11:30 PM: You know it’s a great Thanksgiving when everyone’s heavy-lidded, there’s still some Champagne left over for morning mimosas, and the dishes are (mostly) clean. This has been one long Thanksgiving day, but with relatively little drama, so much amazing food (that I was able to fully enjoy despite my recent oral surgery), and plenty of laughter, I wish it to continue to go on. Hasta X-Mas! xoxo

9:40 PM: Had an exhausting dance party with an almost 4-year-old. Put on my “Dance Party” mix and caused quite
the eruption of laughter when I realized what was happening and franticly scrambled across the room to change the track just as the first line of of Peaches’ “Fuck the Pain Away” started. If you’re not familiar, it goes: “Suckin’ on my titties…”

7:20 PM: Yes, I took a 5 hour break for eating and digesting enough to be able to move my fingers across the keyboard of my iPhone. Dinner was so good. And I was once again the last to leave the table. Stuffing=amazing.

My mom has the interwebs hooked to her TV, so we all spent tons of time giggling at funny cat videos. It all started when we were told about the “tens of thousands” of crows that fly over the new house everyday at sundown. When we questioned the claim, we were told to count the crows which led to “Counting Crows” which led to YouTube since no one could remember what they sang. Then the cat videos.

2:15 PM: My amma (grandmother) just arrived and the Tofurkey’s in the oven… Only problem is that we didn’t quite
time it right with the turkey and I think we’ll either be eating a Tofurkey with a cold center or everything else will have to wait for us. Whoops. I’m snacking on all the delicious hors d’ouvres but trying to save room for everything else… Especially stuffing! Why oh why do we only eat stuffing one day a year? It’s SO good… Maybe it’s best to only have it occasionally… Thoughts?

12:30 PM: Everything is still pretty mellow. No other guests have arrived yet, so we’re enjoying the QT with Mom. Truth be told, I’ve just dipped into my first glass of wine and am about to have a sneak preview of the pumpkin pie…

10:45 AM: We arrived around 9:30 and got a tour of the new house, which is quite beautiful. It’s 105 years old an has the most gorgeous original woodwork and lighting fixtures. They’ve been renovating like mad to get the place ready for today and it shows.

Breakfast at 5:30 means I feel like lunch right about now… Good thing there’s food all over the place.

7 AM: Ah, Connecticut. Such a small state on the map, but you always feel so looong. Lack of sleep is catching up with me, which wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t hurt so much to yawn… I had dental surgery on Monday and it seems to hurt more and more each day. Luckily it’s only one side of my mouth I can’t eat on, so Thanksgiving feast will still be enjoyed.

5 AM: Good morning, turkeys! Yup. It’s 5 AM and I’m awake… Barely. The plan is to hit the road in an hour in order to (hopefully) miss the worst of the day’s traffic. The beau and I are heading from our place in Brooklyn to Greenfield, Massachusetts for the first time this year (we’ve got someone caring for the kitties so they won’t be too lonely).

My mom sold her house in Northampton (where she had lived since 1992—right before I started the 7th grade) this summer and relocated half an hour north. So instead of 3 hours, it’s going to take us 3.5… If we manage to avoid the aforementioned traffic, that is. This will be our first visit to the new place and although I’m excited to see it, of course, it’ll be a little… different. Definitely at the stage of life where the definition of “home” becomes a bit more complicated and the question “Where are you from?” becomes more difficult to answer.

But back to this early Thanksgiving morning. I’m a planner, so we’re all packed, just got to wolf down some breakfast, hit the shower, grab the vegan food contributions (Tofurkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and various snacks), wine, and hit the deserted (wishful thinking!) road.

We have exciting news! We’re shaking things up at OMFGstyle.com: Coming this January, we’ll be releasing the first issue of OMFGstlye Magazine.

In the meantime, we will be slowing down publication in order to produce the best first issue we could imagine: In the spirit of Lonny, Rue, and Gifted, we’re going online magazine page-turning style up in this joint.

We will still have a blog section of the site, and articles will be catalogued and searchable as posts, so there will still be a traditional website feel to the site, but the main event will be the online magazine.

This change will allow us to attract advertisers and will increase our readership, as well as create an even better product.

Our new format offers some great (and affordable) advertising options for businesses and services looking to reach the stylish modern woman. We will be posting information on ad options on the site soon, but if in the meantime, if you’re interested in advertising with us, send our director of advertising operations an email: diana@OMFGstyle.com.

