Last Thursday, December 5th, Former First Lady of Florida and CEO of CLC Global Advisors Carole Crist hosted a star-studded event aiming to raise awareness toward the necessity for impact investing that will help REBUILD PUERTO RICO. The event was held in the iconic Faena Hotel in their Penthouse Suite where guests were greeted with champagne and photographed on the red carpet.
Among several celebrity attendees were Faena Group Founder Alan Faena, Actor Reggie Pierre, Notable Puerto Rican Artist Gustavo Adolfo, Real Housewives of New York star Jill Zarin, Former Marlins Baseball Star Charles Johnson, Bachelor in Paradise alum Nicole Lopez-Alvar, Famous Painter David Banegas, Influencer Jasmine Tosh, Singer Caitlin McGrath, CEO of Municipal Acquisitions Jon Kling, Former “Mrs. Florida” Karyn Turk, 9/11 First Responder and Veteran P.J. Schrantz and others.
When asked about the success of the evening Carole Crist said the following: “It was so extraordinary to see the tremendous global support for our initiative to REBUILD PUERTO RICO. From its rich culture and art to its magnificent beaches, Puerto Rico has vast opportunities for Impact Investing via opportunity zones. As fellow Americans, we want to support the people of Puerto Rico through social and economic development, job creation, and innovation. We must also work to preserve our national treasure, El Yunque tropical rainforest.”
Pledging her support going forward, Jill Zarin is quoted as saying, “I’m so impressed with all of the incredible things Carole has achieved over the years, it has been a joy to watch. Hearing about her hard work and achievements as well as attending her events has been a pleasure. My friendship with Carole goes back 15 years. She and I have collaborated on many philanthropic endeavors along the way. REBUILD PUERTO RICO is a fantastic initiative and I look forward to continuing to lend my support to this critically important mission.”
The following is a statement on behalf of Global Empowerment Mission and founder Michael Capponi: “On behalf of Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), it was an honor to be a part of REBUILD PUERTO RICO with Carole Crist. The importance of humanitarian work we do at GEM was shared with a notable group from around the world to activate this important initiative to support the people of Puerto Rico. We look forward to continuing this special collaboration with CLC Global Advisors into 2020 and beyond.”
THE DIESEL WYNWOODCONDOMINIUM – WHERE THE DESIGN OF URBANE CREATIVE LIVING MEETS THE HARMONY OF THE NATURAL ELEMENTS
Buy the T-Shirt“F1-L6” for $1.599.000
and
get an apartment for free!
Breganze (Italy), December 3rd, 2019. As announced in November 2018, for the first time ever DIESEL, together with the real estate group Bel-Invest,has entered the world of real estate with the first residential DIESEL building, located in Miami, Florida.
And what was the workaround to keep clothes front-and-center in the project, starting from the launch? An unconventionalcampaign called “The Condo T-shirts–The Most Expensive T–Shirts Ever”: 143 unique tops that cost the approximate of a new dwelling, each t-shirt featuring a front-facing printed graphic of one of 143 apartments at DIESEL’s Wynwood condo development.
With near certainty, the company claims that these are “the most expensive t-shirts in the world.” T-shirt “D6-L7”, for example, clocks in at a tab of $1.049.000. T-shirt “F2-L7” has a price tag of $5.500.000. But if you buy one, you get a new home—in DIESEL’s brand new Wynwood condominium for free.
The campaign, created by the creative agency SMALL and directed and photographed by Hernan Corera,will be launched on December 3rdin Miami andfeatures a typical high-end (and at the same time high-street) fashion campaign approach, with DIESEL’s unmistakably ironic touch.
Before deciding to buy one you can also have a sneak peek at how the apartments will be,starting from December 4th at the Diesel Wynwood Condominium – 148 NW, 28TH ST, Miami.
Credit Daniel Andries Photography
Sales are open, what are you waiting for?
As a fusion between sea and city, Miami’s Wynwood district is home to the largest, most ambitious project yet from Diesel Living: a contemporary residence where the surrounding artistic and post-industrial scape merges with the nearness of nature—the essence of DIESEL, conceived for the first time as a dramatic, luxurious space of comfort and cutting-edge design.
Wynwood is Miami at its best. It’s where the ocean breeze carries the water and the sky, where disused warehouses have birthed a vibrant new cosmopolitan culture, and where a city of artful regeneration and proximity to the elements has taken root. And, at the heart of this new Miami, DIESEL presents a vision of what modern metropolitan life can be with a light-filled residence guided by nature and well-being.
The Diesel Wynwood, a WELL-certified building, is enriched by a host of rivetingly designed areas, including a vividly contemporary pool, gym, meditation room, meeting space, and an expansive, open-space lobby with an art gallery zone, plus the extravagance of a courtyard, which in DIESEL’s hands becomes a jungle of tropical plants for residents.
Bringing light into living spaces, and nature inside, apartments feature gradient walls and discreetly reflective surfaces that capitalize on the sun. Living spaces are rendered in varying shades according to their directional orientation. This includes 7 individually designed penthouse duplexes and maisonettes with private terraces. Cosmic swirls of liquid marble cloak the lobby, halls and corridors, and apartment bathrooms, rendering these interiors nearly hallucinogenic in their effect.
The symbiosis of nature and urbanity at Diesel Wynwood sees the building’s tropical greenery complemented by bold industrial materials of concrete, golden mesh, pipes, and metal. Nature brings shadows on concrete defining the interior’s wallpapers that reflect what happens in the courtyard. The hybrid aesthetic, designed for the most modern of free thinkers, brings art into living—and shared spaces in the building highlight the creativity of this bravely unconventional community.
Refracted light installations and infinite mirror reflections create staggeringly surreal spaces to move through inhallways and lounges, a sensorial experience that imparts a futuristic and even mind-bending feeling to the everyday in this forward-looking living space.
