Month: August 2016

NY Environment

Museum of Reclaimed Urban Spaces

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recyclingNow in its fourth consecutive year, the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Spaces – in NYC’s East Village — once again came to teach its visitors how to protect the environment and efficiently utilize recycling materials.

Short movies and documentaries on this year’s ‘People and the Planet, ’ theme recognizing the staunch sustainable and environmental efforts of various communities nationwide, were featured at the four-day event (from August 18 til August 21).   Events included: ‘Community Garden Racing to Zero,’ ‘Orchard Alley: Racing Extinction,’ ‘Inhabit: A Permaculture Perspective’ and ‘Bringing it home.’

Entertainment

Dragon Boat Family Festival

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dragon-boatFor those in Tribeca looking for a family-fun activity, a few days ago the Museum of China in America hosted  the Dragon Boat Family Festival.  One of the workshops – entitled Calligraphy Corner – had I-Hsuan Chao demonstrate this skill by painting festive messages on traditional rice paper.  Participants were able to learn basic brushstroke techniques and how to write the word ‘boat’ with a Chinese character.

For food lovers the Sticky, Savory Snacks – Zongzi Wrapping and Tasting must have been extremely enjoyable.  Also at that tasting – apart from eating – participants were able to learn why zongzi are traditionally consumed during the Dragon Boat Festival.  These pyramid-shaped rice balls in bamboo leaves are a cool thing to learn how to make too.

And then of course, a Dragon Festival would not be complete without actually trying to Awaken the Dragon! A special reading of ‘Gung Ho! A Dragon Boat Story’ by Susan Hughes was enjoyed through an interactive activity.

Those activities and many more were all part of the fun at the Dragon Family Festival in Tribeca last week.

The Edison Hotel

Art at The Edison

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skylineBuilt in 1931, Shimmie Horn’s Hotel Edison makes for a perfect place for those who love art.  Set in New York City – minutes away from Times Square – the interior Art Deco features both elegance and boldness.  Its exterior – comprised of curved edges clashing with bold lines – likewise makes a fantastically artistic impression along Manhattan’s skyline.

And of course, being right in the center of global art, visitors to the hotel can take advantage of so many museums in the area and countless exhibitions.  One of these is the one at PACE gallery (until August 19th) featuring “works made in glass and the unique use of glass objects by each artist.”  Artists displaying their works are:  Maya Lin, Kiki Smith and Fred Wilson.  Check out the huge glass marbled wall piece, 11-part floor piece that looks like water droplets, red glass stars and glass items sporadically installed and placed on tableware.

If you miss that, be sure next month to check out the artistic element that is coming to the National September 11 Memorial Museum.  Originally built to “reflect the moments of horror and heroism 15 years ago when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center,” the upcoming show ‘Rendering the Unthinkable: Artists Respond to 9/11,’ begins in timely fashion on September 12 in the special exhibits gallery. The development of this exhibition is said to be a testament to the interest the museum is showing in “complementing its collection of artifacts and archives and an acknowledgment that expanding its scope could add visitors.”

Restaurants

Summer Happenings in NYC

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sunshineSummertime and the livin’ is easy…at least in New York City it has the potential of being…

What’s better in the summer than ice-cream?  Learning how to make it yourself from the experts and thanks to Sarah Lohman, historic gastronome and Laura Weiss, ice cream historian (who even knew such professions existed?) one can now learn about the history and mechanics and ice cream and making the yummy cold stuff first hand. Last week, Brooklynites were invited to the Brooklyn Historical Society, located at 128 Pierrepont Street from 7-9pm on July 28th to learn all about that.

And then tomorrow for food lovers who are looking for something on the savory side that is a bit hotter, the Brooklyn Historical Society hosted Scott Wiener, a pizza historian, together with a panel of Brooklyn pizza-makers on The Search for Authenticity will be discussing who makes the most authentic pizza in New York City. The event will boast a classic old-school slice shop, alongside an historic coal-fired pizza parlor, a traditional Neapolitan pizzeria, and a new-school pie innovator. What more could food connoisseurs ask for?

Staying cool and keeping hot in New York is what it’s all about this summer.