Over the past several years, Harvard Art Museums has acquired hundreds of printer’s proofs of work by celebrated artists, photojournalists, and fashion photographers, in a boon for Harvard holdings of contemporary art. Some of that rich collection is now on display.
“Analog Culture: Printer’s Proofs from the Schneider/Erdman Photography Lab, 1981–2001” features approximately 90 black-and-white images from the Manhattan lab of Gary Schneider, an artist, photographer, and master printer, and John Erdman, an artist and expert retoucher.
On view through Aug. 12, the exhibit explores the dynamic exchange between artist and printer, the methods and materials used in printmaking, and the social forces that helped shape New York and the nation in the 1980s and ’90s. (The lab closed in 2001.)
“For me that range is what really makes the collection significant,” said the show’s curator, Jennifer Quick, Harvard’s John R. and Barbara Robinson Family Associate Research Curator in Photography. “It’s the granular, material history of photography, and the big broader social histories that it documents.”
One of the most haunting images on display is a photograph printed for the American artist and AIDS activist David Wojnarowicz, who died from the disease in 1992 at the age of 37. For many, Wojnarowicz’s shot of buffalo plunging off a cliff — a picture of a diorama he snapped at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington — reflected not just the horror of the AIDS crisis but also the nation’s early apathy toward victims of the disease. The band U2 used the picture as cover art for the single “One,” donating sales to AIDS research.
In an interview, Schneider, a filmmaker and photographer by training, said that the choice of a “very bright” French paper called Brilliant helped render Wojnarowicz’s image “holographic.”
Becoming a printer was a natural progression for Schneider, who took a job in a photo lab to help him get through grad school at the Pratt Institute in the late 1970s and soon fell in love with darkroom work. Later, at the urging of a friend, he and Erdman, his partner, began printing works for other artists in their apartment in St. Mark’s Place. The spare bedroom doubled as a darkroom; the living room quickly filled with racks of drying prints. Eventually they moved to a studio in Cooper Square.
Gary Schneider (left) and John Erdman with some of their iconic prints on view at Harvard Art Museums through Aug. 12. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Erdman managed the books, but as the business grew, he also developed into a skilled retoucher. The shop became a regular stop for a who’s who of the East Village art scene. Famed portrait photographer Richard Avedon enlisted Schneider and Erdman to print a set of Beatles images. Madonna sought their expertise for her “Sex” coffee table book, a project that involved nondisclosure agreements and a range of creative voices. Nan Goldin, Peter Hujar, Lisette Model, and James Casebere, among many other noted artists, were regulars.
Through the years, Schneider’s own gift with the camera helped inform how he translated an artist’s negative to a finished print. He likened his work to a kind of performance in which he channeled the ideas of others, using his experience and creative eye to develop options for clients whom he insisted arrive prepared.
“If they didn’t have a vision for the work I wasn’t going to create one for them,” he said. “I couldn’t.”
What he could do was deliver “a number of choices or alternatives,” by selecting the right combinations of paper, ink, toner, and developer, and by deciding how long to expose a work to enhance shadows or highlights.
“Even when I am dealing with a student, it’s their voice that I am looking to reveal to them,” said Schneider. “With an artist, it’s their desire that I’m searching for.”
The printing process is about “how far can I actually catalyze that artist’s voice or that artist’s desire rather than my own,” he said.
Archival material, books, and an Irene Bayer photo from Schneider and Erdman’s personal collection are part of the exhibit, along with key darkroom items such as test prints, a light valve technology negative, and “masks” — material used to cover an area of a print to limit its exposure time. All help shine a light on Schneider and Erdman’s process.
Ensuring the collection would be housed at an institution devoted to teaching and learning was key for the pair, who led various demonstrations and discussions with Harvard students in the months before the exhibition.
“We always viewed the collection as a study collection,” said Erdman, who accompanied Schneider to Harvard in 2004 for the installation of “Gary Schneider: Portraits.”
It was during that visit that they were struck by the Fogg Art Museum’s Agnes Mongan Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs, and its commitment to teaching. “We fantasized about [our collection] coming here,” said Erdman.
As the Earth continues to heat up, so have calls to dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change. But many experts say that even if all emissions stopped tomorrow, the planet would continue to warm and seas would continue to rise.
