Boxer Bowtie Club 3rd Annual Gala
The Boxer Bowtie Club celebrated its 3rd Bowtie Benefit on Saturday, October 28, 2017 at Hudson Mercantile. The annual Gala is the highlight of the year, bringing together supporters and friends of the foundation for a memorable evening that featured heavy hor d'oeuvres, open bar, and live music. Throughout the evening, guests were able to bid on the silent auction which was stocked full of incredible finds to help benefit The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a New Haven summer camp for seriously ill children and their families. Each child spends a week at the camp; the usual cost of attending is $2,500. All proceeds from donations, sponsorships, and ticket sales will go toward the group’s goal of sending kids to camp free of charge. The Gala raised a grand total of $90,000 dollars which will give many kids the chance to experience camp.
The evening began at 7:30 with a cocktail reception, which was followed by guest speakers and live auction at 9:00. The evening's high point was the passionate speech given by Zak Stengel, a camper from The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp with severe hemophilia. Zak, who hopes to one day be a counselor at the camp, told of impact the camp has had on his life. “I am here today because of what you guys, thank you so much for everything,” he said. “At camp every kid gets to have fun and we get to be ‘normal’ and that’s what we all just want.” Zak’s mother also joined in to share her gratitude to camp, declaring: “You people give us happiness, and this event gives us hope as parents.”
After the speeches, a full live band came out and everyone got on the dance floor and celebrated the night away. There are so many kids and their families who deserves to experience what Zak and his family have received. With the help of the Boxer Bowtie Club and its supporters, many more kids can have this life changing experience and feel “normal”. Learn how you can get involved with one of our volunteer opportunities or donate at boxerbowtieclub.org/grow
ABOUT HOLE IN THE WALL GANG CAMP:
The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp provides seriously ill children and their families a real summer camp experience, believing that every kid no matter their diagnosis deserves a chance to let loose and raise a little hell! To ensure that every child with a serious medical condition has the chance to experience the world of possibilities that camp has to offer. Through the generosity of others, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp community provides this unique healing experience to kids in need and their families, including those who may not be able to come to Camp.
ABOUT BOXER BOWTIE CLUB:
The Boxer Bowtie Club is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded and operated by a group of young professionals from around the country. Their objective is to volunteer and raise money for worthy causes within their communities and inspire other young professionals to give back to those in need. They are proud to commit 100% of their net proceeds to the charities they support. They take a passionate and fully engaged approach to three core principles which serve as the driving force behind our organization. Their core objectives are: Gather: we gather people together; Give: we give to those in need; Grow: together we further expand our reach and strengthen our communities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BOXER BOWTIE CLUB: https://www.boxerbowtieclub.org/
Instagram: @Boxerbowtieclub | #Bowtiebenefit #ShakeitForCamp
Photos Credit: Daniel Federowicz
Art After Dark at The Guggenheim
On a Friday night in an unusually warm October, a crowd of Halloween and art lovers gathered to spend the night at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. There, dressed-up attendees were able to dance their night away, while receiving the first opportunity to view a new exhibition at the Guggenheim called, “Art and China after 1989: Theater of the World”.
The exhibit, which is located in several rotundas at the museum, is a provocative, thought-provoking, and controversial display of work from 71 Chinese artists whose work challenged official government policy and popular opinions during the late 1980s and early 1990s. From an installation from 1993, titled, “Otherwhere: Not Speaking for Three Months”, by Yang Fudong, who chose not to speak for three months and documented his notes through photo and film, to series of tweets presented in two large glass cases, which were a part of the “Citizens’ Investigation” piece by an activist and artist Al Weiwei, the exhibit is an ultimate eye-opener into a contrasting universe, where freedom is a blessing rather than a given, and political views are to not be openly discussed.
Although the exhibit was on a more serious side of the spectrum, the Halloween party added a splash of joy into the atmosphere. It took place throughout the museum, allowing plenty of witches, magicians, and flappers to browse its rotundas while listening to the newest music by Cardi B and Beyoncé. While some were captivated by art, others were engulfed by the atmosphere; dancing and chatting, which was a great way to celebrate one of the first Halloween parties of the year.
Art and China after 1989: Theater of the World will be on view until January 7th, 2018, allowing everyone to enter the world of Chinese history and art. Witness all of the art pieces on view first-hand, and transport back in time to see the Chinese cultural tension between its art and its politics. Find out more about the exhibit by visiting, https://www.guggenheim.org/exhibition/art-and-china-after-1989-theater-of-the-world.
Photos courtesy of Guggenheim
Rosewood Theater's Private Preview Party
On the night of October 25th, Rosewood Theater hosted a private sneak preview party to showcase it’s all new “adult playground” before its official opening on October 26th. Rosewood Theater is a modern twist on classic gentleman’s clubs, offering guests various performances, great music, dancing, drinks, and more. Men and women alike can come to Rosewood Theater any given night and have an entirely unique and individualized experience.
