On Monday, June 9th, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal launched its 30th anniversary celebration with an unforgettable evening of cocktails, cuisine, and culture at Fandi Mata in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Held ahead of this yearβs Bar Convent Brooklyn,Β the anniversary event brought together industry tastemakers, spirits enthusiasts, and cultural connectors under one roof to raise a glass to three decades of pioneering mezcal excellence.
The champions of The Great White Way conquered last night with a brilliant march down Broadway.
With so many transformative activations taking place, May was a powerful month. On May 30, 2025, Roc Nation and the United Justice Coalition (UJC) hosted the third-ever UJCSummit at The Shed in Hudson Yards, New York City. Over 1,300 attendees gathered for a full day of deeply moving, thought-provoking conversations focused on criminal justice reformβa testament to whatβs possible when people come together with intention, compassion, and purpose.
An Evening of Purpose and Celebration
Mother’s Day, which is on May 11 this year, is the time to pamper Mom. And to show appreciation to the moms who have loved, nurtured and cared for us, they deserve something pretty special in return.
Paris is famed for its delicacies, and Chef David Zaquine wanted to bring his version ofΒ the sweet artistry to New York City through Sweet Rehab, a champagne and dessert bar.
Cereal lovers rejoice! Honey Bunches of Oats has introduced their newest flavor for the first time in five years: Honey Bunches of Oats Chocolate. Honey Bunches of Oats introduced this new flavor as a way for chocolate and cereal lovers to treat themselves.
You know I stan a leading man. Thanks to LA Magazine, I got three.
On Saturday night, Power 105.1 held its annual Powerhouse concert at The Prudential Center in New Jersey. Β It was full of fans who came to see some of their favorite artists. The lineup included A Boogie wit da Hoddie, Gunna, Sexxy Red, Cash Cobain, Bossman Dlow, Bay Swag, On The Radar,, Jordan Adetunji Β plus Dj Spinking and Friends. Every artist that hit the stage left a mark in their own creative way.
Sexxy Red ate and left no crumbs with her set. She performed all her best hits, Including βLooking For The Hoes (Ainβt My Fault), βWhatchu Kno About Me,β and the Crowdβs favorite βGet It Sexxy,β Although she is one of the lineup’s newest artists she is also one of the biggest.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is no stranger to Powerhouse. However, the crowd never gets tired of a little Boogie. Gunna performed his Collab with Young Thug and took a moment during the set to say βFree Thugger.β Β Who was released days later on Nov 1st
Cash Cobain and Bay Swag join forces and sang β6 AM Thoughtsβ
DJ SpinKing, known for surprising the crowd, had everyone in a roar when he brought out Β NLE Choppa and 41; the duo performed their new hit “Or What…?” live on stage for the first time. Other surprise guests were Teejay, Sleepy Hallow, Rowdy Rebel, and, of course, the biggest surprise of them all, DaBaby.
Wednesday, February 21st, 2024, Hearth Restaurant. Manhattan, New York βWhat if I told you 40,000 people in the US know of a clinically tested way to boost memory, learning, focus, reasoning, accuracy, concentration and mental alertness in one dose of a naturally sourced dietary supplement? Well, they have, and I am here to share the secret with you.
Itβs been determined through a national study of 40,000 American shopperβs that Neuriva is the Most Innovative Product in Wellness Supplements of 2024. Championed for its efficacy in enhancing cognitive performance, each capsule of Neuriva contains naturally sourced ingredients that include, Neurofactor (Coffee Berry, 100 mL) a natural extract derived from Coffea arabica coffee cherries that contains a unique profile of polyphenols shown in clinical studies to stimulate production of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a vital neuroprotein involved in overall brain health; and Plant Sourced PS (Phosphatidylserine, 100 mL) a compound now made from cabbage or soy. Phosphatidylserine, Plant Sourced PS, is used for Alzheimer disease and normal age-related decline in memory and thinking skills.
