Reviews
Hundreds of resources to help you teach yourself
YIVO Institute for Jewish Research
Yiddish, Bookstores/Libraries, Museums/Cultural, Organizations, Classes/Conversation, Conferences/Lectures, Kids
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, right here in Chelsea in New York City, has the largest collection of Yiddish-language materials in the world! Founded in 1925 in Vilna, Poland, it relocated to New York City 15 years later. Its mission is “…
The Irish Repertory Theatre
Irish, Museums/Cultural, Organizations, Theater
The Irish Repertory Theatre, founded by Ciarán O’Reilly and Charlotte Moore, has a 25-year history in New York City. It seeks to acquaint American audiences with classic and contemporary Irish and Irish-American plays, and to to nurture new…
Conradh na Gaeilge (The Gaelic League)
Irish, Organizations, Classes/Conversation
Founded in 1893, this organization promotes the Irish language in Ireland and globally. Its primary goal is “to reinstate the Irish language as the common tongue of Ireland.” Conradh na Gaeilge has more than 200 branches. The overwhelming majority of…
Irish Arts Center
Irish, Museums/Cultural, Organizations, Classes/Conversation, Kids
The Irish Arts Center has been around for more than 40 years. This cultural organization is “dedicated to projecting a dynamic image of Ireland and Irish America for the 21st century, building community with artists and audiences of all backgrounds,…
Goethe-Institut New York
German, Tests, Bookstores/Libraries, Museums/Cultural, Classes/Conversation
The mission of the Goethe-Institut is to “promote the study of German abroad and encourage international cultural exchange,” as well as “foster knowledge about Germany by providing information on its culture, society and politics.” There are events, exchange programs, classes,…
Brazilian Day in New York
Portuguese, Fairs/Festivals/Parades
This massive annual celebration takes place across an area of many blocks around Little Brazil in midtown Manhattan. It is held in late summer, and to get a sense of its frenetic, joyous energy, please see the video in my…
German-American Steuben Parade
German, Fairs/Festivals/Parades, Kids
This annual September parade down Fifth Avenue is more than 50 years old. According to its website, it has “grown into the largest event of its kind in the United States.” The purpose is “to celebrate German-American culture and traditions, and…
Arabic Language Meetup Groups
Arabic, Classes/Conversation, Social
Meetup.com, launched in 2001, brings together people in a community around all types of interests: politics, food, language, and more. Type in your zip code here to see whether there is an Arabic Language Meetup group near you. In early 2013,…
Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival
Mandarin, Fairs/Festivals/Parades, Kids
With wind chill, I think the day of the 2013 Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival in Manhattan’s Chinatown was about 16 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s cold. And no one seemed to care. It is hard to get clear and…