AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 2 Concerts at Carnegie Hall

It's been a while since I've hosted a giveaway so it's high time that gets fixed! If you have never been to Carnegie Hall, or even if you have been a hundred times, it is a wonderful place--perhaps the best in the city--to listen to music. Here are a couple concerts you should check out coming up in May with giveaways for both of them!

A HIGH LONESOME BLUEGRASS MASS

Friday, May 22, 2015 at 7:00 PM

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall

Tickets from $20 (Use code DCG21214 for 50% off!)

Call CarnegieCharge at 212-721-6500 or Visit CarnegieHall.org

Southern hymns and down-home harmonies blend with the traditional instrumental sounds of a bluegrass band to create Come Away to the Skies: A High, Lonesome Mass. This exciting new choral work makes its New York premiere at Carnegie Hall, courtesy of Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers International. Composed by Wes Ramsey and Tim Sharp, who'll be on hand to conduct, the piece is set to be accompanied live by the Chuck Nation Band.

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VERDI REQUIEM

Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 8:30 PM

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall
Tickets from $20

Call CarnegieCharge at 212-721-6500 or Visit CarnegieHall.org

Giuseppe Verdi's Requiem offer the drama of opera and the thrill of wonderful symphonic writing combined with stellar, virtuosic solo moments. The progression of the piece tells the ultimate dramatic story, from profound loss in the subdued key of A minor at the start to sheer terror at what lies ahead on judgment day. Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and the Distinguished Concerts Singers International perform this piece in a unique and larger-than-life rendition rarely seen on the New York Stage!

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The Best Piano Man Show EVER

As a blogger, I am invited to a lot of events. Of the ones I attend, they are not always great, but usually I can at least go home with a couple glasses of some good wine and some hors d'ouevres in my stomach. But last night, I went to an INCREDIBLE show and had one of the best times I've had in a long while. Bonus...I got to bring a friend along for the ride.

The premise of Vintage Live is similar to a "piano man" kind of show where you can request songs and the pianist will play and sing them...or try to. This specific show is currently playing at Le Qube--a unique take on a cabaret set on Pier 97 in the Hudson River (@57th Street). The location alone is pretty breathtaking, especially with the gorgeous weather we've been getting blessed with lately.

Upon arriving, you fill out the back of your ticket with a song request, and I spent a good long time trying to figure out something unique enough that might stump him, but not embarrassing enough for other people to have to listen to. I went with "I Want You" by Savage Garden aka: the chika cherry cola song (hey! I'm a 90s girl!).

You then use your smartphone to go to log onto their online system and take a brief quiz about your music preferences and even order drinks--how very 2015! 

When the band came out, I was impressed. Not only was Gregory Charles (the aforementioned pianist) going to roll off the cuff all night, but so were a drummer, guitarist, bassist, female singer, keyboardist, and a 3-man wind section. 

The first half was a good mix of classic rock (Scorpions' Rock You Like a Hurricane and U2's Beautiful Day) and modern tunes (Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk). He even did an amazing job mashing up random but surprisingly complementary songs so that the audience would hear a maximum variety. You could chat with him and make requests using the app, and while my friend had 2 of her songs chosen, sadly none of mine made the cut.

The second half of the show was devoted to everyone's hand-written requests, which Charles arbitrarily picked out of a box. The first was a 1931 classic called Minnie the Moocher, which we all were dumbfounded with at first but soon realized we all know it (think, hidy hidy hidy ho). The gentleman who requested it was sitting right behind us and LOVED every minute of Charles' and the band's rendition). 

We were also super impressed when one of the selections was Muse's Supermassive Black Hole, which no one except Charles knew. He proceeded to basically teach the song to his amazingly talented band in about 3 minutes. I have no idea if the performance was accurate, but it was incredible to watch.

They ended the show with medley's chosen by the audience responses--Queen and then a 70s mix. Everyone was up and dancing in the aisles and having the best time. The last song was Celebration by Kool & the Gang, which is the best song to end any party if you ask any bar mitzvah kid.

