CristianoNYC

Tips for a better 2010

2010-01-07T13:27:00.000-08:00

In the scenario of the obsessive culture for the "good resolutions" entering the New Year , I would like to share one of those "viral e-mails" that I actually liked , with good common sense tips on how to look at a better new begging ...

40 Tips for a Better Life in 2010 - Enjoy and Implement as many as possible !

1. Take a 10 -30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk , smile. It's the ultimate anti-depressant
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
3. Visit a least one new place in the world where you never been before
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement. My purpose is to _______ today.
5. Live with 3 E : Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2009
7. Make time to practice meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lifes
8. Spend time with people over the age of 60 and under the age of 6
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants. Eat less food that is manufactured
11.Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds and walnuts
12. Try to make at least three people smile every day
13. Clear clutter from your house , your garage, your car, your desk and let the new and flowing energy into your life
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, or issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in positive present moment
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a monk
17.Smile and laugh more. It will keep the negative blues away
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone
20. Don't take yourself too seriously. No one else does
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present
23. Don't compare your life with others. You have no idea what their journey is all about
24. Non one is in charge of your happiness except you
25. Frame every so called disaster with these words : in five years , will it matter ?
26. Forgive everyone for everything
27. What other people think of you is none of your business
28. Remember GOD heals everything
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch
31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful , beautiful or joyful
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need
33. The best is yet to come
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
35. Do the right thing !
36. Call your family and a neighbor often ( or email them to death ! )
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I'm thankful for____ Today I accomplished_______
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride
40. Please forward this to everyone you care about. I just did

Phi Phi Islands

2009-12-30T04:18:00.000-08:00

Inspired by the famous Leonardo di Caprio 's movie " The Beach" I decided to discover this small arcipelago near the coast of Phuket in the south of Thailand. The setting is for sure amazing , but the fame of the movie spoiled the hidden bay and now thousands of tourists come everyday...with the inevitable ecosystem 's pollution. A great place to welcome the New Year .
Happy 2010 to everybody !

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi

2009-12-27T16:38:00.001-08:00

Probably the most spectacular resort I stayed in the world ! The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai is an absolute architectural masterpiece , where private villas with plunging pool and all the luxury amenities you can desire lay around real rice fields, in a setting of serenity and calm. The holistic spa is beyond any expectations even for a "spa whore" like me !

Christmas with the elephants

2009-12-25T15:24:00.000-08:00

I couldn't get better gift from the Universe this year than spending Christmas Day with these incredible elephants in the Anantara Camp in the Northen Thailand by the Golden Triangle region. The Anantara Resort and Elephant camp was built with the help of the Royal Thai Governament for the protection and conservation of thai elephants against abuse and forced labor. The Mekong river defines the border between Thailand and Laos and Burma . The breathtaking beauty of Nature combined with the local culture and the love affection of these smart animals, makes this place a unique paradise on earth. Truly a unique once in a lifetime experience!

Thai things

2009-12-23T18:04:00.001-08:00

Experiencing the Thai culture is a roller coaster of images, smells,sounds, and cultural contaminations. Bangkok is the city with the worst traffic I ever seen in any other city in the world , but on the bright side taxis are bubble gum pink , so it makes it more tolerable ! You go from the obsession for the American Capitalism ( including annoying Christmas carols playing in every store .... what's up with that ? Aren't they buddhist ? ) to the most ancient traditional floating market out of a postcard of last century. It's absolutely an exciting place to visit !

Bangkok tecnicolor

2009-12-22T03:09:00.000-08:00

Bangkok is like when the TV in the '70 went from black and white to color ....everything is very bright , tecnicolor ! It's very fairytale , Disney-sh, in a good way , very happy and with a great sense of joy for life. Thai people are extremely nice and it's so refreshing seeing gentle manners and smiles.

I'm staying at the Oriental Hotel where the pampering and the luxury are unparallel.

Bangkok

2009-12-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

After escaping the first snow storm in New York and a long 18 hours flight I found myself, last night, cocktailing in Bangkok at the Sky Bar on top of the Lebua State Tower. Thailand is my destination for the next two weeks . The Sky Bar has been declared for three years in a row, by Conde' Nast Traveller, the hottest bar and best view in the world ! I have to say it's pretty impressive coming out of the elevator and ...wow..the Bangkok skyline explodes in front of your eyes. First impression of the city was great...stay tuned !

Holiday Spirit

2009-12-14T10:29:00.000-08:00

New York is without any doubt the best city in the world to experience the Holiday Spirit. People partecipate with joy to all the festivities , the city sounds like Christmas carols, smells like cinnamon and tastes like ginger bread !
Last weekend , as now an annual tradition, a group of fun citizens organized in Washington Square "the March of the Santas" : a huge gathering of thousands of Santa Claus and his admires.
Uptown on Central Park West in the Swedish Church an angelic group of children celebrated the annual Dec 13th Santa Lucia " Festival of Lights " with a lovely concert and candles extravaganza.
Santa Lucia is the Saint Patron of the sight and of the light , being blinded in the Roman times for being a follower of the Christian faith.

