Nev Snook 9/21/16 Nev Snook 9/21/16

World Childhood Foundation ThankYou Gala

On the evening of September 16th, guests gathered in the Cipriani ballroom to honor the World Childhood Foundation (WCF) USA and celebrate yet another year of inspirational achievements. Since the founding of the organization in 1999 by Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, efforts have touched the lives of families in over 20 countries with thousands of projects implemented to defend against childhood sexual abuse worldwide. The night, aimed to fundraise and build awareness for children’s rights, also honored activists Forest Whitaker, Andrea Bocelli, and Paul Polman for their individual contributions among education and prevention.

Maestro Andrea Bocelli, HRH Princess Madeleine, Actor Forest Whitaker Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

The WCF believes in challenging adults to acknowledge their duty in helping to protect innocence in the face of abuse. Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine, has previously launched a campaign initiative, #EyesWideOpen, to give users the resources needed to understand how they can implement change within the issue of children’s rights.

Malin Akerman and HRH Princess Madeleine Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

Tessa Chermiset, Johan Ernst Nilson, Christine Mack Photo by Michael Stewart/Getty Images

Miss Sweden Louise Camuto Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

This past year, HRH Princess Madeleine has been devoted to the development of a modernized tool enabling the world of technology and it’s users with resources to protect the children in their own lives. The collaboration with non-profit organization Darkness to Light and telecommunications expert Ericsson announced the launch of this mobile app titled the “Stewards of Children Prevention Toolkit.” It is the hope of those involved with the invention that the world will not remain blind to the issue so consequently affecting today’s youth. Child sexual abuse is a global issue and today technology reaches more civilizations worldwide than ever before. Thus, individuals have the power to become an integrative step in educating and ending child exploitation and trafficking.

Veronica Berti and Andrea Bocelli Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images

The subject of child sexual abuse is public, and therefore cannot be ignored. Leaders involved in the project believe it is not a challenge, but a duty for organizations as well as individuals to work together to influence these children’s lives. The night celebrated a year of immense strides to reach advancement and look forward to a future of influence.

HRH Princess Madeleine Photo by Michael Stewart/Getty Images

This year, Childhood USA will support nine projects within the country as well as continue to extend their support globally to further open the eyes of the world.

To help or donate please visit: http://www.childhood.org/

Photos courtesy of World Childhood Foundation

Alex Korompis 9/21/16 Alex Korompis 9/21/16

Operation Avalanche: Review

One small step for man, one medium leap for Director Matt Johnson in his found footage conspiracy thriller Operation Avalanche. As director, star, and producer, Johnson shows he is able to accomplish both a lot and very little at the same time. The found footage medium has seen a lot of ups and downs over the years, but Operation Avalanche can be recognized as one of the better ones. Strong performances, technical achievement and stylistic sense manage to make this film a more likable one than not.

The CIA sends Ivy League recruits Matt Johnson and Owen Williams(playing themselves) on a mission to infiltrate NASA and expose a Russian mole. To do so, they use the cover of a documentary film crew that’s attempting to document the behind the scenes efforts leading up to man’s landing on the moon. In a turn of events, Matt and Owen realize the U.S. cannot actually land on the moon by the expected date and are forced to take on a new mission to fake the moon landing to “beat the Russians.”

While the premise may sound ridiculous and Argo-esque, Johnson and his team deliver something that has more comical moments than one would expect. Because the plot involves creating a fake documentary, the style feels like a mockumentary. Great acting is key in any film, but the found footage, mockumentary medium emphasizes capturing facial expression, small ticks and changes to the face that make a performance not only believable, but feel real.

During the Q&A after my screening of the film, Johnson revealed his difficulty in playing his character because of his inability to relate to him. He is, however, able to show us a passionate CIA agent with a restlessness to accomplish his mission. His determination shows not only through his character, but through his technological achievement. In one scene, Johnson and his crew visit Stanley Kubrick’s film set of 2001: A Space Odyssey to find the necessary technique to replicate the moon setting. Since this never actually happened, VFX specialist Tristan Zerafa had to animate old photographs of Kubrick on set and combine it with the footage of Johnson and company. This alone lends even more credit to this film as an ambitious one.

Matt Johnson, director and star of "Operation Avalanche," Photo: Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times

Operation Avalanche is supposed to be a thriller, but sometimes doesn’t feel like one. Tension doesn’t always build the way it’s supposed to and the climax doesn’t feel as thrilling as one would hope. While the narrative is easy to follow and technical parts of the film are explained well, pacing led the film to feel longer and dragged out during certain parts. For something as large as the moon landing, the film doesn’t quite deliver on the ambitious and impactful journey it sets out to be.

The film’s likable, comical nature combined with its stylistic approaches easily outweigh its lackluster climax. Operation Avalanche may not have reached its potential, but for its small crew and budget, Johnson manages to deliver something that stuck the landing with a great, fun, crazy film to watch. With a personal rating of 4 out of 5 stars, I’d invite you to watch Operation Avalanche.

Nev Snook 9/20/16 Nev Snook 9/20/16

MARIA'S Technicolor By Alida Boer

At the Dream Downtown on the evening of September 6th, press, friends, and editors gathered to celebrate the second season of handbags from Maria’s by Alida Boer. The event welcomed guests to view the upcoming Spring/Summer collection of Technicolor design, with a reflection on the rich heritage of the stunning, Guatemala. Each bag is a story capturing vision, narrating the life of color and vibrancy within the Latin American culture.

Handcrafted by women in a country with poor economic and social conditions, Maria’s provides her artisans with the right for independence, to learn from the opportunity of employment, and individually earn an income. The hidden but actual realities of marriage conditions in Guatemala often include violence and early commitment, leaving women with little room to grow independently. Through the platform that is Maria’s, however, opportunities for women to become self-reliant and financially stable opens the door for conditions to change. The collection embodies the strength of the cautious and incredibly talented hands that made them.

The collection consists of clutches, totes, and satchels of various shapes and sizes, combining to become a story with over 50 shades of textiles.

Regardless of design, every handbag is alive with the stories of Guatemalan culture, with origins bright and hidden within Mayan treasures. The yarns intertwine into zigzags and floral designs in resemblance of history, myths, and legacies important to the people of Guatemala.

Mirroring the past with the present, the color black is polished as the backboard for which the textiles dance against. Where black is neutral, a basic, a safe haven; the color of the bag creates dimension and risk, daring individuals to hold on their arm an item of interest. Black is the present, the shade of fashion that is distinguished in the industry as modern and classic. The hues of culture that illustrate the handbags make the collection a mysterious and lively twist on what is considered safe.

The collection was assembled delicately among flowers and candles, gorgeously commemorating the Latin American culture and environment. Shades of purple and white were the base theme for the presentation of the colorful collection. Guests admired the ordination of the handbags, excited to welcome the fair trade designer another successful season.

Special thanks to Terry from SeventhHouse and photos courtesy of BFA

Ryn Walling 9/16/16 Ryn Walling 9/16/16

Robb Vices Launch Party

It’s time to treat yourself (or a friend) to deliveries of incredible products that will satisfy your every vice. With Robb Vices, every month is a new surprise as they supply subscribers with everything from exceptional wines and foods to gadgets and accessories.

To give a few special people a sneak peak into this exclusive experience, Robb Report and Velocity hosted a launch party where guests could sample food and drink and look through past months’ boxes to see what Robb Vices is all about.

The party was hosted at the Cadillac House, which was featured in the August box, and as soon as guests walked in the door they were immersed in the sampling, offered their choice of wine from the Macari Vineyards of Long Island. Throughout the room, tables such as this were set up, with spirits of all kinds and delicious food piled high from businesses such as the Brooklyn Baking Barons and Melissa’s.

Perhaps one of the most exciting samples of the evening was the chance to win a complimentary BLADE Bounce helicopter airport transfer from Manhattan.

Boxes from previous months were also on display for guests to peruse throughout the evening. Each box comes with a glossy booklet explaining a bit about what’s inside and providing beautiful photographs and tidbits of information about the products. This epitomizes what CEO of Robb Vices, Daniel Curtis, enjoys most about working with the company. “Meeting the people behind the products and experiences that make life special [is my favorite part],” he says. “It is an inspiring thing to constantly be interacting and collaborating with truly passionate people.”

This past month’s box highlighted the Cadillac House where this party was held. Altogether, the building houses the Cadillac showroom, Joe’s Coffee shop, Visionaire art gallery, and a retail shop for fashion designer Timo Weiland, all of which were featured in the box and at the party.

