Tag: New York City

creativity

A Year of Yes: Tattoo history at the NYC Seaport Museum this weekend

Christa Avampato

Gotham-GUS-header2If your idea of a good Friday night involves secret New York City history in a storied museum learning about tattoo art, then I have an event for you! And the best part—all proceed go to support the restoration and public display of a rare collection of tattoo art housed at the Seaport Museum.

On Friday, September 21st at 6:30pm, the amazing Michelle Myles of Daredevil Tattoo and the Seaport Museum’s Michelle Kennedy and Martina Caruso will talk about the tattoo culture and scene in New York City and the Bowery in 1900s, and about the artists in New York that Gus Wagner, a merchant mariner and artist, had contact with. They will share rarely seen artifacts from the Seaport Museum’s tattoo collection that discuss Wagner’s experiences, including a selection of pages from the artist’s scrapbook—a 400-page diary book composed of press clippings, postcards, business cards, sketches, and photographs. Tickets are $10.

On Saturday, September 22nd, you’ll have a rare opportunity to receive a truly historic tattoo based on the nearly century-old collection of tattoo flash housed at the museum. Renowned New York City-based tattoo artists from Daredevil Tattoo, 5 Points, Kings Avenue, Three Kings, Red Rocket, Saved, Greenpoint, Fun City, and NYHC will be on hand inking designs inspired by Gus Wagner’s original artwork. Tattoos will be first come first serve.

More details about the events on Friday and Saturday are available here: https://southstreetseaportmuseum.org/gothamandguswagner/

 

creativity

A Year of Yes: My storytelling show about NYC’s tattoo ban

Christa Avampato

Screen Shot 2018-09-10 at 12.30.08 AMI became enamored with tattoos and tattoo history a few years ago when a friend of mine found getting a tattoo as a way to give meaning to a grave injury. Then a few months ago, I learned that tattooing had been illegal in New York City, the city that gave rise to tattoo culture in the U.S., for nearly 4 decades in recent history. The more I learned about this prohibition of ink, the more fascinated I became with the reasons behind it and the characters who played a part in it.

I considered making it a part of my secret history storytelling show,  New York City’s Secrets & Lies, at Caveat. However, the more I learned, the more I realized that the topic was too big to be a segment of a show. The complex history and all of the people involved needed and deserved a standalone show.

The idea of doing this show, coupled with flash tattooing, just wouldn’t leave me alone. So I reached out to Caveat with an email titled “Is this a crazy idea? Tattoos…” Ironically, one of the co-founders of Caveat had just gotten a tattoo and was talking about the ban with her tattoo artist the day I sent the email. And so we were off to the logistical races to make this event happen.

And it’s happening with an incredible dream lineup of historians and artists who have lived in the swirl of this chapter of NYC history, along with flash tattooing at Caveat, on Sunday night, September 30th. I’d love for you to join us! Grab a ticket to the show, or a ticket that includes a tattoo.

creativity

A Year of Yes: NYC’s tattoo history

Christa Avampato

Paging tattoo artists, lovers of good ink, and history nerds in New York City: I’m looking for 4 people to help me unravel New York City’s long and complicated tattoo history on stage with a packed audience. Are you that someone? Do you know someone who fits the bill? Let me know.

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!

Screen Shot 2018-08-21 at 10.35.48 PM

 

 

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: NYC’s Secrets and Lies recap

Christa Avampato

Another successful NYC’s Secrets & Lies happened on Wednesday night with a stellar cast! I had the best night hosting another edition of this storytelling show of secret NYC history at Caveat. My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Thank you to the phenomenal cast (what a tribe!), the entire packed audience, and Caveat for being the best dang venue in NYC.

Ashley Semrick, Erin Hunkemoeller, Leslie Goshko, John Bucher, and Tom Rowley (our special guest talking about Story Map!) filled up my heart. Thanks to Untapped Cities for your partnership!

