Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

The 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 30th from 7-9pm at Rockefeller Plaza between 48th & W. 51st Streets and 5th & 6th Avenues.

This is a change from past years, as the tree lighting ceremony usually takes place on December 1st. This years still will stand at 74 feet high and 40 feet in diameter. It will weight 12 tons....and then it will be decorated with 30,000 lights and crowned with a Swarovski crystal star.

Live performances will take place over the course of the ceremony, performers including Mariah Carey, Sheryl Crow and Josh Groban are set to perform this year. Also slated to make appearances and sing are Jessica Simpson, Susan Boyle, Annie Lenox, Katherine Jenkins, Charice, Kylie Minogue, and Jackie Evancho.

The holidays are an especially beautiful and exciting time in New York City with events taking place daily and spanning across the city.

If you are interested in Event Planning or PR services, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or info@amp3pr.com.

After The Final Deed With Trey Morgan

AMP3 Public Relations client Trey Morgan recently completed an extensive philanthropic project entitled "30 Deeds, 30 Days". 30 Deeds, 30 Days was a project wherein Trey, a national radio personality and DJ at NYC's Z100, volunteered every day of September for a different charitable organization in NYC (30 total), all while holding down his radio job and making it home for dinner with his wife. Over the course of the 30 days Trey blogged/vlogged on his website www.30Deeds30Days.com and posted numerous pictures so that he could share his experiences with his fans and the community.

To celebrate the completion of 30 Deeds, 30 Days, we're having a celebration this evening, October 21st, at the P.C. Richard & Son Theater in Tribeca. The celebration, entitled "After The Final Deed" (get it!!!) will include a cocktail reception, a screening of the 30 Deeds, 30 Days documentary, and then a live Q&A with Trey hosted by Tonic.com where Trey will reveal what the experience has taught him and what the future holds (*spoiler alert: there's talk of a potential book and reality show!!)

In a wonderful show of support, tonight's celebration is being sponsored by 4 amazing companies:

Given Liqueur: Given is the unique blend of premium agave tequila, all natural lime juice and Sauvignon Blanc grapes; handcrafted through an infusion process in the Cognac region of France. Best served over ice, Given Liqueur will be a wonderful addition to the evening.

Divvies: If you have food allergies (and even if you don't) Divvies is the snack brand for you. Developed by the Sandler family, Divvies snacks are dairy free, nut free, egg free treats that also happen to be delicious.

Ivy Bakery: Ivy Bakery is a fresh, custom, gourmet Brooklyn bakery headed by Daniellan Louie. From cookies to cupcakes to pies and more, they make it all, just the way you want it.

Tonic.com: Tonic.com is a website that truly lives up to it's tagline "Everything that's good with the world." Tonic is a positive news website dedicated to reporting the good that happens around the world each day.

If you would like to find out more about 30 Deeds, 30 Days or the 30 charitable organizations that Trey volunteered with, please check out the 30 Deeds, 30 Days website.

If you are interested in PR and/or event planning services, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or info@amp3pr.com.

More August Fun in NYC

On any given weekend in August you can pretty much count on the fact that it's going to be hot and there are going to be far less people in the city than you might expect. Many take the summer months as an opportunity to escape the concrete jungle for greener (and cooler) pastures, but if you stick around you might find that there are actually a lot of fun events that take place in the NYC summer months. Here are just a few activities & events to consider:

US Open Tennis

Whether you're a tennis fan or not, a trip to Flushing Meadow Queens to see a US Open tennis match is an amazing experience. The US Open is the final Grand Slam tournament of the year and has been known to both make or break the season and careers. The US Open is as iconic an event in American sports, as the Masters, the World Series and the Super Bowl. The US Open starts on August 24th with the qualifiers and ends on September 12th with a new Men's Singles title holder (as well as a Women's).

