If you would have told me 20 years ago that Ant-Man would be a successful movie franchise, I would have laughed in your face.
This is what you have been waiting for cruise fans!
One evening last summer, I crammed into a packed venue on the Lower East Side to watch a performance by HEESU. The 24-year-old South Korean musician was performing as part of a showcase for rising artists in New York City. But with her powerful vocals and magnetic personality, HEESU sounded like the definite headliner.
Filmmaker Foustene Fortenbach on the Most Personal Work She’s Ever Made
An epic night in Manhattan indeed!
At The Knockturnal, we like to try out all things fun and new in the beauty world—including visiting salons to try out exciting services on ourselves. Our latest venture? A trip to Smooth & Skinny in Yorba Linda.
As more beauty treatments began to become popular in the mainstream world, it’s important for us at The Knockturnal to continually try out all things new and exciting. Because of this we decided to try out an Endo-Roller service which includes “compressive micro vibration roller device that generates low frequency vibration,” according to the salon. Treatments such as these are meant to improve muscle tone, skin tone and reduce cellulite.
At a price of $100, it comes out to be a much more affordable alternative than trying out other treatments. Being as it improves your blood flow as well, the service itself feels like a nice massage all while going hard at work on your muscles.
While at the salon, I felt incredibly taken care of and appreciated having my practitioner patiently and thoroughly walk me through the process. Such treatments should always be completed with someone you feel comfortable around and luckily at Smooth & Skinny the staff is as kind as we’d hope for.
Perhaps more impressively is the fact that the salon offers a ton of different services at that price point such as Endermologie, Lipo Cavitation, Infrared Body Wrap and more. If you’re unsure what the right service is for you and your goal, Smooth & Skinny is able to help customize a package tailored to your personal needs. “Whether to lose inches, smooth and tighten your skin, and more,” reads the salon’s website. “We offer state of the art technology to achieve your goals effortlessly.”
Ahead of the holidays and the New Year, there’s never been a better time to work on your own goals (or purchase a gift card for someone else to enjoy).
Below are a few must have items as you shop for your loved ones!
Richie Akiva came into Art Basel full force and claimed Miami with the hottest parties and events, undisputed. The hospitality giant and NY nightlife King, held Basel pop ups starting with Stone Island on November 29th and included celebrity stacked nights at GALA Miami nightclub, Socialista at Cipriani Miami on December 1 and December 3, and even a mega Yacht party on November 30th. There were definitely more, but we lost count.
Akiva marked his rank on Basel 2022, seen out nightly and all around town with an A-List crew.
GALA Miami, the hottest new and exclusive South Beach nightclub by JoJo Lahoud and Marco Garcia, partnered with Akiva for an unmatched weekend of talent endlessly flowing nightly and posted up across all the VIP tables. DJ sets included Jus Ske on Friday night and Stevie J on Saturday, with Ruckus guest popping into the booth . The flow of talent at GALA included Kim Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian, Foodgod, Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott, Hailey Bieber, Serena and Venus Williams, Hassan Whiteside, Griizy, Shay Mitchell, Bella Thorne, Frida Aasen and Tommy Chiabra, Miguel, Cash XO, Floyd Mayweather, Eiza Gonzalez, Hailee Steinfeld, Beau Casper Smart, SAINt JHN, Zack Bia, Gastaad Guy, Yung Taco, Victor Cruz, Eric The Jeweler, Larsa Pippen, Marcus Jordan, Dixie D’Amelio, Patrick Carroll, JR Smith, Alesso, Tobey Maguire, and the list goes on….
If you missed the GALA late night parties, was there even a point to be in Miami last weekend? Perhaps, because Akiva also had just as many VIPs out at Cipriani’s Miami Socialista lounge for his earlier evening sets. On the 1st, Zoe Kravitz celebrated her birthday at the waterfront lounge, partying along side names such as Eiza Gonzalez, Hailee Steinfeld, Jamie Chung, and Hailey Bieber all hanging in their intimate VIP area, as well as Venus and Serena Williams, Adrian Grenier, Phillies’ owner John Powers Middleton, Vincent Laresca, Tobey Maguire, Frida Aasen, Tommy Chiabra, and more. The Socialista party reconvened on Saturday night for a second installment, December 2nd, in which Akiva did a double header.
Stone Island was the kick off of Akiva’s week at the RC Cola Plant on the 29th for the 40th anniversary with a performance by Jamie XX, and the likes of Jared Leto, Miguel, Odell Beckham Jr, Vivi Nevo, Danny A. Abeckaser, James Goldstein, Riccardo Tisci, and Venus Williams, among several other bold faced names, with DJ sets by Tomas Station and Jonny Rock, and many more. The event was co-hosted by Ronnie Madra, Steven Kentucky, Lucciano Grey and Skylar Hauswirth.
His lineup then followed on the 30th with a super VIP party on the VAVA Mega Yacht, for a party we hear went all night following Sean Penn’s Core Response Gala. The guest list of the yacht deserves an award in itself, ranging from A-Listers like Jared Leto to supermodels, athletes, influencers and a slew of notables, and we hear no phones were permitted. Akiva knows how to throw a bash, as we hear guests were greeted with white glove service.
