Babesta blog

CANstruction at the World Financial Center

Got to visit CANstruction yesterday night at the WFC -- it was pretty impressive--a host of large scale sculptures created out of canned goods, from SPAM to tunafish to Goya beans. Constructed by design teams, the exhibit raises interest and money for fighting hunger.At the end of the exhibit, all cans will be donated to community food banks. I think Babesta should do one! It doesn't look easy but it sure looks fun! www.canstruction.org

Lots more pics to follow

"Toast to Survivors" - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pink was the color of choice today at the "Toast to Survivors" luncheon hosted by The Moms (Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein) and actress Kristin Chenoweth. Beverage sponsor Martini (the sparkling wine) made sure that each attendee was offered a pretty pink mini bubbly with a straw (a definite indulgance on a Monday afternoon). Some of the most rousing words were spoken by patient advocate Dee Dee Ricks (who has been named one of Wall Street's Most Powerful Women), who relayed her own battle with the disease and her first hand look at the inequities in the health care system based on socio-economics.At the end of the luncheon, Martini presented a check to Kristin Chenoweth for her own charity Maddie's Corner, which she noted will be allocated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Right Action for Women. 

It made me think about how I've defyed the color pink as much as I could (eschewing the pastel palette of the baby-verse), but today paused to acknowledge what a powerful & cool color it is. 

Newark Museum and BASF Partner to Make Kids' Science Learning Lab

We thought it pretty cool when BASF announced that it is partnering with the Newark Museum to create a Kids' Science Learning Lab at the Museum. As the daughter of a chemist, experimentation is in my blood. I can just imagine how much fun it would be for kids (under supervision) to try out these fun interactive classes on Saturdays. Here's a list of classes:

Sept 29 (Water Loves Chemistry: Operation Filtration), October 6 (Playful Polymers), October 13 (The Rainbow Connection), October 20 (A Hair-Raising Experiment), November 3 (The pHun Factor), November 17 (Happy Hands), December 1 (Hold Everything), December 8 (A Hair Raising Experiment) and December 15 (Playful Polymers)-- at 1pm and 3pm. Get on your safety goggles folks! This will be fun!

For children aged 6-12

Participation: Free, but space is limited

Reserve in advance by calling 973 596 6563

www.newarkmuseum.org

We're Lovin' it @Babesta: Century of the Child at the MOMA

So I just went to the Moma yesterday to see "Century of the Child: Growing Up by Design, 1900-2000." It's a comprehensive exhibit that interplays history with the common perception of children and childhood (it wasn't all fun and games for kids, especially in the early years where they were a key & cheap laborers). It walks through the early 20th century as kids started to become more of a focus - in some ways an unspoiled canvas on which adults could imprint our ideal of what society could be. The exhibit also highlights Montessori, and the idea that children have intrinsic ideas and capablities and can independantly interact with the world around them, and the toys and tools to support that school of thought. The exhibit takes you through both World Wars, Italian modernism, the Space Race (and the resulting toys), Disneyland, PeeWee's Playhouse, electronic games and japanimation. There's also a ginormous Stokke Trip Trapp chair! In all, it's a very cool exhibit, and kids will like it for its bright colored vehicles of fun, but there are many more layers and interesting questions that it makes you ponder as a consumer, a global citizen and a parent. It's a great one to visit, and if you can, try to hop on the tour. Runs from July 29-November 5, 2012. 

Photo: Ladislav Sutner-Porototype for Build the Town Building Blocks 1940-43. @ the MOMA.

 

Sunday at the MET: Good Taste/Bad Taste : The Evolution of Contemporary Chic

On Sunday, June 17, Iris Apfel (age 90) and blogger Tavi Gevinson (age 16) chat about what it means to be chic in the 21st century. This "possible conversation" will happen alongside the "impossible conversations" between Schiaparelli and Prada at the Costume Insitute exhibit (which is amazing!). The dialogue will be moderated by Judith Thurman, who wrote the intro to the exhibition catalog for the Schiaparelli/Prada exhibit.

Free with admission. 

