CPTime on His Journey as a Musician Making Music for Everyone

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

Music, for many musicians, is a means to an end. Only a few make music because they enjoy it and would instead make music their way than the type of music they believe people enjoy. CPTime, born Cole Parkinson, is toeing a different path and proving that music can be entertaining while being fun and clean.

CPTime Music is an independent hip-hop and pop artist from Pottstown who has carved a niche for himself as a musician who creates music on themes around motivation, holidays, sport and parties. He has been writing music and performing for years and graced some notable venues around the Philadelphia area, including the halftime show at a Philadelphia 76ers game, community events and rehab centers. He also has three albums out, with numerous singles on all streaming platforms.

While his music communicates his philosophy and belief about entertainment, CPTime currently coaches and teaches young men in sports while serving as a team leader at Alpha Christian Athletes, an organization that helps children grow in strength and agility in their relationship with Jesus. His commitment to growth and progress in the music business has opened many doors of opportunities for him to express his music style and the message he tries to pass across.

He has opened, headlined and hosted showcases despite his brand of clean Hip-hop music. His message of faith, motivation and positivity also resonates with a wide range of audiences which sets him apart from other rappers. CPTime’s music has spread far and wide as many people’s workout and event companion. His music videos also sport playful, lively, inspiring, motivational and laid-back themes. He makes sure his music is enjoyable to individuals and entire families during special events and holidays.

Being different is CPTime’s biggest strength, and from the time he began to make music as a college student, he takes solace in people knowing the lyrics to his songs and recognizing him on first listen. “Getting heard and recognized are the most rewarding. I am motivated by growth and finding different ways to separate myself and stay motivated to get more people to listen to what I have to say,” he said.

Over the next few years, CPTime sees himself doing what he loves doing and performing at shows full time. He hopes to become a highly sought-after artist, achieving immense success and changing the lives of everyone in his family. “I just want more and more people to hear and share what I am talking about, so however, that needs to get done, I’m with it,” he said.

His next single, “Rise,” is slated for release soon, and he hopes it will edge people closer to the things that empower, inspire and motivate them. It is a rap single laced with positivity and motivation. He expects that people will listen to the single and be pumped up positively to pursue their life goals relentlessly with a positive mindset.

Rap Artist, Sweetie Emerges With Distinctive Tunes and Lyrics

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

The music industry is a world filled with established artists and budding artists with remarkable talents and gifts. In this sea of skills and accomplishments, aspiring stars often find it challenging to reach for the spotlight and make their name. However, those with a distinctive flair and a unique voice always manage to rise on top. Such is the case with Sweetie, a sensational rap artist on a mission to carve a name for herself in the history books and leave a mark on the industry.

Born in Louisiana and raised in Houston, Sweetie, better known as Sweetie The Truth, is a rap artist emerging with a passion-filled journey that has become the driving force behind her budding career. Growing up, she was surrounded by tune music as her mother was a singer. This early introduction to music helped shape her perception of life and built her passion for singing. “It’s something about listening to lyrics and taking in the overall message, the way that a song makes me feel. It also helps that I love reading in my spare time. I love using my imagination to create new stories. I was gifted and talented for writing from elementary to high school,” she said. 

After high school, Sweetie proceeded to college, where she majored in Psychology. And while she is the first to admit that her degree has helped her personal life immensely, the insightful young woman also realizes she wants more out of life. “I genuinely felt like I would live an unfulfilled life if I didn’t cultivate my God-given talents. However, I knew that I would want more for myself and my family once I got my degree,” she shared. Fueled by a drive to live life to the fullest and her passion for music, the budding artist eventually caved in and yielded to her true calling. She built a platform for herself on social media and used the internet to launch her career by writing songs, making up dances, and competing in rap battles on Facebook.

