new york

AWNY Launches Meet & Greet!

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Interested in joining Australian Women in New York, but not sure how to get involved? Nervous about not knowing anyone? AWNY is a non-profit organization established to provide Australian women in New York a network to tap into. We are launching a new program called ‘Meet & Greet.’ 

The AWNY network receives lots of requests for advice about New York City, and every circumstance is a different. Meet & Greet gives you, as a new arrival to NYC, a friendly face to ask for advice, as well as a personal introduction to our network. Through Meet & Greet, one of our AWNY members will connect with you directly.

Contact us at AWNYconnect@aaanyc.org with a little information about yourself and what you’re interested in finding out more about (kids, career networking, food or music, etc.). This will help us match you up with one of our members, an Australian woman who has experienced what it is like to transition and navigate this city. Whether you’re new to the city or you just want more information about AWNY or simply are looking to meet other fellow Aussies, rest assured, your AWNY member through Meet & Greet will help you out! AWNY is here to help make your transition a little easier.

Come along to the launch of ‘Meet & Greet’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Friday September 22, 5.30pm for summer cocktails on the roof, overlooking Manhattan skyline. And wander around the just opened “On Country” Exhibition of Australian Aboriginal Art

Event details

Date: Friday, September 22

Time: 5.30pm on the roof – bar closes at 8pm

Location: Cantor Roof Garden Bar at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, Manhattan, New York 10028. Access the rooftop on the Fifth floor via the elevator in the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts galleries.

Cost: Admission fee to the museum, plus cash bar for your own drinks. The museum has a suggested admission fee, but visitors are free to pay what they wish.

How to find us: Look for Cara in a blue dress near the entrance.

RSVP: Let us know you are coming on our Facebook event page.

If this is your first event and you would like to connect with our Event Co-ordinator beforehand, please feel free to email Cara Zelas –cara@worldoflittledude.com

Any prospective member who attends drinks at the Met will have access to the Meet & Greet program. We look forward to welcoming everyone as we launch Meet & Greet at the Met!

See you there!

What’s On in New York, July 2017

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We do hope your July 4th weekend is packing a punch so far. With some luck you’ve got today off work to make it an extra long weekend, and you’ve packed up the framily (friends+family=framily) and headed beach-side, lake-side, mountain-side or city-side with a drink in one hand and a sarnie in the other.

There is something unique about long weekends in New York, probably because we get relatively few of them. And when you’ve got a quiet moment, have a squizz at AWNY’s pick of events for July in New York, this weekend and beyond.

Enjoy! – The AWNY Communications Team

Strong stomach? Then Nathan’s 2017 Hotdog Eating Contest is on July 4th at Coney Island (at Nathan’s flagship store). It runs from 10am-2pm. Last year’s winner gulped 70 hotdogs in 10 minutes. Gross, but quite something to see. Plus, one of our own AWNY Committee Members, Tanya McCaw is on the judging panel!

If you’re anywhere near the east river on the night of the 4th, then don’t miss the Macy’s Day fireworks, scheduled to kick off about 9.20PM. They will be set off along the East River, with the best viewing points between Midtown and the South Street Seaport district. As always, get there early to grab a good spot.

The annual AAA Westpac Summer Cruise is on July 20th and tickets are on sale now for this fun event. Cruise the East and Hudson Rivers, sip cocktails, nibble fare from The Australian Hotel. Purchase your tickets and get all event info here.

AWNY’s July event is ‘Greekalicious,’ an intimate book talk with award winning chef and author Maria Bernardis. Ticket price of $35 includes light refreshments and a copy of Maria’s book, ‘My Greek Family Table.’ Visit the event page on the AAA website to secure your ticket.

The New York Musical Festival runs throughout July and there’s an incredible line up of performances to see at various locations around the city. This link has a calendar of all events, dates, and locations – hopefully there’s a show near you!

Get out and see a movie during the Summer Movie Series that runs throughout July on the flight deck at the Intrepid Museum. Tickets are free (first in best dressed set up) and if you’re a member of museum you get priority admission but as you’ll be sitting atop the aircraft-carrier-turned-museum there’s good visibility from all spots.

Governors Island! Get there in July. You can visit on your own schedule for a leisurely picnic and bike ride or for one of the fun events throughout July, including City of Water Day on July 15,  Come Out & Play on July 21 and 22 or the Poetry Festival on July 29 and 30.

Tame Impala, Vance Joy, Solange, and Nine Inch Nails are just some of the highlights at the Panorama Music Festival, Randall’s Island, on July 28-30. See the line up here and view ticket package options here.

Warm Up 2017 is MoMA PS1’s outdoor music festival and runs throughout July and August, and showcases the best in live and electronic music. Melbournians Superconscious Records perform on July 29. Note MoMA PS1 is in Long Island City, directions, info, line up all here.

