25A MARCH 2020

METROPOLITANmagazineny.com

MARCH 2020

LUXURY MAGAZINE

Supermodel CAROL ALT $20.00 USD

Fashion | Luxury | Profiles | Features | Shopping | Travel | Art | Design | Auto | Food | Health

Photo by olegcassinistore.com

Ally Shoes is an online boutique committed to finding your perfect fit. Each heel is handcrafted with premium lambskin leather and then delivered directly to you with free shipping nationwide.

CONTENTS MARCH 2020 FASHION 16 32 38 42 46 52

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK LUCIANA PAMPALONE FOTOGRAFISKA MINAN WONG EROTIC EXPERIENCE CAROLYN MELILLO

COVER

54 CAROL ALT

PROFILE 64 66 67 68 70 71 72

23 Hot Summer Cool Suits

CONSUELO VANDERBILT COSTIN ANGELO DAVID THE NY REAL ESTATE CHAMBER HOTEL HAYDEN MVVO 2020 TASTE OF HOPE LOVE & MARRIAGE

CONTENTS 77

MARCH 2020

ENTERTAINMENNT 74 78 80 82

SOHOMUSE EINSTEIN’S DESK GINA DEVEE WOLF. A STORY OF HATE

BEAUTY

84 NEXA PILATES & FITNESS 86 A CUT ABOVE THE REST

JETSET

88 QUEEN MARY 2

ARTFORM

96 THE SUPREME VALUE OF THE PEANUT 104 LA FRIEZE ART FAIR 2020

SOCIAL 110 114 116 118

THE AVADORA MIMOUNI COLLECTION NEW YORK SOCIETY SCENE LA AWARDS SCENE SUPER BOWL PARTY SCENE

Publisher Chase Backer Editor-in-Chief Adam Kluger

LUXURY MAGAZINE

Assistant Editor Willy Nichter Copy Editor Sean Buttimer METROPOLITANmagazineny.com

Director of Marketing-NYC

FEBRUARY 2020

Jaime Backer Special Projects Editor Norah Bradford Lifestyle Editor Elizabeth Langevin Cover Editor SKINTOLOGY MEDSPA OWNER & TOP PLASTIC SURGEON

DR. JENNIFER

WALDEN $20.00 USD

Fashion | Luxury | Profiles | Features | Shopping | Travel | Art | Design | Auto | Food | Health

Adam Kluger Features Contributor Jadan Horyn Luxury Editor Stephanie L. Howitt Editor at Large | Art, Culture & Fashion Rachel Vancelette Fashion Photographer Matt Licari Profiles Editor Alexandra Appino-Tabone

LUXURY MAGAZINE

Social Editor Clara Morgan Food Editor

METROPOLITANmagazineny.com

DECEMBER 2019

Andrea Correale Nutrition Editor Lindsay Brustein Rosen, M.S., R.D., CDN. Gold Coast Writer Monica Randall Digital Media Director Nancy Molina ACTRESS

ALANA DE LA GARZA PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL ROBERTS $20.00 USD

Fashion | Luxury | Profiles | Features | Shopping | Travel | Art | Design | Auto | Food | Health

Contributors Rachel Vancelette, D.D. Rice, Paul Prince, Peter Elston, Johnny Angel, Harry White, Victoria Crosby Contributing Photographers Matt Licari, Rene Bernal, tama66, pixel2013, MichaelGaida, Benno Klandt, Michael Paniccia, Jay Mathews, Filip Shobot, Chris Carroll, Lenny Stucker, Patrick McMullan, MA , Tom Fitzgerald and Pam Deutchman, Sandy Ramirez, Jan Klier, Mitchel Gray, Paul Prince, Kristiina Wilson

For advertisement info: 646.930.3007 info@25amagazine.com | 25Amagazine.com facebook/25amagazine

twitter/25amagazine

Writers, models, musicians and photographers, please inquire.

© Copyright 2018 by Metropolitan Magazine, All rights reserved. Metropolitan is published eleven times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as such and unconditionally assigned for publication subject to Metropolitan magazine’s right to edit.

Wealth.

It’s complicated.

We don’t think your goal in life is to live in constant anxiety over how to preserve and grow your wealth.

Yet for many wealthy individuals and families, it’s an all-too common fate.

Because with your wealth comes complexity.

Perhaps never more so than in today’s market conditions and political realities.

At First Long Island Investors, we understand this better than most. For over 35 years, with us in their corner, some of Long Island’s wealthiest individuals and families have been able to better enjoy what all wealthy people are really striving for.

A wealth of life. Not of worry.

To put First Long Island in your corner, it’s not complicated.

Just give us a call or visit our website.

516-935-1200 w fliinvestors.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

“Designers want me to dress like Spring, in billowing things. I don’t feel like Spring. I feel like a warm red Autumn.” - Marilyn Monroe February in Manhattan was awash in the vivid, swirling colors and exotic styles that make NYFW the center of the world when it comes to fashion, beauty, influence, power, and magic.

NYFW sets the trends and treats the world to a flashing glimpse into what New York City is all about. What it has always been and what it will always be. A place for artistry and imagination, the engine of commerce and the wind beneath our feet lifting us all higher to a realm of sublime inspiration.

Los Angeles is a pretty fun place too. The Oscars celebrate American culture and American movie icons. As is typically the case, the Oscars are an exquisite performance and spectacle that never feels quite real. It is a spectacular annual ritual with preening celebrities dressed their best and acting reverential. It’s no wonder the ratings always seem a tad disappointing.

If you want a big event or real action go to Times Square or Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall or Broadway. Go to Central Park or the Meatpacking District or look around any street or restaurant or bar or neighborhood in this greatest of all cities. This grand Metropolis. You want a show? You want to feel the hair stand up on end on your arm while your jaw drops? Take a walk along the avenues of New York as the wind blows February into March and NYC Spring threatens to explode in vibrant colors and a floral tapestry of Cherry Blossoms and Chrysanthemum.

Carol Alt knows New York. She is a native New Yorker who ascended to the top of the Fashion industry in the early ‘80s and has never left. She continues to share her beauty and class and humanity with all of us as a health advocate, entrepreneur, and protector of pets. I’ve had a chance to get to know Carol one-on-one and she is as real as real can be. Her beauty projects from the inside out. She is a New Yorker through and through. She works hard. She aims high. And her feet are planted firmly on the ground. When you look into the eyes of the Supermodel who was once known as “The Face.” it’s all there. The sense of humor, the sense of intelligence, her kindness. Carol Alt is just like New York-she’s real.

We are so delighted to add yet another legend to the covers of Metropolitan Magazine. Many thanks to my beautiful and wonderful daughters, Jillian and Jaime, who work so hard always to help us make our Fashion Issue so special.

Enjoy!

Chase Backer Publisher, Metropolitan/25A

TH E PAXTON COLLECTION Flawless functionality. Superior craftsmanship. Exclusive design.

NASSAU 25 Northern Blvd, Greenvale

516.334.0077 californiaclosets.com

@caliclosetsnyc

Product availability may vary by location. Š2020 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Each franchise independently owned and operated.

EDITOR’S NOTE

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Plato Life is hard. Sometimes it seems like the odds are stacked against us. In New York City competition is fierce.

Expectations are high and sometimes it can feel that just surviving is success in itself. I know I’m not alone in feeling like this. But sometimes one does feel alone. Even in a city of millions. A concrete jungle where it is dog eat dog and only the strong survive. The windows of way too many retail stores in Manhattan now read “For Rent” or “Final Sale.” Businesses fail, marriages fail, people fail. They fall down and it’s hard to get back up. Despite the rosy photos and tight smiles on Facebook about vacations and special moments, all of us know that the online profile we try to curate to a collected group of friends and acquaintances does not tell the whole story. The story of staring at the ceiling in the middle of the night wondering how to fix the tough situations we all have to face.

Life is like a wheel One day you are on top Who knows what the morrow will bring Treat all who you meet with kindness and respect I didn’t write that. I saw it on one of my ancestor’s tombstones almost 20 years ago and it has been a silent mantra I repeat when things are going well or not so well. It reminds me of how fragile the human condition can be. How much we need friends and family. Hope. A high school English teacher at Horace Mann once wrote on the chalkboard, “Must all this aching go to making dust?” It made us pause from our constant grind to get good grades and to get into a good college, to try to become a master of the universe, to become very important people doing very important things.

Things are never as they seem. Life is hard. Be strong and courageous. We are all battling something. So, be kind and know you are not alone New York. We all go through desperate times. As Charles Bukowski once advised, “What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.”

Carol Alt, our incandescent cover star, by all appearances is just another famous Supermodel with angelic features forged on Mt. Olympus. But looks can be deceiving. Carol Alt is not just another pretty face. The daughter of an NYC fireman who worked hard with Carol’s mom to provide for four kids on a fireman’s salary taught his daughter well-to work hard and be a warrior. Carol joined the US Army until she was discovered and then America discovered Carol Alt on the cover of Sports Illustrated and then hundreds of over magazine covers and in commercials, TV series, and movies. When I asked Carol about the biggest perks of being a Supermodel, she responded, “I don’t know about the perks, we have to work hard just like everybody else.” Enjoy this very special Fashion issue of Metropolitan as much as we enjoyed putting it together.

Thanks Adam Kluger Editor in Chief, Metropolitan Magazine/25A

ERIC PAYSON

N F Y fashion

Metropolitan Magazine was front row, center at New York Fashion Week. Manhattan’s first family of fashion led by the always dapper patriarch and magazine mogul Chase Backer and accompanied by his trendsetting daughters Jillian & Jaime. The runways boasted bold colors and styles that heralded the always international appeal of all things New York. Even legendary Supermodel Carol Alt seemed impressed. Our March cover girl has fond recollections of when she first strutted across the catwalk, “I remember when I started I was just looking for something to do between assignments so I would go to the showrooms or ateliers of Ralph (Lauren) and Calvin (Klein) and other girls would as well not just the 7th avenue fit models - I think we got paid $700. John Casablancas (modeling agent who founded Elite Models in 1972) use to say he would count the seconds when I would start walking the runway until I would break into a smile.�

16 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

F BADGLEY MISCHKA

March 2020 | 17

fashion

18 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

B

orn and raised in South Korea, Son Jung Wan, majored in Industrial Craft at Sookmyung Women’s University and, after graduating, attended design school at International Mode in Seoul. In 1989, Son opened a small shop across the street from Galleria Department Store to house and sell her collection of stylish wears. Seeing how successful her store was, Galleria offered her a shop in shop only a year later and from there the Son Jung Wan brand grew. In 1993 Son earned

the “Golden Needle Award” from the Korea Fashion Editor Association and in 2005, was named “Designer of the Year” by Seoul Metropolitan.

Today, Son Jung Wan is one of Korea’s most successful designers with over US 76 million dollars in sales for 2014. Her designs are sold at boutiques located across the USA including New York City, Palm Beach and the DC Metro area as well as over 60 department stores in South Korea.

Each season Son Jung Wan debuts her collection for New York Fashion Week and later at Who’s Next, the Parisian trade show.

