In the warmer weather months when the sun is beating down on the New York City pavement and your body is being cooked from all angles, it is often difficult to remember that Manhattan is an island with easily accessible bodies of water.  Most people escape the city to avoid the heat and try to take advantage of natural surroundings elsewhere.  That is why the community-based organization Floating the Apple is working to alter New Yorkers’ impression of their island by promoting easy access to some of New York City’s greatest prized possessions.  Floating the Apple is a non-profit group located in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and it has been in existence for over a decade.  Their Pier 84 location houses several 25-foot long row boats, which the students from the local High School of Graphic Arts work to maintain.  All you need to do is make an appointment with Floating the Apple, and you and a couple of friends can take out a row boat on the Hudson River for FREE!  The members of the Hell’s Kitchen community work together to maintain this one of a kind opportunity because it’s not often that New Yorkers get to experience Manhattan from its waterways.  Follow show host Shirley as she speaks with Floating the Apple naval instructor Robert Skibar!   

What are some other fun outdoor activities that you enjoy doing in New York City?

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If one were asked to sketch the outline of a book, most would draw a rectangular shape with some kind of hard or paperback cover encapsulating a stack of papers.  Said drawing would not be inaccurate – it would just be lacking imagination.  Unfortunately a lack of imagination had become a far too common occurrence in the literary and publishing worlds, which is why a group of artists tried challenging the status quo by founding the non-profit organization Booklyn back in 1999.

This artist-run organization works to unite the writer, artist and reader through a mutual appreciation of creativity and discovery.  Based out of Greenpoint, Booklyn helps its artists and writers to distribute, sell and make their own books.  The organization is dedicated to its mission of promoting their writers’ books as both literary resources and works of art – especially in a market overrun by mass production and conformity.  Booklyn offers classes, workshops, and lectures to all those interested in the creative and historical aspects of literature and bookmaking.  They also willingly assist artists and authors in publishing and distributing their works by providing them with access to the organization’s technology and skilled professionals, in addition to their ever-increasing audience base.  This organization provides a unique and organic forum for book lovers abound to share in their appreciation for literature and hand crafted works.  In this segment, show hosts Shirley and Christopher explore the craftsmanship behind this innovative organization!

Booklyn Artists Alliance

37 Greenpoint Avenue, 11222

http://www.booklyn.org/index.php

Who are your favorite New York authors?

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There is an old Irish saying that reads, “Men are like bagpipes – no sound comes from them until they are full.”  This might explain why there is never a quiet (or dull) moment at 11377’s famous burger joint – Donovan’s Pub!  This lively Irish tavern has been a favorite among the locals for the past forty years – providing Woodside, Queens with the #1 rated hamburger in New York, 365 days a year.  The local landmark also makes their own fries – reportedly selling over 300 lbs. of fresh potatoes a day, and luckily for you there’s no potato famine in sight!  If you happen to find yourself in Woodside, be sure to step inside Donovan’s Pub and order their highly acclaimed hamburger.  For now, sit back and watch Show Host Christopher as he bites into some of Queens’ local flavor!

Donovan’s Pub

57-24 Roosevelt Avenue/11377

What NYC spot do you think makes the best hamburger?

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A caravan is most commonly known as a large group of traders or travelers who strike out on a journey together through hostile territories. In the jungles of New York City, it’s important for consumers to band together and do the same. It’s a dangerous world out there for the uninformed shopper, so sharing as many resources and tricks as one can is a necessity for survival in this city! This is why Caravan founders, Brian and Claudine Gumbel, are able to take such pride in the achievement of their fashionably acclaimed mobile shopping center. In June of 2005, Brian and Claudine converted an RV into a portable clothing store – carrying some of the most exclusive fashions in the city. The Caravan has been known to drive to hotels, apartment buildings, offices – and even Staten Island – to bring fashion & convenience to the most spontaneous of shoppers. Since its creation The Caravan has seen great success, and the result has been more permanent roots on the Upper East Side at a spin-off store called Caravan91. The Caravan is a fabulous attraction worth checking out, for even the laziest of shoppers. It’s an experience unto itself. So if you happen to catch the Caravan rolling by, be sure to hail it down and jump right in – which is exactly what our Dress Code host Sasha did in the Boogie Down Bronx!

Caravan91
128 E 91st Street, 10128
www.shopcaravan.com

What are some of your favorite alternative shopping destinations?

