Archives for October 2019

New York City recently became the second major American City to include the Lunar New Year in the official school calendar, and for the sixth year running, seven leading New York City Asia-focused cultural organizations will take part in CelebrASIA NYC: New Year’s Festivities for Families. The three-month long series encompassing pan-Asian cultural traditions launches at Japan Society on Sunday, January 24, with New Year’s Celebration: Oshogatsu, and continues through March in Manhattan and Queens. Check out the 2016 CelebrASIA event lineup below.

To order tickets, contact the sponsoring organization. For more information, visit www.celebrasia.org.

New Year’s Celebration: Oshogatsu
Sunday, January 24, 2016, 1:00-4:00 pm
Japan Society, 333 East 47th St.
Celebrate the New Year holiday at Japan Society’s annual Oshogatsu event and participate in various traditional activities. Families watch live taiko drumming and accompanying lion dancing (shishi-mai) and have the chance to participate in a brief taiko practice session at either 1:30 or 2:30 PM (session is chosen at time of ticket purchase). Other fun activities include rice pounding (mochi-tsuki), calligraphy (kakizome), kite (tako)-making, traditional games (fukuwarai), and top spinning (koma-mawashi). Recommended for all ages. Tickets: $18/$10 Japan Society & corporate members; children ages 2 and under FREE. Price includes festival (1:00–4:00 pm) and one taiko drumming session at either 1:30 or 2:30 pm. More at 212-715-1258 or www.japansociety.org.

Family Day: Korean New Year
Saturday, January 30, 1:00-5:00 pm
The Korea Society, 950 Third Avenue, 8th Floor
Celebrate Sollal, the Korean New Year, with a day of fun-filled family activities at The Korea Society! Enjoy storytelling based on Korean folk tales and practice sebae, the New Year’s bow, to show respect for elders. Try Korean brush painting, make a tasty treat, play traditional games, and participate in arts and crafts projects. Tickets: Members $25 per family of 3-5 ($5 each additional family members); $10 individuals; Non-members: $30 per family ($5 each additional family members); $15 individuals. More at www.koreasociety.org.

Losar Family Day: Celebrate the Year of the Fire Monkey
Saturday, February 6, Noon-4:00 pm
Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street at Seventh Avenue
Spend the Lunar New Year with family and friends at the Rubin. The afternoon of art, crafts, and music will celebrate Losar, the Himalayan New Year. Learn about traditional celebrations, go on a family tour of the galleries, enjoy music from the region, and make auspicious crafts to take home. Tickets: Children: $10; Adults: Free with the price of admission; Children under 1: Free; Cool Culture Members: Free. More at www.rmanyc.org.

Moon Over Manhattan: Celebrate the Lunar New Year!
Saturday, February 6, 1:00-4:00 pm
Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street
Asia Society rings in the Year of the Monkey with performances and traditional craft activities inspired by Lunar New Year traditions across Asia. Activities will include a Lion Dance and kung fu demonstration, musical performances, and more. Tickets: $5 students, seniors, children; $7 members (Dual Family members FREE); $12 nonmembers. Tickets available the day of event. More at www.asiasociety.org.

Chinese New Year, Year of the Monkey
Sunday, February 13, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
China Institute, 125 East 65th Street
Kick off the Year of the Monkey with a free lion dance and kung fu demonstration in front of our new space at 100 Washington Street. Following the lion dance, join us inside China Institute for traditional food and New Year-themed workshops and activities including dumpling making, paper cutting, and a special Year of the Monkey craft. Tickets: General admission FREE. Workshop admission: $10 adult members, $5 child members; $15 adult non-members; $5 child non-members. More at www.chinainstitute.org.

Lunar New Year Family Festival
Saturday, February 20, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street
Go bananas this New Year at MOCA! Celebrate Chinese and Chinese American traditions and folk arts with zodiac themed arts and crafts, festive music and dance performances, teaching artist demonstrations, storytelling, and much more monkey business! Enjoy other New Year and exhibition themed family workshops every first and third Saturday, and decode the Chinese almanac’s predictions for the Year of the Monkey on Saturday, January 30! Tickets: $10/person; $8 for all MOCA Dual and Individual Level Members; Free for MOCA Family Level Members and above, children under 2, and Cool Culture families. More at www.mocanyc.org.

Calligraphy on Chinese Silk Fans
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd
Welcome the Year of the Monkey with a calligraphy workshop led by Asian arts specialist Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou. Learn basic calligraphy to write your new year’s wishes. Participants will begin by writing on paper and then write their messages of good fortune on Chinese silk fans. Every time you wave your fan you’ll be spreading your positive message into the New Year! Tickets: Adults $10; members and children $8 (materials included). More at www.flushingtownhall.org.

Monkey Mask Decorating Workshop
Sunday, February 28, 1:30 pm
Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd
In this creative and engaging workshop, children will discover the beauty of Korean culture while crafting and dancing. After a brief introduction about Tal (Korean traditional mask) Dance, children make their own Monkey Tal to celebrate the Year of the Monkey and learn Tal Dance moves. This workshop will stimulate your child’s eye-hand coordination, movement skills, and most importantly, curiosity about new cultures. Tickets: Adults $10; members and children $8 (materials included). More at www.flushingtownhall.org.

Spring into Nowruz: Celebrate the Persian New Year!
Saturday, March 12, 1:00-4:00 pm
Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street
Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the beginning of spring. Discover the spirit of Nowruz with traditional music, dance and crafts from Central Asia and Iran. Co-presented by Pardis for Children. Tickets: $5 students, seniors, children; $7 members (Dual Family members FREE); $12 nonmembers. Tickets available the day of event. More at www.asiasociety.org.

Click here to learn more about Lunar New Year celebrations in Asia!

Want to stay local?
• Click here for details on the Year of the Monkey celebration at the Staten Island Zoo.
• Click here for details on the Lunar New Year celebration at the Staten Island Children’s Museum.
• Click here for details on the Year of the Monkey craft at Greenbelt Nature Center.

How to Prepare for a Winter Storm – FEMA offers advice on storm preparation

NYC’s Severe Weather Website – Get updated information on the city’s response to hazardous weather.

PlowNYC – Track the status of local plows and see when your block will be cleared.

Department of Education – Get information on all program and test closings or postponements due to the storm.

SAT Testing – Get updates on SAT center closing and test postponements.

MTA Delays and Service  – Get service updates from the MTA on buses, subways, rails, bridges and tunnels.

National Weather Service – See the latest storm totals and weather reports for Staten Island.

311 – Report a problem or check the status of a complaint or issue.

Winter Fun – Check out snow fun, indoor activities, winter recipes, safety tips and more.

Shoveling Tips – Learn how to clear away snow safely.

Snow Shoveling for Seniors from Where to Turn – Help an elderly neighbor shovel after the storm (teens will receive community service credit ).

Where to Go Sledding in NYC Parks – Where to find the best “official” sledding spots from the Parks Department.

Staten Islanders love to celebrate the important benchmarks in life– from birthdays to religious events, to graduations and milestone events such as weddings, engagements and sweet sixteens. Spring is inherently the season for First Holy Communion and Graduation parties, but when you add in the other festive events, there seems to be party after party every weekend until summer barbeque season arrives.

While each occasion is unique, the common thread linking social engagements of all sizes is the need to plan.

Event planners are certainly a unique breed of organized individuals, but everyday hosts and hostesses can borrow from planners’ tried-and-true techniques to help parties run smoothly from start to finish.

Begin with the Venue

A great party starts with a good venue. In fact, the right venue can make a party, while the wrong one can break it. Consider the type of event and the size of the guest list when shopping for a venue. If the goal is to provide guests with an intimate setting to mingle, avoid large spaces. If you want guests to dance and plan to provide additional entertainment options, choose a venue that has a dance floor and/or a stage.

Size is not the only thing to consider when choosing a venue. The location of a venue is important as well. The venue should be easily accessible to guests and convenient for guests traveling by car and public transportation. Have a contingency plan if the venue is outdoors and weather may interrupt the festivities.

Read Next | At What Age Should Kids Get a Phone?

Remember, the venue is the foundation upon which the rest of the party will be situated, so take extra time to find the right party spot. As soon as you have a date pinned down, reserve the venue. There are a finite number of places on Staten Island, so book early to avoid being disappointed. Take your event to the next level via party bus rental.

Make a Checklist

Take some time to jot down a list of what will need to be done for the party. Relying on your memory alone is not sufficient, as you’re bound to forget some details as the party draws nearer.
Purchase a planner to help you keep track of details and payment deadlines. Store receipts in your planner, and keep it with you at all times so you can jot down ideas as they come to you. Don’t just jot down the things to do. Assign specific deadlines to each task so you will stay on track.

Get Help When You Need It

It’s easy for hosts and hostesses to feel overwhelmed when planning a party. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you begin to feel overwhelmed. Delegate tasks based on your helpers’ talents and experience. Catered food is ideal for those who do not like to cook. If a friend is crafty, put him or her in charge of decorations or the layout of the venue. If the budget allows, hire professionals to create the right ambiance for the party. Store-bought supplies are shortcuts that can keep you on schedule. The more help you have, the less stressful the planning can feel.

Read Next | All About Auld Lang Syne (the New Year’s song)

Focus on Food and Entertainment

When guests walk away from a party, their thoughts tend to linger on food and fun. Spend time planning the menu and testing foods that will be served, and hire entertainment that suits the mood you are aiming to create. If there will be children at the party, consider some entertainment or activities targeting their age group. A dedicated crafts or coloring table can keep the kids busy while they are waiting for food to be served. It’s also a great ice-breaker to meet other children attending the party.

The Take Away

Party favors add a nice touch for guests exiting the event. Gone are the days of tchotchkes that just collect dust, though. Special desserts to take home, bottles of wine, or useful items that tie into the party theme have become increasingly popular. Check Pinterest for cool ideas and let’s get this party started!

Need help getting started? Check our our Party Planning Directory!

Not sure if you are registered to vote with a specific party? Or whether you’re even registered to vote at all? CLICK HERE to find out.

Whether you really “Feel the Bern” with Bernie Sanders or wish to “Make America Great Again” with Donald Trump (or if your heart is with a different candidate altogether), your opinion won’t count if you aren’t registered to vote. The primary election, which is when the presidential candidate for each political party is selected by registered voters, will be held on April 19, 2016. If you aren’t yet registered to vote, it isn’t too late. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 25th and received by a board of elections no later than March 30th to be eligible to vote in the Primary. Staten Islanders may register in person at the Richmond County Board of Elections Station (located at 1 Edgewater Plaza), but your application must be received no later than March 25th.

If you are registered to vote but not with a specific party, we have some unfortunate news for you. The deadline for New Yorkers to change their political party passed in October. This means that all New Yorkers currently registered in the Independent Party, Green Party, or Working Families Party will not be eligible to vote for a Republican or Democratic candidate in the upcoming presidential primary election. In addition, if you are registered as a democrat, you will only be eligible to vote in the democratic primary; conversely, if you are a registered republican, you can only vote in the republican primary election. All registered voters, however, are able to vote in the general election in November. New York is one of 11 states requiring this type of closed primary election. Of those 11, our state has the earliest change-of-party deadline.

CLICK HERE for more information on important voting deadlines.

CLICK HERE to visit the New York State Board of Elections website, where you can print out a voter registration form, an absentee ballot form, a change of address, name, or party form, and more.

Let’s face it, our years with children under our roofs slip past us when we’re not paying attention. Suddenly we find ourselves with preschoolers, then grade-schoolers, and pretty soon teens. We do our best to make the most of these years, but sometimes it helps to know we aren’t missing out on our children’s childhood by engaging it full on.

With that in mind, here are twenty-five activities to get in before taking them to college:
1. Sleep out under the stars. Pitch a tent or just drag blankets and sleeping bags out into your yard or balcony.
2. Visit a lighthouse. Take a picture while you’re there.
3. Pick apples, blueberries or another fruit. Enjoy eating produce right from the source.
4. Have a Silly String fight – just because. Launch a sneak attack, but leave an arsenal in plain sight for them to retaliate. Then take what you’ve dished out.
5. Take them to meet a favorite author or sports star.
6. When winder comes, drive around at night looking at holiday light displays. To make it extra enchanting, put the kids to bed first then take them out in their pajamas and give them hot cocoa for the ride.
7. Swim in the ocean. Or at least wade in up to your knees and feel the rocking motion of the waves.
8. Carve a pumpkin. Encourage your kids to grab out the seeds with their fingers and get up to their elbows scooping out the gooey flesh.
9. Build a sand castle. Or create a sand sculpture – turtles and snakes are easy.
10. Serve in a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
11. Eat ice cream sundaes for dinner. Include fresh fruit like strawberries and bananas among the toppings to make it “more healthy.”
12. Own a pet (fish, bird, dog, cat, lizard).
13. Catch lightening bugs. In your hands or in a jar. Have a contest to see who can collect the most.
14. Climb a mountain or go to the top of a skyscraper. Then take in the view from up high.
15. Go on special dates, just parent and child. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s about one-on-one time.
16. Try skiing – water, cross country, or downhill.
17. Teach them how to waltz. Or hip hop or line dance. Get out some music and show them your moves.
18. Take them to a big concert event. Whether it’s kid music or classical, give them exposure to a live performance.
19. Go on a picnic. Grab an old blanket, make up some sandwiches and hit the park or beach for an old-fashioned outdoor meal.
20. Make and take a meal to a shut-in neighbor or friend – together.
21. Plant flowers. Give them a garden trowel and invite them to dig in the dirt with you.
22. Attend a funeral. Then talk about life, death and the future.
23. Go to a theme park. Ride the roller coasters and eat cotton candy.
24. Let them make you dinner – by themselves. Even if it’s PB& J sandwiches.
25. Attend a major sporting event in your city – baseball, football, hockey. Cheer loudly. Enjoy the energy of being surrounded by your fellow fans.

Whatever you choose to do, soak up each moment. It might not slow down time, but it will capture memories you can share with your kids long after you’ve shared a home.

Read Next | This Is What the the New Normal Will Be like for Your Kids