My Urban Sherpa

Central Park Film Festival – tonight through Saturday, August 23

Enjoy the Central Park Film Festival – tonight through Saturday, August 23.
Gates open at 6:00 PM
, at Rumsey Playfield (enter Central Park 
at Fifth Avenue and 69th Street)

Films begin at 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, August 19: Working Girl (1988)
Wednesday, August 20: The French Connection (1971)
Thursday, August 21: Strangers on a Train (1951)
Friday, August 22: Moonstruck (1987)
Saturday, August 23 * Family Night: August Rush (2007)

Enjoy the NY Phil More for Less

For the week of August 17 enjoy $59 seats at the NY Phil (normally $119) when you purchase tickets to 3 performances.

Choose from Sir James Galway playing Berlioz’ Roman Carnival Overture, Ibert’s Flute Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 on September 17; Lang Lang performing Beethoven’s Piano Concert No. 1 and Bruckner’s Symphony No.9 November 5, 6, 7 or 8; and Gil Shaham and Stravinsky’s Firebird on November 12, 13 and 15.

Queens Logic

The latest “PLDS Public Library Statistical Report” is out and guess what? The Queens Library topped U.S. public library circulation in 2007 with 21,033,861 items lent. The folks at the Queens Library say: “Public library usage is expected to rise dramatically in the coming months. Traditionally, people turn to public libraries during hard economic times for free entertainment, free after-school child care, to help with employment, for free access to the public use computers and to help them save money by doing things themselves, such as home and auto repairs.”

Weekend away?

If you are heading out of town—and you’d like to find a bucolic spot with sun, fun, and quiet—head to the hills of Litchfield County, Connecticut. The larger lakes, Bantam, Lake Waramug, and CandleWood offer boating and amenities.

A peaceful drive along Litchfield’s beautiful windy roads will reveal private little spots, where one can create their own amusement.

Give my regards

The celebrated thoroughfare of Broadway has seen its share of firsts. Between Vesey and Murray Streets in the mid-1700s, Broadway featured New York’s first brick sidewalk. In 1793, it saw the first numbered houses. The first gas lighting debuted on Broadway in 1825 followed by the city’s first electric arc lights in 1882.

For an idea of what the storied street was like in the 1880s, it was claimed that you could “stand on the corner of Broadway and Houston Street and fire a shotgun in any direction without hitting an honest man.”

Today, you probably couldn’t do it without hitting a fashion model…or a tourist aiming a digital camera at the fashion model.

Wellness Special for My Urban Sherpa readers at Living Proof

Don’t call it a gym.

Living Proof is a “brand new state-of-the-art facility, a private nutrition and training studio” located on East 54th Street. Now, Living Proof is offering My Urban Sherpa readers a taste of their magic…a sample of their integrated wellness plans:

1. Two Free 30 minute Personal Training sessions

2. Free 60 minute Pilates session

3. Free Metabolic Test (from the nutrition department)

Sign up to Save!

Contact: (212) 931-6530

(Space is limited and reservations are necessary)

Ride a Hot Air Balloon Over Central Park

AeroBalloonâ„¢ is an anchored, helium-filled, state-of-the-art balloon that ascends to a height of 300 feet. The balloon will fly daily from July 25 to August 22, 2008 at Cherry Hill in Central Park, and will take up to four passengers at a time for a 10 minute ride. Riders are welcome from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

($25 for adults; $17.50 for children. Only children over 40” tall may ride. Those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.)

A Reading from Reading the OED

The McNally Robinson bookstore (52 Prince St.) hosts a reading tonight, Monday, August 11, at 7 PM, by Ammon Shea from his newly released and well received new book, Reading the OED. Afterwards, a discussion between Shea and Jesse Sheidlower (Editor-at-Large of the OED) will follow—and audience questions will be taken.

The best policy…

Ani DiFranco sez: “I can’t wait to get back to New York City where at least when I walk down the street, no one ever hesitates to tell me exactly what they think of me.”

 

Man on Wire

Thirty-four years ago this week, Philippe Petit performed one of the most audacious stunts in New York City history. The infamous French daredevil performed on a high wire strung between two towers of the World Trade Center…110 stories about the streets of the Big Apple.

His efforts are documented in a film currently playing, Man on Wire…and Petit can sometimes still be found working his magic on the Big Apple.