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.

Down Some Brews with Flying Dog

If you consider yourself a beer connoisseur, I'd highly recommend you check out the Flying Dog Brewery event taking place at Clinton Hall this Tuesday 4/22 from 7-10.

If you go, you will be one of the few to enjoy the incredible and rare 9.5% Barrel-Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter from the Maryland brewery. It is aged 180 days in whiskey barrels, which results in vanilla notes and whiskey warmth to compliment the sweet chocolate flavor and velvety texture. You will also be one of the first to try the new 10% Amarillo Single Hop Imperial IPA. This is brewed all for the hops, with a light malt backbone showcasing the floral, spice, citrus and sharp hop bite of Amarillo!

The event is free, but pay as you eat/drink, with new specials released every half hour including:

• El Dorado Single Hop Imperial IPA - aromas of dried apricot and pineapple
• Brewhouse Rarity Mint Chocolate Stout - made with brewery-grown mint, with more cocoa and peppermint. Sweet, minty and creamy!
• GABF Gold-Medal winning Horn Dog Barleywine - 10% alcohol!
• Kujo Coffee Stout - brewed with flaked oats
• Doggie Style pale ale - in a live cask on the bar with a very special prize going to the person who taps the last glass

RSVP here to save your spot!

Broadway Recap: Realistic Joneses and Bullets Over Broadway

April is one of my most favorite months because it means I get to see many of the new Broadway shows. This Spring is shaping up to be a celebrity-filled, comparatively scandal-less season.

One new show I saw, The Realistic Joneses, starred Toni Collette and Tracy Letts as a middle aged married couple dealing with life and their new "friends" played by Michael C. Hall and Marissa Tomei who enter their lives and stir things up. The play is an interesting take on the saying 'keeping up with the Joneses' because each of these couples has more traits to be repulsed by than jealous of. But maybe that's a statement on life? The grass is always greener, right? The acting was superb, but unfortunately the story was a bit hard to follow at the end. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see Hall out of the serial killer role or observe a particularly chipper Tomei.

(The Realistic Joneses is now open at the Lyceum Theater; 149 W. 45th Street and tickets can be purchased here).

The second show I saw was Bullets Over Broadway, starring Zac Braff in his usual goofball but surprisingly charming and intelligent role. Originally written for the screen by Woody Allen, Bullets is a revival that's all glitter. Dance number after dance number, this show shines with pure entertainment and pizzazz. The plot revolves around a playwright (Braff) who needs someone to back his next show and a mobster who needs a way to please his showgirl girlfriend. Love triangles abound and lines are crossed. The two leading ladies, Marin Mazzie and Betsy Wolfe, are shining lights who perspire talent and really steal the show away from Braff, who is fantastic to watch but owns vocal chops nowhere near as amazing. There's a lot of Tony talk buzzing around this show so get tickets before they become a hot commodity.

(Bullets Over Broadway is now open at the St. James Theater; 246 W. 44th Street and tickets can be purchased here)

Before I saw Bullets, I was invited to the Lantern's Keep, a hideaway of a cocktail bar tucked into the lobby of the Iroquois Hotel, for a pre-show blogger reception. I tried their signature cocktail, The Glass Door, with gin, lemon juice, cucumber, apple and sugar. Yum! We also sampled some of their bar bites, including candied nuts, olives, pancetta wrapped white asparagus, risotto balls (seriously one of my favorite foods!), lamb carpaccio on a potato chip, peanut chicken satay, and ceviche on a cucumber. All was delicious! I'm definitely going to have to remember this place as a pre-theater time filler :)

Stay tuned for more Broadway recaps and be sure to give us your full reviews of any of these shows in the comments below!

AWESOME DEAL: $35 Dinner for 2 at Bear

If you're looking for an amazing dinner at an amazing price tonight, look no further than Bear in Astoria. In celebration of the blog We Heart Astoria's 4th anniversary, the sibling run restaurant is offering a special deal on dinner for two for $35, including 1 appetizer, 2 entrees and 1 dessert.

This offer is available to the first 20 people who print out this flyer and bring it in before May 22. Bear is cash only and offers wines by the bottle starting at $20 (talk about an affordable night out!).

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.

AWESOME ALERT: $50 Off Any Date for Two

When you pass the honeymoon phase in any new relationship, it's easy to get stuck in the rut of dinner and a movie, or just dinner, or take out and just the first 23 minutes of a movie before you pass out cuddled up on the couch (that's cute too, no judgments here). However, if you'd like to spice things up a bit with your significant other (or even just have fun, random adventures with a friend), I'd highly recommend HowAboutWe Couples.

From glass blowing to Yankees games and archery lessons to fancy chefs tables, this date planning concierge service has something for everyone. The best part is that all the dates are priced at a discount and are always planned for 2, so no need to figure out how to buy multiple vouchers and scheduling everything yourself. Once you're a member, you will pay $18 a month and have access to a long list of city-centric rewards and a personalized concierge who will plan a personalized date for you if nothing currently on sale strikes your fancy. With your membership you also get to choose from a list of one free date per month.

