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