Tag: history

creativity

Baking up NYC history in cookie form

Christa Avampato

For the December NYC’s Secrets & Lies storytelling show at the South Street Seaport Museum, I baked 300+ cookies for our guests. All the recipes had a historical backstory and a maritime connection to match the theme of our show and the beautiful venue.

I’ve gotten messages asking for the recipes and the stories behind them, so here they are! Swipe through the photos to find the recipe cards and the history behind each cookie.

I hope you enjoy baking up a bit of NYC history with:

– The Captain’s Lie (New Amsterdam Lemon Jumbles)

– Sweet Corruption (Spiced Molasses Gingerbread)

– The Original Hustle (Dutch Shortbread Trefoils a la the Girl Scouts)

Since it’s cookie season, I’d love to see your baking pics! Happy baking! ❄️

creativity

NYC’s Secrets & Lies: The Power of Partnership and Resilience in Live Events

Christa Avampato
Ashley Semrick, Erin Hunkemoeller, Carla Katz, and Christa Avampato

I’m proud to share that the NYC’s Secrets & Lies holiday show this week about secret NYC maritime history at the South Street Seaport Museum was a huge success! I’m still GLOWING from all the good cheer. ✨️

This show is a dream passion project for me, and I feel so lucky to do this work. The phenomenal storytellers, the engaged and joyful audience, and the perfect museum partner team and venue made for such a special holiday celebration. I’m beyond grateful to everyone who came out to the show.

We had a packed house that enjoyed a special evening of history and stories, complete with snack table filled with historically accurate treats that all had a backstory! This event was our first location-based event; all the stories were thematically linked to the space where we performed creating an immersive environment where the audience didn’t just hear the stories but could feel them.

It was also a powerful case study in the critical value of collaboration. Working with the Seaport Museum team was seamless, proving that when partners share a clear vision, we can create an immersive meaningful experience for our audience that stays with them long after the show ends.

Live events are a masterclass in crisis management. As the creator and producer, successfully navigating the unexpected is part of the job description. Though it might sound crazy to some, this is what I love about producing: problem-solving, thinking on my feet, and taking care of everyone involved in making the show possible. The ultimate reward is delivering a high-quality experience for the audience and seeing the talented storytellers shine.

A little behind-the-scenes secret – I was more nervous about this show than any show we’ve ever done. Between my back injury, the cookie baking, a brand new venue with a brand new partner, this being our first location-based show, and a last minute emergency I didn’t expect, my natural stage fright was flying high. But through collaboration and partnership and joy, it all worked out. Once I focused solely on the storytellers, our audience, and our museum partner, the nerves finally faded. We are always stronger and better together.🫶

And good news (a la Buddy the Elf!): I saw a dachshund outside the museum as I arrived and another dachshund outside the museum on my way home. My Phinny is always with me!🐾

Thank you again to the phenomenal team, the storytellers, and everyone who came out to support live storytelling and New York history. This is proof that focused passion and strong partnerships can achieve anything!

Below are some photos from the show. Happy Holidays!

creativity

Join me in NYC for free wine and secret holiday maritime stories

Christa Avampato

It’s official! The tickets for my December NYC’s Secrets & Lies storytelling show at the South Street Seaport Museum are now on sale and they’re only $10

I am so excited for this one—it’s going to be a gorgeous night of holiday secret stories, exclusive access to the museum’s exhibit on NYC maritime history, free wine, and free holiday treats with a cast that includes Carla Katz, Erin Hunkemoeller, and Ashley Semrick. 🍷

We’re expecting a great crowd so don’t wait on this one! Grab your $10 ticket now at https://southstreetseaportmuseum.org/holiday-secrets-lies/

creativity

Be one of our storytellers for NYC’s Secrets & Lies

Christa Avampato

I’m so excited to share this update: NYC’s Secrets & Lies, my storytelling show about secret NYC history, is officially looking for new storytellers for our 2026 season!

This show is a dream come true for me and incorporates everything I love – NYC, history, research, game shows, storytelling, and collaboration. We’re thrilled to be back on stage and growing.

Read the full Playbill listing, including the link to submit at http://bit.ly/46UcuAz.

Please feel free to share this with anyone whom you think would be interested.

Here is the full text of the listing:

NYC’s SECRETS & LIES: Storytellers Wanted

PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION:
NYC’s Secrets & Lies is a critically acclaimed, dynamic live storytelling show that blends deep historical research with high-energy theatrical performance. We bring little-known NYC stories to life, pairing each storyteller’s script with synchronized, original visual presentations (slides/images). Each performer acts as a historian, researcher, and entertainer.