Summer Streets

Have you ever just wanted to walk down the middle of Park Avenue for as far as your eye can see without worrying about being run over by a taxi or bike messenger. Well during the month of August you can do just that. The city will temporarily close Park Avenue and connecting streets from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park to motor vehicles and open it up to people on three consecutive Saturdays in August (August 7, 14, & 21). Here's your chance to play, run, walk or bike, whatever your heart desires. This year you can even swim, thanks to MacroSea. The pools, transformed out of unused shipping containers, will be set up near the Grand Central viaduct and free entry bracelets will be handed out for time slots on a first come, first served basis.

New York International Fringe Festival

For two weeks, from August 13th to 29th, NYC will be the setting for more than 1,000 distinct stage performances—running the gamut from absurdist comedies to social commentaries to hip-hop musicals—with participating theater companies from down the street and around the globe. Feel free to just choose a show or two, or buy a multi-day pass to get the full experience. FringeNYC is the largest multi-arts festival in North America. All tickets can be purchased online (for $15) or at the door (for $18).

If you are interested in Event Planning assistance in NYC, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or info@amp3pr.com.

It's Restaurant Week in NYC!

NYC Restaurant Week is finally here. Restaurant week is one of the most popular events in the city (especially since it only comes twice a year). New Yorkers wait all year for restaurant week to approach, it barely need any promotion, it's just known.

NYC Restaurant Week is actually the countries first ever restaurant week. It debuted in 1992 when it was developed as a one-time culinary event to welcome the Democratic National Convention to the City. Now, with over 275 local restaurants taking part (an all time high), this summers Restaurant Week 2010 stands apart as one of the City’s most exciting and anticipated events and a pioneer in the dining community.

Lunch during restaurant week will cost you $24.07 and dinner will set you back approximately $35, not bad at all by NYC standards. Keep an eye out for the restaurant week truck as well serving lunch around the city for busy officer workers.

Restaurants across the city (and its neighboring boroughs) are taking part and you can find just about any cuisine your heart desires.

Click here to find a full list of restaurants taking part in this years Restaurant Week.

Click here to check out restaurant week menus.

If you are interested in Event Planning assistance, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or info@amp3pr.com.

What To Do When August Is Just Around The Corner

August is fast approaching and with that comes a whole months worth of fun events to be a part of while basking in NYC sunshine.

Street Fairs (Just A Taste)

8.2- Avenue of the Americas Festival (btwn 42nd & 56th)

8.2- Madison Ave. Street Festival (btwn E.23rd &26th)

8.2- Lincoln Square Neighborhood Festival (Columbus btwn 66th & 72nd)

8.8- Village Visiting Neighborhood Festival (University Place btwn Waverly Place & 14th)

8.9- Dominican Day Parade (6th Ave. from 36th to 56th)

8.9- East 60th Street Fair (E. 60th btwn Madison & 5th)

8.15- 23rd Street Association Festival (6th Ave. btwn 14th & 23rd)

8.15- Seaport Community Coalition Street Festival (Water St. from Broad to Fulton)

8.16- India Day Parade and Festival (Madison from 23rd to 26th)

8.22- Our Lady of Pompei Festival (Bleecker btwn 6th & 7th)

8.23- Daytop Village Festival (Madison btwn 42nd & 57th)

8.29- West 4th Street Festival (W. 4th btwn 6th & MacDougal, Washington Square South btwn MacDougal & Washington Square East)

8.30- Amsterdam Avenue Festival (btwn 81st & 86th)

8.30- St. Matthews/St. Tomothy Neighborhood Center Festival (Amsterdam btwn 76th & 81st)

8.30- Seventh Avenue Festival (7th btwn 47th & 57th)

Central Park Summer Stage Concerts

8.4- Hot Chip, Hercules and Love Affair, & Holy Ghost! (Tix available on Ticketmaster)

8.8- The xx, Chairlift, & Jack Penate (FREE)

8.11- Gov't Mule (FREE)

8.15- Public Enemy & Blitz The Ambassador (FREE)

8.22- The Specials, Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears, & $mall Change (FREE)

Other

New York International Fringe Festival

Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center

Central Park Film Festival (Movies TBA)

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival

New York City is the place to be no matter what month, but August is offering up some events that should not be missed. If you happen to be in the city during the month of August, why not blend in with the locals at one of these exciting cultural events and enjoy all that NYC has to offer.

