ReelAbilities

New York hosts various film festivals each year; and for the 8th year in a row, ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival offered films throughout the city, on LI, and in Rockland and Westchester counties in libraries, colleges, universities, museums, and performing arts centers.  This festival is committed to promoting awareness of people with different abilities, and about half of the venues offer the screenings completely free to the public.

I attended two days of free screenings at Lehman College in the Bronx.  Organized by the Office of Student Disability Services, the event included food (sandwiches, wraps, pizza, salad, cookies, soda, water), and post screening discussions with the film makers.  The director of Student Disability Services and the vice president of Lehman College opened the event; and, in total, three full length films and eight shorts were offered.

Although the event concluded on March 16, 2016, I urge you to look out for the 9th annual ReelAbilities film festival in March of 2017.  Check out what was offered this year.

The protagonists of True Smile

Music in Midtown

The Graduate Center, a CUNY institution, is committed to offering concerts to the public free of charge all year round.  The fall concert I attended included three pieces for a pianist and a string quartet.  The first piece, Songs Without Words (Felix Mendelssohn) was written for the piano while the second Mendelssohn piece, Cello Sonata No. 2 in D major, included the cello accompanied by the piano.  The last piece by Cesar Franck, Piano Quintet in F Minor, was performed by the pianist and the quartet.

The Elebash Recital Hall is located on the ground floor of the building which also includes gallery space and a cafe.  While there, take in the artwork on display, which is also free to the public.

Look for upcoming performances at Music in Midtown.  Click on the calendar link and look for the Music in Midtown listings on Thursdays.

Elebash Recital Hall

The Graduate Center

Featured Artist

Zuniga Drawings

Live Wire

I learned over the summer that the Apollo Theater has an education department that offers learning opportunities for adults and children.

One program available for adults is Live Wire, which is devoted to offering discussions and topics that relate to the history of performances at the theater.   I attended a movie screening of Mr. Dynamite:  The Rise of James Brown, which was followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session.  Guests were offered complimentary boxes of popcorn upon entering.

Live Wire events are scheduled on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., last up to 3 hours, and are free to the public.

Mr. Dynamite:  The Rise of James Brown

Check out future Live Wire programming along with other free Apollo Theater events.

American Academy of Dramatic Arts

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, located on Madison Avenue between 30th and 31st Streets, has been in existence for over 130 years and trained many well-known actors including Robert Redford, Danny DeVito, and Anne Hathaway.  It is through the professional exposure in the Academy Company where students perform in front of audiences, and those performances are offered to the public free of charge.

I witnessed two of those performances:  Sam Shepherd’s A Lie of the Mind and Athol Fugard’s My Children! My Africa!  I saw the 3 p.m. matinee shows on a Thursday and a Friday.  Performances were also scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on those days.  Each was held in a different studio in the building and seating is general. To learn about upcoming shows sign up for notifications by providing your email address.

The Orchestra Now Around Town

What a delight to hear a full orchestra play in a beautiful music hall.  Thanks to an education program at Bard College, we can do so free of charge.  Bard College offers a Master’s Degree program that provides students a deep understanding of the works they practice and perform as well as prepares them to go out to communities to share their passion and includes participating in free concerts around NYC.

To locate an upcoming free performance, go to the Around Town page on their website.   If you can’t make it out to one of their concerts or prefer to listen at home, just click on one of the performance links that will allow you to see lists of the selections and the artists playing, listen to the music, or watch videos of performances.  However, other artists are performing.

I attended The Orchestra Now’s Around Town NYC debut performance at Lehman College in the Bronx. Click and enjoy.

Debut at Lehman College Performance Arts Center in the Bronx

Free Art

There are numerous opportunities to view art in NYC without having to pay.  Last week I visited the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts to view Alice Live!, which traces the history of the story created by Lewis Carroll.  The New York Public Library offers a number of exhibitions to the public free of charge, and a list of current exhibitions can be found on the NYPL website.

Just about every museum in NYC offers an opportunity to visit free of charge.  A few are always admission free while others have specific days and hours when they are open free to the public.  To find a museum, begin by perusing this site; and always call ahead or check the museum website to be sure.

If you prefer a little fresh air as you take in art, check out an outdoor exhibit.  Once again, check website links to make sure the exhibit is offered free of charge.

Back to School

Children and teachers in NYC are headed back to school this month.  What about the rest of us?  Thanks to the New York Public Library, we can all head back to the classroom free of charge.  Opportunities exist to take classes at library locations or online.

Since I had not used my library card in years, my account was deleted from the system; so I had to begin by registering for a card.  The process now includes providing a PIN, which is required to participate in classes that require the use of a computer.  Today I visited the branch I used when I was in high school to take advantage of an introduction to MANGO Languages.  I completed four lessons there and can continue by logging on to the NYPL.org at home at my leisure.  The next introduction at this branch is scheduled for October 9.

At the Library

Course topics for adults vary widely and include Arts and Crafts; Health, Fitness and Wellness; Music and Dance; Language; Anime and Manga; Finance; Art and Photography; and Computers and Technology just to name a few. Not all classes are held at every location, so you can browse through the complete list of topics and locations at this link:  

Assess Your Skills

Not sure which technology classes or levels you should register for?  Click here to test your current skills:

Catalog

The NYPL Now catalog, which includes descriptions of other programs and exhibitions in addition to the classes, is available to view here:

Online Courses

The NYPL also offers online courses in web design, web development, IT, media production, and business.  Check it out:  

Grand Concourse Library Branch

Upcoming class at the Grand Concourse Library is on October 9, 2015.

A library card, PIN number, and headphones are required when using the computers at the library.

Farmers’ Markets

In the past, one of my favorite activities during the summer months was to visit the two local markets in my neighborhood:  Poe Park and the New York Botanical Garden.  I am no longer limited to just two months out of the year and can now visit them throughout the entire six month season.  During that time, I only eat produce I purchase from the markets.  I also use the time to try out foods that I don’t normally buy.   It especially helps to have someone available to consult about the product:  How should I cook it? What is the best way to store it?  How long will it remain fresh?  The markets are located throughout the city and open one or more days per week for at least 6 months.   Some of the sites, depending on the size of the location, offer additional services.  In Poe Park, I can bring food scraps to be composted and drop off textiles for recycling.

So what is free about the Farmers’ Markets?  Cooking/nutrition lessons and money.   The lesson begins with a lecture that includes audience participation followed by a cooking demonstration.  Opportunities are sometimes offered to receive free products by answering summary lesson questions.  At the end, all those who attend the entire lesson receive a survey form, which is required to receive the free money. Once the survey is collected, a $2 Health Bucks coupon is given to the participant to be used at any farmers’ market in the city.  Not all sites offer this program, so check the website below to find out if it is available in your neighborhood.

Go challenge yourself to find a vegetable you’ve never seen before.  Use the link below to find the market nearest you.

http://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket

I won a spatula.

My free health bucks for the day.

Recipes using produce available in the market are available to take.

Cooking demonstration.

Compost/recycling station.

Poe Park market.

Film Events

The NYC Parks Department offers free movie screenings in various city parks.  It is in one of my neighborhood parks, St. James Park, that I was able to finally see Annie.  Not all titles are available in every borough or every park, so one might need to travel out of one’s neighborhood to catch a particular film of interest.  Start times vary between 7:30 and 9 p.m., and films are offered each day of the week through September.  Use the search feature to find a film near you at this link:  http://www.nycgovparks.org/events/film

A beautiful, clear, cool night for a viewing of Annie.

Shape Up NYC

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation’s Shape Up NYC program offers free fitness classes at parks around the city.  Thanks to volunteer instructors, even more classes are available independent of the program.  It is in my neighborhood at Poe Park in the Bronx that I discovered a Tai Chi class that meets twice a week and a weekly Meditation class.  Other classes, that can also be found throughout the city, include Abs Workout,  Dancercise, Stretching and Toning, Zumba, and Body Sculpting and are offered all day and into the evening five days a week.

The listing on the website link below does not display the classes that are independent of Shape Up NYC, so I suggest that you contact the location of your choice to request a fitness schedule.  http://www.nycgovparks.org/programs/recreation/shape-up-nyc

I love the view of Poe Cottage.