The Bad Boys of Dance, created by Rasta Thomas will be performing in Battery Park on September 6, 2008 at 7:30pm. Check out the schedule here.
Details: “Co-presented with The Joyce Theater
BAD BOYS OF DANCE, founded by dance superstar Rasta Thomas, is a stunning cast of male dancers who combine ballet, broadway, ballroom, hip hop, gymnastics, martial arts and more to deliver a highly imaginative and entertaining show.”
This is amazing. I had not heard of this until today, when my mother sent me an email linking to a Slashfood and NYT article. There is a miracle fruit (berry) that can totally change the way your taste buds register sour foods.
According to Wikipedia, “”when the fleshy part of the fruit is eaten, this molecule [miraculin] binds to the tongue’s taste buds, causing bitter and sour foods (such as lemons and limes) consumed later to taste sweet. This effect lasts between thirty minutes and two hours.”
A dinner party in Queens used this fruit to “flavor trip” into drinking beer that tasted like chocolate, tabasco sauce like doughnut glaze, and lemons like candy! (check out the video here) The host of the party, Franz Aliquo, gave each guest one berry in exchange for a $15 entrance fee. Then the guests proceeded to test dozens of foods and beverages to see what kind of change the berry had on their taste buds.
The NYT article goes on to explain, “The miracle fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum, is native to West Africa and has been known to Westerners since the 18th century. During the 1970s, a ruling by the Food and Drug Administration dashed hopes that an extract of miraculin could be sold as a sugar substitute. In the absence of any plausible commercial application, the miracle fruit has acquired a bit of a cult following.”
And there is good news, you can purchase the miracle berries and try them for yourself! They are a bit expensive, but I think it is a must to at least experience this natural phenomenon. Here is some advice from Franz on how to enjoy:
“He believes that the best way to encounter the fruit is in a group. ‘You need other people to benchmark the experience,’ he said. At his first party, a small gathering at his apartment in January, guests murmured with delight as they tasted citrus wedges and goat cheese. Then things got trippy.
‘You kept hearing ‘oh, oh, oh,’ ‘ he said, and then the guests became ‘literally like wild animals, tearing apart everything on the table.’
‘It was like no holds barred in terms of what people would try to eat, so they opened my fridge and started downing Tabasco and maple syrup,’ he said.”
You can buy them from Franz here.
And you can also buy them here. And here from a Florida grower.
I have just found a picnic club in Manhattan, and they meet in Sheeps Meadow! For those of you who don’t know, Sheeps Meadow is a gorgeous part of Central Park that you need to spend at least one Sunday this summer at to take in its serenity. I have picnicked there many a time with friends, but neve with strangers. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, enjoy being outdoors, and maybe eat some fine finger foods.
They have a blog, so you can read their Picnic Rules and such. It looks like they are on for the beautiful day this Sunday:
“Dear Members,
Its 10:08 a.m. on Thursday, May 29, and as of now the weather reports state that Sunday, June 1 will be mostly sunny and have high temperatures of 78.
So without any further hesitation, we would like to invite you all, dear members, to the picnic.
Sunday, June 1
1 p.m.
Sheep Meadow, Central Park
Southeast corner of Sheep Meadow
Look for Allison and Michael, they will be standing with clipboards.
This is going to be a picnic of epic proportions. Hope to see you all there. In the meantime, check back here for any updates.
Fondly,
Your Hosts,
Allison and Michael, Founding Members of The Picnic Club”
Apple & Orange 
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