Clad in black brick with minimalist wood screens and broad glass windows, and a daringcolorful finish on the structure, Diesel Wynwood reflects the warehouses of the neighborhood in an avant-garde key, with a structure that declares the audacity of the state-of-the-art residence inside. Diesel’s distinctive approach—twisting luxury, nature, and the post-industrial city into a dynamic modern aesthetic—forges a unique home that joins together today’s most intelligent and imaginative denizens to live in this visionary enclave.
The interior design project grows under the creative guide of DIESEL and reflects the values and the distinctive style of DIESEL LIVING. The building is designed by Zyschovich Architects and developed by Bel Invest Group, an international real estate developer with offices in Miami, Berlin, Barcelona, and Vicenza (Italy).
Credit Daniel Andries Photography
Fact Sheet
Levels
✓ 8 + underground
Ceilingheights
✓ 11 ft
Units
✓ 143
ResidentialSqft
✓Sqft 129000
Commercial Sqft
✓Sqft 22000
Amenities
✓ Pool, Gym, SPA, Kids Room, Lounge, Chill out area, Conference Room, Working Area
Conceptualized by an internal creative team led by Andrea Rosso, the Diesel Living collection is a vibrant translation of the brand’s lifestyle and attitude in the design world. Launched in 2008 as an assortment of home textiles, it evolved organically to become a complete home collection, growing year after year with the signature of important partnerships with leading players in the world of interior design, known for theirindustry know-how and top-quality design capabilities: Morosofor the furniture, Foscarini for lighting, Scavolini for kitchen and bathroom, Seletti for tableware, Bertifor wooden flooring, Iris for ceramic tiles, and Mirabello Carrarafor home linen. The Diesel Living collection is available worldwide in the best department stores, in Diesel stores and in its partners’ retail outlets.
ABOUT BEL INVEST
Bel Invest is a real estate group for asset development and management founded by the initiative of the Italian-German entrepreneur Maximilian Beltrame. Initially operative in the German market, especially in the capital of Berlin, where Bel Invest has successfully developed real estate projects. Since 2005 the company has expanded its international presence by opening new offices and real estate developments in Vicenza (North Italy), Barcelona and Miami.
Amylos Taverna, the authentic and modern Greek restaurant in the heart of Astoria is celebrating the tradition of Greek music with “Greek Night” on December 12 from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The evening will feature the musical ensemble of singer, Eleana Finokalioti, keyboardist, Panos Chrysovergis, and Christos Papadopoulos on the mandolin. The musical trio stems from Panos, a Greek musical director who recently made his debut in NYC with the band “SYN-PHONIA” a touring company who perform beloved Greek music in a contemporary style known as “The Sounds of Greece.”
Diners can enjoy these Greek melodies and songs while tasting Amylos’ menu. Highlights include:
· Sushi Grade Octopus, a well textured and chargrilled starter with a fava puree, pickled onions, and a yogurt beet sauce.
· Astakomakaronda, an Aegean sea pasta classic is complemented by whole lobster braised in tomato and white wine broth.
· Madagascar King Prawn, which comes to the table flambé with a side of jalapeño aioli dipping sauce in a hallowed out lemon.
· Lamb Burger, ground lamb patty mixed with spices on a brioche bun with mixed greens, pickled onions, smothered in a melted feta cheese.
Amylos Taverna’s cocktail program include new twists on classic drinks like the Dirty Greek, a version of the dirty martini that replaces traditional olives with kalamata olives in the olive juice and the garnish. The drink is pink due to the kalamata influence and features a feta cheese stuffed trio of olives to adorn the rim.
More About Amylos Taverna
Amylos Taverna is the modern meets traditional Greek restaurant owned and operated by the Arvanitis family. The family’s storied history begins when patriarch andimmigrant, John Arvanitisopened the pioneering and nowiconicOmonia Café (as seen in MyBig Fat Greek Wedding) in 1974when he saw that there were no real European style cafes.John and his wife Martha along with the next generation is taking the helm with their son John, daughter Anna Christina and son-in-law Fedon, aiming to craft a new Greek restaurant experience in Astoria, presenting playful modern and traditional Greek fare in a comfortable and warm Grecian inspired setting. Amylos’ mission is to bring food, fun and Greek hospitality to the table.
The menu at Amylos gives diners a taste of both traditional and modern renditions of Greek cuisine. To start a selection of shareable small plates are offered such as a Sushi Grade Octopus, a well textured and chargrilled starter with a fava puree, pickled onions, and a yogurt beet sauce; Ouzo Musselswitha light and fragrant fennel broth garnished with fresh herbs and served with crostini’s; and a modern take on a classic dish with their perfectly crispedMoussaka Croquettes, accompanied by a decadent yet delicate béchamel mousse. Crispy Veggie Chips of zucchini and eggplantare stacked high in a tower and served with a yogurt and mint dipping sauce.There Saganaki, made with Cretan Graviera cheese, is salty and savory and served with a subtly sweet tomato jam. A selection of traditional spreads are spotlighted with flavor packed Tzatziki, a smoky Melitzanosalata (eggplant dip),Tarama (salted and cured roe),Hummus, and Tyrokafteri (spicy Feta), which are all served with grilled pita.
Entrees include seafood specialties such as Madagascar King Prawns, giant grilled prawns with orzo and truffle; U10Scallopsexpertly roasted with beet garlic puree and avocado mousse, drizzled with a fig balsamic; a flaky Halibutis plated atop sautéed spinach surrounded by a velouté lemon emulsion sauce; and Astakomakaronda, an Aegean sea pasta classic is complemented by whole lobster braised in tomato and white wine broth. The menu also features Fresh Whole Fish, with options like Lavraki (“Bronzini”), Black Seabass (Atlantic),Fagri (Mediterranean) and Barbounia, a pan fried and delicious Aegean Sea red mullet with a sweet flavor and aroma.
