Tag: Culture

Categories
NYC Travel

Make Your Next Vacation Brooklyn

There is much more to see and experience in the vibrant city of New York than the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, the Empire State Building, or the glitzy couture of the Upper East Side.

If you want to walk the off-beaten path, plan your next holiday in Brooklyn – the home to everything you’d otherwise miss in NYC. It reflects the artistic and urban side of New York, bubbling with rich culture, flea markets, live music, vintage stores, millennial neighborhoods, and of course, its exciting nightlife.    

 

 

 

A Perfect Treat to Your Eyes

 

If your tired eyes need a rest, escape into the greenery of Prospect Park, the little sibling to Manhattan’s Central Park, but rich in captivating sights and exciting things to do. The picturesque beauty and tranquility of Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and McCarren Park will enthrall your senses – a perfect relaxing vacation to rejuvenate your mind and body!

Poetica Coffee

Stay on Top of the Hottest Trends 

 

What the world thinks tomorrow, Brooklyn does it today! There goes the famous saying. So, you can expect to explore the latest trends being in Brooklyn than anywhere else. From music to fashion to food and travel, they have seen it all. 

 

Street Fair

 

Experience the Best Street Art Ever 

 

Have a knack for art? The enticing street artwork on the walls of Bushwick will leave you overwhelmed. Take a lazy afternoon stroll through the neighborhood streets to discover the most awe-inspiring, elaborate, and intriguing murals adorning the Bushwick walls. You can also take a Graffiti Tour to get up close and personal with the artists who create these eye-catching pieces of art on the walls. 

Soak the Sun for a Real Beach Experience in New York 

 

The enigma of sun-kissed beaches and the vivacity of NYC may not connect at a first glance. But Brooklyn adds a touch of magic, presenting exquisite beaches that adorn Coney Island, the Rockaways, or Bergen Beach.

You can also plan your vacation in Brooklyn to coincide with the famous Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest or Mermaid Day Parade for a memorable experience. 

Condor Hotel

 

Brooklyn is the Home to Some of the Best Hotels in NYC 

 

Not just exceptional sightseeing, music, or culture; Brooklyn is home to some of the finest hotels in NYC, including the Condor Brooklyn Hotel.

Enjoy accommodation in spacious suites and deluxe rooms, equipped with modern amenities and dedicated guest service. The hotels offer exclusive facilities, making your holiday in Brooklyn more cherished. 

Smorgasburg

Do Not Miss Eating at Smorgasburg Food Market 

 

Your trip to Brooklyn is incomplete without savoring mouth-watering delicacies at the Smorgasburg outdoor food market in Williamsburg and Prospect Park – a delightful gastronomic experience for food lovers. 

 

Plan your vacation in Brooklyn and create memories you will cherish forever. 

 

Categories
Education

Learning a Language as a Piece of Theatre

Theatre Masks
Art by Noemi Florea

As Shakespeare once put it, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” And if that’s the case, why should learning a language be any different than learning a script? 

One Crazy Narrative After Another

Early conversation practice at ABC Languages can take many forms. Practice ranges from a class to a conversation group, to even a bit of narrative theatre. I worked with co-founder Elizabeth Zackheim, and together we ran through a short French conversation diagnostic. This included the help of Carmen, Betty, Yukio, and a few other fictional characters to help us test out speaking lines in French.

The class took place in a classroom in Paris. The characters we acted out included students from America to Italy to Japan. Each gave their own perspective on visiting Paris and naming their favorite monuments — as any tourist would! Before long, the scene took a mysterious turn when a publication in the local newspaper announced the disappearance of three students from a rival language school. Sadly, our story was cut short due to the fact that we only read individual chapters. I guess it’ll be a while before we uncover what happened. “It’s a bit of Scooby-Doo,” Zackheim joked.

Running Lines Makes for Perfect Practice

So how does running through a short plot like this help with learning a language? Speaking lines out loud with a partner helps with both comprehension and pronunciation. Particularly if you’re working with a teacher who can guide you on both levels. Our chapters were pretty elementary, both in vocabulary and pace. This allowed for ample space to break down each portion to its most accessible core.

French can be quite the challenge to speak through correctly the first time around. Therefore, we paused to sound out words syllable by syllable.  As the teacher, Zackheim also took moments throughout the narrative to check in with my comprehension, asking certain “feeler” questions to gauge my understanding. Her doing so allowed me not only to stay focused on the story itself, but also gave me a chance to practice my speaking skills as I strove to elaborate on my answers. 

A Place for Well-Informed Feedback

After running through the narrative, Zackheim was also able to give a well-informed diagnostic towards my comprehension and oral skills in French and recommended shortly after which of the conversation groups at ABC Languages I should attend. For any student looking to test out their skill levels in a foreign language, running through a script like this can be a fast and fun way to receive feedback from a teacher towards what you might need to focus on moving forward. Afterwards, attending a conversation group like those at ABC Languages can provide an environment to work out oral and listening skills in a comfortable, well-paced environment.

To learn more about the conversation classes available at ABC Languages, visit ABC Language School. 

For more on language and culture from Downtown, click here.

Categories
Featured NYC

Father’s Day Gift Guide 2021

Anna Shvets Pexels

As Summer rolls around, we may feel inclined to go splurge on a collection of new bikinis or cute shorts, but we can’t forget our Father!

This father’s day, let’s treat our dads to some Summer fun.

Accessories (for the dapper dad)

Szanto ICON Signature Series Watches

For dads who can never have enough watches, these beautiful Szanto ICON Signature Series Watches are the perfect gift. These watches are made with durable K1 crystal to avoid scratches and a thick Super-LumiNova lume for a glow that will last all night long. Prices range from $175-$350

Neck Ties 

Looking for a fashionable gift for dad? Find a necktie from the Tie Bar. With a wide variety of ties to choose from, the Tie Bar has an option that every father will love. Prices range from $9-$35

Terra Thread Bags

Have an eco-friendly father who likes to reduce his carbon footprint in style? Check out Terra Thread backpacks and bags. They are made in a Fair Trade Certified Factory consisting of no nylon, no polyester, and no microplastics. These stylish bags are also carbon-neutral and vegan; great for the conscious dad on the go. Prices range from $9-$65

Spirits (for the cocktail connoisseur dad) 

Dos Maderas Rum

Dos Maderas rum, unique for its versatility, is the perfect gift for the father who enjoys a smooth drink. This proclaimed “world’s only double cask aged rum,” can be served straight or as a cocktail, making it the perfect summer liquor for dad. The rum comes in two expressions. The first is 5+3, which has a deep amber palate with notes of vanilla, fruit, oak, and tobacco, and 5+5, a dark amber rum with notes of fig, raisin, sherry, and oak. Price (5+3) – $33.99, (5+5) – $44.99)

 

 

The Marlin Bar: Cocktails with Tommy Bahama

What better way to kick off summer than with a refreshing cocktail from The Marlin Bar? Tommy Bahama shares some tricks in the new book, “The Marlin Bar: Cocktails with Tommy Bahama”. Recipes include the Gin-based “Cucumber Smash” and the “Tommy G&T”. Cheers! Price – $40.00

Beer Tasting Sail

If your dad loves sailing, beer, or both, then we have the perfect gift idea for you: the Beer Tasting Sail trip in Manhattan, NY. This trip is perfect for those who would like to give their dads a relaxing day of sightseeing and beer, complete with specialty meat and cheese tasting. Price – Packages start at $98

Cooking (for the home chef father)

NuWave Brio 15.5 QT Air Fryer

For the dads who love to cook, this NuWave Brio Air Fryer is the perfect gift. This air fryer has 100 preset menu selections, a removable front door, a digital touch screen, and wattage control. Your dad will love this easy-to-use air fryer. Price – Four payments of $39.99

Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker

The Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker is the perfect gift for those dads that can’t start their days without a cup of coffee. This coffee maker allows dad to make fresh cold brew easily from the comfort of his own kitchen. With the Nitro Cold Brew Coffee Maker, there will be no need to spend money at the coffee shop every morning. Price – $200

Father’s who grill

Ready to fire up the grill for dad (or yourself!) next weekend? From June 18-20 only, shop 50% OFF select dry-aged cuts from Creekstone Farms at Eataly Downtown while supplies last. Mark your calendars, New York! What difference does dry-aging make, you ask? The process involves resting large cuts of meat in a controlled, open-air environment for an extended period of time, seals in flavor and creates a melt-in-your-mouth texture in each and every bite. Get dad what he really loves, a delicious steak!

Grooming (For the “manscaper” dad)

Ballsy and Golden Grooming Co. 

