Epicenter-NYC

1 week ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Nicole Perrino

It feels like just yesterday your high school senior was getting ready for kindergarten, and just like that—they are off to college. With May and June being full of proms, senior trips, and graduation parties- it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the college to-do list- especially for those who will be living on campus. So we’ve made life a little easier with this handy check-list of the essentials you can add to that Amazon wish list to share with family and friends.

1 week ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Ambar Castillo

Talisa Almonte’s earliest memories are a blur of color and curiosity. As a toddler in the Dominican Republic, she watched her father hand-draw letters in his graphic design studio, a place filled with  caricatures and surreal portraits. “I always just admired him sort of doing his own thing and being his own boss,” Almonte said. We’ve featured Almonte as an Epicenter Artist of the Week; this is the story of her building a business that, in many ways, honors her father.

1 week ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Ambar Castillo

Spotted lanternflies (SLFs) are hatching again across New York City. Though the first adult sighting hasn’t been officially confirmed by the state, reports of nymphs are already surfacing in multiple boroughs — including one that I found on my dog in Queens last week. If you’ve noticed tiny black bugs with white speckles, especially near parks or tree trunks, you’ve probably seen one too.

2 weeks ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Nicole Perrino

There’s nothing quite like watching a movie under the stars—especially when there’s an NYC skyline involved. If you’re not taking advantage of having so many free and low-cost experiences right in our backyard, you’re missing out! Here‘s our guide to movie nights around the city- we’ve even highlighted some faves. Movies Under the StarsEach year, the NYC Parks Department hosts Movies Under the Stars.

2 weeks ago | epicenter-nyc.com | Ambar Castillo

When Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8, news outlets raced to capture the sentiment of Peruvians rejoicing both abroad and locally. But long before this mainstream media spotlight, content creators and conveners “Peruvian Sisters” have been tapping into authentic dialogue at the intersections of identity, family, and culture. The brand and social media platform launched in July 2020, when Whitney and Samantha Dobladillo aimed to connect their community through relatable cultural storytelling.