GEICO Skytypers Issues an Apology: ‘We Clearly Did Not Understand What We Were Promoting'

On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 afternoon, many New Yorkers were surprised to see pro-Turkey and Armenian genocide denial propaganda written in the sky over the Hudson River. The skywriting featured messages such as "101 years of Geno-lie," "Gr8 ally = Turkey," "BFF = Russia + Armenia," and "FactCheckArmenia.com." The aerial stunt was part of a campaign by the denialist website Fact Check Armenia. GEICO Skytypers has issued the following apology.

Lucine Amara, Artistic Director of Fort Lee Opera Company, Celebrates 90th Birthday

Jim Beckerman

 

How many complete operas did soprano Lucine Amara, in her Metropolitan days, have stored in her head — ready to sing at a moment's notice?
Might as well ask how many girls Mozart's Don Giovanni has in his little black book. "I couldn't tell you how many," says Amara, soprano emeritus at the Metropolitan Opera, and artistic director of New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera in Fort Lee.
Rather than enumerate them, as Mozart does in his famous "catalog aria," it might be easier just to name them.
"Well listen, I had to have 'Aida,' 'Tosca,' 'Forza,' " she says, thinking. "Also 'Trovatore,' 'Marriage of Figaro,' 'Così Fan Tutte,' 'Pagliacci,' 'Cavelleria Rusticana,' 'Butterfly'..."

Parajanov and Russian Heritage Month in New York

Sergei Parajanov's work will be exhibited as part of the 12th annual Russian Heritage Month in New York from June 17 – July 10. This piece of news has angered a number of Armenians in Armenia and the Diaspora, who point out that Parajanov, who was born in Tbilisi of Armenian parents and died in Yerevan, was not Russian and should not be represented as such.(*) Users on Facebook wrote that it was during the years of the Soviet Union that successful artists and scientists from the 15 republics were represented as Russian, and this practice shouldn't be allowed to continue after the republics achieved independence.

Azerbaijani Bites and Bits

On February 12, 2014, the Hawaii House of Representatives Committee on Veterans, Military, and International Affairs, and Culture and the Arts rejected wo anti-Armenian resolutions during their committee hearing at the State Capitol, despite the efforts of Committee Chairman Mark Takei, who was an author of the bills. Both measures were reportedly introduced at the behest of the Azerbaijani government, confirmed publicly by State Rep. Rida Cabanilla, who was quoted in "Civil Beat," a Hawaii publication, as saying that: "The resolutions came from Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to the United States."

An Armenian Christmas Surprise

Jon Morgenstern

 



Dear Diary,
Last week I was at J.F.K., shivering my way into a taxi, en route to Park Slope. Relieved to be heading home, I decided not to plug in my headphones and talk to Carl, the driver, instead.
I gave him my address. We talked about the weather. He asked where I was from. Somehow we got around to my parents living in Los Angeles.
Carl: “No kidding. I used to live out there. There’s a big Armenian population over in Glendale.”
Me: “Wait, you’re Armenian? I’m Armenian. Well, 25 percent. My mom’s last name is Tutelian.” (Armenian names typically end in “ian.”)
Carl: “My man!” He thrust his hand in my direction for a shake. “Bakalian, that’s my name.”
The conversation immediately steered toward all things Armenian, especially food. I mentioned that I loved lahmajun, a thin-crusted “Armenian pizza” with minced lamb and spices. Carl moaned, “Ahhhh, lahmaJUN! When was the last time you had some good lahmajun?”
“Not for a long while,” I said.
“Well you’re not going find it in Brooklyn,” Carl declared. “Massis in Sunnyside is it. I can bring you some.”
Me: “Seriously?”
Carl: “Yeah, seriously!”
Fast forward five days. My phone rings.
“Come down and meet me on the corner,” said the voice. “I’m in a hurry.”
I sprinted down and rushed over to Carl’s car. The trunk is open. He pulled out two dozen lahmajun and handed them to me.
“This is my Armenian Christmas gift to you,” he said. “I gotta run.”
I could barely utter “thank you” before he got in his car and drove away. Merry Christmas, Carl.

"The New York Times," December 25, 2013

"Lost and Found": Exhibit of Pinajian Discovery Forthcoming in New York

St. Illuminator’s Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of New York has announced a special exhibition drawn from the extraordinary discovery of paintings by Arthur Pinajian. Pinajian was a virtual hermit whose life’s work had been relegated to the garbage but rescued just in time. Art historians nationwide are still expressing astonishment that works of such caliber could have remained completely unknown.

Armenian Manuscripts and Early Printed Books Are to Be Auctioned on October 17 in New York

Heritage Auctions, the world's third-largest auction house, is going to represent an important collection of Armenian rare books, including three illuminated manuscripts of the Four Gospels. Excellent examples of manuscripts and early printed books in period bindings highlight Oct. 17 rare books auction in New York.