A key issue is that atmosphere would still be clogged with 200 years’ worth of human-produced carbon dioxide. “The question is, what do we do with all this excess CO2 in the atmosphere?” said Noah Deich, executive director and co-founder of the nonprofit Center for Carbon Removal.
A new application of old technology may be the answer. “Direct air capture” that removes the gas from ambient air has possible since the 1940s, but — at a cost estimated in 2011 to be as much as $1,000 per metric ton of CO2 — it has long been viewed as too expensive to be practical.
David Keith, the Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and professor of public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, thinks it can be done for a lot less. He and his colleagues estimate that their company, Carbon Engineering, could capture CO2 for between $94 and $232 per metric ton. In the journal Joule, the team outlined the material and engineering costs of their system — the first time the costs of a commercial direct-air-capture process have been published. The paper could have major ramifications across the industry.
“Until now, basically no one in the industry has published an open-book number that will give credibility that direct air capture costs less than the $500 to $1,000 per metric ton that has been estimated,” Deich said.
CO2 molecules make up only .04 percent of the air — that’s one in 2,500 molecules. Nonetheless, “We need enormous volumes of CO2 removal and to achieve that, we need accurate economic analysis and hard engineering data,” said Julio Friedmann, CEO of Carbon Wrangler LLC and senior advisor at The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute. “This paper provides that transparency.”
Keith co-founded Carbon Engineering in 2009, when direct air capture was still on the fringes of industrial climate solutions. Carbon Engineering’s goal is to use direct air capture to produce carbon-neutral fuels and converting carbon-free energy into high-energy fuels for vehicles such as planes and barges, which are difficult to electrify.
The Carbon Engineering team’s approach differs from their few competitors in the field.
“We’re not developing a fundamentally new product or unit operation,” said Keith. “That’s the design choice we made. We’re making something that’s never been done before — commercial large-scale air capture — but we’re doing it on a basis of technology that already exists.”
Artist’s rendering of Carbon Engineering’s air capture design. This unit would be one of several that would collectively capture 1 million metric tonnes of CO2 per year.
In the Carbon Engineering system, a remodeled industrial cooling tower containing a liquid hydroxide solution captures CO₂ and converts it into carbonate. The carbonate is then converted into pellets in equipment originally created to extract minerals in water-treatment plants. Finally, the carbon pellets are heated in a kiln originally designed for roasting gold, and transformed into pure carbon dioxide gas, which can be turned into synthetic fuel.
Keith’s team worked directly with commercial suppliers of each of piece of repurposed equipment to design tests, engineer alterations, and develop cost estimates to adapt the hardware for a commercial direct-air-capture plant.
“In a post-Paris Accords world, everyone has been talking about carbon removal but most of the analysis is secondary literature or policy perspectives,” said Keith. “This is the first paper to estimate the cost of direct air capture based on a detailed engineering design and cost analysis. While uncertainties, of course, remain, the fact that it can be built using established processes and suppliers gives us confidence to develop industrial-scale plants.”
With that cost breakdown, direct air capture — especially direct air capture that can be used to make synthetic fuel — may look less exotic and more attractive to investors and policymakers.
In addition, the technology is location-independent, which should add to its allure, said Joe Lassiter, retired Senior Fellow and Senator John Heinz Professor of Management Practice in Environmental Management at the Harvard Business School.
“A commercial carbon capture facility could be located anywhere in the world where renewable or nuclear is inexpensive,” said Lassiter. “This is an example of how engineering and human cleverness can find economically feasible and sustainable solutions to the problems that society faces.”
To date, Keith and the Carbon Engineering team have raised about $30 million. The next step is to raise funds for a plant that can deliver fuels to market, which depends on finding a renewable power supplier who wants to supply high-capacity power at a low price and incentives for low-carbon fuels.
“I hope this paper will launch 1,000 master’s students to figure out how to create an even better future using this technology,” said Friedmann.
Between the paws of the six-story Great Sphinx in Giza, a slab of hieroglyphs tells the story of how King Thutmose IV dreamed his destiny.
The eight-foot Dream Stela was erected in 1401 B.C., 1,000 years after the Great Sphinx. Age has left the bottom third of the text unreadable.
Under the leadership of Harvard Semitic Museum curator Adam Aja, students created a reproduction of the monument, following a cast that dates to the 1840s. The work is now on display on the museum’s second floor. As an accompaniment, visitors can access an augmented-reality app that sheds light on the Sphinx throughout history.
