Posts Tagged ‘art’

  Rehearsal in action! Josh Armstrong (left), Eric Dahl (center), Steve Hyltons (Right).  Photo by: Jena Cumbo It’s the perfect, hot, sunny beach day — yet fifteen dedicated actors, some from Rockaway and others from afar, head up the stairs to the small rehearsal space at the Knights of Columbus on Beach 90th Street, as they have been for months. The scene: discipline and dedication, with laughter and serious tone scattered throughout the hours. Sword fights! Stops and starts, iced matcha, tension over creative, 5-inch tan, sparkly high heels, and drama twirled into the […]

I saw a picture of the cutest cupcake liner flowers floating around and thought it would be a nice thing to give my Mother. Mom doesn’t like real flowers—her classic line is, “They smell like funerals.” Fair enough. So I figured these cheerful little paper blooms would be perfect for her Mother’s Day card, which will be exploding with Lotto Scratch-Off tickets. And as you know, I can never resist a project that uses what I already have lying around the house. Turns out, those leftover cupcake liners from 2 […]

I was in the dollar store when I spotted a package of white paper doilies—I love them! They remind me of the Valentine’s Day cards I used to make for my mother and father in grammar school. If you fold a doily in half and cut an angled edge at the bottom, it forms a heart. Or you can find heart-shaped doilies, too. Layer construction paper and ribbon, glitter, and maybe even collage. The lacy texture feels tender and lovely—it’s wonderfully nostalgic and a personal way to tell someone you […]

Last week in my class at Rockaplay Social Club, we had a blast building snowpeople! The idea sparked when Emily Arikian’s son Harrison saw packaging peanuts at his home, he said, “Let’s make a snowman!” Recycled materials are always first thought for me (and Harrison!) when creating art. Keep costs down and our eco footprint low.  As I was planning and gathering the rest of the materials for the sensory craft project, I wondered, “How long have humans had the urge to build snowmen?” The answer? A very long time. The […]

The Rockaplay Social Club opened last week—congratulations to co-owners Emily Arikian and Corinne Sommer! As moms, career professionals, Arverne residents, and founders of this women-owned and operated space, they’ve created something truly special with a much-needed children’s play center on the peninsula. Like many of us, I’ve been following their build-out journey on Instagram (@rockaplaysocialclub). The design and branding are spot-on, and the play space is absolutely adorable, featuring a bodega, an ocean-themed cubby, a construction play zone, and more! Here’s a great idea, support Rockaplay and give an awesome gift to […]

Suspended Banana and Other Fruit Over the summer, I’ve made many jello sculptures and performed unmoldings! My most successful thus far was a clear vegan fruit jello for a 70’s themed event. What made it stand out? It held together! I’ve been doubling my recipe, which strengthens the carrageenan—the thickening agent derived from red seaweed I often use. It tasted decent! I’ll take “ok,” considering my past attempts were… well, kind of gross. On the aesthetic side, this sculpture was set in a bundt pan for a very retro 70’s […]

“The wild color warblers of spring and fall, the shorebirds of summer, the waders for waterfowl or birds of prey on a winter day? Our year-round residents, or regular or rare visitors? How about birds photographed right here on Beach 91st — from bay to beach to backyard, street tree to jetty — all year long, something to see. Untangling the songs, tuning in: a moving leaf, a new sound, a distinct shape in the sky. A rhythm of arrivals and the departures — certain or shifting — charting time, […]

I didn’t know what Meddle Juice was when I first heard about it through the Rockaway internet grapevine this past winter. All I knew was that I needed to show up at this newish venue called the Rose Den on Beach 116th Street – on a Monday night. And so I did. And so it all became clear. Meddle Juice was the secret ingredient to creative survival I needed to immerse my senses in, to sustain my being through the cold, lingering Rockaway winter. To keep the beat flourishing, Meddle Juice creator, […]

I just returned from the Villa Roma. This is an old-school resort where mostly Italian people from Brooklyn and Lawng Islanders gather to eat mountains of food, gamble, generally indulge, and most importantly, spend time with la familia. My Grandfather Ralph found the place and we had gone a few times when I was a tween. My sisters had the idea of going back, and we have reintroduced the tradition since my godson Jake was three years old. He’s turning 18 on March 23rd! My nieces, nephews, sisters, husbands, and parents adore […]

The inception of this project was formed a year ago during the Thanksgiving season. It wasn’t a single, pivotal moment that gave rise to the vision of Butter Village. Instead, what remains vivid in my memory is a collection of moments and experiences that played a role in molding the concept of the Christmas village: I saw a carved, butter turkey in Stop & Shop. I remember picking it up and looking at it for several minutes. It resonated with me. At this time I was working on an intense 2 1/2 […]