New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985820989035

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most recognizable figures in history — but was that by design? Unbeknownst to many, Franklin himself shaped his public image, using portraiture and symbolism to craft a political identity that resonated across the Atlantic. It’s time to uncover the many faces of Franklin and the deeper story they tell about the birth of a new nation.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore how Benjamin Franklin, the most painted commoner of the 18th century, deliberately used art and imagery to shape both his personal legacy and the broader identity of an emerging America.

Led by American cultural historian and author George Boudreau, our visual journey through Franklin’s portraits and public image will include:

• A look at Franklin’s transformation over time, from a self-made tradesman to an Enlightenment thinker, diplomat, and statesman
• An analysis of Franklin’s portraits, including his deliberate choices in clothing, pose, and symbolism to align himself with democratic ideals
• The role of European artists in shaping Franklin’s image, from the salons of Paris to the halls of London
• How Franklin’s carefully curated public persona reflected and influenced the political landscape of Revolutionary America
• The lasting impact of Franklin’s visual legacy, and how his crafted image continues to symbolize American identity today

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with George — any and all questions 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 George
George Boudreau is an American cultural historian and author. He taught on the college level for decades before returning to his first love, running a historic house museum. He has been awarded six major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities to teach summer teachers' workshop on Benjamin Franklin and his world, and 2012 book Independence has been described as "the Bible of Philadelphia tour guides." He is currently executive director of the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion museum in Philadelphia.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Moments in History

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985067458204

While there are cabaret rooms and supper clubs all over the world from San Francisco and Chicago to London and Adelaide, the performance art is actually a uniquely New York phenomenon. But how did the city become (and remain) the epicenter for this performance tradition that combined jazz and musical theater, and who were the heroes who used their larger-than-life personas to help the style go mainstream? It's time to uncover the lives and legacies of the movers and shakers who defined the unique art form for nearly a century.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the history and evolution of cabaret, with a focus on the art form's early pioneers including British chanteuse Mabel Mercer, who's largely credited with defining the quintessential performance medium for subsequent generations.

Led by award-winning author Will Friedwald, who is widely considered one of the nation's most prolific music writers, our journey through the story of cabaret will include:

• A focus on the legendary giants of early cabaret who played New York and other supper club rooms between the 1940s and 1960s, including Mabel Mercer, Bobby Short, Julie Wilson, and Sylvia Syms — the latter who was championed by Mr. Sinatra, so much so that he produced and conducted an album for her)
• The great cabaret rooms of New York's golden age, from The Blue Angel and the Village Vanguard to the Oak Room of the Hotel Algonquin and the Cafe Carlyle
• The resilience of this ever-changing and adapting art form, and its gift in finding supporters in unusual places, such as the late Hugh Hefner of Playboy Enterprises
• The state of the art as represented by contemporary artists like Andrea Marcovicci, Michael Feinstein, and KT Sullivan — the latter who serves as the Chairman of The Mabel Mercer Foundation, an organization that has presented an annual "convention" of four concerts every October for the last 30 years

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Will — any and all questions about the history of cabaret 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 Will
Will Friedwald is a featured arts writer for The Wall Street Journal and Vanity Fair, and the award-winning author of ten books on music and popular culture, including the new Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Life and Music of Nat King Cole, as well as A Biographical Guide To The Great Jazz And Pop Singers, Sinatra: The Song Is You, Stardust Melodies, Tony Bennett: The Good Life, Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies, and Jazz Singing. He has written over 600 liner notes for compact discs, received ten Grammy nominations, and appears frequently on television and other documentaries. He is also a consultant and curator for Apple Music.

Testimonials
"Seeing the artists; Will's commentary; the parallel chat room." -john
"Presenter is very knowledgable." -Susan
"I realized for the 1st time that Cabaret is perhaps my favorite musical genre. I know all those performers, and I love them. Some, I didn't know were classified as cabaret performers, but now I do. The presenter did a wonderful job, as always." -Aleisa
"The music was exactly what I like. I'd heard almost every number, but I'd never seen them before. Fantastic." -Dick
"Great clips, not only icons, but some little known/forgotten performers." -Peggy
"I love the video clips of performances plus the knowledge of the moderator." -Anthony
"Fantastic clips!" -Alane
"The excellent clips of the singers. The knowledge of Will. Always wonderful." -Doris
"Seeing old favorites in their younger years, like K T Sullivan, Marilyn Mae, Steve Ross." -James
"I hadn't heard of many of these singers. Even those whose names were familiar, I hadn't heard them sing." -Julia
"The choice of film clips." -Lisa
"The knowledge of the presenter, and the quality of the content." -Anthony
"everything!" -Jill
"Will's stories and Anecdotes!" -Matthew
" Another entertaining and enjoyable program put on by Will. He always does a great job in choosing what to present and organizing everything so well." -Cynthia
" Will has a mind like an encyclopedia! How can he know so much about so many people over so many years. It’s clear he really enjoys and cares about the people he shares with us. Great clips. Great narration. There’s nothing like a presentation by Will Friedwald!" -Sharon
" Will knows this world. I'm about to go sign up for next week's show, the Lounge Singers." -Dick
" Speaker very knowledgeable" -Alane
" Cabaret performances from the 50s and 60s not readily available in other ways. Very nice to see and hear. Actually all performances nicely curated. Excellent choices of cabaret performances." -Janet
" The videos and the history!!!" -Ann
"The video clips were fantastic." -Gail
"It’s always a longer show, but I have to check “about right”. Everything will die as is in the couldn’t be better category. Great clips, great stories, great facts. Will is a treasure, and I appreciate all of his memories and talents. Great show! TX" -Sharon
"The presenter knows SO much and is really enthusiastic- I enjoy all his little asides, song bursts and such! I don’t know where he finds all the clips but it is great to see all these singers- some I knew of and some I was introduced to in this event." -Carolann
"Excellent knowledgaeable, entertaining! Loved it .. Will is great" -Janet

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

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985998183027

From the earliest days of primitive man to the present, trees have represented safety as well as a link with nature; tribal cultures once erected houses in the upper boughs of trees as protection against predators and warfare. In modern times, the treehouse was revived as a children’s retreat, though more recently, it's been reinvented as an eco-conscious form of housing and hotels. It's time to explore the history of treehouse design like never before.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the versatile and charming architecture of treehouses, with a focus on unique dwellings from the 20th century to today.

Led by architectural historian David V. Griffin of Landmark Branding, this digital showcase will include:

• The earliest known treehouses and the cultures that still build them
• The classic childhood treehouse of the 20th century
• The creation of the idiosyncratic mid-century houses that incorporated trees into the building sites
• A look at ecological resort architecture from around the world
• A discussion surrounding the treehouse as an alternative to traditional forms of building

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with David — any and all questions 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!

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Photo Credit: Main - Kalen Emsley
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985147468517

London is a city where royal tradition, historic architecture, and vibrant neighborhoods come together to create one of the world’s most fascinating cultural capitals. But what stories lie behind the palaces, streets, and markets that have shaped this global metropolis for centuries? Get ready to journey through London’s iconic sights, rich history, and colorful boroughs in a series that brings its character and charm vividly to life.

Join New York Adventure Club for a four-part series exploring the historic locales, traditions, and landmarks that define London. In Part Three: The Old City & Tower Bridge, we’ll explore the ancient heart of the capital, where medieval churches, historic marketplaces, and iconic landmarks reveal the layers of history that shaped London’s oldest district.

Led by tour guide Kelsey Betzelberger, this experience — featuring plenty of firsthand photo and video walkthroughs, intriguing anecdotes, and expert insights — will include:

• St Paul’s Cathedral and the City’s historic churches — the magnificent dome that dominates London’s skyline alongside nearby gems like St Bride’s Church and the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre, each reflecting centuries of spiritual and architectural history
• Fleet Street and the Royal Courts of Justice — the grand Victorian Gothic courthouse standing along a street once filled with newspaper offices that made this district the center of British journalism
• Twinings and London’s tea heritage — the historic tea shop founded in 1706 that helped shape Britain’s enduring love of tea and continues to operate from its original narrow storefront
• Historic markets and hidden corners — the elegant Victorian ironwork of Leadenhall Market, the lively stalls of Old Spitalfields Market, and the tranquil garden ruins of St Dunstan in the East
• Skyline views and riverside icons — sweeping panoramas from the Sky Garden before visiting the formidable Tower of London and the soaring towers of Tower Bridge along the Thames

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Kelsey — 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!

A Walk Through London Series
Part 1: South Bank & Kensington (Thursday, April 9 @ 1:00pm ET)
Part 2: The Royal Quarter (Thursday, April 16 @ 1:00pm ET)
Part 3: The Old City & Tower Bridge (Thursday, April 23 @ 1:00pm ET)
Part 4: The Creative Districts (Thursday, April 30 @ 1:00pm ET)

About Kelsey
I'm Kelsey, from Explore with Kelsey, a passionate tour guide and expatriate opera singer originally from Chicago. With Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Northwestern University, I've traveled to 50 countries, and lived in Austria, Germany, Italy, Croatia, France, England, The Netherlands, and now Valencia, Spain, where I'm happily settled with my husband and our two cats. My mission is to share my love for exploration and cultural discovery with my fellow travelers, igniting curiosity and fostering a deeper appreciation for the world's wonders.

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