WILD CARD! | The Hippie Results

If this is your first time reading about my Hippie WILD CARD, may I suggest you read The Hippie Challenge first. Otherwise you will be very confused!

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The Taking of TAKING WOODSTOCK

If I might...

Michael Lang is to Woodstock ’69 as Michelle Joni is to impromptu Hippie Van extravaganzas.

Or, if I might... get paint thrown on me for drawing such an analogy... 

Let me just take you through each success of the night.

LOADING THE VAN Roger, the Hippie Van driver, pulled my little miss sunshine on wheels in front of the Chelsea Hotel at 5:30 as planned. At 6:00, after Melody sixty’d everyone out just a touch more, we loaded the van and were en route to the premiere of Taking Woodstock!

Peter Max (at right, sitting with Edward Tricomi in the Chelsea Hotel lobby) sat shotgun, and to Ralph's delight and surprise, signed his van on the way over to the premiere!

Edward Tricomi (of Warren-Tricomi), Sam Bassett (photographer/film director who lives on the famed Chelsea Hotel rooftop), and Ralph Walton (Hippie Van owner) sat across from Melody and me. We stopped the van 2 blocks from the theater to pick up one more very important passenger, and also one of the evening’s hosts: Erin Fetherston.

Fashion note: Erin Fetherston's faboosh sequined pants are her own design... and "The only pair in the universe!"

MAKING A GREAT HIPPIE FUSS  In a sea of black town cars and limos, we pulled up to the carpet at the Sunshine Landmark Cinema and the crowd went wild. Flashes! Look here! Over here! Melody was interviewed and she shared our tale of bringing a Hippie Van up from North Carolina just for the premiere.

Edward Tricomi, Melody Weir, Sam Bassett, Erin Fetherson, Michael Lang and Michael Lang's lovely wife. What a picture!

Here are some people who did NOT arrive in Ralph Walton’s Hippie Van, and DEFINITELY wish they did:

Claire Daines, Meryl Streep, Demetri Martin, Emile Hirsch, Grace and Mamie Gummer, Peter Som, Ang Lee, Alexis Maybank, Anna Sui, Yigal Azrouel, Nanette Lepore, Vanessa Carlton, Dani Stahl, Lily Donaldson, Andre Leon Talley, Lauren Remington Platt and Anna Wintour... to name a few.

Although, during mine and Anna Wintour's simultaneous run-pee moment in the bathroom, she overheard me on the phone with Ralph and Roger arranging the hippie pickup for after the film. She did not ask to join. Perhaps she was fine with her town car.

MEETING MICHAEL LANG, FOUNDER OF WOODSTOCK  Part of the deal was that Ralph and Roger would get to meet Michael Lang. This was rather easy for me since Peter Max, Melody Weir and Edward Tricomi are all friends with him, and also since he is one of the most genuinely wonderful and humble men I've ever met. 

Ralph got a bunch of great pictures with Michael in front of his van. 

Roger opted for Michael to sign just a cocktail napkin for him instead. 

One of the best parts of the evening for me, too, was meeting Michael Lang. I told him about The Fest For Beatles Fans, the Fest Facebook Page, and the NYC Game, and he said to give him a call that week. He didn't give me a card - but his cell number! - which I stored in my phone, feeling at that moment I had just become part of Woodstock more than ever before. 

I spoke to him briefly on Friday, but he was on a plane ready to take off for Europe. More updates from Michael Lang are sure to come!

George Whipple (the spunky, joyous, bushy-browed NY1 newscaster) joined us in the Hippie Van from the premiere to the party. Here he is with Peter Max.  

THE AFTER PARTY It was hands-down most exciting, star-studded New York party Ralph and Roger had ever been to. 

After the party, Ralph, Roger and I took the Van back to the lot. We did a little photo shoot first.

The movie: I loved the story and the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of Woodstock. It got into the always interesting politics of the 60s, and the logistics of how half a million kids invaded a small town in upstate New York. My dad was there in '69 and has told me his crazy story so many times. I was really hoping, though, for some more music and action from the middle of the Woodstock crowd - I wanted to be sucked in to love and music, not just watching from 40 years in the future. 

Ally Zarin, of Real Housewives of NYC, who I took with me because she is the self-proclaimed biggest Michael Lang/Woodstock/60s fan of her generation, says that the book is better. She's read it twice!

Although I can take credit for a few things, the MOST credit goes to Melody Weir. This whole brilliant Hippie Van idea was Melody's brainchild, and I give her all the credit in the world for bringing her flowery vision to life. Congratulations to us all!

Kisses!

