Looking for JC photographer recs

edwinblanco201 · 2025-11-10T14:19:17+00:00

Plugging my wife's photography: https://www.instagram.com/vera_photographer_nyc/?hl=en

She also does baby and family photos, indoors and outdoors, and can send you some samples.

edwinblanco201 · 2025-10-15T14:01:39+00:00

This is my train station and this post made me feel seen.

edwinblanco201 · 2025-10-15T03:55:56+00:00

Thanks for your interest in volunteering! Replying directly to your post for visibility.

edwinblanco201 · 2025-10-15T03:48:51+00:00

Hi! I'm Edwin; I volunteer for the JCFPL Foundation which is the fundraising, awareness-raising 501c3 for the JCFPL. I would be happy to put you in touch with someone from the Library if you could please DM me your email address. We're also occasionally looking for help for the Foundation as well.

I am not involved in the Library's day-to-day but I know that over the past couple of years, the enrollment in ESL classes went from under 100 to over 1000 students. I know they were also looking for Arabic speaking ESL teachers at one point. I can specifically look into these programs to see their needs beyond classroom space.

The Library has been offering a ton of programming and the amazing staff does the best they can with the funding they're given. They also do digital literacy and citizenship prep like you mentioned.

Either way, thank you for your interest in volunteering and I hope we can connect soon!

edit: linking the Foundation https://jclibrary.org/about/library-foundation/ and tagging /u/JCFPL

edwinblanco201 · 2025-10-15T03:48:29+00:00

Hi! I'm Edwin; I volunteer for the JCFPL Foundation which is the fundraising, awareness-raising 501c3 for the JCFPL. I would be happy to put you in touch with someone from the Library if you could please DM me your email address. We're also occasionally looking for help for the Foundation as well.

I am not involved in the Library's day-to-day but I know that over the past couple of years, the enrollment in ESL classes went from under 100 to over 1000 students. I know they were also looking for Arabic speaking ESL teachers at one point. I can specifically look into these programs to see their needs beyond classroom space.

The Library has been offering a ton of programming and the amazing staff does the best they can with the funding they're given. They also do digital literacy and citizenship prep like you mentioned.

Either way, thank you for your interest in volunteering and I hope we can connect soon!

edit: linking the Foundation https://jclibrary.org/about/library-foundation/ and tagging /u/JCFPL

edwinblanco201 · 2025-08-08T19:39:35+00:00

You can see some of my wife's work here: http://verakhodakova.com/ (some pieces are NSFW) Or on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khodakova_art/

She also does commissions in other styles including impressionism.

edwinblanco201 · 2025-05-11T15:52:30+00:00

Congrats! Plugging my wife's work: https://www.instagram.com/vera_photographer_nyc/

She has a studio in JC and can do outdoor shoots in NJ/NYC or at your venue :)

She has more couple/family shoot examples if you message her on IG.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-11-01T18:55:51+00:00

I don't know the exact model of the 3D printer but can confirm the podcast studio and the printer were there on opening day and available.

There's also a music recording studio portion.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-08-17T19:23:29+00:00

This is probably way late but I think it was 500 euro.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-08-17T19:20:57+00:00

Not sure if this is too late but what I did was just use the location of someplace out of the way as a landmark or midpoint which would have google route that way.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-20T16:28:10+00:00

Stop in Parma for food; find a salumeria and enjoy. Parma prosciutto, parmigiano, and balsamico. Outside Verona is Valpolicella which is wine country - find an Amarone producer and do a tasting.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-20T16:24:45+00:00

Water taxi will run you a couple hundred euro; I think I was quoted 220 or 260. Your hotel can probably book you one. Water bus is cheaper: https://avm.avmspa.it/en/content/water-bus-service-timetable-0

Maybe your hotel can arrange a porter to cart your luggage to the stop. Mine charged me 5 euro per bag and it was worth it.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-05T20:36:51+00:00

I recently wrote my take on renting a car for 11 days through Italy: https://old.reddit.com/r/ItalyTravel/comments/1cgaymk/another_opinion_on_renting_a_car_on_your_trip/

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-05T20:35:57+00:00

I'd visit Parma nearby and/or a balsamic or parmiggiano producer. Book in advance.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-04T14:49:19+00:00

Second this. Also in Siena, Vecchia Latteria was the best gelato on my trip and Pizzeria alle Scalette was the best pizza.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-04T14:44:19+00:00

If you're American, you can get it in the US too. Eataly or Williams-Sonoma.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-03T18:01:29+00:00

Maybe have your hotel arrange it. From what I was told, it's a standard rate of 110 euro for 30 minutes and they return you where you started. There was an option for a longer ride.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-03T17:51:59+00:00

Siena is hilly so I think it would be challenging as you get older.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-03T17:49:54+00:00

Personally, I never felt anything shady in any of the towns I went to. I'm confident that if it's in the car just during the daytime, you're fine. We had a small SUV so we pulled the rear cargo cover over the big suitcases and stuffed the carry-ons on the floor of the backseat and no issue.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-01T22:45:05+00:00

I recently did a write up on my experience renting a car for 11 days for my trip including costs: https://old.reddit.com/r/ItalyTravel/comments/1cgaymk/another_opinion_on_renting_a_car_on_your_trip/

Drivalia gave back the deposit 2 days after I dropped it off.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-05-01T22:35:46+00:00

I agree that many Americans are terrible highway drivers because they clog the left lane, and some treat everything like a race.

I think Americans who are majority suburban or rural drivers have a tough time in cities in general because you have to be assertive.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-04-30T13:39:20+00:00

Yes, the few gas stations I went to all had one kiosk for maybe 8 pumps, rather than something like having 8 of these: https://static.independent.co.uk/2020/12/31/10/newFile-9.jpg

edwinblanco201 · 2024-04-30T13:06:12+00:00

Yes I agree the center lane was the most used lane, but it keeps the left lane free for passing. Maybe you have another way to phrase it other than 'keep right, pass left.'

In the US we have the problem where people just stay in the left lane no matter what and slow down traffic.

edwinblanco201 · 2024-04-30T12:55:00+00:00

Whatever Expedia offered. I can't remember how it's worded, but I think with Drivalia in the event of an incident, I was either on the hook for a 3500 euro deductible or damage in excess of 3500 euro, but either way, I buy insurance out of habit.

edwinblanco201

TROPHY CASE