It’s almost time for US Open Tennis!

The biggest sports and entertainment event of the summer returns to New York City’s Flushing Meadows in Queens for the 2011 US Open. Beginning on Monday, August 29th through Sunday, September 11th, defending champions Rafael Nadal and Kim Clijsters will attempt to repeat their 2010 triumphs.

Free US Open Experience on August 23rd

I highly recommend US Open as a sporting event to go to, and now anyone can have a change to give US Open experience a try – for free. US Open offers FREE admission during the US Open qualifying rounds and the chance to see their favorite players take center court on Tuesday, August 23rd, a week before the main draw tournament. The qualifying rounds will be completely FREE to the public and for the first time, the entire USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center will be up and running for the qualifying rounds and you can experience US Open for free. The world-class tennis and entertainment, wonderful restaurants, special events and attractions – all without having to buy a ticket to the US Open.

Arthur Ashe Kids Day

Every year during US Open, the event also organizes the Arthur Ashe Kids Day for kids. The day is filled with entertainment, performers, fun games and of course tennis and kids can play in the SmashZone and meet with the players. The Arthur Ashe Kids Day is on Saturday, August 27th this year.

This year I am traveling during the kids day and we are not able to take the kids, but I would love to go on Tuesday for the free day – anyone interested in coming with us?

June 8th, New York’s Half Gallery opened their newest exhibition, A Ways A Way. The quaint studio, located on 208 Forsyth Street, overflowed with friends, family and guests for opening night. Room was sparse, resulting in attendees spilling out onto the sidewalk to continue the jovial reception.

The showing, curated by Meredith Darrow and Devendra Banhart, features nine artists whose art is heavily influenced by alternative disciplines such as, music, tattoo artiststry, fashion design, or commercial photography.

The effect is an intriguing observation into the individual artist’s creativity and his or her ability to channel that inspiration into various forms. For instance, three pieces by artist and Los Angeles- based designer, Angeline Rivas, show an aptitude for graphic design that is repeated in her bold tees she creates for the fashion label Cavern. Scott Campbell, known tattoo artist and founder of Saved Tattoo, is another good example. Campbell’s work portrays a butterfly attained by meticulous detail and laser-cut dollar bills. These are just a couple of the multi-talented souls that were presented.

All artists presented include: Devendra Banhart, Scott Campbell, William Eadon, Kevin Long, Megan Marrin, Keegan McHargue, Fabrizio Moretti, Angeline Rivas, and Adam Tullie.

Angeline Rivas
Untitled, 2010
Ballpoint pen on paper
30 x 22 inches
$3,500

Scott Campbell
Untitled, 2010
23 x 27 inches
$ 6,500

Half Gallery – A Ways A Way Exhibit
The exhibit runs until July 8th and can be viewed free of charge.
208 Forsyth Street, New York City
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6 PM, and by appointment

If you would like further information about the artists or purchasing a piece you can contact halfgallery@info.com

Written by Skimbaco Lifestyle Fashion writer Hallie McKay. Hallie has also written for the Seventeen Magazine.

Located at 3 West 18th Street, City Bakery is the quintessential sugar junkie’s haven. The bakery hosts an array of treats that span the spectrum of sweet and savory.

City Bakery’s reputation is largely founded on its mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies; melt in your mouth pretzel croissants, and its famous gourmet hot chocolate topped with homemade marshmallows. The cookies, which are baked every 30 minutes, are delicate bites of heaven that can be smelled blocks away. If you crave more of a salty treat, then the pretzel croissant is for you. This flaky concoction mixes sweet and salty for a satisfying result. Finally, City Bakery’s renowned hot chocolate lends itself to annual tasting festivities in the fall, in which patrons line the block to gulp down the gourmet treat and devour the handmade marshmallows.

City Bakery is more than just your common New York sugar dive, however. This place is also a highly trafficked lunch spot among those in the Union Square and Flatiron district. Their lunch selection offers a salad bar stocked with produce from local farmers and organic distributors, as well as prepared dishes from Chef Ilene Rosen. City Bakery is open seven days a week, and has another location, Birdbath, in Greenwich Village.

