Here's a ridiculously cool video of world-renowned lindy hop team the "Ninjammers" performing before a crowd of 50,000 people at the Festival de Jazz de Montreal. I love how they integrate the lindy hop movement into the funky, electro-swing sound of the group Caravan Palace. Not an easy feat! Featured dancers: Max Pitruzzelli, Annie Trudeau,…
1stFans Ice Cream Social on the Roof of Brooklyn Museum (pics)
I love being a 1stFan of the Brooklyn Museum. It's always interesting getting a personal, curated view of what's happening at one of my favorite cultural institutions in the city. And at $25 a year, it's a steal! On Saturday, 1stFans got a very special treat: an ice cream social on the roof of the…
Birthday Festivities Continued: Smoked Montreal Meat & The Big Apple for Dessert
The festivities continued on my actual birthday, Saturday, July 3. It began with an incredible lunch at the Mile End Delicatessan in Boerum Hil, Brooklyn. I've been wanting to go to this place since it opened a few months ago. Passing it by on my way home from Quaker Meeting, there were always long lines…
Liberty Belle July 4th Party: not letting the jerks spoil your fun
This post was going to be about the Liberty Belle Extravaganza that was held last night on the rooftop of the Empire Hotel in the Upper Westside. Specifically, I was going to write some screed about enforcing dress codes, lax hotel security staff, and inflated drink prices. But from my own experience, I know how…
Yesterday’s Birthday Festivities: Filipino tapas, secret Frick tour, and power lunching
Yesterday I began celebrating my birthday doing several of my favorite things around the city that I love so much. It began with delicious coffee and croissants from Joyce Bakeshop on Vanderbilt Avenue. It's a great neighborhood bakery that always tempts on the way to the subway to work. Their full-bodied and rich Stumptown coffee…
Who is Preparing Kids to Respond to Bullying, Online and Off?
The New York Times has an interesting article on how schools are responding to incidents of "cyber-bullying" (what a 90s term) that happen among their students, whether or not it occurs on school grounds. It's obviously a difficult issue for educators, parents and youth workers to deal with, since it involves actions that can occur…
“Street Dance” the Movie… coming to the States? (video)
My friend Lynn sends me info about "Street Dance" a UK-produced movie which opened in May all over Europe, but doesn't appear to be schedule to appear on these shores anytime soon. Presumably they are still looking for a US distributor. Or test marketing to see how an English street…
Quakers March for Justice & Equality in Pride Parade! (video)
I was proud to march with a group of about a dozen New York Quakers in the Gay Pride Parade yesterday in Manhattan, along with hundreds of other groups and tens of thousands of onlookers. It was a glorious, if hot, day in the city, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. Local Quakers…
Syncopated Sweethearts performing at Fram (video)
Here's those four cuties Eve, Gina, Lisa and Shana, aka the "Syncopated Sweethearts", performing a solo jazz & charleston routine at Frim Fram last week. So cute! It was somewhat bittersweet since Lisa C. is moving this week to live in New Orleans! Lisa is so much fun to dance with and to watch dance…
Photo Shoot: Me and the Bike on the Manhattan Bridge (pics)
For the past three years, I've been biking across the Manhattan Bridge to get my job — enjoying the view, the breeze off the river, and zooming down the incline. I've been wanting to get dressed up and take a bunch of pics of myself with my bike on the bridge for awhile, and finally…