Underserved Youth Find Serenity Within Artistic Safe Haven

Tayllor Johnson, 22, has performed many pieces of spoken word at the White House, yet, nothing beats the feeling that engulfed her as she stepped foot onto the stage of the Nuyorican Poets Café. “This is the Nuyorican Poets café, so it’s a pretty big deal to be performing in this space for me,” said […]

Think Coffee Thinks Ahead

NEW YORK – “We hitchhiked across Honduras in freight trucks overnight,” said Noah Welch, 25, Director of Coffee and International Projects at Think Coffee. This was the first of many trips that Welch would take internationally to inspect the quality of coffee used in Think Coffee stores, seven in New York City and five in […]

East Village Organizations Work to Preserve Traditional Theater

La Plaza Cultural Community Garden, a community garden and non-profit organization in the heart of the East Village, hosts free events for people of all ages throughout the spring and summer to cultivate culture and a sense of community. In July, Tale Told Productions used the garden space to perform their interpretation of William Shakespeare’s […]

Wait, Let Me Post That

With Social-media-capable smartphones in so many pockets, many companies are using Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat not only to interact with their customer base, but as a marketing tool to promote their brand and increase their sales. “We use Instagram for customers to find out about promotions and new tea tastings,” said Gina Gillim, 36, […]

Should Food Trucks Have a Grade?

With summer in session, food trucks are working long days with long lines. While food trucks provide food in a quick and affordable manner, the safety of of their food has come into question. The issue of whether or not food trucks should be governed under the same letter-grading system as restaurants or not has […]

The Bowery Mission Makes A Dent In The Homeless Community

The bright red doors of The Bowery Mission in New York’s East Village offer a gateway to a new life for homeless in the area. Men and women between the ages of 25 and 60 visit the site on Bowery and Prince Street that not only offers food and shelter, but also provides clothing, showers, […]

Some LGBT New Yorkers Feel Detached From Marriage Equality Success

The director of a local LGBT homeless relief organization, who advocates for LGBT rights, found herself unimpressed by the Supreme Court’s marriage equality ruling in June. Although many Americans are celebrating the decision that allows same-sex couples to marry across the United States, there are some who believe there is still a lot of work […]

Barnard Changes Policy to Admit Transgender Women

In fall 2015, Barnard will become the latest member of the prestigious “Seven Sisters” colleges to admit and enroll transgender students.

Previously, Barnard had no admissions policy specifically addressing transgender women. However, after a year of deliberation, Barnard enacted a policy June 3, 2015 stating that a transgender applicant can attend if they identify as a woman. Reactions among members of the Barnard community were mixed.

A Fresh New Trend in Food

The decrease of unhealthy fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s has steadily met with the increase of healthier food chains. Fresh & Co has gained popularity among New Yorkers through its health-centered menu. It opened 13 stores across New York City between 2010 and 2015 — the newest of which opened in July. In fact, […]

Street Performers: It’s Not Just About the Money

Street performances allow for artists to express themselves freely. Street performers have been a part of New York City’s street culture since the 19th century; a culture that is immersed in the everyday life of a New Yorker. Whether it’s singing on the streets, dancing in the subway or playing drums in the park, street […]

Story time in the Park

In a world filled with iPods, iPads and laptops, seeing enjoying books is a rare site. But last Thursday, several dozen young children could be seen enjoying books in Union Square Park. The gathering was part of the “Summer in the Square” series of events held in New York’s Union Square. This year the Strand bookstore partnered with […]

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Rafael Poleo has a problem. Every morning as he gets dressed for work, he has trouble finding a well-fitting shirt that he can wear with a tie. “Big neck, big neck,” he said. Poleo hoped the Stantt pop-up store on Lexington Avenue in Midtown would offer him a solution. The online men’s dress shirt company was […]

Theater Company Celebrates Mandela Day

On Saturday, July 18th the National Black Theater in Harlem, New York performed a two-hour play chronicling Nelson Mandela’s life in honor of the city’s first ever Nelson Mandela Day. Nelson Mandela Day was created to pay tribute to the iconic South African leader, who fought against apartheid and encouraged people across the world to […]

Gender Neutral Bathrooms Are In Effect

  At “The Center,” a meeting place for LGBTQ people in Greenwich Village, gender neutral bathrooms are already a reality. However, outside of this community meeting place, many trans people feel isolated because they have been restricted to only using bathrooms that reflect their biological gender. Destiny Elizabeth, who was biologically born a woman but […]

Body Painters Celebrate Self Love

Motivated by a desire to promote self love, more than 100 nude models and 75 artists gathered in New York’s Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on July 18th to participate in the second annual New York City Bodypainting Day. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R0zE3DLsOY[/youtube] “I feel that all bodies are beautiful; it doesn’t matter how big you are, how small you are, what […]

Rhodes Less Traveled

A Saxophone Player on Performing and the Love of Music A busker is a person who performs in public spaces for money—but let it be known that saxophone player Dusty Rhodes is not simply a busker. “I don’t consider myself a busker; you know, I don’t know what the f*&% that shit is anyway,” says Dusty, never […]

Dia de Reyes: Afro-Cuban Workshop

A handful of children of all races and ages dance off-beat along with their parents to the sound of four men, dressed in white, beating their drums as they sit on benches in Madison Square Park. The scene was part of the first ever Dia de Reyes celebration on July 18th, a free, public Afro-Cuban […]

Community Members Fight for Gardens

 In the middle of New York City, on the corner of 9th street and Avenue B exists a garden oasis, filled with chickens, turtles, frogs and small fish swimming peacefully in a pond. Next to the pond, are rows of growing vegetables, including collard greens and pumpkins. Murals cover the walls and benches line the corners. This garden, […]

Protesters Mark One Year Since Eric Garner’s Death

On Friday, July 17, 2015 about two dozen family, friends, and supporters gathered in Staten Island to mark the one-year anniversary of Eric Garner’s controversial death and to rally against police brutality. Although Eric Garner was black, most of those who gathered at the scene of his death were not black and voiced support for […]

For The Love Of The Game

“The Cage” is a famous basketball court in New York’s West Village, known for its fierce play and competitive summer tournaments. This summer a team representing the Kings Bridge section of the Bronx is attracting a lot of attention not only because of their winning play on the court, but because of their two coaches – a […]