The Cherry Blossom Festival is this weekend, and in an attempt to beat the crowds I decided to try and sneak a peek early.
What I discovered is that I love the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. It’s beautiful and peaceful and a perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon. (Although I hear that when it’s busy — free days — the experience is not as pleasant. So stop being cheap and pay $5 to enjoy the serenity).
You can also become a member for $40, which doesn’t seem like a great deal unless you plan on going a lot, but it really does change constantly, and you almost have to go once a week to see everything. (I’m not that into flowers myself, but some of you might be).
AND with membership you also get access to members-only events: first pick at the annual plant sale, extended hours for summer sunset picnics and a wine-and-cheese reception in the rose garden. How civilized of you.
AND you can impress your mom when you go home to visit, because membership at the Brooklyn Botanic gardens is also valid at almost any botanic garden in the country.
Last May one of New York’s best known secret society’s, The LVHRD Foundation (that’s pronounced live-hard), closed off it’s membership.
Normally UNCOOLKIDS wouldn’t really feel right about telling you about something so exclusive. That’s really more of a cool kids thing, isn’t it? But LVHRD throws a good party and it’s not as cliquish as it sounds. Even though the locations of the events aren’t disclosed until the day-of, there’s usually somebody who can get you the info, and it’s not like they have a member list at the door or anything. They even give tips about attending; if you check the source code of their website you find this message:
“Dear Mr. Snoopy Pants,
If you really wanna get in, do a google search for LVHRD, find somebody who has been to an event, and email them… they should be able to show you the way, or just attend an event and ask for chantal.
-Cliff Shelby
thecleaner@lvhrd.com”
LVHRD partys are not just a bunch of people standing around drinking (although that is a big part); they always have some sort of theme. Coming up on May 2nd is ACTHRD: Thespian Royale, a 12-man competitive acting event. And just to make sure everyone knows they’re welcome, they are allowing non-members to attend, provided they register (and pay) before-hand. (And the registration form for non-members looks exactly like the profile form for members, so maybe they’re really the same form? Are you secretly joining the secret society?)
Is it really bad that every time I see a preview of United 93 I get really excited because I think it’s going to be a preview of Snakes on a Plane? And then I get really dissapointed when it’s not.
It was announced yesterday in the NY times that Jan Maxwell, the female lead of Entertaining Mr Sloane is leaving the show because she’s scared of Alec Baldwin’s temper. But there’s still one great reason to go see it:
Alec Baldwin
It’s a strange play about a violent, but good looking, drifter who rents a room from an middle-aged woman and becomes the object of her affection — and of her brother’s.
Baldwin is a caricature of the wealthy, closeted, Englishman; he plays it over the top and full of bravado. He couldn’t be more cliche if he added a lisp. But, this is the Alec we’ve grown to love; the Alec from Glengarry Glen Ross, Working Girl and Married to the Mob (well, maybe not quite as light on his feet as he was then. . . )
I don’t care if he did throw things, punch a hole in the wall, or write demands to the stage manager on his dressing room mirror in permanent marker (that last one’s not in the Times article, but it’s true . . . I know things). He’s crazy and he’s a Broadway diva and I love him for it.
My only disappointment with the play? Not enough Alec Baldwin.
So go ahead and leave, Jan Maxwell. You were good, but you weren’t the reason I was there.
As long as Alec’s in, I’m in.
Oh, and Chris Carmack (of The O.C.) walks around for half the play with his shirt off. That’s a good reason to go see it, too.
“Winner gets a trip to vegas, the chance to perform at our big Rock Honors show, and a spot in the US Air Guitar Championships in NYC. (we have some hott Gibson guitars up for grabs, too. kinky mirrored Gibsons, i might add.)”
Check the site for all the details and some funny videos.
Last night I went by The Slipper Room where Jack Kukoda was hosting I Like Your Style: A Variety Show. Despite being packed, I was able to find seats up front. Usually at events like these only one or two acts are good, but last night every single act was hilarious. Performers included: Roger Hailes, Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal (of Hot Tub), Trophey Dad, Elephant Larry, Jessica Delfino (singing about her magical pussy) and Seth Herzog dancing to the Wonder Woman theme:
In between acts Kukoda handed out raffle prizes including a Comedy Central prize package and two Coach bags. All proceeds went to the James F. Keppel Scholarship Foundation, so besides being an incredible line-up it all went to a good cause.
On Saturday night The Shark Show hosted the finals for their Battle of the Funny Bands.
After an introduction of the “celebrity” judges, God’s Pottery kicked it off. I heard they killed the week before, but they didn’t leave much of an impression this time. I knew Cock Lorge wasn’t going to take it because they just sang the phrase ‘cock in the pussy’ over and over and over again (which actually does sound pretty funny when I write it). The judges must’ve agreed with me, because Shayna Ferm and her band The Shayna Forevers, and The Rob and Mark Show made it to the top two spots.
L to R: Katherine Bryant and Jack Kukoda (of the Shayna Forevers), Shayna Ferm, Mark and Rob (of The Mark and Rob Show) moments before the heated finals
Rob and Mark put up a good fight, with songs like “I Don’t Want to Read your Blog” (ahem). But everyone knows that sex sells, and Shayna took the lead by pulling a guitar pick out of her crotch, singing “Come on Me” and “Thanks for Sticking it in Me” and making her band wear nothing but their bathing suits for the final round.
Although the quality is bad, you can get an idea of their sound from the video. They are trip-hop, with overlaying guitar and violin and the haunting voice of lead singer Ali Rogers. Arlene’s Grocery is always a great venue, and it was packed for this show. Rogers obviously had some friends in crowd based on the friendly heckling, but overall it was a tight and professional show.
They’re playing again at Tonic on May 3rd, and I would definitely recommend going.
Photo by Jen Maler
I went to the Threepenny Opera opening Night Party last Thursday at the Roxy, and it was open bar, so I can’t tell you much. What I can tell you is that the bitchy guy from MAC make-up wouldn’t give me my gift bag because I wasn’t leaving, but promised me that there would be some left later, and there weren’t.
I was walking down 5th Ave when I noticed two unattended tanks of nitrogen sitting on the corner, with a cord running from the tanks into a manhole. Nobody else walking by seemed to notice or care, but I decided to call the number on the side of the tanks (212-397-2132) to find out what was going on.
What I found out was that the tanks were put there by Verizon because the steam has damaged some underground phone lines and the nitrogen is being pumped in to dry them out. I asked if there was any danger and was told no. “But what if a car was to jump the curb and run into the tanks? Would they explode?” The operator admitted that if the tanks were penetrated, then nitrogen would shoot out and anyone standing nearby would probably get frostbite. Oh. Well, that’s awesome.
I also learned that the pressure valves on top are to keep the tank from exploding. I know that as New Yorkers we are too cool to notice the random stuff that happens in the street around us, but do me a favor: if you see someone playing with these knobs, stop them.
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Last May one of New York’s best known secret society’s, 
