La La Land: Review
Director Damien Chazelle has once again knocked it out of the park with this year’s La La Land; following his critically acclaimed film, Whiplash, in 2014. Chazelle’s preference in creating films with musical elements is seen again in La La Land; a modern day musical telling the romantic story of aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and jazz enthusiast/pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling).
As both director and screenplay writer, Chazelle deserves all the praise in the world for what he’s done with La La Land because of the clear direction and vision he had with the film. The film consists of a number of long takes to nail the feel of a musical as well as authenticate the experience of watching its musical numbers. Mia and Sebastian are two characters you end up deeply caring for and rooting for to succeed. Their relationship is so believable that it gets the audience emotionally invested, all thanks to the powerful performances of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. Stone and Gosling are the perfect on-screen couple as Mia and Sebastian, with their chemistry being second to none. While neither had any prior musical experience, Stone and Gosling mastered all parts of the film in which they had to sing and dance. Gosling started with zero piano experience and was the subject of worry from Chazelle, but after months of piano lessons, we got what we see on screen; beautifully crafted piano playing with no sign of movie magic or hand doubles to edit Gosling’s astounding performance. While Gosling gives a strong performance, Stone is the one who absolutely owned her role as her performance in La La Land is perfect. Her character, Mia, is the one you feel most absorbed in because Stone is able to bring her character to life; living and breathing as the aspiring actress in Hollywood. One can’t help, but wish for the couple to succeed in the pursuit of their dreams as well as hope their love triumphs over all other obstacles.
La La Land deserves all the critical acclaim for its musical score and musical numbers from Justin Hurwitz. While its opening number “Another Day of Sun” is grand and fantastic, La La Land’s smaller and more personal numbers are the real spotlight, such as “Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” and “City of Stars,” performed by Stone and Gosling respectively. Overall, the soundtrack is an absolute joy to listen to and had me listening to it as soon as I finished watching.
The only minor gripe I had with the film was the use of Sebastian’s high school classmate Keith (John Legend). While I understand his role in the plot, it never felt like his involvement with Sebastian and Mia ever came full circle.
As others have stated, La La Land is a love letter of sorts or an ode to L.A., but at its core is a story about dreams, passion, and the drive to succeed. In old Hollywood movies, there would usually be a happy ending where all loose ends are tied up in a nice bow. La La Land, however, doesn’t try to portray this fairy tale and often times pokes fun at the very concept of a fairy tale story. This film contains the perfect marriage between going after your dreams and the reality of sacrifice for a fulfilled life. In a city of dreams, not all of them come true no matter what you wish for. I absolutely La La loved this film and give La La Land a personal rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Operation: Heal Our Heroes 3rd Annual Call to Arms Gala
In October of 2014, two men, Patrick Bolchoz and former Army Captain Everett Weston, formed Heal our Heroes in commemoration of the life and dedication of service of their dear friend, Captain Francis “Franky” Kim. Captain Kim served the United States Army in Afghanistan and was later relocated to Washington as a Rear Detachment Commander. His duty was to deliver flags to the families of the fallen within his own unit. Patrick Bolchoz spoke with us on behalf of the allegiance of his best friend, explaining Franky felt he should have still been stationed alongside his unit. A year before the founding of Heal our Heroes, Franky took his own life. The spirit of Captain Franky Kim and his selfless commitment to our country became the inspiration behind Heal our Heroes.
Patrick Bolchoz and Everett Weston crossed paths for the first time at Franky’s funeral. The connection was instant and their lives seemed to “collide in every positive way,” as described by Bolchoz. The idea for Heal our Heroes evolved from the desire to keep Franky’s spirit alive. With mutual friends and business partners, plans fell into place and the organization gained an immediate, positive response.
Heal our Heroes brings a sometimes forgotten and often unspoken aspect of military service to the forefront. Returning veterans are not always able to leave behind the vividness of their experience. Service-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder maintains a psychological connection between our veterans and their involvement while deployed. PTSD has influenced a suicide epidemic, taking the lives of nearly 20 veterans per day- a number that has fallen from 22 since the start of the organization in 2014 and a significant stride in their effort to decrease the PTSD-related suicide rate.
Through continuous advocacy, awareness campaigning, and the raising of resources, Heal our Heroes is able to provide veterans with accessible mental health care services. For every $5,000, a veteran suffering from PTSD and other trauma-related stress will receive a lifetime of professional care and support. Awareness is crucial in tackling the epidemic as the issue is, “under-sourced, oversubscribed, and quite frankly forgotten,” as explained by Bolchoz.
On December 2, Heal our Heroes celebrated their 3rd annual fundraising event in the Metropolitan Pavilion. Guests enjoyed live performances, complimentary cocktails, and food catered by ANEU catering & events. Donations could be made through the silent auction and raffle. Every event was centered around raising awareness for our nation’s veterans and the prevalent reality of service-related Post-Traumatic Stress. The heart and soul of Captain Franky Kim is remembered through Heal our Heroes as they strive to improve the lives and health of veterans after deployment.
A very special thank you to Patrick Bolchoz for taking the time to speak with us. And another special thank you to Hubb House PR for inviting us.
Photos courtesy of Hubb House PR
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Rogue One: Review
Another year, another Star Wars film -- except this isn’t just another Star Wars film. Director Gareth Edwards brings us the story of a ragtag group of people from the Rebel Alliance and their mission to steal the Death Star plans from the Galactic Empire. Going into this film, many were curious as to how the general audience would receive a story that’s not mainly connected to the major plotline. There were rumblings as to whether or not this film is a sequel to J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens and confusion as to whether or not Felicity Jones’ character is the same as Daisy Ridley’s Rey. Rest assured, the distinction is made clear from the opening sequence of the film, detailing a young Jyn Erso’s (Felicity Jones) background, which clearly contrasts Rey’s mysterious parentage.