If you are interested in Event Planning assistance, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or info@amp3pr.com.

Enjoy a Literary Experience This Summer with Shakespeare in the Park

Shakespeare in the Park has been a NYC summer time tradition for the last 56 years. Nearly 1500 people turn up for each performance. Tickets are required (they're FREE) to attend Shakespeare in the Park, and are available first come first serve on the day of the performance at the Delacorte Theater beginning at 1pm. Doors open at 7:30pm with performances beginning at 8pm.

There is a 2 ticket limit per person, so be prepared. The earlier in the season that you wait for tickets, the shorter the line but as performances wane, the line gets substantially longer. With the season half over (it started in June) you'll want to make plans soon. See the schedule for both plays that are being performed below:

The Winter's Tale

Wednesday, July 7

Thursday, July 8

Sunday, July 11

Monday, July 12

Saturday, July 17

Wednesday, July 21

Thursday, July 22

Sunday, July 25

Tuesday July, 27

Friday, July 30

Saturday, July 31

The Merchant of Venice (Starring Al Pacino)

Saturday, July 3

Monday, July 5

Tuesday, July 6

Friday, July 9

Saturday, July 10

Thursday, July 15

Friday, July 16

Sunday, July 18

Tuesday, July 20

Friday, July 23

Saturday, July 24

Wednesday, July 28

Thursday, July 29

Sunday, August 1

Watch this video with the cast of Shakespeare in the Park:

If you are in need of event planning services in NYC, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or info@amp3pr.com.

HBO Bryant Park Film Festival...The Place for New Yorkers to be on Monday Nights This Summer

Pack a picnic, pick up a bottle of wine, don't forget a blanket, and head over to Bryant Park any Monday this summer to catch a FREE film and enjoy some time under the stars with friends or a significant other.

Every Monday through August a classic film will be showing in the park. The lawn opens at 5pm, so get there early to grab a good spot, and the movies typically begin between 8-9pm. This past Monday was the first showing in the series, Goldfinger for any James Bond fans out there.

Please see below for a full summer schedule of movies at Bryant Park:

June 28th- Carousel
July 5th- The French Connection
July 12th- My Man Godfrey
July 19th- The China Syndrome
July 26th- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
August 2nd- Rosemary's Baby
August 9th- The Goodbye Girl
August 16th- 12 Angry Men
August 23rd- Bonnie and Clyde

*No chairs, tables, dogs, plastic sheets, tarps, bags, or pads are permitted on the lawn.
*Entry is on the 6th Avenue side of the park only
*All packages, bas, briefcases, backpacks, etc. will be inspected upon entry
*‘wichcraft is providing picnic pickups on Summer Film Festival nights

If you are looking for assistance with Event Planning in NYC, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or info@amp3pr.com.

Looking for a fun way to spend your weekend? Well the PR pros at Delta think they have your answer!

June 18th-20th head over to Madison Square Park for the Delta Dugout. In preparation for the Subway Series games at Highlander Park, Delta Airline will have a Fan Fest entitled the "Delta Dugout". Consider it a Madison Square Park takeover.

The Delta Dugout will play host current as well as former Mets and Yankees players. Additionally there will be Wii Batting and fast pitch stations, a photo booth, fan giveaways, and games for kids. Fans will be able to enjoy stadium style concessions and beverages as well as specialty foods including the limited edition "Delta Dugout Dog" available at the Madison Square Park Shake Shack. Fans will also be able to enjoy live game coverage of the series on a Jumbotron in the center of the park.

