Take a Break in Bryant Park

Oasis in Manhattan

Bryant Park is like an oasis in the desert of New York concrete. Situated in midtown on Sixth Avenue between West 40^th and 42^nd Streets, right behind the New York Public Library, Bryant Park is offering a startling list of entertainment events this coming summer, all free.

Here is a sample list of some of the wide variety of offerings to keep you busy in the park on a daily or weekly basis:

• ·        Birding Tours
• ·        Fencing lessons for beginners, for free
• ·        Free juggling lessons
• ·        Le Carrousel

In addition, specially scheduled events will keep the place lively. Check out some or all of the following:

• ·        Poem in Your Pocket Day- Thursday, April 18, 11am to 2pm
• ·        Word for Word Poetry- Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
• ·        Word for Word Kids- Saturday, June 15, 2013, 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Take a walk on the beautiful grounds and see the monuments, gardens, architecture of the surrounding historic buildings. Take a seat and play chess or backgammon; stand up and play a game or two of ping pong; or try your hand at the French game of Pétanque. No matter what your interests, there is something for you to love at Bryant Park.

Who’s to be Mayor in the Big Apple?

Twitter co-founder and CEO of Square, Jack Dorsey, has a new job in mind.  He wants to become New York City’s Mayor…one day.  In a recent interview shown on CBS’s ’60 Minutes,’ Lara Logan said that Dorsey is serious about moving to New York City at some point, and thereafter running for the position of Mayor.

Jack Dorsey was reported to have said that whenever he finds himself in New York City, he feels “electricity.”  He compares the feeling to “being caught in a car during a thunderstorm.”  Maybe the guy who does not even have a desk (he just uses his iPad), and had a speech impediment in his youth could lead the city to great things one day.

In the meantime, just a few days ago, Republican Tom Allon pulled out of the current mayoral race. The reasons cited were lack of campaign funding.   Given this, it seems as if the Liberal Party is now back in with a chance as it had previously supported Allon.

Barnes & Noble Partnering with Read Across America Day

If you’re in the New York area, you just might want to get to a Barnes & Noble soon to enjoy their offerings for the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. Designated on March 1 every year (and coinciding with Dr. Seuss’ birthday for some extra fun) the Read Across America Day serves to encourage reading and education across the country.

Today, some 45 million people participate in Read Across America Day, something that would certainly have made some of our presidents, like Harry Truman, happy. As the Shapell Manuscript Foundation recently explained on their Between the Lines program, Truman loved to read. A letter that Shapell has in its possession from President Truman states,

 “I had to study whether I wanted to or not.  Read the Old & New Testaments King James translation three times before I was fifteen, and all the histories of world leaders and heroes I could find.  Our public library in Independence had about three or four thousand volumes, including the encyclopedias! Believe it or not I read ‘em all – including the enclo’s. Maybe I was a damphool [damn fool] but it served me well when my terrible trial came.”

Surely, he would be thrilled to see the many programs that take place for Read Across America Day. And as part of this event, Barnes & Noble is offering customers to one $25 gift card when they purchase the NOOK HD at the retail stores between March 2, 2013 and March 31, 2013. This is part of their effort to honor Read Across America Day and to encourage children to foster a love for learning.

NYC Photographer Snaps Away

There are many buildings, skyscrapers, etc. regularly photographed in the city of New York.  That is common.  But what is more newsworthy is what Brandon Stanton has been aiming to do – capture 10,000 New Yorkers from his camera lens.  To date, he has reached around half of his goal, having shot nearly 5,000 photos throughout the various boroughs of New York.   Some of the more interesting photos Stanton has gotten so far include: a Michael Jackson lookalike, a nun, fake tiger-skin coat and more.  His self-description is that he is “really passionate about things.”

What makes the project even more interesting is Stanton’s background – which doesn’t include photography.  Having lost his job trading bonds on the Chicago Board of Trade, he moved to New York to begin snapping photos.  Now two years down the line, he has developed a Facebook following of 560,000 fans.  He walks around – sometimes for hours – to get the perfect picture. He requests permission first and then asks more about the individual’s life, enquiring “what was the happiest moment of your life?”

As well as snapping photos in New York, Stanton went to Iran to do the same thing, establishing 20,000 followers along the way.  His plan is ultimately “to go everywhere.”  Now, imitation projects exist such as: Humans of Paris, Humans of Beirut and more.

Welcome to Zarsha Leo, Bar Restaurant and Sports In One

New Yorkers are well-known for their good taste and fun demeanor.  Now the bar/restaurant that best embodies those qualities, Zarsha Leo, is expanding to the outer reaches of New York, and the rest of the world.

“Expanding globally has always been a goal of mine,” explained Evan Burschkopf , CEO of the upscale, trendy restaurant bar. “There is no question that New York is my one and only home, but why should the rest of the world suffer without the fun and great food offered at Zarsha Leo?”

Always a favorite of denizens of the Big Apple, the great food, large beer and wine menu, and sports broadcasts on huge plasma screens is soon going to be available in some of the world’s major destinations. After branching out to Brooklyn, Burschkopf has plans to build a franchise in Buenos Aires, Oman, and some other locale in MENA. “It’s all good,” added Burschkopf.

Eye on Gloves: From the Roman Empire to NY Fashion Week

Gloves have been a fashion accessory for hundreds of years.  They were possibly first worn by cavemen as a protective layer when undertaking challenging tasks.  By the Roman era, gloves were made of linen and silk and were used to eat meat so that hands would remain grease-free and clean.  Thereafter, when archery gained popularity, leather gloves were used as essential clothing accessories.  Today, they  are not all that different especially given the amount of time that has transpired since that time.  Once the aristocracy and gentry began wearing them, they became a fashion statement.  And as Kings, Queens, Bishops and Popes put them on, they became a statement of wealth and power.

Gloves were also a feature of the movie ‘Lincoln,’ in which Abraham Lincoln complained of having to wear them, but, to please the convention (and his wife), he conceded.  While he did wear the gloves the night he died, at the end of the movie he actually made a point of not wearing them, leaving them at home since he did not like them.  The Shapell Manuscript Foundation has two letters in its possession, written by Lincoln, in which he used the phrase “in our hands” a few dozen times, twice vis-à-vis the Civil War. The fact that the movie showed how initially Lincoln did not wear the gloves when he went to Ford’s theater (where he met his death), seems to indicate that both in victory and his demise, he was finally able to be true to himself.

Gloves do not just have historical significance.  They still remain a notable fashion accessory today.  Indeed, just last week at the New York Fashion Week, Joseph Altuzarra’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection featured oversized fur gloves amongst other items.  Leather gloves also found a place in The Top Trends From New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 as being “the biggest accessory for fall.”  Padded gloves also had a place in Alexander Wang’s collection, with fur mittens/boxing gloves extending above the elbow.

Whether one loves them or hates them (as clearly Abraham Lincoln did), gloves have featured largely in the world of fashion over the years.

Free and Easy in New York City

See Movies for Free at MoMA

Want to avoid an expensive night at the movies with the kids? Try some family-friendly free entertainment in some of New York’s most exciting venues.

•    At the Museum of Modern Art kids are treated right. Come on Friday between 4 and 8pm for a free screening of some off-the-beaten track entertainment for kids under 16. Check the schedule to pick a movie that’s right for you and your family.

•    The Sony Wonder Technology Lab will please film lovers of all ages. The youngest can choose from such popular favorites as Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street and Elmo’s World while the crowd a bit older can enjoy a large selection of G and PG films with a proven track record. Tickets must be reserved two weeks in advance and any tickets not reserved will be available 30 minutes before show time.

•    The New York City Library has a whole host of free offerings for kids, from films to author talks and concerts. The Brooklyn Public Library often screens top-notch films completely free of charge.