If she weren’t a fashion designer, Son likes to say she would have been an artist. In May 2005 she collaborated with contemporary artist Hwang for the “Tangible Sound” at TOTAL Museum of Contemporary Art. In August 2011, Son collaborated with Kira Kim, a well known Korean installation artist, for an antiques themed art installation at the Plateau Gallery in Seoul.

Son Jung Wan is a woman of many passions.

She is a philanthropist, an avid traveler, a collector of art, a mother and a wife to name just a few.

March 2020 | 19

fashion

Tia Adeola

20 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 21

fashion

I

talian designer Chiara Boni established her label Chiara Boni La Petite Robe in 2007. It quickly gained universal acclaim and acquired a ‘cult’ status between its loyal customer base and celebrity following. By 2009 the brand began its international expansion, and is now sold in premier boutiques in Europe, United Emirates, Canada and the USA. Chiara Boni La Petite Robe is sold in the USA at top department stores including Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

22 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Boni developed her design aesthetic in the rebellious punk London spirit of the 1970s. Self-taught in the art of design, Boni frequented the Parisian ateliers of established couturiers, where she learned the secrets of the female figure. Fusing these two points of view resulted in Boni’s signature discreetly sexy dresses and separates that enhance a woman’s natural beauty. From 1985 – 1999, Chiara joined the GFT group, which produced leading Italian pret-a porter labels. After a break from design, Chiara returned to her true passion in 2007 with the launch of her collection.

The Blonds were born out of the desire to make their clients feel strong, seductive, and confident.

Since the formation of their label, The Blonds, in 2007, Phillipe and David have created intricate and glamourous one of a kind pieces for entertainers and private clients.

March 2020 | 23

fashion

24 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 25

fashion

26 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

S

ania Maskatiya is a Pakistanbased designer belonging to a new generation of fashion talent from the region. Breaking conventions, she has been quick to become Pakistan’s most lauded designer. She was among a few of the top emerging global brands selected.

This season, Sania Maskatiya returned to the NYFW stage for a third season with CAAFD presenting her full collection under her primary brand, SANIA MASKATIYA. Featuring breezy hand-woven fabrics, delicately cut and layered, embroidered with geometric and pastoral motifs, it lends ‘white-on-white’ a freshly fanciful energy. Sania Maskatiya uses only pure, luxe white fabrics that are cut and draped in a range of directional but feminine silhouettes. The brand engages the finest craftsmen across Pakistan, hailing from generations of artisans practicing timehonored craftsmanship and embroideries.

March 2020 | 27

fashion

K

adri Klampe is an Estonian-born, founder and designer created Yufash as a unique and forward-thinking brand made for the confident and powerful women of the world, with all garments fabricated exclusively in England. Founded in 2015, Klampe and Yufash have since experienced skyrocketing popularity, including having designs featured on the hit television series Scream Queens. Yufash is one of the few designers chosen as part of the CAAFD’s incubate/nurturing program, returning for her third seasonal showcase after her previous career-defining CAAFD showcases. The Evening wear captures the resilience, strength and elegance of this landscape’s inhabitants. This 16-piece collection features layered beading inspired by wild patterns and structures, combined with Yufash’s signature reflective prints.

A stark contrast is found in the meeting of organic influences and Yufash’s signature modernity. The combination of long metallic draped gowns with zebra and leopard beaded gloves, captures the very essence of this season’s collection. An organic strong spirit is evident in waist gathered coats with wide collars, emulating the kings and queens who walk this land.

28 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 29

fashion

30 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

I

n a perfect world, “change” has no place. However, we live in a world embroiled with differences and contradictions, making “change” central to our very being. One could try to force opposites into uniformity, but, there is an alternative: to accept our differences and blend them homogeneously. One person who believes in this principle, lives and breathes it and applies it to her work, is Wang Tao. With her diverse background, spanning rich and global heritage from three continents, Wang Tao is a melting pot of contrasts into harmony. With a degree in history from East China Normal University in Shanghai, one of the top leading universities in China, Wang Tao took a second degree in fashion in the top Japanese fashion institute Tokyo Mode Gakuen where she received five international awards in design. She was handpicked

by Junko Koshino, the highly acclaimed Japanese designer, to head the studio as men’s designer.

Wang Tao is currently a board member of the Shanghai Ribo Fashion Group, who owns the brands, TAORAY WANG, broadcast:bo among others. Wang Tao launched her namesake brand, TAORAY WANG, to bring her collections to the global woman who appreciates refined tailoring, sophisticated silhouettes and luxurious fabrics. The brand was launched in New York Fashion Week September 2014, and since then it has been prominently featured in five collections at the event. During these collections, Wang Tao created a graceful display of mosaic out of Black Swan with White, Circles with Squares, Elegance with Africa’s wild, Heritage with Modernity and Romance with bold Stripes.

TAORAY WANG is designed for the powerful, professional and modern woman who wants to be stylish, elegant and sexy. The brand serves a global and confident woman who is not afraid to show her femininity in edgy design while she plays her role as a politician, lawyer and other executive roles. Classic men’s fabrics and lines are tamed into silhouettes of armored grace. “Customers are not defined by race or nationality. They have an international background, they embrace diversity and are open-minded to try different things. They are well-educated and well-travelled. They are multi-cultural” – Wang Tao TAORAY WANG mixes power with femininity, heritage with modernity and structure with fluidity. The design effortlessly creates energy and balance out of opposites. The media have been unanimous on how TAORAY WANG dispelled myths regarding Chinese brands unable to create modern western designs that are capable of setting trends. Traces of Orientalism are present in TAORAY WANG but not in the form of stereotype icons, rather they are kept deep within the design, cut and lining. TAORAY WANG will start trading from their Manhattan’s Soho store in 2018, together with other stores in exclusive malls in Shanghai and Beijing as part of a global customer centric offering. From her head office in Shanghai, studio in London and with fabrics sourced from Florence, Wang Tao merges “Strength and Femininity” and “East and West” to bring you TAORAY WANG ready-to-wear and personalized design.

March 2020 | 31

fashion

Luciana Pampalone Luciana Pampalone is a Visual Image Specialist with Global experience as a Fashion-Beauty Photographer with 25 years experience in Content Creation, Artistic Direction and Fashion Travel Photography. Recently named on George Wayne's (Vanity Fair) Top 100 Creative Influencer's List.

32 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 33

fashion

34 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 35

fashion

36 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

fashion

Helene Schmitz, Thinking Like a Mountain, from the series “Thinking Like a Mountain,” 2017 © Helene Schmitz

38 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 39

fashion

Tawny Chatmon, Beloved, from the series “The Awakening,” 2018 © Tawny Chatmon. Courtesy of the Artist and Galerie Myrtis.

March 2020 | 40

Adi Nes, Untitled, 1996 © Adi Nes / Courtesy of Jack Shainman Gallery March 2020 | 41

fashion

Minan Wong FOUNDER & DESIGNER

BY NANCY MOLINA

What are your inspirations?

Every season, something sparks but it always starts with the “woman”. I think about her lifestyle, what this past year looked like and try my best to predict what she may want to wear.

How did you get into fashion- tell us about yourself?

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be a Fashion Designer playing with paper dolls and sketching all the time. I applied for the only college, Fashion Institute of Technology and before I graduated, I was chosen to be the only American contestant to compete in the international competition in Paris at UNESCO representing the US. After I graduated from FIT, I designed for many companies prior to launching my own brand MINAN WONG 4 years ago. It’s been a very long journey, challenging but yet very exhilarating.

I can’t see myself doing anything else and it’s truly a dream come true!

a dress for a night out! I am all about practicality yet stylist at the same time.

What makes your brand unique from others My goal isn’t to be different or unique from the other brands but rather, I focus on what I can offer to the consumer and the environment. The following components are crucial in building my brand: 1.). Transparency - produced locally in the heart of NYC’s garment district in limited quantities and paying fair wages. People component is really important.

2.). Longevity - I use fabrics that are sustainable whenever possible. If not sustainable, I choose fabrics that can hold up for more than 20 wears.

What is more important- form or color ?

3.). Design thoughtfully with purpose - The fast fashion industry market is in such a need to roll out products in a speed that accumulates high waste that affects the environment. I want to focus on workmanship, fit, design with purpose and fabric performance. I slow myself down when designing and think twice before I produce a style. I ask myself question such as; why would she want to wear this style? Where would she wear it to and for what purpose? Does she really need this in her closet? Yes, I talk to myself quite a bit:).

Both! Neither is more important than the other since form cannot be seen without color and vice versa. It’s a close connection and the relationship of both makes all the difference.

Anything you would like to add?

I rarely put my products on sale since it’s creates waste.

Fashion is art. Purchase only what you need and choose quality.

How would you describe your signature look?

How can consumers find your clothes?

MINAN WONG signature style is the shirt dress/duster look. MINAN WONG shirt dress can be worn as a duster jacket or as a dress, very versatile! You get 2 looks out of one style then accessorize it for longevity wear. The jacket/duster look to the office and then button it up as

Consumers can find my products in approx 30 stores across US, on Minanwong website www.minanwong. com, and occasional pop-ups. Private styling appointments can be requested via the website.

Tell us about your new line of dresses SS2020 is vibrant, lots of color, textures and patterns. I want my muse to break out of her norm and be daring!

42 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 43

fashion

44 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

A PERFECT FIT: Empowering • Responsible • Pragmatic Minan Wong is a New York City based sustainable womenswear brand that celebrates the strength of women.

Each piece is created to support women in their everyday challenges by highlighting their strength and confidence.

As a company it is our goal to empower women in a responsible fashion. Therefore, we believe great design starts with sustainable and durable fabrics. All pieces are ethically produced in New York City’s Garment District factories that provide fair wages and safe working conditions to their talented garment workers.

March 2020 | 45

Erotic Experience

fashion

46 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 47

B Y L U C I A N A PA M PA L O N E

fashion

48 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 49

fashion

50 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 51

fashion

52 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

By

Carolyn Melillo

March 2020 | 53

cover

Carol Alt wears a Millennium pink ruffled jacket and skirt, KAIMIN. 18k White Gold Diamond, Pink Sapphire, and Pink Tourmaline Amorphous Earrings. Platinum Diamond, Pink Sapphire, and Kunzite Crown Ring. 18k White Gold Pink Sapphire and Diamond Twisted Ring stacked with a 18k White Gold Tsavorite and Diamond Twisted Ring, Hammerman Jewels. Silver pumps, Zang Toi. 54 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Carol Alt

Face Time with Supermodel

BY ADAM KLUGER & KIAN STAVE PHOTOGRAPHY & CREATIVE DIRECTOR: EZEQUIEL DE LA ROSA @EZEQUIELDELAROSA STYLIST AND CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: TY-RON MAYES @STYLIST TYRONMAYES MAKE-UP: FRANCISCO CATEDRAL @FRANCISCOCATEDRAL HAIR: MARK ANTHONY @MARKANTHONYHAIRNYC PHOTO ASSISTANTS & VIDEO: N ANO LEON @NANOLEONSTUDIO AND GIL TAURUS @TAURUSGIL FASHION ASSISTANT: SHANEIKA HOPE @NEIKABOOM LOCATION: EZ STUDIOS @EZSTUDIOS MOD EL: CAROL ALT @MODELCAROLALT

D

uring the 1980s, Carol Alt appeared on over 500 magazine covers, becoming one of the most famous models of her era, attaining supermodel status. Alt graced the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Mademoiselle to name just a few. Metropolitan Magazine now has the great honor of having Carol Alt appear on the cover of our Fashion Issue as we catch up with a legend who continues to live an active, meaningful, passionate life dedicated to helping and educating others.

