Instead of basking in the afterglow of starring in the best Super Bowl halftime show we have seen in years, Beyonce is employing a publicist who chasing down media outlets who deign to run screenshots of her performance deemed unflattering.
If I looked like this, it's all I'd care about.
Via Gawker:
On Monday, our pals at Buzzfeed assembled an incoherent list of 33 Beyoncé pictures and GIFs taken from her Super Bowl performance, and posted it under the title "
A very bad photo of the Tipica Toscana Seraselva Poggio Al Sole I really liked.
Drinking wine is nice. Drinking wine for a good cause is even better.
This past Friday I attended a wine tasting and fundraiser for Domestic and Other Violence Emergencies (D.O.V.E.), a grant funded program that serves victims of physical and sexual assault, domestic violence and elder abuse out of New York Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights.
Held at Moore Brothers wine shop in Chelsea, it was an evening full of amazing wine, exciting raffles and fun conversation. The wine was poured by the wonderful Greg Moore, a sommelier and former Philadelphia restaurant owner who kept everyone intrigued about the vino they were drinking.
I also talked to D.O.V.E. staffers about their program, which provides complete emergency medical treatment and crisis intervention 24-hours a day, seven-days-a-week at the hospital Emergency Room.
While experienced social workers meet with victims during daytime weekday hours, it is volunteers like fellow uptown Manhattanite, Lyana Fernandez, who are the lifeblood of the program.
Inwood resident and D.O.V.E. volunteer, Lyana Fernandez.
On nights and weekends, one of two of the more than 60 volunteers accompany victims during their stay in the emergency department, a time when the victim is at her or his most vulnerable and may feel alone, frightened, ashamed and/or unsure of what has happened.
Volunteers undergo 40 hours of training and serve one to two overnight or weekend shifts per month. In 2008, they helped over 500 victims. All services are provided free of charge.
D.O.V.E. can always use more volunteers. For more information about volunteering, or if you or someone you know has questions about domestic violence or other types of violence or assault, call (212) 305-9060 or visit D.O.V.E’s website at http://nyp.org/dove/
Lucky raffle winners won airline miles, wine, jewelry and more.
By the way, I really liked two of the five wines I sampled– Prosseco Asolo Superiore Bele Casel NV, $17, and Indicazione Geografica Tipica Toscana Seraselva Poggio Al Sole (2005), $25. Both are available at Moore Brothers.
-Gina
An outdoor eatery near Rodadero beach in Santa Marta
I’m super excited to be going to Colombia’s Carnavales in early March. The event is held in Barranquilla, my parents’ home city.
My cousin Lily Vasquez visited her family in Barranquilla in late December. I’m sharing a few of her pictures as they are helping me forget about New York City’s horrible weather and look forward to the sun and fun!
-Gina
Fun in the water!
The mud baths at El Totumo Volcano near Cartagena.
Beach!
Hey all:
Just using my blog to spread the news about a new class Christine from Yoga and Spin in Washington Heights is hoping to offer *IF* there is enough interest. I’m interested! Are you? It sounds TOUGH and fun..
Check out the message I got from Christine:
Blast fat and increase your metabolism quickly!
This “Super Charged” one-hour fat burning, strength building class offers interval training, comprised of ten minutes of high intensity spin burn alternating with ten minute high intensity strength/plyometrics. If you are truly committed for a change this year please email me. I am looking to offer the class on Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. I will offer it on weekends if desired!
Contact Christine at http://www.yogaandspin.com.
-Gina
Despite the fact that Jan. 11′s snowstorm was a tame one compared to the blizzard of 2010, I had a snow day today. Not so for students of the New York City public school system. Sorry kids.
So how is my neck of Washington Heights doing in the wake of the latest snow storm? Kind of quiet, really. And pretty damn clean. Not sure if they were temporary workers or the real deal, but one thing is clear: The Department of Sanitation of New York seems to be doing a better job this time around.
-Gina Vergel
Christine Grimaldi (in black) also teaches yoga. (Photo via Manhattan Times)
After a brief hiatus, spinning in uptown Manhattan is back!
