Cupid's Undies Run NYC 2016 - Team "Naked Cowgirl Fox"

     The Cupid's Undies Run is a charity event usually held on Valentine's Day Weekend in different states across the USA to raise money for the Children's Tumor Foundation. This is to help research for Neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that disturbs cell growth in your nervous system, causing tumors to form on nerve tissue, usually starting in childhood. I joined this event in New York City for the first time two years ago when a photographer friend, Caryn LaGreca sent me the link and said I should join this as the Naked Cowgirl since I was used to standing half naked in the freezing cold weather playing my guitar in Times Square. Why not put it to use and help raise money for a good cause?

     I started a team called "Naked Cowgirl Fox" and found 6 daring people to join me in New York City for what turned out to be not only such a well planned event raising a lot of money, but the most fun I've had doing a charity event!Last year my youngest son was graduating USAF Basic Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas the weekend of the Cupid's Undies Run so I did not attend. This was such an emotional few days and I was so proud of him! I told my teammates that I would do it this year and this time I had 16 people join my team!

     On Saturday, February 13th, the day of the event this year was so cold that officials deemed the freeze and wind chill "life-threatening"! The event co-directors Stephanie Mercurio and Amy Wheeler cut the one-mile race down to a half mile to prevent any of the runners from possibly getting frostbite. That didn't stop the majority of participants from stripping down to their best Valentine undies and getting out there to do what they came to do! Together we raised over $150,000.00 for the Children's Tumor Foundation...wooohooo!

     On a personal note...although I had been dressing up as the Naked Cowgirl making appearances out of the New York and New jersey area for almost 10 years, it wasn't until 2010 when I became the first "Officially Licensed" Naked Cowgirl of Times Square and played a guitar in New York City. I did it partly for fun and it suited my lifestyle at that time, but I mainly did it for publicity to cross-promote my Cindy Fox Fitness, LLC. Fitness has been my life for over 30 years!

      I made a deal to myself back then, and to others along the way that I would not be standing in Times Square as the Naked Cowgirl playing a guitar when I'm 50 years old, even though I still intend on rocking the bikini far past my 50th birthday :) Although I am still only 49, I won't be for next year's Cupids Undies Run, so for all of you looking to join my team again next year....get ready to join team "Cindy Fox Fitness". Friends that train together, stay together!!!

Naked Cowgirl Trail of Events for 2014

     January 2014 started with a blast, a Super Bowl Winter Blast...at least it did for us living in New Jersey and New York since the Super Bowl XLVlll was held at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. I was honored to be a big part of the festivities at the Secaucus Winter Blast Tailgate Celebration performing my song "Ride It Like A Cowgirl" with my amazing dancers, the "Foxy Cowbelles".

Charlie's Corner had a huge beer garden with live performances, plenty of beer...and a HEATED tent! Needless to say I spent a large amount of time there in my "Naked Cowgirl Signature Bikini" trying to stay warm!There were so many great vendors there like "The Original Soup Man" aka "Soup Nazi" from an episode of Seinfeld.

     Times Square Alliance did an amazing job creating "Super Bowl Boulevard" which was a huge extravaganza for many blocks including a toboggan ride slide, food, music, entertainment, the unveiling of giant lighted Roman numerals XLVIII and so much more! I walked around Times Square as "The Naked Cowgirl" on Saturday, February 1st, the day before the big game, surrounded by Seahawks and Broncos fans, tourists & locals, and plenty of media! I even got on Channel 5 Fox News surrounded by a group of face-painted, heavily decorated, extremely loyal Seattle Seahawk fans. Super Bowl Sunday was just as crazy although the streets did clear out a little earlier as football fans from all over made their way into the local hotels, bars, and restaurants to cheer for their favorite team...or at least for the numbers on the "football pool" to come out so they could win back some of the money they bet on the game.

