S: Is for Success

In New York City everything is bigger, brighter and shinier. The New Sephora on 42nd street is 13,000 square-feet and costs 4.5 million a year to rent. It is no wonder the new 27 year old make-up sensation is debuting her new line there. Lauren Luke started by giving make-up famous tutorials on YouTube in 2007. from her bedroom she became the voice of the everyday women. She became so popular u-tube made her a site partner. 40 million people view her with with 230,000 subscribers. Now that is what you call a following. Now she has a TV show in the works, a new book due out this fall and is an avatar in Nintendo DS game, writes a well read beauty column for The Guardian and has launched her make-up company which is carried at Sephora. her new kits are make-up friendly and so easy to use. With five palates to choose from for $32.50 you can have a complete look suited for you. Not bad for a 17 year old who found herself pregnant and had no formal skills and wanted friends. To learn and be inspired by Lauren go to www.bylaurenluke.com. Passion goes along why. So does wanting to help others. Lauren Luke has both and that is a F.A.C.T.

On a side note Sephora will also be carrying to other new brands, Illamasqua, and an airbrush makeup kit by Temptu.

Look for the next edition of The Times Square Chronicle August 12th as Lauren will be doing a column. But for now check out http://www.youtube.com/panacea81#play/all/uploads-all/0/FnFfZSwPCfU

T: Is for Time for a change?

Comptroller William Thompson is vastly outspent on his NYC mayoral campaign by billionaire opponent Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Quinnipiac University poll released yestersday showed that Thompson, the top Democratic challenger, now trails Bloomberg, an Independent, 47 percent to 37 percent among New York voters, the poll showed. The 10-point gap is less than half of Bloomberg's 54 percent to 32 percent lead since June 16th. Bloomberg, of course, dismissed the poll at an unrelated event in Manhattan. I guess that is your reaction when you have spent $36 million and your opponent has only spent $2.3. I'm sure Bloomberg, has more to spend considering he spent $85 million in 2005. Will the issues actually come into play? There is a lot at stake here. Or maybe Robert Burck, aka the Naked Cowboy, who might show Mayor Michael Bloomberg the way out. He is the #1 tourist attraction and is serous about running. Check out the Times Square Chronicle on August 12th for an exclusive interview. All I know is New Yorkers need to research all the F.A.C.T.S.

C: Is for The Citadel

The Dutch have been fighting the rising and falling tides for centuries, building dikes and pumping water out of areas that are below sea level. Now, rather than fight the water, the Dutch will incorporate it into a new way of living as the world’s first floating apartment complex, The Citadel. The Citadel will be the first floating apartment complex, although there are plenty of floating homes out there. Built on top of of a floating foundation of heavy concrete, the Citadel will house 60luxury apartments, a car park, a floating road to access the complex as well as boat docks. Each unit will have its own garden terrace as well as a view of the lake.
A high focus will be placed on energy efficiency inside the Citadel. Greenhouses are placed around the complex, and the water will act as a cooling source as it is pumped through submerged pipes. Designed by Koen Olthuis, The Citadel will use 25% less energy than a conventional building on land thanks to the use of water cooling techniques. Olthuis is responsible for a number of floating residences around the world. Being a water person myself, could this be the way of the furture? That would be a watery F.A.C.T worth sailing upon.

A: Is for Art that is supported by Town hall

Town Hall keeps the art of cabaret and performing alive. Without Town Hall as the producer of events like I saw last week would cease to exist. As a not for profit organization, Town Hall helps these wonderful events take place.

