Went to see a concert version of opera. Very interesting German, Czech, Japanese and English based…read moreon so Franz Kafka letters. Nice venue for concert.

Excellent musical and museum programming when I was in NYC during Miroslav Konvalina's tenure…read more Excellent resource with numerous selections for all things Czech. I gained valuable contacts and tapped into a phenomenal community.

I visited Scandinavia House with my mom last weekend when we were in the neighborhood. I had just…read morereturned from a trip to Sweden and was curious about Scandinavia House. I enjoyed my visit, but I think it's important to note that this is less a museum than a cultural center. So it has a great cafe (Bjork Cafe & Bistro), a great gift shop (I picked up a modern take on the Dala horse), and a small gallery space (when we visited, the exhibit was "Nordic Echoes - Tradition in Contemporary Art"), which is free to visit. But it also hosts events - concerts, lectures, workshops, etc. So if you're looking for a quick visit, stop by for a quick visit to the gallery, the gift shop, and the cafe for drink, snack, or meal. But if you're interested in Scandinavian culture, check out this website for interesting events to attend!

I'm waxing poetics here but Scandinavia House is one of those gems that makes the city magical…read more I, quite literally, stumbled upon this place on my way to LES. Walking in, I must've looked visibly confused because the woman at the window called me over to describe the venue. I ended up perusing the first floor with its Nordic goods and picked up some Swedish candy, a few cookies and a macchiato for o go. There is a sit down cafe with Scandinavian fare, and art and movies to explore. Well worth a visit if you'd like something unique!

I've been to Japan Society a few times and have always had a great time! There's a small museum,…read moreand they also host different events. There's events I've been to have been film screenings. Most recently, I went to the USA east coast premiere of 100 meters and was impressed the director was there as a guest! The director was part of a live Q&A after the film and this was an epic experience. Highly recommend !!

I visited Japan Society for their curry celebration and discussion, and I'm so glad I went as this…read morewas my first time here, and it was such an eye-opening experience. I learned so much about curry's role in Asian culture, which was fascinating since I'm more familiar with curry in the Caribbean tradition. It was a great mix of education and food appreciation, and it made me want to explore more of what Japan Society has to offer.

This is a wonderful place to visit. They have different floors for a vaof events. Some are free ,…read morewome require rsvp and some amateur a cost. Best to check the website to plan ahead. You must have and show ID or passport ( tourists) to enter. There's usllay an art exhibition on tjebforst floor with moving art and that changes periodically. This visit was cooking class with Chef Kiran Kim , I wasn't taking the class but my friend was and I was helping her film and document the event. I'd recommend the cooking classes because I witnessed how organized and well orchestrated it was. Beginner friendly. On the culinary floor there's also a tea ceremony room . They have film events, kid's story time and may events for the entire family. It's a beautiful space to explore Korean culture . The staff is great and welcoming.

We were looking for something Free and indoors to do on a rainy day. The Korean Cultural Center…read morehas 4 floors that were open to us, but the second floor wasn't set up yet and the 2nd floor is a library. Visitors must check in with an ID.

Lovely space with welcoming staff kind to share in the Italian experience. They have different…read moreexhibits frequently posted. This particular exhibit features dresses created by Italian designers from well known actresses in famous films. Great area you can't go wrong.

I visited the cultural institute last week for an engaging discussion on Romani Bilenchi's book,…read more"The Chill". The reception was especially friendly and polite. They took care to not officially begin until there was a healthy quorum of participants. While waiting, we were treated to complimentary white wine. A nice touch. The discussion began formally with a summary analysis by an invited expert. This was followed by a more informal discussion among everyone present. I was very pleased with the quality of the discussion, the themes discussed, and the general love for Italian literature that was shared by all attending. This was all rather nicely done. The complimentary brochures available at the entrance detailed many upcoming events at the institute, a few of which captured my attention. I will be happy to return. Recommend!

The Black Gotham Experience tours are a unique experience that will change how you see NYC. Kamau…read moreis able to transport you back to another time in NYC, but he also expertly ties NYC's black history to the NYC we know today. If you can, I suggest going on all three tours, because they all tie together without being repetitive. But each tour is a stand-alone experience and fascinating story. Each of the tours I went on had a different dynamic based on how many people were on the tour and the energy and knowledge level of the group. I would do all three tours a second and third time. Nerdy Thursday is fun too with great people. So, whether you're visiting from out of town, or a long-time New Yorker, the Black Gotham Experience will teach you something new and introduce you to a side of NYC you won't forget!

From the owner: Black Gotham Experience is an immersive visual storytelling project that celebrates the impact of…read morethe African Diaspora on New York City and beyond. We explore these stories through interactive walking tours, a developing series of graphic novels, weekly events, and our space in the Seaport District. We weave together art, research, fashion and entertainment to give you a new perspective on New York and the world.