Visit it!
The City Bakery
3 W 18th St
New York, NY 10011
tel. 212-366-1414

Majestic, beautiful Statue of Liberty.

I just found this amazing deal from The Dirty Shirt – the Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets on sale!

I know it may seem like Christmas is so far away, but this is a deal you do not want to miss. Four tickets for $199 and you’ll even get free food and drink vouchers (That equals at least 30% of savings). You can exchange the dates until October, if you still don’t have all your holiday plans together (who does?). Use code JUNEFOUR to get the discount. Buy now.

We went to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Rockettes last year and it was amazing, both the kids and I loved it. Last year was our first Christmas close to NYC and I have to say Christmas in New York is magical and I recommend visiting New York City during the holidays (read more about the Holiday time in New York).

It’s Monday afternoon in the sunny New York City. The street in the front of the Plaza Hotel is busy with people gathering to see a glimpse of Mariah Carey. Most people don’t even know what is going on or who is the high profile celebrity why the street in the front of the Plaza is closed. Several security men are trying to keep the people off the street and away from the front door of the Plaza. There are lights, and camera ready, all people are craving is the action.

And then suddenly… there she is. Mariah Carey steps outside of the Plaza, poses for photos and smiles, and you can almost hear the crowds to sigh. Cameras are clicking, and for a short minute seems like everyone is happy, like there is more magic on the air than on the Christmas morning. Then the reality hits, and the security guards start pushing people away and reminding not to use flash cameras and the film crew gets ready to film the action.

Mariah is wearing a tight little black dress and gorgeous black platform shoes that strap around her golden tone ankles. Mariah walks to the corner of street in the front of the Plaza, and gets one last hair and makeup check. The cameras are still clicking, but she is already focused on the upcoming scene.

And then it’s time for action.

Mariah Carey is shooting a music video Obsessed and the scene is her going to the Plaza carrying Bergdorf Goodman shopping bags. Mariah is first walking, looking back, and then starting to run, like someone was chasing her. Nobody is, except the cameraman, but I am sure the scene will make more sense once we see the music video.

They shoot the same scene a few more times, and then it’s a wrap. Mariah disappears inside the Plaza, and the crew starts taking down the lights. The crowd is still waiting and standing, obsessed with Mariah’s beauty – maybe she will come back.

I won’t stay waiting, I have seen enough. Instead I cross the street and visit Bergdorf Goodman, hoping that maybe I could find Mariah’s shoes, I got quite obsessed with the black high platforms she was wearing.

I wouldn’t go as far as calling it my lucky day, but I do find Mariah Carey’s black platforms at Bergdorf Goodman, and they are even on sale. The Gucci Iman Sandals normally run for $1,275 but now are a steal for $854. I decide to pay my car payment instead.

Here is Obsessed without a music video, from Mariah Carey’s upcoming album Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (now for pre-order, release date August 25), the rumor goes that the video is out already sometime in July.

Mom’s Nite Out was an idea of Maria Bailey, the CEO of BSM Media , host of MomTalkRadio, author of several books (Mom 3.0 is my favorite) and co-founder of NewBaby.com and recently launched MomTV.com.

On May 7th millions of moms nationwide had a well-deserved Mom’s Nite Out. Thanks to hundreds of bloggers, tens of sponsors, malls, restaurants, hotels, website partners and above all, thanks to The Ultimate Mom, Maria Bailey.

What started as one mom’s idea to do something good for the other moms spread into something huge. Even in the largest events the “made with love” could be felt on Moms Nite Out. The at-home-parties, the cocktail parties, the comedy nights and even at the large mall events – they all shared the same feel, this one night was for us moms. To be celebrated and to be cherished with each others.

I had an honor to spend that night with Maria Bailey and co-host the New York City party at the beautiful settings of the Wyndham hotel with her and Kim Orlando of Traveling Mom.

