New York City night life Archives | Page 2 of 2

PW Daily Goodness…

Posted on: April 6, 2010

Uber cool author chick, Sarah MacLean has been quite the woman about town of late. Last night she was one of four great guest authors at Lady Jane’s Salon where she read from her Regency-set romance, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. The week prior she launched the book at a sexy soiree in the Lower East Side’s best known “secret” bar, The Back Room. The photo of attending authors, including Yours Truly, made the April 5th Picture of the Day in PW Daily. Huzzah!

Publishers Daily Picture of the Day, April 5, 2010

As per PW Daily: “Recently, at the Back Room in Manhattan, a group of authors got together to celebrate the launch of Sarah MacLean’s new romance, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Avon). Pictured (l. to r.) are: Lisa Ann Sandell, Ray Sawhill, Lauren Willig, Polly Frost, MacLean, Hope Tarr, and Leanna Renee Hieber.”

Lady Jane’s Salon, Monday, April 5th

Posted on: April 5, 2010

Tonight’s Lady Jane’s Salon features guest authors Miranda Neville, Sarah MacLean, N.K. Jemisin and Kate Nobel. 7-9 PM chez the upper floor of Madame X. For a behind-the-scenes look at Salon goodness, please read Sarah’s pithy post at the Lady Jane’s website.

Toodles,

Hope

Lady Jane’s Recap & April Salon Buzz

Posted on: March 19, 2010

As one of the four co-founders of Lady Jane’s Salon I get to play soiree hostess once a month. I love that!

Hope signs TWELVE NIGHTS and VANQUISHED at the December '09 Lady Jane's Salon.

Even better, sometimes I get to be a guest at my very own party. The December ’09 Salon was one such occasion. In the hope that video is indeed the next best thing to being there, click on the Hope\’s December \’09 Lady Jane\’s Salon Reading and yes, join the party.

And if you are planning to be in the New York City area next month, please do join us on Monday, April 5th 7-9 PM at Madame XÂ with guest authors Miranda Neville, Sarah MacLean, N.K. Jemisin and Kate Nobel.

Hope

Seeing Stars, Part II: NYRP Picnic

Posted on: May 27, 2009

Last week I attended the New York Restoration Project’s eighth annual spring picnic as the guest of Lady Jane Salon co-founder Maya Rodale.

Founded in 1995 by actress-songstress and all ’round uber talent, Bette Midler, NYRPÂ carries out the Divine Miss M’s vision of a cleaner, more beautiful New York for all residents regardless of zipcode. The organizationÂ “restores,Â develops, and revitalizes underserved parks, community gardens, and other open spaces in New York City.”

As a city resident,Â Ms. Midler, I heart you!Â

Held at beautiful Fort Tryon Park, a NYRP recipient, the evening rolled out with cocktails and marvelous munchies at the New Leaf Restaurant. Afterward, guestsÂ retired to the dining tent where weÂ were treated to a delicious barbecue dinner by BLUE SMOKE. Emcee Judy Gold had us rolling in the aisles, which given the quantity of barbeque I put away wasÂ pretty painful.

Throughout the night, trees were adopted, jokes cracked, and yes, songs sung. Living legend Tony Bennett favored us with a classic song, and Ms. Midler ended by leading us in aÂ sing-a-long that included herÂ unique version of “Happy Days Are Here Again.” Other celebrity attendees included Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson,Â Nina and Tim Zagat,Â Cynthia and Dan LufkinÂ and O Magazine editor-at-large and Oprah’s BFF, Gayle King (See photo op).

Pardon my "dear in the headlighhts" look. Hope cozies up to the camera with Oprah BFF, Gayle King. Photo courtesy of Narda Ducheine. — Pardon my deer in the headlights look. Hope and Oprah BFF, Gayle King, cozy up to the camera. Photo courtesy of Narda Ducheine.

The Divine Miss MÂ definitely put the “fun” back in fundraiser. To heck with rushing home to tune into American Idol and learn the fate of Adam Lambert. Though the evening ended at 9:00, I could have danced all night.

Â But the celebs needed their beauty sleep and well, it was a “school” night.

