January 2013 - The Culture Mom

23Jan

Wanderlust is My Drug

Wanderlust. It's like a drug. I encountered my first dose while living abroad at age 18 when I was introduced to a completely different culture, language, cuisine and fell in love. That was a crazy year and it opened me up to everything and made me realize how much the world had to offer me. I would spend the next 10 years exploring as much of the world as I could, spending a year in London, traveling around Europe, living in Israel and ending up in NYC. And then I had kids. And believe me, having kids has not deterred my love of travel. We've Read More

20Jan

Celebrating Black History with the Vital Theatre’s Show Way

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Yesterday was one those wonderful days out in New York City where my 9 year-old daughter encountered a very special play. We were invited to the Vital Theatre, a theatre I have long respected for quality children's entertainment. I was looking forward to the program, accompanied by a red carpet premiere, but I truly had no idea what we were about to see. Theater can be a powerful educational tool in the lives of children. It can change the world by unlocking the creative and collaborative potential of children through the simple process of Read More

19Jan

A Family Dinner Gone Wrong

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On Friday night after a most excellent day, we sat down to Shabbat dinner. My husband and son had whipped it together as I had been in meetings all day and it felt really good to come home to a hot meal and set table. We started to rehash about our weeks, talk about the upcoming weekend and I suggested we have a family game night. My son was really into the idea. We started family game night a few weeks ago. Every weekend for one of the two nights, we turn our phones and computers off and focus on each other over a serious game of Scrabble, Boggle, LIFE Read More

17Jan

Rise to Demand an End to the Violence Against Women

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I'm a HUGE fan of Eve Ensler. From the Vagina Monologues to Extraordinary Measures to Emotional Creature, I have sat proudly in the audience at her plays time and time again. She speaks for ALL women, and her scripts are from her heart. She tries to help women and girls rise up, and I have always known this about her. Just over a decade ago, I went to Madison Square Garden for V-Day, a show filled with all the women I emulate and admire with the goal of ending violence against women and girls. Now she is taking her efforts further, which is hard to Read More

16Jan

Tween Laughter and Inspiration from Parallel Exit

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My daughter is getting older and she doesn't get as excited about our adventures as she used to. Last weekend when I informed her we were going to a show, her reaction wasn't stellar and I needed the show to be a home run. The show we were going to needed to be first-rate or perhaps my tween wouldn't come to another show with me. And that would be the end of The Culture Mom as you know it. Did I score? Oh, yes. Fortunately, I happen to live in a town next door to the home of the wonderful Emelin Theatre. We've seen many of their family Read More

15Jan

Jodie Foster, Loud and Clear

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After reading so many opinions about Jodie Foster's "rambling" speech at the Golden Globes speech on Sunday night, I feel compelled to voice my opinion. To me, Foster stood in a room full of people she's been working with for 50 years and laid it all out there. It was brave, fearless and a testament to a long life in Hollywood. She told the audience that she has to "fight for a life that felt real and honest and normal against all odds." She had a lot to say and who can blame her for using the Golden Globes as a forum to salute her life, her modern Read More

14Jan

Writers and Performers: Listen to Your Mother NYC auditions

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As you know from reading this blog, I am associated with a show called Listen to Your Mother and I'm excited to announce that auditions are coming soon! LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER is a national series of live readings by local writers in celebration of Mother’s Day. This year Listen to Your Mother will be presented in 24 cities nationwide. If you want to get a sense of what last year’s show looked like, you can watch our videos here:LTYM-NYC Videos. We are seeking New York City-area writers and/or performers to read their original essays on any aspect Read More

12Jan

Broadway Train Your Star

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A few weeks ago I wrote about a workshop my daughter attended to learn the art of auditioning for a Broadway show. My very shy daughter was transported into another world of music and dance for two hours. It was the real mccoy. Broadway Edge is more than just about auditioning - it's all about building confidence and allowing each child to spontaneously access their powerful instincts. As a result, they become unstoppable as their belief rises to new levels. That's why I'm bringing this information again to you now - to give you the chance to sign up Read More

11Jan

Cause Marketing 101: Personal Satisfaction, Business Results and a Better World

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This morning I had the pleasure of hearing from author David Hessekiel, author of Good Works! Marketing and Corporate Initiatives that Build a Better World...and the Bottom Line. I’m always looking for ways to unlock the potential of new media and technology to make the world a better place, and how to translate that potential into action and he shared some great tactics for small companies. He calls it strategic philanthropy - when a company targets charitable efforts to help society and a business through not just cash contributions, but Read More