Diner en Blanc NYC chapter finally resumed today! Revelers had almost no time to plan the extravagant affair unlike previous years where it took months in preparation, this year barely gave way to 2 months of notice! Obviously, the city permit which allows the event to take place in open public spaces must have cleared at the last minute. The rain threatened to dampen the affair like it did in 2019, when without warning we were drenched completely in a flash flooded lawn in Battery Park City. We did return to the scene of the crime but this time on the paved section of Battery Park City behind the Winter Garden. The rain was determined to have a repeat but Calandra, the goddess of rain must have heard the cries of the people today! It actually held up just before we all departed for the venue. Once everyone settled in, the rain was a thing of the past. The party was well underway with the traditional napkin wave signaling the official start of the night’s affair. I made some really cool friends as I always do at these events. A fab night was had by all…at least to my knowledge. 😉We hope to do it all over again next year! God willing. 🙏

Below is a video high lighting the night and images below, all captured using my mobile phone.

Alas! The wait of 3 excruciating years finally passed today! Covid be damned! Not a single mask insight at the long awaited West Indies festivities in Brooklyn on Labor day. After 3 year haitus, thanks to Ms. Rona…revelers came out and showed out! What normally takes a year in costume preparation took 3 long years this time around. It turned out to be my best one yet. It felt more organized and well paced. Despite starting an hour late, it didn’t deter the mood at all. The usual dignitaries and luminaries of the big apple made their way first as per protocol. Spectators who lined the wide shoulders of Easter Parkway were greeted warmly by AL Sharpton, Mayor Eric Adams, and a few others. There was no shortage of armed police officers scattered about considering the rise in crime in the city since the pandemic. Nevertheless, they were extremely friendly and eager to assist anyone in need of help. Shortly after the officials passed the judges tables seated by the Brooklyn Museum, the main party started. Elaborate colorful costumes filled the stretch of the parkway coupled with high decibels of Caribbean music from just about every genre. Brooklyn felt very much alive! I haven’t danced this hard since college! I’m sore all over! 🙈

Check out the video footage and images below. Until next year, please be safe out there!

Click on the images to enlarge.

It’s back!!! Rainbow filled beloved city of New York hosted the iconic Pride March in style after 2 year haitus due to the corona virus pandemic. It picked up effortlessly right where it left off…as if nothing had halted the annual highly anticipated festivities. Celebrants, allies, young and old joined to together to make it a smashing success as usual. Big corporations, universities and major brands took to the floats to show their unwavering solidarity with gay rights. Of course, the current political strife in the land was visible at the parade. Participants voiced their political views and concerns on hand held plagues. I’ll let these images captured on my android provide the “receipts” as it were. Click on the images to enlarge it. Happy Pride! 🌈 🏳️‍🌈 🥳💃🏽😃

You know when you’ve got friends throw you a surprise party at 80, in a room packed to capacity…you’ve pretty much done it all. That can be said for the legendary fashion and style architect Patricia Field! The Academy Award nominated style icon walked into a swanky downtown NYC speakeasy, Fig.19 to what would be her surprise 80th birthday party. The energy that permeated through the room was highly contagious! The vibration of the cheers from well wishers was quite an experience in itself. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ms. Pat a few yrs ago where I captured her cover image for Shoeholics magazine. Prior to that, we had partied together in Paris at a Dior haute couture event. Those were quite memorable times I shall forever cherish. She’s a dynamite fun to be with! Happy birthday darling. Cheers to many more decades!

Peruse the video footage and images below.😉

Where else would you venture out on a beautiful spring day with your family, casually out on errands only to run into a block party unexpectedly? Only in NYC! What I thought would be a quick dash out on errands with my 4 yr old, turned into an all afternoon jamming and grinding to hit tunes being spun by the newly minted Academy Awarding winning Quest Love! Military personnel could be seen sweating it off in a heated dance off with civilians, while onlookers clapped and cheered on. It was indeed a beautiful sight to behold. Gosh! I’ve missed seeing this lively side of New York since the pandemic railroaded our lifestyles for over 2 yrs now. Besides dancing, families indulged in games and many interactive activities across the elaborate concert size stage set up next to the Flatiron building. There was something for just about everyone to participate in. It felt and looked good to see everyone enjoying themselves like old times. Special thanks to all the servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. We’re very grateful. RIP. 🙏

Have a look at the images & video footage below.

