ON MAKEUP MAGAZINE

James Joyce, the guy who cuts my hair, gave me a copy of On Makeup Magazine. One of his other clients, who attended The Makeup Show in NYC, gave him a bunch of extra copies. It's a trade rag, and the best part of it are the interviews with makeup artists who work on movie sets. In a recent issue, there was an interview with Valli O'Reilly and Patty York, the makeup artists for Alice in Wonderland (starring Johnny Depp.) Equally as fascinating was the chat with Robin Mathews, who was in charge of makeup on the set of The Runaways (the film about Joan Jett and Cherie Curie).

Crazy-but-true bit straight from the mouth of Robin:

"We found around 5,000 photos of The Runaways and the time period, and lined the makeup trailer walls with them, and categorized them into binders. [....] The Runaways were so iconic, it had to be done with precise detail. We even painted only one fingernail with polish on each of the girls, which was one of those little details we picked up on from the photos."

One thing this mag made me think about is how much artistry is involved in doing makeup for movies, and how little credit these folks get for the incredible work they do.

A CAKE TO END ALL CAKES

Last night, Creative Conversations met. We are a group of women visual artists and writers who gather on a regular basis to set goals and cheer each other on in our creative journeys. We also focus on specific topics like leveraging social networking, what it means to be visible, what is involved in collaborating with others.

Last night was a particularly wonderful meeting. It was a potluck supper, and one of the members brought an ice cream cake that read Creative Conversations. It was melting fast, so we had to stop our meeting to run and go eat it! I can think of worse things! :)

The cake seemed like the perfect way to celebrate our connections to one another - the trust and support we have built over time.

It is truly a gift and honor to be part of such a stellar group of women.

THIS SKATER GIRL ROCKS!

Most of the 14 year old young women in tv shows (especially on the Disney Channel) are usually shown fighting over guys or wearing enough makeup to be Vegas showgirls.

What a refreshing change to see a video pop up on tv about a young female athlete - Allysha Bergado. At 14 years old, she has been skateboarding professionally for two years now.

Here's a VIDEO INTERVIEW with Allysha on Utube.

Here is her BIO from the ESPN website.

Let's cheer on young women to be athletic and strong!

LAUREN FRODERMAN WINS SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE...........YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!

My heart was sinking little by little as I sat last night watching the finale of So You Think You Can Dance, the episode where they would reveal who is America's favorite dancer. Each of the judges gets to pick their favorite dance of the season, and that dance gets performed by the one or two folks who originally performed it. Almost every single number featured either one or two males from this seasons lineup of contestants. Even the guest dancers and music stars were guys.

Sexism is a big downer!

I had voted via phone for my favorite contestant, Lauren, thinking "Kent will probably win." But right as they were about to announce the winner, I thought there might be a chance for Lauren to come out victorious. I was right!

Lauren is absolutely amazing. She takes on each dance form with absolute skill and passion.
Kent was great, too, but lacked her depth.

Way to go, Lauren!!!!!!

THE PASSING OF A TRUE HERO, HANDY WITHERS

One of the first people I met while working at The Brooklyn Children's Museum was Handy Withers. Handy, on the board of the museum, was also a steady volunteer.

We partnered up in the mandatory FISH customer service training and found out that we both were arts lovers who liked to watch TV dance competitions and read New York Magazine. We often shared good conversation during our lunch break on the upper level of the museum and I teased him good-naturedly about the salt and pepper shakers he brought from home to season his food.

After I was affected by a round of layoffs in November, Handy sent me an email encouraging me to follow my passions. He said that a message to that affect was posted on a door of the hotel which he used to run in Brazil.

Yesterday, I learned over lunch with a former colleague at the Children's Museum that Handy had unexpectedly passed away earlier this year. I was in shock to learn this news. He was a vibrant, active man.

To get a sense of the lives that Handy affected, you can visit the guest book which his brother established for him.

MY FRIEND LISA INGRAM INSTALLS "ORACLE" ACROSS THE STREET FROM MOMA

I had the privilege of hanging out with painter and friend Lisa Ingram while she installed "Oracle," a 3-panel painting now on exhibit in the Donnell Library Windows 24/7 until August 30, 2010.

