A woman was saved from a tragic death on the New York City Subway tracks yesterday after falling off the platform. The incident happened on the G Brooklyn–Queens Crosstown Local line heading north through Brooklyn, before the Hoyt-Schermerhorn Station.

According to an eyewitness, the unidentified woman had a seizure on the subway platform and fell on the tracks. An incoming train was entering the station when an operator noticed the woman on the tracks and immediately slammed on the brakes.

A passenger at the station captured a photo of the incident, which was then shot by local photography project Humans of New York.

Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind Humans of New York, was on board the incoming train and stated on his Facebook, “The conductor shut down the power of the train and held us there for about 20 minutes.” The woman was attended by members of the public with medical crews arriving on the scene soon after.

Following the recent bout of subway related incidents, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) has been urging their motormen to be more aware of their surroundings. They have also been encouraged to reduce their speed to about 10 miles per hour when entering the stations to avoid hitting someone who might be on the tracks. Trains are known to enter a station at a speed of 30 to 35 miles per hour.

According to John Samuelsen, President of Transport Workers Union Local 100, “The union’s motives are to save riders’ lives – and save motormen from the emotional trauma of running someone over.”

This latest effort was put in place after several recent high-profile accidents involving New York subway trains. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), however, believes that this latest message of caution from the TWU is an effort to stage a work slowdown, and any operators found to be slowing down their train without the MTA’s permission will be charged with taking part in an illegal job action which could lead to a job suspension.

While the public has urged the MTA to install platform doors or barriers to prevent further unwanted mishaps, an MTA spokesman said that platform doors would be expensive to install because it would require upgrades of the train signal system.

Despite debates surrounding ways of tackling subway safety issues, one theme has been consistent: due to the vigilance of a train operator, a life was saved. With the photograph now circulating the web, many believe that yesterday’s incident was nothing short of a miracle.

Image Courtesy : Brandon Stanton of Humans of New York

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Besides the tall skyscrapers, the crowds and the Mac Store, 59th street 5th avenue in Manhattan this past summer has had a new addition added. Posters, chants, clipboards and horse costumes. NYCLASS has hit the streets hard this summer to stop the abuse in the horse carriage industry.

NYCLASS, New Yorkers for Clean Livable And Safe Streets, is a nonprofit animal welfare and advocacy group started in 2009 committed to improving the quality of life for residents and animals of New York City.

NYCLASS has been along the west side of central park every Saturday afternoon throughout this summer with over a hundred volunteers to protest, sign petitions and educate people on how unsafe and unhealthy it is for the horses to work on New York’s busy polluted streets, dodging traffic and sleeping in stables that do not allow the horses to rest properly for the next day.

There is an estimate of 220 carriage horses,293 drivers and 68 licensed carriages. The unexpected NYC working horse residents work nine hours a day seven days a week in rain, sunshine, blistering cold and in the scolding heat. Unlike us: when we work an eight or nine hour shift we have breaks in-between. NYCLASS and others have seen the horses work nonstop with no well deserved breaks or rest.

Recently, the public’s eyes were open further. In the past three months, two horse drawn carriage accidents took place injuring the horses, the drivers and the tourists who were on the carriages.

Today, NYCLASS has well over 93,996 supporters and hopes the city will soon pass Intro.86 to ban the horse carriages and replace them with eco-friendly electric cars. Unlike the carriages, the electric vehicles will comply with government safety regulations and will be registered with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. All drivers must obtain driver’s licenses and become licensed tour guides in order to operate the new electric vehicles. Currently, only 50% of the carriage drivers have valid licenses.

The eco-friendly cars will carry liability insurance equivalent to the insurance carried by taxis, black cars, and pedicabs. Horse-drawn carriages are only required to carry $20,000 per carriage in insurance, compared to the $2 million for each pedicab company and the $200,000 for each pedicab. Also, the cars can hold seven passengers at a time, are able to travel up to 10 hours on a single charge, has raised stadium seating, a heating system for the winter months and a convertible top for the spring/summer seasons.

If the transition happens, the horses themselves would be transported to the ASPCA so they can find permanent homes in sanctuaries, farms and private adopters rather than the usual: being sent to slaughter.

But the horse carriage drivers have no smiles on their face when it comes to this alternative, and fear most will lose their jobs.

Allie Feldman, lead organizer of NYCLASS, believes it is more than just the drivers who are afraid they will lose their jobs. She said, “change is scary for these guys, and using cash only they are allowed to charge more for their rides, and with the cars they need to also pay proper taxes, so there is no hiding.”

Indeed the horse carriage industry is a cash only business that also does not use meters. NYCLASS claims on their website that the carriage drivers routinely charge residents and tourists higher rates then what they are requisite. This in turn causes the city to lose revenue and the city already pays hundreds of thousands of dollars to monitor the horses and repair the city streets the carriages damage.

When asked to answer a few questions about the horses and their treatment, several drivers said they wish to not speak. Only one new young female driver, who just started working two months ago, answered some questions. She preferred to be anonymous, but said she was against getting rid of the horses: “I don’t think it would be the same. Would lose business because the children and people love the horses.” She also said she is not aware if the horses receive veterinary care, that only the owner would know. The horses get water every 30 minutes and food three times during the nine hours.

But a lot of bystanders support the movement. On the days the volunteers have protested, many New Yorkers have said to the volunteers they can tell by the horses’ eyes and body language they are not happy.

It is still an ongoing debate and NYCLASS hopes to continue the fight through this coming fall season.

For more information visit www.nyclass.org or www.aspca.org.

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Each year, more than a million birds make a migratory pit stop in New York City’s Central Park – and they don’t go unnoticed. The revealing documentary ‘Birders: The Central Park Effect’ chronicles one year in the life of the extraordinary array of wild birds that grace Manhattan’s celebrated patch of green, and the equally colorful New Yorkers who schedule their lives around the rhythms of migration, when it debuts Monday, July 16 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. The debut of the Oscar-nominated documentary short “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom,” which shows how nature can be a rejuvenating as well as destructive force, follows at 10:00 p.m.

Other HBO playdates are July 19 (5:00 PM), July 21 (10:00 AM, 5:20 AM), July 24 (11:30 AM, midnight) and July 29 (2:00 PM).

It will also be showed on HBO2 with playdates on July 18 (8:00 PM), July 22 (5:25 AM) and July 26 (8:00 AM).

HBO Documentary Films presents another weekly series this summer, debuting provocative new specials every Monday through July 30. Other July films include: “Hard Times: Lost on Long Island” (July 9); “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” (July 16); “Vito” (July 23); and “About Face: Supermodels Then and Now” (July 30).

Devoting equal time and affection to birds and birders, first-time filmmaker Jeffrey Kimball explores a distinctly New York phenomenon, telling a story of humanity, nature and the precarious balance between the two. ‘Birders: The Central Park Effect’ captures an astonishing number of species – from hummingbirds and herons to owls and hawks – with stunning HD photography that does justice to the birds’ amazingly diverse patterns, hues and personalities. The film also celebrates devoted NYC birders who find a paradise within the urban chaos, among them author Jonathan Franzen and Starr Saphir, the “matriarch” of Central Park birdwatching.

It’s springtime in New York City, and the city’s biggest park is hosting a community of several hundred birders. As veteran birder Lloyd Spitalnik notes, “If you get tired of looking at the common birds, you might as well just pack it in.” Chris Cooper says his friends don’t see him from April 15 through Memorial Day; if they question his annual obsession, he counters by rattling off his “seven pleasures of birding.” Anya, a 15-year-old birder, wants to protect birds because they are “so alive, active, varied and beautiful.”

As the birders describe their passion, the pleasure they derive from the birds is both contagious and poignant. To a birder, finding a feathered friend is like a celebrity sighting. Scientists call the concentration of birds funneling into this oasis of nature amid a sea of steel and cement the Central Park Effect.

Septuagenarian Starr Saphir, who has been giving bird tours almost daily for 20 years, wasdiagnosed with terminal breast cancer a few years ago. She talks about her heightened joy in birding, which eases her pain, and shares lists of birds she’s seen, which she has kept in journals every day since she was a child, looking at them fondly like a photo album or scrapbook. Jonathan Franzen says that when he began birding, it was like an addiction; a morning without birding gave him a sense of unease that could only be fixed by the first spotting of the day, like a smoker craving a cigarette.

Central Park is a magnet for millions of birds who need a rest stop as they migrate along the Eastern Seaboard twice a year, in spring and fall. While this migration is a dangerous process, during which millions of birds die each year, many survivors remember stopovers in the fall and return to the Park, where devoted birders await them.

By early June, all the migrants have passed through New York City, but a couple of dozen species linger. Birds have adapted to human urbanization, and though Central Park is entirely man-made, it appears no different to birds than most natural parks in the country, which are also managed landscapes. Unfortunately, notes birder Jonathan Rosen, the Effect can lead some to believe that the world and the environment is doing just fine.

In winter, species that tend to migrate north in warmer months often fly south to Central Park. At the annual Christmas bird count, citizen scientists help produce the official “Birds in Decline Report” by going out in teams and counting every bird in the Park. Though a seemingly impossible task, patterns can be found in the results. One depressing statistic for bird lovers is that nearly a quarter of all species have had a 50% decline.

Sitting on a park bench the next spring, Jonathan Rosen says he doesn’t think of his birding as a hobby “any more than raising my children would be considered a hobby.” Perhaps, he concludes, as all sorts of animal populations slowly diminish, people are hungry to touch something that may be slipping away.

A 2012 SXSW selection in Documentary Feature Competition, ‘Birders: The Central Park Effect’ is directed and produced by Jeffrey Kimball; executive produced by Pamela Hogan and Tom Casciato; edited by Daniel Baer; co-produced and co-edited by Nick August-Perna; cinematography by Tony Pagano, Nick August-Perna and Chris Dapkins; bird and nature cinematography by Jeffrey Kimball; music by Paul Damian Hogan.

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Serial Killer Rodney Alcala, a California resident, who brutally murdered two women in the 1970s was sent to New York this past week to face his long overdue trial.

Alcala pleaded ‘not guilty’ to murders in both the first and second degrees in the killings of 23-year-old New York beauties Flight Attendant Cornelia Crilley and Researcher Ellen Hover back in the 1970s.

According to law enforcement sources, Crilley was found on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in 1971 and had been brutally raped and then strangled with her own pantyhose. Hover, was last seen on July 15, 1977, when she didn’t show up for a photo shoot according to her personal calendar. The photographer she was supposed to shoot with was a man known by the name of “John Berger.” It was later found out that Alcala used that name as an alias. Hover’s body was found a year later near the Rockefeller Estate, a place well known for Alcala taking women for photo shoots.

However, these two are not the only ones to fall victims to Alcala.

Alcala, who is a former photographer and got his nickname from being a contestant on the once popular show, the “Dating Game,” has been held in a California prison facing the death penalty after he was charged with murdering four women and one 12-year-old girl in Los Angeles back in the 1970s.

After Alcala was convicted nearly thirty years ago, the Los Angeles Police Department found dozens of pictures of women and children that had been stashed in a storage locker that Alcala had rented.

Things started to come together piece by piece once the New York Police Department caught word of Alcala’s killing sprees in California. They then started to consider him a suspect of the slaying of three New York City women (including Crilley and Hover) once it was found out that at the time of those murders, Alcala was a resident of NYC. There was little information to go on, but a case for the women was opened in 2003 with Alcala as the lead suspect.

“These cases were built one brick at a time, as each new lead brought us closer to where we are today,” Dist. Atty. Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said at the time, according to the Associated Press. He said he hoped that the belated action “brings a small measure of peace to the families and friends who have spent decades searching for answers, and justice.”

Alcala’s next date in court is set for October 30, 2012.

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The illusive and secluded Randall’s Island, located on Manhattan’s east river, came alive last weekend. Thousands of New Yorkers and out-of-towners made their way across the many bridges that connect Randall’s Island to Manhattan for one of the biggest New York City parties of the summer, The Governors Ball Music Festival. The festival is still new at heart, and although it’s only in its second year of running, has already established a reputation for being a must-go event in NYC.

This year the festival not only lived up to, but exceeded its high expectations, with a little help from Mother Nature. As the sun beamed down on the island all day it was impossible not to become enthralled with the great atmosphere, food, energy and, of course, music this event offered. The vibe throughout the two-day festival was varied; much like the bands and DJ’s playing.

While there were some who climbed on top of others’ shoulders in the stage pits, there were also those who preferred the safety of the ground and caught some rays while sunbathing in the spacious park.

Those who wanted to be in the hot spot could join the rest of the ravers at one of the two available stages. While volleyballs, and at times people, were thrown in the air, the bands kept the crowds dancing and enthusiastic throughout the day. The Saturday line-up consisted of both well-known and amateur bands and DJ’s, but all acts managed to captivate the attention of their audiences.

The oversized 10 foot volleyball became the center of attention during Major Lazor’s performance, until his famous ‘take your shirt off and spin it in the air’ move captured the crowd’s attention even more. Pretty soon the majority of the audience was shirtless jumping up and down, waving with their shirts in the air, on Lazor’s demand. Things heated up even further when he preformed his well-known hit, “Pon de Floor;” even the sunbathers came out to join the party for this one.

Duck Sauce, best known for their single “Barbra Streisand,” decided that just in case onlookers were not aware who was playing, they would place a massive inflatable duck on their stage so there was no confusion. As entertaining as Duck Sauce was, they were nothing compared to the conga line consisting of over one hundred human bodies that so happened to form while their set was playing. Some fans wore pretend yellow duck noses, which unintentionally blended into the stage décor.

Passion Pit was by far one of the most crowd-pleasing bands of the day. Beginning at 8pm they had the entire audience jumping to their beats. As the sun began to fade away into the night, the festival was brightened by artificial lights from the stage and lanterns hanging from the clear sky.

The last act to headline the stage was well-known rapper and performer, Kid Kudi. Considering the festival had now been going strong for 12 hours, he managed to do a stand up job with exciting his fans. He kept the energy alive while performing some of his well-known hit songs, such as “Day and Night” and “Memories.” It was clear that this was the act that everybody was waiting around too see. The sun no longer shined, but the crowds kept the festival alight with glow sticks and aluminous clothing.

Others notable acts that preformed on Saturday, June 23rd included, Santigold, Atmosphere, Chromeo, Penguin Prison, Walk the Moon and Big Gigantic.

Countless food trucks, beer stalls, and amazing music, and what was the best thing about this two-day event? There was absolutely no overlap. How many festivals do you know of that offer this wonderful feature?

Image Courtesy of  laubarnes

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Princeton, U.S.A. — A recent ORC International survey of American adults has found that awareness of the Occupy Wall Street movement is unchanged since the intense media coverage of the movement’s events through fall and winter of 2011 but that support for the movement has declined.

ORC International updated a series of questions about Occupy Wall Street asked in late 2011 and found that seventy-one percent of Americans remain aware of the movement, even while media coverage has significantly declined. Protesters have largely dispersed from the parks and fronts steps of the world’s financial capitals.

The continued awareness is in part to the ongoing social dialogue that continues by both supporters and protesters of the movement. According to ORC’s social analytics product, Social Buzz, Occupy Wall Street conversations continue to steadily appear with an average of 156,000 posts daily in the social universe since mid-December. This is mostly driven by specifically timed events including the six month anniversary to re-occupy Zuccotti Park in New York City on March 17-18, mass arrests on March 22, and a May Day Protest.

Overall agreement with the movement’s position regarding the financial inequities continues to hold steady at thirty percent since the fall, however, those who disagree has risen seven percentage points to twenty-eight percent over the past six months.

While levels of coverage in both social media and traditional media have varied, the combination has continued to keep this movement in front of the American public. Long-term sustainability of the movement, however, remains a question.

The poll was conducted using ORC International’s CARAVAN service from June 9-11, 2012. The poll interviewed 1005 US Adults by telephone.

ORC International is a leading global research firm with offices across the U.S.A., Europe and Asia Pacific. The company has been a partner of CNN on the CNN/ORC International poll since 2006 and is a founding member of the CASRO.

Image Courtesy of  Atomische • Tom Giebel

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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – On June 19, mayors, delegations from the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and a U.S. President, assembled in Rio at Rio + C40: Megacity Mayors Taking Action on Climate Change, an event to highlight the concrete climate actions being taken by C40 Cities.

New data released June 19 indicates that C40 Cities have the potential to reduce their annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over a billion tons by 2030, from business as usual. This is equivalent to the annual GHG emissions of Mexico and Canada combined. Just with the measures they have already undertaken or committed to, C40 Cities are on track to reduce their collective annual emissions by 248 million tons by 2020. C40 Cities have undertaken nearly 5,000 climate-related actions since the network first formed in 2005. In many cases, these actions were taken without national government support.

Additionally, and helping to build on cities’ significant accomplishments, C40 is launching a new solid waste peer-to-peer learning network on June 19. With support from the World Bank and the Climate and Clean Air Initiative of the U.S. State Department, C40 will establish a new network that will assist local governments in reducing methane emissions through solid waste management. C40′s partners will provide technical assistance to help participating cities develop viable programs and projects that reduce methane gas production, enable access to financing and facilitate sharing across this network of cities for active peer-learning and collaborative work. C40 works in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative, a program of the William J. Clinton Foundation.

“Mayors and cities don’t have the luxury of just sitting around and talking about problems because on a whole range of critical issues, the buck stops at City Hall. Because of Mayors’ commitment to action, cities are making great progress in reducing greenhouse gases, which helps beat back climate change and makes our cities better, more liveable places,” said New York City Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg. “The data we are releasing today is more evidence that cities have been and will continue to lead the way.”

“My Foundation has been working since 2006 with the mayors of many large cities around the world to help them reduce their greenhouse gas emissions,” said President Clinton, a founding partner of C40 who joined the event by videoconference. ”Today’s announcements prove that, through creative partnerships, we can help reduce our carbon output to protect our environment and create jobs to grow our economies.”

In a second announcement, C40 will be partnering with the Joint Initiative on Urban Sustainability (JIUS) to foster the sharing of best practices collected in all C40 Cities through a new library incorporated into the newly launched C40 website www.C40.org. This resource will be publicly available and will focus on identifying the key linkages between policy tools, financing strategies and partnerships that enable successful climate reduction strategies.

The JIUS started as a pilot program that fostered exchanges between the C40 cities of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) and Rio de Janeiro over the last 18 months, with the support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Rio. U.S. Environmental Protection Administrator Lisa Jackson joined Mayor Bloomberg and Mayor Paes to make the announcement.

“While welcoming the C40 to Rio de Janeiro, I have been reflecting on the significance of cities and their impact on our environment. I am encouraged that we, as Mayors and citizens, are implementing plans to promote change and reduce carbon emissions in an effort to halt climate change,” said Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes. “When mobilized as one, cities wield sufficient collective power to influence opinion and nudge policy further up the legislative agenda. Cities have more freedom than nation states to put into place progressive strategies that are already changing people’s lives and today’s announcement is testament to the action and unity that is thriving at a municipal level around the globe.”

These announcements came in advance of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and highlight the concrete sustainability actions being taken by C40 Cities. Based on these tangible advances, mayors and local government leaders are in Rio to call on national governments and international organizations to provide more financing and other support for local climate action. Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) research shows that cities are largely financing their climate change actions without significant external support, as 64% of city initiatives are funded through general municipal funds.

Measurement of progress and accountability toward outcomes have been two of the major themes of Mayor Bloomberg’s C40 chairmanship, which began in November 2010. According to recent reports by the CDP and Arup, cities are extremely active in taking steps to reduce carbon emissions and they have potential to do even more. One hundred percent of the 45 reporting C40 Cities and 80% of all other reporting cities were implementing a range of carbon emission reduction activities. Seventy-one percent of the 45 reporting C40 Cities reported city-wide reduction targets. Mayors have direct control over 75% of urban emissions sources. C40 Cities represent the world’s megacities and account for approximately 14% of global GHG emissions as currently estimated.

Similarly, partnerships with peer organizations are a key part of C40′s growth and service delivery strategy, which convenes networks of cities with common goals and challenges to focus on taking concrete action. In May 2012, C40 announced an expanded partnership and scope of its work on developing a global protocol for community-scale GHG emissions. C40, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and the World Resources Institute will pilot the newly-launched protocol in at least 10 global cities; develop technical assistance support for cities; and expand the community protocol into a more comprehensive GHG accounting standard for community-scale emissions, including consideration of a full range of direct and indirect GHG emissions from urban activities. This will enable local governments to account for how demand for goods and services as well as local innovative technologies can impact a GHG footprint.

Governor of Jakarta Fauzi Bowo welcomed the two initiatives launched at the Rio+C40 meeting by the mayors of the world’s largest cities and said that “Any partnership which allows sharing of knowledge and best practices aiming to fight climate change is crucial in order that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Different cities face different challenges in confronting climate change. The basic approach Jakarta has taken in reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been a holistic approach based on the basic policy implemented in managing Jakarta, which is pro-poor, pro-jobs, pro growth and pro-environment. These four factors cannot be separated from each other.”

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WQHT (97.1 FM, “Hot 97″) is an American radio station in New York City that primarily plays mainstream urban hits, with a few pop-leaning titles on occasion. It is a famous radio station in the hip-hop community across the country, and it is also known for the drama and controversies that occur surrounding its staff and guests. And this past weekend wasn’t any different.

On Sunday evening at hip-hop’s biggest concert the Hot 97 Summer Jam Concert, just hours before she was slated to perform, Nicki Minaj pulled from performing along with Lil Wayne – the president of her label Cash Money Records. The reason? Lil Wayne was angered by disparaging comments made by Hot 97 morning host Peter Rosenberg about Minaj’s song ‘Starships’ in which he suggested that the song was not “real hip-hop.”

“I know there’s some chicks here waiting to sing ‘Starships’ later. I’m not talking to y’all right now,” he said. “F— that bullsh-t. I’m here to talk about real hip-hop sh-t.”

After hearing that, Lil Wayne then canceled Minaj’s performance in a tweet: ”Young Money ain’t doing summer jam,” he tweeted, referring to his rap crew, which includes Minaj who also tweeted: ”I go above and beyond for my fans. But won’t ever go against wayne’s word. What he says, goes,” she tweeted.

In another tweet, Minaj hanked other cities for hosting her: ”I’d like to thank the staff @ philly & boston summer jams for treating their guests w/respect! Had a blast,” she tweeted.

Rosenberg, the self-described “Jewish Johnny Carson,” tweeted: “Tonight just got interesting.”

