The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, stuns New York audience in a rich music program highlighting Rachmaninoff.
Events
The Global Lyme Alliance Gala successfully raised $1.6 million for Lyme and tick-borne disease research and awareness.
Jada Pinkett Smith wants to share her experience in finding self worth in her new memoir titled Worthy. After speaking with television and online journalist for the past few days in promoting the book, Smith sat with Arianna Huffington (October 16th) at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City to for a chat as part of PAC’s ‘Conversations” series which is a partnership between CAA and Vanity Fair which presents cultural tastemakers, and Hollywood stars and authors sharing their stories. Prior to sitting with Huffington, Smith met with select fans who purchased her book during an intimate meet and greet. Vanity Fair reporter Chris Smith introduced Jada.
During the nearly hour long discussion Smith discussed a range of topics including controversial topics such as her marriage to Will Smith, the Oscar incident with Chris Rock, being introduced to ayahuasca and more. Huffington also asked Smith about specific quotes and questions that she wrote in the book.
“I had to go through everything and that’s one of the reasons for me [that] I’m so glad that I didn’t go on that angry impulse of just like ‘I’m divorcing you, I’m’ sick of you’. I knew I had to get myself together. I recognized that and I had to get through my stuff before I could see what was actually happening right, and then being willing to work with Will in a different way. So now that we’ve done work together now we’re getting through on the other side, And it’s like the ceremony which I talked about in the book [ayahuasca] having to sit there in your stuff, you can’t you can’t stop the process, right? It’s the same thing in relationships. We try to stop the process of working through it. We try to escape it and go well I’mma go find somebody else, well, I’mma leave you. Sometimes we have to do that. Sometimes it’s necessary in my case, I had to work through my stuff through my stuff with Will and now we’re coming out on another side”, Jada said about working on herself and her relationship with her husband Will whom she is currently separated from.
After an over 30 year career in Hollywood, and having received numerous awards, and accolades, Jada explained what ‘success’ currently means to her saying, ” For me, it’s loving connection it’s having a beautiful intimate relationship with myself, that allows me to have beautiful, intimate relationships with others. I love feeling connected it is my favorite thing, even people that I got to meet today, looking at you and your eyes, hugging you looking at the beauty, taking pictures, even if it’s just for a second. That to me is life. And so the disconnect was that I was disconnected with myself and that’s the part I didn’t know that I had to learn to do. But that’s success to me.”
Worthy is currently available for purchase.
The Knockturnal attended the second anniversary of The Henn na Hotel, which is the hotel group’s first property outside of Japan. The second anniversary comes at a time, especially in the hospitality real estate market where thousands of Airbnb’s and short-term listing rentals were wiped off the map in New York City. Local Law 18, which came into force Tuesday, limits how Airbnb operates in the city by implementing new policies for hosts and guests alike. Henn na Hotel New York’s presence here is celebrated as the pendulum has shifted back towards the Hotel Industry. Henn na Hotel New York offers stylish, tech-forward accommodations and irreverent hospitality to experiences in the heart of Manhattan. I met with a few of the team, toured the rooms and surrounding common areas as well, and enjoyed sushi and saki from the restaurant in the lobby. Stationed directly in the hub of NYC activities and recreation spaces to experience all the excitement the city has to offer, the property also features a GOSUKE restaurant, and a one-of-a-kind life-size animatronic T-Rex in its lobby to welcome guests which is a memorable fixture within the lobby. The rooms are very luxurious bright open and airy. I have never seen an LG Styler, in addition to steaming and reducing the need for ironing, the LG Styler refreshes clothing by removing allergens, dust, smoke and sweat and is asthma & allergy friendly. Henn na Hotel New York is an oasis away from the fast pace of New York even as it is centrally located. This is a very vibrant space private with easy access to everything in the city.
Southern California-based beverage company Passion Tree, the pioneer of the world’s first-ever mini-hard seltzer, hosted their official launch party for their new line of Passion Tree Minis in NY on October 7, 2023. Originally scheduled for an October 8 launch, Passion Tree Minis are now available in select Target stores including New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and California as of Monday. The seltzers come in five flavors, including Guava, Dragon Fruit, Boysenberry, and two new flavors exclusive to the minis variety pack: Lychee and Coconut.

Photo Courtesy of Passion Tree
Despite the immediate downpour, the event was a success. Make Believe, the rooftop venue where the event was hosted, offered a fantastic experience. The rain may have been falling outside, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of those inside. The room was filled with influencers, beverage enthusiasts, and Passion Tree co-founders Andy Kuklock, & Jake Ryder, who took the time to connect with attendees, sharing their brand’s vision for the future. The drinks had a subtle sweetness perfect for a housewarming matching the intimate and friendly atmosphere of Make Believe. The 7.5oz cans, with an ABV of 5.5%, are available in a Variety 10 pack for $18.99, or Guava and Coconut 6 packs for $11.99. Store locators can be found at drinkpassiontree.com.