Favorite memory from your early modeling days?

I have a lot of memories the top one was a Sports Illustrated shoot for the winter edition in Alaska I was 18 years old and there was also a summer shoot in Africa. In Alaska, the ice looked billions of years old, the sky was pale blue and you could look out over the ice and have no sense of distance. While we were shooting, a couple of hikers showed up and scraped away snow in front of an old hidden igloo.

Did they invite you into the igloo as their guest?

No, but they did ask for bread--for fresh bread, they didn’t have any, so we were glad to give

them that. We were there with some Olympic skiers for the photoshoot and at one point a group of fighter jets flew overhead. It was really something. I think that was around 1980.

Did you have any idea that being on the cover of SI would be such a big deal?

I was in a gym in Vermont and a guy walked up to me and asked me if I was Carol Alt and I started to wrack my brain as to how I knew him so I asked him how he knew my name and he said, “aren’t you on the cover of Sports Illustrated?”

March 2020 | 55

cover

You appeared on so many magazine covers do you have three favorite magazine covers?

That first Sports Illustrated cover--they put your name on the cover so that was great... also photographer Albert Watson shot me for the cover of French Vogue in a yellow dress and then there was a shot of me in a leopard skin hat for Harpers Bazaar.

Noxema, Hanes, Diet Pepsi, General Motors and others. the plain-spoken supermodel is clearly a product of her hardworking parents who instilled a work ethic that has seen Carol Alt climb to the top of the modeling industry, while at the same time pursuing an acting career--Alt credits Susan Kellerman as one of her favorite acting coaches.

When our publisher Chase Backer interviewed you the other day on Liquid Lunch on Newsmax TV I think you said you lost count of all the covers you have appeared on but that it was close to 700 which is incredible. Do you have a warehouse somewhere where you store all those covers?

I do have a giant wall that is organized in sections movies, TV series, commercials, books, and magazines.

What did you like about your acting work in the 1995 mini-series Anna Karenina? You definitely had a lot more lines to memorize than Christie Brinkley did in Vacation.

There were 800 scenes to shoot--one of the greatest compliments I have ever gotten was from an editor who told me “you cut like butter-seamlessly.” I’ve been acting since I was 18, in those early days actors didn’t model and models didn’t act. Actors had to model in Japan.

When you look at all those pictures of yourself what do you think to yourself? wow, not bad?

I think I’m tired...I’ve worked really hard! (laugh) During the height of her popularity, Alt was the face of ad campaigns for Covergirl, Givenchy,

56 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Speaking of fame how does it feel when fans come up to you for a photograph or an autograph--do you cringe and bear it or do you enjoy that part of being such a recognizable face?

I actually love it because they are really commenting on the work.

Favorite photographers to work with?

There were photographers that would hire me all the time--so whomever I worked with the most were definitely some of my favorites-Albert Watson, Patrick Demarchelier...I remember once doing a shoot and it ended up becoming five different covers.

What were you known for in the industry?

Well they called Elle Macpherson “The Body” and they called me “The Face.”

How has NYFW changed over the years?

Oh it’s so different now and has gone through so many incarnations. I remember when I started I was just looking for something to do between assignments so I would go to the showrooms or ateliers of Ralph (Lauren) and Calvin (Klein) and other girls would as well not just the 7th avenue fit models - think we got paid $700.

Carol Alt walks on the edge in this avant garde stone grey and mint green jacket with pear shaped skirt in peach, Laerke Valum. 18k White Gold Crystal and Diamond Dome Ring, Hammerman Jewels.

Beauty notes: Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna.

March 2020 | 57

cover

58 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

HMU & Styling: LUS BUCHINHO

March 2020 | 59

cover

Memories of that time?

John Casablancas (modeling agent who founded Elite Models in 1972) use to say he would count the seconds when I would start walking the runway until I would break into a smile.

Best quote you ever heard about the modeling industry?

A makeup artist said something that stuck with me, at 20 years get the face you were born with, at 40 you get the face you work for, and at 60 you get the face you deserve.

Are there a lot of perks to being a supermodel?

Not really, you have to work just as hard as everybody else.

You have advocated for the raw food movement demonstrably. What was the reason behind your decision to change your diet so radically?

At only 34 years old I was starting to feel unhealthy. Models only ten years younger than me seemed to have so much more vigor, Joie de

60 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Vivre. I had stomach issues, was always tired, starving myself to death. My hair was starting to turn grey prematurely. I also was seeking a way of being in the world where I could be of service to the greater good. I started praying on it and then I received a call from a friend whose girlfriend was in remission in her battle with cancer. She was turning her disease around and she credited her improvement to eating raw. I took it as a sign.

She’s now completely cancer-free. From that point on I promised God that I would pay it forward teaching people how to be healthy.

When did you first start noticing changes?

Immediately. Over time everything changed for the better. Not only did I love what I was eating, but I could eat as much as I wanted to.

My mother was the first to notice the changes.

Weight loss, skin glowing, overall vibrancy. She told me that I had gone from looking mortal to looking immortal. I have never felt better. I never get sick.

Is your skincare brand an extension of this revelation?

Yes. I couldn’t find a raw skincare category.

Things that I would put on my own skin. My products are vegan, free of all toxins, and of course cruelty-free. .

You’ve been a top model, actress, author, talk show host.

Activist for the cause of health through raw nutrition.

Which of these vocations best describes you?

Saving animals! Once I rescued my cats I became aware of how many animals are on death row. I dedicated my salary last year to animal rescue charities like the Best Friends Society and Shelter Chic.

That’s extraordinary! You’re turning 60 this year. What advice would you give Carol the ingenue, aside from eating right out of the gate?

Have a sense of humor.

HMU & Styling: LUS BUCHINHO

March 2020 | 61

cover

StrikeA Pose 62 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 63

profile

Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin ARTIST, DESIGNER & ENTREPRENEUR

BY PETER EVERSON

C

onsuelo Vanderbilt Costin is a seventh generation descendent of shipping and railroad tycoon, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and great-great-great niece of Consuelo Vanderbilt, the Duchess of Marlborough. Consuelo shied away from the world of debutante balls to carve her own path through her ventures in music and business, and has been featured in Vogue, Town & Country, 25A, Prestige, Paper and Raine Magazine for her many accomplishments.

As a successful musician, Consuelo has performed around the world and shared stages with such music luminaries as Vanessa Carlton, Mya and Joe Cocker. She landed her first record deal at the age of 21, and later, founded her own

64 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

record label C&R Productions in 2010. Shortly thereafter, her first four singles landed her in the Top 20 on the Billboard Dance Charts. Her debut single “Naked” spent 16 weeks on the charts, while her follow-up “Feel So Alive” earned her Billboard’s #2 Breakout Artist honor. In 2014, her hit, “Body Needs,” broke Billboard’s Top 5, and the following year, Consuelo’s highly anticipated pop dance album I’m Just Me dropped in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as the United States.

Consuelo is well known in the fashion industry, and in 2015, teamed up with powerhouse network HSN to launch Homage by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin. The pearl jewelry collection was inspired by an engagement ring she inherited from her great grandmother, Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl, which is

thought to have once belonged to Consuelo, the Duchess of Marlborough.

As no stranger to entrepreneurship, Consuelo is preparing to launch SohoMuse.com. The invitation-only website is a professional network for the creative industries, and aims to become the trusted source for the global creative community.

As a creative herself, the site has been developed by creatives for the creative community.

Very dear to Consuelo’s heart is the memory of her beloved mother, whom she honors by working with a variety of Ovarian Cancer organizations.

She also sits on the committee for the Gabriel’s Foundation, serves as the philanthropic ambassador for Mercedes-Benz perfume and chaired the American Heart Association in 2016.

JamesAllen.com

profile

Angelo David

REVOLUTIONIZING THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY

BY ANN GRENIER

W

hen people come to Angelo David Salon, they can expect to leave with hair they never thought possible. As owner and creative director of Angelo David Salon and one of New York City’s leading authorities on fine and thinning hair, Angelo David Pisacreta is not just a hair illusionist, he is the Vera Wang of couture hair.

In 2000, David launched Angelo David Couture Hair Additions™, the world’s finest customized hair solutions that include wigs, hair pieces, extensions, volumizing toppers, clip-on bangs and ponytails.

This in combination with his specialized hair care products and supplements, is a game changer in the hair industry—and for women and men who are dealing with hair loss and thinning hair.

According to the American Hair Loss Association, forty percent of women have visible hair loss by the time they are age 40, and there are few medical solutions offered by family doctors.

Treating fine and thinning hair has now become the standard in the hair salon and hair care industry. There are many reasons why hair may begin to thin or fall out, and through 25 years of hands-on experience with people from all walks of

66 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

life, Angelo has seen it all. In recent years, Angelo has seen more and more young women coming into the salon, seeking help for their thinning hair.

Angelo and his team create personalized wigs, toppers, extensions and fillers that help his clients regain their confidence by giving them the hair they used to have, or the hair that they’ve always wanted.

Upon arrival, clients will come in for a private consultation in order to understand their concerns and situation. Clients are able to speak candidly about what they are experiencing and understand all their options. The consultation process can begin before coming to the salon, to accommodate international clients who travel far to meet with Angelo and his team. Once a plan is set, a sample of the client’s hair is taken before their new hair can be created.

The 100% human hair additions are then designed and tailored in order to match the clients’ own hair texture, color, shape and responsiveness.

This way, the hair reacts exactly the same way as their natural hair would, from how it naturally dries when wet, to how it responds to heat and styling. When clients see themselves in the mirror for the first time with their new hair, the reaction

is often a very emotional one. Tears of joy are not uncommon, and they tell Angelo how good it feels to feel like themselves again.

“It’s the main reason why I do what I do,” says Angelo, “We don’t just change people’s hair here, we change people’s lives”.

Angelo’s experience with hair loss and hair thinning led him to develop Angelo created Hair Detox® Hair Revival Supplement, a hair and lifestyle supplement that addresses stress and inflammation of the body—two things that trigger hair loss or thinning hair. Hair Detox® is based on the latest science and research on the nutrients and herbs such as keratin, biotin, vitamin B6 and selenium that address these contributors to thinning hair and hair loss. Hair Detox ® gently detoxifies the body, helps minimize nutritional deficiencies, addresses hormonal imbalances and supports healthy hair growth from within to reveal fuller, thicker hair. Many of Angelo’s clients swear

by Hair Detox® because it works from the inside out to address the root cause of their thinning hair problem. angelodavid.com.

