It's the Most...Wonderful Time...of the Year

I love holiday music and couldn’t wait for the day after Thanksgiving to play it.  New York is an amazing place to be in December with so many festive decorations and events!

Below is a rundown of some of the best NYC has to offer over the next Month (plus the best trees, skating rinks, window displays and gift fairs)!

* Now through Jan. 9 – I am determined to see the New York Botanical Garden’s Train Show this year.  It is supposed to be amazing (particularly just after dark).  Miniature trains chugging past a miniature NYC (along a half-mile of tracks, passing 140 New York landmarks) constructed entirely of natural materials: nuts, tree bark, fruits, pinecones, and leaves, housed within the warmth of the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.   

* Now through the end of January – Artist Daniel Libeskind is bringing The Hanukkah Project to the Jewish Museum and worth a visit to see the collection of famous menorahs.  Candles will be lit to create a line of fire!

* Nov. 30 – the Tree at Rockefeller Center is lit!  Lighting ceremony begins at 7pm and features stars and performances.

* Dec. 1 – The launch party for DoGreater!  $20 gets you three hours of open bar, food and dancing!  My buddies are launching their new company in style so come out to support and kick-off the holiday party season right!  Read about the company, sign-up to receive the deals and buy your ticket HERE

* Dec. 2 – First Thursday’s in DUMBO for the art gallery walk while artists are open late!

* Dec. 3 – The Movember Gala Parté!  You survived the month with that itchy ‘Mo (and people telling you that you look like a pedophile) - now celebrate your hard work!  $20 tickets can be purchased HERE (or if you raise at least $100 for the cause, you earn a ticket free). 

* Dec. 9 – The Yelp Snow Ball is FREE and includes booze, food and other little extras.  A $10 donation to the NYC Coalition Against Hunger is optional, but good karma is always nice around the holidays!  The list of vendors participating is impressive – check it out and RSVP HERE

* Dec. 9 – MoMA by Night (tickets in advance are $14) –What better way to see art than with cocktails, music and gallery talks after hours!  I saw the Abstract Impressionist New York exhibit this weekend and it really is a must-see.  

The Best Christmas Trees (and Menorah) worth a visit:

* The annual Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History is 13 feet tall.

* The Annual Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Créche at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Medieval Sculpture Hall.   While you are there, don’t miss the John Baldessari exhibit, which closes January 9^th!

* Standing over 50 feet tall, the Singing Christmas Tree at South Street Seaport has carolers performing Fridays at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm, through Christmas.

* Cathedral of St. John the Divine Peace Tree

* Lincoln Square, Madison Square Park, Washington Square Park and Bryant Park all have trees worth checking out if you are in the ‘hood.

* And, of course, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree!

* The Menorah Lighting at Grand Army Plaza – The World’s Largest Hanukkah Menorah has a lighting ceremony each night, Dec. 1 – 8 at 5:30 pm, by a cherry picker!  Fifth Avenue at 59^th Street

Make time to cruise past these holiday window displays:

* My absolute favorite, by far, are the windows at Bergdorf Goodman.  Since there is only one store and they don’t need to replicate it across the country, they pour money and creativity into their windows.  Year round they are my favorite, but they go over the top for the holidays!  Fifth Avenue at 58^th Street.

* Macy’s, Bloomingdales and Lord & Taylor are all worth a peak!  Barney’s is always fun too!

* Saks Fifth Avenue stepped it up this year from the snowflakes to a 3-D projection show.

* For those of you who like to look at sparkly things, Tiffany’s, Van Cleef and Arpels, Cartier and other jewelers on Fifth Ave always put together fabulous little windows!

Ice Skating Rinks:

* Skate beneath the famous tree at Rockefeller Center

* Do a lap in Central Park at Wollman Rink

* Avoid all the tourists and head to Northern Central Park’s Lasker Ice Skating Rink

* Bryant Park ice skating rink is fun and the holiday booths are set-up for shopping as well!

* Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers

Holiday Gift Shopping Bazaars and Fairs:

* Union Square Park Holiday Market

* Columbus Circle Holiday Fair 

* Holiday Shops at Bryant Park

* Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair 

* My favorite gift shopping destination is the Young Designer Market in Nolita – tons of artisanal accessories, goods, clothing and jewelry for reasonable prices! 

* I am actually also getting a few gifts this year from the New Amsterdam Market

* I bet the Hester Street Market would also have some great local goodies for filling those stockings with local products (and they have super yummy food booths for curbing your appetite while shopping (like Luke’s Lobster and the Meatball Shop)! 

I am sure I will have at least one more post in the next few weeks, as other events get advertised, but this should get you all started and in the holiday spirit!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!!!

X

Gentlemen, start your shavers! On your marks, get-set, MO!

Today is Movember 1st - time to get clean shaven (no cheating), and begin documenting your mustache's growth! 

I sent my long blog about Movember last week (in case you have no idea what this MOvember is that I am referring to), but today is THE DAY – the day to sack-up fellas!  Those of you that were on the fence about participating, need to get off it and join the fun, look like a stud and be a do-gooder!   