Extension School student Caitlin Stone was one of 12 students who spent hours last fall poring over two molds Aja brought back from KU Leuven, a university in Belgium, which owns one of a group of mid-19th-century replicas.
“I just love casting,” said Stone, who is working on a master’s in museum studies. “It’s what got me interested in working with Adam. And the added element of the app is amazing in action.”
Aja concocted a blue urethane resin for his team to use in the project. The process demanded intense focus. Students from the College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Division of Continuing Education had between seven and 10 minutes to “paint” the poured resin into the molds’ tiny crevices.
Aja reminded students to “even out.”
“We don’t want clear brushstrokes,” he said. “Curing time is 10 minutes from mixing time to application. After that, the veneer will layer thicker.”
Students work quickly to paint resin into molds made from a cast of the ancient Egyptian monument.
Idabelle Paterson, a gap-year student who will start at Harvard in the fall, worked on the project as part of a three-month internship with the museum.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn how the cast process works and it’s an interesting glimpse into what museum life is like. The fact that we are able to re-create what the stela really looks like is incredible. It’s an invaluable experience.”
Peter Der Manuelian, Philip J. King Professor of Egyptology and director of the museum, said that the sunk relief was a first for the exhibit spaces.
“We don’t have anything like this,” he said. “It grew out of Adam’s expertise in developing Mesopotamian resin relief casts. His thinking as both archaeologist and museum curator gave it the right balance. It has to catch the light to really show how impressive it was intended to look.”
The reproduction was installed in March. More than 300 students from Der Manuelian’s course “Pyramid Schemes: The Archaeological History of Ancient Egypt” tested the augmented reality app, which displays an overlay of clear hieroglyphs on the slab as well as translations of several sections.
When Kushi Mallikarjun ’19 clicked on the Sphinx icon, the towering creature appeared, visible in different eras (Old Kingdom, New Kingdom, and now) in 360 degrees.
“The Dream Stela and the augmented reality made me feel like I was actually traveling back thousands of years,” said Mallikarjun. “The fact that I could move the phone and see different parts of Giza made me feel present at the site. The augmented reality also provided a translation of the entire stela, which was really cool since normally I would have very little clue as to what it says. It was a great learning experience and makes the younger generation more interested in archaeology and ancient civilizations.”
When a new designer somehow manages to change the aesthetic scene of an entire event, it’s a pretty safe bet they’re the next big thing. Such was the case with this year’s Whitney Art Party, with Alexandra O’Neill giving the crowd a much needed ‘Kira Kira’ shine, dressing everyone from Hilary Rhoda to Ashley Graham in her line Markarian’s latest collection of dream, prêt-à-party dresses.Fresh off a November launch on The Platform, Moda Operandi’s new incubator for emerging designers, Markarian’s is a “feminine and ethereal” look – one pretty piece after another that will have you making an occasion out of just about anything. As one who clearly practices what she preaches, Alexandra’s Greenwich Village home is just as well styled as the designer herself. We caught up with Ali at her divinely decorated downtown abode to get the skinny on everything from her must-shop stores to that one piece every woman should have in her closet.
How did you find yourself in the design world?
My grandmother, GiGi, lived with my family growing up and taught me how to sew at a very young age. I fell in love with making clothing when I was 10 and always knew this is what I wanted to do. GiGi still helps me with tricky patterns and structure now.
What’s your favorite occasion to dress for?
I will take any excuse to dress up a little and love getting dressed for the holidays. My grandparents throw a party at their home on Christmas Eve every year that our whole family gets decked out for. My Great Aunt Beth has worn this incredible gold velvet floor length skirt for the past 30 years that is beautiful. The party is so festive and puts you into such wonderful holiday spirits.
What’s your everyday go-to look?
Light washed Levi’s, a t-shirt, and a vintage jacket.
What are some of your most loved labels or stores?
I am a vintage hound. My favorite vintage store in the city is Edith Machinist in the LES. I also find such incredible treasures at the Manhattan Vintage show every time it happens. Other stores I love are Antony Todd home, the Apartment by the Line, and the well curated collections and events at the Moda Operandi Madison store.
What’s the one piece every woman should have in her closet?
A knock out dress that she always feels beautiful in no matter where she’s going or what she is doing.
Would your ideal night be going out or staying in?
