NYC Culture Scene

Free Concert this Sunday

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 9:56 AM 0 comments

Reminder: Book Club Mtg + Zadie Smith

Just a reminder that we have our book club meeting, followed by a session with Zadie Smith, this Sunday, April 30th.

Book Club Meeting:
What: we'll be meeting to discuss Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
When: 1:30 pm
Where: Corner of 40th St and 6th Ave next to Bryant Park

Zadie Smith Lecture:
What: ZADIE SMITH in conversation with Kurt Andersen
When: 3:30 pm
Where: NY Public Library at 40th St and 5th Ave
Tickets: sold out online, so will have to try at the door if you haven't already bought your ticket

See you then!

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 3:52 PM 0 comments

Greater New York Orchid Show!

The Greater New York Orchid Show at Rockefeller Center is in a few days! It looks like it will be another beaauutifuul show!

The 26th New York International Orchid Show
Rockefeller Center
April 20-23, 2006

Details
Hours:
Thursday, April 20:
Orchid Show: 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Sales area: 12 noon to 6:30 p.m.
(6:30 to 7 p.m. closed during the awards presentation)
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday, April 21 - Saturday, April 22:
Orchid Show: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sales area: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m

Sunday, April 23:
Orchid Show: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sales area: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission:
Orchid Show Exhibits: $5 (children under 12 free)
Sales area: Free

For more details, visit the Greater New York Orchid Society!

posted by Nidhi Chaudhary @ 9:47 PM 0 comments

Young Friends of Film: SALAAM BOMBAY!

Young Friends of Film: SALAAM BOMBAY!
7pm on Thursday, April 20
Director Mira Nair will introduce!

General Admission: $25, includes screening and open-bar, catered reception.

Salaam Bombay!
Mira Nair, India, 1988; 113m
In Mira Nair's (Vanity Fair, Monsoon Wedding) debut film, she tells the story of Krishna, a country boy who finds himself alone in Bombay, amidst the chaos and violence of the big city. As he finds work and learns to survive, he meets characters — drug dealers, prostitutes, beggars, and thieves — who will forever change his life. Featuring an amazing cast of non-professional and professional actors, the film shows a previously unseen world, made without the artifice of a film studio.

For more information about this event and/or about becoming a Young Friends of Film member, call Will McCord at 212-875-5630.

BUY TICKETS

posted by Nidhi Chaudhary @ 9:37 AM 0 comments

NY Auto Show

The New York Auto Show is open to the public from April 15th to 23rd.

It's in its regular spot at the Jacob Javits Convention Center (11th Ave between 34 & 39 Streets). We probably won't be going this year, but we've been in the past and had a blast. The futuristic cars especially are fun to peek into... reminds you of the cars in The Fifth Element and Minority Report!

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 10:10 AM 0 comments

Third Day and David Crowder Band Concert

Today was pretty busy (!) because we also hit the Third Day and David Crowder Band concert at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. Not only was it surreal to go to a Christian rock band concert in the middle of Times Square, it was even weirder to be (almost) headbanging with a crowd ranging from ages 5 to 85!

Another result of the crowd's excitement was the "shaking" phenomenon, which meant we couldn't get any decent photos because my camera insisted that we were shaking too much. Regardless, we tried, with some quite funky results (see right!).

The concert was great -- we had more fun than at the U2 concerts we've been at -- mostly because we were so much closer to the bands, and Third Day especially had great stage presence. The one thing that was different is that they asked us to put our arms round our neighbours and then jump up and down like mad during their one of their songs -- that was a first for a NYC concert!

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 11:20 PM 0 comments

Macy's Flower Show

After we hit the library, we went to the annual Macy's Flower Show in Herald Square (conveniently on our way home). The theme seemed to be bees since all the displays had huge (fake!) bees buzzing around them.

We got to meet the maker of the fabulous display at left -- it took him 38 hours to make! We're not sure how he managed to do that AND keep the flowers looking so fresh...

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 4:10 PM 0 comments

First trip to the NY Public Library

Having family in town is always a good chance to visit places you haven't been before. In this case, we hit the New York Public Library to take a peek at its Treasured Maps and Gutenberg Bible exhibitions.

The library is amazing, to the say the least! For any book lover, this is what all libraries should be like. The paintings, inscriptions, murals, displays, architecture and, of course, books make you want to spend all day exploring the building.

The exhibitions themselves were well worth the visit too. The Gutenberg Bible is a standalone piece in the center of the same hall that the Treasured Maps exhibition is in. The little blurb beside it makes you realize the immensity of Gutenberg's historical contribution... Not sure about you, but imagining a world without books puts me in a sorry state!

The maps in the collection are also outstanding (make sure you start at display #1 and work your way round!). Looking at the changing/evolving geography across the centuries makes you appreciate how well charted the world is today, and of even more interest are the maps of places that you're familiar with. The maps of India, for example, highlighted Golconda and Cochin; no dots for Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore though!

Now that I've been there, am looking forward to my next NYPL trip for the ZS lecture.

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 3:16 PM 0 comments

Soccer in Central Park

We lucked out with glorious weather this weekend -- and so spent the afternoon in Central Park. Gobbling down kati rolls was first on the order of business, followed by some healthier treats (grapes, apples, carrots!).

And then -- a light game of soccer! Karthik, Anita and Sheila versus Nik, Yesh and me. Choosing goalies was easy -- Sheila and I had on totally inappropriate footwear and so lucked out. Hemanth was even luckier as he caught up on naptime instead of joining us in the sun.

An hour later, it was time to call it quits -- the heat was taking its toll! Nothing that a little Orangina couldn't salve though.

Can't wait for summer to really come to town -- there's nothing quite like a day in Central Park!

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 8:27 PM 0 comments

April Fool's at the Coffee Shop

Brunch at the Coffee Shop in Union Square is always a highly 'visual' experience. Despite it not having food that's particularly memorable, it seems to attract the most colorful folks in the city -- and the most colorful waitstaff.

This trip to the Coffee Shop presented us with a hostess with a 4-inch nail for an earring. While we enjoyed brunch, had great conversation and company, and had to wait 20 minutes to pay the bill while they faced issues with their credit card machine, the most memorable item of the entire day was that nail!

posted by Bhawna Paul @ 11:35 PM 0 comments