Ballsy – the men’s grooming company that’s “designed to keep the prized jewels and nether regions fresh, clean and smelling great” is a great gift idea for dad. All Ballsy products are sulfate, paraben, phthalate, and dye-free, so dad can wash up in the cleanest of ways! Price for the “Ultimate Dad Bundle” – $65.00

Golden Grooming Co. is another fantastic option, a grooming company that is Black-owned and geared toward Black men and other men of color. Co-owned by NFL’s Herman Moore, this brand has got dad covered from beard to toe. Their “Golden Gift Box” includes beard and hair shampoo, body wash, beard balm, beard oil, body balm, face moisturizer, shaving gel, aftershave, cologne, face wash, exfoliating scrub, and a beard grooming kit! Price for “The Golden Gift Box” – $80.99

DJ Khaled’s BLESSWELL Kit

Grammy-winning rapper and DJ, DJ Khaled proves he’s a jack of all trades in releasing his new grooming and skincare line, BLESSWELL. All BLESSWELL products are sustainably sourced, and each item is infused with 300mg of CBD oil, infamous for its healing properties. Get dad a kit today! Price for set – $69.00

Skincare (for the dad who could use a little self-care)

Dr. Kerklaan Therapeutics

Dad deserves glowing skin too, right? Treat him to his own skincare routine with the help of Dr. Kerklaan Therapeutics. Another CBD-infused company, Kerklaan products are the perfect relaxing solutions for an overworked dad. Prices range from $39.99-$230

Cellular MD

Is dad constantly exposed to blue light from television, phone, or computer screens? Cellular MD skincare products can protect skin from becoming damaged due to exposure to blue light. This product is the perfect gift for dads who want their skin to be renewed and refreshed this Father’s Day. Prices range from $30-$125

Travel (for the jet-setter)

ACRO Suites

If you really want to treat dad this summer, look no further than ACRO Suites. Located on Greece’s cliffside in Monaftis Bay, the luxurious ACRO Suites is brand new this summer, opening July 1. The resort puts an emphasis on the health and well-being of its lucky guests. Blow your father away by surprising him with this trip this father’s day. He deserves it! Price – $566/night

Birdwell Beach Britches

If you take dad on a seaside trip, you’re going to need to send him off with the best pair of board shorts since 1961. Birdwell Beach Britches is a total throwback, sure to leave your father feeling both nostalgic and stylish. Prices range from $79.95 to $199.95

Protein (for the fitness father)

Naked Whey is sourced from small California dairy farms. Our cows are grass-fed year-round and raised without growth hormones like rBGH or rBST. Each serving includes 25 grams of protein and 5.9 grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) Naked Whey is completely free of additives and artificial sweeteners. Get the best for your Dad!

 

We love this brand because, they are completely free of additives and artificial sweeteners. We are committed to shortening the steps between our farms and you. Don’t let the supplement industry fool you; additives are for their bottom line, not your health.

 

Learn to Fly Big Sur

What if your jet-setter father wants to fly himself? Give your adventurous dad the gift of flight with Northern California’s leading flight school in Big Sur. Dad can fly a killer Cessna 172 over the gorgeous California coastline. Price – Packages start at $299

A Summer Read (for the avid bookworm)

Carl Hiaasen’s collection of novels will tickle the fancy of even the most astute bookworms. These witty pieces are sure to have dad chuckling in his favorite living room chair. Hiaasen proves to be the perfect summer author for dad to discover or revisit. Prices range from $2.99 – $45

Treats (for fathers with a sweet tooth)

“Pour Papa” Father’s Day Gift Box

Looking for a sweet treat pour papa (“for father” in french)? Try the “Pour Papa” Father’s Day Gift Box from Maman, an adored French bakery here in NYC. This gift box is complete with your choice of fresh-baked cookies, a Maman logo baseball cap, and a box of Parlor Coffee’s Brooklyn roasted coffee beans. Cookie flavors include s’mores, nutty chocolate chip, and lemon white chocolate. Price for the gift box – $65

Categories
NYC Travel

Qualities That Make New York City One of the World’s Most Attractive Destinations

Qualities That Make New York City One of the World’s Most Attractive Destinations
https://images.unsplash.com/

 

If you’ve already been, you want to go back; if you’ve never visited, you’re itching to see it for yourself. New York City is truly a place unlike any other in the United States. Rich in history, culture, and world-famous sites, the Big Apple contains the most diverse population in the entire country and is visited by over 60 million tourists each year. Below we’ll take a look at just a few of the qualities that prove the City that Never Sleeps is one of America’s most desirable destinations.  

