There are fewer things Australians hold dear more than Picnic at Hanging Rock. And it seems like the cast and crew behind the new Amazon Prime original miniseries are well aware of it.
For the past eight years, the Athena Film Festival has been a leader in providing recognition for female and minority filmmakers.
Forget soccer or cricket. For a sport so widely played across the world and far lesser-known in the United States, Chasing Great provides a unique insight into a sport most Americans are not familiar with.
Towering over Midtown Manhattan with awe-dropping views of clothes and the Empire State Building, streetwear clothing brand Manhattan Knights shows off their new collection for the upcoming season.
The rules?
Plastic, transparency, honesty.
In a move to accept a wider range of fashion-minded individuals, Manhattan Knights’ collection features non-gender conforming clothing with a unique twist on fashion throughout the centuries. Different materials come into play, just as our generation’s typical cynically is featured right on our chests.
Chainmail and plastic provide an excellent material for our mood—the transparency of plastic forces people to get to know us, to know our personalities with the sleeves on our shoulders, or in this case, the plastic front of our 
shirts. Chainmail, on the other hand, shows our hard exterior, bounded together with meticulous care, telling people we care about our appearance on the outside just as much as the inside. That we’re hard to know but working through that will provide the greatest of relationships with that inside person.
Material takes over Manhattan Knights’ show, held on a penthouse floor of a building directly aligned with the Empire State Building a block over. And with its location comes its delivery. Sticking with streetwear’s rejection of normality, Manhattan Knights decided to disrupt the cliché catwalk for a more casual—and more enjoyable—living look. Models sat on couches, danced to live music, and just hung out while acting like any streetwear-wearing person would. In that living arrangement, not only did they show off their clothing brand as a new approach to an already new fashion, but they showed their personality through their atmosphere.
Amazing window views of midtown surrounding the models, with already chic clothing featuring an upside-down Nike logo with the words “Just Don’t,” Manhattan Knights forces consumers to question what they’re buying, and onlookers to ask how those got to confident.
Like Manhattan Knights describes themselves as being “inspired by a deep love for New York, its culture, its people, and its humor,” Manhattan Knights’ new collection depicted just that. New Yorkers’ cynicality came out just as our uniqueness was shown. Our hard exterior followed by remarkably cute interior shows how we view ourselves, just how those who don Manhattan Knights’ clothing.
We already told you about the event, now let’s tell you about the people.
For 22 years, tennis and music stars alike lined the court in the children-filled Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens. And for those 22 years, the stars brought entertainment to those kids and also motivated them to stay active and continue pursuing their goals despite whatever adversity they may face, a la Arthur Ashe legacy.
This year is no different. On August 26, tennis greats Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Angelique Kerber joined the ranks of such musical talents like Why Don’t We, Jack & Jack, New Hope Club, and more. Alex Aiono and Sofia Carson showed off their hosting and singing abilities, while the interviews they shared with music star Spencer Sutherland and Saving Forever proved to be extremely delightful.
Jack & Jack playing at the 2017 Arthur Ashe Kids Day in Flushing Meadows, Queens.
Young tennis hopefuls from across America braved New York City’s humid air and stormed the Microsoft Word blue court at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where they were met with particularly difficult challenges testing their tennis aims. The young adult that advanced from this series of backhand and forehand targets then went on to play against the household tennis names above, showing Federer, Williams, current U.S. Open champ Kerber, and Nadal who’s boss.
That was a lot of fun. Especially since the kid outplayed some of the pros– who really can’t say they were letting him win.
Previous musical acts included Austin Mahone, Ariana Grande, Carly Rae Jepson and even The Wanted, while tennis stars like Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Andy Roddick showed their faces. Arthur Ashe Kids Day isn’t limited to only musical acts and athletes in tennis; First Lady Michelle Obama once gave an inspiring speech to all children that they should follow in Arthur Ashe’s footsteps and maintain a healthy lifestyle while staying active in any sport they chose– and swimming great Missy Franklin reminded them that sports didn’t have to include a net or racket.
Kids certainly listened to the similar message asked of them Saturday. With activities like face painting and hair braiding, to people making balloon animals and holding juggling workshops, children were invited to participate in a plethora of events that motivated them to stay out in the summer sun. Races and dance competitions only kept the already active children even more so, and provided for great laughs and family fun.
The ceremony itself proved to be an entertaining show within a show. Watching Carson and Aiono read over lines and seeing Jack & Jack jumping over the net proved to be an event in itself. Also shocking is the fan base these musical acts have, and how ardent they are in not only attaining a selfie or autograph, but screaming behind their performances, resulting in security standing between them and the camera interviewing their favorite celebs. Don’t worry– every little 12 year-old was awarded with a hug from their favorite singer in the end.
Arthur Ashe Kids Day didn’t let down with the events and show, and still provided great motivation for people of all ages to stay active and truly take care of themselves. Check out our next post with interviews with some of the stars at Kids Day!
The lights. The sounds. The stages. The Disney World esque Epcot Theater?
Hilariously long run-on speeches. Truthful and violent bragging. Outdated references elongating award shows. Referencing other award show failures. And of course, musical numbers on musical numbers.
With the warm weather issuing in summer binge watching and season reruns, the NBCUniversal Upfront red carpet showed us what we have to expect for the fall. With appearances from Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo for World of Dance to Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman for The Handmade Project, NBC made sure everyone knew of its new and continuing projects for next season.
