Wearing undertones makes you fashion-forward for the winter, especially in Manhattan. Whether you sport a black mink coat, dark grey infinity scarf, or brown over the knee boots, you are on the dress to impress list. Aside from clothes, cosmetics play a big role this season as they can give your face a glow, especially since many feel they look pale as a ghost.
Giving your lips that pop of color will give your face some life this winter. Not to mention that your lips will feel moisturized throughout the cold rather than choppy. With this being stated, Downtown Magazine has rounded up ten lip colors and brands that’ll make your lips look and feel better than ever for the winter of 2019-2020.
This classic red color is always a go-to, especially in the winter. Pinch of Colour’s Matte Velvet Waterless Lip Colours last on your lips for over 8+ hours. The products are mixed with natural, lip-nourishing extracts of Rose Hip Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Mango Seed Butter.
Pinch of Colour Matte Velvet Waterless Lip Colour in Mia
Stunt on everyone with the Le Rouge Night Noir lipstick this winter. This black lip color was made to have your lips glisten like no other and will give you that classy gothic look this winter. Givenchy cosmetics are as ambrosial as couture which contain personalized formulas with state of the art innovation.
Walk into the room without giving a hoot when sporting the Tom Ford Boys & Girls Lip Color in Cardi. This blue sparkly color inspired by Cardi B features rich, sensuous shades that give you that boost in confidence. Rare and different ingredients such as soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter, and chamomilla flower oil develop a super creamy texture with an impeccable smooth application.
Get your hands on this web exclusive winter berry matte lipstick. This is the perfect color to rock for upcoming fashion week events as it goes with anything you decide to wear. The lipstick is sealed with kisses and its tip has a dreamy lip-print design. Not to mention, that the lipstick tree and orchid extract the lipstick contains will soften and hydrate your lips.
Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Scarlet Spell Color
Rihanna’s Stunna Lip Paint in the Unveil-chocolate brown color is very versatile as it goes well on any one’s lips no matter your skin color. This liquid lipstick is weightless, everlasting, and has a soft-matte finish. A fun fact about Fenty Beauty is that Rihanna handpicks every color herself and develops formulas that work for all skin types.
Fenty Beauty By Rihanna Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid in Unveil – chocolate brown
Grab this matte bold burgundy lip color to pucker up for the night of your life, whether it is with girlfriends or not. This specific lipstick puts together exceptional pigmentation along with maximum comfort, which is curated to provide smooth, full-coverage with just one application.
Huda Beauty Power Bullet Matte Lipstick in Ladies Night
This Downtown New York City company is bringing hip lipsticks to the yard. This Jam lip color will provide you with that perfect smudge, however, there really isn’t a smudge after you apply it. This lipstick will also give you that low key pigmentation that adapts perfectly to your natural lip color as well as a casual look that looks quite different than usual. Also, this dark purple lip color will give you that boss lady look!
This Nudestix item is one of a kind as it is a three-in-one lip stain, lip color, and lip liner. The Vino color is ideal for the winter as it’ll give you the perfect nightcap look after a date. Not to mention, that this touch-and-go makeup stick is designed to give you that bold nude lip look in addition to a kiss-proof color that will last you for a good nine hours.
This is the type of lip balm to wear after you’re done at a Soul Cycle class…better yet, maybe you can even apply some before you hop on that spin bike so your lips can have a pop of color while being drenched in sweat. Pulse is also the perfect color for the winter as it is electric metallic red. Most importantly, the lip balm provides advanced lip care invigorated by active botanicals.
Make a statement at your next meeting by applying this weightless lipstick that’ll give you that satin finish. The Beige Intime color is a very neutral color that’ll go well with any outfit as well as season. Benefits this lipstick has are that it contains Mediterranean sea algae extract, which is part of why is moisturizes and smoothes skin’s appearance to cultivate the ideal image.
Laura Mercier Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème Lipstick in Beige Intime
Trip by Skyscanner 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 by Skyscanner’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 by Skyscanner. Visit the Trip by Skyscanner site or download the app for more upcoming events.