Since setting her feet in the music landscape, one unique attribute of Sweetie’s discography is her ability to take real-life and hypothetical situations and turn them into music. Her first album, “The Sweetie Show,” a scintillating mix of brilliant tunes that get you to the dance floor and lyrics that connect with your emotion and get you through the tough times, was an instant hit. But, not to be mistaken for a one-hit-wonder, the trailblazing artist has raised the bar with her second album, “The Truth,” a timeless piece that includes love songs, breakups, self-love, fake friends, club music, etc.

When asked about the motivation behind her unrelenting passion, the trailblazing artist said, “what motivates me is proving to myself that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to. If I continue to work hard, stay focused, maintain a positive attitude & love myself as much as I love others, I will be able to achieve everything I want from life plus more.”

With her optimistic disposition to life and an unrelenting attitude towards her goals, Sweetie is on her way to the industry’s peak. In the coming years, she aims to establish her music career, pursue a new business venture in the cosmetic industry, and feature in cinematic films while positively impacting and elevating people around her. 

 4 Things I Learned Building an Online Yoga Community

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

Kate Lombardo of YogaRenew

I remember how exciting it was when we opened our second yoga studio. Our first location was thriving, and it was so difficult to find a spot in any of our classes that the second studio seemed like a no-brainer. Running a yoga studio is a demanding but rewarding experience. It didn’t just give me a chance to pursue my passion full time. It also gave me an incredible community of people to practice with.

Anybody who’s regularly attended a studio practice can tell you how valuable community is outside of the classes themselves. In fact, some of the most popular teachers were a draw specifically because of the communities that thrived around them.

It wasn’t long after we opened that second studio that COVID arrived into New York City and put in-person classes into the rearview mirror. We had no idea when we’d ever be able to open again, and those once-thriving in-person communities suddenly ceased to exist. And while we had previously put some minor focus in creating online, it definitely wasn’t our main way of connecting with students, But, like with almost everything else in the world, COVID changed everything.

There are a ton of differences between an in-person and online yoga studio, but I found the journey online to be just as awe-inspiring as yoga itself. Here’s what I’ve learned in transitioning from being an in-person studio owner to an online yoga business owner. 

I was surprised at how many people don’t have access to an in-person studio.

In New York City and the surrounding areas, there’s a yoga studio every couple of blocks. It’s easy to forget how lucky we are because of how many options there are here. As much as we complain about how crowded city life can be, we do benefit by having a lot of people who can support multiple places to practice yoga or meditation. Areas with lower populations sometimes just don’t have the student population to support a yoga studio. Lots of gyms or community centers will sometimes take up the mantle and run yoga classes alongside other fitness regimes.

While this is amazing, I’ve seen a ton of students from these areas interested in practicing a more diverse set of classes or interested in taking courses that aren’t offered locally and it’s exciting that online classes and trainings have given them this opportunity.

Community is just as important, but done differently

Community is a vital part of any yoga studio, whether online or in-person. Online, we develop community differently than in-person. We work together through online groups, email, and zoom calls. Online groups provide a great place for people to learn because they can look at different questions that students might have asked a while back and multiple people can contribute answers rather than the individual responses you might get during a one-on-one conversation.  

Online opens up more affordable options.

The cost of running an in-person studio is entirely different than running an online practice. With an in-person studio we’re restricted by the space we practice in. If we only have one room, we can only have 1 class at a time. If we’re running a teacher training then we have to cancel classes to make room for the training. With online, we’ve been able to scale at a much more affordable rate since we don’t have as much overhead as we do with an in-person training. In fact, I’ve made it my mission to provide training at an affordable rate so that students who don’t have a four thousand dollar budget can still take a yoga teacher training.

Yoga should be for everyone and I love that the online experience has made it more accessible.

Everybody takes their own path.

Running an in-person studio is a local experience. You’re working with people in your neighborhood, which means your students might share a similar regional lens with how they view different things. I’m fortunate enough to live in an area with a diverse population from all sorts of backgrounds, but New York is still New York with its own idiosyncrasies just like any other city.

