The SMARTS Center: Kids By The River Opera Company

The SMARTS Center, Students Motivated by the Arts, is located in downtown Youngstown, and shares space with Powers Auditorium. Dear to our hearts, we just love the center and the gals and guys who oversee their programs. Last year, through a bit of prompting by one of my art professors, I not only signed my children up for classes, but submitted an application for teaching.

Last summer, I taught a portrait photography class for three days to middle school/high school youth. The experience was fantastic! In the meanwhile, my own children have enjoyed classes....well, primarily Annie. Annie took an art class last summer, and in the early winter took the Improv Opera Class, and Audition 101 class. She followed up with a formal (and I truly mean formal) tryout for the Jr. Opera company.

During Christmas break, we were overwhelmed to find that Annie was not going to be working on stage crew with costumes or props, but in fact would gain the lead role of Angelina in the spring opera.

Every Saturday morning, from January through April, the three girls and I would hang out at the center while Annie grew in her opera skills and prepared for her first stage performance. Once I returned from the New York mini term, we were off to final rehearsal and performance on Thursday, May 1st.

The Kids by the River Opera Company put on two operas at the new Deyor Performing Arts Center. The Jr. opera was titled "The Friendly Caper." With not a butterfly in her tummy, or at least she boasts, Annie was a natural on stage!

The SMARTS center developed this original opera company to train students in the areas of writing, singing, stage performance, props, costumes, etc. Although it is lead by the finest skilled adult instructors, the kids learn to take charge and become an integral part of the process.

Check out the SMARTS center at http://www.fpa.ysu.edu/smarts/

Posting some of my opera faves.

NYC Faves

Although I'm certain you have had your fill of NYC posts, I wanted to comment on my favorite travel planner. Moon Metro New York City is the best in my opinion; complete with overview maps, subway map, and maps specific for each individual neighborhood. Moon also will give a great write up of each neighborhood, highlighting restaurants, night life, shopping, and points of interest. It was indispensable in planning our trip for the students.

Check out Moon products at www.moon.com. Not all bookstores carry these guides, so you may have to order through Amazon, etc. You will love 'em.

Once I get back to school this week to proof our yearbook supplement, I'll make a second disk of images from our slide show that we used for chapel. My photo students have really become quite skillful over the year, and have some stunning images to prove it. I'll post some of my faves as soon as I can to wrap up the mini term posts.

A Day To Remember

Saturday, the 26th, was our last day in the city. With a late start to the morning and a mix up on the subway, we arrived at Battery Park later than planned. Thankfully, we were still able to keep our reservations and headed in line for the Statue of Liberty. Although a long wait, we were thoroughly entertained by all of the street performers and many conversations.

I haven't seen the Statue of Liberty since my first trip to NYC with my girlfriend Barb and her mother. That trip was almost 18 years ago. Lady Liberty was beautiful; a worthwhile trip. Everyone bummed around Battery Park once we returned, and enjoyed lunch from the vendors and yet more entertainment. Josh wasn't complete without a foam Statue of Liberty crown; cracking us up yet again.

Although we deviated from our plan at times that day, it was one of the best days in the city. We walked through Trinity Church on our way to Ground Zero. Once there, we participated in an audio tour through Tribute WTC Visitor Center. So many of the students lacked a full realization of the events of 911 because of their age at the time. The audio tour was so moving. I personally felt connected to New Yorkers through the experience. Many tears were shed between the audio tour,viewing the adjacent fire house, and the galleries at the Tribute Center museum. Visiting the center and touring come with our highest recommendations. It was difficult for us to experience, but along with church, it was our greatest memory from the trip.

We spent the remainder of our day enjoying China Town, giving the kids and adults some freedom to roam, shop and eat. Erin Rossi, my mother, and myself went authentic Chinese cuisine all the way. There are so many people walking the streets; a lot of energy. Afterwards, the girls walked to Tribeca to tour the neighborhood, and the guys headed back for stimulation overload in Times Square. It was an exhausting but fabulous day.

The subway trip home was definitely unnerving for many. Even though I lacked a sense of fearfulness, those that were anxious took the opportunity to openly pray with one another. Though not initiated by any of the chaperons, three students held hands in prayer regarding our travel home. These young ladies and gentlemen have such a heart for the Lord; representing their faith in boldness. It made me very proud to observe.

The Today Show Split

Our group had originally planned to see the Today Show on Thursday morning, before heading off to the Met, but were so tired we shuffled it off to Friday. Well, come Friday, it was the same problem. We just about collapsed every night at the hotel after our full days in the city.

Friday was the day our group made a split until our late lunch reservation at the Hard Rock Cafe. I wish I could remember just how painfully early I got up that morning after only going to bed around 1 AM. I'm thinking 5 ish? I promised two of the young ladies that I was rooming with, very special young ladies,that I would take them to see the Today Show (secretly knowing that it was on my New York "to do list" since my previous trip.) Well, we had the MOST FUN!!!!!

