2. Food That Feeds the Soul

It is almost 6 p.m and the sun has not yet set in New York City’s Greenwich Village. It is a perfect winter afternoon for New York’s trendiest people to stroll around the residential neighborhood. Along the picturesque streets, one cannot help but notice a cute little place on Grover Street right off the corner of Bleeker. Its name, The Pink Teacup, suggests a coffee shop, yet the unfamiliar passerby may be surprised to find out that it in fact serves mouth-watering, succulent, lush Southern soul food. From smothered chicken wings, to heavenly pancakes, to sweet potato pie, one cannot leave this restaurant any less than delighted.

The Pink Teacup’s utterly rosy pink interior is covered with autographed photographs of famous people, predominantly African Americans, such as Dave Chapelle, Whoopi Goldberg, and Oprah Winfrey. Contemporary artists such as Rihanna, Jay-Z, and Beyonce have all eaten at the restaurant this year. “Run Simmons was here this Sunday. We were on the paper,” Nadine says, one of the waitresses, as she hands me the most recent copy of the New York Post opened to page 6. “The Pink Teacup is the best soul food place downtown,” Simmons, one of the founding members of the hip hop group Run- D.M.C, tells the New York Post, “Their fried chicken and macaroni is amazing. I still have 10 more pounds to lose, so I better stop talking about it!” Despite its vast recognition and fame due to its enchanting soul food, the restaurant’s atmosphere remains homey and unpretentious. It has preserved its small-business traditions with its crowded small wooden tables, its no-reservation-cash only policy, and its modest price range.

Mary Raye, a Florida native, opened the restaurant fifty-four years ago. She had a profound passion for cooking and had worked as a chef in many houses and hotels. She finally decided to pursue her dream by opening her very own restaurant. “Pink was the owner’s favorite color,” Glover Glander, the restaurant’s current chef, tells me as I indulge in her heavenly pancakes. In 1989, Mary Raye’s husband Charles handed the business over to their niece Seretta Ford with only one request: to conserve the restaurant’s original recipes.

A friendly black waitress greets me with a pleasant smile. Her name is Nadine and she is a young Jamaican woman, who has been a waitress at the Pink Teacup for eight years. Every week, Mondays through Thursdays, she works twelve-hour shifts from 10 a.m to 10 p.m. “I’m so tired!” she says in her Jamaican accent to one of the older male workers. Every night after work, she takes the train back home to Brooklyn where her husband and children await her. “The shifts are exhausting, but we all love our jobs. Working here is quite fun! That’s why we’ve all been working here for so long! The guy before me, Russell, had worked as a waiter here for twelve years until he finally retired,” Nadine recalls.

Nadine came to New York City when she was a teenager and lived in Brooklyn with her mother. “At first I didn’t like it here. I am used to people greeting me in the streets, say ‘good morning’ to me. Here everybody looked so serious. And the streets were so crowded!” Yet the hubbub and alienation of the city was not Nadine’s main concern. “I hated the food here! My mom did not have the time to cook for me since she was working two jobs. I looked for soul food restaurants on the Internet and this is how I found this one. Luckily for me, the moment I came, there was a job opening for a waitress. And that’s how I’m here! Funny story!” Nadine’s love for her job is reflected in very single one of her actions- from her smiles, to her chatty behavior, to her talks about the celebrities she has met at the restaurant, to the free lemonade and tea drinks she so kindly served me. Little does she know that she is actually one of the Pink Teacup’s many charms. This charismatic woman would be reason enough for a customer to return to the restaurant anytime.

Of course, the Pink Teacup would not be anything without the work of another great woman. Glander Glover, a New York native, has been a chef at the Pink Teacup for thirteen years. She is an older African American woman of a medium built and height. She has short gray hair and a kind yet strong face. Not too long ago, no other than singer Aretha Franklin asked Glander for her autograph, mesmerized by her delicious cuisine. “I couldn’t believe Aretha Franklin was asking me for my autograph! I love her! It was a true honor.” Unlike some renowned chefs in New York City, Glander displays no sign of arrogance. She still finds it surprising when people admire her as a chef. “Thanks for your interest. I really appreciate it.”, she says after I ask her about her work and congratulate her for her delicious pancakes. Her dedication to her job transmits to every single one of her scrumptious dishes, which she prepares with pride.

The Pink Teacup is, without a doubt, more than just a good restaurant. It is a place of hardworking and humble people whose genuine mission is to feed the souls of every single one of their customers.

2. Parsons Student Debuts in Peruvian Department Store

This past summer Parsons student Blanca Benavides designed several clothing items for the Peruvian department store Saga Falabella, landing her first job as a fashion designer.

Benavides, 19, originally from Lima, Peru, is currently a sophomore at Parsons. Last July she decided to apply to an internship with the department store, not thinking they would ever give her the task of actually designing some of their clothes. “My cousin, who used to work in Saga, urged me to send them my resume and so I did.”, Benavides says.

