Sky Room, a new hotel rooftop bar located in Times Square which opens later this spring, boasts 360 degree views of Manhattan and the Hudson River.  It will be the city’s highest roof deck lounge. Craziness!!!

The Sky Room will host an Open Call to choose an in-house event photographer for the venue.  The winner will be determined by a panel of celebrity judges including society photographer Rob Rich, fashion photographer Tom Concordia, celebrity and society photographer Jerritt Clark, Claudine Gumbel of CaravanGirl.com, Kirill Bichutsky of Kirill Was Here,  ME!!!!! and fashion blogger Daniel Saynt of FashionIndie.com The winner will receive a paid photography position with the venue.

Potential contestants are required to bring examples of their work to the Open Call and can get a jump start on the competition by visiting Sky Room’s Twitter (www.twitter.com/skyroomnyc) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/skyroomnyc) accounts for further information and to upload your work.

The open call is This Wednesday, April 14th from 4PM-6PM:

598 Broadway (@Houston) 6^th Floor

Image via STG54

+++UPDATE+++

Good news everyone!!!!!!  Sunday Best will return this summer at BKLYN Yard! Residents Justin Carter, Eamon Harkin & Doug Singer will be joined by special guests every Sunday from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend.

More details coming soon.

———

My favorite place to be during the summer months is the Brooklyn Yard.  What was once the home solely to Eamon Harkin and Justin Carter’s killer party, Sunday Best, shared the wealth with the MeanRed girls last summer.  MeanRed confirmed they will be back again this summer, but no word if ‘Sunday Best‘ will return to The Yard for their long running weekly party.   I sure effing hope they do.  Sunday Best is by far the best party slash ultimate hang session BK’s ever seen.  People be getting DOWN at The Yard.

PS: There is also no word if MeanRed will be letting me host a party there this summer, but I sure as hell hope so!

Image via Grub Street

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I went to Ralph’s Italian Ice yesterday, located on Graham Ave and Conselyea St, to find out it was CLOSED and turning in to a DELI.  Yes, that’s right, a DELI.  Who’s bright idea was that?

I was forced to go to Uncle Louis G’s – the new place that opened last year- who’s existence I cursed because it moved in on my dear Ralph’s.  As I waited in line, I heard my thoughts vocalized by other patrons, “What happened to Ralph’s?! I love Ralph’s!!”   That’s what I’m saying.  I stared at the menu searching for my normal order – Coconut Cream – or in Louis’ language – Coconut Crave. In the taste test comparison, Louis’ did okay in comparison to Ralph’s, the ice is a little less creamy and more hard – but still delicious overall.

When I got home, I turned to Yelp for some answers – it looks like the transition from Ralph’s to All Star’s Deli went down last month.  Booooooooo.

I’m so pissed – I looked forward to Ralph’s every summer! Louis G’s it is… I guess.

I CAN’T WAIT. I CAN’T WAIT. I CAN’T WAIT. I CAN’T WAIT.

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via Wooster Collective:

As we head into the April 16th opening weekend of Exit Through The Gift Shop in New York, San Francisco and LA, Banksy has started to release a series of exclusive videos on the film’s official Youtube channel.  Until today, the only footage online was the trailer which intentionally makes it clear that Banksy doesn’t want to give too of the film’s storyline away.  Banksy says in the clip: “The film is the story of what happens when his guy tried to make a documentary about me but he was a lot more interesting than I am, so the film is now kinda about him.”  In an extended five minute teaser for the film released today, Banksy for the first time sets up the film’s storyline.  That guy is a French filmmaker named Terry Guetta. What happens to him in the film is a true case in which truth is stranger than fiction. The film opens in cinemas across the United States beginning April 16th. For exact cities and theaters check the film’s official website here.

There was lots of action over at 366 Metropolitan Ave this weekend, home of the late Black Betty.  The Williamsburg staple closed it’s doors last June and the space remained pretty silent until a few weeks ago.

The new owners go by the Dow Young Group and the restaurant/ potential lounge now has a blue-grey exterior.  No official word on the future of the space – but I pray that it is not yet another Asian restaurant.

++++UPDATE++++

Joseph Foglia, the local designer best known for his work on Saltie and Dressler, is working on this space.  I’m excited to hear more about the progress – although I am really surprised he didn’t decide to do more with the exterior.  It could really use a little more than a fresh paint job.

Thanks @mikepeguero for the tip!