Seeing the Today Show was exhilerating in person, and afterwards we caught many sights and neighborhoods that the rest of the group missed....St. Patricks Cathedral, SOHO, Once Upon a Tart, Union Square, NYU, the Flatiron Building, Empire State Building, etc. It was amazing how we zipped on and off the subway and through neighborhoods on foot without the bulk of the group with us. We had a blast!

As I have only been to New York in November & December on previous trips, I must tell you how beautiful the city is in the spring. There are parks overflowing with tulips and daffodils in every neighborhood in the city; they are simply amazing. What fantastic planning...

Well, we met back up with the group in Times Square (which was overwhelming, oversized, larger than life....and for a small period of time VERY COOL) where we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe. Cool restaurant, but not great food. We followed with our last museum, viewing ICP (the International Center for Photography.) Afterwards, exhausted, we caught a gracious second wind of energy during the youth service at the Church at Times Square. One of our trip highlights!!!!! Service was amazing. Check out the church's link at http://www.tscnyc.org/.

New York, New York

The New York Miniterm was filled with train & subway travel, and lots, and lots, and lots of walking. I'm sure we averaged 3-5 miles a day. Surprisingly, the kids had as difficult a time with the walking as the adults....if not more.

On Thursday, we enjoyed walking through Central Park on our way to the Metropolitan Musuem of Art. Not only did we enjoy the Met that day, but MOMA as well (the Museum of Modern Art.) The Met stretches over nearly four NYC blocks. It's mammoth! It also holds some of the most amazing masterpieces of the world, according to art historians. I had been to the Met on my last visit to NYC with Mary Beth and Sal, but payed no attention to such masterpieces. It wasn't until my Art History course at Youngstown State that I realized I had missed some treasures. I have a bad habit of zoning in on the photography exhibits. This time around, I was sure to notice some pieces, although I spent little time in the exhibits overflowing with Greek & Roman artifacts. I never even hit the Egyptian exhibit, as my small group wondered over to the photography and modern art rooms. Bad habits don't die easy.

Knowing my bad musuem habits leads to my next comment. Although the Met is fantastic, the Museum of Modern Art was still my favorite. Fabulous! Not to mention, we seen one of the well know decorators, Doug Wilson, from TLC's Trading Spaces browsing around. Too fun! Yet another confession....walking into the room and seeing Monet's "Water Lillies" near left me in tears. I had seen Jackson Pollock's piece at the Met, but Monet's caught me off guard in a surprisingly emotional way. It was breathtaking!

We stretched the kids out of their comfort zones for lunch, and took them to an Indian restaurant named Chola around Midtown East. Later that day, the kids played a bit at FAO Schwartz, enjoyed a Starbucks run and a rest in Central Park before we finished the evening with dinner. The boys and girls split up, the boys heading for a pizzeria while the ladies went to Serendipity (one of our FAVORITE meals.) Did I mention that my sweet Josh had so much fun playing on the piano at FAO Schwartz that after nearly 20 minutes of waiting for him to come out, we had to send in his cousin to get him? We LOVE that guy!!!!!!! He made us giggle the entire trip!

The Big Apple!

I have neglected my blog for quite some time now, and had wonderful intentions of posting about an upcoming trip to New York City in April. Preparing for the trip, as head chaperon, for 18 students and 5 additional adult leaders was taxing and worthwhile at the same time.

When I began my position at Heartland last fall, I teased with my journalism students that it would be a blast to go to the city together....tour the New York Times building, meet with a photojournalist, etc. My joking around turned into a reality as I learned that Heartland Christian School sets aside one week every year for enrichment and travel. Together with my mother, Erin Rossi, Mrs. Fry, Mr. Russo & Mr. Wimer, we turned a comment into a reality with the permission of the school and a large group of students interested in touring the city for our "Journalism/Art based tour."

Caravaning from the HCS parking lot on Wednesday morning, April 23rd, we traveled by van and car to Newark, New Jersey and checked into the Robert Treat Hotel. Late that afternoon, we ventured for the first time on the train from Penn Station in New Jersey to the heart of the city; from there connecting with the subway to Canal Street. We enjoyed a delicious family style dinner at La Mela Restaurant in Little Italy (where I previously dined with MaryBeth, her husband Sal, and their friends during my last trip to the city.)

A small confession. My body had been shaking from the drive into Newark, and throughout the details of riding the train and subway with our large group for the first time. Once off the subway and on familiar terrain, I relaxed into the rest of the trip. For me, not for all, it is easy to lose my heart in New York. I could so easily work there and live the life of a New Yorker....at least for a period of time.

I was in my GLORY!