Meat dishes include with their tender fall-off-the-boneDark Ale Lamb Shank with smoked eggplant pureeand herb infused extra virgin olive oil; Doublecut Heritage Pork Chop, charcoal grilled with mashed potatoes, heirloom carrotsand Greek spices with an au jus; and thick Lamb
Chops hot off a charcoalgrill with mountain oregano, olive oil, lemon emulsion and served with fries.
Amylos’ dessert menu does not disappoint and is inspired by the beloved pastries from OmoniaCafé. A traditional Ekmekis offered withhoney syrup, angel hair shredded wheat pastry, creamy custard, whipped cream, and toasted almonds placed on top. A unique take on the classic is a Cheesecake Baklavamade withlayers of phyllo, roasted crushed nuts infused in honey syrup and sprinkled with Greek spices. Karydopitais awalnut cake drenched in honey infused syrup andplated with fig ice cream.
Brunch is served at Amylos on the weekend from 12:00-4:00 p.m. The menu includesa Raw Bar and a Bottomless option with a choice of Mimosa, Bellini, BloodyMary and Masticha Bloody Mary. Featured dishes include Horiatiki, classic Greek salad, vine ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, olives, peppers, Arachova’s feta cheese, oregano, aged balsamic, and extra virgin olive oil; Greek Benedict, sourdough crisp, feta and spinach, hollandaise, and herbed potatoes; and Lamb Pita with scrambled eggs, field greens and mint yogurt.
The cocktail menu spells out Amylos with an anagram for each drink. Antidote, Muse, Yiamas, Logos, Ode, and Sophist each noting a specific Greek meaning. Sophist, for sophisticated or classy, is a smoky and sweet sip with Bulleit Bourbon, Amarena cherry, walnut bitters, and house made black peppercorn syrup. TheDirty Greek is a new twist on a dirty martini replacingtraditional olives with kalamata olives in the olive juice and the garnish. The drink is pink due to the kalamata influence and features a feta cheese stuffed trio of olives to adorn the rim. The restaurant also boasts an international wine list with varietals curated to pair well with the menu of Greek favorites.
The Arvanitis family came together to design a restaurant meant to transport diners toGreece. Upon entering guests are greeted with Greek urns and a rustic, earthy and warm dining room. A marble bar is set at the front with decorative lamps hanging above and French doorsare open in the dining room for an al fresco style experience. The raw walls play on the ancient Greece motif and an antique door from the 1800’s similar to those found in Plaka, Greece adorns the back wall, which was painted by son John.
Amylos Taverna is available for private parties and events. They can be found on GrubHub, Relay, DoorDash, and Seamless.
Location: 33-19 Broadway, Astoria, New York, 11106
MIAMI, Nov. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — World-class designer and master jeweler, Christopher Slowinski will feature selected paintings, for a limited engagement, at GLO Gallery during December, premiering at Miami’sArt Basel through December 30, 2019.
Slowinski’s technique and style has been described by some as “Impasto”, a technique which dates back to the 17th century and was favored by such artists as Rembrandt and Diego Velazquez. He rounds out his style with elements of “blending” and “Alla Prima“. Slowinski’s works are either original or done in very limited edition in his preferred medium of oil-on-canvas, and they often feature a pastel color palette with a “maximalist” approach. Subject matter abounds with elements and scenes from New York City – the place he has called home for the past 43 years. Additionally, reflections and vivid dreams also serve as subjects for his work.
Slowinski is also an award-winning jewelry designer, diamond cutter and founder of Christopher Designs, a jewelry brand which is distributed via high-end retail jewelers across the US and abroad. The brand is known for its meticulous craftsmanship and design, and most importantly, for the CrisscutÓ and L’Amour CrisscutÓ patented diamonds that provide superior sparkle and brilliance and a 35%-60% larger silhouette size than generic diamond cuts. Born in Poland, Slowinski apprenticed under master jewelry craftsmen before coming to the US and founding his own company.
A passion for painting led Slowinski to establish CS Fine Art as another outlet for his creativity. A prolific painter, Slowinski is particularly fascinated by variations of lighting, hues and shadows, juxtaposed against the static geometric symmetry encountered in many cityscapes. He likens his artwork to his jewelry designs, often describing them as “gemstones on canvas”.
To set up an appointment, or for more information on Slowinski’s work, please contact Marc Weissman, CCO/Glo Creative at (786) 353-7746, (786) 623-3911 or via email at marc@glocreative.com
GLO International Gallery 1490 Biscyane Blvd Suite 106, Miami FL 33132
Award winning designer, artist and entrepreneur, Elizabeth Sutton officially launched her first ever leather accessories collection with pieces including saddlebags and interchangeable fashion bag straps at an exclusive preview event at the Wall Street Grill in downtown Manhattan.
Handmade in Mexico City, each handbag is lined in custom fabric featuring a recoloration of one of Elizabeth’s most recognized paintings, ‘Buy Yourself Roses’. The designs are carefully crafted with each saddlebag stitched with the finest quality Gutterman thread from Germany, with 10 unique thread colorations featured throughout the collection. Armed with a close eye to detail, Sutton uses six different shades of edge paint, and features custom hardware made of solid brass and plated in 24K gold and rose gold that reflects Sutton’s unique butterfly trademark.
An artist inspired by color and the use of creative color pairings, Sutton utilized a range of stunning fall tones for the collection including plum, cognac, emerald, navy, soft fall cream and classic beige. Of her creative design process, Sutton says, “The collection is rooted in my mantra to always do my best, acknowledging it’s a good thing to ask for help and encouraging others to do the same. My brand is about showing people that even though the road less traveled is often scarier, it is that much more fulfilling. This fall collaboration was a logical next step for me creatively.”
Available exclusively on the Elizabeth Sutton Collection website, the bags range from $695 to the limited edition styles for $1,295 and the interchangeable butterfly embellished bag straps are available from $375 to $395.
