Jenna Strauss 7/27/16 Jenna Strauss 7/27/16

Updownacross Launch Party

Updownacross is a new women’s private label fashion brand that is dedicated to creating well-constructed, high-quality clothing at an accessible price point. Beginning this July, every 15th of the month, Updownacross will launch a capsule collection of 5-8 different styles exclusively on their website and through pop-up events selling directly to consumers.

Every capsule collection is designed and manufactured in their own factory located in NYC’s Garment District. The brand offers the look and feel of luxury designer brands at an affordable price, and there's nothing to hate about that. The overall look is clean, minimal, utilitarian, bold, urban, and architectural.

Owner and designer Joann Kim (pictured on the left) has a spunky personality and says she gets inspiration for her collections from her dynamic friends. She refers to the women who will wear her designs as “Creative Professionals” who value simplistic, minimal pieces but don’t always want to invest in steeply priced clothing. Her designs are also very reflective of her own personal style. Kim’s go to summer outfit is a shirt dress, and she always chooses sneakers over heels. She is someone all of us urban girls working in creative fields can easily relate to!

This line launch took place at American Two Shot, a new boutique in Soho. The trendy crowd enjoyed cocktails, a DJ, and a boomerang style photobooth. The first capsule collection was on display at in the center of the store where we could view the designs and even try them on! This particular color palette was strictly neutral tones, but the garments were well constructed and easy to incorporate into any existing wardrobe.

updownacross provides customers with quality garments, a Made in America label, an e-commerce platform, affordable prices, and a unique on-demand experience. Joann hopes to create a sustainable business model that can stabilize the fashion industry in the US for both brands and consumers alike. I can’t wait to see what incredible designs she will have available for us next month!

Divina Doveyo 7/27/16 Divina Doveyo 7/27/16

"The Keeper" Exhibition at the New Museum

On July 20th, 2016, The New Museum of Contemporary Art opened “The Keeper” to the public, a multi floor exhibition dedicated to the act of preserving and collecting objects, artworks, and images

Before the official opening, however, I was luckily enough to preview the exhibit and hear a few remarks from Artistic Director Massimiliano Gioni, who described the collection as being “about individuals who have carried out unreasonable acts of iconophilia.” Unreasonable, perhaps, but beautiful nonetheless, like Ydessa Hendele’s Partners (The Teddy Bear Project), 2002, an installation of 3,000 family album photographs featuring teddy bears with their owners.

Another favorite of mine was the collection by Shinro Ohtake, which blended the brightness of pop culture with the relatively antiquated hobby of scrapbooking.

Collections were not merely limited to things, of course, one of the most intriguing displays was A Sixty-Three Year Photo Biography of Ye Jinglu, which featured a man whose many pictures show both the relationship between artist, subject, and curator, as well as history of photographic style.

Through the collections mentioned above -- as well as the many others -- visitors to “The Keeper” exhibit at The New Museum will find themselves pondering the question of what art is, and what it means to be an artist in today’s world. The exhibit is here until September 25th, so be sure to check it out

Photos provided by New Museum

Jenna Strauss 7/15/16 Jenna Strauss 7/15/16

Save a Child's Heart Casino Night

People view New York City’s cardiology and heart surgery hospitals as some of the top in the nation. However, many children around the world are not fortunate enough to receive the help they need. Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is a non-profit organization, which provides life-saving cardiac surgery to desperately ill children from developing countries in their medical facilities in Israel. The organization has been extremely successful in raising the $10,000 donation required to cover the costs of each patient. Currently, they have operated on more than 3,400 children from over 48 different indigenous countries worldwide.

Over the last three years, Lucosky Bookman, LLP and Spartan Capital Securities, LLC have made it their mission to help a worthy cause. Senior associate at Lucosky Bookman, LLP Lawrence Metelista, has been involved with SACH for over 5 years and eagerly introduced the charity to Managing partner of the firm, Joseph Lucosky.

Lucosky states, “When the Firm adopted SACH as its charity of choice, it did so knowing that SACH provides an immediate impact on the lives of children from all over the world and that we wanted to help as much as possible.”

This year’s event was essentially a guys night out, with an elegance that set the tone of an upscale charity event, welcoming to everyone in attendance. In the swanky venue of Capitale, attendees partook in casino games, a silent auction for sports memorabilia, and even played around in a photo booth. Among the crowd were members of the firm, and their friends and family, all of whom enjoyed cocktails and bar food like sliders and short ribs that deliciously fell off the bone. I sipped on my glass of Cabernet and mingled with the rest of the guests

The main event was the poker tournament appropriately named #Holdem4Hearts. Although I did not personally participate, guests engaged in continuous poker playing for the first hour, while the next hour began the real competition without the safety of more buy ins. Those who did not excel in the game had their choice of playing a variety of casino games on the 30 different tables at the event. The lucky winner of the evening, Jared Zeflackt, received the grand prize of a Datejust 2 Rolex, what a magnificent watch!

At the end of the night the event raised an impressive net total of $135,000, which will help support SACH’s mission. Lucosky proudly exclaimed, “What we didn’t realize at the time was the overwhelming outpouring of support that would be provided by friends and colleagues. We are truly humbled by everyone’s extraordinary generosity.”