Michelle Joni

PHOTO CREDIT: Roxanne Lowit, Ralph Walton and myself. 

WILD CARD! | The Hippie Challenge

This wasn’t originally part of the NYC Game… but I realized... I got thrown a wild card. This challenge could be the most game-like thing I’ve ever had to do in my life!

I woke up Saturday morning with an urgent voicemail:

“Michelle. I need a hippie bus. You know, a big 60s painted Volkswagen hippie bus. I need it on Thursday* for the Taking Woodstock premiere. If anyone in New York can find one, it’s you.” (Insert exaggerated dial tone here.)

The voicemail came from Melody Weir, a New York marketing guru and Studio 54-type icon, who has become a great friend as well as a very key, behind-the-scenes, connecting player in the NYC Game. She couldn’t imagine showing up with her friends – one of whom is Erin Fetherston, a co-host of the screening and party, as well as Peter Max, the iconic 60s artist, and a few others – in anything but a fabulous Woodstock hippie bus. I couldn’t let her down!

*I found out the next day the premiere was actually on Wednesday (TODAY), not Thursday, confusing everyone, especially me, and giving me one less day to work my magic bus magic.

After reaching out to my own social network, calling a handful of museums, planting a few hopeful seeds with my hippie friends, and rollerblading up the West Side Highway after a tip-off about a hippie van parked outside the Museum of Natural History (no-go)… pressure was on.

I decided to make use of my greatest resource: A community with 22,000+ spirited Beatles fans! I run the Facebook Page for my family’s 35-year-old Beatles festival and mail order business, The Fest For Beatles Fans. We sing and celebrate in status updates, pictures and wall posts. The page is a hippie blast in itself!

I asked, and after just a few minutes, the cream rose to the top: RALPH WALTON.

All the fans fell madly in love with Ralph and his van, and after just one look, so did Melody. It was perfect, and in exchange for accommodations and the promise to meet Michael Lang, founder of Woodstock, we coordinated a 512 mile transport from Greenville, North Carolina to NYC for Ralph (flying), his friend and Roger (driving), and our gorgeous, psychedelic Hippie 1974 Volkswagen Vanagan!

It’s been a whirlwind of coordination (adding seating! negotiating!), and last night, at 1 in the morning, Roger arrived from his road trip with my sweet, delicious hippie glory.

It glimmered in the West Chelsea street lights – it is truly as stunning in person as it was in photos.

I hopped in with my new friend Roger, jumped through hoops for a half hour to locate a suitable open parking garage, went through a whole debacle checking him into the Chelsea Hotel.... and Melody was beaming from the other end of the phone.

I DID IT! Well, half of it...

Now... CHALLENGE PART 2:

The Taking Woodstock screening and party is tonight, and I am still responsible for coordinating a successful grandiose entrance at the red carpet event at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, and an equally majestic arrival to the after party.

Can it be done? There are still a lot of coordination details that need to come together for tonight… (checking Ralph into the Chelsea Hotel when he gets in from his flight, everyone’s 60s costumes, getting the van and everyone going in it to the Chelsea Hotel for a smooth pickup, where to keep the van during the screening, are the cops going to give us a hard time about the fire lane, is everyone going to get into the party and meet everyone as promised??) and I’m charged with making it happen. Smoothly. Keeping everyone happy. Making an enormous hippie fuss. Without getting anyone arrested.

I don’t know how tonight will go… but I had to invite you to share in my nerves and excitement in this impromptu round of the game that is my so-called-life! Follow me on Twitter for the hippie play-by-play.

PEACE+LOVE+HOLYCRAP!

Michelle Joni

More on Ralph and his gorgeous vehicle:

Ralph fell in love with this 1974 VW Vanagan on eBay, and just had to have it. It was restored by an ad agency in Dallas for a commercial.

When he bought the Van 2 years ago, he flew his friend Roger to Dallas, and on its journey back it was pulled over by cops… just for photos. Roger was mooned, flashed, photographed, and given a few joints along the way. This van has had some fun!

Ralph is too young to have been at Woodstock, but has seen most of the groups that performed. He loves rock, jazz and has a degree in music.

Ralph owns a couple of restaurants, and little piece of hippie brings him a whole lot of happy. He says: “The restaurant business is tough and you have to do things to keep yourself level. To remember life is short and you have to enjoy every moment you can. The Van reminds me to do that: Have Fun!!!!!”

This game has been won! Click here to see the results.

Erin Fetherston | YOUR TURN

--> I totally won Round 3!

Now it's your turn to play.

Win For Your Skin.

Have you seen Erin’s skin? It’s basically porcelain.
After experiencing the glowing benefits of Erin's rule #9: Get the Oxygen Facial (Intraceuticals) at Yasmine Djerradine, I decided I wanted to share this miraculous skin care, "The Hollywood Secret," aka "The Madonna Facial" with all of New York.

The CEO of Intraceuticals, Anthony McMahon is from Australia, and he’s loving the NYC Game from down under!

Anthony is going to award 3 NYC Gamers an at-home Intraceuticals rejuvinating skincare system. (a glowing $327 value!)

TO ENTER: Answer the following 3 questions (comment below)

1. Name one designer showcased in the Model as Muse exhibit. (I went to see this after my Intraceuticals facial and loved it!)
2. Tell me what sound giraffes make. (I also went to the Bronx Zoo after my facial to find this out in person!)
3. Name 3 celebrities who use Intraceuticals. (Hint Hint!)

3 correct entries will be chosen at random Tuesday 7/28, at 6 pm. You don't have to be in New York to play!

UPDATE: THE WINNERS

They have been chosen at random by my friend Sam, who I randomly asked to send me an email with 3 numbers from 1-7. "What? Why?" She asked. (Clearly she's not paying enough attention to the NYC Game.)

Her numbers were 1, 4, and 7.

This means that the 1st, 4th and 7th entries win: Sabrina, Ally Zarin, and Stephie.

Congratulations ladies! Please send thank yous to Intraceuticals CEO Anthony McMahon @ADM888, and DM/email me your address so I can have your glorious faces looking even more glorious in no time.

Thank you to everyone for playing! All amazing 7 of you :)

And everyone... please take advantage of the bonus round at Yasmine's:

BONUS FOR EVERYONE: Reward yourself for being amazing. Go to Yasmine Djerradine. Tell them you are part of the NYC GAME and get 20% off any treatment!

Yasmine Djerradine 30 E. 60th St., Ste 101, New York, NY 10022 Make an appointment: 212-588-1771 Mon-Sat, 8:30am-7pm; Sun, closed

Erin Fetherston | RESULTS

Another wonderfully enlightening week unearthing yet another glorious layer of New York City!

Something about both being blonde 20-somethings who love girly-girl fashion started us out on a path that could not possibly go wrong. I'd gladly start Erin Fetherston's week all over again tomorrow! I probably wouldn't take pictures of it all a 2nd time though, so here they are.

 And if Erin reviews these photos and decides that I have truly become a better New Yorker... I win:

THE PRIZE: A seat at her Spring 2010 show this September, a backstage pass, an invite to the after party… AND I get to borrow something from her dreamy Fall 2009 collection to wear to it all!

ROUND 3 RESULTS:

1. Have brunch at Cookshop. Get the chicken salad.

My friend Natalie and I went for a delicious Sunday brunch and obviously played my favorite game – Splitsies. 

split-sēz: Foodie-talk for fulfilling the desire to order 4 or more items on a menu, by means of bargaining with and/or begging others at the table for committed sharing participation.

One of the dishes we ordered was the chicken salad, per Erin’s rule. I very rarely order chicken at restaurants, but this was one succulent, delicious little big bird! 

We made friends with the cool people at the table next to us, upon them wondering where on earth we were from that I would be taking pictures of my chicken salad. “Awwwww,” they coo’d. I am NOT a tourist! How dare you! 

Natalie had been there before and insisted the Bloody Mary's were the best in the city and that we MUST get them. Twist my arm! (They were bloody delicious indeed.)

2. Get lunch at The Modern… perfect after a walk through the MoMa.

The final day of Round 3 was a Tuesday, the same day as my lunch reservation with my sister Jessica and cousin Karen at The Modern.

Also, the same day that the MoMa has decided they will always be closed.

In my defense:

A) I’ve been to the MoMa already this calendar year.

B) If you read the rule carefully, it doesn’t actually SAY I need to go to the MoMa. Just that it’s a “perfect” prelude to the lunch. In theory.

C) Lunch itself was a Splitsies extravaganza – and a full exhibit of modern culinary art! Exhibit A: The Slow Poached Farm Egg In A Jar with Maine lobster, sunchokes and sea urchin froth. (This was after all 3 Lapidos girls attacked and de-frothed.)

 We also got the Tarte Flambee, Flounder Tartare, Roasted Long Island Duck Breast, the Beignets (doughnut-like balls of bliss) and the Hazenut Dacquoise with milk chocolate chantilly. We deserve to be fat.

3. Have dinner at Minetta Tavern.

I couldn’t get a reservation any time before 11:00pm. It was reassuring to see that J-Lo, Marc Anthony and their posse were also just getting started! (I’m sure they, too, had trouble getting an earlier reservation.)

Here I am with my friends Sam and Kara after indulging in a seriously amazing Splitsies fest. 

It included this divine Salade de Homard, dressed Maine lobster with celeriac remoulade. 

I just realized how much lobster I had this past week. 

And how I must wreak of shellfish and pretentiousness. 

I spoke to J-Lo briefly on the way out, in hopes of finding out her favorite New York spot - either currently, or from her “Jenny from the Block” days. She replied: “Hmm, I don’t know,” and looked at her friend, seemingly trying to come up with an answer. “Yeah, I don’t know. I’ve been in LA too long!”

So much for Jenny from the Block!

4. Do happy hour at The Standard Grill at The Standard Hotel.

This happy hour made me wish I did happy hour all the time. You can’t go wrong with a ginger drink in a gold chalice. I had a few drinks with my friends Tasha, Mallory and a fun new Twitter friend Christina! I saw Erin there too on the way out... she said she liked it, and she meant it! (Photo was taken outside afterwards - snapping pics during a happy hour like that are just too tacky. Even for me.)

5. See the Model as Muse exhibit at the MET.

This is how much I loved this exhibit: it was a sunny Saturday afternoon and I spent 2 hours in a museum. If you have any appreciation for models, fashion magazines, clothing, or the quirky personalities of our culture-rich twentieth century decades… you will love it too.

I went with my friend Sabrina, founder and editor of A New Mode, and she enjoyed it just the same. And, like any good fashion show, there was obviously an after party. Sangria on the rooftop of the Met – a strong finish indeed!

6. Attend the MAC party for artist Richard Philips on Wednesday.

The twangy grunge band and potato chips threw me off a little upon arrival, but it took just a few moments to start enjoying the cool, airy loft space with an even cooler crop of attendees. (And they were really good potato chips!) One particular very handsome MAC model/waiter was very attentive and made sure I was never without a glass of wine. More on that under #10. A lot of people came out to support artist Richard Phillips’ new fall makeup line for MAC. Erin Fetherston was there of course, as well as Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr, Amy Sacco, Gareth Pugh, Cynthia Rowley, David Foote and a host of others.

Here's one of his sexy art pieces for the collection. FYI it's upside-down art, a right-side-up photo

Erin and I with our beloved mutual friend (and connector!) Melody Weir.

I finally met RIcky and Dee of the famous kitschy Dee and Ricky lego pins. I've been coveting one of those pins for so long now!

As Ricky and I were talking, he reached in his pocket and offered me a cigarette. Usually I say no, but in this case I was thrilled. Loves it Rickybaby!! Xx

7. Go rollerblading along the West Side Highway OR go play tennis – 2 of the greatest summertime activities.

Dear Erin,

I now have a new favorite summer activity, workout routine, and mode of transportation. I went rollerblading from Chelsea Pier to the Boat Basin, down to Christopher Street and then (illegally on the sidewalk) over to Union Square. Four hours of roly poly easy breezy deliciousness. Thank you so much for this rule. Blades. Of. Glory. 

Love, 

Michelle

The only thing scarier than me, rolling atchya on blades for the first time in 8 years not knowing how to stop? A motorcycle brigade on the West Side Highway.
Sunday Funday re-defined. PS. Natalie loves Big Brother. All y'all cult fans out there, talk to this one. 

I borrowed my sister Jessica’s rollerblades for the occasion! I was thrilled to not only pick up the moves again almost immediately – but to also find a sticker on the bottom of them with my name. Busted Jess.

8. Go to my 2 favorite places to shop in New York: Whole Foods and local farmer’s markets. Get an organic selection of food for the week... and eat only organic.

Part 1 - shop at Whole Foods:  I took a trip to Whole Foods on day one and stocked up on some organics. I took the opportunity to buy mostly all foods I have never tried before. 

I realized when I got back to my office that I had bought a Seed and Nut Spread for $23.99. Blasphemy! I polled my followers: “Return…or…you only live once?” I got mixed feedback (and a certain off-color remark about being able to "get plenty of that for free." Ahem.) But after a week I decided: You only live once. 

The review: A goopy peanuttbutter-tahini-style dance party on my seedy, organic rice cakes. I will eat it for many lunches and think about how much I am saving not eating things like.. um.. a slow poached farm egg in a jar with maine lobster, sunchoke and sea urchin froth.

Part 2 - Shop at a local farmer’s market: When I illegally rollerbladed over to Union Square on Sunday, it was for this very reason. There is always a local farmer’s market on Sundays, except , courtesy of Murphy’s Law, that one. So I upped the ante, and attended a James Beard Foundation tasting event Tuesday night to support local, fresh fruits and vegetables for hungry New Yorkers in West Harlem. Help support this wonderful charity, too!

Part 3: Eat only organic? I kept to this rule for all my lunches except at The Modern. Although how bad could sea urchin froth be? I also thought many happy, green, organic thoughts over the course of the week as well. 

9. Get the Oxygen Facial at Yasmine Djerradine.

The last facial I had gotten was a Bat Mitzvah present. My 2^nd facial ever was this one at Yasmine’s also known as: The Madonna Facial. I don’t do baby steps.

Madonna didn’t just wake up 50 with a taut, glowing face! Thanks to Intraceuticals, the system used by Yasmine Djerradine, I too have experienced the wonders that oxygen technology can do for your skin. It is a charming little spa with a spiritual, Moroccan ambiance and is known for its world-renowned expert technicians and innovative treatments.

10. Dating advice: New York men are spoiled. IMPORT!

I am admittedly notorious for dating Jewish Long Island boys. Love you boys, but this was a much needed rule in my life.

A tall, dark and handsome British-Indian import of who I’ve known for a few months invited me to the SoHo House to meet him for wine and sunset. That rooftop is the quintessential European haven in New York - the ideal backdrop for my imported date.

We relaxed in lounge chairs by the pool, shared two bottles of Italian rose, laughed at the balding suckers wearing collared shirts and loafers with no socks, and he told me I needed better rules. Like jumping in the SoHo House pool after 7pm when it's not allowed, getting a table at Monkey Bar at 8 pm on a Friday when it's impossible, and projecting a giant image of his face on the penthouse of the building we were looking at. He’s a writer for The New York Times and New York Magazine, and admittedly more New York than most natives. That small fact overlooked, I imported a fantastically fun date, and this rule has made me want to think more broadly about my options. And suspend my rabbi-sponsored JDate profile. 

I also met a handful of other imported, good-looking men this week - PLEASE weigh in on which you think I should take up on date offers! (Note: Anyone not born and bred in the tri-state area counts as an import to me.)

1. The MAC model/waiter of rule #6. Born and raised in Texas, now lives in New Jersey. Also: The next possible face of granola.

2. A Canadian friend of a friend who I met Saturday night after Minetta Tavern. He opted for the BBM exchange at first sight, and offered me the opportunity to design a line of furniture for his company. (I've started sketching!)

3. A Bostonian who would like to take me to his most favorite bar in all of New York: The Tempest, on 30th and 8th. 

4. A chiropractor from Buffalo who owns a medical healing center that, if memory serves me correct, is steps from Bloomingdale's on 59th. (This just in: it's 3:30 AM and I just got a text from him asking to come over. Ummmm.... not a good look for a 30-something PhD!)

5. A German-born, Kenyan-raised world-famous mixologist who I'm pretty sure has lived on every continent that is not frozen over, and reportedly makes a vanilla martini that causes women to fall in love with him.

One more thing on the imports. 

The morning I published the rules of the week, a Twitter friend of mine suggested:

And lo and behold... that night at the Richard Phillips MAC Party... I did. :) 

Okay, so we didn't snog, but I'm sure that if Jessica Szohr wasn't there we would have!

11. Go to the Bronx Zoo. Walk through the Butterfly House.

After my Oxygen facial, a stroll around Barney’s, seeing Model as Muse, and getting an afternoon sangria buzz on the Met rooftop, I couldn’t think of anything better to do than hop a Pehlam Bay Park bound 5 train - and actually take it to Pehlam Bay Park. To a land where thousands animals and little children would surely make it known to me that they wish they could roam free.

I met my friend Lindsay there, who informed me earlier in the week that she had passes to the Butterfly House, which is otherwise an extra $3. Score! 

We saw the pretty fluttering butterflies, adorable monkeys, peaceful sun-soaked sea lions, gorgeous wild dogs, enchanting giraffes, a world of slimy cool reptiles, and more. We rode the carousel. We took silly pictures. 

Had it not been for this rule, I can’t imagine I would have gone to the zoo again until I had kids of my own. I’m so glad Erin threw this in there last minute! A great afternoon getaway, and a truly iconic New York experience. 

Lindsay and I stood by the giraffes for a particularly long time. 

Do you know what sound they make? 

Check back soon to see if I win, and also for what YOU can win for having Erin Fetherston-type fun in New York City. 

Kisses!

Michelle Joni