NYC Night Skyline

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Jean-Luc

New York City has one of the most astonishing and beautiful skyline in the world. People come to NYC just to see and experience what is like to be under those bright lights and high buildings. Not only it is beautiful, but also a lot iconic buildings makes up NYC’s skyline. To simply find words to describe it, won’t do it justice because it’s extraordinary all the time, but at night it’s purely magical; a wonder that is only known to NYC.

“New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of. There’s nothin’ you can’t do. Now you’re in New York” – Alicia Keys

Photo taken at Brooklyn Bridge Park

These streets will make you feel brand new. The lights will inspire you. Let’s hear it for. New York, New York, New York” – Alicia Keys

Photo taken at Brooklyn Bridge Park

“The skyline of New York is a monument, an outward symbol of an aggressive and once confident people, a technological achievement that is matchless in the history of the human race.” – George H. Douglas

Photo taken at Gantry Park Plaza

The Manhattan skyline is like looking at a great work of art; when you’re in the presence of a great work, it is hard to give your attention to anything else.” – Maurice A. Hargraves

Photo taken at Brooklyn Bridge Park

One Life to Live. One Love to Give.

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Mandy Mei

This week I’d like to feature Poetic Justice (Officer Dave Edwards), who did a poetry performance at City Tech’s Literary Arts Festival this past March. After asking for his favorite quote about life, here is what he gave me. And I have lettered it along with a photograph I took of him during his performance.

“One life to live. One love to give.

Amazing exotic and full of grace.
I’d never forget the look on her face.
Her smile so inviting, simple yet sweet.
A woman of rear form, from her head to her feet.
Her eyes just like diamonds.
Her smile shines like the Sun.
If anyone has a heart of gold
I swear she is the one.
So my beautiful friend of
this I am positive
You have showed me I have only
One life to live and one love to give.”

– Dave Edwards a.k.a. Poetic Justice

Street View

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Konyca

As we know, New York City is one of the busiest city’s in the world. One of the main reasons tourist are attracted to this city is because of Times Square.

The best way to enjoy this city is by walking. Not only you get to see things at a better angle but also to get to the true feel of what it’s like to be a New Yorker.

For me I like street photography in the city. From the streaking vehicle lights, the 24/7 traffic to the hustle and bustle of the people.

“The best road to progress is freedom’s road.” -John F.Kennedy. Lexington ave, Manhattan NY. 8:40pm

“Having the positive belief that it will all be okay, just means that you hustle and make it work because failure is not even an option in your own mind.” -Natalie Massenet. 4th ave Manhattan, NY. 5:30pm

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” – Maya Angelou. 4th ave Manhattan, NY. 5:40pm

“Success is not a destination, it’s an on going road.” -H.Henry. Old fulton, Brooklyn NY. 10:00pm

Beer, Beer and More Beer

Posted on April 13, 2015 by briannavasquez

Image by Quinn Dombrowski

When we are surrounded with sports, parties, and Oktoberfest; what is the most present beverage? Beer. It is used as a celebratory drink for these events as wine is for weddings. The precise history of alcoholic beverages is still unknown but it was most likely created as a mistake from an ancient Chinese concoction made from rice, honey, and fruit which was nine thousand years old. This was the first known alcoholic drink yet the first barley beer is widely believed to have been created in the Middle East. Beer was also the first alcoholic beverage to be established by a simple reaction of certain sugars causing fermentation with the wild yeasts to invented alcohol. This beverage was utilized for dietary purposes during food shortages, now beer has improved in quality and is widely consumed for pleasure. Despite the complicated complexity of beer, it can brewed at home from scratch with the proper ingredients.

American Pale Ale Recipe

Ingredients

5 1/2 pounds dry light malt extract
1/2 pound Crystal 20L malt, crushed
1/2 pound American 6-row malt, crushed
1/2 ounce Centennial hops—60 minutes
1 ounce Cascade hops—15 minutes
1 ounce Centennial hops—15 minutes
1 ounce Cascade hops at flame out
1/2 ounce Centennial hops at flame out
6 gallons of tap water, split. If possible, place 3 gallons in the refrigerator to cool in a sanitized container.
11.5 gram package Safale US-05

