March 20, 2015
Norma's Weekly Member Snapshot:
Spring into Fitness
       

With warmer weather on the horizon, our fitness routines will be rejuvenated as we step outside to get fit. Mix up your workout and leave the stale treadmill behind to take on the fresh air.

 

My Special Feature this week includes city groups that will inspire you to run and walk your way to fitness while exploring the city on foot, plus innovative outdoor fitness groups to spring your exercise routine into action!

   
    
 
 
   
    Norma Knows New York City

What's
What's in this issue?  
General Events 
Cultural Pursuits
Curtain Up 
For the Foodie
Special Feature... Spring into Fitness


Click here to visit this month's past Snapshots and Special Features.

Send to other savvy New Yorkers and hip visitors,
so they can subscribe too!

Like us on Facebook       Follow us on Twitter 
 
  
General Events...General  
  
March 20  Spring!
Finally, the official first day of Spring. It doesn't quite feel like it yet, but any day now, we'll shed our layers and heavy coats for light jackets.

Pier 92 & 94 (55th Street & 12th Avenue) 
Shop the latest in furniture, accessories, lighting, art, kitchen, bath, and building products and attend seminars offered by leading talent from the world of design.

Through March 31  Women's History Month
Many events are going on this month in celebration of women... Soho20 Gallery in Chelsea is the number one organization in NYC providing women with exhibition and professional artistic opportunities. Check out their exhibitions this month. 
 
ON THE RADAR: 
    
New York International Auto Show
April 3 through 12  New York International Auto Show 
Javits Center (655 West 34th Street)
The largest auto show, I make it a point every year to attend. It's exciting to see (and sit in) upcoming releases from car companies... plus concept cars which feel like stepping into either a Science Fiction or James Bond movie!

April 6  New York Yankees Home Opener   
I always know it's spring when baseball is back on the calendar; buy tickets for the first game of the season vs the Toronto Blue Jays.


April 9 through 12  New York Antiquarian Book Fair
Park Avenue Armory (643 Park Avenue)
Over 200 American and international dealers will exhibit, bringing a selection of rare books, maps, and manuscripts.
Dr. Jane Goodall 

April 15  Sowing the Seeds of Hope: An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall
BAM (Brooklyn)
Want to be inspired? Purchase tickets for an evening with renowned scientist and trailblazing conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, who will share stories from her new book.

April 16 through 19  Fashion Week Brooklyn
Locations TBD  
Schedule will be posted soon for the preview of Fall/Winter 2015 Collections: "Denim Walk."

Spring  Saturday Night Live The Exhibition
Premier on 5th (417 Fifth Avenue)
Sign up now to be part of the presale; tickets will sell out fast. Kicks off with a celebration of the 40 year history of SNL. 


Cultural Pursuits...Cult  
  
Looking for a new way to see a museum?  Check out Museum Hack, guided tours (up to 9 people) of the Met and the American Museum of Natural History. Led by experienced guides well-versed in art history, it's a way to see the works through a new lens.
EVENTS:
Affordable Art Fair

Through March 21  Asia Week 
Multiple Locations
Celebrate Asian Art at multiple museums and cultural institutions throughout New York City.

March 25 through 29   Affordable Art Fair
The Metropolitan Pavilion (125 West 18th Street)
New artists, thousands of contemporary artworks, hands-on workshops, talks, and tours with fellow art lovers. Thousands of original paintings, prints, sculptures and photographs ranging from $100-$10,000.

CLOSING THIS WEEK:
 
THE DRAWING CENTER (35 Wooster Street)
Through March 22
Tomi Ungerer is best known as the award winning author and illustrator of children's classics like The Three Robbers and Moon Man. But he also made a name for himself with witty advertising campaigns for the New York Times and the Village Voice.

Helena Rubinstein

THE JEWISH MUSEUM (1109 5th Avenue)
Helena Rubinstein: Beauty Is Power
Through March 22
The first exhibition to explore the ideas, innovations, and influence of the legendary cosmetics entrepreneur Helena Rubinstein.

PACE GALLERY  (32 East 57th Street)
Isamu Noguchi: Variations
Through March 21
First solo exhibition of Isamu Noguchi.