The Donnell Library Windows are on 20 West 53rd Street across from the Museum of Modern Art.

Please go take a look at this amazing piece!

AMAZING TIME AT MOMA

Had the best time EVER at Museum of Modern Art.

First, stopped by across the street from the MOMA where Donnell Library used to be. My friend Lisa Ingram was hanging her giant 3-panel painting in the window. (Photos to come....stay tuned.)

Next, had lunch at Cafe 2 at MOMA where I chatted with friend and Exec. Chef Lynn Bound. Also read a terrific NY Times article called Tweet Less, Kiss More. So far, this article has received 237 comments from readers!

Lynn introduced me to Carlos M. Silva (see photo above) - b-boy, artist, photographer and DJ.Carlos - a/k/a Bboy EcuAsian (he's part Chinese, part Ecuadorian) - got a few friends together to teach b-boying to children for free of charge. He also has his own Crew, Brooklyn Zoo. I'll be doing a more in-depth interview with Carlos down the road. He also gave me the okay to come watch one of his rehearsals.

After chatting with Carlos, I stayed on at the cafe to talk to a retired couple -both of them painters and one of them a native Brooklynite - about museums, how they met (they've been married for 62 years), and a whole lot more.

Finally, walked out to MOMA's sculpture garden to check out people's wishes that they had written out on cards and tied to The Wishing Tree. There were lots of great wishes for world peace but my favorite wishes were "To host SNL 16 times" and "An endless Slurpee drink."

MOMA was pure magic today.

ORGANIZING TIP OF THE WEEK: USE "RAFT" TO PROCESS MAIL

Go through mail daily. This prevents paper pile-up.

Use the RAFT acronym for dealing with incoming paper.

R = Refer it to someone else (your spouse, etc.).

A= Take action on it. Pay the bill, make the phone call.

F = File it.

T = Toss/Recycle it.

Want A Hand Getting Organized?

Contact Eleanor: call 917-499-7395 or send an email to
ETraubman@aol.com

Eleanor will help you to:

• Kick clutter’s A** !!!

• Set up desks & closets that you love to use

• Implement simple routines and systems to deal with mail and school papers

• Spend less time looking for stuff and more time hanging out with family & friends

• Live the motto “A place for everything and everything in its place”

A professional organizer since 1999, Eleanor helps busy New York women de-clutter and make better use of desks, closets, filing systems, and more. She has been featured in The New York Times; Time Out New York; The Brooklyn Paper; Park Slope Parents; Family Circle; The Sun Times Chronicle; and Fitness. Eleanor is also an early childhood educator and an expert on play. She is Editor-In-Chief of Creative Times: A Blog for Artists & Entrepreneurs

CANDYTIME

From my brother Adam's Facebook page:

"Paradise is all in the eye of the beholder. According to T-Bone, it's the Cardiff 7-11."

DACHSY LEARNS SCUBA-DIVING

Click HERE to read a hilarious account of how a guy taught a dachsunds how to scuba dive.

DJ VAN VADER

Van Vader did a great job of DJing The Brooklyn Blogfest this year.

Turns out, he's a civic-minded guy, too. VV is getting ready to lead a group of young people to New Orleans for a community service project.

He recommends goint to events thrown by KeiStar Productions, saying "They do a Michael Jackson tribute, a MJ vs Prince party, and the most incredible party of all - a Stevie Wonder tribute. I promise you, mixed crowd, dancing all night, fantastic music (wish I had thought of these parties!)..."

Here is VV's bio, taken directly from his website.

As a High School senior, Van Vader began dabbling in the art of djing. On his brother King Khan's tables, his love for music and mixing grew as he quietly acquired the skills necessary to rock a party. As a freshmen at Wesleyan University, "DJ Vader" (as he called himself) and his partner Cazual Phil landed a radio show on 88.1 FM, WESU Middletown. For four years, the pair was known for "randomidity" - a phrase they coined to describe a show where "you never knew what to expect." The show was extremely successful, broadcasting all over Connecticut, and Vader's style of catching listeners unawares was born. DJ Vader's first opportunity to hold down a party presented itself during his freshman year.

