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I usually don’t post things like this but I could not help it! The Billboard Awards was about to go down as a snooze fest until Miguel hit the stage. People on the interwebs were commenting on everything from his choice to sing Adorn You for the millionth time, to his wardrobe choices. I believe I read some posts about him borrowing someone’s church shoes and having the same hair dresser as Miley Cyrus. It got real interesting when Miguel decided to adorn a fan with his foot.
The internet exploded with memes and a Vine video recapping the hilarious moment. Here are my favorites:
This weekend, dance away the pain that comes with knowing that the final episode of Saved by the Bell aired 20 years ago at a tribute party. Add some eclectic pieces to your summer wardrobe or go bike shopping. Check out a design show that is worth the trip to New Jersey. Learn how to make cocktails, have a picnic or fill upon cupcakes at a baking competition or dumplings at a food crawl. All of this and more is included in this week’s Every “Single” Weekend round up.
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Foursquare. Also, let me know how you are enjoying this and Every “Single” Weekend by using the hash tag #SingleWknd and see where I’ll be by checking the hast tag #SayWaughWasHere on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to share how you will be spending your weekend in the comments section!
Friday May 17, 2013
4pm – 8pm Uniqlo Free Fridays allows you to see the latest exhibits and attractions at MoMa without paying the admission fee.
6pm Step your home bartending game up at the the book launch for An Illustrated Guide to Cocktails.Sip on complimentary drinks while meeting the authors of the book that will help you get sauced in style. Powerhouse Arena| Free
6:30pm- 9:30pm It’s Bike to Work Day. If you traveled to work on two wheels today celebrate a safe day on the road at the after party. There will be music, drinks, a fashion show for cyclists full of reflective gear, a photo booth and more. Manhattan Bridge | Dumbo | Free
7pm – 10pm Transform your home with ideas you pick up at the Y & K Design Showcase. The night also includes performances, music and prizes. Coffee Cave, Newark, NJ | Free
11pm Celebrate the last episode of the show that made us think high school would be filled with hot guys, pep rallies and principals who cared at Party Like it’s 1999 Saved by the May Edition. There is no better way to honor Mr. Belding, Zack , Slater, Kelly, Lisa, Jessie and Screech. The Bell House | Free
7pm: Meet one of THE pioneers of Hip Hop , Fab 5 Freddy! He will be sharing his experiences and memories of the era and his music career. Stick around fora Q & A . Museum of Moving Images| Museum Admission $12
Saturday May 18, 2013
7am: Cheer on the runners at The Brooklyn Half Marathon. Watch as they compete on a route from Prospect Park to Coney Island. Free for Spectators
11am-8pm ( continues on 5/18): The NYC Bike Expo is back for the third year. if you didn’t celebrate Bike to Work Day because you don’t have one, here’s your chance. More than 20 bike vendors will be ready to get you the right ride. Penn Pavilion | Free Admission
1pm – 4pm: Just bring a blanket to the Farm2me Picnic.Purchase your items online, pick between dining in Prospect Park or Central Park and then show up. If you missed the deadline to order your food in advance it’s still a nice day to mingle with picnic goers who are fans of artisnal and sustainable foods. Central Park or Prospect Park | Free Admission
5pm – 8pm : View the Summer 2013 Olori collection at the Olori Parade of Designs Fashion Show presented by Nigerian designer Adeleke Sijuwade and Celebrity Stylist, Khalilah Williams-Webb. Sip on cocktails while choosing pieces for your summer wardrobe. Shirley + Alice Vintage Boutique | Free
12pm – 4pm Indulge in live painting, music, drinks, food, & hookah at the Live Painting Brunch with BACo. Bushwick Coffee House | Menu prices vary
1:30pm: 2 bills from anywhere gets you a map for the 2nd Momo Crawl featuring tons of Himalayan Dumplings. Meet at Jackson Heights Plaza | $2
All Weekend
12pm-6pm/ 6pm-4am: It’s time for the 5th Annual Hell’s kitchen Artist Festival Crawl and Studio Tour. Including parties, live music an walking tour of more than 150 locations featuring art exhibitions. W 41st Street | Free Admission
When I’m in a relationship at some point my weekends became “our” weekends. At some point when that guy decides he wants his weekends back or I’m between relationships my weekends become 48 hours of Netflix and take out on my beloved couch. So a while ago I started a website called Every “Single” Weekend (ESW) to make sure that I spent at least 24 hours (not cumulatively) doing anything other than sitting on my couch. Now I’m making it a section here on Say Waugh?! and I’m sharing some of the events I may be checking out this weekend and every weekend until I choose to be on my couch in a Netflix induced coma because there’s a fine guy to enjoy it with. Even if I do acquire a steady man friend “me time” is mandatory. Every Friday lookout for a listing of some of the coolest events in NYC including events that keep you fit, fed, fantastically buzzed (shout out to my fellow winos), and fundamentally inspired. I’m a fan of day trips outside of the city, so if I happen to be going away for the weekend I’ll post some cool stuff that’s happening abroad too.
