Pamela's Manhattan, NY Blog

Congratulations to the Olympic fencing champions from New York City! All four of the fencers from New York City competed in team fencing finals this weekend and emerged with silver medals.

On Saturday, the women's foil fencing team (New Yorkers Erinn Smart and Emily Cross and Hanna Thompson from Rochester, NY) earned the silver medal after defeating world champion Poland and No.3 seed Hungary. The Americans were seeded seventh in the quarterfinals and didn't expect to go so far. The Russian team took the gold medal.

On Sunday, the men's sabre fencing team (including New Yorkers Keeth Smart and Tim Morehouse and Jason Rogers from Los Angeles) also took the silver medal after dramatically beating Hungary in the quarterfinals and Russia in the semifinals. In both matches, Keeth Smart scored the winning touch in the final seconds. The U.S. team was later defeated by France in the finals.

Let's hear it for our hometown Olympic medal winners!

Read About.com's in-depth coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Photo courtesy of Tim Morehouse

Here are our top event picks for the weekend of August 15-17, 2008:

• Central Park SummerStage -- It's the last weekend of Central Park SummerStage! Where has the summer gone? On Friday, enjoy the South American beats of Bajofondo and Osunlade & The Yoruba Soul Orchestra. On Saturday, it's a full day of homegrown bands including Battles, Black Dice, and Gang Gang Dance. On Sunday, end your weekend with the retro 60s sounds of Brooklyn's soul and funk masters including Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings and the Menahan Street Band.



• Barneys Warehouse Sale -- It's that time of year again. The Barneys New York Warehouse Sale is on through September 1st at Barney's Co-op at 255 West 17th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues). At this beloved semi-annual event, you'll find savings of 50% to 75% on designer clothing, shoes, and accessories for men and women. It's a can't-miss event for those who have designer tastes and an H&M budget.
  
  
• The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) -- FringeNYC rages on this weekend, featuring 200 performance companies from around the world in productions at venues all over the city.



• Summer Streets -- Play and explore in the city streets this Saturday from 7AM to 1PM and don't worry about traffic. New York City will open a 6.9 mile car-free route from the Brooklyn Bridge to 72nd Street with connections to Central Park and other open spaces. Along the route, enjoy fun summer activities like salsa dancing classes, bike racing, double dutch, 4-square, sidewalk chalk art projects, and much more.



• Praise the Swayze! All Night Long -- Show your love for the man who wouldn't let them put Baby in the corner. On Saturday, Patrick Swayze fans are preparing to party all night long at Bowery Poetry Club. Enjoy Swayze-centric interpretative dance and live music, all while your favorite Swayze films play on the big screen.



• Weekend Street Fairs and Festivals -- Hit the streets this weekend for great street fairs downtown, midtown, and uptown.



• Summer in Little Italy Festival -- Wander the streets of Little Italy this weekend. Every weekend this summer, cars are banned and Little Italy's best eateries offer special treats for passersby.



• Take A Cool Dip -- Take a dive into one of New York City's public or hotel swimming pools and cool off this weekend. Looking for something a little different? Splash around in the East River with the Floating Pool Lady in her seven-lane swimming pool moored off of the beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park.



• See the New York City Waterfalls -- See artist Olafur Eliasson's four 90- to 120-foot waterfalls on the East River from the water or the shore. See our photo gallery of views of the New York City Waterfalls.

Have you checked out a FringeNYC show yet? The New York International Fringe Festival (aka FringeNYC) will feature performances by more than 200 local and international theater companies in venues all over the city through August 24, 2008.

See the work of today's most talented and innovative writers, directors, and performers. There's something for everyone -- including special shows for families and young adults. Tickets are $15 per show ($10 tickets are available for seniors and kids under 12). You can also save by buying a Fiver Pass ($70 for access to any five shows), a Flex Pass ($120 for ten shows), or a Lunatic Pass ($500 for admission to as many shows as you can see). And there is no late admittance to FringeNYC shows, so get there on time.

Here are a few of the interesting performances this week (just a sampling of the many options):

• Tuesday, August 12th -- Becoming Britney at The Bleecker Street Theater
  A caustic (but loving) PG-13 fable that chronicles the rise, dip and salvation of a foolhardy celebrity phenom.



• Wednesday, August 13th -- Pawnshop Accordions at The Lafayette Street Theater
  Opposite Port Authority, a cynical EMT, a mute accordionist, a sinister Albanian, and a prophetic schizophrenic struggle to protect one another.



• Thursday, August 14th -- I Heart Hamas: And Other Things I'm Afraid to Tell You at The Players Loft
  One woman's unflinching tale of navigating checkpoints, dating taboos, and a 450 year family lineage.