     February 15th, Valentine's Day weekend, I participated in my first "NYC Cupid's Undie Run" along with some friends who joined my "Team Naked Cowgirl Fox" to raise money for The Children's Tumor Foundation. The event started at Stage 48, a nightclub in NYC in which everyone was dressed "down" in their underwear (as well as pajamas and costumes), danced to the music the DJ played and drank a good amount of alcohol to get ready to run 1.5 miles outside in the freezing cold in our underwear while it was snowing!

As one the the VIP's for the event promoting the hell out it, my team and I had access to the rooftop VIP section of the club with open bar and the ability to go out on the roof for some amazing photos taken by some of the best New York City Photographers like Dez Santana, Christopher Taylor, Caryn La Greca, Milo Hess...and many others.
     As if that wasn't enough fun for one day, I convinced a few of my team members to walk to Times Square with me, while it was snowing, and hang out at the "Crossroads of The World" and take pictures with me in their underwear for tourists from all over the world. What an awesome team I had! I'm disappointed that this years Cupid Undie Run is being held the weekend before Valentine's Day and I can't make it, but I will be in San Antonio, Texas to see my younger son graduate from US Air Force Basic Training, which I am SO EXCITED about! Maybe next year I'll do it again:) 

     With so many changes in Times Square over the last year or two pertaining to the excessive amount of characters out there and the negative publicity some of them were getting, I decided it was a good time to take a break and step away for a little while and focus on other things in my life that needed tending to like my family life, fitness career, and personal/social life.  My older son was in Germany for 2 years with the US Air Force and was surprisingly relocated back to an Air Force Base in New Jersey in May so I get to see him more often. Considering I work every other weekend at the hospital as an x-ray tech, plus train clients and teach classes in the gym all week, I decided it would be best to cut out Times Square for a while and be home more to spend time with my family, especially knowing that my younger son would be leaving for basic training in the fall.
     I got to do some nice day trips with my kids throughout the summer such as a" New York Waterway Taxi" ride around Manhattan, an "Irish Festival" that had NOT ONE thing Irish for 10 blocks, a stop at the Brooklyn Brewery on the way to a vegan restaurant in Williamsburg, and a few other places. It was nice being the tourist instead of the "tourist attraction" for a while.
     Being a dedicated vegan and loyal supporter of animal rights and "Equality For All", I couldn't resist walking again as the "Naked Cowgirl" with Mercy For Animals in the NYC Pride Parade on June 29th which always goes down 5th Avenue to Christopher Street in the Village. This is always such an amazing parade and so much fun to be a part of!

     With my younger son graduating high school and preparing to leave for basic training, I found myself at a crossroads in my life with some major decisions to make as to where I want my life to go. I'm trying to simplify my life, remove the stress, and find happiness...as most of us are trying to do. This required me to yet again do some soul searching, change old patterns that are self-destructive, and be a stronger person to pursue my goals that might have been lying dormant for a bit. I also decided that going to Times Square would be something I would do if and when I felt like it for fun or if I was hired to be there.
     September 28th was the Grand Opening of The ViiBE Dance Center which moved from Cliffside Park to Ridgefield, NJ in conjunction Shred Kickboxing, Eric Alt's Hue Color Bar, and Jambox Entertainment. My music manager, also a singer/song writer Lori Michaels, is co-owner of The ViiBE and asked me to make a Naked Cowgirl appearance to take photos with some of the dancers and their parents. It was a fun day hanging out with all of her dance and vocal students as well as the friends and family members.

     October was the NYC Walk For Farm Animals, with Farm Sanctuary, which raises money and awareness that all animals are sentinel beings and should be treated the same as we treat our own pets...with love and compassion. Although I walked in this event last year, I felt it would be more rewarding and beneficial to volunteer and help out. My daughter Tiffany even came with me to volunteer. It was a fun day!

On December 5th I felt the urge to drive into Times Square for a Naked Cowgirl Appearance after so many months missing in action. I was a little nervous since it had been so long and I honestly hadn't been practicing my guitar and was completely rusty! It was so reassuring to see how all of the locals and the Times Square Characters were so glad to see me back and all wanted to get their photo taken with me. That in itself made the trip all worth while! I even ran into some old friends who work in the area who came to see me in action and took a few photos of me.

