NYC Urban Life

New URL - nycurbanlife.com

2015-06-15T20:37:00.005-04:00

Hello!
If you're reading this it's because Blogger is not forwarding this site to my new URL. Sometimes the mobile version doesn't forward well. Just click on this link and be wisked away to the new site - nycurbanlife.com

Thanks!
Leslie

Rodents in NYC

2015-05-08T21:10:00.001-04:00

The city has a rodent problem and Mayor de Blasio's has a plan.

The city’s rat problem is older than the grid, but what makes Mayor de Blasio's new plan different than other rat-busting efforts is it aims to go after the rodents in their nests.

The city will now stake out areas that have high rodent populations - based on their research - and then trace the critters back to their hangout spots, which scientists call “reservoirs”. Typical reservoirs include parks, playgrounds and sewers.

Mayor de Blasio announced that he’s beefing up a successful pilot program aimed at ridding the vermin from seven neighborhoods with $3 million to make it permanent and allow it to expand citywide. Those neighborhoods that benefited from the pilot program last year saw a 80-90% decrease in rat sightings. Better garbage disposal control also played a role in decreasing rats from neighborhoods.

This little guy was spotted in the Times Square subway. Let's hope Midtown is one of the neighborhoods in the expansion of the program.

Weekend Market Picks

2015-05-02T12:31:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of washingtonsquareparkblog.com

This is the perfect weekend to shop for a Mother's Day gift your mom because there are some fantastic markets going on. (Hint: It's next week!)

Check out this week's events courtesy of Karen E. Seiger, market enthusiast at marketsofnewyork.com

NYC Cannabis Parade Today

2015-05-02T11:39:00.001-04:00

It’s that time of year again.

Today is the annual NYC Cannabis Parade.

Activists championing legalized marijuana and decriminalization of the herb are planning to gather West 31st Street and march down Broadway to Union Square.

The parade starts at 12:30pm, and will be lead by marijuana activist and Global Marijuana March founder Dana Beal, and Jack A. Cole, a retired police lieutenant who started Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).

Expected speakers include City Councilmen Jumaane Williams and Rafael Espinal, according to organizers, as well as numerous members of activist groups and musical performances.

New York in Bloom

2015-04-29T11:14:00.001-04:00

World Science Festival, May 27-31

2015-04-28T09:46:00.000-04:00

Get this on your calendar now.

The World Science Festival is a can’t-miss New York City cultural event - a five-day celebration of science - that runs from May 27 through May 31. A science street fair for the public.

An Uncommon Bag

2015-04-24T16:40:00.000-04:00

Now that hockey season is over, my weekend schedule of events seems like a breeze. When I say hockey season, I don’t mean the NHL; we know that is still going on. I mean kids hockey – 4 practices a week and 4 games per weekend, usually in opposite directions. Now, its just soccer and with a little spring hockey - much easier !

Urban mothers have the same experiences as our suburban counterparts, but we usually travel by foot, subway, bus or cab; no car to throw in any amount of gear that may be needed. The trick to making these treks about town, and beyond, is to pack light but pack what you’ll need for 4-5 hours out. And, because we live in Manhattan, there is the unspoken rule to use a bag that looks hip/stylish/unique. That’s a lot to ask for in a bag but my friends at UncommonGoods had the answer to my needs.

Uncommongoods is a cool local company that offers unique products and handcrafted gifts. More importantly, they are a B Corp, offering a positive vision of a better way to do business, including higher quality jobs, improving the quality of life in their community, and creating value for society through sustainable practices by offering handmade, recycled and organic products.

My bag-about-town this spring is the Upcycled USPS Mail Sack Tote. This heavy-duty canvas bag has some key design features that I love. The long nylon webbing shoulder straps allow easy access, important when someone is digging-in to grab a water bottle or a snack. I also love that the canvas has been recycled - the clever design house TerraCycle has repurposed real USPS mail sacks! Because the canvas is tough, with a great distressed look, I’m never hesitant about putting it down on the sidewalk, a bench, or a soccer field.

The other feature I love is the metal grommets - perfect for attaching carabiners for keys, water bottles, or whatever else you want quick access to. This past weekend my Mail Sack Tote held two water bottles, a coloring book, a sweater, wallet, a soccer ball, an iTouch, and snacks, with room to spare.