Procedures

Tie the American 6-row malt and Crystal 20L malt in a mesh hop-bag. Heat 1 gallon of water in a large pot to 160°F and remove from heat. Add malt and let steep for 20 minutes.
Raise temperature slowly to 170°F. Make sure mesh bag isn’t sitting directly on the bottom of the pot. Remove the grain bag and add water to make 3 gallons total.
Bring the wort to a vigorous boil. As water is heating, slowly add malt extract, stirring constantly until completely dissolved. When boil begins, add 1/2 ounce Centennial hops in mesh bag.
After 45 minutes of boiling has passed, add 1 ounce Cascade and 1 ounce Centennial in mesh bag.
After total of 60 minutes of boil remove from heat, add 1 ounce Cascade and 1/2 ounce Centennial in mesh bag and cover. Warning: After wort cools below 180°F everything that touches it should be sanitary, and exposure to open air should be limited as much as possible.
Cool wort by placing pot in ice bath until it is below 85°F. Transfer to sanitized fermentor (either a carboy or a fermentation bucket). Top off to 5 gallons using refrigerated water.
Sanitize outside of yeast package, fermentation stopper and airlock. Carefully pour yeast into cooled wort (it should be below 70°F), and agitate vigorously. Ferment in dark place, keeping ambient temperature consistent, preferably between 62-66°F.
Bottle after two to three weeks.

Recipe adapted from SeriousEats and to learn more about the carbonation process as well as bottling the beer. Visit SeriousEats

Or simply grab a can or bottle of your favorite beer instead. Afterall, it is easier as the process of making beer is very labor intensive without commercial machines.

Also, if you are interested in the styles of beers, becoming knowledgeable about specialty beers, and understanding the difference between ales and lagers; then I have heard rave reviews for Brooklyn Brewery which is located near New York City of Technology. Brooklyn Brewery hosts tours for small batch beers Monday thru Thursday at five o’clock as well as Friday thru Sunday at differing times. The tours costs ten dollars and after the tour, you can purchase tokens (each token costs five dollars) to purchase samplings of the house-made beer. Those under 21 years of age can still attend and will receive prizes such as a Brooklyn brewery shirt and craft soda instead of the beer. Honestly, I’m waiting until I turn twenty-one so I can fully enjoy it but many have told me that the tour groups come together for their personal, sentimental value of simple drinking beer. That is the best part of food and beverages that it inevitably brings everyone together.

Visit Brooklyn Brewery for more information.

Spring Season = Auto Show

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Amanda

It’s the spring season which means it’s auto show season! As mentioned before, I LOVE cars! So you could imagine this was heaven for me! From everyday cars to high priced luxurious cars, this is the place to be for all my car lovers.

Two of my all time favorites are the escalade and the bmw sedan 5 series. As many may know, escalades are known for their bold appearance and spacious interior. One difference between the 2014 and 2015 escalade is that the 2015 version has a larger grille and boxier look to the rear of the SUV. Another thing I really enjoy about the Escalade that accompanies it’s beautiful luxurious appearance is the step bar. The step bar only comes out when you open the SUV doors which is a plus! The last thing that caught my eye about the 2015 Escalade is its head-up display. Now, you no longer have to look at your dashboard when trying to determine your speed, tachometer and navigation.

Now, my all time favorite, which will most likely be my first car is the the bmw sedan 5-series. Aside from its luxurious appearance and high-tech features, it includes a turbo-diesel six-cylinder as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. The best luxurious city car in my opinion.

To all my car lovers reading this post, you still have time to attend the auto show! The Jacob Javits center will be hosting this event up until Sunday, April 12th.

Spring Break At the Museum

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Jean-Luc

Now that we are more than halfway into the spring break and for some, it might not have been going as expected due to whatever reasons. The weather conditions haven’t been great either and this is perhaps limiting people to go out and enjoy themselves. Well don’t give up yet, remember this is New York City, thus there is always something to do in this city that can suits your needs.

You are an animal person, and you like all kind of animals? Perhaps during this break you’ve planed to go visit your animal friends, but mainly due to the not so good weather conditions, you are not willing to go to the zoo. Thus, there’s not a better place to go to than the American Museum of Natural History. There they showcase many different species of animals, and if mammals are your favorites, you surely won’t regret going to this place. In numerous halls, mammals are brilliantly depicted in dioramas which also showcase the ecosystem endemic to that particular region. Don’t get me wrong it is not the zoo; however it is as close as it gets. The experience of going to the American Museum of Natural History, is unique and a safari-like attraction.

“The mating season for caribou, called the rut, has begun. Herd members are gathering in the open so they can find and compete for mates. At any other time of year, these two females and the juvenile (left) would probably avoid males (right).” – AMNH