     I drove my son to the Air Force Base only days later and cried all the way there and back home. I have been in a very different place since he has left. Luckily I still have my 22-year old daughter at home with me and my dog, and my older son who drives up from the base a couple times a month. I'm torn between missing the heck out of him, and liking my new found freedom, which is only temporary since he has only joined the Air Force Reserves and will be living home and going to college once he is back.

     I decided to finish 2014 with a Cowgirl Bang! I went into Times Square New year's Eve morning but since I got there too late (after 11am) I couldn't park in the Icon Parking Garage right off of Broadway and instead parked 2 1/2 blocks away and walked to Broadway in 28 degree temperatures! I usually stand near the island on 45th and Broadway but it was so crowded with the barricades that I decided to stand in the blocked-off street behind the bleachers and just take photos as long as I could tolerate it...which was about 20 minutes I think.
     I usually always choose New Year's Day as my "holiday pick" at the hospital to work but since someone with a small child asked me to work Christmas Day, I was off on New Year's Day for the first time in a long time. It was so nice to wake up and spend hours in my pajamas with my coffee and my feet up writing for hours in my journal about all of the changes I am ready to make in my life in 2015, as well as writing about all of the things and people I am grateful for in my life. I welcome 2015 and all of the good things that are coming into my life this year!.

    
    
    
    

Naked Cowgirl - NY Gay Pride Parade with Mercy For Animals

Naked Cowgirl Updates - 2014 Started with a WINTERBLAST!

2014 Started With a BLAST...Super Bowl Winterblast!

     New Year's Eve in Times Square (even for the 25 minutes I lasted in 24 degree temperature) is enough of a high with all of the people, photos, media from NY Daily News, Telemundo TV, etc...to last this Naked Cowgirl a few weeks!

I had no need to go back New Year's Day after the Times Square Ball dropped, Miley Cyrus, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Blondie, Icona Pop, Jencarlos Canela, El Dasa and Rodney Atkins, and Melissa Etheridge have all gone to their luxurious suites in New York City (or wherever their hearts may have taken them) just to stand in a street filled with confetti and some hungover people. That is why I chose New Year's Day as one of my holiday picks to work at Hackensack University Medical Center, where I am an x-ray tech part-time (one of my many jobs).

Sunday, January 5th

     I decided to spend one of my few days off being a NYC Tourist instead of the NYC tourist attraction, and spend it with New York City Photographer Dez Santana to walk around Bryant Park in the rain and then see some of his amazing Christmas & Winter Holiday photos being displayed in a highrise office complex on Lexington Avenue...very cool!

Tuesday January 14th - The premiere of Gravedigger, a horror/thriller I played a small part in as the girlfriend of a lawyer on the case, played by Actor/photographer Steve Mack. A sinister collaboration between the minds of Award Winning Actor Keith Collins, Doug Bollinger (“Waltzing Anna”), Brandon Ruckdashel (“Co-ed Confidential”) and from the eerie ink of NY Emmy Award Winning Writer Joseph Pepitone & Billy Pepitone (“Stuck in the Middle”), a horrifying shock fest that will keep you on the edge of your seat and the brink of insanity throughout a terrifying journey of paranoia.

 

Wednesday January 15th - My video interview with The Wall Street Journal in Times Square NYC

pertaining to my performance for the Winterblast in New Jersey during Super Bowl XLVlll weekend.  http://online.wsj.com/article/2182A84E-6A45-41BA-A247-5F37AC6CE7D9.html#!2182A84E-6A45-41BA-A247-5F37AC6CE7D9

Not only did this video interview by Josh Dawsey go ALL OVER the internet to various News Channels both online and in print, but I also got my photo on the FRONT Page of The Wall Street Journal Newspaper!!!

     "Since 1979, the drawings, or hedcuts, have become much more than the currency and certificate engravings they were modeled on. So many likenesses of prominent figures have been featured that to have one's hedcut appear in the Journal is, for most, a seminal moment.