Good Taste/Bad Taste: The Evolution of Contemporary Chic

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street

The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium

Gettin' ugly at ToyFair!

We've been loving the Uglies forEVER! Here they are at ToyFair. Our perfect Valentines!!

Quick Winter Getaway: The Roxbury Motel in the Catskills

Checked out a great weekend getaway that had been on the list for some time – The Roxbury Motel in the Catskills. A stone’s throw from Plattekill and close to Hunter, Belleayre and Windham ski resorts, outdoor options were plentiful.

But the hotel was an event in and of itself. Every suite is themed and we chose the pied-e-terre dubbed “Genie’s Bottle.” Any little girl would love it—a study of how Barbara Eden felt on the ‘60s classic sitcom. The whole interior was gold, orange and pink, with drapery, fuzzy and textured pillows and chandeliers.

The bathroom was the piece de resistance – with a solar tube in the center letting in light and curved walls covered in mosaic tiles sloping up to the mouth of the “bottle.” The spa-like bathroom featured a 70-gallon Japanese soaking tub, which was pretty cool.

The suite, constructed by Paul Waddington, apparently took 6 months to create. The hotel & ski possibilities make it definitely worth a trip up to the area, though I’d wait for a snowfall. We got the manmade stuff, which worked for our little stay (the bunny slopes were full speed ahead, a few full runs were operating and the snow tubing course was a blast) but with a couple good blizzards under winter’s belt, it’d be even better. Check out the Roxbury Motel here.

 

Being Elmo

I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm strangly drawn to the new movie, opening tomorrow, called "Being Elmo." Although that chirpy voice is decidedly behind me and my kids cringe at the mention of his name (that's so bayyybeeish!), I'm curious to find out more about that man behind the phenomena. 

The film documents the journey of the puppeteer and creator, Kevin Clash, and has been acclaimed at a slew of film festivals including Sundance and SXSW. Playing at IFC in NYC starting tomorrow, Friday, October 21.

Watch the trailer for BEING ELMO: A PUPPETEER'S JOURNEY.

 

Skating in the Sky at the W Hotel Downtown

Have you ever skated in the sky? Now you can at the W Hotel Downtown, as expected, a pretty groovy place down on Washington Street @ Albany. The balcony skating rink is a lot of fun for a winter afternoon- the ice isn't real and the skating surface is small (the size of a suburban walk in closet, I'd estimate), but the festive-ness is fabulous. Take the elevator up to the fifth floor check in and walk to the end of the dimly lit bar. It's funky inside with lounge seating , ottomans and little round cocktail tables. Pay at the bar and grab your skates at the desk, then loop around the balcony until you hit the rubber mats. Take in the views - you're looking right down on the WTC construction, into a sea of cranes. It's surely the most unusual place to scooterpush, T-stop and the rest. There's not enough room for a walz jump or triple axel - please don't try it! They say it maxes out at 15 skaters, but I'd hesitate to say that four is plenty. After your fill, turn in your skates and flop down at the lounge and order hot chocolate and french fries. The room has an apres ski vibe - a bit of camaraderie amongst those brave enough to take a silly feeling whirl around the Flor-style balcony rink.

“You so Ugly- Bandmates"

Keeping it all in the family these Ugly Dolls have come together for one common cause “the music”. On “Tom the Drum” is Ice bat wearing a black blushing eye shirt (Babylady) with snakeskin leggings (Shampoodle) and white, pink and gold high top Creative Recreations. Playing “Axel the Guitar” is Santan Target who happens to be wearing a walk the line yellow hoodie (Munster) underneath the blue plaid bearhunt coat (Munster), paired with painter rock jeans (Munster) and Moro Moro sheepskin, skull and spider, boots. Last but definitely not least is Peaco belting tunes on “Mike the Mic” wearing a pink plaid cadet hat coupled with the stylish shiny black jacket (Anais & I), sassy striped leggings (Munster) and matching purple Moro Moro butterfly and skull boots. And ready to rock! -IW  
 

All merchandise found at http://www.babesta.com/Threads/.