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Culture Entertainment Featured Music NYC Theater

Jenna Chrisphonte Joins The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center

Welcoming Jenna Chrisphonte as Director of Civic Alliances

As of July 6, The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center welcomed its new Director of Civic Alliances, Jenna Chrisphonte. She will work under the leadership of the theater’s Artistic Director Bill Rauch and President Leslie Koch. Chrisphonte will serve as the liaison between the PAC and “community-based organizations, NYCHA residents, community boards, immigrant groups, marginalized populations, cultural institutions, and elected officials”, according to a press release.

Support from Artistic Director Bill Rauch

“I am so thrilled to welcome Jenna to our team, given the vast experience, passion, and energy that she brings to this new role,” said Rauch. “The work of the Director of Civic Alliances is core to our mission of making connections between artists and communities from across all five boroughs of New York City.”

Chrisphonte’s new leadership is not the only change being made at the PAC. The theater, located at the World Trade Center, is under renovation. The improved establishment “will celebrate life and humanity, redefining Lower Manhattan as a cultural destination and serving as a living testament to the power of the arts to inspire and unite,” according to the statement.

President Leslie Koch Cheers Her On

“The PAC aspires to be a shared space for neighborhood residents and workers in Lower Manhattan, New Yorkers from throughout the city, and visitors from around the world,” said President Leslie Koch. “Jenna will be building relationships well before we open, introducing our new center to the city and world.”

Much like Chrisphonte, the PAC will match the energy in versatility and will create and present performance in many forms. It will be a sanctuary for dance, music, and chamber opera.

Chrisphonte was born in Haiti and got her education in New York City’s public schools. Her impressive background is multifaceted. It begins with her B.A. and J.D from the University at Buffalo, and branches into her experience as director of community engagement at the Dramatists Guild of America. She also served as the Assistant District Manager at Manhattan Community Board 4 and worked at the Consulate General of Canada in New York City. She now resides in Douglaston, Queens.

 

Jenna Chrisphonte Joins The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center
Jenna Chrisphonte Director of Civic Alliances

 

“It is an honor to join the PAC, said Jenna Chrisphonte. “Helping New York foster new relationships and opportunities to come together in peace and art is a privilege that I am excited to share with everyone.”

For additional information, visit theperelman.org.

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Events

Robert De Niro Hosts Inaugural Mohonk Preserve New York City Benefit Gala

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Tomorrow evening, acclaimed actor Robert De Niro is hosting Mohonk Preserve‘s first New York City Benefit Gala at Three Sixty° – Tribeca. The event is a celebration of Mohonk Preserve’s 50th Anniversary and its successful multi-million dollar capital campaign – Conservation for the Next Century.

“I’m proud to support Mohonk Preserve, not only as a place of remarkable beauty and recreation, but also as a leader in environmental education and research,” said Robert De Niro.

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Duck Pond, a popular site for environmental education programs at Mohonk Preserve. Photo by John Thompson.

The Mohonk Preserve, established in 1963, is New York State’s largest member and visitor supported nature preserve. Eight thousand protected acres in the Hudson River Valley entice more than 150,000 visitors each year. The Preserve features over 30 miles of historic carriage roads and more than 1,000 of the world’s finest rock climbing sites. The Mohonk Preserve has 14,000 members and 350 volunteers that work towards its mission of protecting the Shawagunk Mountains by inspiring people to enjoy, explore, and take care of the natural beauty of the area via groundbreaking programs in environmental education, land protection and stewardship, and conservation science.

Friday’s benefit will feature a sit-down dinner, live music, and dancing. Honorary Chair Robert De Niro will be in attendance along with Co-Chairs Noah and Maria Gottdiener, Paul B. Guenther, and Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr. Proceeds from the event will support the campaign’s objectives, including the acquisition of the Mohonk Preserve Foothills, restoration of eight miles of carriage roads, enhancing visitor experiences, and building the endowment to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

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Three Sixtyº – Tribeca. Pic by Borowski Muller Photograhers

“This Gala – our first to take place in New York City – marks the culmination of our ambitious two-year capital campaign,” said Mohonk Preserve Executive Director Glenn Hoagland. “We are thrilled that Mr. De Niro and the rest of our stellar committee will be there to help us celebrate our $5.5 million fundraising milestone, an accomplishment which will allow us to invest in new initiatives to safeguard, enhance and sustain the long-term protection of this great natural treasure.”

Tickets start at $500 for individuals and $10,000 for tables. For more information, visit mohonkpreserve.org

Charlotte Bryant

Categories
Fashion

Carolina Herrera Reissues Her Favorite Prints

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Venezuelan fashion designer and style icon Carolina Herrera has just released a collection of day clothes in her best-selling prints from past collections. “Each one has a little story,” she told Vogue. Florals, toile, stars, birds, and even drawings of her pet poodle are among the selected prints.

Each print is a playful ode to some of Mrs. Herrera’s favorite things; Swimming Ladies is inspired by her trips to Punta Cana and Zodiac was inspired by a celestial Verdura compact given to her by her husband Reinaldo. Our favorite, the Sparrows print, features her favorite bird in bright greens and yellows. The rest are equally playful and gorgeous; Love Letters, Marilyn Toile, and Botanicals round out the collection. Check out all of the prints and their individual stories here.

The looks are preppy and classic: shirtdresses, pencil skirts, shift dresses, A-lines, and sensible shorts are the chosen silhouettes. The prints are colorful and slightly reminiscent of bolder Lily Pulitzer designs, but more refined. We suggest wearing one of the looks for a lady’s luncheon, a stroll around the park, or a day trip to Yankee Stadium.

 

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvfD1MW5YqQ[/youtube]

– Charlotte Bryant

 

Categories
Culture Entertainment Events

DOWNTOWN Sponsors LUNAFEST: A Traveling Film Festival

Tomorrow night, NYC’s swanky members-only club, Soho House, is opening its doors for a star-studded philanthropic event. Lunafest is a traveling festival that screens films exclusively made by women, about women. Each event benefits a different charity; tomorrow night (sponsored by Four Women NYC) a portion of the proceeds will go towards The Breast Cancer Fund, and the rest to the charity founded by Christy Turlington Burns, Every Mother Counts

The films to be screened include Eight Limbs of Raja, a short starring Bridget Barkan, made in Brooklyn, that is a light hearted look at the challenges life presents. Barkan has previously acted in God’s Pocket alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman, a film that was well received at Sundance. Eight Limbs of Raja is directed by Louisa Brown, event chair and founding member of Four Women NYC. Louisa voiced her excitement for Lunafest; “The event is a celebration of mothers and women in general. I hope it gives people a little more insight into the need for proper maternal health care for mothers from all walks of life. After all, that’s how we all got here!”

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A still from Eight Limbs of Raja

 Episodes of Making of a Midwife, a documentary series by Every Mother Counts, will also be on view. The series chronicles the organization’s efforts to train midwives in Haiti, who each provide care to nearly 1,500 women, delivering between 120 and 240 babies per year. Christy Turlington Burns commented on the series; “We are thrilled to share excerpts from our film series, Making of a Midwife, as part of Lunafest because it is the perfect platform to visually educate others about an issue that touches us all. These excerpts focus on Midwives for Haiti’s graduating class of 2013 with our support. Together we can make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother.”

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Besides the film screening, this intimate 2-hour event will also include cocktails, nibbles, and a Q and A with Every Mother Counts and some of the filmmakers. DOWNTOWN Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of tomorrow’s event.

A limited number of tickets are still available. For more information, visit lunafest.org.

Charlotte Bryant

 

 

 

Categories
Culture Entertainment Events

High Fashion Street Art: Faberge’s City Wide Egg Hunt

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Top architects, prominent fashion designers, and some local businesses, including Carolina Herrera, Marchesa, Olivier Theyskens, Ralph Lauren, DVF, and Magnolia Bakery have created eggs for The Big Egg Hunt, an event sponsored by Fabergé. Today, more than 250 two-and-a-half foot sculptures have been placed all around the five boroughs. Look for them in high-traffic areas like Grand Central, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square, and track them with your smartphone using a specially designed app. Fabergé’s Creative Director Katharina Flohr described it as a “fun, vibrant and fabulous project.” It’s also for a good cause; Sotheby’s will auction off the eggs on April 26th and 100% of the proceeds go to charity. Up to the minute hunt updates can be found on Instagram and Twitter @TheBigEggHuntNY and through facebook.com/thebigegghunt. You can also join the conversation with #TheBigEggHuntNY. Happy hunting!

-Charlotte Bryant

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DKNY’s Design

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Naeem Khan’s Design

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Marchesa’s Rose Palace Design

 

Categories
Fashion Industry News

adidas Originals Teams With Pharrell For An Eco-Friendly Collection

 

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With sneakers all the rage this spring, the classic German sportswear company adidas Originals is revamping its sixty-six year old brand. In addition to re-releasing their Stan Smith collection from the ’70s, a capsule collection designed in collaboration with Pharrell Williams will drop this summer.

Dirk Schoenberger, adidas’ Sport Style Division Global Creative Director, commented on the choice, “He is a pop-culture icon who never fails to inspire, not just through his musical talent and craft, but through his many other interests. He is the perfect fit for the multi-faceted company that is Adidas.”

The singer is keeping busy this year, with other collaborations in the works with Commes des Garçon, G-Star jeans, Moncler, and Uniqlo. Pharrell is excited to work for the sportswear giant because he has the opportunity to design a collection using eco-friendly Bionic Yarn– a sustainable material that is spun from plastic debris. Pharrell is Project Vortex‘s ambassador, an international collective that is providing the threads.

We’ve only caught glimpses of the collection so far in a teaser video, as no pictures have been released. But given Pharrell’s personal style- and his penchant for goofy hats- they’re sure to make waves.

Watch the Adidas=Pharrell Williams teaser (featuring Pharrell’s hat):

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acDu2i6cJ7w[/youtube]

-Fabio Capuano, Charlotte Bryant