events – Page 3 – Lolita And The City

Caps upon caps – Easter Bonnet Parade 2012

What does your hat say about you?

I’ll be on a bus ride back from Boston and will be sadly missing an iconic New York event. While the event is more unofficial excuse to dress up and put that glue gun you bought years ago to use, it is a fun spectacle to watch, see, and perhaps participate.

During the Victorian era, churchgoers not only wore their Sunday Best but also display their wealth through their extravagant hats. Now it’s become a Hallmark ritual on how fanciful or ridiculous you can make/wear

Decorate an old hat you have no use for or get those brain juices flowing with creativity. Peeps are optional but very effective. Plus you bought Happy Garden for this very reason.

Check out pictures taken from last year for some last-minute ideas.

Easter Parade
April 8th, 2012
10AM – 4PM
49th-57th Streets (along 5th Avenue)

God Save My Shoes Movie Now Playing

If you are into Lolita fashion, you probably obsessed with shoes. Whether it’s the bows and thin straps of teaparty kitten heels or the chunky ballerina style that defines rocking horse shoes, you probably have a growing collection of fancy footwear just for Lolita.

However you probably don’t have anything on the people in God Save My Shoes. This movie examines shoe fetishes to the extreme. Perhaps otaku is a better word since most of the women in this movie are literally shoe collectors keeping them under lock and key.

See shoe closets that rival Carrie Bradshaw’s and bring some peace of mind that you only own 30 pairs.

Quad Cinema
34 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
(212) 255-8800

Creatures of the Light: Bioluminesence 3/29/12 – 1/6/13

Jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium – 2010

When I was younger I was really fascinated by the deep ocean and the sea life you couldn’t see with the naked eye. My favorite was the angler fish with it’s glowing fishing rod. For those who aren’t familiar with this fish perhaps you remember the scene in Finding Nemo when Dory and Marlin chase after the scuba mask. The fish with the terrifying jaws and the glowing antenna was the angler fish.

On Saturday, March 31st, the American Museum of Natural History presents an exhibit about all the organisms who have glowing personalities. It will explore why they glow and for what purposes – if it’s to lure food, scare predators, attract a mate, or simply just for show.

This exhibit is going to be around until early 2013, but if you are eager like I am see it early before the crowds turn into mobs. “Creatures of the Light” is an ongoing exhibit, so all you need pay is general admission.

Princess Jellyfish outfits not required.

Creatures of the Light: Nature’s Bioluminesence
March 31, 2012 – January 6, 2013
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY, 10024
212-769-5100

Audrey Grace Pop-Up Shop + Preview 3/23 – 3/28

Audrey Grace is a small boutique in Mississippi that emulates all things beautifully vintage. The name comes from two prominent fashion icons that represents Audrey Grace: Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly.

Thanks to Small Girls PR, Audrey Grace is being a good Southern hostess and throwing a party in honor of opening a pop-up shop at the Highline Loft. There’ll be sweets, wine, music and of course lots of advantages to shop!

This Friday, March 23rd from 8-10PM, you’ll be able to preview shopwares and clothes from Audrey Grace, Erin Fetherston, Alexander Grecco, Rachel Antonoff, Lulu Frost, etc.

There’ll even be a performance by SuperCute!, a local tween band from Brooklyn whose fashion style could be inspired by cult party kei.

The event is free, but it’s strongly suggested to RVSP to make sure there’s enough bubbly for everyone.

If you have already made Friday night plans, the pop up shop is still open from March 24th – 28th 11AM – 8PM. Check out their blog and Etsy for a preview of what to expect.

Audrey Grace Launch Party
Friday, March 23, 2012
8 – 10PM
The Highline Loft
508 W. 26th St
New York, NY 10001

Sunday Brunch: Tea and Sympathy

A very royal wall.

Tea and Sympathy is one of those places you know about and have always wanted to go, but for some other reason something always comes up. Our story is set in the Greenwich Village and getting there is a lot like finding Neverland walking several side streets. And even then you have to wait for your own taste of authentic British food.
The big thing you should have to know is that Tea and Sympathy is very quaint and very small. As such they’ve posted several rules on the door and you will have to wait a bit — longer if you have a large party. Speaking of large parties, this place is very much a “tea for two.” I’ve visited with parties as small as two to as big as five, but I recommend no larger than four. And no matter how small you will feel cramped. But the food and tea will make up for it.

Nothing says British like beans and toast. Any better would be a toad in a hole.

Like Alice’s Tea Cup, Tea and Sympathy has a large selection of tea served in a various novelty teapots. Tea flavors range from floral and fruity like Black Currant to more traditional like English Breakfast and Earl Grey (of course).

Can’t tell if this teapot is from London, can you?

The food is pretty good, and the wait staff is pretty prompt with service (especially when it comes to water for tea and more cream for scones). If you are going for Afternoon Tea prepare yourself because it will take you an afternoon to finish.

Afternoon Tea for One (and 3/4)

There are two versions (single and two-person) but there honestly isn’t a difference, except maybe a few more sandwiches. What’s good to know is they are very accommodating if you want a vegetarian version. All you need to do is ask.

