Cold Weather Blowouts

This is the time of year when we wind down from the holidays and start into the long haul of deep winter. A simple, low stress party can be just the thing to get us through the cold slog to spring. These party themes should inspire you to spend some time celebrating with friends and family.

1. Turn up the heat in your house, pick up some tropical and beach-themed decorations, and have a winter beach party. Serve tropical drinks and use a stovetop grill pan to make hamburgers and hot dogs or grilled fish for tacos.
2. Have a hot drink party – make several flavors of hot cocoa, mulled wine and cider, and hot teas. Accompany the drinks with all the fixings – flavored syrups, marshmallows, whipped cream, and sprinkles. Keep the theme going with sweet and savory fondues.
3. Celebrate February holidays and events – host a Super Bowl party with a football theme, have a sweetheart party for Valentine’s Day, or hold a movie-themed bash for Oscar night. You could even have a patriotic party for President’s Day.
4. Of course you can always have a plain old winter themed party. Decorate the house with snowflakes and white twinkle lights, and set out a hearty feast on a snow-white tablecloth. Encourage guests to bring a winter item, anything from a hat and scarf set to a winter mix CD, to swap!

New York Knicks: A New Era Dawning

After entering the playoffs for the first time since 2004, the New York Knicks look to build on last season's successes. Under the leadership of head coach Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks have been steadily improving over the last several seasons, and that's not looking to change. The team truly is stronger than it's been in years. Implementing D'Antoni's keen and lightning fast offensive strategies, they'll bring a lot of action to the court and keep the future at Madison Square Garden bright.  Amar'e Stoudemire is coming off one of his best seasons, and the arrival of Carmelo Anthony's crafty offensive game will continue to pay off in the clutch baskets that define his reputation. Add to that the defensive talents of Tyson Chandler, the arrival of veteran Mike Bibby, and a roster full of young, hungry players, and Knicks fans have a lot to be excited about.  Coming off of their first winning season in over a decade, the Knicks look to push forward into an era of prosperity not seen since the days of Patrick Ewing. Pay attention, because there's excitement ahead!

Go to http://www.nba.com/knicks for all of your Knicks needs, including schedules, tickets, merchandise, and more!

New Jersey Nets: Ready to Surprise

The New Jersey Nets have one more year to make a splash in Newark before heading to Brooklyn. There's still plenty of time to say goodbye in style, though, and head coach Avery Johnson intends to put some excitement into the Prudential Center. Last season may have had its disappointments, but Johnson is more than capable of helping his team win, as his time with the Dallas Mavericks made abundantly clear. With the start of his sophomore season with the Nets, he's got talent to make that happen. Deron Williams is a two time all-star, and the recent acquisitions of veterans Shelden Williams and Mehmet Okur will add some serious and needed depth to the Nets' frontcourt game. This adds, of course, to a roster already featuring the skills of players like Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, and Sundiata Gaines. A number of people will tell you that this is a year of rebuilding to get ready for the team's move into the Barclays Center for the 2012-13 season. Those folks, though, are ignoring a lot of talent already on the roster, and a coach well acquainted with success. With all of the strength in Jersey this season, the Nets may just surprise the naysayers who think that the team is only building for Brooklyn. Stick around, because these guys aren't done with Jersey just yet.

For all of your Nets needs, including schedules, merchandise, and tickets, visit http://www.nba.com/nets

New York at the Holidays

There’s nothing quite like New York City at the holidays – festive crowds, sparkling lights, and countless attractions that perfectly capture the season's spirit. Here are some must-visit New York sites for the holiday season:

Rockefeller Center
No holiday adventure in New York would be complete without a visit to this iconic location. Every year, thousands of people flock to see the dazzling Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Make sure you also check out the famous Rockefeller ice skating rink, where you can watch skaters in action or strap on a pair of skates and join the fun.

Holiday Windows
At Christmastime, New York’s most famous department stores unveil brilliantly artistic and elaborate holiday window displays. Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Bloomingdales, and Barneys are just a few of the stores that attract awed window-gazing crowds every season.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular
If you want the ultimate New York City holiday experience, make sure to book tickets for the classic Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The show features song and dance numbers that will truly dazzle you, as well as stunning sets and costumes. The iconic Rockettes steal the show, of course!

Holiday Train Show
Every year, the New York Botanical Garden hosts a holiday exhibit featuring model trains and replicas of New York City landmarks, popular with people of all ages. The exhibit is housed in Garden’s Conservatory, a lovely indoor space, so it’s an ideal holiday outing in any kind of weather.

New York City Pops
If you love holiday music, you won’t find a better concert that the annual New York City Pops holiday celebration at Carnegie Hall. This year the featured singers are John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, described by the New York Times as a “musical match made in heaven.”