Do you have ideas for how we can make OMFGstyle Magazine the best online magazine in the universe? Please post in the comments!

And don’t worry… More info and updates will be coming your way soon!

Photo by Marchange on Flickr

You might not have the time, desire, or budget to go all out on a costume, but if you’re in the mood for dressing up for Halloween without a lot of effort, or if you’re just coming across this on October 30th, a printable mask could just be the right idea for you.

JHill Designs, one of my favorite print artists (click here to see her amazing flash card-inspired artwork), created these adorable animal masks, downloads are $3 each, or $8 for all three.

Sweet! Star Wars masks!

Want to tap into current events? Head on over the HuffPo for your Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Rod Blagojevich, or Kanye West printable mask:

David Bowie or Jason, anyone?

Or maybe just a gross monster?

I used to hate the summer. Heat, humidity, sand in my crack.  But the older I get, the more I enjoy the rare amount of sunlight I get compared to the days spent at a desk, the time I get to spend with my friends and loved ones, and getting out and doing things I don’t always make the time for in the cooler seasons.  If I could give you one piece of advice to make your life better, it would be to not let this summer pass without  getting out, enjoying every beautiful day, and shaking it up with some different activities. Here are some suggestions of some fun summertime activities you can do in the NYC area.  In the words of Will Smith, “put your car on cruise, and lay back… cuz this is summertime”.

1.  Vintage Shopping and Killer eating… at the FLEA!

Sometimes you just have the urge to shop, but on a gorgeous summer day have no desire to feel the absolutely horrible choking affect brought on by the mere thought of visiting a mall or shopping district. One of the absolutely best days I had last summer was hanging out at the outdoor Brooklyn Flea market. I perused vintage and handmade wares, soaked up some much-needed sun, and ate amazing artisan foods. I snacked on a wide range of delicious treats including Pupusas (salvadoran corn cakes filled with cheeses, meats, or veggies), lobster rolls, and homemade ginger ice cream. What’s even better: I also came home with an amazing frame from the late 1800s, a shapely dress from the 60’s, and a pair of brand new vintage Bruno Magli shoes that only cost me $15.  Score!

photo by xxooox on Flickr

2.  The Great Outdoors is my Regal Cinemas

Yes! One of the best things about summer is totally watching movies in a park or on a rooftop or whatever. Bring a blanket, snacks, maybe a little flask o’ sumpthin on the DL, and take in a flick in a place where your feet don’t stick to the floor and the seating doesnt make you smell like old man.  Check out some of these suggestions for taking in an outdoor movie in New York:

The Brooklyn Bridge “Movies with a View” Series, Thursdays
Annie Hall 7/8, Big Lebowski 7/22, Rear Window 7/29, Indian Jones & the Last Crusade 8/26

L Magazine Summer Screen, Wednesdays at McCarren Park, Brooklyn
Say Anything 7/7, Labyrinth 7/14, Romeo & Juliet 7/21, Dead Man 7/28, Point Break 8/11

Movies Under the Stars, Wednesdays at Pier 1 Riverside Park South
Neverending Story 7/7, Pans Labyrinth 7/14, Big Fish 8/4

Rooftop Film Noir Series, Thursdays at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
Laura 7/8, Double Indemnity 7/15, Sunset Boulevard 7/22, All About Eve 7/29

Vault of Horror Flicks, Fridays at the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center
Freaks 8/6, Invasion of the Body Snatchers 8/13, Night of Living Dead 8/20, Rosemary’s Baby 8/27

RiverFlicks for Grown Ups, Wednesdays at Pier 54
The Hangover 7/7, I Love You, Man 7/14, The Proposal 7/21, District 9 7/28, Star Trek 8/18

photo by mjstewart on Flickr

3. Walk the Line… The Highline, That Is

The Highline opened last year, and for those of you who haven’t heard about it, it is a re-designed and landscaped old elevated train structure that runs along a portion of Manhattan’s West Side. You can enter the Highline via various entrances in Chelsea and just, y’know, take a walk.  Killer date night: Walk the highline from Gansevoort St to 20th while the sun sets, then head on over to Blossom for an amazing vegetarian dinner, then across the street to Billy’s Bakery for a sweet treat.