After a string of relationships that can be simply summed up as shit show spectaculars, I was finally done with settling for what sort of worked. I was determined to have something better.
I found better and the icing on my gluten- free cupcake was that it also worked. It worked so well that we would joke about feeling like we were in a constant montage of happy times often seen in romantic comedies. For me that equaled heaven, because I am the queen of romantic comedies.
I only watch them on two occasions though; If I’m dating a guy who likes me enough to sit through them with me or after a relationship ends and I’m gorging myself in the fictional happiness of others.
I’m newly single (insert deep sigh) so that means that me and the Chinese food delivery guy are back together. After he delivered at least a third of the menu to my doorstep I commenced my watch-other-people-fall-in-love-on-screen film festival in my living room.
Up first was Lola Versus. It’s an indie film about a woman who has to get her life together after she turns 29 and gets dumped by her fiancé. It’s also the source of the title in today’s post. (I always start with the self-loathing films to make myself feel better.)
I saw this movie when it was released in theaters last year. It was the beginning of my relationship with my current ex, so that viewing was mainly for the love of film. However, the quote featured in the title of this post struck a chord with me then. Now as I am wiping barbecue sauce, ketchup and chicken grease from my finger tips to type this I’m in a totally different place and the quote hit my heart in all the bruised places.
My apologies for the unscheduled two-week hiatus. I spent one weekend working on my love life (now lack there of.. more on that later) and the other buried under freelance deadlines. This upcoming summer is packed with so many great events and now that the “Single” part of the title of my listing is painfully true, my plans to stay occupied via this listing will be posted faithfully each week.
Now with that said, this weekends events include the exhibit that inspired Kim Kardashian to show up at the corresponding gala dressed in couch lining. There is also a food tour and a scavenger hunt for chocolate in SoHo. Judge an inner beauty pageant and find nice events to treat your mom to on Mother’s Day including a Garden Party. Enjoy!
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Foursquare. Also, let me know how you are enjoying this and Every “Single” Weekend by using the hash tag #SingleWknd and see where I’ll be by checking the hast tag #SayWaughWasHere on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to share how you will be spending your weekend in the comments section!
Every time someone who makes enough money to be considered a celebrity decides to announce their sexual preference they are heralded by the press for being brave. I don’t get it. Why is it still a thing to be afraid in 2013? Before yesterday no one had a clue who Jason Collins was. I even had to fact check his name before completing my previous statement.
Today during my cab ride to work, one of the other passengers who admitted that he doesn’t even watch sports had a mouthful to add to the commentary about how it’s no one’s business. It appeared he was struggling with his own locked closet and felt pressure living in our over-sharing community. When I finally reached my office and settled in to read my morning paper Collins’ story moved up from the back of the paper which is where the sports section lives to a full 2-3 page spread on page 6.
As the Events Editor for Brooklyn Exposed I had the opportunity to preview the The BoomBox Exhibit currently open at the House of Art Gallery in Brooklyn NY. Special guests included the creator of Video Music Box Ralph McDaniels aka Uncle Ralph. Check out my recap below.
Hip Hop in Heels by Frank Morrison
Friends, family, artists and hip hop enthusiasts gathered for the preview of The BoomBox Exhibition on April 11 at The House of Art Gallery located in Bed Stuy.
There was an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia in the gallery as the room filled with patrons. The walls were covered with paintings, photographs and other works that depicted scenes from the early days of hip hop and paid tribute to the rich history and significance of the boombox. Every piece was reminiscent of a time where the boombox could be seen and heard throughout almost every neighborhood in Brooklyn. Four of the artists whose work was featured in the show were in attendance, and they took the time to explain their pieces.
