Astoria is the new Brooklyn!

Got a friend who lives here and was checking it out and darn, Astoria is cool! Makes me think about giving up my Manhattan digs! It's only about 15 minutes to Grand Central and there's a hecka cool things. And, it's freakin' cheap! From restaurants to food to rent! Hmm, maybe I shouldn't tell you all about this??? Okay, I will!

Tonight there's a happy hour (in the decidedly un-happy hour of 8 to 9). C'mon, that's a prime drinking hour. Ain't nobody doin' happy hour then. Go to: Viking's Dungeon, 35-55 33rd St.

And at the Bohemian Hall & Garden this weekend it's the Czech and Slovak Festival. Hurrah! Performances by:

Pajtashi
Dance Group Limbora
Pilsner Brass Band
Josef Ivaska
Sokol Gymnastics

There's also a raffle, a mess o' beer and specialities from their Czech kitchen.

Saturday May 29th & Sunday May 30th
Bohemian Hall & Garden
29-19 24th Avenue
Astoria
Subway N or W to Astoria Boulevard (second to last stop). Walk 1 block to the intersection of 24th Avenue and 31st Street.

Pinchbottom Burlesque

You may think burlesque ain't nuthin' but a bunch o' naked ladies but Pinchbottom is so much more! Yes, there are semi-clad women (and occasionally Tigger the bear, I mean man.) But each show is totally unique and entertaining. Heck even if you don't like burlesque you will enjoy their stuff!

They're playing in Coney Island tonite. Check it out!

May 27th / 9:00 pm
THE JAZZ STRIPPER
Burlesque At The Beach
1208 Surf Ave.
Coney Island, Brooklyn
$10

The Happiness Project

Bryant Park's summer reading series is at it again! Today Gretchen Rubin reads from her book, The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun, a memoir on her time spent doing all of the above. (Well, basically trying to live right.) Hmm, I think I have to check out this book!

Here's info on the book from Gretchen's web site:

In The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin weaves together philosophy, scientific research, history, analysis, and real-life experiences. Filled with practical advice, sharp insight, charm, and humor, The Happiness Project manages to be illuminating yet entertaining, profound yet compulsively readable. Rubin’s passion for her subject jumps off the page, and reading a few chapters will inspire you to start your own happiness project.

May 26th / 12:30 pm
Bryant Park, Reading Room
Between the back of the NYPL & 6th Avenue. Be on the lookout for the burgundy and white umbrellas.
Free!

I Need Your Skull

MF Gallery, is one of my favorite galleries and I look forward to their Art Toys exhibit every year. (Lots of scary stuff!) For this exhibit they asked 30 artists to come up with works integrating skulls. I can't wait! The money from this exhibit will be used to build a huge skull on the facade of the building. Skull on!



March 22nd / 7 pm
MF Gallery
213 Bond St., Brooklyn
Free

Rooftop Films: Hopelessly Devoted

Romantic short films about the sacrifices and struggles we all endure for love, including an Absolut vodka sponsored short by Spike Jonze.(See photo.) Doors open at 8 pm and live music is at 8:30. First 500 people get free Vitamin Water and Radeberger beer at the after-party for free money afterwards.

New Design High School (Open Road Rooftop)
350 Grand St.
F, J, M, Z to Delancey Street / Essex Street
B, D, Q to Grand Street.
$10 online or at the door

Ramp it Up!

This exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian explores the Native skateboard movement. The exhibit has rare photographs and films of Native skaters and skatedecks with graphics like medicine wheels and eagle feathers, etc. And there's even a skateboard company, Jim Murphy's Wounded Knee Skateboards, in Queens own by Jim Murphy of Lenni Lenape descent.

The museum is pretty cool as it's in this big 'ole fancy building and of course there are other exhibits as well. HIDE: Skin as Material and Metaphor and A Song for the Horse Nation which presents the influence of horses on American Indian tribes as well as pieces from the museum's collection to inagurate the new Diker Pavillion for Native Arts and Culture. And since this is a Smithsonian, it's free! (My favorite kind of museum!) Check it out this weekend when you're down in Battery Park enjoying the rays!

National Museum of the American Indian
George Gustav Hey Center
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
One Bowling Green
4/5 to Bowling Green

The Big Lebowski Store

Calling all the Big L fans! There's a Lebowski store in the Village. Who knew? The guy who owns it apparently mans the store in a t-shirt, pajama pants, robe (of course) and flip flops. There's a selection of Big Lebowski themed shirts and other stuff from comic books and movies. Write your favorite Lebowski quote on the dry erase boards on the wall. Honestly, I don't know how he stays in business but guess he's just goin' with the flow. It's a good film but I never understood the utterly messianic following this movie gets, but, it must be a guy thing.

The Lost World
215 Thompson St (Bleecker & 3rd St.)
212-388-1466
A, C, E, B, D, F, V / W. 4th St.
1 / Houston St.
R, W, / Prince St.