The Beautiful Brain: The Drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal exhibit is now on display at the New York University Grey Art Gallery through March 31, 2018. The exhibit which originated from the University of Minnesota showcases a cross-discipline show for art and science admirers alike.
Cajal, who is known as the father of modern neuroscience, was also a gifted artist. The gallery, which showcases 80 of his 300 drawings, draws a connection between his two great talents. An intern at the Grey Art Gallery, Kelly Ryser, described Cajal’s process of drawing as different than the usual observationist. She said Cajal would spend hours in the morning observing through the lens of a microscope, and for the second half of the day draw and idealized version from memory. “He never lost that passion for drawing and he carried that with him in his neuroscience exploits”, said Ryser.
His many ink drawings on display illustrate processes of the brain, cells, and neurons. Some of the drawings even include some type of white-out, “we can see what he wanted to omit” said Ryser, which is not typically visible in the drawings used in textbooks. Cajal was the winner of The Nobel Prize in 1906 for his Neuron Doctrine that discovered neurons are separated by small gaps. “We see that a lot in his life, Cajal will make big discoveries and not be confirmed until 50 years later.” said Ryser.
In the final room of the gallery, Cajal’s illustrations are displayed next to more modern images of the cells he once observed and hand drew. The juxtaposition shows how technology has advanced since Cajal’s time and what we can see now, that he could not see then. On display is a drawing Cajal made of a Purkinje Neuron, which has a strong allusion to nature, something that is evident in many of his illustrations. This section also includes an image that illustrates organization of the brain through water molecules called Forest Walk, by Steve Baote. “Modern scientific images still have artistry to them.” said Ryser.
The Beautiful Brain exhibit has drawn an array of visitors from scientists to fine art scholars and since it’s opening received a review in The New York Times from Roberta Smith.
Trip by Skyscanner is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Trip by Skyscanner’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip by Skyscanner. Visit the Trip by Skyscanner website or download the app for more upcoming events.
Moderated by NYU Law Professor Alina Das, the audience will hear from Shaun King, Imam Khalid Latif, Simranjeet Singh and angel Kyodo Williams Sensei as they discuss the role of religion and spirituality in “bringing about a more racially just world” Tickets $7.33-$12.61.
Kimmel Center for University Life (Greenwich Village) Monday, Dec. 4 from 7-9:30pm
Taking a break from bringing free, world-class productions to the five boroughs, The Public Theater’s Mobile Unit comes home to perform Shakespeare’s sweeping story of loss and redemption, TheWinter’s Tale, directed by Lee Sunday Evans. FREE
The Public Theater (East Village) Through Sunday, Dec. 17 (check site for times)
Some may say that SantaCon is the only thing that sucks about the holidays in New York, but we say, where’s your Christmas spirit? Join the herd of Kris Kringles as they make their way through the city’s bars, boosting the economy and our spirits. FREE
Every year Mace transforms into a veritable winter wonderland — Miracle on 9th Street! The Christmas-themed pop-up bar totally goes over the top to serve customers holiday-inspired drinks and cheer.
Mace (East Village) Monday-Friday from 4pm-2am; Saturday-Sunday from 2pm-2am
Mark the start of the holiday season with a tree-lighting ceremony in Washington Square Park. Festivities include holiday songs with the Rob Susman Brass Quartet (songbooks will be provided) and Santa Claus, who’ll be handing out candy canes to all. FREE
Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village) Wednesday, December 6 at 6pm
A studded lineup of Broadway talent attended and performed in the show, with Kurt Crowley, who worked in musical direction on “Hamilton: An American Musical,” serving as the music director of the program.
This year’s concert was particularly special, as all of last night’s music was written specifically for the concert. Each song was created exclusively for the show to bring attention to a different civil liberties issue. Such is the case with protest art, the creative songs are sure to live on beyond last night’s performance.
Last night, the NYCLU honored Harry Belafonte, civil rights activist and actor, with the first ever Freedom Award for his contributions.
Also featured in the show was 2017 Tony Award-winner Gavin Creel. You know him for his role in “Hello Dolly!” He wrote a song for the program, which he performed on the piano while his “Hello Dolly!” cast mate Taylor Trensch sang lyrics. A total of 13 songwriting teams and performers brought to light social injustices on stage.
Other performers included Broadway.com host Susan Blackwell, actress Andrea Burns and musician William Darling.
