Now You See Him, Now You...

When smushed into the far back corner of an overheated 6 train, nose way too close to something, let's just say, overripe, and having to stand on my tip toes to reach the ceiling pole, I often wish I was a master of escape. If you have ever been intrigued by the real master of escape, Harry Houdini, I would highly recommend a visit to the Jewish Museum before the exhibit Houdini: Art and Magic disappears.

In this well-organized compendium of photos, video, diaries and magical contraptions (including THE Chinese Water Torture Cell and THE straightjacket), you will learn more about the Hungarian-born boy turned Wisconsinite locksmith apprentice, turned worldwide magical wonder than you ever wanted to know. You will see images from perhaps one of the most disturbing tricks around, which involves swallowing needles and thread, and then pulling the threaded needles back out. Yeah, it makes me cringe too. You will also have the opportunity for a photo op with the master himself.

Head over to the museum on Saturdays for free admission. While you're there, be sure to check out the other exhibits, including the display of menorahs from the museum's permanent collection.

TDF - It's More Than TKTS

If you haven't figured it out yet, I love theater. Thing is, if you love going as much as I do, it can put a pretty heavy strain on your wallet. Fortunately, I've found many ways to win tickets (pay attention to Facebook and Twitter people!!), but there are always shows I just can't find giveaways for or that out of town visitors specifically request. This is when I'm glad to have discovered the Theater Development Fund.

Some of you might know TDF as the organization that runs the big TKTS booth in Times Square where you can buy day-of discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. TDF is so much more than just TKTS. I recently signed up as a member for an annual fee of just $30 for a year and now have access to all sorts of tickets for even cheaper than they are sold at TKTS. Bonus - I can buy them in advance!! For example, I purchased two front orchestra tickets to see Rock of Ages and only spent $77 including all fees!! It really can't get much better than that. 

Some caveats - you don't always get a choice of where your seats are, but in my experience, they have been surprisingly good. Also, not everyone can join TDF. You have to be one of the following (and provide proof): full-time students, full-time teachers, union members, retirees, civil service employees, staff members of not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, members of the armed forces or clergy. If you fall into one of those categories and love theater, I would recommend signing up asap. It's just a short application and you have to send in a letter proving that you qualify for membership. You can purchase up to 10 tickets for each show on your account, so tell your friends. They won't want to miss out on the cheap tickets either!

Awesome Extra: TDF also has a great guide to Broadway and theater for newbies. It will answer all of your questions - check it out! 

It's RAINing Beatles

Go ahead. Name me someone who doesn't like the Beatles.

Of course, none. Moving on.

If you want a night to relive the 60's (even if you never actually were alive in the 60s), head over to the Theater District and pick yourself up a ticket or two to see Rain - A Tribute to the Beatles. The one you want to hold hands with will love you eight days a week after you bring them to see this spectacle of timeless music, nostalgic multimedia presentations and spot-on costumes and sets.

Thanks to the awesome folks at the Times Square Alliance, I won two tickets to go see Rain, and I brought my Dad in town from LA. I'm not going to lie and not tell you that my presence in the theater brought down the mean age by a fair sum, however, no matter your age, you will love this show. It's rare that you get asked to stand up, dance, clap and sing along to a Broadway show. Also, the actor who is supposed to be playing Paul McCartney is definitely his doppelganger - he's even won awards on how much he sounds like the superstar. 

Our friends at Stage Rush are currently doing a giveaway for a couple of tickets, so I would definitely check that out. To purchase tickets, head over to Theater Mania for discount codes. Enjoy!

Gilty Souvenir Shopping

The online shopping mega-giant (that I happen to be madly in love with) Gilt Groupe, launched its take on the "daily deals" craze by starting Gilt City. The awesome thing about Gilt City is that the website offers tickets to completely exclusive events that you would have no way of even getting invited to otherwise. Thanks to a Twitter contest, I won tickets to an event Gilt City hosted with Surevolution. Surevolution is a great purveyor of sustainable goods from around the world and my friend Perry and I were able to peruse some eclectic and exceedingly interesting pieces of jewelry, furniture and home goods while sipping organic wine from Chile.

Gold and silver bracelets and napkin rings

Me with some sustainably-made bags

Perry and I enjoying the event

Gold and silver leaf bangles

My favorite spiky bangles

One of my favorite bowls

I purchased a small aluminum bowl with a leaf pattern from India as I needed something to store rings and small knickknacks on my dresser and every time I look at it, I feel like it was a souvenir I picked up on an exotic vacation. On the way out, we were given gift bags with a beaded bracelet, some Kahina eye serum and an invitation for a free subscription to Indagare, a luxury travel website.

Me with my gift bag and bowl

Perry modeling the Indagare brochure

Thanks Gilt City for inviting us to this great event! I'll definitely be back for more. If you want to join Gilt City and have the opportunity to attend events like this, sign up here. I'd also recommend following @GiltCityNYC to stay on top of any future giveaways.

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: VIP Tickets to Tribeca Retail Club's Holiday Bonanza!