As we made the shift online, the New York region only supplies a fraction of our student population. Our students come from all walks of life, backgrounds and belief systems and in some ways, I believe that an online studio helps to enable this a little bit more than an in-person studio. People step into a yoga class for all sorts of different reasons. Some will come because their physical therapist recommended it. Others might come because they’re looking to balance their exercise routine.

Still, others might be looking to yoga for the philosophical aspects. Since we have a larger overall population than you’d see with an in-person studio, it gives people an opportunity to connect with like-minded people and pursue a path through yoga that suits them. I find that it’s important to encourage people forward on their own journey rather than trying to rush them into a practice that looks like mine.   

With YogaRenew, I’ve been running online yoga teacher trainings for years and I couldn’t be happier with the community we’ve built. Each week, we get the opportunity to speak with people from all over the world and connect with one another on this incredible practice. I can’t wait to see what I’ll learn next.  

Getting to Know Janet Wischnia of American Blossom Linens

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

Janet Wischnia is the mainline CEO and Founder of American Blossom Linens. The company is an organic linens company sourced and located in the USA. Janet grew up in PA and, to this day, lives in PA. Sustainably made and eco-friendly, American Blossom Linens created the only 100% organic cotton linens sourced and made in the nation.

American Blossom Linens’ organic cotton sheets and blankets are chemical-free, sustainably made, and temperature-controlled (keeping users warm in the winter and cool in the summer). 

Ever since she was 4 years old, Janet has been involved with the family business started by her grandfather. She learned from the ground up about the textile industry. From manufacturing to marketing and even sweeping the floor, she learned the practical know-hows of the business. Janet brought back American Blossom because she observed that people are looking for sustainable products that are impeccably made in the USA and will last and never go out of style. 

Why do you want to be an entrepreneur?

“I love being an entrepreneur because everyday I get to work on my mission which is to make people aware of the great products made by wonderful people in the USA. During the pandemic  more people got to understand the downside of relying on other countries for all of our supplies. In the 1980’s virtually all of the textile manufacturing moved overseas and about 1 million jobs were lost.

Our company Thomaston Mills has been making bedding since 1899 ( primarily for the healthcare and hospitality markets) and we decided that we were going to keep our production here in the USA. We started a new direct to consumer brand, American Blossom Linens that makes sheet sets from USA Organic cotton, right before the pandemic hit because we wanted to let the consumer know what great products are made by our USA workforce.

Due the renewed interest in USA made products we grew 400% during first year of the pandemic.”

Get to know more about Janet and American Blossom Linens by opening their page.

Three secret marketing tools you must know

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

The internet and the development of information technologies have created an alternative digital reality that we use to spice up our everyday life. Online forums, video games, social media networks, and other digital planes create structures for new forms of entertainment, as well as environments to conduct business.

In the last decade, before the internet, the biggest platforms for advertisement were Radio and TV. They manage to reach wide audiences that tune in to enjoy entertainment and hear ad messages from sponsors. These messages can reach potential clients but their minimal success rate makes the strategy useful only for bigger businesses that have resources to pay for them because their products stay in high demand for average consumers.

Today, digital marketing makes advertisements much more precise and efficient. Social media platforms utilize personal data collected about their users to present personalized ads. Businesses offer a personal touch and a line of communication with potential clients on these networks. The growth and management of social media accounts is a powerful digital marketing strategy that helps companies reach customers that could be interested in their product and present them content without valuable information about their business.

In this article, we will talk about three secret marketing tools you must know to build a great digital marketing campaign and thrive in a digital business environment. The correct setup of software will help you create a large platform to communicate with fans and clients and structure ads that only reach interested persons. Network security is another important but underappreciated part of digital marketing. To learn technical details on this subject, check out Smartproxy – a business-oriented provider of proxy servers that help companies and private individuals conceal their IP addresses. For now, let’s get a general understanding of the marketing tools you must know to successfully promote your business.

