EVENT 003: AURA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024.

Aura Music Festival is back and better than ever! Starting off as a one-day music festival back in 2013 to celebrate the end of summer, it has since grown into a two-day, and now finally three-day music festival! Now boosting 90k fans over a three-day weekend, Aura Music Festival has always strived to host an open and inclusive environment for festival-goers and performers alike. Aura Fest is also highly known for prioritizing deals with local New York businesses over big name corporations. This year, long-time sponsor Glow Nightclub has been honored with the secondary stage name for their decade-long commitment to the growth of Aura Fest. Doors open at 11am and closes at 11pm. Aura Fest recommends guests to use public transportation to get to the festival, and to remember to follow the clear bag policy for quick and easy entry!

LINEUP SCHEDULE: FRIDAY. SATURDAY. SUNDAY.

27 LOCAL VENDORS (festival map)

Flash Tattoos with Electric Ink - Get flash tattoos specifically designed for this year’s lineup at Aura Fest!

Rave Sprouts with Dahlia & Daffodils - Forget to bring your sprouts? no worries! Come to Dahlia & Daffodils booth to make your own clipped sprouts to share!

Luxury Nails - for all your nail care needs!

Hammock Station - The trees in the are have been utilized to provide an array of hammocks for guests to relax in sweet bliss - at least until their 15min limit is up.

Rock Star Crystals - Palm readings and crystal jewelry at the ready!

Blue Note's Rest Zone - Relax with AC, mood lighting, and jazz at the Blue Note’s designated rest space.

Pegasus' Rest Zone - Even though everyone’s recharging, the energy never fades at Pegasus’ rest space!

Riot House's Rest Zone - The Riot House’s rest space provides a cool, rock-n-roll safe haven in the middle of the primarily-pop festival.

Glow's Rest Zone - The biggest rest space brought to Aura by Glow, providing ample seating and good vibes!

Vault's Rest Zone - Vault’s rest space is as elite as it’s bar, providing expensive drinks and a coveted indoor restroom.

WFUS 94.8 - When the radio hosts aren't privately interviewing artists backstage, they’re publicly interviewing and engaging festival-goers with fun festival-themed contests at their tent!

Giant Parachute with Gilded Gallery - Nothing beats the nostalgic, colorful, and cooperative vibes of playing with a giant rainbow parachute- and Gilded's provided two for maximum enjoyment!

Balloon Darts with Grooves - 3 chances to pop a balloon; if you manage to pop one with a vinyl piece inside, you’ll win one free record of your choosing from the collection provided by Grooves at their tent!

The Underground - In preparation for the event, up and coming artists made beautiful art pieces inspired by the festival - be it the vibes of the festival, or an artist on the lineup. Both the original and (much cheaper) prints of the artwork are available for purchase all weekend at the Underground’s tent!

Freshly Churned’s Sweets Tour - Come try a menu of ice cream flavors specifically inspired by the festival!

Puzzles Lawn Games - Everything is giant at Puzzles’ large station - from jenga to bowling to hamster races!

Sunscreen Station Sponsored by Triple D’s - Stay mindful of the sun, divas! Stop by for free sunscreen, sponsored by Diva Diner & Drag Show!

Songbirds & Sangria - That famous house sangria makes its Aura debut at the Songbirds tent, and don’t worry, they didn’t forget to bring a karaoke machine!

Sign Station with Sappho’s - Stop by Sappho’s tent to create signs to support your favorite artist!

Becky's Martini Bar - Providing the best martini’s in all of Aura, hands down.

Cowbells - Millie couldn’t make it, but Cowbells has plenty of tequila to help you forget that tragic detail.

Bit Bar’s Video Games - Play family-friendly competitive video games with strangers or friends at Bit Bar’s tent!

Face Painting with Glazed Finish - For all your face painting needs!

Corner Pub’s Trivial Pursuit - Trivia games galore all centered on different musical artists from this year’s lineup!

Photo Booths - Gather some friends and have some fun with any of the props available in front of a standard photobooth area! With an immediate sovereign printed afterwards, and the option to have the copies digitally sent to you, guests are sure to have some good ol’ classic fun with this one.

Video Booth - Go solo or partner up and step into Aura’s high tech video booth. Accompanied by dramatic lighting and with a variety of electronic music at your disposal, embrace your inner diva or showcase your dance moves in a video made perfect for Instagram!

Earplug Station - Free, cheap earplugs available to help guests protect their hearing!

OOC DETAILS BELOW!

Welcome to the community bulletin board! Here are some events happening around the Boroughs this month:

August 8: Puppy Olympics @ Bark Park, Manhattan

August 10: Clearance Sale @ Antiques, Queens

August 11: Silent Auction @ Haze Gallery, Brooklyn

August 12: Jaymie & Teddy's Birthday Extravaganza @ Glow, Brooklyn

August 13: 90s Night @ Songbirds and Sangria, Staten Island

August 16: Singles Mixer @ Puzzles, Manhattan

August 18: 10 Things I Hate About You @ Prospect Park, Brooklyn

August 20: Bobblehead Night @ Yankee Stadium, the Bronx

August 23: Angel's Night @ The Tool Shed, Staten Island

August 24: Devil's Night @ The She Shed, The Bronx

August 29: 10 Year Anniversary @ Casa De Tacos, Queens

Welcome to the community bulletin board! Here are some events happening around the Boroughs this month:

June 21: Pride Brunch @ Diva Diner & Drag Show, Brooklyn

June 22: NYC Pride 5k @ Central Park, Manhattan

June 23: Trans Pride @ The She Shed, the Bronx

June 24: DIY Mini Pride Flags @ The Snug Mug, Staten Island

June 25: Pride Night @ Technicolor Theater, Queens

June 26: Book Swap (Pride Edition) @ Brooklyn Flea Market

June 27: Chappell Night @ Sugar & Spice, Queens

June 28: Queer Trivia Night @ The Tool Shed, Staten Island

June 29: Puppy Pride Pageant @ Bronx Dog Park

June 30: Pride Skate @ Roller City, Queens

EVENT 002: BROOKLYN ART FESTIVAL.

The Brooklyn Art Festival has finally arrived! This three-day festival is located in the heart of Brooklyn, and aims to bring the community together through a multi-day offering of live music, artistic demonstrations, creative cuisine, and, of course, a sheer love of art. Volunteer-run, guests of all ages are welcome to join in this celebration of culture, creativity, and community. Admission to the event is free, though amenities including food, drinks, and marketplace offerings will be available for purchase.   Street closures will be in place for the event; there is no public parking, but there will be a designated address for rideshare pick-up and drop-off. Walking, biking, and public transportation is highly encouraged!

DAYTIME FESTIVITIES (11AM - 6PM)

CHALK WALK — Stand and watch as professional chalk artists create jaw-dropping displays only utilizing chalk, or join in on the fun and create your own chalk masterpieces! All ages welcome. COMMUNITY MURAL — Leave your mark on a massive paint-by-number interactive mural! Grab a small tin of paint, a paintbrush, and a number, and do your best to stay in the lines. The end result (a beautiful abstract design of the Brooklyn Bridge, as designed by a local Brooklyn-born artist) won’t become evident until the end of the festival, so be sure to stop by on the last night to see what you’ve helped create! KIDSFEST (11AM-3PM) — Engage in all things fun at the kid-friendly kidsfest! Dance parties, inflatables, face painting, fairy hairstyling, elaborate puppet shows, and creative activities such as slime, tie-dye, ceramic painting, and puppet-making stations will be available. Though kid-aimed, all ages are welcome to engage in the fun! SKETCH 101 — You don’t need to be an expert to create a work of art, and the Sketch 101 sessions are here to prove that to you! Novices and professionals alike are all invited to sit and sketch as professional artists walk the audience through step-by-step instructions on how to draw beloved animated characters! Time slots: 12pm (Snoopy); 2pm (Mickey Mouse); 4pm (Shrek). ARTIST MARKET — Give back to the community by visiting the artist market! Featuring over 130 art vendors, there’s sure to be something there for everyone! Paintings, jewelry, ceramics, metalwork, glasswork, photographs, sculptures, watercolor, 2D and 3D art, fiber, prints, and much more will be available for purchase! COLORFUL CUISINE — During the day, make sure to visit one of the many food trucks and vendors available throughout the festival! Along with their typical menus, each vendor features at least one specialty treat in honor of the festival. From art palette cookies to minimalist trifles to deconstructed sandwiches, the food is sure to be a treat for the eyes and mouth!  LIVE ENTERTAINMENT — Small stages have been assembled for the express purpose of demonstrating the amazing collection of performance art styles enjoyed by the borough! Take a picture of the schedule, and make sure to stop by each stage to experience a collection of entertainment ranging from rock bands, theatrical groups, opera singers, and more!

