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Robert F. Smith Honored at World Values Network’s Eighth Annual International Champions of Jewish Values Awards Gala on March 3, 2020 at Carnegie Hall

Adora Henson
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Robert F. Smith Honored at World Values Network’s Eighth Annual International Champions of Jewish Values Awards Gala on March 3, 2020 at Carnegie Hall

(New York, NY – March 4, 2020) – Special Recognition Honoree, Robert F. Smith andmaster-of-ceremonies and World Values Network founder, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, welcomed hundreds of supporters to the organization’s Eighth Annual International Champions of Jewish Values Awards Gala, at Carnegie Hall, on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.

Also honored at the evening, for their ability to champion human rights were Judge Jeanine Pirro, Evander Holyfield, Former Four Time Heavyweight Champion of The World, and Georgette Mosbacher, United States Ambassador to Poland.

Judge Jeanine Pirro _ Credit Steve Mack/S.D. Mack Pictures.
                                                                                             
Rabbi Shmuley, Elan Gale, Robert F. Smith, Evander Holyfield _Credit Steve Mack/S.D. Mack Pictures
                                                                                            

The evening was an honoree program and a fundraiser to support World Values Networks goals of inspiring people to apply Jewish values into their everyday lives, helping America heal some of its greatest ills, and inspiring Jewish youth with the power of ideas. In addition to the honorees, the gala was attended by key figures including: David Zaslav (CEO, Discovery Inc.), Bret Stephens (Pulitzer Prize Winning New York Times Opinion Columnist)and Rita Cosby (Special Correspondent, Inside Edition).

Rabbi Shmuley discussed the importance of the World Values Network’s two initiatives. The first, Friday is For Families, is to encourage Friday family dinners on this holy night, important for the Jewish community, Muslims and Catholics. The second, a website portal World Values Network plans to give key business, political, religious, and philanthropic leaders a place to share their values – regardless of political or religious affiliation.

Ambassador Friedman was presented with the Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Award by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach who deemed him, “The greatest ambassador ever sent to Israel.”

After accepting the Champion of Education Award, Robert F. Smith noted how over time the Jewish and African American communities have intertwined, particularly during the Civil Rights movement and at Carnegie Hall, of which he serves as the Chairman of the Board. “The Jewish people were a part of the Civil Rights movement, and it’s a shame that’s not recognized,” he said, noting the lawyers and Jewish advocates who walked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. during his marches, including the March at Selma, which recently commemorated its 55th anniversary.

In addition to being honored, World Values Network also named a fellowship in Ron Dermer’s name. The fellowship was commissioned by Entrepreneur Kevin Bermeister to honor those who defend the rights of Israel. Georgette Mosbacher, US Ambassador to Poland, was honored for her work in maintaining a close relationship with Israel, and her work in protecting the values of the Jewish people was recognized.

As guests were served dinner, they were entertained with a performance from German cabaret singer, Ute Lemper, followed by two students from Juilliard. Following dinner, Judge Jeanine Pirro was presented with the Falic Family Defender of Israel Award, for her voracious defense of Israel in the media.

To conclude the evening, Evander Holyfield won The Champion of Community Service Award, recognizing his work in the community with the Boys and Girls Club. During his speech, he spoke of how the organization and the kindness of others made him into the person who he is today from a woman who gave him a quarter to help pay for his enrollment in the club, to going to the gym after football practice and being enticed by the sight of someone hitting the speedbag. This piqued his interest, and through the coaching and mentorship the program provides, along with the hard yet loving support of his mom – it helped him become a four-time world heavy weight champion of the world. He concluded by saying, “Like [Rabbi Shmuley Boteach] said, success starts at home.”

About World Values Network

The Values Network is based on the teachings of Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and his passion for bringing universal Jewish values to mainstream American culture and beyond. Rabbi Shmuley’s teachings provide a means for healing and strengthening families, diverting society’s focus from material greed and inspiring children to practice caring and compassionate relationships. Our renowned lectures, debates, radio and TV broadcasts, religious services, websites, social media, and published essays cater to a broad international audience. Our goal is to inspire people to apply Jewish values into their everyday lives, ultimately conveying Jewish values in print and on the airwaves to both help America heal some of its greatest ills and to inspire Jewish youth with the power of ideas.

