Handmade for the Holiday in West Barnstable, MA
Yoo-hoo, knitters! Check this out to get involved or get inspired by smart local efforts to help people in need:
This holiday season, Yummy Goods invites you to create hand-knit items for donation to local women and children in need. Handmade for the Holidays, in partnership with Harwichport-based nonprofit We Can, will collect hand-knit gloves, hats, scarves, mittens, blankets, quilts, and stuffed animals for delivery to Cape Cod residents who are going through difficult economic and emotional times. Handmade for the Holidays is also accepting donations of yarn, needles, and other knitting and crafting supplies to be used by local volunteer crafters.
The staff of WE CAN will ensure that the items go directly to needy women and families in time for the holiday season. All participants — and the general public — are invited to celebrate the conclusion of the project at a public open house at Yummy Goods on Friday, December 4, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Handmade for the Holidays especially requests the following items in adult AND child sizes:
This event is hosted by Yummy Goods owner, Melissa Averinos and local writer and business consultant, Beth Dunn.
Do you know of other local efforts such as this?
Gorgeous wreath from Union Square market
Saturday, November 21, 2009
12–4 p.m.
Martha A. and Robert S. Rubin Pavilion, 1st Floor
Meet and greet our very own Brooklyn children’s book writers and illustrators.
The Brooklyn Museum presents the third annual Children’s Book Fair, with more than 30 Brooklyn authors and illustrators. The fair features storybooks, picture books, and graphic novels and will include author readings, a game for children, and café service.
Keep an eye out for: Sergio Ruzzier. His picture book, Amandina, is one of my favorites:
illustration above: Amandina by Sergio Ruzzier, Roaring Brook Press, 2008
Participating Writers and Illustrators:
Selina Alko, Gail Ablow and Kathy Osborn, Phil Bildner, Sophie Blackall, Peter Brown, Michael Buckley, Shana Corey, Lauren Castillo, R.Gregory Christie, Randall de Seve, Buket Erdogan, Zetta Elliott, Emily Goodman, Melanie Hope Greenwald, Isabel T. Hill, Tad Hills, Paul Hoppe, John & Wendy, Nancy Krulik, Kevin Lewis, Laura Ljungkvist, Andres Vera Martinez and Vito Delsante, Meghan McCarthy, Hiroe Nakata, Roxie Munro, Claudia Pearson, Sean Qualls, Sergio Ruzzier, Shandra Strickland, David Ezra Stein, Lauren Thompson, Dwight Jon Zimmerman
click the pic for more information
Ibby’s Falafel in Jersey City
Is so yum. And, if you’re not sure what to order, Adrian Kawara will tell you. (Or I will: the lamb shawarma, with salad fixings and hummus in a pita). The restaurant is on Grove street, which is adorable. And, don’t forget about the farmer’s markets and artisan markets outside the Grove Street Path Station.
2 Great Jones Street, NYC
Shop eco jewelry from Yania Creations, Jeeyun Ha & Real Jewels, home decor from Humble Collection & Tilonia Artisans, sustainable shoes from Charmone, accessories from Kaija Handbags, First World Trash & The Hand of Fatima, baby wear from Positively Organic, organic pet treats from Get Lick’d, organic beauty products from Spirit Beauty Lounge, Lee Lai, Nima Nyima & She Essential Beauty, gourmet food and drink from Guyaki and more… All under one roof!
click the pic
Bowery Mission in Noho, NYC
I know life is short and this video is long but its really worth your while to give it a look. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available at the Bowery Mission: tutoring, serving meals in dining room, working food line at Tompkins Square Park (Outreach).
And, you may be interested to check out their young philanthropists events to raise money and / or collect toiletries, etc for the mission.
Thanksgiving dinner this year for me will be at a restaurant in NYC. In order to make it as nondepressing as possible I’ve combed through the open restaurants for an enticing option. I share my notes with you here:
Prune - My favorite option this year. It sounds amazing, but only waitlist is availble (and I’m on it). $72.00 a head, and all food is served family style. You may just want to call to hear them passionately talk about the menu. They’re really into it.
10 Downing - almost full, $45.00 pre-fixe three course meal, with options
Country - $55.00 four course meal
Hundred Acres - almost full, $60.00 pre-fixe three course meal
Jane - $45.00 pre-fixe three course meal, with family style sides
Perry Street - offering regular menu and a $33.00 Turkey dinner
Five Points - basically full, three course meal with a starter and family style sides
Spotted Pig - open and serving a special Thanksgiving dinner
Freemans - $75.00 pre-fixe standard Thanksgiving three course meal
L’Express - offering regular menu, and a special turkey dish
Back Forty - almost full, $50.00 three course pre-fixe meal with menu options
Home - almost full, $55.00 five course meal, $80.00 with wine pairing
The Palm - only the UpperWest Side and Tribeca locations open
Resto - only home catering for 10 - 12 people
Little Owl - only a ten pm seating available (isnt that always the case?)