photo by rexroof on Flickr

4.  Moonlight Kayaking & Canoeing

DUDE!  Okay, this is something I really wanted to do last year but I’m lazy and I don’t keep a car anymore. However, it’s definitely on my list of must-do’s this year.  If you’re willing to make the trek to Point Pleasant, PA whenever the next full moon comes around, River Country has a “Full Moon Splash” outing. Choose Canoe or Kayak, and choose your fate, as you navigate the river by nothing but the light in the night sky. Just one thing: I feel it only fair to warn you…the website for this place is fucking crazy.

photo by wendylinx on Flickr

5.  Rock Out in the Summertime: Music Festivals

Siren Festival, Saturday July 17th
This year is the 10th anniversary of the Village Voice’s Siren Music Fest, annually held in Coney Island. This year’s acts include Ted Leo & The Pharmacists and ehhhhh some other bands. It’s free and all-ages.

McCarren Park Pool Parties
The McCarren Park Pool is still where it was, but this year the Rock ‘n Roll that used to hang out there is moving toward the Williamsburg waterfront along the East River between North 8th & North 9th Streets.  Acts this year include Band of Horses, Silversun Pickups, Spoon, Pavement, Faith No More, and many more. So, if you want it all but you can’t have it, you can always get tickets to one of these shows and go get awesome.

Warm Up at PS1
The PS1 art museum’s summer music series kicks off July 3rd and will take place every Saturday from 2-9pm through September 4th.  $15 admission gets you into WarmUp, where you can hang out, listen to music and drink beer all under the cover of whatever crazy structure they have built on the grounds at the time. Admission also includes all exhibitions.  Check here for upcoming performance schedules.

photo by beef_taco_supreme on Flickr

6.  Put me in the ZOO

When selecting some fun summer activities I pretty much cut out anything that had to do with children (sorry parents). Zoo-going, however, is a grand exception, because watching an orangutan wear a bucket on its head is just fun, no matter who you are.

Bronx Zoo
Right now the Bronx Zoo has some new additions to their family, including three 5-month-old lion cubs, a bear cub, and new baby lemurs from Madagascar!

Prospect Park Zoo & Central Park Zoo
Go watch some cute little guys get fed. Harbor Seal, Penguin & Sea Lion Feedings regularly. Visit www.centralparkzoo.com and www.prospectparkzoo.com for info.

Turtle Back Zoo
Check out “Night Moves”, a special guided tour once-a-month on summer evenings. Walk with a flashlight and observe the animals at night.

photo by wallyg on Flickr

7.  Peach Picking

People typically wait for Fall to go picking things like pumpkins and squashes. But don’t forget those farms in summertime.  July to August is prime peach-picking season, to be followed shortly by apple season! Farms like Alstede Farms, Demarest Farms, Melick’s Town Farm, and Terhune Orchards, all in New Jersey, have pick your own peaches available throughout July. Terhune Orchards also has a canning and preserving class on August 7th, so you can save some of those peaches for later on. (Its Free, but call in advance to make sure space is available).

photo by adwriter on Flickr

8.  Rock Climbing

A fun indoor sport to take advantage of year-round, but for those who rarely go, why not make it a fun weekend activity? Check out Brooklyn Boulders, an 18,000 square food join packed with creative climbing structures, including a mock up of the Brooklyn Bridge! Also check out Chelsea Piers, of course, where Open Adult co-ed sessions are held throughout the week.

photo by crazyoctopus on Flickr

9.  Dog Friendly Beach!

I can’t wait to take my little buddy out to chase waves and drool in the sand.  Check out these beach spots that are dog friendly:

Dog Beach, Prospect Park, Brooklyn
Enter  at Prospect Park West & 9th Street, follow the path past the Tennis House on your left and through the Long Meadow to the Upper Pool. The beach is paved and fenced so dogs cant swim too deep. Its not for serious swimming or training, but for dogs who want to trudge through some water and have some fun.

Island Beach State Park, New Jersey
Island Beach is a narrow barrier island that reaches for 10 miles between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. Dogs on a leash no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the non-recreational beaches year-round!  Check the website for details and directions to this hot dog spot!

photo by coral on Flickr

10. The Jersey Shore, DUH!

Okay, I know this is totally obvious perhaps, but I had to include it still because I feel that there are still many people who avoid the Jersey shore (hmm, why could that be?). Also, I have lived in New Jersey my whole life and whenever I have gone to the beach, its usually the same ones all the time! There are dozens and dozens of beaches I have never visited or tried. Since it’s usually a substantial drive and a full-day’s plan, we usually stick with something familiar, much like sticking with your routine meal at your favorite restaurant when you’re really hungy. Why chance it?