One of these cups are not like the other.

However if you aren’t willing to wait for a table or feel weird just standing outside like a dog in the window, they do have a shop adjacent to the restaurant that has enough goodies to satisfy any Anglophile.

These teapots are not for sale, but the ones next door are.

Not able to head down to the Village? Then you can at least visit their blog for recipes, contests and various British things Americans find funny and odd.

Tea and Sympathy
108 Greenwich Avenue
New York City, NY 10011

Also feel free to check out my list of tea rooms in NYC if Tea and Sympathy is not your cup of tea.

Macaron Day 2012

864 Madison Avenue

A year ago I said I wasn’t a big macaron fan. Now my tastes for macaron have change and grown. Mainly I’ve gotten to taste a lot of cupcakes and macarons equally. So macarons are now OK in my book as a delicious indulgence.

Francois Payard seems to agree. Who is Payard? He is the one who organized the First Annual Macaron Day, a day celebrating the tiny, decadent treat by giving them away. This year will be its third year.

Mention at a participating shop that you are visiting because of “Macaron Day” and get a free macaron! I will have to warn you to start your macaron crawl early and free samples are in limited supply.

Macaron Day 2012
various locations
March 20, 2012

Community Pep Rally at the Paley Center for Media

Last Saturday I helped cover an event for New York Comic Con at the Paley Center. The Paley Center for Media hosted an event for the television series Community. There was a pep rally with food, posters, and even a homemade blanket fort.

The event was part of a live streaming event, premiering a new episode before it airs March 15th and a chat with the cast. New York Comic Con was given the hard but easy task of hyping up the crowd before the main event.

See below for a few of my favorite moments of the night.

A blanket fort fit for a king.

NYCC staff putting “star burns” on an attendee.

There was also a poster contest which attendees were more than excited to participate. The winners received free weekend passes to NYCC in October. Their handiwork is below.

Missed Connections.

Note to self: Foreign Language contest entries are winners.

Pterodactyl. ‘Nuff Said.

The message board in front of Paley at the end of the night.

A full house.

Costume Contest Entries. Winners were Level 6 Laser Lotus Wizard, Dean Pelton (in front), and a group entry composed of Star-Burns, Annie, and Jeff.

For more pictures check out flickr. If you missed this event, they are holding another this Friday for Castle. The name of the game is a scavenger hunt. Check it out!

What Lies Beneath: Victorian Unmentionables 2/18

There’s a lot that goes into a Lolita outfit, but the things that make or break an outfit is the bloomers and petticoats. And a good petticoat can make your Lolita

“What Lies Beneath” takes a look at what was actually underneath the bustles and the skirts and possibly why men were attracted to table legs.

On Saturday, February 18th, Christine Scott will be speaking about Victorian ladies other wardrobe and the actually process of dressing. There’ll be tea and cakes and lots of talk about underwear.

What Lies Beneath: Victorian Unmentionables
Saturday, February 18th, 2012
7-9PM
Our Savior’s Atonement Lutheran Church
78 Bennett Ave, New York, NY

(212) 923-5757

Anne Rice Signing The Wolf Gift 2/16!

Anne Rice is one of my favorite authors. One of the greats before the Twilight phenomenon. And while I was one of the skeptics when she wrote her last Vampire Chronicles book, “Blood Canticle,” and swore she would never write about them again.

She then wrote about the life of Jesus, a memoir, and then about Angels.

Now she’s taking the next step into werewolf territory with The Wolf Gift.

It arrives on Valentine’s Day for all the lonely hearts who need to curl up with a good book. And if you’re in the Tri-State area, Anne Rice will be signing her latest book on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Barnes & Noble in Midtown Manhattan at 12:30PM.

I recommend calling ahead to see how B&N will structure the signing – whether they will have wristbands for guarantees or if there is a set number they’ll give out.

Either way, you will be reading a good book.

Anne Rice’s The Wolf Gift Book Signing
February 16th, 2012
12:30PM
555 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-697-3048

2012 Hot Chocolate Festival at The City Bakery

Is there a doctor in the house? Specifically one that specializes in chocolate addiction

The best part of winter is of course is heading out of the cold and making a nice warm cup of hot chocolate. And one of the best places in New York City is The City Bakery. I tend to like their hot chocolate because it’s thick and frothy – not to mention they offer giant homemade marshmallows to put into it.

City Bakery knows it has one of the best hot chocolate around, which is why they’ve created their own Hot Chocolate Festival.

Starting tomorrow, City Bakery offers a special hot chocolate concoction each day for a month (in addition to their regular cups of milk and/or dark chocolate). Go early for the special flavors, otherwise you’ll have to settle for regular. Either way it’s a win-win situation (it is chocolate afterall).

I’m looking forward to “Sunken Treasure”, “Moulin Rouge”, and “Ode to the Polar Bear.” How about you?

The City Bakery’s Hot Chocolate Festival
February 1st – 29th, 2012
3 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-366-1414