LOVE IS IN THE AIR Masterpieces by Robert Indiana

Adora Henson
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LOVE IS IN THE AIR Masterpieces by Robert Indiana

(New York, NY – March 4, 2020) –   Galerie Gmurzynska is pleased to announce the opening of “LOVE is in the Air” a career-spanning exhibition of notable and rarely seen works by Robert Indiana, on Tuesday March 3rd. The exhibition will feature works from 1959-2007 highlighting Indiana’s expansive and multi-faceted career and be on display until April 5th, 2020. Galerie Gmurzynska has mounted several significant exhibitions of Indiana’s work and published substantial catalogues, notably “Robert Indiana: Rare Works from 1959 on Coenties Slip” (2011), “Robert Indiana: The Monumental Woods” (2013) as well as the extensive catalogue “To Russia with LOVE” accompanying the State Russian Museum retrospective featuring rare archival images and texts. The gallery was instrumental in lending significant works to “Beyond Love,” the seminal 2013 exhibition at the Whitney Museum, curated by Barbara Haskell. For Indiana, color was preeminent. Color came first, and everything else followed. Just as color unites ‘LOVE’, its importance can be seen in another rarely publicly displayed work from 1969, Terre Haute No. 2. It is an artwork inspired by Indiana’s personal life, named after a city in Indiana, with references to the Wabash River that flows across the Midwestern US, and Route 40, which Indiana frequently traveled on with his parents in their Ford Model T. He selected this work to represent the final year of the decade in his graphic print portfolio, The Decades Portfolio, highlighting its significance. This work is emblematic of Indiana’s vivacious colors and innovative interpretation of hard-edge painting as he draws on a multitude of visual vernaculars encompassing the high and the low. Merging literary sources with the signage system unique to the American commercial landscape, Indiana’s work represents a simultaneously broad yet also autobiographically coded pictorial language derived from these signifiers. Thus, dialectically, Robert Indiana merges formal simplification together with high intellectual complexity.

About Galerie Gmurzynska

Founded in Cologne, Germany in 1965 and now housed in a landmark building at Paradeplatz in Zurich, Switzerland Galerie Gmurzynska is an internationally renowned gallery known for its museum quality and uniquely curated exhibitions. In 2018, the gallery opened a location in New York’s historic Upper East Side. Situated between The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Met Breuer, this location offers a fitting blend of the traditional and the modern in a historic area known for its premier and accredited cultural institutions. Galerie Gmurzynska is proud of its long-standing collaborations with these institutions. The gallery has mounted numerous critically acclaimed exhibitions and has been instrumental in many museum retrospectives. Galerie Gmurzynska represents the estates of esteemed artists such as Yves Klein, Wifredo Lam, Roberto Matta, Louise Nevelson, and Antonio Saura. Galerie Gmurzynska is located at 43 East 78th Street, 3rd Floor, Suite 301, New York, NY 10075

Seonna Hong: Liminal Space at Hashtimo Contemporary March 7 – March 28, 2020

Adora Henson
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Seonna Hong: Liminal Space at Hashtimo Contemporary March 7 – March 28, 2020

NEW YORK CITY – Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased
to present Liminal Space, a solo exhibition by Los Angeles based Seonna Hong. Liminal Space will be the artist’s third solo exhibition at Hashimoto Contemporary, in which she will be exhibiting a new series of mixed media expressionistic landscapes on canvas, that continue the exploratory adventures of her iconic characters.

 Seonna Hong, Biophilia, 2020

Contemplating the transitional phases in life, the artist looked to the concept of liminal space for inspiration, the places and times in life where one is on the threshold of change. Described as being neither “here nor there,” this in-between period of time in life can create a feeling of not just anxiety, but also joy and excitement for whats to come.

 Seonna Hong, Digital Physics, 2020

Swirling and serene landscapes with dream-like narratives prevail in the artists work, with figures and animals dispersed throughout the scene. Focusing more on the landscape itself than its inhabitants, these landscapes serve as a vehicle for memory, drawing on the viewer to fill in the storylines. As the artist continues to move away from planning the compositions ahead of time, her works are infused with a sense of spontaneity, applying bold, gestural fields of black to the plane.

 Seonna Hong, Disambiguation, 2020


About the exhibition and this latest body of work, the artist states,
“These new paintings have been created in the space of not knowing. There has been more time with my brush hovering over the canvas than on it. I’m finding that I prefer to have left the painting in a place where there’s still more to say than having said too much. The world is turned upside down, so with this new work and with where I’m at in my life, I’m moving through this space, giving in to the not knowing with hopeful anticipation for the next leap forward.”

 Seonna Hong, Harmonic Resonance, 2020

Please come to Hashtimo Contemporary on Saturday, March 7th from 6pm – 8pm for the opening reception of Liminal Space. The artist will be in attendance.

Hashtimo Contemporary is located at 210 Rivington Street, New York, NY 10002

 Seonna Hong, Best Duressed, 2020

ABOUT THE GALLERY:


Hashimoto Contemporary is located in San Francisco, CA and New York, NY. Our roster consists of an eclectic blend of new contemporary artists. With monthly rotating exhibitions, our programming focuses on a range of painting, sculpture and installation-based work. You can also visit us at a variety of international art fairs in Miami, New York, London, San Francisco and Los Angeles.


ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Seonna Hong was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated with a B.A. in Art from Cal State University Long Beach and continued to hone her craft teaching art to children for several years. Her paintings are quietly narrative and often autobiographical and no doubt influenced by her time teaching as well as her work in TV and Feature animation. In 2004, she received an Emmy Award for Individual Achievement in Production Design for her work on “My Life as a Teenage Robot.” In 2006, she was the recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant. Her illustrated book, ‘Animus’ is in it’s third printing and according to Ken Johnson (The New York Times),”…the paintings are beautifully made and the imagery is mysteriously touching.” Hong continues to show her work in shows galleries around the world and is represented by Hashimoto Contemporary.

 Seonna Hong, Information Theory, 2020


“I AM YOU” PREMIERES AT PIER59 STUDIOS, NYC

Adora Henson
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“I AM YOU” PREMIERES AT PIER59 STUDIOS, NYC

(New York, NY – February, 7, 2020) – I AM YOU, an independent feature film based on the true story of Afghan refugees, held its New York City premiere hosted by Federico Pignatelli and model and UNICEF Ambassador Halima Aden on Thursday, February 6, 2020, at leading photography and multimedia studio complex, PIER59 STUDIOS.

Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker and human rights activist, Sonia Nassery Cole, the film follows the story of Massoud, a young man who embarks on a perilous migration from Afghanistan through the Middle East and Europe, accompanied by a pregnant doctor and a wise elder.

“I am so touched that we are completely sold out tonight, and so many noble and influential guests braced the New York City rain to attend and see this important film to better understand the current refugee crisis,” said Sonia Nassery Cole, Director, I AM YOU. “Refugees do not have a choice and must flee their homelands to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Whether due to climate change, war, or political strife, anyone at any time could become a refugee and so the title ‘I AM YOU’ resonates on a global scale. This could be you. It brought me to tears to see my audience of 300+ in tears as they gave the film a standing ovation. That showed me that films like this are necessary as they hit the core of humanity.”

Following the screening, a Q&A was held with the director and cast, and moderated by Afghanistan’s most famous musical artist and activist Aryana Sayeed. Important topics were discussed, such as how the film came about. Sonia Nassery Cole shared that the film came to her through repeated messages from a boy in Germany who was desperate to tell his story.

Then, a limited print of the most famous piece of photojournalism ever created – “Afghan Girl” kindly donated and shot by legendary photographer Steve McCurry, was displayed to the audience and auctioned by Sotheby’s VP Michael Macaulay. All proceeds to benefit Afghanistan World Foundation and UNICEF USA in support of refugees in need.

As guests then moved into the after party, they were treated to three special performances. First by Tabla player and DJ Mariam Bahawdory who set the tone, followed by performances by Farah Saraj – the vocalist of the original soundtrack on I AM YOU. The grand finale was by internationally known Afghan superstar Aryana Sayeed, whose music brought everyone to the dance floor.

Guests in attendance included:

From the film: Cast – Ali Pinar (Arsalan), Cansu Tosun (Nazoo), Damla Sönmez (Aisha), Emre Cetinkaya (Masoud), Hakan Aydin (Kamal); director and producer Sonia Nassery Cole, producers Chris Cole, Lance Stuart; executive producers Halima Aden and Federico Pignatelli.

Others in attendance: Cynthia Rowley, Carol Alt, Marla Maples, Nicole Miller, Frederique Van Der Wal, Eric & Sandra Ripert, Caroline Day (The Goldfinch), Krystal Joy Brown (Hamilton), Jonathan Cheban, Keandra, Hunter McGrady, Gregg Bello, Leon Robinson, Alex Lundqvist, Jaime Cepero, Kaliegh Garris, Kea Ho, Coco Mitchell, Dale Moss, Dan O’Brien, Jamee & Peter Gregory, Zozibini Tunzi, Donna D’Cruz, George Wayne, Ben Watts, and Timo Weiland.

ABOUT SONIA NASSERY COLE, DIRECTOR

Sonia returned to the director’s chair to shoot “I AM YOU” after her previous feature film & official submission for the Academy Awards “The Black Tulip”, garnered numerous international accolades as well as dramatic headlines in The New York Times. Militants located her leading actress and severed her feet for being involved in an anti-Taliban narrative. But Ms. Cole, an Afghan refugee herself, returned to her homeland despite the life-threatening risks involved in filming in her war-torn country, in the pursuit of sharing the human experience through the art of film. Sonia is also an author, humanitarian and activist who founded Afghanistan World Foundation in 2002 after speaking in front of Congress with the support of President Ronald Reagan. She is the recipient of a “Congressional Recognition” award, “Afghan American Sisterhood Award,” and the “UN Women Together Award”. She also received the “Freedom to Write” Award from PEN Center USA.


