For Tebow It's Goodbye Gang Green

Released after One Season 

Tim Tebow has left the building.

One year after trading for one of the NFL's most popular players, the New York Jets have officially released their backup QB.

Confirming the release in a three-paragraph news release, Coach Rex Ryan said "We have a great deal of respect for Tim Tebow.  Unfortunately, things did not work out the way we all had hoped…We wish him the best moving forward," reported ESPN.

Donning working gear, Tebow reported to the team's facility Monday morning when he was called into general manger John Idzik's office to receive the bad news.

Despite all the media hype from last March, the Jets' trade never came close to living up to all the hype.  During the 2012 season, Tebow played only 77 offensive snaps, had 32 rushes for 102 yards and delivered no touchdowns.

Although the release has been expected since the end of last season, last Friday's selection of Geno Smith during the NFL Draft's second rounds sealed Tebow's fate.

The Jets now have four quarterbacks competing for the starting spot--Mark Sanchez, David Garrard, Geno Smith, and Greg McElroy.

 So,what do you think?  Did the Jets make the right decision, or should they have kept Tebow on for another season?

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day Y'all! 

So many pretty petals! 

Living in the heart of Chinatown, growing greenery may be a bit of a foreign concept, but I wanted to celebrate the day dedicated to daisies and dirt nonetheless.  So, this morning I made my way to the far Bronx for a trip to the New York Botanical Garden.

As soon as I walk through the garden gates, I was engulfed in a fragrant and visually stunning plethora of plants.  A photographers dream, cherry blossoms were in full bloom and a rainbow of orchids, daffodils, and tulips covered the grounds.  Spanning some 250 acres, it's also home to some of the world's leading plant laboratories.  So, I'd say that if you've got a green thumb (or wish you had one) definitely check out this borough treasure.

A Maconite at heart, these pink petals reminded me of our Cherry Blossom Festival. 

The grounds are glorious! 

But it's not just filled with flowers.  Trails run throughout the woods, offering visitors a look at the wilderness as well.   

And the iron work arches are something to stare at too.  

If you want to take home a piece of the garden for yourself,
check out their gift shop for buds of your own.  

I had to be in class at 2pm, so instead of paying $22 for their all access pass, I opted for their $5 grounds only package.  But, if you've got the time, I'd say pay the additional fee.  That way you'll be able to see their rock garden, deserts, rain forests, old mills, and bridges.

Usually, they're closed on Mondays and certain weekends for weddings, so check their website before planning your own trip.  And, be sure you wear comfy shoes for your own day in nature.

Lil Bub and Friendz

In the fight between four-legged friends, I'll always choose dogs to be my personal pet.  I had one fatal feline incident, and that was enough to turn me off cats forever.  But, even I'm not immune to cute cat videos.  Whether they're shredding the keyboard, looking grumpy, or just snoring, I've learned if a cat's got a cute face it's the perfect recipe for lots of Youtube hits.

These days though, famous felines are trading in the small screen status in a full length documentary called Lil Bub and Friendz.

Although the documentary follows Lil Bub and owner Mike Bridavsky, it's more than just the story of the world's cutest cat.  Through interviews with other cat celebrities, it explores the broader appeal of internet cats.

Viewers see that as YouTube clips morph into memes, memes translate to million dollar merchandise deals, and the cats become A-list celebrities with their own fan following.

In the film "meme manager" Ben Lasher calls them the new pop culture characters people care abut. “Hello Kitty, Bart Simpson, Mickey Mouse, nobody cares about those old characters anymore,” said Lasher.  “The cats, that’s what the future is.”

If all this cat talk has you in the mood for Lil Bub and Friendz, it's currently showing at the Tribeca Film Festival.  For times and tickets, click here.  Or, watch it now from the comforts of your own home as part of the Tribeca Online Festival.

Happy Cating!

Basketball in Brooklyn

Four nights a week I'm paid to watch sports.  YES, MSG+, SNY, and ESPN are constantly on as I write down plays used for the evening newscast.  But tonight, I traded in the eight TVs for tickets to the Barclays Center.  Yep, it was off to Brooklyn for an evening of Nets Basketball with my sporty sidekicks.

Already locked into the Eastern Conference's No. 4 seat, their matchup against the Washington Wizard held no weight.  Typical starters like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Reggie Evans, Keith Bogans, and Jerry Stackhouse all sat this one out.  But, the come from behind win kept us glued to the game for the whole night.

After trailing for all but the game's last two minutes, Tornike Shengelia would get a last minute layup, and the Nets would come back from a a 17 point deficit.  Tyshawn Taylor shot a three with two seconds left.  And, the Nets (despite lacking their usual starters)would take  the W, 106-101.

Here's a few photos from our night in Brooklyn!

Our seats were in section 231, just above the hoop.  We paid less than $25 for them,

so I was worried they'd be in the nosebleeds.  But, we could see everything just fine. 