At the sneak preview party, guests enjoyed specialty house cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. As people socialized and relaxed around the comfortable leather seating and furniture, two acts were performed. The first was an interactive burlesque tease by a woman dressed in full gentleman’s club attire, and the second was an interpretive dance by a man with shockingly impressive gymnastic abilities. Additionally, guests enjoyed battling one another in games of Prosecco pong over rhythmic music played by the DJ.
Rosewood Theater’s two-floor area, stage, and bar provides guests with a great deal of space to get lost in time. The old-school style chandeliers, dim lighting, and decor of the venue create an atmosphere that is unlike many others that exist today. The enjoyment that guests got out of the preview party was a clear sign of the future success of Rosewood Theater as an adult playground unlike any other.
Photos courtesy of Oleg March
Nura Launch Party
On the evening of Thursday, October 19th, nura, a new cutting-edge Australian headphone company, unveiled its remarkable technology at its launch party at Liberty Hall in the Ace Hotel. The nuraphone is an over-the-ear pair of headphones that is self-learning and adaptable. These headphones adjust to each user’s unique ears, providing a personalized, clear sound.
For the nura launch party, the spacious Liberty Hall was transformed into a modern, technological venue with fluorescent lights, a projected video of a woman enjoying her nuraphones on the wall, and upbeat music. Guests were provided with comfortable seating, an open bar with a specialty drink menu, and savory hors-d’oerves to enjoy while the CEO of nura spoke about the headphones, explaining the brand history and details behind the innovative technology. He outlined key characteristics that differentiate the nuraphone from other headphone models. These include sonic moulding (adaptability), dual layer isolation, wireless connectivity, inova, and deep immersion. Additionally, guests enjoyed a live audiovisual performance at the event by music code designer Felix Faire. Felix played music on his computer system while a graphic screen behind him matched his crafted rhythms and tunes.
After the speeches and performance at the launch party, guests were taken in small groups to a downstairs level in order to experience the nuraphone through personal demos. During this portion of the evening, guests sat around a long table and were provided with headphones synced to iPhones. As the nuraphone adjusted to each user, users were able to experiment with different sounds and select music to listen to via Spotify.
Overall, the nura launch party was an informative and captivating look into what the future of headphones holds.
Photos courtesy of Nura
Food Film Festival 2017
For the 11th consecutive year, the Food Film Festival returned to AMC Empire 25 to continue its tradition of marrying food and film in the ultimate celebration of gastronomy.
Food Film Fest
For the 11th consecutive year, the Food Film Festival returned to AMC Empire 25 to continue its tradition of marrying food and film in the ultimate celebration of gastronomy.
The festival, by far the most sensory experience available to New Yorkers, is unique in that event goers can not only see delectable dishes on screen, but taste them, thanks to restaurants taking the time to recreate the meals. Showcasing the best independent food-films, cinema fans also enjoyed an array of an incredible selection of food, both local and international. Still, the festival is not just a feast of self-indulgence -- it makes an effort to show how each dish has evolved from or contributed to a certain aspect of culture, as seen with the first night of the event, a homage to chef James Beard that featured the film James Beard: America’s First Foodie. Guests feasted on original recipes from Beard’s cookbook, Hors D'oeuvre and Canapés, including his famous Onion Sandwich (complete with his mother’s mayonnaise recipe), Leeks à la Grecque, Strawberry Shortcake, and Crepe Suzette -- all while learning about his life and legacy in American Cuisine.
The next day, the Food Film Festival presented “Hometown Heroes,” which paid tribute to original New York City eats. VIPs enjoyed bites from Win Son, a Brooklyn based Taiwanese Restaurant, before watching the short films 1 Minute Meal: A Documentary Portrait of NYC, The Science of Dry Aging, Seared, Sacred Gin, Hometown Hero: The Legend of New York’s Chopped Cheese, and Why Rappers Love Grey Poupon. Guests were treated both during and after the films to recreations of the featured dishes, including the original chopped cheese from Hajj’s Blue Sky Deli up in Spanish Harlem, dry aged beef from DeBragga, and peanut butter and jelly donuts from Leske’s Bakery.
For the third day of the event, the Food Film Festival brought back its famous Food Porn Party, this time focusing on Japanese Cuisine, with dishes such as ramen and takoyaki. There was a special screening of the cult Japanese film Tampopo, as well as the U.S premiere of Taste of Love, a short film that explored the relationship between food and sexual pleasure.
The event culminated on Sunday morning with (of course) a full on brunch, complete with pastries from Bread’s Bakery and coffee from Q Coffee and films such as The Hungover Origins of Brunch and Finding Pisco. Like most brunches, it was both a celebration of what had happened and a conversation about what was to come -- the festival will return in all its glory next year, with just as satisfying a food and film lineup, so be sure to get your tickets then.
For a full list of participating restaurants and films, check out http://thefoodfilmfestival.com/
Edible Escape 2017
On Thursday, October 19th, Edible Manhattan hosted their Edible Escape at Pier A Harbor House. The event was any foodie’s dream with all the guests sampling an assortment of globally inspired food and drinks, all prepared locally.
