The Museum at FIT is a tiny slice of the Fashion Institute of Technology, part of the State University of New York.  The museum’s mission is to “collect, conserve, document, exhibit, and interpret fashion.”  The museum’s permanent collection includes over 50,000 articles and is divided into an accessories collection, a costume collection, and a textile collection that date from the 18th-century to present.  The museum is always acquiring new items, some of its newest acquisitions include a beautiful white organza, silk tulle, and feather dress by Rodarte.  Rotating exhibitions feature photography, clothing, textiles, and accessories.  Student art from FIT is also shown at the museum. 

The current temporary exhibition is Arbiters of Style: Women at the Forefront of Fashion.  The exhibition focuses on the women who have shaped the course of fashion: from the work of female designers to clothing and accessories worn by female department store executives, influential clients, magazine editors, muses, and models.  Items included will be a gown, circa 1770, designed by Anna Maria Garthwaite and a Chanel suit worn by legendary fashion photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe. Arbiters of Style: Women at the Forefront of Fashion will be on display through November 8, 2008. 

The best bargain in fashion can be found at the Museum at FIT, free admission!

Location:  Museum at FIT, Seventh Avenue at 27th Street (map),  (212) 217-4560

Subway: 1 to 28th Street; R, W to 28th Street

Days and Hours:  Tuesday-Friday Noon-8pm; Saturday 10am-5pm. Closed Sundays, Mondays.

Cost:  Free

Check out last week’s Museum Monday post on the Merchant’s House Museum.  Museum Monday continues next week with a post on the the New York Transit Museum. 

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

This is your chance to get 50-75% off all of the designer duds that you had been eyeing.  Merchandise includes designer clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women, and gifts for the home.  We’re talking Manolo’s for $70 and a Marc Jacobs dress for $75.  New this year is the addition of children’s Halloween costumes which, oddly enough, I don’t recall ever seeing at the Madison Avenue store.     

Know Before You Go: 

• The store will look like it was just looted.  Don’t worry, it wasn’t.  That’s just the Barney’s Warehouse sale merchandising technique.  It’s very effective.  
• Be prepared for the mandatory bag check… as you enter the store.  They don’t want any knife fights in the store so these guys are more thorough than the TSA.
• Keep your hands free.  This is the only time you should ever wear a fanny-pack.
• Don’t bring your children or you will risk loosing them in the masses of clothing.
• Don’t bring a friend who wears the same size as you… unless you want the friendship to end at the sight of the last pair of Theory jeans, size 6.
• There are no changing rooms.  Head by American Apparel to pick-up a one-piece bodysuit.  You won’t be the only one. 
• Protective eyewear may not be such a bad idea either.   
• Remember that all sales are final.     
• Move fast or you’ll have to wait until August for the next warehouse sale. 

Location:  255 West 17th Street (map) 212-450-8400

Subway:  1 to 18th Street; 1, 2, 3 to 14th Street; A, C, E, L to 8th Avenue-14th Street

Dates and Times:  Monday-Friday 10am-9pm; Saturday and Sunday 10am-7pm.  Through March 2nd.

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

 

Having been featured in Sex and the City, Saturday Night Live, and The Devil Wears Prada, Magnolia Bakery has officially achieved cult status.  On any given day you can walk down Bleecker Steet in the West Village and see a line of people on the corner of West 11th Street.  Hordes of people, mostly non-New Yorkers, patiently waiting up to an hour for their moment at the case to pick out their “limit 12″ (as per Magnolia’s policy) cupcakes.

Word on the street is that after receiving so much press, Magnolia Bakery is starting to believe its own hype.  This has sent scads of New Yorkers elsewhere to have their sweet-tooth cured.

For a more authentic New York City experience go to Billy’s Bakery in Chelsea.  Sure, Billy’s isn’t located in a quaint West Village neighborhood but locals swear by Billy’s cupcakes saying they’re better than Magnolia’s.  Bonus: It will not take a hour to get your cupcake!

Location: 184 9th Avenue (between West 21st and West 22nd Street) map

Subway: C, E to 23rd Street

Hours:  Mon-Thu 9am-11pm; Fri-Sat 9am-12:00am; Sun 10am-11pm

Check out the video below for a typical Saturday at Magnolia Bakery.  Believe me, no New Yorker would ever stand in a line like that for a cupcake!

Video of a typical Saturday at Magnolia Bakery

Photo credit:  personal collection

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

I just saw this come across the wires and it is just so surreal that I had to share it.  "Long Island Lolita," ex-convict Amy Fisher, will be a Guest DJ at Retox Rock Bar in New York City.  Fisher will be joined by self-proclaimed "NYC Club Guru" JE Englebert.   

Amy Fisher rose to fame in 1992 when the then sixteen-year old was convicted of shooting Mary Jo Buttafuco, the wife of her former lover, Joey Buttafuco.  Fisher served seven years in prison and was released in 1999.

But it doesn’t just stop there!  Apparently she’s been busy since her prison release in 1999.  Fisher’s guest appearance will also mark the official debut of her controversial sex tape that ex-husband and former cop, Louis Bellera, sold to Los Angeles porn distributor, Red Light District.  Red Light District, also the distributor of Paris Hilton’s sex tape, must be marketing geniuses because the Fisher sex tape is the #1 selling tape in the United States. 

If you absolutely must go see this train-wreck, here is the info:

Location:  513 West 28th Street (between 10th and 11th Avenue) map

Subway: 1, 2, 3, A, C, E to 34th Street-Penn Station

Date and Time: Friday, January 8th 2008, 11pm

More Information and Table Reservations: 212-268-5105

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

The Vinyasa Hatha-style naked yoga classes are meant to liberate you from negative belief patterns, body consciousness and, of course, clothing. According to Naked Yoga NYC, naked yoga was created with the thought that

…by removing clothing we are forced to examine our bodies and our belief patterns. We let go more quickly of what is holding us back, and plunge more deeply into our truth and our bliss.

Naked yoga classes are open to both sexes but tend to draw more men than women by a margin of 3:1 and because the studio is in the gay-friendly neighborhood of Chelsea, the students tend to be as such. For women who want a more gender-specific class, Naked Yoga NYC offers a women-only, clothing optional Goddess Circle Celebration that emphasizes reconnecting to women’s power and reclaiming a positive body image.

All open-level classes are taught by either Isis or Britt, two instructors who have their own personal style of teaching. Isis received her Yoga Alliance certification from Laughing Lotus in New York and has studied with various healers and shamans. Isis’ focus is on mysticism and her classes incorporate spiritual practices and sensual flow. Britt, also a certified instructor, is more focused on physical alignment and believes that the breath is the key to a meaningful yoga practice.

Mark your calendars now because in the summer the classes move to the rooftop. Nothing screams Chelsea quite like getting your inner-Zen on while posing naked on a rooftop and watching the sunset over the Hudson River!

For a full list of classes and schedules, visit the Naked Yoga NYC website. Classes are $25 and you must RSVP to info@makednewyorkyoga.com. Don’t forget to bring your own mat.

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Post from: The New York City Traveler