(I didnt call these yet but you might want to: Penelope Cafe, Mama’s Foodshop, Cookshop, Lupa, Mona, Bryant Park Grill, SD26)
(And these are closed: Little Giant, Corner Cafe, Clinton Street Baking Co, Giorgios of Gramercy, Hearth)
And, you can check out this NY Mag article with more options and this Serious Eats article with all menus attached.
Sonic Massage Tuesdays at Gallery 151 in NYC
This evening at Gallery 151, the doors were locked, the colorful lights were spinning and people were lying all over the floor. Not your average scene in an NYC gallery space. But this isn’t your average gallery. Right now, it is really home to the Urban Green Initiative (sponsored by the The Village Green condominium on 11th Street) who will be putting on a series of exhibits and performances that focus on climate change and responsible and sustainable living.
So it is here on Tuesday evenings beginning at 8:30 pm that you can experience a sonic massage. If you’re down for this, next Tuesday is your last chance. Otherwise, check out Gallery 151 another time. There is always something happening that’s drawing a crowd.
click the pic
(via uncouthinthecity)
Mother Nature’s annual show of stars, The Leonids, appear tonight. Don’t let white, hot lights of Times Square ruin your fun, check out one of the places on TONY’s list for your very own sky party.
Olde Good Things in various locations
This antique store reclaims and often restores materials and furnishings from old stripped buildings. Sometimes, they purchase the unexpected, such as the wood boards from Coney Island’s Boardwalk or the stained glass from the old JFK terminal. It’s really a wonderful conceit to be able to purchase a special piece for your home, restaurant, store or office that has such history.
I bought a few of these old tin ceiling tiles (though I need a dozen more to create the look I want)
And, I’ve been eyeing their altered antiques. Most specifically this coffee table:
Make sure to shop in the stores or warehouse so you can negotiate the price. The people are beyond lovely and have an excessive amount of patience (I spent hours deliberating over those three tiles!).
NYC Stores on West 24th Street (just reopened) and East 16th Street.
Warehouse in Scranton, PA
click the pic for a direct link to their website
Village of Shelburne Falls in Massachusettes
Shelbourne Falls in Franklin County is about a 3 1/2 hour drive up I-91 from NYC. Depending on your start location, it is a great weekend getaway. There are cool glacial potholes, walkable bridge of flowers, viewable glassblowing studios and many other artisan shops, a quaint main street with restaurants and stores and access to all sorts of seasonal sports. And, its location in the Berkshire foothills and along the Mohawk Trail make for a beautiful and historic location.
Check out Ollies Downunder Bar and Grille, Kenburne Orchards B&B (second hand recommendation), and Deerfield Valley Canopy Tours, or Zoar Outdoors, or Berkshire East for zip lining and other outdoor activities. There is no shortage of ways to play outside whether its in the rivers in the summer, in the trees in the fall or on the slopes in the winter. Visit the High Ledges for an easy hike, with wonderful views or take a scenic drive on route 2 West.
Plan to visit over Columbus Day weekend and enjoy the hokey but fun Fall Festival in Ashfield, MA - 15 minutes form Shelburne.
Having just won a $9,000 grant from the Massachusetts Electric Company, the business district of Shelburne Falls will be working with Envinronmental Compliance services to reduce their carbon footprint and develop a sustainable business plan. Bravo.
Many thanks to Emily Crehan for her Shelburne Falls recommendation.
to plan your trip check out this website
All of a sudden, with Thanksgiving approaching, I feel this burning desire to volunteer. Of course, so does the rest of NYC and so volunteer programs around this time are usually full to capacity by mid October. It’s so silly of me though to only think of this come holiday time. Embarrassing, really. And so, I urge you, and myself, to become knowledgeable about the volunteer opportunities in our local communities to take part in any time of year.
You may start by checking out the NYCService.org website, a partnership between the city and The United Way.
Many thanks to Lauren Spitzer of United Way who has provided me with a list of effective programs around NYC to share with you. I’ll be posting one a week until I run out. If you know of a great volunteer opportunity or program in need of donations in NYC or the tristate area, please email me.
share this with others
My Favorite Thing is To Go Where I’ve Never Been
Design by 3LambsStudio, With a quote from Diane Arbus
YES! Me too.
Click the pic for a link to 3LambStudio’s tumblr blog