Looking for a practical but stylish gift for mom this Mother’s Day? The Mail Sack Tote is a great choice, or you can check out more gifts for mom here at Uncommongoods.

New Women's Pro Hockey League: NWHL

2015-04-20T14:46:00.001-04:00

NWHL Launch with Olympic medalists Dani Rylan,
Angela Ruggiero, Hilary Knight, Erika Lawler

Last Monday I had the honor of being present at the launch of the NWHL – the National Women’s Hockey League. The league will give women the opportunity to play competitive hockey and be paid for it. The first-ever all women’s professional paid hockey league.

At the launch event at Chelsea Piers, attendees were welcomed by the site of a U8 and U10 girls scrimmage – the next generation of NWHLers, inspired and excited for a chance to play professional hockey!

Former Northeastern University hockey player and Commissioner of the NWHL, Dani Rylan set out to create the first paid professional women’s hockey league in North America. The league will operate on income from sponsors as well as the NWHL Foundation, a charitable arm that will spread awareness about women’s hockey through grassroots efforts.

NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan

“We’re thrilled to be launching the first-ever paid professional women’s hockey league and creating a platform for these talented women,” says Rylan. “We look forward to helping grow the sport for the best players in the world, and giving these women a place to shine.”

Ice hockey is one of the fastest growing women's sports in the world, with the number of participants increasing 350 percent in the last 10 years. While there are not as many organized leagues (or as much sponsorship) for women as there are for men, there exist leagues of all levels including the Western Women's Hockey League, Atlantic Women's Hockey League and various European leagues; as well as university teams, national and Olympic teams, and recreational teams.

The NWHL will start with four teams and plans to expand the league with additional teams and locations across North America. The founding four teams are the Boston Pride, Buffalo Beauts, Connecticut Whale and New York Riveters. The inaugural NWHL season will take place from October to March, including preseason, an All-Star weekend and playoffs. The puck is set to drop for the regular season on October 17, 2015 and playoffs will conclude the season in March 2015.

You can follow the NWHL on...
Twitter @NWHL_
Instagram @NWHL.co
Facebook NWHL

Read more:

NWHL.co

NY Times: New Women’s Pro League Offers Players Novel Perks: A Choice and a Salary

Yahoo Sports: NWHL, new women’s hockey league, promises to pay players

BloombergView: Women's Hockey Gets a Paycheck

ESPENw: Big Plans, Big Questions for New Women's Pro Hockey League

Your Subway Ride is Going to Cost you More!

2015-03-21T16:40:00.000-04:00

MTA fares are set to rise Monday, March 22, 2015. The increase will make your commuting fare increase from $2.50 to $2.75.

Long Islander, don't think you're not going to feel this. LIRR and Metro-North are also set to rise by about 4.25% or less. Price hikes will vary from line to line.

Those in cars will also have to shell out more cash as tolls on MTA bridges and tunnels will jump from $7.50 to $8. E-ZPass drivers will have to spend $0.21 more with tolls rising to $5.54.

Learn more on the MTA site.

Hawks in New York City

2015-03-21T15:41:00.004-04:00

Photo credit: unidentified

Most people might not think New York City has much wildlife but with all the parks in and around the city, there is a surprising amount of furry and feathery creatures about.

Last April I wrote about Dora who built her nest near Tompkins Square Park. It seems that Dora, and her mate Christo, have been displaced from their home because of building development but thankfully have found a new home at Ageloff Towers on Avenue A between E.3rd and E.4 streets, where they are building a nest on a 12th-floor air conditioner. You can see a slideshow of the two here - click here.

NYC Women's Hockey Team Heads to National Hockey Championship

2015-03-10T00:25:00.003-04:00

Boasting a recent win at the Empire State Games, the Central Park Senior Lady Hawks women’s team is now preparing for the USA National Hockey Championships in Green Bay, WI March 26-30.

The Senior Lady Hawks are a team of college-educated woman new to the working environment of New York City. They have played college hockey at D1 and D3 schools, many of them Ivy. With no league for them to play in after graduation, these hockey players created an all female, competitive environment at Lasker Rink in Central Park, in which over 40 skilled players play organized hockey together.

In February, a select team was chosen to play in the Empire State Games. The Senior Lady Hawks were undefeated, winning 6 straight games and beating all start teams from Western, Central, Hudson Valley and Adirondack, and bringing home the gold medal.

