#LocalNYC

[wormsinprocess]

Moving to New York Tips from Locals // Local Adventurer Ready to become a true New Yorker? Follow the advice of seasoned locals and dive into the mesmerizing world of NYC, one tip at a time.

[apexart-journal]

Tasha Dougé, Day 12

Today started bright and early with a Landmark Commission Public Hearing.  There were 10 locations on the agenda.  The first one was the Kimlau War Memorial.  The minute I heard the name, I was like I know that memorial.  It brought me right back to Day 4.  I got to hear more history about the memorial, but it was nice to hear people talk about the impact the memorial has on them.  I heard individual stories from people reflecting on how their families migrated to the States for the American Dream, while others shared how representation matters to them and how they show up in community.  If was clear that the  memorial’s presence impacts them and adds immense value to the community.  Now my memory of the that area is infused with their stories.  The Landmark Commission will convene again on June 15th to make a decision.  I hope it gets approved. 

Next, I was supposed to head over to the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging.  NYCares partners up with them to deliver meals to seniors.  I called to let them know I was running late, but I was informed that they already distributed all the food and didn’t need any more volunteers.  Dang that was quick.  I asked what was their schedule for delivering food.  I was told Tuesdays and Thursday.  I said thanks.  In my mind, I made a mental note to let Abbie know what happened and try to get this back on my schedule.  Sad I missed it, but the day still had much to offer me.  Next stop, Prospect Park.

I’ve been to Prospect Park a few times, but had no idea how nice the park was.  If I was going to an event, that was exactly what I did.  I would beeline my way to the event’s location, not paying any true attention to my surroundings.  Nor did I think to look up what was actually in the park.  So my trip today was a scavenger hunt to find the Camperdown Elm (tree) and the Quaker cemetery, all while staying open to whatever else I discovered.  Early on in my walk to these places, I walked under this gorgeous underpass.  I couldn’t help myself, I just had to take a pic.  I didn’t think it was possible, but I think walking through it was some sort of time travel because I look even younger.  Forty where? (Not in my face, but in my knees. lol)  The Camperdown Elm was located a few steps away from the underpass.  It looks like something out of a fairytale.  It gave me Chronicles of Narnia vibes.  Mr. Tumnus, are you there?  If you get the reference, know that I love you.  Anyhoo, the Camperdown Elm is special because its branches grow parallel to the ground.  Its branches are really do majestic.  I was definitely getting Ferngully vibes. (I love that movie! Avatar is like the people version to me.)  It was almost cut down, but through the efforts of an artist/poet, Marianne Moore, the elm was saved.  The poem she wrote about the tree is renowned.  Not to far from the elm is the boathouse. There was a bride getting professional pictures taken and I could see why.  Absolutely gorgeous!  I could have stayed by the water for much longer than I did.  I watched the momma swan and her babies, and the turtles sunbathing on a log further out.  The moment was serene and tranquil and much more.  Abbie called me back and we caught up.  We sorted everything out with my schedule for the remainder of my time.  Thursday, I would go deliver food to the seniors and Abbie said finally get to kayaking.  I mentioned since I had a gap in my schedule and the weather was clear, I would try today.  She said go for it.  I continued on my walk until I got to the Quaker cemetery.  It’s closed to the public and it made think that maybe they was silence in death as well.  Doesn’t look like there will be any music clubs happening here.  En route back to the train station, I passed by the boathouse again and you won’t believe what I saw.  A Black-crowned Night Heron!!!  You already know that I took a picture.  I immediately thought about Marlys and how she is going to love hearing about this.  For me to see this bird again (in a different park), what were the odds?  I just had to look up the symbolism of the heron.  Here are some clips of what I found:

  “Heron symbolism is important because the heron meaning refers to tranquility and stillness for us humans. We need to understand these two elements well if we wish to recognize the opportunities in life... Primarily, the bird is a symbol of beauty because it prospers and flourishes in the majestic realm where the land and shore dance in a symphony. The result is a wondrous spectacle. The marriage of the two elegant energies of water and land is included in the meaning of herons. The heron shows us the abundance of life in the sea, for when we see the peace, contentment, and tranquility that the heron finds at the edge of the waters, we are assured of the plethora of life present inside the waters.”

The link says so much more that resonates with this moment, where I am in my life and what the future holds for me.  God, Universe, Ancestors, Lwas and other deities, I hear you and I receive it.  Thank you Prospect Park.  Now I really want to go to the water.  Kayaking here I come.  Unfortunately, my excitement to be on the water was met with a closed gate.  How sway?  No rain and still no kayaking.  At least, I tried.  It was disappointing for sure.  I’ve kayaked on the Hudson before, but it was so long ago.  I was really looking forward to doing again.  The Sunset Mediation was exactly what I needed to settle this day.

Socrates is my park homie.  My sister actually moved to Astoria about 4 years ago.  Once she got her dog, we frequented the park more often.  However, never have I ever participated in mediation in the park.  There was a decent size group in the park.  As per the name, the sun was setting and that meant the temperature was dropping.  The facilitator had a mic, but they were barely audible.  To be honest, it didn’t matter because we were there to be still and mediate.  The coolness of the grass sent electricity through my body and then, there was calm.  My calm did get interrupted with some of the city sounds.  Yet, after the city listening exercise, I was able to incorporate some, not all, of the sounds into my mediation.  The session ends at the same time as the park, so with about 20 mins remaining, the park attendant started to announce that the park was closing soon.  He did so again 10 minutes later.  With the remaining time, the facilitator asked that we turn to our neighbors and chat for a bit through intros and reflections on how we went.  The folks next to me paired off really quickly, but two women called me over to join them.  There names were Morgan and Jenna.  They were nice folks from the neighborhood.  We shared what brought us to meditation.  I told about the residency, but not my art.  lol.  It was a good mini convo.  We left each other saying that we may see each other again.  Calm and coldish, I headed on my way and that was the end of my day.  

[vedazzlingac]

Just a reminder 💞! **************************************** #shoplocal #localnyc #supportsmallbusinesseveryday #supportsmallbusines #vedazzlingaccessories https://www.instagram.com/p/CD__t6JpbO8/?igshid=1h6qpmc3ob5ei

[sebastiengrey]

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B-52 cherry bomber Come by and toast to all military personnel with our Veterans Day cocktail. The B-52 is the most powerful bomber plane the US has ever produced. The B-52 has been in service since 1955 and has been strategic in every major military event until present day. We airdrop black cherries into the glass and deglaze the cherry shrapnel with the acidity of the cola. To offset the sweetness of the cherries we use GUS soda which isn't as sweet as regular soda and then heavy hand four roses bourbon. We hope to see you today, but if not then KMAGYOYO! Happy Veterans Day 🇺🇸🎗 #sebastiengrey #veteransday #veteran #america #whiskey #usa #fourhorsemen #fourroses #fourrosesbourbon #bourbon #menswear #mensweardaily #menswearfashion #local #shoplocal #localnyc #nyclocal #bespoke #gq #gqstyle #esquire #esquiremagazine #relix #relixmag #cocktail #friday #suits #style #mensfashion @gq @gqinsiderdaily @gq_guys @gqstyle @esquire @esquiregrooming @newyorkerphoto @newyorkermag @newyorkpulse @humansofny @nymag (at Sebastien Grey Clothiers)

[venusinorbit]

🎧 #WildThoughts 🎧 #WeekendVibes courtesy of @badgalriri @sacsix at #30x40 #Streeart show curated by @sr.lasso at @thelocalhostels LIC, Queens. Have a great weekend everyone! 💖😘✌️🌟😍👊 #rihanna #sacsix #localnyc #srlasso #streetartnyc #lic #queens (at The Local NYC)

[funwithbonus]

#Pinball at the hostel. 6 games. MUSTANG, MONOPOLY, CSI, XMEN,POTC,STPRO #GamersUnite #Arcade #itsnotaprison #LocalNYC #playlocationpinball #pinaholic

[elboqueronviajero]

Otro de los puentes preciosos de Brooklyn 😍 #brooklyn #nyc #autenticony #localnyc #newyorkcity #williamsburg #williamsburgbridge #nycbridge #igdaily (at Williamsburg Bridge)

[apexart-journal]

Tasha Dougé, Day 1

Where do I even begin?  Day 1 is off to a great start.  A sweet welcome note from Ann (previous fellow) and a warm greeting from Abbie in the space I will call home for the next two weeks. Here’s the run down:

- I learned about stone fruits.  Fruits that we eat that have seeds/pits aka stone in them.  I learned about peaches and plums, and how they got to this land. Two fun facts about peaches: 1) they are a member of the rose family and 2) they are a symbol of immortality and friendship. mentioned names of peaches and plums that I have never even heard of.  I also found out that there is a biodiversity library that speaks in even more depth.

- I took my first maiden voyage on a Circle Line Tour.  I know, I know.  I have lived in NYC all my life and haven’t been until now.  This is not to say that I don’t partake in all endless activities that NYC has to offer.  (Let’s not go down that tangent because that will be a whole other blog.)  I had to take a pic of the boat because a little known fact about me is that I was actually born in Corona, Queens.  My parents moved to The Bronx when I was three.  So I rep my borough #BronxAllDayEveryday.  The pic of the Intrepid may seem a bit out of place, but it is not.  Things related to space intrigue me.  With Gemini/Bday season starting today, it was all too fitting to take a picture of the Gemini 3 spacecraft.  What can I say?  The stars were in alignment.

- I attended a ASL SLAM hosted by the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.  This was a virtual event, but I would love to go to this live.  I have to admit that when I first logged on, I asked myself “where is the sound?”  I quickly autocorrected myself with a hearty DUH (insert slap forehead emoji).  ASL as in American Sign Language.  The reality is that I defaulted to what my body knows.  However, it didn’t me that I was open to what I witnessed.  I had no clue what some folks were saying, but the gestures were oh so familiar.  I have seen ASL in the past and it was very methodical.  There was none of that tonight.  I was being drawn in and I was here for all of it.  I found my body moving in harmony to some of the performers, guided by their hands and flowing with their spirits.  This was truly a reminder that we don’t need words to communicate.  Additionally, I walked away learning how to say rainbow, change and thank you in ASL.  

Day 1 down and 13 more to go.  I am running on 3 hours of sleep and I have an early start tomorrow.  So that means...Nite Nite and off to bed I go!

[vedazzlingac]

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood 💫💛🏖 ° ° ° Pick up your @hbbk2013 tote using code: BEACH for 20% all beach accessories •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #localbeach #localnyc #beachtotes #beachaccessories #funlooks #beachlife #lifeatthebeach #blackdesigner #blackdesigners #totes #happypeople #accessories #blackownedbusiness #nycboutique #luxurybeachtote #resortwear #resortaccessories #hbbk #vedazzlingaccessories (at Long Beach, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDtgM1Qp118/?igshid=tmtgdym69r05

[elboqueronviajero]

Siempre es una buena idea comer un #pretzel en #nuevayork #nyc #washingtonsquare #localnyc #soloennyc #thisisnyc #lovenyc #nyu #icapture_nyc #nycfood (at Washington Square Park)

[apexart-journal]

Tasha Dougé, Pre-Day 1

I can’t believe I’m moving in today.  I am ready, but I am not at the same time. Suitcase is open with nothing in it but my speaker.  Oh this is my life.  Yesterday was a busy day. Trip to the city to pick up a new planter, then a quick ride to take a pic in front of the building, then a curatorial panel, another train ride to the city to see the besties, and quick dash back to my apt to show my homegirl how to water my plants. Again this is my life.  Packing always happens late in the game, but I get it done. My heart, mind and soul are so ready to go!!    

[apexart-journal]

Ann Quintano in NYC, Day 13

Early morning headed out to “the Beautiful block” before day activities begin.This is what the tourist guide book calls it. Pretty block but rivaled elsewhere in the city. I did like seeing the building where Ash Can painter George Bellows lived. Pass Pete’s Tavern made famous by O. Henry (and where my sister and I had our first Moscow Mules!) Went through winding pathways of enormous Peter Stuyvesant Village to the Greenway which runs along the rivers and encircles the entire isle of Manhattan. Parts under construction but I did get to see the flowers planted for the Monarch butterfly migration and a unexpected make shift memorial for a mama duck who was found dead and because her chicks couldn’t survive without her they were euthanized. There was a candle and flowers at the site. I exited at 18th Street by a homeless encampment. There are more than 60,000 people who are homeless in one oft the richest cities in the world. As I headed back to join the Quaker Meeting (virtual) I passed one of the actual Friend’s meeting houses. The city coming awake now.

No preaching, no dogma, no confession of faith simply being present in silence to God, Holy Spirit, the Light however you choose to name. If anyone feels moved to speak during our hour’s silence, they briefly do when feeling prompted by the Light. After the hour concerns for others are held in the Light and new people are introduced and then a time for pertinent announcements. It was a rich quiet, calming, thoughtful and an unusual moment to share the silence with so many others. I’ll probably go back again.

Took L to Bedford and walked through North Williamsburg into South Williamsburg...from hipster to hasidim. Frieda is a warm, friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guide. To make it easy she had ear buds for all of us hooked up to her mic which helped a lot. It was less intrusive in the neighborhood...she didn’t have to yell. The Satmar Hasidic community was bustling shopping for flowers and sweet dairy treats with which to celebrate the holiday of Shavout: the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. There are some 100,000 Hasidim here. We learned a great deal about the culture. It was a fascinating tour and I highly recommend it. Frieda brought us to candy shop and bakery (Gottlieb for pastrami sandwiches closed early for the holiday) and there she treated us to bags of treats. We went to a playground to share some more and have Challah bread and cinnamon rolls.

I would have taken the ferry back but the South Williamsburg and Dumbo ferry are both not running for a while, so I walked back through the various flow of changes of people and buildings to the subway.

Tomorrow’s my last day. I’m feeling very sad. This has been an incredible experience that will take a long time to fully process and will be forever integrated into who I am. I can’t thank apexart enough. Bye for now...

[apexart-journal]

Tasha Dougé

From May 21 - June 4, apexart is pleased to welcome Tasha Dougé as a Local NYC Fellow.

Tasha Dougé is a Bronx-based, Haitian-infused artist, artivist and cultural vigilante. Her body of work activates conversations around women empowerment, health advocacy, sexual education, societal "norms," identity and Black community pride. Through conceptual art, teaching, and performance, Dougé devotedly strives to empower and to forge broad understanding of the contributions of Black people, declaring that her "voice is the first tool within my art arsenal."

For more information, please visit Tasha’s Fellowship Page.

[apexart-journal]

Tasha Dougé, Day 14

We made it!!  Day 14.  I definitely did a lot, but it still feels like it went by oh so fast.  Like many of the other days, the festivities started nice and early.  At the strike of 10am, I was plugged in and listening to Experiments in Opera.  They have an opera podcast called Aqua Net & Funyuns.  I listened to Beauty Shot Acts I, II & III.  To my surprise, I was cracking up.  At first, I was confused by what I was hearing.  Think SNL but in Opera voices.  I know, exactly what I was thinking.  By the time I got to Act II, I was sold and going with the flow.  Listening to someone talk about why they didn’t want their friend’s husband in an opera voice is my kind of quirky.  Now imagine them saying his breath smelled bad and he would fart too much.  It was a riot.  The opera-flavored shade was an added bonus.  Take my word for it.  Nothing like laughter to start my morning.  I’m up and feeling good.  Off to deliver some meals.

I made sure that I wasn’t going to be late.  There was no way I was going to miss this twice.  On time and ready to work, the distribution system was quite simple.  The manager of the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging took down my name, asked my mode of transportation and then shortly after, came back with a slip of paper with two names and addresses.  I was given two bags, one for each person, and then off on my merry way I went.  The location wasn’t too far at all.  It was a reminder that small gestures go a long way.  That part of the day ended fairly quickly.  Next on the agenda...kayaking.  

I know.  Why not give up on this?  Well, the first time the rain was pouring down.  The second time, the weather was warmer, but it was still overcast.  Today, I threw in the towel because they were closed AGAIN!   At least the last time, there was a kayak on the dock.  This time, it was completely barren!!   Simply put, I have no words.  Needless to say, I won’t be kayaking at Pier 84. 

Frustrated and annoyed, I was pleased to have an opportunity to sit.  I was instructed to visit Bella Abzug Park (at 36th & 10th).  While in the park, I listened to some of her speeches.  She was the daughter of Russian immigrants, Jewish, and a fellow Bronxite.  She was doing her own thang early in her life.  She was delivering speeches starting at 13.  She was passionate about activism and was a prominent leader in the women’s movement.  Her passion and intensity were very apparent in her speeches and it was inspiring.  I was given a prompt to reflect on while in the park.  It asked if I felt the park reflected her.  My answer is NO.  Surrounded by tall buildings and construction, it felt small and overlooked.  Nothing really spoke to her tenacity and flare.  Makes me wonder, if someone made a park after me, what would it look like?  Hmmmmm.

The time came to go back where it all started, the Circle Line Tour.  The difference was this time, I was seeing the city in the evening.  Interestingly enough, I was on the same boat and sat in the same seat as the first go around.  An unfortunate replay was that they weren’t going to head to The Bronx.  One word...RUDE.  Last time, the tide was too high.  This time, I had no clue.  At this point, I just rolled with the punches.  Before the boat fully left the dock, guess what?  One, two, then four and five...DROPS of rain!  Seriously, how many times does a girl have to get wet?  As it was coming down, I didn’t budge.  I conceded because the rain was obviously winning.  Eventually the rain stopped and the overcast skies darkened to become the hue of the familiar night sky.  The pause didn’t last long and the down pour returned and with that, I went indoors.  I took some last pictures for the Harbor Lights and said thank you my city.

[apexart-journal]

Tasha Dougé, Day 13

I can’t believe I have one more day left of this residency.  The same way, I can’t believe I am off to Jersey.  Haha, that made me laugh.  In all seriousness, I can’t recall the last time I was in Jersey.  I mean I drove through Jersey to get to Philly.  That obviously doesn’t count.  Yet, I am ready to give Jersey some Tasha love.  Too bad old habits and the MTA weren’t down for the plan.  As I was swiping to get in the subway, I saw that a train was coming.  I dashed past the turnstile and flew (this is subjective) down the stairs and with much relief, I smiled when the train doors closed.  That smile quickly turned upside down when I realized I was on an uptown train (old habits) instead of a downtown train.  The 4 is express and that means the next stop was 42nd, when I was only a stop away from Brooklyn Bridge.  I already knew that this was going to shift things, just didn’t know how much.  I get to 42nd, made the quick crossover and now I’m back on track.  I get to Brookfield Place ferry terminal (memories of Bday mini golf/Day 3), went to the window to buy my ticket to Paulus Hook only for the attendant to tell me that the last ferry was the one that was currently leaving the dock.  Ferries don’t resume until 4pm.  WHAT!!!  What did this mean?  Was my whole day up like the ferry horn?  Nooooo!  I guess the attendant sensed the internal dialogue that was going on in my head and offered me an alternative.  He told me there’s a yellow tugboat that goes to Jersey, which leaves at 10:45am.  Yes he did say tugboat.  The price is about the same, I would have to pay on board and that is was a 15 min walk from that stop to Paulus Hook.  I told him thank you and had to laugh.  This was just another example of my life. There had to be some sh*ts and giggles somewhere.  10:45 came and what docked was not a tugboat.  Lolz are warranted for the attendant’s exaggeration.  In less than 15 mins, I am in Jersey.  

My walk from Warren St to Paulus Hook was actually quite nice.  I came across a Korean War memorial.  I was surprised and excited to see Tanda Francis’ Adorn Me (2018) along the way.  I first saw her work at... Socrates Park!!!  It was a few years ago, but look at the serendipity of this moment.  I was just in Socrates last night.  Imma leave that right there.  I also had to pleasure of encountering a piece titled On Boundaries.  The artist is Marta Blair.  In this piece the artist “asks about the blended dynamics of borders themselves.  It intends to explore the duality at the very heart of the word ‘border.’  No front and back, no here and there, no good side versus bad side.  It’s rather a connecting element that emerges from that unexplored area between the two sides of things, pushing the idea behind a borderline and our multiple imaginary or real boundaries, whether they are voluntary or imposed, intangible or concrete, they determine our way to live and interact.”  I felt that piece was a nice and poignant accompaniment to my apexart journey and apexart’s mission (hence why I bolded unexplored area).  Like Jermaine Spivey said in the dance workshop, there are no mistakes.  There was a reason for me to take the yellow “tugboat.”  And that was made abundantly clear when I finally reached Paulus Hook.  It was absolutely lackluster.  The pier was blah and drab.  No vibrant colors or food trucks in site.  Just buildings.  Well God came through because I got to see two friends that I haven’t seen for over two years!  We had lunch, caught up and shared plenty laughs.  That was just what I needed and right on time for me to have my second session with Nancy.  It was another thoughtful and rich conversation.  I recapped my visit to the Church of Scientology and worship with the Quakers.  It was affirming to hear that Nancy was able to fully see me and my autonomy from my blog entries.  It truly was a pleasure having dialogue with a mental wellness professional.  Not only is this her line of work, she also understands artists.   Since it was so easy to share with her, I know that this will not be our last session.  I foreshadow friendly check-ins in our future. 

Unfortunately, the fermented ice cream & popsicle online class got canceled.  So my final destination shifted to a Boathouse Jam at the Gowanus Boathouse.  Sounded like a cool impromptu concert where folks could join in with their own instruments.  When I arrived, the musicians were gathered in a circle and jamming out.  I noticed the cello, violin, guitar, ukulele, and a harmonica.  I had no idea that you could rock out with a ukulele.  It was highly impressive. Nothing like a jam session to end the day.  Tomorrow, Day 14.