John Lowry, Founder & CEO of Spartan Capital Securities stated, "Spartan Capital was honored to be a part of this special night to help raise money for such a deserving cause. SACH's dedication to providing medical care to children, regardless of race or religion, is not only saving lives around the world, but also building bridges."

Next year’s event is expected to build off of the success of this one by bringing in additional corporate partners, featuring more unique and fun experiences for guests, and of course saving more lives!

Congrats on an incredible turnout! It was such a wonderful event filled with even more wonderful people coming together to support a worthy cause.

Photos provided by Save a Child’s Heart

Jason Gao 7/8/16 Jason Gao 7/8/16

Gotham Magazine Art of the City

Gotham Magazine Celebrates Art of the City with Lisa Schulte Photo by Rob Kim

For its third annual "Art of the City" summer program, GreenGale Publishing once again promoted contemporary U.S. artists across its 11 regional luxury lifestyle publications. For the past three years, GreenGale has placed U.S. artists' original works on the covers of its cities to show their commitment to art awareness in U.S. Cities.

In celebration of its "Art of the City" issue, Gotham Magazine Editor-In-Chief, Samantha Yanks, and Voltz Clarke Gallery Founder, Blair Clarke, hosted a party honoring the cover artist Lisa Schulte. Guests were welcomed to the invite-only event where they joined in on the celebration.

Considered by many as one of the best visual artists, Lisa Schulte has worked exclusively in neon since 1984 and has studied under Master Tube Bender Freddie Elliot. Schulte's work has appeared in many prominent movies, music videos, and television shows over the past 30 years.

In the new issue, Schulte opens up about how losing her eyesight for three months after a freak childhood accident changed her sense of light forever. Many of her works, including some text pieces, will be on display in New York's Voltz Clarke Gallery this summer.

During the celebration, Lisa's "i Live In Denial" artwork was on display, with net proceeds from the auction benefiting Free Arts NYC. Some of Lisa's other artwork will be available for preview and bidding through an online auction house at Paddle8 until July 21. If you want to be the proud owner of this amazing piece of work and at the same time support charity, go bid on it now.

The event started off spectacularly, with arriving guests being treated to delicious Lobster rolls and Hors d'Oeuvres, by Relish Caterers, and strong drinks by Beam Suntory, Peroni Beer, and VOSS water.

The night went on splendidly as everyone mingled and enjoyed the art works. So, what are you waiting for? Go pick up the latest Gotham Magazine to read all about Schulte's story and support Free Arts NYC.

Divina Doveyo 7/7/16 Divina Doveyo 7/7/16

Cash Cash's Album Release Party

To celebrate Blood, Sweat, and 3 Years, the newest album from electronic dance music group Cash Cash, Big Beat Records and Atlantic Records partnered to host a killer release party for the trio at Atlantic Record’s office in New York City.

The night started off as a mixer for writers and employees at Atlantic Records, complete with an open bar and a barbecue buffet. There were also lots of opportunities for photos with the Big Beat background and some blow up emojis.

After a fair amount of mingling, drinking, and dining, Cash Cash finally took the stage, playing their new tracks for us to hear.

In no time at all, people were dancing to the beat and singing along to the lyrics, just having a great time. Music has a way of bringing people together, and this came through more than anything at this party, with strangers getting up to dance together, or just fawn over Cash Cash.

Based on the response from the crowd that night, it’s safe to say that Blood, Sweat & 3 Years will be a success. Here’s to Cash Cash and their future in the music industry!

Special thanks to Jordan Fraze for the invite!

Photos by Nickydigital

Jason Gao 6/30/16 Jason Gao 6/30/16

Orange is the New Black Premiere Party

Orange is the New Black Premiere Party

The cast members of Orange is the New Black took a break from their Netflix prison show to better the lives of women who face the reality of prison. Last Friday, the Women's Prison Association (WPA) held a premiere party for Season four of Orange is the New Black at The Ainsworth in New York. The star-studded event included a screening of Season 4 Episode 1 followed by a live musical performance by actress Jackie Cruz. All proceeds from the event benefited WPA, serving women and families involved in the criminal justice system.

Jackie Cruz, Piper Kerman, Alysia Reiner - Photo by Mangue Banzima

The WPA was founded in 1845 and is the nation's first organization that is solely dedicated to working with women who have history with the criminal justice system. The WPA is a not-for-profit organization that works with women at all stages of criminal justice involvement. The organization promotes alternatives to incarceration by making positive changes in their lives. Inside prison and jail, WPA is a great source of support for the women and a resource to them as they plan for life after prison. After the women are released, the WPA also helps them establish the lives they want for themselves and their families in the community.

For all the OITNB fans, this event was a dream come true. Everyone got to mingle with some of their favorite characters from the show and it was a wonderful time.

The Ainsworth even had a special Absolut drink called "The Flaca Shocka" which was a big hit with the crowd.

After all the stars and guests arrived, everyone settled down and the first episode of season 4 was shown. It was an amazing experience to see the reactions of the cast members as they saw themselves on the screen. Every time a cast member was on the screen, the crowd cheered.

After the showing of the first episode, actress Jackie Cruz (who plays Flaca) took to the stage and wowed the crowd with her amazing voice. A few other cast members also joined her on stage, the biggest surprise being Annie Golden who plays the mute character Norma on the show.