"It sort of became a status symbol," says staff artist Hai Knafo.

 Does it get better than Front Page of The Wall Street Journal?!?!? My photo and my actual name Cindy Fox aka The Naked Cowgirl of Times Square....Need I go on?!?!?!?  OK, I will...

Monday, January 27th 

I was asked by Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli to attend the Press Conference at Buchmuller Park Ice Rink in NJ to discuss and promote the Secaucus Winterblast Tailgate Party we were holding to celebrate the Super Bowl XLVlll being held in the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey...NOT in New York. New York Jets safety Jaiquawn Jarret was in the photo since he also lives in Secaucus, NJ. Also at the press conference were two members of the U.S. Figure Skating Synchronized Skating Team,  Mike Doyle from the Philadelphia Flyers sled hockey team and the New Jersey Devils mascot, as well as many reporters, town officials, Winterblast organizers, and many more!

Thursday, January 30th - I was asked to make a Naked Cowgirl appearance at Leonard Marshall's Big Extravaganza at Tiffany's Casual Dining & Bar in Pequannock, NJ for injured and disabled professional football players that were unable to work and are suffering physically, mentally, and financially. Photographed with me is retired NY Giants football player Leonard Marshall and my music manager, Lori Michaels.

Friday, January 31st
WPIX 11 News reporter Lisa Mateo interviewed me with cameraman Ken Evseroff prior to my performance for Winterblast Tailgate Party.

I performed my song "Ride It Like A Cowgirl" (on iTunes) and my Naked Cowgirl Dance (video on Youtube) with my "Foxy Cowbelles", amazing dancers from The ViiBE Dance Center owned and run by Singer/Dancer/Producer Lori Michaels and Dancer/Choreographer Courtney Lynch.

What a great way to start off 2014!!! February had some fun stuff going on as well, but I'll save that for the next blog....

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#Madhouse TV's Tom Mele interview with Cindy Fox

"Naked Cowgirl Updates" - Reflecting on 2013 Part 2

     There were so many events, celebrations, and changes in my life during 2013, both as "The Naked Cowgirl" and in my personal life, that I couldn't put it all into one blog. This is a continuation of my "Naked Cowgirl Updates - Reflecting on 2013 Part 1" blog picking up where I left off in the month of May. Being that I am a mother above all else, I want to start this with Mother's Day.

Mother's Day - May 12th
I had a relaxing morning but only had two of my children home. My oldest son has been in Germany with the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base, and it was my first Mother's Day without all of my children, although I know he's doing something good with his life so I'm happy. When the doorbell rang and I received flowers from him, I got so choked up; it totally made my day!

I went to Park and Orchid in Rutherford, NJ with my daughter and younger son and had an amazing Polenta with spinach, non-dairy cheese, and tomato sauce, totally Vegan and delicious! We brought home Vegan Cupcakes from Sweet Avenue Bake Shop, also in Rutherford...yummy!

Times Square Appearances: 5/17, 5/25, 5/26, 5, 27, 5/31
Memorial Day Weekend - I was wearing my camouflage bikini showing support to our Servicemen/women who serve our country. I wanted something different from last year's red, white, and blue Patriotic bikini. Had the opportunity of getting a photo in Times Square with some of New York City's best photographers, although my favorite NYC Photographer, Dez Santana Photography, was taking this shot.

    

Times Square wouldn't be the same without all the tourists, photographers, the workers, and yes...the many characters & street performers out there such as the "Naked Cowboy" and his franchisees, Rob Coffman of "Haircutter In The Meadow" and "The Black Naked Cowboy" Titus Gandy! On Memorial Day I went with Dez Santana to Brooklyn Bridge Park to take some more photos, enjoy the sun, and relax after playing guitar in Times Square.

May 31 - I had a photo shoot from the top of a high rise building in New York City with Dez Santana Photography...

and then went to my first professional baseball game since I was about 9 years old. We went to Yankee Stadium to watch the NY Yankees play the Boston Red Sox,

and I even drank a Beer and ate garlic fries wearing my Yankee T-shirt to make it feel authentic!

