Did you know that one of the world’s largest and most famous bookstore is located just a few blocks from union square? The Strand Bookstore is a great place to find newly-released best sellers, used books, and hard to find titles. Do you write poetry? Are you looking for an audience to share your work? Join Boogie Down Books and Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School for a Teen Poetry Slam celebrating the creativity of NYC teens. All ages are welcome to attend. Poets ages 14-21 are encouraged to perform. The event is on Fri, June 7, 2019 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Mottley Kitchen 402 East 140th Street  in the Bronx. Grab your friends and get creative! The Whitney Museum of American Art will have an open studio for teens. … [Read more...]

On January 1st. 2019 I went ice skating in Prospect Park. Because it was a holiday the line was so long, but it moved fast. I couldn't wait to start skating. Everyone looked as if they were having the time of their lives. It was the perfect weather to go skating. Once I got on the ice, I knew it would be a while before getting the hang of it. Once I was able to stop holding onto the wall I started skating faster and felt like a professional even though I fell twice. Kiyana Williams, a student at WHSAD also went ice skating and said, "I had fun ice skating and being with my friends." Ameina Als, another WHSAD student also went and said, "I had fun and my favorite part was when I wanted to cross to the other side and was scared so one … [Read more...]

On Saturday, December 29, 2018 I went to go see the tree at Rockefeller Center. Once I arrived, there were already so many people, so finding the perfect spot to take that picture in front of the famous tree was hard. I went with my family to see the tree, and it was so good to get out of the house and enjoy places in New York City that I don't normally go. After looking at the tree and having our pictures taken and taking pictures of others, we walked around and enjoyed what New York City had to offer. For example, we saw the window decorations in Saks Fifth Ave. and even got to see St. Patrick's Cathedral. I had a wonderful time at Rockefeller Center and can't wait to go again next year! I am also glad that Teachers such as Ms. … [Read more...]

THIS IS A HOLIDAY EDITION FOR TEEN TIME WITH MELINA. GET UP AND GET OUT OF THE HOUSE TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!! There is a Holiday Train Show display at The New York Botanical Gardens.  You will see more than 25 G-scale model trains, ferries and trolleys zip through over 175 memorable NYC sites. The trains run through a half-mile of track surrounded by handcrafted miniature landmarks made from natural plant parts like seeds, stems and twigs. After your train journey you can watch a short holiday film screening and take a stroll through the snowy gardens on the Winter Wonderland Tree Tour. The train show starts at 10:00AM. If you are still looking for gifts go to The Union Square Holiday Market. It is the perfect place to get … [Read more...]

Let's eat! This workshop will celebrate winter vegetables. Geared toward teens, they will cover basic vegetable preparation for cooking a variety of dishes. Participants will get hands-on experience and help in preparing a dish. Everyone will have the opportunity to share and taste test the prepared dishes! Recipes will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring seasonal or family recipes to share with others during their time together. Registration and photo ID is required and allow time to get through security. It is on Thursday, January 10, 2019 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at the Green Thumb Office in Manhattan. There is a teen, safety, and self-defense class specifically designed for teenagers to effectively learn how to handle … [Read more...]

On Tuesday, December 4th, 2018 I went to a workshop to learn about food justice. Once I got upstairs, I knew I would learn a lot. We dove right in by identifying how we felt on some of the information posted on the wall of a timeline of food culture in The United States. Fun fact: in the early part of the 20th century, about 14% of farms were owned by African Americans and in the present day less than 1% of American farmlands are owned by African Americans. After the timeline, we played a game. We were all given a character to play. Our characters either faced problems with accessing affordable, fresh food or had no problems at all. The purpose was to understand how some people are at a disadvantage when they don't have close farmers … [Read more...]

Have you ever been curious about where your food comes from? If so the Food Exploration Workshop on Tuesday December 4th from 4:00PM-6:00PM at the Green Thumb Office is for you. It's a workshop about alternative ways of producing and accessing food, including urban farms, community and school gardens, soup kitchens and compost facilities. This workshop will arm you will the tools you need to critically explore the food system and learn how you can be active participants in its transformation. If you would like to go you need to register, bring a photo ID, and allow enough time to get through security as there might be a line. Have you ever been to the Frick Museum? If not you can go to this art museum on the first Friday evening of each … [Read more...]

On Friday November 9th, 2018 I attended The Metropolitan Museum of Art for Teens Take the Met. It was a rainy night and all the teens were lined up outside waiting to be let into the huge museum. Once we got in, my friends and I got lost and wandered off into all the exhibits the museum has to offer. We learned so much about religion, war, and art from centuries ago.  Once we realized where we were supposed to be, we saw so many teens in one place decorating bags, taking selfies, getting tattoos, and so much more. They had a table for all teens from science to politics. One WHSAD student, Branly Perez, described his experience saying, “ My experience was very good. I enjoyed the activities that I participated in and all the beautiful … [Read more...]