Just one door from the Park Hyatt hotel on West 57th street in Midtown Manhattan, there is a small gallery adorned with vibrant paintings filled with geometric shapes and totems reminiscent of Ghanian culture along its walls.
Nestled into the candle lit, lower level of Champers Social Club NYC; Novara founder, Reshona Jessamy, hosted an intimate dinner to celebrate World Kindness Day on November 15.
Saved by acts of kindness during her own struggles with depression, and while overcoming a suicide attempt, Jessamy dedicates her skincare line to paying it forward. For this reason, each Novara product is packaged with affirmations.
“We created thousands of unique messages,” the gracious Jessamy noted before dinner commenced. “Those messages are really meant to spread kindness, and to uplift and inspire women.”
“Often times when we think about kindness, we think that it’s just about being nice, but kindness is more than that,” she continued. “It’s uplifting one another, it’s generosity, it’s compassion and it’s self care. So first, I implore you to be kind to yourself.”
Providing consumers with an opportunity to show themselves kindness, Novara, so far, consists of six key products know as the Waterfall Collection. The collection consists of: the soft cream Purifying Cleanser, an Illuminating Serum, their oil free Hydrating Cream; not to be confused with the Ultra Hydrating Cream, a Resurfacing Serum for texture improvement and lastly, the micro-exfoliating Revitalizing Essence treatment. Beyond gaining the benefits of each product, supporting Novara is an act of advocacy for suicide prevention since 20% of profits are donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Linking beauty and mental health as a mother, career woman, wife and entrepreneur, Jessamy continues to walk in her purpose as she uses her platform to show others why it’s important for them to do the same.
December in New York often feels just like the movies, with the magic of glistening lights and a Christmas tree in every corner. Through the ups and downs of major city living, the holidays are an effervescent reminder of how magical life can be. At the heart of the holiday magic, Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park has stood as a capsule for as long as I can remember. Located in Midtown Manhattan, the Park transforms into a winter wonderland during the holiday season, offering an array of festive activities, shopping opportunities, and delightful entertainment for everyone, weather you’re a native New Yorker or visiting for the very first time.
Even before its lively tree lighting, which will be taking place on November 28th this year and will be leading the charge as the first major NYC tree lighting for 2023, the park looks absolutely magical. One of the most iconic parts of the yearly experience is the picturesque ice-skating rink, surrounded by an iconic landscape adorned with sparkling holiday lights and decorations. The rink provides a magical setting for visitors to glide across the ice, creating cherished memories with friends and family against the backdrop of the city’s skyline.
Lacing up my skates and heading over to Bryant Park’s (free admission!) skating rink has always been a vibrant memory of how we kicked off the holiday season, and I am beyond grateful to have carried that experience into adulthood. On Tuesday, I headed over to the park to see an exclusive preview of what the park has in store for the season. The night commenced with a nostalgic skating experience at the rink. The enchanting ambiance of twinkling lights and joyful decorations enhanced the already joyful feeling of gliding across the ice.
Following the skating session, I headed to The Lodge, an inviting bar and food hall adorned with seasonal cheer. Here, I indulged in some of the year’s signature food and drink offerings, which included loaded croissants, churros, tacos, and so much more.
One of the most exciting features of Bryant Park’s Winter Village is its bustling holiday market. The market features rows of charming kiosks and stalls offering an assortment of unique gifts, crafts, artisanal goods, and delectable holiday treats. Visitors can explore a diverse range of vendors selling handcrafted jewelry, clothing, artwork, ornaments, specialty foods, and much more, making it an ideal destination for holiday shopping. After enjoying some sweet treats at the lodge, I strolled around the shops and was delighted by the hand crafted goods and sweet smell of hot cocoa that exists all around the park.
The atmosphere in the park is lively and spirited, with seasonal music performances, festive events, and activities for all ages. Throughout the holiday season, Bryant Park hosts various themed celebrations in addition to the iconic tree lighting, including caroling sessions and visits from Santa Claus, adding to the joyful ambiance.
We highly reccomend a trip to Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park this holiday season! Hear more about it here!
On a brisk Wednesday night, November 8th, the lively heart of Chelsea was filled with anticipation. Excited fans, numbering in the hundreds, gathered outside Racket, one of NYC’s newest venues. The reason for their enthusiasm? The alternative-pop trio Nightly was in town, headlining two shows for their “Wear Your Heart Out” tour.
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.
The dynamic duo kicks off the biggest shopping festival in the world!
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!
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!
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!