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On the Scene: Fifth Annual Arthur Miller Honors At City Winery in NYC

by Bianca Brutus
written by Bianca Brutus

Rebecca Miller established the grassroots, non-profit Arthur Miller Foundation in remembrance of her father’s legacy. AMF helps teachers create sustainable theater programs by providing them with robust, customized resources, training, and certification. This ensures that all public school kids have fair access to high-quality theater instruction.  The premier yearly fundraising event for the Arthur Miller Foundation, held in collaboration with the NYC Public Schools, The City College of New York, and Bridgeport Public Schools, is the Arthur Miller Foundation Honors.  

The Arthur Miller Foundation hosted their 5th annual Honors event on Monday, November 6 at City Winery. The event was hosted by “Purlie Victorious” co-stars Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young.

 

 Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok was honored with the AMF Legacy Award. Majoke is best known for her piece “Cost of Living” which explores two relationships between able-bodied and non-abled body people.  

 

Jerre and Mary Joy Stead received the AMF Humanitarian Award for their endless donations to arts education in schools across the country. 

New York City public school Theater teacher Talia Jaime was awarded with the AMF Excellence in Arts Education Award  for her work at Renaissance High School.

Performers of the night included Brian d’Arcy James, Justin David Sullivan, Phillippe Arroyo, Samantha Williams, and Jordan Donica.

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On The Scene: A First Look at New York City’s Balloon Museum!

by Sydney Hargrove
written by Sydney Hargrove

If you’re anything like me, anything with low, colorful lights and a ball pit will surely catch your eye. Maybe it’s my affinity for maximalist decor or the fact that I am more than likely a 10 year old trapped in the body of a 20 year old journalist, but I digress, the era of museums that double as adult (and kid!) playgrounds popping up (and coming to stay) all throughout my New York City home has been the perfect one for me to be living through.

    

It is because of the aforementioned affinity that I have such a vivid memory of season two of Emily in Paris. The Balloon Museum takes center stage in episode seven, titled “How to Lose a Designer in 10 Days.” The pop-up exhibition, initially located in Paris during filming and now residing in downtown Manhattan, gained significant attention during its time at La Grand Hall de la Villette, attracting over 800,000 visitors from April to September 2022. This success prompted its move to Milan, following a previous installation in Rome from December 2021 to May 2022.

The Balloon Museum, self-described as the “first incubator of artworks and installations completely created by inflatable and balloon art,” showcases immersive environments featuring works by international artists. As seen in the show, visitors encounter furnishings made entirely of balloons, including a lamp, cactus, couch, and coffee table. During Emily and Gabriel’s walk (and ball pit dive) through the immersive experience, I found myself utterly jealous, and wishing that the exhibition would make its way to New York. It would be just under a year before the exhibit made it’s way down to pier 36!

The New York installment is called the Let’s Fly exhibition, and it offers a stunning inflatable experience crafted by a collaboration of fourteen international artists. This concept transcends conventional art installations, embracing an avant-garde approach that redefines the traditional interactions with art. Let’s Fly encapsulates freedom, flight, and accessibility, taking spectators on an unprecedented sensory journey.

The exhibit thrives on physical interaction, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a universe of unparalleled freedom. It’s a space where play, touch, and exploration lead through hypnotic visual realms. Artists like Michael Shaw, Sasha Frolova, Rub Kandy, Camilla Falsini, Cyril Lancelin, Tadao Cern, and SpY offer contrasting atmospheres—ranging from light, colorful worlds to heavier, darker tones. The journey is designed as an expedition through surprises and contrasts, igniting a genuine thirst for discovery.

In addition to the contemporary installations, the museum offers a space dedicated to the history of inflatables, tracing its origins from the Montgolfier brothers’ 18th-century experiments to iconic contemporary works like Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog series. The Balloon Museum serves as a platform not only for contemporary inflatable art but also as a window into its rich historical evolution.

It aims to provide visitors with a tailor-made experience, offering marvels like the graceful bubbles of Quiet Ensemble, interactive sculptures such as ADA by Karina Smigla-Bobinski, the myriad black spheres of Hyperstudio collective, and the musical sculptures of Eness. These works stimulate the senses through touch, sight, and hearing, engaging visitors in transdisciplinary immersive art proposals.

If you make your way to the ball pit, you’re in for a treat. The massive area takes up nearly the whole room, and guests are treated to an immersive show while there. Between it’s interactive features, fantastic music, and photo worthy sites, everyone can have a great time at the exhibit, no matter what age they are.

We highly recommend a trip to the museum yourself! Hear more about it and grab your tickets here!

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LifestyleThe Latest

Anita La Mamma del Gelato Joins the Times Square Neighborhood

by Jaylin De Guzman
written by Jaylin De Guzman

As the chill of the winter months begins to swirl the air, Anita La Mamma del Gelato has proven to be a top placeholder in the sweet treat wish list this holiday season. With storefronts already in Nomad and the Upper East Side, Anita Gelato opened its third Manhattan location in Times Square last Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Known for their decadent and extravagant flavors like the Cookieman or Hazelnut Crunch, Anita’s is no stranger to the fan-favorite notoriety.

            Mama Anita and son Nir developed the first recipes in 1998 in their cozy Mediterranean kitchen much to the delight of their neighbors and friends. Although the ice cream shop has come a long way from its modest beginnings, the warmth and distinctiveness of Anita’s remains well-established. Morning Supervisor, Nicole Ramos, reveals that the secret to the charm is their daily affirmations with the team members, ensuring that each customer leaves not only with magnificent ice cream but a feeling of being a part of the Anita Gelato Family.

            The store itself takes on the vibrance and whimsical spirit of the neighborhood as pink and green decorate the room. Each wall is accented with bold, almost tattoo-like inspired artistry which complements their equally one-of-a-kind flavors!

With over 150 rotating flavors of gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream, Anita’s champions the “something for everyone” objective. Their ability to capture the decadence of classic desserts like the Pavlova and Berries, or the Creme Brûlée Pistachio Crumble into the perfect scoop is remarkable. Ms. Ramos reveals that combining two flavors like their Salted Chocolate and White Chocolate Coconut Almond just adds to the magic of Anita’s.

Between homemade recipes and the inclusion of sugar-free and vegan flavors, Times Square’s Anita La Mama del Gelato will undoubtedly be the new go-to spot for a sweet treat!

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Lifestyle

Restaurant Review: Kintsugi Omakase NYC

by Megan D'Souza
written by Megan D'Souza

  Kintsugi Omakase NYC, a sleek chef’s counter-style sushi “atelier” in lower Soho, recently upped their game by bringing on Chef Victor of Sushi Ko. To find out what the buzz was about, we stopped by this week to sample their new menu, which changes with the seasons for the freshest ingredients. 

 

Chef Victor follows the traditional edomae (referencing the style originating from Edo Bay) style of sushi-making, but puts a modern twist on his art. He uses non-traditional, non-Japanese ingredients to flavor some of his dishes, and his close relationship with NYC fishmongers allows him to source the freshest, finest seafood available. The difference is palpable – one bite of Kintsugi’s Hokkaido Ikura (salmon roe) or uni and it’s clear how high-quality the ingredients are. 

 

In addition to technique and ingredient excellence, Kintsugi Omakase stands out by its use of seasonal ingredients. Typical of new Nordic or farm-to-table style restaurants, Kintsugi brings flavors of the month to sushi, where most establishments would stick to the tried-and-true traditions. Since it’s autumn, our dishes featured a green apple puree paired with a smoked Sawara and apple cider, baby corn with crispy fried fish, and other winter seafood delicacies. 

 

When I asked Chef Victor what his favorite season of ingredients was, he told us “fall and winter, because they have the weirdest items.” Weird as they may be, he prepared them to perfection – half the dishes were items I’d never heard of, and I’m a sushi aficionado. Host Ko told us they aim to “take your palate on an adventure you’ve never been on before.” This delectable adventure featured a codfish sperm sac (winter only), crispy fried Amadai (tilefish) with its scales (dubbed by Chef Victor as natural fish and chips), a pickled fish similar to the herring popular in northern Europe, and barracuda. 

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In addition to the sushi tasting, each menu option includes a handroll, the best miso soup you’ve ever tried, bruleed tamago, and a dessert (the current one is black sesame and ginger ice cream – a scoop of each). Finishing off the meal with these comforting plates was the perfect way to wind down from the experiential tasting. We also highly recommend the restaurant’s singular cocktail: a yuzu and violet syrup enhanced sake. I’d come back for this item alone; clearly the team at Kintsugi has the expertise to open a successful bar, if they wanted!

 

Dining at Kinstugi Omakase NYC is an experience that can’t be missed if you’re a foodie in this city. Their 10-person dining room, carefully designed by creative partners Ashe Yeung and Tim Madrid, feels intimate and sophisticated. But definitely not stuffy – Chef Victor’s lighthearted jokes and sarcastic commentary make you instantly comfortable with him, and we enjoyed hearing his descriptions of his craft while watching him expertly assemble each mouthwatering bite. We can’t wait to come back. Book your reservation at Kintsugi here ASAP!

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EntertainmentTheater

Mayor Eric Adams and Broadway Stars Celebrate the Grand Opening of Empire Steak House

by Lenique Vincent
written by Lenique Vincent

Empire Steak House welcomed Mayor Eric Adams, long time supporters, Fox 5 and more to celebrate the opening of their newest location on October 25th.

Snuggled between Times Square and Rockefeller on West 49th Street, at the Pearl Hotel, the family owned restaurant was filled with a sentimental crowd, many of who supported the Sinanaj brothers since the beginning of their journey; or the part most were able to witness.

A 40 year labor of love, Jack, Russ and Jeff made their way from Montenegro to Brooklyn’s Peter Luger where they were able learn the restaurant business before opening their own: NYC’s Chazz Palminteri Italian Restaurant and Empire Steak House, which also has a location in Tokyo.

Over cocktails and bite size servings of the restaurant’s chops, steaks and skewers New Yorkers celebrated the restaurant alongside Broadway stars, including Purlie Victorious cast members, New York City Hospitality Alliance Executive Director Andrew Rigie, and more. Commemorating Broadway, resilience and good food, Mayor Adams, a plant based eater, came out to support the restaurant for what it symbolizes. “Their story is our story,” the Mayor said in a speech prior to the ribbon cutting.

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Will Linley Backstage at the Mercury Lounge

by Lucy Niederman
written by Lucy Niederman

On a recent Wednesday afternoon in October, singer-songwriter Will Linley sits backstage at the Mercury Lounge on the Lower East Side, an iconic indie venue due to its fostering of upcoming artists, including an impressive roster of beloved musicians such as Chris Martin and Lady Gaga. As we chatted in the teeny tiny room in the basement of the venue, I couldn’t help but notice the stickers of bands who have performed here in the past along the walls.  With soundcheck complete, fans lining at the doors, and the hustle and bustle of rush hour underway, The Knockturnal sat down with Will to dive into his songwriting process, inspirations, and community with his fanbase.

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2023 Make Equality Reality Gala: A Celebration of The Fight for Women’s Equality

by Megan D'Souza
written by Megan D'Souza

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.   

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