ABOUT ELIZABETH SUTTON
Elizabeth Sutton is a designer, visual artist and self-made CEO of Elizabeth Sutton Collection who has taken the design and arts scene by storm. In 2016, Elizabeth was selected to participate in the NYDesigns incubator program and exhibited at both the Affordable Art Fair & Hamptons Designer Showhouse. In early 2017, Elizabeth donated her work to the nationally-recognized 92nd Street Y’s Spring Fundraiser as well as Lenox Health Greenwich Village and participated in both the 2017 Architectural Digest Design Show and New York Design Center’s “What’s New What’s Next.” In Fall 2018, Sutton partnered with Joe & The Juice in locations across New York City, in support of The Art of Elysium. Elizabeth’s tile collection for Tilebar is a two time award collection, from Architectural Digest and HD Expo. Elizabeth will be launching her first leather collection along with her lifestyle blog this fall.
Below are a few questions I asked Elizabeth:
If you could make something leather for anyone in the world, who would it be for and what would it be?
She thought for a second but not too long. Her reply was, “Anna Wintour! And it would be a bag with her name that says, ‘Anna’.” She proceeded to show me what she meant in her bags with other words such as “happy”.
I perused the new collection, took a few notes and e-mailed her a few questions in the week after the launch. They are as follows:
1. Where did you go to school?
I studied at Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business where I studied marketing and finance and received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. However, I am a self-taught artist. Never took an art class.
“My Golden Angel” by Elizabeth Sutton
2. What made you transition from paintings to bags?
After my divorce, I realized I would need another source of income. Considering the art industry tends to fluctuate, I initially intended to pursue home accessories. My life took an unfortunate turn after a fatal car accident affected my life and business and changed the direction of my company. This ultimately led to working in the fashion arena; a very happy accident after a sad one. Plus I had a background in wholesale fashion as I interned for a contemporary brand called Parker, so that was beneficial.
3. Do you sew other things as well?
I personally do not sew any of my products together. My bags are handmade in Mexico City by a fourth generation leather atelier. The atelier basically serves as a secondary art studio of mine where they cut, paint, and perfectly place the butterflies as well as other materials. But let’s be clear I definitely do not know how to sew, fortunately my seamstress is incredibly talented and well-experienced.
I found a few questions and answers on her website. I included them here because they’re insightful to read. Who knows if you would have landed on them amid your clicking and they fit here so, here you go!
What have I learned (about bag making)?
1. That there are so many things involved in creating, storing, and distributing a product such as a ladies leather shoulder bag- it is unbelievable. Things I could have never imagined prior to beginning the process. Applying for a UPC code, handling tariffs and customs, negotiating and securing distribution facilities, creating inventory lists for the web (which is its own animal), deciding on packaging, quantities, and the list goes on.
2. That a LOT of decisions are involved in designing leather products. Beyond the leathers and colors, you need to think about extremely detail oriented design aspects and make quality decisions when selecting paint colors, thread colors, lining, plating, zippers and pulls, packaging, cushioning, all sorts of things. In addition to aesthetics, quality is something I pay very close attention to, which is why the smallest details are important to me.
3. Pad your expected timelines by 30% and pad your costs by 20%, solid. I ran into so many issues and delays, all norms in the world of production, due to external vendors, complex molds, unexpected fires, etc, etc. One of the most important things for a healthy working relationship – open communication to manage expectations. The atelier in Mexico City, which produces the Elizabeth Sutton Leather Collection has never, in their 47 years of existence, seen a production so complex and unique, and yet they are still telling me I’m their favorite client, even though production ran 3 weeks longer than expected.
4. That setbacks occur in business ALL THE TIME and you just need to roll with the punches. There is literally no point in getting too upset and crying over it, because it won’t change a thing. Figure out the next best solution, and figure it out FAST.
5. Preparing for a launch is SO complicated, especially in regards to web – creating product descriptions, managing inventory stocks especially considering how complex my collection is with all the colorations, writing and optimizing my blog posts, deciding which images to use, editing lighting, uploading and reviewing all information, creating marketing materials for Instagram, Insta-story, newsletters, Google ads, catalogues, line-sheets, and look-books. Deciding all my new policies, like free shipping, return policies, information for UPS, etc. So much. Too much. Head spinning.
6. Teamwork makes the dream work. The Elizabeth Sutton Leather Collection literally took a village. At least 100 people were involved in getting the collection off the ground and the job is not over.
7. Most importantly, I learned that my brand stands for quality and design integrity. That every decision I made was to uphold the integrity and the visual of my product, the ladies leather shoulder bag, in order to achieve design and quality perfection, something most brands these days don’t do. From the color and thickness of the thread, to the color of the edge paint, to giving my fans a glimpse into my atelier. My goal was to create the most beautiful possible product, even if it would cost me more, and I am certain the world will see that my brand represents nothing but quality and design integrity.
On Wednesday, November 6, Hope for Depression Research Foundation (HDRF), the leading non-profit dedicated to advanced depression research, held its 13th Annual HOPE Luncheon Seminar at The Plaza Hotel. The seminar focused on “Depression and Anxiety: Diagnosis and Latest Treatments” with top doctors sharing the latest advances in psychiatry, including a potential new treatment being developed by the Foundation’s acclaimed Depression Task Force of brain researchers.
The day culminated with multi Grammy Award Winning, singer songwriter LeAnn Rimes, who made the room of 350 attendees tear up as she shared her story about finally entering treatment for depression and anxiety.
“A day after my 30th birthday I checked myself in to treatment,” said Ms. Rimes, recipient of the 2019 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy. “Honestly, it was the best birthday gift I could have ever given myself because I don’t know if I would have made it to the next one.”
Master of Ceremonies Chuck Scarborough began the event with a review of the year’s headlines in mental health, including the fact that depression and suicide are on the rise, especially in teens. He shared the shocking statistics that depression is the leading cause of disability and suicide worldwide and pointed to the urgency of HDRF’s brain research into the prevention and treatment of depression.