Manage multiple social media accounts with Jarvee

Social media management is a big key to successful company promotion. Every business wants to have a commanding presence on the most popular networks. But numbers are not everything – our goal is to build a large following of active users that are interested in the company and its products.

To achieve these goals most businesses utilize sneaky strategies to falsify the growth of social media pages. By creating multiple accounts with different IPs from proxy servers, companies can create armies of fake supporters and imitate the growth.

Active engagement that imitates real users is necessary to make the growth legitimate. These accounts cannot just sit as idle followers. Thankfully, we have tools like Jarvee – a hub for automation that allows us to manage fake accounts and schedule their posts on social media networks. With Jarvee and many IPs supplied by proxy server providers, you can imitate tens if not hundreds of fake users and encourage real user engagement.

Utilize web scraping to reach the best advertisers

A large portion of successful marketing on the web comes from partnerships with influencers and other public figures that utilize social media networks and other platforms to do paid promotions for products and services. To scout for these potential partners and use the same tools to keep an eye on the competition.

To achieve these goals, we are talking about web scraping. Tools like Parsehub, Scrapebox, and Screamingfrog allow us to automate the extraction of public data from the internet to track the activity of competitor businesses and tune these tools towards the discovery of influencers to turn them into advertisers.

We can maximize the success of these ads by finding public persons that create content for users that could benefit from your products and services. If the audience is predominantly male, choosing the influencer for the advertisement of male grooming equipment will result in a greater increase of new clients than going with a female content creator. We can calibrate the data extraction process to only seek out influencers that meet those criteria.

Utilize the mail merge technology

Mail merge allows us to automate the creation of unique emails based on a data set of clients, subscribers, and other persons. A predetermined template can be modified based on private user information to send personalized letters about new products and deals. While some may disregard them, sending personalized emails that do not look like spam is a great way to encourage readers to at least take a further interest in your company. While it is an old and simple tool, it still has its applications in digital marketing. It will not secure you loyal customers, but it is a great method to reach out to a lot of people in a polite manner. Automated creation of a personalized letter ensures that the message to a reader is authentic and not just spam delivered to a collected data set.

The world of marketing has many technical tricks that give IT specialists an advantage in a digital business environment. While old marketing tricks still produce an effective advertisement, the internet keeps pushing traditional forms of media out of the competition. Learning about these marketing tools may require you to focus on building up your technical proficiency, but the acquired skills will provide tremendous aid in building digital marketing campaigns. Working with forms of online advertisement will teach you to manipulate data – the most powerful resource on the internet, and this knowledge will certainly translate towards the improvement of other business tasks.

5 Ways to Get More Twitter Followers (Real & Active)

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

Speed is one of the key things which defines Twitter. The topics are trending and disappear quickly. Twitter is a platform that is largely influenced by the real world. Many of the real world happenings become trending issues on Twitter. To re you need to have an awareness of the functioning of the platform. Twitter does not exactly operate in the same way as most of the other platforms which makes it difficult to master for beginners. Unless you understand the basics it becomes difficult to make an impact on Twitter.

You can use the best sites to buy Twitter followers but getting them to engage with your account is something that is not simple. There are many ways in which you can get more followers on Twitter. We have listed the top methods which have shown to be effective when it comes to helping you get more followers on Twitter. You can buy Twitter followers but use them in combination with the methods given below to get the best results.

1.   Buy Twitter followers

Using some of the best places to buy real Twitter followers is probably the most direct way to get followers. You can buy followers from these sites to increase your following. They sell real followers who are added to your account in exchange for a fee. Most of these sites source these followers from all over the world which grants a global nature to your account.

When you buy followers you get quick delivery which allows you to have followers whenever you want. These followers can help you to get the most out of your account. The prices for these followers start at just a few dollars. It is a cheap but effective way to get followers to your account. The followers remain with you for a lifetime.