ROBERT MANN GALLERY (525 West 26th Street)
Paulette Tavormina Bodeg�n
Through March 21
Still life photography on display.  




THE RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART (150 West 17th Street)Through March 23
French photographer Marc Riboud's photographic journals through Asia in the 50s and 60s...a time of both political and cultural transition.

ONGOING EXHIBITS: 

Conserving Our City of Nature:
The Artwork of Alan Messer

ARSENAL GALLERY  (Central Park - 64th Street and 5th Avenue)
Conserving Our City of Nature: The Artwork of Alan Messer
Through April 23
Messer's detailed paintings, illustrations, and field sketches of New York City's avian wildlife and habitats.

CRAIG F. STARR GALLERY  (5 East 73rd Street)
Jeff Koons: Jim Beam - J.B. Turner Engine and six individual cars
Through March 28 
An exhibit of vintage trains and their symbolism of progress and the American dream.
  
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 
(Central Park West at 79th Street) 
Through August 9
Exhibit uncovers the causes of nature's forces.

ELLIS ISLAND
Unframed - Ellis Island
Ongoing
Life-size historic photographs of Ellis Island immigrants are displayed on the south side of Ellis Island.

THE FRICK COLLECTION (1 East 70th Street)
Through April 5
Jean-Antoine Houdon and Claude Michel were two of the foremost sculptors in France during the late 18th century. Their sculptures are shown together for the first time, highlighting the artists' expressive ranges.

Infinite Possibility
GAGOSIAN GALLERIES
In the Studio
Through April 18
In one location (980 Madison Avenue), photography... in another (522 West 21st Street), paintings by artists like Picasso and Jasper Johns. 

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM (1071 5th Avenue)
On Kawara-Silence  
Through May 3   
Kawara's works are known for the rise in Conceptual art.
  
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian: Infinite Possibility.
Mirror Works and Drawings
Through June 3
This is the first U.S. museum exhibition of mirror works and drawings by the 90-year old Iranian artist.



 
INTREPID SEA, AIR, & SPACE MUSEUM (Pier 86 - 46th Street & 12th Avenue)
Hubble@25
Through September 15
Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, the exhibition showcases the history of this project and its scientific achievements. View artifacts, photographs, and Hubble-produced images.  

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART  (1000 Fifth Avenue)
Thomas Hart Benton's America Today Mural Rediscovered
Through April 19
A captivating exhibit of 1920s America in New York City.

THE MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM (225 Madison Avenue)
Lincoln Speaks: Words That Transformed a Nation
Through June 7
This exhibition focuses on Abraham Lincoln's mastery of language and how his words changed the course of history.

MNUCHIN GALLERY (45 East 78th Street)
Kazuo Shiraga
Through April 11
Kazuo's exhibit of 18 pieces of work traces his signature foot paintings throughout his career.
Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the 70s

MUSEUM OF ARTS & DESIGN (2 Columbus Circle)
Richard Estes: Painting New York City
Through September 20
Photorealistic painter Richard Estes exhibits his works.

MUSEUM AT FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (7th Avenue at 27th Street)
Yves Saint Laurent + Halston: Fashioning the 70s
Through April 18
A tribute to two iconic fashion designers.  

Lauren Bacall: The Look
Through April 4
Ten of the legendary icon's best fashion pieces from the 60s and 70s will be on display. I plan to watch Casablanca before I visit her collection!

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (11 West 53rd Street)
Bj�rk
Through June 7
Retrospective of her canvas drawings from 20 years ago as a musician and visual artist. 

Scenes for a New Heritage
Through March 31, 2016
Exhibition of past three decades of 30 international artists whose works range in their approach to political, social, and cultural flux of our global landscape.
The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World 
 
Modern Photographs from the Thomas Walther Collection, 1909-1949 
Through April 26
This collection captures the time period between the First and Second World Wars. 

The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World
Through April 5
The work of 17 artists with 17 different approaches to painting, the exhibit centers on the timelessness of painting today, exploring the issues of originality and subjectivity.

This Is for Everyone: Design Experiments for the Common Good
Through January 31, 2016
Digital age design encompassing fashion and furniture.




NATIONAL ARTS CLUB (15 Gramercy Park South)
National Arts Club Exhibiting Artist Members Exhibition
Through March 29
An annual tradition celebrating the diverse talents of selected artist members, including the work of Toni Silber-Delerive. 

THE NEW MUSEUM (235 Bowery)
2015 Triennial:  Surround Audience
Through May 24
NYC's only recurring international exhibition devoted to the early careers of artists from around the world... 51 artists from 25 countries.

NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY (5th Avenue at 42nd Street)
Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography 
Through September 4
The first-ever retrospective survey of photography organized by the Public Library. How have we been engaged over time? Are we risking our privacy in pursuit of a more public photography? The exhibit explores these questions.

Sinatra: An American Icon
Through September 4
A tribute to the life of the legendary actor and singer, Frank Sinatra. A multimedia exhibit showcasing memorabilia never before seen.    

PRATT MANHATTAN GALLERY (144 West 14th Street)
Performing Franklin Furnace
Through April 30
Martha Wilson's exhibition. Consider attending the performance series February 26th through March 1st.
Brian Pearson
 
THE ROBIN RICE GALLERY (325 West 11th Street)
Brian Pearson
Through April 12
A photographic exhibition by Brian Pearson, a medley of black and white images split between the figurative and the architectural.   

SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM (39 Battery Place)
Ten Tops
Through September 13
Focuses on a group of the world's tallest buildings 100 stories and higher.  A perfect exhibit for this museum!

ON THE RADAR:
Ralph Pucci: The Art of the Mannequin

THE MUSEUM OF ARTS & DESIGN (2 Columbus Circle)
March 31  Ralph Pucci: The Art of the Mannequin
A display of thirty works taking you on a journey of his ever changing fashion.  Through August 30th.

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART  (11 West 53rd Street)
March 29  Latin America in Construction: Architecture 1955-1980
An examination of the positions, debates, and architectural creativity from Mexico and Cuba to the Southern Cone between 1955 and the early 1980s.



NEUE GALLERY NEW YORK MUSEUM FOR GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN ART (1048 Fifth Avenue)
April 2  Gustav Klimt and Adele Bloch-Bauer: The Woman in Gold
View the original painting that inspired Helen Mirren's role in her new movie by the same name. Through September 7th.

BROOKLYN MUSEUM (200 Eastern Parkway - Brooklyn)
April 3  Basquiat: The Unknown Notebooks
View the large scale works of this illustrious painter along with sketches from his personal notebooks. Through August 23rd.

PARK AVENUE ARMORY (643 Park Avenue)
April 16  The AIPAD Photography Show New York
Exhibitors from more than 80 of the world's leading photography art galleries.

THE ROBIN RICE GALLERY  (325 West 11th Street)
April 22  Pelican Finn 
An exhibition of photographs by Gesi Schilling illustrating the relationship between individual and environment while specifically capturing a Cuban American woman's relationship to the Florida Everglades. Through May 31st with opening reception on April 22nd.

THE WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
(99 Gansevoort Street)
May 1  America is Hard to See 
Premiering at the downtown opening of the Whitney Museum.  View this inaugural exhibit of over 650 pieces from 400 artists through September 27th.

THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
(900 Southern Blvd - The Bronx)
May 16  Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life
The first exhibition to examine Frida's appreciation for the beauty and variety of the natural world, as evidenced by her home, garden, and use of plant imagery in her artwork. Through November 1st.

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY (170 Central Park West)
For the first time, nine decades of his art are on display through October 12th. Also coming on May 29th is Picasso's Le Tricorne: Painting for the Ballet.


CurtainCurtain Up...        
FILM:   

March 21  Mad Men 
The Film Society of Lincoln Center (70 Lincoln Center Plaza)
Celebrating the show's ending by discussing favorable scenes... conversation with creator Matthew Weiner and stars Jon Hamm, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, and John Slattery.

March 22  Sunday Night Film Club: Selma    
Crosby Street Hotel (79 Crosby Street)
For $55 per person, enjoy dinner and a movie... 3-course meal followed by a viewing of Selma.  
 
