Before graduating from Chelsea’s Bayard Rustin High School For The Humanities, Shawn Wayans had made his film debut in 1988’s I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. He made his proper television debut in 1990 as DJ SW1 on In Living Color, which he stayed on for four seasons. Success as a writer, producer and creator would start with the sitcom The Wayans Bros. — the first WB Network series to be syndicated — and the 1996 cult classic Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood.; these and many other projects were helmed alongside brother Marlon.
However, really big things started for Shawn when Scary Movie was released in 2000, a film which brought in nearly $300 million at the box office. Scary Movie not only spawned sequels, but also single-handedly created the early 2000s craze of the parody film genre. Shawn also entered the children’s entertainment world nearly a decade ago as a co-creator and voiceover actor for the Thugaboo and Boo Crew specials, as seen on Nickelodeon.
While Shawn and other members of the Wayans family are known to regularly be working on new projects at the creative facility they call “The Lab,” Shawn has not slowed down his stand-up schedule. About 10 minutes by foot from where he grew up, Shawn is returning to Manhattan for six shows between on Mar. 23 and 26 at the Gotham Comedy Club. Shawn can be followed on Twitter via @shawn_wayans.
The Chelsea you grew up in is very different from the Chelsea of today. Does anyone in your family still live near there?
Shawn Wayans: No.
I heard a story of Eddie Murphy once visiting your family’s home in Chelsea. Was he the only famous visitor who had come by?
SW: Robert Townsend used to come by as well. He and Keenen [Ivory Wayans] were friends.
Did you do stand-up in New York City before joining the In Living Color cast? What was the first New York club you did stand-up at?
SW: Yes I did. The first clubs I did stand-up at were The Comic Strip and The Improv.
For someone who hasn’t seen you live before, what should they expect from one of your shows at Gotham?
SW: Expect a raw, insightful, funny, and physical show.
You were originally the DJ on In Living Color. When was the last time you DJ’ed?
SW: Last week.
People generally know you not only from In Living Color, but also the Wayans Bros. sitcom and your movies. A lot of different projects. Is there a project that you are most proud of?
For many people, flowers are only ordered for special occasions. In turn, many people do not think about where their flowers are coming from or what the long-term consequences of their purchase may be. In the case of Ode à la Rose — as based in Chelsea — all of its orders are delivered same-day in Manhattan, as arranged locally, and customers can see a photo of their order prior to delivery. In addition, Ode à la Rose orders are presented in an appealing, exclusive gift box.
Ode à la Rose was founded by Olivier Plusquellec and Louis Brunet less than a decade ago. Five years after starting as a local New York-centric service, Ode à la Rose has grown to a multi-million dollar company, now delivering to 12 states around the Northeastern United States. Not only does Ode à la Rose offer flowers, but it also allows customers to add on candles created Grasse, France — arguably the fragrance capital of the world — and boxes of macarons from the New York City-based Macaron Café.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Downtown caught with Ode à la Rose co-founder Olivier Plusquellec for some Q&A. Beyond its website, www.odealarose.com, Ode à la Rose also stays active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+. Olivier himself is also on Twitter.
Olivier Plusquellec: I love our peony bouquets. Peonies are not available all year round…which is probably what makes me love them all the more. They’re perfect to decorate and brighten up any room and transform your home into a picture perfect pad in no time.
For someone seeking a Valentine’s Day gift for a partner or loved one, what would you recommend they pick up?
OP: Red roses are a Valentine’s Day classic for a reason. You can’t go wrong with a dozen — or one hundred! — red roses. Pink is also quite popular, and purple is a fun, unique color to switch things up with.
How about for a friend or a co-worker?
OP: If you still want to send roses, but without romantic intentions, yellow is a perfect choice. A mix of flowers tends to be more friendly as well, such as our Wildflowers & Roses bouquet. Nothing too big or crazy, or they may get the wrong impression!
Valentine’s Day aside, what are the key times of year for your business?
OP: Mother’s Day is the second most popular holiday for us. In terms of seasons, spring and autumn tend to be the busiest.
I understand that Ode à la Rose now delivers in 12 states. Does that mean that your flowers are sourced from all over the place?
OP: Although we deliver all throughout the Northeast, every arrangement is made in our New York City workshop, located in the heart of the Chelsea flower district. We make everything to order, and then ship the bouquets overnight in our travel containers filled with water to keep the flowers fresh.
Is the goal to be able to ship to all 50 states? To grow in another way?