The 7th annual Edible Escape tasting event offered New Yorkers the chance to give their tastes buds an escape from local eateries and enjoy international cuisine without ever leaving the island of Manhattan. Always well planned and thoroughly enjoyable, guests were treated to some amazing dishes and drinks from various upcoming restaurants and purveyors of fine food and spirits. Edible Manhattan tapped some outstanding local restaurants to play a role in this year’s event utilizing Brooklyn, Manhattan and even some Long Island chefs for the occasion.
The Pier A Harbor House is among the finest and most distinctive venues in New York City with the brightly lit up backdrop of the Hudson at night. It was the perfect event for those who want to check out up and coming caterers, chefs, beverage vendors, and restaurants.
Among the many bites and booze on offer, highlights of the 2017 Edible Escape included: Wölffer Estate Vineyard • Discover Long Island • Martha Clara Vineyards • Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. • Halifax Restaurant • T Shop • Môtô Spirits • Loire Valley Wines • Health-Ade Kombucha • Orwashers Bakery • Tea Drunk • Badshah Modern Indian Restaurant • Califia Farms • Chomp Chomp • Paulaner on Bowery • Beecher’s Handmade Cheese • First and South • Italienne • Manousheh • Luzzo’s • Ghost & Grits • Schilling • New York Cider featuring Brooklyn Cider House • Birds of a Feather • Hiro Sake • Wines of Argentina • Bruce Cost Ginger Ale • Balvanera • Pier A Harbor House • The Tango Company • Tuthilltown Whiskey and Hudson Whiskey • Severan • Connor McGinn Studios• Insatiable EATS Catering and Event Specialists • Chopt Creative Salad Co. •
One of the best things about living in New York is the food scene. And besides trying new restaurants, one of the best ways to get a real taste is to attend one of the many food events that take place throughout the city. Edible Manhattan is a bi-monthly food magazine, covering news about local foods, food culture, restaurants, beauty and passion of the wine, variety of healthy recipes, drinks and food markets. Devoted to promoting great food and communities, Edible Manhattan and Edible Brooklyn frequently host some incredible events such as Food Loves Tech, Grand Tasting, and Edible Good Spirits. For those attending for the first time, this is a major treat.
Icla da Silva Foundation Hope Gala
On October 18, 2017, the Icla Da Silva Foundation held its annual Hope Gala – a fundraising benefit to support patients in need of a bone marrow transplant -- at Guastavino’s in New York City. The annual Gala is the highlight of the season, bringing together benefactors and friends of the foundation for an unforgettable evening. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the organization’s dedication to saving lives.
The extravagant event was attended by business leaders, top influencers, major philanthropists, and many past recipients who enjoyed an evening of inspiration and action. The affair celebrated the foundation’s work to encourage everyday people to step up and become a donor.
The evening began at 6:30 with a cocktail reception, which was followed by a seated dinner at 7:30, when guests were greeted with a homemade soft dinner roll. An appetizer of a napoleon of grilled vegetables was followed by a main course of pepper crusted filet mignon. Caramelized peach cobbler was served for dessert. Throughout the evening, guests were able to bid on the silent auction which was stocked full of incredible finds. The Gala would go on to raise a grand total of $400,000 dollars.
The program continued with the awards presentation. Dr. Jeffrey Chell, CEO Emeritus of Be The Match was presented with the Legacy of Hope Award while East River Medical Imaging, a medical diagnostic imaging center based in New York City, received the Healthcare Leadership Award. Both of these awards were presented by Traci Fox, a patient who has been with the organization for over 10 years, and who has yet to find a match. “She takes an oral chemotherapy drug daily and except for occasional fatigue, is tolerating the medicine well and never complains. I want to find a match for my daughter, and the people in this room tonight gives me hope,” said Traci’s father.
"There are people who are alive because of the work we do,” said Icla da Silva Foundation’s President and brother of Icla, Airam da Silva. “Our job is not done, until every patient that needs a bone marrow transplant, receives one. Legacy is not leaving something for people, it’s leaving something in people. It’s because of Icla that today we continue to save lives.”
The evening's high point was the emotional first-time meeting between a patient and his life-saving bone marrow donor. Bone marrow patients are not able to meet their donors until at least one year after a successful transplant. Tancrede Bouveret met his life saving bone marrow donor, Samantha, for the first time. The two ran across the stage and gave each other the biggest hug. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. “A part of me is with him now, I feel like we forever bonded. I would do this again in a heartbeat,” said Samantha when asked if she would donate again. Samantha also had a message for the people who are hesitant about donating: “imagine yourself in that person’s shoes, what if it was you or a member of your family that needed a lifesaving match, you would not be hesitating at all.” After the emotional meeting, everyone got onto the dance floor and partied the night away.
