New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1986095429895

New York City wasn’t just built on ambition — it was built on trash. While the city is famous for its race to the skies, its growth has always depended on what was buried or swept up below. From survival to scandal to unexpected innovation, it’s time to explore the city’s overlooked ecosystem of garbage and vermin — one that shares a story just as compelling as the skyline above.

Join New York Adventure Club as we hit the streets of Lower Manhattan to uncover how garbage, rats, and sanitation crises left their mark — not just on the city's physical landscape, but also its public health systems and political history.

Led by Suzanne Reisman — a NYC licensed tour guide, author of Off the Beaten Subway Track, and graduate of both the NYC Department of Health’s Rat Academy and Department of Sanitation’s Trash Academy — our unique experience will include:

• A walk along Wall Street to examine its origins as a colonial garbage dump and its troubling role in early New York history
• A stroll through the South Street Seaport area exploring landfill expansion, the former Fulton Fish Market, and notorious rat lore
• A visit to DeLury Square and surrounding alleys to unpack the 1968 sanitation strike, union power, and NYC’s garbage politics
• An exploration of Ann Street and Theatre Alley highlighting real rat incidents, rat reproduction, and why we can't kill our way out of the rat problem
• An overview of how modern sanitation systems evolved in response to garbage overload, vermin outbreaks, and civic pressure

If we're lucky, we'll see some rats in action...from a distance!
See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking!
**This experience concludes at City Hall Park

About Suzanne
Suzanne Reisman specializes in unique, unusual tours of New York City. If you want to delve into the New York City that's off the beaten (subway) track, she literally wrote the book about it — Off the Beaten Subway Track: New York City's Best Unusual Attractions. A proudly foul-mouthed flâneuse who loves exploring the city, Suzanne brings humor, curiosity, and 30+ years of lived experience in her adopted hometown to every tour.
She is a NYC licensed tour guide, a graduate of the NYC Department of Health’s Rat Academy and the Sanitation Foundation’s Trash Academy, and a member of the NYC Rat Pack (New York’s elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists). She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from The New School, a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University, and a BA from NYU. Suzanne currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, her teddy bear, and the ghost of her 13 lb. pet rabbit — and still insists on calling soda “pop” and sneakers “gym shoes.”

Disclaimer
Event takes place rain or shine.
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: In-Person, Neighborhood Tours

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985340762665

"They do not call it 'New York' for nothing" said a real estate developer once upon a time.

Neighborhoods constantly change and evolve. And no New York City neighborhood has seen more transformation than Manhattan's Upper West Side, thanks in part to one of the most famous streets in the world to running right through it: Broadway. This is the multi-part story of how the Upper West Side transformed from a rural landscape to one of NYC's most desirable neighborhoods in under a century, and the drama and scandals it had along the way.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the secrets of the Upper West Side, one of the most desirable and influential neighborhoods in New York City that is steeped in entertainment, crime, and history.

Led by NYC Tour Guide and Upper West Side resident Gary Dennis, Part II of this digital showcase of the Upper West Side — between 59th and 84th Sts along Broadway — will include:

• The importance of Broadway, and its evolution from a dirt path to one of the most famous street in the world
• How a mile-long stretch along a single street contained so much crime, entertainment, and history
• Famous landmarks in the neighborhood, including a controversial one that was originally a gift from the Italian American community
• Historic buildings and figures from yesteryears, from the once-upon-a-time largest hotel in NYC to Edgar Allen Poe
• The story behind the replacement of an entire neighborhood to make way for an arts center

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Gary — any and all questions about the Upper West Side are welcomed and encouraged!

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!

See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar

**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.

***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

About Gary

"I am a native New Yorker, NY subway aficionado, and product of an insanely competitive family of "know it alls". My parents, younger brothers, and I all love New York City history, and to get some parental attention I had to be historically correct and entertaining at the same time.

"I love this city and all its peculiarities, and I love sharing it with newcomers, returning visitors or native New Yorkers— I'll tell you these and other fascinating things you never knew about this amazing place I call home because 'there are 8 million stories in the naked city' and I will share with you as many as possible."

