Try these easy-to-bake cinnamon spiced pumpkin muffins as a snack. They’re perfect for Halloween!
Serves 12
Easy
Prep:
Cook:
Ingredients
225g all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
100g sugar
50g light brown sugar
200g pumpkin purée (about 1/2 standard 15 oz. can)
2 large eggs
125g salted butter, melted
Equipment needed:
12-hole muffin or cupcake pan
paper muffin/cupcake cups
2 bowls, one large, one medium
whisk
wire rack for cooling muffins
Method
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350. Place paper muffin cups in muffin pan. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and both sugars together in a large bowl. Break up any lumps of brown sugar by rubbing them between your fingers.
Step 2: Whisk the pumpkin puree and eggs together in the smaller bowl, then add to the dry ingredients with the melted butter. Whisk for 2 minutes or so until just combined.
Step 3: Bake for about 15 minutes, until golden and puffed and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool completely on a wire rack. Will keep for three days in an airtight container.
violently – adv., to do something with force and anger
flourished – v., to thrive, to grow well
harmony – n., getting along, working together
tribes – n., groups of people who share a culture
throughout – prep., all over, everywhere
colonize – v., to take control of a new place
concern – n., caring, wanting someone to feel safe or feel better
dominance – n. control, authority
Indigenous – adj., being the people who originally lived in a region
proclaim – v., to announce for the public to know
resilience – n, able to recover quickly from difficulty
determination to preserve – expression, to have a firm goal to protect something
campaign – n., a series of planned actions to reach a goal
displacement – n, forced out of a home territory
assimilation – n., when minority groups absorb the characteristics of the dominant culture
What, exactly, is this day? It is a day to remember and honor the Native Americans, the people who lived here long before white settlers invaded and violently took their land.
Over 400 years ago, a peaceful society flourished in the Americas. The Native Americans lived with each other and in harmony with nature. They worshiped the earth and the sky, and took good care of their children and their elders. There were many different tribes of Native Americans throughout what is now the United States.
Europeans arrived after Columbus’ discovery of North America and soon colonized the new country. They did this without respect or concern for the people who were here before them. Terrible fights between the white people and the Native Americans led to white dominance over the lands that had belonged to the tribes.
President Biden, in 2021, became the first U.S. president to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day officially.
He proclaimed the second Monday in October as a day to honor Native Americans, their “resilience and strength” and determination to preserve “land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition,” even as they have faced a “centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror,” he said.
To take advantage — exp., to enjoy something that’s given to you, usually at no cost.
waterfront — n. the edge of a body of water; a lake, ocean, or river shoreline.
revel — v., to enjoy something very much, to celebrate
beloved — adj., something that is deeply loved.
culture — n., a set of beliefs, values, and behaviors belonging to a group of people.
Do you like to dance? Do you like free events? Do you like taking advantage of NYC’s summer offerings?
There are many opportunities to have fun on the dance floor this summer. Here are a few:
Sunset Salsa on the river!
Sunset Salsa is a Thursday evening salsa series at Pier 76 in Hudson River Park, bringing outdoor dancing to Manhattan’s west side.
The evening starts at 6:30 PM with a beginner-friendly salsa lesson, then opens into social dancing from 7:15 PM. Talía Castro-Pozo leads and curates the series.
The waterfront setting gives the event a relaxed summer feel, with room for new dancers to jump into the lesson and experienced dancers to stay for the social. It is a strong option for anyone looking for an outdoor salsa night with Hudson River views.
For dancers who want salsa outside a studio or club, Sunset Salsa offers a lively summer gathering along the river.
Modern Dance
Modern dance in Bryant park!
Saturday mornings, 10 – 11 am through September 19th. Experience the joy of movement with dancers from the world-renowned Limón Dance Company, this free modern dance class is open to all levels and ages. Join us this summer and revel in the joy of dance!
Ger ready for Zumba under the Brooklyn Bridge! Tuesday and Wednesday evenings 5:30 – 6:15. All ages and abilities welcome! Come and dance, sweat, and have a great time with friends and fellow Zumba enthusiasts. No experience requires, just come with a positive attitude and be ready to move to the music. Dates and ticket availability below.
Vinyl Nights is a beloved NYC institution – celebrating dance, music, club & DJ culture.
Experience what it was like to party in NYC in the early 70’s to the 90’s, when DJ’s played strictly Vinyl. Dance to the hits that shaped NYC – Disco, Funk, Soul, House, Boogie, Latin, Freestyle and 80’s & 90’s Hip Hop.
Have fun and we hope you can sleep late the next day!
There’s something special about New York City on a summer evening. On a hot day, the air cools down in the evening, the breeze off the river feels refreshing, and parks across the city are busy with people enjoying movies, concerts, and theater under the stars. Best of all, many of these events are completely free.
If you’re looking for some fun outdoor events in NYC this summer, here are three you won’t want to miss.
Movies at Brooklyn Bridge Park 🎥 🍿
Watching a movie with the Manhattan skyline in the background is hard to beat. Brooklyn Bridge Park’s popular Movies with a View series returns to Harbor View Lawn (Pier 1) for its 26th season.
Movies are shown every Thursday evening in July and August. The lawn opens at 6:00pm, and the movie begins at sunset.
This year’s lineup includes:
July 16:Bend It Like Beckham
July 23:The Talented Mr. Ripley
July 30: Clueless
August 6:Jurassic Park
August 13: Do the Right Thing
August 20:Bridesmaids
If you’re planning to go, arrive early. Seating on the lawn fills up quickly, so getting there when it opens gives you plenty of time to grab a good spot.
To go or not to go? That shouldn’t even be a question. Go! The Delacorte Theater is welcoming audiences back for another season of Free Shakespeare in the Park, one of New York City’s favorite summer traditions.
This year’s production is The Winter’s Tale, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.
The Winter’s Tale, running from July 25 – August 23
Tickets are free and are available the day of each performance. You can wait in line at Central Park, visit one of the ticket distribution locations in the five boroughs, or enter the digital lottery through the TodayTix app.
Governors Island is a 172-acre island in New York Harbor, just a short ferry ride from Manhattan and Brooklyn. It’s the perfect summer escape, with scenic parks, public art, historic sites, bike paths, food vendors, and cultural events – all set against some of the city’s best skyline views.
Along with beautiful views, bike paths, and plenty of green space, the island hosts a variety of events as part of the River To River Festival. Presented by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), the festival features public art, live performances, and interactive exhibits throughout the summer.
Upcoming events:
The Unintended Bluesis a new exhibition by Leslie Wayne featuring paintings and multimedia works that explore rising sea levels, melting Arctic ice, and the impact of climate change on the natural world. – Friday, July 24 – Sunday, September 27
Esperanza Spalding: In Concert – August 8 at 7:00 pm
For many of us, summer is the time when we have more time for ourselves. No classes, no rushed schedule of school, kids and work. Things move at a slower pace, maybe it’s the heat of a NYC summer, but maybe it’s just all of us taking the time to slow down a little, a change from the busy-ness of the rest of the year. What’s better to do with this found time than read a book? Or read several books?
First things first! Get a library card!
If you’re 13 or older, and live, work, attend, or pay property taxes in NY State, you are eligible for a card. Your card can be physical or digital.
If you prefer to complete the application for a physical library card in person, please visit an NYPL location with proof of ID and address. Find a location near you.
The New York Public Library even has a special card for this year!
With thanks to the New York Times, University Settlement has prepared a reading challenge list:
📖 ☐ Read a really short book. 📘 ☐ Read a really long book. 🕵️ ☐ Read a mystery book. 🎬 ☐ Read a book that’s been adapted for a movie. ☀️ ☐ Read a book that takes place in the summer. 🎧 ☐ Listen to an audiobook.
“…And the seasons, they go round and round, and the painted ponies go up and down…”
Ahhh…another school year finished, another step forward for our students. Celebration filled the rooms at University Settlement these past weeks — people getting promoted and people graduating and moving on from their English classes to bigger and better adventures.
After ten months of getting up early and coming to class, or finishing a long day of work and coming to class —
Everyone had reason to PARTY!!
Lucian’s opening remarks:
Our daytime classes celebrated in style:
amazing food!
The big moment for CCRA and CCRP graduates!
:
Our happy recipients of punctuality and attendance awards!
Our W1, W101, W2, and W3 classes came together this past Sunday to celebrate the end of a tremendous year. We are incredibly proud of everything our students have achieved and grateful for the enthusiasm, hard work, and support that made this year such a success.
The party also featured fantastic performances from each of our classes. 🎶 🎤
Allis’s W1 class performed a creative version of the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” as a spoken-word piece written by her class. Lynne’s W101 class performed the karaoke favorite “Stand by Me.” Erica’s W2 class performed an original poem co-written by her students. And finally, Gabe’s W3 class performed the timeless Sinatra classic “My Way.”
Check out the tremendous performances from our weekend classes! 🎶 🤩
We enjoyed food from all over the world: sandwiches, pasta, cakes, pies, sushi, dumplings, cheesecake, and salads – there was something for everyone! 🥙 🫔 🎂 🍩 🥟
And of course, no party is complete without dancing! Our W1 class ended the day with a wonderful Turkish dance performance. 💃 🕺
Congratulations to all our W1, W101, W2, and W3 students! Have a safe and happy summer – we look forward to seeing you again in September! 😀