By this time, some people are scrambling everywhere to file their taxes by the deadline at the end of the day. Others are coming back from a vacation their tax return paid for or looking for a flight to anywhere but here.
Though I need a vacation from all three of my jobs (not even counting my freelance gigs… yes I’m Jamaican,) I’m not looking forward to sandy beaches anytime soon. I’m in the percentage of folks who would just pay off a bill or two because I’m tired of the only I time I pick up my phone is to let Sallie Mae know that my loan check will be in the mail…soon.
Unfortunately, I don’t look forward to this time of year. I never have. All year I’m a hard working tax paying citizen but on April 15th, I’m a non-refund getting citizen.
I remember the first and last time I walked into a tax preparer’s office with a smile on my face. I had my W2 in hand with any other relevant receipts and my loan payment confirmation letters. I sat down as the “tax expert” punched in all the numbers and asked me random questions.
When she was done, she wrote a number on a post-it and handed it me. I was close to the amount of money I made in one check at the time. I was pleased and then she said ‘Oh, no that’s how much you owe.” My faced dropped. Then she proceeded to add the amount of money I owed for the service to my bill.
I asked her to recheck her figures because I couldn’t believe that I had to pay taxes, when I calculated that the amount of money that was already taken out of my check meant that I pretty much worked for free for almost half of the year. She looked over everything again and then asked me: “Do you have a house?” I said no. Then she asked, “Do you have any kids?” again I said no. Her response was the following:
“The only way you are getting any money back is if you get a house and get knocked up.”
I wish I exaggerated that sentence. Sadly, that’s exactly what happened. The “expert” in the cubicle next to her leaned over to co-sign her statement and then offered his services to fix my non-children having problem.
Every year since then I have owed a significant amount of money. Though I don’t get any more uncouth responses for my lack of mortgage and the continued non-use of my uterus the tax payers always give me solemn head shake, as to say “ you’re going to get screwed again this year, sorry.”
I don’t plan on being married anytime soon (if ever again…that’s a long story I’ll un-pack someday). Since I’m as single as ever there is no chance of kids for a very long time., I’m investing the little money I do have to get violin player to follow me to the tax office next year so that maybe they’ll give me a break.
The sad part is that I’m not the only person who is relationship-challenged who has to deal with this reality come tax time. There was a report by Onely.org, that was recently published in The Atlantic magazine with astounding facts about how much money I stand to lose if I don’t hit the pavement and start handing out applications for a guy to give me his last name, a sperm donor, or a co-signer so I can buy a house in order to get back at least some of the money I earned. On every other issue I look at the wine glass as half full but just one of the highlights of the report stated:
Some of the best Food trucks in New York City rolled up and parked at Prospect Park for the first Food Truck Rally of the season. With my partner in crime in tow, I set out to fill up on this year’s offerings. You will never catch me eating from a food cart in NYC because I don’t do “street meat,” but Food Trucks are in whole other category.
I have been anticipating getting a chance to try out some dishes from the Red Hook Lobster truck. I have been haunted by that truck since I ventured out to the event for the first time last year. It has popped up at other locations but it has always alluded me. It’s definitely one of the more expensive food trucks with one of their items selling for $16, but it’s lobster so it makes sense. Sadly, due to their popularity, when I can actually afford to taste one of their creations they run out of the items of I want try. Our interaction at the season’s opener was no different unfortunately.
The good news is the other options were also just as enticing. First stop was the Kimchi Taco Truck which serves Korean BBQ and related items. We ordered Tofu Edamame Falafel (tofu, edamame and chickpea flavored with signature Asian spices with kimchi-infused refried beans, cucumber kimchi, pickled daikon and pico de gallo),Kimchi Arancini -Crispy Rice Balls (kimchi fried rice combined with queso Oaxaca and Parmesan coated with panko and Italian bread crumbs) and a Tofu Edamame Falafel Burrito (same ingredients as above with multi-grain rice an re-fried beans).
Our second stop was the Rickshaw Dumpling truck where we ordered Vegetarian Edamame and Chicken Thai Basil dumplings.