The New York Real Estate Chamber ELM Conference Preview HOSTED BY THE PEEBLES CORPORATION

R

BY ELIZABETH DARWEN | PHOTO BY MONNELLE PRODUCTIONS

. Donahue Peebles Jr., Katrina Peebles and R. Donahue Peebles III hosted a spectacular Kick Off party with The New York Real Estate Chamber at their private residence in New York City. The New York Real Estate Chamber (NYREC) is a chamber of commerce comprising wellestablished residential and commercial developers, community development corporations, general contractors and property managers that share a common goal—the expansion of minority business participation and community development.

Notable attendees included: R. Donahue Peebles Jr., Katrina Peebles, R. Donahue Peebles III, Andrew Cooke, Tywan Anthony, Thomas Campbell, Paul Moore, Joshua Anthony, Randall Toure, Craig Livingston, Devon Prioleau, Meredith Marshall, Andy Jee, Chris Bramwell, William Wilkins, Nicole Lockett, Osei Rubie, Cheryl Daniel, Brian Benjamin, Harry Haynes, Jerrod Delaine, Kenneth Morrison, Darrel Gay, Derrick Lovett, Gordon Bell, Manuel Burgos, Eboni Harris, Francilia W. Rahim, Dwayne Jeffrey, Dawanna Williams, Gardner Rivera, Joe Ballaris, Timothy Edwards, Randall Powell, Roland Powell Jr., Donald Matheson, Micheal Bunton, Victor Amoo, Josie Francis, Marina Ovanesyan, and Salud Reyes.

The party served as a kickoff to The Emerging Leaders and Markets (ELM) Conference. The ELM Conference is the New York Real Estate Chamber’s signature event, bringing together leaders from Government, Business, Community Development and Finance to enlighten attendees with regard to current opportunities and innovations in a series of topical panels. The conference will convene at Columbia University’s Faculty House, April 2020. The New York Real Estate Chamber (NYREC) expects ELM to attract 300 commercial and housing real estate professionals, along with political and community leaders from throughout the Tri-State Area. ELM will feature some of real estate’s most successful and innovative deal makers and leaders of minority-owned firms and just as important leading public policy makers, to drive the discourse, develop ideas, and relationships around sustainable development in urban communities. The ELM Conference is a uniquely powerful opportunity to connect with dynamic developers, government officials, financiers and other real estate professionals engaged in remaking the urban landscape.

About The Peebles Corporation The Peebles Corporation is a privately held national real estate investment and development

company specializing in residential, hospitality, retail and mixed-use commercial properties. The company has corporate offices in New York City, Miami, and Washington D.C. Founded in 1983 by Don Peebles, the company has become an industry leader with a portfolio of active and completed developments totaling more than 10 million square feet and $8 billion in the gateway cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Peebles is an industry leader in large scale real estate development through Public-Private Partnerships. Through construction excellence, sustainable practices, historic preservation and innovative design, every project is strategically selected to achieve transformative results for the company and community.

Over the course of more than 35 years, The Peebles Corporation has developed high profile assets guided by the principles of Affirmative Development™ to help empower women and minorities and close the wealth gap. peeblescorp.com March 2020 | 67

profile

Hotel Hayden HOSPITABLE EXCELLENCE

BY PETER ELSTON

A

member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Hayden is a fashion-forward, independent boutique hotel in the heart of Chelsea, just steps from New York City’s Fashion, Flower, and Hudson Yard Districts. Hotel Hayden’s prime location is the ideal base from which to explore the Big Apple. Part of the Fortuna Hotel Collection portfolio, the full-service modern hotel is pet-friendly and sits amid the City’s progressive renaissance and 24/7 bustle, and features all-day dining, a rooftop bar, and private meeting and event space.

With 120 trendy rooms and 2 penthouse suites featuring colorblock headboards, spacious work desks, and upholstered furnishings, Hotel Hayden is a vibrant retreat in the heart of New York City. Ease into a comfortable, pillow-top bed, switch on the flat-screen TV, and raid the well-stocked mini-fridge. All the essentials you expect of Preferred Hotels & Resorts are right here, including an inroom Starbucks coffee, electronic safe, plush bathrobes, premium bath amenities, and in-room dining.

Dining at the Hayden is a relaxed affair, with signature Greek dishes served in the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bistro, Mykonos Bleu. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, both indoors and on an outdoor patio, Mykonos Blue serves classic Greek cuisine made with all-natural ingredients. And after a busy day in the city, where better to wind down than Mykonos Blue Rooftop, a neighborhood hotspot for skyline views and signature cocktails paired with wines and light island fare.

Equally suited for meetings and social gatherings, Hotel Hayden offers two sophisticated, exclusive settings for private events. On the lower level, Hendricks is a flexible, 480-square-foot space for 10 to 30 guests; the rooftop is an inspiring setting for 10 to 100 guests. Allow our experienced meeting and event planners to coordinate everything, including A/V and tech support, onsite catering, and competitive group rates and room blocks.

Hotel Hayden also caters to guests with special needs, providing wider, wheelchair-accessible doors, roll-in showers, and Braille signage on all elevators, egress doors and room numbers. hotelhaydennyc.com fortunahotelcollection.com

68 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Larry Scott THE PRINCE OF PARTIES

A

signature Lawrence Scott Event offers guests a chance to enter a magical environment that allows them to escape and connect in a magnificent space unlike any other. Event planner Larry Scott of Lawrence Scott Events has been planning one-of-a-kind-events for over two decades. All of Lawrence Scott Events’ services are in-house, so clients receive only the best customized décor, food, flowers and entertainment which blends together to make a perfect event.

BY ELIZABETH ELSTON everyone feel included. Event themes are limitless and Larry has produced one of a kind events for many of life’s celebrations and milestones including: weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, as well as corporate events, charity galas, and more – no challenge is too big for this top-notch event planner and his team.

A native New Yorker, Larry started his career in catering before opening one of Long Island’s most successful restaurants, Larry and The Redhead. In 1989, he established Lawrence Scott Events and instantly gained a reputation for his exceptional, one-of-a-kind celebrations. “From the ridiculous to the sublime”, A Larry Party™ brings families and friends together for life’s most memorable moments and milestones. Larry has a long undisclosed list of loyal A-list celebrity clients that keep rehiring him for his bespoke events and discreet and personable approach.

Some of his high-profile clients include Judge Judy, Howard Stern, Vera Wang and John Varvatos.

Larry Scott has always believed that “more is more” and nowhere is this approach better showcased than in his awe-inspiring displays and gourmet food offerings. There are as many varieties to the delicious dishes and drinks served as there are event themes – all in order to add to the event’s overall visual impact and playful possibilities. Part of what sets Scott’s style apart is his innate understanding of his guests and making everyone feel included. To him it is all about the mix — the high and the low, the formal and the relaxed — that comes together to make a truly standout celebration. And as they say, timing is everything. Perfect timing coupled with exacting choreography are what Larry’s signature invasions are all about. An adrenaline pop at just the right moment, the invasion gives the party life and smiles and unforgettable memories!

Part of what sets Scott’s style apart is his innate understanding of his guests and making

With a longstanding commitment to the community and decades of support for charity,

Larry Scott is equally known for producing spectacular one-of-a-kind events as he is for his philanthropic endeavors. Larry’s commitment to community has spanned decades of support for charitable causes including The Feinstein Institute, Northwell Hospital SHE Summer Hamptons Evening, Southampton Hospital Annual Summer Party, and the Global Lyme Alliance NYC Gala, to name a few. Larry donates events services to over 30 charities annually.

Larry’s reputation is that of a generous and charismatic man who considers his employees “family” and treats his clients with adoration and respect. They return to him time and again to celebrate all of life’s important occasions knowing their party will be like no other — and one that they… “will NEVER, EVER forget!” lawrencescottevents.com Facebook: @LawrenceScottEvents Instagram: @lawrencescottevents Twitter: @larryscottevent PRESS CONTACT: Norah Lawlor | Lawlor Media Group | www.lawlormediagroup.com | Norah@ lawlormediagroup.com | Tel: (212) 967-6900 | Facebook: LawlorMediaGroup | Instagram: lawlormedia | Twitter: @LawlorMedia March 2020 | 69

profile

MvVO 2020 WITH A SPECIALTY CLIO AWARD

BY LILLIAN LANGTRY

M

vVO ART, creator of AD ART SHOW, today announced a partnership with Clio that will include a specialty Clio Award presentation to the winner of the AD ART SHOW 2020. The AD ART SHOW from May 4 to 31, 2020 at the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center celebrates the artists of advertising. Clio has joined a growing roster of AD ART SHOW supporters, including Presenting Sponsor NBCUniversal, Westfield World Trade Center, Artnet, WPP, GroupM, Publicis and Zenith Media, Lawlor Media, The One Club for Creativity, Alliance for Downtown NY, NYCxDESIGN, School of Visual Arts NYC, The Clarion List, Franklin Furnace, and The Gradient Group.

“AD ART SHOW is building a bridge between ART and Advertising by celebrating the talented artists in advertising, in a venue that brings Brands, the Art World and Advertising industry together. The driving force is the power of creativity— it’s the fuel that feeds all our dreams and endeavors! Our artists are following in the footsteps of Warhol, Magritte, Haring and many other famous names, creating art on their own time and outside of their day jobs. Images of this art will be displayed on the monumental screens in the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center, Santiago Calatrava’s magnificent architectural icon. It’s a unique event and an opportunity for discovery.” Maria Van Vlodrop, MvVO ART Founder and CEO. “At Clio, our mission is to celebrate creativity in all of its forms and, in doing that, we’ve made connections with so many talented leaders whose creative expressions reach far beyond their client work. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the AD ART SHOW 2020 to showcase and honor the passion projects of some of advertising’s most inspiring minds.” Nicole Purcell, President, Clio Awards The AD ART SHOW artworks (paintings, sculpture, photography, and mixed media) will be vetted by a selection committee of contemporary art professionals, chaired by Laura Skoler (Board of Directors, New Museum & the

70 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Daniel and Florence Guerlain Drawing Foundation, Paris) and featuring a wide range of gallery, curator and critical voices in Art. The winner of the annual show will be determined by a jury of prominent art collectors and presented with a specialty Clio Award at the AD ART SHOW VIP opening night on May 4th.

Other top honors include a Creative Immersion Day at NBCUniversal, curatorial sessions with top Art professionals and opportunities to get discovered by serious art collectors and an Art loving public.

AD ART SHOW debuted at Sotheby’s New York over a four-day period in February of 2018. The phenomenal success in 2018, led to the all-digital, month long edition in 2019 and AD ART SHOW 2020’s return to the Oculus at the Westfield World Trade Center with an average 4 week traffic of 10 million per month with expanded opportunities for art-related events available for sponsors and partners. artsy.net/mvvo/artists About MvVO ART: MvVO ART is a New York based innovative art venture comprised of a team of advertising, art & technology professionals, dedicated to creating new opportunities for artists, art lovers & brands to discover each other and form powerful partnerships. In 2018, MvVO ART’s Founder & CEO, Maria van Vlodrop, global business executive created AD ART SHOW to celebrate creativity and the artists from advertising who create Art outside their day jobs. AD ART SHOW debuted successfully at Sotheby’s in New York with 100 artists and is now at the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center. MvVO ART is poised to reimagine & redefine the relationship between Art & Commerce. mvvoart.com Instagram: @mvvoart Maria van Vlodrop: linkedin.com/in/maria-van-vlodrop-4010392 About the Clio Awards Clio is the premier international awards competition for the creative business.

