Tag: New York

Culture by Katerina PapathanasiouMay 27, 202010:59 am

artist Cameron Loeb and friends wearing one-of-a-kind masks of the kind created for the "Masks in the Wild" public health art project

New Project to Provide Free Artist-Made Masks to New Yorkers

In the last few months, countless people have lost their jobs, their livelihoods, their loved ones. The overall personal toll of the coronavirus is still too early to measure. Fortunately, one element of this global pandemic in which we are seeing a positive increase is the number of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) available—especially in hotspots like New York City. This is partially due to the sheer stick-to-itiveness of, among other sources, creative minds, small businesses, and dedicated humans. And one such collaboration in particular.

Life by Katerina PapathanasiouMay 20, 202012:20 pm

Ota Benga: The Congolese Pygmy Who Became a Zoo Exhibit

Around the beginning of the last century—in 1906, to be exact—the 4’11” Ota Benga was featured in an infamous human exhibit at the Bronx Zoo’s Monkey House. Ota Benga, a Mbuti (Congolese pygmy) man from what was then known as the Congo Free State, stayed at the zoo for just a few months until the public outcry over his treatment at the zoo resulted in another home for him. However, Benga’s short life was marked with tragedy.

Culture by Katerina PapathanasiouMar 11, 202011:43 am

Guadalupe Maravilla, Los Purifiers, 2019, performance at ICA Miami

Guadalupe Maravilla Exposes the Trauma of Border Crossing

Knockdown Center is an immersive gallery and contemporary performance space in Maspeth, Queens, known for showcasing innovative and challenging formats of art and visual media. The building itself, named for the Knock-Down door frame that was invented at the site in 1956, has witnessed a tremendous degree of transformation in its more than 100 years of functional existence. So, too, has the audience of revelers who wander the expansive halls, emerging renewed and recharged as a result of any one of the transfixing exhibits that take place.

Culture by Katerina PapathanasiouNov 25, 201911:58 am

Iconic photograph of a sailor and nurse kissing on V-J Day in Times Square, New York

Commemorating the Kiss Heard Round the World

The world changed on August 14, 1945. World War II was finally over after six long years. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt was in New York City, where citizens and soldiers alike were buzzing with excitement and celebration about the end of the war. As he snapped photos of revelers in Times Square, he captured what would become one of the most iconic images of modern art.

Travel by Katerina PapathanasiouSep 9, 20197:00 am

Apt84: A Modern Spin on Old-School Wheels

Catherine Ovejas and her boyfriend, Jose Rivera, were looking for a business opportunity that was different from the usual restaurant, bar, or retail scene. As a marketing director, Ovejas understands the importance of the human connection, so she set out to build an experience-based business. The result is Apt84 – a remodeled, repainted, repurposed school bus that serves as a tiny mobile house for parties, reunions, and weekend road trippers in New York.

Culture by Katerina PapathanasiouAug 8, 20198:15 pm

Upper West Side phone booth turned into flower bouquet by Lewis Miller Design team.

Arranging the Unexpected: The Artful Blooms of New York City

The streets of New York City are full of surprises, but none quite as beautiful as the latest project from Lewis Miller Design. Through the city-wide project “Flower Flashes,” the LMD crew turns ordinary objects like trash cans and phone booths into breathtaking bouquets.

Life by Katerina PapathanasiouJun 18, 20195:55 pm

Two girls and a boy are watching a film eating popcorn at a drive-in movie theater.

The 10 Best Drive-In Movie Theaters in America

Since the 1930s, drive-in movie theaters have been part of the American cultural landscape. Today, there are about 350 drive-ins across the country – a paltry number compared to the 4,000 that once were. These top ten drive-in movie theaters are must-visit attractions for film buffs and anyone who likes to have some good old-fashioned fun, with all of today’s modern comforts.

Culture by Katerina PapathanasiouMay 4, 20196:14 am

Bertrand Guyon (French, born 1965) for House of Schiaparelli (French, founded 1927). Ensemble, fall/winter 2018–19 haute couture. Courtesy of Schiaparelli. Photo © Johnny Dufort, 2019

Tracing the Thread of “Camp” in Met Costume Institute Show

Designed by the theater scenographer Jan Versweyveld to focus on camp’s exuberant aesthetic, The Costume Institute’s new exhibition, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” will be on view from May 9 through September 8, 2019, at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 999.

Travel by Katerina PapathanasiouApr 2, 20197:55 pm

The Funky Loft in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.

Live Like a True Brooklyn Hipster at “The Funky Loft”

With thousands of Airbnb spots available across all five New York City boroughs, visitors to the Big Apple may be overwhelmed by their choices for a short-term vacation rental. Should they follow the typical tourist trail and stay in Times Square? Maybe not. Should they try to find a unique apartment in the coolest part of town? Yes, of course.

Life by Katerina PapathanasiouMar 23, 20197:30 pm

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Central Perk coffee shop as a potential upcoming LEGO product created by French designer Aymeric Fievet using 1749 pieces.

The Iconic Central Perk Coffee Shop of “F.R.I.E.N.D.S” in LEGO

Anyone who grew up playing with LEGOs knows there is something quite satisfying about assembling the small colorful blocks to build a castle, car, spaceship, landmark or other magical creation. LEGO buffs also know what a treat it was to graduate from regular blocks to special building sets, which allowed them to construct near-exact replicas of their favorite characters and scenes.