Category Archives: Food

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Jello Brick Wall: Hein & Seng

Jell-O Brick Wall, Jello Brick Wall by Lisa Hein and Robert Seng. Contemporary Sculpture. Seattle and Exit Art NYC. Cool art, fun art, goofy art. Food artJell-O Brick Wall, Jello Brick Wall by Lisa Hein and Robert Seng. Contemporary Sculpture. Seattle and Exit Art NYC. Cool art, fun art, goofy art. Food artJell-O Brick Wall, Jello Brick Wall by Lisa Hein and Robert Seng. Contemporary Sculpture. Seattle and Exit Art NYC. Cool art, fun art, goofy art. Food artArtists Bob Seng and Lisa Hein have created their Jello Brick Wall sculptures on more than one occasion. Their most recent was at the Seattle Center in, well, Seattle. The jiggly installation consisted of 500 lbs. of Jell-O made into loaf-size bricks of varying flavors (raspberry, orange, cherry, lime, and more) and colors held in place with gypsum mortar. The artists cook the Jell-O on a hot plate and cool it in molds in a fridge. The final wall measured roughly 5 feet in height and 12 feet in length. And then there’s the melting/deteriorating aspect. Hein and Seng like the temporary nature of the work. Each brick apparently has the approximate lifespan of cut flowers, eventually melting or crumbling leaving just the mortar. The work is part performance, part installation. You can see more in the video below:

via nyfa

 

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Chanel Shopping Center: Paris Fashion Week

Chanel Shopping Center, Paris Fashion Week 2014, Karl Lagerfeld, Supermarket with all Chanel labeled food in grand Palais for displaying Chanel runway collectionChanel Shopping Center, Paris Fashion Week 2014, Karl Lagerfeld, Supermarket with all Chanel labeled food in grand Palais for displaying Chanel runway collectionChanel Shopping Center, Paris Fashion Week 2014, Karl Lagerfeld, Supermarket with all Chanel labeled food in grand Palais for displaying Chanel runway collectionFashion shows keep pushing the boundaries and blurring the lines between art, performance, design and fashion. Last week in Paris, Karl Lagerfeld and his Chanel team took their Fall 2014 runway show to a whole new level. Stepping into the Grand Palais, all attendees were welcomed by the over-the-top Chanel Shopping Center. An entire supermarket recreated with every item rebranded/repackaged and emblazoned with the highly recognizable interlocking C’s of the Chanel logo. From every food product you can imagine, to cleaning products, welcome mats, brooms, soap, garbage bags and much more. The models walked through the runway aisles clad in the new Fall line, all wearing sneakers (because you can wear a Chanel suit to pick up your groceries, but heels might be too much?) pushing grocery carts or carrying baskets. An impressive feat, which apart from the obvious wow-factor, was meant to be a commentary on the state of consumerism. You’ll be relieved to know that all of the items are being donated to charity. It is difficult to wrap one’s head around all the design, printing, and organization that clearly went into this event, in addition to the fashion line itself. It’s the ultimate mega pop-up shop/installation… it’ll be tough to top.

Here’s a video of the models strutting their wares:

Photos: Garance Doré; and Marcando Tendencia

via Garance Doré

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Icepop Generator: MELT

Icepop Generator concept by MELT. 3D printed icepops. Self-portrait icepopsIcepop Generator concept by MELT. 3D printed icepops. Self-portrait icepopsIcepop Generator concept by MELT. 3D printed icepops. Self-portrait icepopsIt was only a matter of time before 3D printing turned to food, or vice versa. There have been some spectacularly beautiful pieces (actually, too beautiful to put in your coffee!) made with sugar, and now there is talk of Hershey teaming up with 3D Systems to create, I assume, some amazing things with chocolate. So, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that Dutch company MELT is creating an the Icepop Generator to bring personalized ice pops to the public while educating them in 3D design technology. It appears, however, that the Icepop Generator works more on a carving and chiseling process rather than actually 3D printing an ice pop from frozen water but, it’s amazing nonetheless. Starting with a block of ice, the generator (which looks like many 3D printers with the twist of doubling as a freezer) has a sort of drill that moves back and forth along three axes, carving out the designated design, in effect, functioning as a mechanical sculptor. The Icepop Generator was just funded yesterday on Voordekunst—a Dutch funding platform similar to Kickstarter—so these pops are likely to be at a street fair or festival near you in the not-so-distant future. In the meantime the creative team at MELT has made several a pop, some in their own image. You can see how it works in this video:

via notcot and 3ders

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DipJar: Ryder Kessler

Credit card tipping gadget DipJar by Ryder KesslerCredit card tipping gadget DipJar by Ryder KesslerCredit card tipping gadget DipJar by Ryder KesslerThe other day I passed by Fresco Gelateria/Café and was reminded of the last time I was in there with a friend who noticed an interesting gadget on their counter. “Meet DipJar—” as the sign reads, “the first ever tip jar for credit and debit cards.” This nicely designed (by industrial designer Simon Enever) stainless cylindrical vessel charges your credit card a dollar tip with one quick swipe or, more precisely, “dip” of your card. This clever product is the brainchild of Ryder Kessler who, after chatting with several baristas, learned that along with the uptick of credit and debit card use for small purchases came the plummeting of cash jar tips. In a world where printed currency is fast becoming a thing of the past, replaced by credit and bitcoins, this is just another example of smart design following in the footsteps of Square and the less successful waving-of-cell-phones for subway entry. This is good news for industrial designers! Bad news for cheapskates: not having change or singles is no longer a valid excuse to avoid tipping.

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Pammy Pea by Pamella Lessero

Pammy Pea Children's Book on eating healthy, nutrition, by Pamella LesseroPammy Pea Children's Book on eating healthy, nutrition, by Pamella LesseroPammy Pea Children's Book on eating healthy, nutrition, by Pamella LesseroClick to enlarge

Our friend—as well as local NYC artist and lifelong vegetable lover—Pam Lessero just published a fun and friendly educational illustrated book for kids which focuses on the importance of eating healthy. The book’s protagonist (and Pamella’s alter ego?) Pammy Pea, “…wants to inspire and teach children everywhere to be healthy and eat all of their vegetables. When she is not dreaming of landing on your plate, you can find her happealy rolling around the garden with all her pea family and friends.”  Pammy Pea is targeted at the 3 to 6-year-old set and can be purchased over here. Stickers are available too, and a plush toy of Pammy Pea herself will follow shortly. You can follow Pammy Pea on facebook for updates too.

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Gingerbread & Candy Art Museums

Gingerbread and Candy Art Museums, Louvre, Henry Hargreaves and Caitlin LevinGingerbread and Candy Art Museums, Guggenheim, Henry Hargreaves and Caitlin LevinGingerbread and Candy Art Museums, Guggenheim, Henry Hargreaves and Caitlin LevinClick to enlarge

Sure, it’s that time of year when visions of sugar plums dance in your head, and gingerbread houses abound. But New Zealand-born artist/photographer Henry Hargreaves based in Brooklyn and stylist/chef Caitlin Levin took their holiday creations to new heights. The two have collaborated on several projects in the past (Deep Fried Gadgets being a largely recognizable one,) but their latest collaboration took the form of Gingerbread and Candy Art Museums & Galleries for ArtBasel/Miami. These amazing models of the iconic institutions were made using gingerbread, hard candy, chocolate, licorice, and many other tasty sweets. Hargreaves and Levin made tabletop-size replicas of the Louvre, Guggenheim, Maxxi, Tate Modern, Karuizawa Gallery, MAS, and Soumaya and then cleverly lit and photographed each one.

You can see more of the process here.

via grit and neatorama

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Rune Olsen: Will to Power

Rune Olsen, Will to Power exhibit at La Mama Gallery, NYC. Cheese-Ball Head Paper Towel Holder, Humorous SculptureRune Olsen, Will to Power exhibit at La Mama Gallery, NYC. Endless Column, Tower of styrofoam takeout containers, Humorous SculptureRune Olsen, Will to Power exhibit at La Mama Gallery, NYC. Endless Column, Tower of styrofoam takeout containers, Humorous SculptureClick to enlarge

It’s hard to know what to make of the wacky exhibit Will to Power at La Mama Gallery here in NYC, but it’s definitely engaging. Norwegian artist Rune Olsen, now living in Hudson, NY, is interested in what he refers to as “Alternative Intelligences” such as ADHD, Asperger’s, Dyslexia and Bipolar disorder. He questions what functionality would look like if “the norm” were one of these alternative intelligences.

Using mostly food and kitchen-centric objects, Olsen creates pieces that include a Cheese-ball Head that conveniently doubles as a paper towel holder; a leaning tower of take-out containers titled Endless Column; a kitchen counter in the center of the gallery with a person covered in foil and dishes stacked precariously by the sink in a piece titled Endless Water Fall, just to name a few. The entire space has foam sausages flying through the air as well and, apparently, at times there are performances in the space, though not while I was there.

In some ways meme-like, the artist seems to favor that comparison. He speaks of the idea of evoking “a visceral response in the viewer, a response that elicits a desire to imitate thus initiating a first hand experience and making them personal.”

Will to Power will be up at La Mama La Galleria through November 17, 2013. Open Wednesday to Sunday 1 to 7:30pm.

