Times Square has been dubbed "the crossroads of the world" and popular folklore suggests that ‘if you stand in Times Square long enough the whole world will pass you by’. In recent years, the cultural hub and world icon had become so popular that the sidewalks were too crowded and there was an overall lack of space for pedestrians. Taking a cue from many European cities, Traffic Commissioner Janet Sadik Khan plans to reclaim various areas of New York from cars for ... Read More

The new Acropolis museum was completed in 2008 and it has been open to the public since June of 2009. Greece had been planning this opening since the Olympic games of 2004, but due to archeological discoveries on the site which required careful attention, the museum opening had been delayed. The museum was designed by Bernard Tschumi, an internationally acclaimed architect who resides in New York City. It's a vast improvement over the facility that was previously displaying some of the Acropolis artifacts. The old ... Read More

The exciting annual event “Open House New York ” is taking place this weekend, October 10th and 11th. Hundreds of notable buildings across the city open their doors, allowing people to enter places that are normally closed to the public. This is a chance to see such beautiful spaces as the lobby of the Chrysler building or the Grand Lodge of Masons on 23rd street, along with hundreds of other architectural masterpieces. This event is modeled after similar events that take place in cities ... Read More

I'm so lucky to have attended the state luncheon at the United Nations that was hosted by President Barack Obama... Now that the inauguration is over it will be extremely important to keep the pressure on him to ensure that he actually follows through on the promises he made during his campaign. We must keep issues like a robust public health care option, ending the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and human rights issues at the forefront of the conversation. Writing letters ... Read More

The New Island Festival: Dutch Art on a Rediscovered Island This is the last weekend to experience the new island festival. It's taking place on Governor's Island, which is located smack in the middle of the New York harbor.  The festival is part of the celebration called NY400, which commemorates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage from Amsterdam to New York harbor. Not long after Hudson's historic voyage, in 1624, the first settlers from Holland landed right here, on what was then known ... Read More

The little island with the big attitude As the summer in northern countries draws to a close, there's still plenty of time for jet-setters to get some great beach time...heading to the Mediterranean in September means the resort towns are still enjoying great weather, but the crowds of Europeans on summer holiday have headed back to their cities. For sizzling summer fun, Mykonos is in a league of its own. The sun splashed little Greek island attracts people from all over the world for it's ... Read More

Acclaimed architect Frank Gehry has designed a spectacular new skyscraper that's currently rising in downtown Manhattan.  Located near the Brooklyn Bridge just south of Pace University, it's been named the Beekman Tower and will be Frank Gehry's tallest project to date. Topping off at 76 floors, it will surpass the Trump World Tower to become the tallest residential building in New York City. Unlike many of Ghery's projects done in a deconstructivist style, this tower follows the stepped back form of traditional new ... Read More

Ivete Sangalo is one of the biggest stars in Brazil. She's known for her powerful voice, charisma and exuberant live performances. Currently, she's Brazil's most popular female singer based on her CD and DVD sales: In 2004 Ivete recorded a live album with MTV which earned huge sales, the second best-selling album of 2004 in Brazil. The companion DVD, which featured live footage of her huge concert held at the Fonte Nova stadium, was certified Triple Diamond, selling over 600,000 copies, and is ... Read More

Last night I watched the film 'Entre Les Murs', directed by Laurent Cantet. This is a side of France most Americans have never seen. It takes place in the classroom of a rough Paris High School, a world apart from the chic areas of central Paris where tourists spend most of their time. In the class of dedicated teacher Mr. Marin, social tension between different cultures unfolds through quick dialogue. The students are from places such as China, Morocco, Mali and Tunisia. The teacher ... Read More

I went to Barcelona and was really amazed by the colorful mosaics of Antonio Gaudí. I loved the free and organic feeling of it all, a fairy-tale aesthetic. At Parc Güell, one of his most famous projects, vibrant mosaics cover many of the structures such as columns, benches, and sculptures. The multicolored salamander fountain is one that leaves an impression on every visitor. I wanted to get video footage but was stuck with my cheapo camera...that didn't stop me. In fact, when I ... Read More

Traveling is always exciting, but especially in a place like New York City, where inspiration pours out of practically every corner. One of the destinations you must check out is Grand Central Terminal, through which thousands of people from all over the world pass each day. Built in the 1903, Grand Central Terminal has more international visitors than any other New York historical landmark. Although I'm usually anxious to get home after a long days work, I recently decided to take a moment ... Read More

Last Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Despite having excessive rain over the last few weeks, hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the parade in New York City. The weather turned out just fine, it wasn't extremely hot, but the sun peeked its sleepy head out a couple of times during the day for the event. It's one of the largest celebrations in the world with people of every race, creed and socio-economic background represented. The parade ... Read More