Photo Courtesy of Passion Tree
Passion Tree takes pride in offering a friendly beverage option tailored to a conscious and responsible drinking crowd. It’s not about seeking intoxication during a night out; so much as it is a refreshing drink that doesn’t come with the lingering effects of a hangover. The lower alcohol content can strike a balance that allows for easy social drinking without taking a toll on your well-being. Their compact size is convenient for on-the-go activities, such as picnics, outdoor events, or carrying in a purse or bag. Passion Tree Minis empowers consumers to enjoy every moment in a precisely portioned, guilt-free package while reducing the risk of health concerns associated with excessive alcohol consumption. With their compact size, signature light carbonation, premium brewing process, gluten-free and kosher certification, and 70 calories per serving, these mini hard seltzers are sure to disrupt the seltzer market in a huge way.
For more information please visit drinkpassiontree.com and follow @PassionTree on social.
Giving us all a well needed disconnect from reality, ROLL THE BONES (RTB) theatre company transformed audience members to simpler times with immersive theatre experience, No. 9.
A delightful excuse to bond, No. 9 is designed for pairs who are willing to unplug for an hour to escape into one of three worlds: Asheville, North Carolina in 1986, Redding, Connecticut in 2007 or where we ended up; in 1993 chilling outside of a trailer in Twentynine Palms, California with our host, Lynne. Before the experience began, each pair received a watch preset to go off after an hour; which marked the end of our visit.
It was a starry night in Twentynine Palms on October 13, and friends and partners were kicked back on lawn chairs with a cooler full of beers and powdered sparkling cider. In addition to the dim lighting, sounds of crickets and life like set; Lynne’s nomadic and welcoming spirit ignited an eclectic mix of conversations ranging from constellations, the vibrations crystals and humans share and the emergence of TLC.
Created and directed by RTB Artistic Director, Taylor Myers, and Michael Ryterband, No. 9 is “ a human-centric answer to the loneliness epidemic of the digital age.” The production was accompanied by a seamless shift to the Dead Letter Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge where audience memembers were served chili, pizza, and other comfort foods and cocktails.
Opened to the public on October 14, No. 9 is set to run through early November. Tickets can be purchased on their website.
2023 Make Equality Reality Gala: A Celebration of The Fight for Women’s Equality
Equality Now, an organization dedicated to advocating for the human rights of women and girls across the world, held their annual gala on Wednesday night at Gustavino’s. Under a backdrop of the glittering Queensboro bridge at sunset, poet Rupi Kaur won the 2023 Changemaker award and delivered an inspiring call-to-action speech.
Held on International Day of the Girl, the Make Equality Reality Gala celebrates the progress made toward a more gender equal world and all who fight for that future. To date, Equality Now has changed over 70 laws around the world. Since 1992, they have been fighting to achieve legal equality, end sexual exploitation and violence, and end culturally normalized harmful practices towards women and girls. The organization’s Director, Mona Sinha, told us the organization means a lot to her because “as a young girl growing up in India, [she] saw the discrimination firsthand,” and thinks that “the law is the foundation to securing women’s rights.” She joined Equality Now because she’s “more interested in systemic change that is binding and secure” than something that only lasts for a year or two. Tonight’s event is a way for Equality Now to “showcase their work in a positive, happy way, because it is very challenging work.
Rupi Kaur, who won the 2023 Changemaker award (given last year to the icon Gloria Steinem), is a poet whose work has transformed the lives of women and given voice to many who were previously unable to share their experiences. Her book, Milk and Honey, is among the top 10 banned books in the United States due to its discussion of sexual harm. She knows more than anyone how powerful our voices are, and how they “threaten those who are more than happy to take away those powers.”
She engaged the room with her intelligence and charm, encouraging art for resistance despite censorship as a “beautiful act of rebellion against a world that undermines us at every turn.” Despite oppression worldwide, she assured everyone that “young girls will always find a way to survive; their resilience is unparalleled” and told us that “we as a community must find a way to empower them through all walks of life.” Director Sinha celebrated Kaur as a “real changemaker, because she has really changed the hearts and minds of the next generation in a way that is so meaningful and will really impact the future.”
Gloria Steinem told the crowd to keep fighting for progress and for the Equal Rights Amendment, and lauded 10-year-old Teela Samra for her passionate speech calling for gender equality.
