Watch the 2014 Tony Noms at 8:30 am!

Good news for theater lovers...Tony nominations will be announced this morning at 8:30 am EST by Jonathan Groff and Lucy Liu!

Launch the 2014 Tony Awards Live Video Console!

Starting this morning at 8:15 am you will be able to load the live video feed right from Awesome in New York (click the link above)! Tune in and see if your favorite shows and performers will be nominated for the biggest award in all of theater.

The Tony Awards will air live on Sunday June 8 at 8/7c on CBS.

A Chromatic Fantastic Benefit

Last night my friend Christine and I attended Publicolor's annual Stir, Splatter + Roll benefit at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School and were seeing in technicolor by the time we painted our way home. The event was well attended by renowned designers, architects, and artists, most of whom were wearing uber cheerful and bright clothing representing the entire color wheel.

Publicolor is a youth development not-for-profit that has a multi-day multi-year program continuum that uniquely engages disaffected students in their education. The annual benefit sought to raise money to fund programs that empower students through commercial painting and an applied learning model to transform their institutional-looking schools into warm, welcoming student-centric environments. They also offer programs to involve the students in planning and preparing for college and career, while teaching strong and transferable work habits. Publicolor students are almost always the first in their families to go to college.

Event guests were invited to don Tyvek jumpsuits and try their hand at painting tote bags inspired by various designers. I spied Simon Doonan chatting it up with clothing designer Nicole Miller and briefly spoke with artists Rashid Johnson about his yellow palm tree design.

Simon Doonan with Nicole Miller at her table

The event also featured a silent auction of more durable canvas tote bags decorated by huge names in the fashion and design world. I particularly loved the ones by Narciso Rodriguez, Betsy Johnson, and Paula Bell (so much so that I bid on that one!).

Silent auction table

Betsy Johnson's tote

Paula Bell's tote

Catering was by David Ziff Cooking and was superb. There were more choices of passed hors d'oeuvres than I've ever seen, including tiny Texas-style BBQ sandwiches, zucchini wrapped shrimp, vegetable sushi, cumin chicken empanadas, tuna tartare on taro chips, and macadamia nut chicken chicken and grape skewers (sorry for the blurriness in some of the photos!).

As for beverages, my newly discovered palate (or palette if you will...) for whiskey was satisfied by Johnnie Walker Black and Macallan 12. Panther Creek Winery was also sampling their 2009 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, which interestingly tasted like brown sugar. Yum!

Unfortunately we didn't stay for the dinner/awards portion of the night, but the sneak peek of the decked out gymnasium looked super colorful and fun. Thanks for having us!

Christine and I in our colorful garb

You can check out more about Publicolor and their mission by visiting their website.

If You Need A Good Reason to Party

Need something to do tonight before the Like You Like It concert (or tomorrow night or Friday night)? Check out a pop-up gallery featuring work by gonzo artist Ralph Steadman at Red Bull Studios in Chelsea.

The exhibit accompanies the artist's upcoming film For No Good Reason, (in theaters 4/25). Joined by long-term friend Johnny Depp, the film explores Steadman as he finds his voice through his art, driven by a sense of duty to change the world into a better place. Working with the artist over 10 years and gathering his prolific output into a single film was a monstrous task. This exhibition, like the film, omits more art than it includes. Steadman is now in his 70’s and continues to work daily.

It will be open today 4/23 from 4-8pm, and tomorrow 4/24 and Friday 4/25 from 12-7 pm. There will be a free premiere after-party accompanying the movie premiere on Friday, 4/25 8 pm at Red Bull Studios New York (220 West 18th Street). You must RSVP to attend the after-party and can do so here.

Chow Down on Brooklyn's Yummiest

I'm all about giving the burgeoning food scene in Brooklyn it's fair share of the table space at giant food events like Choice Eats, mostly because I get to discover new flavors I might not seek out otherwise. (Since moving to Queens, I've been trying to explore my new borough as much as possible and my exploration of Brooklyn has admittedly been lacking of late.) This is partly why I got excited when I heard about the 4th Annual Tasting Brooklyn event! It's a whole gluttonous evening filled with Brooklyn's yummiest offerings!