Bergorf Goodman Christmas Windows

2009-12-02T07:02:00.000-08:00

As per request of friend Carmine , and now an annual tradition in my blog , here's the new Christmas Windows of fabulous New York Fifth Avenue department store Bergdorf Goodman. Aa always they did an amazing job , enchanting everyboy's holidays spirit !

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Fashion Sin

2009-12-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

Caravaggio revealed

2009-11-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

An amazing new discovery in the art world of one of my favorite Old Masters : Caravaggio. The tiny image of the Renaissance genius is hidden in a carafe of wine in his 1597 oil painting Bacchus, one of his most acclaimed works which hangs in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery.
It shows a man, thought to be Caravaggio at the age of 25, with dark curly hair, peeping out from the inside of the carafe. He is holding a paint brush and working at an easel. The tiny figure’s nose, eyes and the collar around his neck are visible.

The self-portrait appears in the reflected light that plays on the surface of the wine. Art experts used advanced scientific equipment to bring the tiny portrait back to life. It was first spotted in 1922 when the canvas was cleaned by an Italian restorer. Just amazing !

Thanksgiving Parade

2009-11-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

This year I'm celebrating Thanksgiving in New York , in the most classic way with the Macy's Parade. My parents are visiting me from Rome ! Good food, family values and happy feelings ! Couldn't be more traditional !

Victoria Secret's Angels

2009-11-24T05:56:00.000-08:00

In a heavenly world inhabited only by beautiful creatures last week I found myself in the company of some "Victoria Secret's Angels" during the tape of the annual fashion show that will air next Dec1st on CBS.
My date for the night were two other very sexy creatures...stay tuned to know who they were..
One of them is obsessed with top model Alessandra Ambrosio...

Me and Brazilian top model Izabel Goulart

Sweeat heart Alessandra Ambrosio.Another Brazilian wonder!

Cheyenne

2009-11-08T06:26:00.000-08:00

Watching my friend Cheyenne performing in the fantastic new Broadway show " Finian's Rainbow " is feast for the senses : he is not only handsome to faint but amazingly talented. Backstage he told me he is now starting in Tina Fey's tv show " 30 Rock" . Tina wrote a role just for him ..I don't blame her . This guy will go very far !

Watch Cheynne Jackson singing the enchanting " Devil's Moon" from the now on Broadway " Finian's Rainbow". He is delish !

http://www.cheyennejackson.com/

10th Anniversary in the USA

2009-10-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Today I celebrate my 10th Anniversary since I moved on October 30th 1999 from Rome to New York . These ten years have been an incredible chapter of my life full of personal and professional achievements . I traveled a lot , I met the most amazing people , I realized many of my dreams... I thank the Universe every day for being so blessed and I look forward another exciting cycle of this journey !

Fall Colors

2009-10-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's not really fall for me until I visit my long time friend Ron in CT to see the foliage. I was so luck to get probably one of the last sunny and warm Sundays of the season. The colors were absolutely spectacular ! Every year this natural spectacle makes me so happy as the first time I saw it. Driving around the lovely little towns , hiking in the woods , reconnecting with Nature...sometimes we forget that the simple little things are the most rewarding. Thank you Ron for another special day.

Alexander : True Blood

2009-10-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

For all the fans like me of HBO " True Blood " vampires tv series , yesterday I had the chance of working with Swedish actor Alexander Skargard who plays the role of Eric in the show. He is so nice, sexy...and super tall !!! His character in the show, Eric Northman, is a very old and powerful vampire who owns the bar Fangtasia, a popular hangout for vampires . He is also the vampire sheriff of Area 5.

4 por 4

2009-10-22T13:12:00.001-07:00

Inspired by my recent trip to Sao Paulo last night I went to the NY City Center to see a rare performance of Brazilian choreographer Deborah Colker's dance company. Deborah Colker started in Rio de Janeiro as choreographer for a samba school and then she developed her unique style that explores the concepts of restraint, gentleness and limitation.
The show was amazing: something so vibrant, sexy , inspiring that I so recommend to see !
The most spectacular part of the "4x4" show was the "Vasos" section where the dancers maneuver around a chessboard pattern of porcelain vases , in a sort of obstacle course. Deborah wants to subvert the space and the gravity using movements that are geometrically perfect. Her work is poetic and sophisticated. She has been recently hired by the Cirque du Soleil as choreographer for the show " Ovo".

