An unique, fun & social experience awaits you this winter and all year round: Dodgeball League!

Downtown Dodgeball helps bring teams of New Yorkers together for weekly games and social outings. You can join as an individual or small group and be placed on a team, or join as a full team.

Games are held Tuesday nights between 6:30 and 9:30 in the East Village. The winter 2010 coed dodgeball season begins January 19th and runs for 7 weeks with an 8th week of playoffs.
Registration deadline: 12/31/2009. For more info: visit their website

Watch this nicely made video to get a sense of what to expect

Free to watch, $60 to play:
* A full season of dodgeball officiated by Downtown Dodgeball refs
* The opportunity to network with cool ladies and gents in a fun atmosphere
* Access to exclusive drink specials at the league bar
* A Downtown Dodgeball team t-shirt
* And much, much more!

The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan’s streets. Section 1 of the High Line is now open as a public park! When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, combining meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings. Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park.

See images of the architects’ vision for High Line Park: Design Gallery

Summer Events

July 12th – High Line Street Festival with Target
July 15th – Design Talk: Lecture with the Designers
Throughout the summer – Walking Tours of High Line
Throughout the summer – Family Events
Full schedule of events

The High Line is open from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Access to the High Line is possible via any of these access points: Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th Streets. Dogs are currently not allowed on the High Line due to the limited area of the pathways and the fragility of the new plantings.

How does anyone not love Broadway shows and Off-Broadway plays on the world’s best stages in New York City? The biggest stars and newest talent in the nation sweat everyday performing LIVE for you and I! My problem is and maybe you can relate, spending $100 per show every couple of weeks in order to see all the shows I want to see.

In the past, I’ve offered you discount codes to see shows like Boeing Boeing with Bradley Whitford or the amazing acting in 39 Steps. I thought it would be extremely valuable to you and I to have all the best Broadway (and Off) discounts in one place and up to date!

Follow me on Twitter to be the first to be notified of new discount codes. Or tweet @islandwoo to include a discount not here.

Burn the Floor: Ballroom. Reinvented.

BURN THE FLOOR, the sizzling Latin and Ballroom dance spectacular that has thrilled audiences around the globe, comes to Broadway July 25th for a limited 12-week engagement. Take advantage of this special offer now and see the show The London Independent calls, “Extraordinary! So hot it contributes to global warming. BURN THE FLOOR will take your breath away!”
Discount:
$45.50 for Rear Mezz (code: BFTCX625)
$56.50 for Orch/Front Mezz (code: BFTCX625)
Offer Expiration: through 7/25-8/16. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Web: BroadwayOffers.com, Phone: 212-947-8844

SHREK: The Musical

Take your whole family on a hassle-free, totally memorable, completely affordable SHREKcation! Customize a New York City day trip that the little ogres AND princesses will love, not to mention the big, bad hubby. When you receive your tickets, you’ll also get coupons for deals at restaurants, museums and other unforgettable New York City attractions!
Discount:
But 1 ticket ($66.50 – $126.50) get up to 3 additional tickets for 50% Off ($34 – $64) – (code: SHREKDEAL)
Offer Expiration: through 9/6/09. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Web: SHREKcation.com, Phone: 212-947-8844

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (now with Phylicia Rashad!)

PHYLICIA RASHAD joins and AMY MORTON returns to BROADWAY’S MOST
AWARD-WINNING CAST!
Discount:
$46.50 for Rear Mezz (code: OCTCX33)
$59.50 for Tuesday to Thursday: Orch/Front Mezz (code: OCTCX33)
$66.50 for Friday to Sunday: Orch/Front Mezz (code: OCTCX33)
Offer Expiration: through 8/23/09. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Web: BroadwayOffers.com, Phone: 212-947-8844

The Tin Pan Alley Rag

America, 1915. Ragtime has set the country ablaze with its surprising syncopated rhythms. Scott Joplin and Irving Berlin are this brand new sound’s crowned kings, and they reign in its capital, New York City!
Discount:
$45.50 – $51.50 (code: TRTCR)
Offer Expiration: through 9/6/09 (order by 7/14). All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Web: ROUNDABOUTTHEATRE.ORG, Phone: 212-719-1300

Mary Stuart

A juicy drama about two glamorous divas going at it hammer and tongs. MARY STUART has just been nominated for an incredible 7 Tony Award nominations, including BEST PLAY REVIVAL and Best Actress (Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter)
Discount:
$55 for Tuesday to Thursday (code: QSTCX0504)
$65 for Friday to Sunday (code: QSTCX0504)
Offer Expiration: through 6/14/09. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Web: BroadwayOffers.com, Phone: 212-947-8844

The Norman Conquests

Broadway’s comedy smash-hit and best-reviewed show of the season, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS, has just been honored with 7 Tony Award nominations, including BEST PLAY REVIVAL! THE NORMAN CONQUESTS is a trio of comedies: TABLE MANNERS, LIVING TOGETHER and ROUND AND ROUND THE GARDEN. Each individual play offers a view of one comically catastrophic weekend, shared by six spouses and in-laws, at the family house in the country.
Discount:
$65 for 1 Play (code: NCTCEON)
$185 for All 3 Plays – Trilogy (code: NCTCEMAR)
Offer Expiration: through 7/26/09. All prices include a $2.00 facility fee. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Web: BroadwayOffers.com, Phone: 212-947-8844

