In a lavish and unforgettable evening that transported attendees back to the golden era of the early 2000s, Australian fashion powerhouse I.AM.GIA celebrated the launch of its highly anticipated Platinum Collection.
‘The IHG Athletic Club’ launches the latest pop-up event by IHG Hotels & Resorts leading up to the 2023 US Open.
If anyone is going to get me to drink bourbon, it’s my favorite on-screen brothers, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley.
The Knockturnal had the privilege of attending the Angeleno Live & Dine event, a luxurious culinary affair showcasing the crème de la crème of LA’s culinary scene.
Among the standout experiences were the captivating booths of Casa Luigi and El Cristiano, each offering an exquisite tasting journey.
Casa Luigi, hailing from the esteemed Veneto region in Italy, treated attendees to a delightful sparkling wine cocktail experience. Known for its Prosecco, Casa Luigi exudes quality with every sip. The range of canned cocktails, each boasting a unique color, mirrors the vibrancy of their fruity and flavorful profiles. From the light and fresh extra dry Bianco with hints of peach and green herb to the complex lotus flower notes of the Imperial, Casa Luigi’s offerings cater to diverse palates, making them the perfect go-to wine cocktails for any occasion.
Meanwhile, El Cristiano’s booth was a celebration of handcrafted cocktails, seamlessly complementing their traditional tequila. With over four decades of tequila-making expertise, their award-winning pure products include the earthy and sweet Silver tequila, the herb and fruit-infused Reposado, the smooth Reposado XR with light spice notes, and the ultra-smooth Extra Añejo tequila with hints of white oak and dates.
The summer soirée also featured renowned vendors such as Yamashiro, Emporium Thai, Alexander Steakhouse, Shucks Oyster Company, Ginger’s Divine Ice Cream, Sandpiper Restaurant, Covina Y Calaveras, and many more. The event was a gastronomic delight, showcasing the finest offerings from Los Angeles’ culinary landscape.
It was a scene from a Y2K series featuring Paris Hilton.
Ahead of National Dog Day on August 26, the fluffiest Pomeranians from I POM NY took over the Midtown Manhattan Park Terrace Hotel in their finest PJs for the aptly titled Pomeranian PJ party. While there doesn’t always have to be a special occasion to get the pups together, this time around honored a special cause. Guests celebrated the pre-launch of the new children’s book Charlie at the Pom Springs Hotel.
Brittany Aubain
Written by Lara Eurdolian King, the book tells the heartwarming tale of Charlie the Pomeranian and his journey at the Pom Spring Hotel. Based on the true story of Charlie, he dreams of one day finding his forever family, but until then, Charlie takes us on his daily tasks of spending time with guests at the hotel.
Brittany Aubain
The best part? Charlie, the guest of honor, was in attendance, sitting as chill as he could be while soaking up every ounce of attention.
Brittany Aubain
Along with the book, the Pom Party also collaborated with Pupstarz Rescue, an organization committed to rescuing cats and dogs in public shelters who are at high risk of euthanasia.
All the poms were happy to receive an assortment of dog treats from Axel and Tia. They ran freely through the rooftop when not being photographed by every human in attendance. (Seriously, it was hard not to take a video every 5 seconds.)
Of course, the owners got in on the fun with light bites courtesy of the hotel and a “Yappy Hour” with refreshing cosmos and espresso martinis from Thomas Ashbourne, as well as wine by OneHope Wine that gives 10% back to your cause of choice.
Overall, the night garnered fun conversations and a whole lot of advocacy for the future of sheltered animals. If you want to donate or adopt a furry friend, check out Pupstarz Rescue for more information.
On August 15, the Battery Dance Festival celebrated Indian classical dance styles. The event took place in New York City’s Battery Park. Event organizers live-streamed the performances on Vimeo as well. Dancers from the Rudrakshya Foundation presented lively routines.
Rudrakshya Foundation is a renowned Odissi company and school from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Guru Sri Bichitrananda Swain leads the company, which consists of ten male dancers. Their performance marks their New York City debut.
They performed a routine called Kali Krishna. The classical choreography reflected the Indian State of Odisha’s dance form. Rudrakshya Foundation dedicates itself to the historic genre.
Ancient Hindu Temple Friezes’ artwork depicts the dance style. People can find monuments in Puri, Bhubaneswar, Konar, and Cuttack. Odissian Guru Padma Vibhushan Kelucharan Mohapatra and his top student Sujata Panigrahi trained Guru Bichitrananda. In turn, Guru Bichitrananda teaches his choreography to young men. Two highly-regarded soloists accompanied the dance company.
Kathak dancer Durgesh Gangani from Vadodara, Gujarat, and Kuchipudi dancer Amaranth Ghosh from Chennai, Tamil Nadu displayed their marvelous routines.
Durgesh Gangani performed a routine called The Legacy. His grandfather, Pt. Sundarlal Gangani choreographed the steps. The piece has a rich connection to history too.
Gangani’s grandfather served as a famous Kathak Guru. Many recognized his pioneering personality and international impact. In 1951, Pt. Sundarlal Gangani brought Kathak to the Indian university system. Amaranth Ghosh performed as well.
He titled his routine Maragatha Manimaya. He performed intricate patterns and balanced on a brass plate’s edge. Kuchipudi dancers called this style “Tarangam.” Ghosh dedicated his performance to Lord Krishna. People can view the dances on Battery Dance’s website until August 25. The festival offered bonus content in their event invite.
In the video, Rudrakshya Foundation rehearsed for their 2023 US Tour. Rohita Pradhan recorded the video. The festival’s invite included a survey as well. Attendees shared their feedback in the response form. The festival benefits from their submissions.
The Battery Dance Festival is New York City’s longest-running public and free dance festival. It has occurred annually for forty-two years. From August 12 to 18, attendees can witness the creative performances. Performances and live streams will happen daily from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The festival’s Indian Independence Day celebration had terrific sponsors.
The Consulate General of India in New York and The State Bank of India New York supported the performance.
New York State of Opportunity Council for the Arts, New York State of Opportunity Battery Park City Authority, New York City Cultural Affairs, New York City Council, and Downtown Alliance supported the event.
Subaru Distributors Corp, Glacéau Vitamin Water, The Shubert Foundation Inc., The Bowery Mission, and Unteatru helped the festival. The Romanian Cultural Insitute, Canada, UNATC, and Dutch Culture USA assisted with the event.
Harkness Foundation for Dance, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Tattoos Not Brands supported the event. Kampung Seni Baruga Kaluarrang supported the event as well.
In the heart of New York City, IHG Hotels & Resorts kicked off the 2023 US Open with a bang at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi. As the official hotel partner of the 2023 US Open, IHG Hotels & Resorts pulled out all the stops to create an unforgettable evening. Mark Ronson, the seven-time GRAMMY winner, performed live at the exclusive event.
Photo: BFA
The Grand Slam Social wasn’t just about tennis; it was a sensory experience. Interactive photo booths and installations encouraged guests to create lasting memories. The night lived up to its hashtag, #ExperienceIHG, offering an immersive and unforgettable journey. Hotel Eventi exuded ambiance with its industrial glam aesthetic. Racquet-themed decor and lush greenery transformed the venue into a tennis oasis, a visual reminder of the upcoming tournament’s spirit. A strategically placed ping pong table and captivating photo displays added to the overall allure.
One of the evening’s standout features was the refresh station, a lush, green oasis with a doorbell that summoned a beautifully crafted drinking mug filled with a surprise drink. The novel concept resonated with attendees, enhancing the experience by seamlessly blending luxury with innovation.
Photo: BFA
As the night progressed, Hip-Hop luminary Common set the scene for Mark Ronson’s live performance. The dance floor came alive as Mark began his set. From Uptown Funk to his Barbie soundtrack single Dance the Night Away and 80’s classics like Tom’s Dinner, he made sure to play to every playlist type in that room, understanding the crowd’s pulse. He created a vibrant atmosphere blending different eras and genres that mirrored the prestige of the US Open. Under the spell of Mark, the night is etched in memory.
The 2023 US Open Tennis Championships will run from Aug. 28 through Sept. 10 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York.
In the world of electronic dance music known as EDM, few acts have managed to capture the hearts and minds of fans quite like The Chainsmokers. From their chart-topping hits to their energetic live performances, the duo has solidified their place as global EDM superstars. However, they’ve recently taken their live shows to a whole new level with the debut of their live show experience series, “The Party Never Ends.”