Tenebrae

2009-10-21T14:50:00.001-07:00

Last night I went to see , for their New York debut, the professional chamber choir called Tenebrae.
Tenebrae is so particular because they perform by candlelight: the choir creates an atmosphere of spiritual and musical reflection, where medieval chant and renaissance works are interspersed with contemporary compositions to create an ethereal mood of contemplation. The beautiful acoustics and lighting effects of a Tenebrae concert are further enhanced by the choir’s dramatic use of movement around the performing space. As singers move around their surroundings to explore all possible sound perspectives, each member of the audience is able to experience the power and intimacy of the human voice. It was a true spiritual experience : those voices are really angelic !

Tenebrae performed at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Manhattan.

The word ‘TENEBRAE’ comes from the medieval latin meaning ‘darkness’. Nowadays it is more commonly associated with the word ‘shadows’. It is also the name for the services of matins and lauds which are sung on the last three days of Holy Week. This includes a ceremony of candles.

Lo mas !

2009-10-12T06:33:00.000-07:00

My amazing weekend in Sao Paolo is ending but with memories that will last for ever . I discovered a city of contrasts with spectacular architectures , colors , warm and criminally good looking people. Pedro was so much fun and I'm glad we spent more quality time together. The entire time we were quoting Orlando Toro's catch phrase " Lo mas ! " that in english means something like "over the top " referring to everything fabulous we did this weekend.

Pedro having breakfast ( in full jewel regalia ! ) , by the Unique Hotel roof pool , just back from a night out to " The Week" : the most amazing party in Sao Paulo !

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Sao Paulo

2009-10-10T15:20:00.001-07:00

What's the best way of visiting Sao Paulo and living like a real "paulista" ? Having a real brazilian showing you around ! So Pedro joined me from Buenos Aires and we're having the best time ever ! Lo mas !! The city is a jungle of building , 19 milions of people live here ! Art , design , trendy restaurants and amazing shopping make of Sao Paulo the ultimate hot destination ! Oh , I forgot ..the boys are out of this world !

Last night we hit BuBu Lounge where two mega dance floors were crowed with cute super young boys dancing from commercial to house music.

I choosed to stay at the trendy and super stylish Hotel Unique : a true design masterpiece designed by Ruy Ohtake. The roof top with the pool and Skye Bar offers the most breathtaking views of Sao Paulo.

The exclusive shopping at Daslu Palazzo , the ultimate shopping experience !

MASP the Museum of Art of Sao Paulo is a cutting edge design building built in 1956 has permanent collections of masters such as Goya or Velazquez to contemporary paulistanos artists. But I think that Pedro is the kind of contemporary Brazilian " art you can get into ".

Fallingwater

2009-10-05T09:39:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I finally fulfilled my dream, since I was a child, visiting the Fallingwater house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright . My German friend Kurt and I flew to Pittsburgh ,Pennsylvania where we first visited the Andy Warhol Museum and the Mattress Factory Museum. Then we drove outside the city into the country and discovered this architectural masterpiece the Fallingwater nestled in serene and soothing woods where the only noise is the calming sound of the waterfall . It's something that words or any picture can't explain... It's the ultimate achievement of living organically with Nature. And this was built in 1934 ! I highly recommend a visit.

At the Mattress Factory I played as part of the installation by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
In Pittsburgh we run across an Indian wedding's procession. I have seen this kind of celebration in a larger scale in Jaipur .So Bollywood !

Last summer weekend

2009-09-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

It's chilly out there and you know summer is over , but you still want to catch the tepid last ray of sun... This was my past weekend celebrating the passage to the fall season. Mark and I had a wonderful time in his house in Greenport , NY, eating organic vegetables for local farms, fresh lobster, drinking white Chardonay from local wineries and just relaxing.

I love you Phillip Morris

2009-09-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to see the new movie with Jim Carrey ( Feb 2010 ) who plays the real story of a perfect texan husband who discovers himself gay and gets involved in a series of criminal scams that take him to jail where he meets the love of his life. Many eye candy actors play in this movie like hottie brazilian Rodrigo Santoro and Ewan McGregor. It looks like a lot of fun !

The night I boo at the Met

2009-09-22T08:54:00.000-07:00

Last night is going to make history for me because it was the first time ever I boo a performance at the Met ! The highly anticipated new " Tosca" opened the season with the usual "recession-proof" glamorous Park Avenue crowd who paid the staggering $1,250 a ticket to see a bad high school production . My poor Puccini was dilapidated by a cheap and inaccurate staging , conceptual mistakes and a lousy soprano who didn't know what she was doing. She destroyed the most famous aria " Vissi d'arte " . It was not a worth world class opera house opening night. And the "aficionados" made that clear booing loud big time at the end of the third act ! It was a scandal , a real scene !
Read the review from the Associated Press

http://njo.live.advance.net/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-9/1253612142177850.xml&storylist=entertainment

Me and Amedeo trying to keep a dignified behaviour while we were culturally violated !