Art Exhibit and Ssale at Stathakion this Sunday May 20th 2012

The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York Inc and the Cultural Committee is sponsoring an Arts Exhibition and Sale of Greek American artists this Sunday May 20th, 2012. The event will take place at the Stathakion Center between 3:00PM-9:00PM.
Paintings, Drawings, Poster Art, Mixed Media, Comic Book Art and Photography will be exhibited.
Special guests: Professional wrestler Brimstone's comic book line company- "Hound Comics"!

Admission is Free. Come down and buy some amazing artwork and photography for your home and office at affordable prices!

Stathakion Cultural Center
22-51 29th Street
Astoria, NY 11105
www.hellenicsocieties.org

For more info contact Billy Chrissochos 917-617-0597
Or email Vchrissochos@gmail.com

List of participating artists: Zoi Rodopoulos, Maria Kollaros, Nikos Phidi-Colovos, Alexandra Tsiatis, Magdalen Mavroudis, Christos Kavvadas, Efstathia Fragou, Antonia Fthenakis, Cosmoyannis, Denis Kavvadias, Iasonas Kontogiannis, Sophokles Plokamakis, George Delis, Dionysis Maravegias, Dora Sislian Themelis, Agamemnon Varvitsiotes, Pandora Spelios, Billy Chrissochos, Chrysoula Lile, Terry Evangelatos, Yiota Stratis, Anna Zynda.
And special guests: Brimstone’s Hound Comics- Mina Sanwald (artist), Luscious (character), Mary Modica (Director of marketing).

some websites:
www.houndcomics.com
www.DoraArtDesignStudio.etsy.com
www.diadiii.com
www.Lilecreations.com

First Annual Pankration Seminar at the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater NY

Jimmy Hartofilis, Sophocles Tsouros, Tom Gallo, Mike Arnaoutis, 
Craig Pumphrey, Ivan Dale, Stephen Koepfer, Emmanouil Lallas, 
Anastasios Mylonas, Sanja Mylonas and Billy Chrissochos.

Billy Chrissochos, Anastasios Mylonas and Vagelis Koutras

The First Annual Pankration Seminar was a huge success as sports enthusiasts and pro-athletes converged and mingled in the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater NY on March 3rd 2012. Honored guests were Craig Pumphrey USAFPA and Ivan Dale USAFPA. Other participants where Anastasios Mylonas USAFPA, Sanja Mylonas USAFPA, Billy Chrissochos who was the master of ceremonies, pro Boxer Mike Arnaoutis, Sophocles Tsouros- owner of Life Health & Fitness, Jimmy Hartofilis Boxing promoter, Emmanouil Lallas Pro Kick Boxer, Tom Gallo of Self Defense Tactics, and Stephen Koepfer -president of the American Sambo Association.
There were also week long workshops presented at Life Health and Fitness by Vagelis Koutras, World Pankration Athlima Federation (WPAF)  world representative for the Hellenic Republic.

Pankration was a martial art introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC. It was carried to the East by the armies of Alexander the Great and helped influence the martial arts there. Now it is a growing international sport phenomenon once again. Mr. Anastasios Mylonas has spearheaded the campaign to bring the sport to New York. You can learn more at www.PankrationNYC.com.

Iskandar Dives into Spring at Astoria Park Pool Festival!

Billy Chrissochos, Dorit, Angelina Alexon, Frank Pace, 

Chris Pollatos, and Themi Kyriazis.

Billy Chrissochos’ new rock group Iskandar, hit the stage at the Astoria Park pool Deck this past Saturday, May 5^th 2012 to not just rock the crowd but perform for a worthy cause. As one of the largest and oldest pools in New York City, NYC Parks is celebrating Astoria Pool and Park during National Historic Preservation Month.  The Astoria Pool Olympic High Dive of the future Astoria Park Performance Center has been selected as one of 40 projects eligible for a “Partners in Preservation” grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express.
The diving platform, built in 1936 under Robert Moses, will form the centerpiece of the new performance center to be constructed on the site of the old diving pool in Astoria Park, which has been out of use for several decades. Billy Chrissochos ecstatically commented “there is no better feeling than playing Classic Rock on historic grounds overlooking the majestic East River and our iconic Triboro and Hell Gate Bridges!” With Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. and support from the Astoria community, the festival offered many exciting activities for all ages.