Photos: collabcubed
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Pro Bono Promo: Dori the Giant

Pro Bono Promo, Dorota Pankowska, Street art Logos created from the product they represent, dori the giant, typographyPro Bono Promo, Dorota Pankowska, Street art Logos created from the product they represent, dori the giant, typographyPro Bono Promo, Dorota Pankowska, Street art Logos created from the product they represent, dori the giant, typographyPro Bono Promo, Dorota Pankowska, Street art Logos created from the product they represent, dori the giant, typographyClick to enlarge

Recent photography grad Dori the Giant, aka Dorota Pankowska, created a street art series on the walls of downtown Brampton, Ontario titled Pro Bono Promo. She recreated logos using the product which they represent: the Colgate logo was illustrated in Colgate toothpaste; the Nutella one with Nutella…you get the idea. Then she also documented their (sometimes quick) deterioration, whether naturally or due to finger smudges. Which leads to the humorous title of the series. In many ways Pankowska gave these companies free advertising (pro bono) with free samples thrown in (promo). You can see a lot more of Pankowska’s clever work on her website and her blog.

If you like this, you might also enjoy Danielle Evans’ work.

via junkculture

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Animal Equality: Day without Meat

Animal Equality, Animal Rights Protest Barcelona, Day without Meat, street art, performance artAnimal Equality, Animal Rights Protest Barcelona, Day without Meat, street art, performance artAnimal Equality, Animal Rights Protest Barcelona, Day without Meat, street art, performance artClick to enlarge

Though it may not be exactly art or design, I think this animal rights protest in Barcelona would qualify as some sort of performance or street art. Animal rights activist group Animal Equality staged a demonstration that would give the most devoted omnivore, like myself, pause. For the International Day Without Meat back in March, demonstrators created giant supermarket-style meat packaging trays and had human models covered in fake blood and plastic sheets lie in them in front of the Cathedral of Barcelona. If that wasn’t eye-catching enough, large labels with barcodes and the words “Human Meat” or “Carne Humana” were added to the plastic coverings. I’d say their mission was accomplished in spades; artfully, peacefully, and powerfully.

via banoosh

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Fos: Rayen Restaurant Installation

Fos, Somos Fos, Rayen Restaurant Madrid, facade painted to look like light, fun installation/artFos, Somos Fos, Rayen Restaurant Madrid, facade painted to look like light, fun installation/artFos, Somos Fos, Rayen Restaurant Madrid, facade painted to look like light, fun installation/artFos, Somos Fos, Rayen Restaurant Madrid, facade painted to look like light, fun installation/artClick to enlarge

(fos) the multidisciplinary trio based in Madrid and Barcelona, is made up of Eleni Karpatsi, Susana Piquer, and Julio Calvo. The architecture/interior design/graphic design firm recently “illuminated” the façade of vegan restaurant Rayen in Madrid by painting a bright yellow beam of light emanating from an industrial lamp over the entrance. The playful treatment had a show-stopping effect on passers-by, which (fos) clearly anticipated, setting up a photo-shooting spot across the street with a camera icon made of tape placed on the sidewalk for the optimum shot. The whole project is clever, fun, definitely eye-catching for the restaurant and, if that weren’t enough, a great representation of their own firm’s name, as well. Fos means light in Greek and melted in Catalan. So there’s that…

via jeroen apers

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Food Typography: Danielle Evans

Food Typography, Type made with food, Danielle Evans project for Target's Food for thought campaignFood Typography, Type made with food, Danielle Evans project for Target's Food for thought campaignFood Typography, Type made with food, Danielle Evans project for Target's Food for thought campaignClick to enlarge

Midwestern designer Danielle Evans of Marmalade Bleue combines savoir-faire with natural materials such as tea, spices, flour or coffee, to create an amazing typographic series titled Food Typography. In collaboration with Target for their Food for Thought social media campaign announcing the opening of their Canadian stores, Evans created designs of phrases in both French and English using a myriad of food groups. Evans enjoys the organic quality to the process and quickly sees the bezier curves in the powder-y substances as well as the ephemeral and imperfect aspects of the medium. You can hear and see more about the project in the video below.

via swissmiss

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NYC Culture on the Cheap

Culture on the Cheap, NYC, Free and Cheap things to do in NYC, New Site, AnnouncementIf you’re here looking for our regular NYC Culture on the Cheap post, we have exciting news for you. Starting today, Culture on the Cheap will be its own separate site offering links to free and cheap things to do in NYC in art, music, design, film, theater, dance, food, architecture, talks, tours, and general fun. It won’t focus specifically on weekends anymore, though most activities may still be weekend-centric. So go take a look! You can sort by Event Date, Price, Genre, or even a specific date on the calendar.

If you like what you see, please share it with you friends and lovers! Sisters and brothers! Like our page on facebook or follow us on twitter.

It’s just up today, so please bear with us if any glitches should arise.

