Freebies-NYC-April 2009

Here's some free or almost free -- fun or useful things to do in NYC. Please note that all of the events listed below are subject to change.

To confirm or for additional information please contact the organization directly.

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April 22, 2009 to May 3, 2009

The 2009 Tribeca Film Festival and Apple

(Meet the Filmmakers)

Filmmaking Events & Workshops

Guest Speakers:
Spike Lee & Natalie Portman & Dan Fogler & Lee Daniels & Many Others!!!

The Apple Store in SoHo is taking part in the Tribeca Film Festival for the fifth year in a row. To celebrate the spirit of independent film, they are hosting dozens of FREE filmmaking events from April 22nd to May 3rd.

Everyone’s invited to attend! Grab a seat in their theater for the “Meet the Filmmakers” series, presented by Apple and indieWIRE*.

You can also attend a What’s New in Filmmaking event.

Or take one of the other great workshops offered during the festival.

In the Meet the Filmmakers series, some of the leading actors, writers, and directors in the film industry will take you behind the scenes of their latest film projects.

Just to mention a few of the star-studded guests, include:

Spike Lee The Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated actor, writer, director, and producer speaks about Passing Strange, which brings the hit Broadway rock musical to the screen, and Kobe Doin’ Work, his documentary about Kobe Bryant. Both films screen at Tribeca. Wednesday, April 22, 7:00 p.m.

Natalie Portman Natalie Portman joins CEO Christine Aylward on the stage to discuss their new web project — MakingOf — a site that promises to transform the way people view, enjoy, and participate in entertainment. Friday, April 24, 3:30 p.m.

Dan Fogler The Tony Award–winning actor (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Balls of Fury, Fanboys) makes his directorial debut in Hysterical Psycho, which screens at this year’s festival. The film takes place at the Moonlake Inn Motel, where supernatural chaos thrives. Friday, April 24, 6:00 p.m.

Lee Daniels The talented director (Shadowboxer) and producer (The Woodsman), Daniels produced the much-heralded Monster’s Ball, for which Halle Berry won an Academy Award for Best Actress. During his Meet the Filmmakers discussion, Daniels will speak about his career, including his latest film, Precious, which tells the story of Precious Jones, a Harlem teen struggling for a better life. Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.

Admission: FREE

Location:
Apple Store (Soho)
103 Prince Street
New York City, NY 10012

For more information and to see a full schedule of upcoming FREE events at the Apple Store, go to: http://www.apple.com/retail/soho/tribeca/schedule.html

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April 18, 2009 – Saturday
8:00AM to 6:00PM

Public Forum

“Open Everything”

Featured Speakers:
Leslie Hawthorn - Google, Inc.
Others: TBA

If you're looking for something to do that involves being “open” -- this event is for you and me, too! According to Open Everything they present events all over the world that are organized by regular people to “explore and discuss” the concept of “open”. And, not just technology – but any topic of your choice!

The interpretation is totally up to us-- the attendees. Sounds very spontaneous and creative-- should be fun and I definitely am looking forward to being there.

You will need to register... hurry! space is limited to only 250 people.

There is a promise of a fancy name tag which alone is enough to make me get up extra early on a Saturday morning. The possibility of a free t-shirt would be just the added bonus to kick-start my spring wardrobe on the right path!

Bring Your Ideas or Just Bring Yourself—Admission is Free

Location:
UNICEF House
3 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10016

(A location for post-event socializing will be announced at the end of the day.)

Registration & Travel Information: http://nyc.openeverything.us/#event

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April 13, 2009 - Monday
7:00PM to 8:30PM

An Evening with Jeff Koons

Art/Discussion
Featured Speaker: Jeff Koons

American-born pop artist Jeff Koons will discuss two recent publications documenting his works: Celebration records Koons' October 2008 exhibition at Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie and Versailles explores Koons' September 2008 exhibition at the Palace of Versailles--the first contemporary exhibition ever held in the apartments of the king.

Both books display Koons' penchant for the marriage of childhood nostalgia with more adult themes and sensibilities, aptly depicting the verve of an artist who is not afraid to meld kitsch with 'high art.'

This event is free and open to the public but seating is limited, so we are offering seat reservations. Seat reservations include a copy of Jeff Koons' Celebration.

To reserve a seat for this event please go to:

http://www.strandbooks.com/

...and click on the 'events' page.

Cost: free

Location
Strand Book Store
828 Broadway (at the corner of 12th Street)
3rd Floor
New York, NY
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April 01, 2009 - Wednesday
1:00PM to 2PM

Opera/Vocal

“Wednesdays at One: Juilliard Singers”

Performed for an hour, at lunchtime, this free concert series by musicians from the Juilliard School is held on most Wednesdays during the School Year.