Billy Chrissochos, Angelina Alexon, Dorit, and Council Member 

Peter Vallone Jr. playing on the Scorpions' "No One Like You" classic hit.

New York based group, Iskandar, is an eclectic modern Rock band whose musical styling incorporates Hard Rock and Symphonic Metal with Greek folk, progressive and classical textures. Iskandar the band, takes the philosophy of Alexander the Great by fusing different styles of music, whether exotic, folk, metal or pop with the vibrant Hellenic (Greek) spirit and passion.

Billy Chrissochos, Frank Pace, Dorit, Chris Pollatos, 

and Themi Kyriazis

Iskandar is:
Billy Chrissochos -guitars
Chris Pollatos -Bass
Frank Pace -drums
Angelina Alexon -vocals

With guests musicians- Dorit on vocals, Themi Kyriazis guitars and vocals (owner of Metronome Music School and recording Studio) and very special guest- Council Member Peter Vallone Jr. on bass.
Iskandar played originals and covers ranging from Deep to Led Zeppelin to Tina Turner and Scorpions.
Like “Iskandar” Rock Group on Facebook!
www.Iskandars.com
www.metromusicschool.com

Pankration Martial Art brought to Astoria for all in The Greek Community

^1st Annual Pankration Seminar

Astoria, New York, Feb 27^th Pankration was a martial art introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC, today we are bringing back the sport to the community of NYC. Over 300 guests will be attending “The Past, Present and Future of PANKRATION Presentation” at The Hellenic Federation of Greater New York on March 3^rd at 7.00pm – 9.00pm. 
Life Health and Fitness gym also in Astoria will be hosting all workshops and seminars.  For more details contact Soph at Life Health and Fitness  718- 349-3494.
The Coach will be Vagelis Koutras from the WPAF Six Degree Black Belt and WPAF world Representative for the Hellenic Republic. Will teach all the seminars! Also in attendance will be Craig Pumphrey from the USAFPA Black Belt 3dan(Pankration), Ivan Dale from the USAFPA Black Belt(Pankration) Mike Arnaoutis Pro Boxer!

The focus of Pankration  program is to provide students the highest quality martial arts instruction available, in a safe and positive learning environment that people of all ages can enjoy.  And we are more than excited to bring this sport to the Hellenic- American community in New York. 

EVENT DATES:

Friday March 2^nd

FREE Workshop @ Life Health and Fitness

37-11 35th Ave, Astoria NY 11101

7pm – 9pm

Saturday March 3^rd

MAIN EVENT

The Past, Present and Future of PANKRATION Presentation

@ The Hellenic Federation of Greater New York

22-51 29th Street, Astoria NY 11105

7pm – 9pm

Sunday March 4^th

FREE Workshop @ Life Health and Fitness

37-11 35th Ave, Astoria NY 11101

1pm –3pm

From March 5^th - March10th

All Seminars @ Life Health and Fitness

37-11 35th Ave, Astoria NY 11101

From 8.30pm – 10.00pm and Saturday 1.00pm – 3.00pm

$25.00 per seminar

American Revolution Symphony by Panayoti Karousos

American Revolution Symphony by Panayoti Karousos

Astoria Symphony Orchestra conducted by Grant Gilman

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen coloniesin North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America. They first rejected the authority of the Parliament of Great Britain to govern them from overseas without representation, and then expelled all royal officials. By 1774 each colony had established a Provincial Congress, or an equivalent governmental institution, to govern itself, but still within the empire. The British responded by sending combat troops to re-impose direct rule. Through representatives sent in 1775 to the Second Continental Congress, the states joined together at first to defend their respective self-governance and manage the armed conflict against the British known as the American Revolutionary War (1775–83, also American War of Independence). Ultimately, the states collectively determined that the British monarchy, by acts of tyranny, could no longer legitimately claim theirallegiance. They then severed ties with the British Empire in July 1776, when the Congress issued the United States Declaration of Independence, rejecting the monarchy on behalf of the new sovereign nation separate and external to the British Empire. The war ended with effective American victory in October 1781, followed by formal British abandonment of any claims to the United States with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
The American Revolution was the result of a series of social, political, and intellectual transformations in early American society and government, collectively referred to as the American Enlightenment. Americans rejected theoligarchies common in aristocratic Europe at the time, championing instead the development of republicanism based on the Enlightenment understanding of liberalism. Among the significant results of the revolution was the creation of a democratically-elected representative governmentresponsible to the will of the people. However, sharp political debates erupted over the appropriate level of democracy desirable in the new government, with a number ofFounders fearing mob rule.
Many fundamental issues of national governance were settled with the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788, which replaced the relatively weaker first attempt at a national government adopted in 1781, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union. In contrast to the loose confederation, the Constitution established a strongfederated government. The United States Bill of Rights (1791), comprising the first 10 constitutional amendments, quickly followed. It guaranteed many "natural rights" that were influential in justifying the revolution, and attempted to balance a strong national government with relatively broad personal liberties. The American shift to liberal republicanism, and the gradually increasing democracy, caused an upheaval of traditional social hierarchy and gave birth to the ethic that has formed a core of political values in the United States. (wiki)

Phoenix Reign performing "The Odyssey" (2009)

Billy Chrissochos from The Hellenic American Center of the Arts in USA spoke about his new epic song The Odyssey, after the world wide premiere in New York. 
The Odyssey along with the Iliad were two subjects that I was infatuated with since childhood. As I started creating music, it wasn't until high school that I began to compose these two along with the lyrics. In the Odyssey I wanted to convey Odysseus sadness and longing for home in the acoustic parts. In the heavy verses I analyzed all the main parts of the books and broke them down so that they were easily understood. So here you have the Odyssey as a Classics 101 broken down for adults and teenagers. My band, Phoenix Reign, had the honor of collaborating with the Astoria Symphony under our good friend Grant Gilman in 2008 and here again in 2009. It was a joint feature concert with my other good friend Panayoti Karousos' at the Stathakion Cultural Center. Panayoti had debuted his opera "Alexander the Great" that evening. I must say it is a pleasure to find kindred spirits in music such as these two gentlemen where we all share the pathos for Classical and Heavy Metal music and always strive to push the boundaries.

Arts and crafts exhibit at the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York

Artist Mr. Bill Chrissochos from the
Hellenic American Center of the Arts

Stathakion arts and crafts exhibit

For the first time ever the Culture Committee of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York sponsored an “Arts & Crafts Exhibition and Sale”  by Greek American Artists.

It was a fun event attended by hundreds of people over the weekend of November 12^th and 13^th. Artists got to meet other fellow artists and share techniques and ideas and the crowd got to see some amazing talent all under one roof. Pottery, sculptures, jewelry, textiles, photography, paintings,  and comic book art were all on display to be bought and viewed by the eager public. The event took place at the Stathakion Cultural Center in Astoria between 4-9pm both days.

Culture Committee member, co-organizer, and artist, Mr. Bill Chrissochos stated, “we are glad it was a success and plan on making this a permanent event every Fall. In the spring we will be holding our second Art Exhibit and Sale. Hope to see you all there!”.

Artist Mrs Theoni Chrissochos

List of participating artists alphabetically are:

Mary Angeloudis, Billy Chrissochos, Theoni Chrissochos, Cosmoyannis, Demetria Daniels, Babis Efstathiou, Terry Evangelatos, Antonia Fthenakis, Efstathia Fragou, Athena Galitsis, Stephanie Hatzakos, Efterpi Iatraki, Karen Kalkanis, Christos Kavvadas, Maria Kollaros, Angelo Kostas, Chrysoula Lile, Magdalen Mavroudis, Sylvia Mouzourou, Anna Neofotistos, Toula Pappas, Nikos Phidi-Colovos, Sophocles Plokamakis, Marianthi Raptis, Zoi Rodopoulos, Natalia Roumeliotou, Marina Smargiannakis, Alexandra Tsiatis.

General view of exhibition hall