2.   Post great content

To make followers come to your account and stick with you, content is important. The content you make forms the basis of your account. Having good content gives the audience a great reason to join your account. You have to put in the effort to see results on Twitter.

Most of the people on Twitter go there to find good content. When you consistently make good content you help yourself find an audience that will stick with you. If you want followers, content is important. Don’t compromise on quality and be consistent every time you post. 

3.   Interact on the platform

Interacting with your followers and others on Twitter is the best way to gain new followers. Apart from using some of the best sites to buy Twitter followers, this is the most effective method. When you start to comment and engage with others you come into the public eye.

Try posting good replies to the tweets made by popular accounts as it helps you achieve fame and followers. You will have to pay attention to your followers as well. Reply to the comments they make on your Tweets and retweet important tweets.

4.   Find a personality for your account

People who have a distinct personality to their accounts perform well on Twitter. You should look to find a personality that suits your account and try to stick to it. Having a distinct personality about your tweets will help you.

This helps you to stick out from the ordinary which helps to attract followers. You should be choosing a personality that suits not only your account but you as well. If there are too many discrepancies it will be difficult for you to maintain that personality on Twitter and inconsistencies will be pointed out.

5.   Stay active on the platform

Twitter is a platform where you join to remain active. We cannot stress the importance of remaining active on the platform. Twitter is one of the fastest-changing platforms. The more active you are on the platform the better your chances of getting more followers.

Staying active on the platform allows you to be in the loop of all the conversations taking place and you can chip in with your account and get more exposure. If you plan to just post a few tweets occasionally and not remain active on the platform you will not see results on Twitter.

Conclusion

Twitter requires a lot of dedication compared to a lot of the other platforms. If you decide to just buy Twitter followers and do nothing else you will be able to succeed. The audience on Twitter requires you to engage and interact with them when you start to get the hang of all the things you have to do to get the most out of your account.

You have to be a regular on the platform and have a good rate of engagement with their audience. Try to be heavily invested in your niche and jump on all the trending topics regarding that.

INTERVIEW WITH JEAN PIERRE MORREALE FOUNDER OF MORREALE PARIS

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

French perfume house Morreale Paris just revealed their new cinematic campaign Destiny with Polina Rezaeva and Vlad Vitkovski. A film so breathtaking that it makes you wonder what’s next for a Parisian label that keeps creating such beautiful and epic content to relate their story.

We wanted to talk about the brand to its very discreet creator and we were unexpectedly able to secure an interview with Jean Pierre Morreale to ask him about his life’s work and his plans for the future of Morreale Paris.

⁃            We read that you are a very private person and that you are not giving many interviews, thank you for talking to us but is there a reason for such a privacy stance?

In order to live happily you have to live in secret. This is a very wise French proverb. I enjoy my privacy, it allows me to keep working for charity in real life. I work a lot to help handicapped people and those who are less lucky than us. I take great pride in doing so.

⁃            What is your inspiration to create perfumes?

My inspirations are coming from life in general and from the gardens of my childhood with over 200 types of roses, jasmine and bergamot trees. A patchwork of colors and scents that is still inspiring me to this day.

⁃            What are the values of your company?

Dedication, respect and selflessness. We also believe in protecting the planet and smart eco development.

⁃            Congratulations on the Destiny campaign, it looks incredible. Where did the set take place?

Thank you. The name Destiny came to me in a very emotional way when I saw the film for the first time, the scale and striking beauty of its landscapes and the fantastic performance of the cast… it was destiny.

⁃            You seem to outwork a lot of your competitors when it comes to brand building and development. Is this a long term strategy? Are you building for legacy?

This is our magic touch. I believe that brand building is a creative endeavor that needs all our attention as we are developing this company. What we build is what will represent Morreale Paris for the many years to come, so we are doing it very carefully and to the greatest quality standards.