Do you like fashion? Open bar? What about goody bags? Well duh, if you read this blog you could at least check off one of those three. The Tribeca Retail Club, an self-proclaimed underground fashionista destination, is hosting their Holiday Bonanza event on Friday December 17 as a chance for you to do some holiday shopping, mingle with fellow cool people and sip some cider (Magners to be exact!). The festivities run from 6-10 p.m. at 28 West 27th Street 2nd Floor (Note change in venue). 

Admission is free, but to partake in the open bar and the fabulous goodie bags, you need VIP admission ($15 in advance or $20 at the door). To my awesome readers, I'm giving away 2 VIP tickets to this event, because of course I can't send pals to an event without knowing they'll leave with a goodie bag. You have four easy ways to enter and each comment counts as an entry:

1) REQUIRED - Follow this blog by clicking on the button on the right panel and leave a comment below letting me know you did so.

2) Leave a comment below letting me know why you want to go to TRC's Holiday Bonanza, who you will bring and how you heard about this contest.

3) Follow me on Twitter @yaelleah and leave a comment below letting me know you did so.

4) Tweet or blog about this event and let me know with a comment below with a link to your tweet or blog.

A winner will be chosen using Random.org on Thursday 12/2. You have until Thursday 12/2 at 12 p.m. EST to enter the contest. The winner must be able to attend the event on 12/17 and will need to give the name of his/her guest to me by Friday 12/3. Good luck!

A winner has been chosen! Congrats James! He was the first commenter. I hope you enjoy your VIP tickets and this great event!

12/4 UPDATE! If you still want a VIP ticket, here's a code for $5 off good through tomorrow 12/5: HAPPYSUNDAY. Enjoy!

Little Brown Glass

Friday nights are when to score at Bloomingdale's. I went in to make a quick purchase at the Mac counter and to my surprise, ran into a man serving Champagne. Now it's rare for me to turn down a man serving Champagne, so I followed him into the Coach boutique, which had just opened. In addition to the bubbly, Coach ladies dressed in black were manning a candy station complete with gummy bears, Starburst, and my old-time favorite Pop Rocks. The store was mobbed with people trying to get in on the action (I swear it was like people had never seen M&Ms before), but I stuck around to finish my glass of awesome and browsed the goodies. In addition to all the free giveaways, including notebooks and pencils with the brand's logo, everyone who made a purchase received a monogrammed leather keychain.

Cute clutches with a hint of sparkle

The mob at the candy table

Coach ladies in black (note the empty bins once filled with candy)

Man serving Champagne

I loved these little coin purses in lots of fun colors - only $38

Free monogramming with purchase

Once I had my fill of Friday night fun, I made my way toward the exit. But wait! There was another man serving Champagne. Although it was way to early for a second glass, I had to see what else could possibly be going on at the 59th Street Flagship store. I found another large crowd in the Dior boutique and a lady with a clipboard. Her personality was about as bubbly as the Champagne I had just consumed, and she informed me that Elle Magazine was hosting a celebration in conjunction with Dior. Elle's head astrologist, I didn't get her name, was giving personalized (and apparently very accurate) readings, the man was serving Champagne AND white wine, and another man was passing around those delicious little French macaroons. I passed on the reading (hello, 45 minute wait!?) and the alcohol, but I had to have a cute little macaroon, yum!

Dior Boutique inside Bloomingdales 59th Street

Delicious little French macaroons complete with a pineapple (?) leaf

I don't know what you're doing next Friday (not this Friday as all craziness breaks loose on Black Friday), but I'm heading back to Bloomie's to see what else goes on around the designer sunglasses and shimmery eyeshadows of the awesome department store. Will I see you there?

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Promises, Promises!

There's nothing like a feel good show. Especially one with lively colors, memorable music, cheery Kristin Chenoweth, Just Jack (um, I mean Sean Hayes) and Molly Shannon making her snazzy Broadway debut. I saw this show back in April when I had some out-of-town guests in and they absolutely loved it. 

The show, based on the 1960 film The Apartment, begins by introducing a young and rather naive employee by the name of Chuck Baxter, who is willing to pretty much do anything to move up the corporate ladder. Anything includes lending out his apartment to his higher-ups for use as a love nest (see: Madmen). Trouble arises when Baxter discovers the woman of his dreams, Fran Kubelik, has become the mistress of one of his executives. You'll recognize Burt Bacharach songs like "I Say A Little Prayer" and "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and when the show is over you'll find yourself wanting to head back to your office to try out some of those over-the-desk dance moves.

One lucky reader will receive two tickets to see Promises, Promises on a night of his or her choosing. The tickets must be picked up at the box office the day of the show. There are 4 easy ways to win and each comment counts as an entry. You may enter the contest a maximum of 4 times. Please include your email in any comments so I know how to contact you if you are the winner.

1) REQUIRED - Follow this blog by clicking on the button on the right panel and leave a comment below letting me know you did so.

2) REQUIRED - Leave a comment below letting me know why you want to go to this show and how you heard about this contest.

3) Follow me on Twitter @yaelleah and leave a comment below letting me know you did so.

4) Tweet or blog about this event and let me know with a comment below with a link to your tweet or blog.

A winner will be chosen using Random.org on Wednesday 11/24. You have until Wednesday 11/24 at 11 a.m. EST to enter the contest. Good luck!

A winner has been chosen! Congratulations to Eugene for being the 7th commenter! I hope you enjoy the show! Thanks to everyone for entering!