the T zine//baby, it's cold outside, dec '17

the T zine

baby it's cold outside, dec.'17

I N THI S I SSUE spi l l t h e T 03 l i st en t o t h i s 05 r ead t h i s 08 w at ch t h i s 11 ou t +abou t 17 dope sh i t 14 t ast em ak er 23 i n f l u en cer 26 t h i n k abou t i t 29

spi l l th e T.. . let t er f r om t h e edit or I?ll speak for all of us and say that it?s been an insanely crazy year. The president has been in office for a little over a year and we?ve felt the ramifications of his induction and transition as the leader of the free world. The climate of our nation (political, social, racial and everything in between) has reached an all-time low, literally and figuratively. I didn?t want this month?s editor letter to start off so solemn, when it?s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year (did you sing that?), but this is reality. You just can?t get away from all the disturbing news being churned out to us 24/7.

One thing I must add, is how all of this unrest is a catalyst for people to come together. Whether it be for good or bad, there?s an absolute coming together of the masses. The Women?s March in January is a perfect example of the good (proud of the wonderful women in my life who attended) and racist communities coming together is clearly the bad and the ugly. I stand in solidarity with all the men and women coming forward to speak of their sexual assault encounters. The surprise factor has been lost when a new accuser is named on a daily basis. Resounding disappointment and disgust can only be felt. You are brave and you deserve to be heard. There is strength in numbers and I?d like to believe that the good will always prevail.

I had to fight through all of the disparaging news and events that I came across because for me, this year was full of so many highlights.

Traveling to Cuba being one of the biggest and landing a sweet gig that got me back on my feet financially. Reconnecting with myself and others has to be Top-5 highlights. Something that I would change would be my uncanny ability to absorb others? toxicity. It?s an utter gift and curse. Lastly, what I will take from 2017 to 2018, and Issa Rae put it best, ?the energy that we all have to do something, to make a change, I feel like that energy is great.?

Thank you! Here?s to 2017 and 2018!

@m st if f alexan dr a f ou n der / edit or -in -ch ief 03

l i sten to th i s.. .

Get You (feat . Kali Uchis): Daniel Ceasar Palace: Sam Sm it h Tell Me You Love Me: Dem i Lovat o Beret a Lake: Teflon Sega, SAINt JHN, Be Your Girl: Teedra Moses Who Can I Run To: Xscape Might Be: Anderson Pak Pyram ids: Frank Ocean Let It Go: Jam es Bay Vict im Of Love (feat . Menahan St reet Band): Charles Bradley Trip: Jhene Aiko Love Galore: SZA goosebum ps: Travis Scot t Heaven On Eart h (feat . Chris Brown): Wale (Sit t in' On) The Dock Of The Bay: Ot is Redding Send My Love (To Your New Lover): Adele River : Leon Bridges Right My Wrongs: Bryson Tiller Get It Toget her: Drake, Black Coffee, Jorja Sm it h How 's It Goin' Down: DMX Throwback (feat . Jadakiss): Usher Down For You (feat . BJ The Chicao Kid): Kehlani Rocket : Beyonce 05

read th i s.. .

Vivian M aier : St r eet Ph ot ogr aph er I?ve been a very, very good girl this year. That isn?t a biased opinion, either. I have been gifted amazing things, but there is nothing like gifts that reflect my inner creative. An old coworker, turned new coworker, turned great-friend, was kind enough to gift me Vivian Maier: Street Photographer. I know, not Audible?! Ale, you did good, girl!

I?m no stranger to good street photography and she understood my love for it. I don?t think she knew that I teared up when Bill Cunningham past last year. He was the quintessential fashion and street photographer for The New York Times. Funnily enough, I knew nothing of Vivian Maier, but so glad that I do now.

Not much is known about Vivian?s life other than she was born in NY around the 1920s. She worked as a professional nanny for a family in Chicago, but didn?t have a family of her own.

In her lifetime, she took over 100,000 photographs worldwide. From France, New York City, Chicago and dozens more countries, yet showed no one her art. Historian, John Maloof purchased some negatives belonging to Maier from an Chicago auction house and began his collection of her wonderful work.

The photos are remarkable. A talented street photographer possesses many attributes. The most important ones being attention to detail, light and composition. Vivian nailed every single trait. Every photo stands alone as a masterpiece. For me, it provided an escape from the fashion and street photography that?s online and on social media. The raw images that Vivian was able to capture is second-to-none. This book isn?t only a coffee table find, I highly recommend it for anyone looking to refresh their creative juices.

08

w atch th i s.. .

Dem i Lovat o: Sim ply Com plicat ed I came to know of Demi Lovato through the Disney Channel. It was 2008 and my son was 5-years-old so that channel was the background soundtrack of my days. The Disney Channel television-film Camp Rock catapulted Demi to fame.A recording contract with Hollywood Records soon followed. Her debut album,Don?t Forget debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. She went on to star as a squeaky-clean, funny, wholesome girl in Sonny with a Chance, whilst her personal life was anything but that. I remember hearing about her incident with a backup dancer while touring, but I was shocked at seeing her candid testimony on the YouTube Original, Demi: Simply Complicated.

By 2010, the pressures of film and music industry had come to ahead and proven too much for the young 17-year-old. She entered treatment to seek help for addictions, an eating disorder and self-harm. In treatment, Demi would be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This is when I fell in love with Demi?s voice. I still can sing along to every lyric of ?Skyscraper,? ?Give Your Heart a Break,? and ?Heart Attack.? Musically, she is gifted beyond measure. She attests music being her saving grace and says so with conviction throughout the documentary.

At a young 25, Demi has come full circle. She has lost her biological dad and broke up a 6-year relationship with Wilmer Valderamma. Being alone is foreign to her, but she seems to finally have more control of her life. Her sobriety and candor about the struggles to remain as such, is appreciated. Fans, young and older, will benefit from her truth.

There?s an undeniable, unwavering, openness and authenticity that makes you be on Team Demi. This documentary grips you. More than anything it?s important for our culture now. Celebrities sell an image of perfection and glamour that everyone eats up. Demi and her team delivered a straight-faced serious account

of her

flawed, but

authentic

evolution as an artist and human-being.

11

dope sh i t.. .

On e Gir l's 2n d An n u al Wom en in Ch ar ge A few weeks back I had the privilege to attend One Girl?s 2nd Annual Women in Charge event. My brother ?s girlfriend extended the invite and I was more than excited to join. A lot has transpired for women this year and this forum was geared toward connecting young women with professionals who are leaders in their fields. Media & representation, policy & advocacy, fashion and health & wellness were all discussed in panels led by intelligent, articulate women.

Meaghan Jarensky, advocate for social progression of women and girls, humanitarian and highly trained yogi is the President of One Girl, Inc. She was also the 2005 Miss New York USA and represented the state in the Miss USA Pageant, becoming the most recent Miss New York to place in the top 10. She is also the 2010 Mrs. New York America and represented the state in the Mrs. America Pageant. She is the epitome of beauty and brains.

She founded One Girl, Inc. in 2012 after her work as a pageant contestant helped inspire her to become an activist in support of young women. Meaghan takes the principles and practices of yoga to inspire social consciousness and develop effective, socially-aware women leaders. All of this is clear in the well curated event that featured mediation and former beauty pageant contestants eloquently speaking of their journey as equal advocates for women empowerment.

I stand by coming together with your friends, not only for delicious and debauchery-filled brunches and nights out, but in events such as these.

A safe place for women to connect, empower and learn. There?s power in diversity and unity. One Girl is pioneering the idea that women need to be seen as leaders and I?m honored to be along for the ride.

14

out+about.. .

Palo San t o

Palo Santo, in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn was the perfect dinner spot chosen by my guy. It?s awesomely located on the ground floor of a townhouse with a skylight dining area in the back. It gave it a secluded, private feel. The kitchen is glass-enclosed, but open and adds the perfect intimate touch. Intricate mosaic walls and artisan metal work adorn the spot. Latin American and Caribbean influences with seasonal ingredients dominate the menu choices. The happy hour, drink and a free taco deal is genius.

After a great meal, we made our way to the Heineken Green Room NYC ft. Raekwon event at Good Room. Green Room, Good Room, I know, I can barely keep up too. The line wrapped around the block. Thankfully, we scored a mild December night and the lovely people at Heineken got in us relatively, quickly and efficiently. Drink tickets at hand we ascended some stairs and b-lined to the bar.

Good Room is a small venue, as Raekwon liked to say, ?intimate.? The stage is hella small, but it makes for a dope feel. The opener was nothing noteworthy, at least for me. Raekwon has the best vibe. Super gritty, yet hilarious. Such a character! Crowd wise, the diversity was real. I love that part of live music. People watching can be equally as entertaining. Maybe, this traveling to Brooklyn thing isn?t so bad, after all.

17

.. .

@m f m u sic

Hein ek en Gr een Room NYC f eat . Raek w on at Good Room

Good Room

h el l o moto.. .

Acn e St u dios Can't get enough of the classic moto jacket.

Acne does them to perfection.

.. .

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tastemak er.. . @au dr eygelm an @t h e.w in g Audrey Gelman is a politico, fashionista, born and bred in NY with ?let?s go Met?s? tattooed on her inner lip. Oh, and she worked as a press aide for Hillary Clinton?s campaign for presidency. I know, wild! In 2013, her media strategy singlehandedly saved Scott Stringer ?s bid for NY comptroller with an epic, downtown soiree. Work hard, play harder, amiright? Scroll through her Instagram feed and you?ll see she calls female rapper, Remy Ma a friend and posted about Gucci Mane and Keyshia Ka?oir ?s engagement. It doesn?t get more dope than that.

It turns out the 30-year-old had more up her sleeve when launching The Wing last year, a women-only club and co-working space in New York City. The space was modeled after women?s social clubs of the 1800s, where women could come together, get work done and most importantly, build a community. It wasn?t long before 650 memberships were filled and the waiting list grew to 8,000. Fast forward to today and its first club in the Flatiron neighborhood of NYC is being joined by Soho, Brooklyn and Washington, D.C. locations. All of this by late 2018!

Locations feature a chic, feminine aesthetic. The spaces were designed with a focus on women?s needs. Members have access to private offices and phone booths, showers, lockers, a nap room (I?m in) and a beauty room (in there, too). That is only the half of it. The best perks come from a schedule of professional, social and hands-on events. Highlighting women in sports, politics, fashion and everything in between. Diane von Furstenberg, Venus Williams and Maggie Haberman are just a few who?ve taken their time and talents to The Wing.

For me, the most amazing aspect of all of this is the laser focus on inclusivity and community that drives The Wing. ?Women of all ages, backgrounds, and professions are driven to pursue their passions,? says Audrey. Collaborating to help each other to learn and grow. This space is more than a pretty, Instagram-able experience, you are privileged to join a movement. These are the only Wings I aspire to get and will do so very, very soon.

23

i nf l uencer.. .

Wh at Olivia Did @livpu r vis It should come as no surprise to you that I?m obsessed with YouTube videos. I don?t care how ?over saturated? the market is, because I truly believe there?s an audience for everything. Recently, during the Christmas break I discovered What Olivia Did and have fallen deeply in love. I might?ve binge watched nearly all of her videos and have zero regrets. NO RAGRATS (consider us friends, if you get that reference).

Olivia, is a 24-year-old British sweetheart with a killer sense of style. She started blogging in 2010 and YouTube in 2014. The blog featured her personal style, travel, food, music, and interviews with women whom she admires. That interview idea has transitioned into a video series on her channel called ?Inside the Wardrobe.? The series features women that she admires, whether in the YouTube or blogger community or not. Olivia asks her guests questions like: new items in their wardrobe, wish-list items, items that they would save in a fire, and beauty items they would take to a deserted island. In turn, the guests feature such items in a perfect show and tell style. Every video is effortlessly executed. There?s a good mix of fashion, tips and tricks.

I love the freshness that Olivia brings to YouTube. Authenticity reigns supreme in her content. She has carved her niche and has a certain je ne sais quoi. I know that her 77k subscriber count will be growing rather quickly. The sky is the limit for this young, vibrant woman.

26

th i nk about i t.. . w h o r u n t h e w or ld?

Put [m ore] wom en in power. See wom en as leaders. Two t hings t hat are so m uch easier said t han done, but why? The great est , m ost powerful nat ion in t he world couldn?t com e t oget her and elect a wom an president . A First Lady, U.S. Senat or, Secret ary of t he St at e.

Benghazi at t ack and em ail cont roversy aside, she was a wom an m ore t han adequat e for t he role. And look at us now.

The m edia and ent ert ainm ent world have long been dom inat ed by wealt hy m en. It ?s no secret what m oney and power can do t o m en in relat ion t o t heir subordinat es. The m en and wom en who have com e fort h t his year wit h t heir st ories of sexual harassm ent and abuse in t he workplace is disgraceful. Wom en like St acy Snider replaced Jim Gianopulos

as

CEO

of

20t h

Cent ury

Fox.

Dana

Walden,

CEO/ Chairm an, Fox Television Group, 21st Cent ury Fox, oversees one of t he m ost successful st udios in Hollywood. Kat herine Viner is t he first fem ale edit or-in-chief in t he nearly 200-year t enure of The Guardian. Kudos, Kat herine! Finally, Kat hleen Kennedy, President of Lucasfilm since 2012, has st eered t he St ar Wars franchise t o it s com m ercial revival.

I?ve t ouched on only t wo fields. To t he wom en t railblazers in t echnology, business, and philant hropy, I have a m illion m ore issues of the T zine t o get t o each of you. There?s m uch work t o be done, especially for m y m elanin wom en. We are t he m inorit y in leadership, but real changes are com ing. Look at Shonda, Issa, Ava. Let ?s st eer clear of t he set backs. These wom en are represent ing a change of t he guard t hat will lead t o ext raordinary global advances in t he fut ure.

29

Sh ar pToot h St u dio

@t h eGir lM ob

th eTzi ne

getth eTzi ne

END.