As reported by many news outlets, the film had a more dreary tone than the saga films. In contrast to to the saga films, a darker, bleaker world of Star Wars was presented to the audience in Rogue One. It really brings back the “war” in Star Wars, as the film has a ton of amazing action sequences, space battles, and blasters- basically everything a Star Wars fans could ask for. The original trilogy depicted the Rebel Alliance as a heroic group of soldiers, but Rogue One portrays the Rebels at the brink of desperation, with their backs against the wall.. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) managed to perfectly exemplify this side of the Rebels as he’s put in situations throughout the movie where he’s conflicted with the orders given to him by the Rebels and his own morals. Diego Luna’s acting really strengthens the impact of every scene he’s in, and he is able to convey Rebel’s gloomy situation to the audience masterfully. Coming off her academy award nomination for The Theory of Everything, one can already assume Felicity Jones would bring her A game and boy did she! There were multiple instances in which you can’t help, but sympathize with her character Jyn. I was so moved by her performance that there were few instances that almost brought tears to my eyes over her own personal strife and the eventual acceptance of her fate. With a well-assembled cast, all the characters had their moments to shine. While Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) has less screen time than other characters, he does without a doubt play a key and significant role. What he did in the movie manages to enrich the story of the original Star Wars: A New Hope as well as explain a looming question that have always comes up in discussions of the movie. Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) is a great villain not because he’s menacing or successful in his ventures, but because he’s very human; he made mistakes and displayed the emotional outcome from conflict between himself and another Imperial officer.
Rogue One did bring back a well-known character not just in Star Wars fandom, but in pop culture in general: the infamous and iconic Darth Vader. While there was much speculation on how big of a role he plays in the film and how much screen time he gets, I can say that his part is small, but justifiably so. Many would have hoped he had more screen time, but the story revolves around this group of Rebels’ mission and the filmmakers wouldn’t have wanted to detract away from that. Easter eggs and little bits of information pertaining to the saga films were treated with care and felt very organic to the story without blatantly name dropping. Darth Vader’s scenes are short, but so amazing that one of his scenes can easily be considered one of the greatest Star Wars moments of all time. I think the unexpected breakout character of Rogue One was the droid K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk. For a droid, K-2SO had so much heart and, in some ways, had more character development than most of the other characters. For a darker film, Alan Tudyk was able to bring a lot of humor, sass and charm. I applaud the handling of where this movie fits in the timeline as Gareth Edwards ensured Rogue One flowed seamlessly into the next film.
Minor gripes I had with the film starts with things that happened or didn’t happen before the film actually began. This film felt very geared towards the more knowledgeable Star Wars fan than the casual fan. The signature opening crawl of all Star Wars films is missing and feels missed not just because of the nostalgia it gives off, but because it would have helped the audience ease into the film and digest new info easier. The score itself isn’t anything to brag about and it missed John Williams-esque style and flair that his music usually adds to films. Another minor issue is the film’s second act. While the first act is paced quickly to introduce characters and plot points, the second act feels slower and longer with a lot of setup for the third act. The setup for the third act, however, pays off well as the third act really picks up and takes off as an action packed, well tied together story. What I found most troubling about this film is the use of CGI for a certain character. While I understand the character to be necessary to the story, his presence felt very jarring. Often times it took me out of the movie and had me thinking about the CGI and the risk they took instead of focusing on the scene itself.
Rogue One does what the filmmakers originally set out for this film; to stand on its own as a Star Wars film that’s different than the saga films. For its dark tone, Rogue One perfectly shows the coming together of a group of people for a greater cause through heroism and sacrifice. Through clear direction from Gareth Edwards, as well as an amazingly talented cast, Rogue One solidifies its place in Star Wars history as one of the greats. It not only manages to stand on its own, but supplements and reinforces the story of the original trilogy. Lucasfilm and Disney should be proud of what they’ve accomplished with this film because Rogue One is sure to be a huge win. Rogue One? More like Rogue Won! Casual moviegoers are going to like this film, but Star Wars fans are going to love it. I give Rogue One a personal rating of 4.25 stars out of 5, and I invite you to go see it as soon as you can.
ASCNYC 25th Anniversary
The AIDS Service Center NYC celebrated a remarkable achievement on November 29th, marking their 25th anniversary of dedicated service. The fundraising event was held in the Tribeca 360, a space offering a stunning, panoramic view of the city. The night celebrated the service of notable honorees with the 2016 Changemaker Awards. Of those recognized were Olympic hero Greg Louganis, attorney Joseph Saltarelli of Hunton & Williams, and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Their leadership and activism has been immeasurable in changing the lives of those living with HIV/AIDS.
The ASCNYC operates on various levels to provide stability and a sense of community for those who have or are at risk for HIV/AIDS. The organization offers informative programs that aim to encourage counseling and educate individuals about proper testing. Support groups inspire connections among those braving life with HIV/AIDS. Mental Health services, women’s services, and various medical services are available through the organization for vulnerable individuals. The ASCNYC continues to be a source of reassurance in the face of the disease and a positive change agent for health, recovery, and self-sufficiency.
The honorees have each had an impact on the success of the ASCNYC and the lives they have transformed. Greg Louganis spoke of his personal history as an advocate for both the HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ communities.
Guests were encouraged to participate in both a live and silent auction to raise funds for the organization. Prizes included tickets for the sell-out show, Hamilton and travel accommodations for a safari stay, along with various jewelry gifts.
Eight city favorites provided cocktails and tastings for guests to try throughout the evening. Featured were Fat Witch Bakery, Frued, Lucca’s, Pampano, Penelope, Rosemary’s, Sazon Perez, and Speedy Gonzalez.
The ASCNYC will continue servicing New York residents under the new name, Alliance for Positive Change. The change was officially announced during the awards ceremony, receiving a warm round of applause from guests. The new title embodies the heart of the organization and their mission to unify and inspire in the face of adversity. The fight against AIDS/HIV will remain at the forefront of the Alliance for Positive Change.