Chuck Scarborough
The keynote speaker, U Penn’s Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Maria Oquendo, gave an illuminating medical overview of depression and anxiety, two complex conditions that are misunderstood but widespread. Depression affects 18 million people in the U.S. annually, and anxiety affects over 40 million U.S. adults annually; many people experience both conditions at the same time. Dr. Oquendo said that disrupted circuits in the brain underlie depressive symptoms like slow motor movements, rumination and anxious thoughts, and the inability to feel pleasure. Doctors can view those disrupted circuits with advanced brain imaging tools, she said, and this brings better accuracy to diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Eric Nestler, Director of the Friedman Institute at Mount Sinai, then gave an update of the research progress of HDRF’s acclaimed Depression Task Force, of which he is Chair. Ten of the world’s most powerful labs have joined forces to accelerate life-saving discovery, and this fall they will start a clinical trial on a potential new antidepressant compound that shows promise for treatment-resistant depression.
HDRF Founder & Chair Audrey Gruss applauded the advances in research, and then discussed how public awareness of depression is breaking new barriers. She saluted TV shows like Modern Love and publications like People Magazine for bringing depression into the open and making it safe to talk about mental health. This month People launched a year-long series that will highlight stories of celebrities and ordinary people who have experienced depression; many of those profiled have survived suicide.
Audrey Gruss and Leann Rimes
Leann Rimes and Audrey Gruss
Gruss also shared the inspiration behind HDRF, stating that the foundation was started more than 13 years ago in honor of her mother, Hope, who struggled with depression. She also announced a new Hope Fragrance line, which will launch at Bergdorf Goodman on February 3, 2020. The line consists of the original Hope fragrance as well as two new scents: Hope Sport and Hope Night. One hundred percent of net proceeds of sales will go to HDRF’s depression research.
Gruss then introduced the real woman behind the Anne Hathaway character in the Modern Love series on Amazon: Terri Cheney. Cheney is an author, attorney, and mental health advocate who has written poignantly about navigating career and dating with bipolar disorder.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think that being spectacularly bi-polar would one day bring me to a podium at The Plaza” said Cheney to warm laughter in the audience. Cheney is the author of Manic: A Memoir and her second book, Tell Me Where It Hurts: A Manual to Modern Madness, is due out next year.
HDRF Executive Director Louisa Benton gave the crowd a recap of HDRF’s work during the year to raise mental health awareness and educate the public about the facts of depression. The Foundation’s Race of Hope is a 5K Walk/Run that launched in Palm Beach in January, where it raised $300,000; The Race of Hope also marked its fourth year in Southampton in August, with 750 participants and raising over a quarter of a million for research.
Benton also announced HDRF’s newest public awareness program, Next Generation Mental Health, which puts science into action by bringing students, teachers and parents to talk with neuroscientists about healthy brain development. In 2019, the program focused on the public health issue of bullying and its impact on the brain. Statistics show that children who have been bullied have a greater risk of developing depression later in life.
To wrap up the day, Audrey Gruss presented the HOPE Corporate Visionary Award to Dr. Husseni Manji and Janssen Research & Development for their longstanding commitment to research into complex mood disorders like depression. In March 2019, the FDA approved Spravato, a new treatment for severe suicidal depression that was decades in the making. Janssen Pharmaceuticals championed Spravato and invested many millions to bring it to market under the leadership of Dr. Manji, Global Therapeutic Head for Neuroscience at Janssen Research & Development, LLC.
Audrey Gruss, Dr. Husseni Manji, Dr. Maria Oquendo and Terri Cheney
In the day’s finale, Audrey Gruss presented the HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy to LeAnn Rimes, who delivered a speech that brought the audience to its feet in a standing ovation.
“Her resounding message is that depression and anxiety are serious health issues that require and deserve professional attention,” said Gruss. “She spoke up, because she knew to hide would only perpetuate stigma, and make it harder for people to ask for the help they need.”
Ms. Rimes took to the stage and spoke straight from the heart about her journey through anxiety and depression. She touched on traumatic events in her childhood with parents who divorced bitterly when she was 14. She spoke about a lawsuit with her father that lasted throughout her teens until she was 19. She spoke about the severe public backlash that occurred when she started her relationship with Eddie Cibrian her husband of now nine years. At the time both she and Eddie were married to other people. These stressful life events, compounded by being in the public eye, took a toll on her both physically and mentally.
Leann Rimes
“I wasn’t sleeping, I couldn’t get out of bed, which made no sense to me,” she said, at times fighting back tears. “I was having debilitating panic attacks where I could not breathe and honestly, I think I’ve been holding my breath my entire life.”
The Luncheon Seminar Co-Chairs were Ann Barish, Natalie du Pont Edmonds, Peter Gregory, Tania Higgins, Margo Langenberg, Marigay McKee, Kitty McKnight, Serena McKnight Bowman, Peter S. Paine III, Vera Serrano, Nancy Silverman, Scott Snyder and Felicia Taylor.
Additional guests included: Marigay McKee, Jamee Gregory, Geoffrey Bradfield, Janna Bullock, Susan Fales Hill, Sharon Loeb, Susan Gutfreund, Karen LeFrak, Ken Sunshine, Jean Shafiroff, Jay McInerney, Christine Mack, Marina Pellechi, Lis Waterman, Frederick Andersen, Kim Heirston, Kristen Krusen, Hilary Geary Ross, Dayssi Kanavos, Ellen Scarborough, Felicia Taylor, Susan Lloyd, Carol DeLouvrier
ABOUT HOPE FOR DEPRESSION RESEARCH FOUNDATION
HDRF’s mission is to fund the most innovative neuroscience research into the origins, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of depression and other mood disorders – bipolar disorder, postpartum depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, anxiety disorder and suicide.