Tony-nominated actress Celia Keenan-Bolger attended and performed, saying the Broadway community is an encouraging and supportive one.
“The Broadway community is a creative and inclusive family,” she said. “It is a safe space and the embodiment of tolerance to be whoever you want to be. A family of artists that are passionate activists and leaders that work together to inspire what it means to live a diverse life. Broadway and the NYCLU brings life to untold struggles and speaks truth to power in storytelling.”
When it comes to creating feature-length, documentary, and short films that are informative and use unique concepts — including cell phone filmmaking — the New York-based film company Owltainment has an excellent international reputation. Having recently been invited to show their film Enduring Legacy – China Story at the Chinese Cultural Foundation’s Annual Award Ceremony in New York this past December, the company has its films showing in a cavalcade of 2017 film festivals in the coming months.
Owltainment was founded by Yuanyuan Chen and Mingda Dong, two New York University students who decided to use their creative talents to bridge the gap between the United States and Chinese film industries. With a versatile approach, helping to introduce American film scholars to China and hosting lectures and seminars for Chinese students and filmmakers, the company has been taking a head-on approach to film education. As film festival organizers themselves, they also continually host, support, and implement activities — like the Honor Festival — for festivals both in the U.S. and China.
For more on the award-winning Owltainment, please visit www.owltainment.com.
Trip.com is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip.com. Visit the Trip.com site or download the app for more upcoming events.
1. Hester Street Fair Opening
Hester Street Fair (Lower East Side)
Saturday, Apr. 15 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
This weekend starts Hester Street Fair’s 8th season. In addition to another year of great food and unique wares the market will host a slew of new events including a neighborhood Yard Sale, Wellness Weekends, Pet Day, Ball’s Bistro, Game Day, Girl Power Day, Ice Cream Social and so much more. FREE!
2. The Things They Carried
Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons School Of Design (Union Square)
Daily from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM; Thursdays until 8:00 PM (through Monday, Apr. 17)
As the debate — or assault — on immigration rages on, State Of Exception/Estado De Excepción, an exhibition by artists Richard Barnes and Amanda Krugliak, in collaboration with anthropologist De León, puts viewers on intimate terms with the personal effects of men and women who’ve risked (and in some cases lost) their lives to cross dangerous terrain to reach the U.S. On display are backpacks, clothing, small keepsakes, interviews, recordings, video installation and documents that help paint a detailed picture of the ordeal migrants face in seeking a better future. FREE!
3. Wine 101
Astor Center (NoHo)
Thursday, Apr. 13 at 6:30 PM
Wine knowledge is not all ostentatious swirling and sniffing and sugary descriptions… For those that want to get their foot in the “wine” door, Elements of Wine is great start. This 2 hour class with Andrew Fisher, President of Astor Wines & Spirits for over 30 years, will introduce participants to the basics of enjoying, identifying and pairing wine, in layman’s terms. $79 included wine samplings and light bites.
4. Sweet Spot: SoHo
Check site for location (SoHo)
Saturday, Apr. 15 at 2:00 PM
Looking for a sweet adventure that allows you to explore a neighborhood, its nooks and crannies, and its sweet shops? Tag along on this saccharine scavenger hunt through SoHo, to all the best specialty shops to sample “tropical fruit caramels, bacon candy bars, lavender macaroons, spiced hot chocolate, cupcakes and rice pudding in more than 31 flavors.” $10 — bring cash as ticket price does not include food purchases.
5. Circus and Culinary Feast
NYU Skirball Center (Greenwich Village)
Tuesday, Apr. 11 – Sunday, Apr. 16 (check site for showtimes)
Part circus and part culinary celebration, Cuisine & Confessions, from by Montreal circus company Les 7 Doigts de la Main, is an unusual theatrical performance that combines acrobatics and everyday kitchen items to explore memories tied to our first tastes… The show is an intimate and sensual exploration of how food defines and shape our most important experiences. Tickets start at $45.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hq7wReoEFA4
6. Easter Brunch
La Pecora Bianca (Flatiron)
Sunday, Apr. 16 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
The setting is casual, but this Italian Easter brunch is definitely decadent. Choose from savory toasts (avocado, salmon or prosciutto cotto with fontina) or lavish salads like the Toscano, made with kale, roasted squash and ricotta, before moving on to the rich selection of main courses, that range from pastas, meatballs to steak and eggs and french toast. Make sure to save room for dessert. $40 — add $20 for an hour of unlimited pours of bellini or bloody mary.