Over the course of the three days, The Delta Dugout will be offering plenty of major league giveaways, including ticket packages to Mets and Yankees games, special ballgame events and round-trip domestic and international tickets on Delta. Delta will also be hosting the Sky360 Lounge where they will be showcasing elements of their premium BusinessElite in-flight experience, including lie-flat seats and information on their award-winning culinary offerings.

If you don't have tickets to the game, it certainly seems like the PR team at Delta has planned a great event and a great way for you to spend your afternoon. This event will be a great way for Delta to engage their fans and introduce Delta to new customers through the American pastime of baseball.

If you are looking for event planning assistance and are in the market for Event PR, please contact AMP3 Public Relations at 646-827-9594 or e-mail info@amp3pr.com.

Puma Holds a Month of World Cup Events on South Street Seaport

I recently discussed the new Puma City at South Street Seaport on the Consumer PR blog and thought I might take that post a little further on this blog to talk about some of the many events going on at Puma City all month long in honor of the World Cup.

-Every Wedensday night the Puma Social Club will be holding a "Puma Social Night" with live DJ's and drinks as well as Foosball, Video Games, Darts, Ping Pong...what more could you want in a night out.

-Every week day at Noon they have "Suits in Boots" an opportunity to escape the office for a little pick up soccer game on the Puma soccer pitch.

-Thursday June 17th @ 3pm take party in "Human Foosball"...it's exactly what it sounds like!!!!

-Don't miss a single second, catch all the games on the Jumbotron in the PUMA RED Beer Garden

-Watch DJ's and MC's battle it out at Puma Social Club on Saturday nights

-Are you a Gossip Girl Fan? Check out Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momson) and her band The Pretty Reckless on June 22 @ 9pm at the Puma Social Club

-On June 25th at 2pm head over to the Puma Social Club for a Social Media Happy Hour, have a cocktail and discuss social media for social change.

-Ever heard of "Soccer Tennis"? Neither have I, but if you head over to Puma City on June 28th at 5pm you can find out what it's all about.

-If you still haven't made it over, get yourself to Puma City on July 11th, the last day its open, for a chance to win a trip to the country of the team that wins the World Cup.

If you are in the market for event pr or consumer pr contact AMP3 Public Relations at info@amp3pr.com or 646-827-9594.

4th of July 2010, Destination: Governor's Island

Are you planning on spending the 4th of July in the city this year? Don't know what to do?

Well here's an idea, head out to Governor's Island for some free summer fun. Let's not save the best for last though...She & Him will be joining in the Governor's Island 4th of July festivities with a FREE show at The Beach on Governor's Island at 4pm.

If you need more, well here's what to expect for the rest of your day:

Watch Roseanne Cash play a FREE show at 2pm.
Rent a bicycle and go for a spin on some of the 5 miles worth of car free paths.
Play miniature golf on the new 9 hole mini golf green.
Get a good spot and relax on Water Taxi Beach before the She & Him show.
Pack a picnic or grab some snacks at the Beach Grill or Backstage Cafe.

Most of all enjoy your summer in NYC

Museum Mile Festival- June 8th, 2010

Plenty of time to save the date for the 2010 Museum Mile Festival. The event will be taking place on Tuesday, June 8th, from 6-9pm.

So what is the Museum Mile Festival? The Museum Mile Festival is an annual festival (32 years and running) that shuts down traffic on 5th Avenue for a large scale block party. There will be 23 car free blocks from 82nd to 105th for your enjoyment. The festival includes entertainment spanning music and art (including face painting and chalk drawing for the kids) but by far the best part is that all 9 museums that make up Museum Mile open and offer free admission.

Participating museums include:

• El Museo del Barrio - 105th Street
• Museum of the City of New York - 103rd Street
• The Jewish Museum - 92nd Street
• Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution - 91st Street
• National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts - 90th Street
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum - 89th Street
• Neue Galerie New York - 86th Street
• Goethe-Institut New York/German Cultural Center - 83rd Street
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art - 82nd Street

What to know? The Museum Mile Festival takes place rain or shine and brings in attendance that can reach 50,000 people, so be prepared for crowds and a great time.