June - Events and Times Square appearances 6/5, 6/15, 6/22, 6/30

June 1st & 2nd I had my Fitness Conference to renew all of my Fitness Certifications from AAAI/ISMA which I've been going to since the Atlantic City Convention Center was still on the Boardwalk.

It is now several blocks from the beach in a newer, cleaner, more upscale area and is attached to the Atlantic City Sheraton Hotel, home of the Miss America Pageant and Miss America Protest of 1968 where feminists were protesting against the objectification of women and the "impossible standards of beauty the pageant" represented. Once I've taken classes by Fitness Gurus Shaun T.,  Pepper Von, and Janis Saffell it's time to hit the beach for some sun,

the Bally's Tiki Bar for some fun, and then Atlantic City Buddakan for some awesome Vegan food! I must add here that I left my suitcase home and nothing but my handbag and the clothes on me! Luckily for me, my boyfriend was very generous and took me shopping to buy a few things to get through weekend, such as this striped bathing suit, my awesome camouflage pants, and the matching Atlantic City long-sleeved shirts we both had for the night time on the boardwalk.

June 22nd - The Coney Island Mermaid Parade
First let me start by saying I've had a "Mermaid Obsession" since I was a little girl and have quite the collection of Mermaids all around my home...and of course they're all VEGAN!

This was the first year I got to see and participate in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. I didn't plan early enough to make a Mermaid Costume, plus I figured everyone there would be wearing one, so I figured I'd go as "The Naked Cowgirl" but with little "Seashore" flair to my costume.

I kept my signature "Naked Cowgirl Cindy Fox" Bikini but had a gold one with Seahorses, Seashells, and Fish attached to it as well as my Cowgirl Hat, Boots, and guitar.

Even the famous NYC Body Painter Andy Golub was there...painting Mermaids of course!

June 23rd - NYC Gay Pride Parade
What else can I say but WOW...Such a FUN Parade! I believe in  "Equality for All" and to me that means all living creatures. I am Vegan and am a big animal rights activist and have walked in the NYC Pride Parade for 2 years in a row with the "Mercy For Animals" group.

I love these people!

 

It seems that I have gone to Times Square more in the colder weather than I did during the summer. I guess it's partly because of the over-abundance of characters flooding Times Square in the summer, most of who leave when it gets colder. Too many out there at the same time make the whole act less original and less exciting for me and the tourists. Once it's cold out, many of them disappear and it's worth it again for me to be out to be there.

July 4th - Independence Day for us Americans

It's always very busy in Times Square on the 4th of July and there is Patriotic Spirit surrounding everyone, whether they are American or not...carrying American Flags, wearing Red, White, and Blue, etc...

I seemed to have traded in Times Square during the month of August for some fun with family and friends. After all, you only live once and I intend on living it to the fullest!

August 3rd - Warrior Dash with VIP Fitness Members

I participated in the "Warrior Dash" in Morristown, NJ, an obstacle course to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital, with some members from VIP Fitness Studio in which I teach classes and train clients at. Being that it was raining on the way there, I was cursing myself out for signing up for this, especially since I have a fear of snakes and worms (YES, Worms too!) and we all know they come out when it rains...ughh! Luckily the sun came out 20 minutes into the race and it turned out the be a great day!
August 14th - 21st - Visited my U.S. Air Force Son in Germany
This was my first time in Germany and the also the first time seeing my son in 15 months since he left. I went alone and got to spend the best quality time with him that I have since he was an only child (my first born). We visited different parts of Germany and also stayed a few days in Prague. NO Cowgirl stuff during that trip!

Our first night was in Landstahl at the Zum Storchennest Landhotel which was close to the air base...beautiful scenery. In Prague there are so many street performers doing amazing acts, playing instruments, and really trying to WOW the crowd.

