Street Book Here is New York E.B White

Found - Houston and 2ND
Picked up because - E. B. White is he American Author of Charlotte's Web

Finding certain books on the street feels like fate. One look down and there could be an adventure at your feet. This small volume by E.B. White has some revealing things to say about New York City. Written in 1948 when the city was different, but was it that different then? The City has always been the City of Dreams, has it not? This book has been called an essay because it kind of teaches more to the reader then one would think. In this White touches on the real New York and how it feels to live in the Big Apple at the height of its glory. He seems to know all the things that ring true for the city and its people. With a turn of phrase and informative rants this book is a must read for all New Yorkers. This Street Book came with a note inside "Here is to finding your New York during your stay. Enjoy the Adventure and embrace serendipity." So if fate steeps in and "Here is New York" is your next read don't feel surprised

Really Really Free in NYC

It seem like the idea of getting something for free is coming back into most Americans minds. Think back to when you got free French fries with your burger, of a free wash with your hair cut. Yes as we all slim down our "footprints" and our budgets the concept of free has been brought back. There is lots of ways to find what you need for free online. Craigslist has been a good place to find free stuff. There is also a helpful little site called Free Cycle, just join and search for that perfect item your looking for. If your looking for free goods or services with a sense of community go seek out the Really Really Free Market (RRFM). New York City's RRFM is held the last Sunday of the month in the Grenich Village at The Judson Memorinal Church just outside of Washington Square Park. These Free Markets are not a place to sale or barter, it is about sharing resources. This is seen as an alternative to our consumer based culture. Most of them like NYC's are held once a month in public parks, community commons or Church's. If you don't have a Really Really Free Market close at hand, why not start one yourself? "If you Build it they will come" and the RRFM movement can help you with that.

City's With Really Really Free Markets:
New York City - Reno, Nevada -Cottage Grove, Oregon - Minneapolis, Minnesota - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Lancaster, Pennsylvania - Austin, Texas - Grand Rapids, Michigan - Belfast, New York - Tallahassee, Florida - Detroit Michigan - San Francisco Bay - Wilmington, Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Carrboro, and Greenville North Carolina -.Washington DC - Richmond, Virginia - Cincinnati, Ohio - Dayton, Ohio - Indianapolis, Indiana and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are home to monthly Really Really Free Markets.

Web Sites:
http://newyork.craigslist.org/
http://www.reallyreallyfree.org/
http://www.freecycle.org/

Elizabeth: The Golden Age at the Film Society of Lincoln Center

Today was the first day of The Film Society of Lincoln Centers respective on Elizabeth Taylor. This weekend New Yorker's get a chance to see this screen goddess in the best films of her career. See Her with great leading men like Paul Newman in Tennessee Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Or with James Dean and Rock Hudson in Giant. She also stars with two actors that became her husband's Montgomery Clift (Raintree County and the out of print A Place in the Sun), and Richard Burton, twice her husband many times her co-star. They play lovers in both Cleopatra and Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf. In which Taylor was given the Oscar for best actress for her role as the aged wife of an alcoholic. As an added plus there will be a photo exhibit in the lobby of the Walter Reade Theater celebrating Taylor and her life in film. What is there to be said about Elizabeth Taylor. Some consider her the last classic movie star. She had a soaring career and rocky life, but always came through with style and grace. She has shown the world that everyone can make a difference. It is hard to look into her velvet eyes and not love her. She grew up right in front of all of us, a life worth living and remembering.

Atlas Cafe

When looking for good food that is also good for you it seems like one has to pay more. This is not true at the Atlas Cafe between 4Th and 5Th on 2ND Ave in the East Village. This quaint little cafe has Vegan and Vegetarian food and Desserts. These Vegan Desserts are not what one would expect. They are light and fluffy and amazing for not having dairy in them. Bring the whole gang to Atlas and eat outside in the sun this summer. They have a great big menu that has some Meaty selections too. This place has good coffee, yummy smoothies and even shakes, if all you have time for is a drink, but it is worth the sit for their wraps and sandwiches. Proving good food does not have to break the bank and that Vegan, Veggies, and Meat Eaters can all go out together. The Atlas Cafe is now a big-little place on 2ND Ave.