From the moment of her interview, Arturo Rios, corporate graphic designer at Saga Falabella, was impressed by Benavides’ skills. “Even though she had just completed her freshmen year, she knew how to use more design programs than anyone in our company," Rios says.

During Benavides’ second week at Saga, Rios asked her to design some shirts and jackets using Illustrator, a program she uses at Parsons. Benavides had some experience in fashion design after completing several courses in the Peruvian academy for fashion design Mod’ Art, yet she had merely completed her first year at Parsons. “I had no idea what Saga looked for in a collection, so I decided to use my own sources of inspiration. My focuses were my friends, New York City, and pop culture,” Benavides says.

With this in mind, she designed several shirts and jackets using the lyrics of popular songs, such as Lady Gaga’s Poker Face, and the cities that reminded her of her friends such as London, Paris, and New York. Rios was pleasantly surprised by Benavides’ designs. “She understood what the popular Peruvian market wanted," Rios says, "I was afraid that she would opt for high fashion items that would not really sell in Lima. Yet she managed to add an innovative touch to a commercial collection. I am very proud of her."

Four of Blanca’s designs made it to Saga's actual 2010 collection. Her designs will go towards the department store’s own brand Sybilla. Camila Peralta, designer at Saga Falabella says, “Blanca’s designs are very artsy and modern, something that perfectly fits Sybilla’s style.”

Benavides is now an illustration major at Parsons. “I decided to switch my major to illustration because drawing is what I like to do best," Benavides says, "I love fashion and I always will, but I find illustration more interesting as a career.” Nevertheless, she considers her internship at Saga the most fulfilling career opportunity she has had so far and she is eager to see her designs in their upcoming collection.

Sources: Blanca Benavides, Arturo Rios, Camila Peralta

2. A Life Battle

After thirteen years of remission, Bridget Frosina was apparently cured for good, yet a feeling in the pit of her stomach told her something was wrong.

Frosina was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 3 and underwent treatment for three years with positive results. Her body showed no trace of leukemic blasts in her bone marrow and her blood cells had a normal presence. Nevertheless, at age 16, the symptoms of her cancer reemerged. What everyone thought were average teenage pimples and raging hormones were not as trivial matters as they seemed. “I started getting weird things like pimples and cold soars, which people claimed were from my ex boyfriend, but they weren't. They ended up being signs I was sick”, Bridget says.

Upon experiencing back pains, cold sores, and abnormal acne, she started routine check-ups with her doctor. An MRI detected an increased density in her back area, which her doctor claimed was normal in childhood cancer patients. Yet despite his comforting words, Bridget knew better. “I looked at my mom and said no, it's back. And like any mother she told me to stop thinking like that. Little did she know, I was right”, Frosina recounts.

According to Karen Seiter, MD at NY Medical College, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is the most common type of leukemia in children. It is a malignant disease of the bone marrow, in which immature white blood cells are overproduced. The word acute refers to the short span in which the disease acts- it is fatal even after a few weeks of not being treated. After five years of remission from this cancer, a relapse is uncommon. Yet Frosina is one of the first people to have had exactly the same type of cancer after thirteen years of clean health.

In December of 2006, Frosina started a new type of chemotherapy, this time with the use of corticoidsteroids. The new type of treatment was an utter foe to her self-esteem and teenage vanity. Her hair loss, bloating, and weight gain due to the chemotherapy and steroids, naturally triggered a vast amount of self-consciousness. “The first day everyone found out and visited me I sat in my hospital bed and straightened my [remaining] hair and put on make-up and bargained with the nurses to take the IV's out for so long so that my friends wouldn't see me as the sick girl”, tells Frosina. Yet between the side effects of the chemo and the high fevers, which left her septic for up to five days, it was quite a challenge to keep the appearance of not being sick. Rather than pretending, Frosina decided to take control.

Iliana Begetis, Frosina’s best friend recounts the first time she started experiencing hair loss, “She was sitting watching tv and as she combed her fingers through her hair, a lock fell. Anyone else would’ve freaked out at that very moment! Instead, Bridget just looked at the fallen lock, got up, grabbed a pair of scissors, went into the bathroom, and chopped all of her hair off.” Begetis talks about Frosina with admiration and pride. Bridget considers herself lucky for being surrounded by people who strived to keep her positive during her disease, “There were days when I just didn't want to do anything and in a way gave up because I was just so tired of dealing with everything. But my friends wouldn't let me be like that and I really believe they are the reason I was the way I was throughout the whole thing.”

Yet she did not receive the same amount of support from everyone who surrounded her. Her lack of family support was what affected her the most. She received no phone calls, no letters, and absolutely no manifestations of care from neither her grandparents, her aunts, or her uncles living in North Carolina. Yet her inner strength and desire to battle her disease predominated over any affliction she encountered. In August of 2008, she successfully completed her chemotherapy and has been in remission ever since.