In 2010, HDRF launched its Depression Task Force – an outstanding collaboration of ten of the world’s leading laboratories, at the frontiers of brain science, from different research institutions across the U.S. and Canada. These scientists have developed an unprecedented research strategy that integrates the most advanced knowledge in genetics, epigenetics, molecular biology, electrophysiology, and brain imaging. To accelerate breakthrough research, they share ongoing results, in real time, at the HDRF Data Center. For more information, visit: www.hopefordepression.org
On October 30th, the Capital Symphony Orchestra, a local string ensemble brought together under the direction of Russian maestro Vladimir Gorbik, presented a concert titled “Breaking Boundaries” at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church in midtown Manhattan. As explained in a brief opening address by composer Nicholas Reeves, the program title signified multiple ways in which the programmed pieces illustrate the transcending of various types of barriers and divisions—between life and death, academic classicism and popular culture, the individual and society, and East and West.
This photograph was used in the promotion of a previous CSO concert to highlight the need for environmental awareness.
The concert was divided into two parts, the first consisting of three shorter contemporary pieces lasting 10–15 minutes apiece. The opening work, Within Her Arms of the English composer Anna Clyne, was penned in 2009 as a lament for the composer’s recently deceased mother. It was premiered by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen, and since then has garnered numerous performances around the world. The work—characterized by a fair degree of diatonic dissonance due to the use of pan-diatonic heterophony, though without ever losing a tonal mooring—is constructed from a keening four-note motif, evoking a sigh of mourning. This is originally stated softly on a few of the upper strings, but is then subjected to progressively dense layers of divisi string sections, playing at various rates of speed as well as with increasingly complex elaboration of the original material. The piece rises to an intense climax and then quickly dies away into nothingness.
Next there followed the Variations on a Bulgarian Folk Song “Dilmano, Dilbero,” op. 2, for solo piano of the Bulgarian composer Alexander Vladigerov (1933–1993), whose father, Pancho Vladigerov (1899–1978)—a leader of the “Second Generation” composers who combined classical and folk music forms—is widely considered to be the most important composer in Bulgarian history. Bulgarian folk music is characterized by asymmetric meters of 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, or 15 beats per measure, which variously subdivide into smaller units of 3 and 2 beats. The resulting rhythmic complexity from the shifting meters and accents lends considerable variety to the music. Valdigerov’s piece, a tuneful and tonal barnstormer that is a real crowd-pleaser, consists of the theme, nine short variations of assorted tempos and characters, and a coda. Most of the sections are energetic and propulsive, with the seventh variation(the longest) providing an island of relative repose. The theme and first five variations require only a bit more than two minutes to dispatch, after which the remaining variations are longer and more elaborate. The fourth and fifth variations integrate elements from various styles of jazz; the seventh invokes the spirits of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, while the eighth and ninth suggest a touch of Gershwin. The proceedings were in the assured hands of the Bulgarian-born pianist Tania Stavreva, a New York area resident, who in 2017 issued a recording of the work on a CD (Rhythmic Movement) on her Tania Stavreva Music LLC label (available for purchase at www.taniastavreva.com/shop, cdbaby, and Gumroad.). An expressive virtuoso with superb technical prowess, she dispatched the fierce technical difficulties of the piece with seeming effortlessness, amply displaying both power and delicacy as required while always projecting a singing line and ringing tone.
Up Close of Stavreva _ Credit Paul Stetzer
Stavreva and the orchestra then combined forces in the world premiere of the Concertino Campane by Nicholas Reeves, a professor of music at Adelphi University on Long Island. This three-movement work successively portrays various aspects of bells in three locations throughout the world. The brief first movement, “Three Days in a Minute,” depicts the Prague Astronomical.
Nicholas Reeves, Tania Stavreva and Vladimir Gorbik After Rehearsal
Vladimir Gorbik, Tania Stavreva and Nicholas Reeves After the Performance
Clock, first built in 1410 and elaborated upon over succeeding centuries, which simultaneously tracks several different types of time cycles (solar, lunar, sidereal, Babylonian, Old Czech, and modern 24/7). These assorted simultaneous clock movements are portrayed by the same motivic material entering and moving at different times and rates of speed, resulting in dense and dissonant polytonal textures. Next, “Ayr” portrays the Great Uspensky bell in the Kremlin. Here, the slowly moving music assumes a shimmering, eerie, other-worldly feel reminiscent of scores for sci-fi films. The closing movement, “Call Changes,” longer than the previous two movements combined, is based on the famous cascading peal of the bells in Westminster Abbey, intermixed with thematic material from Henry Purcell’s anthem Rejoice in the Lord Alway, known as the “Bell Anthem” for its reliance on the same change-ringing sequence. Here, due to this thematic basis, the music is somewhat more tonal. The piece is difficult to absorb on a single hearing, but repeated exposure (courtesy of a recording of the concert provided to me for review purposes) clarifies its structure. In contrast to the rest of the program, here the reverberant church acoustic was less than ideal, as it caused the solo piano and various overlapping string lines to blend into one another and become difficult to distinguish. That said, having attended the final rehearsal earlier in the day, I was impressed at how Stavreva, Gorbik, and the orchestra worked to adjust their playing to obtain as much clarity as possible, a major tribute to their technical skills, as was indeed the entire performance of this challenging work.
The second half of the concert comprised a single work in a contrasting Romantic vein, Tchaikovsky’s beloved Serenade for Strings. The performance was superb; I do not think I will hear a better one in my lifetime. Vladimir Gorbik, as always, conducts with great discipline, but never a lack of feeling; his interpretation was genuinely expressive without ever falling prey to sentimental, overly Romanticized swooning or gush. Aided by the rich acoustics of the performing space, he elicited a full, warm, and rich sound from his 19 string players, while always maintaining complete clarity in all the instrumental lines as well, perfectly balanced and with fine gradations of dynamics. Tempo choices were always moderate—I would have liked the introductory section of the third movement to be a little slower and more meditative, but that is a purely subjective preference—with rubato and agogic adjustments employed sparingly but tellingly. Ideally, there would have been two contrabass violins utilized instead of just one to give the bass line even more depth, but it was amazing how much richness of sound Gorbik obtained from just one player. The ensemble played with silken tone, precise execution, and heartfelt dedication, and received a much deserved hearty sound of applause at the close.