To learn more about the NYRP and opportunities for volunteering, visit the organization’s web site at www.nyrp.org.

Divinely Yours,

Hope

Happy Holidays

Posted on: December 23, 2008

In case you haven’t noticed how quiet this blog has been, I’ll admit it. My gadfly wings have been seriously clipped by the need to get some honest to goodness writing done. Still, you know what they say about all work and no play…

EKM and Moi looking very pleased with our holiday gift bags. Love those prezzies...

Fortunately IÂ took time out to attend The Rebels of Romance holiday party at The Dove Parlour in the West Village.Â In addition to the co-hostesses, Liz Maverick and Marianne Mancusi, all the usual suspects turned out including Dorchester author Leanna Hieber, her editor, Chris Keesler,Â and Scandalous Women blogger extraordinaire,Â Elizabeth Kerri Mahon (AKAÂ “EKM”). The Dove, which has appeared previously in this blog, is one of my favorite Manhattan venues–Victorian brothel meetsÂ Manhattan “secret” bar with cocktails like the Cherry Tart and, forÂ the season, mulled wine. Then again, the holidays aren’t about a great venue or fab fashion wear though yeppers,Â everybody was certainlyÂ stylin’. Holidays are about spending time with the people (and pets!) we care about who care about us and remembering to be thankful for them as well as all the other blessings in our lives.

Per the pets, please don’t forget my Holiday Goodness Challenge. We’ve had several takers so far,Â but I still have copies of Vanquished to give out. Beyond that, homeless dogs and cats need our help this holiday season more than ever.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, or the Solstice…

Happy, happy & Merry, merry…

Hope

Time Out Treats and Mad Hatter Moments

Posted on: November 30, 2008

Last night I saw Twilight with my girl posse–birthday girl, Stacey Agdern, Elizabeth Kerri Mahon(EKM), Leanna Hieber and others. Based on the popular paranormal series by Stephenie Meyer, Twilight is a modern-day vampire romance set in a small town in Washington State. The protagonists are high school students, new girl in town, Bella Swan and resident undead hottie Edward Cullen, played by the winsome Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

I’ll admit upfront I’m not a huge vampire fan, though in the eventÂ that there are vampire lovers (or actual vampires) reading thisÂ post, I’llÂ add that I’m not against you–I mean, them–either. As for the lovers being both 17 (at least ostensibly–Edward admits to beingÂ 17 for “a while” as in since 1918),Â let’s just sayÂ high school for Yours Truly has been “a while” ago as well. And yet I really liked the movie. In fact, I bordered on loving it. It’s well acted, well crafted, and beautifully filmed. And the soundtrack is hauntingly lovely.

Afterward we headed ’round the corner to what has become our standard Irish bar where creamy pints and chilled glasses were enjoyed by all. A couple of us stayed long past the witching hour to sing along with the very authentically Irish band, which played a cross-section of tunes from traditional ballads like “The Black Velvet Band” to Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

The lovely Elizabeth Kerri Mahon and Hope ramp up the glam. — The lovely Elizabeth Kerri Mahon and Hope ramp up the glam at The Montauk Club.

EarlierÂ this month, I trekked out to Brooklyn’s beautiful Park Slope neighborhoodÂ with EKM and others to The Montauk Club. Founded as a private club in 1889, the stunning Venetian gothic club house is the host site for the Dances of Vice ball. Think 1770’s meets 1970’s glam rock. The costumes were uniformly gorgeous and innovative and the equally eclectic cabaret included opera, a tasteful striptease, and finally, a rousing rendition of “Rock Me Amadeus.”

IÂ think of these time out treats to myself asÂ “artist days,” or in my case, artist evenings. They stimulate my senses and fill up my creative well in a way that for a writer, for any artist, is absolutely essential. I call them my non-guilty pleasures becauseÂ to write about life requires thatÂ first youÂ really live it. So, whether you express your art through baking and decorating the perfect batch of Christmas cookies or crafting the proverbial Great American Novel, take time out this holiday season to live it up–not justÂ a little but a lot. You deserve it.

Hope