The Knockturnal continues to bring you the hottest nightlife and event insider info. in all top cities. Follow us for more on instagram.
Photo gallery above from Gala Miami, exclusive images by World Red Eye / Seth Browarnik. Head to World Red Eye for more images from Gala, Stone Island and Socialista.
El Cristiano officially introduced to the world the first ever XR, hosted by founders of the Ultra Premium Tequila brand Karan Khanna and Priyanka Khanna, and co-founder Chris Shaffer. XR is an entirely new category of tequila, Extra Reposado, at Soho Works in West Hollywood, on November 15, 2022.
Guests, inclusive of notable industry players and house members enjoyed an intimate tasting event in the membership workspace’ Loft, featuring a lavish charcuterie spread by Chef Shane Fatemian. The tasting featured El Cristiano’s new XR Old Fashioned cocktail, prepared by mixologist David Brackett.
The launch of XR is El Cristiano’s latest expansion, and the first brand to introduce an Extra Reposado variety. XR is a brand new category in tequila, a delicate blend of 11 months aged Reposado from ex-bourbon american and ex-red wine french oak barrels for complexity and sweetness. El Cristiano tequila prides itself on being sustainable and additive free.
This ultra premium award-winning tequila which officially debuted in May 2022, is always additive free and made from at least six year old blue weber agave harvested from the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. This properly aged highlands agave is the basis of the delicious and clean taste profile of their tequila. The brand has developed a signature and beautiful taste of 100% agave with no additives, and is a featured tequila at Soho House. El Cristiano was born by a passionate group of tequila and liquor industry leaders, award-winning generational premium tequila makers and agave growers, and seasoned business entrepreneurs.
Soho Works is located at 9000 Sunset in West Hollywood, the work-focused collaborative members space extension of Soho House members club. The gorgeous space features a modern design with rustic and refined accents, highlighted by floor to ceiling views of the Hollywood Hills and Sunset Strip.
Photos courtesy of El Cristiano/Jesse Richmond. Event was produced by The Influence.
Image Gallery: El Cristiano Mixology, TV Host George Satsidis with Founders Karan and Priyanka Khanna, Film Producer Tomik Mansoori with Author Jasmin Rosemberg and Artist Matt Smiley, Chef Shane Fatemian, Soho Works Loft, Cocktail Blogger The Gilded Bellini, and VIP Guests at the tasting including Dr. Raj Kanodia, George Satsidis and Ryan Phillippe with founders Karan and Priyanka Khanna and Chris Shaffer.
On Saturday, November 19, 2022, at The Ned NoMad, Busta Rhymes hosted a private EP Album Release party taking over the entire Jazz Club level of Akiva’s Members Club and hotel, a popular New York hotspot. The party, of which guests entered through The Library Room which was filled floor to ceiling with red and black balloons, went from Midnight to 4:00am, with an exclusive guest list of Busta‘s personal invitees celebrating all evening. The party was to honor his new album, “The Fuse Is Lit,” as he toasted with guests into the late night hours.
Other music artists and industry notables at the bash included Dave East, DJ Suss One, Rowdy Rebel, Spliff Star, Giggs, Badius, Capella Grey, Tr Trizzy, Hustle Hard Herbie, Eric The Jeweler (Eric Mavani), Murda Mook, DJ Scratchator, Nicole Mitchell Murphy, Stacie J, Gianni Credle-Harrell, and more.
“The Fuse Is Lit” EP has been trending on the charts, released on November 18th. The album includes a collaboration with Swizz Beatz as producer, and special guests Conway The Machine, Capella Grey, Big Daddy Kane & more.
Busta, all smiles all night, was draped in a powder blue custom Chanel suit and matching puffer jacket ensemble highlighted by red Chanel stitching, a red turtleneck and gold button details. The rap mogul was draped in gold jewelry, his hands donning oversized gold, diamond and ruby rings, for a show-stopping look.
Busta took to the mic once the room was full, noting “I didn’t have a DJ until 8:00pm, shout out to Blends, and a venue until 72 hours ago, okay..ok… let’s be straight, 48 hours ago.., I called my brother Richie Akiva and he pulled off a lot for me, not going to sugarcoat it, love that man.” Guests continued to cheer and shout out their pal Busta, everyone so excited for his EP. He also went on to give additional speeches, and noted “Now I am going to say a few things. First, I AM HAPPY. I have been working on final touches of this EP release for the last 48 hours, and right now I am super in love with being an artist first and when it comes to the creative space especially. When you have real friends and real love and relationships in your life, that just makes all things next level.”
A special DJ set was performed by Busta‘s pal DJ True Blends.
The Ned NoMad continues to have an endless flow of VIPs through its doors, with Dave Chappelle hosting his SNL party the weekend prior, of which Busta and Miguel were both present and performed.
Richie Akiva has been at the forefront of New York hospitality since he opened Butter, followed by Up&Down, The Darby and 1OAK. The Ned NoMad is his latest chapter of an evolved career, bringing New York his latest vision of curated hospitality and nightlife, through the doors of the exclusive Members Club, Hotel, and private lounge.
Exclusive Images from Busta’s EP Release Party. Photo credit: Johnny Nunez