New York News
24 pieces
United Gala for Orphaned Children in Developing World
New York, N.Y. Orphaned children-especially in poor countries-face daunting odds against succeeding in life. In many countries they have little, if any, opportunity to ob…
Pratham: Chelsea Clinton on Board USS Intrepid for Education in India
New York, N.Y. In looking back at 2013's most successful Manhattan events, the one gala that stands out for me took place on the USS Intrepid along the West Side Highway…
One Year Ago: Operatic Incubator Celebrates Excellence
New York, N.Y. In the opulent setting of the Grand Ball Room of the Essex House, several hundred glitterati gathered to toast the leadership of David Bender and Barbara M…
Possibility of Museum on NYC's 'New' Roosevelt Island
New York, N.Y. Not often does an important new museum open in New York City. One is possible now because the Roosevelt Island Steam Plant is about to be decommissioned. T…
Update: Nobel Winner Mario Vargas Llosa Unveils New Novel
UPDATE: Nobel-winning author Mario Vargas Llosa is unveiling his new novel, titled The Discreet Hero and set in his native Peru. The novel revisits two influential cities…
NYC Gay Pride Parade 2011 Unlike Others: Marriage
New York, NY. A sea change in New York Although I have attended the NYC Pride Parade since 1983 – many as a marshal – this one was different. As the lesbian on motorcycle…
Surprise at Tribeca Festival: Best Film on Haiti Ever
New York, NY. Sitting through the world premiere of When the Drum is Beating at the Tribeca Film Festival this week, I thought to myself, at last: the definitive movie on…
Allure of the Hive: Connectivity, Social Networking & Change
New York, N.Y. A distinguished panel of experts gathered Saturday at the Philoctetes Center for the Multidisciplinary Study of Imagination for a standing room-only roundt…
Asia Society's President on Global Citizens Like Barack Obama
New York, N.Y. “As Americans, we have the unfortunate idea that we should and need to learn more about the world, but it’s not a priority. “We get to it when we can, whic…
Brooklyn Steppers March Forward, Giving to Community, Gaining in Process
Brooklyn, N.Y. In high school I had been manager of our marching band in Ohio. It was a grueling task, but rewarding to see my friends play and march so well. The program…
Chatting with UNICEF's Director Ann Veneman
New York, N.Y. I met UNICEF 's executive director Ann M. Veneman recently at Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden's World Childhood Foundation luncheon at the United Nation…
Dr. Judy on Trauma of Disasters - like Haitian Earthquake
Dr. Judy Kuriansky trained local Boy Scouts to be "comforters" in the wake of the earthquake that recently destroyed Haiti. The patients were also grateful that anyone ca…
El Museo del Barrio: Fifth Avenue on Fire
New York, N.Y. Forty years ago, El Museo del Barrio was a dream contained in a single classroom so far north that “sophisticated” Manhattanites would not visit there afte…
French Artist & Legend CharlElie Couture in New York City
New York, N.Y. We first met French Contemporary Artist CharlElie Couture at the French Embassy in New York for the Wynton Marsalis ceremony in the fall of 2009. He impres…
From the Grand Bazaar to New York's Grand Central
New York, N.Y. The biggest Turkish Festival in the history of the U.S. - "Turkish Days in New York" - is now upon us. It is bringing the Grand Bazaar on the beautiful ban…
Gay Community's Rosa Parks Faces Death, Impoverished, Alone
New York, NY. I know dementia. My father and grandmother both died with it. But they had both resources and families to protect them - and neither were living cultural an…
Indo-American Arts Council Fete Recreates Mughal Court in NYC
New York, N.Y. The Indo-American Arts Council threw a purposefully decadent, fun-filled party last week for the new book Islamicate Cultures of Bombay Cinema by Ira Bhask…
Itzhak Perlman to Perform at Lincoln Center to Help Rotary Eradicate Polio
New York, N.Y. "Polio is only a plane ride away." So began my sobering interview with Carol Pandak, Manager of PolioPlus for Rotary International about polio, a crippling…
Meet the Amazing Aroon Shivdasani of NYC's Indo-American Arts Council
New York, N.Y. Indo-American Arts Council founder and executive director Aroon Shivdasani has lived all over the world but has called New York home for about half her lif…
If It Is Astoria, It Must Be Opa! Forty Years of Greek Cuisine with Perdika Zevlakis
Astoria, N.Y. Since 1969, the year man walked on the moon, Opa! Souvlaki Restaurant of Astoria, Queens, has been Greek to its core. It is run by the Greek community's Ela…
Indian Legend Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Plays NYC, Thanks Obama
New York, N.Y. Indian classical musician Ustad Amjad Ali Khan played the Indian Consulate of New York last week. He played in the grand ballroom of the former mansion on…
Korean-American Hahn-Bin Wows Carnegie Hall In Debut
New York, NY. There are few male Asian-American sex symbols. Violin prodigy Hahn-Bin , studying under Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho, is one of the few. Opening the 49t…
Remembering My Battle Against Fundamentalists
New York, N.Y. I left Wall Street unexpectedly following an appearance on the Phil Donahue Show in 1985. There, on the Oprah Winfrey Show of its day, Richard Yao and I di…
Wynton Marsalis Awarded French Legion of Honor in NYC
New York, N.Y. Wynton Marsalis received France’s highest distinction last week in New York – the insignia of chevalier of the Legion of Honor, an honor that was first awa…