Scott Seigel and Town Hall have been keeping the art of traditional musical theatre and cabaret alive since I can remember. Three years ago they started the Summer Broadway Festival, which showcases talent from emerging newcomers to veteran stage performers. As I sat in the audience for Broadway Rising Stars tonight, all I could think of was how lucky this graduating class of performers was to have this nurturing coming out party. Directed by the wonderfully talented Emily Skinner (Side Show) and Scott Coulter these 24 were picked to carry the torch of a genre slowly losing an audience. From across the country Scott and his wife Barbara scouted and auditioned and found new talent to infuse new light. Seeming at times more like an audition than a performance, there were some talented performers that careers will take flight and some, sadly that will not. My favorite by far was Kristin Dausch who sang "Men" from "So Long 174th Street" and stole the show. She proved that AMDA had the right stuff to offer their students to move forward in their careers. Not only could this talented lady sing, she could act and it was that quality that made the difference. This really is a show to teach other performers the art of performing and Scott narrates so that we gain insight into where these students come from. It adds the human factor to each performance. He truly cares and it shows. Oakley Boycott, Eli Budwill, Jimmy Boorum, Christina Aranda, Kyle Taylor Parker and Antonio Addeo also all hailed from American Musical and Dramatic Academy and all stood out. In the case of Oakley this tall statuesque blond sang a song called "Where's the Beat." Though the song was an original it was not a good song choice, but she was so good, she overcame the song. Jimmy sang "Run Away from Me" from a new show called "The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown." Though done well, all I could wonder was, what was that song from and who was that composer. Not always a good choice, when what you want, is for the audience to notice you. Andrew Chappelle's version of "Love's Revenge" from "Two Gentleman of Verona" had the audience thinking maybe the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was the place to attend. Rachael Ferrera proved black was the color to be with "Random Black Girl" from "Homemade Fussion" by Michael Kooman (music) and Christopher Dimond (lyrics). This is one great song. Ali Stroker, wheelchair bound sang her heart out in “Be a Lion” from “The Wiz.” She proved talent comes despite afflictions. It is hard not to judge these young performers on a level that one would judge a professional, as that is the work force they are about to enter. Town Hall should be lauded as a not for profit organization that despite budget cuts still gives generously. Scott Siegel has one more event in this series called All Singin’ All Dancin’ on the 27th at 8pm and his Cabaret Series this year looks to provide some first rate entertainment. I personally am looking forward to Broadway Unplugged November 16th. Town Hall is located at 123 West 43rd and has been giving for over 21 years and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Food on the High line

The new hotspot The Standard Grill is opened for breakfast lunch and dinner, that is if you can get in. This is the A-listers newest fab hangout. Nestled under the High Line a typical night includes Beyonce, Jay-Z, Vogue's Anna Wintour and daughter Bee Schaffer, Project Runway winner Christian Siriano. It's like an issue of The Fashion Week Daily up in there! Standard Grill diners have also included Elle's creative director Joe Zee, Sandra Bernhard, designer Chris Benz, model Helena Christensen, Amy Sacco, Cameron Diaz, Julianne Moore, and even Jack Dorsey, the creator of Twitter. Maybe it is the cool penny floor that it used 250 pennies per square foot, or 480,000 pennies in all. The chef is Dan Silverman previously at Lever House, and he changes the menu daily. The house cocktails have gin and crushed blackberries.
Items on the menu have been listed as iceberg lettuce with Kentucky bacon and blue cheese dressing, organic pork chop, rib-eye, halibut, roasted local beets, duck fat smashed potatoes and Spanish octopus w/ sweet potato and chiles. Well except for the last one I think I need to check this out and that is a F.A.C.T.