Ice hockey is one of the fastest growing women's sports in the world, with the number of participants increasing 350 percent in the last 10 years. While there are not as many organized leagues (or as much sponsorship) for women as there are for men, there exist leagues of all levels including the National Women's Hockey League, Western Women's Hockey League, Atlantic Women's Hockey League and various European leagues; as well as university teams, national and Olympic teams, and recreational teams.

The Lady Hawks women's hockey team has no corporate sponsor and anytime the players travel for their games, they have to pay their way there and back, hotels food and incidentals. The coaches are volunteers and have to do the same. Many of these young players are just making their way in the work world and trips like this get expensive especially flights. Donations to underwrite their bid at the Nationals are being accepted at supportladyhawks.athleteson.ly.

The Senior Lady Hawks are supported by Central Park Ice Hockey at Lasker Rink in Central Park. Ice is donated, coaches are volunteers and all expenses are solely up to the players. The Senior Lady Hawks are an off-shoot of the girls Lady Hawks - a program consists of U8, U10, U12 and U14 that are currently NYC’s only all-girl hockey teams. The senior team heading to the Nationals was created from the Thursday Night Skate where over 40 high level, passionate player’s revel in an all-female environment. As the senior team thrives, the young women volunteer their time to mentor the girls Lady Hawks program, being positive role models for the next generation of female hockey players and potentially growing the Thursday Night Skate program into a more permanent league.

Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the ’70s

2015-03-07T19:45:00.001-05:00

Special Exhibitions Gallery
February 6 – April 18, 2015

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
Seventh Avenue at 27 Street
New York City 10001-5992

Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the ’70s celebrates the two designers who defined the sexy and glamorous fashions of the 1970s. This is the first exhibition to juxtapose their work and analyze the way they dealt with similar themes and aesthetics during the height of their careers. Both designers are equally represented by the approximately 80 ensembles and 20 accessories that are arranged thematically in an environment designed to evoke the style of this singular, dynamic era in history.

Drawn exclusively from the holdings of The Museum at FIT, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on two of the best-known fashion designers in modern history. The museum’s collections hold the Halston archives—the most comprehensive records of his work in the world—as well as a vast array of significant Yves Saint Laurent pieces donated by important clients, fashion editors, friends, and colleagues of Saint Laurent. These include Lauren Bacall, Marina Schiano, Aimée de Heeren, Mary Russell, and Tina Chow. It is worth noting that the first major retrospective exhibition on Halston was organized at the museum in 1991 by the late curator Richard Martin.

No two designers defined and dominated the decade more than Yves Saint Laurent and Halston. They were the era’s most influential and celebrated clothing creators, becoming celebrities in their own right.

The exhibition also includes accessories designed to complement each designer’s clothing. While Saint Laurent’s accessories were created in-house and Halston’s were designed by his close collaborator, model, and friend Elsa Peretti, accessories were an important element for both. Highlights include a hat from Saint Laurent’s Russian-inspired collection and a “bone cuff” by Elsa Peretti for Halston.

Winter Advisory #897, or something like that

2015-03-02T22:20:00.001-05:00

Longest...winter...ever...

Notification issued 3/2/15 9:54 PM.

The New York City Office of Emergency Management today issued a travel advisory for a wintry mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain Tuesday evening March 3, through Wednesday morning March 4, 2015. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for 3:00 PM Tuesday through 2:00 AM Wednesday. Snow will develop late Tuesday afternoon and will mix with or change to sleet and freezing rain Tuesday evening. The wintry mix will then change over to rain late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. The rain will taper off before the Wednesday morningcommute, but untreated roads and walkways are expected to still be slippery. A total of 1-3 inches of snow and a trace of ice is expected with this event. New Yorkers are asked to exercise caution and be prepared for limited visibility and slippery conditions when traveling.
http://m.imgur.com/LL6PvCb

NYC Snowman

2015-01-25T07:33:00.001-05:00

NYC Life this weekend was...

2015-01-11T21:25:00.001-05:00

cold and gray....

NYC Life this week is...snowy

2015-01-09T09:28:00.001-05:00

Death Becomes Her @ The MET

2014-11-27T08:51:00.001-05:00

Worth a visit to the Metropolitan Museum, the exhibition - www.metmuseum.org/deathbecomesher - explores the aesthetic development and cultural implications of mourning fashions of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Approximately 30 ensembles, many of which are being exhibited for the first time, reveal the impact of high-fashion standards on the dictates of bereavement rituals as they evolved over a century.