About Juilliard

Juilliard's mission is to provide the highest quality of artistic education for talented musicians, dancers, and actors from around the globe, so that they may attain their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and world citizens.

Location:
Alice Tully Hall, Starr Theater
Juilliard School

No tickets required.

For more information: http://events.juilliard.edu:8080/cal/event/showEventMore.rdo

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April 2, 2009 - Thursday
12:30PM

Author Event (Sports)

Ron Darling Signs

“The Complete Game: Reflections on Baseball, Pitching, and Life on the Mound”

Ron Darling former starting pitcher for the NY Mets (1983 to 1991), was the first Mets pitcher to receive a Gold Glove. Since 2006 he has been SportsNet New York’s game and studio analyst.

Mr. Darling won an Emmy Award for best sports analyst in 2006. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii; attended Yale University, where he was a two-time All-American, he currently lives with his family in Manhattan.

Location:
Barnes & Noble
555 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017

For More Information:
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/author-events/contributor/2072801

Telephone:
212-697-3048
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Freebies-NYC-March 2009

Here's some free or almost free -- fun or useful things to do in NYC.

Please note that all of the events listed below are subject to change.

To confirm or for additional information please contact the organization directly.

March 23, 2009
10:00AM to 8:30PM

Presentations-Various Media

"Celebrating the Living Theatre" with Judith Malina

A celebration of the work of the legendary Living Theatre featuring screenings, readings, discussions, and the presentation of the Edwin Booth Award by the CUNY Doctoral Theatre Students Association.

This is a day of screenings of documentaries and Living Theatre works from 1965-present

For details & location go to: http://www.livingtheatre.org/

March 24, 2009
2:00PM

Film

“Invitation to a Voyage: Eileen Gray, Designer and Architect” (2007)

Jörg Bundschuh, director. Profiles Irish architect and designer Eileen Gray and discusses the modernist lighting, furniture, and houses she designed in France. (52 min.).

This film is shown as part of Women's History Month.2:00 p.m., Art Study Room, Uris Center for Education.

Price: Pay-What-You-Wish admission policy
Website www.metmuseum.org

Address & Phone
Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth AvenueFifth Ave at 82nd Street
New York, NY 10028-0198
(212) 535-7710
Groups (212) 288-7733

Subways 4, 5, 6 to 86 St

Hours
Mon Closed
Tues-Thurs 9:30am-5:30pm
Fri-Sat 9:30am-9:00pm
Sun 9:30am-5:30pm

Suggested Contribution
General $10
Students/Seniors $5
12 years and under are free, when accompanied by adult.

Parking
The Met's garage is at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street and is open all the time.
If you have your ticket validated at the Uris Center Information Desk, the rates are lowered

March 25, 2009
6:30 p.m.

Fiction Forum: Mary Gaitskill

Writer Mary Gaitskill Discusses Her Work
Moderated by Jeffery Renard Allen, faculty, the Writing Program

Mary Gaitskill's books include The Man Back There: Stories (2008), Two Girls, Fat and Thin (1998), and Bad Behavoir (1989). Her novel Veronica was nominated for a National Book Award in 2005, and her book of short stories Because They Wanted To was nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1998. Her stories and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, Esquire, The Best American Short Stories (1993) and The O. Henry Prize Stories (1998). She is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and teaches creative writing at Syracuse University.

Location:
Alvin Johnson/J. M. Kaplan Hall, 66 West 12th Street, room 510
Admission:$5; free to all students and New School faculty, staff, and alumni with ID

Box Office Information:
In person purchases can be made at The New School Box Office at 66 West 12th Street, main floor, Monday-Friday 1:00-7:00 p.m. The box office opens the first day of classes and closes after the last paid event of each semester.

Reservations and inquiries can be made by emailing boxoffice@newschool.edu or calling 212.229.5488

Website: http://www.newschool.edu/eventDetail.aspx?id=26743

Back on the A Train

You haven't heard from me since May because I've been having such a fabulous time traveling in Europe. Took my laptop with me with full intention of keeping in touch, but except for the occasional email sent back home, there simply was no time to write.

When there was time, for instance, during my stay in Carcassonne (France) in the country-side there was no internet connection available which is just as well as there were too many beautiful, medieval villages to visit and breath-taking country-side to see. Saw lots of places, took thousands of photos, and had the most terrific time which I hope to be sharing with YOU as soon as I chill out.

Still slightly burned out from the fast pace of the final weeks-- but getting there--back to normal!