This is the closest thing to Times Square's "Naked" anything! These guys were AMAZING! The last night in Prague we went on our own Pub Crawl and ended up in a bar called "Coyotes"...sound familiar?

The closet thing I got to being a cowgirl on this trip was watching other cowgirls get up on the bar and dance! People are the same in most parts of the world. We happened to stumble upon the Prague's Gay Pride Parade while we were there. So much for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"...lol!

 September - 9/2, 9/7
There was a Protest to the War in Syria in Times Square on Labor Day that I stumbled upon. This woman has been doing this since the Vietnam War. She asked me if I knew any "Peace" songs and I told her I wasn't that good, but I'd try...lol She liked me after that and decided to do a Palm Reading on me.

October - 10/11, 10/31
Halloween is always a fun night whether you're going to a party, going "Trick or Treating", or just dressing up for the Festivities. I decided that since my daughter (also my makeup artist "Makeup By Tiffany Aiello") just turned 21 this summer, she might like to come into New York City and have some fun with me. She dressed up as a "Naked Cowgirl" and totally ROCKED IT!! We started in Times Square to take photos with tourists who clearly thought she was a "Mini Me".

We took the subway to Greenwich Village for the NYC Village Halloween Parade to walk in it. There were so many photographers, parade watchers, and press taking photos of u. I pulled her next to me so she'd be in most of them.

After the Village Parade we headed over to Keith Collin's Royalton Hotel Halloween Party where many of the cast from Gravedigger Movie (which I had a small role in) was attending such as Photographer/actor Steve Mack, Actor Keith Collins, Ex-baseball player/actor Billy Sample, as well as a performance from Side FX & Kim Cameron.

November I had a bad case of Bronchitis, which is ironic since most people ask me if I get sick from standing out in the cold, and the truth is, I hadn't gone out one time in the cold yet and got sick anyway!
December was a great month in Times Square as always! There is so much Christmas Spirit in NYC no matter what your religion or nationality...everyone is joyful...well, almost everyone! After wearing my little "Ms. Santa Claus" Red Satin skirt and top with the cotton trim, I figured it was time for a change, plus I figured there would be other people out there now following my lead and wearing that adorable outfit this year. I decided to stick to my "Naked Cowgirl Cindy Fox Signature Bikini" but change the colors and add Christmas decorations to make it more festive.

I had to add the photo in front of "Toys R Us" since it is the most popular store at Christmas time, but the VERY BEST photo in Times Square on Christmas Eve was the one where "Naked Cowgirl Cindy Fox" found the REAL "Santa Claus"! He already knew if I had been "naughty or nice" so I just gave him a hug and hoped for the best...lol!

December 31st - New Year's Eve
Although New Year's Eve fell on a Tuesday and it was my regular day to work at the hospital (yes, I have other jobs!), I drove into Times Square around 11am at which time it was already getting busy and the sidewalks had barricades getting prepared for the "Times Square Ball Drop" with Ryan Seacrest and a performance by Miley Cyrus who was being promoted as being a "Naked Cowgirl in Times Square" for New Year's Eve, except she had a FUR Coat on!
It was only 25 degrees but I was hoping to last 30 minutes. I ran into NY Daily News photographer David Handschuh during this time who has photographed me after my Music Video Release Party for my song on iTunes "Ride It Like A Cowgirl".

I got a photo with him right before Telemundo TV came by. Luckily Telemundo TV came by and filmed me singing and playing the guitar when they did while I could still feel my fingers.

After about 17 or 18 minutes, my fingers got numb and I couldn't feel the chords I was pressing so I basically had to just keep posing for photos until I couldn't take the pain in my fingers any longer. By far, the BEST photo of the day in Times Square was captured by Dez Santana Photography when the NYPD just happened to be crossing Broadway in my direction and he told me to stand still and smile...awesome shot!

I went back to the Icon Parking Garage after about 23 minutes, changed into my scrubs, and drove to Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey. My little toes on my right foot was still numb when I got to work! 2013 was a year of change and transition

...2014 is a year to EXCEL and break all boundaries!