ABOUT HALIMA ADEN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Halima Aden is the 22-year-old Somali-American who has taken the fashion world by storm. After being the first contestant to compete in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant wearing a hijab and burkini for the swimsuit competition, she was signed by IMG Models for worldwide representation She has walked the runway for brands such as Alberta Ferretti, Dolce & Gabbana, Max Mara and Yeezy. In her short modeling career, Halima has graced the cover of over a dozen major fashion magazines. She made headlines last year by wearing a burkini on the pages of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, a first for the publication. She was named an official UNICEF Ambassador following her TED Talk at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, Africa. This is the refugee camp where Halima was born and lived for the first seven years of her life and also where she was once on the receiving end of the services UNICEF provides children in need around the world.

ABOUT PIER59 STUDIOS

Founded in 1995 by Federico Pignatelli and his Art and Fashion Group Corporation, Pier59 Studios is an 110,000 square-foot premier photography and multimedia studio located at Chelsea Piers in New York City. As the largest photography facility and multimedia single Studio complex in the World, with over 2500 advertising campaigns produced yearly, the space is equipped with state of the art technology, including AR and VR, to accommodate any needs of video-photographers, designers, advertising agencies and television and film production companies. Pier59 Studios features 11 column-free studio spaces, including a 6,500 square-foot sound stage constructed for live performances, special events, video and commercial projects. Nine studios are naturally lit and contain retractable walls to allow for unparalleled space modularity in Manhattan. For more information on Pier59 Studios, please visit https://www.pier59studios.com/. 



Masti, the new Indian Grill and Chaat Bar in Williamsburg

Adora Henson
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Masti, the new Indian Grill and Chaat Bar in Williamsburg

On January 22nd, Masti, an Indian Grill and Chaat Bar opened in Williamsburg. The concept at Masti hails from across the pond and channels The Famous Curry Bazaar, a local London, England restaurant making masterful Indian cuisine with a specifically British spin.

The restaurant is owned by the husband and wife duo Linda Mahkovec and Ruhel Amin who have cut their teeth in the culinary world for the last three decades. They met at the Symphony Café in Manhattan where Ruhel quickly became a top waiter, hosting the likes of Bob Dylan, Liza Minelli and David Letterman. After the pair met, they dove into the culinary world to try to make this dream a reality. Ruhel worked at the Symphony and Sheraton Hotel for an eight-year tenure. After he finished his degree at Hunter, he opened his first restaurant on the East Side, Tripti Indian Restaurant. In 2017, after working in the corporate world he opened two restaurants in Harlem with partners Ajmal Hussain and Salim Rahman known as Mumbai Masala and River Thai. Now Ruhel and his wife Linda have brought the dream of opening their own restaurant to life with Masti Indian Grill & Chaat Bar.

Chef Jabber’sculinary roots span from his home in Bangladesh to his tenure in England where he worked at Nabab Tadoori, Tamarind on the Isle of Wright, honing his craft before working at the aforementioned Famous Curry Bazaar.

Menu highlights include:

  •     Starters like Achari Guchi Tikka, a very traditional dish of pickled mushrooms; Chapli, expertly spiced minced lamb patties with green chilies; and Kurkuri Bhindi, crispy okra with lemon and chaat masala.
Credit _ Emilio Pandeko
SamosasCredit _ Emilio Pandeko
  •     Elevated forms of Indian street food include Chaatwali Galli offerings like Bhel Puri that is beautifully presented in a cylindrical tower with puffed rice, onions, potatoes, chutneys, tamarin and savory crunchies on top for a surprisingly textured bite. The Pao Bhaji, a popular street food in Bombay, is highlighted as well and made with mashed tomatoes, cauliflower and potatoes, served with fluffy Pao bread hot from the oven. All Chaats are prepared atop the restaurant’s Chaat bar for diners to view. 
Behl PuriCredit _ Emilio Pandeko
  •    Curries takes cues from The Famous Curry Bazar with a myriad of options ranging from chicken, lamb, bone-in goat, to shrimp, vegetables, and paneer. These options can be paired withthe favorite Brick Lane Curry, an onion tomato curry; Phall, an intensely spicy British curry with a blend of chilies; Bhuna, a thick and hearty curry with onions, garlic and fresh coriander; Madras, a hot coconut curry with dry red chilies and curry leaves; Karahi, a wok tossed curry with onions, bell pepper and fenugreek; and Balti, a wok tossed curry with tomatoes, mushrooms, fennel, and garam masala. 
Credit _ Emilio Pandeko
Mergh MalaiCredit _ Emilio Pandeko
  •    Oh! Calcutta Chef’s Specials include Jhinga Luchi, creamy shrimp with tomatoes and curry leaves; Tangra Chili Chicken with green chilies, onions, bell peppers and a dark soy sauce; Ghugni with curried yellow peas, turmeric, cumin and fresh coriander; and Kosha Mangsho, bone-in goat curry with potatoes and fresh coriander.
Credit _ Emilio Pandeko

The restaurant also features a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as skewers from an on-site tandoor oven and naan breads like Chili Onion; Habanero Cheese; and Butter Paneer. 