Exit The King

The great Academy Award®-winning actor Geoffrey Rush makes his Broadway debut, alongside Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon, in this potently funny comedy about a failing king who is told his time is up…but refuses to get off the stage without a fight. The phenomenal cast also stars the extraordinary Lauren Ambrose and Andrea Martin, and features William Sadler and Brian Hutchison. According to the critics, this incredible theatrical event, and these magnificent performances, must not be missed!
Discount: 40% Off
$45 to $79 (code: EKTCX0505)
$69 to $86: Preferred Seating (code: EKTCB0505)
Offer Expiration: through 6/7/09. All prices include a $1.50 facility fee. Limit of 8 tickets per order.
Web: BroadwayOffers.com, Phone: 212-947-8844

One of the absolute best ways to celebrate diversity in New York City is to partake in the many cultural celebrations happening around the city. Today is the 10th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival. The parade will wind through Chinatown along Mott, Canal, Bayard and East Broadway Streets. Location: Chinatown, Manhattan. Time: Sunday February 1, 2009, 12 noon – 3 pm

The spectacle features elaborate floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances galore, Asian musicians, magicians, acrobats and procession by local organizations. Over 5,000 people are expected to march in the parade, which will start at Mott Street and promenade through practically every street in of Chinatown, finally dispersing at Worth Street. The parade is expected to conclude at 3:00 pm, at which time an outdoor cultural festival will take place on Bayard Street featuring more performances by musicians, dancers and martial artists.

A bit of a personal frustration – it took me about 1 hour of driving through Nolita and Soho area trying to find parking without success. Finally drove north of Houston to find a questionable spot that landed me a $65 parking ticket. For those of you New Yorkers that drive once in a while, you know how I feel.

When I finally made it down to Chinatown, I quickly realized why I put up with all the stress. It wasn’t the colors and sounds of the parade, the floats, or even the lion dances. I more thoroughly enjoyed being with the people – locals, tourists, kids – all having fun together with traditional fireworks shooting confetti high into the air and covering what was in the morning Bayard Street. You’ll see what I mean after you watch this video. What was your Chinese New Year celebration like?

Event Info

Location: East River Park (corner of Houston Street and FDR), NYC
Time: 6PM Thursday February 5th, 2009 (gates open at 3PM)
Admission: FREE

16 of the world’s best snowboarders including Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White, freestyle legend Travis Rice, ultra-progressive phenomenon Pat Moore will compete against each other for $100,000 in prize money in a big air back-country style contest with the majestic backdrop of the New York City skyline. Anthrax and other music acts will perform. This Red Bull Snowscrapers event marks the debut of the largest snowboarding contest held in an urban setting in North America. Three different types of snow will be used and brought onto location.

What this means to Snowboarders in New York City:

We are a rare bunch – freestyle snowboarders in NYC that is – as most of us have little time to spend a weekend traveling to any decent mountains in Vermont. Powdery snow suitable for any jumping is a rare sight in NY/NJ. I used to ride 3-4 times a week (driving to a local mountain in MA for 2-3 hours of night boarding and making the longer drive to Maine or Vermont on the weekends). What kept me going? The air that got under my board! We called ourselves the “freaks of the mountain” because we would be on the jumps course pulling off 360 indynose grabs on the coldest nights or when everyone else has long left.

The opiate that is catching big air is what keeps snowboarding alive and having a big air competition come to NYC is what snowboarders only dream of. Even if you are beginning to snowboard, witnessing big air right in your face is an experience worthy of trekking….all the way to the East River Park for!

For more information visit Red Bull Snowscraper’s official site.
Here’s a recent photo 4 days before the event:

Summer: July 12-31
Winter: January 18 – March 20.

At over 250 NYC Restaurants. Reservations now open. Enjoy 3-course lunch for $24.07 and dinner for $35.

Islandwoo’s Top 5 Picks for NYC Restaurant Week
1. Dovetail (New American) – 103 W 77th St: Book
2. Nougatine at Jean Georges (French) – 1 Central Park West / 60th St: Call (212) 299-3900
3. Eleven Madison Park (French) – 11 Madison Ave / 24th St: Book
4. Morimoto (Japanese) – 88 10th Ave / 15th St: Book
5. A Voce (Italian) – 41 Madison Ave / 26th St: Book

History
NYC Restaurant Week, New York City’s original celebration of dining, dates back to 1992, when it was developed as a one-time culinary program to welcome the Democratic National Convention (DNC) to the City. Though created with an eye toward delegates and other DNC attendees, the program also found a strong following with residents eager for the chance to eat at some of the City’s top restaurants for a fraction of the usual cost—$19.92 for three courses—and who didn’t want NYC Restaurant Week to be a one-time-only event.

Since 1992, the success of NYC Restaurant Week has only grown. It has expanded to include both lunch and dinner offerings—three-course, prix-fixe meals for $24.07 and $35 respectively—and extended to two weeks each in the summer and winter. And this year for the first time ever, many of the participating restaurants are adding Sundays to program which has been historically weekdays only.

Today, NYC Restaurant Week stands apart as one of the City’s most exciting and anticipated events. More than 250 restaurants participate—a cross-section of the NYC culinary scene that encompasses a diverse range of cuisines and includes some of its most time-honored restaurants and buzz-worthy newcomers. Through its evolution, however, the driving force behind the program remains the same: to give visitors and residents the opportunity to experience the quality, variety and hospitality that embody the NYC dining experience.