We’ll be back again on October 9th w/ Alex Taylor, Michele Carlo, Zak Martellucci, and one more to-be-named storyteller. Andrew Ousley of Unison Media will be our very special guest. Tickets will be on sale soon!

38859522_10104484108647136_2697804378936442880_o
Tom Rowley of Story Map
38831484_10104484108736956_1772603242954358784_o
Leslie Goshko
38860584_10104484108786856_2393250154942562304_o
John Bucher

38796558_10104484108851726_1661882546591367168_o38768535_10104484108936556_4409728615990689792_o

38752191_10104484108217996_8987322408088109056_o
The cast!
38819551_10104484108257916_3687672453787549696_o
Our audience
38756598_10104484108337756_5349784794014154752_o
Our cast!
38773267_10104484108417596_4942982748915630080_o
Erin Hunkemoeller
38754372_10104484108572286_623909910312124416_o
Ashley Semrick
creativity

A Year of Yes: NYC’s Secrets & Lies is 3 days away

Christa Avampato

What’s on tap for NYC’s Secrets and Lies at Caveat on Wednesday? Hidden New York City history stories of danger and deceit, disease and descent. I made a sneak preview for you. Have a look and then grab your tickets at  http://caveat.nyc/event/new-york-citys-secrets-and-lies-8-8-18. This show features the amazing talents of storytellers John Bucher, Leslie Goshko, Ashley Semrick, and Erin Hunkemoeller, and filmmaker Tom Rowley.

creativity

A Year of Yes: Here’s a 15% discount code for all Untapped Cities Tours of secret New York City places

Christa Avampato

Untapped Cities offers a huge variety of tours about secret New York City history. Alexander Hamilton’s historic home, the abandoned Ellis Island Hospital, Grand Central Station, abandoned subway stations, the Woolworth Building, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Penn Station, the Members Only Players Club, and the list just. keeps. growing.

As a little gift to you, I wanted to share a special discount code that gets you 15% off of ALL of their tours – just type in CHRISTA at checkout. You can share this with friends and use it as many times as you want. And there’s no expiration date. Because I love you, and I want you to have nice things. And by nice things, I mean adventures.

creativity

A Year of Yes: NYC’s Museum of Trash

Christa Avampato
What is a museum? A collection of items meaningfully curated to tell a story. It can be large or small or any size in-between. It can be about 1 topic or about everything. It can be indoors or outdoors. There’s no right way to build a museum. Just make it matter.
 
That’s what I learned at The Treasures in the Trash Museum housed in the NYC Dept of Sanitation curated by Nelson Molina who worked for our wonderful city for over 30 years. He collected discarded items he found in the trash on his routes with DOS and there is now a mind-boggling treasure trove of items that represent the lives of countless New Yorkers.
 
I went with my adventure-seeking, history-loving pals, Ashley & Erin, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever seen in New York. Everything from diaries to dishes to photographs and diplomas and art and pez dispensers and view finders and typewriters and a Star of David made from the steal of the World Trade Center to stained glass windows from a church and yes, even taxidermy in the form of an old dog and a crotchety rooster.
 
I’d tell you more but I can’t think of any words adequate enough to describe it. So just go. Meet Nelson and get to know the fellow New Yorkers you’ll never meet by seeing the things they kicked to the curb.
 
Thank you New York Adventure Club for the tour!
creativity

A Year of Yes: Inside an Abandoned Church on Manhattan’s Upper West Side

Christa Avampato

Thank you to Children’s Museum of Manhattan for the tour of this church that’s been abandoned for 15 yrs & will soon be the new home for the museum. My museum-loving friends & I had a blast! This church is across the street from the apartment building where I used to live and I’ve admired it from the exterior for years. It was fascinating to actually be able to go inside and explore it. From an abandoned ballroom to vaulted ceilings, a sealed safe, and the stunning stain glass, I was completely inspired by this space! Pretty sure Emerson Page is going to find her way in here…