Film Society of Lincoln Center (144 West 65th Street) and The Museum of Modern Art (11 West 53rd Street)
Dedicated to the discovery and support of emerging artists.



MUSIC, PERFORMANCE, DANCE:

Tuesdays & Wednesdays  Jazz Nights
The Lambs Club (132 West 44th Street)
Live jazz from new and up and coming performers.
 
Through March 21  Herb Alpert & Lani Hall  
Cafe Carlyle (35 East 76th Street)  
Grammy Award Winner and trumpeter Herb Alpert and his wife Lani will be performing.  I just purchased tickets to see this vibrant duo.
 
Through March 22  Ailey II
The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue)
The first return in five years... the Ailey ensemble performs two world premiere programs.   

Through March 22  NYC Improv Festival  
Peoples Improv Theater (123 East 24th Street)
Fourth annual festival - a celebration of improvisation from all across the world. 

Through March 22  Harkness Dance Festival 

92Y (1395 Lexington Avenue)

Five dance companies perform... including the Martha Graham ensemble.

March 22  Album Tribute: Shoot Out The Lights / Squeezing Out Sparks
Mercury Lounge (217 East Houston Street)
A cast of noted NYC musicians (including Blythe Gruda) for a passionate tribute to two classic albums: Richard and Linda Thompson's Shoot Out The Lights and Graham Parker and The Rumour's Squeezing Out Sparks. 

FLEXN
March 23  STRICTLY SINATRA: A Tribute To FRANK SINATRA
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 47th Street)
Besides seeing the Frank Sinatra exhibit at the New York Public Library, go see a tribute to "Blue Eyes" at this iconic blues club.  Also, one of my favorite groups, the Buena Vista Social Club, will perform on April 9th.

March 25  FLEXN
Park Avenue Armory (643 Park Avenue)  A jaw dropping performance by 21 Brooklyn dancers. Through April 4th.



Through March 28  Lincoln Center's American Songbook

Lincoln Center

Various locations within Lincoln Center's venues. Outstanding artists... all in intimate settings. 

    

Through March 29  Paul Taylor's American Modern Dance   
David H. Koch Theater (20 Lincoln Center Plaza)  
Rockettes New York Spring Spectacular

One of the greatest modern dance companies.  

     

Through May 3  Rockettes New York Spring Spectacular  

Radio City Music Hall (1260 Avenue of the Americas)
A new show inspired by the magic of NYC in the spring; a musical celebration of the energy, places, people, passion and promise that make this city spectacular. Limited engagement.   

 

Through June 16   LIVE from the NYPL

New York Public Library (11 West 40th Street) 

Spring Speaker Series - mark your calendar for Diane von Furstenberg on May 6th!  

   

THEATER: 
 
UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS: 
 March 26  The Visit
Lyceum Theater (149 West 45th Street)
The creators of Cabaret and Chicago have another winner!  The Visit, starring Chita Rivera of West Side Story fame, is the tale of young love, seduction, and sweet revenge.  Previews begin March 26th, opens April 23rd, through September 6th.

March 27  Hamlet
Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street)
"To be, or not to be? That is the question."  With Peter Sarsgaard as the lead, the answer is definitely to be! Through May 10th.


March 27  Doctor Zhivago
Broadway Theater (1681 Broadway)
One of the most romantic stories of our time.  Previews begin March 27th, opens April 21st, through April 3rd, 2016.

ONGOING PRODUCTIONS: 
 
An American in Paris

An American in Paris
Through November 22
Palace Theater (1564 Broadway) 
American Stage debut of the story about a young artist who discovers life and love after returning from the war. Now in previews, opens April 12th, through November 22nd.
  
The Audience   
Helen Mirren stars in an electrifying performance as Queen Elizabeth. Sixty years, twelve prime ministers, but only ONE Queen! 

Through September 13
Stephen Sondheim Theatre (124 West 43rd Street)
This musical follows the legendary songwriter from her early days as a Brooklyn teenager to well-known hits as a top recording artist.

