NYC Life: River Dining, Renewal, Wine, Fun Entertainment
NYC is back baby. It seems every week I get to post something new that has opened and today it’s a new food hall at Pier 57. And Coney Island is back too! The Salute to Magic Show sounds like a fun evening. Roller skating is back at Rock Center. The American Song Society is honoring Marilyn Maye. Valerie Smaldone has the scoop on a Wines of Portugal Tasting Event. Our Broadway Babe has some entertaining nostalgic finds. Check our roving photographer’s part 2 of her Venice photos. And we’ve added two special guests to our Renewal Summit Roster.
Paulina Porizokva and George Brescia Join Renewal Speaker
We have finalized our speakers for the Renewal Summit with two new additions: Supermodel Paulina Porizkova will talk about her book, “Unfiltered” and celebrity stylist George Brescia will join the panel on “Love Who Your Are” also featuring designer Gabrielle Carlson, celebrity hair stylist Mia Babes, celebrity makeup artist Jade Voight, moderated by psychotherapist and TV commentator, Dr. Robi Ludwig. Check out the full day schedule of panels, exhibitors and more.
A New Food Hall on the Hudson River
Market 57 is a new dining destination on the Hudson River, located at Pier 57 on the Rooftop Park, committed to celebrating New York city’s local, independent food culture. Curated under the guidance and mentorship of The James Beard Foundation, the market is committed to championing the Good Food For Good™ mission by supporting and elevating the people behind our vital food community, promoting a more equitable industry.
Market 57 is home to more than a dozen kiosks with a talented mix of minority- and women-owned businesses, outposts for beloved pop-up concepts, and seasoned operators’ bold creations. I can’t wait to try Mothershuckers whose goal is to serve the best oysters with the best toppings in NYC and has a mission to educate people about the benefits of eating and harvesting oysters. Harney donates his cart’s oyster shells to the Billion Oyster Project, an initiative to restore a billion oysters to the New York Harbor by 2035. Recycling the shells rebuilds the reefs so that new oyster populations can grow—improving the water quality and stimulating a return of sea life. Get the details!
Coney Island Opening Weekend
6SqFt reports that Coney Island is hosting its traditional opening weekend ceremonies, which include the egg-cream christening and first ride of the Cyclone. To celebrate the iconic rollercoaster’s 96th birthday, the first 96 riders get a free ride and an egg cream. And Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park will celebrate its 103rd birthday with its annual “Blessing of the Rides” and free rides on its historic Ferris wheel on Sunday, April 2. Get all the details.
April 14. Roller Skating Rink Opens at Rockefeller Center
Roller skating is back in the heart of NYC. The Rink at Rockefeller Center is getting ready to roll. Experience Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace—the legendary L.A. roller rink from 1979, reinvented for NYC in 2022. Skate by day or night alongside live DJs and the buzzing backdrop of the city. Open April through October. Get the details.
April 15. Salute to Magic
The Salute to Magic, produced by Parent Assembly #1 of the Society of American Magicians, is the oldest continuing Magic Show in the country. The featured acts range from Arthur Trace, an award-winner at FISM, the prestigious World Championships of Magic, to Amanda Nepo an 18 year-old conjuror and magic inventor performing the original act with which she fooled Penn & Teller on their TV show. The show will be held in the historic Playhouse Theatre at the Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Go to SaluteToMagic.com for your tickets!
June 12. American Song Society Honors Marilyn Maye
Hot off her sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall, Marilyn Maye will be this year’s honoree at the American Song Society annual benefit. This concert will feature an incredible array of Broadway and Cabaret performers. Get the details.
The Gondolas of Venice
Our roving photographer, Nicole Freezer Rubens, share part 2 of our Venice photos today.
“When one thinks of Venice the image of a sleek iconic gondola cutting through a canal surely comes to mind. At one time there were 10,000 gondolas and they were the main means of transportation. Today there are roughly 400 in use. The vaporetti, essentially a water bus, has replaced the sleek and beautiful boats as a mass transit system.
Gondolas are 36 foot long, flat bottomed, wooden boats, weighing 1300 pounds. They are handcrafted in workshops known as squeri. Traditionally they are black with uniquely decorated plush interiors. The boats are owned by the gondoliers. This career is often passed down with pride from generation to generation. The official uniform is blank pants, a striped shirt and a straw hat.
The symbolic image of a Venetian gondola is romanticized for good reason. Watching its unique aerodynamic structure sail along the busy canals reminds me of watching minnows sleekly swimming in groups but never crashing. It is simply mesmerizing to watch them glide and seamlessly traverse through the ancient canals of Venice. “
Nicole Freezer Rubens is the author of poetry/photo books, “The Long Pause and the Short Breathe.” Follow her on Instagram@nfrconsult
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