The drink menu includes a variety of teas like traditional chai and a specialty mocktail menu, launching soon.

Masti’s interior was designed by Mahkovec. Inviting and warm, Masti Indian Grill & Chaat Bar features a quaint dining room with a small bar anchored in front with jars of different Indian spices showcased above. A beautiful image of a woman picking red chili peppers is spotlighted on the back wall. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the space and specialty floral upholstered chairs can be found at the center of the restaurant for a more lounge style aesthetic. Brown leather banquettes line the perimeter, gorgeous chandeliers are hung above for a golden glow and famous Indian film posters adorn the other walls.

Visit Masti online at: http://mastinyc.com

Their address is: 184 Havemeyer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Their phone number is: 718-599-1516

Follow them on Instagram @mastinyc

They are open for lunch Monday through Sunday 12pm-3pm.

They serve diner from 4:30 – 10 pm Monday through Thursday and are open until 10:30 on Friday and Saturday.

Their total seating capacity is 36 and their bar seating is 4.


Bella Luna: An Italian Neighborhood Treat on the Upper West Side

Adora Henson
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Bella Luna: An Italian Neighborhood Treat on the Upper West Side

If you love brick oven pizza you will definitely want to search out Bella Luna, a restaurant hidden in the Upper West Side that has been serving tried and true Italian dishes for over 30 years. The restaurant was founded in 1988 by Turkish owner and pioneering Soho restaurateur Turgut Balikci, who developed 20 European-influenced and Mediterranean-inspired restaurants including the former Diva on West Broadway and his acclaimed Upper West Side Mediterranean spot Bodrum. Balikci’s team is comprised of managing partner Guray Yuksel, and general manager Angela Noll, who has been working with Balikci for five years and Yuksel for more than ten years. Together they have created a warm, family-friendly and hospitality first establishment that stands out amongst the Upper West Side crowd.

Executive Chef German “Primo” Angelo has been at the helm of the Bella Luna kitchen for over a decade and follows in the footsteps of his mentor, original Bella Luna chef of 25 years, Tuscany-born Mario Zimbelli. Chef Angelo’s menu, which is offered for lunch and dinner, commences with an assortment of antipasti with a creamy and flavorful Polenta topped with a hearty Bolognese sauce; and an expertly fine sliced Beef Carpaccio that is adorned with arugula, capers, parmesan, olive oil and lemon.

  • Off-The-Menu: Specialty pies include a play on a New York classic, the Smoked Salmon pizza combines smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers and slices of red onion.
  • Namesake Signature: The Bella Luna pizza has an enticing blend of wild mushroom, onion and fontina, drizzled in decadent, umami truffle oil over a perfectly crisped crust.
  • Meat-Lovers: Made with a luxurious lamb ragu, Italian hot peppers and spices is the satisfying Spicy Lamb pizza.
  • Brunch: Sweet fanatics will indulge in the Strawberry Nutella pizzamade with ricotta and basil. 

Other menu highlights that have attracted long-time regulars and new diners alike are:

  • The savory Lobster Ravioli, dressed in a rich, cream sauce and fresh dill.
  • Braised Lamb Shank, slow cooked and undeniably tender, served with creamy mashed potatoes.
Ravioli

Salads start with a traditional Sicilian Salad, comprised of fennel, radicchio, lettuce, capers, olives, parmesan, olive oil and lemon; and the Bella Luna Salad made with mixed greens, roasted red peppers, capers, olives and mozzarella for a sweet and salty mouthful.

Carpaccio

Bella Luna’s Brick Oven Pizza is not-to-be-missed with perfectly crisped crust and unique combinations culminating into some of the best Brick Oven Pizza in the area with everything from savory to sweet pies. While they do offer the traditional Marinara, White and Vegetarian, guests can enjoy a number of other more adventurous selections including the Bella Luna with a tantalizing blend of wild mushroom, onion and fontina, all beautifully drizzled in decadent truffle oil. The Spicy Lamb pizza is made with a luxurious lamb ragu, Italian hot peppers and an array of spices. Specialty pizzas include Smoked Salmon, which combines smoked salmon and cream cheese topped with capers and slices of red onion for a savory slice.