The night was a beautiful celebratory way to “show the world that we can win, and we can change lives, and we can make a difference in a time when the world is pretty dark.” Equality Now inspired its guests and its wins this year, and continues to make a difference worldwide. Learn more about the incredible work Equality Now is doing here. 
New York Comic Con, a highly anticipated event for fans of all things pop culture, experienced some unforeseen challenges during its recent edition.
One prominent issue that surfaced was related to internet connectivity. As attendees flooded the Jacob K. Javits Center, the sheer volume of people attempting to access the internet led to significant congestion. This resulted in slow and unreliable connections, making it difficult for many attendees to utilize their devices for various purposes, including accessing event information, sharing their experiences on social media, and staying connected with friends and fellow fans.
In the experience of attendees at the event, Artist Alley was notably devoid of activity. Many talented artists were displaced from Artist Alley to accommodate more renowned and costly comic artists on the show floor. Consequently, several convention-goers missed out on encountering talented artists simply because they were unaware of their presence on the show floor. During the event, they had the opportunity to engage with an outstanding artist, Kelly McMahon, who shed light on the fact that most artists had to actively contend for a spot at Artist Alley, revealing the competitive nature of securing a table at the event. It was also a bad time for the center’s wifi to not work as many artists had QR codes displayed on their desks along with the payment swipes. The problem is, the bad connection affected their sales tremendously.
Another hiccup at the event was the difficulties some attendees faced when trying to access QR codes. QR codes are commonly used for various purposes at conventions, from ticket scanning to accessing exclusive content. However, it was reported that several attendees had trouble scanning these codes due to technical glitches and network issues. This inconvenience, though not universal, did disrupt the smooth flow of activities for some con-goers, highlighting the importance of reliable technology infrastructure at such large-scale events.
On a rather bizarre note, the event also witnessed an incident that left attendees baffled. Reports emerged that an individual defecated on the show floor, creating an unsanitary and uncomfortable situation for everyone present. This incident not only marred the convention’s overall atmosphere but also raised questions about event security and the behavior of certain attendees. It served as a reminder that maintaining a safe and respectful environment at conventions like New York Comic Con is essential for the enjoyment of all participants.
This year’s New York Comic Con left some attendees feeling a bit underwhelmed in terms of the vendor presence. While the convention traditionally boasts a diverse array of vendors offering a wide range of merchandise, there was a noticeable shortage of vendors in comparison to previous years.
Additionally, some felt that there was an overemphasis on anime-related content, which, while exciting for fans of the genre, may have overshadowed other facets of pop culture. Furthermore, the show floor appeared strikingly similar to what attendees had experienced in previous editions of the event, with little to no discernible innovations or unique attractions. Overcrowding was also an issue, as the convention was bustling with attendees, leading to long lines and congested walkways, making it a challenging environment for many to navigate comfortably.
This contrast with San Diego Comic-Con was particularly evident in the available activities and experiences for attendees. Many participants felt that New York Comic Con offered fewer engaging and unique opportunities compared to its West Coast counterpart. San Diego Comic-Con has earned a reputation for its immersive attractions, exclusive panels, and high-profile celebrity appearances. In contrast, some attendees noted that New York Comic Con lacked the same level of excitement and innovation in its programming. The striking difference in the scale and diversity of activities between the two conventions became quite evident for those who had experienced both.
Overall, the combination of the ongoing labor strikes and a perceived deficit in offerings at New York Comic Con contributed to a less satisfying experience for some attendees. While the convention still provided a platform for fans to connect and celebrate their passions, the differences between this year’s New York Comic Con and other major events in the fandom world became quite apparent, leaving attendees and enthusiasts looking forward to more robust and engaging experiences in the future.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: (L-R) Imani Ellis, Cam Kirk, Brittney Escovedo and Luke Lawal Jr. speak on stage during CultureCon NY 2023 on October 08, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Sunday, October 8, 2023. Duggal Greenhouse, Brooklyn, New York. —In the spirit of Culture Con, on day two, I thought I would take a more immersive approach to experiencing the conference and the people, businesses and influencers that give shape to this BIPOC (black and indigenous people of color) artistic cultural movement. If you are just reading this article for the first time and missed the first installment “Culture Con, 2023: Day 1”, the 2-day event was created in 2019 by, The Creative Collective, a community organization made for black and brown creatives. Culture Con was created to celebrate change makers and culture shifters in the BIPOC community.