There are still so many people in the world that need lifesaving matches. Do your part and sign up to be a donor. People often think of bone marrow donation as a very painful procedure. However, this is not the case. Registering to be a donor involves nothing more than filling in a form followed by a self-administered and painless cheek cell swab using four Q-tips, which are then packed up and sent through the mail to be processed and eventually stored in the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. In only ten to 15 percent of cases is it necessary to administer a general anesthetic and remove cells from the pelvic bone, which results in few days of soreness – alleviated, say the donors. Please go sign up to be a donor so we can help people like Traci and thousands of other patients like her that are waiting for life saving bone marrow transplants
ABOUT TANCREDE BOUVERET, BONE MARROW PATIENT:
Tancrède was born at the Naval Medical Center of San Diego on May 14, 2004. His father, Luc Bouveret, always dreamed of having a child, and so with the help of a surrogate in California, Tancrede entered the world.
In March of 2015, Tancrede was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), which progressed into Leukemia. The fathers were notified that their son had less than a 10% chance of survival. The only cure is to receive a matching bone marrow transplant. After several months, a 90% match came through. With great hope, the fathers asked to wait a little bit longer for a 100% match. Three weeks later, in July of 2015, a 100% matching donor was identified in Madison, Wisconsin. Tancrede received his transplant on July 29, 2015.
Due to complications, he spent almost 2 years in the hospital. His body needed an additional transplant of lymphocytes, which the donor agreed to, without hesitation. Tancrede is now 13 years old and despite his illness he continues to lead a normal life. Although still in recovery, taking an abundant amount of medicines, antibiotics, monthly chemotherapy and blood treatments, he is persistent on keeping his above average attendance in school. Tancrede has a knack for learning. He speaks four languages, is socially conscious, and has his own YouTube channel.
His fathers insist that none of this would be possible with the Icla da Silva Foundation and his life-saving bone marrow donor.
ABOUT ICLA DA SILVA FOUNDATION
The Icla da Silva Foundation was established in 1992, in memory of the 13-year-old Brazilian girl named Icla da Silva. After two years of fighting leukemia, Icla passed away in New York City, where she came hoping to get her life saving treatment: a bone marrow transplant. The young girl never found a matching donor. Upon her death, her family established the Foundation with the mission to save lives by recruiting bone marrow donors and by providing support services to children and adults with leukemia and other diseases treatable by marrow transplants.
Now in its 25th year, the Foundation, The Icla da Silva Foundation is the largest recruitment center for the Be The Match Registry in the United States. The Foundation holds over 2,000 bone marrow drives every year. It recruits over 38,000 new potential bone marrow donors every year, with a strong focus on minority communities.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ICLA DA SILVA FOUNDATION: https://icla.org/
Instagram: @Icladasilvafdn | #BeTheMatch
Special thanks to Jennifer
The Mercado Global Celebration
The Mercado Global Celebration benefit was held on October 18, 2017 at The Prince George Ballroom in support of women entrepreneurs. Jewelry designer Pamela Love received the 2017 Fashion Forward Visionary Award. The event was chaired by philanthropist Yaz Hernandez and the Vice Chairs included Rachel Alonso-Mendoza, Carla Isabel Carstens, PJ Pascual, Gabriel Rivera-Barraza, and Laura Day Webb. The annual event was attended by business leaders, top retailers, and major philanthropists who enjoyed an evening of inspiration and action. The event celebrated Mercado Global’s work to empower women and promote ethical practices in the fashion industry.
"We're thrilled with the event tonight,” said Mercado Global’s Executive Director Ruth DeGolia. “We're humbled by the support of our NYC community tonight. It's now more important than ever to focus on what unites us, and we're thrilled to celebrate women's empowerment with such a successful event!"
Guests included: Coromoto Atencio, Gabriel Alonso-Mendoza, Marina Dobreva, Marc Donatello, Sophie Bischoff, Shannon Broyles, Christine Healey de Casanova, Carla Carstens, Ruth DeGolia (Mercado Global's Executive Director), Eve Delf, Emie Diamond, Marina Dobreva, Jacqueline Horowitz, Valentin Hernandez, Kathryn Kerns, ason Keehn(CEO & Founder of Accompany), Julie Koch-Beinke, Stephanie Loeffler, Emily Mann, Maria Teresa Mata, Dr. John Mesa, Noria Morales, Alexandra Seegers, Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas, and Rachel Valdes.
The evening began at 6:30 with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres including sesame chicken skewers, roasted vegetable and goat cheese tart, and more. Dinner began at 7:30, when guests were greeted with grissini bread sticks in glasses on the tables. An appetizer of kale and quinoa with butternut squash was followed by a main course choice of pan roasted Alaskan halibut or filet mignon. A silent vegetarian option offered strozzapreti pasta primavera. Belgian chocolate cake was served for dessert.
The program continued with the awards presentation. Vice Chairs PJ Pascual and Gabriel Rivera-Barraza presented the award to Accompany and Pamela Love. Rivera-Barraza said, “What an honor for Mercado Global to partner with Accompany and Pamela Love to empower women in needed communities!!"