• Friday, August 15th -- A Silly Silverstein Show at Spiegelworld
  Climb THE GIVING TREE and roll along with THE MISSING PIECE as Shel Silverstein's silly and salient words spring to life with poems and puppetry.



• Saturday, August 16th -- KABOOM! at The Cherry Lane Theater
  After his drug factory explodes, San Francisco's slyest swindler has one day to recoup his losses. Nothing can stop him... except maybe a neurotic New Yorker, a misplaced kazoo, and a 37-minute orgasm.



• Sunday, August 17th -- Anais Nin Goes to Hell at The Connelly Theater
  Imagine an island in hell with Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, and Queen Victoria...waiting for their men. What happens when women's lib icon Anais Nin arrives to turn their afterlife upside down?

Find out what else is playing at FringeNYC 2008 and get tickets.

Despite the rain, tonight's screening is still on as of 10:30AM. Check for the latest updates.

Tonight's Bryant Park film selection is perfect for election season. In the 1972 Oscar winner The Candidate, Robert Redford plays an idealistic young lawyer who is convinced to run for the U.S. Senate even though he has no chance of winning. His goal is to bring attention to important issues. But when it starts to look like he might have a shot at victory, will he sacrifice his ideals?

Pick up dinner and popcorn and enjoy a picnic in the park before the movie. This year, 'wichcraft is also offering lawnside dinner service for hungry moviegoers who didn't plan ahead.

Films start at sunset, but the lawn opens at 5:00 PM for picnickers. Get there early for a spot with a good view.

See the full schedule of films in Bryant Park this summer.

Tear yourself away from the Olympic coverage and get outside and play in the streets this weekend. Here are our top event picks for the weekend of August 8-10, 2008:

• Central Park SummerStage -- On Saturday, celebrate Mexican music and culture with Kinky, Pistolera, and Mariachi Real de Mexico. On Sunday, hear Brazilian superstar Maria Rita and check out the Brazilian documentary Out of Tune.



• The New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) -- FringeNYC kicked off on Friday. Enjoy 10 days of great theater in New York City. FringeNYC features 200 performance companies from around the world at venues all over the city. Not sure what to see? Check out five-minute previews of the hottest 2008 shows at FringeNYTeasers.



• Summer Streets -- Play and explore in the city streets on August 9th, 16th, and 23rd from 7AM to 1PM and don't worry about traffic. New York City will open a 6.9 mile car-free route from the Brooklyn Bridge to 72nd Street with connections to Central Park and other open spaces. Along the route, enjoy fun summer activities like salsa dancing classes, bike racing, double dutch, 4-square, sidewalk chalk art projects, and much more.



• New York State Yo-Yo Contest -- The world's best yo-yo masters are in New York this Saturday for a day of entertainment, education, and eye-popping yo-yo ability at the South Street Seaport for the 2nd Annual International Yo-Yo Open and New York State Yo-Yo Contest. Visitors can also check out live music, DJs, breakdancers, jugglers, and spin-top and diabolo performers.



• Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center -- The Mostly Mozart Festival runs through August 23rd. This weekend, catch performances of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 18 and much more.



• Weekend Street Fairs and Festivals -- Hit the streets this weekend for great street fairs downtown, midtown, and uptown.



• Summer in Little Italy Festival -- Wander the streets of Little Italy this weekend. Every weekend this summer, cars are banned and Little Italy's best eateries offer special treats for passersby.



• Take A Cool Dip -- Take a dive into one of New York City's public or hotel swimming pools and cool off this weekend. Looking for something a little different? Splash around in the East River with the Floating Pool Lady in her seven-lane swimming pool moored off of the beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park.



• See the New York City Waterfalls -- See artist Olafur Eliasson's four 90- to 120-foot waterfalls on the East River from the water or the shore.

Want a little sneak preview of the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing (the whole show will air tonight on NBC)?

Hometown Olympian Tim Morehouse was kind enough to send me a quick recap of the Opening Ceremonies and a few pictures. That's Tim at the Opening Ceremonies in the photo above and with his fencing teammates from NYC (from left to right, Keeth Smart, Erinn Smart, Emily Cross, and Tim Morehouse) in the photo below. If you've ever wondered what it's like to stride into the Opening Ceremonies with your Olympic teammates, you'll love Tim's report from Beijing:

"We headed to the Gymnastics stadium where we gathered with the rest of the athletes from the world to await our long walk to the opening ceremonies. There were people lining the streets everywhere to cheer us on! Ironically, we actually missed most of the ceremony since we were either walking or assembling. The walk moved very slowly through the streets of Beijing and everyone was sweating like crazy from the heat. We entered the stadium to the roar of the 100,000+ people. Walking in behind our American flag was one of the most amazing experiences. We got back to the Olympic Village about 1:30am and the party is definitely on in Beijing! Now its time for us to go do our thing on the playing fields!"