Marinara Pizza

Pastas spotlighted include crowd favorite Linguini with Homemade Meatballs. A rich Fettucine Alfredo features fresh white and spinach pasta with mushrooms and pools of creamy alfredo sauce. Specialty pastas are offered with their signature Linguini Bella Luna with fresh linguini, shrimp, mussels, clams, and calamari swimming in a light and flavor packed tomato sauce. They also have a savory Lobster Ravioli dressed in a cream sauce and fresh dill.

Homeade Meatballs
Fettuccine Alfredo

Entrées come in the form of Braised Lamb Shank, slow cooked and undeniably tender, served with creamy mashed potatoes; and flaky Filet of Branzini with white wine, lemon, capers and spinach.

A $22 Three-Course Prix Fixe Menu is available every day from noon-6 p.m. and includes an appetizer, entrée, and dessert, with combinations such as Bruschetta, Ravioli Basilico with ricotta cheese filling, tomato sauce and basil, and a choice of chocolate, French vanilla or strawberry ice cream.

The Children’s Menu features a Build Your Pasta selection, where kids can choose from an array of different types of pasta and pick their own sauce for a creativity-infused meal.

Weekend Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Selections include the Bella Luna Omelette with mushroom, fontina and onion; Garden Frittata with yellow squash, zucchini, tomato, eggplant and marinara sauce on the side; and a Chicken Pesto Panini with chicken, sundried tomatoes and mozzarella, served with French fries.

Two breakfast pizzas are also provided with the Bacon and Egg and the sweet tooth lovers Strawberry Nutella with ricotta, strawberry and basil.


The dishes served at Bella Luna can be altered for vegetarians.

A beautifully curated wine list from manager Angela Noll can be found at the restaurant with every wine by the glass under $15. The Italian focused selection, which is offered by the glass or bottle, features vegan, biodynamic and organic wines. Choices include a sancerre from Domaine de la Pauline, Loire, France; a Super Tuscan IGT from Monte Bernardi ‘Gypsy Girl’ Tuscany, Ital; and a primitivo from A Mano, Puglia Italy. They also provide a number of global and domestic beers including Peroni and Moretti La Rossa.

For a sweet finish to the meal guests can enjoy the housemade light and airy Tiramisu or selection of gelatos with flavors such as pistachio and hazelnut.

The Upper West Side space was built in 1893 and has had many transformations before becoming Bella Luna today. It previously served as a general market in the 1890s and a speakeasy/restaurant by the late William Pogue during and after Prohibition, from 1933 until 1968. In the 1990’s the space was a flower shop, which was known as the Secret Garden. Unbeknownst to the Bella Luna team, a mural of Central Park in autumn, believed to be painted in the 1930s, was uncovered during the renovations and was restored by American artist Mark Rutkoski.

Bella Lun’a Interior
Bella Luna’s Interior

The space was then re-designed by Daniel Lee of QBIK Construction to create an inviting and rustic feel. Leather banquettes are found flanking the left side, and mahogany tabletops and wrought-iron table bases by Italian artist Arturo Di Modica, who famously created and installed the Charging Bull in front of the New York Stock Exchange, are found scattered throughout the restaurant. Six marble eggshell chandeliers hang from the ceiling, emitting a golden-hued glow and an exposed brick wall serves as the backdrop to the bar, showcasing the selection of wines.

In-house delivery is available, offering the fastest delivery on the Upper West Side with 10% off every order placed through the website. The restaurant is also on GrubHub and Seamless, and available for catering and take-out.

Bella Luna is located at 574 Columbus Avenue between 87th and 88th streets. Their phone number is 212-877-2267.

Click here for their Website!

Find them on Instagram: @bellalunanyc

Their total seating capacity is 65 and 6 at the bar. For those looking to enjoy a slice while watching the snow fall, Bella Luna features an outdoor enclosed dining area for the winter. 16 can sit outside in the fall and winter and 32 in the spring and summer.

Their hours are:

Lunch: Mon. – Sun. 12pm-4pm

Dinner: Sun. – Thurs. 4pm – 10pm

Fri. & Sat. 3pm – 10:30pm

Brunch: Sat. & Sun. 11:30am – 3pm (In addition to the reuglar menu)

David Datuna “Hungry Artist” Exhibit

Adora Henson
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David Datuna “Hungry Artist” Exhibit


