FAB Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Panoramic Views & Rappin' Grannies

On June 8, 2011, Fourth Arts Block (FAB) celebrates a decade of sustaining and building a vibrant home for the arts in the East Village with a benefit and party at the Penthouse of The Cooper Square Hotel. Hosted by Fantasy Grandma, everyone's favorite rapping grannies, guests can play raucous rounds of FABingo, enjoy interactive storytelling with Broadcastr, and dance to sets by DJ Rabbit Crisis. The Cooper Square Hotel's own restaurant, The Trilby, known for delicious savory comfort food, will provide food and drink, as guests take in the panaoramic view of the Manhattan skyline and browse a silent auction of unique experiences and adventures.

Hostesses Myrtle J. & Jane B., otherwise known as Fantasy Grandma, will serenade guests in their unique grandma style. "[Fantasy Grandma] came dressed in tastefully sporty Sophia Petrillo-esque outerwear...Then they started rapping...I was totally hooked," says The Apiary of a recent Fantasy Grandma appearance. The grannies will also kick-off FABingo, where every round gives players the chance to win theater and dining packages from FAB's membership of award winning experimental theaters like, La Mama E.T.C. and Performance Space 122.

Guests can also delve deeper into the history of the arts in the East Village by listening to podcast compilations created by FAB's members and Broadcastr, before they get a chance to record their own stories with the Broadcastr team. A silent auction of unique experiences will also be open to all guests with prizes ranging from private pilates and massage sessions at SMUSH to pool lessons with an APA pro, VIP passes to Central Park SummerStage and Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing, and a summer of romance language instruction at Idlewild Books.

All the proceeds from this event go to continue FAB's efforts throughout their 10th anniversary year. This year alone, FAB has made huge strides in its outreach and programming, including the opening of the FAB Café and East Village Visitors Center, which provides jobs for artists and an on-going resource for tourists and curious locals. In its 10th anniversary year, FAB has plans to expand Dance Block, a program that provides low cost rehearsal space rentals to dancers, lead greening efforts for neighborhood theaters, go mobile with FAB Tix, an online 2-for-1 ticket program, and commit more hours of hands on consulting support to local artists.

Tickets start at $35 for party access and two cocktails. The FAB-ulouos level ticket ($55) also includes a professionally taken photograph against the Manhattan skyline, as well as unlimited drinks from the open bar provided by The Trilby. FAB-vante Garde level tickets gain guests special recognition year round as 10th Anniversary Supporters, as well as a luxury gift bag.

For tickets and more details about FAB Turns 10 please visit www.fabnyc.org/fabturns10.php.

About Fourth Arts Block
Fourth Arts Block (FAB) is the leadership organization for the East 4th Street Cultural District, working to improve and promote the East Village/LES as the destination for diverse, experimental culture. To learn more about the Fourth Arts Block, please visit
www.fabnyc.org.