Through March 29 

Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street)    

Sienna Miller, as well as the incomparable Alan Cumming are show-stoppers; the Kit Kat Band is superb.   

Churchill
Churchill 
Through July 12  
New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) 
An extraordinary one man show at New World Stages.

Through October 18
Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) 

The lead actor, a recent graduate of Julliard, is brilliant. The story unfolds with a mathematically precocious adolescent with behavioral problems uncovering truths and secrets.  

      

 

Through April 5
Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street)
Crisp and witty dialogue pays tribute to the highest standards of Irish tradition set in Dublin in the 1960s.

The Events 
Through March 22
New York Theatre Workshop (79 East 4th Street)
The play revolves around characters that survive in the aftermath of a tragedy, depicting what it is that makes us human.
Through March 29
Barrow Street Theater (27 Barrow Street)
Brilliant and uplifting though the subject is a bit daunting.  A poignant story of a son's challenge to help his mother through depression by listing things in life that she should be thankful for. 

Through June 7 
Cort Theater (138 West 48th Street)
Funnyman Larry David focuses on 15 characters as each deals with a death in the family.  Now in previews, opens March 5th, through June 7th. Currently all tickets are sold out, but the show may be extended due to high demand!
Ghost Quartet

Ghost Quartet
Through May 18
The McKittrick Hotel (542 West 27th Street)
Home of the popular Sleep No More, the show blurs the line between theater and contemporary music performance. It is staged in the round in an intimate setting with the musicians seated amongst the audience.  

Gigi
Through October 4
Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street)
Tony Award winning musical returns to Broadway starring Vanessa Hudgens. Now in previews, opens April 8th, through October 4th.

Through May 3
The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street)   
The creative team from the Tony Award winning "In the Heights," has produced another show stopper.  An inventive new musical about the young immigrant who changed America... Alexander Hamilton.
  
The Heidi Chronicles   
Through August 9 

Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street)

Starring Elisabeth Moss and Jason Biggs,

it's a coming of age story of three iconic decades of culture... the 60s, 70s and 80s. Now in previews, opens March 19th, through August 9th.  

  

Into the Woods
Through March 22
Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street)  
Idina Menzel of Wicked stars in this musical about a woman that returns to life in NYC discovering endless possibilities where chance and choice collide.  

  

Through April 12
The Laura Pels Theatre (111 West 46th Street) 
Roundabout Theater Company presents a Sondheim masterpiece, inviting us back into the world created by the Grimm brothers.  


Josephine and I
Through April 5
Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street) 
After a critically acclaimed run at London's Bush Theater; a show about the fearless life of Josephine Baker, the first African American performer who rose to international prominence.
The King and I

The King and I
Through July 5 
Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street)
The revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, starring Kelli O'Hara, is now in previews.

The Lion
Through March 29
Lynn Redgrave Theater (45 Bleecker Street)
An original downtown musical experience using six guitars that add to the gripping performance of one man's coming of age story.

Little Children Dream of God
Through April 19 
The Black Box Theatre (111 West 46th Street)
A drama about learning to start a new life by facing the one you left behind.
 
Through April 26
Lincoln Center Theater (150 West 65th Street)
The story of four individuals whose lives remain inextricably intertwined over time... starring one of my favorite actresses, Diane Lane!

The Nether 
Through March 29
The Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street)
A virtual wonderland crime drama that will have you on the edge of your seat.   
Nevermore - The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Through March 29
New World Stages (340 West 50th Street)

Theatrical musical play of the life and mysterious death of legendary writer, Edgar Allen Poe.

 

The Nomad
The Nomad

Through April 6

The Flea Theater (41 White Street)
A World premiere musical production.

       

On the 20th Century  

Through July 5

American Airline Theatre (227 West 42nd Street) 

Love, lust, and mischief collide in this musical comedy starring Broadway showstopper, Kristin Chenoweth.  In previews now, opens March 12th, through July 5th.



On the Town
Through September 1
Lyric Theatre (213 West 42nd Street)
The feel good play of the season. Broadway's largest orchestra and cast make us fall in love with the city again. A story of sailors on a whirlwind NYC tour. 
 