How to get here:
4/5 to 86th Street
OR
6 to 86th, 96th and 103rd Streets

As Event Planning goes, the Museum Mile Festival takes a lot of work to bring to fruition year after year, and yet its organizers continue to pull it off with success. Thanks to the City of New York and the participating museums an incredible annual event has become part of the summer landscape of this city. Whether you're an art enthusiast or not, this event allows everyone to come together and share pride in the city we call home. Mark June 8th on your calendar and tell your friends where you'll be.

-Ashley for AMP3 Public Relations

The Met Costume Institite Gala 2010

The 2010 Met Costume Institute Gala will be held Monday May 3rd. That's exactly a week from today. The theme for this years gala is American Women: Fashioning a National Identity. This years Gala has been planned under the reign of first timer and new Director of Special Events for Vogue Magazine, Sylvana Soto-Ward. Soto-Ward was the replacement for Stephanie Winston Wolkoff who resigned from her post last summer after 10 years planning the Gala and a reputation as the driving force behind the success of the Gala.

After the resignation of Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, there was quite a bit of talk about the budget for the 2010 Gala being slashed as well by Conde Nast. Sylvana Soto-Ward, who began her career at Vogue in 2003 as assistant to Anna Wintour herself, would have had her work cut out for her planning a budget friendly event this year. WOULD HAVE. Except that the Gap stepped in as sponsor for the 2010 Gala and with the Gap came a substantial amount of financial backing.

The 2010 Met Costume Institute Gala will be as big and bright as usual. Hosting the event this year is Oprah Winfrey (already set to wear Oscar de la Renta) , Patrick Robinson, Head Designer for the Gap, and Anna Wintour, Editor in Chief of Vogue Magazine. The Gap, in collaboration with designers including Thakoon, Rodarte and Alexander Wang, will be dressing hot young starlets including Natalie Portman and Jessica Alba as well as musician M.I.A.

Talk of cheap liquor, plastic cups and fewer celebrities at the Met this year is a thing of the past, there's no doubt that all the stops will be pulled out as usual. I think we'll all be staying tuned to see how this years event compares to years past.

-Ashley for AMP3 Public Relations

The Dead Live On...Something Different For a Lazy Weekend

Maybe you've seen the marketing around town, maybe not, but if you're looking for something interesting and different to do on a Sunday afternoon, why not take stroll over to The New-York Historical Society. The NYHS is currently hosting an exciting event, the first large scale exhibition of materials from the Grateful Dead Archive (normally housed at the University of California Santa Cruz). Whether you're a Dead fan, a jam band fan, a free spirit or just a bored soul, you'll probably find something of interest in what this exhibition is offering. The exhibition will chronicle the history of the Grateful Dead including their music and career longevity through an array of original art and documents related to the band, their performances, and productions. It will also provide a unique glimpse into the political and social upheaval and artistic awakening of the 1960's and 1970's, a tumultuous and transformative period that has shaped our current cultural and political landscape.

The exhibit will examine how the Grateful Dead's origin in northern California in the mid-1960's was informed by the ideology and spirit of both the Beat Generation and the burgeoning Hippie scene, including experimentation with LSD and the Acid Tests. It will also explore the way in which the band's refusal to follow the established rules of the record industry revealed an unexpected business savvy that led to both innovations in a rapidly changing music industry and also a host of consumer-driven marketing enrichments that kept fans in frequent contact with the band.

The Grateful Dead's time in New York will be viewed in the context of cultural traditions and events unique to New York, but also as yet another stop on a long, strange touring trip that included dates in New York, San Francisco, and everywhere in between. As the band crisscrossed the country, from coast to coast, they played in and around New York City on a regular basis, from early dates at Greenwich Village coffeehouses, impromptu performances in Central Park and at Columbia University during the 1968 Student Strike; to concerts at mid-sized venues, including the Fillmore East, The Academy of Music and the 46th Street Rock Palace in Brooklyn during the 1970s; and, ultimately, to performances at larger halls and stadiums such as Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Giants Stadium.