Hot 97 DJ Funkmaster Flex then backed Rosenberg during the concert, taunting Minaj for recent weaker sales. ”You don’t go gold. It’s all your fault,” he said. “I’m dedicated to tearing you down.”

On Monday night, Minaj called in to the station to explain her decison to pull out of the concert which turned into an hour long heated debate with DJ Funkmaster Flex. Minaj apologized to her fans and promised them a free concert in the New York area this summer. She then made it clear that she had been deeply offended by Rosenberg’s comments.

“When you want our team to come to your show, treat us with respect,” she said. “And that’s all we’re asking.” Later she added: “When you disrespect Nicki Minaj, you’re disrespecting my fans. I don’t have a problem with anyone saying what they have to say to me. But don’t make fans feel inferior in any way for their personal taste in music.”

Minaj also felt that he had singled her out because she’s a woman.

“If that’s not some bitch-ass s**t – for this person to single out the only female on the bill, I’m holding it down for women,” Minaj said. “I respect men who are real men, but if all you do is take shots at women.”

Talking to the morning show crew at the rival hip-hop radio station Power 105.1 Minaj stated that she wasn’t even going to perform ‘Starships.’

“After all this has been said and done, I wasn’t gonna do ‘Starships’ and I think people know that,” she told the crew, The Breakfast Club. “I’m way smarter than that. I know what people wanted to see…It was horrible timing. It was in bad taste.”

Minaj also said she was disappointed because she had a Summer Jam set planned that included surprise performances from Brooklyn’s Foxy Brown and Harlem’s Cam’ron.

“We had an amazing, amazing show, and that was the only disappointing thing,” she said.

Fellow Summer Jam performers Nas and Lauryn Hill slid into the headliner spot and, according to Rolling Stone, pulled together an impressive set that included the Fugees’ “Ready or Not” and “If I Ruled the World.” As rumors surfaced claiming that Hill was invited to Summer Jam as Minaj’s guest and therefore shouldn’t have performed, Hill took to Twitter to clarify the situation and to support Minaj’s decision not to perform.

“No disrespect to Nicki, but I need to clear up an inaccuracy,” she wrote. “I was not scheduled to be a special guest on her set at Summer Jam, I was invited by Nas to perform with him.

“I don’t have details on exactly what transpired between the station and the artists, but I do support artists standing by their beliefs, and walking with integrity. We have to find a better way to commercially exploit music, while giving artists their proper respect.

“This cannot be done while taking their contributions for granted, or trying to control the scope of their growth and power through threats and fear tactics. We can do better than this, there is a better way, or else ‘we’ (the proverbial we) find ourselves in danger of being hypocrites!!!”

As for the Hot 97 staff, Rosenberg refused to apologize for his remarks stating, “There is a get me to apologize movement, to which I can say, I’m absolutely not apologizing, because I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said on Monday evening. “I’m not going to change my stand because I’m at Summer Jam. I’ve been saying it for six months.”

While DJ Funkmaster Flex admitted that Rosenberg didn’t pick the right time and place to say that, he also faulted Lil Wayne for asking Ms. Minaj and the other artists on his label to boycott the show, thus depriving Ms. Minaj’s fans of a chance to see her.

The station’s program director Ebro Darden also appeared on one of the station’s morning shows on Tuesday to make it clear that he stood by Mr. Rosenberg. He said though Minaj’s records were not popular, the station had supported Ms. Minaj for years because she hails from Queens. However, he believes that Rosenberg had a right to disagree with her foray into pop music with ‘Starships’.

“That’s a hip-hop show,” he said referring to Summer Jam. “When artists want to go out and make songs for other formats, that’s their prerogative, but that doesn’t mean our hosts have to like it. It was not a direct shot at her, at her personality, at her as a woman — there was no sexual reference, there was no disrespect…It’s a real hip-hop stage, and in real hip-hop, things get said.”

Image Courtesy of   Nicki Minaj

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Its been thirty-three years since 6-year-old Etan Patz went missing, and it’s taken 33 years to find the man who took away his life. The case of Patz, who is known for sparking the missing children’s movement and known as the first missing child to be put on the face of the milk carton, might finally have come to a close and justice might finally be served.

Pedro Hernandez, 51, a resident of New Jersey, was arrested on Thursday after confessing to choking a 6-year-old boy in New York City back in 1979. According to police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Etan Patz was last seen walking to school in his lower Manhattan neighborhood. At the time, Hernandez was 18 years old and worked at a local convenience store close to Patz’s home. The day he disappeared was the first day that Etan’s parents let him walk to school by himself.

Hernandez described in graphic detail what he did to the innocent and naïve Patz. Kelly said, “Hernandez told police he lured the boy to the convenience store with the promise of a soda, then took him into the basement and choked him.” Detectives then said that, “Hernandez admitted to luring the boy into the store, strangling him, and placing the body in a box. He said he put the box out with the trash and when he came back later, it was gone.”

Detectives do have cause for concern, though. The media attention this story has gotten has led to many false leads over the years around the anniversary of Patz’s disappearance, May 25. The day became known as National Missing Children’s Day.

But for those who have heard Hernandez’s confession, many are convinced they have finally found the right guy. “He was remorseful, and I think the detectives thought that it was a feeling of relief on his part,” Kelly said. “We believe that this is the individual responsible for the crime.”

Considering how much time has passed and the way Hernandez described the disposal of the body, detectives believe it is extremely unlikely they will ever recover Patz’s body.

According to the New Jersey Real-Time News, “the confession still left many questions unanswered. Hernandez did not explain why he killed the boy during a three-and-a-half hour interview with police on Wednesday.”

Etan Patz’s family has not made a statement at this time.

Kelly states that the case will now be turned over to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. They will continue to investigate Hernandez as he faces the murder charge of Etan Patz, the tragedy that captured the hearts of millions across the nation and has gone down in history as one of the most famous missing persons cases in America.

The article After Three Decades, Man Arrested for Etan Patz Disappearance appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

New Bedford, U.S.A – If you haven’t heard the velvety voice and sultry strumming of Chicago treasure Frank D’Rone, well, better late than never. Fortunately, you can hear everything the man has to offer, and maybe a little bit more, on his latest album, Double Exposure.

D’Rone, who has been around long enough to be endorsed by none other than Nat King Cole, has a natural born affinity for providing great entertainment. Whether he’s belting out in front of a sizzling big band, singing some swinging pop-jazz, or crooning acoustic ballads, D’Rone can do it all and make it seem effortless. Double Exposure, and his frequent gigs in and around Chicago, and throughout his career in major nightclubs throughout the country, attests to this.

So, yes, D’Rone has indeed been there and done that. He has connected with audiences for decades; his mellow demeanor and outsize talent is shown in abundance on Double Exposure. The recording pops on impeccably arranged big-band style tunes like the opening “When the Sun Comes Out” and “Pick Yourself Up.” D’Rone makes solid contact on his many guitar-based ballads, including “Make Someone Happy” and “The Very Thought of You.” Throughout the record, D’Rone proves he can dazzle regardless of the genre.

Born in Providence, Frank started singing and playing the guitar on stage at the age of five. At 11, he had his own local radio show and at 13 he’d won an artist’s degree in classical guitar. He formed his own band and played local dates while finishing school then took his show on the road, playing in New York City and Chicago. Frank eventually ended up in a successful residency at a Chicago club called Dante’s Inferno.

During this time, Chicago proved to be a friendly place and D’Rone made a name for himself among the elite artists of the era. Celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Ella Fitzgerald, Shecky Greene, Oscar Peterson, Alan King, Ray Brown, Stan Kenton, June Christy and many more turned up to see D’Rone do his thing. He gained a reputation as a true artist, a singer’s singer. One of his most enthusiastic admirers, the late Nat “King” Cole, penned the liner notes for Frank’s first album. Sinatra requested that D’Rone be hired to play the lounge when he played Las Vegas and Atlantic Cityvenues.

D’Rone’s rare talent has served him well everywhere he goes. Frank was headlining the world-famous “Copacabana” when Tony Bennett took over the microphone on opening night and told the audience, “A few years back, Nat ‘King’ Cole said that Frank D’Rone was the finest singer around. Tonight he has proved that Nat was right!”

If it’s “right” with Cole and Bennett, it’ll be “right” with you, too.

Image Courtesy of  Frank D’Rone

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New York, U.S.A. – In today’s challenging global economic environment, businesses everywhere are looking for a critical edge to boost them past competitors and into market leaders. For many successful companies, that edge can be found in a strong culture built around the brand and extended to employees who act as brand ambassadors, fostering deep engagements with vendors, suppliers, business partners, and other key stakeholders.

At the Extending Your Brand to Employees Conference, hosted by The Conference Board in New York City on June 19 and 20, this vital concept will be thoroughly explored over two days and will feature best-practice experts who will discuss how Dolby, Microsoft, IBM, LinkedIn, Mayo Clinic, FedEx, Pfizer, 3M, and other leading corporations are:

• Building and reinforcing company culture and core values with employees on a regular basis
• Creating and maintaining workforce behaviors that support positive brand experiences
• Creating deep brand engagement with employees across business units and functions
• Engaging employees in a new brand during an acquisition
• Learning techniques to develop a “one-company” culture
• Maximizing a company’s LinkedIn profile
• Realizing the value of collaboration within your company and driving profitability
• Unlocking business opportunities and driving success with the right corporate culture

Attendees will hear from executives such as Paul Westbrook, Principal at Westbrook Consulting and formerly a Senior Vice President with Ritz-Carlton, about how creating a culture of engaged employees can create customers for life. In the attached video clip, Mr. Westbrook discusses how Ritz-Carlton employees embody the company’s brand values and the importance of creating a strong internal culture:

More details on the conference can be found here

The conference is geared toward corporate executives responsible for internal communications, corporate affairs, human resources, branding, corporate governance, investor relations, corporate social responsibility, public affairs, and other corporate executives interested in better understanding how to build internal cultures that engage employees, boost productivity and improve financial performance.

Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact Peter Tulupman at (212) 339-0231, peter.tulupman@conference-board.org.

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On April 26, 2012, the VH1 Save the Music Foundation will launch the 2012 Songwriters Music Series in Chicago, IL with an acoustic performance by Award-winning, soul singer-songwriter Robin Thicke.

This marks the first stop in the series, sponsored by Swiss watch company Raymond Weil and William Hill Estate Wines, which will then travel to New York City in June and close out at the breathtaking William Hill Estate in Napa Valley in September.

Last year’s Songwriters Music Series featured performances by Glee star Matthew Morrison in New York, ACM Award-winning sibling trio The Band Perry in Nashville, Tennessee and Grammy Award winning musician Colbie Caillat as well as Billboard Magazine 2011 Artist To Watch Andy Grammer in Los Angeles.

Songwriters Music Series benefits the VH1 Save the Music Foundation in their mission to provide children with access to a complete education that includes music. These intimate evenings serve as a platform for energized, informed and socially conscious individuals to network amidst great music.

Each event will also feature today’s emerging musicians and most celebrated artists/bands performing hit songs in support of the cause. In total, the 2011 Songwriters Music Series raised over $358,000, which was enough to restore 11 music education programs nationwide. This year, the Foundation hopes to raise even more so that a greater number of students are provided the tools they need to create, innovate and become the next great leaders in an increasingly competitive world.

“The VH1 Save the Music Foundation does so much work to ensure that future generations will have the instruction and instruments to help them pursue their dreams,” said Robin Thicke. “I’m just honored to be able to help the cause and put on a show for the amazing city of Chicago.”

Multi-platinum superstar Robin Thicke will kick off the 2012 Songwriters Music Series with a special performance for a select group of ticketholders. Robin’s fifth studio album, Love After War was released on December 6, 2011.

Love After War is an album born out of a desire to be the uncompromising, idealistic artist he was as a boy, married with the weight of being a man with responsibilities and the scars of the past. . The album follows Robin’s past hits A Beautiful World, The Evolution of Robin Thicke, Something Else and Sex Therapy.

The Chicago event will take place at an, as yet, undisclosed location from 6:30 PM-10:00 PM and will include opening performances by local sponsors Sing4′s YouTube Contest Winner and Houlihan’s Restaurants employee musicians contest winners.

This year, beginning with the first installment, the Foundation will also present an exclusive social media initiative, “Songwriters Moments In Time with Raymond Weil,” which will give audiences everywhere a behind the scenes look at each Songwriters event, with special talent interviews and more.

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As the internationally celebrated holiday St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, the only question left to ask is; where will you be celebrating? All across the globe this March 17, bars will be packed, streets filled with enthusiastic celebrators and roads filled with entertaining parades.

New York City is known for its enormous and grand parade, Boston for its Paddy’s day atmosphere, Chicago for its green river and of course Dublin, Ireland for creating the holiday.

This holiday is one of the biggest celebrations of the year with more than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades being held across America each year. This is a holiday where Americans spend $4.5 billion, but where are the best places to spend this money?

NEW YORK

New York is home to the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the world. With over two million spectators NYC is undoubtedly one of the best cities to celebrate this Irish holiday. This year the parade will commence at 11am at 44th street and will march up 5th avenue to 83rd street.

There will also be plenty of places to celebrate with a pint in hand. Several organizations are hosting bar crawl tour across the city, some tours even starting Friday night and finishing Sunday afternoon. Prices for the bar tours are averaging $12 a head.

If you would rather find your own bars to celebrate, here are a few that are celebrating in style; Mc Sorleys Old Ale House, Pig n Whistle, The Baggot Inn, Eamon Doran’s and Murphy’s Law. And if you want to join the firemen and police officers after they have marched in the parade for a drink, head to Jeremy’s Ale House.

BOSTON

The first ever recorded parade was hosted in Boston by the Irish Society of Boston in 1737. As Boston is the home to many Irish-Americans and is the most Irish state in America, the city transforms into an all day celebration filled with beer festivals, drunken shenanigans and of course lots of ‘craic’.

If your looking to honor St. Patrick himself in the adopted Irish city, here are some of Boston’s best St. Paddy’s Day parties; McFadden’s, Dillon’s and Murphy’s Law. An Tua Nua will be providing Irish dancers along with Irish bands and a traditional Irish dinner menu.

DUBLIN

If you are lucky enough to celebrate the holiday in the city where it all began you will be celebrating the day with over a million other people. Dublin City lights up with heritage, patriotism and festiveness with an added unbelievable atmosphere.

This national holiday brings families together to participate in and watch the parade and also enjoy the annual festive carnival that runs all day long. After the parade finishes many spectators continue the celebration in one or more of the 1,000 pubs that surround the city.

Some of the most atmospheric places to join in the celebration are Dublin’s traditional tourist areas, Temple Bar and South Williams Street. If you want to go the extra mile you can make an attempt at ‘The Baggot Mile’. This challenge refers to a strip of pubs along Baggot Street, located in the city centre. To complete the challenge one must have at least one drink in each pub, staying no longer than 30 minuets in each and only being allowed only one bathroom break per bar.

Like every March 17, this St. Patrick’s Day will definitely be a day to remember for some, or a day trying to remember for others. A holiday that was originally known as a religious holiday celebration is now seen as the biggest party of the year. Why? Because the Irish know how to have a good time. Slainte!

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New York City has become the epicenter of the food truck craze, with multicultural dishes just steps away from the steering wheel. Although parking may be an elusive commodity, these food trucks gather lines wherever they stop.

Taim Mobile

The flavors and aromas of Tel Aviv are brought to customers by way of Taim Mobile, which serves mouth watering Middle Eastern meals. The generously sized falafel sandwich is a pita packed with Israeli salad, hummus, tahini sauce, and pickled cabbage. Not to mention the deep fried green falafels themselves, which are crispy on the outside, but soft and tender on the inside.

Although I love my meat, Taim caters to all the herbivores in the city as their menu is 100 percent vegetarian. No wonder owner Einat Admony appeared on Food Network’s Throwdown with Bobby Flay, where she battled to claim the title of having the most supreme falafel.

For an original homemade smoothie to go along with the falafel, try the date-lime-banana smoothie. Dates are popular in the Middle East, and after you try this smoothie, you will understand why.

Red Hook Lobster Truck

Ever walk down the street and get a sudden craving for lobster? In a bun? As you rush to the subway? Good thing there is the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck, which serves buttery lobster meat within the softness of a roll. Dressed with a homemade mayonnaise, the lobster roll brings this Maine staple to the urban jungle of New York City.

Already earning the nickname of Big Red, the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck also offers a shrimp roll, stuffed with shrimp straight from Maine and served with mayonnaise infused with tarragon and garlic. Tasting the coastal cuisine of Maine has never been so easy and delicious.

Rickshaw Dumpling Truck

Street food is practically a way of life across Asian countries. It is no different for the well-known Rickshaw Dumpling Truck in New York City. Bite-sized dumplings are packed with Chinese flavors and ingredients to make each portion tantalize your palate. The chicken and Thai basil dumpling is accompanied with a peanut sate dip. With just the right amount of heat in the sauce to blend with the freshness of the basil, this dumpling is a crowd favorite.

For pork lovers, and let’s be honest, there is a lot of you out there, try the pork and Chinese chive dumpling. Served with a soy sesame dipping sauce, this dumpling oozes with traditional Chinese flavors. You will forget you just ordered it from a parked vehicle.

A refreshing drink is the calamansi-ade, the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck’s twist on lemonade. Calamansi, an Asian citrus fruit similar to a lime, is the perfect drink to wash down tasty dumplings. If the food was not enough, you can buy your very own American-Apparel-made Rickshaw Dumpling Truck shirt, too. My favorite reads: Who’s your edamame?

The Mud Truck

New Yorkers like to stay caffeinated. It might be the reason why we are dubbed the city that never sleeps. For coffee that does not have a super complicated name like a grande, nonfat, caramel, no-sugar macchiato from an establishment with a green mermaid, try The Mud Truck.

The Mud Mocha is a crowd-pleaser, and with its powerful kick of caffeine, keeps me running around the city for hours. The Mud Truck is widely known for its strong blends, but avoids any bitterness in taste. The truck itself is bright orange, which makes it almost impossible to miss, even if you have not had your morning cup of coffee yet.

Korilla BBQ

In what has become somewhat of a national trend, a city would not be complete without its version of a Korean Mexican taco. Enter Korilla BBQ. This truck reached mainstream popularity with its exposure on Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race and continues to be a dominating force in the world of New York City food trucks. While the combinations of Korean choices are abundant, my favorite is the Rib-eye of the Tiger.

Black Angus rib-eye steak is paired with bacon and kimchee fried rice, along with red kimchee and their signature Korilla sauce. It is all wrapped snugly into a burrito. I do not question that I am eating kimchee, which is a traditional Korean fermented cabbage, in a Mexican burrito shell. After eating Korilla BBQ, all I know is that I wish I had come up with the Korean-Mexican fusion myself.

Schnitzel & Things

What exactly is schnitzel, besides a word that is fun to say? Coming straight from Austria, schnitzel is simply a breaded cutlet of meat, fried to crispy, golden deliciousness. There is a lot to choose from on the Schnitzel & Things menu, but do not let the choices intimidate you. The chicken schnitzel is the way to go, or at least my taste buds think so. I like to get mine in a sandwich, but there is also the choice of having it in a wrap or as a platter.

The Austrian potato salad is a traditional side dish when having schnitzel. Yukon gold potatoes meet up with a vinaigrette made with white wine and shallots. I forget that I am standing on a congested street corner eating this dish, while the food tries to trick me into believing that I am in Vienna.

Schnitzel & Things has been serving its Austrian cuisine on the streets of New York City since 2009, when it won Rookie of the Year at the Vendy Awards. They say it is like winning an Oscar, which is a pretty big deal.

Coolhaus

I have a sweet tooth that every now and then needs to be fulfilled. When I am endlessly walking around New York City craving my next sugar fix, seeing Coolhaus parked on the corner is like seeing an oasis. This truck takes the standard ice cream sandwich to the next level with a creative array of cookie and ice cream flavors.

Mix and match anything from red velvet cookies with Meyer lemon peel ice cream, to ginger molasses cookies with carrot cake batter ice cream. Extra unique flavors in cookies include potato chip & butterscotch (yes, that is one cookie) or hotcake with flapjack. The ice cream list is long, and I would like to meet the creative mind who concocted mango sticky rice or balsamic fig & mascarpone. There is chocolate and vanilla, too, for all those who like the simple things in life.

Food trucks use Twitter as one of their main ways to communicate their daily location. However, if you are standing on a street corner wondering what great food truck is nearby, try using the Eat Street app, which pinpoints exactly what trucks are currently in your area.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/

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New York City is one of the most filmed cities in the world, having served as the backdrop for countless amounts of movies and television shows. Although the island of Manhattan may be relatively small, there’s always a popular film location or famous monument just around the corner. On Location Tours brings together the best of the best in film locations on its TV and Movie Sites tour, where movie buffs can sneak a peek at some of New York City’s most iconic spots.

The On Location Tours: New York TV and Movie Sites tour is a perfect way to blend the sights of the Big Apple with real life scenes of television shows and movies that everyone loves. Tour goers are able to experience the hustle and bustle of the city while riding on a comfortable coach bus around Manhattan. A movie and television expert leads the three hour guided tour around town, stopping multiple times along the way at important film spots.

Starting off near Times Square, the heart of the theater district, the tour brings the busload of excited fans through midtown Manhattan. Central Park, New York City’s most prominent outdoor space, was the set for multiple movies and television shows. Besides being a beautiful park in the center of skyscrapers, Central Park is one of the most filmed locations in the world.

As the tour bus drives past the park, the guide points out what movies were filmed there, as well as television shows. Not far from the entrance of Central Park is the Plaza Hotel, where the Pulitzer Fountain sits. Although it isn’t the exact fountain found in the beginning credits of the television show Friends, it is this fountain where the inspiration came from.

As the tour bus sails through the heart of Midtown, other important locations are pointed out, including Rockefeller Center. Famous shows such as 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live are continuously filmed there. Rockefeller Center’s signature ice skating rink is also one that shouldn’t be missed.

Not far from Rockefeller Center is the location of the New York City Public Library, the biggest in Manhattan and the set of many movies including ‘13 Going on 30‘, as well as the famous scene of Carrie’s failed wedding to Mr. Big in the Sex and the City movie. Further south on the tour, movie enthusiasts are able to catch a glimpse at the towering Empire State Building. Not only made famous by its staggering height and history, the Empire State Building can be seen in popular movies such as ‘King Kong‘, ‘Sleepless in Seattle‘, and ‘Elf‘.

The On Location Tours: New York TV and Movie Sites tour isn’t just about spending hours riding through the city while seeing the film locations behind the windows of the bus. There are several stops along the way where people are able to get out and take pictures in front of some of their favorite sets.

One of the most unique stops along the way is on the small block where the Cosby Show’s house is. On a quiet side street further downtown, everyone is able to check out the front stoop where the Huxtable’s lived. The tour also stops at Washington Square Park, in the heart of Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, and at the apartment building where the cast of Friends lived.

This television and movie tour is a fun and enjoyable way to see the sights of New York City while also diving into the sets of cinema favorites. Movies such as ‘Spider Man‘, ‘Where Harry Met Sally‘, ‘Miss Congeniality‘, ‘Serendipity‘, and ‘Hitch‘ are among dozens that are highlighted on the tour, as well as shows like I Love Lucy and Gossip Girl.

For all those who love movies and television, this tour is a great way to spend half a day immersed in New York City’s most popular, and also sometimes hidden, film spots. For more information on reserving tickets for a tour, visit On Location Tours.

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In advance of one of the busiest dining holidays of the year, a new survey by OpenTable, a leading provider of free, real-time online restaurant reservations for diners and reservation and guest management solutions for restaurants, reveals that diners are planning to fill seats at romantic restaurant hot spots early this year, with 53 percent of respondents saying they plan to make reservations more than a week before this Valentine’s Day.

An infographic from OpenTable that showcases additional 2012 Valentine’s Day trends may be viewed by clicking here. ”With this Valentine’s Day falling on a Tuesday, we are going to see two spikes in restaurant reservations,” said Caroline Potter, Chief Dining Officer for OpenTable.

“About half of diners surveyed anticipate booking a romantic evening on the 14th, while another 26 percent are choosing to celebrate on Saturday night, February 11. Regardless of which night diners plan to celebrate, Valentine’s Day promises to be a bustling day for romantic hot spots.”

The economy doesn’t seem to be a factor as OpenTable diners are looking to enjoy an evening out with 93 percent planning to match last year’s tab or step up the spending, which is 3 percent more than spending plans in 2011. Additionally, 54 percent of OpenTable diners plan to spend $101 to $200, while 10 percent expect to shell out more than $200 on dining.

One city famous for its high rollers is preparing to up the ante this year with 20 percent of diners in Las Vegas planning to spend more than $200, a claim to spend they share only with the sandy, sunny city of Miami. Not surprisingly, New York City dwellers follow closely behind as 19 percent also will be dropping the big bucks with their sweetheart.

The love-driven lavishness when dining, however, stops just short of gifts with 86 percent of respondents admitting that they do not exchange gifts at the table. In fact, 15 percent of OpenTable diners believe a gift exchange is much better suited for a private venue, finding swapping gifts in a restaurant to be inappropriate and bordering on obnoxious.

A few cupid-happy cities firmly stand by the age old idiom that money can’t buy love and hope to scale down spending entirely this year. Seattle respondents lead the pack on shifting Valentine’s Day spending down a notch with 16 percent of diners saying they will drop fewer dollars celebrating this year, with Atlanta (15 percent) and Los Angeles (10 percent) diners following this trend close behind.

One item the OpenTable survey respondents couldn’t quite agree on was what type of restaurant they find most romantic in dining with that special someone. While 35 percent of diners find it most amorous to stick to a traditional Italian cuisine for Valentine’s Day, other diners seek a different type of taste for a romantic rendezvous:

• 25 percent find French cuisine to be the most romantic
• 11 percent find American cuisine to be the most romantic
• 8 percent find fondue to be the most romantic
• 7 percent find tapas to be the most romantic

Even if there is no special someone this year, OpenTable diners still are committed to dining out. Three out of 4 survey respondents said they have dined out with friends on Valentine’s Day or if they have not yet, they certainly would.

For diners still searching for the right restaurant, OpenTable.com provides Diners’ Choice Top Ten Most Romantic Restaurants lists for each metro region and access to specials and menu details for February 14. For more information, please visit www.opentable.com/valentines. Diners can also find more tips and trends regarding Valentine’s Day on OpenTable Chief Dining Officer Caroline Potter’s “Dining Check” blog at OpenTable.

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Of all the families who seek temporary shelter in New York City, 40 percent have had at least one prior shelter stay. To reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for homeless parents and children in New York City and throughout the country, the independent nonprofit research organization Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness released a draft of ‘A New Path: An Immediate Plan to Reduce Family Homelessness’ during ICPH’s conference Beyond Housing: A National Conversation on Child Poverty and Homelessness.

Read the draft report here.

The plan proposes using the family shelter as a tool for parents with limited education and work experience, as well as for victims of domestic violence, those with mental health and substance abuse issues, and a history in the child welfare system.

While many families are forced to go to shelters because of the lack of affordable housing in the United States, ‘A New Path’ argues that approximately 15 percent of families living in shelters are further held back by lack of education, work experience, and family support.

For this subpopulation, ‘A New Path’ argues that shelter stays should be extended to 12-18 months and used as an opportunity for parents to immerse themselves in an on-site learning, career-building, and healthy environment. Although some residents will have a longer initial shelter stay, this will lead to less recidivism.

“New York City has long led the way in confronting the challenge of homeless families and should serve as a model for reducing recidivism,” said ICPH President and CEO Ralph da Costa Nunez. “This is not a 10-year plan, but an immediate action that can serve as a guide to cities, suburbs, and rural communities throughout the country.”

These shelters—designated in the plan as ‘Tier III’— should offer on-site employment opportunities for shelter residents starting at minimum wage; job search, readiness, and retention training; and GED classes.

Other advancements ‘A New Path’ recommends:

• Some ‘Tier III’ shelters should be designated ‘Safety First’ residences and serve domestic violence victims. In 2010, there was only bed space for 70 percent of families deemed eligible for DV Shelters. These shelters would offer the same safety and support as those at DV shelters.
• ‘Child Wellness Residences’ would provide on-site assistance to families with active child welfare cases and those receiving voluntary preventive services. On average, 670 active child welfare cases and 1,300 closed cases were identified each month among homeless families in New York City in 2010.
• ‘Health and Recovery Residences’ would provide targeted services to those with mental health and substance abuse concerns.

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There’s no shortage of bars in New York City, everything from rooftop to underground, mega clubs to hidden gems. Outdoor rooftop spaces have become popular in the past few years, with dozens of spots popping up in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

It’s in the spring and summer months that New Yorkers tend to gravitate to the tops of skyscrapers to enjoy a few drinks, but that trend almost completely disappears in the cold winter months. With artisanal blended cocktails and a retractable glass roof that shields people away from the bitterness of winter, the Top of the Strand is the ideal spot to experience rooftop cocktails, even when summer is far away.

Located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, the Top of the Strand sits at the highest level of the Strand Hotel. As one of the tallest rooftop bars in all of New York City, at 254 feet high, the Top of the Strand’s signature view of the neighboring Empire State Building is one feature that sets it apart from the rest.

Both hotel guests and public visitors can bask in the glory of the tallest building in New York City, close enough it almost feels like you can touch it. The unparalleled views of the Empire State Building give this rooftop bar an edge, while its extensive cocktail menu reminds visitors that they are in upscale Midtown. Cocktails can set you back an average of $15, but with strong options like a pear infused drink or an equally potent traditional Manhattan are easily great choices while at this rooftop lounge.

The glass retractable roof at the Top of the Strand makes the stunning views available year round, something not many other rooftop lounges in New York City can stake their claim on. A short elevator ride from the welcoming lobby opens up to an intimate yet trendy setting on the roof, where rows of comfortable seating face directly towards the view.

Two larger lounging areas backed with a wall full of bamboo and greens helps loungers feel as if they’re in a faraway oasis, framed by curtains that give a more intimate ambiance. The space was created by Lydia Marks, who knows a thing or two about urban design after helping on design aspects of Sex and the City. Unlike other rooftop spots in New York City, the Top of the Strand has more of a relaxed environment, where heat lamps and robes aren’t needed to keep warm.

This 21^st floor lounge offers up some traditional cocktails such as martinis and mojitos, along with more exotic, fruit filled blends. The staff at the Top of the Strand is extremely welcoming and attentive, making it easy to enjoy a night out without spending too much time waiting at the bar for a drink.

DJ Stone Joy, a London native, is the resident DJ at the Top of the Strand, where he brings his style of mixing both modern and classic songs throughout the night. Although this rooftop lounge favors a more relaxing atmosphere, the continuously upbeat music helps everyone remember that they’re in the city that never sleeps.

The Top of the Strand is the perfect year round rooftop lounge with a unique view of the Empire State Building just three blocks away. It’s a great place to sip some cocktails with a group of friends, or have a date night with that special someone. The Top of the Strand is located in The Strand Hotel at 33 West 37^th Street and opens at 5pm daily.

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Spotted: On Location Tours, driving through the Gossip Girl’s stomping ground of the Upper East Side. It’s not surprising that the hit show Gossip Girl takes place in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in New York City. On Location Tours shuttles enthusiastic fans of the popular show around the city, making stops at famed destinations where the series is filmed.

Stepping into the neighborhoods where ‘Queen Bee’ Blair Waldorf, Serena van der Woodsen, Nate Archibald, and bad boy Chuck Bass live and play is an exciting way to get behind the scenes access to film locations, as well as sightsee throughout New York City. This three hour ride around the city allows visitors and locals alike to find their way into the prep school world where social gossip reigns supreme.

A bubbly tour guide, who immediately admits to being a self proclaimed die hard fan of the show, is the perfect person to narrate the tour around town. The tour guide on the bus makes everyone feel comfortable, as she encourages people to participate throughout as she asks questions about the series. She knew the ins and outs of the show, as well as the affluent neighborhoods visited.

On Location Tours’ Gossip Girl Sites tour is an exciting way of sightseeing in Manhattan while learning about hidden knowledge of where the show is filmed. With exclusive in-the-know facts about Gossip Girl, participants of the tour can see first hand where the actors and film crew create their favorite show.

A unique aspect of the tour is that clips of Gossip Girl are shown throughout the bus ride, accompanying the real life spots. Fans of the show are able to watch short scenes from their favorite episodes right before seeing those locations in person. Dozens of locations are visited throughout the tour, including iconic buildings that are synonymous with Gossip Girl such as The Empire Hotel and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Fans are immediately sent into excitement when they see the famed building where the Bass and Van Der Woodsen families resided. Other New York City staples are also seen during the tour, such as the Empire States Building and Lincoln Center. The prep schools in Gossip Girl are often times the epicenter of juicy drama that unfolds on the show. The fictional settings of the Constance Billard School for Girls and the St. Jude’s School for Boys are both filmed in the Upper East Side.

These two locations drew excited gasps as dozens of cameras flashed while the tour bus drove slowly by. The bus unloaded at the location of the Constance Billard School for Girls for a few minutes, giving everyone the chance to take their picture in front of the famed prep school.

Shopping in the Upper East Side is synonymous with Madison Avenue’s collection of designer boutiques and shops. Many of the scenes shot in Gossip Girl frequently showcased the storefronts of these internationally known designers, including Ralph Lauren, Christian Louboutin, and Vera Wang.

For more designer decadence, the Gossip Girl tour makes a stop on New York City’s legendary Fifth Avenue, where everyone is given a chance to shop through Henri Bendel’s extensive headband collection that Blair would love, and admire the beautiful diamond jewelry in the window displays at neighboring Harry Winston.

