Sunday, June 29, 2008

If You Haven't Been Invited to a Rooftop Party for the 4th...



Then I've got something rather cool for you...At a magical place, near Kips Bay, on the pier at Solar One (23rd Street & the East River), Rooftop Films in presenting a night of food, drinks, live music, a fantastic fireworks view, and explosive political films. They tote it as a "a mix of the wacky and weighty" in America. Should be quite interesting...and educational. Fair warning, though, ...you must be there by 6:00pm or before; otherwise the NYPD will not let you past the barricade.

5:00PM: Doors open, open bar begins, courtesy of Radeberger beer and Brooklyn Oenology
6-9:00PM: Live music by FRANCES, TITUS ANDRONICUS and ALEKS AND THE DRUMMER presented Sound Fix
9:00PM: The best fireworks view in the city
9:30PM - 10:30PM: short films
Tickets: $30 at going.com

Dali: Painting and Film Exhibition at the Moma, June 29-September 15th




Beginning June 29th, the Moma will be bringing together more than 100 major paintings, photographs, drawings and films to explore the central role of cinema in Dali's work as both inspiration and an outlet for experimentation. His collaborations have included film bigwigs, Luis Bunuel, Walt Disney (who knew ???), Alfred Hitchcock, and the Marx Brothers. Go check it out. One can never have enough surrealism in one's life...and one certainly can never be exposed to Salvatore Dali's work enough. Just when you think you know everything about him, something new surfaces. Good times.


The Joan and Preston Robert Tisch Exhibition Gallery, sixth floor
The Museum of Modern Art
(212) 708-9400
11 West 53 Street,
between Fifth and Sixth avenues
New York, NY 10019-5497

http://www.moma.org

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Quick Green Living Tips for the Home



photo by Tricia Chatterton

I live in NYC. And I live in an old building. This means that about 5 seconds after I've cleaned my apt oh-so-thoroughly, a new layer of unknown dark substance begins its descent upon my furniture. I like clean. It makes me happy, so the wipedown happens often...and because Clorox and Windex are so very toxic, I've begun cleaning with "green" products like baking soda, vinegar, and my very favorite: lemon juice. Smells good, tastes good, and can do just about everything.

Lemon tips:

Ant deterrent

Pouring lemon juice around areas that ants frequent is said to repel them.

Air freshener

An equal amount of lemon juice and water added to an atomizer will create a wonderful synthetic chemical-free green air freshener for your home.

All purpose cleaner

Again, an equal amount of lemon juice and water added to a spray bottle is an effective kitchen and bathroom cleaner and can also be used on walls (spot test first).

A small amount of lemon juice can also be added to vinegar based cleaning solutions to help neutralize the smell of the vinegar.

Microwave

Heat a bowl of water and lemon slices in your microwave for 30 seconds to a minute; then wipe out the oven. Stains will be easier to remove and old food odors neutralized.

Fridge

Half a lemon stored in your fridge will help control and eliminate unpleasant smells.

Chrome/copper/brass

Rub a lemon juice and baking soda paste onto chrome or copper, rinse and then wipe/buff with a soft cloth or paper towel.

Toilet

Mix 1/2 cup borax and a cup of lemon juice for a powerful toilet cleaner that will leave it smelling extra clean!

Lime scale

Use a half lemon to clean the lime scale off a sink or taps/faucets; rinse well.

Laundry

For bleaching purposes, add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle and hang clothes outside to dry.

A teaspoon of lemon juice thrown into your wash can also help your clothes to smell fresher.

Dishes

A teaspoon of lemon juice added to your dishwashing detergent can help boost grease cutting power

Drains

Hot lemon juice and baking soda is a good drain cleaner that is safe to use in septic systems.

If you have a garbage disposal unit, throw in some lemon peel from time to time while it's working in order to keep it smelling fresh.

Chopping boards

Rub lemon juice into your wooden chopping board, leave overnight and then rinse. Wood chopping boards appear to have anti-bacterial properties anyway, but the lemon will help kill off any remaining nasties and neutralize odors.

Glass and mirrors

4 tablespoons of lemon juice mixed with half a gallon of water makes an effective window cleaner

Degreaser

Straight lemon juice can be used as a general degreaser

Furniture

2 parts olive oil or cooking oil mixed with 1 part lemon juice makes for an excellent furniture polish!

Cuts, stings and itches

A small amount of lemon juice pour onto minor wounds can help stop bleeding and disinfect the injury (it will sting a bit). Lemon juice applied to itches, poison ivy rashes and wasp stings is said to relieve discomfort.

Mouthwash

A 50/50 mixture of lemon juice and water makes for an effective mouthwash.

Hands

The smell of fish can linger on your hands, even after scrubbing with soap - rubbing your hands with lemon juice will neutralize the smell and leave your hands smelling wonderful. It will also neutralize the small of garlic and onions on your hands.

You can find these and more fantastic tips for the home and a "Green" life by visiting http://www.greenlivingtips.com

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Song of the Day



"Lights and Music" -Cut Copy

Gallery Open tonight! Ray Sell "Raise "Em To Be Cowboys"




Leo Kesting Gallery Presents:
GALLERY 1: RAY SELL - Raise 'Em To Be Cowboys
GALLERY 2: Parker’s Box artists: JASON GLASSER and JOSHUA STERN
Opening Night Reception: Thursday June 19th from 7:00 - 10:00 pm
812 Washington St (at the corner of Gansevoort) New York NY 10014
8th Ave A, C, E and L train Stop or 1,2,3 to 14th Street

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The Affordable Art Fair-June 12-15, 2008




For those of you looking to invest in art for the first time...or just needing to decorate your apt, The Affordable Art Fair offers a variety of original, contemporary pieces by artists from all over the world: London, Lisbon, Bangkok, Prague, Melbourne, New York (of course) and many more. There are some very talented artists happening at this Fair. I've got my eye on work by Duarte Amaral Netto.

Check out the site @ http://aafnyc.com for a $5 discount on admission.
A private preview cocktail reception will be held Wednesday night, June 11 th from 6-9

The Altman Building / Metropolitan Pavilion
135 West 18th Street, NYC

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Florent is CLOSING!!! Eat there now while you can...



photos by Tricia Chatterton

Florent is closing on June 29th. Cursed day! I got my brunch on this morning...going to have to make that a ritual as we countdown to the closing of a classic institution.

69 Gansevoort St
New York, NY 10014
(212) 989-5779

www.restaurantflorent.com

Bits and Pieces of New York City...