Madeline Brewer, Jackie Cruz, Annie Golden - Photo by Mangue Banzima

My favorite part of the night was when I had a chance to chat with Piper Kerman - whose real life experience is the inspiration for character Piper Chapman in the show. Kerman also serves on the board of the WPA. Kerman told me that she is still in contact with a lot of the women she met in prison and is doing everything she can to help them better themselves.

Everyone makes mistakes, and since these imprisoned women have served their time, they do deserve a second chance at life.

Ryn Walling 6/27/16 Ryn Walling 6/27/16

Prix Canson Awards 2016

In the ever-evolving world of technology, it can be easy to forget our roots. For artists this means paper; paper is used in printmaking, photography, and sculpture, as well as other art forms, all of which are centuries old. Paper is incredibly versatile and has a colorful history that spans history and cultures.

Due to the rich history of paper, the Prix Canson was created to celebrate artists the world over who show a truly spectacular skill with paper, and this year’s finalists were as unique and diverse as paper itself. The winner of the Prix Canson wins a solo show exhibition, publications in mainstream and specialist press, 10,000 euros of Canson paper, and the purchase of one of the works of paper art by the Fonds Canson pour l’Art et le Papier.

ruby onyinyechi amanze was born in Nigeria and now works and lives in New York. Her works use pencil and ink to depict a world of amanze’s own creation.

Bethany Collins is a US native who uses classroom materials – such as paper and graphite – to explore how language and race interact.

David Shrigley is from the UK and is known for the satirical comments he puts in his art. Many of his submissions were oil stick and gesso on paper.

Lucy Skaer is also from the UK. Her art moves fluidly between dimensions and mediums and includes geometric themes.

The winner of the 2016 Prix Canson is artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby. She combines drawing, painting, and photo transfer on large-scale paper compositions to create a complex reflection of her transcultural identity. These submissions used photos from Crosby’s archive, anything from photos of friends and family to photos of popular Nigerian musicians, which she used as a backdrop for her characters. She mimics classical western painting styles to create these characters so that these works reveal the overlap and intermingling of cultures and the influence that has on people who live away from their homeland.

All of this year’s finalists were absolutely spectacular. It was really encouraging to see the diversity of the artists and their works. It really goes to show that paper isn’t just for drawing on; it can be used by anyone in any way. New and recent works by the finalists are on view at the Drawing Center through July 1st.

Special Thanks to Kristy from Nadine Johnson & Associates Inc

Kelley Moncrief 6/25/16 Kelley Moncrief 6/25/16

Brexit Rant

Mind the Millennial

Another personal rant on Brexit

Persephone is a Greek goddess who spends part of the year as the queen of the underworld and the rest of her time trying to get back. They call me Persephone because I spend most of my year in England and the rest of the time missing my home across the pond. After today, though, that analogy is much more accurate considering England has never seemed more like the underworld than it does right now.

I recently returned to America, right before the Brexit vote, but talk of it has been going on for ages in London. Every day I’d be handed Vote Remain pamphlets by at least two smiling people on the street (a rare occurrence for England) and there’d be countless others wearing I’m In stickers. Groups of American tourists would completely empty them out of these stickers and wear them just for fun, which was a bit irritating because they knew nothing of the actual issue at hand, but they were still spreading the good word. With all this pro-EU sentiment around the country, I just assumed the vote to remain was a given and didn’t dwell on it overly much. All my peers were going out to vote and leaving the EU just seemed like such a stupid thing to do it didn’t seem plausible. I guess in today’s climate, though, it was wrong to assume that people would be decent.

Brexit is happening and the young people of the UK have been let down. It’s bad enough witnessing everything fall apart from America; I can’t imagine what it must be like for all my friends right in the middle of it. Over there, teenagers and college students dream of working in the EU. They once had 27 countries completely open to them to visit and place roots in, but that option has been taken away.

And that’s only the British citizens. My university sent out an email this morning telling us all not to be scared or panic, not because this wasn’t catastrophic, but because everything will take a few years to be finalized so we can save our terror for later. Most of my friends from the EU who study in London had intended to stay in England after university considering they’re learning a British programme and gaining skills that this country desires, but now their right to even stay in the nation for school is tenable. Every one of my flatmates spoke between two to five languages and now their skillsets are just being thrown out.

I am angry and know exactly who I’m angry at. Old people. I know it sounds crass and generalizing to clump together an entire portion of the population like that, but they’re the ones who voted to make this happen. The vast- and I do mean vast- majority of young people wanted to stay in the EU, but the older generations outnumbered them in the polls and ruined it for everyone else. Personally, I don’t think anyone over the age of 65 should be allowed to vote considering it isn’t their future they’re destroying. It has been agreed that the impact of this decision won’t be fully felt for years. They’ll be dead while we, the grandchildren, deal with the consequences of something none of us wanted.

You might be wondering how something so undesirable could be voted in. The main reason is pure xenophobia. Many avid supporters of Brexit are known racists who have used derogatory slurs. During the campaign they weren’t shy about Islamophobia and used anti-Muslim sentiments as one of their fear tactics to convince British citizens to vote leave. I could bog you down with details about how their desire to “put Britain first” has hurt the nation, but instead I’ll just say that Donald Trump thinks leaving was a good idea. That should be explanatory enough.