I love having people over to my apartment for dinner parties or movie night, everyone feels at home there. I do also love to go out dancing every now and then though…
What was your favorite part of designing your apartment?
I loved scrolling through all of the listings on 1st dibs.
Something truly amazing is FINALLY coming to the Hamptons!!! A true one hundred percent vegan café!
And while there are certainly plenty of suitable options for the health-conscious out East, the Hamptons is finally getting a 100%, totally vegan café. The Plant Based Coffee Shop, set to open this June, is the brainchild of Marley and Lennon Ficalora, two vegetarian-raised brothers who set out to create an establishment which would “make healthy plant-based food affordable and accessible to everyone.”
So, for those who want to maintain their Gwyneth-approved lifestyle (or just try it out), this café is the best thing to hit the East End since the SoulCycle BARN.
The Plant Based Coffee shop will feature cafe staples such as wraps and bowls, along with cold brew and kombucha on tap. It will be open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Stay tuned!
Summer has finally sprung upon us. Though you may prefer to escape the hustle and bustle in favor of the crisp air near the Aegean Sea, spending summer in the city is truly magical, especially since you can, literally, find a taste of Mediterranean serenity without having to island hop. If you can’t afford an exotic adventure to Greece or Coastal Italy, you can, at least, take your taste buds on vacation.
Cafe Medi
Serving up dishes inspired by the traditional coastal fare of Spain, Italy, and France, Cafe Medi is not only a go-to for delicious and unique Mediterranean, but also for an amazing ‘gram. The beautiful space boasts an airy atmosphere, complete with high ceilings and stunning murals on the walls. Come summer, there’s also outdoor terrace seating – perfect for pretending you’re catching a seaside breeze.
Located on the Upper East Side, Yefsi highlights charm and sophistication in their authentic meals, focusing on appetizer meze dishes. Enjoy a plate of grilled octopus with a chilled Retsina white wine in this dimly lit restaurant. Date night, anyone?
Craving seafood? This upscale eatery on Madison Avenue emanates a “villa vibe” with extended outdoor seating available, displaying fresh whole fish from the Aegean upon entrance.
The Greek Tribeca offers a cozy escape, where creative dishes and natural vines and greenery capture the spotlight, as if you were sitting in an outdoor taverna in Mykonos on a hot summer night.
Named after the volcanic island featuring pristine clear-blue water, Milos is an NYC favorite. Its sleek interior truly brings out the contrasting colors native to Greece and sharpens the focus on the incredible seafood.
Just a quick drive down the West Side Highway transports you to the beauty of Greece as you stumble upon Ousia, a recently opened restaurant on 57th and 11th. Conveniently located next to the Landmark movie theater, enjoy a bite of their hummus and pita, maybe some cocktails and a spanakopita, after a show.
Walking down the grey and white cobblestones, you will immediately feel as if you’ve stepped foot into a local taverna in Santorini, greeted with white walls and blue straw chairs. If you’re looking for something more laid-back but as equally delicious as an upscale restaurant, journey to Souvlaki GR for their famous bifteki sandwich or a few souvlaki skewers. Sit back, relax, and breathe in the fresh air of Greece while situated in the middle of the Lower East Side.
Tired of Greek food? Hop on over to the Amalfi coast for this Italian-Mediterranean fusion restaurant situated just beneath The High Line. The glassed-in, jewel box of a space creates the perfect atmosphere to munch on some seafood and pasta after a day of roaming around Chelsea.
A small, intimate setting with colorful plates for curious palates awaits New Yorkers on Macdougal street. Shuka offers Mediterranean fare, creative cocktails, and a trendy clientele. Enjoy shawarma, shakshuka, and other small plates as you wine and dine while seeing and being seen.
Don’t let its modest facade fool you. The world’s top eatery is once again Osteria Francescana, run by Italian-born chef Massimo Bottura and his American wife, Lara Gilmore. Previously named Number One back in 2016, the non-traditional restaurant serves up modern Italian cuisine like a story, with dishes woven with narratives and tastes of the region.
2. El Celler de Can Roca – Girona, Spain
The Roca brothers have made El Celler de Can Rocathe world’s top eatery twice, and although it comes in as Number Two this year, the innovative space in northern Spain is nevertheless a must-visit. The food is contemporary Catalan while the plating is purely imaginative. Some lucky few diners even get to tour Josep Roca’s unbelievable wine cellar.