Pic credit: Joanna Hishon

What’s On in New York, June 2017

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Our monthly events list often leads with the fun happenings from the AWNY committee but June has quite a highlight. One of AWNY’s most popular events is the ‘Working in the USA’ careers advice evening. You’ll learn top tips for job searching, seeking out networking opportunities, optimizing your resume for the US market, and listen to the job search experiences of other New York based Aussies. The event is led by our President Belinda Jackson (Prosell international). The tickets for this event go quickly and space is limited to secure your spot!

We also have our Annual AWNY picnic on this month (June 24th in Central Park) and a great list of fun things to do in New York as we had into the steamy months of summer.

Enjoy!

June means Jazz in New York City and it’s definitely the month to get to one of the 100 performances at the Blue Note Jazz Festival (various venues). You’re guaranteed great music and performances run throughout June. Schedule, locations, tix available here.

Free Summer Movies start June 2 at various locations around the 5 boroughs. There’s mix of pics to delight all ages. A schedule of movies, dates and locations is found on the NYC Park website. All the movies are free.

The Human Rights Watch Film Festival simply has to be included on our June What’s On list. The organizers encourage the addressing of Human Rights Issues in the films selected for the festival, and unsurprisingly there is a broad list presented this year. The festival runs from June 9-18 at with showing at either the Lincoln Center or IFC Center. Details and tickets available here.

June also sees the commencement of the SummerStage series, free outdoor concerts at various locations around the city, that run into September. Elvis Costello, The Metropolitan Opera, and Freedom Party are highlights for June.  This link provides a view of everything happening in June. Expand to to see the entire SummerStage series.

Fifth Avenue goes car free (well, for 23 blocks) on June 13 for the Museum Mile Evening, commencing at 6pm. All the museums along the stretch of fifth dubbed ‘Museum Mile’ are free and there will be live music to entertain you as you hop between them. Schedule and details available here.

Working in the USA Event is on June 14th at the Australian Consulate. Polish your resume, learn great networking tips, interview skills and job seeking advice. If you’re currently looking for a new role, or even thinking about starting a job search in New York, then don’t miss this event. It’s one of our most popular events each year, so make sure you secure a spot!  Tickets available through the AWNY Facebook event page.

USA Father’s Day is June 18! If you’re celebrating and need options, there’s this Jazz brunch cruise, the Father’s day scavenger hunt, Smorgasburg, or check out Open Table and book a table somewhere fancy or fun.

This month’s Generation Women event brings together Australian author and AWNY Member Georgia Clark, along with 4 other notable women from different generations to read and share their perspectives on a theme. This month’s theme: my first time saying no. The event is on June 21st and tickets are a very reasonable $25, available through this link.

Take advantage of the totally free Concerts in the Park series and listen to the New York Philharmonic orchestra on one of 5 performances between June 13-18 at various locations around the city. Information and schedules available here.

The Annual AWNY Picnic in the Park is on June 21st. We’ll be there from 2pm – 4pm for bring the whole family, plus any visitors you have in town, and enjoy a great afternoon with your Australian friends. We’ll have games and face painting to entertain the kids, please bring your own picnic lunch. For more info, visit the AWNY Facebook event page.

Photo credit: Joanna Hishon

ANZAC Day in NYC, 2017

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Written by Alex Eggerking

 

We Aussies in New York may find ourselves far from home, but there are many ways to come together here for ANZAC Day. April 25th is a day to reflect on the meaning and impact of war, and to remember those Australians and New Zealanders who have given their lives, and those who have served: some we may know; many we never will.

This ANZAC Day 2017 we continue to commemorate the ANZAC Centenary, a period of time that marks 100 years since our involvement in the First World War. Here are a few of the ANZAC events in and around New York for you to take part in:

Sunday, April 23rd

Sunday Service, hosted by the New Zealand and Australian Consuls General

2017’s Sunday Service is hosted by the New Zealand and Australian Consuls General, Beatrice Faumuina, ONZM and Nick Minchin. It is a limited entry, ballot event, and the ballot has unfortunately closed for this year.

If you were lucky enough to secure tickets to this event, the details are below. For those who missed out but still want to commemorate ANZAC Day in a formal way, we recommend heading to the dawn service on Tuesday, April 25th (see below). 

Date and time: Sunday, April 23rd, from 10:30am to midday
Venue: ANZAC Memorial Garden, Level 7, British Empire Building, Rockefeller Center, 620 Fifth Avenue, New York City (entry on south side of West 50th Street)
Access: Photo ID required as condition of entry, bags may be searched
RSVP: RSVPs have unfortunately closed for this event but you can join the waitlist by email.

Afternoon drinks with the New York Magpies

Join the New York Magpies, NYC’s only Aussie Rules team, to celebrate Anzac Day in a private area at the Boat Basin – the perfect setting to enjoy a springtime afternoon of drinks on the Hudson. Proceeds will go to support the New York Magpies for their 20th season.