The conference has since grown in its offering, now including a Creative Career Job Fair that included companies: Amazon Studios, Clinique, Max, NBCUniversal, Google, Walmart, Shea Moisture, and Kickstarter; along with a seminar that offers industry insights to aspiring young black and brown professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, techs, and so much more. The panels are designed to shine a light on potential professional and lifestyle pathways for the historically disenfranchised artistic community; encouraging them to build wealth, community and to utilize the resources within their arsenal. The panels also serve as a means to combat ‘gatekeeping’ a willful act or tendency of withholding essential resources and insights to our fellow brothers and sisters within the black and brown community out of fear of the scarcity and lack.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: (L-R) Kyle Price, Shareese Bembury-Coakley, Jarrett Cobbs and Carri Twigg speak on stage during CultureCon NY 2023 on October 08, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
I arrived at 10:30 am sharp, enough time to sit in on the first panel discussion, “Nothing Moves Without Us: Reclaiming Our Stories” led by multifaceted creative and influencer, Kyle Price, the creator of the “Make It a Moment” , a lifestyle show that creates a safe space for Black queer & gay men to share their experiences through conversation in an attempt to build community. The multifaceted black creator began his career in media, starring on SlayTV’s, “Love @ First Night” (2016 – 2020, Terry & Sean Torrington) and shortly signed to the South African based “Cover Model Management” and “Vie Management”; he would now be adding a slash and the words “Culture Con Discussion Host”, beside his name. On his panel sat the invisible hands that moved the event, the Director of Integrated Marketing at AMC Networks, Sharese Bembury-Coakley; Vice President of Strategy at the award-winning, full-service consumer marketing agency, Team Epiphany, Jarrett Cobbs; and Carri Twigg, the Co-founder and Head of Development for Culture House media, a Black/Brown, Women owned, full service, premium film and TV production company that specializes in storytelling about the urgent cultural questions confronting America and the world.
The panel zeroed in on the impact of BIPOC culture and how the essence of our daily behavior and day to day activities (like social media engagement) drives compelling narratives the world takes notice of, and sadly capitalizes from without our knowledge. The panel highlighted the importance of data to support what we already know and its untapped potential as a career in the black community. The discussion delved into ideating more inclusive and equitable futures for BIPOC in the creative industry.
VP, Jarrett Cobbs, shared in a brief interview with The Knockturnal, the importance of data when stepping into a creative space, understanding the demographic within an audience and how the decision makers utilize that information to sell black narratives, create products or a “target audience” to promote media and products to, “…the people that sit on the other side of the decision making table, don’t know of, or understand our culture; so data helps them to translate that information through organizations. [That data also helps us] to get recognized, paid fairly and compensated. So without that information, we can be sidestepped and not paid our fair value. Data is extremely important to proving our use-case (a written description of how users will perform tasks on websites, with television viewing, etc) for what we do within culture.”
Jarrett also stated that though this isn’t the most glamorous career, as it is technical in nature and back-end facing it poses an ever growing need for BIPOC persons to be involved in the “millions of decisions being made every day based on the data generated from our communities, and we are not being included in it; from the reporting, to the recording, to even the questions they’re asking, we’re not being included and the information is not being properly applied to inform how our communities are being served. We need more people on the data analytics side and to take their businesses off of platforms and build more intimate relationships with their customers so that the data becomes more impactful.”


Other independent black vendors included accessory dreamland, Humans Before Handles and an independently owned art store Create The Culture Embroidery, that creates high quality textile art through hand-embroidery.
My last pit stop in the AMEX store brought me to Pretty Well Beauty, a premiere clean beauty and wellness destination retail outlet. The brand’s commitment is to offer the highest quality clean, natural, and sustainably-sourced products from across the globe. Their belief, as often echoed in the holistic BIPOC community, “Beauty is, first and foremost, an inside job and what you put on your skin is just as important as what you eat and drink. Clean beauty is more than a trend, it’s a lifestyle!” 