Conducting Tchaikovsky
Conducting Tchaikovsky
James A. Altena is the Associate Editor of Fanfare magazine, the world’s leading publication for reviews of classical music recordings. Since 2010 he has published over 1,100 reviews, including sets of the complete works of Bach and Verdi, and also contributed entries to an online discography of the complete recordings of conductor Bruno Walter.
For classical concert enthusiasts there are a couple specific dates in the future where you can catch Stravreva perform in NYC.
The first is a performance she is giving for her birthday on December 3rd, 2019 at 8pm (doors open at 7:30pm). It will be at Marc A. Scorca Hall in National Opera America Center (330 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor), NYC. Tickets for this performance are available here: https://taniasbirthday.bpt.me/ free food and drinks will follow at the concluding reception.
The second is titled The New Piano Experience and is on December 7th, 2019 at 8pm (doors open at 7:30pm). This performance is also at Marc A. Scorca Hall and tickets can be found here: https://thenewpianoexperience.bpt.
The 25th annual ARTWALK NY, New York’s premiere charity art auction, took place on November 18th at Spring Studios to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless. The evening celebrated the role of “artist-as-activist” in an effort to raise awareness about the issues of homelessness, poverty and social injustice. ARTWALK NY was presented this year by the esteemed Italian fashion house Max Mara and honored the artistic achievements of Katherine Bernhardt, generous philanthropic support of Michael Platt and chaired by Maria Giulia Maramotti. The event was marked by one of the strongest attendances ever, with over 700 guests coming together to support the Coalition for the Homeless in their ongoing fight for proven, humane and cost-effective solutions to mass homelessness.
“The remarkable turnout and high energy crowd made this a hugely successful event,” said David Giffen, Executive Director of Coalition for the Homeless. “It was really moving to see so many compassionate New Yorkers come out to support our homeless neighbors.”
The charity auction saw every lot in the live auction sold. Notable highlights included the sale of Ed Ruscha’s “Says I, To Myself” for $98,000. In addition, Bernhardt partnered with Prospect to created 150, limited edition dinner plates featuring Bernhardt’s iconic work The Acrobatic Dance. The plates were made specifically for the event and sold for $150 each. 20 Katherine Bernhardt hand signed plates were also auctioned off in the live auction for $1,000 each. The plates sold out within the first hour of the event. The proceeds from the plate sales supports the Coalition’s mobile soup kitchen. Each plate purchased provides hot meals to 75 homeless New Yorkers.
In addition, Debi Mazer, Younger and Entourage star,took the live auction stage and told tales of eviction involving pots and pans in a box and pictures of broken up families and regaled the audience with tales of the taking the subway in her years as a native New Yorker. “Guys stretched out, women not waking up…”she said. “The truth of the matter is that homeless is a big problem in NYC right now.” She told of a 1981 The Deuce-like era of hookers and diners, encouraging the crowd to donate from $5-5000 “I don’t judge, I’ve had broken pockets in my time,” said the actress.
Katherine Bernhardt _ Credit Neil Rasmus /BFA.com
Guests Dressed by Max Mara:
Maria Giulia Maramotti, Debi Mazar, Mia Moretti, Elle Dee, Tali Lennox, Theodora Richards, Zoe Buckman, Sofia Resing, Shari Loeffler, Sarah Stein-Sapir, Valerie Boster Maucalay, Sarah Arison, Toby Milstein, Sheree Hovsepian, Marlies Verhoeven, Pari Ehsan, Casey Fremont, Austin Fremont, Anne Huntington and Jacquelyn Jablonski
Additional Notable Guests in Attendance Included:
Auctioneer Aileen Agopian, TK Wonder, Michelle Hellman, Vincent & Shelly Fremont, Carolyn Angel, Lara Cocken, Natalie Kates, Vajra Kingsley, Suzanne Siano, Polina Proshkina, Louise Fishman, Oliver Clegg, Sophie Elgort, Curtis Kulig, Shantell Martin, Kathleen Lynch, Nazy Nazhand, Glenn Ligon, Walter Robinson, Batsheva Hay, Aminatou Sow, Eli Zabar, Will Cotton, Rose Dergan, Deb Kass, Larry Milstein, Tripoli Patterson, Joseph LaPiana, Jessica Lichtenstein, Sean Mellyn, Landon Metz, Laure Currie, Joey Jalleo, Kayla Kaull, Brian Belott, Anna Furney and Al Freeman.
The Coalition for the Homeless extend their thanks and gratitude to all of their sponsors including Max Mara, Artsy, Crozier Fine Arts, and Spring Studios. Food Sponsorship was generously provided by Claudette, Colonia Verde, Indochine, Cafe Luxembourg, Wild Ink, Jay’s Brooklyn, Cafeteria and Houseman. Beverages were provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hendrick’s Gin, Milagro Tequila, Flor de Cana Rum and Anheuser-Busch.
ABOUT ARTWALK NY
For 25 years, ARTWALK has united New York’s foremost artists, activists, and philanthropists behind the Coalition for the Homeless’ mission to end mass homelessness in New York City and bring immediate relief to homeless men, women and children. Each year more than 100 artists donate exceptional works to the live and silent auctions, and over 750 guests come to bid on the pieces while enjoying the lively and convivial atmosphere that has marked ARTWALK as a highlight of the fall art season. The live auction, presided over by auctioneer Aileen Agopian, included work by honoree Katherine Bernhardt, as well as Jenny Holzer, Louise Fishman, Nate Lowman, Rob Wynne, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, David Zwriner Gallery and others.