While attending a Trinity College Halloween party his brother was spinning, Vader was given his first light. A fifteen-minute spot proved to be all that was necessary to get the party jumping. The crowd response was unbelievable, and the prodigy was hooked on his new art form.
In the years following, Vader purchased his own equipment and began spinning on campuses all over New England. During school vacations, the DJ would find himself booked for clubs in the city, such as Demerara's and Kingdom Hall.

As his repertoire expanded and his skills grew, so did his following and his name. Now "Van Vader" (thanks, Ash-Man), he was ready to take on the world from behind his tables. Upon graduation, however, the demands of a full-time job did not leave much room for music, and the young DJ sought refuge spinning select major events. After doing the Christmas party of for Scharmann's lounge, Van Vader was asked to spin regularly in the popular spot's Soho locale. This was a huge success and regulars would gather weekly to listen to live music while enjoying a drink or dinner. The lounge feel was perfect for the Soho clientele and Van Vader's fanbase grew tremendously. On a nightly basis, the DJ would receive words of thanks, praise, and curiosity: "Why don't you come out to London?" "I have never heard a DJ in Miami play like you - when are you coming down?" People from Germany, Spain, Atlanta, California, indeed all over the world requested an appearance.

Previously isolated to the New York/New England areas, the global demand for a DJ of his talent was overwhelming. Thus, Van Vader was reborn. Now, Van Vader's dreams and the requests of his faithful supporters will reached. When asked how he rated himself in comparison to other DJ's, the young man replied, "All I know is that I have been blessed with a gift - for reaching people. If it's now through music, then so be it. People feel my music, and I feel the responsibility to never let them down." Prepare to be reached . . ...

READY TO KICK CLUTTER'S A**?

Want A Hand Getting Organized For Back-To-School Season?

Look no further than Park Slope 100’s Eleanor Traubman to help you……………

• Kick clutter’s A** !!!

• Set up desks & closets that you love to use

• Implement simple routines and systems to deal with mail and school papers

• Spend less time looking for stuff and more time hanging out with family & friends

• Live the motto “A place for everything and everything in its place”

Ready to get the organizing ball rolling?

Contact Eleanor: 917-499-7395 or ETraubman@aol.com

A professional organizer since 1999, Eleanor helps busy Brooklyn moms de-clutter and make better use of desks, closets, filing systems, and more. She has been featured in The New York Times; Time Out New York; The Brooklyn Paper; Family Circle; The Sun Times Chronicle; and Fitness. Eleanor is also an early childhood educator and an expert on play. She is Editor-In-Chief of Creative Times: A Blog for Artists & Entrepreneurs.

RECENT & INTERESTING ARTICLES FROM NY TIMES

Photo Credit: Alex Hoerner/Icon International

THE NEW FACE OF HIP-HOP

Byline: "Drake is an unlikely rap star, a former child actor from Canada who balances arrogance and vulnerability."

My take: I liked this line best: "Biracial Jewish-Canadian former child actors don't have a track record of success in the American rap industry." Which is what makes Drake's sucess all the more interesting and cheer-worthy.

THE GLEE GENERATION

Byline: "[How] Musical theater is enjoying enormous popularity among young people, attracting a dedicated group of true believers: Broadway babies."

My take: It makes sense that musical theater is gaining popularity among young people. It is a source of hope and lends itself to a feeling of togetherness and community, something we ALL need right now.

UNBOXED

Byline: "Yes, People Still Read, but Now It's Social."

My Take: It would be interesting to start an online discussion about Stephen Johnson's conclusion that "[...] the speed with which we can follow the trail of an idea , or discover new perspectives on a problem, has increased by several orders of magnitude. We are marginally less focused, and exponentially more connected. That's a bargain all of us should be happy to make."

BROOKLYN DREAMER'S SUMMER BASH ON JULY 22

What: A Benefit for Theatre for a New Audience, presented by Brooklyn's Dreamers

When: Thursday, July 22, 2010 6 P.M until 9 P.M.
(with free Salsa Fever party continuing all night!)