Through April 5 
Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street) 
World premiere drama by Melissa James Gibson, writer on FX's show The Americans. The show examines the space where truth and lies begin to blur as a scientist is doing placebo testing for a new female drug.

Posterity 
Through April 5
Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street)  
World Premiere of this intense play at Atlantic Theater Company that explores the nature of artistic success and the feat of being forgotten. Through April 5th.
 
Skylight

Through June 14
Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street)
Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy star in the sold out London engagement of a sentimental love story.  Now in previews, opens April 2nd, through June 14th.

The World of Extreme Happiness
New York City Center (130 West 56th Street)
Through March 29
A story about Sunny, determined to escape her life in rural China and forge a new identity in the city.   
 
 
ON THE RADAR IN CURTAIN UP:
 
March 31, April 1 and 2  Glacier at The Joyce
The Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue)
Liz Gerring Dance Company presents an evening length choreographic work for eight dancers based on composer Michael J. Schumacher's work. 

Patti Lupone

 

April 2  Patti LuPone

54 Below (254 West 54th Street) 

The incomparable Patti LuPone will perform through April 14th.

  

April 1  Living on Love
The Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street)
The world's most famous opera singer Ren�e Fleming plays the world's most famous opera singer. It's a "glamorous romp through the world of music, marriage and celebrity." Also starring Jerry O'Connell. Through August 2nd.



April 7  Grounded
The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street)
Tickets on sale now for this spellbinding play starring Academy Award Winner Anne Hathaway.  This new play is about the complicated consequences of waging war without leaving home.  Through May 17th.
  
April 15 through 26  Tribeca Film Festival
Various locations
Tickets are now on sale for this always anticipated annual festival. Their 2015 Film Guide is now available.  In the coming weeks I'll feature my movie picks.

April 22  Blythe Gruda
Bowery Electric (327 Bowery)
An intimate set of originals songs by this amazing performer.


foodFor the Foodie... 
Bay Kitchen Bar

NEW ON THE SCENE ON THE UPPER EAST SIDE:

321 East 73rd Street 
Seafood 
Hamptonites will be delighted to learn of a favorite East Hampton spot, now open on the Upper East Side. Sea to table cuisine and inspired cocktails; outstanding Mediterranean preparations focus on the best seafood and meats from East coast suppliers.  Atmosphere is chic and inviting, and what I especially like is that you can have comfortable conversation at your table! Try the dumpling short ribs, sea scallops, and burgers... one of the best in the city!

 
973 Lexington Avenue 
Italian Cuisine
Seasonal Italian classics served in a charming environment that is all handcrafted in Italy.  The authentic Italian cuisine from the Bologna owners brings to the table family recipes (like homemade pastas) and a well-curated wine list adds to the delight. An intimate setting with an upstairs balcony and al fresco garden. Today is the first day of Spring so I hope to soon be dining in the garden!
 


Monte-Carlo
181 East 78th Street
Monte-Carlo
French Cuisine
Handpicked food of the highest quality!  Everything is made on premises including their homemade ice cream. As you enter you are greeted by Alessandra, whose warm welcome sets the tone for the evening.  Perfect ambiance and cuisine; I recommend both the hanger steak and the skate fish. 

EVENTS:

 

March 23 through 29  "Mad Men" Dining Week

Mad Men Restaurant week at $19.60 prices!  Even the 21 Club and Le Cirque will take part in this once in a lifetime tribute to the finale of a stellar series. Visit the website for participating restaurants. 

  

March 24  Missy Robbins Guest Chef

Tasting Table Test Kitchen (495 Broome Street)

Robbins will be a Guest Chef, cooking a feast full of seafood, free-flowing cocktails and, pasta.  Purchase tickets... get a sneak peak of her new restaurant, Lilia, opening in Williamsburg this summer.

    

March 25  Wine & Wishes
Pier 60 (23rd Street & Hudson River)
Wine tasting and fundraising event supporting the Make-A-Wish Metro New York.  Taste wines from around the world with delicious local cuisine and take part in silent and live auctions.
  
March 27 & 28  Wine Riot
69th Regiment Armory (68 Lexington Avenue)
Taste hundreds of new wines, Wine Riot has reinvented "wine tasting" for the thirsty and curious.

