Photo: Nicole Freezer Rubens

Tickets are now available for the Renewal Summit, celebrating women, innovation, renewal, and growth. Enjoy a fun theater night with “My First Ex Husband,” visit the “Songs of New York” exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, and check out Frank Dain’s new CD of timeless classics. The Outsider Art Fair is underway, and our Long Island reporter has tips for St. Paddy’s Day fun. Feeling stressed and anxious? Don’t miss Brett Cotter’s retreat. Meanwhile, our roving photographer is capturing the excitement in Vegas!

Renewal Summit 2025: Discovery, Empowerment, Connection

Join Anne Akers and Cheryl Benton for the 9th Annual Renewal Summit, a dynamic day of inspiration featuring engaging talks on AI, health, and travel, moments of relaxation, a musical performance, and the Woman of Purpose Award—all alongside exhibitors offering unique products and services. SIGN UP BY MARCH 31 and you could win an island vacation. GET THE DETAILS.

A Fun Night Out

I had such a fun night out with some of my Tomato pals. Before going to see the very funny show, “My First Ex-Husband” we met for dinner at Norma’s in Hell’s Kitchen which has excellent Sicilian food and wines and takes separate checks. During dinner we shared our stories of our “first ex-husbands” which were as funny as the stories in the show Joy Behar wrote. The cast changes monthly and we laughed out loud with the stories told by Judy Gold, Susan Lucci, Cathy Moriarty, and Tonya Pinkins. Grab your Tomato girlfriends and go see it!!! And we have a discount code for you too!!!!

SAVE 15% ON MIDDLE ORCHESTRA TIX: Click Here or Visit MyFirstExHusband.com & enter the code: MFEHMKT

The Songs of New York

This new exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York is a vibrant celebration of the city’s rich musical heritage. Spanning 100 years, it showcases over 100 songs from the 1920s to the 2020s, reflecting themes like the subway, nightlife, neighborhoods, and more. The exhibit features music from iconic artists such as Frank Sinatra, the Wu-Tang Clan, Jennifer Lopez, and the Ramones.

This interactive experience allows visitors to engage with the music of the five boroughs, offering a unique playlist with every visit. Alongside the music, the exhibit includes archival photographs of legendary artists like Blondie and LL Cool J, captured by renowned photographers. It’s a dynamic journey through the sounds and stories that define New York City’s cultural essence. GET THE DETAILS.

Spotlight on Li: St. Paddy’s Month

March is here! That means it’s time to celebrate St. Paddy’s Month in true Irish spirit!  Andrea Peponakis reports that Long Island’s craft breweries are serving seasonal brews, rich stouts, and festive green pints, making it the perfect way to toast to the luck of the Irish. Best of all, you can enjoy the celebration worry-free with safe, reliable transportation provided by professional brewery tour services. GET THE DETAILS.

Frank Dain Unveils Timeless Music Classics: “I’ve Had a Love”

Renowned singer, actor, artist, and editor of Cabaret Scenes magazine, Frank Dain, celebrates the release of his second recording, *I’ve Had a Love*. This self-produced 16-track album showcases timeless classics from the Great American Songbook, featuring works by legendary songwriters such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, George and Ira Gershwin, Comden and Green, and Johnny Burke.

With Kathleen Landis as Arranger, Music Director, and co-producer, alongside Broadway’s Kurt Peterson, the recording highlights the talents of some of New York City’s finest musicians. Frank’s latest project is a heartfelt tribute to love and the enduring power of great music. I’ve Had a Love will be available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, and through Frank’s website.

Now to March 2. The Outsider Art Fair

Head to the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea, for this premier event dedicated to showcasing self-taught art, Art Brut, and outsider art. The fair features a diverse range of works by artists who are often untrained or create outside the traditional art world, offering a unique and raw perspective.

This year’s edition includes 66 exhibitors from nine countries, with 18 first-time participants. Visitors can explore an eclectic mix of pieces, from pipe-cleaner recreations of classic artworks to intricate wood carvings and vibrant paintings. The fair celebrates creativity from the fringes, highlighting the stories and talents of artists who often work with unconventional materials or in non-traditional settings. GET THE DETAILS.

Roving in the Sphere in Las Vegas

Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens writes: 

Immerse yourself in the most vibrant sight and sound at the Sphere in Las Vegas. This architecturally and technologically innovative new entertainment venue opened at the Venetian Hotel in September 2023. It was developed by Madison Square Garden and is an audio-visual phenomenon like no other. This sensory experience, utilizes advanced technology that the president of your high school AV club could only have dreamed of! The attendee is literally surrounded by 160,00 square feet of LED display showcasing 16K x 16K resolution. Standing as a 360-foot globe with a 580,000 square foot surface light show, the Sphere is a spectacle inside and out, forever changing the Las Vegas Strip skyline and performance stage in general. In addition to musical concerts it hosts sporting and corporate events, as well as tours of the groundbreaking arena.

I had the luxury of seeing the Eagles in concert there, during their brief residency, playing on weekends through April 12th. Having the opportunity to experience them at the Sphere brought me right into Hotel California and way beyond to the fascinating next century of sound and light. Las Vegas is the perfect place for the Sphere to have landed, it’s as if it was always meant to be.

Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of “The Long Pause and the Short Breath”

Feeling Overwhelmed with Anxiety?

Join Brett & Stefanie Cotter plus very special guests for an amazing Women’s Retreat in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Experience 8 deep emotional healing sessions, Journey Dance, Qigong, Meditation, and a Sound Bath with 6 gongs and 20+ bowls. GET THE DETAILS.