The exhibition is organized chronologically and features mourning dress from 1815 to 1915, primarily from The Costume Institute’s collection. The calendar of bereavement’s evolution and cultural implications are illuminated through women’s clothing and accessories - some fabulous shawls and jewelry - showing the progression of appropriate fabrics from mourning crape/crepe to corded silks, and the later introduction of color with shades of gray and mauve.

On view now at the MET through to February 1, 2015.

Getting in the Seasonal Vibe

2014-11-27T08:40:00.001-05:00

The Metropolian Museum is always a must-visit around the holidays.

NYC speed limit change

2014-11-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

Effective immediately, all NYC streets unless otherwise posted, have a changed speed limit, from 30 mph to 25 mph.

Rockefeller Centre Tree

2014-11-07T17:25:00.001-05:00

The Rockefeller Center holiday tree has arrived. It's a gorgeous 85 foot, tall 13 ton (wow!) Norwegian Spruce from Pennsylvania, that must have taken many years to grow to that height and weight.

Which begs the question, who is letting them cut down their beautiful tree? And why is Rock Center still killing trees for this seasonal display?

Here's an idea NBC:

- commission an artist to make one each year, or

- construct a life-like version and decorate that each year.

What other suggestions can we pass on to the NBC folks?? Post your ideas on this blog.

Note: When it's all over, this tree will return to Pennsylvania and be used to build Habitat for Humanity homes. That's a nice outcome.

Climate March Disrupts UWS Sept. 21

2014-09-20T19:26:00.000-04:00

West Side Community Garden's Arts & Crafts Festival, Sept. 13-14

2014-09-06T09:36:00.001-04:00

West Side Community Garden is hosting a weekend arts festival that includes poetry readings, a performance by the New York String Orchestra, and artwork and crafts for sale by local westside artists.

DATES: September 13th and 14th .

TIMES: 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LOCATION: West 89th Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues.

Paintings, photographs, jewelry, ceramics, quilting and limited edition clothing and more will be sold by the garden's West 89th Street entrance (between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues).

On Saturday, September 13th, you can enjoy a free crafts workshop for children (all materials provided) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m, in a garden setting.. Entertainment starts at 1:00 p.m. and at 3:00 p.m. when Iluminada & Guillermo will play Spanish guitar and lead a folk music singalong for children and adults (in English and Spanish).

On Sunday, September 14th, the New York String Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Josephs, will present a concert on the garden green from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. local poets Howard Pflanzer and Rosalie Calabrese will be featured in readings. Students from NYU’s Creative Writing programs will join them, with a book signing and reception to follow.

The WSCG Arts & Crafts festival is funded in part by The Lily Auchencloss Foundation and is an annual event of the West SideCommunity Garden, open year-round from dawn to dusk.

Summer Streets - August 2,9,16

2014-08-06T09:19:00.001-04:00

Summer Streets is modeled on other events from around the world including Ciclovía in Bogotá, Colombia and the Paris Plage in France. The event is part bike tour, part walking tour, part block party—a great time for exercise, people watching, or just enjoying summer mornings. Passersby are weclome to participate in arts and crafts workshops, listen to musical performances, learn to salsa dance, eat healthy snacks, climb a 25' climbing wall, soar through the sky on a 160' zipline and explore a 179 years voice tunnel.

Held between 7:00 am to 1:00 pm, Summer Streets extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue and connecting streets, with easy access from all points in New York City, allowing participants to plan a trip as long or short as they wish. All activities at Summer Streets are free of charge, and designed for people of all ages and ability levels to share the streets respectfully.

Summer Streets is a project of the New York City Department of Transportation.

Double-Decker Bus Collision in Times Square

2014-08-05T23:22:00.000-04:00

By now you've no doubt heard about the two double-decker buses that slammed into each other in Times Square, leaving 18 people injured and pedestrians pelted with debris. Tourists in the area say that the red bus was traveling at excessive speeds - frightening in such a congested area. And, just another example and underscore of why its important to pay attention to your surroundings while walking on city streets.

You can read more on the Daily News.

Historical Progression of New York's Skyline

2014-07-10T00:04:00.002-04:00

Have you see this before? I love it!

Of course, its now 2014 and the Freedom Tower is standing tall and beautiful.