Unleash Your Creativity with Simon Doonan

Who doesn't love a good Spring gala? Better yet, who doesn't love a Spring gala where you get to don Tyvek jumpsuits over colorful clothing and create a masterpiece 4 easels down from the world-famous Simon Doonan?

Benefiting the educational non-profit Publicolor, Stir, Splatter + Roll will take place Tuesday 4/22 at 6pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School (122 Amsterdam Avenue, just behind Lincoln Center). All proceeds go towards Publicolor's mission to engage disconnected students in their education, while teaching them strong and transferable work habits so they are prepared to be productive in both college and career.

Stir, Splatter + Roll 2014 will be co-chaired by respected architect Gene Kohn and award-winning menswear designer Jeffrey Banks and emceed by Simon Doonan. The event will celebrate, among others, Michael Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center + Founder of the DeVos Institute for Arts Management and long time supporter of Publicolor. Benjamin Moore, Publicolor’s corporate sponsor, has donated every single drop of paint used at Publicolor and Gary DeBode of Edison Properties.

The first half of the event will feature fun-filled party where guests paint alongside some of the city’s leading artists, designers and architects while sipping cocktails. The high-energy fete takes place in a Publicolored school and will draw dynamic New Yorkers and luminaries in the worlds of business, fashion, politics, design, education, and philanthropy (anyone for swapping watercolor tips with Bloomberg?). The second half will be a sit-down dinner and awards presentation. There will also be a silent auction of limited edition tote bags created by top designers.

To purchase tickets and see photos from last year's event, check out the event website. Look out for a full Awesome In New York recap after the event!

Update: Sadly Michael Kors will no longer be attending. Sad face.

Dance Your Artist Heart Out

It's time to party, Brooklyn style. The Brooklyn Museum is hosting the Brooklyn Artists Ball Dance Party next Wednesday April 16 from 10-1, and you are not going to want to miss it.

The event will feature a performance by LE1F and later DJ Brenmar will be spinning some tunes. There will also be a silent auction powered by Artsy and dessert prepared by Amirah Kassem of Flour Shop. Tickets are $100 ($90 for museum members) and today is the last day to buy them!

Welcoming a New Bocca Di Bacco

On Tuesday I was invited to the grand opening party of Bocca Di Bacco's fourth location in Chelsea, in the old Il Bastardo space (191 7th Avenue). The restaurant is wide open and full of light, and definitely ready to party.

From the elaborate black crystal chandeliers to the rich wood ceiling beams and the pink banquettes to the exposed brick, the main dining room displays soothing luxury with a flirty urban opulence. The space is big enough that the restaurant plans to host corporate events and weddings.

We sampled one of the party's signature drinks, The Butterfly, with fig vodka, Champagne and raspberries. It was a bit on the sweet side, but would be a great brunch drink. Speaking of brunch, Executive Chef Kristin Sollenne assured us that Bocca Di Bacco will be keeping the tradition of the raucous brunch previously promoted by Il Bastardo.

As for the rest of the menu, this location will feature about 300 wines, including wines not usually available by the glass since the bar will be equipped with a high-tech Enomatic wine dispenser that keeps bottles fresh after being opened.

All of the food coming out of the kitchen smelled great, but some of the party guests were acting a little vulture-ish and so we didn't get to taste much. However, what we did taste--the mushroom and crab cake sticks, the mushroom and truffle flatbread and the risotto balls--were delicious.

The restaurant is officially open as of yesterday so check it out (I'm definitely curious about the brunch!) and let us know what you think.

Increase Your Cultural Heart Rate at The Pulse Party

Need something to do tonight? The Rubin Museum of Art is throwing a pretty awesome party featuring electronic music and multimedia from 6-11pm.

In traditional Tibetan medicine, pulse reading is a complex form of diagnosis which requires physicians to listen deeply to the sound waves and vibrations of one’s heartbeat. In collaboration with Warper Party, the Rubin Museum presents PULSE, a museum-wide multimedia event  that invites electronic musicians and video artists to listen deeply and explore their own beats through inspiration from the new exhibition, Bodies in Balance: The Art of Tibetan Medicine.

There will be a happy hour from 6-7pm with 2-for-1 specials on all beer, wine, and well drinks. Also there will be a combination of free and ticketed events throughout the night (see the full schedule here), including a free tour of the new exhibition and tunes mixed by several DJs.

AWESOME ALERT: $35 All You Can Eat and Drink Party Celebrating Astoria

One of my favorite local blogs, WeHeartAstoria, conducts a best of Astoria survey every year (a real resource for me my first year living in Queens!). This year, they are throwing a party to celebrate the results!

At $35 a head, this all-you-can-eat AND all-you-can-drink deal at The Strand Smokehouse is one of the best deals I've seen all year. Also, the first 100 people will receive Astoria-themed gift bags! This is all going down from 6-9pm on Thursday 3/27. Click here to purchase tickets. I'm sure they'll sell out!

Lusting for Lush

Despite the often overwhelming scent explosion that invades your nasal passages upon entering, Lush has always been one of my favorite stores to pop into and treat myself. Their bath bombs and hand scrubs are divine and their salespeople are seriously the happiest people on Earth.

Long known for their storefronts in the US, Lush has been offering full spa services at several of their UK locations for years. Finally bringing luscious luxury across the pond, they opened one of their first 2 US outposts right here in NYC! And they're throwing a party to boot!

Visit the new store at 783 Lexington (at 61st St.) on Saturday 2/15 from 12-5pm and enjoy complimentary face care experiences, VIP gifts with purchase, cupcakes, and sparkling wine! Bonus: be one of the first 100 people to arrive and receive a free gift, but you must RSVP to lexington@lush.com to qualify.

A Borrowed New Year's Eve

A few weeks ago, I asked all my fabulous readers to help me choose a dress to rent from Borrowed Closet for New Year's Eve. Well, the winner was....

The Sequin Stripe Dress!!!

I have nothing to say but positive things about my experience with Borrowed Closet and would definitely encourage you to check it out. My package arrived within days of my order and I was able to rent not only the dress, but a black leather clutch and gold dangly earrings. The whole ensemble was one of my best New Year's Eve outfits to date, and I'm thrilled that I did not have to pay an arm and a leg for everything. After all,  it's not often that I wear backless, sequined dresses. 

Now all that's left is for me to package up my rentals and send everything back in the postage paid envelope provided to me. So what do you think of my experience? Anyone tempted to join?

Happy New Year's to you and yours from Awesome in New York!

Getting Cultured with Marriott

Last night I had the honor of attending Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Wired’s Collective ReMix event at the Wired Concept Store in Soho.

Photo courtesy of Marriott

The evening was curated to celebrate art, music and innovation. Comedian Mark Normand hosted the event and throughout the night, guests had the chance to have their mood read through Marriott Hotels & Resorts’ Aura Cam, an interactive installation, to determine where they should travel to next. I was told that I was epic (obvi) and should visit the Jordan Valley Marriott Dead Sea Resort and Spa, and the camera even transported me there!

In addition, critically acclaimed photographer and artist Todd McLellan showcased pieces from his latest series entitled, “Disassembled.” Also select pieces by renowned brick artist Nathan Sawaya were on display. Well-known DJ and television personality, DJ KISS kept the celebration going with high energy beats and mash-ups while video art served as the backdrop of her DJ booth.

Photo courtesy of Marriott

Samplings from Marriott Hotels & Resorts’ new 5-10-20 menu, which is made up of simple, fresh, chef-crafted food that can be delivered in approximately 5, 10 or 20 minutes, were served. I personally loved the mini lobster rolls and sliders.

If you haven't been to the Wired store, I'd definitely check it out. They have the coolest, but most expensive litter box I've ever seen in addition to some awesome Lego sculpture (see below), and a bunch of other awesome random pieces of technology.

Photo courtesy of www.leeabbamonte.com

When All You Want Is A Doughnut...Or Ten

When all I want is a doughnut, or 10, I think a doughnut party would be the best place to be. I just found out about this awesome sounding doughnut party happening TONIGHT at Project No. 8 at the Ace Hotel. It's to celebrate the launch of All You Can Eat Now's New York Doughnut Map and to celebrate National Doughnut Month (frankly that should be every month). They will have donuts from Peter Pan, Dough, Doughnut Plant, Pies-n-Thighs, Dun-Well, and Van Leeuwen with Stumptown Coffee and drinks from Caledonia Spirits and Winery. It all goes down from 6-8, get excited!

Get Your Heineken On

For all us normal people who look toward Lincoln Center this week with a mixture of jealousy, disdain, excitement, and plain ole interest, here's a party for you.

Everyone's favorite Dutch beer Heineken is throwing a party you can go to tomorrow September 11 from 8-11 at the Solo Event Space (40 Broad Street, inside the Setai hotel). The party will celebrate the launch of the new Heineken bottle design (with free brews, jerky and pretzel chips), and will feature a live performance by Brick + Mortar and a DJ set by Ravin Dave. To RSVP, go here: http://HeinekenFashionWeak.Splashthat.com.

Enjoy The Summer One Oyster and Private Backyard At a Time

Summer plans in the city are always filled with innovative methods of making us think we're not stuck in a heat-absorbing, cement-filled city. It's always interesting to see the lengths New Yorkers will go to have a good time. I've rounded up my top three favorites so far.

1. Oyster and Wine Party

This event is relatively tame on the innovative scale, but who doesn't love oysters as a refreshing treat in the summer? Wash them down with some good wine, and yummmmmmmy. Our good friends at Union Square Wines (they're the ones with the free wine tastings EVERY SATURDAY) often throw enhanced tasting parties and it seems the only reason they charge is because of limited space. Get this, for only $15, you can join in on one of two oyster and wine parties (East End selections on Wednesday July 18 and Chablis and Chenin Blanc selections on Wednesday July 25). Admission includes 6 oysters, a selection of wines and a $5 purchase voucher so you can take some vino home with you. Sounds like a pretty perfect way to spend a summer evening to me. Parties run from 6-8 pm and you must reserve in advance.

2. Surf Lessons at Rockaway Beach

It only took me four years but I finally made it out to Rockaway Beach on the 4th of July and I was super pleasantly surprised. The subway ride is no quick jaunt (it took me 2 hours from Murray Hill), but the beach was clean, not too crowded, and close to lots of cheap and beach-y fun food vendors. I almost felt like I was in some cutesy beach town in Southern California (a Cali girl can dream). Anyway, here's a way to make your beach day even more exotic: surf lessons. Yep, you could be hanging ten like a pro by the end of the summer, or at least just stand up on your board with a little help from NY Surf School. Two-hour lessons go for $175, but rates decrease if you bring along some buddies ($115 per person for 2 people, $90 per person for 3-4 people, $80 per person for 5-7 people and so on). So make it a group affair and then make sure to reward yourself with an Italian Ice from one of the many beach vendors when you're done. You've earned it.

3. Your Own Private Backyard...For Two Hours

Growing up in the suburbs with a legit backyard is something we never miss until we no longer have it. Relegated to portable grills on fire escapes and doing cartwheels in the non-privacy of Central Park, New Yorkers are in desperate need a place to romp around and squirt each other with water guns. Enter Timeshare Backyard. For $100 an hour (2 hour minimum), you can rent your own private backyard to share with up to 30 of your friends. Complete with a grill, "luxury grass," shady spots, trashy magazines, hammocks, lounge chairs, hula hoops, and yes, squirt guns, this backyard sounds like a 5-year-old-trapped-in-a-20-something's dream. The space is conveniently located in the Lower East Side and I have to say that whoever thought of this is a genius. There are limited slots and they are filling up fast, so grab some hot dogs and burgers and get ready to party like it's at your parent's house.