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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/31

01-TheLonelyIsland_TheWack02-TheHotelColorsThe Dandy Warhols - US AdMat - Square04-RockspotBikeTour205-HowlFestival06-BushwickOpenStudios-201307-The_Cloisters_Medieval_Art_Garden-day08-Nametag-day09-TimesSquareJillSobule10-EAT-LABANY electronic arts Festival12-jellio_lab213-PopFest201314-NYCFunnySongsFest15-DayLifeFestival16-SingForHOpePianos_jamesAlicea17-RooftopFilms18-MYO-MAkerBot

Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/31/13 to 6/2/13)
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/31/13 to 6/2/13). It’s going to be hot hot hot this weekend, but there are plenty of outdoor or indoor (if you prefer) activities in art, music, food, architecture, theater, film, design, comedy and general fun. Check out some of our picks for this weekend in NYC…
1. MUSIC/TALK: Fri 5/31 – Meet the Musicians: The Lonely Island, “The Wack Album” 7:00 p.m. FREE
2. THEATER: Fri 5/31 & Sat 6/1 – The Hotel Colors Six travelers spend one night in a rundown hostel in the outskirts of Rome. Speaking in direct translation from Italian into English the eccentric voyagers form a temporary community and unexpected friendships as they fail–and flail–in their attempts to communicate. 8pm $18.
3. MUSIC: Fri 5/31 – The Dandy Warhols: Featuring 13 Tales From Urban Bohemia In Its Entirety! $30 8pm
4. TOUR/BEACH/FUN: Sat 6/1 – Rockspot Bike Tour: Interactive tour that explores sites of environmental and historical significance along the Rockaway Peninsula. 11am to 2pm. FREE with registration
5. ART/MUSIC/DANCE/THEATER: All weekend – Howl! Festival – Presenting poetry, music, dance, theater, fine art, and intersections of popular culture, new technologies and artistic expression that defy easy categorization. Fri 4:30pm to 7pm. Sat & Sun 11am to 7pm. FREE
6. ART: All weekend: – Bushwick Open Studios – 3 days of arts and culture festival that celebrates the community’s vibrant art scene. 615 shows/studios! FREE
7. ARCHITECTURE/GARDENS: Sat 6/1 – Garden Day at the Cloisters. 10am to 4pm. Pay what you wish, suggested $25.
8. FUN: Sat 6/1 – Nametag Day! Imagine everyone in New York City wearing a nametag. On June 1st, we’ll be giving them out at sites all over the city. FREE
9. THEATER/MUSIC: Sat 6/1 – Times Square the musical at Joe’s Pub by Jill Sobule and Robin Eaton 9:30pm $20
10. ART/MUSIC/FOOD: Sat 6/1 & Sun 6/2 – EAT LABA Arts Festival: an exploration of the power of food in ancient Jewish texts. Art, music, performances, teachings and tastings. Sat 8:30pm Sun 3pm at 14th St Y. $25 to $35.
11. ART/TECH: Sat 6/1 & Sun 6/2 through 7/31 – New York Electronic Art Festival. A summer series of concerts, workshops, and exhibits centered on the cutting-edge work at the intersection of art and technology. FREE
12. DESIGN: All weekend & through 8/16 – Toy Chest: a design exhibit of furniture and objects inspired by toys. A Lincoln Logs chair, a Banana Split Bench… Jellio Design Lab. Noon to 5pm. FREE
13. MUSIC: All weekend – NYC POP Fest: Music festival various bands and venues. $10 to $20
14. COMEDY/MUSIC: All weekend – NYC Funny Songs Fest. Professional entertainers whose acts consist of jokes, songs and/or satirical sketches intended to make an audience laugh, which also incorporate the use of a musical instrument. FREE to $12. See schedule.
15. FOOD/FASHION: Sun 6/2 – DayLife – 3-block special event that covers Orchard Street in astroturf and pushcarts, and includes the best in LES food and fashion vendors. FREE
16. ART/MUSIC: All weekend & through 6/16: 88 Sing for Hope Pianos as public art pieces all over town. Play one or listen to others play. Sat & Sun only you can request a tune via twitter to Stanley the player piano at Chobani in Soho.
17.  FILM: Fri 5/31 & Sat 6/1 – Rooftop Films. “Trapped” (Short Films) on Fri and “The Dirties” on Sat. 8pm. $13.
18. DESIGN/TECH/CLASS: Sun 6/2 – Make Your Own MakerBot 3D object. They’ll have a selection of Dad-themed objects for you to make on a MakerBot® Replicator 2® Desktop 3D Printers, all made with MakerBot PLA Filament. Participation is $10, pre-paid upon registration.

MORE…
ART/PERFORMANCE: Sun 6/2 – Attend a live performance by Liu Bolin and witness the creation of a new photograph in his Hiding in New York series. 4pm to 6pm at Eli Klein Gallery, 462 West Broadway. FREE.

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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/24

Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/24/13 to 5/27/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.

Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/24/13 to 5/27/13)
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/24/13 to 5/27/13). It’s Memorial Day Weekend, the unofficial start of summer! Usually a quiet weekend in NYC and perfect for strolling around and enjoying a slower pace.
1. ART: Fri 5/24: Chuck Close Photo Maquettes. FREE
2. ART/TECH/PARTICIPATORY: All weekend – Karen Finley’s Sext Me if You Can – an interactive performance installation, limited edition of paintings inspired by “sexts” that she receives from participating patrons. 3 to 6pm. FREE
3. ART/PHOTOGRAPHY: All weekend & through 9/8 – ICP Triennial: A Different Kind of Order – focuses on artworks created in our current moment of widespread economic, social, and political instability. Includes 28 international artists who employ photography, film, video, and interactive media, many of which have been featured on this very blog (Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Sohei Nishino, Walid Raad, Subotzky/Waterhouse, to name a few). FREE Fridays 5 to 8pm. Other times $14
4. FOOD/DRINK: All weekend – Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club at South Street Seaport right on the water with views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
5. ART: Fri 5/24 & Sat 5/25 – Volumes for Sound by Melissa Dubbin & Aaron S. Davidson. New works influenced by the geometries of sound. Funneling, folding and porting sound requires physical structures.
6. MUSIC: Fri 5/24 – David Grubbs celebrates the release of his recent collection of songs and forthcoming 75 Dollar Bill. 8pm FREE
7. ART/VIDEO: All weekend – Ende Tymes Novo Apocalyspe. A festival of noise, video, art, and experimental liberation at The Silent Barn. all events – $15/night, $35/weekend.
8. ART/MUSIC/FUN: All weekend – Opening weekend on Governor’s Island with music, performances, LMCC’s Open Studios, biking. Varying activities from 11 to 5pm. FREE.
9. MUSIC/ART: All weekend – Brian Eno: 77 Million Paintings. A constantly evolving sound and image-scape. Brian Eno brings his acclaimed audio-visual installation to the former location of Café Rouge. A generative work – making itself as you watch it – which explores a vast set of permutations of visual and sonic elements made by Eno. $5 suggested donation. 145 W. 32nd St.
10. THEATER/PUPPETS: All weekend – Labapalooza Festival of New Puppet Theater from the Lab. Times vary. $20 to $25
11. ARCHITECTURE/TOUR: Sat 5/25 – West Side Story: The Evolution of Lincoln Center from its origins as a Robert Moses urban renewal project up to its reimagining by Diller Scofidio and Renfro. AIANY Tours 10am to 11:30am $15 to $25.
12. ART: All weekend – Ellsworth Kelly’s Chatham Series at MoMA. FREE Fridays from 4 to 8pm.
13. FOOD/DRINK/FILM: All weekend – See/Change at South Street Seaport, an initiative to get people back to the Sandy-stricken area. Smorgasbar, Front Row Cinema, performances and more. This weekend is a preview of what’s to come the rest of the summer. FREE
14. TRANSPORTATION/FUN: Mon 5/27 (Memorial Day) – Citibike! Preview Week begins for Annual Members
15. MUSIC: Sat 5/27 – Mon 5/27 – NY Philharmonic Memorial Day Concert at St. John the Divine. 8pm. FREE
MORE…
All weekend: Beaches! It’s the start of the beach season and there are plenty of nice beaches just a subway or train ride away. We’re partial to the Rockaways though it’s still boardwalk-less post-Sandy and there may be a shuttle bus involved along with the subway for now, but Coney Island, Brighton, Long Beach, Sandy Hook, and Jones Beach are other options. $5 to $16 (transportation).
All weekend in Art: Ugo Rondinone’s installation Human Nature at Rockefeller Center. FREE
TV/FILM: Arrested Development Screening Marathon. 12:30 to 6pm. $8 to $10.
FILM/FUN: Fri 5/24 & Sat 5/25 – Rooftop Films. 8pm. Fri “Love Hurts”; Sat “The Kings of Summer”. $13.
Plus ongoing – Smorgasburg in Williamsburg. Hester Street Fair on the LES. Last weekend for Madison Square Eats.
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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/17

Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 5/17/13 to 5/19/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend. art, Design, Music, Film, theater, architecture and general fun.

Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/17/13 to 5/19/13)
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/17/13 to 5/19/13) Walks, talks, music, art, architecture, theater, film,
1. ART/FILM/VIDEO: All weekend & through 5/25 Video_dumbo at Eyebeam.  8th annual festival & exhibition of contemporary moving image artwork, will include fourteen video screening programs, alongside eight installation works under the title Re-Return to Sender. Individual screenings $5; day pass $10 (access to all screenings in one day);  festival pass $20 (access to all festival screenings); Exhibition entrance is free. See schedule.
2. MUSIC/FOOD: Fri 5/17 – Great GoogaMooga Kickoff Concert featuring Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Flaming Lips & The Darkness with 85 Food Makers, Brews and Wines. Prospect Park 4pm to 10pm. $54.50 (Not exactly cheap but ticket also includes admission to either Sat or Sun entry to the festival)
3. TALK/MUSIC: Fri 5/17 – An evening with Fab 5 Freddy. 7pm FREE
4. FILM: All weekend – 3rd Annual Art of Brooklyn Film Festival $10 ($50 all-access pass)
5. THEATER: All weekend & through 6/3 – Colin Quinn’s Unconstituional, a unique comedic perspective on our national character. Use code BSTCQU for $35 tkts except Sat@8pm shows.
6. TALK/ART: Fri 5/17 – Suhail Malik presents the next installment of “On the Necessity of Art’s Exit from Contemporary Art. 7pm $5 at Artists Space Books & Talks
7. BOOKS/READINGS/FUN: Sat 5/18 – Lit Crawl NYC Brooklyn. A night of readings, sing-alongs, impromptu writing exercises, and games at various locations around Smith Street  See schedule for locations and “phases” 5pm on. FREE.
8. DESIGN: All weekend & through 5/20 – Wanted Design in The Tunnel: a lively, interactive destination for the design industry and its devotees. $15 online $25 at door.
9. ARCHITECTURE/WALK: Sat 5/18 – Modern Architecture in the West Village and Meatpacking District. 10:30am to 12:30pm. $15 to $25.
10. ART/WALK/ARCHITECTURE: All weekend & through 7/20 – Carol Bove’s seven large-scale sculptures at the Rail Yards Section of the High Line, the third and final section. Advance reservations required for walks. FREE
11. PERFORMANCE/MUSIC/FOOD: All weekend – The 37th Annual Ukrainian Festival. Three days of festivities on East 7th Street plus over 18,000 pierogi! Starting Fri at 6:30pm. FREE
12. ART: All weekend & through 9/2 – EXPO 1: New York at MoMAPS1 with works/installations by Adrian Villar Rojas, Olafur Eliasson, Meg Webster and more. $10
13. MUSIC: Sat 5/18 – Earthman Experience: Haitian-born vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Richard “Earthman” Laurent presides over this nine-piece fun ensemble. Fela Kuti-inspired Afrobeat meets tribal house jams. 9pm at BAMCafe. FREE
14. ART/DESIGN/TECHNOLOGY: All weekend & through 5/24 – Parsons Festival 2013. Several impressive student exhibits on view in Media, Design, Art & more. 2 West 13th St. Mostly 12pm to 6:30pm but check hours for specific events. FREE
15. FILM: Sat 5/18 – Stan Brakhage at Anthology Film Archives. Six of Brakhage’s early films from 1950s. 3:45pm $10
16. ART/CRAFTS/MUSIC: Sun 5/29 – Pop Souk. A one-day pop-up marketplace that brings together DJs, drag queens and other downtown creative folk. Noon to 6pm at the Standard High Line Biergarten. FREE.
17. ART/DESIGN: Sun 5/19 through 5/26 – reMADE Pop-up gallery project featuring work of local artists and designers. Four shows will run two nights each throughout the week of May 19–26.
18. ARCHITECTURE/COMPETITION: All Weekend & through 6/13 – Van Alen Institute’s Ground/Work Competition Call for Portfolios: an international architecture competition seeking innovative designs for a new street-level venue to house Van Alen’s work space and public programs.
MORE…
CONFERENCE: Fri 5/17 – Uncubed Meet Founders Learn Skills & Join one of NYC’s exciting StartUps plus a Party! 2pm to 7:30pm. $30
DESIGN: All weekend – Home in the Woods in Soho: featuring work by masters and progressive designers and artists with a Nordic connection. 12pm to 8pm, with daily “talks & delights” between 6pm & 7pm. FREE
ART: All weekend with cocktail party on Sat 5/18 from 9pm to 11:30pm – Gallery R’Pure presents “Off the Grid” featuring new pieces from Brooklyn based French born François Chambard and New York based Frederick McSwain
DESIGN: All weekend and through 5/21: ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) at the Javits Ctr. Open to Trade all weekend. FREE with registration.
MUSIC: All weekend – Look & Listen Festival. Vital new music presented by youthful virtuosos surrounded by contemporary art in a casual setting. FREE
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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 5/3