Where: Deity – 368 Atlantic Avenue, btwn Hoyt and Bond, Brooklyn

Cost (includes a free drink): $25 – Basic $40 – Because You Can $35 – At the Door

Tickets & Info: www.tfana.org/brooklynsdreamers

Theatre for a New Audience is an award-winning off-Broadway classical theater company in New York committed to finding the contemporary heart of the classics. Now in its 31st year, The Theatre’s mission is to vitalize and develop the performance and study of Shakespeare and classic drama. TFANA runs the largest arts-in-education programs to introduce Shakespeare in the NYC Public Schools to students from the fifth through twelfth grades. TFANA’s programs began in 1983 and we serve more students in Brooklyn than in any other borough.

TEN TIPS ON GETTING ORGANIZED FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON

(Reprinted from Park Slope Parents Blog)

Yes, we have a few months before school starts again but whether you’re a veteran or a looking forward to pre-k, a little forethought can make the transition between summer and school easier.

Here are Eleanor Traubman’s top ten tips for staying cool and collected when the lazy days of summer give way to the panic of the new School year.

Flash forward: It’s a week into the school year and your home is already strewn with backpacks, homework, art projects, juice boxes, sports equipment, forms and permission slips. The cooler and swim floaties from your end- of-the -summer beach trip are still lying in the hallway and you can’t find the time to go through the ever-growing pile of mail that sits on the kitchen table.

Ready to run for the hills? No need. The transition from summer to school is an exciting, if chaotic time that is made easier if you have some good solid organizing systems and habits in place.

Here are a few tips for staying sane during back-to-school season:

(1) Have a central location where you can process mail and other incoming papers and information. Think of it as The Information Processing Center. It’s helpful if the Center contains these items: a desk, calendar, shallow tray for incoming mail, basket for recycling, shredder, file cart or cabinet, and office and bill-paying supplies.

(2) Go through mail daily. This prevents paper pile-up. Use the RAFT acronym for dealing with incoming paper. R = Refer it to someone else (your spouse, etc.). A= Take action on it. Pay the bill, make the phone call. F = File it. T = Toss/Recycle it.

(3) Set up camp the night before. Lay out your clothes and pack your own bag for the next day’s activities, including snacks, gym stuff, etc. Pack lunches and help your children load their backpacks and lay out clothing. This will make for a much more pleasant morning!

(4) Plan your day the night before. Write down your top three priorities for the following day. (Forget about self-defeating, never-ending to-do lists!)

(5) Put self-care at the top of your list of priorities and decide what that means to you. Does it mean hopping on your bike for a spin around the park? Meeting a good friend for lunch? If life goes well for you, it goes better for everyone around you, including your family.

(6) Carve out some quiet time for yourself each day, even if it’s 15 minutes, so that you can connect with yourself and what’s important to you. For more on this topic, see Silence: The Best Organizer of All.

(7) When you take down fall/winter clothes and store summer clothing, make the

time to weed out and donate items that no longer fit you or will no longer fit your children when next year rolls around. Label whatever you store so you remember you have it! Canvas boxes are best for storing clothing items, as fabric needs circulating air.

(8) Start thinking of your closets as places for retrieval, not just for storage. Use higher and harder-to-reach spaces in your closet for off-season items. Use the easy-to-reach areas for the items you need to access on a regular basis.

(9) Put a plant or a vase of flowers on any flat surface where clutter tends to build up. It’s hard for clutter to grow where beauty lives!

(10) Find a local thrift store or charity that you love and make that your destination for gently-used items that are no longer in the love/use/need category. Pick a place that you can easily walk or cab your stuff to, or one that makes pick ups.

Remember that being organized does not mean having a home that resembles the pages of Martha Stewart’s Living, with nary an object out of place. Being organized means having a few systems and habits in place which free you up to spend more time with friends and family and less time wading through clutter or hunting for things you need.

About Eleanor
A professional organizer since 1999, Eleanor helps busy Brooklyn moms de-clutter and make better use of desks, closets, filing systems, and more. She has been featured in The New York Times; Time Out New York; The Brooklyn Paper; Family Circle; The Sun Times Chronicle; and Fitness.

FIGMENT WAS MAGICAL

Last weekend, Mike and I took our bikes on the ferry and traveled over to Governor's Island.

Our friend Cecilia Andre's artwork was being in FIGMENT and we wanted to support her.