This is her story. I have shared it with you for simply one reason: this story inspires. Everything that she is today connects to her cancer survival. The pain she felt made her human and compassionate; the endurance she gained made her determined and strong; her proximity to defeat made her more eager to succeed; her storm of grief triggered a clear sky of happiness. Right now, as a sophomore at U Conn, Bridget’s main goals lie in her nursing career, living her life one day at a time, and not sweating over trivial things. Lance Armstrong, says we have two options in life: give up or fight like hell. Bridget always opts for the latter- always.

Late Bloomers

Today The Guardian published an article about scientific findings in the UK regarding the correlation between children’s development at nine months and five years. According to the study of 15,000 children, infants who develop less at nine months are more likely to struggle in school when they are five. This causes some controversy regarding the government’s role in preventing children from less privileged backgrounds from falling behind even before they start school.

To be honest, I find the value of these scientific findings questionable. Of course, your development as a baby affects your future life. Clearly, kids with less developed gross motor skills before they begin school are going to fall behind. Is this really a scientific discovery? Furthermore, is it really that bad to fall behind when you are five years old? I mean, pardon my ignorance, but I think kids eventually catch up. Some of the smartest people I know struggled in school when they were kids.

I definitely think it’s important for UK’s government to worry about children’s health and wellbeing. Yet, they should definitely shift their focus to more relevant research.

Goodbye Lunch-time Skittles?

Today I read an article at the Times regarding a new legislation the Obama administration wants to introduce. Unlike most legislations, this one actually caught my attention. Its aim is to ban candy and sugary beverages from schools throughout the country in an effort to fight against child obesity.

I cannot help to feel skeptical about this initiative. Just because kids don’t have junk food in their schools, it doesn’t mean they’re not going to purchase it elsewhere. Think about it. The harder it is for us to get something, the more we want it.

Take my friend Camila. As an obese child, her parents kept every single candy bar in the house locked inside their kitchen cabinet. What did they get in return? Every day Camila would run to the grocery store and spent her entire allowance on the most fattening foods she could find. It wasn’t until her parents realized that teaching her healthy eating habits was more effective than prohibiting her from every single junk food in the world, that Camila finally achieved a healthy weight.

What I’m trying to say is that banning candy bars from schools is only going to make children crave them more. And, let’s face it, junk food is the easiest thing to get in this country. As Hardiner points out in his article, as soon as a school cafeteria got rid of its sweets two years ago, the school secretary’s candy cart became increasingly popular.

That being said, I do think it is important for schools to provide as many healthy options as junk food. Furthermore, cooked foods should use the best ingredients possible in order to ensure a good nutrition. Caloric tables and nutritional information should also be available in every school cafeteria.

Banning junk foods from high schools is not a solution for child obesity, but a mere cover up to the problem. In the real world children are constantly going to be surrounded by unhealthy food alternatives. Prohibiting sweets from schools is a relatively easy move. The Obama administration’s real duty lies in providing schools the necessary resources to teach children how to opt for a correct nutrition.

2. Yet Another New Business Goal for Pedro Espinoza

Lima, Peru. This past January, Pedro Espinoza Brinkmann, a Peruvian artist and designer embarked on an unexpected business in the construction industry upon a close friend’s persuasion.

His close friend, and now partner, Alfredo Chang, talked him into investing in the construction of an 8-floor building in a 400-meters-squared terrain located in the neighborhood of San Borja. With this investment in mind, they have formed the company Ocho Rios, named after the Amazonian location in which they first discussed their business, along with four other partners.

“I know nothing about the construction world”, confessed Espinoza. “When Alfredo first proposed the idea to me I immediately abstained from it. First of all, I didn’t have the money and, moreover, I would be going into this business with my eyes closed.”

Espinoza graduated from The Catholic University of Lima with a degree in economics and a masters in business administration, yet it was not until years later that he started pursuing his passion for art. In 2001 he formed the small company Arte Qollana, in which he works with various different artists in the manufacturing of authentic Peruvian art pieces. He felt that the shift from economics to art would be the first and last dramatic change in his life. Nevertheless, Chang was determined to make him his partner in his newly envisioned business.

“I offered to lend him the money for this investment. I knew Pedro had no experience in construction, but he knows a thing or two about managing a company”, Chang said.

Espinoza trusted Chang’s instincts. “I could not reject his offer. In contrast to the US, Peru’s economy has not been severely affected by the global economic crisis. Lima has recently shown a significant growth in the construction industry”, he says.

According to the UN’s Human Development Report of 2009, Peru is an emerging economy where businesses are flourishing. This is reflected on its steady decrease in poverty levels since 2004.

The construction of Ocho Rios’ first building is programmed to begin in approximately thirty to forty days after the completion of all their legal paperwork with the contractors. The building, designed for a middle-class population, will have sixteen apartments and two underground parking levels. The company plans to build not only more homes in the future, but also offices among other construction projects. The partners surely have high expectations for their business.