Founded in 1959 to celebrate creative excellence in advertising, Clio today honors the work and talent at the forefront of the industry in a variety of specialized fields, including: sports, fashion, music, entertainment, cannabis and health. As a leading authority on the diverse and ever-changing creative landscape, Clio celebrates creativity 365-days-a-year via its global ad database Ads of The World and its content platform Muse by Clio.

15th Annual Taste of Hope AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

T

aste of Hope is the American Cancer Society’s signature culinary, wine, and spirits event, featuring some of New York’s most popular restaurants and beverage vendors.

Guests enjoy a walk-around tasting where they can sample signature dishes, premier wines and spirits, and inventive cocktails. The 15th Annual Taste of Hope will take place on Thursday, May 21st, 2020 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City.

This year’s celebration recognizes James Beard Award-winning Culinary Honorees, Chef Michael White and Chef JJ Johnson with more honorees to be announced in the coming months. CBS News’ Chris Wragge is back to Emcee.

Now in its 15th year, the event is hosted annually by the Taste of Hope volunteer committee and has raised millions to support the American Cancer Society’s mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight to a world against cancer.

This years’ Volunteer Celebrity Host Committee includes David Alan Basche, Danny Burstein (Moulin Rouge), Harry Carson (HOF NY Giants), Richard Kind, Harry Lennix (The Blacklist), Rebecca Luker, Clarke Thorell, and Alysia Reiner (OITNB).

Event Co-Chairs Mark D. Friedman (Halstead) and Jamie Koff (Fabric To Finish) year-round to produce this signature culinary, wine, and spirits event that provides the 800+ guests the opportunity to enjoy bites from New York City’s top restaurants and philanthropic chefs, and sips from leading winemakers and spirit brands.

More than 90 restaurants are scheduled to participate. Already announced are: A Little Brittle Heaven, Angel of Harlem, Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse, Bonsai Kagidori, Calle Ocho, Clarkson Ave Crumb Cake Co, FIELDTRIP, Javamelts Inc., Jing Fong, Magnolia Bakery, Melt Bakery, NOBU, Panca, Sarabeth’s, STK, TAO, The

BY HARRY BRADS Wilson NYC, Treat House, Vaucluse, WB Law Coffee, and Wine Spectator.

Corporate sponsors for this year’s event so far include: Eurostruct, GMC Insurance Brokers, Merrill Lynch – Walters Bailey Associates, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP.

New York dining while raising funds to support the Society’s mission to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer.

From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is attacking cancer from every angle.

Taste of Hope donations will support the mission of the American Cancer Society as they save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer. The American Cancer Society is the largest private funder of cancer research in the United States, with more than $3.9 billion invested in the search for new cures.

Research funded by the Society has laid the groundwork for virtually every major breakthrough in cancer prevention, detection and treatment seen in the last six decades. When we began, only a quarter of all cancer patients achieved Chef Michael White ©Altamarea Group 5-year survival. Today, more than 2 in 3 will reach this milestone. Through the years, 49 scientists funded by the Society have earned the Nobel Prize for their findings.

Facing cancer is hard. Having to travel out of town for treatment can make it even harder. Yet the American Cancer Society has a place where cancer patients and their caregivers can find help and hope when home is far away - an American Cancer Society Hope Lodge right here in New York City. Each Hope Lodge offers cancer patients and their caregivers a free place to stay when their best hope for effective treatment may be in another city. Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows Chef JJ Johnson ©Christina Chi Craig guests to focus on getting better. Hope Lodge provides a nurturing, home-like Those who cannot attend can follow the event environment where guests can retreat to private online at @ACSTOHNYC (Instagram) and @ rooms or connect with others. Every Hope Lodge ACSTasteOfHope (Twitter), or by following also offers a variety of resources and information hashtag #TOH2020. about cancer and how best to fight the disease.

Taste of Hope® was founded in 2005 by the American Cancer Society as a way to celebrate

tasteofhopenyc.org.

March 2020 | 71

profile

Love & Marriage

BY ADAM KLUGER

N

early 30 Long Island couples who have been married for 50 plus years, were treated to a five-course meal by Genser Cona Elder Law (genserlaw.com) at Piccolo (an Italian restaurant in Bellmore, Long Island). At the dinner, the couples shared plenty of memories, reminisced about various dates, and showed off pictures of themselves in their youth together.

We sat down with Margie and Joe Licata from East Meadow, Long Island, who have been married for 50 years and asked them two very important questions. The first question was “What is your secret of being together for 50 years?

Their answer was “Religion & children kept us together plus it’s very important to always be loyal to each other and stay together no matter what.”

72 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

The second question was “What advice would you give to young people that are getting married in this day and age?”

Their answer was “Don’t rush into anything, be friends first and make sure you want the same things out of life”.

“The evening was a celebration of love,” stated Jennifer Cona, founder and managing partner of Genser Cona Elder Law. “In our multigenerational elder law and estate planning practice, we help all kinds of families. We wanted to take this Valentine’s Day to recognize and honor those who have made marriage work through good times and bad.”

Margie and Joe Licata Anniversary Date: Oct 18, 1969

PHOTO OF BEDFORD OAK, A 500-YEAR-OLD TREE

BY PATRICIA PEDRAZA “THE TREE OF LIFE ROOTS IN MEANINGFUL WORK, LEARNING, AND LOVE.” -DR. AHRON FRIEDBERG

March 2020 | 73

entertainment fashion

74 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

GLOBETROTTER SERIES FLASHBACK

SohoMuse CONTINUING TO BLAZE A TRAIL IN LOS ANGELES: OSCAR WEEKEND SPOTLIGHT

C

BY RACHEL VANCELET TE

onsuelo Vanderbilt Costin, a trailblazer, has been traveling the world to launch her creative online community to the masses. SohoMuse has been appearing and popping up in multiple cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and just this month, London’s Fashion week! The vibrate founder continues to throw glamorous one-of-a-kind events, including the latest bash during Oscar weekend. The LA special event had the creative community in a buzz about all the new “glitz and the glamour” happening during these exclusive creative events wondering what is the exclusive membership all about?

The latest private event held at West Hollywood showroom of internationally renowned British luxury furniture designer Christopher Guy invited the top 100 or more members of the

SohoMuse community. Celebrity entertainment to contemporary artists alike arrived at the showroom to hit the red carpet, many immediately sitting on the exclusive furniture designs, (chair, beds, side tables, you name it!) all toasting with champagne, and each attendee receiving a personalized experience first-hand with the furniture showcase new designs and hand-made selections. There were even small doggie-designed chairs for your pet! Influencer and actress Gigi Gorgeous with music by designer, actor, and nightlife entrepreneur Markus Molinari hosted the star-studded red carpet, which included actors David Arquette, Melora Hardin, Emily Hampshire, Alex Feldman, and Olivia Dudek. August Getty made a surprise appearance mingling among the featured live entertainment by SohoMuse dancers and performers, including an immersive hologram dance experience with renowned choreographer Noel Bajandas (powered by Vortex Immersion

March 2020 | 75

entertainment

76 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Media). Under the creative direction of ‘Image Guru’ Montgomery Frazier, SohoMuse models exhibited the latest gowns by celebrity fashion designer CD Greene. The debut of the new SohoMuse virtual 3D film screening room created by SohoMuse partner Zreality — developer of the worldwide unique content management platform for virtual and augmented reality stunned audiences, and the rumor is will apparently travel anywhere the event takes place in the future. Preview excerpts from SohoMuse awardwinning members Craig Singer and Sylvia Caminer’s forthcoming feature documentary “2 B Me” were presented for the first time.

“We have had a spectacular start to a concept long demanded by the creative community worldwide,” said SohoMuse Founder and CEO Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin. “We started with our New York launch, then moved onto LA and now we are making our presence known in a big way in London.”

Since my first interview with Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin on SOHOMUSE in March 2019, to their official launch in November 2019, tracking this exclusive membershipby-invitation-only platform which enables creative professionals to connect and source talent across the globe has been a whirlwind of exciting new ventures and an intersection of diversity and dynamic talents coming together. The membership a long-guarded secret for entry, we suggest you check out this latest venture. Although membership is by invitation only, creatives are encouraged to request an invitation by visiting the website. A piece of advice, do it sooner than later! London is calling on SohoMuse to take over the town!

Globetrotter Tips: Request membership now! www.sohomuse.com | Instagram: @sohomuse_inc Flashback Globetrotter article on SOHO Muse founder Consuelo Vanderbilt from March 2019 : https://issuu.com/metropolitanmagazineny/docs/ metropolitan_magazine_march_2019_an/112 For more on the daily Globetrotter Series: Instagram @rvancelette

Doggie Chair By Christopher Guy

March 2020 | 77

entertainment

Einstein’s Desk AN INTERVIEW WITH CO-AUTHORS DOMENIC MELILLO & DR. ROBERT MELILLO

BY ADAM KLUGER Tell us about the origin of the idea for the novel Einstein’s Desk. Where did that originate?

DJM: The idea sprang from the brain of my brother Dr. Robert Melillo. Aside from being a world renowned and recognized expert on the functioning of the human brain, he is also a huge Albert Einstein fan. Dr. Einstein has been an inspiration for him since he was a kid. So, much like Ian in the story, he read all that he could about Einstein growing up and was truly fascinated by the picture taken by Life Magazine of Einstein’s Desk and the rest of his office on the day he died. Rob was haunted by the question, did anybody really check what he was working on before he died? Was anything taken from his desk or office before the authorities got there?

What if I could read everything that was there on that desk by enlarging the picture of the desk… stuff like that. That group of “what if” questions eventually blossomed into the concept for the book.

Dr. Robert Melillo: The biggest what if was what if Einstein had actually figured out a Unified theory of the Universe and it was there on the desk. At the end of his life Einstein was trying to find a Universal theory to explain the whole universe.

We are told that he never discovered it but what if he did, would he possibly have hid that information. The biggest implication of a Unified theory would be the answer to time travel, even Stephen Hawking in his last book admitted that according to Einstein’s theories of the universe time travel is possible. But if the answer to time travel had been discovered by Einstein he would also realize it would be the ultimate weapon in the wrong hands. So, would he have revealed the secret or would he have kept it hidden. This leads to many other “what ifs” and of course one of the main driving forces is power, money and war, and the implications of scientific discoveries that can be used or abused for military reasons.

Really? All of this was inspired by that one picture DJM: Yes. The back-story of the picture is also intriguing . As it happened Ralph Morse a photographer for LIFE Magazine received a call from his editor that Einstein had died and he wanted pictures. So he drove down to Princeton, 78 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

New Jersey as fast as possible, but other members of the media had already been alerted by the time he arrived. Morse would later recall the situation by saying, “Einstein died at Princeton Hospital, so I headed there first. But it was chaos — journalists, photographers, onlookers. So I headed over to Einstein’s office at the Institute for Advanced Studies. On the way, I stopped and bought a case of scotch. I knew people might be reluctant to talk, but most people are happy to accept a bottle of booze, instead of money, in exchange for their help. So I get to the building, find the superintendent, give him a fifth of scotch and like that, he opens up the office.” When Morse walked into Einstein’s office, he snapped a photo of the desk where Albert Einstein had been working just hours before. Nobody knew it yet, but Einstein’s body would be cremated before anyone could capture a final photo of him. As a result, Morse’s photo of Einstein’s desk would soon become the final iconic image of the great scientist’s career. It fascinated many people not just my brother.