Raise Your Voice: Becoming A Good Public Speaker

Making a speech is one of the most stressful things most people can imagine. Being the center of attention is nerve-wracking by itself, but having to remember a speech can make it even more difficult. If you find yourself in the position of having to speak to crowds but worry that your skills aren’t up to snuff, here are some helpful tips to aid you in improving your elocution.

-          Practice. Some people think that rehearsing material beforehand will make their speech stiff. Nothing could be further from the truth. A couple passes through your speech will help make it more familiar and reduce the stress of misspeaking.

-          Prepare. Make sure to arrive at the venue you will be speaking at early and take a look around. Check the microphone, if you are using one, and the view from the audience. Talk to audience members as they arrive, if you can. This will help you view them as people and connect better with the audience.

-          Address the room. Before you start your speech, make a quick statement to address the room. This will give you a moment to calm your thoughts and transition into your speech.

-          Don’t apologize. If you do make a mistake during your presentation, just move past it. It’s likely that the majority of the audience didn’t notice it anyway. Moving forward helps you focus on the positive.

-          Be appreciated. If you’ve been asked to speak publicly, it means that your audience is interested in what you have to say. You wouldn’t have been given the opportunity otherwise. With that in mind, go forward with confidence.

Five Best Tearjerkers

Sometimes crying your eyes out while watching a movie is the greatest catharsis imaginable. A good tearjerker moves our hearts and offers us emotional release. So get out your box of tissues and read on to learn about five of the best tearjerker films:

Goodbye, Mr. Chips - Made in 1939, this classic drama tells the tale of a beloved and good-hearted teacher who, after a life of loneliness, finds love with a wonderful woman. When tragedy strikes, some of the most heartrending moments in cinematic history unfold on the screen.

Steel Magnolias – This 1989 Southern drama centers on a group of strong-willed female friends as they navigate love, loss, and everything in between. When one of the women experiences a major devastation, the film kicks into high tearjerker gear.

Love Story - Hugely popular when it was released in 1970, this film still resonates with tearjerker-loving audiences today. It tells the story of a young couple who, after falling in love and building a life together against considerable odds, find themselves torn apart by an expected force.

Glory – No list of tearjerker movies would be complete without this 1989 Civil War drama, which tells the story of the war’s first African-American regiment. The troops, comprised of both free men and escaped slaves, train under the leadership of a Boston abolitionist, preparing to fight bravely for liberty — and their ultimate fate will leave you sobbing.

Life Is Beautiful - Roberto Benigni’s 1998 movie tells the story of a father who protects his small son from the terrors of life in a concentration camp by pretending it’s all an elaborate game. The movie’s use of humor and whimsy only heighten the poignancy of the horror that unfolds for the father and son.

Going to New York This Fall? Don’t Miss These Broadway Shows

No trip to New York City is complete without a visit to the Great White Way. If you’re bound for the Big Apple this fall, make sure you head to Broadway to catch at least one of these exciting shows:

The Mountaintop
A moving and socially charged play that explores the events before Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 assassination. Starring performances by Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett. (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 West 45th Street)

Relatively Speaking
A laughter-filled evening of three one-act plays by some of today’s leading comedy writers: “Honeymoon Hotel,” by Woody Allen, “Talking Cure,” by Ethan Coen (of Coen brothers fame), and “George is Dead” by Elaine May. (Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 256 West 47th Street)

Chinglish
An innovative new comedy by Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang, “Chinglish” follows an American business who travels to China for work. The play explores communication, miscommunication, and human connection, packing in lots of laughs along the way. (Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street)

Other Desert Cities
This is a wry and sometimes scathing drama about a woman who returns home after a six year absence to celebrate Christmas with her parents and siblings. When she announces that she's about to publish a memoir focusing on an intense chapter in the family’s history, the tension escalates. (Booth Theatre, 222 West 45th Street)

Seminar
A sharp comedy with dark undertones, centered on four young writers participating in a private seminar taught by a major literary figure. Attractions, allegiances, and rivalries abound. Alan Rickman stars. (John Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street)

Autumn Events in New York City!

If you’re looking for some unique events to take in this fall, you’ll find them in the Big Apple. With street festivals, comic conventions, and more, the city that never sleeps is your ticket to fun. Here’s a look at some highlights:

New York Comic Con – New York’s biggest comic event returns to the Javits Center October 13th through 16th. Special guests include Mark Hamill, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes revisiting the roles of Jay and Silent Bob during a special live podcast, John Landis, Rose McGowan, and more. The event will also be in conjunction with the New York Anime Festival.

CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival – From October 18th through 22nd, the world's most important platform for the discovery of new music, CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival, invades New York City with over 1,300 artist performances and dozens of cutting-edge films. CMJ fills more than 80 of the city's greatest venues, nightclubs, and theaters with over 120,000 fans, music industry professionals, college radio tastemakers, bloggers, press, filmmakers, and musicians.