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With commercial real estate prices forever on the rise, landmark novelty shops like Dan’s Chelsea Guitars are slowly (and sadly) becoming a rarity in this fine city. Luckily for all of the city’s would be guitar heroes…Dan’s Chelsea Guitars is still standing! Located in the historically vibrant Chelsea Hotel, this shop has been in existence for 19 years under the ownership of Dan Courtenay – a native New Yorker himself. Dan and his staff of characters have been sustaining a love for the guitar among musicians and non-musicians alike, by living the store’s motto of “it all starts with a good guitar.” The store’s staff serves a litany of customers ranging from the true beginner to the string aficionado with an extensive stock of new, used, and vintage guitars. During the store’s lifetime, its walls have been blessed enough to have seen and heard the likes of music legends such as David Crosby, Keith Richards, and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons! Aside from it’s well renowned guitar collection, the store also boasts an elaborate supply of amps ranging from various decades – all of which aim to satisfy any guitarist’s feedback desire. So take in a piece of New York’s musical history and join show host Shirley as she ventures in to this one of a kind shop and busts out a guitar riff of her own!

Dan’s Cheslea Guitars

220 West 23rd Street, 10011

www.chelseaguitars.com

What are some of your favorite New York City novelty shops?

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It’s no mystery that New York City is one of the most religiously diverse locales in the United States. A casual stroll around this metropolis will lead you to some of the most breath-taking churches, mosques, and temples in the world – all of them dotting this city’s street corners. Next time you find yourself next to the Manhattan Bridge, be sure to take a step inside the Mahayana Buddhist Temple. It was once the old Rosemary Theater but is now home to the largest Buddhist Temple in New York City. Upon entering, take note of the two golden lions that stand guard at the Temple’s entrance. These lions serve to protect the Temple against evil spirits. Once inside be certain to rub the belly of the largest Buddha statue in the city – since it is believed to bring luck, wealth, and prosperity. And before you leave, indulge in having your fortune read for only a dollar! Join Show Hosts Shirley and Brandon as they visit this sacred structure in search of inner peace…and hugs.

What are some of the most magnificent buildings in New York?

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For the ultimate mix of old and new, and a little something all its own, head to the East Village. Vintage toys, magazines, and clothes of all kinds can be found at Love Saves The Day. If you are missing your School House Rock lunchbox, Smurf miniatures, or an awesome 80’s era leather jacket, you can probably find it here in Leslie Herson’s home for all things nostalgic. When you are done looking back, Blue and Cream showcases the cutting edge of high-end fashion. With labels such as Charlotte Ronson, Alexander Wang, L.A.M.B., and Herve Leger, Jeff Goldstein has created a haven for the modern fashionista. And the truly original can be themselves at legendary fashion designer Patricia Field’s home on the Bowery. A little bit Hollywood, a little bit old school, and a little bit for everyone can be found downtown.

Love Saves the Day
119 2nd Avenue, 10003

Blue and Cream
11 E 1st Street, 10003
www.blueandcream.com

Patricia Field
302 Bowery, 10012
www.patriciafield.com

What Are Your East Village Shopping Destinations?

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Chinatown is full of ancient secrets. The wonders of the East are evident as you walk down the streets and see the exotic foods, smell the mysterious scents, and browse the many unique shops. Herbalists have become prevalent in this neighborhood as many Americans are embracing the notion of alternative medicines and wellness. Frank Lin and his sisters, Susan and Jane, can help you navigate these unknown waters at the Lin Sister Herb Shop.

Lin Sister Herb Shop
4 Bowery, 10013
www.linsister.com

What Herbal Remedies Do You Recommend?

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Two adventurous Code Trippers embark on a scavenger hunt throughout Manhattan, with Host Christopher as their guide, on this Best of Sports edition of Code Trip.  With their street smarts at the ready and the Codester fueled up, Keith and Jill look for clues throughout 10013, 10014 and 10022, which take them to their final destination and a special sporting surprise in Shelton, CT. Batter up!

Canal Plastics Center
345 Canal Street, 10013
www.canalplasticscenter.com

Enfleurage
321 Bleecker Street, 10014
www.enfleurage.com

Jimbo’s Hamburgers
991 1st Avenue, 10022
www.jimboshamburgerplace.com

The Wiffle Ball, Inc.
275 Bridgeport Avenue, 06484
www.wiffle.com

What’s your favorite sport to play in NYC?

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For more than 20 years, the dancer-illusionists of MOMIX have been creating living art pieces under the guidance of Moses Pendleton. Five dramatically different shows use props, humor, music, and the human body to create surrealistic images of the everyday world around us, as well as the spiritual one which inspires us. Opus Cactus, Sun Flower Moon, and MOMIX in Orbit bring a desert landscape to the stage, create vignettes of light and shadow, and incorporate multimedia for a journey out of this world. Baseball evokes the essence of spirit created only by America’s pastime. Spirituality is explored and brought to life with the collaboration of Peter Gabriel and his powerful score in Passion. While performing at The Joyce Theater in Chelsea, this innovative Artistic Director and Choreographer discusses how these sensual and athletic moving sculptures continue to evolve.

www.mosespendleton.com

The Joyce Theater
175 8th Avenue, 10011

www.joyce.org

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What Moves You To Dance? Post A Comment And Let Us Know!