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School Related Links | Web Projects | Professional Interests | Theatre | Music | Television | Movies | Other Links
Well, in case you're interested in some of the sites that I visit for information and other random sites that are related to my life, you've come to the right place (now, why you would even come here to begin with, I haven't a clue!). I do not consider this to be an exhaustive list of what is useful out on the Net (nor will I ever be able to compile such a list...go ahead, you try on your own), as some things may seem pointless to you but great to me (and vice versa) and you probably have come across these sites at some point in your web-browsing life (remember the WWW only really blossomed a little bit over 9 years ago and here we are today with so much stuff and crap out there). Anyway, here we go:
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My Brooklyn Tech Page - My little tribute to the one of the best high schools in the United States. I did not have your "typical" high school experience (whatever that means) but still loved the school and the teachers who prepared me for college and beyond.
Official Site of Brooklyn Technical High School - The official web presence of one of the three specialized science high schools in New York City (and arguably the most interesting and one with the most alumni pride).
Cornell University - Located in scenic Ithaca, NY (a small town in its own little world), Cornell was my undergraduate institution where I spent four torturous yet enjoyable years. This particular link is for the CU Info Page, the default page for computers connected to the Cornell Network and IMHO, a much better site (faster loading, more organized) than the other page, as it looks like they're not trying to sell you something.
Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences - One of the seven colleges of Cornell University. This is the college that I was officially enrolled in, although some of my friends may state that I was really a closet student of the College of Human Ecology.
Columbia University - The Official Site of the Big Ivy League Behemoth that hosted my most recent former academic institution (yes Columbia does have one of these, even though it's away from the main campus)...
Columbia University School of Social Work - I attended this fine institution from 1999-2001 to learn how to more effectively try to help people in need. Overall, I received a basic understanding of social work principles, which realistically is what can be expected in just 2 years of graduate school. The point is that now I can continue to enhance my knowledge base and skills through the jobs I have in this sometimes under respected profession.
Sex and Aging - Web resources that deal with sexuality in the older adult population. This site was created as part of a related presentation for my Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) course in Spring 2000.
Hospice and Medicare - A site created for my Health, Mental Health and Disabilities course during Fall 2000 to discuss and evaluate a federal legislation. My group and I decided to pick the legislation that made hospice a permanent benefit under Medicare.
Professional Interests and Other Affiliations:
National Association of Social Workers - The national site of the main professional organization for social workers. Includes links to the various state chapters and The Code of Ethics that I follow (or is it more like interpret?) in my social work practice.
AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps - What can I say about AmeriCorps, the program where I spent 10 months involved in a variety of community service projects? Well, let's say that this program has a ton of potential to be a great way where young adults can get involved in community service. I only hope that AmeriCorps will still exist in some form for a long, long time.
Last Acts - A well developed site that discusses and advocates for improving caring for end of life.
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization - The largest nonprofit membership organization representing hospice and palliative care programs and professionals in the United States. The organization is committed to improving end of life care and expanding access to hospice care with the goal of profoundly enhancing quality of life for people dying in America and their loved ones.
National Alliance for Caregiving - Dedicated to the support of family caregivers of the elderly and the professionals who serve them.
I am a HUGE fan of musicals and more recently have been developing a taste for plays. Ever since I saw my first Broadway musical in 1990 (a revival of Gypsy with Tyne Daly as Mama Rose), I have been hooked. I like to see a show at least once or twice a year as a treat to myself. I have seen a number of musicals (Les Mis, Miss Saigon, Phantom, Rent, Tommy) several times. The Music Man was one of the first movie musicals I saw on video and I like to attribute Robert Preston's engaging Harold Hill for initiating my love of musicals.
PlayBill - The site for the latest theatre news. The site also has special "Members Only" offers with discounts to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows as well as restaurants and hotel (Membership is free).
Les Miserables - My favorite non-American musical ever (I have seen it at least seven times) despite what other people may think about it.