The Chocolate Show – From November 10th through 13th the largest show in the United States completely dedicated to celebrating all things chocolate comes to NYC. Sounds delicious!

Fall Getaway: Vermont

Wild about autumn foliage and the crisp, cool air of pumpkin season? Then get yourself to Vermont! Here are three fun suggestions to help you plan a trip:

Take a Scenic Driving Route

Vermont offers a great deal of natural splendor: vast forests, rolling farmlands, and trees in full autumn glory. A scenic drive through Vermont is a great way to explore the state's many quaint villages, visit historical sites, hike trails, and enjoy the state’s delicious fare at farm stands and local restaurants. Click on this link to see a map of scenic driving routes, with descriptions of the treasures to be found along the way: www.vermontvacation.com/~/media/Files/PDF/ScenicDrives.ashx

Venture down the Cheese Trail

Vermont has been famed for its delicious artisan cheeses since the 1800’s. The state’s cheesemaking tradition is as strong and proud today as it has ever been, with the three dozen members of the Vermont Cheese council making over a hundred varieties of award-winning specialty cheeses. You can tour the state’s cheese-making farms and facilities, tasting a delicious variety of cheeses along the way. Click on this link for a map of the Vermont Cheese Trail, which will pique your curiosity and stir your taste buds.

Enjoy the Great Vermont Corn Maze

If you love getting out in nature, you’ll have a blast visiting the Great Vermont Corn Maze, located on a third-generation family farm in North Danville, VT. The maze features endless acres of twists and turns certain to offer you fun, laughter, and a true challenge as you navigate the labyrinthine paths. The site also features several other exciting attractions, including a barnyard with hundreds of underground tunnels to explore. Click here to learn more.

These are just some of the many exciting features of a fall getaway in Vermont. Other highlights that you can look forward to enjoying: visiting apple orchards, hiking and camping, attending outdoor festivals, touring farms and historical sites, and cozying-up in one of the state’s many charming Bed & Breakfasts. For more information about how to plan a perfect Autumn-in-Vermont adventure, visit the Official State of Vermont Tourism Website.

Take out your suitcase, pack your fall sweaters, and get ready to be dazzled by the unique, unforgettable beauty of foliage season in Vermont.

Fall Getaway: New Hampshire

Do you love the flourishes of the fall season – colorful foliage, crisp air, warm apple cider? There’s no better place to enjoy the fullness of autumn than New Hampshire. Here are some ideas for ways to relish New Hampshire’s beauty this fall:

1. Wine and Cheese Galore

New Hampshire is known for the high-quality of its cheeses and wines. Why not visit some of the state’s renowned farms and vineyards and taste the goodness for yourself? Here are two highlights:

The Sandwich Creamery. A farm in North Sandwich, New Hampshire, The Sandwich Creamery's known for its rich cow milk, piquant cheeses, and exceptional homemade ice cream. Visit their website for more information: sandwichcreamery.com

Candia Vineyards. At this award-winning vineyard in Candia, New York you can taste uniquely delicious wines, tour the grounds, and learn about the fascinating wine-making process. Learn more at Candia Vineyards's website: www.candiavineyards.com

2. Fun with Foliage

There are many ways to enjoy New Hampshire’s blazing autumn trees. You’ll love these:

Deerfield Agricultural Fair. Known as “New England’s Oldest Family Fair,” this outdoor festival in Deerfield, New Hampshire will allow you to bask in the foliage while also enjoying horse shows, fireworks, and farmers’ markets. Check the website for more: www.deerfieldfair.com

Scenic Drives Through New Hampshire. What better way to take in the blazing fall colors than by driving on one of the state’s many scenic routes? The best part is that you can stop in towns along your way, enjoying local sights, food, and entertainment. To read itinerary ideas, check out www.visitnh.gov/what-to-do/scenic-drives/

3. Fascinating New Hampshire History

Why not spend some time learning about one of the most beautiful states in the country? Here are some ways you can have fun while learning:

Concord on Foot. This unforgettable walking tour traces a path through downtown Concord, New Hampshire, one of the most historic communities in New England. You can learn more by visiting the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce's website at www.concordnhchamber.com

Heritage Tours of the Seacoast. Enjoy an expertly guided tour of the stunning seacoast area in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For details, visit www.merchantcircle.com/business/Heritage.Tours.of.The.Seacoast.603-303-5617

Whether you’re seeking a whirlwind weekend getaway or a longer vacation, New Hampshire offers a cornucopia of rich experiences for every traveler. So pack your bags and get ready to be dazzled by the state’s seasonal splendor!

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