Inspiration Archives - The Culture Mom

04Jan

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Tour of New York City

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Photo by On Location Tours Disclosure: I was invited to review On Location Tours, but all opinions are my own. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, now in its third season, is one of my favorite shows of the last decade. Its depiction of a Jewish family in NYC in the late 1950s plus the writing by Amy Sherman-Palladino plus the acting plus the active chatter all resonate on a very personal level. I love the characters - they have spunk, charisma, charm, and a whole lot of Jewishness. The writing is also very unique, funny, and so very NYC - at least, the NYC Read More

15Jan

A Complicated But Hopeful Jewish New Media Summit

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It was the first night of the Jewish New Media Summit in Jerusalem. I had been invited as one of 160 journalists and bloggers from around the world to attend a three-day event hosted by the Israel Government Press Office for an up close and personal look at issues impacting Israel and the Diaspora. As both an American writer and liberal Jew, I was both anxious and curious to attend this Israeli Government sponsored event. Courtesy of Israel Government Press Office When I received the invitation last fall, I was pleased to be recognized as an Read More

31Jul

Where You Can Find Me: A Summer of Introspection (and of Course, Travel and Culture!)

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There has been a bit of radio silence here on this blog as of late. It's been an unexpected summer of introspection, and I've taken time out in very real way. My kids went to sleep-away camp for the first time in our lives, so there were a few weeks of utter bliss. I've also been quite the world traveler this summer - it started in Turks and Caicos back in May, which I wrote about here and elsewhere. I went to Boston and back, where my son was in camp, and spent time in Salem, Mass and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I also spent nearly a week in Texas, which Read More

22Jun

Restaurant Review: Kurry Qulture in Astoria, Queens, a Kid-Friendly Culinary Adventure

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When I think of eating out in Astoria, I think mainly of Greek food. My family loves taking trips to Telly Taverna for huge portions of spicy feta, salmon steak and moussaka. It's one of our favorite places in the city for food, and certainly one of the most accessible. It's easy to park and makes for a great evening out, strolling the streets and avenues, with every ethnicity represented by its restaurants and shops. So, when I was invited to dine at a fairly new to the scene (since 2015) Indian restaurant called Kurry Qulture, I jumped at the Read More

12Jun

Walking in the Steps of Women Who Made History in The Finger Lakes in Upstate New York

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Last week I took a trip through the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York and found a plethora of women's history to explore and trace. It was a pleasant surprise, given that I hadn't been to these particular parts of New York. Add that to my genuine interest in women's rights and human rights. It was amazing how in just a short few days, I would walk in the footsteps of so many incredible suffragettes' steps who changed the course of women's history forever. I started my journey in Syracuse where I visited the Matilda Joslyn Gage Home and learned about Read More

06Jun

A Quick Jaunt to Turks and Caicos

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My husband and I love to travel and thankfully, our travels haven’t ceased since having kids. Quite the contrary, actually, as we often travel either together as a family, or even separately. We seek trips out; we don't deny ourselves what we love more than anything in the world. So when the opportunity arose recently to visit Turks and Caicos on our own, we jumped at it. My mom would stay with my kids; I found carpools for various activities. What could go wrong? So Off We Went.... The flight to Turks and Ciacos was so short! JetBlue offers Read More

05Jun

What If Planned Parenthood Didn’t Exist?

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Watch the above video. Filmed by Joss Whedon in support of Planned Parenthood. UNLOCKED highlights the vital role Planned Parenthood health centers play in the lives of millions of women in communities nationwide. This video follows three different women through critical moments in their lives—and brings to the forefront what the world would look like if attempts to shut down Planned Parenthood succeed. Most likely you will relate to one. I have a few personal stories about Planned Parenthood. I grew up understanding its significance from a very young Read More

30May

The Power of Girl Power Movie Parties

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When I was younger, I loved watching classic movies with my mom. Katherine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Vivien Leigh, and Ingrid Bergman were just a few of some of the actresses that I looked up to. I watched movies where they played women defying odds, wearing the pants in a relationship, while leaning on each other for support. They weren’t afraid to make things happen and they showed me the value of determination and courage. They were fearless; they were feisty; they defined the meaning of badass as well as girl power. Flash forward to 30 Read More

06Apr

Review: “Gifted” Movie Teaches Girls About Breaking Barriers

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The movie "Gifted," coming to theaters nationwide this Friday has a lot going for it. For one thing, it delves into the issue of having a gifted child and asks important questions: Do you keep these children in a regular school, surrounded by a variety of types of children and let them be ordinary kids? Or do you put them in a setting where their skills are nurtured so that they can prepare for an extraordinary life and career? The movie also features a great cast, has a lot of humor and offers several tear-jerking moments. Chris Evans plays Frank, a Read More

22Mar

The Zookeeper’s Wife, a Holocaust Film that Celebrates Light

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Last week I screened The Zookeeper's Wife, a Holocaust-themed film directed by Niki Caro. The Holocaust is a very personal issue for me. My feelings have very deep roots, stemming back to my childhood and it often fuels my writing. I've interviewed survivors, written about my recent visits to concentration camps, talked about why my being a mother makes the connection even deeper, and why we must #NeverForget. I also gravitate towards Holocaust films and review them as often as possible. Holocaust films are not easy to make and I've watched my share Read More