To celebrate its launch, Neuriva, the leading brain health supplement, along with renowned TV Personality, Food-Scientist, Cinemotographer, Voice Actor and Chef, Alton Brown, hosted the βNeuriva 30-Day Brain Health Challenge Kick Off”,Β an intimate dinner party highlighting brain-boosting foods at the Hearth Restaurant in Manhattan, New York. Chef Alton Brown, a longtime user of the brain-support supplement, partnered with the brand to support the 30-Day Brain ChallengeΒ by highlighting his favorite Butterfield Chicken recipe and some of the best brain-boosting foods to add to our diets.
Before our brain nutrient rich dinner began, Alton and I sat to discuss his new partnership with Neuriva, and what it meant to him to be a part of the mission to fuel the 7 major indicators of brain health.
Danielle Niecey, The Knockturnal: What does Brain Health mean to you and how did you come to partner with Neuriva?
Chef Alton Brown: Brain health means to me, βbeing able to continue working; working better; working more efficiently and working more creatively,β more so now that I moved into my 60βsβ. I started thinking, especially since Iβve worked so much in nutrition, and coming to a full understanding of what food does to the body, I realized that Iβd never done anything for my brain besides feed it alcohol on a regular basis. And itβs [my brain] has held me up thus far, so I thought, maybe it’s time that I ask my brain what it wants.
I delved into research, because thatβs the thing I do, and I began reading a lot of purity papers and learning how to say words with 10 syllables, [laughing], so by the time Neuriva knocked on the door and said, βHi!β I could say back to them, βHey, I know whatβs in there [referring to the Neuriva’s Brain Health Dietary Supplements], because Iβd seen the same ingredients in the papers.β So I was able to get with their science officers, and quickly move through large amounts of technical research and white papers, and all of their compiled research. I realized, almost immediately, βNeuriva, youβve done your due diligenceβ.Β
There were two supplemental substances that I wanted for my brain. The first, Neurofactor, Coffea Arcabica coffee cherries, not from the seed, but from the fruit. It is a highly tested and well documented activator for making mental synapsis and aiding the traffic flow of the brain, so that it works well. And the other one is,Β Plant Sourced PS (Phosphatidylserine, which used to be taken out of pig brains)…itβs kind of a bummer, from their brains to our brains. Its different now, it’s plant-based now. But it helps to maintain and rebuild cell membranes; especially the ones in the brain. I told them, I want that [the Neuriva supplement],Β and that was the Original Neuriva Formula that had that. Then they added Neuriva Plus, with an addition of vitamin B6 and B12, supporting 6 functions that indicate brain health; and now, more recently, the launch of Neuriva Ultra, which fuels the 7 indicators of brainΒ health that include: memory, learning, focus, reasoning, accuracy, concentration and has a new clinically tested ingredient, CogniviveTM, which helps support mental alertness from just one daily serving!
Danielle Niecey, The Knockturnal:Β Thatβs incredible! I am so excited to try these supplements for myself. What tips can you share with The Knockturnal readers on how to incorporate brain-boosting ingredients into everyday meals?
Chef Alton Brown: Welp, our first line of defense is our food. There’s no way around it, our medicine is our food. So first thing, we’ve got to lay off the crap. Can you occasionally have some potato chips? Of course you can! But, you cannot live off of them. I mean you can, but not well, and likely, not very long.Β
Chef Alton expounded on the The MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), created in 2015, Β that combines the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet to create a dietary pattern, focusing specifically on brain health. The MIND Diet emphasizes increased consumption of fruit and green leafy vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, nuts, poultry and fish and reduced intakes of fats.Β
Chef Alton, continuing, states: The diet recommends more consumption of dark fruits, especially blueberries; olive oil was noted to be amazing for the brain; green leafy vegetables, the darker, the better; and this diet actually puts chicken over fish…
Danielle Niecey, THE KNOCKTURNAL: That’s surprising!Β Fish is always praised as the ‘king’ of proteins because of the omega-3βs and its brain boosting compounds.
Chef Alton Brown: Yes, extremely surprising!Β But Chicken contains choline, a chemical substance that we do not make ourselves but it sustains our brain structure and function. These nutrients are crucial for memory retention, cognitive function, and mood regulation. Above all else, eat real, whole foods; if it has aΒ strong color, eat that; oh, and take a shot of olive every day, it’s good for you!