Warm Up Your Summer

Summer is in full swing and there's nothing I love more than outdoor parties this time of year. Thankfully, MOMA PS1's annual Warm-Up series kicks off it's 2012 party scene and 15th year this Saturday July 7 from 2-9pm.

This year's courtyard artwork will be a temporary urban landscape by HWKN called Wendy, the winning design of MoMA PS1's 13th annual Young Architects Program. In addition to lots and lots of beer, delicious eats will also be served up by the famed M. Wells all summer long.

Warm-Up will feature both local and world-renowned musicians and DJs for an energetic, insanely fun party every Saturday until September 8. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance (highly recommended) or at the door. Entry includes admission to the party as well as all PS1 exhibitions. MOMA members can receive one free ticket for themselves with a valid membership card and Long Island City residents get free entry by showing proof of residency at the door.

Smorgasburg on a Boat

What do you get when you mix food from amazing NYC vendors, Brooklyn Brewery beer, a charity event and a boat? A damn good time is what you get!

For the truly unbelievable price of $45, you can find yourself upon the Smorgasboat where you can eat, drink and be ferry (haha, ferry, get it?) until your heart's content. Departing from North Williamsburg East River Ferry Terminal at 6:30 pm on Wednesday June 13, Smorgasboat will donate all proceeds to City Harvest, and you'll get a special sunset stop right in front of the Statue of Liberty! The boat returns at 8:45, but the fun continues until 11pm at King and Grove Williamsburg Rooftop Bar. Click here to buy tickets - I'm sure this event will sell out!

Nothing Like A Good Holiday Party

Looking for something to fill your schedule this week and still need to wrap up your holiday gift buying? Head over to Gap 5th Avenue (at 54th Street) for cocktails, live music and outrageous discounts tomorrow from 6-8 pm where you'll also get to mingle with Gap and Fabsugar editors Chi Chau and Hannah Weil.

Before you pencil this into your planner, make sure you RSVP to nyc.rsvp@sugarinc.com.

Mick Rocked the W

Wednesday nights for me are typically fairly quiet. A zumba class, maybe a new episode of Modern Family, occasionally the raucous happy hour that ends by oh 9 pm. However, after winning tickets to a VIP preview event of the new Mick Rock photo exhibition at the W Downtown and a night at the hotel, I knew this was going to be a different sort of Wednesday night. 

All dolled up and ready to party, my boyfriend and I arrived at the W in the pouring rain last night to find a heated tent set up behind the hotel and a line of people waiting in the cold. After we checked in to our room on the 15th floor with an awesome view of the 9/11 Memorial (still haven't been down there to see it!), we were able to skip the line (I was not waiting in the cold with no jacket!), grab our wristbands and head up to the Living Room Lounge on the 5th floor. We got drinks (open bar, of course) and tried to weave through the crowd to view the photos of rock 'n roll legends. I loved one of Madonna from 1980 and a more recent image of Bono and Lady Gaga.

View from our room

Living Room Lounge W Downtown

Madonna 1980

Bono and Lady Gaga

We spotted Stephen Baldwin in the crowd as we headed downstairs to the tent and although I'm sad we didn't see them, I read that Betsy Johnson, Chace Crawford, Penn Badgely were all in attendance.

Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford (photo courtesy of Chace Crawford's Facebook page)

Mick Rock (photo courtesy of Metromix)

The musical guests for the event included the band Phantogram and DJ Mark Ronson. Although I'd never heard of Phantogram, everyone seemed pretty pumped when they started playing. Ronson's mixes were a lot of fun. I always like hearing music I already know in a whole new way.