SEEKING DIVERSE STORYTELLERS (18+)

We seek diverse, charismatic performers who are passionate about historical research and engaging presentation.

Storytellers: Individuals comfortable conducting independent historical research, writing a compelling script (typically 8–12 minutes in length), and delivering it with theatrical flair.

Key Skills:

  • Ability to translate complex historical facts into an accessible, entertaining narrative.
  • Familiarity with creating simple visual aids (slides/Keynote) is helpful, but not required.

Experience: Prior experience in educational performing, tour guiding, or narrative podcasting is a plus, but not a requirement. The only true requirement is a passion for NYC history and a desire to share it with an audience in a fun way.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: VIDEO FIRST OPEN CALL

We are accepting self-tape video submissions for the first round. (A phone video is perfectly fine; please minimize the file size.)

Required Materials:

  1. Headshot and Resume/CV: Highlight any experience in research, writing, public speaking, performance, or tour guiding.
  2. Short Video (Self-Tape): A 2-minute excerpt of a historical story or topic you are passionate about. Focus on captivating delivery and clarity—imagine you are telling a fantastic secret tidbit to a good friend. No visuals needed.
  3. Cover Letter: Please include the following:
  • Relevant experience (research, performance, etc.)
  • Your interest in the show and NYC history.
  • If you’ve seen NYC’s Secrets & Lies (or plan to attend in October or December.)
  • Social media handles (if applicable.)

Please submit all materials via email at nycsecretsandlies@gmail.com. Email us if you have any questions.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: LEARN ABOUT OUR SHOW

To understand the unique blend of entertainment, historical research, and performance, we highly encourage you to attend one of our upcoming live shows:

October Show: “Ghost Stories”

  • Date: Tuesday, October 28th, 2025
  • Location: The Hidden Jewel Box Theater – a secret theater hidden inside Port Authority Bus Terminal!
  • Time: Doors 7:30pm; Show 8:00pm
  • Link for Tickets/Info: http://lies.eventbrite.com

December Show: “Holiday Maritime History” (includes a holiday party!)

  • Date: Thursday, December 11th, 2025
  • Location: South Street Seaport Museum (Our Partner)
  • Link to tickets will be available soon and will be emailed to all who submit.

Salary: $50.00 – $200.00 per show

creativity

How writing a screenplay helped me write the first draft of a novel

Christa Avampato
Photo by hannah grace on Unsplash

On Sunday afternoon, I wrote “The End” on the first draft of my new novel. While my first two novels are young adult fantasy adventure, this one is historical fiction. 

In December 1941 four friends graduate from an all-women’s college and seize new career opportunities in a world forever changed by war. I was so happy to sink back into the world of these four friends. The struggles they face are, unfortunately, highly relevant to the times we’re living in today. With themes of empowerment, being on the right side of history, speaking out against injustice, and the love story of female friendship, they’re determination made me more determined, too. 

I’m hoping that it will be the first book in a series. The subsequent books will share the very different journeys that each of these women take in a new world order emerging before their eyes and how their friendship will pull them through.

This story began as a screenplay in 2020. It was a quarterfinalist in 3 international screenwriting competitions and received great feedback. Since then, most of my writing has focused on getting my second Emerson Page novel published and writing my master’s dissertation for University of Cambridge. With those projects complete, I returned to my historical fiction screenplay in January of this year.

It turns out that writing a screenplay is akin to having a very detailed outline for a novel:

  1. All the dialogue is there.
  2. The scenes and their sequence are set.
  3. The characters and their relationships are developed.
  4. The plot is charted.

I wouldn’t say going from a screenplay to a novel is a slam dunk, no-effort-needed project. As someone who dreads a blank page, the screenplay was my map, a guide that helped steer my writing sessions and make them productive.

I’ll take a short break from this story (to finish the first draft of another novel that’s also nearly done!) and let the first draft build up some dust so I can return to it in a few weeks with fresh eyes. Then I’ll dive back in to begin the work of editing and rewriting.

I much prefer to edit and rewrite rather than write a first draft. I no longer have any blank pages. Every time I sit down to write, it will be to refine and improve what I already have. I’ll immerse myself in extra research (something else I absolutely love to do!) and I’ll add much more detail, polishing the story one word at a time. Editing and rewriting is gratifying work because it’s all about making the story shine.

I’m hopeful that this new novel will do well in the query process and that I’ll be able to find a literary agent — a goal I’ve had for many years. For now, I’m celebrating this huge milestone of completing the first draft. It only gets better from here!

creativity

We’re All Part of President Jimmy Carter’s Legacy

Christa Avampato
President Jimmy Carter. City of Boston Archives from West Roxbury, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How do you sum up 100 years of decency, service, and love? President Jimmy Carter’s advocacy and policies to secure human rights, world peace, free and fair democratic elections around the world, protections for nature, and health, well-being, and housing for the most vulnerable will live on long into the future. In the midst of all his accomplishments and contributions, he always maintained his grace, humility, and gratitude for being able to help others.

