Twenty-Third Annual Founder's Dinner
On Thursday, June 2, 2022, Student Sponsor Partners hosted their Twenty-Third Annual Founder's Dinner at The Pierre in New York City. This year, they made the decision to celebrate each component of their name and the hyper-local effect they have had, especially the healthcare heroes who have given them hope and helped them get through the epidemic. This night will go down in history as the one that honored and celebrated these shining lights among the Students, Sponsors, and Partners. Through their dedication to SSP and their work in the medical field, each category of the distinguished guests has made a positive difference on people's lives and in the communities in which they reside. Additionally, they have put their purpose into action.
Using the power of great education and mentoring, Student Sponsor Partners helps low-income and academically average New York City adolescents break the cycle of poverty and realize their full potential.
Student Sponsor Partners' programs have given thousands of New York City high school students with a great education and mentoring for more than three decades, equipping them for a future with limitless possibilities. Partner schools, sponsors who support their scholarship and education programs, mentors who help students along the way, and college and job preparation opportunities guarantee a pleasant experience and lasting influence.
Students: This year’s dinner featured SSP alumni Dr. Jorge Aguilar and Tyler Roche. Dr. Jorge Aguilar's sponsor and mentor fanned his interest in science, which led him to Swarthmore College and on to receiving a medical degree and a PhD, enabling him to ultimately lift his family out of poverty and give back to his community. Tyler Roche, a 2020 graduate from Cardinal Hayes, is attending St. John's University on a scholarship for baseball and maintains a close relationship with his sponsor and mentor.
Sponsors: We are also thrilled to honor the Flanigan Family. Peter Flanigan was our founder and visionary, and the heartbeat of this organization. Today, his family keeps his legacy alive through their sponsorship and support of the organization. In the spirit of Peter’s dedication to the value of our mission, they are seeding a generous endowment.
Partners: Our partners across New York City are vital to helping us hyper-locally meet the needs of our students and their families. Healthcare partners in our communities provide a critical anchor for health and wellness. Throughout the pandemic, Healthcare Heroes not only devoted themselves to saving lives but also to supporting SSP students through mentorship and volunteerism. We look forward to honoring and celebrating the healthcare stars of SSP for all they’ve done and continue to do for our students, families, and communities.
For more information please visit https://sspnyc.org/
You Need PR Book Launch
You Need PR is just as it sounds. It is an approachable guide for early-stage startup companies and individuals looking for a robust PR strategy, but do not yet have the budget or the capacity to hire the full PR firm on retainer. It is an Inc. Original Imprint launching early May.
Tastemakers: The 18th Century French Luxury Market and the Global Art Trade
Last week, Villa Albertine Headquarters located at the French Embassy in New York, hosted an event to honor its recent exhibit called, “Tastemakers: The 18th Century French Luxury Market and the Global Art Trade.”
The exhibition showcased over thirty pieces from the collections of Galerie Kugel, one of France’s most prominent galleries. Some of the works date back to 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and were previously owned by the likes of Marie Antoinette, Madame de Pompadour and Madame du Barry.
The marvelous collection of luxury items had previously belonged to “Marchands merciers,“ who were the tastemakers of the 18th century French luxury market. As described by Diderot in 1751 Encyclopédie as “makers of nothing, sellers of everything.“
The exhibition was part of series of events Villa Albertine hosted this year. The collection is expected to continue traveling around the world, meanwhile Villa Albertine is hoping to host more events in the upcoming few months. For more information on the Tastemakers exhibit, please visit Galerie Kugel.
Arcadia Earth HoloLens
This month, the Arcadia Earth Exhibit at 718 Broadway will introduce the first mixed reality environmental art exhibit with hololens technology. HoloLens is Microsoft's new augmented reality headset that enables users to introduce interactive holograms into their real world experience. Users use the headsets to activate the world around them by looking in the direction of the holograms they see, bringing them to life and unlocking hidden gems, environmental facts, and lifelike animations. The experience brings together the entertainment of a video game, the education of a museum, and the immersion of a VR experience together.
The HoloLens tour at Arcadia Earth was developed in partnership with Enklu and enhances the extended reality exhibit in New York City, which features captivating experiential art that showcases ecosystems such as forests and the open ocean and global issues such as single-use plastic waste and overfishing. Sharing in the Arcadia Earth mission to empower changemakers, Enklu is an impact-driven team of spatial creators that develop holographic experiences for the real world.
Using HoloLens’ Mixed-Reality to Journey Through Planet Earth | After putting on HoloLens, visitors are welcomed by a friendly orb who acts as their guide through the experience. The headset enhances Arcadia Earth's colorful and sculptural multisensory exhibit with a lit path, gaze-collectible gems and proximity-triggered audio and visuals.
Stepping into the first room, visitors learn about the plight of coral reefs as they view a life-size diorama animated by augmented reality. They are invited to collect holographic gems, each of which offers a new tidbit about coral reefs. Visitors learn, for example, that coral reefs are home to over a quarter of the oceans’ marine life, but that 70% of reefs are threatened by bleaching. Participants watch a holographic coral bleach white before their eyes.
Another gem reveals that by simply changing the type of sunscreen you use, you can help protect these hubs of biodiversity. Clicking on a button sends this recommendation to the participant’s phone to review later. Throughout the journey, visitors have moments to step into a space where they can pause and add information to their carbon footprint calculation, with the goal of better understanding the practical steps they can take to help the planet.
Transforming the Future of Physical Exhibits| Introducing augmented reality wearable devices brings exciting possibilities to the world of Arcadia Earth with the potential to endlessly reimagine the experience. Unlike permanent physical installations, the holograms can be updated at any time to add new information, innovations or entirely new experiences for the visitor. The potential for refreshing exhibits becomes endless.
Tickets for general admission start at $27 off-peak for children, students, seniors 65+, veterans, and active military with valid ID. Other tickets are $39 peak and $33 off-peak, with the HoloLens tour being offered as an exclusive experience accessible by a special ticket price of $59. As part of Arcadia Earth’s mission to be carbon neutral, proceeds from tickets sold will go towards planting mangrove trees – chosen for their effectiveness in sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. Charitable supporters of Arcadia Earth include Oceanic Global and WWF.