Photos courtesy of Titus Kana
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Wonder Woman 75th Anniversary at NYCC
Since her début in 1941, Wonder Woman has endured and evolved to become a beacon of hope for fans, one of the most beloved superheroes of all time, and a canonically queer woman too. To celebrate 75 years of success, DC Entertainment, the U.S. Postal Service, and even Jelly Belly showed up at Comic Con with their own displays for Wonder Woman.
Among other things, DC Entertainment brought costumes from the upcoming Wonder Woman film, coming out in 2017, and gave attendees a close look at the amazingly detailed and intricate costumes. Four were from the upcoming movie, those of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), and Antiope (Robin Wright). The fifth costume however was not from the film, but instead from the well-known 1970s Wonder Woman television series featuring Lynda Carter.
Not only that, but DC Entertainment also teamed up with the U.S. Postal Service to produce a line of Wonder Woman Forever Stamps to honor the Amazonian Princess’ 75th Anniversary. Each stamp illustrates a different stage in the evolution of Wonder Woman, from the star-spangled skirt of the golden age to the sleek bold lines of the modern age.
Yet another fantastic display was the work of Kristen Cumings, who brought Wonder Woman to life with roughly 12,000 Jelly Bellys. After four days of tireless work at Comic Con and a variety of vibrant (and delicious) Jelly Bellys, Cumings had created an intricate work of art, which will be displayed at the Jelly belly headquarters with the Batman and Superman pieces that she has already created.
No matter what else was going on at Comic Con, this year was even more extraordinary than usual because of the 75th Anniversary of Wonder Woman.
Black Tap Midtown
The renowned Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer premiered their 4th New York location opening on November 17, 2016. The restaurant of award-winning burgers and Instagram-worthy shakes will open at the Blakely New York in Midtown. Chef and Owners Joe Isidori and Chris Barish are excited to bring the new Black Tap location to the residents and visitors of Midtown.
Guests attending the pre-opening were continuously served house cocktails, savory appetizers, and Black Tap’s famous burgers and milkshakes. Friendly staff members encouraged guests to try everything, sharing personal favorites from the menu and offering suggestions. Classics, such as the “All-American Burger” and the “Greg Norman Burger”, will grace Midtown’s menu along with brand-new specials: the “Crispy Chicken Sandwich” and the “Vegan Burger”.
A full house was accommodated by the 90-seat Black Tap Midtown. With three dining sections, guests are given the option of booth, window, or bar seating. Black Tap serves as a modern twist to the traditional American diner theme. The décor within the restaurant utilizes metals and wood to create an edgier atmosphere. Black Tap’s menu incorporates a similar edge with added ingredients and unique names to individualize their menu.
Known for having die-hard fans forming lines that stretch around the block, Black Tap’s milkshakes are unlike any other. Isidori created the midtown location’s beverage program including shake specialties Cotton Candy, Sweet N’ Salty, Cookie Shake, Brooklyn Blackout, and Sour Power. Traditional flavors such as Nutella, Oreo Cookies & Cream, and Peanut Butter are also included on the menu. Black Tap Midtown will offer a full bar with over twenty beers, frozen daiquiris, and a full cocktail list.
Owners, Isidori and Barish, are excited for the opening of Black Tap Midtown and welcome everyone to enjoy their specialties. The team has big plans for 2017 with more New York openings and their first international opening of Black Tap in Dubai. In the meantime, stop by the midtown location and get your grub on.
Photos courtesy of Brandon Hardin.
Black Tap Midtown is located next to The Blakely at 136 W. 55th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight daily.
Nordic International Film Festival
The Nordic International Film Festival provided a wide array of short films that engaged the personal side of life as well as more cerebral themes and ideas. Out of all the short films I’ve seen, these are the three that remain in the forefront of my mind because of their imaginative storytelling.
Running Through Life is a beautifully shot short film by Director Helen Moltke-Leth from Denmark. The entire short film is of a woman, running through different parts of the city with a voiceover that provides insight into her mind as she contemplates her thoughts, actions, and how she affects those around her. The voiceover really delivers a sense of struggle from the runner and what she wants versus what’s expected of her. Overall, it’s shot very well with a noteworthy juxtaposition of the nighttime setting with the woman's internal struggle that transitions into daybreak, implying a hopeful mindset.
You and Me is an intimate story between mother (Laufey Elíasdóttir) and daughter (Gríma Valsdóttir). Through misdirection, Director Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir wants the audience to think it’s a story between a man and woman who attempt to hook up after a night at the bar. It is revealed to the audience that the woman is a single mother when she closes the door to the room with her sleeping daughter inside. The woman proceeds to sleep with the man until her daughter interrupts them and which leads her to throw the man out of her home. What comes after is a display of great acting in a dialogue between mother and daughter as they reveal what their life is like, what it was like before, and what it will be like looking forward. The dynamic between the mother and daughter alludes to a role reversal of parent and child where the daughter almost plays the parent role of her mother in a cheeky, but playful way. Child actors are sometimes difficult to work with and have very little experience in most cases, but Director Ása Helga Hjörleifsdóttir seems to capture a child's natural inclination to be playful. Though it is a short film, I can't help but feel like I want more of their story because of the way the short film ends; mysterious, but hopeful.
Box, from Director Mathias Askeland, managed to get an Honorable Mention in the Nordic International Film Festival Awards with good reason. Box is the product of unconventional, but innovative filmmaking. The entire short film is shot as one long take and shows Anne Cecilie Ukkelberg and Kenneth Åkerland Berg, a couple attempting to take the perfect picture in a photo booth. While attempting to get this perfect picture, their relationship is revealed to be far from perfect as both partners fail to meet one another’s expectations in their relationship. It feels as if the photo booth is a metaphor for the boxed in or repressed feelings and problems of their relationship. The whole dialogue between them is reflective of how real life relationship problems are dealt with and seeing that reflection was both humorous and tragic. To prepare for the film, Anne Cecilie Ukkelberg and Kenneth Åkerland Berg lived together to attempt to replicate an authentic relationship. This paid off well because it would lead them to play off one another better as it really seems like both characters are in sync and manage to capture the quips they’d really have for one another. For a short film titled Box, Director Mathias Askeland thinks outside of the box and knocks it out of the park with this one.