The celebration of Japanese art works and artists was fascinating. I had visited the gallery on…read moreWednesday afternoon. The Nippon Club is located on West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. The receptionist sent me up to the seventh floor in a high tech elevator where no buttons are pressed. Two exhibits were going on side by side. I found the cloisonné vases and boxes beautiful. A tapestry of two leopards was my favorite and listed for $20,000. Everything was for sale and if I had oodles of money I would have picked up one or two piece. Several of the objects were from the Meiji period (1872-1912) and Shöwa period (1926-1989). A large bowl and a box of an exquisite blue was breathtaking. Going back to street level one presses the X button in the elevator. Thank you to the Nippon Club for the invitation to visit this exhibit. I added my name for future events.

Ikebana Class with Noritake Noda is a wonderful experience. Mr. Noda is a superb teacher - perhaps…read morethe best in the US. His Ikenobo Ikebana class held three times on Fridays and three times on Saturdays is a place of beauty and peace.

I've been using El Taller on a weekly basis since January 7th, 2018 and we have found the staff and…read morethe space to be perfect for our weekly use. We use the space for a weekly church gathering (Meta Church), which means we have set up, live music, kids spaces, and tear down every week and El Taller has been nothing short of accommodating and helpful! Bernardo (El Taller's founder and director) has been very welcoming to us, and on multiple occasions has shared how much he appreciates us bringing awareness to the gallery and what they do. Alejandra (the office manager) has been extremely flexible and provided whatever assistance we've needed. As I mentioned, we use this space every week for church, but beyond our church gatherings it's incredible to see the various artists and exhibits they invite into the space. It's been incredible to see the community aspect of El Taller and the value that it's provides to the neighborhood. It empowers local artists while serving the community at-large in a multitude of ways.

El Taller provides a supportive environment where you will be surprised to find yourself speaking…read moreSpanish on the first day even if you have no previous experience. You will learn how to speak in spite of your fears and hangups about sounding foolish because the instructors will love you into speaking Spanish. If you want to study Spanish with artists, musicians, and thoughtful human beings who care about their neighbors and the world, you will feel at home here.

This cultural center is no longer running. I checked with the grocery store below, and a few other…read moreTurkish businesses in the area -- they haven't seen any activity or postings from the center in at least a year. The website hasn't been updated since 2022 (as well as their FB page) and the phone number is out of service. Sadly, it seems they haven't made any sort of public announcement anywhere about this change -- my hope is maybe they'll return? But with the phone number being disconnected, it seems highly unlikely.

I purchased the groupon for the water marbling and it was well worth it! The class was great and…read moreMusafa, our teacher was very informative. He even explained how to go about setting everything up and all of the materials we would nee should we want to do this at home. After explaining the history of Ebru Art (water marbling) he allowed us to create our own masterpieces. Yes, there was only one working station, but I truly didn't mind. Not only did it give us a chance to socialize, but it also allowed us to watch and observe each unique piece of art that was created by other students. In my opinion, I believe this allowed us to appreciate the art and the music he was playing in the background as we worked helped us do just that. At the end of the class he took the time to blow dry our work. There were even some pieces that were already created and available for sale. The proceeds would go to the hurricane victims in Texas. I definitely purchased one for $5.00 and loved the idea that it was for charity. I think Mustafa did a great job with this class. I especially loved that if we had an idea or design in mind, he help us create it. This is something I always wanted to do and he made it an enjoyable experience. I would definitely take this class again and bring friends. Definitely give this class a try, well worth it. ~~Marvel at the Marble~~

You're not going to find a place like this anywhere else because it's the only US museum dedicated…read moreto historical and contemporary design. Part of the Smithsonian system, they often have new and interesting exhibitions and, as I've said before, it's less crowded and more laid back. This time there was a piece on sound, it was like a sound bath, and it wasn't my vibe. But what I did find super interesting was the exhibit on production and industrial machines and the people who work on them. I had no idea there were 13 foot tall tires or that one regular man gets inside of them (with the inner rim of the tire coming to his chest) to prepare them for distribution. I thought it was some sort of weird art for a minute, before realizing it was a genuine photograph. I loved seeing all the electronics, large hydraulic systems, weaving apparatuses, and factory settings. It really makes you think about all that goes into making our daily lives livable, that we take for granted. It also had me feeling a true sense of appreciation for the people who do these niche jobs, many of which are a dying craft. This is always a great value. I'm not sure why there are some reviews knocking it. Maybe with today's overstimulation and short attention spans, the vibe is just too chill for them. *shrug*

The third floor exhibit was not open, so sort of bummed about that. But the photographer exhibit…read morewas open and substantial. So we enjoyed learning about the work of christopher Payne. Excerpt from website: Made in America brings together more than 70 large-format photographs captured by Christopher Payne over a decade-long photographic journey to learn more about the craft of both industrial and artisanal making in the United States. His images celebrate the combination of human skill and mechanical precision that transform raw materials into objects as diverse as pencils, semiconductors, pianos, and rockets.