I don’t pretend to be an art connoisseur, but I’ve got respect for it and take it for what it is. That being said, one of my favorite things about living in NYC is the street art that’s around and the rawness that it brings to the city. If you’re like me and like your art with some edge, then check out graffiti artist, Fred Brathwaite’s (Fab 5 Freddy) solo exhibit at Gallery 151. The opening reception is going down this Wednesday and it will surely not disappoint.

Brathwaite has been doing his thing for decades and paving the way for graffiti artists around the world. Back in the 70’s, he gained notoriety for being part of the Brooklyn based graffiti group, “The Fabulous 5” and for his canvas of choice- the number 5 train. He also famously painted a subway train with cartoon style pictures of Campbell’s Soup cans after Andy Warhol. He is considered to be a pioneer for the surge of hip hop that came up through the streets in the 80’s, and is credited with bringing the graffiti/rap scene and downtown punk rock scene together. Today he is featured in MOCA’s “Art in the Streets” which is America’s first major museum exhibition of street art.

His artwork is really something to see, so come down and pay your respects to the man who put graffiti on the map.

“New York: New York”
June 8th
6:30pm-9:30pm

Gallery 151, 350 Bowery New York, NY 10003

Last Wednesday, the lovely Maria Rubin and I had the chance to check out the eagerly awaited APL, Joey Verdone‘s most recent culinary creation.

The decor is eclectic, bohemian and the word “organic” was being dropped all over the place in regards to the colorful interior. Designed by Blackbook’s Steve Lewis along side custom-designed wallpaper by Shepard Fairy.

The colorful space seats 74 in the dining room and eight at the bar, features multicolored walls, a large skylight, monkey bars suspended in the air, etches of birds, and brass shoes hung over a pseudo phone line.

The cocktails were inventive and plentiful, all handcrafted by famed mixologist, Jeremy Bosslund. My personal favorite was the East River that came with a Swedish Fish floating in the bottom (honestly how could you go wrong?)

Although only a selection of hors d’œuvres were served at the press preview, what we had was excellent. Especially these little potato and smoked ham croquettes that were honestly little bites of heaven. The food and cocktail menu will be changing seasonally and truly represents a wide variety of influences from across the globe.

APL opens today at 146 Orchard St. Be sure to stop in… it’s sure to become a neighborhood staple in no time.

Last Tuesday, Hennessy Black hosted a shindig at The Box, to celebrate Micah Jesse‘s Four Year Anniversary of his Website.  I must say I was pretty impressed and def had a case of blogger envy.   Micah and I had just recently bonded over a drunken evening down at SXSW and I wanted to come out and support his big night, after all it was THE PARTY to be at – everyone I knew was going and my new found fave Marla Joy was performing.

All the nightlife regulars were there as well as “celebrities” Aubrey O’Day, Kelly Bensimon & Sonja Morgan, Alexia Echevarria, Adriana de Moura, Lea Black and Marysol Patton,  DJ Cassidy, Albie Manzo, Jonathan Cheban and Simon Huck, O’Neal McKnight, and Donnie Klang – yeah that’s right – whatchu know about MTV’s “Making The Band.” Leave it to our boy MJ to real in all the latest reality TV stars.

The night was over the top but I wouldn’t expect anything less from Micah.

Overall notes and highlights of the evening:

• Marla Joy’s amazing performance.  She’s looked stunning in Haute Hippie and is growing as a performer, right in front of my very own eyes.
• Hennessy Black is actually pretty good when mixed right.
• The Box is still one of the best looking rooms in NY.
• The Real Housewives of Miami came out with a cake and sung Happy Birthday to Micah.  I mentioned the party was a little over the top, right?
• There was so much love in the room.
• I am officially jealous.  I need step up my game and get some sponsors if I want my two year anniversary to be half as good as his jam.  Especially since the guestlist will be virtually the same.

Photos via [Kirill Was Here]

If you are reading this then chances are you live downtown.  And if you live downtown then there’s a 98.75% chance you have ate at Rubirosa…or at least popped in to say hello to the one and only Angelo Bianchi.

Rubirosa might be one of the hottest restaurants downtown right now but believe it or not, this joint comes straight out of Staten Island, where chef and co-owner, Angelo “A.J.” Pappalardo mastered his pizza making skills at his dad’s legendary (and still going strong) pizzeria Joe and Pat’s.  Pappalardo, who cooked at Esca and Circo,  teamed up with chef buddy Al Di Meglio (who also worked at Circo and the short-lived Olana) and opened the new Mulberry Street staple back in November.

We got down family style for The Downtown Diaries Queen’s birthday a few weeks ago.  With a private party for 20 in the back room, Rubirosa hooked us up with a TON of food. Not including drinks, family style meals start around $30pp – and by a TON of food – I mean you get an unfathomable amount.  For such a trendy place, its hard to believe you can get that much QUALITY food for so little money.  Read the rest of this entry »

A family business in the truest of New York traditions, MOSCOT has been around since the turn of the century after Hyman Moscot arrived from Eastern Europe via Ellis Island and began selling ready-made eyeglasses from a pushcart on Orchard Street. By 1950, MOSCOT was settled in at 118 Orchard Street where it remains to this day. Needless to say, the brand and location have stood the test of time.

As a life long spectacles wearer and new MOSCOT fan, I’ll vouch that the selection and customer service exceeds any optician and most retailers I’ve dealt with in my problematic extensive consumer history. MOSCOT original lines are that of bold perfection and offer an awesome array of options to us folks with less than perfect vision. Celebrities are nothing new to the MOSCOT brand either with an autograph board that boasts the names of stars like Johnny Depp, Glenn Close, Dana Carvey and Theophilus London.

Don’t worry… for all you people with 20/20 vision who I despise MOSCOT has just announced their first line of MOSCOT SUN. A little 70′s flair, some gangster style and a lot of old school charm are exuded from this line that will be pumping up your swagger as soon as you walk out the door. And should your tastes skew more towards the classics like myself, you’ll be relieved to know that any MOSCOT Originals can be created with the same tinted lenses the company used in the 1940′s.

An understated choice to celebrities and normal people alike… this New York eye wear institution offers an experience lost in many retail environments today. Be sure to check them out with locations at 118 Orchard Street and 69 West 14th Street.