1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime!  1 in 6!  Get involved and experience the euphoria of giving back!  While I want you to grow a mustache or join a team, if you just can’t swing it, you can still attend the fun events and help fundraise!

There are a bunch of fundraising events coming-up that are TBD as Mo Bros and Mo Sistas secure the final details of their events, but in the meantime, these two are shaping-up to be badass!

The Best FN Moustache Party Ever (This Friday):

What do you get when you mix infused vodka, with moustache themed shots, the Moustache Hall of Fame and Week One Mo Growth?  The Best FN Moustache Party EVER!  Join Team Movember NY for a night of revelry to change the Face of Men’s Health. 

Music from DJ Sex Johnson.  $10 suggested donation at the door.

The Houndstooth Pub

520 8th Avenue

8:30 PM to 2:00 AM

Friday, Movember 5^th

The MO-lympics (Mid Movember Check in Party):

Support Movember and check out your moustachi-oed competition at the first annual MO-lympics. Featuring ping pong tournaments, suck and blow games, and hula hoop contests.

Only one Mo-bro or Sista will walk away with the gold in each "sport."

Open bar from 10-11 pm.  $15 suggested donation at the door!

SPiN

48 East 23rd Street

10:00 PM - 2:00 AM

Thursday, Movember 18th

If you don’t feel like participating, but still want to make a contribution, you can do so HERE and we truly appreciate the support!

Mo Bro George has an awesome blog following his Movember challenge (and will be featured on NY1 getting clean shaven).  Check-it out to get Mo-inspired HERE!

Also, Asylum.com  featured Movember (and a certain overcommitted blogger in the video) HERE – Shout out to Mikinzie! 

Mo Bros, there is an awesome new app for your phone, for photo-documenting your ‘stach:  Movember Mo Phone.  It’s free – download it HERE!

Also, Lisa sent our team an update hyping the free Movember, personalized business cards, provided by Moo.com – all you pay for is shipping.  So fun!  I ordered mine today.  My title – Movember-ista!  Get yours HERE

If any of you want more info, want to join our team, have a fundraiser you want me to hype, any fun Mo News, have a blog or mustache-related product – holla!  (Either use “contact me” on the blog here or go to my MoSpace HERE 

Below - captains Keeley and Lisa know how to turn any event (including Halloween) into a Mo Event!

PS – I featured a bunch of fun Mo Gear on my last blog, but MB got me awesome Mustache bandaids!  THANKS Girrllll!

MO Time!

It’s MO Time People. 

Movember is the month, formerly known as November, where men grow mustaches to create awareness and raise funds for men’s health. 

It is truly the most fun I’ve ever had while fundraising.  Basically, every party is cheap, involves booze, and is extremely campy and fun!  Mo Bros grow the ‘staches and Mo Sistas help recruit more Mo Bros and help raise funds. 

Fellas, don’t be shy, even if you feel like a tool with a ‘stache (or your attempt at one), it creates conversation and every time someone asks you about it, you get to bring awareness to the cause.  Plus, chicks dig a dude with facial hair (or at the very least, a dude with a good heart for a great cause).  The funds raised go the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Livestrong Foundation.  Movember started off with a couple of Aussies having a bit of fun and grew into a worldwide foundation.  In 2009, they raised $42 Million Dollars!

Although the cause is badass and loads of fun, the real reason we get involved is:

-    1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime

-    1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime

HUGE NUMBERS!  Everyone is affected by this; it could be your father, brother, husband, partner, son, friend….

If you are reading this and not in NYC – not to worry, you can go rogue and raise funds and awareness solo or join a local chapter!  Most major cities have one.  Find your local chapter HERE.

The month of Movember is one big party in NYC!  Some are missing deets, but this will be updated once the event approaches.  If you want to stay posted on Movember fun, either subscribe to this blog or e-mail me to keep you in the loop on this specific topic!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

November 1st  time to get clean-shaven!

November 5^th is The Best FN Mustache Party Ever at the Houndstooth Pub  

November 18^th is the Mo-lympics at SPIN NYC (save the date)

December 3^rd is the Movember Gala Night at the Hammerstein Ballroom (costume party). 

There will be a lot more fundraiser events coming-up, and I will keep the blog updated.

Check the website for the mustache rules (including you must be clean shaven on November 1^st and there is no connecting that ‘stache into a goateeJ).

If you don’t want to start your own team, you can join ours HERE

If you just want to throw some dough at the problem, we’ll gladly take it HERE

Make sure you drop by the Movember Lodge to learn more!

A few fun paraphernalia for the month of Movember:

Wax ‘Staches by “Mr. Stache” can be found at Economy Candy, and on-line at old school candy stores. 












My favorite new find is Whisker Works, who sells on Etsy.

Actually – if you click HERE Etsy has loads of badass handmade Mustache gear (83 pages of 40 items each)!

Fingerstache tattoos are available on-line and at Urban Outfitter



My Mo Sistas Lisa, Val & Felicia