, I could have had a whole bowl. The music pieces in this course were perfect kick-off choices. The first featured Palmer skipping among the tables in a curious manner. I think everyone was entertained with what he would do next. Whereas the second piece, a bit more traditional (ie, no skipping), really said "you're in for a treat because these musicians are more talented than you even realized."

Pumpkin Soup

For the second course, I opted for the beef medallions with sauteed asparagus and fingerling potatoes and my friend had the Atlantic branzini grilled whole with herb oil, lemon zest, white beans and green garlic. Both entrees were solid and sophisticated. The music choice for this course was the longest overall--Harrison's Grand Duo for Violin and Piano. I kind of loved that the piano and violin players were husband and wife. I pictured them practicing together at home for this concert and thought that must be a nice life. Listening to lyric-less music often sends me into deep daydreams like this and I kind of love it. Note to self: go to chamber music concerts more often.

Beef Tenderloin

Atlantic Branzini

Dessert was something special. We tried one of each--pumpkin pie with whipped cream and chocolate cake. As it was the week before Thanksgiving, I was thrilled to have my first taste of pumpkin pie for the season, but the chocolate cake was something decadent, super rich and creamy. The music accompaniment, Weber's Grand Duo Concertant for Clarinet and Piano, was the perfect finale. It featured each of the musician's individual strengths and combined them harmoniously as well. 

Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Cake

The program said the evening would consist of about 60 minutes of music, but the whole event was about 3 hours. I left with a whole new appreciation for chamber music and would highly recommend this to everyone from the novice/scared classical music listener to the most experienced. Sometimes it's nice to just disconnect from your life (cell phone) for a few hours and just enjoy good company, food, and music. Tertulia will definitely help you do that. Check out their calendar here for 2015 concerts--next up is the Dover Quartet at Tarallucci e Vino on January 11.

See Stars at the Bryant Park Tree Lighting

Bryant Park never does anything small, so why would they just light a tree at their tree lighting ceremony tonight? (The tree is a 50-foot Norway Spruce decorated in over 30,000 white and red LED lights and 3,500 starbursts, balls, snowflakes, and icicle ornaments, by the way).

Starting at 6pm, check out the festivities including performances and appearances by AINY favorite Ingrid Michaelson, indie Singer-Songwriter Catey Shaw, and 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek. You can also watch professional synchronized skating routines from The Haydenettes on the rink. All of it will be hosted by New York Live and LX TV’s Open House front woman, Sara Gore.

The entire event is supporting the humanitarian aid charity, (RED), and raising awareness and support for the fight towards an AIDS-free generation.

Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park’s Tree Lighting Ceremony is open to the public, free of admission. Skate rental fees are $19 for children and adults during public skate windows during the event. Locker usage is free with locks available to purchase for $9.

Celebrating Justin Timberlake Broadway Style

If you know what music is you likely know Justin Timberlake. The former Mickey Mouse Club member turned N*Sync frontman and ultimately a music icon has practically reinvented the Pop genre to a point where everyone wants a bit of the action. This past Monday, the stars of Broadway took their swing at a few of JT's hits at the "Broadway Sings Justin Timberlake" concert at Le Poisson Rouge.

LPR is one of my favorite venues for its intimate setting, wide variety of food options, and killer cocktails. They feature acts that you won't see anywhere else and the club does it all with a trendy vibe. When you go to a show here, you can't help but feel like you're in a place everyone wants to be.

For seated performances, they have a 2 food or drink item minimum per person. My Dad and I ordered the Margherita Flatbread ($11) and Roasted Beet Salad with Chicken ($14), respectively, and split the Chicken Satay ($11). I also sipped on the Cool Hand Cuke cocktail ($14) -- very refreshing in this humidity!