Photos courtesy of Nordic International Film Festival
NYSPCC Food & Wine Gala
On the evening of November 14, 2016, guests dined at the annual Food & Wine gala hosted by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The event was held in the lavishly designed Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. Celebrated Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern and Untitled at the Whitney Museum of American Art prepared his signature dish mushroom lasagna. Dinner was paired with a carefully selected variety of wines from Tournesol and Caymus Vineyards.
Fox News Anchor and Analyst, Kimberly Guilfoyle, hosted the event in light of the NYSPCC and their philanthropic involvement with abused children. She shared her personal connection to the organization, explaining that her work as a district attorney's office prosecutor this past year further encouraged her efforts in aiding endangered children.
Adam Rapoport, Editor in Chief of Bon Appetit Magazine, took the stage as the evening’s guest speaker. Lydia Fenet, auctioneer of Christie’s, facilitated this year’s reverse auction to fundraise proceeds for the NYSPCC’s Trauma Recovery Program. This program offers specialized therapies for children who have endured physical or sexual abuse, traumatic grief, and family violence.
Executive Director of the NYSPCC, Dr. Mary L. Pulido, also took the stage to share with guests the importance of protecting children from harm. Her heartfelt message explained that they are the go-to agency of New York City and emphasized the need to help their children recover.
The NYSPCC has earned worldwide respect for their commitment to protecting and reshaping the lives of neglected children. Their welfare services have investigated more than 650,000 cases in regard to more than two million children. Through research, communication, and training, they have been able to grow their services to provide counsel and prevent abuse nationwide. The organization’s unique services are instrumental in responding to the needs of children who have been abused.
Photos courtesy of NYSPCC
Whitney Art Party 2016
Reeling from the post-election slump, NYC finally awoke this week as a series of late-night parties and galas popped up inside New York City’s most beloved institutions of art, like the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Guggenheim.
On Tuesday night, the Whitney Museum of American Art’s annual Art Party was the place to see and be seen. The Whitney has always been known to be thought provoking and promoting avant garde, and its guest list seems to reflect that. This party is one of the most high-profile, celeb-heavy gatherings with a collective of luminaries from across New York’s iconic creative industries such as fashion, art, and music.
Karlie Kloss, Common, Brandon Maxwell, Micaela Erlanger, and Michael Carl were co-chairs for the evening. Before the party kicked off, the co-chairs hosted a pre-party dinner for over a hundred artists, celebrities, and Whitney supporters including Victor Cruz, Brooke Neidich, Ian Cheng, and Rachel Rose. Following dinner, guests joined the rest of the Art Party downstairs.
Upon entering the Museum, guests were blinded by camera flashes due to the beautiful crowd turning up in their flashiest outfits. A long line led up to the red carpet, as everyone carefully strutted their intricate outfits. The normally modern furnished lobby of the Museum was transformed and adorned with Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling as if something straight out of Stranger Things. Wandering around the floors were two people covered in red paint doing some sort of performance art, with their bare butts exposed to the world as they plotted their way in dance-like form throughout the lobby level. People looked on nervously, as they were unsure whether to take photos because they themselves, would become pornographers.
Entertainment and music was in no short supply as music flowed steadily thanks to DJ Mia Moretti, Lion Babe, and Questlove. Guests also had the opportunity to check out the Whitney’s fall exhibitions including Dreamlands: Immersive Cinema and Art 1905-2016, RED IN VIEW, and Virginia Overton: Winter Garden. Celebrities and Whitney supporters alike made their way around the lobby up to the expansive 5th floor show, the “Dreamlands” video art exhibition. As if the exhibits were not instagrammable enough, Karrueche Tran was seen on the exhibition floor with her stylish Bermuda inspired outfit taking fun selfies with her friends.
Overall, the evening was a grand success, full of champagne glasses clinking and amazing works of art. One of the most amazing parts about the evening was seeing how many young people came out to support the Museum. With the hefty price tag of $500 at the door, these young men and women are probably in line with the millennial mindset of giving back early. With the recent presidential election nearly splitting the country into two sides, it’s good to see that art can always bring people together. Whether you were a Trump or Hillary supporter, you will always be an art supporter. All proceeds from tickets sales will go to support Whitney’s educational initiatives.
Photos courtesy of Neil Rasmus/BFA
Style, class, and fun at The Redbury New York
Deep in the heart of NoMad lies the newest addition to the city’s already impressive catalog of premiere hotels. The Redbury New York opened its doors on October 25th to excited guests staying in their gorgeous, simplistic suites, while simultaneously accommodating New York City’s nightlife with a deliciously posh opening night.
The Redbury New York is the latest resort under the SBE agency, and the third Rebury branded hotel for the agency after successful openings in Hollywood, Ca., and South Beach, Fl. The building in which The Redbury New York is now home was originally the Martha Washington Hotel, which opened in 1903. Keeping most of the external integrity of its predecessor, The Redbury New York was modernized to exude the themes of pop and rock music. These creative choices were spearheaded by well-known photographer and creative director, Matthew Rolston, who’s best recognized as a protégé of Andy Warhol and his impressive filmography as a music video director for some of the biggest artists over the last thirty years.
Rolston’s history of photography and music video direction shine through the use of décor and lighting. Stepping inside the glorious residence on its opening night, guests were warmly welcomed into a grand walkway up to the reservation desks. Decorated head to toe in brown and white bases and red ornamentation between the furniture and decor, the hotel is easily designed with the intent of simplicity and class. The moderately lit atmosphere placed guests into a mellow, relaxing environment. The first patrons of The Redbury New York slowly flooded in as opening night guests were treated to some of the finest service the city can offer.