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Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/3/13 to 5/5/13)
It’s going to be a perfect Spring weekend so here are plenty of suggestions to keep you out and about with culture and fun. Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (5/3/13 to 5/5/13) Walks, talks, music, art, Ideas Festival, Pen World Voices Fest, Red Bull Music Fest, Nuit Blanche events, Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo and so much more!
1. THEATER: Fri 5/3 and all weekend – Blondie of Arabia. Monica Hunken’s one-woman show on her odyssey biking through 3 countries in the Middle East weeks before the Arab Spring. A quirky comedy. Monica talks after the Fri 5/3 and 5/10 performances. 8pm. $25.
2. LITERATURE/READINGS:  Fri 5/3 – PEN World Voices of International Literature’s Literary Mews. Nestled among the cobblestone streets of NYU’s storied Washington Mews, this day-long “festival within the Festival” will feature writers’ workshops in the morning and readings in the afternoon. FREE
3. ART:  Fri 5/3 & all weekend through 6/20 – Holton Rower Focus paintings, Pour Paintings two bodies of work side by side. Diverse results achieved by the artist through his innovative and deceptively simple process of pouring hand-made acrylic paints over wood. Rower will also introduce a new body of work titled “Focus paintings” which are amazingly out of focus! Opening Fri 6 to 9pm. FREE
4. FILM: Fri 5/3 & Sat 5/4 – New York Indian Film Festival $15  See schedule.
5. ART/ARCHITECTURE/URBAN STUDIES/DESIGN/FOOD: Fri 5/3 & Sat 5/4 –Ideas City is a biennial Festival in New York City of conferences, workshops, an innovative StreetFest around the Bowery, and more than one hundred independent projects and public events that are forums for exchanging ideas, proposing solutions, and accelerating creativity. So much to do so check schedule to pick. A few events that caught my eye: Creation 3D; Human Hotel; and Murals on the Bowery. 9am to Midnight. FREE
6. MUSIC: All weekend & through 5/31– Red Bull Music Academy. An amazing amount of music events all around town ranging mostly from FREE to $20. Check events on their site.
7. WALK/ARCHITECTURE:  Sat 5/4 – The Great Saunter. A 32 mile walk around Manhattan’s Shoreline.7am to 7pm $20
8. ART/VIDEO/LIGHT: Sat 5/4  – Nuit Blanche presents Change of State. Site-specific projection on the facade of the New Museum.  And Mulberry Street Night Fest where the street is converted into a series of cool light, projection-mapping, and video installations. 8pm to midnight. FREE
9. ART/PARTICIPATORY/FUN: Sat 5/4 & Sun 5/5 – The Institute for Psychogeographic Adventure: Experiment 17 – DUMBO Individuals (or pairs) sign up for a personalized journey that remixes history, memory, the everyday and the spectacular. A multitude of performers will be scattered through the neighborhood to lead you through a series of unexpected and fabulous DUMBO encounters. Noon to 5pm $10.
10. ARCHITECTURE/WALK/TOUR: Sat 5/4 – Made in LIC: A Jane Jacobs Walking Tour of Long Island City 12pm at The Clock Tower. FREE
11. MUSIC: Sat 5/4 – Brooklyn Flea Record Fair at Smorgasburg 11am to 6pm. FREE
12. ARCHITECTURE/WALKING TOUR: Sat 5/4 – Hudson Yards: Design(in) The New Heart of NY. OHNY. Exhibit and architect-led tours. 10am to 3pm. Register. FREE.
13. MUSIC/ART/FUN: Sat 5/4 – Earth Day Rockaway: Free activities, live music by Il Collectivo, art-related booths, kite-making, recycling olympics and much more. 12 to 4pm. FREE
14. FUN/SPECTATOR: Sat 5/4 – Kentucky Derby watch sites
15. THEATER: All weekend & through 3/19 – The Pulitzer Prize winning play ‘Night, Mother by Marsha Norman. General Admission $18
16. MUSIC/DANCE/PARTY: Sun 5/5 – Cinco de Mayo with Body Language. Dance Party at Glasslands Gallery. 8:30pm. $10 to $12
17. MUSIC/ART/INSANITY: Sun 5/5 – The National perform their song “Sorrow” for 6 hours straight as part of Ragnar Kjartansson’ A Lot of Sorrow at PS1 in the VW Dome $15 Tkts
18. FOOD/DRINK/FIESTA: Sun 5/5 – Roberta’s Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Tacos, Cervezas. Tequila, music, pinatas! 2pm to 10pm

Get outside and enjoy!

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NYC Culture on the Cheap: Weekend 4/26

Free and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend06-catch-pop-string_free-cheap-nycFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekendFree and Cheap things to do in NYC weekend 4/26/13 to 4/28/13. Cool things to do in NYC this weekend

Free& Cheap things to do
Free & Cheap things to do this weekend in NYC (4/26/13 to 4/28/13) from participatory art events, to music, dance, talks, a design conference, outdoor garden and cherry blossoms, oh and food! Fun and interesting events all weekend long, ’cause it’s spring and spring in NYC is the best (after summer, of course.) Click through on images above for official event pages with more info or in the descriptions below.
1. FOOD/TOUR: Fri 4/26 & every Friday: Free Chinatown Food Tour – sample tasty fried dumplings, tapioca bubble tea, sticky buns, candied crabs and more. You choose what treats you would like to taste and how much you would like to spend. Suggested amount for snacks $7 to $10. 1pm to 3pm. Reservations required.
2. PARTICIPATORY ART/PHOTOGRAPHY:  All weekend & through 5/10 – JR’s Inside Out Project Photo Booth in Times Square! (see post) FREE
3. DESIGN:  Fri 4/26 – Bordo Bello NYC through July 2nd. A skateboard art show at the AIGA National gallery. FREE.
4. ART: All weekend & through 9/8: Orly Genger’s monumental installation of hand-knotted brightly colored nautical rope takes over Madison Square Park. Much cooler than the rendering on the site. FREE.
5. ART/PERFORMANCE/PARTICIPATORY/TOUR:  Fri 4/26 – Concrete Escort I, II, III, IV at the Guggenheim. Ei Arakawa’s performance-based work. Axe-wielding man, participatory sprinting down the museum’s spiral walkway and other activities/performances. 6pm and 8pm. $20 to $25.
6. MUSIC: Fri 4/26 – Catch-Pop String-Strong: This duo come from Serbia and Kosovo, play viola and cello, often singing. they are both intense and full of humor. 6:30pm FREE w/RSVP
7. MUSIC:  Fri 4/26 – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr indie-pop duo at Music Hall of Williamsburg. 8pm $18 to $20
8. DANCE: Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27  – Anna Sperber – The Superseded Third 8pm $15
9. ART/TECH: Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27 – Alchemy & Art – Part I. Features 3D prints from Lily Su and Heidi Lee In addition, there will be live demonstrations, including Kinect body scanning and 3D printing with Ultimaker and Up! desktop printers. Opening Fri 7 to 9pm. Sat 4pm to midnight including party. FREE
10. DANCE: Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27 – Comedy in Dance Festival. All shows at 8pm. $12 to $15.
11. DESIGN/CONFERENCE/WORKSHOP: Sat 4/27 – DIY Days is about the accessibility of ideas, resources and networking that can enable creators to fund, create, distribute and sustain. 9:15 to 6pm with Social Mixer from 6:15 to 8pm. FREE
12. MUSIC/FOOD/FUN: Sat 4/27 – F.O.R.T: CSAA’s interactive multi-tiered garden opens with all day music, food, and general merriment. 12 to 7pm at the Silent Barn. FREE
13. MUSIC: Sat 4/27 – The Losers Lounge perform selections from the Music Division’s historic Brill Building lead sheet collection, with commentary by division chief George Boziwick. at NYPL 7pm FREE
14. PARTICIPATORY/FUN: Sat 4/27 – Flux Factory’s Tween Dweam Social with YouTube Karaoke, Viva Bodyroll and dancing. 8pm $10 to $12.
15. PHOTOGRAPHY/WORKSHOP: Sun 4/28 – Pinhole Camera Workshop, Picnic & Bus Trip. $25 includes travel, film & loaner camera for the day, plus picnic. Sign up.
16. ART/PARTICIPATORY: Sun 4/28 – Photographer/Videographer Laurel Nakadate invites you to PS1 to confess, detail, and atone for shameful acts of the past publicly in the VWDome. 4 to 6pm. $10.
17. PERFORMANCE/FUN/MUSIC: Sun 4/28 – Sakura Matsuri, the annual cherry blossom festival offers over 60 events and performances that celebrate traditional and contemporary Japanese culture. Brooklyn Botanical Gardens 10am to 6pm. $15 to $20.
18. NEXT SUNDAY/MUSIC: Sun 5/5 – The National at PS1 performing their song “Sorrow” for 6 hours straight. Get tickets now: $15.
MORE…
FOOD/CRAFTS/FUN >> Sat 4/27 & Sats thru 10/26– Hester Street Fair kicks off their season. 10am to 6pm. FREE
ART >> All Weekend & till next April– Busted – the High Line’s latest commission. Figurative sculptures, celebratory portraits, and commemorative monuments installed on and around the High Line. FREE
ART >>  Fri 4/26 & Sat 4/27 and through June 22nd – Here and There. New work by Maya Lin exploring environmental issues at Pace 57th St. FREE
ART >> All Weekend – Fashion Center Space for Public Art, a vibrant series of public window displays which showcase the work of local artists. This month through May: the paintings of Diane Englander. 215 West 38th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue) FREE
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TOO by Blu Dot at Target

Too BluDot Duct Tape Plates and Ruse Plates (drain plates), funky plates at Target by Blu Dot.Too BluDot Duct Tape Plates and Ruse Plates (drain plates), funky plates at Target by Blu Dot. TOO-by-BluDot_Duct-Tape-collection_Click to enlarge

Googling around for stools, I came across these surprising tableware collections at Target as part of the TOO by Blu Dot series (yeah, I have no idea how you go from stools to plates, but that’s what happened.) I can’t really say that I “like” the Duct Tape Collection, but I do think it’s pretty unique and would be curious to see what they look like in person. The Ruse Dinnerware plates are fun too with their drains in the center of each plate. There are also the Storyteller Dinner Plates which made me chuckle as well.

In fact, the whole TOO by Blu Dot line of furnishings is worth checking out. I especially like that sideboard, though we already have something vaguely similar. And now I see how I ended up on the collection’s page; there are stools there after all!