Throughout the evening, guests pre-ordered items from Mercado Global’s Resort 2017 and Spring/Summer 2018 Collection. The silent auction was stocked full of incredible finds including: a three day/night trip for two to Cuba; Jenny Packham jewelry ensemble; Marchesa jewelry ensemble; Silvia Tcherassi item; Guatemala Getaway; Tomas Maier bag; Etro bag; Macro Palli Art piece; Julio Gaggia Photo; Pamela Love Jewelry set; Winery Tour and Tasting; Pologeorgis Fur; Theory item; Mercado Global One-of-a-Kind Travel Set; Signed gloves from Manny Pacquiao Custom shoes by Lareymondie; 2 custom portraits by Masana NYC; 2 Tickets to Billy Joel; PJ Pascual Styling Services; Tom Binns jewelry piece; Point shoes signed by Stella Abrera, Marcelo Lua, Cory Stearns, Misty Copeland, and Gillian Murphy; Milos Raonic Wimbledon shoes and hardcourt shoes; Leather spa gift certificate; Gift certificate to Bistro Chat Noir, Sam Edelman Shopping Spree, Marianella Soap; and a Giuseppe Zanotti Clutch.
The event's sponsors included: Alternatives, PIMCO, Exec|Comm, BESPOKE Custom Cuba Travel, Schai, IO Collective, Vias Imports Ltd., Lagunitas Brewing Company, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Wilo's Flower Designs, Altrum Honors, and Hennessy.
ABOUT PAMELA LOVE, 2017 FASHION FORWARD VISIONARY AWARDEE:
Native New Yorker Pamela Love began making jewelry in her Brooklyn apartment in 2007. Since then, she has created a full production facility and design studio in Manhattan’s garment district.
The line is committed to sustainability and localized production whenever possible. The majority of the line is produced domestically in New York City and Los Angeles. Any manufacturing done outside of the United States is carefully considered and vetted for social and environmental responsibility. Love strives to keep old techniques and traditions alive while still employing new technologies that help to move us forward. She has collaborated with Mercado Global on two collections and the organization is thrilled to honor her this year.
ABOUT MERCADO GLOBAL
Mercado Global is a Brooklyn-based accessory brand and non-profit that empowers rural Latin American women to become entrepreneurs. Through donor-funded business education and leadership programs, we help women create community businesses to support themselves and their families. By designing collections for the international market while using traditional local weaving techniques, we are changing the status quo for women, communities, and the industry.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MERCADO GLOBAL: https://www.mercadoglobal.org
Instagram: @mercadoglobal | #MGcelebration
Photos courtesy of Vlasta Pilot/BFA.com
Joshua Beamish and the MOVETHECOMPANY present: Saudade
On a cold and rainy Wednesday night, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Joshua Beamish, choreographer and the leader of the MOVETHECOMPANY, debuted his first full-length dance for New York dance admirers and critics. The piece was a direct reflection of it’s namesake,, “SAUDADE,” a derivative of a Portuguese word that refers to a feeling of longing or melancholy for a feeling of missing love.
Beamish managed to merge two completely different styles of dance, ballet and street-style, in order to pinpoint feelings that are often too difficult for individuals to express through words. The performance could be viewed as a confrontation between feelings that people are too often afraid to admit to unless they are left alone. What made the performance even more memorable was the fact that it was executed by an all-male ensemble, which included six dancers: David Norsworthy, Sean Aaron Carmon, Kevin Quinaou, Dominic Santia, Timothy Stickney, and Lloyd Knight. Although the 21st century has been making history for breaking down boundaries, it is still quite rare to witness an all-male cast perform such a delicate and tender choreography without a lady holding the lead.
As the audience took their seats, and the lights went dim, there was a feeling of suspense and excitement in the room. Although most of the audience knew the dance company and the choreographer behind the piece, no one really knew as to what to expect. However, as soon as the first dancer came out on stage, everyone moved to the edge of their seats. The performance created a storyline of several men, who experience jealousy, anger, madness, love, and passion, which were all expressed through body language and movement. As one solo performance ended, a duet followed, which eventually flowed into a group performance. It was fascinating to witness how complicated issues related to love, such as love triangles, would be expressed through movement without having the words being spoken, or even the music including any implications. However, dance is not just movement; it is also theatre, which was proved true by Saudade. Each segment within the performance, whether completed as a solo, pas de deux, or as a group, produced a stream of intricate emotions, which allowed the audience to be present and be engulfed by the performance. Just as convoluted and fragile as love, each dance portrayed a story that carried those sentiments within itself, resulting in a ride on a roller coaster of emotions.
The performance left the audience in an uneasy state, due to the great reveal of feelings, and how deep and profound the piece was not just to the dancers, but to the viewers as well. The feelings it carried made you reminisce the lost love that once might have existed, but has never really gone quite right. Yet, it had its magic which was worth remembering through the performance just one last time, almost as if it was the final closure.
Performance photos by Ani Collier
Event photos by Jared Siskin/PMC
The Icla da Silva Foundation Hope Gala
Annual event of dinner and dance which was an unforgettable night marking the celebration of the Foundation’s 25th anniversary in achievements in fighting leukemia and other diseases treatable by bone marrow transplants. The evening's highlight was the emotional first-time meeting between a former patient with her life-saving bone marrow donor.