Margherita Flatbread ($11)

Roasted Beet Salad with Chicken ($14)

Chicken Satay ($11)

Cool Hand Cuke cocktail ($14)

It's been a few years since I've been a diehard JT fan (oh, to relive 7th grade!), but his songs are so ingrained in daily life that they are hard to escape and I can't help but tap my feet to all of them. The great thing about his music is its versatility. Stars from Cinderella's and Sister Act's sassy Marla Mindelle to the brilliant Tony Winner Lena Hall (currently on Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch) to the soulful yet playful Marcus Paul James (of Rent fame) belted out everything from "Mirrors" to "Cry Me a River" to, yes, even "Dick in a Box." Here are a few clips:

Producer Corey Mach did the most spot-in rendition of JT with his version of "It's Gonna Be Me," and was also part of the N*Sync medley along with Max Chernin, Ben Fankhauser, Jason Gotay, and Mykal Kilgore. Wow can these boys sing! Part of me felt like we had all been transported back to 2001 and I couldn't have been happier about it. The only part that sucked was that my memory card had filled already and I couldn't get it on camera.

The best part of Lena Hall's performance was that she was in full Yitzhak character (SEE HEDWIG NOW!!!). She sang "Senorita" and received the most audience interaction. I couldn't help but wonder about all of the training she had to go through to act and sing like a man. It's truly impressive!

Another excellent performance was the "My Love" duet by Jason Gotay and Ari Groover. Gotay delivered a smooth introduction and then Groover took it away with an amazing rap section. I almost thought Mary J Blige had walked in the club.

Darren Bluestone sings "Dick in a Box"

Corey Mach sings "It's Gonna Be Me"

Ari Groover and Jason Gotay sing "My Love"

Shaleah Adkisson, Amber Iman, Crystal Joy sing "God Must Have Spent"

Andy Mientus sings "Not a Bad Thing"

Max Chernin, Ben Fankhauser, Jason Gotay, Mykal Kilgore and Corey Mach sing an N*Sync Medley

Natalie Weiss sings "Gone"

Lena Hall as Yitzhak singes "Senorita"

The whole cast as Mykal Kilgore finishes "Pusher Love Girl"

Mach announced the next installment of Broadway Sings will be Broadway Sings Pink, due sometime this December. I'll be sure to announce it when I get the details. This will not be a show to miss!

I was invited by LPR to see the show but we paid for our food and drinks. All opinions are my own!

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Carnegie Hall Bluegrass Concert

When you think of Carnegie Hall, what kind of music do you think of? Classical? Opera? Bluegrass? Well even if the latter didn't pop into your head, it's certainly about to.

On Sunday June 8, Grammy-Nominated Country Music Artists Dailey and Vincent will be joined by a 200 voice choir for an exhilarating performance of The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass by Carol Barnett, a thrilling work combining the solemnity of a classical choir-based Mass with the distinctly American sound of banjo, mandolin, and fiddle. Dailey and Vincent will also perform a set of their own material from across their vast repertoire while the New York Premiere of John Purifoy’s The Chronicles of Blue and Gray will round out the program.

Tickets start at just $20 and are available via www.carnegiehall.org, CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800, and the Carnegie Hall Box office at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Good news! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to the show. Be sure to use the form below to enter (following all instructions!) by Friday May 16. A winner will be announced next week. Good luck!

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It All Went On Like You Like It

Last week we wrote about a special, star-studded, one-night-only concert event of Like You Like It at 54 Below. The evening was the epitome of a perfect night out in New York. There was great food (try the risotto!), wine, and lively entertainment by some of Broadway's top talent.

Here are some photos from the event:

Rebecca Faulkenberry sings "Be a Little Wild"

Sam Underwood and Jenna Leigh Green sing "Easy Way Out"

Dana Steingold and A.J. Shively sing "Creating a Monster"

Lyricist Sammy Buck talks about the show

Real life husband and wife duo Laura Osnes and Nathan Johnson sing "All of the Above"

Laura Osnes and Nathan Johnson

We weren't kidding about the chocolate dessert! Try the Dark Chocolate Tart!