Presented in collaboration with the International Center of Photography and the Poetry Society of America, this two-day event brings together artists, scholars, poets, and photographers to shine a light on the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. FREE
International Center of Photography Museum (Nolita)
Tuesday, Mar, 26 – Wednesday, Mar. 27th from 6:30-8pm
This Thursday, grab a friend, a lover or your mom and find reason to celebrate because Natsumi Tapas is offering a special tapas meal for two with a bottle of wine for just $39! Small plates include filet mignon tataki with ponzu truffle sauce, sashimi tacos, matcha gnocchi or rainbow sashimi cucumber rolls. Natsumi Tapas (Kips Bay)
Thursday, Mar. 29 from 11am-9pm
The starts of Broadway hits such as Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Beautiful, Waitress, Spring Awakening, Wicked, Dear Evan Hansen, Pippin, American Idiot, and The Lion King are paying tribute to one of the best-selling artists of all time – the queen of R&B, – Rihanna! Tickets $20-$65.
Highline Ballroom (Chelsea)
Monday. Mar. 26 at 8 pm
National Theater comes to the IFC Center screen! See Sienna Miller and Jack O’Connell in Benedict Andrews’ steamy production of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Tickets $23-$25. IFC Center (West Village)
Monday. Mar. 26 at 7pm
Orchard Grocer, the all-vegan deli that serves irresistible vegan versions of New York staples – carrot lox with cream cheese on a bagel, Reuben sandwiches made with beet-brined Blackbird seitan and BLTs with smoky tempeh – is celebrating its one year anniversary with specials, giveaways, raffles, birthday cake, and many other surprises! Orchard Grocer (Lower East Side)
Saturday, Mar. 31 at 11am – 8pm
A Chicago native who studied music at the University of Southern California, Ross Golan has worked with many of music’s biggest artists. His credits include Maroon 5, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Michael Bublé, Keith Urban, One Direction, Idina Menzel, and Linkin Park. Ross has also had multiple record deals as an artist, and is the writer of Ovation Award-winning musical The Wrong Man, which will soon be recorded and released by Interscope Records.
Those credits would be enough for most artists, but Ross is also the host of the And The Writer Is podcast. Launched in January, And The Writer Is — as produced by fellow hitmaker Joe London (Thomas Rhett, Jason Derulo, Pitbull) — features exclusive conversations with other notable songwriters. The first episode, for example, featured Benny Blanco, as known for his work on Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t,” Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok,” Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” and Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” In turn, listeners get to hear great creative minds talking shop and plenty more.
How did you wind up in the co-writing game? When did you realize it exists?
Ross Golan: There are two kinds of songwriters — the ones that were artists and the ones that want to be artists. Both Joe and I were in bands. We had been collaborating with other musicians for years but you get in the game when someone introduces you to the game. For me, it was Evan Bogart and Ryan Tedder. Evan, who wrote “SOS” for Rihanna and “Halo” for Beyoncé, was my booking agent and Ryan, lead singer of OneRepublic, and I played shows around L.A. While I was handing out CDs at shows one club at a time, their songs were getting played around the world. Songs tour faster.
What was your first cut that had you excited?
RG: I co-wrote a song called “Here Comes Trouble” for the band Honor Society. They were opening for the Jonas Brothers during their prime arena days. They named their headlining tour Here Comes Trouble. That was like getting called up to the pros from the minors and pinch hitting a single. In itself, it didn’t move the needle much. But it assured me that with enough at bats, I might be able to hit one out.
When it comes to songwriting, do you treat it like a day job where you can do it anytime? Or do you need to feel inspired?
RG: Amateurs look for inspiration. If you’re an artist, you can do whatever you want. But if you want to be a professional writer, act like one.
RG: Depends on the month. Anywhere from one to twenty. But never zero.
What was the impetus for this podcast? Has there been a highlight for you so far?
RG: I have a book that everyone signs at the end of a session. It’s basically my yearbook. It has signatures from Bon Jovi to Michael Buble and Lamont Dozier to Max Martin. These people are fascinating. What are the odds that a kid from the north suburbs of Chicago would end up in a room with them? I suppose that’s the question I’m trying to answer. So, in that sense, all of the interviews are highlights.
Podcast aside, what’s coming up for you career-wise?
RG: The Wrong Man, my musical, signed to Interscope at the end of last year. We’ll be recording it this summer. That’s a 15-year project that keeps on ticking.
When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?
RG: I’m a husband. I have a pug. I play ice hockey and golf. I eat. I drink. I feel like there’s a concept in all that.
The Church Street School for Music and Art — as located in Tribeca — is the area’s only non-profit school for the arts. The institution has served the downtown and outer community since 1990. On Jan. 4, City Winery will be hosting a fundraiser for the school with plenty of stars present. Performers are scheduled to include Sugarland vocalist Jennifer Nettles, Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo, screenwriter/producer Ed Burns, actor Harvey Keitel, DJ Spooky’s Antartica Symphony, and actor/author Eric Bogosian.