Outside the Shell: Oysters & Libation Pairing
On Saturday, October 14th, Pier A and Edible hosted 'Outside the Shell' - An Oyster and Libation Pairing Event. The event was an afternoon of freshly shucked oysters and delicious aromatic cocktails - all against the backdrop of New York Harbor. It was quite a way to kick off the fall festivities.
Edible Manhattan, the innovators behind some of the city's most desirable culinary events, invited patrons to a feast of sensory wonders dedicated to two of people’s favorite sybaritic pleasures: oysters and cocktails.
The superbly restored Beaux-Arts mansion that is Pier A Harbor House was a fittingly glamorous setting for this fabulous event, offering unforgettable views of the Statue of Liberty and the NYC coastline!
There was no other place to be than to be enjoying an array of oysters and cocktails and overlooking the New York Harbor from Pier A Harbor House. Guests sampled creamy and sweet oysters from the East End of Long Island alongside cocktails from celebrated spirit brands. Delicious food and drinks were featured from top NYC restaurants: Montauk Pearl Oysters, Blue Island Oysters, Fishers Island Oyster Farm, Lucky 13 Oysters, and Trois Petits Cochons, Montauk Pearl Oysters • Blue Island Oysters • Fishers Island Oyster Farm • Lucky 13 Oysters • Cornell Oysters • Oysterponds Shellfish Co. • West Robins Oyster Company • Eastern Bays Oyster Company • Pier A Harbor House • L&W Oyster Co. • Stinky Bklyn • Trois Petits Cochons • Hiro Sake • Proud Pour • Remy Cointreau featuring The Botanist Gin • Bruichladdich • New York Cider featuring Orchard Hill Cider Mill • Hiro Sake • Union Beer featuring: Sixpoint Brewery, Brewery Ommegang/Duvel, Barrier Brewing Co. and Flagship Brewing Co. • Diageo featuring Johnnie Walker, Singleton and Guinness • Pernod Ricard featuring: Absolut Elyx, Lot 40, Plymouth Gin and Lillet
Incredible wine, delicious fare, and amazing vibes in a gorgeous setting; Outside the Shell was the perfect way to kick off autumn.
RealEats - Dinner in 6 Minutes
New York, NY (October 2017)- RealEats, a newly-launched subscription service that delivers healthy and delicious prepared meals, is now available to order on the East Coast. Made by some of America’s top chefs using all fresh, never-processed ingredients, RealEats aims to make real food simple.
RealEats is the concept of working single dad, CEO and Founder Dan Wise. Set out to find a fast and healthy solution for his family dinners, Wise created RealEats for the busy, yet mindful consumer. “RealEats solves the common dilemma of trading off good health and taste for a quick fix,” says Wise. “We're able to give our customers back 60 minutes a day by providing them with meals that are ready in minutes, with no compromises. There’s no prep, no cleaning up, no junk –just real food, made simple.”
Each meal is made by one of America’s top chefs in collaboration with RealEats’ Culinary Director Katy Sparks, including Dale Talde, Bill Telepan, Kat Turner, Lien Lin, and Silvia Baldini, delivering healthy, at-home versions of restaurant quality dishes straight to consumers’ homes. Unlike other subscription meal services, RealEats is all in the bag - literally. Each meal is prepared in the RealEats kitchen, then vacuum-sealed inside food-safe, recyclable pouches locking in the freshness, flavor, and nutrients of real food ingredients. Meals stay fresh in the fridge for seven days from delivery. To heat, the pouches are simply placed in a pot of boiling water and are ready in 6 minutes. No microwaving or nuking required.
RealEats is headquartered in Geneva, NY, in the heart of the Fingerlakes agricultural region of New York, one of the richest food sheds in the northeast. There, RealEats is committed to only using responsibly-sourced ingredients to provide a true farm-to-table experience for customers. Ingredients are non-GMO, never processed, and free from added hormones, antibiotics, preservatives or junk of any kind.
As RealEats continues to grow, it is also evolving by giving more options to its customers. Beginning this October, customers are now able to choose from an expanded menu selection, inclusive of a rotation of three new signature chef dishes each week. Additionally, meal plans can be ordered in plates of 4, 6, 8 and 12.
RealEats is determined to make real food simple for the consumer and advocates the simple belief that we are what we eat. At its core, the company is all about the importance of eating real and RealEats is a proud supporter of Teen Cancer America, working with the organization, founded by The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend, to help educate teen cancer patients, survivors and their family about the importance of real food.
RealEats is available for order in select states, with plans to expand in the future. To order RealEats or for more information, visit www.RealEats.com.
Photos courtesy of RealEats
Tea & Fromage Tasting
On the evening of Wednesday, October 4th, Ravi Kroesen and Maxwell Pollock of Royal Tea New York joined Charles Duque of The French Dairy Board to provide a “most unusual but exquisite pairing” of premier tea and cheeses. The tasting took place at The French Cheese Board (La Maison de Fromage), a bright and ornate cheese shop located in the heart of SoHo. As guests arrived at the tasting, they were warmly welcomed with greetings from the hosts and crisp, chilled white wine. Roughly sixteen guests total found themselves seated at a long and rustic wooden table with a breathtaking presentation of cheeses, baguette rounds, quiches, garnishes, and actual tea leaves.
