While a heatwave blankets the world, we’re throwing it back to winter. Earlier this year, we took the redesigned 2022 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring off-road and into the snowing mountains of West Virginia after a pampered ride from NYC. Both on and off road, the Corsair is a truly impressive SUV, even if it had a little mud on the tires (we got it nice and clean after the test, of course!)
A masterclass on how to do seafood right
In celebration of a whole new generation of liars, HBO Max held a bloody red carpet and exclusive screening of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin.
It’s not every day you get to sit in a room full of people talking openly about mental health, but that is exactly what arthur gallery’s new short film, Genesis X, prompted dozens of young adults to do. Hosted at the Hippo Factory Studios in Los Angeles, the 15 minute movie was screened in the large photo studio with an open bar and music featured by William Anthony.
The film follows a down-on-her-luck young woman named Xiomara, played by Jalesa Marks. Xiomara is struggling to turn her life around and impress her esteemed father working for an infamous corporation. As she continues to perform tasks for the company, she struggles to break free from her anxiety feeling as though there is no escape.
As many young professionals have seen, the standards of work ethic and face time set by corporations lead to increased anxiety and a diminished sense of self-worth. gallery explores this notion in Genesis X by outlining the pressures Xiomara faces from the corporation while also outlining the parental pressures that come with said performance. Stylistically, gallery also illustrates these tensions through Xiomara’s body language, a strong cinematic color palette, and action scenes. The film’s musical efforts, led by William Anthony, also create a palpable sense of stress as we see Xiomara struggle to reconcile her work and her emotions.
Q&A moderated by Sadé Unique Grandberry
Q&A moderated by Sadé Unique Grandberry
During the Q&A with gallery and the cast, the discussion centered around the anxieties and pressures of corporate life. The open dialogue was refreshing given mental health is still seen as a taboo subject. Take away from the night? There is a little Xiomara in all of us, but perhaps there is an escape if we continue to de-stigmatize mental health.
Summer is South Asian mango season. Indian grocery stores carry sweet, fragrant varieties like Kesar and Alphonso. And if you’re lucky, you can sample velvety, out-of-this-world Pakistani mangoes. Priced at $10 per mango, at least in some shops in the Chicago area where I live, they are a luxurious treat – practically the equivalent of dessert at a fancy restaurant.
My mother-in-law, who grew up in Pakistan, has been buying up Indian and Pakistani mangoes for her dairy-free version of lassi, a popular South Asian smoothie. With homemade almond milk in place of yogurt, her recipe is less mango lassi and more milkshake, and takes just minutes to make. The almond milk is nearly instant, prepared in a blender with soaked, peeled almonds just before tossing in the mangoes, and tastes infinitely better than anything store bought.
Recipe
4 mangoes, preferably an Indian or Pakistani variety, peeled and cut into pieces
1 cup almonds, soaked overnight in water and peeled
Water, to cover the almonds
Liana’s Kitchen is a column by Chicago-based chef and foodie Liana Grey. Check out her food blog Bakerwithoutborders.
Nestled streetside into the dreamy restaurant-lined blocks of west Soho, 12 Chairs Cafe brings gourmet Israeli food to New York. It started out as a small cafe, and evolved into a neighborhood favorite drawing in crowds of patrons day after day. As you walk by groups of laughing friends and families, you get the easygoing sense of summertime and the scent of fresh cooked food wafting through the air. In the late evening, you might even be able to hear the sound of tambourines and traditional music filling the streets as the dining experience turns into a party. We stopped by on Tuesday night to try some food we haven’t had here before, and fully experience their day to night vibe.
First up, we had the pita with a few small dips: the Babaganoush and Labaneh. As the energy of the restaurant started to build around us, we dipped warm pillowy pita breads into creamy labneh and spiced olive oil, and babaganoush topped with fresh herbs and blended to the perfect chunky-creamy consistency.
After our appetizers, we tried their Shipudim and Arayas. The Shipudim consisted of impossibly juicy chicken skewers topped with tomatoes and served with crispy potatoes and spicy tomato salad. Each bite of hot, spiced chicken paired with the fresh tomatoes and salad captured the beauty of Mediterranean flavors, and reminded us why 12 Chairs is such a beloved neighborhood staple. The Arayas, which are grilled pita filled with minced lamb, were served with the same spicy tomato salad that seems to complement all meat dishes. These packed a punch of substance, and each little triangle really fills you up! These delicious bites were more than enough to satisfy our hunger and then some, but of course, we had to grab some dessert.
First up on the dessert menu, their take on a classic cheesecake. The Israeli style cheesecake served at 12 Chairs is much lighter and fresher than American versions, and a bite of this topped with strawberries really captures that summer feeling. Our second dessert was Malabi, a dish I’d never tried before. It’s a coconut milk pudding covered in pomegranate syrup, and topped with coconut flakes and pistachios. A bit like panna cotta in texture, this creamy dessert was also a refreshing end to our delicious meal at 12 Chairs.
I’m so excited to keep coming to this restaurant to continue trying all the items on their menu as the summer goes on and beyond. If you haven’t tried this spot yet, be sure to put it on your list! And if you go as often as we do, hopefully you’ve discovered some new dishes to sample on your next visit by reading this. Check out 12 Chairs’ website and menu here!
White Claw popped open the lid on one heck of a party this week! Celebrating summer at a secret speak easy is always a fun thing to do in New York City.
For the first time ever comes a recreation of The Hill, the famous home to Wimbledon, in New York City!
There is nothing better than spending a warm NYC summer day waterside and drinking amazing PATRÓN cocktails
Get transported to Columbia as you dine at El Cartel Restaurant on 9th Avenue. This new, family-owned restaurant serving Colombian cuisine and culture, is operated by Bill Arango.