Jane Eyre 2011

This story has been done this way and that for years and years. Its been used over and over for film and other theatrical endeavors. This new Jane Eyre is darker then most with a Gothic atmosphere. This is a romance told with a gray background. As the young Jane grows up to be a quiet and passionate women. The Brooding Anti-hero lead character Edward Rochester (Michael Fassbender) lives a strange life that builds into a tragic tale of woe and Misfortune. Within all this is a love story that the young actress Mia Wasikowska was born to play. Her eyes and calm, yet expressive way of filling the title role give this Eyre a real presence. BBC and Focus Features come together to give us this vary new adaptation of Jane Eyre that is as grim as it is romantic.

Bill Cunningham New York at the Film Forum

Some would argue that the New York street is where fashion begins and ends. The place designer's look to for ideas, where people show off their stuff and where personalty is everything. Who better to show this to the rest of us then Bill Cunningham. This photographer has been the city's documentation for over three decades. Riding around on his Schwinn snapping photos of anyone and everyone that looks great. Taking his time to point out style, color and trends. He says that he has a three pronged approach, showing the public whats hot on the runway, who's waring what at the big gala events, and don't forget the street style. He has worked for many magazines and publications. Director Richard Press has used his camera and Bill's photography to tell the story of this workaholic that works for New York and it's stylish population.

Held over at the Film Forum till April 7Th ONLY!!

The Queen of Spades at the Metropolitan Opera

The moon was almost full as the crowed filled the courtyard around the famous fountain at Lincoln Center last Friday night. The spring is almost here and the people are coming out into the night now that the cold has gone away for the year. The spring and Fall, in New York are the best for the weather is almost perfect, no unbearable heat of the summer and no freezing cold that the winter brings. So as is expected for the Opera the Women are in skirts and dresses and the men in nice jackets and light sweaters. The Metropolitan Opera always starts on time so getting uptown on time is a must. This night the stage was set for a production of Tchaikovsky's "Queen of Spades." The music was written by the great composer but the plot was adapted from a short story published by Alexander S. Pushkin in 1834. The story is set in the late 1700. The last years of Empress Catherine the great. This opera had its premiere in St. Petersburg in 1890. Which if fitting for Act 1 opens in a public park of the great Capitol in the Summer. The Stage opens on Hermann (Vladimir Galouzine) a dark men with a dark mind. He is walking through his world in a kind of daze as the rest of polite society are living around him. Hermann admits to the Count Tomsky (Alexey Markov) that he is in love with a girl he does not know. When the Prince, Yeletsky (Peter Mattei) enters with his new fiancee Lisa (Karita Mattila) and her grandmother The Countess, (Dolora Zajick) Hermann knows that it is Lisa he has fallen for. As the day gets late Tomsky shares the history of the Countess and how she won her fortune in Paris Decades ago with "the three cards." The countess stills keeps the secret of "the three cards" and will die at the hand of whom ever takes the information from her. The others laugh at this fairy tale but Hermann has had the seed planted in his mind. That night he begs for Lisa's love and wins affection taking her in his arms. In the second act there is a grand ball with wonderful dress and dance. Lisa has become icy toward the prince and he knows that something has happened to her feelings for him. Lisa sneaks Hermann a key for the house to use after the Countess leaves on a trip. Hermann driven by his imagination uses the key to confront the Countess and gain the secret of the Cards. This is a tale of Love, Obsession, and Madness. How will the Cards Lay? Who will escape the fate that the cards tell? Completely played out in Russian this Opera is as emotional as it sounds. Framed on the stage with a set that seem as deep as the characters. Every stage set up pulls the audience deeper into this torchered tale. Mark Thompsom has out done himself on the costumes for "Queen of Spades." The beautiful and detailed costumes feel muted and faded and bring a rich texture to the production. Tchaikovsky's music is full of the build ups and breaks downs of the cast of characters and Conductor Andris Nelson keep this ominous score together by using all the talent in his orchestra. At the Ball in Act 2 there is a play within the play where two lovers are in Cupid's hands. This is where one sees the Dance that is a staple for Operas of the time. Choreographer John Meehan gets his own story to tell in this Ballet of two lovers. The Dancers are angelic and happy and his story has a happy ending. Will the real Drama have this type of ending? Will the Cards save them or damn them? One has only one more chance to find out this Saturday in the gold room at The Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center Plaza.
Queen of Spades -
Saturday, March 26, 2011, 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm