The New York City Snowpocalypse of 2011

Hello loyal blog readers,

As you may have heard, New York City had a bold reminder this week that it is still winter. Some areas of the city had around 20 inches of snow fall in 24 hours and we ended up with about 19 inches where I live.

The snow went all the way up to the park benches even after being walked on.

The snow up to the fence in Union Square Park.

To those of you who are in Utah, this doesn't seem like much compared to what we're used to, but NYC rarely gets this much snow at one time, so it's a mighty big deal around here.

Snow covering Union Square Park - 

taken Thursday afternoon from my living room window.

My work event was canceled Wednesday night due to the storm, so I just watched the snowfall from my warm apartment. The snow was pretty much all I could see because my view of the city was blocked out by the clouds and the wind was blowing pretty hard so the snow was creating blizzard-like conditions.

My stormy view Wednesday night.

My usual view (how could anyone not love this city?!)

The storm stopped late Thursday morning and the sun came out for a little bit. I went out to the park by my place (Union Square Park) and took some photos. Schools were closed city-wide, so kids were out enjoying the snow. Most of them had never seen this much snow at one time so they were having a blast.

I loved this little girl all bundled up in her pink coat and boots. This was so me as a kid!

There's just something great about making snow angels and snowmen after a huge storm. Plus, if it's going to snow, I much prefer it to do something like this than just little skiffs of snow that don't amount to much.

This man built up a snow-home. The closest item is a "flat screen TV" and the one in the back
is a chair, complete with leg rest and a drink on the chair arm.  (click on the photo to enlarge)

I hope you enjoy the photos. And just click on "comments" below to leave any feedback you may have. Thanks! :)

All photos copyright Brooke Niemeyer. You may not reuse, republish, or reproduce without photographers written permission.

"Unsilent Night": Boombox-Toting Parade-Goers Carol Through the Village

The procession began at Washington Square Park near the Christmas tree.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

This was one of the most unique events I have attended and I am so glad I got the chance to cover it. We have all heard of groups Christmas caroling and singing their favorite seasonal songs. But how many of us have ever seen or even heard about groups serenading their city by caroling with instrumental music? That's exactly what this is and it was a really neat experience.

Phil Kline started this event in 1992 with a few friends and a song he composed and now thousands of people turn out with their boom boxes, iPods, and all other types of speakers to electronically carol around the Village - from Washington Square Park down to Thompkins Square Park.

If you ever are in New York (or any of the other cities participating in this event) I highly reccomend you go!

Check out my NBC photo gallery from the event.

Victoria's Secret Model Selita Ebanks Scores New BET Show

The kind and glamourous Selita Ebanks.

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
Victoria Secret fashion model Selita Ebanks revealed to Niteside recently what she has in store for the future.

"I'll be hosting a fashion show on BET," Ebanks said at a holiday benefit in Manhattan, where celebrities helped wrap over 2,000 toys for younger foster children.

Ebanks was mum on any further details of the show, but did share news of a book on female empowerment she is working on, which is due out next year.

"The book is real personal," Ebanks said. "It's little antidotes and things I've learned. It's not just about modeling. It's about being successful as a young woman."

This is Ebanks' seventh year as a Victoria's Secret Angel and she said she was "stoked" to watch the annual fashion show with her "Angel family."

While one of her favorite perks of modeling for Victoria's Secret is the free underwear, she says that being able to learn from the pros makes her job ideal.

"I have had the opportunity to work alongside Gisele [Bundchen] and Tyra [Banks]," Ebanks said. "I've worked with some of the most beautiful women in the world and they've taught me a lot. They're all my heroes."

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

Singer Jay Sean: I Am Prepared to Face My Digital Death

Singer Jay Sean faces a social media death.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

Singer Jay Sean detailed his plans to stage his death on social media last night. 

"I'm officially dying on social media," Sean told Niteside before performing at the New Yorkers for Children's 8th annual "Wrap to Rap" holiday gift-wrapping event at The Ainsworth in Manhattan Tuesday night.

"If we just tell them they're not allowed to get any tweets from us until they donate some money [to charity], we're not going to come back on Twitter."

Sean said that he and other celebs staging social media deaths -- Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, and Kim Kardashian, among them -- home that some of their combined 28 million Twitter followers will donate to the "Keep a Child Alive" charity, founded by Alicia Keys, who started this Digital Death Campaign. 

"I think it's an amazing tongue-and-cheek way to give everyone a nudge to do the right thing," Sean said.

Sean recently recorded the song "Every Part of Me" with British pop sensation Alesha Dixon, who he said he has wanted to work with for a long time.

"We have wanted to work together for ages," Sean said. "We got this smash of a song together and I'm super excited about it."

He also said they will be filming the music video for this song in New York City in about three weeks.

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

Designer Zac Posen Reveals His Prediction for Fashion's Next Big Trend

Fashion designer Zac Posen.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

Designer Zac Posen revealed last night what he believes will be the next major fashion trend: homemade, vegetable-based dyes.

"I think people using their own dyes will become a trend," Posen told Niteside at the Wrap to Rap holiday gift-wrapping event at The Ainsworth in Manhattan Tuesday night. "I think people will find their own color and take cues from home decor, which is always interesting."

He added, "[Vegetable dyes] and other certain dyes are such a s trong influence on eco and these techniques are very useful and exciting."

Posen said he is currently working on his fall collection, finalizing patterns and fabrics. He said all the details aren't in place yet, but that he sees a definite theme among his pieces.

"I think there's a strong architectural and anatomical quality to them," Posen said. "We make clothing that always relates to the body and glamour and quality."

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

Mary-Kate Olsen: "I Would Never Wish My Upbringing On Anyone"

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
Mary-Kate Olsen says she and twin sister Ashley were like "little monkey performers" during their time in front of the cameras on "Full House."

The unique childhood forged an even deeper bond between the two, but it all seems strange in retrospect, she said.

"I look at old photos of me, and I don't feel connected to them at all," Mary-Kate told Marie Claire magazine. "I would never wish my upbringing on anyone ... but I wouldn't take it back for the world."

Mary-Kate and Ashley were ranked 11th on Forbes list of wealthiest women in Hollywood in 2007, with their net worth listed as an estimated $1 billion. Originally built on movies, their empire now includes clothes, hair care products, and merchandising as well.

The former child stars have been there for each other through all the ups and downs and are still each others biggest supporters.

"Sometimes Ash and I have to bring each other back, or push each other more," she says. "It's really helpful to have another half; we're constantly checking in with each other."

Now the 24-year-old siblings are focused on their fashion lines, Elizabeth and James, The Row, and JCPenny's Olsenboye. Mary-Kate takes her designs very seriously and spent a "year-and-a-half to make the first T-shirt."

But Mary-Kate hasn't ruled out acting again.

"I still read scripts, and if something great comes along, that's great... but [The Row] is my day job," said the actress who has a role in Beastly, a horror film due out in 2011.


This story ran in all of NBC's ten local media markets: New York City, Miami, Washington DC, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Connecticut, and Dallas-Fort Worth.

PS-22 Chorus Named Webby Artist of the Year

PS-22 students got a standing ovation.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER
The school chorus from PS-22 in Staten Island -- a group that boasts millions of YouTube page views -- was honored as Artist of the Year last night at the annual Webby Awards.

The fifth graders, whose renditions of pop hits like Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" have made them viral video wunderkinds, performed Ne-Yo's hit single, "Closer," on stage after being presented with their award by the R&B artist himself at the ceremony held at Cipriani Wall Street.

"We lost hours of time at work watching these kids online," confessed award show host and "The Office" star B.J. Novak.

The cast of the reality web series "The Specials" also won big last night, taking home the honor of Best Reality Web Series. The group traveled to New York from the U.K. just to accept their Webby.

Critic Roger Ebert won Person of the Year -- and kept his speech brief. "Veni. Vedi. Vici," he said, meaning I came. I saw. I conquered.

This story ran on NBCNewYork.com's NiteSide.

The 14th Annual Webby Awards

Lisa Kudrow (FRIENDS), Dylan Ratigan (MSNBC), and Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post) on the red carpet at the Webby Awards 2010.

Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

I attended the 14th Annual Webby Awards last night for NBC. I was at Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan for the red carpet and the award show. I also went to the Webby Gala After Party, held in the Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel.

This was a phenomenal event and I met some amazing people, including Lisa Kudrow, B.J. Novak, Buzz Aldren, Amy Poehler, Roger Ebert, Ben Folds, Gilbert Gottfried (with the Aflac duck in his arms), Neil Pasricha, and the band OK Go!

My stories about this event will follow...

H1N1 Vaccine Clinics Help People Throughout New York

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

On a recent Saturday morning, a line of people, tracing around the block, waited to get inside Public School 290 in Manhattan. Some checked their watches, others flipped through the newspaper, but all of them waited to get protected against H1N1, better known as the swine flu, the most feared flu in a long time.

Lori Jackson was in line with her two children, Sarah, 7, and Michael, 9, but she was ready to give.

“This line is a joke,” Jackson said. “But I am happy that they are putting this together so we can try to stay not sick.”

Precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the virus, throughout the city by The New York City Health Department. They have set up temporary neighborhood clinics in all five boroughs, where the vaccine is offered for free.

In the beginning of November, The United States Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported almost 3,000 H1N1 flu cases and 91 deaths because of this strain of influenza, in the state of New York alone.

The swine flu has caused havoc in New York City schools because according to the CDC, children are a high risk to catch the virus. In May, 16 New York schools were closed and there have been a high number of absences this school year.

The city created a program to offer vaccinations to students at 1,342 schools. Students were given permission forms to take home to their parents in order to receive the free vaccine, which is offered as a nasal spray or injection.

The Health Department launched its public clinics on November 7, 2009. Health Department official Erin Brady said the clinic began as a way to distribute the vaccine to students from elementary schools who weren’t vaccinated by private providers or in their schools, as well as for middle and high school students wanting the vaccine.

“It’s good to get kids covered,” Jackson said. “They catch everything and pass it around.”

Teresa Martinez got her eight-year-old daughter, Rosa, vaccinated.

“We come to the park and I see the kids coughing and sneezing on each other,” Martinez said. “It is nice to know she is not going to get the swine flu from the germs.”

Brady said the community vaccination clinics did not reach capacity during the first weekend, so the Health Department decided to expand the allowed groups to more people.

Those who qualify to be vaccinated in the free clinics now include pregnant women, anyone who lives with or cares for children less than six-months-old, anyone between the ages of four and 24, and those who are 25 through 64-years of age and have underlying health conditions that increase risk of severe illness or complications.

“So many people I know have gotten sick because of this,” Nate Roberts, 33, who was in line to get the vaccine, said. “I am scared of getting super sick or dying because of the swine flu.”

Clinics will be moved around every weekend. The Health Department hopes that changing the location of the clinics each weekend will help encourage people to get vaccinated at a time when the location is closest to their neighborhood, saving time, money, and their health.

The Children's Hope India Black Tie Event is One Step Closer to Success

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

MANHATTAN -- Imagine being a young child in a country where the water you drank was the same color as the dirt you slept on. This is the reality for many children in parts of India and other parts of the world. Volunteers from a New York City based organization, Children's Hope India, work together year after year to gather funds to help in making changes for children suffering throughout the world and bring them a better life.

The annual black tie fundraising event for Children's Hope India was held today at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. Tickets to the event ranged from regular seating for $250 per ticket to preferred seating for $350 per ticket. According to representative Lori Feigin, all of the tickets were sold out and they were having to turn people away who wanted to attend the event.

Since all of the work done by Children's Hope India is volunteer work, all of the proceeds from the event go towards Children's Hope Health and Education program.

Children's Hope India was founded in 1992 by Indian women who had a passion for helping children to have a safe, happy, and healthy childhood. It is based out of New York and has raised money for various causes which effect children, from those who have suffered natural disasters to any living in areas of India without clean water supplies. The organization helps fund over 20 programs in India.

This year's theme was "Evening in Rajasthan," with the slogan "A Royal Celebration of its people, music, dance, and cuisine." The two featured guests were the Princess of Rajasthan, Padmaja Kumari Mewar, and the Consul General of India, Prabhu Dayal.

Three awards were given out throughout the evening. The Lotus Award was given to the founders of Telebrands and Philanthropists, Poonam and AJ Khubani, and also to the former chairman and CEO of Mackay Shileds and Philanthropist, Ravi Akhoury. The "Making a Difference" award went to Surendra Kaushik, founder of Helena Kaushik Women's College in Rural Rajasthan.

The mission of the organization states that they want to "give disadvantaged children in India a chance for a brighter future." Tonight's fundraising event makes it one step closer to achieving their goal.

Falconry Extravaganza Spotlights Large Birds Living Right in Central Park

Sienna, a five year old Eastern screech owl, was on display

at the Falconry Extravaganza in Central Park.

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

MANHATTAN—It seems unlikely for people to think of wildlife living in a city full of cabs and buildings that seem to touch the sky, which is why the City of New York Parks and Recreation Urban Park Rangers put on the 7th annual Falconry Extravaganza in Central Park today.

“I never knew there were birds of this size in New York,” said Tom Parker, 37, of San Francisco. “I always figured pigeons were the only ones here.”

The event featured 13 different species of falcons, hawks, owls, and other large birds. All of the birds were brought in from a sanctuary in Buffalo. The Wildlife Department estimated that there were about 1,000 people in attendance of the shows and birds of prey exhibit in the park today.

“We do this yearly to educate people about birds of prey,” said Sarah Aucoin, Director of the Urban Park Wildlife Department. “Each year the crowds get bigger and we bring more birds.”

The free bird show went from 1:00 to 3:00. During this time, there were three shows where members of the Urban Park Rangers flew the eagles and hawks for audience members to witness. They also had sections that included audience participation. Additionally, there was an up-close viewing area for people to see the different birds.

“It's cool to see these birds soaring overhead,” Aucoin said. “But it's even cooler to see them up close.”

Sienna, a five year old Eastern screech owl, was one of the birds out on display for people to see. Sienna was found injured and was brought into an animal hospital. Veterinarians found that she is deaf, so she will never be released back into the wild. There are screech owls just like her that reside in Central Park. Urban Park Ranger Mohammed Alomeri said that five Eastern screech owls have recently been released into the park.

There were stations set up for children to experience searching for things like birds do and also to feel the different feathers of all the birds that were part of the show.

“I want to be a bird saver like them,” said Elanore Martinez, 10.

The Wildlife Department not only wanted attendees to see these birds fly and get close to them, but also learn about the good things the birds do for people and other facts about them.

“These birds are good rodent population controllers,” said Richard Simon, Captan of the Urban Park Wildlife Department. “The paragon falcon is also the fastest animal and can dive at a speed of 200 miles per hour.”

All of these predatory birds can be found throughout the city, most of them nesting in the parks or in overhangs of buildings. Simon said there are also some that nest at the local Riverside Cathedral. Both Simon and Aucoin felt that this years Falconry Extravaganza was successful in educating people about some of the birds of prey in the city and bringing awareness of these birds.

An 11-Year-Old Boy is Planting Trees to Save the Future

Felix Finkbeiner with a poster of Wangari Maathai at Washington Square park.
Photo by: Brooke Niemeyer

By: BROOKE NIEMEYER

MANHATTAN - Felix Finkbeinger was working on a routine research project in his fourth-grade class in Paehl, Germany. He was reading about the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, who started the Green Belt movement, a tree planting program in Africa, when he got an idea.

"I thought, if she can plant that many trees on her own, we children can do it too," Finkbeiner said. 

And so his group, Plan-for-the-Planet, was born.

Finkbeiner, now 11, travels all around the world as a spokesman for the organization that he started with the help of parents, teachers, and other community leaders in 2007. 

Today he was one of the child advocates at Washington Square Park in Manhattan for the first annual Global Climate Week, promoting activism and awareness to any of the approximately hundred people in attendance who would listen. He was joined by Girl Scout troupes who wore life vests at the rally to represent the concerns of rising oceans. 

The words "Stop Talking, Start Planting" adorned Finkbeiner's t-shirt and he stood next to a large poster of Maathai. 

"Each tree [planted] is a symbol for climate justice," Finkbeiner said. "We need to stop talking and start planting. 

Plant-for-the-Planet is now the branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that is exclusively for young children. It encourages children to help in planting trees to improve the environment and to prepare for the future. The Plant-for-the-Planet program unites children from all parts of the world to achieve a common goal. 

"We need to think as a global community, not as many different places," said Finkbeiner.

The current goal of UNEP is to plant seven billion new trees in the world by the end of 2009, To help do their part, the goal for the Plant-for-the-Planet volunteers is to plant over 200,000,000 trees. Hundreds of children, in over 50 different nations, are working together to plant one million trees in each of their countries. 

"We children are working to save our futures," Finkbeiner said. "Adults talk too much. It's time for us children to do."

Also at today's event was model Gisele Bundchen, who was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for UNEP. She is expecting her first child in December and put emphasis on the importance of a clean environment for upcoming generations. 

"It's important on a global scale to secure a healthy future for the next generation, wherever they are in the world," said Bundchen.

Governmental leaders are also focused on these environmental issues. Representatives from almost 200 countries will gather for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 7 to discuss a climate agreement. 

"We need our leaders to act now," said Finkbeiner. "If they only want to get re-elected, they are not good [leaders]."

"Seal the Deal" is the slogan for campaigns leading up to the conference in Denmark. Petitions encouraging leaders to create an agreement about mandating the levels of greenhouse gas emissions in their country were available for people to sign today. Supporters want leaders to come to an agreement that will protect the planet and everyone on it successfully and then "seal the deal."

What all began as a class project for a young boy has now turned into an international campaign for children. Over 365,000 trees have been planted by children in Germany alone since Finkbeiner began his campaign and he continues to gain support every day from around the world.

"If we children can each plant trees," said Finkbeiner, "we can change the world."