For a number of reasons the upcoming BNP Paribas Showdown, otherwise known as The Billie Jean Cup, seems so quintessentially New York.
First of all it features Serena Williams,Venus Williams, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, four of the hottest tennis divas on the planet smacking that fluorescent green ball silly on the floor of the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. Although the event organizers did not select the top four female players according to the current WTA rankings, they did choose four of the top ten, three 2008 Grand Slam title winners, plus the currently number one ranked female player in the world Jelena Jankovic. These four have definite star appeal and should be able to sell this show to a New York audience. The ad campaign on billboards in midtown Manhattan presents these talented ladies like fashionista glamor girls (which of course they are).
Secondly The Billie Jean Cup is about making money and making it fast, which is what New Yorkers are all about. It will definitely be exciting to witness one of these players winning a ton of money in the course of a single evening.
Thirdly, by setting up the event in a win it-win-it-now showdown format, it's win big or go home, which is definitely a New York frame of mind.
And lastly the BNP Paribas Showdown asks the essential question in a blunt New York fashion. What does it all come down to on this historic night? At the end of the night which one of them is going to have the guts (or should I say balls) to slay her opponents in three merciless sets? Do I hear a Paris Hiltonian "That's hot!" reverberating in the air over Manhattan?
Billie Jean King Cup? Forget about it— that's just a silver cup. These chicks are going home on the night of March 2nd, 2009 with $1.2 million in prize money. (If I'm not mistaken, some of the players on the New York Knicks tough it out for an entire season and make about half that amount.)
Tickets for the Big Showdown go for anywhere from $50 to $1000 plus for the big showdown. Given the entertainment value, however, this is about as recession proof an event as you can get in winter 2009. "And that's hot!"
Photo Credit: BNP Paribas Showdown ©2009 All Rights Reserved
Tags:
ana ivanovic, bnp paribas showdown, jelena jankovic, new york, serena williams, the billie jean cup, venus williams
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Posted on 2/24/2009
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Opening at its charming new venue this month at the West Bank Café's Laurie Beechman Theater, the burlesque troupe Le Scandal serves up a naughty and entertaining menu of risqué dance numbers, sideshow performances, and New Orleansian music that is simply delightful to watch, listen to, and experience.
Emceed by Le Scandal producer and burlesque songstress, Bonnie Dunn, the live performances here cover a surprising range of talents, from sword swallowing feats (Natasha Veruschka) to naughty dance numbers (Perle Noir), as well as audacious balancing acts, mind-boggling juggling skills (Marcus Monroe), and much more. This is definitely live exotic-erotic entertainment worthy of a full house in midtown Manhattan.
Ms. Dunn, who developed her burlesque and cabaret persona growing up and performing in New Orleans's famous French Quarter, doesn't need to implore anybody to leave the boring comfort of late night television to check out her show. The word of mouth alone from this past Saturday's show should be enough to fill the cozy seats at this charming late night venue (Le Scandal is booked here for multiple Saturday nights this 2009 winter season).
Although the show's line-up will vary over the course of it's upcoming shows, one feels confident that a veteran burlesque dame such as Ms. Dunn has only the highest standards in mind in selecting acts that will cover a very colorful spectrum of performances. Expect hoola hoops, fire-eaters, shimmering Burlesque beauties, belly dancers, contortionists, and plenty of performer/audience interaction to keep you on the edge of your seat all night.
And with great cabaret style music provided by the NYC Blues Devils, led by pianist, Scott "The Doctor" Treibitz (plus Kiku Collins on horns), what you really have here is a classy varieté program mixed and mingling, one might even say flirting, with a neo-burlesque naughtiness that is charmingly contemporary.
Tags:
burlesque, cabaret, kiku collins, le scandal, manhattan, marcus monroe, natasha veruschka, new york city, nyc blues devils, perle noir, saturday nights, scott treibitz, west bank cafe
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Posted on 2/23/2009
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Although the US flag hanging today across the facade of the New York Stock Exchange gives the building the added appearance of both strength and patriotism, if you look closely you can see there are dozens of wrinkles in Old Glory. No matter how tightly they try to wrap the flag across those noble columns, a shakiness, a quivering is still evident in its fabric on a day when the the Dow has dropped to its lowest point since October 2002. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 88 points, or 1.6%, according to early tallies, and finished at the low of the last bear market.
Despite the steady flow of tourists taking pictures in New York historic Financial District, there is a funereal gloom looming in the air, perhaps best represented by an aged, homeless man sitting in front of the building playing an incredibly sad version of "Glory, Glory, Hallelujah" on his tarnished silver flute, as respectful tourists take their digital photos and discuss the landmarks in the immediate vicinity in various languages.
If the U.S. government's stimulus package is to have a palpable effect on the global markets and the US economy, you certainly couldn't feel it at the NYSE today. President Obama did in fact say after the signing of the huge stimulus bill that immediate improvements should not be expected and that change will take place gradually over a period of months,if not years.
We just don't know if the old man playing that very sad song knows any other tunes to play in this chosen Wall Street location-- the song he chose on this grey day sounded like a delicate dirge.
Photography: Charles Harris
Photo Credit: NYC.com © All Rights Reserved 2009
Tags:
2002, dow, dow jones, new york stock exchange, nyse, president obamafinancial district, stimulus package, us flag, wall street
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Posted on 2/19/2009
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Although most people have learned by now that a Sussex spaniel named Stump has won yesterday's 2009 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square, many might not know the arduous path each dog takes to make it to this prestigious event, often referred to as America's Number One Dog Show.
In addition to long and arduous hours of training, many of the 2500 dogs entered in the event have competed in dozens of events prior to this year's show in order to accumulate enough points to become qualified to participate. What they usually means is that before competing in New York City each dog needs to win an official AKC Best of Breed competition elsewhere, which often means numerous attempts and numerous shows. The Top Five dogs (AKC Champions) in breed standings in a given year are invited to pre-enter in advance of the regular closing date, while the rest must go from show to show until they capture a WKC championship.
The Best of Breed competition, such as the Tibetan Mastiff one pictured above, pits the pre-qualified dogs in a head to toe competition against each other in a series of tests in order to determine the champion. First the dogs enter the ring and are assembled in a line and are evaluated by a single (highly qualified) lone judge, who assesses their stature and proportionality. They circle the ring as a group and are then each are summoned to one end of the ring to be evaluated individually. Judges at AKC shows assess the overall health of the dog and then observe the dog in motion to see if the dog presents the classic posture and gait that is characteristic of that particular breed.
In examining a traditional Bullmastiff, for example, a working dog which was originally bred and trained to deter poaching on large estates in England, one is looking for a certain "squareness" in its overall sturdy build. The Siberian Husky is known to be the fastest, most enduring, and versatile of purebred sled dogs, and is capable of running marathon distances that few if any other breeds of dog could manage. The movement of each dog is evaluated in the end in regard to the purpose for which it was bred. Thus the Siberian Husky's gait during the show should correlate directly to its long-distance running tradition.
Each of the finalist at this years show— Smash JP Moon Walk, Spirit, Tiger Woods, Field of Dreams (Pulli), Sadie, Masquerade, and the champion Stump, made it to the finals in the competition because they exhibited the health, beauty, movement, and character of the prototypical breed they represent better than any other dog in their particular category.
Tags:
2009 west minster kennel club dog show, akc, field of dreams, madison square garden, sadie, smash jp moon walk, spirit, stump, tiger woods
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Posted on 2/11/2009
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In the midst of collapsing fortune 500 companies, record job losses, foreclosures, and massive bailout packages, it's certainly reassuring to know that not everybody in the New York metropolitan area is suffering a through hard winter this year. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt will be renting the Lloyd Neck estate known as Sassafras, (which if anyone is interested out there is on the market this year for a cool $60 million) while Jolie shoots the upcoming CIA spy movie—Salt.
The 48-acre estate on Long Island was once on the Forbes list of the 10 most expensive homes in North America. There are three houses on the property—one boasting 22,000 square feet and a interior decor fit for nobility— as well as two helipads, tennis courts, a pool, and a private cove with a dock.
Welcome to New York, Brad and Angelina. Manhattan would appreciate a few trips into the city by you two— we need all the positive buzz we can get this winter. Come to think of it— do a little bit of shopping, go to restaurants, buy a couple cars, how about some jewelry?
Tags:
48 acre, angelina, angelina jolie, brad, brad pitt, lloyd neck, long island, new york, sassafras
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Posted on 1/29/2009
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