Another past box, which CEO Daniel Curtis considers to be one of his favorites, included a pair of Master & Dynamic MH40 headphones and Dolce “Liquid Gold” dessert wine. According to Curtis, this box is referred to as the “Reset Box” and was “inspired by Henry David Thorough’s [sic] years of contemplation in the woods. We wanted to provide the same sort of enlightening escape from the maddening crowds that HDT sought out without needing to speed years in solitude next to a pond.”

The evening was the perfect way to reflect on where Robb Vices has been while also looking to the future of the subscription service. “The core Robb Vices experience is going to stay true to what it is,” says Curtis. “With that said…we will be launching several different subscriptions focused on specific categories that we cover. We have also developed a wonderful community of people who are unique and interesting. In person experiences, and access to unique events will be an increasingly important part of this experience.”

All in all the experience was truly wonderful, and I know I’ll be looking forward to what’s to come, both for the company and in next month’s box.

Photos courtesy of Chelsea Curtis Photography.

Ryn Walling 8/22/16 Ryn Walling 8/22/16

Rémy Martin Circle of Centaurs with Jackie Cruz

On August 17th, Rémy Martin launched its 2016 Circle of Centaurs mentorship program with actress, singer, and photographer Jackie Cruz, who is most well known for her role as Marisol “Flaca” Gonzales on the Netflix hit series Orange is the New Black.

The Circle of Centaurs, which is an extension of Rémy Martin’s One Life/Live Them campaign, aims to celebrate an individual’s many talents. In each session a different mentor shares their unique life experience and helps one lucky person reveal their own talents so that they can enjoy life in new and exciting ways.

While Cruz is best known for her acting skills, she is also a talented musician and will serve as a singing mentor for one lucky winner. The winner is chosen through an online competition where participants submitted a 30 to 60 second video of an original song showcasing their vocal skills. Besides receiving a one-on-one mentoring session with Cruz, the winner will also receive a cash prize to help further their singing interests.

In addition to the chance to hear Cruz perform, Rémy Martin offered specialized cocktails.

Naturally, Cruz’s friends came out to support her, including quite a few of her co-stars from Orange is the New Black, such as Diane Guerrero, Selenis Leyva, Yael Stone, Adrienne C. Moore, and Karina Oritz. They were all incredibly supportive, making sure Cruz’s microphone got turned up loud enough while she sang and Guerrero yelling “She’s my friend!” at one point.

Before taking the stage, Cruz gave a quick speech saying, “I don’t have one dream, I have many, and I believe everyone should cultivate their many talents to live a rich and fulfilling life.”

he performance was truly spectacular and an effective way to show that people are never just one job, one personality trait, or one talent, but rather multifaceted beings who have so much to offer the world.

The online contest to be mentored by Cruz is open until September 23, so be sure to share your video either on your Instagram with the tag @remymartin and #circleofcentaursjackie or on Facebook by posting on the Rémy Martin brand page along with #circleofcentaursjackie. Also keep an eye out for the next Circle of Centaurs mentor opportunity with Samantha Barks.

Photographs courtesy of 5th Column PR.

Ryn Walling 8/16/16 Ryn Walling 8/16/16

Jazz Age Lawn Party

Over the weekend, retro revelers journeyed by the thousands to Governors Island to participate in the 11th Annual Jazz Age Lawn Party, sponsored by St-Germain. At this event, free-spirited flappers and dapper gents were transported back to the height of the Jazz Age in a day of live music, savory treats, and, of course, period-themed St-Germain elderflower cocktails.

Michael Arenella, who threw the first Jazz Age Lawn Party back in 2005, hosted the event, reawakening the music of the Roaring Twenties with his Dreamland Orchestra. Other spectacular performers at the event included Gregory Moore and The Dreamland Follies, Roddy Caravaella & The Canarsie Wobbler, The Minksey Sisters, and many more.

The backdrop of vintage shopping vendors and a dance floor packed with people learning the Charleston was ideal for guests wishing to show off their intricate costumes. The women wore flapper dresses, fringed, ruffled, and dripping with jewels. They accessorized with pearls and sun hats, but, most importantly, their parasols. The men wore pastel suits, decked out with bowties, suspenders, and newsboy caps.