Money talks. You’d think that the British people would have listened to it and realized that Brexit is ruining the economy swifter than anyone had guessed and will almost certainly lead to a recession. The pound hasn’t been this low in over three decades. It’s almost as low as my spirits at this point, and now I have to learn a new conversion rate when I go back in autumn. Not to mention my entire family is worried about the funds I already have in banking over there and whether I need to send over more money. What else is getting worse? Import taxes, for starters. And now Brits are going to need visas to visit countries which were once open to them. This is just a minor inconvenience, but now my EU friends will have to wait with me in the much longer International passport line at airports. Well, if we can ever go on trips again, that is.

Scotland, which is in a constant state of wanting to be free of England, is now hoping for independence once more because the majority of their population voted to stay in. Basically the rest of the world is trying to run screaming from England because they ran screaming from us. And to top this all off, the man who is partially responsible for all of this, David Cameron, is resigning. The referendum was a gamble for him and he lost so now his time as Prime Minister will end in shame. Living in London proved one thing to me and it’s that he is a very hated man. There was anti-Cameron graffiti everywhere and that man was the butt of many jokes. Regardless, the options of who will replace him actually seem worse. If you think that’s impossible, google Boris Johnson and it’ll all make sense.

All I can think about right now is the future and it looks like a sea of gray. Something out of a George Orwell novel. Surely this is just the musings of fear and all this chaos will die down in time, but right now I’m scared. I’m scared for the UK citizens who currently live in the EU and now are no longer welcome. I’m scared for the EU citizens in the UK who will be fearing deportation. The immigration laws I have to deal with are crazy enough but this is just madness.

In conclusion, send help. England is calling.

Divina Doveyo 6/25/16 Divina Doveyo 6/25/16

Bleeding On Broadway

My first experience with hemophilia occurred years ago when a good friend of mine relayed the story of how a relative had died from the disease. According to her, you knew you had hemophilia when a cut just wouldn’t stop bleeding. That little piece of information came flooding back years later, during an unfortunate incident in which I cut my leg shaving. Unable to quell the flow of blood after a minute or so, I burst into tears, and had to be reassured by my amused sister that I did not, in fact, have hemophilia.

This story came back to me on June 13th, when Believe Theatrical held their fourth annual fundraising event to benefit the Hemophilia Association of New York (HANY). This year’s performance, titled Bleeding on Broadway, featured the adapted stories of real life people whose lives have been touched by various bleeding disorders.

Among these works were Sean Michael Welch’s Nophilia, Brother Beach by Ryan Gielen, both of which were incredibly entertaining and moving.

The Cast of Nophilia Photo: Russ Rowland — The Cast of *Nophilia* Photo: Russ Rowland

The actors of Nightingale Photo: Russ Rowland — The actors of *Nightingale* Photo: Russ Rowland

The cast of Brother Beach Photo: Russ Rowland — The cast of *Brother Beach* Photo: Russ Rowland

Patrick James Lynch, in addition to appearing in Brother Beach, co-hosted Bleeding on Broadway, and brought a more personal note to the event, as he himself has hemophilia and even lost his brother to the disease.

Despite the heavy content and purpose of the event, the atmosphere of the room was lively and positive, with many light hearted moments in between stories. It was easy to see how much everyone involved cared about the cause and wanted to do their best in helping to make a difference. Even I, not knowing much about hemophilia and the havoc it wreaks, was inspired to learn more about the disease and hear stories about those who live life with it. Hopefully, moving forward, HANY will be able to gain more support and do more to help those who are afflicted with the disease.

Special thanks to Ryan Gielen

Ryn Walling 6/19/16 Ryn Walling 6/19/16

G.H. Mumm New Champagne Bottle Launch

A sleek, innovative new champagne bottle has just arrived in New York City. This bottle, designed by Ross Lovegrove for G.H. Mumm, changes the game for what champagne bottles should look like while still being the epitome of luxury.

G.H. Mumm hosted a party to celebrate this new design where guests got to sample this new champagne and view a special video. The video depicted Kellan Lutz racing against the clock to deliver the new bottle to the celebration venue. The film shifted from on screen to real life as the doors to the venue opened and Lutz walked in carrying the bottle of champagne triumphantly.

Lutz said “it was an honor, especially when they said we’d be driving speedboats, sports cars, motorcycles, skydiving, parkour in New York City. I was like ‘Yeah, mission accepted.’” All of this action packed into a short film was certainly true to Mumm’s motto “Dare Win Celebrate.”

Along with Lutz the celebration was full of celebrities, including model Chanel Iman, DJ/model Alexandra Richards, DJ Chelsea Leyland, and other famous VIPs. As if this didn’t increase the hype, glamour, and excitement enough, the Grand Cordon champagne wasn’t served until Lutz arrived.

G.H. Mumm has always been a leader in creative design. Their champagne bottles are know for the red sash around the bottle, which was an ingenious choice made in 1876 – 140 years ago! – that is not unlike this modern one. While the original sash was an actual ribbon, this new bottle features a red sash that is molded into the glass of the bottle.

The evening was full of the unexpected and extraordinary, and was the perfect way to unveil this revolutionary bottle of champagne.

