Category Archives: Arts & Culture
Return to Asbury Park 2015
By Robyn Kalajian
FLArmenians Cuisine Contributors
Asbury Park, New Jersey had been my family’s go-to vacation destination ever since the early 1950’s. Some landmarks of that era included the Van Hotel, Hye Hotel, Berkeley-Carteret Hotel, Monte Carlo swimming pool, Convention Hall, Sunset Lounge, the boardwalk, and, of course, the beach!
Armenians crowded the sandy shore mostly between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue. Beach blankets covered the sand; kef-time music filled the air. It was an awesome, innocent, coming-of-age location.
The late 1960’s -1970’s presented hard times for Asbury. Thankfully, the area has come into its own again. Tourism is once again flourishing, and Armenians are returning! In fact, 2015 marks the fourth consecutive year where Armenians will appear en masse in Asbury!
This year’s ‘Return to Asbury’ kef weekend on the beach is taking place from August 7th through August 9th. By attending, you’ll not only have the time of your life, the event proceeds will benefit Camp Haiastan, Camp Nubar, and St. Vartan Camp.
Arsine Kaloustian and Taniel Koushakjian at ‘Return to Asbury’ in 2014
Arsine Kaloustian and Taniel Koushakjian, founders of the state-wide organization Florida Armenians (FLArmenians) and rising community leaders, are working hard to make this year’s gathering super-spectacular. I’ve known these two fine, young professionals since they were children. I met Taniel when he was five, but have known his mother, Arlys, since she and I were in our early teens – in fact, we met at the Van Hotel in Asbury Park! I met Arsine and her family when she was about 12. Arsine, Taniel, and my daughter, Mandy are all about the same age, and grew up in South Florida. They formed a close-knit friendship from the very start – but I digress.
Return to Asbury 2015 will feature the Artsakh Band and……for the first time in Asbury in almost 50 years…..the Fabulous Vosbikian Band!
Need a place to stay? Check out the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel or the Hotel Tides. There are also some B&Bs in the area.
Get your tickets online now: www.returntoasbury2015.eventbrite.com.
Armenian Genocide Documentary to Air on WPBT-2 on June 11, 2015
Florida Armenians is pleased to inform you that Andrew Goldberg’s 2007 documentary The Armenian Genocide will air on South Florida’s WPBT-2 PBS channel on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 8:00 PM. Florida Armenians Public Affairs Director Arsine Kaloustian and Boca Raton philanthropist Marta Batmasian will co-host the broadcast.
Please be sure to tune in and help support educational public broadcasting.
Armenian Genocide Centennial Concert in Tallahassee to Feature Classical Armenian Music
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Armenian Americans in Florida’s capital will gather for a classical Armenian music concert in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Produced by Danny Bedrosian, the Armenian Genocide Centennial Concert will feature select pieces of Armenian music covering over 3 millennia of music. The concert will be held at Florida State University, Opperman Music Hall, on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 8:00 PM.
“The Armenian Genocide commemorative concert will be an unforgettable moment for our community,” stated Florida Armenians Tallahassee Chair Margaret Atayants. “We have been planning this commemoration for years, and practicing for months, in an effort to present the Armenian experience and our civilization to the audience,” she said.
The concert will be performed by an orchestra of players that Bedrosian specifically assembled for the daunting task of summarizing 3,000 years of Armenian music. With mini lectures included, this unique concert is intended to capture the heart and soul of Armenian music, sampling through many different eras and regions of Historic Armenia, leading up to and after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. “This performance will capture the burning passion in our hearts,” Atayants said.
Artists performing include: Daniel Bedrosian, music director, grand piano, vocals, lecturer; Professor Michael Bakan, doumbek, assorted percussion; Dr. Silviu Ciulei, classical guitar; David Cobb, bass guitar; Ramin Yazdanpanah, percussion; Stacy Christofakis, bass clarinet, clarinet, douduk; Margaret Atayants, vocals; Sean Gorman, contrabass/upright bass; Katelyn Best, vocals; Nicole Schommer, vocals.
Full musician biographies are available here.
The Armenian Genocide Centennial Concert is produced by Danny Bedrosian and sponsored by the Compatriotic Union of Habousi, Florida Armenians, Side Bar Theatre, and Crepevine Restaurant. The concert is free and open to public.
Florida Armenians 