What a magical trip! After biking around the island through thick humidity, we reached the mini golf section Cecilia had mentioned on the phone. It wasn't ordinary mini golf - each mini golf structure was designed with a theme. My favorite incorporated what looked like a paper mache pineapple.

As we ate lunch on the grass, we saw wild things like a Disco Golf Cart and bicyclists disguised as pirates on pirate ships yelling as they rode wildly onto the lawn.

The FIGMENT installations and performing artists stretched on for what seemed like miles.

After a while, I said "This reminds me of a more family-oriented version of Burning Man." When I did a little digging, I found out that David Koren, Figment's founder, has been very involved in Burning Man.

For more info about FIGMENT, go to their website.

BLOGFEST BUDDIES

I had a great time at Brooklyn Blogfest 2010. In past years, I was an organizer of the event. This year, I came as a guest and enjoyed myself greatly. Highlights included:

• Adrian Kinloch's tribute to photo bloggers
• Blue Barn's film tribute to Brooklyn bloggers
• Dramatic reading from various Brooklyn blogs
• Dancing to the awesome tunes played by DJ Van Vader
• Hamming it up for Hugh Crawford's portable photo studio

In the photo, L to R: Allison Lasky from F.O.K.U.S, Elizabeth Palmer from Midnight Cowgirl, Eleanor Traubman from Creative Times, Melissa Lopata from Momasphere, Larry Lopata, Atiba Edwards from F.O.K.U.S and Fresh Industries. Front: Michael Sorgatz of Art in Brooklyn.

THIS JUST IN FROM TONY AWARDS NEWS

Dear Tony Awards Fan,It’s almost showtime! The Tony Awards will be broadcast live on CBS at 8 p.m./7c (and 8 p.m. on time delay PT). Tonight is Broadway’s biggest night! Of course, you probably already know this. So this final pre-Tonys email has lots of tips for behind-the-scenes access before and during the show.Exclusive Webcasts on TonyAwards.comGet ready for the telecast by logging on to TonyAwards.com for exclusive coverage of the following:

6:00 p.m. ET – The Red CarpetBroadway and Hollywood celebrities arrive early to meet the press--and walk the Audemars Piguet Red Carpet. We'll be webcasting their arrivals beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET via live video, courtesy of NY1 News.

7:10 p.m. ET - The Creative Arts AwardsThen at 7:10 p.m. ET, you'll be able to watch our live webcast of the first portion of the Tony Awards Ceremony. The InterContinental Hotels® and Resorts Creative Arts Awards, hosted by past-winners Karen Olivo and Gregory Jbara, includes awards in 15 categories that are given out immediately before the CBS telecast.

The Main Event – The 64th Annual Tony AwardsThe main event begins at 8:00 p.m. ET: the 2010 Tony Awards telecast, live on CBS. Sit down with friends and family and tune in to see Broadway’s biggest stars shine on national television!You’ll see musical numbers from all four Best Musical nominees (American Idiot, Fela!, Memphis, and Million Dollar Quartet) and Best Musical Revival nominees La Cage aux Folles featuring Kelsey Grammer, A Little Night Music featuring Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Ragtime featuring Christiane Noll. Also taking the stage will be Green Day, Glee's Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, and many more stars!

Check out the Performers & Presenters page on TonyAwards.com for the full list

Hunter Bell Will Tweet Backstage from @TheTonyAwards During the Live Telecast!Hunter Bell, 2009 Tony Nominee for Best Book of a Musical for his musical [title of show], will be tweeting live from backstage at the Tony Awards! If you followed Hunter’s hilarious and touching “Why the Tony Awards Matter” email series, then you know why we are so excited that he is joining us backstage.

THE OSCARS GOT NOTHIN' ON THE TONYS.......SO WATCH THE TONYS TONIGHT!

Here's a great article by Jen Chaney over at The Washington Post

Anyone who even casually follows the Broadway scene usually pays attention to the Tony Awards. The trophies, handed out to the best productions to splash on to New York stages during the past year, are important to theater people for a couple of reasons. One: they can sometimes have a positive impact on ticket sales, at least in the short term. (This year, revenues went up around the time nominations were announced, then slumped again.) And more importantly, they are an honor for any budding actor, writer, director, producer or otherwise theater-affiliated person to receive.