Danielle Niecey, The KNOCKTURNAL:Β How can our readers join the Neurivaβs 30-day Brain Health Challenge to redefine their cognitive potential?
Chef Alton Brown: Oh, Itβs super easy. It’s actually an app with super addictive games that are a lot of fun! You can download it on the App store or Google Play and the games track your progress.
Danielle Niecey, THE KNOCKTURNAL:Β Last question, what are some brain-friendly ingredients that make up your favorite brain healthy recipes?
Chef Alton Brown: Well tonight, the main course we’ll be havingΒ is one of my recipes, the Butterfield Roasted Chicken. Its a butterflied chicken, slow roasted and served with sesame glazed greens. Thatβs an example of finding fun ways to feed my brain; Iβm not going to eat something that tastes like crap, just because it’s good for my brain and thatβs what my brain wants. I like dark leafy greens, but I donβt want to sit down and eat a bowl of just kale. I just donβt. But Iβll eat kale with some sauteed quinoa with some other type of grain. So, Iβll usually take the things I am not crazy about and marry it to the thing I am crazy about. Then I can get what I like, with what I need. Because, hey lifeβs short!Β
The cuisine starters, compliments of Hearth Restaurant, consisted of slices of whole grain french bread with a cold-pressed olive oil dipping. Bread, and the pastas served, both carbohydrates, have been proven to increase serotonin levels which contribute to feeling happier; a great boost for our dopamine addicted culture. The olive oil, on the other hand, contains oleic acid, a compound that protects the brain, improves memory and reduces Alzheimerβs biomarkers.
Presented next was, Ribollita, a hearty and savory Italian soup, consisting of a tuscan bean and vegetable soup with breadcrumbs and thyme further complimented the bread and oil pairing. Encouraging us to take the in the scent of the aromatic dishes before indulging, Chef Alton Brown drew our focus to the brain boosting luteolin, found in the thyme, carrots and celery, allΒ ingredients in the Ribollita soup, that benefit cognitive abilities, aiding in memory. Next on the list, the Pizzocheri pasta, mushrooms (a nerve boosting food), cabbage (a vegetable that aids in the proper functioning and conditioning of the brain, nervous system, and endocrine system), and a light dusting of fontina (a cheese rich in calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-12 that stimulates brain function).
The main dish consisted of Alton Brownβs Butterfield Chicken with Aleppo and Zaβatar and lemon sesame glazed-greens. Chicken, Altonβs favorite protein, has also been known to be one of the best proteins for the brain, along with fish and beans. Chicken, he states, has been known to support healthy brain function and development; it also includes choline and vitamin B12, a key ingredient found in the Neuriva Β and is packed with nutrients that are crucial for memory retention, cognitive function, and mood regulation. The savory dinner came to a close with a dessert of Tangerine Almond Cake, dressed with kumquats, whipped creme fraiche. Besides being absolutely satisfying, the health benefits pack a punch as Almonds, the main ingredient in the cake, contains L-carnitine and riboflavin that helps in the growth of brain cells; and kumquats which are high in vitamin C and aid in overall brain health. The meal was paired with dark red and white wines, Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi, brunori βsan nicolo,β 2022, Marche, Italy; and Etna Rosso, villagrande, 2021, Sicily, Italy. Resveratrol, found in wine, increases the level of serotonin in the brain, which might help reduce the symptoms of depression. Other compounds contained in wine may regulate serotonin transmission within the brain, a mechanism that tends to malfunction in cases of mood disorders.
After the end of our informative and delightful meal, guest were given gift bags containing a stress brain ball, a complimentary supply of Neuriva PLUS Dietary Supplements, a Star Puzzle – a Wooden Puzzle Brain Teaser from Kiyuba Games and the Author of the New York best-selling GOOD EATS Series, Alton Brown’s, βGOOD EATS 4β the fourth Good Eats cookbook installment in his series, compliments ofΒ Neuriva and Chef Alton Brown.
So, here’s how you can get into your Brain-Health bag for 2024 with Neuriva:
For more information, visit www.Neuriva.com and download the Neuriva Brain gym App available in the Apple and Google Play app stores.