The hotel’s “Marta” restaurant and bars were in full swing; proving itself to be amongst the establishment’s many pride and joys. Seafood samples were the hottest commodity on the first floor, while the beautiful open ovens provided rustic variations of pizza being carried all around the “Marta” dining floor. From classics like margherita to the unique-to-the-palate contemporary choices like bacon and potato, the “Marta” is intent on providing a fresh take on an American classic for those staying at The Redbury New York or the casual lounger or diner. Amidst exploring the rest of the first floor, guests discovered a stairway down to the basement kitchen, which was opened to guests for the night. Chefs treated curious partygoers to charcuterie and freshly made fried chicken and pork belly sandwiches.
Trekking to the second floor, guests were welcomed into a mirrored hallway, reminiscent to a high class club; this directs you to either the dining hall or the charming terrace. As if you were invited to one of the coolest, laidback rooftop parties, the 2nd floor terrace makes you feel like you’re in a pop video yourself: amongst zealous guests in the crisp, cold night air, surrounded by tall city buildings that we all know and love.
With the use of sights and smells that place us in a whole other world within the enigma that is this city, it is evident that The Redbury New York will work to continue to be one of the liveliest and artistically innovative resorts here.
Photos courtesy of BFA.
2nd Annual Serving up Smiles
On the evening of October 24th, CURRENT, Chelsea Piers welcomed the 2nd annual “Serving Up Smiles” Tasting Event hosted by the enCourage Kids Foundation. Sought-after restaurants and chefs of New York City prepared their famous recipes offering samples for guests to taste-test. More than 250 guests attended in support of the enCourage Kids Foundation whose dedication and passion has inspired children and families for 31 years. NFL Legend Tony Richardson, retired NY Giants player Christian Peter, Olympic Medalist Sasha Cohen, and Z100 Host Shelley Rome were among guests showing their support for the organization. Prizes from Broadway show tickets to a meet-and-greet with Eli Manning were auctioned throughout the night as a contribution to the cause.
EnCourage Kids aims to unify families with similar circumstances, easing the day-to-day difficulties with the encouragement of a community. The foundation brings smiles and excitement to children facing life-threatening illnesses with opportunities to enjoy family outings and programs. Every program is developed with the specific and individual needs of the children in consideration, to ensure a fun but safe environment.
While the night showcased the tremendous dedication of enCourage Kids, the spotlight was shared with the Amodeo Family whose dedication to their family is uniquely inspiring. Frank and Bendetta Amodeo are parent ambassadors who have been a part of the foundation’s bonded community for five years. One of their two sons, Nicholas, is blind, developmentally challenged, and often undergoes seizures, but above all, he is brave. Frank spoke to guests, highlighting the strength of the families within the organization and how much they truly appreciate the programs offered by the foundation. In our interview, Frank and Bendetta described that when their son is happy, there is no greater joy to them as parents, “when he laughs and smiles and is dancing, that’s all we want.” Their hope for the next five years of enCourage Kids is that it doubles in size. “It’s about growth, support,” Frank concludes.
Chef Chris Nirschel, otherwise known as “Culinary Bad Boy”, also prepared a speech, emphasizing the impact enCourage Kids has made in the lives of the families they benefit. He was honored to be a part of the evening and has been inspired by the organization’s efforts. Nirschel has been a partner of enCourage Kids for six years and explains that the tremendous turnout and generous donations are because people truly care about the organization. “When I see the parents and some of the kids that have been through surgeries, going to Jets’ Games, Giants’ Games, met by celebrity chefs, it’s touching,” Chris explained.
The evening raised $225,000, an inspiring total that will benefit children and their families directly. Executive Director, Michele Hall-Duncan said, “Our goal for tonight… is three-fold. We want everybody to have a fantastic time, enjoy all of the offerings of the chefs and specialty drinks. We want to raise their awareness about enCourage Kids and raise funds in support.” Michele was thrilled the night was an overall success. She explained how enCourage Kids supports families at a time that is overwhelming and challenging, “When you receive a diagnosis that your kid is sick, you’re plunged into this world of chaos and confusion.” EnCourage Kids, as Michele also explained, is not specific to a particular illness, something she believes sets them apart from other organizations.
The individuals who have given their time and opened their hearts to the organization have truly brought joy to so many families. Passion has always been at the core of the organization. EnCourage Kids is excited about the future, with plans to expand their reach to many more families faced with medical challenges.
We want to personally thank Frank and Bendetta Amodeo, Chris Nirschel, Tom Murro, and Michele Hall-Duncan for their time in speaking with us.
Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Veneskey
WatchTime New York
On October 15th, luxury watch enthusiasts attended the country’s largest event for the accessory, WatchTime New York. Hosted in Manhattan’s Gotham Hall, the two-day event kicked off with a sold-out cocktail for VIP attendees. Guests of the event experienced various panels and discussions from more than 20 luxury watch brands.
High-profile brands including Omega, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Seiko, and Carl F. Bucherer, share an inside look at their most recent collections. Some went a step further, introducing to guests their pieces from collections that have yet to be released to the United States. Omega participated, offering a never before seen look at their Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black collection. Vacheron Constantin also volunteered a look at 10 new pieces that will be added to their Harmony collection.
The line-up of panels and discussions offered insights to the construction, history, and latest developments within the luxury watch market. Philips presented a seminar on “Vintage Collecting” moderated by the Editor-at-Large of WatchTime magazine, Joe Thompson and featuring speakers Aurel Bacs and Paul Boutros. Experts discussed the mechanics of the industry with media personality, Bill McCuddy, to moderate the conversation. The Editor-in-Chief of WatchTime magazine, Roger Reugger, illustrated the developmental progress of dive watches in his presentation. Book signings were also available with authors Roberta Naas and Aaron Sigmond.
Over 800 guests were in attendance to celebrate the craftsmanship and style of this specialized part of the timepiece industry. Journalists, collectors, and influencers took part in the event, including luxury watch collector Gabriel Bender. “Fast and Furious” actor, Sung Kang welcomed guests to visit his booth, where he promoted his limited-edition timepiece, the Turbine Sung Kang.
WatchTime magazine is an award-winning media platform here in New York City concentrated on luxury watches. With seven Digital Magazine Award nominations, two FOLIO Fame Awards for event excellence and more, the platform maintains an audience of 800,000 readers monthly.
This was the second annual year WatchTime magazine partnered with SWISS Airlines, AFAR magazine, Philips auction house, and WatchAnish.com, a lifestyle media platform. The event has greatly expanded from the first year, with a longer list of exhibits and attracting more guests than the year before. WatchTime New York was alive with the energy of the collecting community, with guests excited to be in a place celebrating similar passions. Editor-in-Chief Ruegger sees extreme potential in the event becoming part of the launch process for brands in the future.
Photos courtesy of Ana Martins Communications
20th Anniversary of The Hotline
On February 21, 1996, The National Domestic Violence Hotline took its first call and has continued on for 20 years helping people affected by domestic violence. Since that first call, The Hotline has answered over 3.5 million calls, chats, and text messages from victims of abuse. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a non-profit organization as a part of the Violence Against Women Act created to provide resources for those in need of help. From its early days, it has since evolved into a nationwide network that is constantly advancing its technological services to reach out to as many people as possible. The goal of The National Domestic Violence Hotline is to end domestic violence, but to do this, domestic violence must be prevented and people need to be taught the signs of an unhealthy relationship and what a healthy relationship should be.
Celebrating in The Glasshouses in Chelsea, The Hotline sought to honor 20 years of empowering survivors of domestic abuse. To complement attendees, music was played by DJ Wong with an unlimited flow of cocktails and delicious hors d'oeuvres. Much of The Hotline’s funding comes from an annual grant from the U.S. Health and Human Service’s Family Violence Prevention Services Office. However, to further accomplish The Hotline’s vision of ending domestic violence, a silent auction was held at this event that included tickets to the Super Bowl in 2017, the US Open in 2017, Kendra Scott jewelry, and much more. As spectacular as the prizes, food, and cocktails were, what really made the event a success was the attendees’ willingness to support The Hotline’s cause: to join together to celebrate its success as well as understand the impact of domestic violence.
Domestic violence is about power and control. The abuser makes their partner feel like it is their fault. Abuse is not only physical, but can be emotional and financial as well. People are not always aware if their relationship is an abusive one and The Hotline provides information on how to make that distinction. The Hotline is not only for domestic violence, but also for questions or concerns surrounding your relationship or the relationship of someone you know. On top of providing resources to determine if a relationship is abusive or not, The Hotline provides information on what makes a healthy one. A relationship may not always be abusive, but it does not always mean it is a healthy relationship, so it is highly encouraged to reach out to The Hotline and seek help.
The Hotline staff is highly trained, having received over 60 hours of training while covering over 170 different languages and 4,200 service providers. Over 20,000 phone calls are made to reach domestic violence hotlines. Not all calls to The Hotline make it through because of limited resources. When asked what victims of domestic abuse should do if they are unable to get their call through to The Hotline, Chief Communications Officer Cameka Crawford would like them to know, “it’s not your fault, you deserve respect, you’re not alone, and we’re here for you 24/7.”
Even though The Hotline offices are located in Texas, 30% of The Hotline calls come from New York and with InvitedNYC focusing on the NYC population, we are glad to help spread awareness. If you or someone you know are a victim of domestic violence, do not hesitate to reach out to The Hotline because it is a completely free, and confidential service. Domestic violence can affect anyone; it is not gender neutral. 1 in 4 women experience domestic violence as well as 1 in 7 men. It is important to be patient with the ones experiencing it because they know what is best for their situation. Often times, people may not be ready to pick up the phone and reach out for professional help, but if someone reaches out to you, Cameka Crawford recommends “the first thing you can say to someone if that person reaches out to you for support first is ‘I believe you.’” As a closing note, be vigilant, be compassionate, and look out for one another in the fight to end domestic violence.
Photos courtesy of The Hotline
Food Film Festival NYC
The Food Film Festival does not do enough justice in describing what this is all about. It's an experience!
How many times have you watched a film (for me, it's almost anything on Food Network) and saw something that looked incredibly tasty and wished you could sample it? The idea of the Food Film Festival was born from that very craving.
The Food film Festival marked its 10th anniversary this weekend at AMC Empire 25. The festival offers a unique experience where guests get to actually taste the foods they see on the screen right in the comfort of their own seats. It was a dream come true for food and film lovers alike. Since 2007, the festival has been showcasing films that use food and beverages as thematic elements. What makes this event so special is the fact that guests are able to sample the items that they see on the screen.
The four-day festival which ran from Oct 20th to the 24th showcased independent films accompanied by different dishes featured in said films.
Opening night (Best of a Decade!) revisits the best films from the fest's ten years and offers treats from Amanda Cohen’s Dirt Candy, The Brooklyn Star, Max & Mina’s Ice Cream and more.
On the second night (Taste of Louisiana), the theme was celebrated Cajun cooking with Volcano Bread from Laugarvatn Fontana Spa, Pickles from Leibowitz Pickle Works, Pizza from Denino’s Pizza, BBQ Shrimp Boule by Chef Jude Tauzin, Spring Rolls by Jeannie Ongkeo, and Peach Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream by Chef Jenny McCoy. The highlight of this night was definitely the alligator dish from City Pork Brassiere.
On the third night (Food Porn Party), the festival’s rousing Food Porn Party returns, with extreme eats from Meyers Bageri, Top Pot Donuts, Breads Bakery, Night Kitchen and many more, to accompany films that are essentially beautiful shots of food — aka food porn. The famous Chonut was a must try, and the night ended with a strip show – appropriately named food burlesque.
And closing night (Eat Japan!) was all about the Land of the Rising Sun with an amazing selections of food from Patisserie Tomoko, chef Karl Palma’s Takoyaki, Japanese iced coffee, mochi and last but not least, ramen.
In addition to drinks and the numerous courses served during the films, each night included an after party with even more food based on the night’s theme. One thing's for sure, this will be the tastiest film fest you've ever attended.
All Food Festival events benefit important non-profit organizations, such as the Food Bank For New York City, The Billion Oyster Project, The Good Food Project and GrowFood Carolina.
These unique kinds of events is what makes us so fortunate to be living in a place like New York. I thought it was such a fun experience and can't wait to see what they'll bring us next year!
Photos courtesy of The Food Film Festival.
Golden Hearts Awards 2016
On October 17th, Spring Studios welcomed guests and the stars involved with “God’s Love We Deliver” in celebration of the Golden Heart Awards. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the dinner, a decade of milestone achievements, honorable leaders, and dedicated volunteers. “God’s Love We Deliver” strives to serve the urban community of New York by providing meals and counseling to individuals distressed with the urgency of hunger and who also face crippling illness. The past 10 years have allowed “God’s Love We Deliver” to provide beyond their initial vision of servicing those confronted with HIV/AIDS. Today, the organization prepares and supplies meals that are diet-specific to over 200 different illnesses. Individuals and families receive home-cooked meals free of charge that are nutritional and sustaining to accommodate dietary restrictions from treatment.
The generous contributions donated to “God’s Love We Deliver” support a community of individuals faced with extraordinary challenges and encourage awareness for their circumstances. The Golden Heart Awards recognize the exceptional charitable work and influence of individuals from the year. Co-Chairs of the deciding board include members with their own outstanding achievements; including John D. Idol, Michael Kors, Blaine Trump, and Anna Wintour. Attending the event and red carpet were a long list of industry influencers such as Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra, Chrissy Teigen, and Lily Aldridge. This year, the Michael Kors Award for Outstanding Community Service was presented by Kors to activist, model, and entrepreneur, Karlie Kloss. Danny Meyer was chosen to receive the Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement and Wing Tat Leung received the Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Volunteerism. Neil Patrick Harris and Priyanka Chopra both prepared speeches for the dinner.
A notable member of the board, Michael Kors, began a partnership with the United Nations World Food Program in 2013 to further encourage the end of world hunger. The partnership, “Watch Hunger Stop”, has provided more than 13 million individuals with meals in the past 3 years. Kate Hudson has recently joined Kors in his collaboration as an ambassador, also seeking a world without hunger.
The 2016 Golden Heart Awards raised over 2 million dollars for God’s Love We Deliver. They will prepare and provide more than 1.5 million meals to 6,600 individuals within the next year. One night, along with the generosity and tremendous support of contributors, will enable “God’s Love We Deliver” to continue their volunteer work and service to those left vulnerable to hunger.
Photos courtesy of God Love We Deliver.
Brighter Children Benefit Gala 2016
On the evening of October 13th, Brighter Children held its annual benefit gala at the Astor Center here in New York City. Guests and friends gathered in celebration of the past year’s success to raise money and awareness for the many deserving students Brighter Children hopes to support. Specifically, the night was intended to raise enough funding for, at least, 250 children to be offered education by the end of the year. Partners and ambassadors of Brighter Children were honored throughout the night for their tremendous efforts and dedication to seeing the rise in educational opportunities for children in poor economies.
The benefit began with cocktails and friendly conversation, allowing guests to make their way to various tables of raffles giving away luxury prizes in exchange for their donation. Midway through the evening, a panel of representatives from their partner schools offered their individual experiences within the organization as well as the overall impact Brighter Children has made. They explained the impact the organization had on their students and the schools they attend.
Just this past summer, a team was able to visit a partnering school in Honduras and observe on-site the positive impact of Brighter Children. The children of Villa Soleada Bilingual School were all smiles and co-founder Suzy Peng was thrilled to see kids spending time in the library during recess.
Brighter Children is proud to allocate one hundred percent of all proceeds towards their cause and sponsoring children. Entrance ticket and raffle sales from the evening directly supported their goal of sending more than 250 students to school.
Brighter Children seeks to improve and prepare children for the future by partnering with schools to fund education for students. Kunal Doshi, Becca Wolin, and Suzy Peng founded the non-profit organization in 2013 in hopes to create a sponsorship that would transcend education limitations in impoverished areas. Since the founding of their organization, Brighter Children has touched the lives of over 225 students through their partner schools and teachers. Brighter Children has provided these children the chance to grow and develop intellectually, despite the financial restraints of the communities they live in.
The night was an overall success with lively spirits cherishing the hard work and dedication of Brighter Children’s team members as well as the inspiration they have been to their sponsored students. The team is especially thankful for the generosity of the foundation’s supporters and donors. Brighter Children will extend the proceeds from the benefit to offer more children educational opportunity, bright futures, and big smiles.
Photos courtesy of Brighter Children. Special Thanks to Kunal, William, Ben, and Kelly.
The Boxer Bowtie Club 2nd Annual "Cards for Camp"
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
On the first evening of October 2016, a new generation of philanthropists have emerged. Over 400 young professionals sailed off into the Hudson River on the Hornblower infinity for the second annual Boxer Bowtie Club gala.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
The Boxer Bowtie Club was founded last year in Weston, Connecticut by a group of ambitious and successful young professionals. The goal of the organization is to be a philanthropic group that benefits specific charities in an united way. In the second annual “Cards for Camp” casino cruise, the club incredibly raised over $100,000. “We didn’t expect to reach our goal in just our second year,” says Luke Dudley, a club founding member.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
All the proceeds from the event will go on to send 40 seriously ill kids to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. The camp was founded by Paul Newman in 1988 with one premise in mind: Every child, no matter their illness, should be able to experience and celebrate the transformational spirit and friendships built at camp.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
During the casino cruise, we had the chance to speak with club co-founder, Andy, and captured his vision for the organization. Andy said, “The Boxer Bowtie Club aims to inspire new groups of young folks that are focused on doing good things, such as volunteering their time, and making a difference. We want to be ambassadors for this new generation.” The night reflects the organization’s ultimate goal: To go above and beyond just charitable events, and to encourage the younger generation to give back to the community and to help the less fortunate.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
The motto, “Gather, Give, Grow,” described the night perfectly, as more than 145 millennials gathered together to give to those in need and strengthening the community while raising awareness. These young men and women had an incredible night of fun and also walked away with a new appreciation for what they do and the impact they are having on these less fortunate kids and their families.