Here's where the AWESOME ALERT comes in, right now if you sign up through this link you will get $50 off any date in the online collection plus one free month of membership. Examples of currently available dates you could get at this discounted price include:

• An exclusive BYOB pottery class for 2 ($50)
• Scavenger Hunt at the Brooklyn Museum (FREE)
• Class at Scratch DJ Academy for 2 ($45)
• Jazz and Bubbly Brunch Cruise ($32)
• Cheese-inspired dinner for 2 at Lucy's Whey ($8)

Recently, my boyfriend and I snagged a pair of Yankee's tickets for less than $20 and I'm taking my mom to High Tea when she comes in next week for free! HowAboutWe Couples is great for those in relationships or those who just like adventuring in their city. It's currently available in NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle and will be launching in other cities soon. Check it out! You honestly have nothing to lose and $50 to spend. If anything, just grab the at-home DIY cheesemaking kit (free after your $50 discount!) and enjoy some quality mozzarella and ricotta made in heart-shaped cheese molds you get to keep.

Full disclosure: I will also get $50 when anyone signs up using my link so I really appreciate you going that route should you choose this as something awesome for you as well.

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!

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Under My Skin

Take the dashing CEO of America’s leading healthcare provider, a single mom from Staten Island, and an outrageous twist of fate and you've got the makings of a sexy and outrageous new off-Broadway comedy, Under My Skin.

Kirsten Sanderson directs the new off-Broadway comedy about three things we all want but can’t always get: sex, love and healthcare. Tony and Drama Desk-nominee Kerry Butler (“Xanadu,” “Catch Me If You Can”) and film, TV and stage actor Matt Walton (“Burn After Reading,” “One Life to Live”) star in the play that will leave you in stitches. They are joined by actresses Megan Sikora, Allison Strong, Kate Loprest, Dierdre Friel as well as actors Edward James Hyland and Andrew Polk.

Under My Skin is written by the husband and wife writing team Robert Sternin and Prudence Fraser, known for their hit shows “The Nanny,” “Three’s Company,” and “Who’s The Boss?” It’s the uproarious out-of-body experience that brings “he said, she said” to a whole new level and proves a man can’t really understand the opposite sex until he’s walked a mile in someone else’s stilettos.

Good news! I'm giving away a pair of tickets to Under My Skin to one lucky reader. Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter to win below and be sure to follow all instructions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tickets are currently available on Telecharge.com or here for students. Under My Skin is currently in previews at the The Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) and will open May 15.

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.

Love Me Some Lobster

Lobster has and will always be a luxury food. So it's only appropriate that an event revolving around the crustacean would be in a luxury venue. Get your bibs on, the first annual Lobster de Mayo to benefit City Harvest will be held on Saturday May 10th at Capitale from 6-10pm!

An exclusive celebration of lobster and top-shelf tequila, Lobster de Mayo will be hosted by celebrity chef Katie Lee and will feature chefs from 20 of the city's finest restaurants, including Nobu, Marea, Gramercy Tavern and ABC Kitchen. The entire tasting menu will include inventive Mexican-themed dishes created exclusively for this event with all lobsters supplied directly from Main by Homarus. There will also be a silent auction.

General admission tickets are $295 and VIP tickets are $450 and include access to an exclusive second floor lounge and signed celebrity-chef cookbooks to take home. All tickets can be purchased here.

Between the Bread: A New Favorite Midtown Lunch Spot

Last week I was invited with my coworker Stephanie to try the Midtown lunch hotspot and catering company Between the Bread. We arrived to a bustling storefront of hungry workers on their lunch breaks hankering for a plateful of healthy, fresh, local fare.

On the menu were a wide array of sandwiches ($7.95-$8.95), salads ($2.95-$4.50), soups ($3.50-$5) and entree portions of chicken, shrimp, or fish, each served with 2 sides ($9.95-$13.95). Menu items change on a daily basis so you'll never get bored eating here.

Sandwich selection

Entrees of the day

Soups

I tried the herb salmon with Parmesan roasted cauliflower and grilled veggies while Stephanie had the grilled chicken with fennel green bean and potato salad and tomato salad. First off, the portions were GINORMOUS. My plate was definitely enough for two meals, which makes it a great value. Also, everything was super delicious, yet healthy. I could have eaten a plateful of that cauliflower alone and I really liked the wide array of grilled vegetables, including beets and sweet potato on top of squash and bell peppers.

There really isn't a place to eat inside the restaurant, but we took our food down the street to an outdoor pavillion (yay almost Spring!) and enjoyed our lunch al fresco. I definitely want to come back to try Between the Bread's other entrees and their baked goods. Yum!

Free Food from the Stonefire Authentic Flatbreads Truck Today!

There's no better news to kick off a weekend than free food right? Well if you're looking for something to do today, head to opening weekend of Smorgasburg to welcome NYC's newest food truck: Stonefire Authentic Flatbreads.

Stonefire is launching a nationwide food truck tour featuring some of their tasty looking dishes like Indian Pizza on naan, Gameday Naanchos, and a Chicken Naanwich with Pesto. They will be giving free samples from 11am-4pm starting at Kent Ave and N. 8th St. in Williamsburg followed by 14th St. Union Square and then 42nd St and 6th Ave near Bryant Park. Follow them on Twitter or Facebook for their exact location.

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.