⁃            Are you planning to open physical stores in the United states?

It is possible that we’ll open a physical location in the United States, but we’re also very happy with the relationships we are building with our online customers. A lot of our clients contact us for bespoke creations which is a service we provide that goes back to the essence of the company many generations ago. I created a private fragrance collection called Le Monde sur Mesure which got quite viral for including the most expensive fragrance in the world in it, to pay homage to this part of our history.

– The traditional French luxury approach earned you a spot in the top young Fragrance labels that are building popularity in the US, did you imagine things would turn out so bright so fast? It must be exciting.

Very exciting in fact. I’m extremely grateful for all the interest we can see for the company in the USA. I’d love to personally thank every customer, every client, every journalist or influencer that talks about us haha but we are growing fast. I’m not sure how I can keep up at this point, which is a good thing I guess.

– What is your favorite Morreale Fragrance?

I created them, so I love them all. Each one was created with a particular emotion in mind. The name of each fragrance is directly attached to this singular emotion.

I wear a different fragrance every day. On Wednesdays I wear a mix of Instinct and Fusion, when I have meetings I love to wear Zenith but my signature scent for parties and social evenings is Méridien. I also always carry a travel size in my pocket because people want to try it.

– When is your next scent coming out?

We are currently working on several different new scents. It takes a bit of time to create the perfect fragrant emotion but rest assured, they will be amazing.

– Where do you see Morreale Paris in 5 years?

Further, I think by this time we’ll be available in Asia and all other continents. Our goal is to find the right partners to import the brand directly on these territories so our products are truly available worldwide. We’re hoping to sign our first major physical retail deals within the next 24 to 36 months at this point and we’re ready to scale this side of the business so there’s a lot of exciting things in front of us.

– What is your favorite scent?

I truly love Bergamot and Jasmine, but ultimately as a perfumer, every scent reminds me of a place, a moment in my life, someone I love, an emotion, a rendez-vous. This is my entire life.

That concluded our interview with Jean Pierre Morreale, founder and CEO of Morreale Paris.

http://www.morrealeparis.com

Browlift by Expertised Facial Plastic Surgeon Dr. Georges Ziade

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

A browlift can either give you a subtle or a dramatic look. But one thing is assured that it will definitely be rejuvenating. It can be a cure for drooping eyebrows due to age factor or even just a choice for aesthetic reasons. Raised eyebrows give a tightened look to a woman’s face. A great set of eyebrows enhances the beauty of the eyes as well and also it increases the elegance of the entire face.

A browlift, also known as a forehead lift or a forehead rejuvenation, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that lifts the eyebrow and especially its lateral border. Eyebrow sagging is an element of aging. Brow lifting yields a brighter, more alert and less fatigued appearance.

The eyes play a prominent role in communicating our emotions and if a heavy brow is causing you to look tired or unhappy, Dr Georges’s brow lift cosmetic surgery could provide an effective and lasting solution.

Wondering about the procedure? Here’s a description: The procedure is performed under local anesthesia with minimal sedation. It is performed through a hidden incision at the hairline. During this procedure, Dr Georges releases the skin and muscles and lifts it. The lateral border of the eyebrow is lifted superolaterally. It consists of a part of the procedure known as fox eye, cat eye and ponytail eye lift.

The complete procedure can last upto 1-2 hours.

The recovery rate is fine. All the discomfort can be relieved with medication. Two days after the surgery, the patient should expect bruising and swelling to be at peak. Sutures are removed 7 days after the surgery and it takes approximately 1-2 weeks to recover.

Like any other surgery, there are certain possibilities of complications to develop, but under the observation of Dr Georges, you will get the best care and support.

Are your brows sending the wrong message? If yes, then it’s time for you to get a brow lift. So get a bolder fiercer look simply by giving your brows that extra wow-factor with Dr Georges brow lift technique. You will be impressed by his artistic skills and you might even be able to meet the best version of yourself!