“The Daring Delivery” starring Kellan Lutz is now available on YouTube.

Special thanks to Rebecca and Victoria from M&C Saatchi

Ryn Walling 6/15/16 Ryn Walling 6/15/16

Guest of a Guest and Cointreau's Summer Soiree

La Sirena is Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich’s first new restaurant to open in New York in nearly a decade. A week ago, Guest of a Guest and Cointreau invited attendees to celebrate summer in the recently opened outdoor rooftop space of the new restaurant. Cointreau cocktails and extravagant Italian hors d’oeuvres were everywhere. My first thought as I entered the party was, “I’ve died and gone to food heaven!”

As soon as I walked into the room, I felt like I was immersed in the essence of summer. Strings of exposed light bulbs hung between the white trellis-like walls and guests placed their citrusy cocktails on tables beside vases of red and orange bouquets.

Guests could choose one of Cointreau’s signature Rickeys, including a Pink Peppercorn Rickey created by Mario Batali himself, or they could create their own Rickey by choosing from an array of fresh ingredients on the Cointreau’s DIY Rickey Bar.

Waiters were constantly offering new and different foods to sample, which was great because I doubt anyone could stop at just one. One waitress came by with a specialty of La Sirena, Cocoa Caramels with Gold Leaf, and at my eagerness to try it, she smiled and said, “No one can resist the sweets.” Oh, how right she was!

This new venture of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich is a little different than their other restaurants. The menu is not specific to any one area or any one specific type of Italian cuisine. It is a broader menu, and the restaurant is a modern version of an upscale Italian trattoria. The menu offers antipasti, pasta, meats, and seafood. Some of the dishes are even prepared with a mind toward sharing, such as the New York Strip Steak for two and a tasting of two pastas for the table.

The restaurant is also unique because of the large outdoor space available to diners during the warmer months. It was the perfect setting for this summer soiree. We could mix and mingle on the warm summer evening and enjoy the fresh air as we sampled the food and drink. The evening was a perfect way to celebrate the beginning of summer.

Divina Doveyo 6/10/16 Divina Doveyo 6/10/16

Governor's Ball 2016

Screen-Shot-2016-01-08-at-12.29.44-PM1.png

Eleven a.m on Saturday morning and the Robert Kennedy Bridge is packed with excited music lovers ready to experience the second day of The Governors Ball Music Festival on Randall’s Island. From its inception in 2011, Governor’s Ball has been New York City’s biggest and best loved music festival and 2016 was no exception. This year’s lineup featured The Strokes, The Killers, and Kanye West as headliners, as well as popular artists Haim, M83, and Catfish and the Bottlemen. Among the many food options were vendors from the famed Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer, The Nugget Spot, and Asiadog.

Along with the amazing performers, Governor’s Ball also featured a silent disco, the opportunity to meet some of the performers for a signing, and various lawn games. Of those, the giant Jenga set was my favorite, but there was also a beanbag toss and a brand new mini golf course. The photo booths proved popular as well, with people lining up to get little snapshots of themselves in fun poses.

And if all the excitement tired you out, there was plenty of room to spread out and chill on a blanket or the grass in between performers. Volunteers frequently walked around handing out energy bars and water, demonstrating Governor’s Ball commitment to the safety and well-being of festival goers.

One of the best things about music festivals is the ability to get close to your favorite artists without paying an ungodly amount for a front row ticket. As a huge fan of The Killers, hundreds of other people and I took advantage of this, and although they weren’t set to appear until 9:15 p.m, many of us crowded around the GovBall stage as early as 5 p.m trying to get spots as close to the stage as we could. Even when it began absolutely pouring for a few hours we all stood our ground, determined to see our favorite band. In a true testament to the community that Governor’s Ball attracts, much of the time in the rain was spent singing songs together to pass the time and talking about how excited we were for the band to appear. Although a few people gave up by the end, seeking shelter and warmth, I believe being so close to one of my favorite bands was definitely worth it. When they came out, starting off the set with “Mr.Brightside,” the crowd absolutely lost it, and their performance has become one of the best nights of my life.

Unfortunately, due to severe weather, the final day of Governor’s Ball was cancelled, with refunds distributed to those who had bought tickets. Many people, myself included, were disappointed, but in the end the safety of ticket holders and the artists had to come first. Still, come next year I’m sure the line up will be equally as fantastic and completely worth the trek out the Randall’s Island. If you’re a music lover, this event if definitely for you.

Jason Gao 5/24/16 Jason Gao 5/24/16

Youth INC 8th Annual Chips for Change

When people think of New York City they tend to associate it with the city's more positive aspects, however, nearly 1 in 3 children here are living in poverty. A family of four that makes an income of $24,000 or less is considered to be in poverty. This obviously has a negative effect on the children living in these households which leads to some ghastly statistics. On a daily basis in New York City, 1 in 4 kids go to bed hungry, 20 kids are arrested, and 55 teenage girls become pregnant.

There are many organizations that are playing their part to help mitigate this problem but they are not all equal in impact. That’s where Youth INC comes in. Youth INC, is a nonprofit based in New York City with a mission to improve the lives of youth through a unique venture philanthropy model that empowers, develops, and educates nonprofit organizations serving young people. Youth INC identifies and partners with over 60 of the most effective nonprofits, which impacts 300,000 youth in NYC annually.

