Music, Puppets, and Sidewalk Chalk

As is in evidence in the above photo, the seeds of Van’s rock and roll dreams made have been planted thanks to one Mike Messer of The Dirty Sock Funtime Band.

Today’s Free Concert for Kids at McGolrick Park featured the singer as well as puppets and chalk drawing.

The park and the Open Space Alliance are making great efforts to make the lovely park more involved in the community and especially the local kids and hope to have more events like this in the future.

A similar show is scheduled at Cooper Park June 15th.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours Children’s Concerts Greenpoint Parks

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Posted on May 18, 2012

February 26–June 11, 2012

While I was excited about the MoMA’s Cindy Sherman exhibit, I walked out an even bigger fan than I did going in. There’s something significant about seeing such a huge collection of her work.

I have always loved the film still series, which I was most familiar with, in which as photographer and model she took on manufactured archetypes from movies.

Later, however her work becomes arguably even more interesting – taking on existing archetypes like society women and Los Angeles hopefuls who come to life with great attention to mundane details. You can read one of her characters instantly in the way her hair is done, the scarf she has round her neck, the way she smiles at the camera.

It reminded me of one of my favorite parts of film making, when you’d find just the right accessory to make a character complete.

Visually I was most enamored with the centerfold series which boasts incredible color and are infinitely intriguing; her most mysterious works. I also adored the masterpiece portraits, lovingly displayed like the pieces that inspired them would be at the Met. Like all her work, there’s a great sense of humor to them.

Less visually appalling were the gross out ones. Vomit, plastic body parts, decay – these got the most reaction from viewers and the consensus was “grody” (some teenage girls were particularly disgusted). I however, had a much harder time with the giant creepy clowns.

This is one of the most anticipated museum exhibits this season so don’t be surprised by crowds, though we didn’t find it overwhelming.

Be sure to browse the rest of the museum too. Its worth the trip to see the feet on a pedestal in the lovely sculpture garden area.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours Galleries/Museums Midtown West

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Posted on March 12, 2012

200 Central Park West

Going to the American Museum of Natural History on a crowded Sunday with a toddler doesn’t exactly allow for casual, relaxed browsing, but as we rushed through some areas, I noticed the museum, which I’ve always loved, has benefited from some lovely make overs (Hall of Asian Peoples for one).

While we only saw some exhibits in passing, we did thoroughly enjoy the updated and fantastic Hall of Ocean Life. The familiar giant whale is still here, but there are new additions like a life size collage of ocean life and Van pleasing dioramas of seals, manatees, walruses, dolphins and polar bears.

The classic animal halls are still as awesome as ever, and made even more so when Van would “roar” at the lions and snort at the rhinos.

Crowds are unavoidable on the weekends, we even skipped dinosaurs completely because of them, but the museum is still a thrilling experience, any time.

And of course, we had to finish the afternoon off with Shake Shack burgers from across the street which surprisingly took a fraction of the time to get versus the original stand in Madison Square Park. There we discovered we might not be perfect parents after all (ha) after getting Van hooked on their cheese fries.

See more: Spend a Couple Hours Burgers Galleries/Museums Upper West Side

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Posted on March 4, 2012

at Radio City Music Hall

Since I’d only just emerged from a stomach flu induced haze, I thought twice about taking the free ticket to Antony and the Johnsons at Radio City–but I’m so glad I decided to go!

It was a fantastic performance. The stage and lighting design were constantly changing and challenging my perception: from a blurry scrim concealing all the action to the final, breathtaking reveal of a 50+ piece orchestra, each song ushered in a new visual treat.

Antony himself appears both beautiful and strangely confident while still remaining physically awkward (reminding me of a young girl throwing a fit). He’s an incredible singer; his voice is truly otherworldly and sounds even more lovely in person than any recording. If you’re a fan, nothing can replicate the experience of seeing him sing in person.

My favorite song of the evening (next to, of course, his heart wrenching cover of Crazy in Love) was I Fell in Love With a Dead Boy.

The crowd which was large (even the ticket-holder line was two blocks long): a mixture of teary-eyed die-hard fans, the painfully pretentious (lots of faux accents and “dah-lings”), and oddly enough conidering how hard seats were to come by, a helping of folks that seemed genuinely baffled by what they’d stumbled into.

A one night only performance sponsored by MoMa, even Antony himself admitted it was “so fucking ambitious”, but its unique mix of visual and performance art was a huge success–surely in no small part thanks to my dear friend Shaun who coordinated so much of it.

Also: my first time at Radio City Music Hall. It’s gorgeous!

See more: Spend a Couple Hours

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Posted on January 28, 2012

One of the most interesting performances ever, an exhibit full of Muppets, awesome manicures, the best local massage and a Brooklyn waterfront market that became a weekly tradition, this list is full of great activities. None, however could beat the incredible McQueen exhibit that literally brought a tear to my eye.

1. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

2. Sleep No More

3. Marie Nails

4. Brooklyn Flea

5. Jim Henson’s Fantastic World

6. Pure Qi Regimen Spa

See more: Spend a Couple Hours Best of

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Posted on December 28, 2011