Author: Caisse Davis

Categories
Living Pets

How Lord Jameson is Revolutionizing Dog Treats

Screen Shot 2016-11-30 at 10.26.35 AMWith the holidays right around the corner, gift giving doesn’t only have to be for your loved ones — they can be for your furry friends, too!

Downtown spoke to Sarah Goldberger, founder of Lord Jameson Dog Patisserie, who is a proud dog-mom who has created a tasty and healthy artisanal treat for pups. The idea for the treat balls came to fruition from her loving dog, Jameson.

“[Jameson] is a 6-year-old cocker spaniel who became a professional certified therapy dog in New York City in 2012,” Goldberger shared. “I wanted to design a brand that would honor the love and devotion that dogs have brought into the lives of humans for hundreds of years and celebrate the incredible bond they share.”

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Photo: Katelyn Perry/We Work

Goldberger believes there is no better way to do so “than with a fancy culinary experience, that is healthy of course!”

The treat balls are made from 100% organic products that you can find on any Whole Foods shelf. Each treat is handcrafted by a professional pastry chef, ensuring that love and passion is rolled into every bite.

Coconut products are used in some form for every treat recipe, whether it is coconut oil, water or raw coconut. Using coconut is an important part of the Lord Jameson recipe because it’s great for dogs’ digestion, skin and coat and fights bacterial infections. Flavors come in Simply Coconut and Blueberry Bliss, with promises of other flavors soon on the way for the holiday season!

Goldberger has received great response ever since she launched Lord Jameson.

“We have had an overwhelmingly positive response to our recipes,” Goldberger said. “We receive communication from our customers — new and old– regularly sharing the excitement and addiction that their dogs have with the Lord Jameson product.”

Goldberger mentioned that pet parents have also sampled the treats, coined “crack for dogs” by some.

“If you read our Instagram captions, there are hilarious conversations about keeping [the pet parents’] hands off the treats!” Goldberger laughed.

Photo: Katelyn Perry/We Work
Photo: Katelyn Perry/We Work

Recently, Lord Jameson Dog Patisserie and the Gansevoort Hotel Group partnered to provide each hotel guest that stays with their dog a “turndown” service for their pups, accompanied by a treat ball. At the end of their stay, the guests will receive a complimentary bag of the delicious treats.

Goldberger has developed a delicious treat that simultaneously gives back to the community. Lord Jameson treats can be found online and in pet stores across New York City, including The Salty Paw, The Barking Zoo, Beasty Feast and more. Proceeds from every sale goes toward therapy dog associations and other services across the United States. But having Jameson as a therapy dog is the biggest gift of all.

“You can’t imagine the powerful emotions that you feel by watching your beloved dog delicately and sweetly brighten the world of others just by being himself—sharing love and affection for all those around him,” Goldberger said.

Lord Jameson Dog Patisserie treats are a great gift for the beloved pup in your life. You can find the treat balls embody a triple threat: they’re tasty, healthy and their proceeds provide a great service to those in need. What more could you want?

Photo: Katelyn Perry/We Work
Photo: Katelyn Perry/We Work
Categories
Dining

A look at The Tuck Room, a great new spot from Chef Sherry Yard & Sommelier Adam Seger

Dinner and a movie have never been classier than at the iPic Theater in South Street Seaport. Not only can you order food in the comfort of your theater seat, you can also grab a bite to eat before or after the movie at newly-opened The Tuck Room located on the third floor of iPic.

Sherry Yard, James Beard award-winning chef and COO of iPic’s restaurant division, curates The Tuck Room’s menu while Adam Seger, iPic’s master bartender and advanced sommelier, creates the eclectic seasonal cocktails. Last Monday, the Downtown team had the opportunity to attend a dinner and cocktail tasting at The Tuck Room. FullSizeRender-2Yard’s menu features bite-sized and handheld gourmet treats among other items, perfect for eating in the theater, that Downtown was able to taste for ourselves.

Our first drink upon arrival was a Riesling cocktail with Pop Rocks at the bottom of the champagne glass. It was crisp and refreshing, perfect for the first drink of the night.