All of the Blair and Serena fans who want to recreate their own pictures on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art have the perfect chance to do so when the tour bus stops for the photo opportunity on Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile. Not far from this location is where many of the television show characters live. As the tour continues on, fans pass by Blair’s apartment building, as well as Nate’s large townhouse.

An outdoor oasis for many living in this affluent residential area is neighboring Central Park. As one of the most iconic New York City spaces filmed in both movies and television shows, Central Park has made its way into episodes of Gossip Girl as well. As the bus passes by, visitors can catch a glimpse of where scenes with Blair and Nate were filmed by a small pond.

While a good majority of the indoor sets are built and filmed in Silvercup Studios in Long Island City, Queens, the Gossip Girl sites that are visited in the On Location Tour are absolutely perfect in getting a sense of how everyone’s favorite prep school students spend their days in the prestigious Upper East Side.

The Gossip Girl Sites tour runs on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at noon. For more information on reserving a spot on an upcoming Gossip Girl tour, visit On Location Tours.

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VH1′s hit series ‘Mob Wives’ started off 2012 with a ratings bang on New Year’s Day. The second season premiere episode at 8 PM averaged a 1.4 in the adult 18-49 demo – a +56% increase over the first season’s premiere episode – and ranked as the #1 telecast on basic cable in its 8 pm time period slot among adults 18-49, women 18-49 and women 18-34.

The 8 PM telecast on January 1 was seen by 2.4 million total viewers. The premiere episode attracted 3.5 million total viewers when combined with its 9 PM encore.

‘Mob Wives’ generated heat on social media platforms that evening with 11 trending topics on Twitter, including #MobWives, as well as for the wives themselves: Drita, Carla, Renee and Karen and new cast members Ramona and “Big Ang.”  In addition, VH1′s Mob Wives page on Facebook saw tremendous activity resulting in more than 10,000 new “likes.”

The second season of ‘ Mob Wives’ picks up where the first left off – with each cast member dealing with major personal life issues. The rift between Karen and Drita is far from over – will they ever be able to “bury the hatchet?” Renee goes under the knife for major plastic surgery that may have some unexpected consequences, while also contemplating her future with her ex-husband Junior.

Drita is considering her options when it comes to leaving her husband Lee – while Carla’s relationship with her estranged husband Joe may take an unexpected twist. And, of course, everyone wants to know what’s in Karen’s soon-to-be-released book – the one she moved back to New York to write!

Last season, ‘Mob Wives’ gave viewers an unfiltered look into the closed-door society of Renee, Karen, Carla and Drita, four struggling “allegedly” associated women who have to pick up the pieces and carry on while their husbands or fathers do time for Mob-related activities. United by a bond which few understand, the women are all struggling with their identities and their futures as they raise their kids as single parents in the New York City area.

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Singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson will appear on season five of ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ and has announced she will play for the charity Children International.

Celebrity Apprentice is a reality television show where celebrities compete in weekly challenges and donate any winnings to their personal charities. Every week, the celebrity contestants will work in two teams, each under the guidance of a designated project manager, to compete in business-driven tasks around New York City, using their fame, along with their proven business acumen, to win challenges.

Contestants are subjected to long hours, grueling deadlines, intellectual challenges, personality clashes, and intense scrutiny under the careful watch of Donald Trump and his advisors. The last person standing will be chosen as the Celebrity Apprentice and have the honor of delivering a $250,000 bonus check to their designated charity.

Gibson will compete to help provide 5,000 poor children in India with medical and dental care and educational support. Children International president and CEO Jim Cook said, “Children International is fortunate to have such a dedicated supporter as Debbie Gibson. She has proven she is an ardent advocate for children living in the most extreme poverty.”

Gibson, who is the youngest performer ever to write and record a number one song, has been a supporter of the U.S.-based humanitarian organization since 1991. Currently, she helps support 7-year-old Helen, her mother and five siblings living in a cemetery in Manila, Philippines. Helen and her family guard a cemetery crypt, and live on less than $11 a month. With Gibson’s help, Helen and her siblings now receive medical and dental care and attend school.

Children International’s programs provide poor children like Helen with medical and dental care, educational support and health education to children and youth, some whose families live on less than $1.25 a day.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilsonh/

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The Occupy Wall Street movement tapped into anger about bank bailouts, crony capitalism and corporate welfare, but it turns out that most Americans are mad at the federal government and not their banks. A new Reason-Rupe Poll finds 76 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of their banks and just 15 percent view them unfavorably.

In contrast, only 32 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the federal government. Sixty-two percent of voters rate the federal government unfavorably.

Forty-nine percent of Americans approve of the job President Obama is doing, with 47 percent disapproving. Only 13 percent approve of the job Congress is doing, 80 percent disapprove.

Fifty-four percent of Americans also say they are more worried that the federal government will do something to make the economy worse, while 40 percent are more worried that the government will fail to take action on the economy.

State governments are more popular than the feds, but only half of all Americans view them positively. As you get closer to home, 58 percent of Americans have positive views of their local governments, and the same number look upon their local school districts favorably.

The survey finds people feel a lot better about private businesses. For example, 88 percent of Americans have a positive view of their grocery stores; 73 percent look favorably upon their cell phone makers; and 69 percent say they view their Internet service providers favorably.

If Ron Paul does not win the Republican presidential nomination, he is the best positioned candidate to make a third-party or independent run, according to the Reason-Rupe poll. Thirty-four percent of Americans say they would consider voting for Paul if he ran as an independent or third-party presidential candidate.

A similar number, 31 percent, say they would consider voting for New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, if he made an independent run for the White House in 2012.

Sarah Palin said it is “not too late for folks to jump in” to the presidential race. If Palin left the Republican Party and ran as an independent, 27 percent of voters say they might vote for her. The problem for Palin: 67 percent of Americans would not consider voting for her in that scenario.

It has been reported that former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is considering running as the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate. Twenty-one percent of voters say they’d consider voting for Johnson, while 29 percent say they do not know enough about him yet.

In terms of the 2012 presidential election, 29 percent of Americans say they will definitely vote for President Obama next November and 44 percent say they will not vote for him.

In a memorable Republican presidential debate moment last month, Texas Governor Rick Perry could not remember the third government agency he would eliminate if elected president.  And another GOP candidate, Ron Paul, says if he is elected he will get rid of five federal agencies: Commerce, Education, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, and Interior.

So which federal agencies are the American people most willing to eliminate or consolidate? Forty-five percent of Americans are ready to eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development and 41 percent would eliminate the Department of Energy.

The Department of Education was on both Paul’s and Perry’s lists to cut, but 61 percent of Americans want to keep the Department of Education and just 34 percent say eliminate it.

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The Tostitos brand recently announced plans to kick off the college football bowl game season by hosting one of the most exciting social occasions of 2011 – the “Tostitos Fiesta in the Square.” This one-of-a-kind football-themed “party with a purpose” will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters and take place in the heart of New York City from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 16, 2011.

The celebration will convert the Times Square Military Island into a regulation-size college football end zone where fans will help the Tostitos brand set a new Guinness World Records title for the most people to kick successful American football field goals in six hours. As part of the event, the Tostitos brand will donate $100,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

If a new Guinness World Records title is set, the Tostitos brand will double that amount for a total donation of $200,000. Highlights from the event will be shared during the nationwide broadcast of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on ESPN on January 2, 2012. Tostitos, a flagship brand of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, has sponsored the Fiesta Bowl for the past 17 years.

Former college and pro football greats, including Jim Kelly, Rodney Peete, Antonio Pierce, Martin and Bill Gramatica, and Eddie George, will be on hand to offer tips and coach fans as they take turns attempting successful field goal kicks.

Joining the players will be multi-platinum recording artist, television personality and Big Brother Nick Lachey, who will serve as the official host for the Tostitos Fiesta in the Square, rallying fans throughout New York City and beyond to join the fun and contribute to the World-Record cause.

Also in attendance will be “Bigs” and “Littles” from the Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City who will join the celebration and have their shot at contributing to the potentially record-setting achievement. ”The Tostitos brand believes in being social and making any occasion a party, and this time we’re partying for a purpose by partnering with an organization that shares our passion for bringing people together,” said Justin Lambeth, vice president, marketing, Tostitos.

“Through the Tostitos Fiesta in the Square, we are celebrating mentorship and showcasing the link between great social skills and successful mentoring relationships with the hope that many of the participants will be moved to get involved with Big Brother Big Sisters.” During the Tostitos Fiesta in the Square, attendees can celebrate with one another, play interactive football-themed games together and enjoy Tostitos tortilla chips and other delicious snacks.

Fans across the country who are unable to join the party in Times Square can also be a part of the action and make donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters by visiting www.facebook.com/tostitos or www.bbbs.org/tostitos between Dec. 16, 2011 and Jan. 1, 2012. The Tostitos brand will match consumer donations made from Dec. 16, 2011 through Jan. 1, 2012, up to a maximum of $25,000.

The complete list of participating football greats includes:

• Jim Kelly – Inducted into the University of Miami Hall of Fame in 1992. Kelly led the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls from 1990-1993, and in his first year of eligibility (2002), was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

• Rodney Peete – First player ever from University of Southern California to win the Johnny Unitas Award as the nation’s best senior quarterback. He played in the NFL for 16 years with six different teams.

• Antonio Pierce – As a standout linebacker, Pierce played college football for the University of Arizona. During his nine-year NFL career, Pierce played in 137 regular-season games and seven playoff games. In 2007, he led the New York Giants’ defense as part of an upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. He currently serves as an analyst with ESPN.

• Eddie George – George was awarded a Heisman Trophy at Ohio State University in 1995 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He played in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys.

• Bill and Martin Gramatica – These two standout sibling kickers have been members of several NFL teams. Martin played at Kansas State, where he set the single-season school record with 135 points, earning him the nickname “Automatica.” Bill played for Florida State University and the University of South Florida. During his NFL career, he made 37 of 48 field goal attempts and 60 of 61 extra point attempts.

The Tostitos brand has been a longtime supporter of college football, including 17 years as the title sponsor of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Tostitos Fiesta in the Square event builds upon a long-standing partnership between PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay division and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Since 2005, PepsiCo has contributed more than $500,000 to support Big Brothers Big Sisters by sponsoring dozens of local “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” fundraising events in Dallas and other cities across the country, including Chicago,Houston, Los Angeles and New York.

“We are excited to build our relationship with PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay division through the Tostitos brand and this unique fundraising party in New York City,” said John Avondolio, Big Brothers Big Sisters Vice President of Marketing & Communications. “The Fiesta in Times Square event will be a fun and meaningful experience for our mentoring matches and families.

It will also help to raise critical funds that support our programs and provide more children with long-term, quality mentoring relationships that help them achieve educational success, avoid risky behaviors and have greater confidence and improved relationships.”

Image Courtesy of   https://www.facebook.com/BigBrothersBigSisters

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Now that the winter season is in full force in New York City, the five boroughs are shining bright with holiday festivities. A walk along the pricey Fifth Avenue stores draws crowds of onlookers at the window holiday displays, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is ornately decorated and shoppers are hurrying around to buy presents.

A perfect winter activity to take part in while wandering the streets of New York City may be somewhat unlikely in between the skyscrapers, ice skating. Lace up your ice skates and head to one of these famous rinks.