After checking out our seats, I headed off to the concession stand for a basket of chicken
fingers and a souvenir cup of Coke.  Sure, they were overpriced, but stadium food is literally the best.

Plus, we got these noisemakers for free.  

Then, I found us a photo booth. 

From AM's choice words of wisdom, "Friends are literally the Best!" 

Only one regular season game remains in the 2013-13 season, but if you're looking for tickets for your own night of Brooklyn Basketball, click here.

If the Glass Slipper Fits

Happily Ever After has made it's way to Broadway with the latest  rendition of Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella.  A sucker for princesses in puffy dresses, as soon as tickets went on sale through the NYU Box Office I snagged one for myself.  That's right; I took myself on a date to see a fairytale!



There's just something about seeing a show.  You can't leave the theater and be in a bad mood, so as job search stresses begin to weight me down, I thought it'd be the perfect morale booster.  Plus, I'd read a few articles about Prince Charming, and I was dying to see if he was as dashing onstage as he was in print.



Now that's a fabulous ball gown!

And her wedding gown--this fabulous find would give
 Carrie Bradshaw  a run for her money.  

Let's just say I didn't leave disappointed!  Starring sought after leading lady Laura Osnes as the one with the shiny shoes, I'd say it's definitely a must see show. From start to finish it was filled with excellent actors performing catchy song and dance numbers. Along with the typical fairy tale talk, they threw in funny comments.  Plus, the costumes---Cinderella may have started off in rags, but the beautiful white ball gown courtesy of her Fairy Godmother more than made up for it.

Tickets can be had for as little as $39.50, so if you're on a budget but looking for a night on Broadway, check out their Box Office information here.  

Put Your Dancing Shoes On

gotta love the old time theater marquee 

A sucker for all things dance, this past month I've been to the Joyce Theater twice.  Known for their modern dance performances, I've seen the Martha Graham Dance Company and Bill T. Jones' latest pieces.  Yesterday, too few residents showed up for a program, so free tickets were up for the RA taking.  

Divided into two evenings, the performances were billed as "Play and Play:  An Evening of Movement and Music."  I saw the one featuring his newer works called Program B, but the man sitting beside me described both programs as "absolutely spectacular."  

The show was AMAZING, and talk about your elite eight.  The first piece, "Ravel:  Landscape or Portrait?," was like stream of consciousness choreography.  Action fed reaction;  each new movement was a continuation of the one from the dancer before.  One would head into the wings.  Then the next would pop on stage and pick up right where they left off.  Lacking a strict storyline or elaborate costumes, it was all about the elaborate choreography and the dancers performing each piece.  Plus, the contemporary dancing was accompanied with a live performance by the Orion Strip Quartet. 

After a quick intermission, it was time for "Story/".  Last year, Bill T. Jones premiered "Story/Time," in which Jones read seventy of his own one-minute stories while dancers moved around him and a random score played.  Letting the audience decide for themselves what the title's second half should be, this season's premiere piece was shortened to just over half an hour.  Just like with the pre-intermission piece, the dancers here could be seen as a kind of family.  Solos, duets, and trios all arose, but the piece was only complete when all were on stage.  It featured the most amazing floor sequence I've ever seen between two dancers and ended with a very human whirlwind of a dance in progress. 

The Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company's season ended at the Joyce Theater on April 7th, but if all this talk has left you craving more information on upcoming performances click here. 

The Cloisters

My graduation countdown clock is set for just over 6 weeks, so I'm trying to spend all my free time left in the City visiting places I've never been to before.  A branch of the Met, a trip to the Cloisters Museum and Garden has been written on my bucket list since freshman year, but only today did I take the A train to 190th Street and see what this museum had to offer.

Basically, it's dedicated to domestic and religious art from the ninth to sixteenth century. Stepping on the grounds really is like walking back in time.

Approximately 3,000 works of art from medieval Europe--like stained glass windows, metalworks, tapestries, bejeweled chalices, and loads of crucifixes--
are on display in this unique collection. 

Every inch of this place, from the stained glass windows to the hand caved  door frames, is a work of art.
Keep your eyes peeled for hidden treasures in every  corner. 

The seven individual hangings known as "The Unicorn Tapestries," are among the most beautiful and complex works of art surviving from the late Middle Ages.  Plus, they hold a bit of mystery.  Even though the Cloisters is celebrating its 75th anniversary,
the history behind the museum's best-known masterpieces still remains a riddle.

Does this remind anyone else of Professor Dumbledore's lectern? 

If for no other reason, you should visit Fort Tyron Park for the spectacular view of Manhattan, complete with the Hudson River. 

As for actually getting to the museum, directions can be found here. Once you've arrived, its suggested ticket price for adults is $25, but don't feel bad if you hand over three, saying that's what I'd like to pay. The man behind the counter may give you a snarky look, but they've got more money than they know what to do with!

If you're at all religious, I definitely recommend a trip to the museum.  But even if your not, go and be wowed by its architecture and gardens.