New York City Center Access Group, Friends & Fete Event

Catherine Gordon, friend and New York City Center Access Group Member emailed and then called me to ask, "Chris, are you coming Tuesday night to our Friends & Fete Event at Cafe Spice?" Catherine's personal invitation was followed by a passionate dissertation on the history of NY City Center, as the oldest New York City Center for the Performing Arts, the importance of arts programming for urban youth and why she has devoted herself, her energy and network of friends to support growth of the Access Group, City Center's Young Professionals Group.

I was informed that it would be a brief mixer, between 6-8 pm, centrally located on 55th Street, near the corner of 6th Avenue with Indian food and beverages to support City Center's Adopt a School Program. The Program provides arts programming for students at the Access-sponsored Beacon High School. This season Beacon High School kicked off their participation with City Center's Young People Dance Series by sending 100 excited students to an Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance. Students will again visit NY City Center this April to see Martha Graham Dance Company.

I equivocated initially since work, exercise and event coverage had left me over tired. I was actually hoping to have nothing to do of a social nature this week..no dates, no friends, no drinks. As I hung up the phone Catherine's energy and enthusiasm reverberated in my ears.  I realized that this was more than a simple cocktail party. So, this past Tuesday night I head to Cafe Spice with my gym bag in tow figuring that I would greet some friends that I had not seen in a while, take a few photos, support a great cause and otherwise limit myself to one (yeah right!) glass of wine, Sauvignon Blanc. This was to be followed by an evening of weights and cardio at Clay.

By 7 pm, while the rest of 55th street was relatively quiet, Cafe Spice was buzzing, filled with an eclectic array of professionals, a good mix of male and female attendees I might add, jamming the bar and indulging in the spicy Indian fare. Three glasses of wine later, all I could think about was laying down on my bed and not any kind of a bench in a gym. My summer exercise program suffered a setback yet another night. 

At approximately 8:30 pm, I left Cafe Spice with the bar was still jamming. I head down 55th street towards 5th Avenue, snapped a few more photos, and noticed that The Pump Energy Food Restaurant was still open. I ordered my usual #48 Thunder Plate, grabbed a cab and head home to Yorkville on the Upper East Side. Never so happy was I to return home to an empty bed. Just a few years ago that itself would have made for a unique night. How ironic that I used to evaluate my relative success by how often someone was there waiting in my bed. Yet now it is the sound of silence that relaxes me even more than sex. To see photos from the evening, click here to go to the ofoto album

Comments

[Mark Rein]

February 21st,2008

The Spring Issue of Medizine's Healthy Living Magazine has published an article on Glenn Fenster.
The two page spread quotes Fenster saying "I am a man on a mission". You can find the magazine at Pharmacies and Doctor's offices all over America. Distribution 3.5 million, Readership 16 million.

Glenn Fenster's son Nyle was selected out of thousands by the National Epilepsy Foundation to be Florida's teenager to attend the Speak Out Speak Up Conference in Washington DC. One child from each of the 50 States is selected.

From Denver to Miami (The Long Way) - One Man’s 8100 Mile Bicycle Journey for Epilepsy

On April 28th, 2008 Glenn Fenster of Aventura, Florida will embark on a 8100 mile bicycle journey from Denver, Colorado to Miami, Florida (the Long Way).
Denver
Phoenix
LA
SF
Seattle
Vancouver
Calgary
Toronto
NY
Philadelphia
Atlanta
Orlando
Miami

His inspiration and reason for this ambitious undertaking is his 14 year-old son, Nyle, who has suffered from acute epilepsy since he was just two years old. Glenn is riding to show his son that no matter what the disability, everyone has the capacity to reach for their dreams. He does not ride just for his son, but for other kids and adults living with epilepsy.
In 2006 Glenn biked 4036 miles from Seattle Washington to Miami Florida, to promote epilepsy awareness, supporting the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida. Last year’s ride from Alaska supported Epilepsy services and programs in America and Canada, added another 2500 miles to his journey, along with the challenges of the ‘northern climate’, which can be unpredictable and definitely much colder then what he experienced previously. According to Mr. Fenster, “This trip pales in comparison to the courage my son and others exhibit each day”.

"My son Nyle was diagnosed with Epilepsy when he was two years old. Since then, he has had hundreds of seizures. He has them everyday. They occur when he sleeps. Five years ago on the tennis court he went for a shot and a seizure occurred. He fell to the ground hard. By the time I got to him running as fast as I could the seizure had ended. I gave out my hand to help him up. He refused any help. I asked him, "How do you keep getting up"? He answered, "Dad, I've never seen you stay down." I decided right there I would do something that would raise the awareness of all who suffer from seizures the courage my son shows. Days later I had a plan. I decided to bike from Seattle to Miami (47 days) 4036 miles completed in 2006. In 2007 I biked (65 days) 6200 miles from Alaska to Miami. This year I will bike 8100 miles. One might think the most difficult challenge would be the training. Day after day, riding mile after mile, cycling in rain, wind, heat, darkness. One might think it would be the terrain. Unable to practice in the mountains, they are a struggle to climb. One might think it's the 50 pounds extra of supplies I have to carry. One might think it would be the exhaustion I feel. One might think it is the loneliness of the asphalt. But no, the most difficult challenge for me is being away from my son. It is my goal by 2010 to have raised $250,000. I want to send children like my son to Epilepsy supported summer camps through out America and Canada. I want to break down the walls of stigma associated with Epilepsy. I do this to show everyone that no matter what disability of the mind or body, anything can be accomplished. That my son is like you and I. Epilepsy is what he has, Not who he is."

www.destinymaker.org



Glenn A. Fenster

Contact Mark Rein at 215-342-1642