Week of June 28 – July 05, 2010

GEM is SOOO excited about this 4th of July celebration… We’re ready to look great, eat fantastically, and dance the night away.

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FREE FOOD & PERKS:

A hit with New Yorkers and visitors alike, the Southwest Porch is a gorgeous, comfortable space within Bryant Park where folks can relax in one of their rocking chairs or porch swings.

Their casual menu offers 15 handcrafted specialty sandwiches, along with a variety of snacks and desserts. Enjoy a uniquely crafted beverage from their cocktail menu, a glass of wine, or a pint of the Southwest Brew along with a variety of snacks and desserts. Summer Menu.

Southwest Porch is teaming up with Southwest Airlines to provide you with three days of specials and perks!

Monday, June 28: Business Select Day
*Come learn about the premium benefits of their Business Select fare, and enjoy the following perks: They're giving away Yankees tickets! 8 winners will be drawn during lunch (12pm-2pm) and an additional 8 winners will be drawn during happy hour (5:30pm-7:30pm). Come out there for a chance to win!

*Get a Southwest Airlines souvenir cup with the purchase of a beverage during lunch (12pm-2pm) or happy hour (5:30pm-7:30pm).

Wednesday, June 30: "Appy" Hour
Have our App? Get a free app! Just show that you have the Southwest iPhone® App on your phone, and you'll get a free appetizer of your choice between 6:00-8:00pm. Plus, they'll be giving away two pairs of roundtrip tickets with Southwest Airlines every hour during "Appy" Hour!

Thursday, July 1: Anniversary Cookout
'WichCraft will be grilling sliders and serving up sweet treats to Southwest Porch patrons today, all complimentary (until supplies run out)! They'll also be giving away fun Southwest Airlines prizes (including free tickets) throughout the day, so come out and celebrate to win your free perks!

Southwest Porch Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday, 12:00-9:00pm
Monday - Sunday, 12:00-6:00pm

Location: Southwest Corner of Bryant Park - 40th Street at 6th Avenue

Food and beverage service provided by: 'WichCraft

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FASHION:

The idea of a denim dress sounds like a rejected fad from the 80s not worthy of reviving, or something horrendous your mother used to dress you up in for Picture Day at school… but this season’s denim dresses are a must-see and must-get! Chambray stretch denim, and a variety of light and dark washes makes the material more versatile than ever for a slew of different dress styles, from body-contoured to even cowl-necked and cocktail styles (who’d have thunk)! Chic details like sweet ruffles and exposed zippers make the look anything but dated and transform the traditionally casual fabric to something unexpectedly upscale!

I love the versatility of this Anlo Ruffle Neck Dress, available at Nordstrom — because its ability to be easily dressed up or down, depending on the use of some strategic summer accessories, make it the perfect summer buy. It would be the perfect dress to rock at a 4th of July barbecue with a pair of cork wedges or gladiator sandals! For a sexier night-out look, the Nanette Lepore Bell Dive Dress, available at Bloomingdales — hugs the body in all the right ways and adds visual interest with an exposed zipper down the front. Whether casual or dressy, this season’s dresses are bound to change your perception of denim!


SAMPLE SALE: Semi-Annual FENDI Warehouse Sale

When: 6/29/10 at 3:00pm to 7/1/10 at 3:00pm

Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, North Pavilion - 110 W 19th St
Phone: (212) 463-0071

The Metropolitan Pavilion invites you to the semi-annual warehouse sale for Fendi. Choose from GEMtastic collections including Women's Ready to Wear, Handbags, Small Leather Goods, and Fur.

Tuesday, June 29th, 3-8pm Wednesday, June 30th, 8am-8pm Thursday, July 1st, 8am-3pm


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CELEBRATION: 4TH OF JULY!

Come join Lower Deck Productions at their "4th of July Fireworks IndepenDANCE Cruise" aboard the multi-level and climate controlled boat – The Paddle Wheel Queen. This is a great opportunity for you and your loved one to witness NYC's breathtaking fireworks display on the water first hand.

WHEN: SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2010

WHERE: Docking from the Skyport Marina, - 23rd Street & FDR Drive, (East Side of Manhattan)

WHAT TIME: Boarding begins at 5:00PM and Docks at 10:00pm

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $130.00, EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

ADULT ADMISSION: 21 & Over || Trendy Attire

WHAT DOES THE ADMISSION GET YOU:
- 5 Hour Top Shelf Open Bar
- Complimentary Appetizers
- Live DJ
- Amazing View of the 4th of July Fireworks
-This Cruise is NOT a sit-down dinner cruise.