ARTIST WHO CREATED A NEW ART MOVEMENT BY EATING A $120K BANANA AT ART BASEL LAUNCHES THE “HUNGRY ARTIST” EXHIBIT

NEW YORK, February 17, 2020 – A few days ago, David Datuna, the New York-based artist who created a whole new art movement when he ate the $120K banana at Art Basel, announced an interactive exhibit called “The Hungry Artist.” Participants will be guided by David in creating his artwork using the most common objects found in every New York City bodega. Proceeds from the exhibit will go to support cancer research at Mt. Sinai Hospital, where David has been fighting cancer for the last seven years.  For his “Hungry Artist” exhibit, David selected 33 objects from everyday life and will personally guide the participants, much like a priest in a biblical temple, becoming the conduit for channeling creative energy, in elevating those objects to art. With David’s guidance exhibit participants will interact with the installation, turning their actions into an art performance, in other words – creating art. Each exhibit object will come in three editions (complete with a certificate of performance authenticity), and much like the subject of Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup, they will be affordable.  Says Datuna: “What I started with the Hungry Artist in Miami is a new art of communication and a revolution of consciousness. What we perceive as materialism is nothing but social conditioning. Any meaningful interaction with an object could turn it to art. I am a hungry artist, and I am hungry for new interactions.”  David Datuna is a Smithsonian-recognized, artist, focused on the convergence of art and social consciousness. He is most widely known for his international work in advancement of individual freedom and unity.  The exhibit will open at Galleria Ca’ d’Oro, at 179 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011, on February 20th, 2020 from 6PM to 8PM, and will run through Saturday.https://datuna.com/hungryartist

You have two days! Check it out if you’re interested and able!

Burke Prize Finalists at MAD

Adora Henson
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Burke Prize Finalists at MAD

An exhibition of works of the 2019 finalists and winner of the Museum’s Burke Prize, awarded to a contemporary artist under the age of forty-five working in glass, fiber, clay, metal, and/or wood. Named for Marian and Russell Burke, two passionate collectors of craft and longtime supporters of MAD, the Burke Prize represents emerging voices expanding the disciplines at the core of American studio craft movement whose highly accomplished work demonstrates a strong use of materials, innovative processes, and conceptual rigor and relevance. A jury of professionals in the fields of art, craft, and design choose the winner of the unrestricted award of $50,000.

Exhibit runs through April 12. Read more here!

Oscar Nominated Production Company Forms Groundbreaking Partnership with Airport OTT Network

Kam
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Oscar Nominated Production Company Forms Groundbreaking Partnership with Airport OTT Network

Stick Figure, the short-form production company founded by Oscar nominee Steven Cantor, announced that its partnering with a massive entertainment network that is televised in over 90 of the country’s largest airports. The deal is notable because it will bring high quality content into airports, which are not known for providing travelers with original forms of entertainment. Most travelers typically buy a magazine at the airport newsstand or browse their smart phones while killing time before take-off.

The Stick Figure-ReachTV deal changes all that.

“We see ReachTV as the future, and are excited to work together on new programs created with multi-platform distribution in mind, stories and formats that stimulate and engage viewers around the world” said Stick Figure founder Cantor.

“Our partners at ReachTV have revolutionized linear television, creating the first short form entertainment network for people on the go,” added Stick Figure President Jamie Schutz. “With their millions of viewers and cloud-based platform, they have cracked a new distribution code, creating opportunities in advertising, entertainment, and media.”

Cantor founded Stick Figure in 1999, and has since developed and produced television series, feature documentaries, commercials, digital content and short films for platforms such as HBO, ESPN, Fox Searchlight, HULU, Netflix and many others. The company’s accolades include a Best Documentary Oscar nomination, numerous Emmy nominations and wins for Best Documentary, Special Jury Prize at Sundance and Best Feature Film at the LA Film Festival.


Already, ReachTV and Stick Figure have a diverse portfolio of original content in development. Vacation With An Artist and Midnight Snack are two series slated for release in the upcoming year. 
Vacation With An Artist follows local painters, sculptors, musicians and others through first-hand glimpses into their work as well as their favorite destinations in their hometowns. Midnight Snack features the comedic foodies, Homer Murray and Sam Mason as they explore America’s greatest after-hours grub, drinks, and experiences.


The partnership gives Stick Figure a massive platform to share its stories on. Founded by successful media and tech entrepreneurs Lynnwood Bibbens and Ron Bloom, ReachTV is the first Nielsen-rated, linear, self-distributed, short-form OTT entertainment network – which is aired in over 90 of the busiest airports in North America. The network delivers fresh daily content on the Company’s own patent pending delivery platform, which recreates the entire traditional television network ecosystem in the cloud. In addition to its original programming, ReachTV channels feature innovative short form content from a broad range of production companies and networks such as A+E Networks, Bloomberg, Refinery 29, Stadium, Business Rockstars, OutsideTV and Overtime Sports. The platform recently launched an Influencer network under ReachTV.social which has grown its reach to over 150 Million online viewers, having surpassed over 250 million monthly video views.


