Week of December 20 - December 26, 2010

Fellow GEM NYC blog followers, thank you for all your support in 2010! We look forward to bringing you many more GEMS to come in 2011!

Happy Holidays y Feliz Navidad

________________________________________

NEW YEARS EVE PARTIES

OPAL

New Years Eve 2011 Ball Drop Countdown with music by NYC's Hottest DJs, hosted by MTV Tres own L-Boogs. Complimentary passed hors d'oeuvres from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., complimentary party favors, one hour open bar, video of ball dropping, and champagne toast at midnight. Doors open at 9 p.m. Must be 21 and over. $25 advance tickets. For more information or table reservations please email info@soulatino.com or call (718) 796-7979. You can purchase tickets online at http://opal.eventbrite.com. Opal, 251 East 52nd Street and Second Avenue, NYC.

VIBRATIONS LOUNGE

Welcome the new decade, come celebrate New Years Eve with all your friends at Vibrations Lounge. Doors open at 9 p.m. Open all night until 6 a.m. Must be 21 and over. Guest DJ's Spinning all night. VIP Treatment: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., $50 and includes; open bar and hors d' oeuvres (9 p.m. to 12 a.m.), and complimentary party favors. General admission 12:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., $25 and includes; drink and bottle specials. For RSVPs and table reservations, please call (917) 657-3373 or visit UrbanLatino.com. Vibrations Lounge, 116 Avenue C., between 7th and 8th streets, NYC.

SOB's 2011 TROPICAL PARADISE

This New Year's Eve, S.O.B.'s invites you to step into a Tropical Paradise, where the sultry sounds fill the air and the champagne and mojitos flow until sunrise. The sensational flavors of S.O.B.'s Nuevo-Latino pre-fixe menu will have your taste buds soaring and the midnight champagne toast is the perfect way to bring in the New Year. Come Celebrate the end of 2010 & the potential of 2011 at S.O.B's! Doors 8 p.m.,10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Admission $160.00, $60.00 & $30.00. For more information and reservations call (212) 243-4940 or www.sobs.com.

3 Packages Available
Platinum $160 p/p
8 P.M. ENTRANCE , LIVE PERFORMANCES, STAGE SIDE SEATING

Sangria Cocktail, FIVE COURSE DINNER

PARTY FAVORS, CHAMPAGNE TOAST, BREAKFAST AT DAWN

Gold $60 p/p
10:30 P.M. ENTRANCE (NON-SEATED)
LIVE PERFORMANCES, PASSED HORS D'OEUVRES
PARTY FAVORS, CHAMPAGNE TOAST, BREAKFAST AT DAWN

Silver $30 p/p
12:30 A.M. ENTRANCE (NON-SEATED)
LIVE PERFORMANCES, DJ SPINNING THE LATEST & GREATEST OF 2010, BREAKFAST AT DAWN

Featuring Live Music All Night Long:
The Sweet Sounds of Bossa Nova
The Sizzling Salsa of Bio Ritmo & Carimi's Haitian Heat
Plus NYC's Hottest Latin DJs: DJ Spike spinning House, World, Soul & Best Of '10

________

LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY SHOPPING IDEAS

TECHNOLOGY

With the Samsung Galaxy Tab™, Sprint's first tablet powered by Android™, you are guaranteed to light up any room you walk into. Weighing in at less than a pound, this all-in-one 7-inch touch screen device takes multitasking to the extreme. Read a book, listen to hot tracks, take a picture, video conference, watch a movie, email, text, post in your favorite social media networks or surf the Web, you can do it all - no desk required. All for just $399.99 after a 2-year Agreement and a Tablet plan and $50 instant rebate. Visit www.sprint.com for more info.

BOOK

MAMBO DIABLO: MY JOURNEY WITH TITO PUENTE by JOE CONZO SR. with DAVID A. PEREZ

Joe Conzo Sr. and David A. Perez luminously recreate the life of widely acclaimed Afro-Cuban and Jazz musician Tito Puente in the biography "Mambo Diablo - My Journey with Tito Puente." The authors chronicle the life of the popular and combative New York Puerto Rican multi-talented musician and entertainer who climbed from his poor environment in East Harlem (El Barrio), New York to international fame and recognition.

Countless stories have been written about Tito Puente's percussive musical abilities, but rarely has the talent, intuition, mishaps and controversies been presented in a vivid and personal biography. Joe Conzo was Tito's close friend, confidant and chronicler for nearly 40 years - no one was closer to Tito or knew him better. Joe tells the story of a man and his music the way it has never been told. David A. Perez sets down Joe's personal recollections and fits them into the context of the social milieu and revolving world. Purchase hardcover, paperback or kindle on amazon.com, borders.com and barnesandnoble.com.

MEN'S FASHION

503 Lab presents New York-based VGB making their debut this holiday with their Holiday 2010 Gentleman of Leisure collection. Inspired by the globetrotting and gentlemanly lifestyle of the likes of fictional character James Bond, the style hopes to create something that will undoubtedly stand out on its own with the bustling market for menswear. Available now via Karmaloop.com.

__________

TELEVISION

NYC's SAZON RESTAURANT CHEF FRANK VS BOBBY FLAY

Chef Frank will be hosting a viewing party of Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Chef Frank appeared on the Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay, challenged by celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to an Empanada dual. Three of the nation's top experts in Latin cuisine will judge the tasty turnovers and select who had the best recipe for this traditional Latino dish. Who will be crowned the King of the Empanada? Tune in on Wednesday, 12/22 at 9 p.m. to find out. Channel 97-Cablevision and channel 50- Time Warner. Private viewing begins at Sazon Restaurant at 7 p.m. Sazon, 105 Reade Street, NYC.Please RSVP for the private viewing with Svargas@ulmedia.net.

TAVIS SMILEY REPORTS DUDAMEL:CONDUCTING A LIFE

For his fourth TAVIS SMILEY REPORTS "Dudamel: Conducting a Life," Tavis Smiley gives viewers an extraordinary look into the life and artistry of the LA Phil's charismatic conductor. At 29, Dudamel is not only the youngest conductor of any major orchestra in the world, but is also being hailed by critics as the most exciting. Dudamel is instrumental in inspiring the launch of the LA Phil's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles initiative, which provides Los Angeles school children with music education. A student of an internationally acclaimed music program in his native Venezuela, Dudamel is committed to expanding music education in America. Tavis profiles some of the remarkable kids whose lives are being transformed by Dudamel's commitment to free music education for all. Tune in on Wednesday, 12/29 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. E.T. on PBS.

_____________________________________________

Check us out on

www.urbanlatino.com