The first course was a delicious Ponzu Mignonette oyster, displayed on a glass plate, frozen to keep the oyster cold. A beautiful presentation for a delightful treat! Wine was given per each course, to accompany a different taste for each dish.FullSizeRender-4 (1)Our second course was a dish called “The Avocado,” featuring half of a grilled and stuffed Hass avocado with breadcrumbs, cotija cheese, shallot-avocado mousse and finger lime pearls. This dish reinvents avocados to the next level, filled with different flavors and textures to satisfy any palette.FullSizeRenderIn between courses, Yard and her executive chef explained each dish and ensured we were pleased with our meal—which we were, every time. The next course offered was an amazing brioche-crusted crab cake with Old Bay remoulade and a citrus salad. Yard’s crab cake recipe does not have any unnecessary fillers in the cake; instead, it’s just pure crab to emphasize its buttery and fresh flavor.FullSizeRender-3 (1)Other courses included sweet and spicy pork belly lettuce wraps, Chinatown duck and Scarlet pepper steak. As you may guess, each course was better than the last. Yard’s creations are made with love, passion and really live up to her “craveable American cuisine” mantra.

After dinner, Seger took us into an area called The Green Room, where you have to push a secret book in the bookcase for the door to open. While there, we fawned over the works of Peter Tunney that lined each wall of The Green Room. We were also invited to try some dessert and any drink of our choice on the menu. Seger explained the cocktail menu, sharing that the cocktails change seasonally.

There is also a VIP bartender once a week, where one individual from New York’s hottest lounges, clubs or bars serves The Tuck Room crowd with cocktail creations of their own and a personal playlist to accompany the night.

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The Tuck Room is sure to please any customer for drinks, dinner or both! There’s no need to purchase a movie ticket to visit The Tuck Room — just come on an empty stomach and you will leave feeling satisfied and amazed at every turn.

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Categories
Health

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Champions for Change Gala” delivers at the Mandarin Oriental New York

Witney Carson, Sam Champion & Summer Sanders

Witney Carson, Sam Champion & Summer Sanders
Witney Carson, Sam Champion & Summer Sanders

Taking care of your skin goes way beyond simply finding a cleanser that rids of your blemishes or stacking up on moisturizers, especially in the dry months to come. Educating yourself on skin health and the dangers of skin cancer in general is important for every man and woman to know, but doing so may often be overlooked.

Fortunately, last month The Skin Cancer Foundation held its Champions For Change Gala where the event helped spread awareness concerning skin cancer and “honored ‘Champions’ for exceptional achievement in skin health, including public education about sun protection and skin cancer prevention.” The foundation is the only global organization that is dedicated to “the prevention, early detection and the treatment of skin cancer” through providing education and awareness to the public.

At the gala, the foundation honored both Marcia Robbins-Wilf, chair of the Marcia Robbins-Wilf Research Award Society, and Perry Robins, founder and president of The Skin Cancer Foundation.

Olympic gold medalist and TV host, Summer Sanders, and Dancing With The Stars professional Witney Carson were the speakers of the night who both shared their experiences with melanoma.

Both women called on The Skin Cancer Foundation for providing a support system for them during their experience with skin cancer and will use the foundation to further educate individuals and save lives.

“Let’s support the foundation’s mission and be champions for changing behaviors so that we can ultimately save lives,” Sanders said.

Even if you’re not a lucky individual who scored an invite, with events such as The Skin Cancer Foundation gala, it’s easy to get educated on how to take proper care of your skin year-round. The gala is just one tool to help spread awareness and celebrate individuals who are making renowned advancements in the skin health field.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvSuNGlmcRo

Categories
Fashion

Downtown’s Look at Liv Ballard’s Wanderlust Collection

Wanderlust: it’s a magical, dreamlike feeling that tempts individuals to travel to new destinations. It’s also the theme centered around Liv Ballard’s jewelry collection, where globes and maps are amongst the designs for each unique piece.

Liv Ballard’s theme of wanderlust resembles the freedom of travel and promises collections “that satisfy both intellectually and aesthetically.” Each piece is a “statement of confidence” that embodies “sensual, sculptural and playful” characteristics.

Handcrafted in Rome, each globe pendant, which is part of Ballard’s permanent collection, consists of 18-karat gold. They’re decorated with precious jewels such as diamonds, emeralds or sapphires. The globes even spin on their axis, a feature unique to Liv Ballard that adds to the sculptural and playful look Ballard wants to achieve.

Sun and Moonstone Globe with Sandy Chain 3

Aside from the aesthetic of Liv Ballard’s jewelry, each individual piece tells a story. Whether it is historical or mythological, Ballard’s jewelry provides meaning; and more than that, they’re a part of something bigger than itself rather than a simple accessory to a trendy look.

