One Step Closer: AIDS figure skating fundraiser today in NYC featuring Oksana Baiul, Tai Babilonia, Elaine Zayak and many others

There's going to be a terrific skating exhibition today at 2:45 p.m. at Lasker Rink in Central Park, NYC. Produced by Tim David, an adult competitive skater and director of the Lasker Rink Skating School, the show is called One Step Closer and all proceeds will go to the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children. Tim is a great guy and with Brian Mancuso, Executive Director of One Step Closer, they are trying to improve the lives of children and families living with AIDS and HIV, well, one step at a time.

Among the folks who will be either speaking or skating are Oksana Baiul, Tai Babilonia, Elaine Zayak, Angela Maxwell, Parker Pennington, Lucinda Ruh, and Melissa Bulanhagui.

(Visit One Step Closer on Facebook here.)

Oksana Baiul, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Coney Island Mermaid

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg...ice skating? Well, not really. But he was there supporting a free skating event at the Abe Stark Skating Rink in Coney Island, Brooklyn, on Tuesday, February 16. 

And so were about 300-400 Brooklyn-ites, lacing up their figure and hockey skates to take a whirl around the rink, celebrating the free day of skating. The event, sponsored by Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr., was an unusually high profile event with New York politicos -- Mayor Bloomberg, State Senator Diane Savino, Representative Jerrold Nadler -- all making special appearances. Also making an appearance was Olympic Gold Medalist Oksana Baiul, along with New York City professional skater and member of Ice Theatre of New York, Marni Halasa, who were both there on hand (and skates) to perform skating tricks and teach the kids how to skate. 

"It was so exciting to meet Oksana Baiul," said Anna, a 10-year-old skater who was learning how to spin.  "She won the Olympics and now she is here teaching me how to skate. It's awesome!"

The idea for a free skating day was conceived by Councilman Recchia in conjunction with Valery Levine, a professional skater from Bellport, Long Island, and Director of the Coney Island Ice Theatre, an organization that teaches kids from Brooklyn how to skate. The organization also produces an annual show every spring. Other sponsors included Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny, the Greater New York Ice Hockey League, the Parks Department and Abe Stark. Such events are also in line with Oksana Baiul's ongoing mission to give children the opportunity to skate.

"I really want to give something back to skating," explained Baiul. "Skating has done so much for me that I think it's important to do something that will help others, especially kids." 

Inspired by the quintessential Coney Island Mermaid, Halasa, dressed in a blue sequined mermaid costume, agrees. "The kids had a great time skating and could not get enough. Oksana Baiul, Valery Levine as well as Councilman Recchia's office really organized this event beautifully to do something for the community -- which is so important since many of these children wouldn't ordinarily get the opportunity to skate. This was such a festive and fun event, let's hope that this is the beginning of a new trend." (Photo below, Oksana Baiul and Coney Island Mermaid Marni Halasa at Abe Stark Skating Rink)

Oksana Baiul is alive and well

• Skipping 2010 Worlds: Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, Evan Lysacek and Ashley Wagner. [icenetwork]

• Johnny Weir and body paint are like bread and butter. [Vanity Fair]

• Unrelated to skating but needed to share: Korean pole vaulter's name gets lost in translation, especially when English audiences chant his name: Kim Yoo-Suk! [That's Sports with Len Berman]

• 2010 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships begin today in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [Official Site]

• Oksana Baiul (see right) looking well at a charity event on February 16 at the Abe Stark rink in Brooklyn, New York.

• Mirai Nagasu: The next Yu-Na Kim? [LA Times]

• Oksana Baiul's Broadway ice musical Cold As Ice is still breathing. [Cold As Ice website]

• Miki Ando dedicates her skate to Joannie Rochette's mother. [FSU]

• Oksana Baiul attends cocktail reception for Jeff Koons in NYC (see right) -- She looks good!

• Russian president orders Olympics chiefs to quit. [Guardian]

• Johnny Weir on The Joy Behar Show responds to critics who suggest he undergo a gender test. [Pop Watch]

• Is Mao Asada going for a quad in 2014 Sochi??? [Chosun Ilbo]

Oksana Baiul and SpongeBob Squarepants, together at last

• I wonder if Nicole Bobek is surprised at all the news coverage and psychoanalysis she is getting. [statesman.com]

• Are Evan Lysacek and gymnast Nastia Liukin dating? [Harper's Bazaar]

• It's always about the money. [Chicago Tribune]

• Tai Babilonia's list of priorities: "My health, my son Scout, work and peace." [Ashland Daily Tidings]

• Michelle Kwan has the beautiful California glow at the ESPY awards last week. Who's the lady in the back? [Ace Show Biz]

• Kristi Yamaguchi is looking gorgeous as well at the ESPYs. [AsianceMagazine]

• International Figure Skating (IFS) reports: "Daisuke Takahashi began training for the 2009-10 season in April and has made steady progress....Takahashi has started jumping and is doing some of his triple jumps.... The Japanese star missed the 2008-09 season after an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament and medial meniscus (cartilage) in his right knee joint required surgery. Takahashi, a three-time Japanese champion and the 2007 World silver medalist, has two Grand Prix assignments: NHK Trophy in Japan (Nov. 5-8) and Skate Canada (Nov. 19-22). He represented Japan at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy where he placed eighth.Takahashi arrived in Detroit on July 13 for a 10-day training camp, according to Japanese TV."

• Let's reminisce about the good old days when Carolina Kostner was not a bundle of nerves. [True/Slant]

• Catch up on all the results from the 2009 Liberty Summer Competition. [icenetwork]

• 2008-2009 US Yearbook: Pairs Edition. No team got an A! [Required Elements]

• Joelle Forte will not be skating for the United States this season and, thus, has been removed from the Reserve Team. [US Figure Skating]

• Oksana Baiul attends the unveiling of a SpongeBob SquarePants wax figure in New York City. (see above right) [Zimbio.com]

Stand Up for Life benefit to feature Oksana Baiul and JoJo Starbuck

On Saturday, May 2, at 7 p.m., I will be at the Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain, New Jersey, to support Stand Up for Life, a Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Benefit. Featuring Olympic champion Oksana Baiul and emcee JoJo Starbuck, this is a great opportunity to see past, present, and future figure skaters in action. The event will also honor local skating legend, breast cancer survivor, and 1984 Olympian Lisa Spitz. In addition to Oksana, Angela Maxwell, Scott Smith, Kristiene Gong, Tamar Katz and many others are scheduled to perform.

Proceeds from Stand Up for Life will go towards research as well as to the North Jersey Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to support community-based education, screening, and treatment programs for uninsured populations. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children. For those who would like to meet the stars, VIP tickets are only $75, with available on-ice seating to see them up close for $100 per ticket. You can purchase tickets here online or call (973) 731-3828 ext. 0. See you there!