7. Spring Bonnets
East Village Hats (East Village)
Tuesday-Saturday from 12:00 PM to 7:30 PM; Sunday from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The Easter and Bonnet Festival is as good excuse as any to get a new spring hat. Head to East Village Hats — formerly Barbara Feinman’s East Village Millinery — where all hats are handmade, “expressing our distinct traditional style,” and guaranteed to turn heads.
Located in the West Village, Analogue is a cocktail bar that has received rave reviews from the Wall Street Journal, Gothamist and DNAinfo alike. While many Manhattan bars aim to have music playing loud so that its customers have no choice but to dance and pound drinks, Analogue takes a very different approach. Whether it has a jazz trio live or its vintage Hi-Fi setup playing, Analogue keeps the music at a reasonable volume, allowing you to engage in conversation with ease. Analogue also offers a great food menu and has a lot of artwork on the walls for its patrons to look at.
Downtown had the pleasure of talking with owners Jesse Wilson and Jared Gordon, who met as students at NYU. As noted within our Q&A, Analogue is currently in the midst of expanding, although the location of its second spot has not yet been revealed. More info on all things Analogue can be found at www.analoguenyc.com.
You two met while studying at NYU. Where did the idea of opening a cocktail-centric bar come from?
Jesse Wilson: At first, the idea started when we would hang out at various bars around the Village and talk about how cool it would be to open a bar. After NYU, I moved back to San Francisco to work in finance and started to work on a business plan on the side. At that time I was also starting to notice a proliferation of cocktails and craft beers in the marketplace. I just couldn’t do it by myself due to work so kind of shelved the idea. When I moved back to New York City, Jared was ready to move on from finance himself and approached me with the idea of opening a bar. After a lot of discussion, we decided on the concept of doing a cocktail bar for a professional, grown-up crowd and Analogue was born.
Jared Gordon: We wanted to open a bar that featured the drinks we enjoy. That’s cocktails, whiskey and an occasional great beer. So that’s what we did. We pride ourselves on our cocktails and have put together an outstanding program, but we’re agnostic as to how we’re perceived or what the guest wants. As long as they’re enjoying themselves, it doesn’t matter to us whether they’re having our most complex cocktail, our rarest whiskey or just enjoying a glass of wine or a beer.
Did you have any restaurant or bar experience prior to opening Analogue?
JW: We didn’t have any experience really. Jared had a little bartending experience in the Upper East Side and had read a few books, but that was about it. We figured with our strong business backgrounds we could run the business, but we also knew we needed to hire people we trusted with experience in the hospitality industry.
JG: I’ll echo Jesse’s thoughts. I started tending bar to get a sense of the business, but I was pouring neat well vodkas at a few dives on the Upper East Side. Not quite the same level. We knew what we wanted and we knew how we wanted to treat our guests. The rest is putting a team in place to help execute that vision.
The Dorian Gray / Photo: Michael Tulipan
How would you describe Analogue to someone who hasn’t yet been there?
JW: I think the name “Analogue” fits the bar well. It’s a high-end cocktail lounge that is almost a throwback to Manhattan in the 1950s and 1960s. We do great cocktails and food and have a great atmosphere that promotes conversation amongst friends. It’s a throwback to a non-digital era, hence the name. I actually notice people come in and use their cell phones a lot less and just talk with each other. This was one of our goals when we were designing the bar.
JG: Jesse put it perfectly. It’s a comfortable bar in which to enjoy a great drink and a conversation.
Do you have a favorite drink on the menu? A favorite food item?
JW: My favorite drink is our signature called The Analogue. It was our first drink on the menu. It blends Havana Club Anejo Rum, Four Roses Bourbon, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, Velvet Falernum and bitters. When we opened, we wanted a bourbon-focused drink that was good for the colder fall weather in New York. When I tasted it I said to our bartender Nesha Korak, “Wow, if I could taste our bar that would be it! What should we call it?” And he responded, “Well that’s what it is then, call it Analogue.” And it’s been on our menu ever since day one.
JG: I’d say my favorite drink is whatever the team is working on at the moment. I enjoy the evolution of the individual bartenders and the program as a whole through time.
Jared Gordon & Jesse Wilson
Who is in charge of your cocktail menu? How does your team come up with cocktails?
JW: Zack Berger is our head bartender and facilitates the process for the team. The menu is a collective effort for all of our bartenders. They are always creating, and when we do a menu, they bring several of their best drinks to the table to try. We do a few rounds of internal tastings and then pick the winners. We then adjust the menu to put on the best cocktails and remove any drinks that are out of season or slow moving. It is a constant process.
JW: One of the first concerts I remember was U2 during the Joshua Tree tour back in 1987. My father took me when I was 13 years old. This was when U2 was at their peak and becoming a global phenomenon. The concert blew me away. I remember walking out of the Oakland Coliseum to the crowd and everyone was still singing “40” in unison. It’s cool to see them doing the 30 year anniversary tour now!
JG: My first concert was the Concert For Walden Woods, featuring Billy Joel, Don Henley and Sting. The seats were terrible but the music was amazing. Live music and music in general have played an important role in my life ever since.
Black Boulevardier / Photo: Michael Tulipan
What was the latest concert or music-related live event you attended?
JW: The last show I attended was The Cult here in New York. The Cult was another band I grew up listening to and they are still going strong! I like a lot of alternative, hip-hop, jazz, country, metal, pretty much any genre if it’s good.
JG: I’ll echo Jesse’s sentiments. I love everything from old school East Coast hip hop to bluegrass, metal, and classical. The last shows I’ve seen were Iron Maiden (my second time), Dave Matthews Band (my 24th) and the Governors Ball, where De La Soul was the highlight.
I understand that Analogue features live music a few days each week. Who are some of the artists that regularly play there?
JG: currently we have Nick West and the Westet on Tuesdays and Monika Oliveira on Wednesdays. Nick West is a funky bass-driven trio, and Monika has a beautiful, mellow bossanova sound.
When you don’t have musicians playing at Analogue, I know that you have music spinning. Have you always been so vinyl-centric?
JG: We spin vinyl on special occasions, and for that we have a fantastic vintage turntable and tube amplifier. We’re also starting an audio salon where we will feature some truly high end systems and some classic albums each month. Vinyl has played a role in my life since birth, when it was just called “music.” As I got older, I started my own collection by stealing my parent’s albums and it took off from there. I have about 7,000 albums at the moment, down from a peak of about 8,500. I enjoy the hunt — scouring yard sales and thrift stores and finding new music or forgotten gems. And I enjoy building and tweaking my HiFi system.
The Analogue / Photo: Michael Tulipan
Who chooses the music that is playing at Analogue?
JW: Usually our management team will set the music that is played at the venue. We are always on the lookout for new bands in the area. A lot of the bands we discovered were from around the West Village area playing at venues or outside at Washington Square Park.
The walls of Analogue are also lined with music-related photographs. Were those from a personal collection?
JG: The photographer is Roberto Rabanne, who has shot some of music’s best. The prints in our space are all originals, and the collages of Ray Charles and Bill Evans are each one of a kind.
I know that Analogue has a private room. Is that only for private events?
JW: Yes, we host a lot of events in the back such as private parties, corporate events, cocktail classes and wedding receptions.
When not busy with Analogue, how do you like to spend your free time?
JW: Sleeping! I work full-time and help manage the bar, so in my little free time, I like to relax. But now we are looking to open our second location, so a lot of free time is spent working on the new location.
JG: I recently had my first child, a little boy we named Jack. So free time is in short supply at the moment. Between him, Analogue and scouting for the next location, there aren’t enough hours in the day. When I do find some down time, I like to play music, read, cook, and yes sleep.
Analogue / Photo: Michael Tulipan
Aside from Analogue, do you have a favorite bar or restaurant in New York?
JW: I am really into craft beers right now so I appreciate a good selection of beers and a nice atmosphere. I liked Cooper’s when I lived in Chelsea. I now live on the UWS and like Gebhards, a new craft beer place near my apartment.
JG: I like dive bars. When I’m at a cocktail or whiskey bar, I find myself too focused on the menu, the setup and the service. I relax when I can kick back with a beer and a whiskey and not worry about taking notes. Parkside Lounge on Houston and Lucy’s on Avenue A are two favorites.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
JW: Don’t get caught up in all of the cocktail hype! We try to focus on making cocktails that taste great and put a lot of work into that. We don’t get caught up in all of the hoopla to try and get too clever or go over the top with our creations. A lot of our drinks are rooted in tradition, the foundation if you will. The goal is to just make quality drinks that the customers will enjoy and have a good time. At the end of the day it’s all about giving our customers the best possible experience.
The NYCLU (a vital branch of the 
Last night, the NYCLU honored 