If you are lucky enough to find yourself at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards in January, going clad in one of Liv Ballard’s globe pendants would be a perfect touch.

You can purchase Liv Ballard’s collections at Saks Fifth Ave or on her website: www.livballard.com.

Categories
Business Fashion

Do Online Shoppers Miss Personalized Advice?

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With online shopping becoming more popular, it’s posing challenges for retailers to ensure consumers the same service and way to connect. While convenience is key, many shoppers still look for the same level of service online that they would get from in-store associates. Salesfloor, a retail technology platform, recently conducted a study to help retailers understand the gap between the in-store and online shopping experiences.

Over the summer, Downtown conducted a survey geared toward millennials about their thoughts on online shopping, and found that 60 percent of millennials prefer in-store shopping as opposed to e-commerce when it comes to service. 83 percent of those surveyed also believed it’s “necessary to try or test the product prior to purchasing.”

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According to Luxury Daily, Salesfloor “respondents were between the ages of 18 and 65 years of age, with male and female shoppers equally represented.” The survey found that consumers also preferred in-store shopping as opposed to the click-and-go routine of e-commerce, partly because of the in-store personalized assistance one can receive from sales associates.

Although some clothing websites offer a “live-chat” option with employees for assistance, “87 percent of shoppers sa[id] their in-store purchase decisions are influenced by store associates,” according to Salesfloor.

But because we live in a world of technology, some brands are beginning to merge online shopping with in-store qualities.

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Hugo Boss recently launched Boss On Demand in partnership with Uber and UberCentral, allowing clients to schedule an in-store appointment online where an Uber will pick them up and bring them to the store, where stylists and associates will assist in their shopping experience. The Hugo Boss location in the Westfield World Trade Center also offers delivery of clothing and other services.

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Photography by Romer Pedron for Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue is also expanding its e-commerce to better benefit its customers. Saks is now “offering [a service] that brings the retailer’s in-store experience directly to its online shoppers,” Luxury Daily reported back in March, where associates will be available through live-chat on their website 24/7. This allows employees to communicate with its consumers at any given moment, offering styling tips and curated products, to make up for the lack of personalization online.

At any clothing store, especially a high-end brand, consumers expect a certain level of assistance while shopping. When dealing with an associate who knows the store better than you do, their advice is valuable and not easily replaced by the key factors of online shopping such as convenience and accessibility. With the two great shopping centers Brookfield Place and Westfield home to some of Downtown’s favorite brands like Theory, COS and John Varvatos it will be interesting to see what the future shopping experience will look like – whether it be in-store or online. One thing is sure, shopping never goes out of style.

Categories
Business

Reflekt Skincare provides clear and radiant skin for all

REFLEKT MODEL

Rather than listing makeup products that can create a natural look, what if you could be “au naturale” without the concealers, highlighters and powders?

Recently there have been trends of the “no makeup” style, with celebrities like Alicia Keys leading the forefront. But to ensure you’re getting that perfect, natural look you’re seeking, the first step is caring for your skin with nourishing products. Reflekt Skincare is the perfect product for such an appearance, offering “luxurious high-quality skincare products” that give you a clear, natural glow.

To achieve a dewy style for your skin, makeup isn’t the answer.

“Dewy skin starts with your skin, not your makeup. A fresh clean palette that’s smooth enough to naturally reflect light is the foundation for beautiful skin,” said Nancy Schnoll, founder and creative director of Reflekt Skincare. She added, “You can put as much makeup on as you like, but if your skin isn’t clear and hydrated, you’ll never look dewy.”

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Fortunately, Reflekt offers their Reflekt 1 Hydrating Facial Cleansing Scrub for all skin types that promises to cleanse, exfoliate and hydrate your skin while “minimiz[ing] fine lines and wrinkles, prevent[ing] breakouts [and] avoid[ing] ingrown hairs from shaving.”

To use Reflekt 1, simply wet your face with warm water and squeeze a quarter-sized amount onto your hands. In circular motions, scrub your face and neck until the product is applied entirely. Rinse the scrub off with warm water and for extra hydration, apply a serum or cream of your choice. To ensure your best glowing look use Reflekt 1 twice daily, both in the morning and at night.

When used twice a day, Reflekt 1 primes dry sensitive skin so serums and moisturizers can penetrate for maximum hydration. With the cold weather right around the corner, Reflekt 1 will help nourish the infamous dull and pale complexion in the months to come.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwz7EEl-jDs