RxArt hosts pop-up shop in New York

by Jessica Festa on

Art lovers will be happy to hear about a new pop-up shop opening up for four days in New York. From November 3-6, 2011, RxArt, the non-profit that places art in hospitals, will have art for sale at Half Gallery. Between the Lines Volumes II and III, coloring books with pictures from contemporary artists, will be 50% off along with Dan Colen, Yayoi Kusama, and Terry Richardson puzzles. RxArt PARTY t-shirts will also be available for purchase.

Schedule:

  • Thursday, November 3: 6-8PM kick-off party
  • Friday, November 4: 10AM-6PM
  • Saturday, November 5: 10AM-6PM
  • Sunday, November 6: 12PM-6PM

208 Forsyth Street, New York

Real life “Tower of Terror” at Manhattan’s Gramercy Park Hotel

by McLean Robbins on

An overcrowded elevator at Manhattan’s chic Gramercy Park hotel plummeted eight floors on after a movie party Thursday evening, leaving all patrons safe but shaken.

The Daily Mail reported that “The Good Wife” actor Josh Charles and director David M. Rosenthal were among the 14 people in the elevator that evening. They were attending the Janie Jones film premiere party.

According to sources, a large man and his girlfriend jumped into the overcrowded elevator, causing the elevator to suddenly fall, the doors to the elevator still open.

Now, we’ve seen these elevators and can’t imagine a dozen people fitting inside, let alone 14. It truly seems a case of simple overcrowding, scary nevertheless.

No patrons were harmed, and, by the time paramedics arrived, the last person was being pulled from the elevator.

Hotel sources says the lift will undergo testing before re-opening to the public.

Looks like we’ll be taking the stairs at one of our favorite NYC hotels for a few weeks.

Citi Pond at Bryant Park in New York officially opens for the season

by Jessica Festa on

On Friday, October 28, 2011, Citi Pond at Bryant Park celebrated it’s 7th season grand opening, featuring Manhattan‘s only free-admission ice skating rink, the Holiday Shops, and Celsius Restaurant Lounge & Event Space. The grand opening event included Broadway musical performances like “Sister Act” and “Rock of Ages” and live drum line numbers by Hillside Elementary School’s “Drums of Thunder”. Professional ice skating routines were the highlight of the event, as performers included:

  • The Haydenettes- the U.S. National synchronized skating champions
  • Kimmie Meissner- a former World and U.S. National Champion Figure Skater
  • Isabella Tobias and Deividas Stagniünas, two figure skaters representing Lithuania

After the performances, the public was allowed to go on to the ice to skate for the first time this season. Media representatives were taken to preview the Columbia Freezer Tour, which will take place from October 29-November 29, 2011. Participants put on a Columbia coat and go into a freezer (yes, a freezer!) to sing karaoke while being videotaped and photographed. The idea is to show the public how warm the jackets really are. While they certainly keep your upper body very warm, remember to bring socks and gloves, as the rest of your body will still be chilly.

Chinese kayak race turns violent

by Kraig Becker on

A kayak race in Nanchang, located in the Chinese province of Jiangxi, turned violent last week when two teams came to blows while still out on the water. The brawl broke out when one team intentionally rammed its boat into the other, causing both squads to start swinging their paddles at one another.

The fight took place during the four-man, 2000 meter finals in the Chinese City Games, when the home team from Nanchang drifted into the lane that belonged to the paddlers from Guangzhou. Incensed by this intrusion, the Guangzhou squad paddled directly into their rivals, prompting them to strike back. While swinging their paddles, the Nanchang team hit one of their competitors square in the face, cutting him deeply. Covered in blood, the man would later be rushed to the hospital.

The incident comes as China is attempting to clear up its image heading into the 2012 Olympics. The organizers of the City Games warned the competitors that doping, lying about their age, or unsportsmanlike conduct would result in swift and severe punishment. As a result of their actions, the Nanchang kayaking squad was disqualified from the competition.

The paddlers weren’t the only ones getting in on the action either. Apparently the women’s under-18 soccer tourney saw a benchs clearing brawl as well. Apparently, they take their sports very seriously in China.

[Photo credit: www.cfp.cn]

Photo of the day – Cours Saleya candy

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Cours Saleya is a big public market in Nice, France, where all sorts of things, including the bright candy pictured here, can be purchased. I like this image, snapped by Flickr user Kumukulanui, for its bright colors and composition. Plus my teeth ache when I look at it. How often does an image engender such a visceral response?

Upload your images of sweet things to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. If we see an image of something we want to eat there’s a decent chance that we’ll then want to feature said image as a future Photo of the Day.