TO PURCHASE tickets click here.

For Info Call: 917-567-7459 or email 4thofjuly@lowerdeckproductions.com

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THEATRE:

Thalia Spanish Theatre is Queen's original home for Latino culture. They are the first and only bilingual Hispanic theatre in Queens, serving one of the most diverse communities in the United States, including more than 600,000 Hispanics from every Spanish-speaking nation in the world. In 29 years they have produced more than 100 productions of the best Spanish plays, zarzuelas (Spanish operettas) and folklore shows of music and dance, and earned national recognition as a leader in New York City’s celebrated Spanish theatre movement. Our mission is to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of Spanish and Latin American culture with unique productions of plays, musicals and dance. Theatre classes for children are available this summer, so for more information about the available programs and to learn more about this theatre please visit the Thalia Spanish Theatre website here.

Support the Arts. You can also help the Thalia Spanish Theatre win a caring donation from Chase’s Community Giving Program! In order to cast your vote, you must search for the theatre by name, and be logged into Facebook prior to voting: http://www.facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving. Prizes range from $20K-250K USD.

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MUSICA:

GUAJIRO: Bilingual punk rockers Guajiro (pronounced GÜA-hero) don't consider themselves a Latin Rock band, but a Miami band. The Hialeah, Florida quartet is comprised of bassist Jorge Gonzales, vocalist-guitarist Willy Lopez, drummer Douglas MacKinnon and vocalist-guitarist David Santos. Regional pride aside, Guajiro's punk rock does have some Latin flair: they're mostly Cuban-American.

Guajiro's debut album, Material Subversivo, takes a cue from old school English and recent American punk, injecting melodic choruses with populist politics. While "Espanglish" bands aren't quite mainstream yet, Guajiro is making some important strides: they've played with Rancid and Flogging Molly, charted on CMJ, and played on the ubiquitous Warped Tour. Learn more about this band here: www.myspace.com/guajiro

FIDEL NADAL: Nadal was born into an academic family in Buenos Aires, his mother was an anthropologist and his father a film director and a leading fighter for the recognition of the rights of black Argentines. According to his own recalls, he was heavily influenced by the music listened to his parents, mainly blues and jazz. Ideology held by Fidel Nadal involves deep Rastafarian culture initiated in many countries like Jamaica and Haiti, where Fidel reflects the love music as a way of life and reality; one of his inspirations, as with many reggae groups, is Bob Marley. His main influences are related to the reggae rhythms and Afro-Argentine culture.

In 1984 he played for the first time as a singer in a band. A year later he founded the band Todos Tus Muertos, which blended in their music reggae with punk influences and samples. With this mix, the group was very successful and already their first album in 1988 succeeded her a record deal with Universal Music. Influenced by reggae rhythms and the music of the Afro Argentine community, Nadals is best known for his work with Todos Tus Muertos. Created in the 1980s and separated in 2000, the band produced 6 albums before its dissolution. In its final years, Lumumba appeared on the rasta stage with Lumumba. In its short but productive history, it released 3 albums which met with approval by followers of reggae, but then it was dissolved. In the last albums of Todos Tus Muertos and Lumumba, Fidel felt the need to play more reggae and leave the hard music behind, but when both projects disappeared, he decided to go on by himself.

In 2001, this new project was born, with a completely rastafarian image and style. The same year, he launched three albums, Selassie I Dios Todopoderoso, with lots of reggae and lyrics with pure rasta feeling, including a cover of Mexican group Los Tigres del Norte, Cuando gime la raza, and Cabeza negra, with numerous guest musicians (which gave more variety to the album and made it different from the first one). Finally, Repatriación appeared, with a number of collaborators, and with another cover of a Tigres del Norte tune, La Puerta Negra. In 2008 he released the hit single International Love, off the album of the same name, whose dreamier/electronic sound has made it a hit on many Latino radio stations and attracted newer non-reggae listeners. In 2009, his hit single International Love was included on the "FIFA Trax" on the latest edition of EA SPORTS FIFA games, FIFA 10. Learn more about this band here: www.myspace.com/fidelnadal