Greek Film in the Spotlight

I recently read about Greek film nights being held monthly sponsored by the Greek Press and Communication Office of New York. I am not so familiar with the genre of modern Greek film, but I thought it was an innovative switch up from the common Greek club nights that might be worth promoting in more Greek communities if you can not make it to New York. The events include Greek food and a showing of a modern Greek film and are simply another way to get your whole parea together to spend some time. For more information on the film nights and other Greek film events check out the links below.

Greek Film Nights New York

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Greek Press and Communication Director, promoting the image of Greece

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- CelebrateGreece.com coverage

New York Greek Film Festival

Interview with Constantine Maroulis

Greek Community a strong supporter of one of its own

One of my favorite things about the Greek community is that it loves to celebrate the success of fellow Greeks. I met Constantine Maroulis, American Idol Season 4 finalist and star of the upcoming Broadway show Rock of Ages, last year at an event that is based on that very quality, the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund Ball, which annually awards the success of Greek-American students and professionals. Maroulis was very outgoing and happy to meet and get pictures with everyone. It was clear he was just as proud to enjoy the evening with fellow Greeks as I was. And because of his relatable, down-to earth nature, I was not surprised when he agreed to speak with me about his current endeavors and the role his culture has played in his success. Through our conversation, Maroulis conveys such an appreciation for the Greek community and how rewarding its support as well as being able to give back to it has been. To listen to the full interview click below.

Listen here

For more information on Maroulis in Rock of Ages, check out www.rockofagesmusical.com and find out how to get tickets for the show with previews beginning tomorrow and opening night on April 7.
Also check out Maroulis' official website, www.constantinemaroulis.com, coming soon.

Continuing the Celebration

Little over a week until Greek Independence Day, I already have caught myself humming the Greek National anthem in anticipation. Although it may seem a little extreme to some, my pride in my culture overwhelms me even more than usual every 25th of March. Religiously, it is significant, as the Annunciation of the Theotokos, the day that the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear a child. However, it is an extremely significant day in history as well that really exemplifies the heart and dedication Greeks are known to have for their culture and country.

In 1821, when the Greeks already had been oppressed by Ottoman rule for hundreds of years, Bishop Germanos of Patras marked the day of March 25th, which would come to be celebrated for so many years to come. He raised the Greek flag at the Monastery of Agia Lavra in Peloponnese declaring one more revolution against the Turks. People of Greece shouted “Eleftheria H Thanatos” (Freedom or Death) and went on to fight for eight years until finally the Treaty of Adrianople recognized Greek independence.
Independence was a monumental accomplishment for Greece. It is so impressive to me how the Greeks managed to maintain their cultural identity despite so many years of oppression, and I believe it is that astonishment that makes many Greeks also feel thankful every year for our ancestors’ determination and faith. I think that pride in our culture is something that defines us as Greeks and why March 25th will never cease to be a great day of celebration.

Though almost all Greek Orthodox churches hold some sort of celebration to commemorate the day, there are some which are widely-recognized, large celebrations put on for Greek Independence Day that are also exciting to attend. Some of these include the Greek Independence Day Parade on 5th in New York City, Parade in Greektown Chicago, Parade in Greektown Detroit, the Mid-Atlantic Parade in Maryland and of course too many to list in Greece. Be prepared and enjoy a full celebration of the day!

Next best thing in the U.S.

Flying across the Atlantic isn’t always an option; however, there are some great places in the states where you can get a taste of Greece. Greek towns are exactly what they sound like, a town populated by Greek people and Greek establishments. If you have never visited one, then I highly recommend it. Even if you have visited one, I suggest traveling to another because although all are filled with Greek stores, restaurants, nightlife and other general establishments, each Greek town is a different experience and has its own character benefiting and building upon the unique charm of its surrounding city. Below are some of my favorites.

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Tarpon Spring’s Greektown is a great vacation spot. Located close to Tampa, the Greek atmosphere and beautiful Florida weather are a perfect mix. It is a perfect place to stroll through on a nice day offering a variety of shops with Greek memorabilia and waterside restaurants.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago’s Greektown is like a smaller version of the city with a strong Greek influence. This town has a great variety of restaurants as well as an exciting Greek nightlife. There are also many groceries and other common stores represented in Greek within the town that establish it independent from surrounding areas and really heighten the experience.

http://www.greektownchicago.org/

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit’s Greektown is centered in a downtown area with the large Greektown Casino as its main attraction. The luxurious casino is in the heart of Greektown offering gaming, a hotel, dining and nightlife with a Greek influence. Also, once outside the casino, you can take your pick from a string of authentic Greek Restaurants.

http://www.greektowncasino.com/

Astoria Queens, New York City

Astoria has one of the largest populations of Greeks outside of Greece, and there influence is clearly represented in combination with the area’s New York feel. A plethora of restaurants, bakeries, taverns, cafes and Greek Orthodox Churches shape the town which is full of diversity and culture.

UrbanGreek Post Independence Day Party

Beautiful Beaches of Greece's Best Party Island

Beaches, sun and exotic vacations are on the mind as Spring Break season is quickly approaching. For some that may mean a trip to the typical Florida or Mexico, but for me Greece is always the ultimate getaway. However, just like the United States, Greece has its own vacation hotspots, and for the beautiful and wild escape Spring Break is known for the island Mykonos is the best place to be. It has a reputation for a range of beautiful beaches with an outrageous nightlife perfect for a week-long adventure. Check out the map below to learn about the island's beaches and what they have to offer!

Useful tools to Brush up on your Greek

Growing up, I have always spoken some Greek, but fluency is still a goal I am striving for. I wish I had been pushed to speak it more when I was little because teaching myself Greek amongst having to work and go to school has been quite a challenge. Though, the fact that many of my friends have been faced with the same situation has made it easier because we practice speaking Greek together and push one another to keep up with it. Through all of our experiences with trying to learn Greek, we have found there are some pretty useful tools other than our fluent family members, old books from Greek school and one another. I found the following tools to be the most useful from what my friends and I have tried.

Rosetta Stone

Although it can be very expensive depending where you get it from, I found Rosetta Stone’s Modern Greek program extremely useful. It takes a different approach to learning the language by straying away from the typical college language set up and teaching the language similar to how you learn to speak your first language as a child. It begins matching simple words by sound to their written and picture form. This format continues on progressing into sentences and phrases and covers a wide range of vocabulary. If you are passionate about becoming fluent in Greek, I highly suggest this program as a helpful tool in your learning process.

Pimsleur Method

This CD set is very inexpensive and convenient since it can be played in the car or uploaded to an ipod. It teaches in 30-minute lessons that begin with the presentation of a conversation completely in Greek, then that conversation is broken down so that you may learn the vocabulary and how and why it is used in the initial conversation. It provides over 2,500 words to learn and is centered on more essential conversation to those who may often interact with fluent speakers or may be traveling to Greece. This method is a great place to start especially if you are on a budget.

Some other programs to check out are In Flight Greek, Just Listen 'N Learn Greek and Before You Know It, Greek.