New York Religious Awakenings

The city that never sleeps could also be described as the city that always philosophizes.  At least, there are certainly a whole slew of opportunities for those who enjoy talks on different subjects who find themselves in the Big Apple.

For New Yorkers seeking to explore their Jewish routes, the Jewish Center provides “advanced educational initiatives, offering engaging and relevant courses on a wide variety of Jewish topics.” Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the goal of the center is to “make the study of Torah and the pursuit of wisdom accessible to our members and the broader Jewish community.”

Rabbi Tully Bryks is another address for Jewish soul searchers in New York.  He can be reached online at all times with any questions on life, the world and the universe. The self-described “Rabbi With Answers,” Bryks’ focus is on a whole slew of philosophical subjects ranging from faith in God to finding one’s soul-mate. Bryks is also available to come to you to give a talk on your chosen subject related to religion.

For New York Christians – or just New Yorkers who want to get more involved in establishing a Christian presence, in their lives – New York’s Crenshaw Christian Center established more than a decade ago by Dr. Frederick K. C. Price offers training programs, baby dedications, classes for children, study sessions for adults and more.

Wannabe Buddhists can check out the city’s Eastern States Buddhist Temple of America, Inc. that offers daily Buddhist devotions, documentaries, celebrations and more.   For those specifically seeking happiness through Buddhism, Happy Science was established “to create utopia on Earth – to save all humankind through the worldwide dissemination of the universal Truth as taught by El Cantare, the Lord of all Gods.”

Midtown Manhattan Hosts Children's Literature Exhibit

The New York Public Library is celebrating children's literature with a new exhibit in Midtown Manhattan. The project, which features books ranging from 'The Cat in the Hat' to 'The Hobbit', lists 100 great books from the last 100 years.
The list also included books such as 'Where the Wild Things Are', 'Pippi Longstocking' and 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'

Beloved children's author Eric Carle, famous for books like 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', and 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?', as well as Judy Blume, author of  'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing' and 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret', joined several librarians for a reading and panel discussion.

Leonard Marcus, moderator and curator of the exhibit, said: "Viewed over time, children's books are the collected memory of our hopes and dreams. They are the message in a bottle that each generation tosses out to the next generation in the hope that it may wash ashore and be read and be taken to heart."

Blume discussed her book 'Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing', explaining that when she was in fourth grade, the stories were already forming in her head. "But I never told anybody about them because I thought if I did they would think I was weird," she said.

Carle talked about his first book, 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', revealing that the character was first created by folding paper. Carle originally thought he would be a bookworm, named Willie the Worm. "And I had this wonderful editor and she didn't like the worm so much," Carle explained.

Carle also read his new book 'Friends' to his young audience, a story about a boy on a journey to find his friend.

Midtown Manhattan Time Lapse

City time-lapse videos have been growing in popularity, with one of the latest ones capturing Midtown Manhattan in all it's glory. Even the most indifferent New Yorkers have been moved by the incredible shots, gleaming lights and familiar sounds of the City that Never Sleeps.

What about you?

Minus 5 Opens on Midtown Hotel

Midtown Manhattan recently welcomed Minus 5 to its repertoire of tourist attractions. Located in the lobby of the New York Hilton Manhattan, the ice bar opened earlier this month. The venue, which is essentially an enormous walk-in freezer, has a temperature of 23 degrees Fahrenheit.

For a $20 fee, guests are provided with disposable gloves and parkas. Cocktails are served in ice glasses, or “in the rocks”, and the cavern is decorated with ice sculptures, an ice bar, and ice benches. The ambience is set with a reel of Top 40 hits such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. The Manhattan location is actually the third in the U.S.; two similar scenes can be found in Las Vegas.

VIP reservations can also be made through the hotel. For a fee of $95, this experience includes a drink, a photo and a take-away hat.

 

Bringing Independence Day to Life in NYC

4th of July is this week, and New York City will come alive with festivities. Families and friends across the nation will gather under firework-lit skies to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the day people will commemorate the significant event with barbecues, historical tours, family reunions and so much more.

The Fraunces Tavern, located on Pearl St., offers an extraordinary, authentic way to memorialize the United States and its Founding Fathers. Established in 1762, 14 years before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the tavern was the regular haunt of many important figures throughout American history. George Washington himself bid his soldiers farewell at the very same venue after the Revolutionary War. Considered “New York’s premier historic dining experience,” The Fraunces Tavern genuinely brings history to life, as does its musem, which features manuscripts, books, paintings and objects from the Revolutionary Era.

The Fraunces Tavern Museum preserves thousands of manuscripts written by several of the nation’s founders, including George Washington and Nathan Hale. The Shapell Manuscript Foundation also preserves such documents, including a handwritten letter from President George Washington to Colonels John Fitzgerald and George Gilpin.

Other Independence Day tours and day trips in the New York area include the Boston Freedom Trail with the Paul Revere House, Bunker Hill and the site of the Boston Tea Party, or the South Street Seaport’s Past & Future exhibition.

The Amazing Spiderman and His Young Counterpart Hit Midtown Manhattan

The Amazing Spiderman has hit Manhattan once again, joined this time by his mini-me. Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone were spotted shooting scenes alongside a young Spiderboy for the upcoming sequel on Park Ave. and 52nd St. early last week.

Though the child's role has been kept quiet, he will definitely play a part in the battle against the villain Rhino, played by Paul Giamatti. The film, directed by Marc Webb, is expected to be the greatest movie ever produced in the state. It has created 3,500 jobs and hired 11,000 extras thus far.

Andrew Garfield, The Amazing Spiderman, with his Mini-Me in Midtown Manhattan

Is That Really Spiderman?

Yes, for those who happened to be in midtown Manhattan last week, it sure was.  52^nd Street and Park Avenue encountered a visit from both Spidey himself…along with what passers-by suspected could have been the new Spider-Boy.  The sightings was part of the filming of “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”.  While there has not been any confirmation or denial that the little boy dressed up as Spiderman is going to be Spider-Boy in the movie, he certainly looked the part.  And it equally remains unknown whether – if he has Spiderman’s little sidekick – he will be privy to the same powers.  But it was certainly fun to watch.

The movie, directed by Marc Webb, is due to be released year.  And there is good news for the state’s economy given that it is anticipated that the movie will generate up to 3,500 jobs along with roles for up to 11,000 extras, rendering it New York’s biggest movie ever to be made.  In addition, last year the franchise of Spiderman was rebooted with Andrew Garfield in the leading role and Emma Stone as Peter parker’s love interest, aka Gwen Stacy.