Spanish-American Institute

Student Club Newsletter

215 West 43 Street Times Square Manhattan, New York 10036-3913

voice: 212.840.7111 fax: 212.719.5922  www.sai2000.org  info@sai2000.org  VoIP internet phone: 166.84.191.135 student news groups:  news://166.84.191.133  library catalog:  http://166.84.191.133/m3

 

October, 2007

Vol. 3, No. 10

 

 

October in NYC October is a time to enjoy NYC special outdoor and indoor events and activities.

Like other Americans, New  Yorkers celebrate Halloween on October 31.  Halloween is not an official holiday.  Instead, it reflects ancient customs and religious traditions brought to the Americas by settlers from Europe. These customs and rituals probably included burning plants and sacrificing animals to the dead during the harvest season.  Such older pagan [heathen; not part of a major religion] customs and traditions probably later merged with the Roman Catholic celebration of All Hallows Eve.  [To “hallow” something is to sanctify it or make it sacred.]

  Halloween’s reference to ghosts, witches, bats, black cats, skeletons, evil creatures, and bloody sacrifices reflect ancient associations with the dead. These associations are also reflected in modern Halloween costumes and decorations. 

  While Halloween is mainly a children’s celebration in the United States, lots of adults like to participate too, like those who will join or observe the famous Greenwich Village Halloween Parade described below.   

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Greenwich Village Halloween Parade,

Wednesday, 10/31, starting at 7 pm. You are invited to the nation’s most creative public participatory event, the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade.  Join or watch!  100s of puppets, 53 bands, dancers, artists, and thousands of other New Yorkers in costumes of their own creation.

  Those in costume line-up to parade on 6th Ave., South of Spring St. or North of Canal St. between 6:30-8 pm. Watch live on 6th Ave. from Spring St. to 21st St. from 7-10 pm or on NY1 TV from 8-9:30 pm.   C/E train to Spring St.; A/C/E to Canal and walk uptown on 6th Ave. to Spring St.; N/R/W or 4/5/6 to Canal and walk west to 6th and then uptown to Spring. etc. 

 

October by Maurice Sendak

 

*Host—the person who invited others to his or her home, party, etc. Witchessomeone with magic powers, especially to do bad things.  Goblins—in children’s stories, small ugly creatures who trick people. Ghost—the spirit of a dead person that some think they can see.   

The poem is an example of a “nonsense” rhyme, a silly poem that still makes enough sense to be understood.

 

In October
I'll be host*
to witches*, goblins*,
and a ghost*
I'll serve them
chicken soup
on toast.
Whoopy once
whoopy twice
whoopy chicken soup with rice
.

 

Special Events Center Exhibits and Student Club Donation The Spanish-American Institute extends an invitation to our talented students and alumni to exhibit their work in the Founders Special Events Center (room 13).  Let any staff member know if you are interested.  Special thanks to Stanley Consuegura who exhibited this past Spring for his donation of a “boom box” for use in English classes. 

 

Jazz Concerts.  Like Jazz?  See the listing for JazzEZ’s Woodshed daily free Harlem jazz sessions starting October 11.  Check the school bulletin boards for postings of free jazz concerts by world-class music groups, faculty, and students associated with NYC’s three world-famous music schools—Julliard, Manhattan, and Mannes schools..  At Julliard, sit in on the Julliard Jazz Ensemble on October 1 at 8pm or the Julliard Jazz orchestra on October 13 at 8 pm At the Manhattan School of Music, listen to jazz by candlelight at Café Jazz with performances of student jazz combos on Monday nights at 7:30 on October 15, 25, and 30.   (See school bulletin boards for travel directions to both schools and free ticket information for Julliard concerts.  No tickets required for Manhattan School of Music.) 

Columbus mapColumbus Day, October 8 

Columbus Day, a national holiday, celebrates Christopher Columbus’ first landing in the “New World in 1492.  Columbus was trying to find a new route to the “Indies” by sailing westward from Spain. (At that time, Europeans often referred to all of Asia as the “Indies.”)  Asian countries were the European source of precious spices, gold, silk and other rare goods. Columbus landed instead in a previously unknown part of the world later called the “Americas.”  This began the era of world history when Europe colonized the New World.

 

October in New York—For Free

 

  October etc.—Free Museum Admissions and Free Concerts.  Check the school bulletin boards for listings of museums that are free certain times or all the time or for free concerts at NYC’s three world-famous music schools—Julliard, Manhattan, and Mannes.  

  October, etc.—See the Luxury exhibit at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Museum,  the “most fashionable” museum in NYC.  See how ideas of “luxury” changed in the West from the 18th Century to today. Tues.-Fri. noon to 8pm.  Sat. 101m-5pm.  7th Ave. @27th St.  1,9,C,E,F,V,N,R trains. 

  October --Flu Shots and Other Vaccinations.  NYC Department of Health has at least one free walk-in immunization clinic in each borough.  Get a free flu shot or other vaccinations.  Check the school bulletin boards for information as it becomes available.  

  October Tuesdays at 8pm, concerts at St. Peter’s Church.  The Church is besides the Citicorp Building on the comer of Lexington Ave. and 54th St. Walk from the school or take E,V to Lexington Ave. or 6 train to 51st St.   

  October 1, Mon. at 7pm.—Kota Dance Group mixes butoh, hip-hop, and ballet.  Reservations required @ 646/388-6682.  FIAF, 22 E. 60th St. between Park and Madison Ave. 

  October 6, Sat. at 2pm.  Myriam Gourfink dance performance.  Reservations required @ 646/388-6682.  FIAF, 22 E. 60th St. between Park and Madison Ave.

  October 7, Sun. 11am-4pm. Feast of St. Francis.  Visit NYC’s largest cathedral during this joyous celebration and procession of all animals great and small.  Tickets required for indoor service on first-come first-served basis beginning 9:15am.  Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 112th St. and Amsterdam Ave.  1 train to 110th St. and Broadway or C train to 110th and Central Park West and walk west to Amsterdam Ave.

  October 10, Weds., 5-9pm,  Monk at 90. Celebration of the music of Thelonious Monk, one of the greatest of all jazz musicians and founders of bebop.  World Financial Center Winter Garden.  See directions for October 25. 

  October 11 to Dec., daily 2-8pm. Live Cool JazzEZ’s Woodshed @Big Apple Jazz, 2236 7th Ave. (A.C. Powell Boulevard.  Jazz jams in an historic Harlem jazz district. 2/3/B/C trains to 135th St.        

  October 13-14, Sat.-Sun. Culture Fest  at Battery Park. Showcasing NYC performance companies, artists, museums, historic sites, gardens, and zoos with interactive booths, stage performance, and more.  See directions for Oct. 25. 

  October 17, Weds. 12:30 & 7 pm.  Philadelphia’s Koresh Dance Company dances to music of the 40s and 50s.  World Financial Center.  See directions for October 25. 

  October 23,Tues. 6-8pm.  Beading and Embroidery Workshop.  Explore the world of beads, feathers, embroidery, appliqué, etc.  Reservations required.  Call 212/217-4585 or e-mail:  museuminfo@fitnyc.edu.  Fashion Institute of Technology, E building, room E226, 2nd floor.  See directions under October “Luxury” exhibit, above. 

  October 25, Thurs. 12:30 & 7 pm, Surati for Performing Arts celebrates India’s autumn festivals with drama, music, and dance.  Winter Garden in the World Financial Center (WFC)—.  Any train to lower Manhattan:  A, C, J, M, Z, 2, 3, 4 or 5 to Fulton Street/Broadway-Nassau: Exit onto Fulton Street and walk west to Church St.; turn right and walk to Vesey St.; turn left and continue across West St. to the WFC. E to World Trade Center:  Exit onto Church Street and walk north to Vesey St.; turn left and continue across West St. to the WFC. R or W to City Hall:  Exit onto Broadway and walk south to Vesey St.; turn right and continue to the WFC. 1 to Rector Street:  Exit onto Greenwich Street and walk north to Liberty St.; turn left and continue to the WFC.