We had the chance to speak with several showrunners on their shows and what viewers can expect to see. We spoke with Glenn Howerton and Patton Oswalt for their new, Seth Meyers/Mike O’Brien written show, A.P. Bio, a show that follows Howerton as a former college philosophy professor teaching A.P. Biology to high school students. Check out the informative banter the two offered us.
What can viewers expect for the new show?
GH: Two comedy legends going head to head on NBC.
PO: There could only be one. Wait a minute, that sounds weird.
GH: Highlander.
PO: Yea, only one of us is going to survive the pilot.
GH: It’s like Highlander, only it’s funnier than Highlander, I hope.
PO: We kill each other with jokes. Then we cut the other’s head off and we absorb his comedy skills.
GH: That’s right.
PO: The quickening happens. And then the Queen song plays.
GH: And that’s basically what the show’s about.
PO: You can expect a lot of very funny awkwardness on this guy’s part. Yes, but this is on a different level then It’s Always Sunny, you’ll see.
Kristen Bell stopped for us as well on the carpet, telling us there’s plenty on Ted Danson’s side of their show, The Good Place, that we can expect for season two. She said the show will have, “More weird stuff. Season two takes on an entirely different meaning because of the reveal at the end of season one, and it’s a lot more from Ted Danson’s character’s perspective this season, so it’s a little bit nastier. And it’s a lot of fun.”
Among The Handmade Project, A.P. Bio, and World of Dance, other new shows coming to NBC next season include Tina Fey’s highly talked about project, Good News, as well as The Brave, and a revival of Will & Grace.
Townie Commute Go! in Mineral Blue
For anyone whose morning commute entails biking up a steep hill in a sweat-filled suit, this is the bike for you. For anyone who finds themselves biking over the extremely steep ramp of the Triboro Bridge, this is the bike. For anyone who genuinely enjoys the strenuous effort that goes into biking in the rain while constantly breaking to avoid oncoming traffic, teach me your ways.
Townie Commute in Matte Black
Seriously, this is the bike for you. The Electra Bicycle Company, which started in San Diego in 1993, has just released two new electronic bikes that will “bring a smile to your face,” as Electra president Kevin Cox said. Electra has recently released two new ebikes in addition to its already sprawling collection of over 200 models. The two bikes, aptly called the Townie Commute Go! and the Loft Go!, complete the trifecta Electra started with the Townie Go!, the best-selling ebike in the United States.
But what makes Electra’s ebikes better than the competition? “We’re making bikes to fit into people’s lifestyles. We’re not trying to make those lifestyles fit into our bikes,” Cox said of the bicycles. Electra takes the classic cruiser experience one finds in Southern California and brings it to the big city. Cox said the idea came since “people live in cities all over the world and while we’re a small San Diego-based, beach cruiser-DNA bike company, we sell globally, everywhere in the world.”
Loft Go! in Cream
A cruiser bike in an urban jungle? Electra is known for its cruiser bikes and the bright, vibrant colors they come in, and there’s nothing like bringing the beach feel to the city traffic rush—albeit, with that electronic twist. And that’s exactly why Cox says people are drawn to Electra bikes. People want to be comfortable most of all, show their flare, and get somewhere in a timely but fashionable way.
Cox said the company takes away the objections of riding a bike. “Some of those objections end up being, ‘I don’t like to go to work sweaty.’ Oh guess what, with a pedal assist bike, it’s easy. You don’t have to be sweaty. Or they say ‘right before my office, there’s a big hill and I don’t like having to pedal up that hill.’ Well guess what, with an e-bike, that hill is super easy. Or they say ‘I can’t carry the things I want to carry because I’d have to wear a backpack’ or something like that. Well with a front carrier and a rear rack, it becomes super simple. I think taking away all those reasons for grabbing your car keys as opposed to your bike keys is something near and dear to our hearts.”
After test-riding both the Loft Go! and the Townie Commute Go!, I can attest Cox was right in saying there was a smile on my face. It was so simple and easy to use, and truly made biking around somehow more fun than what it already is. As a biker who commutes across bridges and up hills, to a person who likes biking around the neighborhood, I immediately felt the different riding experience the Electra bike offers over other bikes—electronic or otherwise. The cushioned seating with large tires provided a smooth ride, but it was the upright sitting position with its patented Flat Foot Technology® (allowing you to wait at stoplights with both feet on the ground) that truly blew me away. These bikes essentially put everything one would want in a bike together: the speed of a road bike with the comfort and ease of a cruiser—all with the extra help of an electronic motor.
Let’s talk some specs. The Townie Commute Go! goes for $2999.99 and features Electra’s patented Flat Foot Technology® as well as swept-back handlebars for that upright position seating. The Loft Go! is going for $2799.99 and features front and rear heavy duty racks with hydraulic disc brakes. Both have 700c Schwalbe puncture-resistant tires and are Bosch motor-powered, with the Townie Commute Go! powered with its Bosch Performance System and the Loft Go! powered with the Bosch Active System. Both systems feature a 250 watt mid-frame motor with a battery that lasts anywhere from 20-100 miles, depending on the mode (each mode adds extra pedal assist) you’re riding in. Conveniently, both bikes also feature 
automatic LED lights with internal cabling and an ABUS lock that surrounds the rear tire for those quick five-minute coffee runs.
In addition to its wide range of bikes, Electra also features an eclectic mix of whimsically designed helmets, bells, and other bicycle accessories as well as clothing. Check out the bikes and their inventory at electrabike.com