Newsletter written by Kathleen O’Connor
Mary Davidson, coordinator of the 50+ Club, is in on Thursdays. Contact her at 212-873-3400 x352 or 50Plus@nyhistory.org
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Hi Everyone!
We’re getting very close to our re-opening on November 11th! Construction is ending and exhibitions are being installed. We’ve got some terrific offerings for you – check www.nyhistory.org for details (and our countdown calendar!).
In this issue, you’ll find 24 programs from our cultural partners (including some great ones for Halloween) and 5 classes covering a variety of computer related topics.
Hope The Great Pumpkin brings you lots of candy!
Kathleen
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Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
– Lewis Carroll from “Through the Looking-Glass”
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Just a quick reminder that the 50+ Club is now part of N-YHS membership. If you’d like to continue with our activities, you will need to become a member at the special rate of $50 for the first year.
Please contact Joe Festa at jfesta@nyhistory.org or 212-485-9279.
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PROGRAM AND TASTING
At the New-York Historical Society
Dangerous Ambition:
Rebecca West and Dorothy Thompson
Speaker: Susan Hertog
Wednesday, November 16
6:30pm
Featuring a special tasting from our new restaurant after the program.
Dorothy Thompson was the first female head of a European news bureau, a columnist and commentator whom Time magazine once ranked alongside Eleanor Roosevelt as the most influential woman in America. Rebecca West blazed a trail for herself as a journalist, literary critic, novelist and historian. In a pre-feminist era when speaking truth to power could get anyone – of either gender – ostracized, blacklisted or worse, these two smart, self-made women lived strikingly parallel lives that placed them at the center of the social and historical upheavals of the 20th century.
**Members of the 50+ Club are invited to purchase tickets for just $6 (75% off a full-price ticket). Please use the discount code 50Plus75 when making your purchase at www.nyhistory.org or by calling 212-485-9268.
NYC FUN FACTS
There are almost 19,000 restaurants in New York City. It would take 17 years to try each restaurant if you ate out for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
HISTORICAL HOUSES IN NYC PARKS
Ongoing Series
Edgar Allan Poe Cottage
Poe Park
Grand Concourse at East Kingsbridge Road
Bronx NY 10458
718-881-8900
www.bronxhistoricalsociety.org
Edgar Allan Poe, one of America’s greatest poets and mystery writers, spent the turbulent last years of his life in a modest cottage in the Bronx. Typical of the working class houses that filled the old village of Fordham, the cottage was built in 1812. In 1842, Poe and his wife Virginia moved in accompanied by Virginia’s mother, Maria Clemm.
Poe hoped that the quiet cottage, surrounded by fields and orchards and far from the noisy and polluted city, would help Virginia recover from her tuberculosis. He also hoped that the low rent would make it easier for him to support his little family. Despite his critical success, he was troubled financially. The house has only five rooms: a kitchen, parlor and bedchamber on the main floor, and two tiny rooms in the attic under the sloping eaves.
Poe wrote some of his most famous works in the cottage, including “The Bells,” “Eureka” and “Annabel Lee.” Virginia died in the cottage in 1847. Poe died two years later during a trip to Baltimore. Soon after, Mrs. Clemm sold her household possessions and moved away.
PROGRAMS – OCTOBER 2011
Programs with our cultural partners
The descriptions here are based on information available at the time of publication. Please call the venue for updated information and to confirm.
Live Jazz Wednesdays
Every Wednesday evening 7 – 10pm
Location: Renaissance Event Hall & Lounge, 27-34 21st Street (between 30th Avenue and Astoria Blvd.), Long Island City
Features different jazz performers and guests every week. Two-for-one drink special before 8pm. For more information: 718-274-4590
Saturday, October 1
Honey Extraction Demonstration
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: Wave Hill, West 249th Street at Independence Avenue, Bronx
Cost: $8 adults; $4 students/seniors; $2 children; free for members and children under 6
How do bees make honey? How do we collect it? Learn how to extract and bottle honey from the resident honeybees. Roll up your sleeves and turn the crank on the hand-operated honey extractor, then sample the sweet honey straight from the hive. For more information: 718-549-3200
Saturday, October 1
The Instant Shakespeare Company
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – Bloomingdale Branch, 150 West 100th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus, Manhattan
Join the Instant Shakespeare Company for a dramatic reading of The Merchant of Venice. Bard fans of all ages are welcome! For more information: 212-222-8030
October 1 through October 30
The Haunted Pumpkin Garden
10:00am
The New York Botanical Garden, Exit 7W on the Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, Bronx
Cost: $20 for adults; $18 for seniors and students; $8 children
Pumpkin sculptures of spooky scarecrows, frightening spiders, sneaky snakes, and more designed by artist Michael Natiello await discovery at every turn in the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Youngsters play inside a “gourd-geous” Pumpkin House, put on a scary show at the Pumpkin Puppet Theater, have a “hoot” finding out what owls eat, and look for wiggly worms. For more information: 718-817-8700
Sunday, October 2
My Last Years with Bing: Kathryn Crosby Remembers Bing through Song, Images and Film
2:30pm
Location: NYPL – Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan
For more information: 917-275-6975
Monday, October 3
Writing workshop sponsored by poets and writers
1pm
NOTE: Workshop will be held each Monday
Cost: Free
Location: Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center, 250 West 65th Street, Manhattan
For more information: 212-874-0860 x109
Are you 60+? Are you interested in prose, poetry, memoirs? Then don’t miss the opportunity to join these dynamic classes.
Tuesday, October 4
Dixieland Jazz with the Gotham Jazzmen
12:00noon to 1:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan
For more information: 917-275-6975
Wednesday, October 5
Rail Yards Talks with Robert Hammond
7:00pm to 8:00pm
Cost: Free
Location: 14th Street Passage in the High Line, Manhattan
Friends of the High Line co-founder Robert Hammond will talk about how a crazy idea to transform a derelict elevated railway into public open space became a reality in ten years and how advocacy work continues for the final stretch of the historic structure. For more information: 212-206-9922
Wednesday, October 5
From Ellis Island to Jersey Shore: Images of Italians in America
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd., Building 1P, Room 120
Cost: Free
For close to 200 years, the Italians in the United States have been portrayed poorly in the media. The cause and effects of such portrayals are the subject of Distinguished Professor Fred Gardaphe’s illustrated talk. For more information: 718-982-2597
Wednesday, October 5
English Country Dancing
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Cost: $5 per person
Location: Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island, Third County Courthouse, second floor
English country dancing fills the room with movement and pattern to the music of the past centuries at the Staten Island Historical Society. Learn dances from the courts of England and Colonial America. Beginners are welcome and partners are not necessary. For more information: 718-351-1611 x281
Tuesday, October 11
Conversation with John Lithgow and Bill Moyers
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: NYPL – Celeste Bartos Forum, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, Manhattan
Lithgow discusses his new memoir, Drama: An Actor’s Education. For more information: 917-275-6975
Friday, October 14
Have Your (Batter) Cake and Eat It, Too: A 19th-Century Food Tasting
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Location: Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East 4th Street, Manhattan
Cost: Free; reservations not required
Marja Samsom (the Dumpling Diva) will serve up batter cakes and lemon cream based on a mid-nineteenth century recipe. Reportedly a great favorite of Thomas Jefferson, batter cakes were often served at tea time. For more information: 212-777-1089
Saturday, October 15
Historical House Festival – King Manor Museum
12:00noon to 4:30pm
Location: King Manor Museum, 150-3 Jamaica Avenue, Queens
Cost: $5 adults; $3 seniors/students; children 16 and under are free
Watch a historic Dutch open-hearth cooking demonstration and learn about the Dutch food of this area. Enjoy free crafts and more at this food-themed event. For more information: 718-206-0545
Saturday, October 15
Union Square: Crossroads of New York Walking Tour
2:00pm to 3:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: Abraham Lincoln statue in Union Square Park, East 16th Street near Broadway, Manhattan
You will explore the social and political history of the Union Square neighborhood through discussions of the people, history, architecture, and forces that have shaped this community. For more information: 212-460-1200
Saturday, October 15
Classical Guitar Concert with Charles Mokotoff and Alexander Dunn
2:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan
For more information: 917-275-6975
Saturday, October 15
Queens County Fair
11:00am to 6:00pm
Location: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park
Cost: Free
Entertainment and culinary delights abound. Historical food experts in period costumes will demonstrate all aspects of food preparation and storage. Farmhouse tours will be given along with outdoor tours. The Bavarian Garden will feature favorites like apple strudel, apple fritters, bratwurst and beer with German and Irish bands to set the festive mood. For more information: 718-347-FARM
Tuesday, October 18
The Hollywood Musical Begins: The First Talkie-Musical
7:30pm
Location: Borough of Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street, Main Building, Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Cost: Free
In 1927, Al Jolson redefined American cinema when he looked at the camera and said “You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!” He was right. Hollywood was soon producing “all-dancing, all-singing” extravaganzas with long lines of chorus girls. For more information: 212-220-1460
Sunday, October 22
Songs of Franz Liszt
2:30pm
Location: NYPL – Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan
Cost: Free
Performed by soprano Martha Guth, mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway, and pianist Liza Stepanova (tenor TBA). For more information: 917-275-6975
Monday, October 24
Treasures of the Music Division: Forgotten Musicals
6:00pm
Location: NYPL – Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan
Cost: Free
Unsung treasures from the library’s musical theater collections performed by cabaret artist Steve Ross and friends. For more information: 917-275-6975
Tuesday, October 25
Alexander McQueen – Andrew Bolton
6:00pm
Location: The Museum at FIT, Seventh Avenue at 27th Street, Manhattan
Information and reservations: 212-217-4585
Join Andrew Bolton, curator of The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, as he discusses his groundbreaking exhibition on Alexander McQueen.
Saturday, October 29
National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China
1:00pm to 3:00pm
Location: Brooklyn College, Walt Whitman Theater
Cost: $20
This astounding ensemble of more than 40 gymnasts, contortionists, jugglers, and dancers combine centuries-old tradition with modern-day showmanship in their very first U.S. tour. For more information and to order tickets: 718-951-4500
Saturday, October 29
Military in the Bronx
2:00pm to 3:00pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – City Island Branch, 320 City Island Avenue between Bay and Fordham Streets, Bronx
Distinguished historian Professor Victor Mastro will give a lecture on the history of the military in the Bronx. He will trace our armed forces from the American Revolutionary War to the present, including the Kingsbridge Armory. For more information: 718-885-1703
Sunday, October 30
Pianist Daniel Beliavsky plays Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and Shostakovich
2:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, Manhattan
For more information: 917-275-6975
Sunday, October 30
From Parlor to Grave: 1865 Funeral Reenactment
3:00pm to 5:00pm
Cost: $30 adults; $15 MHM members; $10 graveside service and cemetery tour only
Location: Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East Fourth Street, Manhattan
The parlors will be draped in black crêpe as we recreate the 1865 funeral of Seabury Tredwell. After the service, mourners are invited to follow the coffin to nearby Marble Cemetery – rarely open to the public – for a tour. Nineteenth-century mourning attire encouraged; black crêpe armbands will be provided. For more information: 212-777-1089
COMPUTER/INTERNET CLASSES
Saturday, October 1
Computer Tutoring Sessions
2:00pm to 3:00pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – 67th Street Branch, 328 East 67th Street at First Avenue, Manhattan
One-on-one tutoring sessions. Their tutors can help you with everything from using the mouse, formatting a resume, setting up an email address, posting photos on the internet, starting a blog, using Microsoft Office, and more. Every Saturday at 2pm (and Thursday evening) through the fall. For more information: 212-734-1717
Monday, October 3
Introduction to the Internet
11:00am to 12:00noon
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – Columbus Branch, 742 Tenth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets, Manhattan
For more information and to register: 212-586-5098
Tuesday, October 11
Introduction to Microsoft Word
4:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – Kingsbridge Branch, 291 West 231st Street at East 162nd Street, Bronx
For more information and to register: 718-548-5656
Tuesday, October 11
Introduction to Email
10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost: Free
Location: NYPL – Allerton Branch, 2740 Barnes Avenue between Allerton and Arnow Avenues, Bronx
For more information and to register: 718-881-4240
Saturday, October 29
Finding Health Information Online
2:30pm to 4:30pm
Location: NYPL – Mid-Manhattan Branch (4th floor), 455 Fifth Avenue at 40th Street, Manhattan
Learn to find consumer health information online including doctors’ credentials, hospital information, drug side effects, conventional and alternative medical treatments of diseases, diets, weight loss, nutrition and exercises, and how to evaluate these websites. Online registration begins October 22. For more information and to register: 212-340-0863
EXHIBITIONS
At the New-York Historical Society
Remembering 9/11
September 8, 2011 through April 1, 2012
Free to the public from September 8 through November 10, 2011.
At Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion
One West 4th Street, Manhattan
212-824-2298
Admission: Free. Current government issued photo ID required.
Janet Shafner: Dark Prophecies
http://huc.edu/external/email/11/08/shafner/
Nathan Hilu’s Journal: Word, Image, Memory
http://huc.edu/external/email/11/08/hilu/
Leonard Everett Fisher: 70 Years an Artist
http://huc.edu/esternal/email/11/08/fisher/
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West at 77th Street
New York NY 10024
212-873-3400 x352
www.nyhistory.org
