Spend a Couple Hours »Greenwood Cemetery

greenwood cemetery brooklyn main gateIn a city with so many great walking options and parks, I'd have to say that Greenwood Cemetery is one of my favorites. It's larger than you might expect, so every visit is a unique experience. Fortunately my favorite part of the now Historical National Landmark is very easy to find, as it's the main gate. A Gothic spired entrance, the gate is home to huge nests of birds, including wild parrots (!) though I've never seen one myself. On a crisp autumn day, it's great to watch the birds flying in and out and you can hear their cries from a long way off.

A nice way to continue for a walk is towards the huge, impressive chapel, then down to the Water Side Path that takes you along the Valley Water pond and fountain. If you continue down that path to Lake Ave,?make a left onto the windy Eglantine Path that offers plenty of large shading trees and a pretty view of Sylvan Water lake.

It's also a welcome place (they even hand out maps to visitors at the main gate) where many beautiful, strange, eerie, headstones, are around every bend and gorgeous foliage, trees, vistas and hillsides are there for you to explore. This visit we saw the grave of stained glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany (other famous people buried here include Leonard Bernstein and Boss Tweed). On another visit we reached the highest point in Brooklyn where a civil war monument looks out at the Statue of Liberty in salute.

It's really a beautiful place to take a stroll and also a favorite of ours because its so easy to get to.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 27, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Lindsey Buckingham

lindsay buckingham liveI'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham! I'm seeing Lindsey Buckingham!

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 20, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Light the Night Walk

charity bake sale oshkosh bgoshOshkosh joins the fight against Leukemia and Lymphoma by participating in the Light the Night walk, held this year on October 16th at the South street Seaport. I urge anyone who wants to join me, to sign up.

In addition, my team of graphics ladies hosted a bake sale to raise money. It's a tried and true charity activity that anyone can do, why not you? I made peanut butter cookies and spicy chocolate flourless cake (both from Brix pick Simply Recipes, both this week's recipe picks) and my coworkers made ginger dark chocolate cookies, Halloween sugar cookies, oatmeal chocolate squares, and more. We raised over two hundred dollars!

You can also help out by donating some money to me for walking. Here is a link.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 13, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Awesome Brothers Tour

the awesome brothers tourMy good friends Luke and Ashleigh, known as The Awesome Brothers, are going on a tour this month. Please make an effort to go and see their wild and inventive show if you can. You will not be disappointed:

Oct 6 2008
9:00P
Empty Bottle
Chicago, Illinois ?br/>
Oct 7 2008
9:00P
Mixtapes
Moline, Illinois

Oct 8 2008
7:00P
Picador
Iowa City, Iowa

Oct 9 2008
9:00P
Uncle Brothers
Omaha, Nebraska

Oct 10 2008
9:00P
Rhinoceropolis
Denver, Colorado

Oct 11 2008
8:00P
tba
Salt Lake City, Utah

Oct 12 2008
9:00P
The Beatles Revolution Lounge @ the Mirage
Las Vegas, Nevada

Oct 13 2008
9:00P
Luigi's Fun Garden
Sacramento, California

Oct 14 2008
9:00P
21 Grand
Oakland, California

Oct 15 2008
9:00P
The Smell
Los Angeles, California

Oct 16 2008
9:00P
The Smell
Los Angeles, California

Oct 17 2008
9:00P
Che Cafe
La Jolla, California

Oct 18 2008
9:00P
The Casbah
San Diego, California

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on October 6, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Nick Cave Live

I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live! I'm going to see Nick Cave live!

Just thought I'd remind you to buy a ticket if you're as excited as me. But sadly, even if you are as excited but not as organized, they are sold out at the official website. High priced resells always available though!

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 29, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Oktoberfest Party

bratwurst oktoberfest party 2008Oktoberfest in Germany officially began Saturday, so my friends hosted an excellent party with homemade, delicious pretzels, traditional hats, Heidi braids, liverwurst, pickles, cheese, bratwurst, hunters sausage, blood sausage, lots of beer, and youtube videos of German girls on the TV.