3. Mirazur – Menton, France
Chef Mauro Colagreco is informed by his Argentine-Italian heritage, making his Mediterranean fare all the more adventurous on the French side of the riviera. Expect stunning views and fresh seafood at Mirazur.
4. Eleven Madison Park – New York, New York
After snagging last year’s top spot on this list, our very own Eleven Madison Parkclosed for a much-needed face-lift. Now it’s back and more modern than ever – and we’re not just talking about the interiors. Chef Daniel Humm has taken to more minimalist plating, but the European-inspired dishes are just as delicious. It might have fallen a few spots, but it’s still Number One in North America.
5. Gaggan – Bangkok, Thailand
Officially named the best restaurant in Asia for four years in a row, Gaggan is known for their progressive Indian creations mixed with traditional Thai hospitality. The tasting menu is written out in emojis so that each dish is a literal surprise.
6. Central – Lima, Peru
Peru’s unique biodiversity is celebrated at Central, which has topped Latin American restaurant lists for years. Husband-and-wife team Chef Virgilio Martínez and Pía León have become leaders in Peruvian dining, taking guests on a tasting journey through the land in 17+ courses.
7. Maido – Lima, Peru
Peruvian-Japanese cuisine reigns at Chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura’s Maido in Lima, where colorful Nikkei dishes include fish hot dogs and Cau Cau dim sum with sea snail. Unique to say the least!
8. Arpège – Paris, France
Vegetables take the main stage at Arpège, where Michelin-starred (a million times over) chef Alain Passard cooks fresh fare from his own farms. After years of going fully vegetarian, meat has returned to the French eatery in small quantities – so carnivores are welcome!
9. Mugaritz – San Sebastian, Spain
Traditional Basque dishes get a creative twist at Mugaritz during a 20-course meal, during which you’re asked to give over to your senses. All thanks to pioneering chef Andoni Luis Aduriz.
10. Asador Etxebarri – Axpe, Spain
Located in the Spanish countryside, Asador Etxebarri is worth the trek for Chef Victor Arguinzoniz simple, local dishes, and wood-fired barbecue. The stone dining room and service remains unpretentious, despite its world-renowned status.
Whether you’re looking for adventure on the steppes or a hammock steps from the ocean, here are the best trips to take this summer.
June 21 marks the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and vacation season is in full swing—with plenty of destinations to choose from, no matter your style or speed. To make decision time go as smooth as that beach side sangria, take a look at our list of 2018’s best summer trips.
BORNEO
If you love pygmy elephants, glow-in-the-dark mushrooms, floating markets, secret gardens hidden in caves, and the rehabilitation of endangered orangutans—then Borneo is the summer trip for you. After a day of spelunking in Borneo’s Gunung Mulu National Park, visitors can stick around to observe the “Bat Exodus,” as over three million bats swoop into the fading sky from Deer Cave, the largest cave chamber on the planet. Borneo is also the place to spot Irrawaddy dolphins, proboscis monkeys, soft-shelled turtles, clouded leopards, the world’s longest insect, and 15,000 species of plants—including carnivorous pitcher plants; the famous corpse flower; and monster flowers, the largest known blossoms on the planet.
Cloud forest covers the mountains in Malaysia, on Borneo. Several countries—Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei—make up the island’s territory.
ICELAND
Iceland is so much more than a quirky layover or winter Northern Lightssite. From May through June the midnight sun provides plenty of daylight hours for soaking in thermal pools, hiking on glaciers in Skaftafell National Park, and sidestepping tide-washed icebergs on black-sand Diamond Beach. In Iceland, mosquitoes don’t exist; the temperature hasn’t gone above 87°F since 1939; and the tap water, filtered underground through ancient lava fields, is some of the purest drinking water in the world. Spend the afternoon beside bubbling mudpots, the black basalt falls of Svartifoss,the magic mossy cascades of Skógafoss … and you’ll see exactly why most Icelanders still believe in elves.
Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s most iconic waterfalls.
ILHA GRANDE
Brazil’s Ilha Grande may only be a 15-minute boat ride from Jacareí (or a roughly hour-long ferry from Rio), but its 106 quiet beaches, musical rainforests, and car-free streets feel a world away. Most of the island is protected within Ilha Grande State Park, meaning the jungle hikes to Parnaioca and Lopes Mendes Beach offer sightings of many endangered tropical species, including maned sloths, brown howler monkeys, and the red-browed amazon parrot. Stay in a breezy pousada, drink passionfruit caipirinhas lagoon-side, or visit one of the island’s over 30 restaurants for a bowl of traditional shrimp moqueca—a bright stew of fresh seafood steeped in coconut milk and palm oil.
PHOTOGRAPH BY LUCIA TERUI, YOUR SHOT
SOUTHERN INDONESIA
Strung between the islands of Sumatra and Timor-Leste, the Indonesian islands of Bali, Java, and Nusa Tenggara are ripe with coffee farms, Buddhist temple ruins, Komodo dragons, and coral reefs. Sway to the sounds of a bamboo instrument orchestra, learn the art forms of rattan weaving and batik in Java, or bike through lime-green rice terraces in Bali. Visit color changing lakes in the mountains of Nusa Tenggara. And when you need to catch your breath, head to the Bogor Botanical Garden, a world-renowned center for tropical botany with 13,983 different kinds of trees and plants, including 500 species of orchid.
Clouds skirt Mount Bromo, an active volcano in Java, Indonesia.
LEBANON
The Spaniards argue that crème brûlée is just a French version of crema catalana. Welsh historians claim Arthur Guinness smuggled his famous stout recipe from a Welsh tavern to Dublin. And Lebanon … Lebanon wants their hummus back. Often overlooked as a culinary destination, Lebanon crafts the ideal summer mezze table in an equally ideal temperate climate. Stroll open air markets in Byblos, one of the world’s oldest cities. Cool off at the Baatara Gorge Waterfall. Then settle in beneath the cedars for a feast of local wine, tabbouleh, tiny rounds of hot sesame pita, baba ghanoush sprinkled with pomegranate seeds, and plates of herb-y cheese, all drizzled in bright swoops of local olive oil.
Lebanon is an overlooked culinary destination.
MASAI MARA
There are few African safari lands that get as up-close-and-personal as Masai Mara, an expansive and fenceless preserved savannah that stretches between Kenya and Tanzania. The region is home to a dream team of wildlife including lions, cheetahs, zebras, elephants, giraffes, gazelles, rhinos, leopards, and baboons. July through September is the best time to visit, when two million wildebeest bravely storm across crocodile-clogged rivers and grassy plains on their annual migration to the Serengeti. Witness the tension by safari car or on horseback, sail over hippos in a hot air balloon, visit a local Maasai community, then snorkel off that savannah sand in the coral reefs off of Kenya’s peaceful Diani Beach.
Late summer to early fall is the best time to see Masai Mara’s famous wildebeest migration.
MONGOLIA
Medical anthropologist and National Geographic explorer, Carroll Dunham, and her family have spent sixteen blue-sky summers living among nomadic tribes in Mongolia—one of the least population-dense, and most hospitable, countries in the world. And while Dunham loves camping in a traditional ger, watching archery displays at local Naadam festivals, and horseback riding through wild poppies—she says the main reason her family returns is for the people. “No one can sing from the depths of their being and bellies like the Mongols,” she writes. Landlocked Mongolia is known for its 1,000-foot-high singing dunes, crystal clear rivers, cool summer nights, ancient dinosaur fossils, bad cell service, exquisite cashmere, Buddhist lamas, and golden mountains. One spirited horseback ride through these green steppes and we’re sure you’ll be throat singing too.
Wild horses graze on a Mongolian plateau. National Geographic offers an expedition that allows visitors to explore the country on horseback with local experts.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
May marks the end of the rainy season in Papua New Guinea, making summer the best, and least slippery, season for hiking the Kokoda Track—a historic 60-mile mountain trek along waterfalls, rope bridges, and vibrant villages. Further north, in Mount Hagen, more than 70 tribal groups gather every August for the Sing-Sing Festival, a joyful celebration of ancestral song and dance with lizard-skin drums, swishing grass skirts, conch-shell necklaces and stunning feather headdresses. A dream destination for snorkeling, diving, and birding, PNG claims over 600 islands, 800 native languages, and almost all 43 unbelievably colorful species of birds-of-paradise, including the stunning, neon-blue-feathered Vogelkop, just identified this year by ornithologist Edwin Scholes and National Geographic photographer Tim Laman.
Papua New Guinea is famous for its biodiversity, both on land and at sea.
