SideWalkers invite you to connect to your neighborhood
Did you know there is a group called SideWalking that organizes inspired, educational, communal walks in Windsor Square? Marcelo Ziperovich, who lives in the area, led the February walk, which started on Second Street and Windsor Boulevard. Camille Waddell, who recently moved to the neighborhood, said, “This is my second walk with the group.”
Past walks have included trips through Fremont Place and a visit to the Marciano Art Foundation in the former Scottish Rite Masonic Temple. Each included information on the visited sites, and friendly conversation with new friends.
THE GROUP OF WALKERS, organized by SideWalkers, included over 30 people.
On a recent Saturday, our group greeted each other and then set off at a moderate pace through the neighborhood to Kasimoff Blüthner Piano Co., at 337 Larchmont Blvd.
Local neighbors Emma Ross and Daniel Acker joined this based on its description, which promised some music history. Ross said, “Plus, I think I’ve walked by this piano store for over 16 years and never been in it.”
That being said, I do not believe anyone of the 35 on this walk, including one dog and two children under 10, thought they would be walking into the extraordinary concert performed by virtuoso concert pianist Ilya Ramlav from Moscow.
The Kasimoff brothers, owners of the piano store, hosted the concert, and Kyril Kasimoff gave a brief historical introduction of each unique instrument being played, as well as the many famous musicians who have played them and films they appeared in. Following each presentation, Ramlav played for us a composition appropriate for the instrument, which included the pianoforte, the grand piano, the clavichord, and quite a few others. Endowed upon us were works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussy, Sergei Rachmaninoff (one of Ramlav’s favorites), and others. Each was performed with such sensitivity, strength, and intimate awareness by Ramlav that I and my new friends were no less than stunned at our great luck to have happened upon this evening!
Ziperovich, who lives on South Van Ness Avenue, organized the free walking series with Clare Sebenius. It began during COVID-19 to offer an in-person community experience. The SideWalking website says, “Every neighborhood is a treasure trove of stories…All it takes is a willingness to walk side by side, listen and share.” Ziperovich said he loves to travel and one reason he creates these events is, “I never know what I’m going to see or who I’m going to meet. Doing this recreates that feeling for me without having to brush off my passport.” And we can’t wait for the next one.
To see excerpts of Ilya Ramlav playing at the Kasimoff Piano Company, follow @thelarchmontchronicle on Instagram. To learn about upcoming walks, follow @sidewalkingorg on Instagram.
RAMLAV PERFORMS for the group organized by SideWalkers.
Category: People