“Stick Figure has a proven track record of delivering high-quality storytelling beloved by industry executives and mainstream audiences. With our distribution across airports and the hospitality sector, and their acclaimed success in the entertainment industry, there couldn’t be a better match,” said ReachTV CEO Lynnwood Bibbens. “We are excited to produce content that moves both companies forward while advancing the streaming and media industries.”

James Suckling Announces the Wine, Winery and Winemaker of the Decade

Adora Henson
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James Suckling Announces the Wine, Winery and Winemaker of the Decade

MIAMI, FL (Jan. 27, 2020) — It is time to roll out the red carpet. James Suckling, widely regarded as the authority on the world’s best wines, has announced the winners of three new distinctions  in the wine industry: Wine of the Decade, Winemaker of the Decade, and Winery of the Decade. The accolades are one-off awards celebrating the creation of his own media company just about a decade ago: JamesSuckling.com.

The prestigious recognition of Wine of the Decade went to the Almaviva Puente Alto 2017 for its iconic position as building the reputation of Chilean wine around the world. Taking the honors of Winery of the Decade was Masseto, which produces the world famous pure merlot from Tuscany that is now considered in the same light as the best of Bordeaux from Petrus to Lafleur. Meanwhile Philippe Dhalluin, Managing Director of Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., was named Winemaker of the Decade. The Frenchman makes such prestigious wines as Mouton Rothschild, Opus and Almaviva.

“It gives me enormous pleasure to recognize the Almaviva 2017 with our highest honor, Wine of the Decade,” said James Suckling. “Over the last ten years we tasted more than 100,000 wines and this wine distinguished itself with its great structure and fantastic aging potential, as well as its iconic position for Chilean wines. It received 100 points, and is the second ‘perfect’ wine from this excellent Chilean winery after the great 2015 Almaviva.”

Toasting the 10th anniversary of Jamessuckling.com, James Suckling made the announcement in Miami on Jan. 23 in front of more than 300 attendees who gathered for the exclusive Winemakers’ Dinner hosted at the Moore Building in Miami’s chic Design District. Featuring food from one of the geniuses of Peruvian food, Gaston Acurio of La Mar, the dinner was part of the two-day Great Wines of the World USA wine tasting extravaganza.

Great Wines of the World has solidified itself as the foremost new super-premium consumer wine event in the U.S., and is quickly emerging as the iconic fine wine event for Latin America. A must-attend event for members of the wine industry and true wine aficionados, Great Wines of the World allows guests to taste and experience outstanding wines from the world’s most renowned vineyards and boutique wineries – all having scored a minimum of 90 points by James Suckling, with the majority scoring 95 points and above, including 16 perfect 100-point wines.

James Suckling, whose reviews are read and respected by wine lovers, serious wine collectors, and the wine trade worldwide, serves as CEO/Editor of JamesSuckling.com, the wine media platform and events company with offices in Hong Kong and Miami. It is known for treating event goers with more than 25 wine events around the world, attended by almost 30,000 people. Each event resembles a rock concert for wine with cool venues, video screens and curated music from the former guitarist of the famous Australian rock band Empire of the Sun, Surahn Sidhu, who has been touring the world with Suckling. Featuring an amazing light show and mix of live and DJ inspired music, Sidhu debuted his new rock show titled “Happiness is Wine” at the Great Wines of the World Afterparty.

Kicking off in Dallas on Feb. 26, James Suckling will roll out the Great Wines of Italy USA 2020 Grand Tasting Tour, a popular event series hailed as the largest annual premium Italian wine showcase in the U.S. The dynamic six-city tasting tour will travel across America’s most important wine hubs, including Dallas, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, and concluding in Miami on March 6.  

Tickets for the Great Wines of Italy Grand Tasting Tour can now be purchased through the James Suckling website, https://www.jamessuckling.com/events/.

About James Suckling:

James Suckling is one of today’s leading wine critics whose reviews are read and respected by wine lovers, serious wine collectors, and the wine trade worldwide. He is CEO/Editor of JamesSuckling.com, the wine media platform and events company with offices in Hong Kong and Miami. JamesSuckling.com tries to taste all of the wines in their respective country of origin and spends months each year traveling the globe and setting up tastings, visiting wineries and talking to winemakers. Launched 10 years ago, JamesSuckling.com currently has more than 600,000 unique visitors to its website per year, about 300,000 followers on social media and about 3 million readers in Asia with his association with Noblesse magazine in Korea and China and Prestige in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. He also runs his own wine bar and restaurant in Hong Kong, James Suckling Wine Central, curates the wine program for Holland America Line cruises with close to 1 million passengers, and designs his 100 points glassware for Lalique, France’s premier crystal producer.

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