Independence Day Celebrations 15 August 2018 at Consulate General of India, New York

72nd Independence Day of India - 15 August 2018

On the occasion of 72nd Independence Day of India, Consul General, Sandeep Chakravorty hoisted the National Flag at the Consulate premises in the morning of 15 August. It was followed by the playing of the National Anthem. Consul General read out President’s Address to the Nation delivered on the eve of the Independence Day.

2. More than 200 people including prominent members of the Indian community and local dignitaries including Congresswoman Grace Meng, Assemblyman David Weprin, Assemblyman Raj Mukherjee, Senator Vin Gopal and also Bollywood actor Anupam Kher attended the ceremony.

3. A short cultural program was held by Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, which included singing of patriotic songs and poetry recitation.

4. At the initiative of local Indian community organizations, iconic monuments in New York and surrounding areas were lit up on the occasion with the colors of the Indian flag. These included the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls among others.

5. This year, on the occasion of India's Independence Day, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) sponsored a seven member group consisting of acclaimed Kathak dancers - Sandip Mallick & group with Anuj Mishra and group to present Kathak! A short glimpse of their performances were shown during the morning ceremony.

6. The team in collaboration with this Consulate & Battery Dance Company will be performing at Robert F. Wagner Park this evening; Saraswathi Hall, The Hindu Temple Society of North America on August 16 and finally at Navatman's Drive East Festival on August 17 before heading to Dallas for other scheduled performances.

7. PTC Broadcasting did a live telecast of today's event; link: https://www.facebook.com/USAPTCPunjabi/videos/244289326412218/

15 August 2018 New York

Open Mic in Brooklyn - THE OUTER LOOP THEATER EXPERIENCE

Last Tuesday, I was invited by a friend to attend an open mic at 6pm in Williamsburg at Over the Eight. I had never been to an open mic before and thought it would be nice to hear different artists from the New York scene.

First off, the space is really nice. The bar is very laid back, with a great atmosphere. Another room at the back is where the open mic took place. It is separated from the main bar and has a stage, cozy seats and plasma TVs to allow filmmakers to broadcast their work. The bar makes great Mexican food and we were provided with free samples of empanadas. As I said, the atmosphere is really relaxed and I loved that ! We were told not to hesitate to move during the performances, either to get a drink, take a bathroom break or just get another empanada.

The different artists were very different from one another and presented all excellent work. I was seriously shocked by the quality of each artist’s work. In an hour and a half, came on stage a singer/songwriter, a poet, a stand up perfomer,  a writer, a filmmaker and actors to play a scene from a playwright. All of these people were extremely talented, which I was not expecting ( I though maybe one or two will be really good but no- all of them !).

After the open mic, everyone could meet at the bar and mingle, chat, talk about different opportunities, or even get into deeper conversation about the state of the arts in the US today.

I decided to interview Michael Herman, who is behind the organization of these events and here is what he had to say :

Nina Moritz: Could you tell me a bit more about the project? 

Michael Herman: So the non-profit company I founded 6 years ago, The Outer Loop Theater Experience, presents a super cool event called Talk Hard, which is a monthly open mic/showcase format opportunity for playwrights, actors, directors, poets, musicians, singers, djs, painters, writers, dancers, spoken word and hip hop artists, to get a peek at any new piece they're working on.... in front of a supportive, but critical audience. If they want some feedback? Great. And if they just want to hear it out loud in front of other humans? Great.

Nina Moritz: How often do you organize events? 

Michael Herman: Talk Hard happens twice every month: The final Monday of each month, in Harlem, at Solace. And the 2nd Tuesday of each month in Brooklyn, at Over the Eight. And we’re looking at adding a 3rd one in midtown very soon.

Nina Moritz: What is the idea behind it? 

Michael Herman: The Outer Loop is fundamentally a playground where we all come together to better our community and support the work of all playful human beings. So Talk Hard is one of these playgrounds for artists of all disciplines to come and play. I also like to think of it as a safe place to fail. We, as artists, need that.

Nina Moritz: Can any  kind of artist attend (designers, producers etc..)? 

Michael Herman: Absolutely. Any artist at all. And for that matter, any human. We welcome anyone who wants to share their experience(s) with others.

Nina Moritz: Tell me a bit more about you and what you do. 

Michael Herman: I am a director, playwright and teacher. I founded The Outer Loop in 2009 to help playwrights and other artists develop their work and get it up in front of audiences. Nothing brings me greater joy, than to watch a new play come to life, and a young artist have that first audience experience. It’s why we do what we do. For the moment.

I had an amazing time attending, I felt like being part of something, seeing talent emerge before my eyes and I’m pretty sure a lot of the people I saw will blow up in the coming years. Everyone was welcoming and supportive of each other, clapping loudly, encouraging each other. It was so easy to talk to everyone. If

you have some work you are unsure about and would like feedback, this is the place! If you are looking for a great time and a great show, this is the place!

Seriously, please go and check it out, you will not regret it!

Here's some additional information from their website: http://www.outerlooptheater.org/

The UN accomplishes Expo’s theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy For Life” in Milan

The United Nations fulfill Milan's Theme for EXPO 2015 "Feeding the Planet, Energy For Life"...

The world had been waiting for Expo2015 to open its doors. The mission set by the Universal Exposition in the Italian northern city seems to be conquered by the United Nations.

The Pavilion Zero truly embraces the zero hunger challenge in an ambiance where aesthetics match semantics. The importance of plants biodiversity are thoroughly explored with a majestic video art project and installations, that will plunge you in the treasure of forests, worthy of the most prestigious art biennales. 

The domestication of animals retrace the history of mankind and the poetry of breeding, as the making of an alliance betwixt savage beasts and humankind. This topic is further explored through quality and sustainability in animal production and, naturally, food.

But contrarily to all other pavilions, where nourishment triumphs not as symbol of what is due to worldwide countries but as a mere globalized fashionable product, the United Nations manage to heighten the value of the eating table. Nutrition thusly embodies the theatre of the world: the table is the ancient place of unity, cohesion, the lieu where territories meet.

All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players, breeding, farming, hunting, fishing. From the rural to the industrial world, the great potential expressed by machinery revolutionizes the consumption and approach to food, that becomes part of the mass production process. This causes perilous consequences, that lead to the paradox of waste. 

In Pavilion Zero the entire history of man’s approach to nutrition is handled with great entertaining didactics in a truly enchanting scenery. The message of food waste resonates stronger than ever and the act of sharing takes the stage through the powerful words bequeathed to Milan’s Expo all the way from the New York Headquarters of the United Nations, from the very Secretary General Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary General:

“I appeal to all people everywhere to raise their voices. Speak out on behalf of this planet, our only home. Let us care for Mother Earth, so she can continue to take care for us as she has done for millennia.”

Watch Expo show 2015 videos: 

Expo Milano 2015 is a non-commercial Universal Exposition with some very unique and innovative features. Not only is it an exhibition but also a process, one of active participation among a large number of players around the theme of Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life. It is sustainable, technological, thematic and focused on its visitors.

Grande sportiva, Chicca eccelle nel calcio e nell'atletica: è un vero concentrato di energie e vitamine. Tra le sue tante medaglie, ricordiamo l'oro olimpionico nel sollevamento pesi. Nel tempo libero lavora ai ferri e oggi gira il mondo inseguendo gli atleti a cui regala le sue maglie fatte a mano.

Expo Milano 2015 spot 60'' on air from 2nd November, 2014 Visit the site http://www.expo2015.org/it http://www.expo2015.org/en http://www.expo2015.org/fr

Sono 20 milioni i visitatori attesi dal 1° maggio al 31 ottobre 2015 sul sito espositivo di Expo Milano 2015. Di questi, circa un terzo saranno stranieri. Il flusso di visitatori e di turisti in arrivo per l'Esposizione Universale genererà benefici per l'intero Sistema turistico italiano.

Guagliò l'aglio è un tipo che si fa notare anche a chilometri di distanza e non solo per il fisico prestante e gli occhi azzurri. Pieno di followers, ama organizzare cene con gli amici, ma soprattutto ama Filippa Bruschetta, la food personal shopper che gli ha insegnato a non sprecare il cibo.

Ricca di fascino e vitamine, Julienne è un vero fiore di ragazza, anzi di zucchina. Grazie alla sua genuina bellezza diventa una modella. Un giorno, cadendo dalla passerella, finisce fra le braccia di uno chef. Così Julienne scopre l'amore e non solo per il cibo. Scopri questo e molto più all'Expo Show.

Official Website: http://www.expo2015.org/en/

Nail Art: New Trends to Follow

The new fashion mania has unusual trends for spring 2015...

In the past few years nail art has become a mandatory fashion whim, that can very elegantly substitute jewellery. When shaking hands, when waving adieu, ladies’ ten fingers are always at the forefront of interaction with others, and their decorations somehow point out the personality of the girl wearing the nail art.

This spring dictates three musts in the use of Vernis à Onglese: simplicity, lightness and refinement. Patterns and colors are accepted, although black and white are the hippest shades. Natural colors, like old-rose, beige or pastel tints are highly recommendable. Even more so, the nude effect. For the summertime ladies can run wild adopting some gold and silver, as long as the length of the nail is moderate with a rounded shape. Stilettos are out!

New York’s latest Fashion Week had proclaimed gangsta nail art - with dazzling gems or delicate pearl - as the new mania for the hot season. The over-the-top-graffiti-inspired nail decorations however seem to clash with a more recent fashion debate, where the Big Apple and the City of Angels collide on what nail art to adopt. New Yorkers prefer solid colors, whereas Californians enjoy all kinds of creative patterns, especially those inspired by nature, evoking flowers or fruits. A trait to which both coasts seem to comply to, is the Reverse French Manicure, where a contrasting color to the main varnish is placed on the bezel near zone cuticle rather than on the tip of the nail. 

Los Angeles is more celebrity driven as opposed to the fashion driven New York, nevertheless this new nail art trend has been flaunted at red carpets in both cities. The Half-Moon Manicure seems to please all, for the edgy elegant way it uses the negative space, creating an orderly extravagant chic look.