Dr. Robert Melillo: Of course it is what and who the picture represents, Einstein was a fascinating man with an incredible story that most people don’t know. He had to overcome much adversity in his life including the fact that he seemed to start life with a learning disability of some sort.

To me, the desk is the perfect example of a right brain genius, messy, disorganized but able to see through this mess to the whole truth, the big picture .Einstein figured out the biggest picture of all, the Universe. This picture speaks to the nature of genius which is something I have spent my career studying, understanding and helping others to tap into their genius. I have always said that almost all of the kids I have worked with with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia etc ,were also in other ways geniuses.

The main character in the story, Ian Petrie is initially diagnosed as having Autism. He becomes obsessed with the picture but also with Einstein. How does that all fit into the story and how does it relate to Einstein?

Dr. Robert Melillo: I became a Functional Neurologist because I wanted to help children and families who were struggling with Autism

Spectrum disorders. Growing up I had read that Einstein was very delayed in his speech as a child and that he struggled in school. In reading all that was written about his struggles, I realized that today, he would have been diagnosed as being on the spectrum. He might never have been given the chance to succeed if he had been treated as doctors in general treat so many autistic children today. Drugs would have dulled his senses and he may never have had the opportunity to express his creativity and genius. That is what I know!

That many of the children diagnosed as on the spectrum are GENIUSES! They need help in unlocking their potential. That is who Ian is in the book. Diagnosed as autistic with an Einstein level intellect, he just needed the help of Dr. Mills to be able to unlock the potential. He then goes on to great things and tries to emulate his hero, Dr. Einstein. As a kid I always wondered about the comment that “there is a thin line between genius and insanity” ,that always bothered me. I loved to read stories of great people that accomplished great things in their lives .But in most cases their lives were also filled with some sort of mental or emotional issues that led to tragedy. I wondered why they couldn’t have just been geniuses and lived a happy life ? This imbalance between our strengths and weaknesses is at the core of who we are, and what my research has shown is that at the core of many of these neurological issues is an imbalance of natural traits that may give people unique strengths and abilities but along with those abilities come very strong weaknesses. Usually, the strengths may outweigh the weaknesses but in some people with unusual strengths and weaknesses the weaknesses can win out .This is the core nature of autism and almost all other mental health issues. Very few people understand this and I wanted to take what I have learned and put it into a form that everyone could understand. I want to raise awareness of issues like autism, and help the kids to be understood. To help everyone understand that these children are not broken and that they have many amazing gifts .

Amazon, Walmart.com and Barnes&Noble.com

“"If you enjoy stretching your mind into the "what if..." realm, you'll love the Melillo brothers' book, Einstein's Desk. Their research into the science of the brain is fascinating.

Einstein's theory regarding light, time, and energy is intriguing.

Mix all these scientific facts (and more) with a suspenseful tale about a boy on a quest to solve the unsolvable, and you have an incredible recipe for a blockbuster book!"

March 2020 | 79

entertainment

Gina DeVee INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT EXPERT

BY CHRISTINA AMIS

I

nspirational speaker and women’s empowerment expert Gina DeVee has some advice for handling that envy-inspiring news that someone else has achieved: write them a thank you note!

“We all know there’s nothing more draining to our creativity and power than hopping on Instagram to see all these people having and doing what we desire,” DeVee says in her upcoming book.

“What’s really going on when we feel that debilitating pang of envy? We’re seeing something that’s possible for us, too, and we’re meant to claim it,” says the former psychotherapist, now

80 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

a self-made multimillionaire entrepreneur.

But writing that note--whether on your best stationery, via e-mail or just in your mind--helps reset your attitude and turns jealousy into inspiration, DeVee says.

Telling someone you admire their success and see it as inspiration and motivation for your own, can work magic.

“When you’ve done enough of these that your new response to someone else’s success becomes, ‘That’s amazing! I’m next!’ social media will actually uplift and motivate you instead of dragging you down.”

DeVee’s own rise from financially struggling psychotherapist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology has led her on speaking engagements around the world and to establish her women’s empowerment, multimedia company and lifestyle brand, Divine Living.

At the center of DeVee’s philosophy is a belief that “within every woman lives a queen, and only from the position of queen can you fulfill your purpose.”

DeVee’s first book, The Audacity to Be Queen: The Unapologetic Art of Dreaming Big and Manifesting Your Most Fabulous Life, 2020, will

be published in March. It embodies her more than two decades of experience as a keynote speaker, talk show host, lifestyle coach, global conference leader and her expertise in business and wealth creation, feminine leadership, selfcare and lifestyle, among others.

DeVee believes “the era of invisible women is over. Your time to be queen has arrived.” Her book is drawing praise from a number of others, including spiritual leader Marianne Williamson, whose many books include the best-selling A Return to Love.

“In a world that is celebrating the rise of the feminine, Gina DeVee’s timely and unapologetic message models for women what it means to be empowered,” prioritized and spiritually connected in our modern era,” Williamson says.

In her book, DeVee says women with big dreams should stop being shrinking violets. “It’s time for all women to show up, be seen and recognized for our true selves...You being seen is your best route to making a difference and playing the big part in this world that no one else can.”

She also urges women not to succumb to “money-shaming,” not to feel guilty about spending hard-earned dollars on things that bring pleasure.

“In the 2020s, it’s up to each of us women to get clear on our own relationship with money and determine what exactly we value. How one woman might spend $20,000 isn’t going to be the same as how another spends $20,000 and that’s totally fine. Let’s allow each other to make our own choices and support each other in enjoying money according to our own values.”

And, DeVee, says, there is a big difference between “having it all” and “doing it all.” She’s become a big believer in delegating things that can be done by others.

“In adopting this new mentality, I became unavailable for a number of tasks that I realized made no sense for me to be doing in the first place.”

So DeVee no longer cleans her house, takes her car to the car wash or runs “unnecessary errands that would take hours out of my day.

“Not because I’m above doing anything,” DeVee says, “but because I knew that, to grow as a leader, I’d have to master the art of delegation.”

March 2020 | 81

BEAUTY

Wolf. A Story of Hate ABOUT THE BOOK

T

his is the true story of a young Jewish man imprisoned in corporate-owned labor camps during WWll. His name is Wolf.

He was caught up in the most vicious and disgraceful mass slaughter of people in history.

His experiences during the Holocaust are relevant today, resonating with decent human beings who are concerned about morally corrupt leaders and their admiring masses, which, together with self-serving corporations,

82 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

BY SCOT T KILE can orchestrate tragedies against their own populations.

Imagine Wolf’s story was your story. The story of your child, parent, friend, loved one. How would you cope knowing you are hostage to a government and manufacturing firms rallying to destroy you?

Millions fell victim to political extremism and corporate greed and indifference. Alliances between political fanaticism and financial interests can quickly plunge societies into

an abyss of exploitation and genocide.

These alliances, if left unchecked, can once again create well-oiled machines of human destruction, where governments, corporations, and followers choose hate over kindness, murder over empathy, torture over love.

This is where hate led humanity, and where it can take us again if we are not vigilant.

Authors: Ella Scheinwald, Zeev Scheinwald Genre: Biographies & Memoirs Tags: Holocaust memoir, Soon to be released www.ellascheinwald.com

DIANA DEVENDORF RICE D i a n a D e ve n d o r f Ri c e i s pl e a s e d to b e re p re s e n ti n g S o t h eb y ’s In te r n a ti o n a l Re a l t y u n d e r t h e me n to r s h i p of S ta n Po n te, S e n i o r G l oba l Re a l E sta te Adv i s o r, a n d o n e of Ma n h a tta n ’s m o st re s p e cte d a g e n t s.

35 West 15th Street, Apt 9C 4 br, 4 ba, 1 hf ba | Property ID: 99FJWJ | $5,875,000

200 East 66th Street, Apt E2101 4 br, 4 ba | Property ID: VQGRZF | $12,950,000

65 Central Park West, Apt 15A 3 br, 2 ba | Property ID: 864F4G | $2,250,000

2 Park Place, Apt 45A 3 br, 2 ba, 1 hf ba | Property ID: LDW5NQ | $6,295,000 *Listings provided courtesy of Stan Ponte

Diana Devendorf Rice Licensed Salesperson | 212.606.7602 diana.rice@sothebyshomes.com East Side Manhattan Brokerage | 650 Madison Avenue | New York, NY 10022 | 212.606.7660 © Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. All rights reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark. This material is based upon information which we consider reliable but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice. If your property is listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Real estate agents affiliated with Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity.

March 2020 | 83

profile

84 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Renowned Elegance Aboard the Cunard Lines Queen Mary 2

BY NORAH BRADFORD

T

he ocean liner Queen Mary 2 is a unique ship designed for a single purpose—to cross the Atlantic Ocean in just about any conditions in luxurious comfort. Queen Mary 2 is a remarkable flagship, and her style and elegance are legendary. Above all, it is the space she offers and the luxury for you to do as little or as much as you wish which set her apart. The ship truly feels like a five-star hotel, without losing Cunard’s maritime heritage.

March 2020 | 85

jetset

86 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 87

jetset

Across four continents, 38 discoveries create a tapestry of vibrant cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, diverse wildlife and extraordinary landscapes, Queen Mary 2’s dazzling course extends to the far side of the world and back home again.

QM2, as she is known, replaced the iconic Queen Elizabeth II and sails from Southampton, England, to New York in seven days and total comfort. You will discover remarkable craftsmanship in the elegant staterooms and suites and savoring her many sumptuous restaurants and bars is always a pleasure. The ocean liner has some 15 restaurants and bars afloat along with a Canyon Ranch spa and gym, a planetarium, a near-10,000 book library, and of course, the famous White Star service ethic that will make every passenger feel like an extra in a “Downton Abbey” movie afloat. Passengers can enjoy the romance of walking the Promenade Deck, and dancing in the Queens Room.

For the price of a high-end Business Class or First-Class ticket on an airline, why not spend a week and adjust mentally and physically to a visit to the other side of the pond?

Cunard.com

88 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

March 2020 | 89

35z

®

MJM Yachts | 35z | 40z | 43z | 50z | New 53z A Zurn Design

MJM 35z. We Take Your Fun Seriously.

If you’re going to go 50mph, do it in a boat with the structural strength and stability it takes to earn the highest ISO certification possible.

If you’re going to spend your precious time, do it in a boat that’s fun to drive, yet offers the shade, wind and spray protection you’ve been missing. The MJM 35z builds in Seakeeper no-roll stability, Skyhook hovering and joystick control to make handling and docking something any family member can accomplish. Turn the key and go to experience the sheer joy of running a serious boat.

info@mjmyachts.com 401-862-4367 www.MJMYachts.com

artform

QUICKFIRE ARTIST SERIES

S

INTERVIEW WITH SPANISH ARTIST ANA BARRIGA

panish artist Ana Barriga is reaching new heights with her current solo exhibition and continues to take the international art world by storm. Noted celebrities, art collectors, and even top-tier footballers are collecting and snapping up her artwork- resulting in a sold-out sensation!

The artist caught the eye of famous Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos who bought a series of paintings on the opening night. For her solo show at Kristin Hjellegjerde’s gallery in London Bridge, the artist presents a new series of imaginative paintings that visualize everyday life in the “peanut community.” Through these surreal scenarios, Barriga pokes fun at real-life conventions, offering the viewer the opportunity to both laugh at and question the foundations on which civilizations are built.

BY RACHEL VANCELET TE

Her use of humor, play, and irony to allow unpredictable situations has attracted a newfound cult following. The artist takes children’s toys,

The Supreme Value of the Peanut

92 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

decorative objects, or everyday objects, which she paints, breaks, mutilates, and assembles as if she was playing with them with herself. The painting process of erasing, repopulating, modifying, and intervening with spray paint allows her to vandalize her own paintings—the “vandalism” within her creative process continues as an ongoing intervention for the artist. Barriga continues to look to provoke new conversations and enrich audiences with unique histories, playfulness, and sarcasm, keeping us all wanting more.

Your artistic practice includes the use of found objects such as ceramics, toys, unique objects which appear in many of the narratives in your painting and sculptures. The objects appear to present themselves with precise cultural significance and particular storytelling. It is stated there is an intertwining of semi-formal conversations within the paintings noted as a sort of “vandalism towards your own painting”, can you speak to these new-found concepts?

When I paint I don’t look for refuge in what I already know or in where I feel safe, I could say that I want to find excellence without knowing very well what it is about when we talk about painting. I understand painting as a form of instinctive expression through which I represent my own way of thinking or my surroundings. I guess it’s a way of channeling the things that I worry about daily. I use playfulness and sarcasm– to play down the relevant issues that I usually talk about, such as sexuality, religion, or politics. What I call excellence is linked by a feeling of dismay, it’s a bittersweet feeling of sacrificing my own painting. When I outrage my own paintings with spray paint or color markers, conceptually, it starts from the choice of motifs and the manipulation of them in the studio. I collect society’s best wastes; I look for ugly and rare objects that I find unexpectedly appealing and interesting to me. When these objects arrive at the studio, I heal them, I give them group therapy, I re-educate them, I clean them, I take them to private schools and when I think they are ready to be back to real life, I paint them, and then someone comes and re-paints over it with spray, that’s the way things are.

March 2020 | 93

artform

unique expressions. Can you speak to the characters and scenes to which you portray in the paintings?

The pictures presented in this project inquire into the question of civilization’s history. Still, far from questioning the historical account established or raise suspicions about the documentary power of historical images. These pictures try to depict an imaginary civilization developed around a mythical foundational element: peanuts. Extracting the poetics hidden in the every day through the secondary object allows us to criticize contemporary society and start a research that explains the world through metaphors: explore the truth hidden behind the images—starting from objects of popular culture, which I bought in different flea markets.

These objects can be considered a waste of our society; I tried to recreate the main elements of a fictional civilization that, although it seems to be completely different to our society, it could be a distorted reflection of it. The supreme value of the Maní (peanut) culture, the sacred, is represented by a banal object: members of the Maní civilization make sacred an inconsequential object.

The artwork “Bésame mucho” depicts a female figure cornering a peanut to kiss it or have sex with it. In the picture “El Manisero” two dogs are represented, they are the ones who found the civilization, and in instead of reserving it, they ate the peanuts, so they appear with their tongues and half of the body yellow due to the passage of the peanut through their body.

As it says in the title of David Barro’s text written for my exhibition ‘Animals to Gods’ at the CAAC, ‘’without cruelty, there is no party’’.

For executing this particular painting series for the current exhibition at KH, you noted you have been collecting many of the objects from flea markets over time. How do you select and find these objects?

At first, I take the role of a hunter who shoots to collect an array of objects that awaken my curiosity. When I see something that attracts me, I shoot to get it; it’s a matter of instinct and aptitude. Then I take them to the studio, and I get acquainted with them. During this process, I’m aware of all the unexpected dialogues that arise between the different objects, and I provoke new ones. I mutilate these objects,

94 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

I assemble them, cut and paste, and do everything I can to generate new ideas. When I think a composition combines conceptual and aesthetics parameters, I photograph the still life, I manipulate the photography and project the image on the wall. Once the image format is decided, I start painting. This process can be repeated randomly throughout the production of the image. Everything is in a transformation and changing process so that I can erase the picture, the photograph, change the still life, or mutilate it and restructure it. The production time is usually prolonged. From the acquisition of an object until I intervene and use it, months and even years may pass.

In “Caserita don’t leave me” we can see the tomb of the peanut, the corpse of the peanut is buried in a cross shape as a sign of sacrifice in the Catholic religion. Also, guards are depicted eating the peanuts they are supposed to protect. The scenes are full of humor and irony; they refer to the real world and invite us to think about our own interpretations of what sacred means.

The layered metaphors, irony, humor, and seduction of your artworks have captivated the London audience. The use of a rare bright color palette and playful scenes bring forth both many contrasts and contractions. What do you hope the viewers will leave with when Many of these everyday objects are presented visiting your exhibition? almost like time capsules in your painting, evoking rare cultural contradictions and I try to share with the viewer an experience

that makes him think about what he is seeing, and about how he is viewing it, questioning his perception. Awaken a fun localism through the power of the viewer’s own experience. Inviting the visitor to enter into my imaginary world trying to discover a secret, which is not a secret about painting or about art itself, but a secret about life itself.

What inspires you?

My surroundings and my experiences. We live surrounded by great scenarios that, in my opinion, maintain similarities with vanitas, a painting genre that since the Renaissance has served as a pretext for artists to build realities and make the viewer move around the scene.

I’m talking about the still life that was introduced

first in the picture as a secondary resource, that can be seen for example in ‘’Christ in Marta and María’s house’’ (1618) by Diego Velázquez, and especially in ‘’The Ambassadors’’ (1533) of Hans Holbein the Younger. It helped to bring the observer through countless secondary objects that talked about the reality of characters and their time. Through allegories and symbols, they told us about the main character’s life and their stories. Subsequently, in the Baroque period, it became one reason in itself, we just have to remember Sánchez Cotán or Zurbarán. Today, these metaphorical aspects are desacralized, any everyday situation could be interpreted as a still life, it’s just a matter of applying a kind of zoom-in with our gaze to isolate certain aspects of reality.

What advice would you give to a young artist of today?

Look at is as “the bug.” “The bug” refers to something you have inside, and that for some reason is always hungry, it is insatiable. I wouldn’t know how to explain it, but maybe it could be some kind of mystical belief, our religion, or what we call God. It means that in what you believe in and what you do passionately without knowing the consequences or aftermath, something that does not have form, shape, weight, nor smell, but at the same time is something that awakes all your senses and makes you smile. If the bug is more substantial than 10 kg, keep going, do not hesitate. If it does not come to this, look for another thing, you will surely find another kind of bug to join you and enjoy life.

March 2020 | 95

artform

96 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

artform

98 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

For more: Gallery: https://kristinhjellegjerde. com | Selected solo shows include Maní, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2020); De Animales a Dioses, Centro Andalúz de Arte Contemporáneo, Seville, Spain (2019); Charleston, Lambada y Perreo, Galería BIRIMBAO, Seville, Spain (2018), Ni Trono Ni Reina, Galería Yusto Giner, Málaga, Spain (2017), El Hombre y la Madera, Galería BIRIMBAO. Seville, Spain (2015). Selected group exhibitions include BMural, Barcelona, Spain (2019); KNOTENPUNK Festivas, Affenfaust Gallery, Hamburg, Germany (2019); Universes, Imola, Italy (2018); MACO, México (2018); ARCO, Madrid, Spain (2018); Ensoñaciones, SC Gallery, Bilbao, Spain (2017); El aire que nos llega, Galería Birimbao, Seville, Spain (2017); Estampa, Galería Yusto Giner, Málaga, Spain (2016); CREADORES 2016, La Térmica, Málaga, Spain (2016); Málaga Crea, CAC de Málaga, Spain (2016); Gramática y bricolaje, Yusto Giner, Malaga, Spain (2016); NEIGHBOUR III, CAC de Málaga, Spain (2016); BEAUTY, MAD Antequera, Spain (2016); and ON COLOR, New Spanish Con- temporary Painting, SCAN, 123 Pop-up Gallery. London (2016).

Barriga has received numerous prizes. Most recent include Void projects, Miami (2018); Generaciones, Fundación Montemadrid, Casa Encen- dida, Madrid (2018); XIX Certamen Nacional de Pintura (2018); DKV Prize, Feria de Estampa, Galería T0, Madrid (2017); International Painting Prize Focus, Seville (2017); XXIII Certamen Artes Plásticas Universidad de Sevilla, CICUS, Seville (2017).

March 2020 | 99

artform

100 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

ARTFAIR SNAPSHOT

LA FRIEZE ART FAIR 2020 A SOLD OUT SENSATION

L

A Frieze Art Fair certainly was full surprises with the glitterati and international art collectors seeking the latest VIP ticket for the 2020 edition. Sold out tickets before it even opened and just in time for Valentine’s Day shopping, the second edition of the LA edition presented more than 70 galleries from around the world, showing the latest in

BY RACHEL VANCELET TE contemporary artworks by both emerging and established artists. Many artworks were rumored to have presold before the doors even opened and immediately snapped up at the opening hour! Art advisors, art lovers, and art collectors were running down the aisles to capture the first view and the competition was certainly on for the latest contemporary artwork. The gigantic tent placed on the famous Paramount Picture

Studios greeted everyone with newfound energy and excitement. The takeover of Paramount Studios backlot, which is set as New York streets, was, in essence, straight out of a movie! Curated

by LACMA head of contemporary art Rita Gonzalez and Vincent Price Art Museum director Pilar Tompkins Riva, the emphasis on Latino and black artists for Frieze Projects 2020 presented 16 performances running throughout the fair.

March 2020 | 101

artform

102 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

The invitation-only VIP preview drew notable attendees such as A-Rod and J. Lo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, singers Usher, and The Weeknd, actor Billy Zane, Amy Poehler, Diplo, James Corden, and tennis star Maria Sharapova.

Kendall Jenner snapped up a work by James Turrell for $750,000 US, rumors swirled she was encouraged by Kayne West who is a great friend of the artist who continues to inspire him.

The MatchesFashion event served up the new colorful Birkenstock’s 1774 collection and became the buzz on opening day. The showroom was full of bright blues and yellow Birkenstocks one could purchase right on the New York lot! The acclaimed artist and director Sam Taylor-Johnson shared her exclusive selections for the curated event noting how moving to L.A. changed her style. Alfie Allen, Vampire Weekend’s Enra Koenig, designer Jeremy Scott, Rashida Jones, and more all mingled with Maison Ruinart champagne in hand! It goes to say fashion x art continues to be the perfect pair!

Reported by Artnet: Here is the snapshot of what sold! $3.7 million: A painting by Keith Haring at Gladstone Gallery $2 million: Neo Rauch, Aprilnacht (2011) at David Zwirner $1,350,000: Robert Rauschenberg, Bowery Parade (Borealis) (1989) at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac $866,000: Georg Baselitz, Schwarzes Pferd [Black Horse] (1986) at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac $650,000: A painting by Carroll Dunham at Gladstone Gallery $600,000: A new painting by Mark Grotjahn at Blum & Poe $550,000: Alex Katz, Ada (2018) at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac $500,000 each: Two new paintings by Jonas Wood at David Kordansky $420,000: Tracy Emin, There was only The Truth (2019) at White Cube $350,000: A work by Oscar Murillo at David Zwirner $350,000: Sterling Ruby, WIDW at Xavier Hufkens $350,000: Stanley Whitney, Angels on Sunday, Maids on Monday (2019) at Lisson $310,000: A work by Mary Weatherford at David Kordansky $254,000: Imi Knoebel, Bild 06.03.2015 (2015) at White Cube

March 2020 | 103

artform

$200,000: A painting by Harold Ancart at David Zwirner $200,000: A painting by Lucas Arruda at David Zwirner $175,000: A painting by Ugo Rondinone at Gladstone Gallery $145,000: Allora & Calzadilla, Electromagnetic Field (2019) at Lisson $120,000–$1 million each: Five paintings by Lisa Yuskavage at David Zwirner $100,000: A painting by Richard Aldrich at Gladstone Gallery $100,000–$120,000 each: Several paintings by Henry Taylor at Blum & Poe

104 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

$100,000: A Josh Smith painting at Xavier Hufkens $100,000: Ali Banisadr, The Serpent and the Key (2019) at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac $85,000–$495,000 each: All five of Avery Singer’s new works shown at Hauser & Wirth $75,000: A painting by Anicka Yi at Gladstone Gallery $52,000: Darren Almond, Night Snow at Tsukahara (2020) at White Cube $50,000: A painting by Thomas Houseago at Xavier Hufkens $16,500–$18,500 each: Gabriela Sanchez’s works at Charlie James $14,000–$30,000 each: All of painter Calinda Rawles’s works at Various Small Fires

Artfair Snapshot Tips: www.frieze.com www.matchesfashion.com www.artnet.com www.vanglobalart.com For more of the latest Globetrotter Series: Instagram @rvancelette

March 2020 | 105

social

L to R: Ivonne Camacho, Mitzi Perdue, Avadora Mimouni, Sara Johnson Kaplan, Kathleen Giordano, Rebecca Ricks Photo by Dennis Madigan @dennismadigan

The Avadora Mimouni Collection

BY DENA MCCOY

T

he Avadora Mimouni Collection of luxury purses appeared in its highly anticipated second runway show at New York Fashion Week, February 12th at Rumi Event Space.

The event was another outstanding collaboration with Ivonne Camacho, CEO, Creative Director, founder of AbsolutModerne, online media/branding /VIP events, NY, LA, Paris, and Rick Galvin, Director of music/entertainment company, CG

106 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Talent Management, and founder of the Carol Galvin Foundation honoring his late mother. The gala, highlighting new designers and entertainers, supported the foundation’s mission to help women in need fight cancer.

Blending fashion with philanthropy AbsolutModerne’s signature “Models of Philanthropy” graced the catwalk at the VIP, celebrity-packed venue spotlighting the couture collection created by international supermodel, actress, and designer, Avadora Mimouni.

Models of Philanthropy Back Row L to R : Pamela Morgan, Carissa Lawson, Lorraine Silvetz, Sara Johnson Kaplan, CEO/ Creative Director, AbsolutModerne Ivonne Camacho, Real Housewives of NJ, Dolores Catania, Rita Cosby, Kathleen Giordano, Daryl Delvin, Dena McCoy, Deborah Galligan Bottom Row L to R: ReBecca Ricks, Cassandra Seidenfeld, Carol Galvin Foundation’s Rick Galvin, Designer Avadora Mimouni, Melisa Gristaldi Photo by Dennis Madigan @dennismadigan

L to R: Rita Cosby, Sid Rosenberg, Ivonne Camacho, Lorraine Silvetz, ReBecca Ricks, Dena McCoy

Ivonne Camacho with RHONJ Dolores Catania Photo by Dennis Madigan

March 2020 | 107

profile

Carissa Lawson, Ivonne Camacho, Avadora Mimouni Photo by Dennis Madigan @dennismadigan

Esteemed models included Rita Cosby, a three-time Emmy-Winning TV Host, Radio Star, Best-Selling Author; Mitzi Perdue, syndicated columnist, philanthropist, human rights activist, founder of Win This Fight and CERES Farms; Janel Tanna, award-winning actress, model, producer; Carissa Lawson, News 12 NJ Morning News Anchor; Lorraine Silvetz, psychotherapist, philanthropist, AbsolutModerne Executive Consultant; ReBecca Ricks, Manager, Global Stress Initiative; Kathleen Giordano, international model, actress, philanthropist; Deborah Galligan, home designer, real estate agent, Douglas Elliman, UWS; Cassandra Seidenfeld, accomplished actress, humanitarian, philanthropist, athlete; Dena McCoy, writer, actress, model, Director at the Woodard Family Foundation; Melisa Cristaldi, health advocate,

108 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

clinical researcher in immunooncology, stem cell research and treatment; Daryl Delvin, international entertainment executive, philanthropist and founder of The Daryl James Company; Pamela Morgan, cookbook author, blogger for Flirting with Flavors, acclaimed food and lifestyle expert; and Sara Johnson Kaplan, actress, influencer, model, producer. Hair and makeup donated by Madison Avenue’s John Sahag Workshop, with President, Denise Shepherd and Top Stylist Tony Motta. Avadora Mimouni available for bookings through Ivonne Camacho @AbsolutModerne.

By Dena McCoy, Executive Director, AbsolutModerne, and author of “Greed & Grace” hitting bookshelves this year.

Model/Actress Eleonora Pieroni with Model/Designer Avadora Mimouni Photo by Dennis Madigan @dennismadigan

March 2020 | 109

NEW YORK SOCIETY SCENE

social

65TH ANNUAL VIENNESE OPERA BALL

By Clara Morgan

Elisabeth Muhr, Denise Rich, and Jean Shafiroff chaired the 65th Viennese Opera Ball at Cipriani 42nd Street, NYC: Jean Shafiroff ©Patrick McMullan

Denise Rich and Peter Cervinka at the 65th Viennese Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

Karlheinz Muhr and Elisabeth Muhr at the 65th Viennese Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

Silvia Frieser and Joanna Fisher at the 65th Viennese Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

Daniel Serafin, Erica Spyres, Corinne Winters, Limmie Pulliam, Michael Spyres and Ewa Plonka at the 65th Viennese Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

Star Jones and Ricardo Lugo at the 65th Viennese Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

Samantha Mathis and Wolfgang Koechart at the 65th Annual Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

Debutantes and Escorts of the 65th Annual Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

John Paulson at the 65th Annual Opera Ball ©Patrick McMullan

110 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

NEW YORK’S MODERN BOUTIQUE RETREAT Take a hot New York City neighborhood where the Flatiron District meets Chelsea and Gramercy, add craft cocktails at our rooftop bar, and fresh organic Greek cuisine. This is Hotel Henri. www.hotelhenrinyc.com sales@hotelhenrinyc.com Call Us (844) 277-9123

LA AWARDS SCENE

social

THE OSCARS, THE GRAMMYS, & GBK GIFTING LOUNGES

By Clara Morgan

Grammy Winner Gloria Gaynor with Sailrock Resorts at the Annual GBK Pre-Grammy Luxury Lounge ©Chris Carlisle

Grammy Winner Tracy Young with Dermafirm at the Annual GBK Pre-Grammy Luxury Lounge ©Chris Carlisle

Ceelo Green with Source Naturals at the Annual GBK Pre-Grammy Luxury Lounge ©Kirsten Moore

Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden being gifted

by Source Naturals at the 2020 GBK Pre-Oscar Luxury Lounge ©Kirsten Moore

iiArcade gifting Glow actress Jackie Tohn at the 2020 GBK Pre-Oscar Luxury Lounge ©Jerry Digby

Will Kemp being gifted by the Artisian Group at the 2020 GBK Pre-Oscar Luxury Lounge ©Chris Carlisle

Picard actress Isa Briones being gifted by Parasuco Denim at the 2020 GBK Pre-Oscar Luxury Lounge ©Gillian Perry

Lizzo at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA ©Getty Images

Brad Pitt at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards, Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles, CA ©Getty Images

112 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

Authentic Russian Cuisine • Cocktails • Brunch Live Music • Live Interactive Theatre 256 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 212-757-0168 • www.russiansamovar.com russiansamovarrestaurantandpianobar • russiansamovar_nyc_

SUPER BOWL PARTY SCENE

social

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED THE PARTY

By Clara Morgan

DaBaby performing at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

Lil Jon at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

Cedric the Entertainer at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

Aaron Judge & Shawne Merriman at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

Kyler Murray at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

Jerry Rice at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

Joe Montana & Mo Garcia at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

DJ Irie at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

Marshmello at the Sports Illustrated The Party by The Undisputed Group and ABG Entertainment with DaBaby, Black Eyed Peas, & Marshmello ©World Red Eye

114 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

5 5 E 5 4TH ST • NEW YO RK , N EW YO RK • M .M E/N ERAIN YC • (21 2) 759-5554

SUPER BOWL PARTY SCENE

social

6TH ANNUAL ‘CULINARY KICKOFF’& ENCANTADORA LAUNCH PARTY

By Clara Morgan

NFL Legend Charles Woodson alongside with ESPN’s Sage Steele and NFL legend Marshall Faulk hosted a fundraising event benefiting the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and the Irie Foundation: Charles Woodson and Chef Charlie Palmer ©Getty Images

Jamie Foxx at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and the Irie Foundation benefit ©Getty Images

Marshall Faulk at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and the Irie Foundation benefit ©Getty Images

Chrissy Delisle and Warren Moon at the Culinary Marcos G performing at the Culinary Institute Institute of America (CIA) and the Irie Foundation of America (CIA) and the Irie Foundation benefit benefit ©Getty Images ©Getty Images

Avi Zimak and Jerry Rice at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and the Irie Foundation benefit ©Getty Images

Alexa Iacovelli had her official unveiling of Nicco Stefani, Riccardo Usai and Christian Encantadora Mexican Spirits brand at a private Graetz at the Encantadora Mexican Spirits brand residence on Star Island, FL: Alex Larsson, Alexa unveiling ©World Red Eye Iacovelli, Demetrius Andrade ©World Red Eye

Dessire Bracho, Alegria Beracasa, Martha Graeff, Gabriela Medina, & Jilian Sanz at the Encantadora Mexican Spirits brand unveiling ©World Red Eye

116 | MetMagNY.com | 25AMagazine.com

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST SERIES II Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, NJ 07675-1227 Tel: 1-877-877-3735 www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com © Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.