We asked some famous artist friends to draw Meagan so we could present the artwork to MOCCA at the end of the PopUp segment. Meagan was thrown a curve ball when Ellen Abramowitz presented a caricature of Meagan (Centered Above) drawn by Dan Parent himself! (Of Archie Comics fame) What a Surprise!!!!

Here they are:

#1 was created by the legendary Danny Hellman (dannyHellman.com).
Danny is a major cover artist for SCREW magazine and his editorial work is published around the country in dozens of respected magazines.
Is that one of my Desigual® shirts?

#2 was a gift from MOCCA and drawn by Dan Parent from ARCHIE comic book fame!
I was blown away when I received this. We were doing a PopUp at MOCCA for the Archie Exhibit and Ellen Abromowitz pulled this out as a surprise. Super cool and now framed in my room.

#3 was crafted by my personal friend, Sean Taggart who captured my PopUp stance with Colored Pencil on 8.5 x 11 inches of coolness. Sean is the man behind the “Jerky Boys” drawings and memorable underground 80’s NYC Hardcore flyer artwork. Viewers Beware!!! You can find out more about Sean at SeanTaggart.com.

Well, it looks like Jack Frost has decided to finally come. All over the news is the SnowStorm of 2009. Of course, right now we can curl up on our couches with some hot chocolate and watch the news. But I can tell you right now, that I don’t want to be stuck in my living room all weekend. I wanna go out into civilization, regardless of the weather! So, I’m bringing you my Fab Five places to walk and wander despite the snow. In fact, I guarantee the snow will make it more worthwhile! Here goes:

1) Central Park – This is cliche. I don’t want to be cliche, but I have to be. Have you ever watched a movie that takes place in this great city, and while the characters are taking a nice peaceful walk they almost ALWAYS end up in Central Park? It’s calming, and if you end up by the Reservoir or  in The Rambles surrounded by snow, it’s sure to be a sight to see. However, once more than 6 inches touches the ground, Central Park offers Cross Country Skiing on the Great Lawn. Don’t worry if your apartment or house can’t hold all the equipment, cause you can rent it!

2) Snow & Ice go hand in hand. While you’re strolling through the Park, I dare you to do a Figure 8 At Trump Wollman Rink. Located just a short turn away from the entrance to the Park by 59th street, it’s easy to find! It has the largest “learn to skate” program in the city. Skate Rental is $6.25

3) Make your way over to Tavern On The Green, which everyone has seen in tons of movies! The snowfall mixed with the beautifully wrapped white lights on their symbolic trees is a great photo op. The restaurant itself is very pricey, but what you see on the outside is priceless.

4) Can’t feel your toes? Head to 3 W.18th Street to The City Bakery for the best hot chocolate! Their marshmallows are handmade, they come in big squares that you can even buy in bulk. Also, PopUp viewer LoneStarKate told me all about their delicious cookies and tarts..

5) Like to go sledding? Seems a little out of the ordinary in the city. But, thanks to a few viewers I have a couple locations up my sleeve. In Brooklyn, head over to Park Slope for the best sledding with you and your friends. The prime location is the hill next to Prospect Park’s Tennis House, just off of Ninth Street and Prospect Park West. To get there, take the F Train to 7th Ave. In The Bronx, their best sledding spot is in the one and only Crotona Park at the North End between Crotona Park North and 174th Street. It’s a pretty steep hill. To get there, take the 2 or the 5 train to E.180th Street. In Staten Island, take a chance on Dead Man’s Hill in Silver Lake Park.

Thats it for the PopUp Fab Five … for now. Feel free to write in suggestions to let me know YOUR favorite winter activities!

The Circle Line presents the NYC Santa Cruise! On December 12th, my friends at the Circle Line will be hanging out with Santa Claus! He’ll be on the famous tourist boat for a 90 minute ride in a winter wonderland. Onboard, there will be milk & cookies, christmas tunes, and free pictures with Jolly Saint Nick. 

Unfortunately, tickets went really quick and have already been sold out but I think that the Santa Cruise is an awesome idea because it’s for a really good cause. Admission is only one dollar, along with a donation of one unwrapped toy for a child, and all of the proceeds and presents will be given to Toys For Tots! It’s the most magical time of year, and every little kid deserves to smile, so this is one event I’m very excited for!

So, to everybody who has a ticket – congratulations! Take some pictures of Santa and The Statue of Liberty for those of us stuck on land, will ya?

For those of you who were too late to get a ticket and were looking forward to seeing Santa, don’t worry. Pop over to our Twitter for your own special Holiday Treat!

Happy Holidays from all of us at PopUp New York!