There really are so many great beaches to visit, like Belmar, Manasquan, LBI, and one of my favorites, Spring Lake.  Ask your friends or co-workers for a new recommendation and just do it. Go to there!  And if you need an easy reference, complete with parking info, fees, and highlights, download NJ Monthly’s 2010 Ultimate Beach Guide.

photo by laram777 on Flickr

The day’s finally here and beau and I have our Fandango tickets already purchased for the 2:30 showing in downtown Brooklyn.

How lucky am I to have a guy that not only watches all six seasons of SATC—and the first movie—with me in preparation for the second coming out and helps me sneak in a batch of homemade cosmopolitans, but also even takes the afternoon off from work with me to see Sex and the City 2 in the theaters so I can live blog it for this site on the first day it’s out?!? Love.

Now, as a disclamier, let me just say that my expectations are not high. The reviews have been terrible and, let’s face it, New York is one of the necessary elements of the SATC fantasy for me and taking the cast to Abu Dhabi just won’t cut it… I already know that. Also, wardrobe stylist Patricia Field lost a bit of her touch in the first movie, going more for head-to-toe designer than the clever mix that made the series’ fashions, though amplified, relatively believable. And really, let’s be honest, I’m 75% percent in it for the clothes!

So stay tuned, my pets, and keep your fingers crossed that there’ll be iPhone reception in the theater so I can actually do this thing! God knows, I’m ready for it…

2:14: On the bus, cosmos wrapped in a sweatshirt tucked in my Dior. Praying it doesn’t get confiscated and that there is reception in the theater. Looking forward to seeing my four faux friends again…

I thought I had reception but I don’t. So I think I’ll take notes and publish as soon as I get home. Bummer. BTW, Twilight Eclipse trailer!

It’s on! Alicia Keys…

Yay! Carrie looks amazing. No, scratch that–now it’s the 80s. We finally find out how they all met!

They’re at Bergdorf’s–my favorite place in NYC–shopping for Stanford and Anthony’s wedding!

Big! In a tux! Carrie! In a tux!

The wedding is crazy–like a set from a 30s muscial. Carrie’s hat is awful. Of course. Oh, and there’s Liza!

Liza Single Ladies as bad as expected… but I like that people in the theater are clapping!

Now we’re finding out what the problems are: Charlotte and Harry’s daughter is driving them crazy, Miranda’s boss hates her, and Carrie and Big are getting pressure for kids. Do you think these things will come up again? We shall see…

“There Big and I were. Somewhere between wild sex and a baby.”

And now Samantha’s issue: Menopause.

Charlotte has a braless nanny. Funny what a stir it’s causing after Carrie got splashed, braless, in the credits every episode…

Apartment envy! Carrie and Big have the perfect place! Want!

Yay! Smith’s back!

Carrie has her old apartment? And uses it as an office? Oh, crazy rich people!

The girls are going to Abu Dhabi!

Carrie is wearing the newsprint Dior dress she wore when she went to surprise Natasha at lunch after the Big divorce.

SJP and Madonna have the same too skinny face. Just a few pounds more and she’d look so much younger!

Miranda just said “Abu Dhabi Do.” I have a sneaking suspicion there’s a lot more Middle Eastern wordplay coming our way…

Charlotte is going by York (as opposed to her Jewish married name) because “it’s the Middle East.” On that note, is anyone else surprised Carrie took Bigs last name?

OMFG. Aidan.

“Bedoin Bath & Beyond”? Groan. On another note, I want to ride a camel. Oh, and now they made a cameltoe joke. Of course.

Carrie is out with Aidan dressed very un-Middle Eastern. Meow.

Miranda and Charlotte are bitching about motherhood. Oh, now they’re toasting to mothers without help. And I find it condescending… But women in the theater are cheering.

OMFG. Aidan and Carrie kiss! HOT kiss.

Wow. It just hit me how old they all are! Samantha is in a turban and looks like Joan Crawford. And there’s sweet potato on her face.

Carrie told Big about the kiss. And he’s not happy.

Now they’ve gotten kicked out of the hotel because Samantha was arrested for kissing.

The ladies are wearing burkas… It reminded me immediately of Brain in disguise in Inspector Gadget.

Carrie and Big: “It’s going to be just us two–are we enough?” “Baby–we’re too much.” Swoon.

The End. Or is it?

Mothers’ Day is this Sunday and it’s your chance to show your mom how much you appreciate her patience, sacrifice, unconditional love, and diaper-changing. Gifts are secondary on Mothers’ Day: tell her how much she means to you, show her by making the day all about her. And then give her something nice.

When choosing a Mothers’ Day gift, keep the following mantra running through your mind: find a special treat for Mom. Find her something she wants but is too sensible to splurge on; something that allows her escape and relax; something from the heart. The following gifts are suggestions that might work for your mom or might at least spark a hint of an idea for your mom.

Spa Certificate
Nothing says, ‘Mom, put your feet up and relax,’ better than a gift certificate for a pedicure and massage. Be a little selfish and offer to go along for a side-by-side spa day!

Netflix Subscription
One of the more affordable ideas,  a Netflix subscription, given with a batch of Mom’s favorite candy, and pre-loaded with all her favorite movies and your recommendations is another sweet way to remind Mom to relax once and a while.

Bits and Baubles
My mom is impossible to buy jewelry for (she’s as picky as I am), but if your mom is a little more easy-going with her accessories, a beautiful pair of earrings or a locket with the kids’ pictures inside could really put a smile on her face.

Family Photos
Pick up some frames that fit with Mom’s decor and fill them with the best recent shots of all of you as a constant reminder of all the loving people in her life.

Cleaning Service
Give Mom the week off and hire someone to clean her house. Or do her gardening. Or whatever takes the burden off.

_______ of the Month Subscription
Wine, chocolate, you name it! This is one of the pricier recommendations, but if you don’t see Mom often enough, this is a way to make up for it all year!  Like the idea but don’t have the funds? Get a couple of magazine subscriptions or go with the above-mentioned Netflix gift.

Calendar of “Mom and Me” Dates
My mom does this each Christmas for her mom, but it’s a great idea for Mothers’ Day too. Find or make a calendar and fill in a day a month with an activity or outing that you and Mom will do together. Make sure to update your own calendar so you don’t forget!

Summer Reading
It’s hard to wrong with books. Depending on your budget, go for one special book or tuck five in a beach bag. Choose books you’ve read or are planning to read so Mom can call you after she’s finished each one and you can talk about it.

A Splurge
Whether it’s an Hermes scarf, Chanel mascara, or  a gift certificate to her favorite “fancy” restaurant, giving Mom something she’s always wanted but can’t afford (or just won’t spend the money on) is a good bet.

Breakfast in Bed
A Mothers’ Day staple. Can’t go wrong with this one.  Unless she wakes up earlier than you and beats you to it. So set your alarm or plan a big brunch for the whole family to celebrate Mom together!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scurzuzu/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

If you live in the New York City area, you can probably agree with me that this past winter season felt like the longest one ever!  And so far we’ve been teased with a few blissful sunny days, offering the promise that summer fun is just around the corner.  While we wait for summer to stop draggin’ its ass, take advantage of these fun events and activities while its not too hot, and not too cold.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/didier/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

1. The Whitney Biennial

Now through May 30th, 2010.  General Admission $18, “Pay-what-you-wish” admission on Fridays from 6-9pm.

If you’ve never been to the Whitney Biennial at the Whitney Museum in NYC, you should most definitely go! Especially now because this year marks the seventy-fifth edition of the Whitney’s signature exhibition.  So, whether you’re an art aficionado, or you’re one of those people that’s always saying, “I should go check out art more often”, get on up there!  The exhibit includes dozens of artists, and mediums ranging from paintings and sculpture to photography, video, installations, and much more.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/zacwong/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

2.  Paintball

What’s more fun than getting a bunch of friends together and shooting the shit out of each other all day long out in the wilderness?  Plan a fun group trip to Skirmish and take out your aggressions on your buddies.  With about a 2-hour drive from the city, and about $80/person you can get all the equipment you need and a full day of paintball fun.  Its best to go before the weather gets too hot because you’ll want to wear the full-coverage fatigues, goggles, neck protector, and possibly some padding if you’re concerned about getting hit at close range.  Check the Skirmish website for special discounted days like Half-Price Paint days and Ladies Play Free days!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/washingtonydc/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

3.  Beer Gardens & Breweries

This one’s a no-brainer.  A large picnic table full of friends and a couple of nice big frothy pitchers o’ suds? I have a feeling most people will be doing this every weekend of the summer. Take my recommendation: If you’ve never visited the Brooklyn Brewery, get on over there this summer. They offer a brief tour on weekends throughout the afternoon, and then you can sit and get wasted to your hearts content in their indoor area.  Looking for an outdoor Beer Garden?  You have to visit Bohemian Hall.  Over 100 years old, Bohemain Hall was once a Czech and Slovak social club, and still reeks with that old-timey feel, with its stone walls and a menu full of authentic Czech dishes.  With a massive outdoor area, and , you could get totally lost in this place, or in your beer mug.

On the New Jersey side of the river? Check out Zeppelin Hall in my hood, Jersey City.  Zeppelin Hall is newer, and has both large indoor and outdoor areas. They boast a selection of 144 beers, and also serve traditional foods like wursts, but also common american food like burgers and wings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newyorkobserver/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

4. Ninth Avenue International Food Festival

May 15th & 16th, 2010.  Rain or Shine!

If you find yourself bored on this May weekend, or perhaps just monumentally hungry, go join the hoards of people who will be chowing down at the 37th annual Ninth Ave Food Festival held on Ninth Avenue between 42nd & 57th Streets.  Sample cuisines including Greek, Italian, Spanish, and much more. Its FREE. Eat like Dom DeLoise, then go hiking to burn that shit off.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasohill/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

5.  Memorial Day Hangover Hike & Nap

Memorial Day

So after you scope out some art, shoot your bro in the face, and get nice and rolly-polly at the food fest, its time to plan some more outdoor excursions!  And if you’re short on time and want to cram some hiking in the same holiday weekend as getting shit-hammered three nights in a row, check out the Memorial Day Hangover Hike & Nap trip offered by Urban Escapes! The trip starts with breakfast at a cute diner outside of the city, followed by an easy nature-walk to a lake-side spot perfect for napping. This trip is not sold out yet, so you still have time to get in on it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pressuretobear/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

6.  Horseback Riding

I grew up horseback riding, and its something I try to do at least a couple times each summer. Its best to go on a nice sunny day, when the ground is dry, and the temperature enjoyable for both rider and horse. Check out any of these city spots which offer guided tours by horseback for beginners.  I personally enjoy riding at the Silver Bit & Spur farm in New Jersey, where they let you take the horses out on wooded trails without a guide – a nice option if you’re a confident rider, or have one in your group.

Brooklyn – http://www.kensingtonstables.com/

Central Park – http://www.riverdaleriding.com/

Pelham Bay, Bronx  http://www.bronxequestriancenter.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scurzuzu/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

7.  Hanami Cherry Blossom Viewing & Sakura Matsuri Festival

Now through May 2, 2010 / May 1st & 2nd, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  Rain or Shine!

Hanami is a month-long celebration of the Japanese cultural tradition of enjoying the Cherry Blossom season.  So, go get cultured at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  The celebration culminates with a weekend event: the Sakura Matsuri Festival. Take in the amazing beauty of the public gardens, while enjoying traditional and contemporary Japanese music, performance, ikebana, and demonstrations.  A Japanese menu will also be served in one of the food pavilions.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightscameracapture/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

8. Walk the Bridges from Brooklyn to Manhattan

When beautiful weather hits, there’s no better way to enjoy an active yet relaxing and inspiring afternoon than walking across one of the bridges from Brooklyn to Manhattan.  Take either the Brooklyn Bridge or the Manhattan Bridge, and take in the fresh air and refreshing scenery.  Once you get across to Manhattan from either bridge, you can easily walk right into Chinatown for some much-deserved Dim Sum!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/babygerald/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

9. Bike Trip to Governors Island

Among the dozens of bike routes to enjoy in NYC and surrounding areas is Governor’s Island, where you can pedal casually down a tree-lined path, with historic Victorian buildings on one side, waterfront views on the other, and not a car in sight. Ride your own bike and take the ferry from Manhattan, or check out Bike and Roll, a bike tour company that offers rentals and guide maps.  The cycling route includes Governors Island’s entire 2.2-mile waterfront promenade.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/caroslines/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

10.  Plant a window box, or patio garden full of Herbs

Now is the perfect time to start getting your outdoor space or window boxes ready for summer by cleaning up, getting some cute pots and garden accessories, and planting fresh herbs!  You can buy herbs that have already been grown a little, plant them in a sunny spot, then enjoy cooking, and making drinks with them all summer long!

YOU BEEN PRANKED SUCKA!

In the English language, the word prank has roots dating back to 1529 because even back then there were douche-bags that drew genitalia on your face with permanent marker. It is people like this that have given the prank a negative image.

But why is playing mean tricks on people seen as elitist? Probably because the 80s movies that raised us always had a stock “rich dick” character that pulled a mean prank on the hapless protagonist. Remember in Karate kid when Cobra Kai Johnny Lawrence almost beat Daniel LaRusso to death? YOU BEEN PRANKED SUCKA!

Well, not to worry because it’s no longer only Halliburton employees and members of Skull and Bones that get to homo-erotically trick each other. Nowadays everyone regardless of gender or income level can mercilessly taunt the weak.

There are lots of good pranks. A good one is to tell your best friend that their child is dead. The key to this one is commitment. If you break out laughing right after you tell them you saw their son brutally murdered, they won’t believe you. Joke’s on them! The only person that’s dead here is you – from laughter! Work on your deadpan, no matter how hilarious the premise! I suggest taking an acting class to help you deliver your lines without cracking up. Believe me when I say that all your hard work will be worth it when you see that priceless expression of horror and sadness on your friend’s faces! LOL!

Another good prank is to act like you really like someone and go on many dates with them. After a year or so of constant dating and pretending you like them, take the prank to the next level and get married. If you want to really blow it out, have a child with this person. Here comes the fun part! Tell them that the whole relationship was an elaborate sham and that you like them about as much as that lamp you saw at Crate and Barrel the other day. Zoinks! This one has worked for me a couple times!

In the end, a prank is only as good as your willingness to destroy the lives of the people you care about. So if you care about someone this April Fool’s Day, show them how much by shooting their dog or burning their house down. Their emotional devastation and material losses may be temporary, but the memories will last forever.

Tis the season to pull a Cinderella and get on your hands and knees with a scrub brush… It’s Spring Cleaning time!

Here are some resources to kick your butt into gear.*

Do your research. Get inspired.
Spring Cleaning Tips, Tricks and Inspiration from Apartment Therapy
Martha Stewart’s downloadable Spring-Cleaning Checklist

Get organized. Know what you need to do and want to accomplish before you start.
Spring Cleaning: A Complete Checklist from About.com

Spring is the time to switch batteries in the smoke detectors, but maybe it’s a good time to make other changes too. Since you’re cleaning anyway, why not switch out those chemicals for some natural cleaning products?
ReNest’s Best Green Cleaning Products 2009: Editor’s and Reader’s Home Lineups

So you’ve cleaned out the closets. What to do with the stuff you don’t want, but might not be trash?
Unclutterer’s Ask Unclutterer: Sell or Donate?
Brokelyn’s response to yours truly’s inquiry: Where can I get decent cash (or some groovy new outfits) for my old clothing?

Want the clean house but don’t have the time or motivation to do it yourself? Hire someone to do it for you! I hired someone to come in four times a year to do a seasonal deep-cleaning, but loved the results so much, she now comes every month! You might be surprised at how affordable it is, especially if you have roommates that can spilt the cost with you. I found Monika after posting a rhetorical call for references on Facebook (I’m a big fan of finding someone that’s been pre-screened by people I know), but if you strike out there, you might want to give a service a try.
Apartment Therapy’s Clening Services Marketplace Listings for New York

Once your house is gleaming, you might think about moving on to your other temple, you body, for some internal Spring Cleaning a la detox.
Spring Cleaning from Psychology Today

*Remember to take some before and after photos and send them our way!

One of the founding principals at OMFGstyle.com is that all the cool people we know have great things to share.

And we know cool people all over the place.

So we got to thinking, and recently put out a call to OMFGstyle-type folks all over the world asking them to tell us about their city, as if we were coming for a visit (i.e. “give us the real scoop, not the Fodor’s Guide version”). We’re collecting all the tips and recommendations and soon we’ll be sharing it with you!

Over the next year, you’ll get the inside, cool-kid scoop on San Francisco, Reykjavik, New Orleans, LA, Prague, Montreal, Amsterdam, Miami, NYC weekend escapes like Woodstock and Northampton, and more… and only here, at OMFGstyle.com.

Do you have the cool-kid scoop on your city? Want to share it with us and our readers? Pretty please? Let us know! Post your city’s nomination on our Facebook wall or email it to Cody; we’d love to feature your town too.

For now, as a NYC-based site, I share with you recent, local city guides put together by an OMFGstyle.com favorite, design*sponge:
The design*sponge design guide to Jersey City
The design*sponge updated design guide to Brooklyn