The Knockturnal attended the world premiere of #OwnTimeOfEssence A 5 part docu-series about the story behind Essence magazine before it aired.
This new docu-series peels back the curtain and I learned multiple things that I never knew about this brand. An example of the things I never knew about Essence Magazine is that it was founded by four black men Edward Lewis, Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, and Jonathan Blount founded Hollingsworth Group.
This would later be named Essence Communications, Inc. The four businessmen decided to start a magazine at a time when there was no representation of black women in American print media at the time.
The images that were seen on the television and in the new stands didn’t reflect the audience that the men envisioned. To me this was an audacious act, showcasing black women in this light was not only groundbreaking it had never been done before.
This is just 1 of the nuggets you’ll walk away with from just episode 1 that I as a black man can appreciate.
Originally before the name of the Magazine was not Essence as we now know, ideas were floating around amongst the 4 founders and the name of a popular black actress who was on television at that time came up. However, if a black woman was referred to by this character’s name it represented being loud uncouth etc., and was somewhat of a dig.
The name Essence was given by a black woman who worked with the 4 founders and she later took the helm of the creative direction of the magazine. Without giving too much away it serves as an open book of how Black creatives & business owners were able to navigate gain and build financial infrastructure and in return give its culture the same consideration and appeal of a then, sports illustrated or a Playboy magazine which dominated the newsstands but with our stories and in our voice.
Essence Magazine believed in Black Women from day 1 in a time when they were not viewed nor regarded As marketable, beautiful, or interesting. Iconic founder/photographer Jonathan Blount whose iconic eye has contributed to the aesthetic blueprint not only for Black culture and community loosely but for Home community and community full-stop specifically.
This Docu-series is produced by 51 Minds in partnership with Own & along with Executives from Essence. In attendance at the preview, were some of the original alumni staff, production partners, and the Essence Ventures team.
At the world premiere of #TimeOfEssence , There was a discussion on the legacy and an obligation to be the sixth episode of this brand’s story moderated by Essence Ventures CEO Caroline Wagna.
I spoke with dynamic Caroline @wangawoman one-on-one after the Q&A, and I had an epiphany of what she was referring to as the sixth episode.
5 documented episodes, however, the sixth She mentioned was a foreshadowing prophetically that as a community the influencers, writers, storytellers, songwriters, or the people need to share and tell our stories as it becomes a part of the tapestry of the 53-year legacy Essence essentially laid as a foundation for us to stand on and push forward. With a mission statement like this, it’s evident that Essence as a global home brand, shows no sign of stopping or slowing down. Leaving room open for the new as we celebrate the origins.
Episode 1 is binge-worthy leaving many gems, Set your DVRs & grab a nice snack and beverage. Make sure to watch #TimeOfEssence tomorrow ET/PT on OWN and streaming on Max!
JàMir
For The Knockturnal
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture helped us celebrate 50 amazing years of hip hop this summer! Hip hop has been a monumental element in the American culture since the 1970’s. Started in Bronx, New York, this music genre has impacted many individuals, from political to educational and social purposes; one can attest that hip hop is a way to connect with one another. Like any other style of music, hip hop has its own category. But what makes Hip hop special you may ask? Hip hop has been a way for people to express themselves unapologetically. Many hip hop artists have used their craft to promote creativity, unity, and social justice. Undoubtedly, hip hop has changed the world. It has given the marginalized and oppressed a way of raising awareness around several topics.
Located in the heart of Washington D.C., National Museum of African American History and Culture has informed many about the challenges that African Americans and people of African descent overcame over the years. However, the museum teaches us that there’s more to the history of African Americans than challenges. Their rich culture is worth celebrating. Bringing 50 years of hip hop at National Museum of African American History and Culture was a special experience because it gave many the opportunity to learn about the culture and music genre. In addition, there was more than music performances. Attendees enjoyed live painting sessions, spoken words and so on. People from all over came to see legendary artists such as Queen Latifah and Remy Ma unwind and celebrate this iconic moment in history. As the summer is ending, there is no better way to bring everyone together and highlight the advancement of history and hip hop!