When Jimmy Carter was elected President, the U.S. was reeling from the Watergate scandal. Americans had lost faith and trust in their government and politicians. And what did President Carter say and do? He publicly pledged to always tell the truth and support all Americans, no matter the personal consequences to him. He was not concerned about getting re-elected or flexing his power. He cared only about taking care of all people in any and every way he could.

I had the honor of hearing him speak just as I was starting my career. His message was simple and powerful — be honest, take care of others, and build a better world for all beings. His remarks mirrored his actions. He walked the talk. His advice is more important now than ever.

President Carter will be laid to rest in Plains, Georgia in the shade of a willow tree next to his beloved wife, Rosalynn. Symbolically, a willow tree stands for mourning and rebirth, flexibility and adaptability, renewal and vitality, strength and stability, vision, endurance, tranquility, and introspection. These are also the principles President Carter lived by, and the principles he’s calling all of us to live now in the wake of his remarkable life. Let’s honor his legacy and continue it.

creativity

Fun at the Jazz Age Lawn Party on NYC’s Governor’s Island

Christa Avampato

A banner adventure day in New York for me and one of my nearest and dearest friends at Governor’s Island’s Jazz Age Lawn Party. Long may the 1920s roar!

Everyone looked amazing and the music was stellar. I love how open, welcoming, and friendly everyone was. It was a gorgeous day with a joyful, relaxed, diverse crowd that reflected just what a fantastic city New York is. We danced, laughed, ate, chatted, and had so much fun in our period dresses. Ashley is a stellar dancer and used to do competitive swing dancing so she was absolutely in her element.

Next year is the 20th anniversary of the party, and we’re going to get a group together to go. We hope you’ll join us. And we’re already thinking about ways we might pitch a storytelling show to be part of the fun!🎶💃

creativity

First Brooklyn beach day of 2024

Christa Avampato

This week, I had my first Brooklyn beach day of 2024 at Coney Island! Since moving from the Upper West Side to Brooklyn almost a year ago, I’ve discovered a number of new joys in New York City. One of the biggest has been Coney Island — named one of the best 25 beaches in the U.S. in 2024 by Travel+Leisure Magazine. Coney Island is a 20-minute subway ride from my apartment. In addition to the beach, there’s a boardwalk loaded with delicious food and drinks, rides, games, a minor league baseball stadium, fun street art, music, city park land, and a load of characters from every walk of life. I look forward to spending many days here this summer.

Fun Coney Island and NYC beach facts:
– How Coney Island got its name is widely disputed. Some theories: (1) an Irish boat captain named Peter O’Connor sailed to New York from Ireland in the late 1700s, and named Coney Island after Ireland’s Coney Island, which was and remains a mile from O’Connor’s home in County Sligo and looks remarkably similar to Brooklyn’s Coney Island save for the fact that the island in Ireland is nearly deserted and Brooklyn’s Coney Island is a magnet for locals and tourists alike. (2) The Dutch settled Manhattan in 1624 and inhabited Coney Island soon afterward. It was home to a large population of wild rabbits and the Dutch word for rabbit is “konijn”. (3) The areas was once inhabited by the Konoh, or Bear, tribe. Records from all these times are spotty or non-existent so we may never know exactly how Coney Island got its name.

– NYC has 8 public beaches, a total of 14 miles.

– NYC’s waters are inhabited by an abundance of wildlife includes dolphins, porpoises, seals, and 6 species of whales. Organizations such as Gotham Whale offer boat trips into New York Bay and Hudson Canyon.

– NYC was once the oyster capital of the world. Unfortunately they were harvested to near extinction. Now projects such as Billion Oyster Project are repopulating our waters with oysters.

If you get the chance, whether you’re a local New Yorker or visiting, I highly encourage a trip to Coney Island, a unique NYC experience.

creativity

Could the northeast earthquake on April 5th be a result of climate change?

Christa Avampato
USGS Shake Map for April 5, 2024 New Jersey earthquake https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000ma74/shakemap/intensity

Yesterday while the northeast coast of the U.S. was reeling from a 4.8-magnitude earthquake and aftershocks, I was wondering if climate change could be playing any role in it. In a word, yes it can. Because of climate change, we may be at the beginning of a wave of increased seismic activity. Here’s the short of it from the World Economic Forum and The Conversation:

  • Climate change could cause more earthquakes and volcanic eruptions by increasing the weight of water on the Earth’s crust from increased precipitation and glacial melt.
  • When glaciers melt, the water can seep into cracks in the Earth’s crust, causing them to widen and weaken.
  • This can lead to earthquakes, especially in areas that are already seismically active.
  • Climate change can also cause more volcanic eruptions by increasing the amount of magma in the Earth’s mantle.

