Hostelling International NYC Offers Visitors Echoes of History
By Claudie Benjamin It is the perfect time to celebrate the Victorian building at 891 Amsterdam Avenue. Not so much to mark the building’s 150 + years at this location, but now with the lifting of international travel restrictions into the US, Hostelling...
Japanese Grandmother’s Inspiration
By Claudie Benjamin People rave about the rice balls at Shinbashi 72. The excellence in preparation of the rice – a foundation of Japanese cuisine doesn’t happen by chance. “My Dad, Takeshi Katayama takes care of the rice starting at 8:30am every morning,”...
Henna Designs: Some Subtle, Others Flamboyant
By Claudie Benjamin A dragon, peacock or band of intricate lace drawn on your hands, arms, small of your back, base of your collarbone. What’s your pleasure? Shaira Halani who goes by Saira professionally, has been working as a henna artist and specialist in...
Commitment to Immigrants Needing Legal Representation
By Claudie Benjamin Not long ago Attorney Laurence Borten was reading an article in The New York Times illustrated by what he thought was quite an extraordinary image. Then, he says, “I saw from the credits that the photographer was one of my...
Alterations with Finesse and Heart
By Claudie Benjamin There are many folk and fairy tales where the magic lies in transforming simple threads into garments of gold and silver. Luxury tailoring is the hallmark of Alteration Specialists, a business created in 2014 by two brothers who saw a...
“Shady Cash”
New York Post Journalist Jennifer Gould digs into the $127 million financing connections of 50 West 66th Street and another midtown development in her article “How Shady Kazakh Cash is Building NYC’s Poshest Pads” and even throws at bit of shade at...
The Call You Make When School Lets Your Child Down
By Claudie Benjamin When Steven Goldstein, Esq., describes the difficulties, some children have as they struggle to learn, he gives examples of various alternatives to the conventional approach used in the schools that works for some, but not all children. For...
Gorgeous Hats & Fine Friendships
By Claudie Benjamin Les beaux chapeaux, les bandeaux en soie, chapéus de feltro, British royal-style fascinators, chapel caps and mantillas — every culture has its hats and head ornaments. Some are particularly special. At Jeannie’s Dream, at 60 West...