S: Is for New Shows on the Horizon

I just watched a video that has me excited about a new show being commissioned by producer/entrepreneur Brian Dorsey. “THE RED ROSE GIRLS”, is being written by Jeff Blumenkrantz who has written music for Audra McDonald. If you have Audra's album Way Back to Paradise, the haunting "I Won't Mind" is Jeff's. He also write the music and won a Tony nod for "Urban Cowboy." This musical is based on the lives of four of the most fascinating, rule-breaking, determined, acclaimed, accomplished and renegade artists of the early 20th century. The combined lives of these four women turned Philadelphia upside down in their undaunted quest for the abject right to create immortal art. Violet Oakley, Jessie Wilcox Smith and Elizabeth Shippen Green were the most acclaimed artists and illustrators in the country; against all odds. The fourth was Henrietta Cozens. In 1906 women were told they were not designed to create art for money. They were told that they were not to compete for coveted assignments at national magazines from men. They were told that the grandest architectural and artistic commissions were not to be competed for by women. The Red Rose Girls disagree. Vowing never to marry and to be each other’s family, they bought an estate and Henrietta accepted the conventional role of “wife.” They created art and illustrated life until the Philadelphia Press Corps began to review them as the geniuses, then things begin to change. A reporter insisting on attending their Fourth of July party asks probing questions about the “family’s” private arrangements. Violet explodes, her outburst causes a stir. Elizabeth Shippen Green shatters their sacred vows and accepts a proposal of marriage from the architect Huger Elliott. What happened next is history. "THE RED ROSE GIRLS” is getting ready to come to Broadway. Perhaps Broadway should be getting ready for “THE RED ROSE GIRLS”. This is the devastating decision of individuals to remain individual, despite the cost or the rumors and that should always be a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for truth and others speaking out

In wondering what to write I found this written by Robert Reich. I add a few personal touches but this information is true and should be out there for all to see.

Goldman Sachs resurgence should send shivers down the backs of every hardworking American who has lost a large chunk of retirement savings in this economic debacle, as well as the millions who have lost their jobs. Why? Because Goldman's high-risk business model hasn't changed one bit from what it was before the implosion of Wall Street. Goldman is still wagering its capital and fueling giant bets with lots of borrowed money. While its rivals have pared back risks, Goldman has increased them. And its renewed success at this old game will only encourage other big banks to go back into it.

"Our model really never changed, we've said very consistently that our business model remained the same," Goldman's chief financial officer told Bloomberg News.

Meanwhile, Goldman is still depending on $28 billion in outstanding debt issued cheaply with the backing of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Which means you and I are still indirectly funding Goldman's high-risk operations.

Recall that last fall, at a closed meeting between Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson (formerly Goldman's CEO), Tim Geithner (then at the New York Fed and part of the Group of 30), and a handful of others to decide on the fate of giant insurer AIG, Goldman's chief executive, Lloyd Blankfein, was at the table. The decision to bail out AIG resulted in a $13 billion giveaway to Goldman because Goldman was an AIG counterparty. Indeed, Goldman executives and alumni have played crucial roles in guiding the Wall Street bailout from the start.

To see more of this insightful writer log onto http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2009/07/goldmans-back-and-why-we-should-be.html

Information should always be an available F.A.C.T.

C: Is for Contest anyone?

The American Theatre Wing announced that applications are being accepted for the 2010Jonathan Larson Grants. The grants, given annually to honor emerging composers, lyricists and book writers, help to continue Tony Award-winning composer Jonathan Larson’s dream of infusing musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality.

Applications must be post marked by August 29, 2009. Recipients will be announced in January 2010. The grants will be presented and recipients’ work will be showcased for an invited industry audience in late winter 2010. For complete guidelines and application materials, visit www.americantheatrewing.org/larsongrants.

Originally administered by the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation (from 1997-2008), the Jonathan Larson Grants became a part of The Wing last fall, adding to the organization’s storied history of programs designed to support theatre professionals at the beginning of their careers. Under the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation and now the American Theatre Wing, more than 80 composers, lyricists and book writers were recognized at the start of their careers.

Past recipients of Jonathan Larson Grants include Nell Benjamin, John Bucchino, Kirsten Childs, Ricky Ian Gordon, Amanda Green, Joe Iconis and Michael Korie. Last year’s recipients were: Mark Allen, whose musical Tinyard Hill is currently in production at Theatreworks, Palo Alto in California; Dave Malloy, who continues his work with theatre collective Banana Bag and Bodice this August at the Ohio Theatre with Space//Space; songwriting team Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore, who continue to collaborate on projects including The Legend of Stagecoach Mary; and Ryan Scott Oliver, whose musical, Mrs. Sharp, will have a workshop at Playwrights Horizons featuring Jane Krakowski with direction by Michael Greif later this month.

