"Diversity Bake Sale"

The UC Berkeley Republicans made a bit of a scandal in the news today when they hosted an "increase diversity bake sale" to satirize affirmative action.

Current California state legislation, under the title SB 185, would legalize affirmative action in state university admissions. In an effort to protest the bill and show how "ridiculous" affirmative action is, the Berkeley Republicans priced their bake sale goods at various prices based on race and gender.

All baked goods were $2 for white males, $1.50 for Asian males, $1 for Latino males, $.75 for African American males and $.25 for Native American males. All women received $.25 off those prices.

Obviously, this event offended a lot of people and created a local controversy.

Supporters of the bake sale received threats and the group was denounced as offensive and racist. Responding to critics, Berkeley College Republicans President Shawn Lewis wrote "we agree that the event is inherently racist, but that is the point. It is no more racist than giving an individual advantage in college admissions based solely on their race (or) gender."

Berkeley Republicans said they were mostly trying to stir debate about affirmative action and its consequences. But their attempts were misguided and they didn't provoke the debate our country needs to have.

I'm not necessarily a believer in affirmative action. Even if affirmative action itself is misguided, at least it made some effort to counteract the centuries of racist inequalities that continue to have serious social and cultural consequences in the United States. Satirizing this effort as trivial and unfair did not help the situation nor the debate, and unfortunately I don't think the republicans learned either of those lessons.

The impression I got most from reading news outlets' coverage of the diversity bake sale is there needs to be more self-awareness surrounding our discussions and reflections on affirmative action.

Yes, I worked hard in high school in order to get into college. I worked hard in college so that (hopefully) I could get a decent job and support myself independently. I too would have been angry if I was denied admissions to my top college choice, in favor of a minority with lower grades, lower test scores, or whatever.

But I was born and raised in a stable middle class white family. I went to good schools, lived in safe neighborhoods and always had my parents to support me. We never struggled financially, and as much as my parents bitched about the cost of higher education, they could afford to pay for my studies so I didn't have to worry about massive student debt.

No one discriminated against or stereotyped me based on my race or ethnicity. No one's ever done that to my family either.

But how many minority communities in this country continue to deal with those problems? Archaic as it may seem in the 21st century, racial inequality continues to exist in the form of poverty levels, unemployment levels, elementary and high school education access, health care access, safe and affordable housing access, and so on. For some kids in this country, the cards are stacked against them before they are even born.

And that's not fair. That's not trivial either. In order to address the problems of affirmative action, we have to acknowledge that the problems affirmative action addresses continue to exist.

Until the Berkeley College Republicans are willing to accept and understand that, the only thing they're going to be trivializing is themselves.

Pumpkin Lattes

I love Fall and almost everything about it. The crisp, cool air, the brightly colored leaves, the cardigan sweaters and fashion scarves, Halloween, apple cider, apple pie, and of course we can't forget: pumpkin lattes.

Ever since the weather started getting cooler (sporadically) this September, I've been dreaming of pumpkin lattes: the little jolt of caffeine and milk paired with the amazing taste of warm pumpkin and spices. Mmmmm.

While these spicy concoctions are known primarily as an invention of Starbucks, there are lots of little cafes  that offer them for the same price and without the corporate tag. I most often think of Java House, the independent and student-popular coffeehouse in Iowa City where I was first introduced to them. Doing homework on a cold autumn night was always better with a big mug of pumpkin latte to warm you up.

But I'm not in Iowa City anymore, I'm in New York City, where there are probably 100 times more coffee shops. Oh, the possibilities!

After some review searching and map planning, I settled on trying a new little cafe in the West Village, whose unique gourmet espresso drinks and atmosphere were widely praised. Just a five-minute walk from the 8 avenue L train stop, it wasn't too far of a trek for me.

The place is called simply Grounded. They offer a wider variety of drinks than most other coffee shops I've been to, and they also sell lots of baked goods and sandwiches. With lots of table seating, lounge couches, artwork and light music, it actually reminds me a lot of my old favorite college haunt.

And to my delight they have the great pumpkin latte I was looking for. I won't even consider going to Starbucks now that I've had this one.

Grounded's pumpkin latte is quite strong on the spice (cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg?) and pumpkin flavor, a little weaker on the espresso. But that's just fine for me. I'd rather the spices were a little strong than a little weak.

The latte also has the dark orange and light brown color that reminds you not only of the drink's wonderful ingredients but also of the wonderful Autumn season it represents. With a drink that tastes good, looks good, and makes you feel good, how can I not fall in love with it?

Unfortunately every good thing tends to have a catch, as does this one. A regular pumpkin latte costs a little over $4. As a freelance journalist/ recent college grad, I'm sad to admit that these drinks cannot become a regular indulgence for me and my tight budget.

