www.TjByrnes.com

Everyone wants a GOOD photographer- but the BEST might not be out of reach-

Please let me know what your budget is. Call 718 273 2130 and talk to a live person-ME!-

one who understands these tough economic times. We have a package where you can hire a great photographer for the night at a very reasonable rate and he will not only completely cover your event BUT actually add to the festivities by setting up a mini studio and make professional portraits of everyone who wants one! There is no obligation and if the guest wants to go home with the image, they can pay for it and it will be printed out that night.

On Friday we were at T.J. Byrnes, an Iris Bar and Party room in downtown Manhattan.

It was a surprise retirement party for Sheila and everybody raved about us- including the owners... For a good time, please visit them every time you are in NYC.

Welcome to www.NycArtsCypher.org

We are proud to present the first showcase of our sponsors and partners that will help us produce the WORLDWIDE URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL at the Five Points, Queens May 22-23, 2010.

The NycArtsCypher is a nonprofit organization that is committed to promoting positive values through arts and entertainment programs, projects and events.
They are about keeping young people, in particular at-risk youth between the ages 14 to 18 off of the streets and introduce them to safe, creative environments. The youth in their programs are often those who many have difficulty working with and many have given up on. The NycArtsCypher believes that every young person has the potential to make significant contributions to the community and deserves the opportunity prove that they can.
Their approach is to motivate young people to utilize their energies in positive and productive ways. They believe these young people need to be educated, and they need access to outlets to express themselves, developing their talents. They need to be around industry professionals and mentors that know how to engage and guide them. The NycArtsCypher program model accomplishes this through arts and entertainment programs, projects and events. While their headquarters is located in Staten Island,
NYC, USA They can and do travel all over.

BlueMan.com

Experimental musical theater troupe the Blue Man Group were founded in 1987 by longtime friends Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink; identical in their blue-painted skin, skullcaps, and black clothing, they soon became a fixture of the New York underground performance art scene thanks to their regular appearances in Central Park, followed by shows at noted East Village spaces including Dixon Place, Performance Space 122, and the Wooster Group's Performing Garage. Equal parts play, concert, and sketch routine, the Blue Man Group combined sight gags, physical stunts, and audience participation, with members of the front rows given plastic rain ponchos as protection from the hail of paint, food, and other assorted projectiles launched from the stage; in early 1991, they premiered their production Tubes at La MaMa, moving to the Astor Place Theater by the end of the year and ultimately winning an Obie Award for their efforts. Tubes eventually expanded to long runs in Boston, Chicago, and Las Vegas; in 1999,

Blue Man Group is best known for its widely popular theatrical shows and concerts that combine music, comedy and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment. The blissful party atmosphere created at the live events has become the trademark of a Blue Man Group experience. The show was designed to bring together science and art- bring the whole family and experience a multi sensory exploration of sound that provides an opportunity to play together while discovering the fun of music.
Onstage, the Blue Man is one part inquisitive child, one part trickster and one part superhero on a journey of discovery.

Chinese New Year in New York

Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is commonly called "Lunar New Year", because it is based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. Chinese New Year's Eve is known as chú xī. It literally means "Year-pass Eve".

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important festivity in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The origin of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions. Ancient Chinese New Year is a reflection on how the people behaved and what they believed in the most.

Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. Within China, regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Chinese new year vary widely. People will pour out their money to buy presents, decoration, material, food, and clothing. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red colour paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of “happiness”, “wealth”, and “longevity”. On the Eve of Chinese New Year, supper is a feast with families. Food will include such items as pigs, ducks, chicken and sweet delicacies. The family will end the night with firecrackers. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year, and receive money in red paper envelopes. The Chinese New Year tradition is a great way to reconcile; forgetting all grudges, and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.

www.AssemblyRoomGallery.com

The burgeoning STATEN ISLAND ART SCENE is branching out to parts unknown... The widely read magazine TIME OUT NEW YORK (www.NewYork.TimeOut.com) said "This hipster-friendly gallery is a paradise for anyone who likes his art off the beaten path. Plus, you can catch lively music and comedy performances from local talent here." Thank Amanda Curtis and Brendan Coyle when they welome you to their gallery which also doubles as their living quarters. They might just be S.I.'s coolest couple, I know that I always think it's amazing when I find two people that are so right for each other...

The URBAN ARTS

JCC Cornerstone Program at Stapleton PJs (Staten Island NY 10304)
in association with the www.NYCArtsCypher.com
present "AIR BRUSH ARTISTRY" with CASTER ROCK every Tuesday night for 15 weeks.
Free for teens & funded by the Dept. of Youth and Community Development. 718 981 0500
Tomorrow night (and every Wednesday) GRAFFITI ART with instructor GANO GRILLS (www.en.wikipdia.org/wiki/Gano_Grills.com)
THESE GUYS GOT SKILLS...