ON THE RADAR:

March 28  NYC Craft Distillers Festival
The Bowery Hotel (335 Bowery)
Sample of 60 specially selected spirits while a 1920s style jazz band keeps the party lively.

April 10 through 12  Food Book Fair
Wythe Hotel (80 Wythe Avenue - Brooklyn)
Annual festival celebrating the intersections of food culture and the writing that brings them to life - lectures, panel discussions, and food tastings highlight the 3-day event.

April 11 & 12   New York Culinary Experience
International Culinary Center (462 Broadway)
Enjoy the festivities as the event pays tribute to chef David Bouley.  Hands-on cooking classes and discussions with 30 renowned chefs including Lidia Bastianich, Jacques Torres, and Alex Guarnaschelli.
 Special Feature...  Spring into Fitness
 

WALK:
 
Try MapmyWalk for Walking routes and trails...

  

New York Walkers Club
A member-based organization (just $20/year), they offer weekly healthwalk and racewalk instruction clinics, free group walks, as well as walking events throughout the year. 

Shorewalkers       

Explore the city and its edges. This nonprofit environmental organization leads invigorating walks exploring areas in and around NYC.  Their next organized walk is this Saturday, exploring the bridges and waterways of Central Park!

 

HIKE: 

For experienced hikers in NY/NJ, check out their scheduled hikes described as long and strenuous, at a moderate-to-fast pace.
 

Wild Earth Adventures 

Guided hiking and walking trips year-round, visiting some of the most beautiful parks and natural areas in New York (including NYC), New Jersey, Connecticut, and beyond.   

 
RUN: 
Avid runner looking to complement your running? Try Sacred Sounds Yoga's Yin-yasa for Runners & Cyclists class on Friday evenings.
Outdoor 30-minute workout classes (Run + Strength and Run + Drills) and 60-minute classes (Run + Yoga and The FITNESSRUNS™).  Classes are for all levels.   
Membership-based running group; includes runners clinics, group runs, social events, and a member forum to share information and tips. All runs incorporate the Galloway Method (a run-walk-run method, helping with injury prevention).  
Weekly runs Wednesday nights at their two Upper East Side locations (1127 3rd Avenue and 1146 Madison Avenue), Monday nights from Lincoln Square. 
Various Niketown locations

Group sessions led by Nike+ Experts for all skill and preference levels. Check the website for schedule and details. 

  

Structured programs, online coaching, and nutrition counseling available. 
MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women's Half-Marathon 

RACE: 
Check New York Road Runners and NYCRUNS to sign up for upcoming races of all distances and locations. 
  • April 12  4-mile City Parks Foundation Run for Central Park 
  • April 19  MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women's Half-Marathon
  • April 26  Run for Hope 5K
WORKOUT:  
Central Park Circuit
East Meadow - Central Park
Get fit with innovative exercises designed by top trainers to utilize the Park's best natural features: rocks, trails, stairs, hills, and open lawns. Tuesdays and Thursdays starting in May.


The Rise  
Free outdoor workouts... running, core body strength, cross training throughout the city.

Shape Up NYC
Free fitness classes every week at dozens of locations across the five boroughs.


PRACTICE:  
Mini Golf
Mini Golf 
Pier 25 (Hudson River & North Moore Street)
The 13,000 square foot, 18-hole professional grade miniature golf course features a waterfall, stream, pond, a cave, footbridges and sand traps. Opens April 15th for the season.   

Hudson River Pier Tennis 

Hudson River & West Houston Street

Three free tennis courts are first-come, first 'serve'. 

 

James J Walker Park 

Clarkson Street & 7th Avenue 
Public bocce courts... first-come, first-serve, open to the public.

Riverside Clay Tennis Association 

Play Big Apple 

A sports and social club... sign up for volleyball, dodgeball, bocce. Leagues with emphasis on socializing and having fun!

 

Riverside Clay Tennis Association 

Riverside Park near 96th Street  

Red-clay tennis courts, public courts available for a $15 day pass.    
Norma Knows New York City/ East 76th Street / New York, New York 10021