Date and time: Sunday, April 23rd, from 2pm
Venue: the Boat Basin (W 79th St, New York)
Cost: $10 entry per person.
RSVP: here

 

Tuesday, April 25th

ANZAC Dawn Service

We highly recommend the beautiful Dawn service at the Vietnam Veterans Plaza (55 Water Street, New York). The service is open to the public, and no RSVP is required. The service begins at 5.45am, and suggested arrival time is 5.30am, as it does get crowded.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 25th, from 5.30am for a 5.45am start
Venue: Vietnam Veterans Plaza (55 Water Street, btwn Broad Street and Old Slip, New York)
RSVP: none required

 

Coffee and ANZAC Biscuits after the Dawn Service

Both of Bluestone Lane’s FiDi locations (30 Broad St and 90 Water St) will be opening earlier than usual, from 6:30am, to cater to those attending the Dawn Service. Perfect for your morning coffee, lamington or ANZAC biscuit, both are located only a few minutes’ walk from Vietnam Veterans Plaza, where the Dawn Service is being held.

 

The Australian

Celebrate ANZAC Day in New York at The Australian. Drop in for breakfast from 8am, stay to play 2-Up at 2pm, live music from 5pm, and all-day AFL and NRL replays.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 25th, from 8am
Venue: The Australian (20 W 38th St, New York)
RSVP: If you want to be sure of a spot to sit, make a table reservation through the website 

 

Drinks with the Aussie Meetup group at Benson’s NYC

Join members of the Aussie Meetup group (for Australians in New York) to commemorate ANZAC Day at Benson’s, with Aussie tunes, Coopers on tap, a sausage sizzle and ANZAC biscuits.

Date and time: Tuesday, April 25th, from 7pm
Venue: Benson’s NYC (181 Essex St (corner of Houston St), New York)
RSVP: by joining the Aussie Meetup group

 

Saturday, April 29

ANZAC Day Commemorative Service, New England

The American Australian Association and Kia Ora New England invite members and friends to attend ANZAC Day 2017. Reception to follow, where guests are invited to bring a plate to share.

Date and time: Saturday, April 29th, 10am
Venue: Harvard-Epworth United Methodist Church, 1555 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
RSVP: Register here to assist with numbers   

 

Have you heard about something we haven’t?

Let us know (via email, or on Facebook) of any other ANZAC Day events happening in and around NY this year, and we’ll help spread the word.

Event Review: Act like a New Yorker

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DSC_1561Written by Kate Lee, Workshop moderator and AWNY Committee member

As I walked through Times Square to the rehearsal studio for our AWNY workshop, I got that NYC buzz – a heady mix of excitement and wonder as I make sure I don’t tread on or brush against anything that will make me want to burn my clothes later.  
Our studio space was small. It had scuffed walls and hadn’t been swept for perhaps a decade. I peeped into the spacious, airy room next door. The one with the polished floor and windows on two sides. I thought we’d booked this one. The large one with room enough for 15 people? No, you booked 703. Oh. Grit and grind of New York indeed. I arranged the space and put slips of paper on the table by the door. These were for people to write the challenges they’ve experienced in this city. I should have written, ‘separated by a common language.’ Later, I would use these slips for our improvisations. As people began to arrive, the familiarity of the accent, the sense of humor and that sun-shine-like Australian openness lit-up the room. It awes me all the time, the stories of women in New York. From one- to twenty-plus-years living here, each of us had different why’s, who’s and how’s of being in this city.
The workshop began by orientating ourselves in the space and to each other. Classic drama games such as mirroring and molding our bodies are great for this. The aim is to turn off the analytical brain and ‘tune’ ourselves to our own reactions as well as those who are in the room. We then created a series of tableaux that reflected images and feelings of New York life – finances, dating, confidence and speaking up at work. We then moved into the main activities known as Image Theater and Forum Theater. These processes come from a very well-known Brazilian practitioner called Augusto Boal. His ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’ is famous for its ‘spect-actor’ – the notion that the spectator is not a passive observer of the dramatic action. Rather, they become active participants by co-creating, directing and changing the outcomes. This means anyone can join an improvisation and try out different ways of getting what they want.
There is never a straight, nor clear outcome in these processes. In seeing one’s situation enacted in front of them, not only is a person’s feelings validated, but also the group becomes an active mechanism in supporting their process of addressing the challenge. Rather than thinking through a problem, participants get to physically see – and embody – solutions and new ways of being. There are no answers, but the rich discussions that follow draw from the collective knowledge of the group and remind us that we are not alone.
Act Like a New Yorker wasn’t about acting like a New Yorker. Rather, it was acknowledging the challenges that we, as Australians, encounter in this city. And by drawing from the experience of the group, we can see these challenges from a different perspective and perhaps find new ways of addressing them.

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