Thanks to Tim for taking the time to send a report and photos after a very long and exciting day in Beijing.

Don't forget to tune in and cheer for Tim and the rest of the U.S. fencing team (especially our fellow New Yorkers).

Read About.com's in-depth coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Photos courtesy of Tim Morehouse

Did you know that there are nine Olympic athletes from New York City set to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics when the Games kick off on Friday?

Learn more about our gifted local athletes so you can cheer them on at the Olympics this summer. We've got the details about Brooklyn-born boxer Sadam Ali (pictured), table tennis champion Wang Chen, brother and sister fencers Erinn and Keeth Smart, and five other amazing New York athletes.

Read About.com's in-depth coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

August 5th, 2008 is the sixth anniversary of National Underwear Day . It's your yearly opportunity to celebrate your skivvies and all the joy that they bring to your life.

Unfortunately, underwear models will not be strutting their stuff in Times Square like they did last year. Instead, online retailer Freshpair will be hosting an underwear fashion show for underwear tastemakers hosted by actress and socialite Lydia Hearst (I understand her underpant choices are always impeccable) and featuring an appearance by the lovely Tyson Beckford (who always looks good scantily clad).

For those of us not invited to the fashion show, there will be underwear giveaways all around New York City today. Keep your eyes open for kindly people bearing free underwear. Thousands of free pairs are expected to be given away to lucky passersby.

Photo: Freshpair

If the 6 train makes you feel claustrophobic, imagine being adrift at sea in a leaky lifeboat with a bunch of suspicious characters (including the German captain who sank your ship). Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat is tonight's Bryant Park film selection. The film stars Tallulah Bankhead and Hume Cronyn and the story was written by John Steinbeck.

Lifeboat was shot in a large studio tank and most of the cast members suffered from seasickness and pneumonia (from exposure to the cold water) during filming. Hume Cronyn almost drowned during a storm scene.

As for the infamous Tallulah, she reportedly refused to wear underwear during production. When crew members complained, Hitchcock said, "I don't know if this is a matter for the costume department, makeup, or hairdressing."

Pick up dinner and popcorn and enjoy a picnic in the park before the movie. This year, 'wichcraft is also offering lawnside dinner service for hungry moviegoers who didn't plan ahead.

Films start at sunset, but the lawn opens at 5:00 PM for picnickers. Get there early for a spot with a good view.

See the full schedule of films in Bryant Park this summer.

Is it the first weekend of August already? You've got just one month of hazy, crazy days of summer left. Make the most of them. Here are our top event picks for the weekend of August 1-3, 2008:

• Central Park SummerStage -- On Friday, check out the moves of DanceBrazil and Max Pollak and RumbaTap. On Saturday, it's the Ray Hargrove Big Band and Sunday's show features a line-up of urban funk, soul and R&B.



• Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center -- The Mostly Mozart Festival runs through August 23rd. This weekend, catch two performances by the Mostly Mozart Festival orchestra with Christine Oelze. On Sunday, see the NYC debut of British conductor Edward Gardner, leading the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in a concert performance of Mozart’s opera La clemenza di Tito.



• Weekend Street Fairs and Festivals -- Hit the streets this weekend for great street fairs downtown, midtown, and uptown.



• New York Transit Museum Nostalgia Train -- Take a ride on a vintage “Train of Many Colors” (post WW-II IRT “SMEE” cars in a rainbow of colors) from Grand Central to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, then North to Van Cortland Park in the Bronx and back to Grand Central. This nostalgia ride celebrates 100 years of subway service to 242nd Street-Van Cortlandt Park. Trains leave from the main concourse between 10AM and 5PM. Admission is $30, $10 for kids. Call 718-694-1867 for more information.



• Audra Rox in Concert -- Take the little ones to the Children's Museum of Manhattan on Sunday to rock out with kiddie-rock fave Audra Rox as the band performs sing-along melodies inspired by broken toys, sugar highs, and short attention spans. Or stop by the museum on Friday evening for Target Free First Friday and get in free from 5-8pm.



• CityParks Theater in Marcus Garvey Park -- See free performances of Ain't Supposed to Die A Natural Death presented by The Classical Theatre of Harlem and The Last Year in the Life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: A Rock Operetta presented by Waterwell.



• Summer in Little Italy Festival -- Wander the streets of Little Italy this weekend. Every weekend this summer, cars are banned and Little Italy's best eateries offer special treats for passersby.



• Take A Cool Dip -- Take a dive into one of New York City's public or hotel swimming pools and cool off this weekend. Looking for something a little different? Splash around in the East River with the Floating Pool Lady in her seven-lane swimming pool moored off of the beach in Brooklyn Bridge Park.