It’s known as America’s melting pot

New York possesses a special history rooted deeply in immigration. Since the building of Ellis Island’s immigration station in the 19th century all the way up to today, millions of people have found a home in the city, originating from many different places around the world. From Koreatown to Chinatown, Little Italy to Little India, the city offers a unique blend of cuisine from a variety of different cultures and ethnic groups. With over 8 million people speaking more than 800 varying languages, New York is as diverse as it gets.

Exciting entertainment opportunities await at every twist and turn

It’s quite literally impossible to grow bored when living in or visiting the Big Apple. If an event is not currently taking place, it’s being planned, with thousands of opportunities presenting themselves each and every day. Whether it’s seeing a show on Broadway, attending a live jazz concert in Harlem, or playing a round of blackjack at a glamorous casino, New York has your entertainment needs covered. In fact, even for fans of online casino gameplay, New Jersey is conveniently located only a short drive away on the Williamsburg Bridge and is one of four states which offer legal virtual gameplay as well as a variety of no deposit casino offers for their users. It just goes to show that everything you could ever want is in the big city and if it’s not, well, it is probably just a hop, skip, and jump away.

Everything you see exudes character, art, and culture

In New York City, many aspects of life are centered around important American cultural activities. For example, there’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and more. Central Park is a cornerstone venue for various outdoor events, and people flock to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to enjoy local and international pieces as well as different exhibits all year round. Architectural beauty can be seen around every corner and some of the city’s most stunning buildings like the Flatiron and Met Life Clock Tower are important structures that have been around for many decades. The bottom line: in New York City, a walk to the grocery store can become a great cultural experience no matter what area you live in.

If you’ve been convinced by the magical qualities of New York City and want more than just a visit, check out some of these helpful tips for apartment hunting in the Concrete Jungle, and fast-track the process to living in your dream locale!

 

Statue of Liberty
https://images.unsplash.com/photo-

A symbol of American freedom, the Statue of Liberty is one of the United State’s most famous landmarks

 

Categories
Culture Entertainment Events NYC

Celebrating Diversity of Cultural Traditions NYC

Celebrating Diversity of Cultural Traditions NYC
Photo by Brett Sayles from Pexels
Celebrating Diversity of Cultural Traditions NYC
Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD)

Song. Dance. Culture. Celebrating the diversity of cultural traditions in New York City, the Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD) is launching ​an online series, Beat of the Boroughs: NYC Online on Monday, November 16.

The series highlights the artistry of 54 of the City’s leading immigrant performers from around the world – but from right here at home in our five boroughs.

The artists include several National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Award winners. They represent traditions hail from Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Gambia, Haiti, Iraq, Japan, Mongolia, Ukraine, and West Africa, among other areas.

“New York City’s traditional and folk artists have been particularly impacted by both the pandemic and the anti-immigrant political climate in our country. Amid the pandemic, many of these artists have structural impediments, including the digital divide and language barriers to access federal relief funds or private sources of funding,” CTMD Executive Director Peter Rushefsky said.

“It is imperative that we come together as a city to support and celebrate our immigrant communities. Beat of the Boroughs: NYC Online showcases the immense talents of our artists and further the public’s understanding and appreciation of their work during these trying times.”

CTMD has worked closely with dozens of diverse communities

Since its founding in 1968, CTMD has worked closely with dozens of diverse communities to create a number of ongoing art programs, festivals, and community-based cultural organizations. Each year, CTMD serves thousands of New Yorkers through programs that provide unique opportunities to experience and participate in the City’s rich cultural traditions.

Organizers hope the series will build more support for the artists and for CTMD, particularly as the nonprofit continues to highlight the artistic diversity within New York City. CTMD encourages donations at https://ctmd.org/donate/.

From Borough to Borough

The schedule kicks off with:

  • The Crimean Tatar Ensemble, of Brooklyn, with folk music and dance from the Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine (Monday, November 16).
  • The Mencius Society with Xiao Xiannian and Julie Tay of Manhattan, with yangqin (hammered dulcimer) and Chinese percussion (Wednesday, November 18).
  • Sidiki Conde of Manhattan, with West African drumming and his sacred ancestral masks (Friday, November 20).
  • Malang Jobarteh and Salieu Suso of the Bronx, presenting on West African jali/griot traditions (Friday, November 27).