Every year, Youth INC's Young Professionals Board hosts a casino night to raise critical funds for their capacity building programs. On this evening, professionals from across the city put bring their casino skills to the test and enjoy a premiere silent auction, cocktails, networking.

All proceeds from the event help Youth INC. break the cycle of poverty and positively impact thousands of NYC children. This year, Youth INC.’s 8th Annual Chips for Change Casino Night hosted by the Young Professionals Board took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Yale Club of New York City on May 13th.

I was fortunate to be a part of the casino night had a blast. When I arrived at the Yale Club ballroom, I was greeted right away by Brandon Espinosa, Associate Director of Development at Youth INC. We chatted about the program and he ensured me that Youth INC is an incredible organization tackling and improving the business layer of the nonprofits in their partner network.

After a few glasses of Prosecco and light bites, I wandered to the Blackjack table. All guests were given $20 dollars in complimentary chips with the option to re-buy with cash. I put $100 in chips on a blackjack table and lost it in the first hand. House always wins.

With the other $100 in chips I decided to try my luck against people at the Hold em table. After about half an hour, my measly $100 dollars had grown to $400 in chips!.

You can see me actually winning a hand in the picture above. However, as usual, luck never lasts, and a- few hands later I was left without chips. Afterwards I just walked around and met some really interesting people and just enjoyed the night.

At the end of the night the event raised $100,000, which will help support Youth INC's programs. I am honored and grateful to have been a part of this celebration. It was overall a great event with beautiful people coming together for a wonderful cause.

Special Thanks Brandon Espinosa and Youth INC

Ryn Walling 5/21/16 Ryn Walling 5/21/16

A Night Out with TBS Comedies

To promote and celebrate the expansion of comedies on their network, TBS held A Night Out for members of The Television Academy; guest stars included Conan O’Brien, Rashida Jones, Samantha Bee, and Jason Jones. The event was held at the New Museum in Soho and included a red carpet, panel and preview, and after party.

The stars hit the red carpet and the room erupted into flashes from photographers and rapid-fire questions from journalists. I tried to reign in my inner fangirl as Rashida and Samantha neared my post on the carpet. They were both a delight to talk with and exceedingly polite, even as they were rushed off the red carpet and into the auditorium.

Next was the panel and preview, moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper. The stars were led in one by one, all cracking jokes along the way. Conan was predictably the most vocal, commenting on everything from the cubic white chairs they were sitting in to the attire of Jason Jones, which was less than formal.

Clips from the special “Conan in Korea” were shown and Conan had a chance to talk about his experience there. He discussed how unpredictable foreign episodes can be and letting the jokes, and sometimes more serious moments, play out on their own without a lot of scripting.

Samantha Bee was touted as “the true successor to Jon Stewart” in the preview of her show “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” which highlighted her sharp wit and ability to tackle with ease some of the more difficult political events that occur every day.

Jason Jones, who strolled on stage in jeans and sneakers with a beer in hand, was his usual brazen, sarcastic self. His show “The Detour” is based on his own experiences with his wife Samantha Bee and their children when they go on road trips. Oh, and it just so happens to have been created, written, and produced by Jason. The show was already confirmed for a second season even before the series was launched, which Jason describes as “the greatest thing ever, especially to have the faith of TBS to renew it before it aired.”

Lastly Rashida Jones was introduced, and after a quick mix-up by the moderator on what her show was called, we got to see some clips from “Angie Tribeca.” If you’ve seen Rashida on “Parks and Recreation” or “The Office,” this is a very different type of show. It is an irreverent version of typical police procedural shows that relies heavily on the complete seriousness of its characters, even as the bizarre and absurd happens all around them.

There were a few questions from the audience after the previews were over, but I think ultimately everyone just wanted to get to the after party that was held in the Sky Room on the seventh floor of the museum. Celebrities and guests chatted, drank, and enjoyed the view of the city through the windows and out on the balcony.

These stars and shows are clear leaders in comedy and television, and were a great way to cheer me up in the middle of the week. I’m excited to see the changes TBS is making to its network and hope to see these wonderful shows and their stars at the Emmys in September.

Special thanks to Chelsea and Eileen from Turner, and Molly from BWR.

Ryn Walling 5/21/16 Ryn Walling 5/21/16

Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails

It’s crazy how fast a year goes by! Just one year ago, Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails opened its doors on the streets of Kips Bay. Known for its rustic décor, extensive and elaborate drink menu, and creative takes on popular dishes, Handcraft has been a leader for change in the community. To celebrate the success and hard work of the past year, Handcraft hosted a party with drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and more drinks!

The restaurant was dimly lit and by the time I got there, pleasant chatter had already started to fill the restaurant. The interior was decorated in what the owners described as “industrial chic,” and the warm tones of the wood tables and exposed bulbs definitely matched the atmosphere.

There was a nearly constant crowd around the bar, eager for the locally sourced drinks on tap and the delicious cocktails created by none other than co-owner, Alex Mouzakitis. Now I normally hate drink-based parties because when you’re under 21 the most interesting your drink tends to get is water with a slice of lemon, but Alex was more than willing to make me a Berry Lemonade without the vodka.