Tasting Brooklyn takes place Tuesday 4/29 at The Green Building in Carroll Gardens (452 Union Street, Brooklyn) from 6:30-9:30 pm. The event will feature purveyors including AINY favorites Luke's Lobster, Dinosaur BBQ, Fairway Market, Robicellis, Brooklyn Oenology, Huckleberry Bar, and Sixpoint Beer. Did we mention it's all you can eat and drink!

Throughout the event there will be live soulful and eclectic music by DJ Nutritious and, new to this year’s festival, a contest for guests to vote for the “Best Dish” of the night. The winning restaurant receives one-month of free advertising on the Brooklyn Exposed site as well as a featured write-up.

General admission tickets can be purchased for $55 here, but for just $25 more you can get become a VIP, granting you early access and a special gift bag (including goodies from Sahadi', Pelzer's Pretzels, Peeled Snacks, Buttermilk Bake Shop, By Brooklyn, and Brooklyn Kitchenwith). A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the New York chapter of Slow Food, an international organization whose mission is to promote sustainable and responsible agriculture and make high quality, seasonal (and better tasting) food available to everyone.

We hope to see you there, but if you can't make it, stay tuned for our recap!

Celebrate The Bard's 450th Birthday 80's Style

Shakespeare may have once said all the world's a stage, but in Like You Like It, a brilliant musical adaptation of As You Like It that takes place in the 1985, all the world's a mall!

A HUGE Broadway cast is coming together for one night only to perform a concert presentation of Like You Like It this Wednesday 4/23 at 9:30 pm at 54 Below (254 W. 54th St, Cellar), Broadway's Supper Club. The ensemble includes Laura Osnes (Cinderella), Sam Underwood (Homeland), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked), Max Crumm (Grease), Kate Rockwell (Rock of Ages), Amy Spanger (Elf), and Nic Rouleau (Book of Mormon).

I must admit that I have a personal tie to the show and practically grew up listening to the soundtrack thanks to lyricist Sammy Buck, a close family friend. With that said, you know I'm giving you a genuinely wholehearted recommendation when I tell you that you are in for a real treat on Wednesday. Check out the latest coverage on Playbill here!

Tickets are currently $25-$35 ($5 off the main dining room with code LYL5) with a $25 food/beverage minimum. The show begins at 9:30 pm, but you can make reservations as early as 8:45 pm. If that is too late for dinner, I hear they have a fabulous chocolate dessert...

Pottery Barn Turns Art Gallery

Art gallery shows can always be fun (hello free wine!), but I was intrigued by this particular event because it's hosted not by Gagosian Gallery or David Zwirner, but Pottery Barn!

Join Pottery Barn on 59th and Lexington on Saturday April 26th from 1-3 pm for schmoozing and browsing photography by Nichole Robertson. Sip free wine and take home a pillow or two if you feel so inclined. To RSVP, click here for your free tickets.

Gala Your Night Away with Katie Couric and Cure Cancer

CancerCare, the leading national organization providing free support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer, is celebrating it's 70th anniversary this Wednesday 4/23 at their annual gala and you're invited!

Rub noses with Katie Couric, Gloria Steinem, David Burke, Jessye Norman, David Norman Dinkins, Philip Blake, Pamela S. Wygod, C. Hugh Hidesley, CancerCare leaders, cancer survivors and their loved ones. The event will also feature a silent auction including fine wines, exquisite dinners, luxury items, vacation getaways, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

The foundation is seeking to raise $1 million for people affected by cancer at this soiree in the heart of midtown. If you've never been to an event at Cipriani, you're in for a real treat! Make sure you try their signature Bellini!

Purchase tickets here. The event runs from 6-10 pm at Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 East 42nd Street.