Amazing New York City area moms filled the room, and I had an opportunity to meet the first time Debbie of Mamanista, Joy Rose of Mamapalooza, Debi Silber, the Mojo Coach, and Ms Latina, as well hang out with friends like Emily of The Motherhood, Amber, the Jersey Momma, Amy, the Selfish Mom, Carol the NYCityMama, Daisy of Blue House Blogs and Wendy of Babies Gotta Have It.. and so so many other amazing women (sorry that I left you out, not intentionally, I couldn’t list all 50 guests!).

The Propel Fitness Water sent a Propel team to help us to set up and greet our guests. We had custom Mamaritas made out of Jose Cuervo tequila, and We Take The Cake and Little Debbie took care we all had the best of the cakes or 100 calorie snacks for dessert. We raffled giveaway prizes every 15 minutes and over 600 viewers attended our party at the Mom TV where we were livestreaming the party. I also raffled away spa day at the Dashing Divas day spa, sponsored by Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner, and I held another great VIP spa party last week.

We had a talented photographer Carol Barnstead taking photos, and here are some of her photos of the night. You can see all of her photos of the Mom’s Nite Out NYC party.

And we had swag… and boy did we have swag! Our swag bags had gifts for (gasp!) over $1000 per bag! So many companies and especially mompreneurs wanted to be part of our night and celebrate motherhood and sent gifts for our guests. We had e.l.f. make ups, baseball tickets to see Brooklyn Cyclones, Vintage Body Spa’s bath products, Super Goop! sun lotion, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM t-shirts, Name Your Tune CDs… And one amazing gift from The America’s Personal Family Lawyer Alexis Martin Neely and her Family Wealth Planning Institute – every guest got a gift certificate for one time visit with a Personal Family Lawyer for legal consultation – great for example for all the mompreneurs and bloggers to set up their business.

Thank you so so much for all of our sponsors. It meant so much to me to be able to host this special night for moms with Maria and Kim, and then on the top of it send the guests home with Mom Logic bags filled with goodies.

The best for me – seeing the look in the moms’ eyes when they saw the gift bags and their contents, and hearing “I’m a single mom, and I haven’t had a night out for years.. this IS the Mother’s Day for me and one of the best nights I’ve ever had”.

See you all again next year on Moms Nite Out!

Thank you so much for the following sponsors
who donated products for the bags:
* Mom TV * NewBaby.com * Mom Select *
* Blisfully Domestic * Carolina Pad * Children’s Orchard * Clear Ears * HP *
Brooklyn Cyclones * Duncan Hines * e.l.f. EyesLipsFace.com * French Foods *
Family Wealth Planning Institute * Little Debbie
* Little Remedies * Log Cabin Syrup * Mom Logic *
Name Your Tunes * One Step Ahead * Precious Moments
* Propel Fitness Water * Super Goop! * The Shandle * Today’s Moms *
Traveling Mom * Vintage Body Spa * 1-800-Flowers *

Bubby’s is one of the most popular brunch restaurants in Tribeca, New York City. Tribeca is worth a Sunday visit even if you’ll just go and have a brunch at Bubby’s.

Bubby’s is famous for its traditional American home cooking, large pies made from the scratch and displayed for everyone to admire, and their homemade drinks. The atmosphere is friendly, relaxed and the feeling is somewhere between a small town diner and a hip urban corner cafe. The menu offers Mexican surprises, but I didn’t try anything “new and exciting” at the Bubby’s. Kids and me tried the fluffy pancakes and omelettes, I sticked to the basics.

The only downside.. the prices are New York prices. Expect to pay 17 bucks for your traditional Sunday breakfast with some eggs, hash browns, and toast.

What to try at Bubby’s: homemade style pies.. too many to choose from, but the cherry gets the highest amount of recommendations from the regular customers. Homemade lemonade and soda is rumored to be the greatest in Manhattan. I don’t know what to say to that – Bubby’s is so far the only place in Manhattan, where I have even seen homemade sodas so far!