Luckily I don't always have to go to the coffee shop to get them- I can make them at home. With strong coffee and a one-time investment in canned pumpkin and spices, I have enough supplies to make a million pumpkin lattes at home for about $15 (if my estimates are correct).

I might not get the same ambiance at home in my tiny studio, but at least I'll have the spices to keep me warm :)



Homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte 

2 cups half and half or milk (I'll use soy milk)
2 tbsp. canned pumpkin
2 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee (or 1/4 cup espresso)

1) Heat milk, pumpkin and sugar in a pan until all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
2) When heated through, remove milk from burner and add vanilla and spice. Whisk until foamy or blend in a blender.
3) Add 1 cup of milk to coffee mug. Add enough coffee to fill it up.
4) You can top it off with whipped cream and/or more spices- pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves.
5) Enjoy!!!

Urban Girl Squad Pink Bakooza Cocktail Party

Photo courtesy of Urban Girl Squad

Urban Girl Squad is an organization that offers young women in NYC a chance to socialize and network through various fun, interesting and unique events. From cocktail parties to beer tasting tours to volunteer opportunities, Urban Girl Squad is a great way to meet new people and try something new.

I was introduced to this organization through Socially Superlative, a social blog with whom I am a freelance writer. SS covers a lot of Urban Girl Squad events, and I have been fortunate enough to attend a couple of them.

Photo courtesy of Urban Girl Squad

Wednesday night was Urban Girl Squad's Pink Bakooza Cocktail Party at Co-op restaurant and bar. With a complementary glass of wine and a delicious cocktail, paired with yummy hors d’oeuvres and a cool club/lounge setting, the night was a big success.


Co-op, located on Rivington Street on the Lower East Side, is a cool and modern American brasserie and sushi bar. With a nightclub-type feel to it, I loved the dark leather furniture and the interesting art display of faceless photo profiles along one wall. Urban Girl Squad labeled it as “the new hot spot on the LES that has people buzzing about its vibe, clientele and cocktails.”

Photo courtesy of Urban Girl Squad

For the evening Urban Girl Squad was given a small reserved lounge section where we intermingled with other partygoers. Waiters took great care of us with the table-service hors d’oeuvres and drinks. While the music was too loud and it was often difficult to hear other people speaking, the atmosphere was generally laid back and very fun. Urban Girl Squad events tend to bring out a very wide mix of NYC women, and I once again had the opportunity to meet a lot of new and interesting people.


A wonderful part of the evening was getting to taste one of Co-op’s signature drinks, the Pink Bakooza: Grey Goose vodka, watermelon, basil, orange blossom and coco hibiscus. The mixture was delicious, unique and just sweet enough for my cocktail taste. I absolutely loved it.

Photo courtesy of Urban Girl Squad

The night also included an interesting and very difficult game: each attendee was given a sheet of paper with a listed cocktail ingredient- either a glass, a liquor, a mixer or a garnish. In order to encourage more intermingling, you had to find people with all the ingredients you didn’t have in order to make your own “cocktail.” Unfortunately the game was stacked, with a lot of glasses and garnishes, less liquors and almost no mixers. And when not all the partygoers stayed for the whole evening, the ability to find everything you needed became a lot harder. The game was fun though and served as a good icebreaker when speaking to new people, which is really what it was all about. 


Urban Girl Squad had yet another well-planned and well-executed social event for women in New York City, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to go. I will definitely keep myself updated on their future plans. 




* Some of this article was also published on Socially Superlative 

Crossing the Line

The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) launched their fall festival Crossing the Line yesterday in New York City. The festival runs September 17 to October 16 and features gallery displays and artistic performances from a variety of artists working in a variety of mediums.

Time Out New York calls it "one of the most exciting festivals to hit New York in years." With all performances and exhibits listed and described online, I'm feeling just as excited about what this festival has to offer in the coming month.

FIAF says that this years' festival "presents diverse and dynamic new work from significant artists who are revolutionizing artistic practices on both sides of the Atlantic." Broken into three major categories, Fiction and Non-Fiction, Lecture/Performance, and Endurance/Resistance/Inspiration, this festival really goes all-out in its effort to represent both compelling and varied artistic forms.

You can view all the featured artists and their work in this pdf brochure:
http://www.fiaf.org/crossingtheline/2011/documents/FIAF-CTL11-Festival-Brochure.pdf


And here is a list of the artists I'm looking very forward to seeing:

Chong Gon Byun: A Layer of the #1L at The Invisible Dog Art Center. September 17 to November 6
Cost: Free
Byun is a Korean mixed-media artists who gives life to old and discarded objects by using them to create new sculptures and designs. These designs are used to explore the clash between post-industrial civilization and modern consumerist culture.


