creativity

A Year of Yes: New York City’s Secrets & Lies returns on October 9th

Christa Avampato

I’m so excited to share that my storytelling show New York City’s Secrets and Lies returns to Caveat on Tuesday, October 9th. The doors open at 6:30pm and the show starts at 7:00pm. October’s show features: Alex Taylor, Zak Martellucci, Michele Carlo, Anne Leafe, and special artist guest Andrew Ousley. Tickets are on sale now at https://www.caveat.nyc/event/new-york-city’s-secrets-and-lies-10-9-2018.

Show premise:
Can you tell the difference between a secret and a lie? Four expert storytellers spin incredible tales about the secret pasts of NYC locations you walk by every day. All the stories are true except for one. If you can identify the lie, you’ll be in the running to win a pair of tickets to a secret NYC event put together by our pals at Untapped Cities.

Plus, did we mention there are fantastic drinks available, too? Don’t miss it. We can’t wait to see you!

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creativity

A Year of Yes: I Will

Christa Avampato

I will:
* make the most of the opportunities I have & make the ones I need
* rise to the challenges before me
* leave the world a better place than I found it
* show up with my whole heart
* be a better person tomorrow because of what I learned today
What’s your #IWill?

creativity

A Year of Yes: Tell your deepest, darkest secret

Christa Avampato

Today I looked into a camera and said my weak things in a strong voice. I told my story about my intense struggles with PTSD after my apartment building fire, and how that recovery turned me into an author. I told my deepest, darkest secret, and I feel fierce and free. Link to video will be live soon.

creativity

A Year of Yes: Give a damn

Christa Avampato

“It’s business, not personal” is BS. Businesses are made of people; they’re inherently personal. I recently got very emotional over a business issue because I care. Some people took issue with that. I’d do it again. Leaders need to see their team members as people first, employees second.

Being a heart-centered, empathic leader is what helps teams grow healthy and strong. Take care of your people and they will take care of your customers who will take care of your investors and shareholders. It’s that simple—give a damn and show it through your actions and words.

 

creativity

A Year of Yes: In & Of Itself

Christa Avampato

It’s difficult to put into words the emotions that surface during Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself. Part magic show, illusion spectacular, storytelling night, and clairvoyant event, it is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. His poise, grace, empathy, and masterful command of the stage and audience are on a level of genius that I didn’t know was possible. I alternately cried and laughed for close to two hours, completely riveted by the through line and captivated by Derek’s presence. Mostly I sat there with my jaw on the floor because I was astounded by his work.

My friend and mentor, the incomparable writer and storyteller John Bucher, took me and our friend, Ashley, to this show a few weeks ago and I’ve thought about it every day since. I will be thinking about it for many days, weeks, and months to come. Even now as I write this post, I keep getting chills down my entire spine. In & Of Itself is that electric.

Derek gave every member of the audience a gift, personal and perfectly crafted. I’m not quite sure how I’ll ever be able to repay him, and legendary director Frank Oz, for all they gave me—a stranger they will likely never meet—during this performance. Thank you feels so woefully inadequate, and it’s what I have. I mean it from my whole spirit. Thank you, Derek and Frank, for showing all of us what can happen when we show up with our whole heart, pay attention, and make purposeful connection with another person our single goal. It is the purest form of magic I know—to really see and be seen.

In & Of Itself runs this weekend at the Daryl Roth Theatre in Union Square. After Sunday, August 19th, it will be never be done again.

creativity

A Year of Yes: The greatest gift we give

Christa Avampato

The most valuable gifts we can give others are our time and attention. So often what others need is just someone to really listen. Grateful for my good set of ears and my ability to offer help, support, and encouragement. We’re all just walking each other home.

creativity

A Year of Yes: Nature is our greatest teacher

Christa Avampato

Dinosaurs are great teachers. Kingfishers & their quick, quiet, and precise diving abilities inspired the Shinkansen Bullet Train’s design. This is the power of biomimicry. Most of the manufactured world is a mess; copying nature helps.

More info on this incredible innovation from Biomimicry Institute here: https://asknature.org/idea/shinkansen-train/#.W3Q8EPlKiUl

Photo from Unsplash
Photo from Unsplash

 

creativity

A Year of Yes: A bit of a day…

Christa Avampato

Yesterday was a bit of a day, as Lin-Manuel Miranda says. Some tough, some good, a lot confusing. In other words, it was a Monday. I ended the day by celebrating a dear friend’s birthday. That friend and I will be in magical Iceland 3 weeks from today and that’s enough to get me through.

And don’t worry. Between this blog, my Twitter, and my Instagram, I’m taking you all with me. I can’t wait to show you around and introduce you to all the sights, sounds, and wonders we’re visiting. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime!

creativity

A Year of Yes: Iceland in 3 weeks

Christa Avampato

I’ll land in Iceland 3 weeks from today! My mom told me my Grampy, Alfonso Francis Lupinacci, dreamed of going there. He read all he could about it in National Geographic magazines. I didn’t know that when I booked this trip. He died on my 6th birthday without ever seeing Iceland so I’m taking these pictures of us with me to show him around. I hope that somewhere along that path I feel his presence and that we get a chance to share a moment, standing in awe of that beautiful landscape together, after all these years. And I hope I can be the tour guide he always wanted to have.

creativity

A Year of Yes: Travel is the best part of writing

Christa Avampato

The very best part of being a writer is that your daily work takes you anywhere you want to go. Today alone, I’ve been to the depths of the ocean with a whale & a squid army, New York City in 1920, New York City in 2300, the Dark Hedges of Ireland, & an Amazonian jungle searching for buried treasure. The imagination is a swift vehicle.