Time for one last summer fling with Kips Bay

It's not too late to enjoy a summer's evening cruising the waters around Manhattan. Next Wednesday, September 12, join the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club on their eighth annual Summer Cruise. "Summer's Last Blast" will board at 6:30pm from Pier 81, on West 41st Street and the Hudson River. Anchor's up at 7pm so don't be late. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, dancing and live entertainment, and of course breathtaking city views.

We hear there will be a slew of Kips Bay showhouse designers aboard, too. For more information and to purchase tickets, call Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club at 718-893-8600.

DDB Spring Market Buzz: Gracie Teaches Chinese Painting Techniques

Veteran Gracie artist, Yen Ming Tsai was the center of attention at Gracie's Spring Market event, where he taught designers the technique of hand painting 18th-century-style Chinese flowers and birds. Designers had the opportunity to try their hand at painting such beautiful images and even took home their watercolor paintings to show off.

"This was just so much fun and so different from any event I've gone to!" said a Spring Market-goer. "Yen Ming Tsai is so talented and seeing him paint in the showroom just brought a whole new level to the way I look at Gracie's showroom. It makes me love and respect it even more!"

"Typically exposed to so much product at Market, one could become a little jaded, or less impressed because everything is beautiful," said Bobby Contini, VP Marketing of Cohen Design Centers. "Experiencing an artisan sharing his craft is a reminder of the incredible talent and creativity that surrounds us."

“Yen Ming is a senior Gracie artist who has been with us for many years," said Mike Gracie, President of Gracie. "He’s been enjoying some celebrity status recently after being mentioned in the New York Times for his work on the Gracie wallpaper in Jeff Lincoln’s Kips Bay Showhouse room. He also is very cheery and fun to be with so I know our visitors are having a great time while showing some excellent painting talent of their own!”

Be sure to check back with GoDesignGo for more Spring Market Buzz at the DDB, and please send us your work if you painted with Yen Ming Tsai.