Stephen Sondheim - I honestly love most of Sondheim's musicals that I have seen (yes, even Passion). His music and lyrics are witty and mesmerizing at the same time. My favorite musicals by my Sondheim include Into the Woods and Assassins.
Kander & Ebb - John Kander and Fred Ebb are just an amazing songwriting team. I think I have seen more of their musicals live (Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Cabaret) than Mr. Sondheim's.
Urinetown - A very original and amusing parody of almost every musical ever created, this musical with the very strange name is very well written and amazingly good.
The Producers - Who knew that Mel Brooks was a natural Broadway composer and lyricist? Well, this old-time sounding musical comedy is fresh and funny. If you can get tickets, you won't be disappointed.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch - A great rock musical that features powerful songs and a touching story about a fallen rock star who suffered a botched up sex change operation. This musical is just pure beauty. I saw the musical twice Off-Broadway and am just in love with the movie.
Avenue Q - It's a musical that features a closeted gay Republican, furry monsters, songs about Internet Porn and Mix Tapes, Naked Puppet Sex!TM and Gary Coleman. What is there not to like? This definitely makes you think a bit differently about Sesame Street.
Theater Development Fund - This not-for-profit organization provides support for performing arts in New York City as well as educational programming to expose theater to students to broaden their horizons. The organization also runs the TKTS discount booths in Times Square and Downtown Manhattan, offering same-day discount tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway performances.
My musical tastes have varied over the years but overall it's pretty diverse. I listen to pretty much anything aside from rap and heavy metal. My favorite classical pieces are Beethoven's Violin Concerto (I learned from my high school English teacher, Mr. Greenberg, that he only wrote one) and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. I'm still a HUGE fan of 80s music (as cheesy as it may be) but have an alternative folk bent in what I tend to listen to now. The following are some of my favorite musical artists (and a couple of music-related sites that I frequent)...
Billy Joel - Billy still is my favorite artist hands down. I grew up listening to his music and love most every one of his songs. Lyrics such as "Sing us a song, you're the piano man..." can really brighten up my day.
Tori Amos - Mesmerizing lyrics and melodies coupled with a powerful yet sometimes haunting voice just make this singer/songwriter one of the best in her field. Not much compares to Tori.
Dar Williams - Charlotte from AmeriCorps introduced me to Dar's music by letting hear the songs Iowa and As Cool As I Am from her album Mortal City. I was intrigued and listened to the rest of the CD and then have been hooked ever since. I have probably seen Dar in some form of a concert more times than any other artist (I think its been about 10 or so at my last count) and I never get tired of her gee-tar and poetic verses. I guess that makes me an obsessed Dar fan, huh? A frequent visit for me is the fan e-mail list that is archived at the Dar-List Archives, which has exposed me to several amazing generously kind Dar fans and rest of the folk music scene.
Indigo Girls - I only recently (relative to how long they have been having albums) have been introduced to their music and I am really impressed. Emily and Amy have amazing voices and their songs resonate so strongly with me. Ghost and Least Complicated are my favorites.
Moxy Früvous - Another pleasure that I was recently exposed to during the 2000 Clearwater Revival (a mighty fine festival of music that I highly recommend...also just as awesome if not better is the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in Hillsdale, NY - the happiest place on Earth). Their music could be described as a cross between They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies with more politicized lyrics or as their own brand of stylish dance happy music with some sentimental sweet tunes. The four guys in the band (and they're cute!) are multi-instrument talented and give great energetic unique shows.
FruHead Dot Com (a.k.a. FHDC) - Fruhead.com is not just a site for fans of Moxy Früvous, it's a community of awesome people scattered throughout the world. I have met several friendly and welcoming people from this site and have interacted with tons more on-line. It's pretty nice to find a place where you can meet people that share some common interests but there are also enough diverse tastes where you can be exposed to new things (both music-related and not) and have random conversations spanning a wide range of topics. I drop in nearly everyday to say hello and chat.
R.E.M. - This solid alternative-ish band has been a favorite of mine for several years. Thanks Dom for introducing me to their earlier music.
Squirrel Nut Zippers - One of the defining bands of the neo-swing movement (I think I'm making up this genre), SNZ has sock-hopping tunes and quirky eclectic lyrics that make me wanna dance.
Eddie From Ohio - I briefly heard this band during the 1999 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival but did not pay much attention, as I was really there for contra dancing, Ani DiFranco, and Cry Cry Cry. But alas, I listened to some of their music off of Napster and became more curious. Then I saw them in concert in March 2001 and was blown away. Eddie From Ohio is a folk-rock band from Virginia (but they do have a guy named Eddie who is an awesome percussionist). The band is really close and it shows in their whimsical harmonies and tight vocals. They are now my "can't miss" band whenever they roll into New York City (I even skipped a Dar Williams show to see them one night...*gasp*!).
Da Vinci's Notebook - I first saw these guy at Makor in January 2002 at a co-bill with Robbie Schaefer of Eddie From Ohio fame. Oh my gosh, they had me rolling off the floor laughing until it hurt. DVN is an a cappella "Man Band" with witty and somewhat raunchy songs in beautiful harmonies. My favorite song of theirs is "Title of This Song" which aims to be the Ultimate Boy-Band Power Ballad, deconstructed into its elements. They're a rooting hoot to see live.
Kris Delmhorst - After seeing her open for Dar Williams three times, I became an instant fan of her music. She has a soothing voice with elements of folk and bluegrass that is able to light up a room. She also plays a mean fiddle.
Nerissa & Katryna Nields - This sister duo used to be part of a band known simply as The Nields. They sadly disbanded, but we were fortunately left with the lead vocalists whose harmonies sound really sweet. Nerissa writes most of the songs they sing but Katryna has taken to writing her own songs particularly cute ones about her baby daughter's toys and pants.
Susan Werner - I first saw Susan Werner during an ungodly hot day in July 2001 at the base of the Twin Towers. I was amused by her facial expressions and intrigued by her ability to play both guitar and piano, each with distinct sounds (folkish-rock on guitar and more loungy-jazz piano). I enjoy watching her play both. She is a very versatile and talented singer-songwriter who really seems to have fun while she is performing in front of an audience.
Cadence Carroll - I first saw Cadence play just 2 songs at the Emerging Artist's Showcase in Falcon Ridge 2002 and immediately went out and bought her CD in the merch tent. The second time I saw her perform was at the Little Red Lighthouse Festival (of The Little Red Lighthouse and The Great Gray Bridge fame...sadly most of my friends have absolutely no clue what I'm talking about when I reference this children's story). This talented singer-songwriter plays both the guitar and the djembe, and creates beautiful, catchy, poetic tunes.
We're About 9 - Another fortuitous discovery for me at the Emerging Artist's Showcase at Falcon Ridge 2002. The trio of Brian Gundersdorf, Katie Graybeal, and Pat Klink (two guys and a girl) come together to sing beautiful three-part harmonies that meld together with such emotion. Their songwriting is witty and flowing with vivid imagery. They were the most requested artist of the showcase for good reason and were brought back to FRFF 2003, where I caught enough glimpses of them to remain interested and curious. They completely wowed me a few days after FRFF 2003 in a concert at Makor. And from there, I was a fan. Fellow Dar-Lister and Edhead, Grey Frey, started a Yahoo Group for fans (and curious listeners) of the group (So go forth and join! :).
Girlyman - Yet another group that I first heard at the Falcon Ridge 2002 Emerging Artist's Showcase. This group is another trio featuring the lovely Doris Muramatsu, Tammy Greenstein, and Nate Borofsky (that's two girls and a guy, for those who are keeping count...so they're girly and there's a man, who also just happens to be girly!) and they have some great potential in the future with their delicious vocals, diverse musical stylings, and fun songwriting.
Peter Mulvey - At the recommendation of several Fruheads (especially Andrea), I decided to buy one of Peter's CDs (The Touble with Poets, in case you wanted to know) and gave it a listen. I was intrigued by his insightful songs and his raspy voice. I then went to see him live at The Mercury Lounge and was totally overwhelmed with his guitar playing. Add the voice and the emotionally deep songs that he writes and this guy is astounding. Plus, he's pretty good looking too(but that's another story). He also sings a bunch of covers, including The Ocean by Dar Williams, and interprets each one beautifully.
Russell Wolff - Another Fruhead highly and repeatedly recommended this guy (Hello Andy World!) and I bought his CD at Falcon Ridge 2003. He's has some great songs, some funny, some serious, others strangely odd (in a good way), but he sings with heart and has a pretty nice voice to boot. He has a very rambly mind that tends to wander all over the place, making for a very amusing show. Definitely one of the better independent college-folk arist (did I just make up another genre?) out there.
The Mammals - I became acquainted with The Mammals through Emilie, a contra dance friend, who also happens to be a Fruhead (Fruheads are some of the nicest folk you'll ever meet, well most of them, anyway). The band features Ruth Ungar (daughter of Jay Ungar), Tao Rodriguez-Seeger (grandson of Pete Seeger), and Michael Merenda (an awesome solo singer-songwriter) playing a mix of original songs and fun arrangements of traditional songs. They are just so tip tappity and make you just want to dance. In fact, they played a contra dance in NYC recently and just bought the house down. Trad is definitely Rad.
Crooked Still - This group was one of those amazing Falcon Ridge discoveries of 2004 in an otherwise "more of the same" type of year. The band plays an infectious mix of traditional and recent bluegrass songs. The lead singer, Aoife O'Donovan has such a mesmerizing voice and the cello player, Rushad Eggleston, is a maniac, playing what are traditionally fiddle parts on the massive cello. I defintely recommend checking them out and hope they make their way to New York City sometime soon.
Pollstar - A very useful source for finding information on concerts (search by artist, venue, or city). Sure the information can be inaccurate at times, but it is very extensive and something that I use often to see which artists are touring and how close they will be playing to where I currently live so I can fantasize about taking road trips.
Musi-Cal - Another happy resource for finding concerts. This one tends to has a decent focus on independent or less than mainstream artists.
For better or worse, TV has been an integral part of my entire life, from watching old reruns of the original Star Trek series and CHIPs to the now canceled, but fantastic Now and Again and Law and Order, from Different Strokes (remember all those "special episodes"...i.e. with Nancy Reagan or kidnapping?) to the smart Malcom in the Middle and the now less funny Friends (I don't know why I watch that show anymore). I consider myself a fairly knowledgeable person of TV trivia, particularly shows from the late 70s to the early 90s. My TV viewing hours have been limited the past few years due to school and other random activities (hey, I might just have a smidgen of a social life...yay!). But here are four shows that I still watch(ed) religiously and a couple of TV related sites that I frequent:
The Simpsons - After over eleven years on television, The Simpsons is not as funny as it used to be but it still is up there in terms of quality comedy television. The references, wacky plot lines, Moe pulling out a shotgun...who could ask for anything more? It is one of my all time favorite shows and I recall times where I just sprouted random Simpsons quotes with Dom in particular. Unfortunately, my Simpsons knowledge has been waning in my old age and also due to the fact that not many people I know appreciate the Simpsons as much as I do. Luckily, there is one person at Columbia that is just as obsessed as I am (Hi Keely), so maybe the Simpsons part of my brain can redevelop. Also, thanks to Jeanne for buying me the Homer Simpson slippers. They're really comfy!
Sports Night - For the two short years that this sitcom was on, it was one of my favorites. The writing by Aaron Sorkin was dynamic and sharp. The show overall was fast-paced, smart, and refreshingly did not have a laugh track in the majority of the episodes. ABC clearly did not give much support for this show, taking it away during sweeps periods. This has definitely made me dislike this network that has such "quality" programming as "Two Guys and A Girl" and "Norm." What were these people thinking? I guess the rest of the television viewing audience was not ready for Sports Night.
The West Wing - Well, at least one of Aaron Sorkin's babies is still on the air for now on a nicer network (NBC). The West Wing is an awesome show. If only the REAL president was President Bartlet. The country would be a much more interesting and happier place (especially given the current state of affairs). This show is always a must-see for me and an hour where I should not be interrupted (unless you're watching the show with me).
The X-Files - Despite some weak episodes during the 1999-2000 season, it's still one of the better sci-fi shows out there. But all good things must come to an end, as the 2001-2002 season will be its last.
TeeVee - These self-proclaimed Vidiots are more obsessed about television than I am and that is scary. Nevertheless, I admire their harsh sarcasm in their pieces about the current state of television.
Television Without Pity - a.k.a. The site formerly known as Mighty Big TV, Television without Pity recaps each hour long drama and some of the better half-hour sitcoms on TV today in all it's nitty gritty detail. Plus, there is some crass, somewhat humorous, occasionally pompous, commentary that accompanies each recap/review making for a delicious catching up feast when you missed an episode of your favorite show or want to follow a show without physically having to watch it.
Here are some other TV shows that I have recently become interested in watching and have been starting to grow on me. My options have been expanded recently through the magical world of DirecTV, which has opened me up to new call letters such as HBO, TLC, and SHO. Also, my 9-5 Monday-Friday job with nothing to do afterwards, leaves me vulnerable to TV's glowing hypnotic presence. It's quite scary. Fortunately, due to the lack of quality programming on these 100+ channels, it has only "slightly" altered my viewing habits (what's the next step after addiction?):
Trading Spaces - Yes, I admit that I have jumped on the bandwagon of this show. I mean who would have thought that having two sets of people redecorate a room in each others' home in two days could be so exciting and filled with drama. But, there's just so much of it. There's conflict that the designer and the duo have when they don't see eye to eye about a slip cover. There's the "crap, I'm out of paint and don't have any money left" tension as the group races to finish the room. All of this leads to the dramatic climax of revealing the finished room to the original duo, as they gasp in shock, scream in joy, and yes, even cry in horror over the whirlwind that just blew over their house. It's really that much fun!
Undeclared - Okay, so I never really had this type of hilarious hi-jinxes of college experiences that these guys and gals do at their college, but it's a very funny show and I can relate to the characters in a strange way. Maybe you had to go away for college to understand, but Undeclared is definitely another under appreciated show that deserves a chance to reach out to a broader audience. Unfortunately, this show was just badly executed and ill-promoted by FOX, which aired episodes out of sequence and didn't even seem to care. Sadly, it now rests in the canceled sitcom graveyard.
Smallville - What would happen if Superman was a teenager growing up today. Well, he would be madly in love with a girl who is just out of reach while trying to save his small town from the mysterious powers that people get from being exposed to strange green-glowing meteor rocks. Oh, and throw in the cheesy foreshadowing references to all the Superman movies. It's the ultimate cross-genre show...a mix between Dawson's Creek, the X-Files, and My Secret Identity (well maybe not the last one so much...does anyone besides me remember that show?). Will Clark hook up with Lana or Chloe? Can Clark stop the guy who was hit by lightening and got his super-powers? Oh, and when will Lex and Clark have their falling out and become enemies or secret lovers? Fun for all.
Alias - Alright, I admit that this show stretches the realm of realty (and heck there are some pretty implausible sequences), but it's so much fun to watch. The quick "I don't know what just hit me" pace is enthralling while the plot lines are mostly unbelievable but well written and well acted. I think having two awesome theater vets in Ron Rifkin and Victor Garber contribute to this but also major kudos go to Jennifer Garner as Sydney for making it seem so convincing. Anyway, this is definitely one of the better comic-book escapist action dramas out there.
Queer as Folk, U.S. - This show is the one of two reasons right now that is keeping me from dropping these costly premium movie channels. I saw most of the first season in reruns and became hooked and not because of the nudity and sex scenes (shame on you!). There are some really great story lines about falling in love, not falling in love, and trying to maintain a relationship that give this show a soap-opera-ish feel but it also presents gays and lesbian in a positive way (despite some stereotypes but there is a self-awareness from the actors, producers and writers) and deals with various issues and struggles that sometimes transcend sexual orientation.
Six Feet Under - This is the other reason I still happen to have those pesky premium channels. I managed to catch this show in December 2001 during a mini-marathon and was amazed at how cool this show was. Sure, I would never had thought that a show about funeral directors would be down right funny and Six Feet Under isn't, but it not that far from it. I do like its unique brand of dark comedy and the richness of the characters, particularly the Fisher family (as dysfunctional as they are). Mainly, what I like is that the show presents an fascinating component of how the family copes with death/loss and work through their grief (or not, as the case by be). For the WHOLE season and not just one special two-part episode! Definitely a refreshing concept to see on television. Plus, Peter Krause (of Sports Night fame) and Rachel Griffiths make one of the best messed-up couples I've seen on television.
The Amazing Race - Okay, yes I admit that I am addicted to this reality show. The group dynamics that arise when trying to work as a duo in a field of 12 teams and spending nearly 2 months together racing around the world can be very interesting. Well, that's one way I justify to myself and others why I watch this show. Really, I find myself rooting for my favorite teams, holding my breath to see who staves off elimination, yelling at the TV screen at people who are whiny, and hissing loudly at teams that I just plain hate. It's a Wednesday night full of adrenaline-pumping suspense, fun, and excitement.
The price of going to a movie is now $10 in Manhattan, making me want to shriek in horror. I still go, but only for the sound or if it is a good quality film. I have to be more picky about the movies I'm seeing these days. My 10 favorite movies are (in no particular order and subject to changes in mood): Star Wars, The Shawshenk Redemption, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Contact, Star Trek II, The Graduate, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Breakfast Club, and Léon: The Professional. There are scores of other movies that are fabulous (Meet the Feebles not being one of them...and if you do know what I'm talking about, I feel for you), but they are too numerous to mention here and usually come up in casual conversation or wandering the aisles of a video store. I do have a random database in my brain of movie quotes and trivia that is slightly less impressive than television but it still is somewhat vast (alas, where does all the useful information relevant to my life and career go in my brain? Well, apparently it goes in one ear and out the other).
Internet Movie Database - The ultimate movie database out there. Search by title, people, quotes, and characters, among others.
SoundtrackNet - One of my favorite pastimes while watching movies is listening to the movie score and trying to figure out which composer wrote the music. I'm sort of a fan of various composers, and have several movie scores in my CD collection. Composers tend to bring in elements from their previous scores (i.e. plagiarize from themselves), which makes it a bit fun to identify who wrote the music to a particular movie. John Williams, perhaps the granddaddy of composers, tends to do this with every one of his recent movies...creating a distinct sound that it his repeated over and over again. One of my favorite movie composers is...
Danny Elfman - His compilation disc "Music for a Darkened Theater" was my first CD that I purchased way back in 1990. He was part of the 80s group Oingo Boingo and has composed such films as Batman, Beetlejuice, Scrooged, Mission Impossible, Sleepy Hollow, and Men in Black. His greatest work IMHO is A Nightmare Before Christmas, in which he wrote both music and lyrics, and even sang in the lovely stop-motion animated film directed by Tim Burton.
Other Sites I Visit Often (or recommend)
NYTimes.com - One of the most notable newspapers in the world, the NY Times is a daily read (well, when I have time) and a beginning of the week escape from reality with its famed crossword puzzles.
Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) - The umbrella organization that runs New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, and Long Island Rail Road. Since I ride the subway practically every day, this is a vital resource. Plus, growing up in New York City, I became fascinated with every aspect of subway systems and trains in general (from the actual travel to the architecture of the stations). For a historical perspective on the New York City Subway System check out this neat site at www.nycsubway.org.
London Underground - The "Tube" is the oldest mass transit rail system in the world and also one of the most loved and hated systems (hey, that sounds familiar!). What can I say, I'm fascinated with mass transit systems and enjoyed riding The Underground while I visited London. In partnership with Transport for London, public transportation in London is very well covered.
Slate.com - This site has commentary and opinions on current events and provides a decent summary of the lead headlines in the major U.S. daily newspapers.
The Skinny Magazine - A online literary magazine founded, maintained, and edited by one of my co-workers, Jeremy. Mainly, it's full of random rants and interviews from various emerging writers covering various issues from love to real estates, but most of them are interesting and fun to read. Give them a try, you may be pleasantly surprised and unlike Salon.Com, they don't charge you a premium to read their articles.
US College Hockey - Hockey, specifically college hockey, is the only other sport outside of baseball that I really follow to some extent (and actually know most of the rules!). Since Columbia does not have a Division I team (and it probably would not be that good either), I'm still a big fan of the Cornell Big Red Hockey Team.
Entertainment Weekly - What can I say? It's my weekly magazine for the latest news in the entertainment world. It's my second bible.
Michael Moore - A modern day muckraker, Michael Moore attempts to point out the truth in what is happening to the corporate controlled world that we live in today. Love his work.
The Nation - A weekly magazine with a very left bent but presents articles and viewpoints that are not typically found in the mainstream print media (I'm probably blacklisted for life now by subscribing to such a commie rag!).
WFUV - Public Radio from Fordham University. Great radio station for folk, Celtic, big band, and less than mainstream artists. It's just an awesome station but I wish I had a clear reception to it. Maybe I'll move more towards the Bronx one day.
Thirteen - This link is for one of the local PBS stations in the New York City Area of which I am a proud supporter. Support your local PBS station if you have some money you can donate. They produce some really great quality programming.
Poetry.com - Search for poets, poems, or write your own poem. There is a daily Poetry in Motion contest a la Magnetic Poetry where you could win $100 a day. Thank you Day for introducing me to this site.
Clearwater - This environmental non-profit operates a Hudson River Sloop replica that provides education programs on the Hudson River. In addition, there is an advocacy component that is fighting to preserve the beauty of the Hudson. One of its current challenges is trying to fight for the removal of PCBs that were dumped into the River by General Electric from the early 1930s to the late-1960s or so.
Scenic Hudson - Another environmental advocacy organization that is dedicated to "protecting the Hudson Valley's Environment town by town." The non-profit also coordinates education programs as well as maintaining its own set of parks and preserves throughout the Hudson. I worked with this great organization on one of my AmeriCorps projects to help coordinate The Great River Sweep - A Hudson River wide trash clean-up effort. In 2000, over 45 tons of trash was removed along the shorelines. Please visit the site if you are interested in volunteering for this and other worthy river causes.
CD*NY - One of the things that I have had the pleasure to partake in the last couple of years is contra dancing. Contra Dancing is pretty similar to square dancing, except your sets are two parallel lines instead of 4 couples. It was yet another thing that I was introduced to through AmeriCorps. I had the pleasure of trying it for the first time in 1999 at Falcon Ridge, in which I had a fun time not knowing what the heck I was doing. A few more dances and a couple of years later, I now can say that I know what I'm doing most of the time but still have fun making mistakes. Country Dance*New York has contra dances every Saturday from Fall to Spring.