As the formal tasting took place, three distinct cheeses were paired with three unique types of tea. While the cheeses were already positioned on the table, the different teas were freshly brewed at the “tea bar” counter. From there, Maxwell Pollock described in great detail his pairing choices. Rich Matcha tea was paired with tangy, buttery cantal cheese. Qu Lan Phoenix Oolong tea, a tea rich in honey and pear flavors, was paired with Secret de Scey (Morbier) cheese, a creamy and mature cheese. Finally, Golden Yunnan tea, which has hints of sweet potato and caramel, was paired with Fourme D’Ambert cheese, a creamy, delicate, and fruity blue cheese. Throughout the tasting, guests enjoyed discussing the various flavors and aromas of the cheeses and teas.
The French Cheese Board is the perfect stop for all cheese connoisseurs of New York as well as for those looking to learn more. Since it is considered a “concept store,” The French Cheese Board serves as an educational space on the cheeses of France. Additionally, Royal Tea New York is a tea importer that provides tea drinkers with an abundant variety of teas to take home. Overall, the two businesses forged together splendidly, as the Tea & Fromage tasting was both informative and a complete delight.
Special thanks to @frenchcheeseboard
Photos courtesy of Teddy Adolphe
FoST Festival 2017
During the first weekend of October, The Future of StoryTelling (FoST) Festival gave New Yorkers the chance to engage with some of most cutting-edge trends in storytelling technology. Situated in Snug Harbor on Staten Island, the festival was hosted by the Future of StoryTelling University, an age-old institution that teaches and promotes the art of storytelling.
The storytelling tradition has ancient roots, but the FoST festival was the definition of modern. Guests wandered through an idyllic campus of gardens and greenery and explored exhibits, participated in activities, and watched performances featuring the latest in virtual reality technologies, artificial intelligence, interactive media and more.
Among the hundreds of exhibits featured during the festival were demos like “Free the Night,” a virtual reality experience that uses the latest Acer headset to allow users to release stars into the night sky (presented by Microsoft and Jaunt), and “The Last Goodbye,” a VR experience where users are taken along to Holocaust survivor Pinchas Gutter’s final visit to Majdanek Concentration Camp (presented by Gabo Arora and Ari Palitz in association with USC Shoah Foundation, MPC & Here Be Dragons).
The festival highlighted how the modern age of technology is bringing people from all walks of life into contact and broadening perspectives on what life is like in other corners of the world. VR technologies give users more authentic encounters with the lives of others and foster a greater sense of understanding and empathy.
Guests at the festival were able to take in the experiences of people like Ramadevi, a survivor of child trafficking, whose story, “Notes to my Father,” is told using a mix of verbatim theater and documentary storytelling techniques in the world’s first live-capture VR experience about sex trafficking (presented by Jayisha Patel).
The technologies highlighted by the FoST festival are reshaping the way we take in pop culture, and even reshaping the culture itself. “On Stage: Major Lazer” is a virtual reality music docuseries from Hulu and Live Nation that transports users into the creative process of Major Lazer. “The Johnny Cash Project” is “a crowdsourced homage to the Man in Black”, where people from around the world draw individual frames from the “Ain’t No Grave” music video to create a cohesive work of totally unique artistic styles (presented by Chris Milk and Aaron Koblin).
Artificial intelligence technologies are being put to good use with new creations like “Project Blossom,” a robotic social companion for kids on the autism spectrum. This “smart companion” can help children learn about social engagement by exhibiting realistic empathetic responses to videos (presented by Miguel de Andres with Google and Guy Hoffman with Cornell).
The technologies exhibited at the FoST Festival were innovative, often surprising, and very promising. For both people immersed in VR and tech culture and people simply interested in checking out what the modern world has to offer, the Future of StoryTelling is an excellent resource. For more information about the festival and the FoST community, click here.
Photos courtesy of Edelman and FoST
Breakout Artist Comedy Series: Gianmarco Soresi at Carolines
On Wednesday, September 27th, Gianmarco Soresi (SeeSo's New York's Funniest, TruTV's Hack My Life, Comedy Central), known around NYC as a multitalented comedian, actor, improviser and writer, brought his high energy stand-up comedy and unique perspective on city living, dating and divorce, mental illness and more to Carolines on Broadway as part of the Breakout Artist Comedy Series. Joining Soresi was host Gabe Pacheco (Funhouse Comedy, Secret Loft Show, FLAMA), guest Chris Cafero (UCB, The Night Of, Billions, As The World Turns), and feature Erin Maguire (Girl Friday, Boston Comedy Festival, GSN, ESPN).
The show started with some jokes from the hilarious host, Gabe Pacheco. Pacheco is a ubiquitous fixture in the NYC comedy scene, performing regularly at the Creek and the Cave, The Knitting Factory, and Carolines. Gabe co-hosts a weekly comedy showcase, Funhouse Comedy, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with Sameer Naseem and is also the host-in-residence for the Secret Loft Show. You can also listen to Gabe weekly on the left-leaning political Katie Halper Show on WBAI. This year he will be featured in the Harlem Comedy Fest.