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985081915446

From painted pottery that tells epic myths to temples built with mathematical precision, the art of ancient Greece created a visual legacy that still surrounds us today. Yet beyond their beauty and technical brilliance, what do these works reveal about the society that produced them — its beliefs, values, and understanding of the divine and the human? It’s time to explore the remarkable artistic achievements of ancient Greece — and uncover the ideas, myths, and ideals behind one of history’s most influential civilizations.

Join New York Adventure Club for a three-part series exploring the beauty, meaning, and innovation behind the art of ancient Greece. In Part Two: Sculpture, we’ll delve into the techniques, materials, and cultural influences that shaped Greek sculpture — and the artistic breakthroughs that defined each major period.

Led by French art historian and archaeologist Camille Brillaux, this digital showcase featuring stunning visuals and expert insights will include:

• A journey through the evolution of Greek sculpture — from its early rigid forms to the breathtaking naturalism of the Classical period and the expressive dynamism of the Hellenistic age
• An exploration of how sculptors pursued realism, developing new ways to capture movement, anatomy, and emotion in marble and bronze
• A look at the gods, athletes, and mortals immortalized in sculpture, and what these subjects reveal about Greek ideals of beauty, heroism, and perfection
• An analysis of iconic masterpieces, including the Discobolus of Myron, the Venus de Milo, the Nike of Samothrace, and the Charioteer of Delphi
• A deeper understanding of the role of sculpture in Greek society, from temple decoration and sacred offerings to funerary monuments and representations of gods and heroes

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Camille — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

Ancient Greek Art Revealed Series
Part 1: Architecture (Friday, April 17 @ 8:00pm ET)
Part 2: Sculpture (Friday, April 24 @ 8:00pm ET)
Part 3: Vase Painting (Friday, May 1 @ 8:00pm ET)

About Camille
Camille Brillaux is a French art historian, archaeologist, and educator with expertise in classical languages, civilizations and ancient iconography. With academic training from the University of Strasbourg and excavation experience across Europe and the Middle East, she brings a rich perspective on Mediterranean antiquity. She currently teaches Latin, Ancient Greek, and Classical Studies in Hong Kong and regularly contributes to academic research and publications in comparative scholarship and classical education.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985066252598

To best appreciate this webinar, we encourage you to first watch the full episode of "A World of Difference" on Pluto TV!

What if your entire life suddenly revealed itself to be nothing more than a performance? In The Twilight Zone’s “A World of Difference,” a businessman walks into his office one ordinary day — only to discover a film crew staring back at him and insisting he’s merely an actor playing a role. What deeper questions does this uncanny scenario raise about identity, perception, and the fragile boundary between reality and illusion? It's time to step behind the curtain as we unravel one of the series’ most philosophically perplexing and meta half-hours.

Join New York Adventure Club for a retrospective and analysis of The Twilight Zone’s Season 1 episode “A World of Difference” (1960), written by science fiction master Richard Matheson, which explores the unsettling possibility that the life we believe to be real may in fact be a carefully constructed illusion.

Led by esteemed Twilight Zone scholar and author Arlen Schumer, this in-depth episode critique of the TV series he considers "The Father of American Popular Culture" will include:

• An in-depth analysis of “A World of Difference” — how its surreal, fourth-wall–breaking premise questions the very nature of reality at the core of The Twilight Zone
• Why actor Howard Duff was an inspired casting choice to portray a man suddenly forced to confront the possibility that his entire life is a manufactured fiction
• How actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan factors into the story and the curious cultural connections surrounding the episode
• The surprising parallels between this episode and Peter Weir’s 1998 film The Truman Show, which similarly explores life as an elaborate performance
• The unexpected connection between actor Sean Penn and “A World of Difference”, revealing another intriguing cultural thread tied to the episode

