Tag: Magazine

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Culture Events Featured Theater

An ASL Performance for Regina Comet

Regina Comet
Photo credit Matthew Murphy

“A Commerical Jingle for Reginia Comet” is *running* an ASL-interpreted performance of their show on November 20th at 3pm. The performance is part of a partnership with Broadway SIGNs! and show producer Jo-Ann Dean. Regina Comet is the story of two nobodies dreaming of writing one hit song for everybody…and a diva. It stars Alex Wyse (Spring Awakening, Waitress) and Ben Fankhauser (Newsies) as two struggling songwriters and Bryonha Marie Parham (Prince of Broadway) as the eponymous Regina Comet. Wyse and Fankhauser also wrote and composed the book for the show. Tickets are available at reginacomet.com.

Since their opening in September, Regina Comet has drawn audiences, laughs, and rave reviews, including from this website. The show follows two struggling songwriters, so anonymous that they go unnamed in the show and are billed as “Man 2” and “Other Man,” who get the chance of a lifetime when over-the-hill diva Regina Comet hires them to write a new song to advertise her new fragrance, “Relevance.” The results are creative, endearing, and hilarious. 

The November 20th ASL-interpreted show also marks one of the last performances of the show at the DR2 theatre. 

So hop online now and check out A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet, running through November 21st, 2021.

Regina Comet Description

Categories
Fashion Featured NYC

First Women of Color Samira Nasr to lead US BAZAAR

Women of Power Samira Nasr to lead US BAZAAR

Samira Nasr named editor in chief of the U.S. edition of Harper’s BAZAAR, overseeing content strategy and development across the brand’s print and digital platforms.

With the Black Lives Matter movement we are seeing a huge surge in visibility, support, and awareness for #BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), a new term helping to build a collective community, promoting the inclusion of all people of color.

The percentage of black hires in the U.S. grew from 4.8% in 2018 to 5.5% in 2019, a .7% increase, and female employees didn’t fare much better, dropping from 33.2% of global hires in 2018 to 32.5% in 2019.

In a statement this week Hearst President and CEO Steven R. Swartz and Hearst Magazines President Troy Young announced their first-ever black Editor in Chief of the company’s iconic fashion magazine, Harper’s Bazaar.

This announcement could not come at a better time, it’s time that equitable hiring practices become the norm, rather than the exception. Personally, I feel that we should not stop until the percentage of BIPOC hires is equal to white and we must move to lower the large gaps in income, create more promotional opportunities, and advancement for all.

Samira Nasr will commence her new role as Editor in Chief of Harper’s BAZAAR on July 6, 2020, reporting to Hearst Magazines Chief Content Officer Kate Lewis.

Samira is the first Black editor in chief in the history of the 153-year-old publication.

In her own words, “Fashion and BAZAAR are synonymous,” Nasr says. “It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with moving this legacy brand into a new era—one that is colorful, inclusive, and celebrates the beauty of fashion on every platform—while carrying on the tradition of innovative art direction and great style that the BAZAAR audience loves so much. The most beautiful part of working in magazines is the teamwork and creating a community. I can’t wait to get started.”

 

New Editor in Cheif Samira Nasr U.S. Harper's BAZAAR
Samira Nasr with Anita Hill from IG

 

Recently Samira was the executive fashion director at Vanity Fair, managing and directing the fashion department and all fashion content, including styling for their iconic covers such as the 25th annual Hollywood issue, the spring style issue featuring cover star Lupita Nyong’o, and the May 2019 issue with Nicole Kidman.

“Harper’s BAZAAR is a leading American fashion brand with a point of view that is hugely influential in the U.S. and around the world,” Young says. “Samira’s important voice will continue to evolve the brand’s distinct position as a style touchstone for fashion’s most discerning.”

 

New Editor in Chief Samira Nasr U.S. Harper's BAZAAR
Samira Nasr U.S. Harper’s BAZAAR

 

Coming back to Hearst Magazines, Nasr held the role of fashion director at ELLE for five years. Prior to that, she was style director for InStyle.

In addition to working with top fashion magazines in publishing, Nasr has also styled campaigns for fashion and beauty brands, including Laura Mercier, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, Clarins, and more.

After earning a graduate degree in journalism at New York University, she went on to begin her career in fashion working as an assistant to Grace Coddington, former creative director of Vogue.

“BAZAAR has always presented the world of fashion through a unique lens—smart, vibrant, adoring. Those words could not better describe Samira, who understands and delights in the world of fashion, but has a thoroughly modern and distinctive take,” Lewis says. “She innately understands the BAZAAR woman, because she is the BAZAAR woman: passionate about fashion, culture, and the issues that matter today. I know she will make something magical here.”

Born in Montreal, Canada, Nasr currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, with her son.