OP: Yes. In 2017, we’ll be opening up a floral workshop on the West Coast with a similar set up as the one we currently have in New York City. Our goal is to have workshops in several strategic locations in the U.S. within the next five years to be able to deliver our bouquets to all 50 states.
Before starting up Ode à la Rose, what did you do for a living?
OP: We both worked in investment banking and made the leap to entrepreneurship about five years ago.
Have you always had a passion for roses?
OP: I’ve always enjoyed flowers especially to decorate my home. However, my passion for roses and for the art of floral design really started and grew with this venture.
Is there something you wish more people knew about your company?
OP: We offer a couple of features that enhance the flower delivery experience. For example, we send a photo of the actual arrangement that was made to the sender to guarantee that what our customers see on our website is what their loved one receives. We also offer our clients the option — free of charge — to upload their favorite photo during the check-out process which we print on glossy paper and add to the bouquet delivery.
When not busy with Ode à la Rose, how do you like to spend your free time?
OP: I like to spend most of my free time with my daughters, Rose and Madeleine. I don’t see them much during the week, so I try to make it up to them on the weekends, which leaves me with very little time to do anything else.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
OP: There are so many great restaurants in New York City, but Casa Apicii in Greenwich Village is currently my go-to place. The food there is absolutely off the charts, and the decor is beautiful.
Trip.com is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.”
Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip.com. Visit the Trip.com site or download the app for more upcoming events.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
1. Holiday Opera Mouse
Soho Playhouse (South Village)
Through Saturday, Dec. 31 at 11:00 AM
This lovely holiday play is about a puppet mouse who saves the day while belting out arias by Mozart and Puccini, proving once again that great things come in small packages. “Holiday Opera Mouse” is a great way to introduce kids (and adults) to the wonders of classical music. Tickets start at $25.
The National Museum of Mathematics and Flatiron Partnership are celebrating winter solstice with a giant math problem. Be one of the the first 300 people to show up on the plaza to help put together a huge mathematical puzzle that contains secret (and possibly life changing) messages. After this brainy activity, participants are invited to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. FREE.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
3. Winter Music Fest
Check site for complete list of locations
Wednesday, Dec. 21 (check site for times)
Make Music Winter is an outdoor concert that turns audiences into band members. From African drums to hand bells, each event has its own unique sound. Come spread holiday cheer at one of 13 participatory musical parades across New York! FREE.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
4. Christmas for Expats
Jimmy’s No. 43 (East Village)
Friday, Dec. 25 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Jimmy’s No. 43 invites expats, orphans and those who could care less about Christmas to gather around the taps for a holiday pint, or two. The expats X-mas Day Brewer’s Brunch is an all-you-can-eat walk-around meal that serves as a reminder that Christmas, like all good things, is best when shared. $25 (with drinks available for purchase).
Photo courtesy of Pexels
5. Matzo Ball
Capitale (Bowery)
Thursday, Dec. 24 from 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM
The biggest Jewish singles ball, Matzoball has been throwing this annual party for 30 years now! To celebrate three decades of “jewcy adventure” the organizers promise a bigger, better and outrageously more fun party! Mazel tov and happy hunting, ladies and gents! Tickets start at $50.
The biggest holiday treat does not come in a box, but in the form of a key. Though you won’t actually get the key to the uber exclusive Gramercy Park (Manhattan’s only private park), trustees of this two-acre paradise will open its gates to the general public for some holiday caroling. Bring a flashlight. FREE.
Courtesy of Pexels
7. Colonial Christmas
Fraunces Tavern Museum (Financial District)
Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 6:30pm
Did you know that Christmas was once banned in America? Not that that stopped settlers from merry making on the down low. The Fraunces Tavern Museum takes a step back in time to explore early American holiday traditions through poetry, “English carols, American folk hymns, dance tunes and drinking songs.” $15 tickets includes one wassail drink.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
8. Winter Wonderland Rooftop Bar
Arlo Hotel (Hudson Square)
Sunday through Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM; Thursday from 4:00 PM to 1:00 AM; Friday-Saturday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM (through New Year’s Day)
Head up to the rooftop bar at Arlo Hotel for spectacular views and an array of spiked holiday drinks. The seasonal pop-up, Winter Land, has turned the space into a Christmasy ski-lodge that serves gingerbread-man jello shots, mulled wine, candy cane shooters and hot chocolate martinis.
Photo courtesy of Pexels
9. Black Fashion Designers
The Museum at FIT (Chelsea)
Tuesday through Friday 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Fashion Institute of Technology honors the contribution of black designers in a new show called “Black Fashion Designers.” Covering over 60 years of history, the shows features original creations from Zelda Wynn Valdes, Ann Lowe, Arthur McGee, Wesley Tann, Jon Weston, Willi Smith, Patrick Kelly, Nkhensani Nkosi and others. FREE.