That said, the average person -- you know, someone who doesn't know all the lyrics from the soundtrack of "Spring Awakening" -- may avoid tuning into the Tonys because he/she assumes that the ceremony won't be interesting to anyone who resides outside of Manhattan and/or has never yearned to belt out a tune from "Cabaret." As an awards show junkie, I am admittedly biased. But I think the Tony Awards, especially this year, are worth checking out. Here are five reasons to watch this Sunday night.

1. You will recognize many of the nominees.
As this photo gallery demonstrates, some big-name Hollywood types are included among this year's group of worthy contenders. Among them: Denzel Washington, Scarlett Johansson, Jude Law, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Laura Linney. Most members of the stage community, understandably, don't want the Tonys to turn into a facsimile of the Academy Awards. But the star power definitely makes the occasion a little more glamorous to TV viewers who don't know the difference between stage left and stage right.

2. The presenters? You will recognize many of them, too.
Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. Daniel Radcliffe. Katie Holmes. Paula Abdul. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog ... okay, I was just kidding about that last one. But the other people I mentioned will all walk the Radio City Music Hall stage on Tony night.

3. One word: "Glee." Two more: Green Day.
"Glee" has made it somewhat fashionable -- or at least acceptably nerdy -- to belt out showtunes. So it makes perfect sense that Broadway vets and "Glee" stars Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison will appear to sing a duet -- something more lavish Broadway musical and less Journey, I'm guessing. And for those who break out in a hot rash at the mere mention of the words lavish, Broadway and musical in the same sentence, Green Day also plans to make an appearance to perform a song from their Tony-nominated musical, "American Idiot."

4. Sean Hayes is hosting.
Ordinarily that piece of information would mostly be of interest to longtime admirers of "Will and Grace." But given that Hayes inadvertently stood at the center of a recent controversy over gay actors playing straight roles, thanks to a much-dissected piece in Newsweek, it will be interesting to see what, if anything, the actor has to say about the matter. (He was more than mum during a conference call with reporters earlier this week, according to our colleague Emily Yahr. But he also hinted that he just might have something to say during the show.) He's also nominated for his turn in "Promises, Promises"; if he wins, I have to think he'll also have some choice words for Newsweek in his acceptance speech.

5. Unapologetic musical numbers!
Uh-oh. Just when I had you considering at least DVRing the Tonys, I had to scare you away with the musical numbers. Honestly, though, the Tonys live for this sort of things. Whereas the random interludes during the Oscars often seem maddeningly tangential, especially when the show is already running an hour behind, the ones at the Tonys serve a purpose. And since they're made by the people on Broadway, for the people on Broadway, they can often be show-stoppers. So go on, let your showtune-loving, gleek flag fly. If you're that embarrassed, you can always tell all your friends that the only reason you really watched was to see ScarJo and Denzel.

By Jen Chaney June 10, 2010; 2:52 PM ETCategories: Celebrities , Pop Culture Tags: Award Shows

RENT THE THEATRE AT BAX

Photo Credit: Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance by Steven Schreiber

BAX is now booking performance rental packages for the 2010-11 Season. Dates are available September 2010-June 2011

As part of its Visitors Program, BAX offers low-cost full service performance rental packages in its intimate and well-equipped theater. Conveniently located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, BAX's 650 square foot theater, seats 70. Package includes BAX's Technical Director/Lighting Designer as well as Front of House staff.

BAX provides publicity through its website and email blasts in addition to signage in the BAX Building.

For more information please visit bax.org or contact Vanessa Adato, Managing Director, at Vanessa@bax.org or (718) 832-0018 Interested artists should download and fill out an application here. Past artists have included Rachel Thorne Germond, Surface Area Dance Theatre, Dissonance Dance Theatre, Piper Theatre, Virginia Repertory Dance Company, Tree House Shakers, Marie-Christine Giordano Dance Company, Maurice Fraga/PM Danz among many others.

"Thank you BAX, for your professionalism and customer service! We will be back"
-- Shawn Short, Artistic Director, Dissonance Dance Theatre

Know someone who might be interested in having their next show at BAX? You can share this email on your favorite Social Media platform by clicking the "SHARE" button below; OR you can click the "Forward email" link and send this eBlast to your friends the "old fashioned way." THANKS.