Follow for more on instagram: @dr.georgesziade

Are you a true New Yorker yet? Here’s your guide to become one

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

Being a New Yorker isn’t a title you earn. It’s something you’re given when you’ve migrated to the city and made your way through the process of becoming a New Yorker. However, knowing all these things won’t make you one. 

It’s easy to talk about NYC culture, but do you actually know what it is? People from all over the world are stunned by New York City, but they don’t understand why so many people are fascinated with it. That’s where this guide comes in. We will here show you what 1,000’s of New Yorkers have gone through to experience being a part of the New York culture.

1. Know how to use a public restroom.

If you’re there already, it needs no telling that most of them are extremely gross. But if you follow these tips, you’ll be able to go in and get out as quickly as possible, and maybe even avoid touching anything at all.

1. Be prepared with your own toilet paper, soap, towel or hand sanitizer.

2. Avoid using stalls whenever possible; they’re often clogged or flooded. If you need privacy, just choose a restroom that’s not as busy.

3. Aim right into the bowl! The cleanest part of the toilet is the water in the bowl, so aim right into it. If you miss (and you will), there’s usually enough water to flush the ick away before it makes contact with any of the bowl’s surfaces. (Even though most bathrooms don’t have toilet seat covers anymore.)

4. A plastic bag comes in handy: Use it to cover the toilet seat before sitting down if you’re worried about germs; or wrap dampened toilet paper around your hand if you have to touch something (like a door handle).

2. Learn to hail a cab or just order one with your phone.

New York visitors and new residents quickly realise that ordering a cab isn’t easy. There are so many people who need one that you have to call ahead, or be really lucky. If a cab is available, it will have a light on the roof. If it’s off duty, it won’t be taking any more fares.

Today, you don’t even need to try to hail a cab. Just order one of the many cab services in the city with your phone or online.

3. Be able to have a conversation with anyone

You must be able to have a conversation with anyone at any time. Even if you don’t know them, you can still talk about the weather or whatever is going on around you. The point is, don’t be afraid to make friends out of strangers!

Be able to stand up for yourself against any odds. You need thick skin and an even thicker skull if you want people to respect your opinions on politics, sports, or anything else controversial. Always speak your mind because nobody else will do it for you!

Listen carefully when someone says they like something because they might not mean it. For example, if they say “I love football” then don’t ask them which team they support because chances are good that’s just something they’ve said before without ever actually having watched any games themselves. Don’t take anything personally; just listen carefully before jumping into an opinionated debate with them over which team has the best quarterback in history.

4. Manage your finances smartly

The cost of living in New York is high, so you need to be able to manage your finances. And while this can be said of any city in the country, especially those with large populations, it doesn’t make it less relevant here. When you’re paying for rent, loans, and other expenses every month, you’ll want to try and make sure that you’re keeping up with all of them. 

If you fall behind on one bill, it can set off a chain reaction that could lead to serious financial problems down the road. So before moving to NYC, make sure that your budget is in order and that you’ve got enough money coming in each month to cover all your expenses without going into.

Another thing that you must keep in mind, if you’re a homeowner, is to get homeowners insurance for New Yorkers. Ask any homeowner around you, most of them would answer positively once you ask them if they have any insurance policy tailored to living in the city. It’s fairly obvious that insurance is your safety net whenever things go south. And in a city like New York, where managing your finances could be so crucial, you wouldn’t want to take risks.

5. Learn the subway system

One of the best ways to get to know New York is by subway. It’s fast, it’s cheap, and it will take you everywhere. Learn the system — and how to get around.

Before you ride even one train, you should learn a little bit about the subway system. Know that there are local trains, which stop at every stop; and express trains, which skip stops. And you should get familiar with the colour-coded lines that make up the system.

You can do this by studying a subway map or using Google Maps for transit directions when you need them. But once you feel comfortable getting around on your own, you’re ready for the next step: learning how to navigate without relying on your phone or a map!

Get off at a random station and explore!

An easy way to start exploring on your own is to hop off at a random station in an area you’ve never been in before (or even an area you think you know well). Look around, see what shops and restaurants are nearby, and ask locals for suggestions on where to go next.

In conclusion

We know, we know, the hustle-bustle of the city that never sleeps could be intimidating. But take our word for it—it gets better with time. We hope this guide gives you a nice starting point to channel your “True New Yorker” energy!

How to Keep Your Cats Stimulated in a Small Brooklyn Apartment

NY Weekly Staff on May 2, 2022

Meta Description: Although cats seem low maintenance, they yearn for social and environmental stimulation. Provide enrichment, especially if they’re cooped up for long periods. 

If you’re caring for a new kitty, fostering, or recently relocated to an apartment in Brooklyn, you may be considering ways to keep your cat happy and stimulated in a more confined space.

Cats are relatively easy to take care of—they bathe themselves, sleep for numerous short stretches throughout the day, and find objects around the house to keep them entertained.

However, cats do need substantial stimulation. Otherwise, they can begin to exhibit unhealthy behaviors and health issues.

Here are some signs that your cat needs more enrichment:

  • Aggressive behavior
  • Waning appetite
  • Excessive grooming
  • Property destruction

Although cats seem aloof and don’t necessarily require as much assistance as dogs, their affection can grow deep once you’ve won over their hearts. They’re highly intelligent animals, natural predators, and sweet, feisty companions. Cats, like most intelligent animals, do need a lot of stimulation. 

Here’s an essential feline supply checklist:

  • Veterinarian-approved cat food
  • Water bowl and food dish
  • Litterbox
  • Litter
  • Comb
  • Cat bed

When it comes to stimulating your cat either while you’re at home or away, here are some easy-to-put-together DIY toys.

Boxes

Save your Amazon, FedEx or UPS boxes. Your cat won’t discriminate. They love inspecting the foreign scent of the packaging and the remaining contents inside the box. Plus, cats have a natural inclination to hide and rest in small, confined spaces.

To make the box more appealing to your kitty, cut different size holes and place anything of interest inside the box for your cat to play with. This simple hide-and-seek box will keep your cat’s interest.

Packaging Paper

Don’t underestimate the paper packaging that comes with your packages. Your feline friend is attracted to the crinkly and rustling sound of paper and all its scents permeating it.

Toilet Paper Rolls

Before you pitch your empty toilet paper roll, turn it into a cat toy that will keep your cat occupied for a while. Add cat treats inside the tube and fold the ends on each side. Your kitty will have a new temporary cat puzzle feeder.

A Ball of Yarn

Cats love to hunt and chase smaller objects, and yarn provides the perfect makeshift cat toy. If you have a plush mouse toy, you can tie the end with a string to play with and have your cat chase it. Another idea that doesn’t require your participation is to make a yarn pom pom. Always supervise your cat around yarn because it could be harmful to your cat if ingested.

Keeping Your Cat Entertained While You’re Away

Cat Trees With Scratch Post

A cat tree is a great resting and play post. Ideally, you’ll want to set it up by a window (the buzz of the city should keep your cat captivated) or in the corner of a room where your cat can view all of its surroundings.

Many cat tree options will work with your decor and your cat’s needs:

Toys Your Cat will Love That You Can Easily Tuck Away in an Apartment

Your cat needs social enrichment, carved-out time to interact with you. For the time frames that you won’t get to be home and play with your cat, bring out some of your cat’s favorite toys to fulfill their environmental enrichment needs.

Here’s a good starter kit of toys to stimulate your cat:

If you’re a first-time cat parent or recently adopted a new pet and are looking for ways to cultivate a happy environment for everyone in the household, schedule a virtual vet appointment at Vetster with one of our licensed veterinarians located in Brooklyn.

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