Those of you who know Christine Grimaldi know her classes include yoga and/or pilates after the cycling portion. It’s a complete workout! And the best part? Five classes are only $90. That’s pretty cheap for NYC!
For now, classes are:
Monday 6 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 7 a.m.
Wednesday 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 7 a.m., and
Saturday 10 a.m.
More classes will be added! She’s open to suggestions.
Spinning is only one part of what Christine has to offer uptown residents looking for a fitness break! She writes:
“Learn the basics and meaning behind the ancient art of yoga. Explore what it means to connect and focus while getting the best workout you can imagine. Great for all levels!
Hands on instruction, with vinyasa flow, use of yoga ropes and inversion slings. Finishing with meditation and an aromatherapy neck massage. Classes will begin Monday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m. and will continue every Monday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Limit 4 people per class. Hands on quality instruction.”
Christine is also introducing a StandUp2Cancer bootcamp. For more details, including information about her work with children with cancer, visit her website. And you can RSVP for classes by emailing grimaldichristine@yahoo.com . You can also call or text her at (631) 838-3332
-Gina Vergel
In many ways, Tito Ortiz hasn’t stopped running on Garrett Mountain.
As a matter of fact, those close to him would say that if Hodgkin’s Lymphoma hadn’t claimed the life of the longtime Paterson resident last November, there’s a good chance he would have tackled the mountain per his usual routine all year to train for the New York City marathon two weeks ago.
On Saturday, Nov. 20, Ortiz will be honored on the very same Garret Mountain trails he so aptly ran throughout his life in a memorial 5K in his honor. His son, Benjamin “Benji” Ortiz is organizing the 3.6-mile trek.
“My dad’s passion was running,” said Benji, 36, himself an avid runner. “He ran all over Paterson but Garrett Mountain was his playground. I wanted to have something to hold on to and setting up a run in his honor seemed like the right thing to do. My dad made many friends through running and introduced the sport to many.”
Tito Ortiz, a Puerto Rican native who moved to Paterson when he was a teen in the mid-1960s, earned 25 New York City marathon medals throughout his lifetime. He also completed the Boston Marathon.
Ortiz worked for the Paterson housing department before forging a career as a maintenance man and boiler repairman for the Park East Terrace apartments on the city’s east side. Along with his wife, Miriam, he raised two sons in Paterson.
“My dad taught my brother, Robert, and I the meaning of life and hard work, but most of all faith,” Benji said. “He also taught us how to stay physically fit through sports. He loved softball played for as many as four teams at once. He managed a league and coached a team called Boriqueña. But what he thrived on was running.”
In 2004, Tito Ortiz was forced to take a break from his beloved pastime when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. After rigorous chemotherapy, radiation treatments and a stem cell transplant, it seemed his health was in the clear. In 2007, the cancer returned aggressively and he was given just months to live.
Tito Ortiz didn’t give in so easily, his son explained.
“He was a fighter. He continued on, never once blaming anyone or giving up. He was able to celebrate his 62nd birthday with all of his family,” Benji said.
Befittingly, Ortiz was able to celebrate that birthday atop Garrett Mountain.
“This was a joyous time for everyone including my dad, who managed to play a little touch football with my brother and I and all of our cousins. He even scored a touchdown as he took off running and shocked everyone. That was my dad—always strong and always hopeful,” Benji said.
On Nov. 15, 2009, Tito Ortiz succumbed to cancer.
“He’s still with us. There’s not a day I don’t think of him, especially when I am running,” said Benji, who often goes running at Garrett Mountain along with his daughter, Alyssa
The Tito Ortiz Memorial 5K is open to all and is expected to draw close to 100 participants and friends. It will include a Fun Dash for children 13 and under and a Fitness Walk around the mountain. There is no required fee to participate but donations, which will be used for the day’s expenses, are welcome.
“By creating this event and getting awareness out I would like to have a big race next year with promotion and sponsorship to make it a charitable race,” Benji Ortiz added.
Thanks to a sponsor, those who donate to the race will be entered in a drawing for jewelry worth $100 from Jewels by Park Lane. More information will be available t at the registration table.
For more information, call Benji Ortiz at 973-668-2275.
Benji and his dad, Tito
–Gina Vergel