Learn more about Arcadia Earth at arcadia.earth
Brickworks Global Flagship Design Studio
On Thursday, March 3, Brickworks North America — a subsidiary of Brickworks Limited, one of the most premium and diverse building material manufacturers — welcomed InvitedNYC to officially celebrate its global flagship Design Studio in New York City. Located on NYC’s iconic 5th Avenue, the Brickworks New York Design Studio provides architects, designers and homeowners an upscale, stylish space to collaborate on projects, explore premium products, and attend industry and educational events.
The festive 1930s celebration was attended by more than 300 guests, who included “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” stars Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia; Mark Ellenor, President of Brickworks North America; Lindsay Partridge, Managing Director of Brickworks; Robert Millner, Chairman of Brickworks; the Honorable Arthur Sinodinos AO, Australian Ambassador to the United States; and the Honorable Nicholas Greiner AC, Australian Consul-General to New York.
“Opening our international flagship Design Studio in New York City is a pivotal milestone for Brickworks and another opportunity for us to continue our expansion in North America,” said Lindsay Partridge, Managing Director, Brickworks. “It’s an honor to bring our expertise to New York City, home to some of the most diverse, lively and iconic architectural structures in the world and one of the world’s premier design hubs. With a fashion-forward, high-end product collection and unparalleled design experience, we’re thrilled to have our global flagship on New York City’s most famous shopping street among other legendary brands.”
Guests indulged in hors d’oeuvres and 1930s-style craft cocktails, while receiving an inside view of Glen-Gery’s line of top products throughout the evening. Midway through the night, Australian pop star Samantha Jade, who has worked with Ashley Tisdale and won the 4th season of “The X Factor” in Australia, took the stage. The pop sensation sang true classics including “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, “Fever” by Peggy Lee, “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra, and “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge.
Inspired by the Art Deco architectural movement in New York and the timeless style of the world-famous Chrysler building. InvitedNYC entered the swanky celebratory black-tie party through a red carpet entrance greeted by flappers, circus entertainment, Veuve Clicquot champagne towers and hundreds of quality brick and stone products on display.
The 1930s-style celebration kicked off with welcome remarks from Mark Ellenor, president of Brickworks North America, and a champagne toast. Following, media, dignitaries and industry attendees enjoyed a lively evening of entertainment in the Design Studio’s 16,171-square-foot space and viewed hundreds of high-quality product samples from Glen-Gery.
The New York Design Studio is Brickworks’ third Design Studio in the U.S. and ninth Design Studio internationally. To learn more about Brickworks Design Studios, visit https://glengery.com/brickworks-design-studios.
ABOUT GLEN-GERY
Glen-Gery Corporation, part of Brickworks Limited of Australia, is a premier brick and stone manufacturer offering the most diverse product portfolio of more than 600 brick and stone products. For more than a century, Glen-Gery has provided high quality building products that meet both innovative design challenges and demanding construction specifications. Through technology advancements and product innovations, Glen-Gery delivers a premium product line that caters to the high-style needs of today’s architects, designers and homeowners. Founded in 1890, Glen-Gery is headquartered in Wyomissing, PA. www.glengery.com
ABOUT BRICKWORKS LIMITED
Brickworks has been building the Australian dream for over a century. Today, Brickworks is more than Australia’s largest and most trusted brick manufacturer. It comprises a diversified portfolio of attractive assets, offering shareholders stability and long-term growth. The Company has a proud track record, having paid a dividend every year since listing on the ASX in 1962. Brickworks comprises four divisions – Building Products Australia, Building Products North America, Industrial Property, and Investments.
Building Products Australia includes Austral Bricks, the country’s largest bricks producer, and other leading brands such as Austral Masonry, Austral Precast and Bristile Roofing. Building Products North America is the leading brick producer in the Northeast of the United States and includes the flagship brand of Glen-Gery. www.brickworks.com.au
Monopoly’s new Edition – Play the Brooklyn Way
Right at a time where many of us might not be able to explore our new or old Brooklyn neighborhoods the way we normally would, Monopoly is offering its newest addition: The Brooklyn Edition. Released a few weeks ago, the new edition offers up to 6 players a fun way to remotely explore known buildings and locations in their area.
From finally buying a Brooklyn brownstone townhouse to finding metro day passes on the Q train, the game offers a broad variety of creative and well thought-through details showcasing the familiarity of creators with our beloved neighborhood. To further enhance the playing experience, creators such as Dennis Gavaghen, representative from Top Trumps USA, also “incorporated important feedback from locals to truly make this a fun and engaging game for Brooklynites and beyond”.
By doing so, they also ensured that even well-accustomed Brooklynites might discover some not yet well-known cultural attractions. The Community Chest in particular showcases the cultural diversity around Brooklyn by highlighting attractions such as the ‘The World of Good’ exhibition of the Jewish Children’s Museum.
But it's not just the cultural diversity that finds important recognition. The new edition also features small Brooklyn-based restaurants and businesses. From free cheesecake at Junior’s Restaurant to shopping at Awoke Vintage, players are provided with inspiration to take their explorations from the board to the street. A Monopoly fan herself, Liz Powers from Awoke Vintage is sure that “locals and visitors will be thrilled to play and what a great way to celebrate Brooklyn”.
So, if you are still looking for Christmas presents or fun ways to bring the whole family together for the holidays, the new Monopoly Brooklyn Edition offers a few hours of interactive engagement for locals, visitors and all those that have not yet had a chance to explore our beautiful neighborhood themselves.
Havana Film Festival 2021
The Havana Film Festival NY (www.HFFNY.com), a project of The American Friends of the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, returned to theaters from November 5 through November 11th to present an exceptional program of 32 films celebrating the diversity of voices and cultural expressions of Ibero =America and its diaspora. All screenings, panels, and specials took place in-person at the Village East Cinema in New York City.
The festival’s opening night saw the NY premiere of multi-award winning Colombian film El Ovido Que Seremos, Memories of my Father by renowned writer Hector Abad Faciolince.
Héctor Abad Faciolince, born in Medellin in 1958, is a Colombian novelist, essayist, journalist, and editor. He is considered one of the most talented writers in Latin American literature, and is famous for his novelized autobiography about his father, El olvido que seremos / Oblivion: A Memoir which was an international best-seller, and its cinematic adaptation by Fernando Trueba, which won the Goya for Best Ibero American Film in 2021, securing the first ever Goya Award for Colombia!
The event began with the press call, where interviews for press were given by the film stars. It then went on with the red carpet before the opening ceremony began. Hosted by Colombian actress Kika Child and NY-based content creator Martin Nuñez-Bonilla, the opening ceremony was filled with interesting people happy to celebrate the artists.
After the opening ceremony, the film began. The story was about a Colombian writer's father. His father was a University MD professor who promoted tolerance and human rights in his country. Throughout the movie, the writer relays his feelings related to his lovely father as he describes his family story and all drama related to the killing of his father. The movie portrays the violence that has haunted Colombia life during the last three decades. What was captivating about this film was the fact that it tackled different societal subjects that many people go through: culture, education, traditions, oppression, social inequality, etc, and was able to address them in an ironic, dramatic and romantic way.
The film was set in two timelines, one in Turin,1983, where the main character Héctor is summoned to a ceremony honoring his father, and another timeline in the writer’s childhood in 1970s Medellín, where much of the film takes place.
It is obvious from the beginning that we are seeing everything from the point of view of Héctor, who is later nicknamed Quiquín, and beautifully played by Nicolás Reyes. Quiquín is portrayed as a troublesome young boy who’s indulged by his doctor father on a regular basis.
Half way through the popcorn, we realize that the movie has its uneven moments, aspects of plot that feel rather a diversion from any central narrative. However, the key element is the closeness of this father-son bond that is very touching, as is our sense of the growing cruelty of a society that goes after those who are most concerned to improve it.
Overall, the film is not lacking in sentimentality, but the inspiring example of the hero, a man who put his beliefs above his own life, is genuinely moving.
The event concluded with a small party where everyone was celebrating the outstanding movie and culture. The film festival is still going on through November 11th, and will end on its closing night with the film MAIXABEL from director Icíar Bollaín. Both movies will remain in the theater after the festival if you’re interested in watching them, and you can also purchase the book “Memories of My Father” online or in stores currently.
Delivering Good Welcomes Back NYC
400 guests joined Delivering Good at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in NYC
On November 4, 2021 in New York, NY, Delivering Goods held its annual gala honoring the Ralph Lauren Corporation with the Lifetime Achievement Award, SAP Inaugural Innovation Award, and Tanger Outlets Impact Award.
“An Evening of Delivering Good” raised over $1.3 Million Dollars for children, adults, and families facing poverty and hardship. During the evening, three of the organization’s partners were honored for their contributions to communities in need.
Ken Downing, Board Member, created an interactive evening designed to bring the fun back to fundraising as New York City finally returned to in-person events. The event exceeded its fundraising goal while welcoming 400 attendees to support its cause and continues to receive donations online.
Photo above (L to R): Delivering Good Board Chair Andrea Weiss, President & CEO LisaGurwitch and Board Member Ken Downing discuss Delivering Good’s impact during the last year
“The greatest impact Delivering Good can make is by assisting families in need through our local partners. The positive force of families, whether born or chosen, can lay a solid foundation for a person to achieve their dreams,” stated Downing. The importance of family and working together to help improve people’s lives were common threads linking everyone at the event, especially the honorees.
(L to R) The DG Gala Livestream Host Nicole Ryan of Sirius XM and Gala Host Ken Downing work the room during a fundraising appeal.
“Our years-long relationship with Delivering Good is rooted in common values – values like family, optimism and hope, and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential,” said David Lauren, Chief Branding and Innovation Officer & Vice Chairman of the Board at Ralph Lauren. As David accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the company for its decades of philanthropic leadership, he thanked Delivering Good for the recognition while noting that the spotlight should be on the organization. “We really feel like we should be recognizing you for allowing us to do good work. And thanking you for the opportunity that you’ve given us and our employees to reach out and help people who are in need.”
Accepting Delivering Good’s Impact Award was Stephen J. Yalof, CEO of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers.
Photo above L to R: DG Board Member Allan Ellinger, Honoree and Tanger Outlets CEO & President Stephen Yalof, Coach CEO and Brand President Todd Kahn
The great news is the event continues beyond the gala. The silent auction will remain live until November 12th. The items and bidding can be found at https://www.charitybuzz.com/support/deliveringgood.
Delivering Good has supported millions of children, families and individuals in need, both nationally and internationally; over 2.5 million people are helped each year. Since the inception of Delivering Good in 1985, over $2 billion of donated products have been distributed through its network of community partners, serving the poor and disadvantaged.
Social Media Influencers Sai DeSilva and Jessica Wang attend dinner
Melanie Charles Quartet opened the evening program and entertained guests during dinner
About Delivering Good, Inc.
Delivering Good, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and the charity of choice for new product donations made by hundreds of companies in the fashion, home and children’s industries. Donating new merchandise provides these companies with a simple and effective way to help millions of kids, adults and families facing poverty and disaster each year. Since 1985, over $2 billion of donated product has been distributed through our network of community partners. Learn more at www.Delivering-Good.org.
ARTECHOUSE NYC: Geometric Properties
Next door to Chelsea Market and at the crossroads of art and technology is the latest immersive exhibit to hit the town: Artechouse NYC.
Founded in 2015 by arts advocates Sandro and Tati, Artechouse is a nationwide innovative art experience dedicated to showcasing new forms of creative expression. The NYC exhibit, titled “Geometric Properties,” is no exception. Exclusively showing the work of Julius Horsthuis, a Dutch visual and fractal artist who combines math, visual effects, and computer graphics, the new Artechouse NYC is an impossibly stimulating, cinematic show unlike any other.
The first thing you’ll notice when entering the exhibit is how dark it is. Where most traditional art exhibits tend to indulge in blank white walls, Artechouse NYC has used thousands of screens to display a spellbinding “new world” that includes everything from gothic-esque forests to psychedelic deserts. Adding to the experience is the Artechouse House app, which allows visitors to view kaleidoscopic, “hidden aspects” of certain works through their very own camera lens. The result? An all-enveloping, completely immersive experience. Lying on the ground, being lulled by the ambient music, it is too easy to feel as if you’ve been transported to an entirely new dimension.
Still, all good things can’t last forever. After taking in all the exhibit has to offer, visitors are able to exit through a gift shop that leads right into Chelsea Market, where they are free to finish up their day with a meal at one of the market’s famous eateries.
So if you’re an art/science/math/tech fan who’s looking to lose yourself for a few hours, this exhibit is the one for you. Bring your phone, bring your friends, keep an open mind, and you’re sure to have an unforgettable, IG-worthy experience that’ll keep you wondering for weeks to come.
The “Geometric Properties'' exhibit at Artechouse NYC will run until September 6th, 2021. Follow @artechouse or visit their website https://www.artechouse.com/location/nyc/ to learn more about the exhibit.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Art fans, this one’s for you. Located at 300 Vesey St. in Downtown Manhattan, right near the battery park and a short walk from the One World Trade is the art world’s latest tribute to a one-of-a-kind artist: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience.
The exhibit starts with a chronological history of Van Gogh’s life that leads into a showcase of his art that is projected onto all the walls surrounding the space. The lighting and the reverberation are superb. Once you have a seat, you get to explore the many different paintings of Van Gogh; and they each come with a musical score that enhances the experience even more. Each image appears slightly and begins drawing right in front of your eyes. The effects and the way the paintings would flood into each other gave a unique effect.
I was completely in awe and really impressed by the amount of work put into the show. It is super inventive, and the music was immaculate. The whole experience was very serene and soothing. After a year of isolation and boredom, this event was like much needed therapy.
Of course, while the experience is not like seeing Van Gogh's actual work in Paris, Amsterdam or even the MOMA, it was amazing to see the depth and complexity of his work captured in such detail and most importantly, to learn the history of the tortured genius. I definitely recommend coming into this exhibit with an open mind and to view it more than once because it is totally unique depending on where you are sitting or standing in the room. There are so many elements and so much going on that it is easy to miss small details -- and trust me you won’t want to miss anything. After all, this is a completely new and engaging way of experiencing art. And pro tip: splurge for the VR - it is worth it.
ADDF 4th Annual Memories Matter
The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) presented its Fourth Annual Memories Matter Event via live stream on Wednesday, April 7. In a special evening of stories and songs, the event united Alzheimer’s advocates, caregivers, families, and supporters around the ADDF’s mission to conquer Alzheimer’s disease, raising over $850,000 in donations to advance its research efforts.
The theme of this year’s Memories Matter was “Music and Memories.” The program opened with a musical number from ADDF board member Mitchell Kaneff, Memories Matter Founding Chair Ian Ginsberg, and Young Professionals Committee member Alec Ginsberg, who came together for the first time to explore the role music plays in connection to memory, and shared personal stories of families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. The event also featured special guest appearances from Emmy and Tony award winner Bryan Cranston and ADDF Board of Governors Co-Vice Chair and Secretary Randal Sandler, as well as an ensemble of Broadway singers performing the worldwide hit song “Memories” by Maroon 5 as a tribute to those who have been lost to the disease and to the power of memories.
Bryan Cranston
The ADDF, the only nonprofit solely devoted to finding new drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s, hosts their annual Memories Matter event to raise awareness of the devastating impact of this disease on patients, caregivers and families, particularly younger generations. The personal stories and discussions of Alzheimer’s shared during the event highlight the need to change the course of this disease with better drug therapies. The event was founded by ADDF Board Members Wendy Wilshin and Stephanie Ginsberg, who both lost their mothers to Alzheimer’s disease.
Ginsberg shared, “At my mother’s funeral, memories of her voice and who she truly was came flooding back. Memories matter. We’re all here today because we want to see Alzheimer’s disease become a distant memory.”
Wilshin continued, “Having the ability to connect to our past gives us our future. After a long and difficult year, we wanted to focus on things that give us hope. The power of music could not be overlooked. Music triggers parts of the brain that evoke emotions, and it's one of the last things to be destroyed by this disease.”
Wendy and Stephanie
ADDF CEO Mark Roithmayr noted how many of the ADDF’s volunteers and donors are led to its mission by their deep personal connections to the disease, saying, “A nonprofit is only as good as its family and friends.” Roithmayr was joined by Dr. Howard Fillit, ADDF’s Founding Executive Director and Chief Science Officer, who spoke to the science behind our mission and shared his perspective on what memories and music mean, both as a clinician and as someone who saw the impact of songs on his own father as he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Bryan Cranston, who lost his mother Audrey ‘Peggy’ Sell to Alzheimer’s in 2004, said, “Alzheimer's is a thief. It steals your loved ones away from you; and we have to find a way to stop this thief. It is vitally important that we continue research, treatment, and explore the world of drugs and how to mitigate the effects of Alzheimer's. The ADDF is doing just that, and we have to support them in their quest to not only take care of the people who are already afflicted with Alzheimer's, but those who will become afflicted with Alzheimer's. Their diligence in finding a cure; that's really the goal.”
Randal Sandler shared how he watched both his mother and mother-in-law suffer from the disease. “My mom was an avid volunteer of her time. I’m most proud of the time I’ve spent over the past years helping this organization to meet its audacious goal of ending Alzheimer’s in our lifetime because that motivation comes from my mom. It’s incredibly gratifying that the ADDF is at the forefront of a lot, if not all, of the most innovative ideas in Alzheimer’s research.”
Caitlin Fay
As CEO Mark Roithmayr noted in his remarks, the ADDF was founded on three pillars: diagnostics, prevention, and drug discovery. Today, those three pillars still serve as our true north, especially as the ADDF’s focus has pivoted from pre-clinical to clinical research. 80% of the clinical trials we fund are now in phase 2, the phase that tests for efficacy and safety. In addition, the ADDF has one of the largest and most diverse clinical trial portfolios in the world, with 35 active trials targeting more than seven pathways that go awry during the aging process. In the next year alone, we’re expecting results from six of our most promising phase 2 trials.
Following the event’s first-time virtual live auction, which raised over $100,000, siblings Matt and Caitlin Fay, two members of ADDF Young Professionals Committee (YPC), a group dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research, explained how they joined together after their father was diagnosed with the disease to raise funds through a series of events among a group of 20- and 30-year-old professionals. The Fay siblings’ fundraisers raised over $15,000 to support the ADDF.
“Having a network of people through the YPC and ADDF putting their time and money towards the Alzheimer’s cause to support my dad and others suffering from this disease is so empowering. If we continue to put our efforts all together, the possibilities are endless,” said Caitlin Fay.
About the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer's disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer's, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded over $168 million to fund more than 650 Alzheimer's drug discovery and biomarker programs and clinical trials in 19 countries. And 100% of every donation funds drug research programs. To learn more, visit http://www.alzdiscovery.org.
YAGP Gala 2021
Maria Khoreva and Kimin Kim
Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) – the world’s largest ballet scholarship competition – hosted its annual gala on March 31, 2021, featuring the World Premiere of Journey Uptown by American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Soloist and YAGP Alum Gabe Stone Shayer, two exclusive duets from Russia’s Mariinsky Ballet, and highlights from YAGP’s 2021 season. “To all of our supporters and participants of this season, you have astounded us with your resilience, your talent, your passion, and your commitment to the arts”, said YAGP Board Chair Christina Lyon.
The evenings performances kicked off with the World Premiere of Journey Uptown, choreographed and performed by Shayer, alongside ABT Principal Dancer and YAGP alumna Skylar Brandt. Rising sensation, 19-year-old blind pianist and composer Matthew Whitaker created and performed the accompanying music. While collaborating, Shayer and Whitaker envisioned the sound and feeling of New York City. The piece was part of YAGP’s Emerging Choreographer Series, which has previously featured Melanie Hamrick, Justin Peck and Derek Hough.
McRae “You Broke me First”
Popstar Tate McRae (YAGP Alumna) performed her single You Broke Me First.
Mariinsky Ballet’s Maria Khoreva and Kimin Kim (YAGP Alum) performed a duet from Le Corsaire, and May Nagahisa and Victor Caixeta (both YAGP Alumni) gave an exclusive behind-the-scenes look of their duet from Romeo and Juliet.
Whittaker, Brandt and Shayer
Hosts, actress Stuart Brazell and Craig Olsen, presented a dazzling compilation of the best performances from YAGP’s 2021 Season participants worldwide; including from South Korea, Japan and over 15 cities across America. “Last year YAGP was the last dance organization to close down and within a week we were hosting free online master classes with Luca Masala, Twyla Tharp, Alexei Ratmansky and other professionals from all over the world. It was a very strange year but what stayed the same is our commitment to supporting young talented dancers” said YAGP Founder Larissa Saveliev.
On display throughout the evening were two one-of-a-kind designer couture ballet tutus from Carolina Herrera and The Row. Carolina Herrera and Wes Gordon are noted ballet enthusiasts, and for years The Row’s Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been YAGP Gala Chairs alongside their friend and YAGP supporter, Marcella Guarino Hymowitz.
If you missed the performance, watch the replay here: https://yagp.org/2021-gala/
Photos by YAGP
2021 Sheikh Zayed Book Award
”In such difficult times, it is more important than ever to focus on books and on cultural values. They alone can provide us with the moral compass we so desperately need to move on with our eyes wide open”
- Amin Maalouf, Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2016 Cultural Personality of the Year
The 15th edition of the annual Sheikh Zayed Book Award, described as “the Arab world’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize” and “One of the most esteemed and lucrative prizes in the Arab world” (Literary Hub) is open to submissions until October 1st. Literary works from writers, translators, academics and publishers from across the world are reviewed by an independent and international jury of cultural experts to be awarded prizes across various categories, with the main prizewinners receiving 750,000 UAE Dirhams (204,000 USD).
This award both recognises exciting and challenging literary achievements in the Arab world while contributing funds and focus for producing and publishing Arab works into other languages to be distributed across the world.
Statistics from the 14th Edition of the Award
Established in 2006 by the Department of Culture and Tourism -- Abu Dhabi, the award continues the legacy and memory of Sheikh Zaeyd Bin Sultan with his progressive worldview that transformed the United Arab Emirates.
The following nine categories encompassing Arab culture are open for submission:
Literature (including both fiction and poetry)
Young Author (for writers under the age of 40)
Children’s Literature
Cultural Personality of the Year
Publishing and Technology
Arabic Culture in Other Languages
Translation – either to or from Arabic
Literary and Art Criticism
Contribution to the Development of Nations
All nominations must be published in Arabic apart from those in the categories of Translation and Arabic Culture in Other Languages.
2020 winner of the Award, UK based Banipal magazine who showcase contemporary Arab authors in English translation, used the prize money to fund their network of writers, translators, editors and printers and on promotion to reach new audiences. Other previous winners include Dame Marina Warner (UK), Amin Maalouf (France), Professor Philip Kennedy (US), and Institut du Monde Arab (France).
“This year, we have learnt that whatever happens, culture endures and adapts to the most difficult of circumstances. As the rich cultural life of the Arab world continues to flourish, I urge writers, publishers and scholars around the world to bring the fruits of their labour to the judges’ attention.”
- Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Authority and Secretary General of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Visit the Sheikh Zayed Book Award website, Instagram or Twitter to learn more about one of the world’s leading prizes recognising Arab literary and cultural achievements while bridging cultural landscapes.
Made in Japan: JCAT Presents Japan Anew
On Thursday, February 13th, Noho M55 gallery once again opened its doors in Chelsea for their latest exhibition, Made in Japan. With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approaching, JCAT continues to put Japan center of the map, bringing traditional artists and their work to the heart of art in New York City.
Jiro
While their previous exhibition, Invisible Rules of Japan, was more thematically focused, this exhibition, Made in Japan, dazzled with breadth, in both form and content. Upon entering the exhibition the viewer is confronted by color; Jiro’s dream-like diptych, depicting the circle of life, the connectivity of nature, and the geometric tunnels of human imagination, gleams out from the first wall. The depth of composition and vibrancy of hue lulls me into a cosmic trance, losing perspective in his inverted mountains and pink mushrooms.
Hideaki Miyata
Not all art should make you feel good and I find this is the case with Hideaki Miyata’s surrealist graphics. The electricity of over-saturation unsettles my sight. The sickening yellow moth wings beat against a pastel sky. It is jarring and it has my attention, in a way that is alluringly uncomfortable.
UMI
Continuing through the exhibition, diversity of subject and style abounds. UMI, who traveled from Japan for the exhibition, offered whimsical, muted toned street scenes, completed with curious and curled up cats in the foreground. Hekiun Oda, a premier practitioner of Shodo, presented bold and engaging calligraphy, evoking Spring, Peace, and Dream as dynamic symbols.
Hekiun Oda’s Calligraphy
Other featured artists included: Muhyojo Ekakist JUNYA / Yutaka Fujimori / naomaria / Takaaki MANO / URANOGAKI / Mariko Takeo. The Japanese Contemporary Artists Team (JCAT) is a unique, creative collective based in New York, which represents over 200 Japanese artists across the world. Their mission is to forge connections, created through extensive artist databases and throughout the year exhibitions, in order to set artists best up for success.
The Made in Japan exhibition was curated by JCAT founder Arisa Itami. From her base in New York, Arisa is engaged in promoting the theme Peace on Earth through the Japanese identity of harmony. A first step towards harmony? Attending Made in Japan at Noho M55.
The New York Times Travel Show - 2020
Have you ever travelled the world in one day? Well realistically, you can't travel all the way around the world in a day on a commercial airline. However, in one day, you can definitely learn a whole bunch of new things about those places to plan for future trips.
Attracting more than 35,000 attendees and with over 700 exhibitors from more than 175 countries, right at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, The New York Times Travel Show is the largest travel trade and consumer show in North America.
An ultimate travel and tourism event aiming at promoting the tourism industries worldwide. This event was a must for anyone who loves traveling and exploring the beauty of nature. It also sponsored more than 100 cultural presentations given by professionals to promote worldwide travel agencies and cultures.
The first station I visited was the “Travel Seminars.” I attended different talks by travel connoisseurs. Seth Kugel, Journalist, Travel Writer and previous New York Times Frugal Traveler, discussed the different ways to travel sustainably without spending a fortune. As we know, sustainable travel has always been associated with luxury travel: high-end resorts, fancy farm-to-table restaurants, trains and hybrid vehicles. Kugel explained the opposite, mentioning the different ways to travel sustainably without incurring additional costs, and sometimes even for a lower cost.
“Travel Writing and Photography in 2020: Perspectives From three Experts” is another discussion I really enjoyed. Panelists Max Hartshorne, editor at GoNOMAD.com, Paul Shoul, Travel Photographer and Erik Trinidad, Video Producer, provided tips and advice about the travel publishing market, both online and print. Whether new to travel, writing, or already a blogger, they gave tips about getting published, shooting better photos and editing engaging videos to enhance your stories.
Next station was “Taste of the World.'' That was a good one! I got the opportunity to taste Costa Ricca’s best ground coffee, India’s most delicious samosa, Switzerland’s best cheese, and Brazil’s best cocktail.
So if you’re in the mood for a new vacation, a foodie trip in Spain or France, or even just inspiration for a local weekend trip, check out the New York Times Travel Show for lots of ideas and information pertaining to any sort of travel.
Chinese New Year Spectacular VI!
On Friday, February 7th, for its sixth running, Carnegie Hall opened its doors to the annual Chinese New Year Spectacular, to ring in the Lunar New Year.
Jiehua Shi & Min Cheng perform Kunqu Opera. Photo: Jill Nelson
A spirit of celebration surrounded Zankel Hall, as a diverse and multicultural crowd gathered to listen to music from Kunqu Opera to classical piano. “This year’s Spectacular VI Concert is a diverse blend of cultures and musical sounds. We’re thrilled to have such a strong and energetic group of new and returning talent,” said Charles W. Sullivan, Spectacular VI Concert co-producer and president of Premier Event Management, Inc.
The evening opened with Kunqu Opera, performed by Jiehua Shi, Min Cheng and Qinglin Cai, with accompanying traditional Chinese music, including instruments such as the Kunqu flute, played by Ming Zhou. Kunqu Opera, one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera, incorporates poetry, dance, and acting, to create dramatic narrative and engaging aesthetics and sounds. It is certainly a multi-sensory experience; the majesty of their resplendent robes, dazzling headpieces, and intricately elaborate make-up, clash and confront the delicacy of the flute and the exciting tonal ranges of the singing, in a striking and occasionally startling manner.
Qinglin Cai masters Kunqu. Photo: Jill Nelson
To follow the acclaimed classical pianist, Cong Bi, offered two masterful and hauntingly beautiful Beethoven renditions. I felt enchanted and entranced by the spectral reflection of Bi’s hands mirrored against the obsidian grand piano lid. The dance between his hands and their reflection further emphasised the drama and precise urgency of Beethoven’s ‘Appassionata’. The speed at which Bi applied his skill guided me into a delectable fever dream; a monochromatic blur juxtaposed by clean, sharp notes to tickle the brain.
Pianist Cong Bi. Photo: Jill Nelson
Soprano Quan Cheng. Photo: Jill Nelson
I had the great pleasure to talk with two of the evening’s standout performers; Quan Chen and Deni Bonet. Quan Chen, an established and expressive soprano, returning to Carnegie Hall, stunned the audience with both her solo performance and in her accompaniment with The Athenians, a dynamic group of virtuoso opera singers. A Puccini aficionado to her core, the passion and emotion of Chen reverberated magnificently around the hall. Maestro Wroe, the conductor of New York City Opera, who knows Chen well said, ‘Ms. Chen is attracted to music that speaks to the soul… She demands your attention, she draws you into her performances and she wraps you in an intensely musical sound-world that is irresistible.’ He went onto to discuss her creative process as a, ‘combination of firstly building a technique and a beauty of sound to then support her vision of the music, and secondly listening to the great masters to understand why they were revered so much. There is no shame in mirroring genius.’
The Athenians, photo: Jill Nelson.
To complete the evening, Deni Bonet, an American singer/songwriter/violinist, upped the tempo and performed energetic numbers of her own creation, including ‘Last Girl on Earth’ and ‘Primal Dream’. Her exquisite and dynamic violin playing was truly exemplified in a dizzying solo, in which her strings laughed, screamed, rejoiced and bellowed, in swings between compelling crescendo and its delicate opposite. Bonet has always been musically inclined and was even accepted into the Prep School of Juilliard at the impressive age of six. She playfully describes her music as, ‘quirky, melodic and fun folk-rock’, which, in its delightful contradiction, complimented the classical music of the evening.
Deni Bonet performs. Photo: Jill Nelson
Three hours on and the sixth Chinese New Year Spectacular was drawing to a close. “This one-of-a-kind concert will be unique in its history, and we are extremely honored to continue to host this tradition at Carnegie Hall for six consecutive years,” said Lily Li, Spectacular VI Concert co-producer and chief executive. “Our mission and passion for this event is to showcase a multicultural blend of music and art for our multicultural audience.”
This year’s Chinese New Year Spectacular was nothing short of spectacular. A dazzling showcase of dance and music, honoring ancient traditions and celebrating new collaborations; the perfect start to a New Year!
Invisible Rules of Japan Unveiled
On Thursday January 30th 2020, The Japanese Contemporary Artists Team (JCAT) showcased their exhibition, Invisible Rules of Japan at Noho M55 Gallery in Chelsea.
Don’t Eat While Walking, Mito Nishikura
JCAT artists create art based around a theme, before compiling the pieces into an artbook. One of the aims for this exhibition was to be accessible, for both participants and audience. Each piece consists of a single piece of paper, displayed solely by a clip of the wall, allowing for portable, lightweight art. On this B4 sketchbook paper, artists express the hidden, implicit rules within Japanese culture, in a variety of mediums from illustrations and painting to collage and calligraphy.
Tegatana, Makoto Ambo
Due to Japan’s historical isolationism from the world, many customs, traditions and social cues are unknown to visiting tourists. This can result in unintended embarrassing or offensive faux pas. Invisible Rules of Japan hopes to peel back the cultural curtain and connect the world to Japanese customs, especially ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Invisible Rules of Japan, Noho M55 Gallery.
Having previously travelled to Japan myself, I saw many of the implicit rules I encountered but also some that were new to me. I learnt that when walking through crowds, it is encouraged to make eye contact with strangers and to slightly bow as a sign of respect and acknowledgment of the other person. Living in New York City this was an alien concept to me. I was also reminded about the deep rooted significance of rice, and how every single grain is precious and should never be wasted.
The store clerk will not come unless you say “Sumimasen”, youme
The advantage to using B4 paper is that the message is immediate and concise; the information required to be a respectful and conscientious tourist is easy to digest. This is further emphasised by the use of bright colors, comic style characters and bold, effective lettering. I am engaged, I am listening.
As this exhibition showed, bringing life to the culturally unspoken is powerful. It informs in a way that is non-judgmental and cordial. It builds bridges over potential misunderstandings. It breathes color and texture into the invisible.
@giselle Masters the Dance Between Ballet and the Digital World
Romance has always been thought of as a dance. @giselle works to preserve the classic traditions of ballet with the ever-evolving jive of social media and online dating, to create the ultimate experience of dance and love in 2020.
Performance of @giselle. Photo Credit: David Cooper
On January 14, a new imagining of the beloved ballet classic Giselle, was screened at The Bruno Walter Auditorium in Lincoln Center, New York City. Created by Joshua Beamish/MOVETHECOMPANY, @giselle updates the 1800’s tragic romance for modern audiences, as dating apps, selfies and emojis reinterpret love, sex and relationships in the 21st century. With the talented cast of ABT's Catherine Hurlin in the title role and Betsy McBride as Bathilde, Pennsylvania Ballet's Sterling Baca as Hilarion, and National Ballet of Canada's Harrison James as Albrecht, @giselle dazzles in both its bold intention and skilful execution.
What makes @giselle so unique is the use of motion-captured digital projections and other visual effects utilised to reflect and critique the digital world we live in. On stage, what is physically a solo dance, morphs into a digital duet, as the projections overlie and pair dancers in body and spirit. This reflects the solitary nature of online dating; the dater alone swipes through the plethora of potential lovers, who exist merely as digital representations rather than living, feeling persons.
@giselle in action. Photo Credit: David Cooper
As Joshua Beamish stated as he introduced the show: “I want the original work to exist within our production as its own ghost - a ghost from another time.” Indeed, Giselle herself embodies this ghost, as her suicide is live streamed; everyone is watching but no one is there to stop her incorporeal transformation. In the second act Giselle dances on as a mere projection, a wisp of a memory, a ghostly hologram for Instagram. Incredibly, using only a single projector, the audience watches this intentionally uncomfortable yet oddly complementary duet; the elegance of ballet paired with the glibness of social media; a dual visual experience of reading between the lines of both dance and online dating.
Catherine Herlin and Joshua Beamish.
After the screening Hurlin, McBride, and Baca joined Beamish on stage to share the creative process. As Hurlin notes dancing with a projector was challenging and distracting. Is this a metaphor for our phones and the digital life they submerge us in? Are we too distanced from the physical, distracted from reality?Additionally, as Baca comments, classical ballet incorporates much pantomime. Social media does too, with all its over emphasis and drama, its insistence on the curated image to over exaggerate reality. Life imitates art after all.
@giselle brings together many opposing forces into complementary harmony; digital and dance, tragedy and comedy, studio and stage, to create a unique and magical encounter. It is a modern ballet imbued with an important cultural commentary. A must see on both screen and stage. Commissioned by TO Live, Joshua Beamish/MOVETHECOMPANY premiered @giselle at the Vancouver Playhouse in September 2019.
PHOTOS BY SEAN ZANNI/PMC and DAVID COOPER
The French Heritage Society Black and White Ball
Caroline Bassett and Charlie Scheips
The French Heritage Society (FHS), is devoted to protecting French architecture in France and the United States through preservation and education. FHS held their Black & White Ball, in honor of interior designer Geoffrey Bradfield and philanthropists Margaret and Gregory Hedberg, on November 21st at a private club in New York City.
Gregory and Margaret Hedberg
Guy Robinson and Elizabeth Stribling
Board Chairman Elizabeth Stribling opened the night with a heart warming comment,"No couple in New York could be as popular and as adorable as the Hedberg’s," she continued, "They are so nice, so philanthropic, and so Francophile. Margaret's aunt created something called The International Debutante Ball; my mother was on the committee of this ball in 1960. We go back a long, long time. Her husband Gregory is a noted scholar and curator, and the author of the scholarly text Degas' Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen".
Johnsonie Casimyr, Allison Ecung, and Jung Moon
Judy McLaren
In accepting their award, Margaret Hedberg commented, "Look at all of you, you look so beautiful. I think it's the chicest crowd in New York. I will just say one thing...merci mille fois!" Her husband continued, "When we're with French Heritage Society, we're in French heaven". "FHS continues to inspire us all,'' agreed Geoffrey Bradfield. "Marcel Proust wrote, 'If we are to make reality endurable, we must all nourish a fantasy or two.' Tonight, receiving this splendid honor, is a moment in my life that I will always cherish." Board member and special event chairman CeCe Black presented Geoffrey with his award, a Lalique trophy.
FHS President Denis de Kergorlay, traveled from Paris, specifically for the evening. He announced that Elizabeth Stribling will receive the Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur from the French Minister of Forgein Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, on Monday at the Quai d'Orsay (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in Paris. Already a member of the Légion d'Honneur, this "upgrade" is an honor rarely bestowed on an American.
Jennifer Herlein, the FHS Executive Director, explained their Student Exchange Program, "It is my great pleasure to talk about one of the pillars of French Heritage Society. Each year we send French and American students, around 35 in all, to cross the Atlantic to participate in internships at well known institutions. They establish friendships and understandings that last a lifetime”. Kathleen Guzman of Heritage Auctions led spirited bidding in support of the Program.
Jean Shafiroff
Lucia Hwong Gordon
Guests all dressed in their most formal black or white attire; the ladies in floor length gowns and many of the men, including the New York Chapter Co-Chair, Guy Robinson, in white tie and decorations. Board Member Jean Shafiroff wore a striped gown with a train and a matching masque by designer Victor de Souza, who accompanied her. Odile de Schiétère-Longchampt, New York Chapter Co-Chair and the evening’s Design Consultant, created stunning (nearly) black and white flower arrangements.
Dancing continued till midnight in celebration of the honorable awards given.
The Gala Chairmen were CeCe Black, Jean Doyen de Montaillou and Michael A. Kovner, Jay R. Paul, Jean Shafiroff, and Ann Van Ness. The Co-Chairmen were Barbara and Donald Tober. Dinner Chairmen were Stark D. Kirby, Jr., Helena Lehane, Martin Shafiroff, and Bill Van Ness.
George P. Sape served as the Wine Consultant.
Guests included Board Members Yann Coatanlem, Christian Draz, Ronald Lee Fleming, Judy McLaren, Ann and Bill Van Ness, as well as Debbie Bancroft, Véronique Bich, Lady Liliana Cavendish, Victor de Souza, Mr. and Mrs. William J. Diamond, Mr. and Mrs. John French III, Mark Gilbertson, Sharon Handler, Eric Javits, Jr., Yue-Sai Kan, Margo Langenberg, George Ledes, Sharon Handler Loeb and John Loeb, William Ivey Long, Patricia and Harry Macklowe, Aimée and William Maroney, Mary McFadden, Lucretia Obolensky, Diana and Charles Revson, Tara Rockefeller, Barbara and John Schumacher, Charlie Scheips, Dame Donna and Richard Soloway, and Victoria Wyman.
Upcoming FHS events include the annual Thanksgiving Day celebration in Paris as well as the annual Palm Beach Gala Dinner, February 2020 (https://frenchheritagesociety.org/event/palm-beach-gala-2020/)
Image credit: Annie Watt and Patrick McMullan
Shaping the Edges of Education – New York Edge Young Professional Council Fundraiser
On Thursday, September 5th, the New York Edge Young Professional Council hosted a fundraiser that didn’t only offer spectacular views but also a crucial point of view. This year marked the 6th anniversary of the non-profit’s annual fundraiser which is, along with the Back to School Event on September 2nd, designed to provide means for a successful start of the new school year.
Hosted at the stunning triplex Penthouse at Hotel on Rivington, the fundraiser was intended to raise awareness, and, more obviously, funds, to help New York Edge continue to improve the paths of more than 40,000 school kids all around New York City. The organization was founded 26 years ago and has since then significantly impacted the lives of participating students.
This is also confirmed by some very impressive statistics. According to 86% of parents and 80% of participating school representatives, New York Edge’s programs facilitated significant academic improvement and success as stated on their website.
Another significant testament to the success of the non-profit was the substantial amount of attendees to the event. In addition to the truly breathtaking 360-degree view from the rooftop, guests were offered various means to entertain themselves or challenge their perceptions. Examples range from a free Instagram Wall with immediate print-outs to an open bar, delicious hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction with prices such as flight tickets with JetBlue.
Many of these ‘interactive stations’ were also connected to this year’s theme: Urban Graffiti. In acknowledgment of the talent and effort required for this form of art, several pieces by young artists were displayed in a small graffiti exhibition. But also people with less artistic skills didn’t lack opportunities to express themselves: Each guest was invited to leave their message and advice for school kids at the beginning of their school year on cards that would later be distributed across respective schools.
All in all, the event provided everything and more that one would expect from a night like this. But most of all, it authentically conveyed the extraordinary dedication and passion of the volunteers of the New York Edge Young Professional Council for every aspect of their work.
If you want to learn more about the important work of New York Edge and its Young Professional Council or get involved yourself and help improve the life of school children all across New York City, check out https://newyorkedge.org
Photos provided by New York Edge Young Professional Council