Before things got too crazy, I got a chance to talk with the two owners, Chad Gaudet and Alex Mouzakitis, and ask them a few questions about the past year. They describe the past year as a rollercoaster. Alex says they have to “go month to month, week to week, sometimes day to day,” because like anything else in life, there are good days and bad days.

As for the next few years, they obviously hope to keep up the success of the past year as well as potentially opening more locations. For now, they hope to encourage the shift toward higher quality of dining going on in the surrounding neighborhood.

When asked about the inspiration for their food, Chad directed me to their Executive Chef, Giancarlo Autenzio. He describes their food as “worldwide cuisine” which is inspired by his travels, though he admits that Southern cuisine is probably the strongest influence and that the Louisiana Gumbo is his “heart and soul.”

Giancarlo is actually the executive chef at two restaurants, so the last year has been understandably stressful for him, but he really enjoys the freedom he has at Handcraft to experiment with food. He says he has “no doubt the food will only get better” because they welcome critiques from their customers and “cater to the community.”

The food really was incredible. Waiters waded through the thick crowd of people, carrying with them roasted cauliflower, prosciutto and watermelon, and the most succulent meatballs I have ever had, and while I only had a few small bites here and there it definitely got me craving to come back for more. So here’s to a successful year at a spectacular restaurant and many more anniversaries to come.

Divina Doveyo 5/18/16 Divina Doveyo 5/18/16

EDC New York

Last weekend, the parking lot of Citi Field was transformed into the otherworldly landscape of Insomniac’s Electric Daisy Carnival, the biggest electronic dance music festival in the USA, with four stages, dozens of headliners and thousands of excited, happy people -- one of whom was me, the purchaser of a two day General Admissions pass.

The lineup for this year’s EDC, featured music from Afrojack, Kaskade, and Zedd, had throngs of hopeful people gathered outside, hoping to score a ticket before the gates opened at 1:00 p.m. The lucky ones were able to join what undoubtedly was THE place to be for lovers of Electronic Dance Music all around New York.

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of EDM, but my friend had convinced me to shell out the cash for the tickets. The entire way there, I worried about whether or not I had made a huge mistake and if I just should have bought a pair (or two!) of new shoes instead. Entering the festival, however, I knew at once that EDC would be enjoyable. Even before I got through security I was taken in by the sight of people in banana suits and others in barely-there bikinis, people screaming on the carnival rides and singing along to the blaring music, and the scent of pizza, burgers, and my personal favorite -- fried Oreos -- wafting through the air. After trying out snacks from the many vendors, including Home Frite fries, The Nugget Spot, and Coolhaus, I headed to some of the carnival rides, braving the lengthy lines to spin around on the Wave Swinger and get a bird’s eye view of the festival from the Giant Wheel.

A view of the festival from the Giant Wheel!

Between rides, my friends and I explored the festival grounds and checked out the other headliners, among them Bro Safari, Fury, and Rusko, all of whom played simultaneously on the four extravagant stages prepared for their performances -- the cosmicMEADOWS, the kinteticFIELD, the neonGARDENS and the circuitGROUNDS. Keeping with the theme of universality, each of these stages corresponded to the elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, bonding together nature and technology in a way that reflected the harmonious spirit of EDM.

In addition to having fun attractions to accompany the headliners, EDC also provided complimentary amenities for attendees, like the Secret Refresh Station, which offered up mini deodorants, free arm painting, and beautiful installation art pieces for festival goers to admire.

There were also abundant opportunities to take pictures with and enjoy the antics of any of the character performers hired to entertain on the grounds under the electric sky, from the colorful Coney Island Clowns to the marvelous Marching Majorettes.

Finally, following dozens of fantastic performances, the first day of EDC NY 2016 concluded with Zedd performing in the cosmicMEADOW and DJ Snake in the kineticFIELD. In true rave fashion, all the EDC goers packed tightly together and sang, danced, and vibed along to the pounding beat, rocking out and having a great time.

Even though it was my first time at an event like EDC and my knowledge of electronic dance music was limited, the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd was infectious. Pretty soon I was just as pumped up as everyone else. While the weather wasn’t fantastic, I can completely understand why so many people were hyped to go to something like this -- EDC really is an EVENT, in every sense of the term. There was so much to see and do that by the end of the day, although my iPhone said I had walked ten miles and I was completely wiped out, I couldn’t wait to come back.

EDM fan or not, EDC is definitely something people of all ages should experience at least once. And with EDM gaining more and more popularity as a genre, next year’s festival is bound to be just as sick -- so remember to buy your tickets early! I’ll be sure to see you there.

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 4/27/16 Jason Gao 4/27/16

Tribeca Film Festival 2016 After Parties

For the past two weeks, the Tribeca Film Festival has dominated downtown New York with screenings, talks, and premieres. The only thing as spectacular as the amazing movies that premiered were the extravagant after parties. After every movie premiere, the amusement part of the night began when movie stars, influencers, and models scattered all over New York City for post-premiere celebrations.

Anna Wintour and Robert De Niro at the opening night of TriBeCa Film Festival for "First Monday in May" Photo: Hannah Thomson

This year, some of the most prominent places in New York played host for society's elite to sip on champagne, catch up with their other famous friends, and dance the night away. These parties were unexpectedly intimate, with the invitation lists including mainly the people who worked on the movie, family, and close friends of the cast and crew. Only a few lucky people were able to walk past the bouncers, behind the velvet ropes, and into all of the posh, star-studded parties of TFF 2016.

Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Frankie Shaw, Robert Schwartzman Photo: David Bowers

Actors Jason Schwartzman, Johnny Simmons, Frankie Shaw, and Director Robert Schwartzman looking like a real band at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival After Party for "Dreamland" at Berlin sponsored by EFFEN Vodka.

Justin Timerlake and Jessica Biel Photo: Theo Wargo

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel attend the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival after party for "The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea" sponsored by Sauza 901 at 1 OAK

Maisie Williams and Olivia Wilde Photo: Theo Wargo

Maisie Williams and Olivia Wilde attend the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival after party for "The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea" sponsored by Sauza 901 at 1 OAK

Shaquille O'Neal (Shaq Fu, Shaqtus, The Big Aristotle, etc..) attends the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival after party for "30 For 30: This Magic Moment" sponsored by ESPN and Mohegan Sun at Dream Downtown.

Rylee Ebsen, Marc Matheiu, Coco Rocha, and Zach Overton Photo: Donald Bowers

Director of Creative Media at Snapchat, Inc. Rylee Ebsen, CMO of Samsung Electronics America Marc Mathieu, model Coco Rocha and Vice President and General Manager of Samsung 837 Zach Overton attend Samsung 837 hosts Tribeca "Snapchat Shorts" premiere sponsored by Samsung Electronics America

Catalina Sandino Moreno and Viola Davis Photo: Monica Schipper

Actresses Catalina Sandino Moreno and Oscar Winner Viola Davis attends the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival After Party for "Custody" Sponsored by EFFEN Vodka at Jimmy AT The James Hotel.

Drake Doremus and Nicholas Hoult Photo: Theo Wargo

Director Drake Doremus and Nicholas Hoult attend the Tribeca Film Festival After Party For "Equals" Presented By AT&T At Le Bain

Le Bain had a disco vibe for the after party of "Equals"

Zoe Kravits and Mr. Solo Dolo (Kid Cudi) Photo: Cindy Ord

Zoe Kravitz, Kid Cudi, Quest Love, Zoey Deutch, Emile Hirsch, Nicholas Hoult, Analeigh Tipton, Emory Cohen, Jackie Cruz, and Gary Michael Schultz celebrated the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "Vincent N Roxxy" at Black Market with beverages provided by Bira 91

Alex Pettyfer, Kevin Spacey, Michael Shannon, and Colin Hanks Photo: Jamie McCarthy

Kevin Spacey (Or should I say Mr. President?), Michael Shannon, Alex Pettyfer, Sky Ferreira, Rachel Leigh Cook, Colin Hanks, Rose McGowan, Keegan Michael Key and Michael Kelly celebrated the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "Elvis & Nixon" at The Jane sponsored by Bai Beverages.

Julianne Moore, and Carla Gugino Photo: Noam Galai

Julianne Moore, Malin Akerman, Connie Britton, Bart Freundlich, Katie Couric, Carla Gugino, Taylor John Smith, Christopher Meyer, Chris Bauer and John Douglas Thompson celebrated the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "Wolves" at N.8 with beverages provided by Freixenet.

Luke Evans, Ben Wheatley, Tom Hiddleston Photo: Monica Schipper

Tom Hiddleston, Luke Evans, Sienna Miller, Emma Roberts, Derek Blasberg, director, Ben Wheatley and producer, Jeremy Thomas celebrated 2016 Tribeca Film premiere of "High-Rise" at The Top of the Standard sponsored by EFFEN Vodka.

Rose Byrne and Susan Sarandon Photo: Andrew Toth

Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne, Cecily Strong, Mamie Gummer and Director Lorene Scarafia celebrated the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "The Meddler" at The Parlor sponsored by Freixenet Cava..

Katie Holmes, Judy Greer, Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa, Stefania Owen, Eve Lindley and Zac Posen celebrated the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "All We Had" at Vandal sponsored by Bai Beverages.

Hanging with the always beautiful Kelly Ripa at the “All We Had” party

Wyatt Russel and Meredith Hagner Photo: Robin Marchant

Wyatt Russel, Meredith Hagner, Heather Morris and Jeff Grace celebrated the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "Folk Guy & Funny Guy" Film at 1 Oak with beverages provided by Bira 91.

Keenan Joliff, Josh Lucas, Christina Applegate, Mary Kay Place, and Joel David Moore Photo: Monica Schipper

Christina Applegate, Joel David Moore, Mary Kay Place, Keenan Jolliff, Josh Lucas, Stefan Nowicki and Joey Carey celebrated the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival premiere of "Youth in Oregon" at Up&Down with beverages provided by Freixenet.

Each and every one of these parties were extraordinary- the people were beautiful, the drinks never stopped flowing, and the food was delectable. It's been a hectic but amazing festival. I was practically running on 3 hours of sleep every night but it was all worth it. At the end of the day, isn't that the point of the TriBeCa Film Festival? To be in the same room and even potentially have a few drinks with some of the people that you admired but only see on screens.

Special Thanks to Arleigh from Shadow PR.

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!