PERU
Peru enjoys its dry season from May through October, meaning clear skies and sun are likely for Inti Raymi, one of the biggest festivals in South America. Every year, the climax of the festival falls on June 24: Hundreds of dancers in handwoven ponchos descend on Cusco to sing, burn fires, and call upon the Sun God in a stunning day-long ritual that has been performed since the early Incan empire. If crowds in the thousands-plus unnerve you, an August trip to similar, smaller festivals in Wiracochapamp and Huamachuco promise firework displays, fewer tourists, and equally colorful turco and campesino performances.
Peru’s traditional Inti Raymi festival climaxes on June 24.
YOSEMITE
This year California’s Yosemite National Park will complete a four-year-long ecological restoration of the Mariposa Grove. On June 15, the magnificent stand of over 500 giant sequoias will reopen with restored hydrology, accessible shuttles and trails, and better-protected habitats for both the trees and their resident weasel-like Pacific fishers. Yosemite’s towering Sequoiadendron giganteumcan survive for thousands of years—thanks in part to their virtually fireproof bark and naturally insect-resistant tannins. The largest trees by volume on Earth, some sequoias measure up to 154 feet in diameter. After a day of tree-gawking, opt for a May Lake picnic at the base of Mount Hoffmann, or take a hike along Yosemite’s 11.5-mile Valley Loop Trail for gigantic views of El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Cathedral Rocks. Yosemite is the perfect summer place to get outside and feel oh-so-gloriously small in the most delightful way.
Iconic views—like this vista of Bridal Veil Falls—make Yosemite one of America’s most beloved national parks.
Judith Toensing didn’t just teach her students, she inspired them. A sixth-grade teacher from Yuma, Arizona, Toensing made a strong impact on one of her students 21 years ago. At the end of the school year in 1997, Mrs. Toensing, wrote a note on the student’s report card: “It has been a joy to have you in class. Keep up the good work! Invite me to your Harvard graduation!.” This week, the student, Christin Gilmer graduated from Harvard as a doctor of public health.
Mrs. Toensing wrote a note on this 12-year-old’s report card back in 1997.
Gilmer who is now 33, was only 12 at the time, but she kept the message all these years.
“It meant a lot to me to know that outside my mom, someone who knew me so intimately believed in my dreams and my ability to accomplish them,” Gilmer told CNN. Gilmer, who wrote a thank you note prior to her graduation, said Toensing was the first person to encourage her in the journey of studying public health.
“Ms. Judy Toensing, taught me about current events, global health, and human rights. She was the first person who passionately conveyed the plight of people living with HIV/AIDS to me,” the letter said.
This letter quickly grabbed the attention of school administrators, who decided to honor Toensing by inviting her to the 2018 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s convocation, at no cost to her.
Mrs. Toensing and Gilmer’s mom posed for a photo after the ceremony.
Dean Michelle Williams thanked Toensing — and all public school teachers — for the “immeasurably important” work they do.
“You don’t just teach young people. You inspire them, and you propel them along a path of fulfillment and service to others. Your work is what makes our work possible,” Dean Williams said.
This came to a surprise to Toensing, who felt “shocked, flabbergasted, humbled” when she received the invitation from Harvard, which was personally delivered to her by Gilmer.
“I have high expectations of all my students, so to hear that Christin had achieved this goal did not surprise me in the least,” Toensing told CNN. “I feel honored that Harvard chose to tell Christin’s story, her journey, and that I was a small part of that journey,” she added.
Christin Gilmer received her doctor of public health degree on May 23, 2018.
Gilmer who got her master’s degree in public health at Columbia University, says that Toensing always encouraged her students to think of ways to help others.
“She lit a fire in me that helping people is a powerful tool, and through education, you can better serve populations in need. I will never forget her passion for others,” Gilmer told CNN. As a student in Toensing’s class, she and others wrote a 100-page advertisement, interviewed the mayor and envisioned how recycling could work in their town 15 years before it actually happened, and helping others is something she plans to focus on.
“I would love return to southern Arizona to work in health, politics, and community development,” Gilmer said. “I wanted to learn from the best institutions in the world so that I could bring back the knowledge and skills I have obtained and share them with the communities from which I came.” Toensing, who says this experience revitalized and energized her to become a better teacher for her students, praised all the hard work Gilmer has done and believes this is just the beginning of a great future.