Museum Info
Admission: $12 for adults
Address: 170 Central Park West between 76th and 77th Streets
*For the Grateful Dead exhibition, please use the entrance at 2 West 77th Street
Subway: B or C to 81st Street
Bus: M10 to 77th Street; M79 to 81st Street and Central Park West

-Ashley for AMP3 Public Relations

2010 Big Apple BBQ Block Party

It's almost that time again, the 8th Annual Big Apple BBQ Block Party is right around the corner. Break out your bibs and your appetites and find out what this event is all about.

The Eighth Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party will be held in Madison Square Park June 12-13, 2010, from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. The weekend-long event takes place every June and brings together the country’s top pitmasters who cook up their award-winning food for over a hundred thousand barbecue enthusiasts. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Madison Square Park, the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party attracts people from near and far.

Admission to the event is free. Come take in the sights, sounds and smells, from great live music to engaging seminars and cooking demonstrations – without ever dropping a dollar. Or enjoy the country’s best barbecue as well which is available for only $8 per plate.

Last year's pitmasters came from as far away as Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi, though there were also quite a few stand out local pitmasters from good ol' New York City. Each pitmaster serves up their own regional style of barbecue and lines can get long some come early.

If you are a barbecue devotee, you might be interested in the Fast Pass which is on sale now. The fast pass is $125 and benefits include a $100 redeemable value good for food, beverages, and merchandise as well as exclusive access to express lines throughout the weekend.

This June weekend is won't you won't want to miss. What's better then a beautiful summer day in the sun enjoying good tunes and the country's best barbecue? Nothing some come out and join in the fun!

Details
Madison Square Park (between 23rd and 26th Streets and 5th and Madison Avenues)
June 12-13th 2010
11:00am- 6:00pm

Getting There
Subway:
6 to 23rd
N/R to 23rd

Parking:
SW Corner of 28th Street & Park Ave. S.
24th Street between Park Ave. S. & Lexington Ave.
30th Street between 5th Ave. & Madison Ave.

*Proceeds from the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party support the Madison Square Park Conservancy, the organization responsible for the beauty, ongoing maintenance, and programming of this historic park.

-Ashley for AMP3 Public Relations

Spring 2010 Event Guide to NYC

Tribeca Film Festival

There’s nothing like New York City in spring and what better way to celebrate that then enjoying the 9th annual Tribeca Film Festival. The festival is known for its tradition of honoring NYC films, filmed on NYC streets, by NYC filmmakers, inspired by the city we love. The 2010 festival kicks off on April 21 and runs until May 2 with tickets for the general public going on sale April 19^th. Pick a film, buy a ticket, and feel the love for NYC.

Are you looking for more than that?

Have you always thought about writing your own movie? Well Barnes and Nobles is hosting free events focusing on screenwriting. Put your ideas on paper with the help of panelists that include NYC's own screenwriter/director/actor Edward Burns.

Maybe you're a big sports nut and what you really want to do is celebrate the spirit of competition. Well sit in on a panel discussion with ESPN Film executives as they discuss the future of sports films. Maybe you'll catch a glimpse of rapper turned director Ice Cube who will be making an appearance on the panel. Later catch his film Straight Oughta L.A. as part of the festivals Tribeca Sports Film portion.

Did you love the book Freakonomics? Well catch the documentary on Saturday May 1st at 3pm at the Directors Guild Theater and then stay for the panel discussion with the films directors and the books writers.

Are you a comedy fan? Well catch the documentary Saturday Night directed by actor James Franco. It's a look behind the scenes of what going into making the popular Saturday Night Live. Stay after the film for a discussion with the actor turned director as well as cast members for the show. It's sure to have you laughing out loud.

Spring in NYC is an amazing time of year and the events are just beginning.

-Ashley for AMP3 Public Relations