Downtown had the pleasure of conducting Q&A with not only Eric Bogosian in advance of the event, but also City Winery owner Michael Dorf and its marketing director Jillian Santella. Other performers at City Winery include Teddy Thompson (Jan. 1), Buster Poindexter (Jan. 13), Alejandro Escovedo (Jan. 19-21), Bettye Lavette (Jan. 29), and Marc Cohn (Feb. 14-15). Michael will also be presenting his annual benefit at Carnegie Hall on Mar. 6; this year will be a tribute to Aretha Franklin including performances by Todd Rundgren, Taj Mahal, Living Colour, Allen Stone, Kenny Loggins and Melissa Etheridge.
For tickets to the benefit show, click here. The Music Of Aretha Franklin at Carnegie Hall has a home at www.musicof.org. Eric Bogosian can be followed on Twitter via @Eric_Bogosian.
You have written and starred in plays, produced plays, written multiple published novels, appeared in a lot of film and television projects, and have even produced dance-related events. Do you have an easy way of describing how you earn a living?
Eric Bogosian: I describe myself as an author and actor.
Is there a particular project of yours that you are most proud of?
EB: The website 100monologues.com — currently featuring over 60 videotaped monologues by New York’s best actors — is a huge project we’ve been working on for over three years. I’ve very proud of it. We will keep building the site through 2018 when all 100 monologues will have been posted. The site is free and like I say, features many of the most popular and exciting actors who live and work in New York City. Take a look!
Do you remember the first show you ever attended at City Winery?
EB: I have never been to a show at City Winery. Michael and I go back to The Knitting Factory days. Because I don’t drink alcohol, City Winery has been off my beaten path.
EB: I will perform a couple of monologues from the 100 Monologues.
City Winery is known for hosting a lot of benefits. Do you have specific criteria for when it comes to getting involved with a cause?
Michael Dorf: No criteria, there are so many issues in the world today. It is balancing out how we can spend our resources helping out. We have a platform to both raise money and awareness — I feel it is our responsibility to try and make the world a better place.
A lot of huge artists have played at City Winery in New York. I remember reading about Billie Joe from Green Day performing on-stage there. Gregg Allman had his recent residency…Is there anyone you’re still hoping will perform at City Winery?
MD: So many. We have a long list. I want Bonnie Raitt. We did a private show with Neil Young, would want that every night if we could. [Bob] Dylan, Bruce [Springsteen], oh yeah, Ryan Adams, how amazing would that be. How about a special night of Rihanna?
Before City Winery, you had The Knitting Factory. Do you see City Winery as a continuation of The Knitting Factory? Or are they entirely different venues in your eyes?
MD: Well, people have said, City Winery is a Knitting Factory for grown-ups. Yeah, there is some overlap. We had all standing shows mostly with a beer in-hand…That worked great then. Now being more calorie-conscious and having achey knees, I’d rather sit. It will be 30 years since I started The Knitting Factory and I guess both have worked in the lifecycle of myself downtown, serving many friends.
City Winery has locations in multiple cities. How involved are you in other cities’ locations?
MD: I run them all. And of course, when I say run, it is a great team running currently 750 employees growing to 1,000 employees in a year — take that Trump, that’s real job creation! I picked the name “City” so we could grow to many markets. Our business is very scalable and I am planning on aggressive growth over the next few years to more than 10 locations.
MD: A great burger goes with Bordeaux. But somedays I’m more in the mood for a white wine, so I go for a piece of fish. Our menu was really designed to complement your wine, not wine to go with your food. We inverted the typical process of ordering.
EB: My non-fiction book on Armenian assassins, Operation Nemesis, will come out in trade paperback in February via Little, Brown. Also I am guest starring in numerous episodes of The Get Down and Billions this coming season.
Jillian Santella: As always, we have music almost every night of the week! Some musical highlights in early 2017 include Art Garfunkel, Shawn Colvin’s January residency featuring Graham Nash, Richard Thompson and Patty Griffin, Josh Ritter and more. We’ve got a fantastic New Year’s Eve Party in our Barrel Room, featuring entertainment from Wasabassco Burlesque, open bar and light bites. In addition, we are open in the Barrel Room restaurant for dinner and drinks every day, lunch on weekdays and Sunday brunch — including a bottomless brunch drink option. We also have some exciting wine classes coming up, such as “Wine 101: Brunch & Wine Pairing” on Sunday, Jan. 8.
Will you be hosting another March benefit concert at Carnegie Hall in 2017?
MD: Yes, March 6 is the music of Aretha Franklin. It will be my 14th year raising money for music education programs, there are nine different organizations this year getting funds.
When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?
EB: Gardening, jigsaw puzzles and model airplanes. But I don’t think of my time as free or not free. It’s all one to me.
MD: I love giving interviews. I spend time with my family, kids. Two are now in college and one still in school downtown. She still likes me… I will admit that I like to golf when I can early mornings, hiking and being upstate when possible.
EB: I have lived in Tribeca for over 30 years. Our neighborhood was built on music, dance and art. It is our lifeblood. For me, children playing music is a symbol of peace and love between neighbors.
MD: Shit, does that mean I’m suppose to be an adult? I don’t feel like one. Nah. I think what Lisa [Ecklund-Flores] is doing at Church Street School is critical for the community. It is more than an after-school music program and also more than just serving a rich Tribeca community. In fact, I think being in Tribeca hurts the perception of them needing funding. They offer many scholarships and the teaching staff give much more time and effort than they are paid for. They are teaching kids to practice, giving them self-confidence, unleashing an inner creative streak that they might not have developed at home or regular school. They serve a very important role in our community, especially as more music programs get stripped away from public school budgets. Add to that the very challenging Tribeca real estate issues, which really don’t allow a non-profit — or many creative for-profits — to exist. Rent and getting enough space is a huge challenge for the arts, especially downtown. Right now, they are seriously-challenged and I hope this benefit helps them through part of it. I encourage all to come.
Formed by award-winning producers Tonya Lewis Lee and Nikki Silver, the New York City-based ToniK Productions creates, develops and produces films and television programming. ToniK’s 2013 production The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963 was adapted from the novel in partnership with Walden Media, Hallmark, Walmart, and Proctor & Gamble. 2014’s The Giver, as adapted from the Lois Lowry novel, starred Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsgard, Katie Holmes, and Taylor Swift. Tonya and Nikki have well over two decades of combined experience as producers and five Emmy Awards among them.
Currently on the slate for ToniK is the film Monster, as adapted from the Walter Dean Myers novel. The cast of Monster — as co-produced with Bron Studios and Mike Jackson of John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Company — includes A$AP Rocky, Nas, Jennifer Hudson, Jeffrey Wright and John David Washington. The film, with a script written by Colen C. Wiley and Janece Shaffer, will be the feature directorial debut of Rihanna collaborator Anthony Mandler. Monster, now in post-production, is set for a 2017 release.
Downtown visited Tonya and Nikki on-set while filming at Brooklyn’s Cinema World Studios. More on Monster can be found at www.tonikproductions.com, while both Tonya and Nikki can both be followed on Twitter. More on Tonya can also be found on Healthy You Now, a site about women’s health and wellness which she founded in 2007.
How did you two become involved with this production?
Nikki Silver: Monster is a book that we optioned over 12 years ago. It was given to us by a development executive and really once I read it, it was just sort of amazing. It told such a universal tale but a very poignant tale, an important tale. It is a social justice piece, it is a piece about our criminal justice system. It’s also a piece about a 17-year old boy, both of which Tonya and I have experienced is probably the better way to say it, and the choices teenagers make and how that can change your life especially if you’re urban black child from Harlem. And that’s the story of Steve Harmon. Tonya and I became partners at about the same time that book was auctioned, and we have been steadily moving this ball up the hill putting all the pieces together to get the film done.
You said 12 years. So does that mean that there were a few runs where it looked like it was going to happen and it didn’t happen.
Tonya Lewis Lee: Well, I would say it took us a while to find the right partners in every which way. So I think initially we thought about finding a financial partner to come onboard to actually make the movie, but then we took a step back and realized we needed to develop it. So we needed the script. So we took some time to find a partner to help us develop a script and it took us some time to find the right writer. I think we probably spent a good five years trying to get a really great script, which ultimately we did, but you know it does take time. Once we had the script, we had to take it around and try to find the financing for the film, and that took another couple of years to do so. It takes time, and it takes time to do it right. We did have a couple of times when we were really close but whatever it was it wasn’t right for us.
NS: Walter Dean Myers wrote the book, one of the most prolific and adult authors of our generation. Walter passed away sadly two years ago, but he knew that we had the rights, and this is sort of his most beloved novel. I think that Tonya and I have always felt that it’s incumbent upon us to bring his vision to life properly and with respect. And so we have been very cautious about the choices that we’ve made and really feel like we’ve finally got all the pieces together…It is still extremely relevant, and in some ways at the consciousness of more so even now than it would have been 12 years ago, so all things come at the time they’re supposed to.
Nikki & Tonya on-set
Another one of the amazing things about the movie, besides the buzz on it, is the cast that’s attached to it. It’s almost like it’s an all-star film.
NS: It is. We have an incredible ensemble on our cast, from A$AP Rocky to Nas, Jennifer Ehle, Tim Blake Nelson, Jennifer Hudson, John David Washington…
NS: And he is phenomenal, and they all are, every single one of them. Our lead, our star, Kelvin Harrison Jr., this is like really his first breakout role. He too is an amazing actor who often says he’s like in a master class working with this cast, just watching and learning from all of them. So we are so fortunate to have such a great cast, and I think that Tonya and I, we always say and we have proven time and again that with the right material you can bring the right cast. Whether it’s a smaller movie or a bigger movie, if you’re doing good material, you will find people that understand that and want to be a part of that, and that’s really what this is. We’re creating a movement with Monster and every one of the cast wants to be part of it and they’re all completely committed to their role and to the film. It’s really remarkable.
Who was the first cast member to come onboard for this film? Do you remember?
TLL: A$AP Rocky…You know I remember earlier on, I went to see Rihanna and he opened for her and he came onstage and I was like, “Who is this person?” My family was like, “He’s amazing.” And then I started paying attention and then as we got more into the development of Monster, it was just he had to be in this film. He’s from Harlem, he is of the right age and just even his music. He had to be a part of this even before we had our director on…Then Anthony [Mandler] came on, and Anthony has a relationship with him and it worked the way it was supposed to. And Rocky says he read this book in high school…so it was meant to be.
How did you two first meet?
TLL: Actually, Viacom put us together, we were at Nickelodeon. I was there, i just finished a project and I was looking for something else to do with them and Nicky came and I pitched in Miracle’s Boys. They said, “Hey, why don’t you guys work together?” I don’t know that they thought we’d still be here.
You worked in 1515 [Broadway]?
NS: Yeah…It works because we challenge each other and it works because we don’t always have the same ideas. It works because we fight and make up and learn from that, it’s a partnership in the truer sense of the word. I do think I speak for both of us in this case I think we make each other better.
Do you have an accomplishment that you’re proud of so far most proud of rather with ToniK?
TLL: For me, I would say it’s the fact that we’re doing it and we’re making Monster.
NS: Right for me, in this moment right now, if you were to ask me what I’m proudest of it’s the fact that we’re here at this stage and we’re making this film that we’ve been able to get here. It was a dogfight. I just think my answer is almost the same as the last answer, I’m proud of the fact that we may remain true to our vision and that there’s just honesty about everything that we do.
So when you’re not busy with tonic what does each of you like to do with your free time as New Yorkers and all?
NS: I’m a born and bred New Yorker, I grew up in Washington Heights. I have three children and a husband. That certainly keeps me busy. A 19-year old, a 17-year old and a 13 year old. You know New York has been a character in my life my whole life and I love shooting here and doing stories about New York. It’s so much a part of who I am.
Family aside, how do you like to spend your free time?
NS: I love music, I love films I love going…There’s nothing to me better than a Saturday night with my husband and my children — if they decide not to go out and come with us — going to the movie theater, getting a big thing of popcorn and then having dinner afterwards at some local neighborhood restaurant on the Upper West Side.
What about you, Tonya? You live in Brooklyn?
TLL: No, we live in Manhattan; we’ve lived in Manhattan for many years now. Yeah, I’ve just been visiting Brooklyn again and I’m amazed how the neighborhood is, it’s amazing. But for me, I would say I wear lots of different hats and I like to, I advocate for women’s health when I’m not doing film and I take it very seriously and traveling the country. I love going to different parts of the country and meeting all kinds of folks and talking about ways to make them and other families and our communities healthier. And then on the free time I get, I love to read, I like to read a lot of novels and I also like to watch a lot of television amount of movies, I watch a lot of TV, Netflix, Amazon…I love Amazon because everything that I can’t catch on a regular basis,I’m not good at DVR so I end up paying for it. (laughs)
How are you “not good at DVR?”
TLL: I should just be doing it, but the thing is, I don’t think about it, then I’m like, “Oh shoot, I didn’t do it,” and I end up buying it on Amazon. But I gotta get better, because when the bill comes… (laughs) Yeah I try to watch as much as I possibly can because I really look forward to getting into the episodic space again, I mean, we did Miracle’s Boys, which is a six-part series for Nickelodeon. I just love that medium and look forward to getting the opportunity to do more with it.
So finally, any last words for the kids?
TLL: Dream big, and they do happen. Dream big and make it happen, I would say. I’m going to say persistence. You know it’s very easy to get a lot of no’s in your life and that’s okay, because the yes’s do come and if you’re persistent, you can turn those into yeses. And be present in whatever opportunities you’re presented with, whatever it is, even if it’s something that you think doesn’t go into…
NS: I love that. Be present, and it all goes by really fast and it’s really really easy to get caught up in all of it. And we do that for ourselves, we step back every now and then because you get so caught up…and then you step back and you say, “Look where we are.” It’s amazing what we’ve created and I will say this. We love hiring young people and we’ve hired lots of young people. Sometimes they understand the gift that they’re given and sometimes they don’t. That’s why I say that, because if you’re busy trying to leapfrog over to the next, you don’t get what you’re supposed to get from the moment that you’re in and that’s one of the things I’ve seen often with young people.
One of the biggest concerts that New York City has to offer, the Global Citizen Festival first launched in 2012. The festival’s first concert event featured the Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, John Legend, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, K’naan, and Band Of Horses, which set the bar very high. In the three years since then, the Global Citizen Music Festival has featured Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Pearl Jam, and Beyoncé, to name a few superstars. This year’s edition, which takes place on Central Park’s Great Lawn on Sept. 24, has Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Kendrick Lamar, Major Lazer and Metallica as its headliners. Special guests will include Eddie Vedder, Ellie Goulding, Cat Sevens, Selena Gomez, Chelsea Handler, Coldplay’s Chris Martin — who is the current creative director of the event — and Neil Patrick Harris.
In advance of this Saturday’s event, Downtown caught up with the Global Citizen Festival’s Executive Producer, Jeffrey Zarnow. Beyond his Global Citizen duties, Jeffrey is the CEO and founder of Starr Rum, which is celebrating its 12th anniversary next month. Also in October, Starr Rum will be releasing a 7 Year Aged Rum. Jeffrey kindly entertained questions about both Global Citizen and his spirit.
How’d you wind up getting involved with the Global Citizen Festival?
Jeffrey Zarnow: Hugh Evans and Ryan Gall — GCF co-founders — approached me way back when they had a vision for putting on the festival. They knew I was friends with the guys from the Foo Fighters and asked me to help get them to sign on as our first headliner. When the Foos agreed, I realized we were at the beginning of what has proven to be a long crazy journey.
Is there an artist you’re most excited to see at the festival?
JZ: I’m looking forward to seeing every artist and so thankful that each of them have generously agreed to perform. She would never remember it, but I will never forget when I first met Rihanna before she exploded. She truly is a rare spirit. Even then, you knew she was destined for greatness! I’m especially excited & grateful that she is headlining this year’s Global Citizen Festival.
JZ: We were one of the first companies to embrace the African Union’s New Economic Partnerships for African Development — NEPAD — to create fair trade sustainable jobs. The festival is designed to encourage countries, companies, individuals to strive towards achieving the Global Goals to eradicate extreme poverty. By being both an environmentally and socially-responsible company, we are committed in our own small way to trying to make a difference. Plus, of course, we want to serve our delicious, award-winning rum backstage in the VIP tent to our artists, celebrity hosts, world leaders, titans of industry, etc.
JZ: We are ecstatic to launch our new 7 Year Oak Aged Rum in November. It’s been a labor of love 10 years in the making. At the last second, before we were even finished with the packaging, we sent a sample in a flask to the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition. We figured, “Why not enter and see what they think?” We were so thrilled that they awarded us the Double Gold Medal. The only downside is we only have 900 six packs for all of our markets this year. There is so much interest from our partners in both the on and off trade that we are going to be sold out as soon as it arrives.
What are some of the bars in Manhattan where Starr Rum can be found?
JZ: New York has so many amazing restaurants its impossible to have only one favorite. There is a favorite for whatever you are in the mood for. Whether its cheap Thai or a Michelin Star prefix, it’s all here. Having said that, I find myself consistently going back to Buddakan time and time again. I’ve probably celebrated more birthdays, both my own and my friends, there than anywhere. Yet it’s the perfect place to grab a casual dinner.
Finally, Jeffrey, any last words for the kids?
JZ: Sparing a few minutes of your time can help change someone halfway around the world’s life forever. It doesn’t take much to make a difference. The more you do, the more you will want to make this world a better place for everyone.