You too can join this prestigious group and that is a F.A.C.T.

A: Is for art that is not always judeged correctally by critics.

I don't normally read other people's reviews before writing my own; but after seeing "Vanities," a musical adaptation by Jack Heifner of his classic 1976 play, I needed time to write and inadvertently read other reviews. I therefore base some of what I have to say on what other critics had to say.

"Vanities" follows the friendships of three cheerleaders as they move from a small town in Texas to college, then into a New York City apartment, and finally to a funeral home. This is a play for women (and essentially a chick flick on stage), so it's unsurprising that the men who criticize "Vanities" simply don't get it. There is a piece of us in each of these women --whether they are struggling to be popular, pretty, wild and adventurous, or simply mothers. lovers and wives. Life is not always deep; and it is not always perfect.

This music will be sought after by any female singer who hears it. In a time when the scores of shows are at their weakest, why do critics not nurture the new and fresh talent here? If you know music, these are wonderfully constructed songs based on the songwriters of the time; reminiscent of Bacharach and Schifrin. What I find sad is scores without arcs or endings—gets lauded by the critics, while shows with completely constructed songs get crucified.

In terms of the show itself, "Vanities" needs to cut the first two songs out, as the musical really doesn't kick into high gear until the third number. But once it did, I was invested. Under the direction of Judith Ivey, the audience is moved to tears by Scene 3.

The cast features the wonderful Lauren Kennedy, the new talent Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol from Disney's "That's So Raven." Stiles is delightful and a new find. Lauren could make the phone book sound beautiful if she sang it. Van der Pol sings and acts well, but fails to make us care for her.

Anna Louizos' sets, which feature—of course!—vanities, are inventive and genius. I also loved the pink and orange dress by Joseph G Aulisi. Women shouldn't hesitate to see "Vanities" at the Second Stage Theater, 307 W. 43rd St. The musical won't change your life, but you will identify with and learn something about yourself from the women on stage and that is a reveling F.A.C.T.

F: Is for food and more

Bringing out a newspaper is harder than one realizes. It is time consuming beyond belief. Just when you think you have a minute to yourself some new crisis roars like a lion onto your path and that minute now has you down an hour and a week has turned into two. My dearest readers, many of you have written me and asked where this column has gone. The F.A.C.T. is I have just been so busy that time has escaped my control. I state to you, I here by take and back and I appreciate your loyalty. Though it is next two impossible right this second to make up two weeks, I will make up one and promise to stay as loyal to you as you are to me. With no future adieu....

Things are rarely what they seem.

At 21 West 9th Street, an apartment building just off Washington Square is ready to thrill and awe. Hotel Griffou, is a world of wonders filled with hidden chambers, parlor rooms, a menu that is reminiscent of a 1950's dinner party
actually has in parentheses that the recipe comes from 1892 and celebrities galore who have already flocked to this den of provocative history. Brought to you by the veterans of such well known establishments such as Waverly, Balthazar and Freeman's vets it is decorated like a version of the board game Clue. Six connected rooms, each with its own personality seek to lure you to its depths. Will it be the Library—complete with musty portraits, old books, hunter green everywhere and candlelit wooden tables—or the Dungeon, a dimly lit cave of a room with medieval murals, a 14-seat table and a aura of S&M.Maybe it is air you require if so the salon offers a terrace and skylight.

Prices have been reported at $17 for the Griffou Burger to $42 for Stuffed Lobster Tails with brown butter, cocktails are $14, and that duck confit poutine a mere $12.

As for the history: Mark Twain and Oscar Wilde dined there, a 60-year-old married banker killed his 28-year-old lover and then himself in one of the hotel’s rooms.
Celebrities like Chloë Sevigny, Rachel Roy, Harvey Weinstein, John Leguizamo and Ross Bleckner find solace. It is rumored that Edna St. Vincent Millay, lived on the same block, and was a regular at the old Griffou.

In NY places abound and with them our history still lives and that is a F.A.C.T.