CTMD will highlight three artists or ensembles each week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Audiences can tune in on those days at 5:00 PM to CTMD’s YouTube channel, ​​ or Facebook page.

“Through workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and streamed live performances, a stellar cast of musicians and dancers presents their personal stories, remarkable traditions, and pandemic experiences,” Project Director and Staff Ethnomusicologist Andrew Colwell said. “Their voices serve as a powerful platform for continued advocacy for traditional arts in our city of immigrants.”

Beat of the Boroughs: NYC Online is made possible through the generosity of​ ​the New York Community Trust’s NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund and the Scherman Foundation.

Categories
Lifestyle NYC Real Estate

Why multicultural cities are great places to live and work

Why multicultural cities are great places to live and work

Have you ever thought about all the benefits that living in a multicultural city brings? From the conversations you have to the food you eat, the entertainment you enjoy, and the learning opportunities you have, there’s a great deal to be grateful for if you live in such a city.

You can meet more interesting people

When everybody shares the same background and has been raised with the same set of ideas, what’s to talk about? Multicultural cities are full of interesting people with engaging stories to tell. They’ll open up your eyes to the wider world and make you feel grateful for the good things you have, as well as inspiring you to discover new things. Make friends with people from different backgrounds, and you’ll find yourself rethinking aspects of your own identity, exploring things that you took for granted, and ultimately coming to know yourself better. Meanwhile, your city will benefit from the wealth of different ideas that a diverse community brings. For instance, in the workplace, it makes it easier to find solutions when problems arise and adapt to new ways of doing things. First-generation immigrants have a lot of experience where that’s concerned.

Kids get a better education

Teachers often note that in cities with recent immigrants – especially those who have escaped from war zones and other places where their education was disrupted – everybody works harder, with the immigrant kids’ enthusiasm inspiring others. Kids who come from the same city but have grown up with different cultural traditions or have had different experiences because of their race or ethnicity also improve the educational environment. As the academic Bree Picower noted, they can help identify biases in the system, which may not be evident to those with majority privilege. They can also share different perspectives, which benefit all the children to develop a richer and more nuanced understanding of the information with which they’re presented. That helps to improve the critical thinking skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

It’s a creative space

Where lots of different perspectives and traditions come together, it’s not just good for kids – it creates a fusion of ideas that provides fuel for creative work. It’s no surprise that cities like New York, London, and Toronto are creative powerhouses, nor that many of their most productive arts organizations are known for their diversity. People from different backgrounds bring different folklore and different story formats and unique musical traditions, styles of theater, and so forth. They learn from each other and find new ways of looking at the world. Different religious, moral, and philosophical ideas also enrich creative output and help it speak to diverse audiences. Creative work produced in this way has great potential to travel and be understood in different places worldwide. However, if you’re a creative person – even at an amateur level – there’s nothing like being in the belly of the beast.

Amazing things happen with food

Just as the arts benefit from a fusion of traditions, so does the cooking. From New York to old Amsterdam, there’s a history of innovation in the same areas where one can enjoy a different ethnic cuisine every day of the month. You’ll also find delightful little twists on old favorites where chefs from different backgrounds cross over. Food festivals are also a real treat in cities like this, with something happening almost every week of the year. They provide the ideal starting point for those wanting to sample the best of cuisine they’ve never tried. People who like to experiment at home can obtain a much larger variety of ingredients than they would find elsewhere. It’s not just food, either – if you like coffee, tea, or liquor, you’ll encounter many more variants, and every one of them with a story attached.

It’s easy to learn languages

Did you know that more than half of the world’s population speaks two or more languages fluently? Although most Americans know at least a small amount of Spanish, true bilingualism remains rare outside recent immigrant communities. That puts us at a disadvantage when traveling and limits our access to information, meaning that we miss out on some beautiful poetry and prose which can never be fully captured in translation. Learning another language will open up your horizons and give you a much richer understanding of your own language as you start to understand why words sound and interact as they do. It’s much easier to do so in a multicultural city where you can hear other languages every day and perhaps find native speakers who don’t mind answering your questions or helping you practice.

All these advantages make multicultural cities a great place to spend time, and they are deeply rewarding to live in. We all live richer, more fulfilling lives when we celebrate our variety.