Phantogram

Phantogram (photo courtesy of Metromix)

DJ Mark Ronson

For a Wednesday night, I got a taste of the rockstar life and it was exciting. Heck, it was probably more exciting than my last several Friday nights. For a Thursday morning, waking up in a plush W Hotel bed and taking a shower in which the water can be turned into a head massager was definitely a (necessary) treat. Before checking out of the hotel and checking back into my normal Thursday life, I snapped one daylight photo of the 9/11 Memorial. Then it was onto the 4/5 and back to reality. Until next time...

For more photos of the event, visit Guest of a Guest and Metromix.

Free Bubbly and (Potentially) Free Limo Service? That's Living the Life!

Now, I can't make any promises, but this looks like a new twist on awesome. Next week, The Polar Lounge in Gramercy will be hosting a Fire + Ice party. Basically you wear red or orange for fire or white or blue for ice. There will be free Champagne offered for the first hour (8-9) and (this is my favorite part), if you get a group of at least 8 ladies together, you could get free limo service to the event! I don't know about you, but riding a limo in NYC isn't something usually done by normal people, so I would jump on this if only for the pure fun of it.

The party starts Thursday 1/20 at 8 p.m. at the Polar Lounge in the Hotel Marcel at Gramercy (201 E. 24th St.). You need to RSVP for this party (tell 'em awesomeinnewyork@gmail.com sent you!) by clicking here. Now, all that's left to do is to decide if you will be fire or ice!

AWESOME ALERT: Went to a Debate and a Party Broke Out

I was invited to attend an event sponsored by Lexus on Tuesday night at The Bowery Hotel through their Darker Side of Green campaign. That was all I knew. I keep getting invited to these events where I have no idea what to expect and I realize, I need to get in the game!

Anyway, to give you some background, a short while back, I won a "Lexus Dark Ride Card" through a giveaway from a great blog, Fantabulously Frugal. After receiving it I registered it online and was granted access to several discounts for higher-end retailers and was alerted that I'd receive a weekly digest email with additional opportunities. Sure enough, the next week, I received the invite to this event. It was described as a debate on "green issues" between Eric Bates, the executive editor of Rolling Stone, and Lord Christopher Monckton, moderated by Tracy Morgan. Libations provided by Patron and, lucky me, VIP entry.

I'm not one to snub the commoners, but VIP entry is pretty sweet. Once we figured out which entrance to actually be at, my friend Perry and I were lucky enough to be standing right by the entrance when Ewan McGregor, looking adorable in a black suit and white shoes, hopped out of his car and a few seconds later, Liev Schreiber walked through the velvet ropes. After catching our breath, we found the bar and ordered Patron Pomegranate drinks. I'm a sucker for anything pomegranate. 

The Bowery has a very laid back vibe. The indoor-outdoor setting was very natural yet still gave off a slightly Mediterranean vibe. The debate was held inside and the environmentalist in me was actually looking forward to what was going to be discussed. I don't know if you watch 30 Rock, but Tracy Morgan talks exactly like he does on the show (read: often difficult to understand). Unfortunately with the noise and the slurring, I couldn't hear much of what was being said, although I did see enough to know that the Lord is a creepy man with bug eyes who thinks there is no such thing as global warming. Also, Tracy Morgan isn't the best moderator if you want a serious pun-free debate.

From L to R: Lord Christoper Monckton, Tracy Morgan, Eric Bates

Tried as we did, unfortunately Ewan and Liev left right after the debate and we didn't get any face time, but Tracy was very sweet when we asked for a picture.

From L to R: Me, Tracy and Perry

In conclusion, I guess it's good I wasn't expecting anything serious because I would have been sorely disappointed. This was more of a promotional event for Lexus and their new hybrid model. However, if you find a way to get your hands on one of these cards, I would highly recommend it. The weekly emails are filled with "Be the first 5 people to respond and win ____" contests and other discounts and perks. Also, parties like this are a reason in themselves to get one.