“She has many more miles to go, I know with her tenacity, her dedication, and her passion for helping humanity, she will be highly successful and that we will all be the better for knowing her,” Toensing said.
Toensing, who taught Gilmer all her sixth-grade subjects, now teaches sixth- and eighth-grade Social Studies.
Despite his sporting success over the years, David Beckham‘s greatest achievement is without a doubt being a proud father to his four children, whom he shares with wife Victoria Beckham. And in honour of Father’s Day, here at HELLO! Online, we have decided to take a look back at the retired footballer’s cutest moments with his kids, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper Beckham!
The celebrity dad previously gushed about his children, explaining how fatherhood has become his number one priority since he retired from football back in 2013. In an interview with InStyle last year, he shared: “My children mean the world to me. Being a parent is always the best thing, but it can also be challenging as well because you want to set the right example. I feel that I do, but sometimes you make mistakes as parents. He added: “The children are very proud of me. They’re back in London, but they’re very proud and they know that daddy’s receiving an award tonight. They know that I go on these trips and I come back and I explain the trips to them. It’s always something to be part of this organisation, I’m very proud.”
It’s clear the Beckhams love spending quality time with one another as the 42-year-old often takes to his Instagram page to share gorgeous pictures of his brood. He also spoke to HELLO! about the importance of family time, explaining: “My family is the biggest accomplishment I have. I’m so proud of Victoria and my children; they’re my greatest achievement.”
David and Harper share sweet kiss on family safari holiday
There’s no denying that the sporting ace has a close bond with the youngest of the Beckham clan, his daughter Harper. During their family African safari last month, David shared a snap of himself and Harper sharing a sweet kiss, captioning it simply: “Kiss for Daddy <3”
David teases Brooklyn with embarrassing baby photo
Although many would think he’s the coolest dad, Brooklyn was left cringing after his dad shared an embarrassing baby photo on Instagram in honour of his 18th birthday! In the adorable snap, which shows a young Brooklyn with a beard of bubble bath, the proud father wrote: “This little man turns 18 tomorrow so as you can imagine I have many photos to post so here we go … Happy 18th eve to my handsome young man and best friend … @brooklynbeckham @victoriabeckham #18mañana.”
David chaperoned Brooklyn’s date
In 2015, David revealed how he accompanied his eldest son Brooklyn – then 14 – on his first ever date. During an appearance on The Late Late Show, the sports star told James Corden: “On his first date – Victoria was in London – it was Valentine’s day, and he said he’d love to take this girl for dinner. I said ‘OK great’ and I called Victoria and she replied ‘Really?’ So Victoria said, ‘OK make sure you take him, and make sure you sit in the restaurant’. And I was like, ‘Really, you’re going to make me do that?” and she said, ‘Yes, that’s the only way I’m letting him go’.” He added: “So we took him to a sushi restaurant, and he sat at the bar and I sat five tables back. My daughter is 4 years old but when she turns 14, I’ll be closer than that!”
David and his boys at sporting events
The father-of-four enjoys several father-and-son bonding moments. He often takes them to see football or basketball matches and even Wimbledon. Last month, David shared a snap from the Dodger Stadium with all three sons and in the caption, he wrote: “Opening day at the Dodgers baby ⚾️ 🇺🇸.”
David goofs around on Snapchat during kids’ ‘boring’ trip to the dentist
The doting father began to play around on Snapchat after he grew bored during a trip to the dentist with his children. Although he didn’t mention which child he was chaperoning, he decided to post a video of himself pulling facial expressions with a rabbit mask over his face while waiting. He said: “Kids teeth check-up and daddy got bored.”
David Beckham enjoys cuddles with son Cruz
Proud dad David recently couldn’t help but share a touching photo of him and his youngest son Cruz enjoying a cuddle. The former footballer and his ten-year-old son are shown overlooking a lake with pet dog Olive at their side in the sweet snap. “Cuddle with my little man… #cuddlewithcruzie,” he captioned the striking photo.
David cheering Romeo at the London Mini Marathon
In 2015, David and the Beckham family stepped out in full force to cheer on young Romeo, who took part in the London Marathon children’s race. The then 12-year-old successfully completed the three-mile run, raising £6,000 for charity in the process. The whole clan were pictured wearing t-shirts emblazoned with ‘Team Romeo’.