It was a day of mourning when Union Square Cafe closed its doors in 2015. But when one door closes, another one opens. In this case, Union Square Cafe’s new digs are double the size of its original home. It still looks and feels like Union Square, but better. On the menu, you’ll find staples like the tuna burger, calamari fried in graham cracker crumbs and banana tart alongside plenty of new items to fall in love with. Welcome back!
Join your fellow navel gazers who will be welcoming 2017 in quiet contemplation at Jivamukti Yoga Relaxation Studio. Chant, reflect in silence and hear inspiring messages from Sharon Gannon and David Life. FREE and open to the public with registration. (If you want to take part in a Master Yoga Class with Gannon and Life and the vegan dinner that follows, the cost is $108.)
Photo: Blowfish Soup/Flickr
12. Poetry Marathon
St. Mark’s Church (East Village)
Sunday, Jan. 1 from 2:00 PM to 2:00 AM
For a more inspirational New Year’s Day, one dedicated to the arts, observations and self expression, why not spend the day and night listening to 150 poets (among them Tracie Morris, Eileen Myles, Edgar Oliver, Tommy Pico and Hannif Willis-Abdurraqib) read their work at the annual New Year’s Day Marathon Benefit Reading. $25.
Photo: Kaique Rocha/Pexels
13. Bike or Skate into 2017
Washington Square Park (Greenwich Village)
Saturday, Dec. 31 at 10:00 PM
Why stand around waiting for New Year’s when you can get on your bike or skates, grab some food and drinks and take a late night ride to Central Park’s Belvedere Castle for a fireworks display and a festive outdoor dance party. Throw on some fancy pants (it’s a party after all), bring noise makers and meet us under the arch at Washington Square Park. FREE.
Founded in 1995, The Good Home Co., Inc. was one of the first home-centric companies to focus on using all-natural ingredients. The Good Home Co. is known for its home care and laundry products, all of which being vegan, biodegradable, and free of sulfates, parabens and phoephates. Beyond being effective for cleaning, the company’s products also carry a reputation for being beautifully-scented.
Christine Dimmick, Founder and CEO of The Good Home Co., started her career as a Fragrance Director. Although she has roots in Ohio and Los Angeles, she is a long-time New Yorker that has lived downtown for decades. Celebrity fans of hers include Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, Queen Latifah, Kim Kardashian, Brooke Shields, and Pamela Anderson. Christine — a graduate of the Parsons School Of Design — wrote a well-received book called Home File: A Realistic Decorating Guide For Real Life, as released in 1998, and currently has a follow-up in the works.
Downtown caught up with Christine for some Q&A about the past, present and future of her company. The Good Home Co. can be visited online at www.goodhomestore.com, where its products can be purchased. Good Home can also be followed on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Where did your brand name come from?
Christine Dimmick: The Good Home Company was named after my grandparents, whose home represented all that is good me. Our logo is an illustration of their home in Ohio, which is still a working farm today after five generations.
To you, what makes “a good home?”
CD: A good home is anywhere there is love, nourishment and a warm welcome. I believe in family dinners and when I cook, I cook with love. The same goes with our products. Each one and each scent is made with love, care and an intention to bring goodness to the homes that use them.
You live in downtown Manhattan? Have you always been based downtown?
CD: For the most part we have always lived below 32nd Street. We spent many years in Chelsea until it became too crowded. After relocating to FiDi, we fell in love with this unique part of Manhattan. I have lived in New York City for 30 years, but the history of lower Manhattan is very new to me. We were lucky enough to find a home in the Seaport a few years ago and cannot imagine living anywhere else in New York City.
What do you like most about living downtown?
CD: I love the juxtaposition of new and old. Down by Water Street you can take a picture of Fraunces Tavern with the Liberty Tower and other majestic buildings behind it and it takes my breath away every time. My favorite part is being close to the water. As much damage as it caused, its beauty cannot be denied. Oh and the Brooklyn Bridge — I never get tired of that view every morning when I walk our dog!
The Good Home Company’s Christine Dimmick
Do you have a favorite restaurant in the area?
CD: I eat at VBar regularly and I am also a regular eater of fresh baked bread and pasta at Aqua. During the cooler months we often walk up to Dim Sum Go Go in Chinatown.
CD: I have a BFA in communications from Parsons. I studied Advertising and Design.
So where did the idea for Good Home Co. come from?
