Artist Rosario Varela
NY – Living in New York City affords me the outrageous fortune of drinking in a magnificent and ever-changing natural and manmade cityscape day in and day out from my UWS apartment window (see above). And as an artist, I’m always open to receiving inspiration from the masters. More
Sharon Rowe, ECOBAGS Products, Inc. CEO
NY – New York City has so many ways to have a “green experience” that it’s challenging to pick only a few things to do. Of course you can spend time in Central Park or head out to the Brooklyn or Queens Botanical Gardens, but to have a full out green experience, challenge yourself to “create no waste” on all of your excursions. This means you’ll be heading out with a water bottle you can refill (there are 3114 public drinking fountains and there’s an app to find them) and a reusable shopping bag expandable & lightweight (such as ECOBAGS), so you can say “no” to all types of single-use plastic or paper bags. More
NY – Sunday afternoons are meant for strolling, so head on over to the Upper East Side for an afternoon that’s sure to delight animal lovers and art historians alike. More
The Gate in Central Park
At The Downtown Project, “downtown” is really a state of mind – a creative force, an inspiration. Nothing says that better to us than the windows at Tiffany & Co.
Currently the company’s Fifth Avenue flagship store is paying tribute to the Central Park Conservancy with five gorgeous new windows that feature the famous park and the jewelry haven’s elegant baubles.
The first window on Fifth Avenue features the Conservancy Garden’s elaborate wrought-iron gates. Others include the Angel of Bethesda Fountain, The Great Lawn, an aerial view of the park and reservoir and scenes of the park’s dairy, lakes and the boathouse. Let us know if the windows inspire you too!
The Angel of Bethesda Fountain
The Boat at the Boathouse
Sammy Buck, Bookwriter and Lyricist
When it comes to writing family entertainment, especially for the 2 – 9 year-old set, the challenge is always to make the material enjoyable for the adults, as well as the kids. I hope I’ve accomplished that in my new play at the Vital Theater, StinkyKids The Musical. To round out the perfect Upper West Side afternoon for kids and adults alike, here are some fun suggestions:
1. StinkyKids The Musical
1. Based on a series of books, dolls and apparel created by Atlanta mother, impresario and all-around awesome friend and colleague Britt Menzies (check out stinkykids.com), Vital Theatre commissioned the piece from my collaborator Dan Acquisto and me. We’ve written a few shows for them, and this one has been a dream. Ostensibly about a girl who gets gum stuck in her hair, StinkyKids the Musical is a really fun Lucy-Ethel-esque romp from a six-year olds’ point of view – starring a sixsome of New York’s best emerging 20-something actors. The show runs at 11am and 1pm on every weekend, plus this Spring Break (April 9-12), Monday through Thursday at 11am & 1pm.
2. Let’s talk food: Depending on the timing of the show, you can pre-theatre or post-theatre it (because theatre is a verb to me).
2. The Viand Cafe
Either way, an easy and consistently good location that’s closeby and charming is the Viand Cafe on 75th and Broadway, which is known for being a great family diner and having the best turkey in town. Be sure to save room for a special dessert from one of my three personal favorites: the chocolate from Jacques Torres on Amsterdam, the cookies at Levain Bakery (treats here are so large and sumptuous you can sublet them) or for gelato that will make your childrens’ sugar tantrum SO WORTH IT, Grom.
3. The Diana Ross Playground in Central Park
3. Okay, you have sugar-addled kids on your hand. Make them run around in Central Park. At the entrance of 81st & CPW is my favorite name of a playground: The Diana Ross Playground. It reads a little younger, but then again, so does StinkyKids. In that corridor of the Park, you can introduce or re-introduce the kids (and yourself) to the Shakespeare Garden, the Great Lawn and down a few paces, Strawberry Fields.
Hope you have a great afternoon. If you come see the show and like it, join our Facebook group.
For more on Sammy Buck, click here.