Ralph Lemon: A Paradance: The Inherent Protest and Émigré Nature of Performance (And How It Could Belong Nowhere) at Tinker Auditorium. October 6, 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Non-members $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Lemon is a dancer, choreographer, storyteller and visual artist. Through these art forms Lemon will create a unique performance for Crossing the Line, addressing social and political issues with his work.


Faustin Linyekula/ Studios Kabako: More More More... Future at The Kitchen. October 12 to the 15, 8 p.m.
Cost: $15
Linyekula is a choreographer and director from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This show will feature provocative performances reflecting the DRC's sociopolitical and cultural history, as well as its current national struggles.

Amelie Chabannes: Intimate Immensity and Lagerstatten at the Stephan Stoyanov Gallery. October 12 to the 16.
Cost: Free
Chabannes uses a mixed-media installation to explore the complexity of the human being. With a staged archeological dig, she investigates philosophical and psychoanalytical frameworks specific to the "person."


While those are just the highlights I've penned into my schedule book, there are so many more talented and interesting artists filling up this festival. Check them out!

Carolina Herrera Spring 2012

Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to view Carolina Herrera's Spring 2012 collection runway show at Lincoln Center.  The show was both spectacular and beautiful, and I was pleasantly surprised at how fresh and young her new designs are.

The pattern this season seemed to be long and lightweight flowing gowns, pants and jacket separates, and geometric and sparrow bird patterns. I was a fan of every piece in the collection, and I believe each one continued to reflect Herrera's vision of a strong, independent  and modern woman.

Renee Zellwanger, a big fan herself, was sitting in the front row and seemed to enjoy the collection as much as I did. I wouldn't be surprised to see her wearing one of Herrera's gowns in the future, because she would look beautiful in any one of them.

My favorites:
The black-and-white paneled dress (photo 14)
The long canvas coat with the light blue silk scarf (photo 20)
The red, sepia and greige geometric striped silk chiffon dress (photo 30)
The canary yellow silk gazar gown with silk organza band appliqué (photo 37)




* All photos courtesy of New York Magazine

September 11th

10 years ago today over 3,000 Americans lost their lives in one of the biggest terrorist attacks ever perpetrated on American soil. Those people will never be forgotten.

Obscura Antiques and Oddities

There is a little store in the East Village, 10th Street between Avenues A and 1st, called Obscura Antiques and Oddities. My brother introduced me to the place when I first moved here in June, and the whole collection continues to fascinate me.

Obscure is a great way to describe the place. It's like a giant walk-in closet full of junk you threw in there and forgot about- if you were a mad scientist. Old books and pamphlets, stuffed animals bearing their sharp teeth, human skeletons and mummified heads, rosaries and all sorts of other things are piled in this small and narrow treasure trove, if I may call it that. Long and narrow and very cluttered, it's generally run by an old lady, who fits right in with all the crazy merchandise.

I love this store because there are so many strange things to look at and wonder about. You never know what you are going to see there, and chances are you will never see them somewhere else. Take a look at the pictures I took, and then go take a look yourself.

Sleepy Hollow

Last weekend my parents, older brother and I took a day trip upstate about 50 min. to the small town of Tarrytown (aka Sleepy Hollow).

Tarrytown is immortalized through a small yet very famous short story by Washington Irving: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. And while the modern town is not quite like the 19th-century village depicted  by Irving, it still maintains a lot of its beautiful and historic upstate charm.

The main Sleepy Hollow attractions to see are the Old Dutch Burying Ground, the Old Dutch Church, and Philipsburg Manor. Sleepy Hollow was settled largely by Dutch immigrants in the 17th century, with the first recorded residence dating to 1645. The Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground are the most concrete remnants of these early settlers, offering a small glimpse into their lives and deaths.

The Old Dutch Church is in fact the oldest existing church in New York State, completed in 1685. It still functions as a church in the summer, and every Christmas Eve there is a special evening mass where the old wood-burning fireplace is used to heat the building. The oldest decipherable graves in the burying ground  reach into the mid-18th century. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, just next to the burying ground, is the location of Washington Irving's grave.

The church was constructed by Frederick Philipse, a Dutch farmer who owned a considerable amount of land along the Hudson River. Just across the river from the church and burying ground are a grain mill and country manor owned by Philipse and run largely by his slaves.

A bit ethereal any time of year, I'm sure you can imagine the beauty and life of this place in the Fall (around Halloween of course)- with brightly colored trees, crisp cool weather and a whistling autumn wind. The city does a lot of events to celebrate Irving's story then, including a nighttime display of several thousand carved pumpkins, nighttime tours of the cemetery, tours of the manor, a big Halloween parade and public readings of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

It was a great weekend visit, but I'm really hoping to make it back a month and a half from now, when all the real action is taking place. I love Fall, and Halloween, and what better place to enjoy the two than in Sleepy Hollow.