Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Humid and hot New York

New York is particularly hot and humid these days. But I won't say much against it, for a change! I actually like it. I like it a lot. I have always liked summer. The combination of the heat, blue sky, strong sun and the humidity or dryness (depending on where you live) have never been a problem to me. On the contrary, this is what it feels "home". Snow, cold, and negative degree temperatures is my nightmare. The marriage of the heat and the humidity is for some people almost suicidal but not for me. I don't see any problem and when you feel a little bit warmer, there will be an out-of-the blue thunderstorm that will bring freshness. On the ground and in the heart.

London has become hot and humid recently as well. The last three summers, the weather was really nice (to my standards at least). Warm and humid weather for almost five weeks non-stop, that is news for London weather! There is always a certain degree of unpredictability but this is what makes London an interesting city to be.

Weather wise, I definitely prefer New York in the summer, London in the winter and the spring. I can't find perfection anywhere 365 days a year!

EVENTS

New York

SATURDAY NIGHT DANCE CRUISE AROUND MANHATTAN ON SATURDAY JUNE 2
Enjoy breathtaking sights of the Manhattan Skyline as we cruise around this gorgeous harbor. Let the movement of the water inspire you and the music keep you going as you dance the night away aboard our luxurious 143 Foot Yacht.Event Includes:• 1 FREE drink with ticket purchase• Live DJ entertainment• 2 cash bars• Dance floor• Beer and drink specials• 2 hour harbor cruise• Sun Deck with two fully enclosed, climate controlled decks Schedule For the Evening:• Boarding at 9:00pm• Sail at 9:30pm• Return at 11:30pm
COST: $32 prepaid
Visit: http://www.reallivepeopleparty.com/singles-parties/event1138.html

London

Good Design Can Change The World!

Come and see inspiring design in fashion, jewellery and interiors from London's hottest designers as part of London Sustainability Weeks. The ethical products in this exciting showcase are easy on the eye and easy on the environment and are for sale to the public. Designers include: Madeleine Boulesteix, Emma D'Arcey, Seraglia, Ryan Frank, Fiona Wright, Pieces of You, Fisher-Garcia, Spinifex, One Slice, She who needs Beads, Jo-anne Wolf, Doug Harper Furniture, Hetty Rose Limited, Rosie Weisencrantz.
Start Date
07/06/2007
End Date
09/06/2007
Time
(8th June) 11am - 6pm (9th June) 11am - 5pm
Price
FREE
Location
The Fashion and Textile Museum, 83 Bermondsey Street, London (www.ftmlondon.org)
Organisation
The Eco Design Network
Contact Person
info@ecodesignnetwork.co.uk
Contact Telephone
0208 522 5700
Contact email
info@ecodesignnetwork.co.uk
Website address
www.ecodesignnetwork.co.uk

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Events

NEW YORK

Tonight, May 16th: Samsung & Sejong Present: An evening of classical chamber music performed by the International Sejong Soloists, a conductor-less string ensemble comprised of today’s leading young soloists.

The Samsung Experience, Time Warner Center, at Columbus Circle10 Columbus Circle, 3rd fl 8th Ave


May 17th: Americas Society

Review 74 - Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora Writing and Arts

Please join us for the concluding program of “Islands, Rimlands, Heartlands,” a celebration of a special Caribbean issue of Review: Literature and Arts of the Americas, featuring comments and presentations by Editor Daniel Shapiro; Guest Academic Editor Silvio Torres-Saillant (Syracuse University); Dominican poet Rhina Espaillat; and literary critic and poet Edward Baugh (University of the West Indies).

Reception to follow.

Thursday May 17 at 7 PM

680 Park Avenue at 68th Street, New York
Free admission


LONDON


DRINKS & MINGLING
When: 8:00 PM, Saturday 26 May 2007
Where: United Kingdom
The Conservatory Bar, The Montague Hotel, 15 Montague Street, Bloomsbury, LondonWC1B 5BJ
http://www.montaguehotel.com

Join us in the fabulous Conservatory Bar at The Montague Hotel in Russell Square for our Drinks & Mingling Party. As usual it is going to be a relaxed and fun evening meeting new people in elegant surroundings. We have the Conservatory Bar for 30 but can also spill out into the main bar if it gets busier than that.

Date Saturday 26th May 2007
Time 20:00
Venue The Montague Dress Code Dress to Impress
Age Range over 30s
Price £20.00 inc welcome drink

Monday, May 14, 2007

The Gym Project

This week I had my very first and probably last experience with the latest celebrity-frenzy-mania: Budokon. Well, I didn’t like it. As expected, it was a combination of yoga and martial arts with a dash of meditation. Not a big surprise for yoga junkies nor for martial arts funs. I don’t belong to any of the above categories so I was seriously challenged. The yoga movements have to be quick, the martial arts even faster. In a way, you are pretty much forced to fly on the air! Not a nice experience, not my cup of tea anyway.


The gym I did it was the Broadway at 19th street Equinox


Equinox
897 Broadway, New York, 10003, tel: 212 780 9300, web: www.equinoxfitness.com


Score card


Facilities: 10/10.
A massive four-store building can satisfy all your exercise needs. A floor with cardio machines, another one for weight and strength exercise, two studios, sauna room, and plenty of machines and stretching areas. There is also a cafĂ© and a store to buy the latest gym fashion clothes! The changing rooms are clean, towels are free, there are water fountains everywhere and plenty of beauty products to use in the shower room/bathrooms! An excellent place to get fit. The only downsize: there are far too many people and because of its size, it’s very easy to be disorientated (or lost).


Variety of classes: 10/10
There are plenty of classes to pick and choose: Budokon, ashtanga and anusara yoga, pilates, cardio kickbox, circulation, pure strength and also the funny named Brazilian butt lift class!


Rate of difficulty: 10/10
I would say that it is extremely difficult to master Budokon. Maybe because I was really sore from the Pure Strength class I took the previous day, I couldn’t “operate” very well in the studio. The first half an hour we were on the floor pretending to do a type of fast yoga and the second half it was purely boxing techniques. Yes, I now think much higher of Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox. They must be very motivated or simply insane!

Thursday, May 10, 2007

A New Yorker - Anderson Cooper

The first time I saw Anderson Cooper on CNN I was really pissed off. I was living in London and his show, AC 360 was not normally broadcasted on CNN International. Waiting for my favorite news anchors to appear at midnight (live from Hong Kong), I all of a sudden saw a presenter from Atlanta saying that "now, you will be watching AC 360 live from Darfur with Anderson Cooper". Then I saw a grey-haired man who looked young but mysteriously old too. Trying to describe the situation/crisis in Darfur while interviewing children, he gave the impression that he was fully committed, in the moment, there in Africa. "What's his problem?" I wondered. Why a young reporter leaves USA and travels to Africa to interview half-dead children? Doesn't he have a life?

Apparently not. A few months later, as a guest on Larry King Live promoting his book "Dispatches from the Edge", he blatantly admitted that he become a war correspondent to get a share of world's pain, unhappiness and misery. A way to feel in full his own. Well, after all, my initial thoughts were justified. He didn't have a happy life.

I met Anderson Cooper last night at Borders when he did a book signing. The line was long (the second longest line for a book signing I was in - with first being Hilary Clinton's) but he and us, the readers, were all very patient. He was modest, shy and gentle. Someone who became so successful as a reporter because he is real, honest and bold, because he participates in pain. War zones reporting is not just a job for him, it's a calling.

Anderson Copper, Dispatches from the Edge, Harper and Collins.

Monday, May 07, 2007

May everywhere

May has always been my favorite month. The weather is warm enough - it's almost summer but not really there. The flowers blossom and smell wonderfully when you walk on the streets or parks. People are happier, smile more often, drink iced coffee. Heavy cashmere sweaters have been replaced by flowery t-shirts and skirts, bright flip-flops and shades. What else can you possibly ask? That's a child's or adult's definition of happiness.

New York is busy as always but definitely more attractive. Even New Yorkers are less rude. As if the pink and green colors of the Cherries have transformed them completely. More pleasant to walk around, sip frozen margaritas or cold White Zinfandel and read the New York Times to boost your brain. London is equally attractive. Walks across South Bank, a must-do stop at the Borough Market and the very famous Monmouth cafe for the iced latte and some Pims during the evening.

Undoubtedly though, the most beautiful city in May is Paris. Paris is magic in May. I can't even describe it. So pretty and romantic, fresh and scented, green and colorful, make me think of Proust, his madeleines and his definition of happiness. If you haven't been in Paris in May, try it this year. It's an experience.

EVENTS

NEW YORK

Anderson Cooper, discussion and book signing, Dispatches from the Edge, Borders Bookstore, Time and Warner Building.
Wednesday, 5/9 at 6.30 PM


Party for BKLYN Designs Friday, May 11, 8-10:30pm BKLYN Designs (brooklyndesigns.net) , the three-day long design show, is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, and DWR is thrilled to host a party on the opening day. As part of BKLYN Designs, Pratt College's Industrial Design students will display their work, which will be judged by a jury of design editors. The winner will receive a $200 DWR gift certificate and the five best entries will be on display at the Brooklyn Heights Studio for a month following the event. Join us for an evening celebrating local design and sip cocktails from Hanger One vodka or enjoy a chilled swing-top from Grolsch.
RSVP to 718.875.1000 ext 146 by May 10.