Photo: Daniel Federowicz
The extravagantly stylish and altruistic night was made possible with great sponsors like David Fin Ties, who provided all the amazing custom bow ties for the club, and Trunk Club, who will also be hosting the club’s expansion event to Dallas Clubhouse in the Spring of 2017. We cannot wait to see what the Boxer Bowtie Club has in store for us next year. The younger generation should look at this great organization and be inspired to do something now. As the great Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s persistent and most urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’”
Photos courtesy of Boxer Bowtie Club
The Meadows
From Saturday, October 1st, to Sunday, October 2nd, the E and F parking lot outside Citi Field was home to the inaugural Meadows Music and Arts Festival, which boasted performances by J.Cole, Chance the Rapper, and Kanye West.
There were mixed reactions when New York’s Founders Entertainment, known for putting together New York’s Governor’s Ball, announced their plans to bring a fall festival to New York’s music scene, especially in the wake of confusion about location, news of a rainstorm, and headliner The Weeknd dropping out only a few days before the show.
These worries proved needless, however, as the launch of The Meadows Festival was hugely successful. It certainly wasn’t sunny, but cloudy skies turned out to be ideal for waiting in packs for the artists to appear, and J.Cole outdid himself, giving his all in his performance.
While not watching the performers, attendees could take pictures with any of the beautiful art pieces installed specifically for the event or hit up the food lineup. Vendors included Dough (my personal favorite), Korilla BBQ, Pizza Nova, and Tea and Milk. There were also vegan, vegetarian, and gluten - free options to accommodate almost any kind of diet.
As a huge Kanye fan, I had to be up close to see him, and so spent my second day waiting ten rows from the front of the Meadows Stage for Yeezus himself to appear. My eight hour long wait was both exhilarating and frightening. Multiple fans fainted, overcome by body pressure and fatigue, and when water became scarce, we all shared, thirsty enough to swap spit with countless strangers. Tensions ran high, but luckily, the desire to see Kanye perform up close was stronger than the urge to fight.
Nevertheless, there were some great moments while waiting. Those close enough to the stage were able to catch a glimpse of Chris Rock and Zac Efron in the VIP box, and everyone was able to see artists like The Temper Trap and Bryson Tiller perform. The situation turned dire, however, during Chance the Rapper’s set, when the crowd surged forward, crushing those in the front rows. Everything was halted while an employee urged everyone to have “human decency” and step back to let people breathe.
Finally, after a long, irritable day, Kanye West started performing a mere (for him) half an hour late. After delivering songs from his newest album, The Life of Pablo, Kanye performed hits from across all six of his critically acclaimed albums, including “Black Skinhead”, “Mercy”, and “Ni**gas in Paris.” Unfortunately, a minute into “Heartless,” Kanye had to leave due to a family emergency, but left behind a crowd both pumped and pleased.
Overall, the inaugural Meadows Festival was equally as enjoyable as it was a huge success. Although there were a few hiccups, it was a great intro to what will no doubt be another long running music festival for New Yorkers to enjoy.
Shin Godzilla: Review
Shin Godzilla? More like Shin Mortal-zilla. Directed by Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi, the Japanese reboot of the beloved giant monster movie does not live up to all the hype. When one thinks of Godzilla or giant monster movies, one assumes an intimidating Godzilla and frightening destruction driven by human emotion. What we get instead is a rather underwhelming Godzilla with too many subplots from the human side of the story.
The film follows the structure of “this event is impossible, but if it happened, this is what would occur.” From the get-go, even when seemingly natural catastrophes occur, everyone tries to rationally explain what is happening, ruling out the improbable -- or rather the “impossible” -- except for Japan’s Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Rando Yaguchi (played by Hiroki Hasegawa). He points out evidence of a possible giant monster, but everyone around him seems to be in denial before Godzilla actually appears and starts destroying the city. What ensues after are countless meetings between Japanese politicians, foreign officials, and military officers discussing the Godzilla crisis and how to resolve it.
Good films are driven by its characters and Shin Godzilla manages to partially capture the human aspect of the film. Tension and drama builds really well amongst characters and overall the actors perform very well. The main spotlight would definitely be on Hiroki Hasegawa’s character, Rando Yaguchi; he always has great chemistry with whichever actor he’s with in any scene showing great versatility. What came as a surprise while watching this film was the amount of humor. Through the chaotic meetings between government and military officials, Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi sneak in quirky, yet funny moments that seem to show that no matter how serious the situation, there’s always time to add in a joke.
The upside to the meetings is its humor, but they also include unwanted or unnecessary subplots that clutter the film’s plot. While I understand the purpose of Kayoko Ann Paterson (played by Satomi Ishihara), she never seems relevant or as important as she should’ve been. The key problem in this movie is Godzilla itself. Godzilla may have been destructive, but it sure wasn’t terrifying which it should be since it is a giant monster that towers over buildings. Its very first appearance is rather underwhelming because of how it looks and though I understand why it looks the way it does at the beginning and at the end of the movie, the damage it had on my impressions were too negative. Buildings got destroyed, people died, and everyone was in mass panic, but I never felt a real sense of danger or fright from Godzilla itself.
Shin Godzilla is a sci-fi monster film featuring the legendary Godzilla. Even though this film has a strong lead, surprising humor, and good acting all around, this new incarnation does not quite live up to the legend because it completely misses the mark on the Godzilla side of the film. With a personal rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, I’d wish I didn’t get invited to see Shin Godzilla.
Photos courtesy of Rogers & Cowan for Funimation Films