The tristate area has been caught in a seemingly endless cycle of storms and torrential rain so far in 2024. In March, New York City had double the amount of rain it usually has and April’s pattern is predicted to be similar. Geologists have previously explored the relationship between heavy rainfall and tremors in the Earth’s crust. Heavy downpours have triggered a pattern of seismic activity in some parts of the world such as the Himalayas but exactly how much rain is needed and what the full causal impact is still requires more research. Some climate models show more precipitation related to climate change is likely to trigger earthquakes and volcanoes in areas prone to them. 

The impact on seismic activity isn’t limited to precipitation. Remember, the determining factor is the change in the weight of water in the Earth’s crust. We must also account for the impact of climate change on the melting of glaciers as well. As the glaciers melt not only does that water seep into the Earth’s crust, but the melting glaciers also reduce the weight and pressure on the land that was under the glaciers. This release causes the land to rise, similar to a spring that was compressed and then releases once that compression is removed. When the last ice age ended ~10,000 years ago, the receding of the glaciers caused some of the land in Scotland to rise 45 meters above sea level! This kind of release can cause a spike in earthquakes, and historically some of these spikes have been severe in areas such as Scandinavia. 

In short, climate change may deliver a triple threat for earthquake activity: increasing the weight of water in the Earth’s crust from both an increased amount of rainfall and rapidly melting glaciers, and the added risk to the rising of land once the weight of those glaciers lightens or disappears altogether. The interconnections between all of the Earth’s systems and features is a delicate balance. Life on Earth has benefitted from a long stretch of stability and harmony. Our exploitation of nature, particularly our addiction to the drilling for and burning of fossil fuels, has put that stability and balance in jeopardy on numerous levels, many of which we’re only just beginning to understand. 

Nature is talking to us. Nature is warning us. Her voice and warnings will grow louder if we don’t listen and take action. Our artificial systems and incentives that we’ve invented in our economy and society will be no match for the wrath of nature. No amount of money nor ingenuity nor technology will protect us nor immunize us from the impacts of destroying the balance of natural systems on which we all depend. 

Every action we take now to reduce warming matters. The impacts of climate change are not for some distant generation. They are happening to us right now, and they will continue to happen and increase in intensity until we realize harmony with nature is the surest path to prosperity, health, wealth, and wellbeing for all beings. 

creativity

Is peace ever impossible?

Christa Avampato
Photo of Brooklyn sunset taken by Christa Avampato

In the last days of his presidency, Bill Clinton called PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. “You are a great man,” said Arafat. “I am not a great man. I am a failure, and you made me one,” Clinton replied. I don’t know if Arafat can bear all of the blame but he was a key player in the region’s failure. Never quite endorsing nor denouncing anyone or anything, he failed his people and neighbors by holding to the messy, non-committal middle.

After Arafat shook hands with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the White House lawn, Hamas’s (then called Change and Reform) rage exploded into violence. They narrowly won the 2006 election with 44.45% of the vote. Fatah, the next closest party and founded by Arafat, won 41.43%. The remaining 5 parties collectively won 12.3%. It wasn’t a runaway victory. A majority of Palestinians didn’t want Hamas.

2006 was the last time Palestinians voted. With 50% of Gazans under 18 today, they had no say in 2006. We have no idea how they’d vote now.

We know Hamas wants Israel to invade Gaza. They’d love to publicize the casualties. It’ll be bloody, horrific hand-to-hand, door-to-door combat. Only fans of chaos win that kind of war.

This picture is the view from my Brooklyn apartment. I spend a lot of time at this window, looking out across Ditmas Park, Kensington, Borough Park, Midwood, Greenwood, Windsor Terrace, Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Fort Hamilton, Dyker Heights, and Bath Beach. They’re some of the most diverse neighborhoods in the world. A mix of every religion, culture, and ethnicity. Many Jews. Many Muslims. All New Yorkers, and so far, peaceful.

I hope it’s not too late for peace. The world could give Palestinians an option other than Hamas with humanitarian aid and safe passage. The Arab world could denounce Hamas, come to the table, and stand for peace for all. If we leave Gazans with no food, water, medical care, or electricity, their desperation will grow exponentially. I’m afraid of where that leads.

Is peace ever impossible? Is a spirit of humanity ever completely snuffed out? Time will tell.