CD: The Good Home was created after reading the artists way while having a career crisis! I had a very corporate job which was not my soul’s calling. After reading the book, I created Good Home, a company that combined all my loves and skills into one place.
At the time, there were no natural products on the market. Just Aveda — and no one was even looking at cleaning. I envisioned a company that created products for your homes soul using the power of scent. Candles, cleaning, bath products, even stuff for pets. Because no matter the size or the grandness, there is no place like home. And everyone deserves that.
A lot of notable people are fans of your brand. Who was the first celebrity to really embrace what do you?
Do you have a favorite product from the Good Home Co. line?
CD: Right now I am in love with our Heal Fragrance. I formulated it based on thieves oil — it naturally fights germs but also smells like a cozy, fall day. It is incredibly-comforting, therefore healing and you can diffuse it, where it as a fragrance (which I do) and we also sell it in hand soaps and candles.
What’s coming up for your brand? Any special events or promotions? New products?
CD: We are exploring new ways to distribute Good Home which will bring health and wellness to so many who do not know about us. I am very excited for this!
Do you have an accomplishment related to the brand that you are most proud of?
CD: We have been in business for over 20 years and the jobs and income we have provided for those who work here and who we partner with makes me very proud. Most recently we started working with women who are survivors of human trafficking. Providing them with a decent income is something that is humbling and that I am very proud of.
Beyond you living here, does the brand have any ties to New York?
CD: No, not directly. But we feel right at home here in the Seaport, where merchants and makers have always thrived.
Do you have any plans for a follow-up to your Home File book?
CD: Yes, I am currently writing my second book entitled Detox Your Home – A Guide To Removing Toxins And Bringing Health Into Your Home. It is being published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018
When not busy with your work, how do you like to spend your free time?
CD: I love taking yoga at Sky Ting in Chinatown and exploring our very special neighborhood.
Finally, Christine, any last words for the kids?
CD: Yes — always help others. No matter what you do or what business you create, help others and you will in turn will be fulfilled on all levels.
I have many quotes surrounding me daily. One of my favorites is “if the door doesn’t open, it wasn’t yours to open.” So often we get trapped with a direction we feel we must follow or that is ours. But if you are still banging your head against a door that won’t open, move on. You most likely won’t step into your dream right away, but little doors will open to get you there. If they don’t, try another door.
Gogobot is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.”
Gogobot’s GoGo This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week. Visit the website or download the app for more GoGo This Week upcoming events.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out in downtown New York this week, courtesy of Gogobot:
Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 13 (check site for showtimes)
Before hitting the kitchen hard in preparation for Thanksgiving, spend the weekend with Alton Brown. he will be introducing the films and holding post screening discussions, watching some of his favorite food films including Eat Drink Man Woman, Big Night, Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers, and The God Of Cookery. Tickets start at $15.
Nov. 8 will go down in history, whatever the results…We may be celebrating or grieving, either way we will be downing special Donald Drumpf and Secret Server cocktails at Village Pourhouse. There will be Trump and Clinton pinatas on hand with very desirable prizes like a gift certificate to a tanning salon…
Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM through Dec. 17
Elmgreen & Dragset’s latest thought-provoking exhibition, Changing Subjects, explores the topics of identity, sexuality, death and social values. The shows opens with Modern Moses, a wax figure of a sleeping baby seemingly abandoned in front of an ATM machine…FREE
On November 14, the moon will be at its closest point to the earth. What does that mean? Supermoon — the biggest in almost 70 years! So, unless you are willing to wait until November 25, 2034 for the next one, we suggest you make it to The High Line for some of the best views!
This has been one of the most stressful elections ever! There is only one way to relieve the stress — dance it off! The Election Day Dance Party presented by What The Float is a great way to recover from the results. Stop by anytime between 12:00 PM and 9:00 PM for a free set of headphones, great company and the sort of beats that will — hopefully — shake off the blues and reds of this election. FREE
Continuing the dine-in theater trend, the new iPic Theater brings gourmet meals (by Chef Sherry) and hand-crafted cocktails (by Adam Seger) to create the ultimate movie theater experience. The reclining leather seats are alone worth a trip. Those not opting for the eat-in option can still enjoy perks like gourmet popcorn, old school candy and fancy concession stand treats. Tickets start at $16.
Thursday, Nov. 10 – Sunday, Nov. 13 (Check site for showtimes)
Halloween is once a year, but that does not mean you have to give up the chills for holiday cheer. The fright fest continues into November at NYC Horror Film Festival with over 50 screening of gory gore, scary slasher and creepy sci-fi films. This year Adrienne Barbeau will receive a lifetime achievement award for films like The Fog, Creepshow, Swamp Thing and Escape From New York. Tickets start at $16.
