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Yanique Bourjolly

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The Blood Ball: A Black Magic Benefit for DKMS

by Yanique Bourjolly
written by Yanique Bourjolly

Last Thursday DKMS, an international nonprofit dedicated to eradicating blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma as well as other blood-related disease by connecting bone marrow and blood stem cell donors with patients giving them a second chance at life hosted a Blood Ball at Spring Place, Tribeca.

Over the years, the benefit has raised nearly $1 million with 100% of proceeds going towards the efforts of the organization. The theme this year’s event was “Black Magic” and attendees wore masquerade attire. The night had special performances from Broadway star, Norm Lewis as well as aerialists, tarot card readers, burlesque dancers.

Globally, DKMS has registered more than 7.6 million people. Event Chairs Katharina Harf and Elizabeth Manice were in attendance with additional celebrity guests model Carmen Carrera, Orange is the New Black actresses Amanda Stephen and Catherine Curtin, fashion designer Yigal Azrouël, actress Lily Lane, actress/former Miss Teen USA Kamie Crawford, model Vlada Roslyakova, actor Michael Maize, model Rain Dove and more.

Check out our exclusive coverage red carpet coverage with the event chairs themselves:

How did DKMS begin?

Katharina: My father Dr. Peter Harf, started DKMS in 1990 because we were looking for a donor for my mother. He basically dropped all of his work to find that one stranger for her and she lost her battle. He continued to work harder and harder. We are here today 26 years later. It inspires us all to believe that no patient goes without finding a donor.

Besides the US where else is DKMS located?

Katharina: We are in Germany, UK, Poland, Spain, India and Chile.

At the time your mother was diagnosed were there no donors?

Katharina: At the time in Germany there were a few thousand donors. Within the first year, we raised the number to 68,000. There were basically very few donors, in the US there were more but it was very hard to find a donor at that time.

How did you get involved in the organization?

Elizabeth: I’m a very old friend of Katarina’s. We met originally through friends and went to university at the same time. We’re both mothers. It’s just amazing what they’ve done. I’m thrilled to be here and it’s really extraordinary the lives they’ve touched. They’ve saved 67,000 lives in counting.

What made you to decide to have the benefit around Halloween?

Katharina: Well the whole Blood Ball is playing on the theme of Halloween and donating for blood cancer.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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8th Annual Bombay Sapphire New York Artisan Series Competition

by Yanique Bourjolly
written by Yanique Bourjolly

Last Thursday at the Allouche Gallery in Chelsea, Bombay Sapphire hosted their 8th Annual New York Artisan Series competition. The focus of the national series is fostering the talents of undiscovered multicultural artists. Each year, a handful of finalists are selected from thousands of online submissions and local gallery events.

Guests had the opportunity to view the work of 16 local emerging artists who are competing for a slot to represent New York and participate at the National Artisan Series Grand Finale amongst the nation’s other top up-and-coming artists during Art Basel Miami at the SCOPE MIAMI BEACH Art Show this December. The grand prize winner of the national finale will be awarded the opportunity to collaborate with Artsy — the innovative global platform for art collecting and education — on a large-scale public art installation next spring.

That night, the New York winner to advance to the next step was awarded to New York based and Ecuadorian-born artist Carlos Torres-Machado. His use of color, geometry and abstraction are unique and distinguishes him amongst his contemporaries. Torres-Machado posted on instagram:

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Espolòn Tequila Celebrates Artist Ai Weiwei’s Exodus Exhibit at The Hotel Chantelle

by Yanique Bourjolly
written by Yanique Bourjolly

Last Thursday in celebration of Chinese contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei’s new work Exodus displayed at the Essex Street Market, Espolòn Tequila hosted a private party at Hotel Chantelle’s rooftop. The event featured live animated projections of skeleton caricatures on the walls of neighboring buildings- the liquor bottle’s signature design by Brandon Epperson at LiveX.tv. The Misshapes, the New York based creative collective DJed the night away while guests sipped signature cocktails such as the “Espoloma” made from Espolòn Reposado, lime juice, simple syrup and grapefruit soda and gambled from an interactive Black Market for fun prizes and Espolòn swag. A temporary tattoo artist painted Calaveras, Day of the Dead skulls and other cool artwork on guests’ face and body.

Special guests in attendance that night included rapper Cakes da Killa, Injury Reserve’s Nathaniel Ritchie, @youvegotnomale’s Sebastian Tribbie, Reign’s Toby Regbo, rapper Liana Bank$, The Voice’s Raycee Jones and Erin Willett, MILK Studios Creative Director Roberto Salas, Global Citizen Festival Andrew Kirk and more.

Spanning the flagpoles of Essex Street Market, Exodus series of banners depicting a narrative of the flight of refugees- escaping warfare and devastation. Funded by Public Art Fund, Ai Weiwei’s Exodus is a part of his larger citywide exhibition entitled Good Fences Make Good Neighbors, his largest public art exhibition to date and will be on view from October 12, 2017 – February 11, 2018.

 

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Samira Wiley Hosts #PayItPlanIt Party with AMEX

by Yanique Bourjolly
written by Yanique Bourjolly

On Tuesday night, Amercian Express and “Orange Is the New Black” and “The Handmaid’s Tale” actress, Samira Wiley hosted an exclusive party at Fulton Market in lower Manhattan honoring the new AMEX feature Pay It Plan It, which allows you to place larger purchases into a monthly payment plan. The benefits to cardholders is that it is interest-free with no hidden surprises- the fixed monthly fee is shown upfront and users can still earn rewards.

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BERENIK Shakes NYFW with the launch to their Spring/Summer 2018 Collection

by Yanique Bourjolly
written by Yanique Bourjolly

Last Tuesday in SoHo BERENIK, a women’s contemporary sportswear label by Swiss designer Veronika Brusa returned to New York Fashion Week unmasking their Spring/Summer 2018 collection with a live performance and presentation held at the recently opened U.S. flagship store on 419 Broome Street.

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EventsLifestyleThe Latest

National Museum of African American Music Celebrates The Launch of Its Grand Opening

by Yanique Bourjolly
written by Yanique Bourjolly

On Tuesday night at The Hunt and Fish Club in the heart of Times Square a private party took place in celebration of The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) which is scheduled to be built in the Fall of 2019. That night, CEO H. Beecher III discussed the upcoming project with a slideshow of it’s construction and timeline to guests as they sipped on cocktails and ate tasty hors d’oeuvres from the posh steakhouse.

The Museum will be the first of it’s kind to preserve the legacy and celebrate the accomplishments of the many music genres created, influenced, or inspired by African Americans. It is fitting that it’s location is in the heart of downtown Nashville. From country to classical and everything in between, Nashville is internationally heralded as Music City. Housed in a 56,000 square foot space in the former Nashville Convention Center, the Museum will be within walking distance to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Arena and the Ryman Auditorium.

The importance of the Museum as an educational hub which preserves and celebrates the rich influence Black people have had on America’s music is paramount. The history it will bring to visitors is one that has never been told before – which shares how a distinct group of people used their artistry to connect more than 50 genres, ranging from folk to hip-hop to blues to this country. Visitors will experience the “Rivers of Rhythm Pathway” where they will be taken from the beginnings of American music with Southern religious and blues traditions to the most impactful hip-hop and Rhythm & Blues. It will showcase how many of today’s most renowned artists are connected to the traditions born out of the African American experience, with captivating scenes and quotes from the last century. The Museum also hosts a variety of youth and adult programs designed to educate and inspire music enthusiasts of all ages to appreciate a variety of music forms.

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