Note: Friday, May 24th, the Mr. Gu's with Dale will be cancelled.

State of the Art Fitness Center

The fitness center includes new, state of the art fitness equipment. Sign up now for healthy bodies, strong minds, and creative spirits.

The LABA Journal

LABA: House of Study puts out a bi-monthly journal, that features our fellows' creative responses to the texts they encounter in our beit midrash. Click here to see more!

Sign up for our Composting Drop Off Program!

The 14th Street Y is excited to introduce our first community composting DROP OFF pilot program! Click here to learn how to start composting in your home.

Special Events

Click here to find out about upcoming events, including our 1st Annual 14th Street Y Gala: Feast.

New Country Day Camp Registration is now Open!

Click here to register online! For kids entering grades K-6.

14th and 1st

LABA Festival Preview: Talking Sweet, Salty and Spicy with LABA Fellow Erin Patinkin, Founder & Co-president of Ovenly

Tuesday, May 21, 2013 4:41 pm

Today we sit down with LABA artist fellow and baker extraordinaire Erin Patinkin to learn about what she is working on for the upcoming from LABA EAT Festival

Erin discusses experimenting in the kitchen and how she was inspired by ancient texts to come up with new recipes for the festival.

EAT, an arts festival from LABA with performances, music, art, teachings and tastings, will take place June 1-2 at the 14th Street Y. Come get a sneak peak, or…well, taste of Erin’s amazing food Thursday, May 23rd from 12-5 in the Y’s lobby.

So tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do?

My official title is Founder and Co-president of Ovenly. Back in 2010, I started Ovenly–a creative kitchen specializing in pastries and bar snacks–with my business partner Agatha Kulaga. Last year, we opened our first retail space. People like to push us into the category of “bakery” and though we see ourselves as much more, we’re OK with that. We’ve had a lot of fun press<http://oven.ly/press/>. If you’re like me and love the combinations of sweet, salt, and spice, then you have to visit. Our salted chocolate chip cookies or our black caraway smoked salt shortbread or our gingery honey almond corn will knock your socks off. Promise.

For Ovenly, I devise recipes, experiment in the kitchen, make last minute ingredient runs, train staff, and run the financial side of the business; however, I’m also a trained actor with experience in the visual arts, so I dabble in other things. For example; this August, illustrator Julia Pott<http://www.juliapott.com> and I will be mounting a gallery exhibition that celebrates youth through the medium of cake. Finally a marriage of my past and present careers!

And what are you working on for the festival?

I am creating the menu that accompanies the festival. The food serves as a transition tool for the audience, connecting the artistic works with the teachings. Each dish is inspired by the ancient Jewish texts we’ve been studying throughout the year, or responds to my fellow fellow’s artistic works, or both. Ever wonder what bread tasted like in biblical times? You’ll try that. You’ll also have to feed your neighbors figs dipped in honey, so get ready.

Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration and process for this?

When I read about food, my mind immediately wanders to flavors. So, throughout the year, when we would read about bread, or wine, or vinegar, or game, or stew, I’d immediately think, well, what did that taste like? How’d those ancients eat that? If you survived only on bread, what would it feel like to have access to a luxurious dish? Each of the fellows has found a line or a tale that struck them in such a way that it inspired them to create or revise an artistic work, but I think I found inspiration everywhere. Since the entire year has been themed around eating (or on some cases starving), and since that’s generally all I think about, there was a lot of fodder to work with.

In LABA you study ancient Jewish texts in order to gain inspiration for your work. Which texts inspired you?
My biggest inspirations were the stories of Ruth and of Jacob and Essau<http://www.labajournal.com/archive/>.

Want to know more about Erin? Click here<http://www.labajournal.com/fellows/> for her bio. You can read more about Ovenly here<http://oven.ly/press/>. Don’t forget to stop by the Y lobby on Thursday from 12-5 for some amazing Ovenly treats!

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Before the Gala

Friday, May 17, 2013 12:20 pm

At the Y, we’re known for health, wellness, education, art, community and fun. You might even have attended a party here in the past, (though it was most likely for your 3-year-old neighbor). Nevertheless, the Y is gearing up for the fanciest, most fabulous event we’ve had here in some time, and many of our members and staff are planning for this wonderful walk on our red carpet. Here are a few reasons to join us at the Gala: FEAST- Tuesday May 21st at 7:30PM.

BETTINA- 14th Street Y Member

Bettina is fun. Like, super-fun. Like, “Planning a Ladies night for the rest of the Moms in the preschool class” kind of fun. Normally, we get to see the fabulous Bettina in either workout clothes (that still look better than my regular work clothes) or cool casual wear. Even rushing around in the morning she looks great, so it will be especially fun to see what she looks like EXTRA fabulous. This weekend she’s planned a shopping trip to find her gala-wear….so we don’t know exactly what it will be. But we’re definitely taking pictures.

BROOKE- 14th Street Y Member

Brooke is the person you kind of wish you were. You know that woman with fabulous highlights who has twins and is gorgeous and is planning all the time, but is still so incredibly nice and generous? That’s Brooke. Brooke has her outfit planned. Navy. Tea length. Pressed and ready to go. She’ll class up the whole event all by herself.

Me- I work here.

So, I heard that wearing a slight heel can make your legs appear longer and your whole body more slim! I’m thinking about wearing these. Despite the fact that I can’t walk and my toes numbed up in about 3 minutes, I think I’m headed in this direction. Do I look thinner? WHEEE!

4984 See you at the GALA! Click for more info and to purchase your tickets!

-Camille Diamond is the Director of Community Engagement and Communications at the 14th Street Y. At this year’s Gala, She’s most looking forward to eating food by Riverpark and trying not to annoy Rachel Dratch with her crazy fan talk.

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