Followed by Gabe’s opening was the uproarious Chris Cafero. Chris is an actor, writer and comedian living and working in NYC. He attended college at George Washington University and New York University. Chris has studied with Joan Rosenfels, Ted Sluberski, Susan Terry (Voice), the Washington Improv Theater and the Upright Citizens Brigade (Advanced Studies Program). Select credits include The Night Of (HBO), Billions (ShowTime), As The World Turns (CBS), and The Awesome 80's Prom (Off-Broadway). You can see him performing in comedy clubs across the city and hear him on the radio with national ads for Staples, AT&T, DirecTV, and Coca-cola. Cafero made the audience feel like they had known him forever with his unfiltered jokes and his comfort with the stage.
Next was the charming and witty Erin Maguire recently appeared in the Boston Comedy Festival, Laugh Your Asheville Off, and opened for Caroline Rhea in Woodstock. She's been seen on Game Show Network and ESPN. Her first album, Girl Friday is available for download on iTunes. She also recently won the Woodstock Comedy Festival's Five Minutes of Fame competition. Erin had the audience in tears with her jokes about topics we can all relate to.
Finally came the sensational headliner, Gianmarco Soresi. Gianmarco is a stand-up comedian, actor and writer - although the first line of his obituary will likely read, “guy from all those General Electric commercials”. He’s performed at Carolines, Gotham, The Metropolitan Room, The Creek and The Cave, Hu Ke Lau, The PIT, UCB, QED, Broadway Comedy Club, Paste Magazine Studios, can be seen on SeeSo’s New York’s Funniest and his stand-up comedy infused play "Less Than 50%" (which premiered in the 2014 Fringe Festival) will make it’s Off-Broadway debut at 59E59 Theaters in July 2018. His writing, including the popular sketch series Matza Pizza, has been featured in Fast Company, CityLab, Huffington Post, Metro NY, LAUGHSPIN, spoiledNYC, Comedy Cake, Splitsider, and he’ll be writing and acting for a Funny or Die Exclusive later this year. Recent acting credits include CBS’ Blue Bloods, A&E’s Unforgettable, Comedy Central, and Tracy Morgan’s new TBS show The Last O.G. He also recently recorded his soon to-be released hour-long stand-upcomedy special INFINITE BRIS, produced by Edge in Motion Productions, and funded with help by Emmy-winning former Late Show with David Letterman writer Ted Greenberg. Gianmarco was the perfect headliner, the laughter from the crowd was constant with his self-deprecating yet awe-inspiring humor.
The Breakout Artist Comedy Series was a fantastic event with great drinks and great laughs, definitely attend this annual event if ever given the chance.
Special thanks to Mariana from Shark Party Media.
Dreamball 2017
On Wednesday, September 23rd, the American Cancer Society and the Look Good Feel Better Foundation joined together at Cipriani 42nd Street to host the 33rd annual Dreamball gala.
This year, the Dreamball gala honored Barry and Marla Beck, founders of Bluemercury, Inc, and Donald J. Loftus, President of Parlux Ltd, for their support of and contributions to the Look Good Feel Better Program, whose mission is to help cancer patients come to terms with the appearance related side effects of treatment through lessons on skin care, cosmetics, and styling.
Barry and Marla Beck, along with Leonard Lauder
Don’t get it wrong, though -- the Look Good Feel Better program is much more about confidence than vanity. Throughout the night, countless people shared how the program had provided them not only with a community of support, but, in the much applauded words of this years Dreamgirl, actress Krista Rodrigeuz, “the realization that I could still look like myself, which helped me still feel like myself.”
Dreamgirl Krista Rodrigeuz
Her charm and vitality lit up the room, and after being stunned by her rendition of "Tomorrow," from Annie, everyone was ready to bid on the many beautiful items available for auction, including timepieces from Frederique Constant, a trip to Miraval Arizona, and an entire skincare line from Dior.
Don Loftus
Following the silent auction, guests headed over to Dreamball After Dark, where they danced the night away to musical duo 'Issac Likes Jenny' while sipping on cocktails and enjoying hors d'oeuvres.
While it seems minor compared to some of the other pitfalls of cancer, appearance related changes are incredibly debilitating to cancer patients -- exemplified by the fact that the Look Good Feel Better program only began when a doctor became concerned after a patient of theirs felt too dissatisfied with their own appearance to leave their bed.
Lezlee Westine, Krysta Rodriguez, Danyelle Boilard-Paul, Jamie Colby, Louanne Roark
Since then, LGFB has helped almost 2 million people around the world be more confident in the face of their diagnosis. With the money raised from this year's event -- $1,226,460.00 in total, the LGFB program can further expand their reachand continue to make sure that no person will ever feel lesser than the strong, amazing being that they are.
Elle Macpherson, Leonard Lauder
For more information about the Look Good Feel Better Program, visit: http://lookgoodfeelbetter.org/
Photos courtesy of BFA and PauWilmotCommunications