Kenny Kenny, the artist extraordinaire’s opening ceremony body of work at the swanky Calligaris Chelsea luxury furniture showroom brought out the who’s who of the New York City art and night life. The collection titled “The Tenant in the Tenement” rightfully so, celebrated the larger than life artist. His work hung along the walls, perfectly matched with the luxurious furnishings in the showroom while his patrons and friends alike, drinks in hand, cheered merrily, all well dressed for the occasion. Guest included Lynn Yaeger, Mickey Bookman, Michael Musto and so many others I couldn’t picture, simply because it was that much fun and I was easily distracted. It could easily have been a scene from The Great Gatsby! The ongoing pandemic seemed like a thing of the past to the dazzling revelers, not a mask in sight! It’s safe to say…we’re all over Ms. Rona! New York City’s night life is roaring back with a vengeance! Fun was indeed had by all. Cheers NY! Welcome back!

Are you in love with Van Gogh as much as I am? I had the pleasure of getting to know his work upclose at a museum in Amsterdam few yrs ago. However, to experience the immersive version here in NY…priceless! My kids couldn’t get enough of it. It was hard to get them to leave! Bring a small picnic mat if you can, and loose yourself in the virtual play of digital imagery of his body of work. Watch his world famous paintings literally come to life right before your eyes. It’s therapeutic for the soul, to say the least. You’ll thank me later! I hope this little snippet video and images from my camera phone will give you a glimpse of it, hopefully enough to encourage you to check it out before it departs NY for good. ❤💃🏽😉

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Sb6uqhKyjxw

NYC came roaring back to life on Halloween night with revelers decked out in several homemade costumes to show off talents the pandemic prevented them from doing last year. The event almost didn’t happen due to the fact that the city granted the organizers a permit with only a few weeks to prepare. This normally would have been set in motion at least a year in advance.

One would have expected a low turn out due to the ongoing vaccine and facemask mandate. That didn’t stop the usually jaded New Yorkers from coming out to show off and show out! This happens to be my 4 year old daughter’s favorite holiday, and of course, she made sure to catch a glimpse of every costume in sight. She was in paradise! Peruse the images below captured with my mobile. I hope you like them.
Happy Halloween!

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Covid be damned! New Yorkers and tourist swamped New York City today with a vengeance to make up for the cancelled festivities last year due to the pandemic. Nothing was held back, revelers partied like it was 1980 without a care in the world. It didn’t matter if you came with friends you’ve known for eons or friends you just met today. Everyone embraced and loved one another…sans covid. I too met my fellow doll art curator Robert for the first time after months of communication via instagram. It felt like meeting my long lost brother from my father’s mistress. 🙂 A total sweetheart. We had a chance to do some doll artistry together using the Pride fest revelers as our backdrop. In other words, our dolls took part in the festivities with onlookers bemused by it all.

The festivities included food, drinks and lots of music of various genres. It felt more like a huge outdoor club! People wanted to dance and feel the sun after months of lockdown and restrictions! It felt sooo good!

Need I mention the cops were very patient and friendly as well? No one felt threatened! It’s a great day in America! Onward we go…to a new beginning. Happy Pride!!!

Photos taken with my samsung camera phone…unedited.

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As corona virus brought the world to its knees in 2020, so is the case for Times Square. The crossroad of the world was not spared, not even while exiting what has become a miserable year for billions of humans worldwide. Ms. Rona has humbled us all. Life as we know it is now almost a memory. Social distance has become the norm. Times Square became a forbidden path for any gathering, especially on New Year’s Eve to watch the crystal ball drop. The crossroads is now barricaded up to prevent any kind of gathering besides the press and performers. The entertainment tonight is to be anchored by Jennifer Lopez and televised for the world to see. That ought to draw in good ratings for the network, I suppose.

Could this actually be the new way of life on Times Square during New Year’s eve going forward? We can only hope and pray for a better 2021. Happy New Year!

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