You can catch Vintage Live every night through May 2 at Le Qube, and I highly recommend that you do. To get BOGO tickets, use the code VINT2F1 here. If you miss them this time around, they travel the world, but definitely find a way to catch one of their shows. Be prepared to have the BEST time. The only person who wouldn't like this show is someone who doesn't like music, and let's face it, you don't want to be friends with that person anyway.

Disclosure: I received free tickets from Yelp NYC for this event, but I was not required to write a post or even tell you guys about this. It's just that good. So go!

Shop 'til You Drop with Kooba in Fort Greene

Spring shopping on your mind? Then head to the Fort Greene General Store tomorrow for a Kooba trunk show with discounts, organic juices and a chance to win a new bag!

What: Kooba trunk show

Where: Fort Greene General Store, 218 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn

When: Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 4-8pm

Details: First 25 customers will receive a goody bag that includes select spring merchandise and a postcard that provides a discount code to use on www.kooba.com

RSVP: here!

Get Your Tickets for Choice Streets on May 5th

Missing Choice Eats this year has already been arguably one of my biggest regrets of 2015. So it goes without saying that attending The Village Voice's 4th Annual Choice Streets event is on the must-do list.

The event, which takes place on Tuesday May 5th at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, will feature at least 12 food trucks including Big D's Grub, Korilla BBQ, The Treats Truck and Valducci's Pizza and Cinco de Mayo entertainment from Mariachi Flor de Toloache. General admission tickets are $55 and will let attendees in at 8pm. If you want early admission, you can pay $65 to enter at 7:30pm or spring $85 for a VIP ticket that will let you in at 7pm and send you home with a gift bag. All tickets can be purchased here.

You can also apply to volunteer at the event and in turn receive free admission to The Village Voice's 5th Annual Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival on September 26th.

To read a recap of the 2013 event, click here.

Sip for St. Jude

The Frying Pan is one of my favorite local drinking spots for spring and summer evenings. It's positioned perfectly on the Hudson to watch the sun set and take in a good beer and perhaps some pre-dinner snacks.

On Tuesday June 9, you can join the friends of the St. Jude Steering Committee for their annual young professionals event benefitting cancer research exclusively on the Frying Pan.

Tickets are $75 until 3pm on the day of the event, when they go up to $85, and are available here. You'll be served beer, wine, and light apps, and if you arrive by 8pm, you'll be entered to win free admission to the organizations annual winter gala.

When: Tuesday June 9, 7-9pm

Where: The Frying Pan, Pier 66 @ West 26th Street

Why: To raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Tickets: $75 in advance

AWESOME GIVEAWAY: 5 Classes to Exceed Physical Culture

Remember how I held a contest with lots of cool prizes to raise money for the National MS Society? Well, the winners have been picked and notified. But SURPRISE! There's one more prize to win!

I've got a 5-class pack up for grabs (valued at $160!)! The classes at Exceed are amazing, small and full of personal attention. What's more, the facilities are squeaky clean and up-to-date. 

Every $5 donation made to my Walk MS page from today through midnight on 4/18 will be entered to win--so if you donate $20, you'll receive 4 entries! Whether or not you were a big winner in the overall raffle (or if you forgot to enter, I won't judge!), here's your second chance!

I'm fast approaching my $3,000 goal and the walk is this Sunday! So spread the word and best of luck!

AWESOME DEAL: Get 10% Off Sparkly Soul & Give Back to the MS Society

I've raved about my favorite nonslip, workout headbands from Sparkly Soul on this website before, but I'm going to do it again. These are the most amazing headbands for all sorts of workouts--from running to boxing, spinning to yoga, and rowing to Crossfit. They come in a wide array of colors and I have never had one slip off during class. It's like they're magic or something.

Well Sparkly Soul just one-upped themselves in support of my campaign to raise money for the National MS Society. Use the code WALKMS by 4/19 and get 10% off your entire purchase from www.sparklysoul.com. Addtionally, my team will receive 10% of your entire purchase as well. So you get awesome headbands and the MS Society receives vital funds to help support research and programming for people affected by this debilitating disease.

These headbands would make perfect Mother's Day, graduation or just because gifts! I wouldn't fault you for picking up a few of your own (I've got a collection of 6!). Now all that's left to decide is what colors you are going to buy!