Both meals were more than satisfying. After stuffing our faces the plan was to walk off some of the food and take in the scenery at Prospect Park . About 50 steps into that plan a strong gust of wind had us running back in the opposite direction from the park. We made a pact to try again when the weather actually feels like Spring.
Until then, I’m looking forward to my next visit. I am determined to get some lobster. Fortunately, I now have more than one chance to try out the food at the rally because this year they added another day. The Food Truck Rally will now be open every first and third Sunday of every month. I can’t wait to take another bite.
Tonight is the Season 6 premiere of Mad Men. In the absence of the show many have been obsessed with Don Draper’s “package” now it’s time to delve back into the lives of these stylish ad men and women.
Get dressed up in Mad Men inspired clothing and sip on vintage cocktails and drinks at these Mad Men viewing parties all over NYC tonight.
AMC/ Reuters
6pm Catch the big show on the big screen for the premiere and every Sunday afterwards. Tribeca Grand Hotel | 2 Sixth Ave.
7pm Drink classic cocktails mixed by Young Nathan The Exley | 1 Jackson Street, Brooklyn
7pm Complimentary tastings of Makers Mark and Canadian Club whisky, drink specials and best dressed contest for those who come dressed in a period look. Madison Club Lounge @ Roosevelt Hotel | 45 E. 45th St.
8pm Dress in 1960s attire and enjoy drinks inspired by the characters, created by Mixologist Jonathan Pogash. Including “Betty’s Bitter Rage” Carnegie Club | 156 W. 56th St.
If you rather watch at home make your own cocktails with these recipes:
AMC Cocktail Guide
Birds of Paradise (Source: MarieClaire.com)
2 oz. Don Julio Blanco
2 oz. passion fruit puree
1 wheel lime, freshly squeezed (juice only)
Spanish Chambord liquor
In a mixing glass, add Don Julio, passion fruit puree, fresh squeezed lime wheel, and ice (fold and squeeze a lime wheel into the mixing glass). Shake hard. Rim a chilled martini glass with sugar. Strain into a martini glass. Sink Chambord to the bottom of the glass by pouring from the side of the glass. Garnish with lime wheel or orange wedge.
Manhattan(Source: The Mad Men Cocktail Guide. More here)
1¾ oz bourbon
¾ oz of sweet vermouth
1 dash of aromatic bitters
1 Maraschino cherry
Pour bitters, liquors over ice in mixing glass. Stir and strain into martini glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.
This weekend as usual, I’m highlighting my favorite things to do in NYC that encompasses all things fun, artsy and food.
Art lovers, this is your last chance to see the Jean- Michael Basquiat exhibit, and Target First Saturday is back at the Brooklyn Museum. Also, artists go head-to-head in a live painting battle. For the foodies, the Food Track Rally is Back and so is Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and DUMBO. Work off all of the food you eat by kicking butt at the annual Pillow Fight Day or while running to grab free merchandise at the Loud Out event and so much more!
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Foursquare. Also, let me know how you are enjoying this and Every “Single” Weekend by using the hash tag #SingleWknd and see where I’ll be by checking the hast tag #SayWaughWasHere on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to share how you will be spending your weekend in the comments section!
You may remember Fabio Costa from Project Runway Season 10. His unique style got him all the way to the finals where he got to show his looks on the runway during New York Fashion Week. To the surprise and dismay of many fans he was announced as the runner up.Since the show, Fabio has continued to follow his dream of having his own fashion line. He teamed up with his best friend Rebecca Diele due to their similar tastes and interest in fashion. Together they formed the label Not Equal.
It’s the first weekend of Spring ( though it doesn’t really feel like it). Either way, step out and enjoy the events I found for ya’ll this weekend. Check out the Brooklyn Girls Film Festival and a dance party to celebrate the release of Toure’s book about Prince. Rock the mic at Hip Hop Karaoke. Tour with some foodies. Donate some cash while attending Project Runway Season 10′s Fabio Costa Kickstarter fundraiser party and the UrbanErotika Sweet Bliss Exhibit while they raise funds for their Indiegogo campaign. Plus so much more!
Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Foursquare. Also, let me know how you are enjoying this and Every “Single” Weekend by using the hash tag #SingleWknd and see where I’ll be by checking the hast tag #SayWaughWasHere on Twitter and Instagram. Feel free to share how you will be spending your weekend in the comments section!
