Buy a Cookie from Your Favorite Broadway Star

Disclosure: I LOVE Schmakary's. I've tried at least half of their cookie flavors and merely walking into their shop and inhaling the aromas of fresh-baked cookies makes me smile. I also love their strong ties to the local Broadway community.

So it only makes sense that if they were going to do a fundraiser, it would be for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS--a wonderful organization that practically all of the Broadway productions get behind twice a year to raise money for people afflicted with the terrible disease.

Join them for the third annual BROADWAY BAKES 2015, and come watch your favorite Broadway stars play cookie peddlers just for you! From May 25-29, 2015, from 3-7pm, over 20 of the biggest names on Broadway (Audra McDonald came last year!) will join together to work behind the counter at Schmackary’s selling delicious cookies.

Half the proceeds from cookies sales and 100-percent of the tips generated while the Broadway stars are working at Schmackary’s will go directly to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Over the last 2 years, this event has helped raise more than $25,000 for the organization.

Here are some photos from last year:

Sneak a Peek into the New 190 Bowery Tomorrow

I'm a sucker for NYC architecture, especially when talking about old-timey buildings with substantial, and often grungy history. If you have lived in the city over the past decade, at least, and EVER walked down the Bowery, you will have undoubtedly noticed 190 Bowery in all its graffitied glory.

Photo credit: Gothamist

But if you have walked down NYC's old skid row lately, you will also stumbled over the fact that this building has been buffed of all of its colorful vandalism. The gorgeous old 190 Bowery, formerly Germania Bank, has been a private residence of photographer Jay Maisel for the past 5 decades. But it was recently sold to a developer and is being converted into an office space.

For those curious lookie-loos and architecture appreciators alike, this Saturday from 5-8pm, the new owner, developer/art collector Aby Rosen, will open the doors of the historic building to the public. So sneak a peek and let us know what you think!

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.

Posh Up Your Closet at the Lighthouse Guild's Annual Posh Sale

Is your Spring wardrobe looking a little sparse? If so (or even if it's bulging at the seams), check out the Lighthouse Guild's annual POSH Sale this week for some amazing deals on fashionable finds.

Kicking off on today, Wednesday, May 13, the POSH Sale, is a 4-day event featuring thousands of new and gently worn couture and ready-to-wear designer clothing, shoes and accessories at unbelievable prices! (We’re talking Louboutin stilettos, vintage Chanel coats, brand new dresses from M Missoni and couture Oscar de la Renta gowns for just a fraction of the cost!). I've personally scored some great deals here over the years (disclosure: my office is in the Lighthouse Guild building), and recommend this sale to all of my friends.

All items are donated by stylish New Yorkers, celebrities and top designers themselves, and all proceeds benefit Lighthouse Guild; the leading not-for-profit vision and health care organization.

The sale starts with a not-to-be-missed special preview event today (tickets are $200, which include a 4-day pass and a $50 gift card), with public hours on Thursday, May 14th through Sunday, May 17th ($30 for a 4-day pass or $10 per daily ticket). All items are available at 110 E. 60th Street on a first come, first serve basis, so it’s highly recommended that you go early.

                       

To purchase tickets and view a selection of sale items, visit poshsale.org or call (212) 821-9445.

Recap: Art Strut 2015 Brought Together Soho Galleries and I Won Art!

I don't really need an excuse to wander around SoHo looking at art and drinking wine, but Art Strut 2015 gave me a reason to do just that last week.

Sponsored by lifestyle website Soho Strut, Art Strut reminded me of the once-upon-a-time community event Fashion's Night Out, but swapping fine arts for fashion and in a smaller sect of the city. My friend and I began at LUMAS (362 West Broadway), where we were greeted with refreshingly chilled white wine and a rocking performance by La La Lush. I loved the art at LUMAS because it was seemingly affordable and all pieces required no framing and were ready to hang.

LUMAS Gallery

La La Lush

Next stop was LIK Gallery (419 West Broadway) where we were enthralled with the travel and landscape photography of Peter Lik. I seriously wanted to head straight home, pack my bag, and grab a passport after being inspired by some of Lik's pieces. We also enjoyed the musical stylings of Jana Pelle and sipped on oaky chardonnay.

LIK Gallery

Jana Pelle

Stop number three was Martin-Lawrence Galleries (457 West Broadway) where we closed down the show--gallery hopping ended at 8--and listened to Benny Oyama sing some tunes.

Martin Lawrence Galleries

Benny Oyama

Then it was time to pick up our tickets in the form of limited-edition Moleskine notebooks...don't mind if I do!

Limited-edition Art Strut Moleskine Notebook

The party continued over at the pop-up gallery featuring local artists Barbara Thomas, Zuzanna Kozlowska, Linda Mason, Zigi Ben Haim and Laura Kaplan and live music by Cat, Cat, Cat, KT Mulholland and Lily Lane. Wine and whiskey was provided by The Handy Liquor Bar (where we also hung out at the after party).

Pop-up Art Gallery

Pop-up Art Gallery

There was also a silent auction benefitting ACE Programs for the Homeless, and I absolutely LOVE silent auctions--something about the rush, winning, and benefitting a good cause I guess.

Silent Auction (I loved the rose!)

I got in a bit of a bidding war over Rüdiger J. Vogel's Jetty, but ended up winning! I can't wait to hang it up at home and have a fun reminder of an "Awesome in New York" night.

Rüdiger J. Vogel's Jetty

I won the silent auction!

Stay tuned for more Soho Strut events--on Thursday, May 14th from 7-9pm, they are hosting 'Cocktails & Conversations' at The Handy Liquor Bar. Tickets are $20 are and include a cocktail.

AWESOME ALERT: Free Coffee from CUPS All Week Long!

Attention coffee fanatics: NYC coffee app CUPS is celebrating its first anniversary in the city and giving away free java all week long!

Check their Facebook page all week for details on which coffee shoppes around the city will fuel your caffeine addiction (20 each day!) and click here to download the app and top yourself off with a $10 credit to be used after this promotion ends.

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Sway: A Dance Trilogy

I'll admit to not watching Dancing With the Stars religiously since I was in high school, but every now and again I'll catch an episode and am always blown away by the professionals' routines. This June, you will be able to experience ballroom dancing live, on-stage at Dance With Me presents “SWAY:  A Dance Trilogy.”

TV dance personalities including Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Peta Murgatroyd, Emma Slater, Artem Chigvintsev, Henry Byalikov, Jenna Johnson, and Serge Onik will perform with guest stars Olympic gold medalist Meryl Davis and world-class snowboarder Amy Purdy for 3 performances only at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 W 34th St) on June 5 and 6, 2015.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Meryl Davis

SWAY is divided into three parts, each anchored by one of the stars of the show. You will be whisked through the timeless elegance of ballroom’s golden era, to modern dance fusion of today’s urban youth, climaxing with the heart pounding rhythms of the Latin night club scene. The show also features innovative choreography from two of ballrooms’ emerging standout artists: Joao Tiago Fernandes and David Thomas Moore.

VIP ticket holders will meet the entire cast and mingle with the celebrity performers at the exclusive post-show meet & greet, and Saturday night’s official afterparty.

All tickets can be purchased here.

Good news! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to the Friday June 5th performance at 7:30 pm. To enter, please use the rafflecopter giveaway form below. Be sure to follow all instructions, as those who do not leave the required comment on this blog will be disqualified.


a Rafflecopter giveaway