Yummy and fun, an Oktoberfest Party is a great excuse for beer and meat and getting together friends who love both. The actual dates for the festival in Germany are Sept 20 through October 5, but who's counting, any day from now through Halloween could be perfect for your own shindig.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 22, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Bingo

old lady bingoMy office hosted a charity Bingo Night and we ended up having way more fun that expected. There's something exciting about simple games of chance, even though I have the worst luck in them.

Bingo has caught on as a bar game too, particularly in my neighborhood of Greenpoint, where both Black Rabbit and The Mark Bar host events. I've never made it to the Mark Bar one, and would be a bit scared considering all the jock/sleaze men my friends have had to fend off there, but we did unwittingly walk in on a rambunctious evening it play at Black Rabbit.

Hosted by Bobby Tisdale, who is now officially the kind of famous person I see the most of (use to be various members of The State). You may know him if you ever made it to the fab (but now defunct) Invite Them Up or in a bit part as a factory worker in Junebug. Drunk on power and beer, he holds court wittily with prizes like the shirt off his back or a personal massage from him.

Other NYC bars that love the bingo: Lips, Pete's Candy Store, Sweet Ups, Brandy's Piano Bar, and Professor Thom's.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 15, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Jeff Koons at The Met Rooftop

jeff koons met rooftopOn a recent half day,?Jim and I strolled through Central Park after a filling lunch at Ippudo (this time we tried the spicy ramen and the incredible pork buns–both are highly recommended). The Met was our final destination and we manged to catch the last days of the pretty spectacular Superheroes fashion show which. to my delight. was very Thierry Mugler heavy. Seeing his outlandish creations in person was really impressive, the craftsmanship and the details were stunning. Sadly, a no photos policy was strictly enforced by a very insistent and loud barking woman.

While the Superheroes exhibit has ended by now, you have until October 26 to see the bright, fun work of Jeff Koons on the rooftop, a perfect spot for a giant balloon dog, a shiny red heart a flame (which a friend saw a man propose to his girlfriend in front of) and this energetic burst of color. If you get there later in the day a cocktail or beer can be enjoyed which basking in the kitschy beauty.

While my favorite wing, medieval art, is being renovated (it reopens November 19th and I'll be able to see my favorite Flemish portraits once again) we took the time to see other portions of the sprawling museum that we usually miss. Specifically the Asian art wings that hold a surprising nook of tranquility a Ming Dynasty garden court.

Other special finds on this particular day were this tattered tapestry from the Cypriot hallway and this fancy stained glass window, and the halls of Egyptian reproduced paintings. The small but inspiring modern print and photo section also held some gems like this H.C. Westermann print, this Philip Guston drawing, and this Allen Ruppersberg series of photos.

The Met is always changing and always offers hours of inspiration.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 8, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Renaissance Faire

renaissance faire laura horner jim sanders brittany hague As close friends know, The Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, NY as become a yearly tradition of ours. This will be our fifth year and though it was not without it's problems (we began driving on Saturday and broke down in the middle of the highway) we persevered and made it today!

Half off coupons guaranteed a hefty crowd, but even with so many people, it's a great place to spend your time. We in the last two years have opted to dress up, which adds to the fun.

Words can hardly describe, so take a look at this year and last year's many photos.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on September 1, 2008

Spend a Couple Hours »Uniqlo Competition

uniqlo competitionEvery year the hip Japanese company Uniqlo hosts a tee design shirt contest where the winner receives an impressive sum of money, and his or her design is sold in stores. That impressive sum this year? 3,00,000 yen!! That's nearly $30,000. I'm going to enter, if only to force myself to make a couple deigns outside of my work life.

The deadline is Sept 21st,?entry forms are available here and here are the details.

Good luck to us all!!

See more: Spend a Couple Hours


Be the first to leave a comment →
Posted on August 25, 2008