COME ALIVE AT NIGHT (6PM-10PM)

GALLERY WALK — The vibrant Brooklyn art scene is shown in all its glory at the nightly gallery walk. Grab a map and take a stroll through the borough, visiting designated ArtSpots: art exhibits hosted at local galleries, retailers, and restaurants. Enjoy light refreshments, striking artwork, and good ambiance.  LIVE ENTERTAINMENT — The tempo slows down and the music continues through the night! A small selection of MusicSpots are also available, conveniently along the streets as patrons make their way through the Gallery Walk. Providing the perfect ambiance to the artist experience, be sure to stop and enjoy the music as you stroll from gallery to gallery! STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP SHOWCASE — Art students across Brooklyn have submitted some of their best work to the Brooklyn Art Festival’s Student Showcase! On display at the Haze Gallery (a featured ArtSpot) guests are invited to observe the art and submit a vote on which one piece of art impacted them the most. The artist who created the piece with the most votes at the end of the festival will be granted a small $2K scholarship to help support their artistic endeavors.  BUBBLY BOOZE — The festival becomes an open container entertainment zone at night, and guests 21 and older are invited to taste an array of bubbly specialty booze made special for the festival! Each ArtSpot will have a specialty cocktail available, while a small selection of the daytime’s food vendors will return for the night’s light installation (along with a newly available nighttime cocktail).  LIGHTS UP PERFORMANCE (9:30PM) — End your night with a synchronized light and music performance at Prospect Park! Light installations have been created and installed in the park, programmed to a musical arrangement that professional dancers have choreographed a routine to. Grab some food and something to drink, sit back, and watch as light, music, and dance all combine in dazzling collaboration!

OOC DETAILS BELOW!

Welcome to the community bulletin board! Here are some events happening around the Boroughs this month:

March 2-3: Women's History Month Trivia at The Corner Pub, Brooklyn

March 6: Free Mini Scoops* at Freshly Churned, Staten Island

March 14: National Pi Day at the Diner, the Bronx

March 16: St. Patrick's Day Parade, Manhattan

March 19: Volunteer Spring Cleaning at the Bronx River, the Bronx

March 25: Holi Celebration at Prospect Park, Brooklyn & Club 51, Manhattan

March 30: Beyoncé Night at Cowbells, The Bronx

March 31: Easter Egg Hunt at Socrates Sculpture Park, Queens

Continue reading below to find descriptive blurbs of each event. As a reminder, community events are optional events for members to use during their threads throughout the month of March.

THE STORM

The snow started falling at 10:37am. Nothing unusual for New York, no alarm raised by its citizens at the light snow fell. A little snow was expected in the morning’s forecast. A storm, however, was not. As the hours went on, the snow only picked up in force. By the afternoon, it was obvious to everyone that a storm was afoot. One inch became three, became six, became ten, before reaching a height of fourteen inches of snowfall. Heavy, but not an unprecedented amount by any means. The state has seen worse, so this snowstorm shouldn’t be a problem. And of course, the snow wasn’t the problem. The response was.

THE (DELAYED) RESPONSE

The unexpected nature of the severity of the storm combined with a belated response from political leaders of the state led to more chaos than warranted. To put it simply: there was more snow than anticipated, and far too many roads left untreated. By the time snow plows and treatment trucks were issued, the damage was already done. The snow had turned to slush, and that slush had frozen over into ice. All at once, interstates were made into parking lots, cars abandoned by citizens who chose to travel by foot rather than be stuck in a gridlock in unmoving traffic. Trains ran on reduced service before seeing significant service suspensions. Flights were canceled at all major airports. Electricity cut out sporadically at homes and businesses across the boroughs. As state officials moved into overdrive to recover from their fumbled response, a state of emergency was declared. Citizens at home were advised to stay at their homes and avoid any unnecessary travel, while stranded motorists and citizens out in the city were advised to seek out shelter at unaffected stores and community shelters to hunker down at until the worst of the storm passes. Inspo Storms: 2014 & 2010.