THE CAUSE
Tonight, nearly 62,000 New Yorkers, including 22,000 children, will sleep in NYC homeless shelters. Thousands more will bed down in doorways, subways and other public places in a daily struggle for survival. Each year, ARTWALK NY raises critical funds to support the Coalition’s 11 lifesaving programs that provide emergency food and clothing, eviction prevention, crisis services, permanent housing, job training and programs for youth to 3,500 homeless and at-risk men, women and children each day. The event also helps raise awareness about the homelessness crisis and the Coalition’s ongoing fight for the proven, humane and cost-effective solutions that will end mass homelessness.
ABOUT THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
The Coalition for the Homeless is the nation’s oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless men, women and children. We believe that affordable housing, sufficient food and the chance to work for a living wage are fundamental rights in a civilized society. Since our inception in 1981, the Coalition has worked through litigation, public education and direct services to ensure that these goals are realized, and in that time we have given more than one million homeless New Yorkers a way off the streets.
ABOUT MAX MARA
MAX MARA, founded in 1951 by the late visionary Achille Maramotti, epitomizes Italian luxury and style. A modern collection of ready-to-wear and accessories for the confident woman, Max Mara is the premier offering within the Max Mara Fashion group consisting of sophisticated silhouettes and couture details achieved through masterful design. Recognized for its timeless sensibility and constructed from the most luxurious fabrics, Max Mara is revered for the classification of the coat, sharp suiting and elegant accessories. Max Mara is available in 2,600 locations in more than 100 countries worldwide. The Max Mara Fashion group counts nine different brands under its ownership. The company remains privately held and managed by the Maramotti family.
ICHIRAN, the authentic ramen restaurant that began in the small city of Fukuoka, Japan and specializes in tonkotsu (pork bone broth) using Ramen Focus Booths, will introduce new first of its kind traditional jubako bowls on November 14th beginning with their Times Square location.
Inspired by the Japanese traditional jubako lunch boxes, the bowls are ICHIRAN’s way of providing its guests with a true Japanese experience. Jubako is a multitiered lunch box that is customarily used to hold carefully made meals for very special occasions. The bowls, which are hand made in Arita, Japan, will feature a finely crafted lid allowing guests to enjoy the aroma of the ramen as it escapes once the lid is lifted.
Along with the new bowls, ICHIRAN has also improved their broth to more closely replicate the authentic tonkotsu flavor they have in Japan. The tonkotsu ramen’s ingredients are skillfully crafted in their Brooklyn factory and then brought to each location to be prepped by the staff. The Hakata-style homemade thin noodles are prepared daily factoring in the humidity and temperature of the day. They are made using ICHIRAN’s unique blend of flour, producing the perfect texture to pair with the broth and spicy red sauce. The classic tonkotsu broth, now newly formulated, is created with the purest filtered water and pork bones. A new vegetarian ramen has also recently launched, which features a flavorful vegetable dashi.
The Original Spicy Red Sauce (Hiden no Tare) is ICHIRAN’s greatest secret and only four people have access to the recipe. The togarashi pepper-based sauce is aged and cooked slowly with more than 30 different types of spices to create a complex blend of spicy and rich flavors. Each ramen bowl can be tailored with the diner’s choice of dashi flavoring, richness levels, garlic, scallion, Chashu (sliced pork), Original Spicy Red Sauce and noodle textures.
Additional toppings and sides can also be ordered with selections including Premium Yakibuta, which is only available in the U.S, Kikurage mushrooms, soft-boiled egg, dried seaweed, white rice and Osukaran vinegar. Guests can also order extra toppings as well as noodle refills known as Kae-Dama.
For dessert ICHIRAN serves up a light and airy Matcha pudding with Kuromitsu (brown sugar), providing the perfect sweet finish to the meal.
ICHIRAN has created a simple and straightforward ordering process for its diners. Guests will wait in line for a vacant seat, which can be seen on a light up panel before walking into the seating area. An order sheet is then found at each booth where one can personally customize their ramen choosing different ingredients, the flavor levels, the noodle texture and Kae-Dama (noodle refill). After filling out the form and returning it to a staff member using the call button, a team prepares the individualized bowls of ramen and presents them to the diner in an original Jubako ramen bowl. To ensure that the quality of the ramen is seamless every time, a 15 second standard is applied, where each bowl is delivered in 15 seconds from kitchen to the table.
U.S. LOCATIONS: Times Square: 152 West 49th Street, New York, NY 10019; Brooklyn: 374 Johnson Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206; Midtown: 132 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001
Moves Magazine advocates for women’s rights, social fairness and equal opportunity to its readers. The annual Power Women Gala is their year-end celebration of 25 women from all spheres who endorse these aims and make a difference.
In its 16th year, the Moves Power Women Awards Gala honors the exceptional women striking changes in today’s male dominated society, with femininity and grace.
Chosen from the broadest spectrum of society, each of the 25 Power Women honorees achieve a high level of respect within their industry as well as recognition and admiration from women everywhere. A Moves Power Woman is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others and clearing the path for the next generation. She shows leadership and is uniquely influential. She recognizes the need for changes in our society and is willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve these changes, whether it be behind the scenes or front and center.
This year’s gala will be MC’d by Emmy winner Sukanya Krishnan (Fox5, Pix11) with comical bites from Leah Bonnema (The Late Night Show with Stephen Colbert) and music from James Valenti (international opera star) and Nicole Morris (musical theatre).
Power Women being honored this year include Subrata De (Hulu’s Senior Executive Producer, VICE Investigates), Nicola Palmer (Verizon’s Chief Product Development Officer), Major General Jeannie Leavitt (Commander, first female US Fighter Pilot), Tracey Preston (Neiman Marcus’ Senior Vice President), Bellamy Young (actress, Scandal), Anne Fink (Pepsico’s Global Food Service President), and many more.
Festivities will be taking place on the second floor at 849 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave & W 30th St). The event will take place on November 15, 2019. Red Carpet arrivals begin at 6:30 PM.