Rockefeller Center

The epitome of ice skating in Manhattan is to go a few rounds at The Ice Skating Rink in Rockefellar Center. The winter tradition of turning the outdoor, sunken in space into an ice skating rink draws the attention of visitors and locals alike. Located in the heart of Midtown, ice skating in Rockefellar Center is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.

With the majestic Christmas tree twinkling in the background, tourists are drawn to this spot for photo opportunities. Although the lines are often long and the price for admission is steeper than other places in the city, there is no other place in New York City quite like this ice skating rink.

For those who are hesitant to step onto the ice, Rockefellar Center is a optimal spot to watch skaters spin underneath the lights of the Christmas tree. The Ice Skating Rink is open Monday-Thursday from 9am-10:30pm, Friday-Saturday from 8:30am-midnight, and Sunday from 8:30am-10pm.

Central Park

Right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city sits Central Park. Often considered an oasis for New Yorkers, Central Park gears up for the winter season with not just one, but two ice skating rinks. Located in the southern tip of the park is Wollman Rink, one of the most well-known ice skating rinks in all five boroughs.

Opened in 1950, visitors and locals love to put on a pair of ice skates and make rounds in the rink. With tall trees and a landscape that is anything far from urban, ice skating at Wollman Rink allows people to forget they are in the middle of Manhattan.

Wollman Rink is open on Monday and Tuesday from 10am-2:30pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am-10pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am-11pm, and Sunday from 10am-9pm.

Located in the northern section of Central Park is the Trump-Lasker Rink. During the summer, this space is an outdoor pool, but when winter arrives it transforms into a skating wonderland. Still with the beautiful backdrop of the large park, this ice skating rink is a good spot to enjoy the winter sport for those who are located uptown.

Ice hockey teams are a popular attraction at the Trump-Lasker Rink, as many leagues are formed every year. Opened in the 1960s, ice skating at this rink is a tradition and continues to be one in the 2011-2012 season.

The Trump-Lasker Rink is opened on Monday from 10am-3:45pm, Tuesday from 10am-3pm, and reopens from 8-10pm. Wednesday from 10am-3:45pm, Thursday from 10am-3:45pm. Friday from 10am-5:15pm, and reopens from 7-11pm, Saturday from 1-11pm, and Sunday from 12:30-4:30pm.

Bryant Park

One of the most popular ice skating rinks throughout Manhattan is Citi Pond at Bryant Park. Its claim to fame is that admission is free. Ice skaters are more than welcome to bring their own skates, or pay to rent skates on premises. The free admission draws long lines. People wanting skate at Citi Pond need to go with some patience, but the wait is worth it.

Citi Pond at Bryant Park is a unique ice skating experience mainly because Bryant Park fills up with holiday festivities throughout the season. A beautifully decorated Christmas tree stands at one end of the ice skating rink, similar to Rockefeller Center’s tree, just smaller.

The whole park transforms into a market, as small shops in glass buildings open up during winter. People have the opportunity to do some holiday shopping after they’ve tired of skating, or find one of the many tables and chairs to hunker down and watch the skaters twirl.

Citi Pond is open Sunday-Thursday from 8am-10pm and Friday-Saturday from 8am-midnight.

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Hawaiian reggae band, The Green, rolled into New York City’s Highline Ballroom on November 16 and drew in an energetic, enthusiastic crowd. With their signature Hawaiian sound, combined with modern vibes and roots reggae, The Green has become one of the most successful reggae bands in the United States.

Currently holding the number two spot on iTunes’ reggae charts, just behind legendary Bob Marley, The Green has shot to major success over the past year after releasing their self titled debut album, which was voted as 2010’s number one reggae album on iTunes. Their second album, entitled “Ways & Means” has overcome the dreaded sophomore slump as it sits at the top of U.S. Billboard’s Reggae Chart.

During their 7 week mainland tour, The Green came to New York City with fellow musicians Cas Haley and the Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad. The Green’s roots styled reggae performance took the excited audience through over an hour of their songs, including “Love is Strong,” “Travlah,” “Gotta Be,” and one of their most popular songs that solidified them in the reggae community, “Love I.”

The full band consists of JP Kennedy on lead vocals and guitar, Caleb Keolanui on lead vocals, Zion Thompson on lead vocals and guitar, Ikaika Antone on lead vocals and keyboard, Brad “BW” Watanabe on bass, and Jordan Espinoza on drums. With four equally strong lead vocalists and layers of masterfully composed music, The Green showed New York City exactly why they continuously hold top spots in current reggae charts.

Toonari Post had the chance to sit down with Zion Thompson after The Green’s set and got a glimpse into the Hawaiian band’s current stardom.

TP: This isn’t your first time in New York, you’ve been here before?

Zion: This is maybe our 4^th or 5^th time to New York City.

TP: How does it feel coming back?

Zion: It gets better and better every time I think. The crowds for us get a little better, we always have fun though over here. Our label is Easy Star and they’re based out of New York, so whenever we’re in New York it’s always fun, we always have a lot of people and lot of friends here. You’d be surprised how many Hawaiian people actually live in New York. There’s a lot of transplants so it’s good, it’s good fun.

TP: And it seems like you’re getting a bigger fan base here too.

Zion: We’re trying to plant seeds and we feel like it’s happening. We can see it happening. It’s interesting to see it.

TP: The Green has been on touring on the road for 6 weeks now. How has it been?

Zion: It’s been great. We’ve been lucky to tour with great bands. Giant Panda is awesome. We’re from the same management family. Cas Haley has been our boy for a while. We started the tour with Chris Boomer from Guam and so the first half the tour we had him and he’s, we’ve gone to Guam a couple of times and it’s just the island vibe.

Chris is our boy too, it’s been super fun, we’re super stoked. We got these cool vehicles that have these bunks in them, going from a 15 passenger van where you sit down with your knees bent all day to being able to stand up and walk around, it’s been fun. It’s like a cross between and RV and a tour bus. It’s got bunks in it and you can drive it yourself. That’s been nice.

TP: And for the tour, you’ve been promoting “Ways & Means” which has been doing very well recently on the charts.

Zion: Thanks, I mean, it’s not doing as good as “Legend” is, but it’s doing good.

TP: How long did it take you guys to write the album from start to finish?

Zion: We probably had half the material, at least half the material written already, some of it recorded in pieces from the beginning of this year. We finished it when we came home from the last tour, we got home in May. So from May, June, we were in the studio pretty much every day, 12 hour days.

It was nuts, it was crazy. It took about two months to do all that stuff, another couple months to get the mixing and the production tight. The process took a while. We had some other songs written that were almost on the first album. We knew those songs were going to be on the next album. Since there’s four of us who sing and write, we have a lot material.

TP: What was the hardest song to write on “Ways &Means”?

Zion: Hardest song to write? I don’t know, that’s a tough one. Sometimes songs get written over the course of a week, or a day or two, or a couple years. Sometimes we finish it and come back to it. The title track “Ways & Means”, I wrote that a few years ago just for my own. It really didn’t change much other than just the boys adding their instrumentation.

We collaborate a lot so the writing tends to go pretty smoothly. We all bring something to the table and everybody just jumps on it and collaborates. I wouldn’t say the writing was too hard, it’s more of getting to the studio and taking the song where it needs to go.

It’s a constant thing, we’re never totally happy with anything but there’s a point where you have to just let it go, you know, release it and leave it out there in the world. It’s a snapshot in time. That’s how we sound right now.

TP: It seems like everybody here enjoyed it tonight.

Zion: Right on, thank you. We had fun, New York is always good fun. And this venue is great. We have a good time in this place.

TP: Have you performed at Highline Ballroom before?

Zion: No this is probably one of the nicest venues we’ve played at in New York. We’ve done a bunch of great venues, but first time at the Highline.

TP: How do you see The Green in five years from now?

Zion: I hope we’re traveling outside of the U.S. Sooner than that though, I hope we go to Europe, Asia, and down to New Zealand, Australia and Japan. We have a lot of fans down there in New Zealand. Trying to keep spreading it out. In five years I’m hoping we have at least two more albums out, to have at least one album out every two and a half years.

We just love to play music and spread it everywhere so we’re just going to kind of keep doing work and see what happens.

TP: It seems like it’s been working out for you guys so far.

Zion: Thanks. It’s a great experience and we’re very humbled to be able to play music for a living. We’re just blessed. We get to travel, we get to see places. We’re from Hawaii, we’re not used to driving more than hour anywhere, we drove like nine hours the other night to get here. We’re just soaking it all up.

Image Courtesy: Tammy Moniz

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Tribeca Cinemas continued showcasing a variety of independent movies at the Big Apple Film Festival. While the audience appreciated certain movies more than others, the Big Apple Film Festival continued to give great exposure for upcoming filmmakers and actors.

In a set of documentaries grouped together, the audience was able to see into the lives of unique individuals set against a New York City and New Jersey backdrop. Director Guy Shahar created two different four-minute-long documentaries entitled “Poets In Person.” The first poet focused on was Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Levine.

Cast against his artistic neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights in Brooklyn, New York, Levine speaks of how it is a great neighborhood for inspiration and writing poetry. Levine is also a United States Poet Laurete, and believes Walt Whitman is one of the greatest poets that has ever lived.

“Poets In Person” continued by highlighting poet Stephen Dunn, who described his process of writing poetry while playing a competitive game of ping-pong in his suburban garage. Dunn is also a Pulitzer Prize-winner. It was a simple, well-done documentary, and a good way to get a feel for these poets’  lives.

“Equality, I Am Woman,” directed by Al Sutton, was the next documentary played for moviegoers. Set in New York City in the 1970s, the documentary shows a movement for the equal rights of women. 50,000 women gathered on the streets to celebrate their gender and to embrace the idea of gender equality.

“I did the footage and put it on my shelf for a long time, like 30-something years,” Sutton explained. “We got Gloria Steinem to weigh in on it and all of a sudden it was quite inspiring.” The gender equality movement took off in full force after this gathering of women in New York City. “I’m really happy with it. For me, it was a feel-good movie,” Sutton said.

The Bridge Academy, a charter scool from New Jersey, was showcased in the next documentary. Directed by film student and graduate of the Bridge Academy, Alexander Epply-Schmidt, the seven-minute-long film took a very positive approach to showcasing the aspects of the school.

Although there was a sound problem where the voices did not match the people as they spoke, it was still successful at portraying its message. Epply-Schmidt explained his feelings toward attending the school as a “drastically life-changing moment.”

“Odysseus’ Gambit,” directed by Alex Lora Cercos, was a beautifully done documentary about a Cambodian man who spends his life playing chess in Union Square in New York City. Dramatically uprooted from a turbulent Camodia and brought to the United States as a child, his heart-wrenching story was masterfully compared to a strategic game of chess, where every move holds strong importance.

The final documentary was also the longest, at 58 minutes-long, and was what most of the theater’s audience came to watch. “Our Hawaii,” directed by Kryssa Schemmerling, was set against the backdrop of Rockaway Beach, a sleepy coastal section of Queens, New York. The film depicted a group of men, now in their 40s and 50s, who spent their lives surfing the waters of Rockaway.

Even though the lifestyle of surfing is never associated with New York City, this documentary showed how important it was, and still is, to the beachside neighborhoods in isolated Rockaway. Through anecdotal pieces and a great deal of film and photo archives, surfing in Rockaway was successfully told as a compelling story.