Photo: Josef Stuefer/Flickr
-Courtesy of Gogobot
If you know of great events happening in your neck of the woods that might be a fit for a future GoGo This Week column, please send details about the event to events@gogobot.com.
Debuted on the Concept Car Lawn at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Escala was long-awaited from Cadillac. Seen as an extension of previous Cadillac cars like 2011’s Ciel and 2013’s Elmiraj, the Escala looks simultaneously contemporary and classic. It is undeniably a luxury automobile, roomy while also performance-centric.
While the Cadillac brand is universally-known and respected, it is not often that you hear about the people that make concepts like the Escala into a reality. Andrew Smith, Executive Director of Cadillac Global Design, is one of these people. Andrew has worked within the General Motors family for 20 years, having come into his current position in September 2013. Beyond the Escala, he worked on the CT6 prestige sedan and the XT5 crossover.
Cadillac is often thought of as a Detroit-based company, yet Cadillac recently relocated its global headquarters to New York City. It also opened up Cadillac House, a public space on the ground level of Cadillac’s SoHo headquarters, which features a coffee shop, art gallery, and retail space. The Escala is currently on display at Cadillac House — as located at 330 Hudson Street — through Oct. 19.
What was the first car-related item you ever designed?
Andrew Smith: My dad was a Holden dealer in Australia, and one childhood visit I took the liberty of filling his entire 60-page paper desk blotter with different facelifts of the first generation VB Commodore ostensibly so he could send them to Holden. As a design professional, the first item was a tail lamp.
When studying design in college, did you have a specialty? Did you then realize that people designed cars?
AS: I studied Industrial Design and graduated from the Sydney College of the Arts and University of Technology Sydney. As a kid I sketched cars for hours on end. However, the watershed moment for me occurred at age 14, reading an issue of Autocar Magazine. It featured the graduating class at the Royal College of Art. I showed it to my parents and said something like I needed to go to London to study design.
Where does your inspiration for design usually come from? Do you go to museums and galleries? Read magazines?
AS: I do, however my inspiration for design comes more from the broad curiosity I have for the world around me. At its foundation, design is about being curious and problem solving. Among the top reasons I pursued a career in design was the opportunity to collaborate and create products for brands with a great story to tell.
Cadillac Escala
How would you describe the Escala to someone who has not yet experienced it?
AS: I have been with Cadillac for three years and I see my job as a stewardship. The brand is coming up on 115 years and so the question is where do you take it next? The Escala is our opportunity to convey the work we have been doing in terms of brand positioning and tonality — the direction we are going with sophistication. This concept shares how Cadillac will bring forward a new experience that is uniquely-American, and unmistakably-Cadillac.
You spent a few years in Korea for your job. Is there anything you miss about working and living there?
AS: I miss the people and the food — especially mandu, the Korean dumplings, and the chicken noodle soup. I don’t miss the traffic.
Speaking of moving, Cadillac recently moved its global headquarters from Detroit to New York City. What prompted that?
AS: Having a distinct Cadillac business unit enables the brand to pursue growing opportunities in the luxury automotive market with more focus and clarity. The city of Detroit and the state of Michigan remain central to Cadillac, as the majority of our vehicle portfolio is built here and all of our design, and product and technical development activities remain in the Detroit area.
How would you describe Cadillac House to someone who hasn’t been there yet?
AS: Cadillac House New York is a public meeting place at Cadillac’s global headquarters in SoHo where innovators, creators and the curious can find inspiration–and each other.
Do you have a favorite part of Cadillac House? A favorite drink there?
AS: My favorite feature at Cadillac House is the runway. I love the way it frames the car and draws visitors to the car. Coffee is my beverage of choice.
Escala aside, what’s coming up for Cadillac?
AS: The momentum in the Cadillac studios is at an all-time high with the second half of the decade marking a new era of expansion and new products in development for launch between now and 2020.
When not busy with your day job, how do you like to spend your free time?
AS: With my family — especially LEGOs with my son, watching movies with my daughters, entertaining with my wife and walking the dog.
AS: I really enjoy the High Line and Chelsea in general is awesome as is the Meatpacking District. There is always so much going on and something new to see and experience.
Finally, Andrew, any last words for the kids?
AS: My guidelines for aspiring designers are to be open to new opportunities, look around and ask questions, get involved, don’t take it personally, and ask “Does it make me happy?”
