InternationalCalendar of Events
Published: Friday August 10, 2012
Pianist Marta Aznavoorian. Courtesy image
New York/New Jersey
August 10-11, Asbury Park, N.J. "Return to Asbury" Armenian kef weekend sponsored by the Armenian Students Association will take place at the Asbury Park beach. 6 PM cocktails at Watermark on boardwalk; party at the 7th avenue beach starting at noon on Aug. 11; tavloo tournament at Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel at 1 PM; happy hour at Aqua on boardwalk from 4 to 8 PM; and evening kef at Berkeley Oceanfront from 8 PM with mezze and live music by the Artsakh Band and DJ Robbie. For tickets visit returntoasbury.eventbrite.com or email returnasbury@gmail.com. Advance tickets required! $50 until 7/15; $65 until 8/4; and $85 after; special rates at Berkeley Oceanfront. Events benefit Camp Haiastan, Camp Nubar and St. Vartan Camp.
August 12, 1-5 PM, Paramus, N.J. Annual Church Picnic and Blessing of the Grapes, Sts. Vartanantz Church (New Jersey) and Dro Gomideh. Dunkerhook Park, Pavillion D, Paramus, New Jersey. Music, delicious food and desserts, arts & crafts and playground for children; cards and tavloo...and more. In case of rain, indoor picnic at Sts. Vartanantz hall, 461 Bergen Boulevard, Ridgefield, New Jersey.
August 12, New York City. Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Blessing of the Grapes, and Indoor Picnic, following the Divine Liturgy at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, New York City, under the auspices of Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, Pastor. Organized and prepared by the Ladies Guild. Activities for kids of all ages; food available for sale. Admission (including raffle ticket), $5; children free. For information: 212-689-5880.
August 21, 6:30 PM, New York City. Armenian Network of America Greater New York Region hosts its annual Ultimate Summer Happy Hour at Bryant Park Café, 25 W 40th St New York City between 5th and 6th Avenues behind New York Public Library. Donation: $20 in Advance at http://www.armnet.org/network/donation. RSVP Deadline: noon on August 19. Payment will not be accepted at DOOR! Advance Payments ONLY Guarantees Admission. A Portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Armenia Tree Project.
August 24-26, Catskill Mountains, NY. "7th Annual YP City Escape" organized by AGBU Young Professionals from Philadelphia, Greater New York & Montreal at Camp Nubar in the Catskill Mountains. Relax. Swim. Boat. Taste. Hike. Socialize; details and registration to follow. Contact agbuypphilly@gmail.com for information.
September 5, 7 PM, Englewood, N.J. The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera invites the public to attend an open house at 44 Armory Street in Englewood, New Jersey. Learn more about the fall season of the only grand opera company located in North Jersey and based in Fort Lee, New Jersey under Artistic Director and former Met Opera star Lucine Amara. Light refreshments will be served. For more information about the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, visit its web site, http://www.njavo.org/, follow the company on Facebook at http://bit.ly/9JXTP8, or call (201) 886-0561.
September 16, noon-6 PM, Douglaston, N.Y. St. Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York, Annual Church Picnic, on the church grounds. Best kebabs, cold beer and tan, watermelon, home-made sweets, special "Kid-Zone" activities for children. Also Armenian music and dancing, raffle with great prizes. Takeout available all day. Admission free. For information 718-224-2275.
September 22, 7:30 PM, New Rochelle, N.Y. "Evening Under the Stars" benefit reception and silent auction at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. Enjoy cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and music under a candlelit tent on the scenic grounds of the Seminary campus at 150 Stratton Rd., New Rochelle, NY. Donation $75 per person. Register at http://www.stnersess.edu or call 914-636-2003. Auction items to go live online September 10.
September 28-29, New York City. The Armenians and Progressive Politics conference, the fourth in a series of lectures and discussions that examine Armenian issues from a left perspective, will be held at Columbia University and entitled "Armenia at 21," will evaluate the first twenty-one years of Armenian independence. A Friday night plenary session will consider the Occupy and Arab Spring movements and their relevance for Armenia. Panel discussions on Saturday include the 21-year trajectory of Armenia's statehood, economy and society; rule of law, corruption, and elections; development of civil society; Armenian-Turkish relations; foreign policy; and natural resources policy. Speakers for this year's gathering, co-sponsored by the Armenian Society of Columbia University and the ARF Western Region, will include Sarah Leah Whitson (Human Rights Watch); Arpine Galfayan (Institute for Democracy and Human Rights in Armenia); Larisa Minasyan (Open Society Institute); Thomas Samuelian (American University of Armenia); Sona Ayvazyan (Transparency International Armenia); Khatchik Der Ghougassian (Universidad de San Andres in Buenos Aires, Argentina); Markar Melkonian (The Monte Melkonian Fund); Kirk Wallace (Armenian Environmental Network); and Arman Grigoryan (Lehigh University). For more information visit http://www.armenianprogressive.com./
September 29, 7 PM, New York City. Armenia Fund USA will hold the 20th anniversary gala at Gotham Hall, 1356 Broadway (between 36th and 37th streets) in New York. Black tie optional. Keynote address by Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan, MC Mark Geragos. Tickets ($350 per person) can be ordered conveniently online at http://www.armeniafundusa.org/ by credit card. Or, call 212-689-5307; toll-free at 866-446-6237. Those who receive a printed or electronic invitation are urged to RSVP by September 15. For more information e-mail Irina Lazarian at irina@armeniafundusa.org.