Back on the Main Stage of Culture Con, the panel discussions continued, and high profile names such as Actress and composer Tinashe, who previously covered the 18th digital cover of, The Knockturnal, engaged the crowd in an interviewed by Sidney Madden. The Actress and composer, Tinashe, held a candid conversation about her new brand new album “BB/ANG3L”.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: Tinashe attends CultureCon NY 2023 on October 08, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Additional speakers included Candiace Dillard Bassett of Real Housewives of Potomac; Faith Jenkins of Killer Relationships, and Preston Mitchum of Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard. Taryn Finley offered guidance on how to navigate your career after achieving the initial level of success, “the sophomore wins” that tend to trip successful creatives up. Inside insights on “Navigating Your Big Break” for attendees included transparent conversations on creating opportunities and strategic expansion of our career pathways, all while learning to navigate through social media engagement and overcoming with imposter syndrome.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: Preston Mitchum speaks on stage during CultureCon NY 2023 on October 08, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Harlem’s social justice advocate and movement strategist Tamika D. Mallory discussed the state of our democracy, why voting in the BIPOC community is critical and how to effectively use our voice to initiate change for the collective. Moderated by Kahlil Greene aka ‘The Gen Z Historian’, the panel discussion captured the audience’s civic engagement and excitement to show up and show out in this upcoming election.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: Imani Ellis attends CultureCon NY 2023 on October 08, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Other speakers included Imani Ellis, Cam Kirk, Luke Lawal Jr. , Brittney Escovedo, Rivea Ruff, Damian Marcano, Vanessa Clifton, Mercedes Cook, Scottie Beam, Sylvia Obell, and Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, with the Day 1 line-up including heavy-hitters like Issa Rae, Jharrel Jerome, Marsai Martin, Teyana Taylor, Ziwe and more (“Culture Con: Day 1”).
I wrapped up the events of the day, showing love, once again to the Resy and American Express curated Resy Dining Hall, featuring culinary delights from famed Black-owned restaurants across the tri-state region, such as Aunts et Uncles and their vegan eatery serving all plant-based dishes, that includes sandwiches and pasta to the likes of Chef Kwame’s Patty Palace for their Jamaican patties and coco bread curated by Chef Kwame Onwuachi himself. My pick of the day? I shimmed to the the long line outside of Charles’ Pan-Fried Chicken, the James Beard nominated chef and Harlem icon’s soul food for the soul welcomed the longest line of customers and the food did not disappoint. I enjoyed my soulful dish in the VIP section courtesy of MAX “Scene In Black” and sipped refreshing cocktails sponsered by Culture Con’s brand partner, Ciroc.
Culture Con 2023 – NYC, was jam packed with more events than I could (or anyone) cover in two days and well worth standing in the rain (on day one) for. I highly recommend that if you are low on inspiration and in need of a clear path to steer forward in your creative career, this is the place you need to be. If you ever have the opportunity to attend this cultural BIPOC movement, I highly recommend attending at least once in your lifetime; you will not be disappointed.
On The Scene: Wicked Musical Themed Milkshake Returns to Hershey’s Chocolate World in NYC for 20th Anniversary
In a world where the city never sleeps and dreams are always on the horizon, an enchanting collaboration has emerged to defy gravity, and our taste buds. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iconic Broadway musical Wicked, Hershey’s Chocolate World in Times Square has unveiled a limited-edition masterpiece that promises to take your taste buds on a magical journey.
Anyone who’s had the chance to catch the show within its twenty year run knows that it’s so much more than simply what we don’t see in The Wizard of Oz. It’s a story of friendship, love, and the power of defying expectations. In a similar spirit, the Wicked Milkshake brings a new level of sweetness to the heart of New York City, combining two beloved sensations.
The milkshake itself doesn’t just look stunning, it’s delicious as well. The rich combination of the dark chocolate and mint is scrumptious, nostalgic to childhood summer days in the same way that for many, Wicked is nostalgic to a first Broadway show or a school field trip many years ago. The collaboration between Wicked and Hershey’s Chocolate World is not just about a limited-time beverage; it’s about this nostalgia, combined with a shared love for creativity and the desire to create unforgettable moments. Just as Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship defied the odds and changed the course of Oz’s history, this collaboration is a testament to the enduring power of artistic expression and culinary delights.
Available now through the end of October, the Wicked Milkshake is a match made in heaven. Combining the refreshing coolness of mint with the rich indulgence of dark chocolate, the delectable creation is a perfect homage to the Wicked universe.
“We partner with Turkey Hill, which they make some amazing ice creams, and they make it super creamy,” said Hershey’s Chocolate World Food and beverage department manager Gina Shin, on the process behind creating the shake. “It’s their mint chocolate chip ice cream, and we blend that up, and we make it into a really smooth, enjoyable consistency. And then on top of that, we put a good amount of whipped cream. And then we drizzle our Hershey’s dark chocolate syrup as well as some fun green syrup on there to make it Wicked. And we add the dark chocolate mint duo Kit-Kat bar on top”
Don’t miss your chance to savor this delectable creation. The clock is ticking, and, just like in Wicked, time is of the essence. Defy gravity and head down to Times Square today, and be prepared to be swept off your feet by the Wicked Milkshake. But remember, just like in the Land of Oz, good things never last forever, so seize the moment while you still can!








