Besides a fabulous array of costumes and activities, the party also boasted a variety of cocktails by St-Germain, created by Julia Reiner, and they did not disappoint. Personally, I had the St-Germain Cocktail, made with sparkling wine and mineral water with a lemon twist, as well as the Flapper’s Delight, a concoction of St. Germain elderflower, juniper, and mint. It was like having summer in a glass and it fit seamlessly with the cheerful (albeit hot) atmosphere of the party.

The Jazz Age Lawn Party was ridiculously fun, real proof that you can still enjoy yourself even in 100-degree heat. This party only seems to get better with age, so make sure to look out for it next year!

Photos courtesy of St-Germain

Divina Doveyo 8/16/16 Divina Doveyo 8/16/16

Special Olympics Summer Social

On August 10th, Special Olympics New York's Leadership Council hosted its tenth annual Summer Social at Marquee in order to raise funds for this year’s Special Olympics New York, with honorees Kimberly Guilfoyle and Ainsley Earhardt from Fox News.

Special Olympics New York is an organization that provides training and competition in 22 Olympic style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It is the largest Special Olympics program in North America, with over 67,000 athletes that are able to partake in the games at no cost to them or their families.

Special Olympics Athlete and Ambassador, Anthony Hasan

This year’s event was a silent auction that boasted all inclusive destination getaways as well as various NFL memorabilia, tickets for exclusive NYC events, and items from esteemed designer brands. Even with such tempting fare, it was heartwarming to see so many guests willingly open up their wallets to donate to the cause.

In addition to the chance to contribute to a worthwhile charity, the Summer Social offered its guests an open bar, sets by DJ Calvin Riggs, and a stunning performance by electronic violinist, Timothee Lovelock.

Other special guests included the world’s first supermodel with Down Syndrome, Madeline Stuart, and singer Meredith O’Connor. Madeline even took the time to hand out bracelets with her facebook page on them so her fans could find her on social media.

Overall, the Special Olympic's Summer Social was a huge success. Between tickets and the auction, a record breaking 101,000 dollars was raised by the event’s attendees to help bring new athletes into the Special Olympics program and continue to train the ones already involved. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of all the sponsors and donors, the Special Olympics New York will continue on even stronger and greater than before.

All photographs provided by the Patrick McMullan Comapany.

Special thanks to Kaitlin from NYSO

Divina Doveyo 8/9/16 Divina Doveyo 8/9/16

House of Kim Crawford

On Wednesday, August 3rd, @kimcrawfordwines hosted the House of Kim Crawford, transforming the beautiful townhouse of 80 Washington Place, Greenwich Village into a summery lounge, complete with beautiful art installations and avant-garde decorations.

A display of golden balloons framing walls of the townhouse.

Upon entering, guests were immediately greeted with champagnes glasses filled with Sauvignon Blanc. Other offerings included Pinot Noir and wine infused slushies.

In addition to these treats, there was a gorgeous set up for guests to take plenty of pictures for their social media accounts, as well as an in house artist who did portraits on the spot. Both of these party favors were tried out by actress and esteemed guest Kate Bosworth.

So, the next time you’re looking for a beverage to be the star of your party, look no further than Kim Crawford Wines.

The townhouse had a staggering price of $31.5 million dollars, there was no doubt that Kim Crawford Wines pulled out all the stops for this extravagant event.

Special thanks to Jamie from ShadowPR.

Photos provided by ShadowPR

Jenna Strauss 8/8/16 Jenna Strauss 8/8/16

ICB Launches “Midnight Winter Dream” Editorial Campaign

At a private event at The Box, ICB introduced their campaign for the Fall/Winter 2016 #TheFashionsDaily; a magazine/media project created to display their upcoming collection. This issue was a parody illustrated from Shakespeare’s "A Midsummer Night's Dream." LA-based model/fashion blogger, Aleali May hosted the event with attendees including Beau (Emma Rose Jenny & Heather Golden - @beau_band) and Nora Vai (@NoraVai) & Lisa Nguyen.

