ARRRRrrrrggg

For five days only, from Thursday Sept. 2 until Monday Sept. 6 (LABOR DAY) clothing and sneaker brand A Bathing Ape (known as Bapes) has opened a "pirate" store on Lafayette St. where all merchandise is 50 to 70 percent off.

I was walking in SoHo yesterday and discovered a line around the corner at the makeshift store. The company, that's famous amoung hip hop artists like Kanye West, has limited edition shops in Tokyo (3) and New York. I discovered a pair of yellow and red polka dot sneakers I bought in 2007 for $200 were $50. People hoarded shoes, t-shirts, fitted caps, winter vests - anything they could at the pirate shop.

Exceptions: You have to pay cash.

Party in NYC like you were here w/ me in Israel

There's a big festival on June 21, 2009 in Central Park. An artificial beach - set up to look like the shores of Tel Aviv will be placed near the Naumberg Bandshell. This event is to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Israeli city. Click here for the link for full event details!

Take me to the river

NYC's River to River Festival line up still hasn't been announced either. Are these people really trying to make me angry?! It's May 1 already guys, get it together. I want free events outside in my life. 

I <3 you so I'll hit you in the face

The annual Valentine's Day Pillow Fight happened this weekend in San Francisco!! At 6pm at Justin Herman Plaza, people let loose on their loves...and total strangers. AMAZING. Click on the link above for the "official" video. 

The New York City Pillow Fight will take place April 4. Mark your calendars now, it's being hosted by Newmindspace.  

I will obviously update with the official location as the date gets closer. Who would miss a massive free pillow fight?!

Party like a rockstar...

These are some underground parties I must attend.  I miss the costumes, pyrotechnics and community feelings of some of the parties in San Francisco. I'm confident New York City can represent.

The Danger: The Lost City party on New Year's Eve is my choice to ring in 2009. 

Address in Time Out NY: 

January 1: 2am - Sunrise, $30

341 Scholes St. between Bogart St. and Morgan Ave., Williamsburg

www.thedanger.com, newlostcity.com

********* Update: Full details for the Danger party are now up at the link above.  The theme of the party: New Year's Eve 1929. We're already in an economic recession, why not party like it? I'll be drinking gimlets out of a tea cup in a flapper's outfit at 5am, I'm sure. 

Rubulad: Discovered from a Yelp recommendation here's a link to an article about a previous party and here's hoping to attend an event sooner than later. Also from a different source some more information.This is a party warehouse space in Flusing, Queens. Awesome, i hope they throw hip hop nights. 

Resolute: Throwing an 18 hour party at Public Assembly for NYE. Their web site says it'll be the best techno party of the year. There's a DJ from Berlin so this is very tempting competition.

The Party Hard Social Club: Can't find a lot of info on this party but it's worth noting.

 

Santacon NYC 2008

I want to say 2,000 people but I'm bad at approximating numbers so I'm just going to say A LOT of people converged on NYC dressed as Santa Clause on December 13, 2008. Among many landmarks we hit the public library, Rockefeller Center for the X-mas tree, South Street Seaport and the Staten Island Ferry. Drinking commenced at 10am at 33rd street between 6th and 7th and I'm sure did not end until much later. I took a name around 6pm. This event happened around the country but my friend Julia in San Francisco said the NYC one looked way bigger. 

My favorite part of the whole day: everyone was asked to bring canned food to donate at the beginning of the crawl. I brought three items but I saw people with entire sacks of food to donate. That's a lot of baked beans :) 

Halloween in NYC

I took to the streets of NYC for Halloween as a glow stick figure and joined the crowds of thousands in the 7th avenue parade. Surrounded by drag queen Sarah Palin's, naughty cats and sexy cowboys, we followed three lit up Zipcars in the joyous celebration. Next year, I'm not wearing a mask! 

Kayaking in NYC: The Downtown Boathouse

Kayaking in NYC? For FREE? YES! At Pier 40 on West Houston Street from May - October The Downtown Boathouse, a non-profit, volunteer organization, works to reclaim the East River for recreation and leisure activities. The nice people give their time and help you into a kayak for 20 minutes (they don't really keep strick track of the time) to paddle up to 75 ft. There are security risks ("If you go past the line the Coast Guard will think you're from Afghanistan," I was warned.)

Other ways to kayak in NYC?
NYC Kayak Company