Native Song and Dance

The existence of the The National Museum of the American Indian was unknown to me until last weekend when I was able to attend a traditional song and dance ceremony there. The auditorium was slow to fill which could have been due to the rainy weather, or the fact that it was a Saturday night in New York City. The smaller crowd didn't bother me a bit and I was able to change seats three times before I finally settled on my "perfect viewing spot." There were adults and children, outfitted in large head pieces and wrapped in traditional (ceremonial) Native American clothing, casually walking around before the beginning of the ceremony as if they were there as spectators. There was a clear excitement in the air as representatives of tribes from around the United States had come to this event to share a evening in celebration of their culture. To be honest, I felt like I shared a little bit of that pride-as I remembered my grandfather's word. "You know your great, great grandmother was Choctaw. You're a Choctaw Princess." The excited exchanges taking place all over throughout the room delayed the start of the event, but then again maybe it wasn't really "delayed." Possibly these times were just a loose estimate not meant to restrict any part of the event.

The whole evening was narrated by an unassuming older man that sat in a circle of chairs towards the back of the stage and performed with the others. As our emcee informed us we were privileged to have a hoop dancer present. She danced with, and through, about 6 hoops-smaller than hoola hoops- and was given tips by many of the other performers-as a sign of appreciation. This evening reminded me how important it is to look around and take note of some of the "less advertised" cultural events in New York City.

Little Snacks in the Big City

One of the things I’ve always enjoyed about living in New York City is the constant cycle of events and things to do and see. For me, the food related events are always a little more memorable. Recently I signed up to be on a mailing list for the restaurant Fig & Olive. They have sent me a few emails about wine and food tastings, but it always seemed something came up and I was not able to take advantage of the opportunity. Until yesterday, when I decided this time I’m committing to it and I invited a friend to guarantee that I wouldn’t skip the event due to a not-so-good excuse. So we arrived about a half hour after this particular fall menu tasting begin. It was a reasonably sized crowd for the space, but not overwhelming considering the lure of free food can often bring crowds, at this type of event, to a swelling point. So  we found a spot along the long  standing bars that were decorated with miniature rosemary trees. We sampled a few items but one taste in particular left a lasting memory. The chicken liver mousse with chopped sweetened red onion on top. All of this was served in a small jelly jar with lightly toasted bread. Such a rich and delicious treat that will definitely inspire a return visit-no invitation needed.