Month: April 2016

Cosmopolitan Hotel – Tribeca

Tribeca Film Festival

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film-festivalThe Tribeca Film Festival (that run from April 13 until yesterday), in its 15th year comprised 102 features.  These ranged from foreign language, independent movies to documentaries and more, spanning “all-star Hollywood attractions.”

In addition to the more than 100 features, this year’s Film Festival is showing TV events, virtual reality exhibitions and interactive installations.  Being on the newer side of film festivals, this factor is believed to be a good thing.  Indeed, according to Genna Terranova, director of the festival, this plus enables the festival to work differently, giving it the capacity to “change a little bit more easily, evolve a little bit more easily,” as compared to other older, more stagnated festivals.

Part of this is how the festival closed, which “the bomb – a multimedia, immersive project about nuclear weapons.”  This comprised a 55 minute doc-film on how nuclear weapons have evolved, shown on a giant screen by the Acid band, to a live score.  As Terranova pointed out, this truly was: “documentary-meets-concert-meets-immersive experience.”

Entertainment

Become an Acting Pro with Betty Buckley

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stageFor those who have ever dreamed of becoming a professional actor and singer, for those in Manhattan it could become a reality. Early next month, Betty Buckley an actress and singer who has performed on both the TV and stage and was also a 1983 Tony award winner for Best Featured Actress in a Musical is going to be giving lessons right here in New York City.

 

For those in the vicinity from 1 to 5 May, the T. Schreiber Studio will be home to lessons from Buckley via the Song Interpretation & Monologue workshop.  Students preparing for auditions, students who want to improve, and even semi-professionals will be able to benefit from the workshop.

 

Buckley will be sharing “her expertise, guiding her students through a methodology that facilitates audience connection through songs and monologues. Her emotional connection to songs and audiences is renowned, and that very connection is at the heart of what Ms. Buckley imparts to her students.”

NY Environment

The East Village: Traditions and Changes

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bakeryOver the last 40 years, the East Village has changed quite substantially in terms of eateries and shopping options.  According to Bruce Weber however, some things have stayed the same.  One of those is Moishe Perl’s bakery (certified kosher) located on “a block that could be described as dicey,” requiring the owner to move along some of the drunks sleeping on his street corner.

Perl has seen a lot of changes throughout the four decades he has been baking babka for the locals.  He has seen all sorts of different demographics come to the area, such as “hippies, families and yuppies.” But throughout all of this, one thing has remained consistent: the bakery that still only accepts cash as a payment method for the bakery that has received both the “Best of the Borough” and “Best Smell Ever” awards in its time.

But it’s not just the bakery that has remained consistent.  Some of the village’s old timers maintain that the spirit remains the same too. According to manager of Trash and Vaudeville, Jimmy Webb, the spirit of the area – rock ‘n’ roll – is still very much alive. And according to artist Dave Ortiz, “It’s still a neighborhood where there’s a freedom to be who you are,” and for him that means skating in Tompkins Square Park, just like he did back in 1988.

The good news is, therefore, that the East Village – despite any changes it may have undergone over the last four decades or so – remains a place that has upheld its spirit and where people can call home.

The Evelyn

Krav Maga Comes to Tribeca

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martial-artsShimmie Horn’s hotel in the Tribeca area, The Evelyn, is to be getting a new neighbor.  The 158 Franklin address – that until now has been home to the Steven Alan Home Shop – is to become the address for the first Krav Maga Institute in the district.

While Krav Maga has already had a presence in Tribeca (using space at Tribeca Health & Fitness and Church Street Boxing), it has never formally established its very own presence.

But this month all of that changed and by next month, the Krav Maga Institute will be offering a complete schedule to benefit all those in Tribeca.  Over the next few months this will further develop to offer Combat Cardio classes, yoga, and maybe even  Brazilian jiu jitsu and muy thai but all under the auspices of the Krav Maga Institute.  There will also be programs available for the youngsters: from 6 to 13 years of age, kids will be able to get a head start on their Krav Maga training.

The Krav Maga Institute is opening its first full-time space in Tribeca, downstairs at 158 Franklin, the building where Steven Alan Home Shop used to be. Up till now, KMI has been using fitness studios around the city—including Church Street Boxing and Tribeca Health & Fitness—on a part-time basis KMI will be offering soft-opening classes in April, shooting for a full schedule starting in May. By September it plans on being at capacity, with classes in the Combat Cardio program (fitness-based kickboxing), probably yoga, and possibly muy thai and Brazilian jiu jitsu. And there will be a program for kids age 6 to 13. When it’s fully open I’ll stop by for the full report.