Categories
Art Culture Featured

THE CONCEPTUAL THINKER: Creating Change Through Art

THE CONCEPTUAL THINKER: Creating Change Through Art

This article was printed in an earlier issue of Downtown Magazine

 

DAN V. ANDERSON SEES MOVEMENT between shapes and colors by removing the boundaries of his own creativity through hyper-visualization. “I take all forms of composition: light, form, and energy, and create a constantly moving dynamic expression; there’s nothing static about it,” he says. “Each one of my works gets into a new theory—like order within chaos.”

A New Jersey native, Anderson began his creative journey at the age of seven when his mother convinced him of his talent through a coloring contest that she created. He “won” and was awarded his first coloring books along with a box of crayons. From that point on, Anderson was driven to pursue art, and eventually ended up with multiple scholarships to Syracuse University.

THE CONCEPTUAL THINKERAnderson does not consider himself to be a sculptor or a painter; he is inspired by Salvador Dali, and considers himself to be a “conceptual thinker.” He attempts to solve the perplexities of the world though his artistic expression, and to shine light on what others may not notice.

“I see a form in my mind that seems animated and must be translated and interpreted as another form,” Anderson says. He coined the term “supreme abstraction,” which is his own unique method of painting. His mind is constantly decoding, breaking down, and rebuilding compositional concepts to fully grasp and “feel the energy” of the various forms of matter. In Diffusion Series #6, Equilibrium Dissolve (above), he used sculptural canvas to create movement, energy, and resolution. Anderson says, “This relationship of light, shadow, and form in a physical evolution is what is captivating to observe. The viewer gets to witness the sculpture as an interconnected byproduct of the very factors that define its own dimension, only to be redefined by its very own compositional elements.”

The Dream Continued, which will be revealed on World Peace Day, is Anderson’s current project and philanthropic focus. The sculpture is inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and focuses on the concepts of equality, opportunity, and unity in relation to education and the aspirations of children. The sculpture consists of four children playing a game of jacks. One of the girls holds a sphere that symbolizes the Earth and emphasizes that children hold the future of our planet in their hands. Each jack is a collection of four fists, symbolizing resistance to inequality. The Dream Continued is the first of six projects titled The HEX Factor. Each project will bring awareness to a world issue, and focuses on spreading feelings of “equality, unity, and love that reinforces the bettering of a global society.” The project will be accompanied by The Dream Continued XOXO bracelets and other purchasable works of art, the sales of which will be used to benefit philanthropic organizations. DT dvande.com

Categories
Beauty Featured

GIVING BACK, BEAUTIFULLY

GIVING BACK, BEAUTIFULLY

Written by Léna Andrè

This article ran in an earlier issue of Downtown Magazine

GIVING BACK, BEAUTIFULLY

Fré’s Protect Me, Purify Me, and Revive Me are designed for active lives, giving you the clear complexion and healthy glow of freshly washed skin. Purify gently cleanses; Revive infuses with vitamins, moisture, and restores collagen; Protect is an ultra-light SPF 30 formula. With every set purchased, Fré will plant an endangered argan tree in Morocco. freskincare.com

 

Laura Mercier’s Face Illuminator highlighting powder is made with prismatic pigments and is buildable for as much—or as little—shine as you want. Each September, Mercier creates a limited-edition product with 100% of the proceeds going towards the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund. lauramercier.com

 

Hot Lips 2 in Secret Salma by Charlotte Tilbury is a sultry deep rose plum shade inspired by Salma Hayek, and has 3D glowing pigments, and a cashmere matte finish. The company has pledged £1 million from the line’s sales to Women for Women International. charlottetillbury.com

 

 

Brooklyn Botany’s Sweet Orange Scrub is fragrant with sweet orange essential oil in a base of Dead Sea salt, coconut oil, and aloe vera juice. Brooklyn Botany is dedicated to revolutionizing the skin care industry by delivering botanicallyrich skincare in the purest state possible. brooklynbotany.com

 

 

Chantecaille’s Philanthropy Cheek Shade Bee (Emotion), is a featherweight formula in golden coral that provides the perfect summer glow, and supports the Xerces Society in their efforts to protect bee habitats. chantecaille.com

 

 

GIVING BACK, BEAUTIFULLY

 

Lush Charity Pot is a deliciously-scented body lotion with ylang ylang and rosewood oils in a cocoa butter base. The company sources its ingredients from the Sustainable Lush Fund, which supports regenerative agriculture. 100% of the proceeds of Charity Pot go to small, grassroots organizations working in environmental conservation, animal welfare, and human rights. lushusa.com

 

Lancôme’s Matte Shaker Liquid Lipstick comes in 35 shades, and has a sponge tip for perfect application. The new formula does not dry out your lips, and imparts rich, ultra-pigmented color. Lancôme supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a yearly campaign as well as events such as the St. Jude Teen Formal, which provides makeovers for teen patients. lancome-usa.com

 

Stylecraft’s Scrubs Gentle Sonic Cleansing Brush is a high-tech way to exfoliate your skin every day, with six gentle settings for speed, pressure, and sonic vibration. A portion of every sale benefits Art in Action, a school arts program for children from kindergarten to eighth grade. stylecraftus.com

 

 

 

Thrive’s Headliner Lipstick and Lip Filler Longwearing + Plumping Lip Liner deliver intense hydration and impactful color in a 100% vegan and cruelty free formula. For every purchase, Thrive donates to one of over 50 organizations that empowers women. thrivecausmetics.com

 

 

 

GIVING BACK, BEAUTIFULLYCapri, by Skylar is a blend of bergamot, neroli, and citrus notes evocative of the island for which it is named. Skylar supports Step Up, a non-profit that provides mentorship for underprivileged girls across the country. skylar.com

 

 

 

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Categories
Bars Dining Featured

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

This article was published in an earlier edition of Downtown Magazine

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

MIKA BULMASH STARTED Wine for the World because there were no companies focused on how winemaking is transforming emerging regions through social and environmental impact. She was working at the United States Agency for International Development and saw an increasing awareness of fair trade and ethically sourced coffee, tea, and chocolate but not wine, so she headed to South Africa to see how they were making wine in the post-apartheid environment. She could see the need to focus on underrepresented winemakers and wine regions that meet strict criteria in the areas of sustainability, social impact, quality, and practice.

Though Bulmash has a background in molecular and cellular biology and international development, her love for wine was never just a hobby. As soon as she discovered how fascinating the winemaking process is, she began a course of self-study and wine tastings that eventually led her to a WSET Level 3 certification. Instead of starting her own vineyard, Bulmash decided to find other winemakers who practiced the ethical and sustainable methods she was seeking. 

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

Wine for the World curates and tells stories through delicious wines, like those of Ntsiki Biyela, who owns Aslina Wines in South Africa. She is the first black woman winemaker in that country and was given a chance through Suo, another brand Wine for the World works with. Many of the wineries Bulmash works with have been named Global Ethical Company of the Year including Ktima Brintziki, Greece’s first green and carbon-neutral winery; Cave Geisse, a trailblazing boutique winery in Southern Brazil leading the way for the country; and Bosman Family Vineyards in South Africa, all of which champion socially responsible and environmentally sustainable practices. Wine for the World is now starting to explore under-the-radar regions in the US as well. 

 

When asked why philanthropy was so important to her endeavor, Bulmush says, “Personally, it’s what motivates me and my team. It’s also what keeps us going strong in an incredibly crowded and complex industry. There’s no shortage of wine in the US, but having the opportunity to meet fantastic producers doing great things, to tell their stories, to see the excitement in our customers’ eyes, to have them become evangelists for the same reasons that motivate us, and then to see how that impacts our producers and their communities—that’s what makes it so exciting and worthwhile. We love to break boundaries, and combining wine and impact is one boundary we are thrilled to break.” DT wine4theworld.com

A Non-Guilty Pleasure

Categories
Beauty Business Events Fashion Featured Industry News NYC

Cosmetics Conferences Come to NYC

Cosmetics Conferences Come to the City
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

This March brings two of New York City’s biggest beauty shows to the Javits Center. From the 8th through the 10th, the International Esthetics, Cosmetics, & Spa Conference will allow industry professionals to come face to face with over 300 of the industry’s most critically acclaimed brands and suppliers. At the same time, The Beauty Experience New York will bring those same professionals together as an industry. 

Produced by Questex and presented by American Spa, the International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference (IECSC) New York is co-located with The Beauty Experience New York – the largest and longest-running professional beauty event in the country. Both shows are for professionals only and reach a wide cross-section of participants from beauty and spa product manufacturers and distributors to salon and spa owners and managers, hairstylists, hair colorists, estheticians, makeup artists, nail technicians, dermatologists, and massage therapists.

“As IECSC continues to grow, we’re so grateful for the sponsors who have played such an important role in our success over the last 30 years,” said Kathy Gruttadauria, Show Director for IECSC events. “We are constantly searching for new and enticing ways to enhance the conference, and this year we are excited to be expanding on some of our most popular spaces to stay ahead of trends such as technology and CBD in the spa and wellness industry.”

IECSC has also just announced its sponsor list, including Osmosis, Care Credit, Celluma, LightStim, Highlite the Korean Pavilion, Eminence, Repêchage, Farmhouse Fresh, Erchonia, The Good Patch, Starpil Wax, Silverfox Health & Beauty Inc., ProCell, Sorella, and many more!

For more information on IECSC NYC, check out its website here.

For more information about Beauty Experience New York, check out its website here.