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Arlen — any and all questions about The Twilight Zone are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Arlen
Arlen Schumer, MFA is one of the foremost historians of comic book art, named by Comic Book Artist magazine in 1998 as "one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America." His coffee table book, The Silver Age of Comic Book Art, won the Independent Publishers Book Award for best Popular Culture book.
Schumer is also one of comic book art’s most idiosyncratic practitioners, creating award-winning illustrations for the advertising and editorial markets.
Arlen Schumer is also an esteemed Twilight Zone scholar, and an author/designer of the only coffee table art book about the series, Visions from The Twilight Zone.
“One of the country’s pre-eminent authorities on comics and culture.” —Jon Meyerson, Producer, ABC News’ 20/20
“Nobody speaks about comics with more authority, understanding and love than Arlen does. He is to comics what Pauline Kael was to movies.” —Clem Robins, letterer for DC and Marvel Comics

Testimonials From Past Analyzing The Twilight Zone Webinars
"The speaker is wonderful and his insights are fantastic. Liked the isolation theme.... so relevant to now." -Sheryl
"Timely topic. Arlen linked TZ series episodes to events/art/people in the past and had interesting connections to later series and films (and, the past influences on the episodes as well)." -Brent
"I loved all the rich visuals and Arlen's obvious passion for the material. Very informative." -Emily
"Great synthesis of today's events and the messages of the TZ from almost 60 years ago, tied into art and culture of the time. Excellent thesis." -Ron
"The presenter spoke very clearly. Great summaries of the episodes before he showed excerpts. Great interaction through the chat while videos played. Amazing curation of relevant episodes." -Rosalie
"Arlen was an excellent presenter. Very enthusiastic and knowledgable!" -Michael
"As always, Arlen's knowledge and insight. How he seamlessly connected the Twilight Zone episodes highlighted with the themes of loneliness, monotony, isolation, paranoia, fear, which on some level we're feeling or have felt at some point during this quarantine." -Hope
"The examples and videos were really well thought out. Excellent presentation style. His passion for the topic was very evident and contagious." -Len
"Really interesting subject and presented in a very organized way...I thought it was well done and the presenter was excellent" -Janice
"Well organized and very interesting!!" -Eileen
"Topic was interesting, presenter clearly put a lot of time into preparing it" -MK
"Lots of detailed content; interesting connections between episodes; interesting perspective to compare with current lockdown situation" -Alan
"Describing episodes in context of the times. Clarity around Serling being prescient." -Maureen
"EVERYTHING! The hos/presenter Arlen was fantastic--so knowledgeable nd engaging. There was also goo interaction among the attendees, within the chat feature. So glad I caught it! First time particpating." -Althea
"Enthusiasm from host, well thought out content and choice of clips." -Michael
"The speaker’s enthusiasm and love of the subject matter was evident from the start and continued throughout. Well done!" -Samantha
"The presenter was well prepared and very informative. It's clear he liked what he was doing. Looking forward to more in the future" -Jonathan
"Arlen Schumer's vast knowledge and presentation skills to help make a great overview of the subject matter." -Charles
"The presenter had a deep depth of knowledge about TZ and was clearly well versed in the subject matter (and enthusiastic about it)." -Guest
"Presenter's impressive knowledge & insights about pop culture & media history." -Steven
"Excellent graphics quality and knowledgeable presenter" -F
"Fabulous deconstruction of a favorite Twilight Zone episode, lots of clips, aspects of the story I never considered, amazing webinar" -Susan
"Arlen Schumer is the best for The Twilight Zone and Batman !" -Joe
"One of the best webinars I have taken - I thought I knew this episode of Twilight Zone well, but Arlen opened my eyes to so many more things I never thought of. Lots of clips too. Arlen's webinars are wonderful, I can't wait for the next one" -Susan N.
The presenter was very good and the content excellent." -Stuart
"Arlen was incredible. His insights and passion made the content come alive!" -Steven
"I knew the presenter and the material but there were still some facts and outtlooks that were a nice surprise" -George

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
This event is an educational presentation organized by New York Adventure Club and is not affiliated with Rod Serling, his estate, CBS Studios, Paramount Global, or any other associated entities, institutions, or rights holders. Our event is a fan-inspired experience that celebrates the legacy, artistry, and cultural impact of The Twilight Zone. Any references to The Twilight Zone, its episodes, characters, images, or related materials are made solely for educational and commentary purposes, and no official endorsement or sponsorship is implied. The Twilight Zone and all related trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Photo Credit: The Twilight Zone
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment