Ryn Walling 5/13/16 Ryn Walling 5/13/16

Seaport Studios Opening Night Street Party & VIP Reception

To kick off the Seaport Studios Design Market – a part of the two week Downtown Design Festival, a celebration of creative innovation and design – the Seaport District held an Opening Night street party and Seaport Studios hosted a private VIP Reception. The cobblestone pavement of Fulton Street was awash with music, dancing, excitement, and food trucks of all shapes, sizes, and flavors. I personally decided to go with fried mac & cheese from Mac Truck before taking a look around at the shops along the street, one of which being in the Fulton Market Building that is set to open later this year.

Inside the Seaport Studios Opening Night Reception, there was a fantastic layout of various design objects highlighting what the market was all about, such as an array of cookbooks and Otis & Eleanor portable speakers. The interior design alone was mind boggling; the space was created by GUILD using natural materials creating an impossibly chic atmosphere. It was the perfect environment for up-and-coming designers.

To get the party started, David Weinreb, CEO of the Howard Hughes Corporation, spoke to the crowd about the history behind this project and their commitment to the continued growth of the Seaport District’s success. Fulton Street offered him the perfect back-drop of success and potential.

After his presentation, the party really got into the swing of things. Guests could mingle over drinks and delectable ice cream sandwiches and browse the seemingly endless supply of fascinating merchandise.

Among the many supporters of the Design Festival, there were a few notable guests present: Maggie Gyllenhaal and Sarah Flint to name two. Maggie Gyllenhaal, famous actress and activist, stole the show in her multi-print maxi dress and matching neon blue shoes.

Young up-and-coming shoe designer Sarah Flint is one of a number of artists and designers who were featured in the Design Market. I was fortunate enough to have Sarah answer some questions on her recent successes.

How does it feel being so successful at such a young age?

“There are so many exciting things happening right now, and it’s amazing to see all of the love and work I’ve put into the collection reaching new people. I think we’ve found that women like our point of view and it’s so inspiring to see them fall in love with the brand.”

Where do you see the shoe industry trending style-wise in the next few years?

“My line is inspired by a need that I saw in my own closet for shoes that were sexy and wearable at the same time. I am such a believer in mid-heels, kitten heels, and flats and I think that the future lies in shoes that women actually love to wear.”

I can certainly see why Sarah recently won WWD’s Ten of Tomorrow and was named on Forbes’ 30 under 30. Several of her own fashionable flats were on display on the first floor and her Espadrille line will be available at Seaport Studios until July.

The rest of the festival will include Impact! a showcase of design projects from Parsons School of Design, as well as a speaker series called “Downtown Dialogues,” and so much more. The Downtown Design Festival lasts from May 3 until May 17 in the historic Seaport District on Fulton Street.

Special thanks to Dara and Lexi from Alison Brod PR and Bailey Thomas from Full Picture.

Jason Gao 5/13/16 Jason Gao 5/13/16

TD Five Boro Bike Tour

People say you never forget how to ride a bike. In fact, the expression “like riding a bicycle” is used to describe something that once learned, cannot be forgotten. However, for some people, forgetting how to ride a bike is not an issue because they never learned it in the first place. Biking is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways to get around the city. No one should be stripped of this privilege just because they never had the chance to learn.

Each year, cyclists from every state in the U.S. and dozens of countries around the world descend upon lower Manhattan in support of Bike New York’s free bike education programs. From there, they experience something unlike any other – a ride on traffic-free streets.

Despite the unseasonably cold and rainy weather, the appeal of having 40 miles of busy streets in the concrete jungle shutting down just for cyclists made the event exciting. The bike routes ran through all five boroughs of New York City which included FDR Drive, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and the Queensboro and Verrazano-Narrows Bridges, with the finish line in Staten Island.

The TD Five Boro Bike Tour is the largest charitable bike ride in the world, with all the proceeds going towards free bike education programs. Funding for these programs comes from the organization's numerous annual events, including the TD Five Boro Bike Tour, Bike Expo New York, and smaller regional and local rides. In 2015, the bike education program taught more than 17,000 how to ride bikes and grab life by the handle bars.

I was lucky enough to be invited to participate in this year’s tour, and I was exceptionally excited because the TD Five Boro Bike Tour was my first large-scale organized ride/event ever. I was not worried about the 40 miles because as an avid biker, I usually clock in 40 miles three or four times a week during the summer. However, the rust had set in from the long winter, and I decided to prepare for this tour. The week before the tour, I rode my bike from Brooklyn Prospect Park to Central Park which was about 45 miles round trip and covered the tour mileage- it was easy work, and I was ready.

Mayday - On Sunday, May 1, along with 32,000 other cyclists, I endured the gloomy rain and began at the the starting line in downtown Manhattan. At first, I was so excited, the rain had no effect on me, but as the ride went on it became heavy and more constant. I was beginning to feel cold and my knee caps started to cramp. I decided to make a rest stop at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn.

I really thought about stopping the tour right there because I was freezing. I thought I was going to get frostbite on my hands which were exposed to the wind, and I was not sure if I could even finish the race due to the kneecap cramps. But there was no way I was going to end my first ever tour with 10 miles to go. I ate a banana in hopes of stopping the cramp and got back on my bike and continued.

The roughest stretch was the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. We rode across the three mile span of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, half of it uphill, into Staten Island in a rain soaked headwind. I remember I was trembling pretty bad as we neared the end of the bridge. It would have been an amazing ride if it was sunny, but you can't fight Mother Nature. In the end, I crossed the finish line and checked this off my bucket list.

Summer is coming, go out and grab life by the handle bars.

Special Thanks to Sam Polcer from Bike New York

Photos courtesy of Bike New York

Jason Gao 4/26/16 Jason Gao 4/26/16

Dos Equis Most Interesting Man Estate Auction

One man's mission to Mars has made Earth a lot less interesting. What do you say about a man who has lived through it all? If you haven't been living under a rock for the past decade, you will definitely have seen the Most Interesting in the World. Whether it's on TV or in internet memes, Jonathan Goldsmith has made sure that everyone stays thirsty. It’s impossible to forget a beer whose spokesperson is The Most Interesting Man in the World.

The marketing team at Dos Equis has always been on point with their ads starring this character, but sadly he will no longer be gracing our television screens and billboards. The Most Interesting Man in the World is planning to Stay Thirsty on a completely different world now, and is on his way to Mars. He’s not leaving the inhabitants of this planet empty handed, though. Us less-interesting individuals can bid on his items, many of which have been used in commercials, at Coveted Collection. Dos Equis is also offering fans an opportunity to win an all expense paid trip to Mexico. Now I’d say that’s something worth staying thirsty for!

In celebration of the iconic pitchman’s nine year tenure, Dos Equis held a press only estate auction at 632 on Hudson to bid a proper farewell. This immersive auction-themed event allowed friends of The Most Interesting Man to participate in interesting challenges, where attendees were rewarded with denominations of “Dositas,” which they then used to participate in the auctioning off of his Coveted Collection. The highest bidders at the auction took home items that belonged to The Most Interesting Man himself.

The auction had many of The Most Interesting Man’s items including a prized art piece, a leather elephant, and a huge shield-like crest. The night was full of fun festivities and the beautiful crowd were treated to endless Dos Equis and specially made cocktails.

The event was part of a series called the Coveted Collection Estate Auction Tour which started April 18th and is running through May 5 (Cinco de mayo). The tour will continue to make stops in Dallas, Austin, Houston;, Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

There are more than 25 other items up for auction on Dos Equis’ website, most of which have been prominently featured in those famous commercials. Items include the tuxedo the Most Interesting Man wore to his last Masquerade, his Spanish guitar and matching mariachi suit, and even his astronaut suit from his 2010 stratosphere jump.

To participate in that auction, fans must be at least 21 years old and live in the United States. The auction runs through June 30. Fans who visit Coveted Collection daily for bids and other activities will have more chances to win.

Two charitable projects will receive all proceeds from the auctions: The Impact Plan's mission to rehabilitate endangered animals in East Africa through the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and The Impact Plan's continued mission to rebuild Himalayan villages in Nepal after the devastating earthquake in 2015.

Special Thanks to Edelman and Dos Equis.

Amios Amigo! and Stay Thirsty!

Jason Gao 4/14/16 Jason Gao 4/14/16

HOPPR by ABSOLUT Launch Party

The ABSOLUT brand has always been synonymous with magnificent parties. So it's only appropriate that they launched their own party mobile platform, which connects party-goers and throwers alike. Famous Instagram meme couple Elliot Tebele (FuckJerry) and Jessica Anteby (BeigeCardigan) hosted a launch party with DJ Vashtie spinning away.

How many times has this situation happened to you: It’s a casual night in NYC, and you are sitting at home pre-gaming with a couple of friends but there are no plans after? You guys want to go out but you do not want wander the streets. Don’t you just wish that you had someone to tell you all of the parties that are nearby? The extravagant party people at ABSOLUT have created a SOLUTion for this frustrating but common problem.

The cleverly named HOPPR is a new mobile platform that connects party throwers and party goers like never before. The digital program essentially works like Tinder, but instead of swiping for potential mates, you swipe for parties. To use HOPPR , simply log into your Facebook account and choose whether you want to host or attend a party. Then the party throwers can publicly invite party -goers to RSVP. All the attendees have to do is swipe right for the parties they want to attend, and if both are interested and mutually agree, then the address will be revealed. There's no need to fear being on the other side of the town either.

The GPS technology makes sure every party is nearby. If the relation to Tinder hasn't been obvious enough at this point, know the program also helps you make sure the parties have just the right amount of men and women, depending on your preference. Your special someone could be just a party away.

Press and media were invited for an early VIP preview of HOPPR. If this party was a sneak peak of what other HOPPR parties are like, then I will be using it every day. The festivities took place at Mr. Purple, one of my new favorite spots. Not only does this hotel bar have a breathtaking view of the city, but it also features an outdoor heated pool.

A fantastic ABSOLUT mixed open bar and Hors d'oeuvre style food kept all the guests very happy. After waiting for the press to settle down, the HOPPR marketing team introduced HOPPR on a more detailed level and stated that this program will evolve social interaction and the way people will party.

After the marketing presentation, the music got louder and the drinks got stronger. The rest of the guests were now allowed into the event, and the mingling of all the people really showed the potential HOPPR can have in this party-fiend society.

After socializing for a bit I found the hosts Jessica and Elliot sitting there staring at their phones. At first I assumed they were just updating Instagram for their combined following of ten million people, but they were checking out HOPPR.

FuckJerry and BeigeCardigan Photo credit: Joel W. Henderson

So, what are you waiting for? Head on over to AbsolutHoppr.com on your mobile device and either host your own party, or check out what is going on tonight right here in NYC!

Special Thanks to ABSOLUT and Weber Shandwick

Jason Gao 4/6/16 Jason Gao 4/6/16

La Marca Prosecco Tower of Teacups High Tea

Whenever people go to The Glasshouses in Chelsea Towers, it’s usually for a glamorous event or an intimate evening. This night had both. Gilt City, the website offering exclusive local experiences, and La Marca Prosecco hosted The Tower of Teacups High Tea event, where exclusive guests were invited to an extravagant evening of traditional high tea and La Marca Prosecco with a stunning view of Manhattan.

My anticipation peaked when in the elevator going up to the event and I could already hear the music. The moment those elevators opened, my guest and I were greeted to an electric violinist who was playing the tunes of “Rather Be”. The beautiful violinist did a splendid job keeping the room entertained and upbeat the entire night.

If the music wasn’t good enough, the view of New York really made the night worthwhile. Being located in Chelsea Arts Tower meant I had unparalleled views of the Hudson River and downtown Manhattan. We were there at the perfect time because we were able to see the skyline in the day, during sunset and at night when it was brightly lit up. There is no place I would rather mix high tea with happy hour!

Now this may seem like an odd concept, but La Marca Prosecco paired shockingly well with the array of high tea sandwiches and Macarons offered, among other foods available to nibble on. I guess that’s to be expected of something made in the Treviso region of Northern Italy and rated 90 points.

While sampling all these delicious flavors, the guests had a chance to win their own high tea service set featuring hand-blown crystal champagne flutes from Tiffany and Co. Even those who didn’t win were given a teacup-inspired gift bag to bring home, which definitely eased the sting. Megan Harlem (winner), whoever you are, I envy you.

Some memorable, sparkling aspects of the evening included the “sparkle bar”, where guests were given the opportunity to create their own wine charms using an assortment of rhinestones and other baubles. My plus one had a great time decorating her bottle with crowns and other designs.

My personal favorite part of the night was without a doubt the selfie stick with flying confetti. Every guest was able to take a picture while someone threw confetti in the air so it looked so much more magical. My plus one and I took a few of them and they were instantly printed, so we had a good laugh looking at them the next day.

Overall, a wonderful night

Special Thanks to Gilt City

Jason Gao 3/15/16 Jason Gao 3/15/16

Harper's BAZAAR Icons NYFW Party

New York Fashion Week always features great parties, and I was honored to be at one of the best ones. One of the most exclusive NYFW events was held at New York City's Plaza Hotel. Hostess Carine Rothfeld definitely knows how to throw a party. It was in celebration of Harper's Bazaar's "Icons" issue, and some of the most powerful people in every industry were in attendance. From fashion to business; and music, everybody who was somebody was present.

You know a party is good; when Katy Perry is performing. Katy debuted beautiful red hair, and had a short set performing five of her biggest hits.

Fashion "it" girls Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid were in attendance to support Carine Roitfeld.

My favorite model Rachel Hilbert was so sweet and obliged to entertain me with this picture. My roommate in college had pictures of her up on his wall, I knew he was crying somewhere.

The @thefatjewish is one of the funniest people on Instagram. This guy was nothing but class, and he has the naturally ability to be a great story teller. Earlier that day, the @thefatjewish had debuted his fashion line "Dad Fashion" and it stood out of from all the other shows due to its diversity of models combined with hilarity. Funny story: after posting this picture on instagram, @thefatjew actually liked it, and I had a spike in likes with over 200 more likes than I would usually receive, including a like from the Huffington Post.

Fashion designer Jason Wu looked like an Asian Gangster. I think we can pass for cousins, or maybe even brothers. I guess he is the more successful Jason in the family.

One of the most talented kid actresses. I was so happy to meet her because I watched her grow up as Sally Draper from Mad Men. She was so humble, and when I introduced myself to her; she went on and did the same. Never change, Sally Draper, never change.

The hostess with the most. A gracious lady with nothing but elegance and grace, and damn she knows how to throw one hell of a party.

This billionaire' and Patriots owner, was a funny man. I made a few jokes about deflate gate and he was totally cool with it. Stay classy Mr.Kraft.

Beautiful party girl Michelle Rodriguez lived up to her reputation and she was already in a different time zone when I met her and took this picture.

Even though I looked like an idiot here, I had to post it, right? I mean, how many chances do you get to meet the hottest model in the world? Exactly.

The night winding down

Overall, probably one of the best nights of my life.