The Eurail Global Pass is a fantastic idea for someone like me who doesn't like to plan her travel. At the same time I love having lots & lots of options! This ticket included access to over 21 countries-- perfect for me because many times I was able to let my heart dictate direction & spontaneously hop aboard a train.

Oftentimes, simply choosing my destination right off the information boards in the station.

Must mention that a good part of The Netherlands are ideal for spur-of-the-moment travel as many of the countries and cities are within reach in a few short hours or less.

This was not the case everywhere else. Other places, like Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and in some others it was not possible to jump on a train without making a reservation. Obviously, once the vacation season kicked-in at the end of June, it was best to reserve ahead of time because I couldn't know if there would be an available seat or not.

Anyone considering using the Eurail Passes for travel in Europe should be aware that it's a "pre-paid" ticket for all the countries you purchased on it, but a separate reservation may be needed or even mandatory. This will require in most cases going to the train station. Forget about thinking you can do this on-line—it simply is not a service that Eurail Pass holders can enjoy. On-line reservations are available, but only for individual ticket sales.

Anyway, back home, yesterday, 3 weeks after my return, I got on the subway and took an A train to join a friend for dinner in midtown Manhattan at Café Cielo on 8th Avenue around 53rd Street.

By the way, this is a great pre-theater restaurant/bar with fantastic service and delicious Italian food! I had my usual Veal Picata and my friend enjoyed his fresh grilled tuna very much.

After not using the subway system for almost 4 months, and managing to avoid mid-town for the past few weeks, I definitely felt like a tourist in my own city. The intense heat in the station was not much fun though-- probably well over 100 degrees!

Oh! How I miss those 1st Class European trains and lovely, huge, clean stations!

The noise level and endless procession of people are like nowhere else that I've experienced this Summer (well, maybe in Venice minus the subways).

It definitely felt like an underground inferno! I had forgotten how much I disliked the entire process of using the subway, especially in Summer-time during rush hour, which in NYC is almost all day long and into the evening.

Yet, there is another side of the city below the pavements that sometimes catches me completely off guard and it includes Music! On the 59th Street & Columbus Circle platform there was the most incredible sound coming out of a box with its owner singing along to the Temptations hit, "My Girl".

This box-- whatever it was-- had the best speakers I ever heard-- definitely concert quality!

Despite the heat, grime, fried food odors, and stinky sweat from homeless and home-bound humanity, this mind-blowing, life-saving sound blasted at amazing decibels dissolved the anger, angst and apathy off the faces of even the most jaded commuters.

That is except for the young woman on the bench sitting next to me reading her book.

Suddenly, magically, it was a party! Everyone looked more relaxed and maybe even a little bit in love. Smiles started to appear ... riders momentarily in the station that I could see through the open doors and windows of their train cars looked like they wished they could get off and join the fun.

What does it take for a New Yorker to give up their seat? Maybe the right kind of music? Well, that may be stretching it a bit, but everyone sure looked happier to me.

I know I was.

Walking uptown on 8th Avenue from 50th Street, I realized how tall, magnificently tall the buildings are and understood for the first time why visitors would find NYC enthralling.

These are the real thing baby! Real skyscrapers scraping and scratching the clouds! Yes, I was very impressed not having seen a really tall building in months I had forgotten about them and their power to make you look up with respect.

Below them on the street, people were dashing around like crazy and walking right into me because they were focused on getting as quickly as they can wherever it is they are going. I almost got mowed down twice by pedestrians on one block. I suppose it'll take me a little while to get my NYC walking feet back in gear.

But I do have to say that the cars, here, in comparison to anywhere else I've been this Summer are far more predictable. Dublin should get first prize for the worst drivers anywhere-- they plow into each other when traffic is at a standstill! Tell me, how is it possible to have a car accident when no one is moving and the entire street is bumper-to-bumper?

Saw it—just as my friend B said it was about to happen-- couldn't believe it!

OK now about gifts: Lucky me, I received some lovely things from my friend. & yes, of course, I had a gift bag to give as well of many souvenirs specially chosen for him from my travels.

Let me brag for a sec about the goodies I received: flowers (I love flowers, especially roses!); huge box of Godiva chocolates (I love chocolate!); and a very sweet, soft teddy bear. Wow!!! Thanks J!

As you may suspect, I believe that giving, and receiving gifts are among the most important activities we do in life (thus this blog!). I love thinking about selecting them, giving them and equally receiving them.

It's good to remember to never say no to a gift-- no matter how small it is, no matter how much you believe the giver may need it more than you do because the good feelings generated from giving and receiving are most important.

Do the right thing: just take it and say: Thank you!

Or...

Just give a gift today, and spread the happiness!