Category: Seasons

Dancin’ the (summer) night away…

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

Vocabulary:

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!

https://bryantpark.org/activities/limon-dance

Zumba in Gotham Park!

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.

Register on Eventbrite

https://vinylnightsnyc.com/events

 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!

Share this:

Summer Activities 😎

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

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.

link: https://brooklynbridgepark.org/event-series/movies-with-a-view/

Free Shakespeare in Central Park 🎭

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.

link: https://publictheater.org/free-shakespeare-in-the-park/

Art and Performances on Governors Island 🎺

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 Blues is 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

River To River Festival link: https://lmcc.net/river-to-river-2026/

Governors Island link: https://www.govisland.com/

Share this:
Stack of vintage hardcover books arranged on a wooden table indoors

Summer Reading

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

      

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.

https://www.nypl.org/help/library-card

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.  

READ A BOOK RECOMMENDED BY A LIBRARIAN!

Audiobook suggestion: Wahala, Nikki May

Happy Reading!  Enjoy your book choices!

Share this:

School’s out!

US Adult Literacy1 Comment
Ornate vintage carousel with decorative horses and warm lights glowing

“…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!

And E4 graduates, so proud!

To watch the E4 diploma ceremony and awards:

“Kahoot-ing” to see who eats first:

Students getting ready for summer!

Nothing like a disco ball to make a great party!

HAVE A FANTASTIC SUMMER AND SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!

Share this:

End of Year Party for Weekend Classes 🎉 🥳 🎈

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

The 2025 – 2026 school year has come to an end!

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! 😀

Share this:

The Secret Gardens of Manhattan

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

VOCABULARY:

Pavement, n. – the sidewalk

Oasis, n. – some place that provides refreshing relief

Tranquility, n. – peacefulness, calm

Maintain, v. – to take care of

Stumble, v. – to trip or to find something unexpectedly

Distinctive, adj. – something which stands out from its surroundings

Flora, n. – plant life

Contemplation, n. – deep thought or meditation

Drown out the noise, expression – to cover up noise

New York City has plenty of pavement, but did you know there are also little pockets of green space? Nature turns up in unexpected places and we’re providing a list of secret gardens that will be fun to explore this summer.

First up, the Creative Little Garden, “an oasis of tranquility in New York’s East Village.”

Located at 530 East Sixth Street, between Avenues A & B, the Creative Little Garden has been a “community backyard,” maintained by volunteers from the neighborhood since 1978. You can sit and relax, have your lunch, or just enjoy the landscaping.

Check the website for visiting hours: https://www.creativelittlegarden.com

Heading north and west, we stumble into the Jefferson Market Garden, now celebrating 50 years in Greenwich Village. This garden welcomes everyone, and drinks are permitted, but not food. They have a “blooming guide” on their website, https://www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org/bloom-guide so you can plan to visit your favorite flowers. Open from April to October, this garden is located on Greenwich Avenue, between 6th Avenue & West 10th Street.

Check https://www.jeffersonmarketgarden.org/ for visiting hours.

The gardens at St. Luke-in-the-Fields are special and extensive. You are welcome to visit “some of the most distinctive and admired gardens in New York City, comprising more than two-thirds of an acre of walks, lawns, and a fine collection of garden standards…and native American flora.” These gardens are open for quiet contemplation; cell phone use, smoking, and pets are not allowed.

https://stlukeinthefields.org/about/gardens

Another lovely urban green space can be found on the east side of Manhattan, at Tudor City (between First and Second Avenues, just south of 42nd street). Tudor City Greens is open to the public daily between 7 am and 10 pm. They also host events, from Halloween parades to Afternoon Teas.

https://www.tudorcitygreens.org

Finally, we recommend a visit to Greenacre Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With plenty of seating to enjoy the sound of the waterfall (and drown out the noise of the city!) this beautifully landscaped pocket park is at 217 East 51st Street, between Second and Third Avenues.

https://greenacrepark.org

Enjoy the secret gardens of Manhattan and have a lovely summer!

Share this:

Memorial Day

US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

Key Vocabulary

  • (to) Honor (verb): To show deep respect or admiration for someone or something.
  • (to) Mourn (verb): To feel or express deep sadness, especially because of someone’s death.
  • (to) Serve (verb): To perform duties for a person, group, or country—especially in the military.
  • Communities (noun, plural): Groups of people living in the same area or having common interests.
  • Graves (noun, plural): Places in the ground where people are buried after death.
  • Recognition (noun): The act of acknowledging or honoring something or someone.
  • Solemn (adjective): Serious, respectful, and often sad or reflective in tone or mood.
  • Remembrance (noun): The act of remembering or honoring the memory of someone or something.
  • Marks (verb): Indicates or shows something significant; to signal or commemorate an occasion.
  • Unofficial (adjective): Not formally recognized or authorized, but commonly accepted or understood.
  • Associated with (verb phrase): Connected or linked to something in meaning, use, or relationship.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday for honoring and mourning military service members who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is observed annually on the last Monday of May.

Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday began on May 30, 1868, when communities decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers and flags. Although several towns claimed to be its birthplace, the holiday gained national recognition after General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issued a proclamation establishing it, which lead to its nationwide observance.

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend for federal employees.

Note the riderless horse, with boots turned backwards. This is a symbol of a fallen soldier, who will never ride again.

Today, Memorial Day is observed across the country through visits to cemeteries and memorials, the placement of flags and flowers on military graves, and community parades and ceremonies that honor fallen service members.

While it remains a solemn day of remembrance, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer, often associated with cookouts, retail sales, and travel.

Share this: