201 Street » Art & Culture

Grcic in Frankfurt

Brody — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:28:53 +0000

Visiting Frankfurt is always eye-opening. It has been one of the most influential centers of culture for years, and it saw some of the most remarkable minds of the 20th century living in its borders. The legacy of this time runs very deep, and for many new artists working here, the mantle is necessarily enormously heavy. It seems to make for great art, because it continues to be a place where some of the most exciting work in the world gets developed. The philosophy of the cultures here that make art, that is to say, the counter-culture in general, determines some of its decisions in how systems and structures should be run. This makes for some very exciting collaborations, and ways of conceiving work are always at the cutting edge.

Staying here is a uniquely splendid experience. There is a sense of hospitality here that is genuine and exceptional, and there seems to be a conscious effort to always be stylish, and always enjoy the possibilities of the moment. This certainly extends to the Frankfurt am Main hotels, where hospitality can be practiced without any kinds of pretense that it is anything else. It’s lovely to wake up here, refreshed, and ready to enjoy some splendid meals, and take in some of the many attractions here. Lucky travelers might happen to be in town when Tamara Grcic is mounting a new exhibition.

This artist works in a variety of media, and one of her most prominent forms in the global art world is sculpture. She was born in Munich, and now makes Frankfurt her home, with occasional side trips to New York City. She might be considered a mid-career artist, but the work always seems fresh and engaging. Her Gaggiandre at the Venice Biennale this past year has caused another wave of excitement over this very prolific artist’s body of work. She did some of her schooling in Vienna, which interestingly further strengthens the already deep connections between these two cities.

Grcic in Frankfurt is a post from: 201 Street

New York’s Legendary Music Box Theatre

Brody — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:08:51 +0000

Irving Berlin and Sam H. Harris were friends. Harris was a producer and in 1919 he told Berlin that if he could write a show, a musical revue, that Harris would find a Berlin a theatre to do it in. Irving Berlin went and wrote and composed and what he came back with was “The Music Box Revue”. True to his word, Harris built a theatre in 1920, at 239 W 45th Street, and named the theatre for the revue, The Music Box Theatre. When the show opened in September of 1921, it as well as the theatre was a hit. The run was four years, and every year Berlin wrote new editions.

After that, the theatre ran musicals, but began to run straight up drama and comedy plays. Many famous actors and distinguished and notable playwrights have worked with the Music Box over the years. In the 1940′s and 50′s Mike Todd directed the show Star and Garter. The music was composed by Irving Berlin and the star of the show was Gypsy Rose Lee. I Remember Mama was produced by Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1944, and in the cast was a young actor making his Broadway debut, Marlon Brando.

This tradition has continued and many people have found that traveling to the city and finding the perfect boutique hotel in New York just around the corner, heading for dinner, and then heading to the show, is a great way to experience the not only the theatre, but the history of the theatre and of Manhattan as well. So much of the history of the elements of New York, combine to make the whole. In New York, everything is connected, this is not so in many cities of the United States.

During the 1970′s and 1980′s, the plays and the shows were varied, from “The Homecoming” by Harold Pinter to the Sondheim musical revue “Side by Side”. In the 90′s the stage was graced by many actors such as Natasha Richardson and Julianne Moore in her Broadway debut, “The Vertical Hour”. There are constantly great shows and performances taking place at The Music Box, and whichever one you choose, you will not be disappointed.

New York’s Legendary Music Box Theatre is a post from: 201 Street

Baltimore’s Trockenesis

Brody — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:39:14 +0000

Baltimore has many exciting attractions that will surely put a smile on every visitor’s face. The city is rich with culture and shopping, and has a fascinating history. Visiting here is to see some of the heart of the East coast, discovering one of the oldest seaports in the U.S. Baltimore has a bit of everything, and something to offer everyone. There is a rich, urban culture here with some splendid traditions and experiments in visual and performing arts. With this appreciation for the finer touches in life, it is no surprise that in Baltimore, luxury hotels are also spectacular. We’ve selected our hotels for their excellence in style and service. You’ll fall asleep and wake up in absolutely splendor, our rooms decorated with a sophisticated elegance that will also make you feel elegant. And after a bit of rest, and perhaps a gorgeous meal served by our world-class chefs, it’s a good time to see the wonderful city.

The Inner Harbor is one of the most popular spots here, with excellent shopping, food, sight-seeing, and history. You might want to take a tour, or take in a museum or two, as you find your way around. People watching is fantastic here, as it is in so many of the cities on the East Coast, where people from all walks of life go about their busy days. It doesn’t take long, however, to see that Baltimore is a rather interesting place, with many cultures and subcultures co-existing, and it seems like something interesting is happening here. Check out the local clubs, and if you happen to see a band named Trockenesis, you’ll know that something is going on.

Their form is experimental, electronic music. They play acoustic instruments like bent saws and dry ice, a lot of percussion, and a bit of voice, too, to make a sound that is altogether otherworldly. They’re produced by Baltimore’s Ehse Records, an outfit that produces and promotes new styles in music, using all the latest technologies, so that the producers are as edgy as the artists, or at least coming close. The music may sound like a lot of noise, but after a few moments of close listening, and you realize that Trockenesis is made up of musicians who are really incredibly good. Their skill and innovation reinvent themselves in every song, and sometimes in multiple moments within the songs, taking the listeners on a fantastic journey. Hearing the recordings is very nice, but live is something else.

Baltimore’s Trockenesis is a post from: 201 Street

Two Tones in New York

Brody — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:35:46 +0000

I came to New York to participate in a weekend workshop that will teach me about Binaural tones or beats. Luckily, I managed to book a room at a New York cheap hotel that was not far from where the workshop was being held. I learned so much that I’ll be able to now offer my clients another healing and meditative alternative.

I learned that Binaual’s is an auditory process which perceptions arise in the brain independent of the physical stimuli. The brain which produces a phenomenon that results in a low-frequency pulsations in the loudness of a perceived sound when two tones at a slightly different frequency are played separately, one to each ear, using stereo headphones. I got to experience this first hand, and I must say, after just one session, I could tell a difference with how I felt and looked at my surroundings. A beating tone will be perceived by a person, as if the tow tones mixed naturally, out of the brain. The difference between the two tones and frequencies must be small, about 30 Hz for the effect to occur. If the two tones are heard separately, then no beat will be perceived.

The effect creates a brainwave synchronization or what’s known as the brainwave entrainment. It’s a practice that aims to cause brainwave frequency to fall in step with the periodic stimulus which has a frequency corresponding to the intended brain state, for example, to induce sleep. It depends upon a frequency following a response, a naturally occurring phenomenon where the human brain has a tendency to change its dominant EEG frequency towards the frequency of a dominant external stimulus. This stimulus will be aural and visual.

I was so amazed with the results that I ordered most of their CD’s that were created with he Atmosphere Dream Synch mode. The Atmosphere composition has been used in television like ‘Lost’ and in movies, like the ‘Bourn Ultimatum’ and ‘Transformers’. All my clients will now benefit from this form of meditation.

Two Tones in New York is a post from: 201 Street

Lynn Lu, Singapore Installation Artist

Brody — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:12:23 +0000

When you have arrangements for a boutique hotel in Singapore, then you know an adventure awaits you. Singapore is unique in the world, one of the only sovereign city-states on the planet, with a sense of style and culture that is entirely unique, and extremely connected to global vibrations. Our hotels are exquisitely detailed to offer an ambience that is relaxing and invigorating. With fantastic meals prepared by chefs schooled in contemporary techniques and classical tastes, and a host of other sumptuous extras, you are sure to find a sense of well-being rarely experienced, and the magic of Singapore will await you.

In Singapore, there is an enormous array of attractions and distractions to entertain every member of the family. From people watching to sight-seeing to tours, there are many fantastic ways to get to know the place. Even a cursory glance will reveal a bustling metropolis, where the locals are extremely hip on the latest trends, and there is an artistic sensibility running through everything. The visual arts are extremely important here, and Singapore has seen a boom in the past few decades. Singapore has a culture that supports excellence in artistic innovation, and some of the most interesting artists today come from here. Lynn Lu is an excellent example.

Born in 1974, she has a BFA from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, an MFA from the San Fransisco Art Institute, and is currently working on her doctoral thesis from the University of Newcastle in Australia. Her work is based in performance and installation, and her projects are extremely thought-provoking, and visually quite stunning. There is a sense of melancholy about her work, mixed with equal doses of humor and despair. There are also sharp cultural critiques at work here, and the sharpness of thought requires viewing the work first-hand. She has shown work at the Future of Imagination international performance art event, among many other venues all around the world.

Lynn Lu, Singapore Installation Artist is a post from: 201 Street

The Arrest of the Anti Corruption Leader in Nigeria

Brody — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:59:22 +0000

The well known Nigerian founder of the anti-corruption agency, the ANLC-Association Nigerienne de Lutte contre la Corruption, was arrested over the weekend as he traveled across the capital city of Nigeria. Maman Abou created the agency, known in English as the Niger Fight Against Corruption Association, was captured in the city of Niamey. Upon leaving the house of another member of his agency he was arrested by the Republican he was taken into custody by the Nigerian Republican Guard as he was switching taxi cabs.

Since Saturday, August 22, Maman has not been allowed to contact his lawyer, and he is being held without an explanation as to the charges that are alleged against him. He is a leading proponent in the idea of transparency in government affairs, which calls for ethical government practices and accountability of those politicians in regards to the their actions. He had recently attained the position of the Secretary General of a network of organizations that intend to preserve and protect Democracy, this during times when politically speaking, the country of Niger is in turmoil.

He wrote a letter to the president of the country, Mamadou Tandja last month, calling upon the president to respect the laws that are intended to safeguard the citizens of his country, to guarantee that due process of law and justice will reign, and that the institutions of democracy would further support the accountability and transparency policies. These policies have been enacted in many democratic countries, including the United States, as a way of ensuring honest and open and ethical practices among politicians specifically, but are put to use quite often in the business and financial sectors as well. Many protesters were arrested in Niger over the weekend, they were protesting the changes Tandja was putting forth to the country’s Constitution, however Maman had not been part of the protest.

The Arrest of the Anti Corruption Leader in Nigeria is a post from: 201 Street

Mumbai Documentaries and Short Films

Brody — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:18:27 +0000

When it comes to four-star hotels, Mumbai is a veritable feast. As one of the most exciting cities in the world, Mumbai has a fair share of excellent accommodations. Our hotels are extremely distinctive, offering a sumptuous blend of innovation and tradition, with all the latest in technologies and design, but not skimping on hospitality, and all the qualities that will make your stay memorable. Our hotels are carefully maintained with emphases placed on service and special features, to help relax the body and mind, and replenish the spirit. Mumbai is a dazzling array of cultures and traditions, and your stay here deserves a place of immaculate repose, so that you are refreshed to enjoy the many adventures to be had in the city.

As one of the longest continually-inhabited cities on the planet, Mumbai has always been a magnet for some of the best minds in the world. Artists and scientists alike are drawn to the city, pulled by the promises only a rich human energy can hold. There is an intoxicating rhythm here, one that even a brief stay can reveal. There are enormous distractions and entertainments, and the whole family will find something to love in Mumbai. If the film industry is among your interests, then this is a gold mine. Not only can one find movie stars and entertainers from all walks of life, there is a very sizable independent film culture. This is attested to by one of the more interesting film competitions, the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short, and Animation Films.

This competition gives a special place for the other categories of movie entertainment, and categories that are often too overlooked by the rest of the industry. The competition is open to anyone, will the call for entries posted in multiple locations around the world. There are several sections for the Mumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short, and Animation Films with categories for above and below 30 minutes, debut films, student films, animations, and short fiction films. This is an excellent opportunity to screen films that fall outside of the blockbuster categories, and taste some of the hidden treasures from the global film community.

Mumbai Documentaries and Short Films is a post from: 201 Street

Sangita Kathiwada and Bombay Spice

Brody — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:56:33 +0000

Traveling the world means sampling the best cuisines in the world’s greatest restaurants, and Bombay restaurants is certainly prepared to compete with any of them. As Indian food is among the world’s finest in terms of taste and sheer visual beauty, dining out here is absolute pleasure. Our restaurants sample the greatest of India’s cooking, from North to South, and demonstrate a stunning variety that will please every palate. Indian cooking has a long and fascinating history, much like the country itself. Where human habitation has such a long presence, one would expect the history of the food to mirror the history of the people. There are long traditions in culinary expertise here, where centuries of experimentation have led to a certain perfection in some recipes. Bombay also has an enormously diverse population, and this cosmopolitan setting gives rise to all sorts of innovations as well.

The curious diners will find themselves treated to a stunning blend of both innovation and tradition in our restaurants. Food here is never taken lightly, as it is the centerpiece for all kinds of social functions, both public and intimate. It is difficult, in fact, to look into any facet of life in Bombay without hearing about the food served. Celebrity stories center around ceremonies and festivities where food is at the center. One of Bombay’s premiere designers, Sangita Kathiwada often shows up at celebrity events where the cuisine is mentioned. It is sort of a cornerstone of celebrity culture as much as it is of the daily culture. This makes a good deal of sense when one considers that people look to celebrities for all sorts of cues to what the good life might consists of. Besides the work, and the usual trappings of fame, such as houses and cars, the eating habits of the rich and famous come to play a part in the cultural myths that are built around stardom.

Sangita Kathiwada has a working practice that enters the culinary realm in rather unexpected ways, as well. Her designs are shown all over the world, and she has started a non-profit that brings together rural artisans and urban designers. In the way that recipes are often combinations of cultures, regions, and peoples, the realm of design is often valued as much for variety as it is for its taste. Variety is a central feature of some of the best cuisines here, and one will find this reflected in our restaurants.

Sangita Kathiwada and Bombay Spice is a post from: 201 Street

Intriguing Goa India

Brody — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:26:57 +0000

What an intriguing place with a history nearly as long as any place on earth. Known history of the area goes as far back as the 3rd century BCE. This area was a part of the Mauyan Empire back in the day. The ruler of this region at this time was Satavahanans of Kolhapur a Buddhist emperor. From around 580 BCE to 750 BCE the region passed under the control of the Chalukya Dynasty, an Indian dynasty the covered a very large area of present day India. For many years after this dynasty the area went back and forth under the rule of the Delhi and the Sultanate. By 1370 the kingdom was loosing control of the area and the area went under Harlhara I of the Vijayanagara empire. This continued to the latter part of the 15th century. when the Bahmani sultans of Gulbarga governed the area. In 1510 Portuguese invaders gained control of the region this lead to the permanent settlement of Velha or Old Goa. Wars with neighboring rulers and the Portuguese continued for many years. The repressive religious policies of the Portuguese caused many to migrate from the area to Goans. In 1812 British began the occupation of Goa. In 1843 the capitol was moved to Panjim and by the middle of the 1800′s what is current day Goa was defined. It took until the British were out of India and the Indian army forced the Portuguese occupiers from Goa in 1961 that Goa came completely under control of India. Now it is India’s 25th state sitting on the Arabian sea with 5 star hotels Goa (http://5starhotelsgoa.com) with views of the ocean. Goa is 1430 sq miles most of Goa is part of a coastal area known as Konkan an escarpment coming up from the Western Ghats mountains that seperate it from the Deccan Plateau. It reaches an altitude of 3837 feet at Sonsogor. There are about 70 miles of coast line. Goa is a humid zone on the Arabian Sea it is hot and humid most of the year there. Most days are 95 degrees and the rainiest time of the year is early June. Winter is very short about mid-December to Feb. The nights go down to 68 degrees the days are about 85.

Intriguing Goa India is a post from: 201 Street

The Founding of Brisbane

Brody — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:03:02 +0000

Australia, the word itself evokes many images and feelings and they are usually connected to the charming accents, kangaroos and koala bears. Who hasn’t listened with delight as an Australian speaks with that easy rolling accent? And aren’t we all fascinated by the adorable koala bears? And what about the kangaroos with their little joeys in their pouches? But obviously there is much, much more to Australia than that. Take for example the city of Brisbane. Located in the southeast corner of the Australian State of Queensland, on the banks of the Brisbane River, it is Queensland’s capital. With over two million residents it is the largest city in this state and is the third largest city in all of Australia. The name came from Sir Thomas Brisbane who was New South Wales’ Governor from 1821-1825. During World War II, Brisbane was General Douglas Macarthur’s SW Pacific Headquarters.

If you have the pleasurable opportunity to visit Brisbane, you won’t be wondering what you can do. With so many local attractions to visit you will have a terrific time taking them all in. There are a couple old buildings you won’t want to miss touring. They were built in 1828 by convicted felons. One, The Windmill in Wickham Park was used for grinding grain but was also a punishment for the convicts, as they had to work the windmill. The other is The Old Commissariat Store on William Street, which was the grainhouse. It was later used to house immigrants and also store records. Both buildings hold a lot of interesting history.

And of course you will be staying at any one of the wonderful hotels Brisbane has to offer. Your stay will be most enjoyable as you are pampered and spoiled by the friendly staff, love the accent, and don’t forget to check out the fabulous hotel restaurants for the savory cuisine. Australia, yes, the images and feelings that word evokes.

The Founding of Brisbane is a post from: 201 Street