The burlesque club backdrop made for the perfect intimate setting to introduce ICB’s line, which will be launching in stores on August 15, 2016. #TheFashionsDaily depicted the story of an ICB girl taking a midnight stroll through New York City during the cold winter. We enjoyed tasty hor d'oeuvres, cocktails, and a special launch themed performance where dancers were suspended in the air.

ICB’s new collection is a play on menswear and oversized proportions. The line features pieces such as chic wide-leg pants, extra long sleeve knit dresses, long cashmere coats, and knit scarves with faux fur detailing. The inspiration behind these designs was showcasing the ICB girls’ internal struggle over being fashionable while still appearing effortless, luxurious, and witty. Throughout the venue, models and guests were seen wearing stylish ICB designs.

The chic launch party was hosted by the incredible team at EBConsults. We were ecstatic to get a couple of dreamy polaroids with their very own Stefanie Skinner.

Photos by: BFA.com/Tiffany Sage

Ryn Walling 8/2/16 Ryn Walling 8/2/16

Thomas Sabo Fall/Winter 2016 Preview

To preview the Fall/Winter 2016 collection of Thomas Sabo, Georgia May Jagger hosted a party at the New Museum. Amidst beautiful views of the skyline and delicious food platters and wine, a select few were able to get a peek at the absolutely stunning new jewelry line.

As one of the top jewelry and watch brands in the world, it’s no surprise that their new line keeps with their high standard of beauty. Their attention to detail left no stone untouched, quite literally. The necklaces were edgy and stylish, the watches classic yet quirky, and the rings proved that good things do come in small packages.

In addition to Georgia May Jagger, a number of other celebrities were in attendance such as Alice Marie Muller and Zaina Gohou, making the evening sparkle with stars and stones.

Given how amazing these selections were, make sure to look out for the rest of the collection when it comes out this fall!

Photos courtesy of Thomas Sabo

Ryn Walling 7/29/16 Ryn Walling 7/29/16

NYC Opening of Barton Perreira

Barton Perreira has come to New York! On July 19 this California-based luxury eyewear brand opened the doors to its new boutique just off Madison Avenue and celebrated the official opening.

This is only the fourth boutique opened by the brand’s owners, Patty Perreira, Bill Barton, and Tim Cadiente. At this special event, guests could mix, mingle, and, most importantly, try on the fabulous glasses on display.

The owners, along with architect David Spinelli, designed a beautiful space that serves as the perfect backdrop to the eyewear. The new Upper East Side boutique is sleek and modern, with white walls and silver accents throughout, a style that complements the elegant designs of the eyewear featured throughout the store.

There were glasses of all shapes sizes and colors, classic styles with fun twists and incredible detail, and more than a few aviators I wanted to try on for myself.

This new boutique has a design for everyone, and the best way to beat the heat is to head up to this new boutique and grab a pair of Barton Perreira sunglasses!

Photos compliments of Barton Perreira.

Divina Doveyo 7/28/16 Divina Doveyo 7/28/16

Zero Waste Party at Jussara Lee

On Tuesday night, Jussara Lee held a Zero Waste Party, dedicating their time and effort to hosting an event that would have little to no impact on the environment.

Screen Shot 2016-07-28 at 5.35.29 PM.png

Walking into Jussara Lee, the sustainable clothing store named for it’s owner and head designer, one is immediately met with a sense of peace and contentment. Much of this feeling comes from Jussara herself, a woman who, by her own judgement, has decided to consciously move away from practices that are harmful to the environment and people in order to help the world in her own way. "Making people clothes is fine and dandy,” she tells me, “but there has to be a strong reason to carry on for so long. It’s important to feel like what you’re doing has meaning and purpose.”

One such way Jussara works to bring more purpose into her work is by enlisting homeless women in India to make shopping bags out of newspapers, and then using them in her shop. “Everybody wants to be doing something,” she explains, and by bringing her work to them, Jussara opens up an opportunity for them to have a better life.

One of the sustainable shirts created by Jussara Lee.

This outlook is not limited only to her workers. One of Jussara’s favorite pieces is a coat made out of scraps of discarded thread. For her, a coat like this “epitomizes the kind of luxury that is not the traditional,” -- that is, a beautiful piece that can be worn without any masking of what was put into its creation.

So if you’re looking for beautiful, cruelty free and sustainable clothing in New York, look no further than Jussara Lee.

Photos provided by Jussara Lee

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.