The men explained where surfing has taken them in their lives and how much they love the sport, as well as the neighborhood they come from. ”I was always curious about Rockaway riding the subway about what goes on there,” Schemmerling stated. “They had wonderful stories and they were all interesting. They were trying to create the California lifestyle in a place that was so hostile to it.”

These documentaries at the Big Apple Film Festival were a unique way for the filmmakers to tell stories through detailed documentaries.

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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The Big Apple Film Festival rolled on into the weekend and generated its biggest crowds yet. Saturday’s line-up of films proved to be a success as cinema lovers came to Tribeca Cinemas to support dozens of independent movies.

Early Saturday evening’s program grouped together six short films. The first film, “The Empty Playground,” was directed by Philip Giordano. Although the film only lasted four minutes, it made audience members think critically about the main character’s intentions. As a middle-aged man, he lures a young girl to the back of his van and, when noticed, he speeds away.

Even though there was little dialogue in the film, the acting shined through and portrayed a telling story. After “The Empty Playground” came a film directed by Chris Adler, entitled “Reco.” Set in the 1880s on the American frontier, an adopted teenage girl named Annie tries to find her biological mother.

Annie learns that she was given up because her biological mother wanted to protect her from her abusive father. Reco, Annie’s horse, took her to her mother’s lonely cabin where Annie and her mother could finally have the opportunity to understand each other. A 16-minute film, “I Remember,” had a distinct way of portraying the life of a gay man in his early 20′s.

The main character, Derek, has already come out to his friends and family, but still feels alienated at times within the gay community. The film was directed by John Sylva, who explained that he had yet to see a movie that depicted the life of a man who still had internal conflicts after previously coming out to the people in his life.

One of the highlights of this group of short films was a movie called “I Am Julia.” This 15-minute film captured one of most prominent problems many teenagers struggle with every day: bullying. Julia, a high school teenager, has just moved from Colombia to New York City, and is constantly bullied by a trio of her schoolmates.

It is an extremely realistic and shows how constant torment can cause a person to feel helpless. The director, David Capruso, explained, “It deals with a situation that we have right now all around the world with bullies.” Equally sharing the role of most-loved film during the evening’s program was “Pennies.”

Artistic cinematography skills shined in this 14-minute movie where Jimmy walks around New York City trying to find the owners of pennies he has found on the street. Throughout his search, the majority of the people he meets have a hard time understanding why he is on his mission.

Jimmy meets a young boy named Ashley, who explains that he donates all his loose change to charity. When Jimmy realizes that his pennies can go to a greater cause, he leaves a large basket full of pennies at Ashley’s door for him to give to charity. “I’ve always since I was a little kid been obsessed with hidden treasures,” stated Jonathan Chanin, director of the film.

“I was trying to think how that would work in the city.”

The final short movie of the program was only three minutes long but one of the most visually pleasing of the night. Director Levi Bowman created “Found,” an artistic approach to poetry. This film was based on a poem that was found on the New York City streets by an anonymous author. Bowman was able to take the poem and create a piece of work that exemplifies artistry and film making.

The evening capped off with a filmmakers party in the Varick Room, a bar and lounge connected to Tribeca Cinemas. Sponsored by Belgian beer Stella Artois, film makers, actors, and audience members had a great opportunity to mingle over free beer while a DJ helped liven the crowd with upbeat music. All in all, Saturday evening at the Big Apple Film Festival was a thriving night of talent and art.

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The second night of New York City’s Big Apple Film Festival ushered in independent movie lovers to packed theaters at TriBeCa Cinemas. The crowds were larger than the first evening, as over 20 independent films were shown over the duration of the night. There were six programs to chose from, each program containing a group of short films.

This gave viewers a chance to watch a variety of films without ever getting up from their seat. As one of the ticket options, movie goers were able to watch four films. The first film viewed was entitled Theatrics. Directed by David Lewis from Vancouver, Canada, this film depicted two women in their mid twenties as they sat in a movie theater, high off of weed laced with ketamine.

A nervous Austin was paranoid because a combination of the illegal drugs and the news that her mother and grandmother were in the theater as well. A more relaxed Samantha attempts to calm her down, but is unsuccessful. Although the film was only nine minutes long, it kept the audience laughing throughout.

In a short question and answer session at the end of the films, Lewis explained how the film was created. “The whole thing was done for 2,500 bucks” he stated, which was all generated from donation. Theatrics was a comical highlight of the night.

Following Theatrics was a more serious film, Faint by Numbers. Directed by Sean N. Ihne, Faint by Numbers followed the life of Dustin over the course of just a few days, where he learns that his father is dying and his fiance has moved out of their apartment. In an attempt to commit suicide by standing in front of oncoming traffic, Dustin is rescued by Rank, a stranger who pushed him out of the street.

Along with Rank’s roommate, Jessie, they move into Dustin’s apartment without knowing him for more than 48 hours. Over the course of the next few days, Dustin quits his monotonous job and finds out Rank has overdosed on heroin and is in the hospital.

Faint by Numbers was not embraced as favorably as other movies of the night, as the dramatic series of life changing events happened unrealistically quick. This movie was the longest of the group at 35 minutes. Ihne explained that the movie was “a long time in the making.” He wrote the movie three years ago and it had its debut at the Big Apple Film Festival on November 2.

The 16 minute movie entitled Found Art brought back some humor into the movie theater. Janine is an artist who strives to create a video installation by interviewing people on how their intentions of art may not always come across the way they want.

Janine interviews a young woman named Kristy, who was convinced to be photographed by a Connecticut man, and later found out that her picture ended up as a print advertisement for a company that teaches people a second language. Kristy speaks about how her original intentions were just to make a couple of hundred dollars, not knowing she would end up as the model for the company.

Director Yvete Morales explained how the film came about. “A lot of the inspiration was from Lee, my boyfriend, and I, sitting around and talking about people in the neighborhood and making stories.” The final film, Impostor, was a 25 minute long movie directed by Marc Masciandaro.

The main character, Arthur Semple, is a man with a daily routine and an office job that leaves him searching the internet for international vacations. He is a reserved man who takes interest in his beautiful next door neighbor, but is too shy to speak to her. Ray, his charismatic twin brother, comes to town for a long overdue visit.

Ray manages to ask the next door neighbor out on a date, but when he gets into a bloody fight and lands himself in the hospital, Arthur realizes that he can turn into his brother and go on the date with his long time crush. The date goes horribly wrong, but the film was a huge success at the festival. Masciandaro spoke about his film, “I wanted to create something that I could really torture my protagonist.”

Much of the audience at this group of movies came to support family and friends who acted or directed the films. The theater was packed, and this program was just one example of the success of the second evening at the Big Apple Film Festival.

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The 8th annual Big Apple Film Festival kicked off on November 1 in New York City’s TriBeCa neighborhood. The six day event will showcase nearly 200 independent films from up and coming filmmakers and star both new and well recognized actors. The Big Apple Film Festival celebrates the art of filmmaking, hosted at TriBeCa Cinemas.

At opening night of the film festival on Tuesday November 1, TriBeCa Cinemas showcased short films as well as full length feature films. The Fields was a popular choice for movie goers. Set in rural Pennsylvania, The Fields is based on a 1970’s true story of how a young boy and his grandparents were terrorized by a mysterious being in their backyard cornfield.

Directed by Tom Mattera and Dave Mazzoni, this psychological thriller showcased famous actresses such as Tara Reid and Academy Award Winner Cloris Leachman. The blond, curly haired young boy, Steven, was played by a promising young actor named Joshua Ormond.

Steven’s parents have an abusive relationship and is sent to live with his grandparents while his mother and father sort out their relationship. Steven is continuously interested in the cornfields, often times exploring its mysteries, even against the wishes of his grandparents. With his debut in a feature film, Ormand stole the show with his realistic depiction of a curious and often frightened boy.

The Fields incorporated elements of the real life horror events that occurred surrounding Charles Manson. Characters in the film were seen watching the brutal case on television, while an eerily similar farmhand named Eugene portrayed a deranged man similar to that of Manson.

Striking similarities to the Manson case were also seen through a group of female hippies who were squatters within the cornfield. Their peculiar behavior was reminiscent of the famous girls that followed all of Manson’s orders. After a series of terrorizing nights at the farm, the horror comes to an end with Eugene’s suicide.

There was buzz in the movie theater that American Pie actress Tara Reid would be appearing at the premiere of The Fields, but in the end was not able to attend. Many cast members of the film were in attendance and held a small question and answer session at the end of the movie.

Actor and producer Faust Checho, who played Steven’s father, stood as the main speaker on behalf of the cast. He spoke of the inspirational true story and how it was imperative to get Cloris Leachman to sign on as the role of Gladys, Steven’s no nonsense, foul mouthed grandmother.

Leachman was one of the highlights of the movie and often served as comic relief for an otherwise serious film. “She had us cracking up every time,” Checho said about co-star Leachman. “Everyday we were laughing.” Leachman was 85 years old at the time of filming and spent 12 days on set to film her scenes.

Joshua Ormond spoke briefly of his experience working on his first feature film. Still a young star new to the fame, Ormand was happy to be part of the film. “It was definitely like a roller coaster.” He also had a lot to stay about working with Leachman. “Cloris was fun to work with, she was a very good actress. It was great meeting such a great actress.”

Plans for the future of The Fields is currently up in the air, but Checho explained that they would most likely go forward with a VOD deal or self distribution by January 2012.

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Ilan Grapel, 27, was arrested in Cairo during a protest rally on June 12 and accused of being a spy. He was put in an Egyptian jail for over four months, but was let out on Thursday in exchange for the release of 25 Egyptians that were locked up in Israel. The released prisoners were mostly smugglers and included two minors.

Before his return to the United States, Grapel met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who gave him a burger, fries, and red wine, and was debriefed by security officials. The Emory University law student was greeted by family and friends upon his arrival in New York City on Saturday.

Grapel’s flight was delayed due to a mechanical problem and would have been cancelled if the Delta flight crew had not volunteered to work overtime, so he could make it home. Grapel holds both U.S. and Israeli citizenship and was in Egypt with a volunteer group who helps Sudanese refugees.

He speaks Hebrew and Arabic and had at one time served in Israel’s military.  Grapel claims he is not a spy, which Israel has also confirmed. United States Representative Gary Ackerman, with whom Grapel once interned, lobbied to have him released. Because Grapel had been cut off for over four months, Ackerman played a prank on him and told him the Mets had won the World Series.

Grapel thanked the U.S. and Israeli officials who fought to have him set free. He said that the Egyptians treated and fed him well in prison and allowed his mother a visit, though he was kept in solitary confinement. He stated, “”It was a tough ordeal as I was isolated, but the guards were okay.

What I wanted to eat, they gave me, including fresh fish.” Grapel’s father, however, did not share his son’s forgiving attitude and claimed he would sue them. Grapel stated, in regard to the months of Egyptian interrogations, “It’s hard for me to describe. It was overwhelming.” His mother helped him to stay calm and not lose hope during his ordeal.

After Grapel was released from prison, he was happily reunited with his mother at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel and was then reunited with his emotional father in New York. During an airport news conference, Grapel spoke of his fondness for pancakes.

He declared, “What I have not had are chocolate chip pancakes from IHOP!” He also expressed his only disappointment during his flight home was the fact that his flight attendant was married.

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