IN-THE-SPOTLIGHT
Marco Ursino, the director of Brooklyn's Film Festival, an organization that promotes independent filmmakers by showcasing their movies and providing them with international exposure while bringing attention to Brooklyn as a significant intermediate for cinema. These movies can be seen at indieScreen, which is a multifaceted entertainment facility located in the infamous artsy Williamsburg, Brooklyn area. We caught up with Mr. Ursino during the festival, held annually in June, and watched an indie film that was pretty touching too.
Last night the Highline Ballroom was the spot to be at for NYLON Magazine's annual June/July Music Issue bash sponsored by Aloft Hotels and the guest of honor, was none other than the cover star, Avril Lavigne!
The party was hosted by NYLON's Editor-in-Chief Marvin Scott Jarrett and Publisher Jaclynn Jarrett. In true NYLON fashion, the party was a hit as guests enjoyed cocktails, a special performance by 2012 Project Aloft Star winners, HITS and rocked out during the headlining performance by our fave, Avril.Safe to say it was a pretty nostalgic night for us gals who have been fans since Avril's beginning. Wife beater tank and a tie, anyone?
If you thought time travel was only possible via a hot tub time machine, think again. Patrons of this past weekend's Prohibition NYC found themselves in the 1920s and all they had to go was travel to the Lower East Side. Brought to you by the chefs that hosted last year's Dine Titanic, Chef Rob McCue and Adam C. Banks payed homage to the roaring '20s and the birth of the cocktail party. Dressed to the nines in flapper attire or flap hats and suspenders, revelers approached the speakeasy and were welcomed (or unwelcomed) by both flapper girls and Prohibition picketers.
Courvoisiology (n.) [kor-voss-ee-ah-luh-gee]
1. An unexpected blend of cognac and creativity.
2. The art of mixing cognac in untraditional ways, serving it at unexpected occasions, and introducing it to a creative lifestyle.
Courvoisiology is a new philosophy that pushes the boundaries of how cognac should be experienced, brought to you, of course, by Courvoisier. For the New York City launch, guests gathered at Millesime to experience a night of cognac with cocktails created exclusively for the event by renowned mixologists Moses Laboy and Duane Fernandez, Jr. Unlike other standard tasting events, this one showcased different flavors of Courvoisier cognac, along with smoking test tubes, bubbling beakers, and an array of spices and ingredients that can be used in an Courvoisier cocktail. While guests nibbled on passed hors d'oeuvres they sampled the creative cocktails being concocted right in front of them by the mixologists. During the event it became apparent that whether you choose to sip on Courvoisier Rose, Gold, or C by Courvoisier, you can really pair these diverse cognacs with bold and unexpected flavors and walk away with a great cocktail. If you need some convincing, feel free to whip up one of the cocktails from the event!
Making it's debut just in time for the summer party season, Revel in Atlantic City welcomes the newest additon to its family, HQ Beach Club. The ultra-luxe, 45,000 square-foot beach club will be located on the boardwalk level of the resort. Set to officially open this May, the forces behind the already successful HQ Nightclub, EMM Group and Angel Management Group have gone on to collborate on the Beach Club project as well. The beachfront day club and pool lounge inaugurates the first day-to-night entertainment experience of its kind to hit the East Coast, featuring the same high standard of DJ-focused programming its night club counterpart has become known for.
“HQ Nightclub has redefined nightlife in Atlantic City and its tremendous success proves that the market for such experiential entertainment offerings is thriving,” said Neil Moffitt, CEO of Angel Management Group, “HQ Beach Club delivers the unique day-into-night experiences that we’ve envisioned for Revel since the beginning.”
HQ Beach Club at Revel will introduce a signature, lavishly decorated dayclub and pool lounge to East Coasters for the first time giving off sexy Las Vegas vibes. The L-shaped, adult-only space will be the central, social space to mix, mingle, dance, and dine. Boasting everything you need for a relaxing day by the pool to getting things started for a night of debauchery, the lounge will include vibrant patterned daybeds complete with HDTV screens, overhead fans, couches, and two king size tufted-white beds.
The entertainment offerings will be excellent and naturally will be the fuel for the new beachfront pool lounge. HQ Beach Club will welcome the same top notch DJ talent as its nighttime counterpart, HQ Nightclub. Elevated from the pool level is the DJ booth, dance floor, and marbled-lined perimeter walkway that guides daylife revelers through additional daybed and cabana areas and two juxtaposing bars.
Sometimes a deliciously decadent cocktail can make the entire week just a little more feasible. With that said, there's no better way to spice things up a little than to grab a drink from yes, the Cocktail Architect! Starting this Wednesday, February 20, Yusef Austin will be behind the bar from 6-10pm at Lil Charlies, the lounge below Ken & Cook in NoLita serving up specialty drinks for a new cocktail party!
Mr. Yusef Austin has designed specialty drinks for private celebrity functions to corporate events all while jetsetting from New York to London and everywhere in between. He has even supplied the liquid gold for prestige venues such the Atlantis in the Bahamas, The Summer House in Nantucket for Todd English's birthday celebration as well the as illustrious Boom Boom Room at the Standard Hotel. Austin created two incredible signature drinks for the property- the Rosy Melons (vodka, rosemary aquavit, cantaloupe, fresh lemons, sugar and a rosemary sprig) and the Lucha Libre (tequila, agave, lime, pear puree, mezcal spray and tarragon).
Take a break from the real world and head over to Lil Charlie's for some fabulously curated cocktails!
Considered to be one of the most unique nightlife outposts that New York City's Meatpacking District has to offer, Cielo has reigned supreme for an entire decade. Boasting a top of the line Funktion One sound system, this intimate party haven has successfully survived the typical club age expectancy and doesn't appear to be shutting down anytime soon.
Home to esteemed party outfits such as Endless, Dance.Here.Now, Deep Space and Nurvous Events, Cielo has featured nearly every superstar DJ in the industry. From Steve Angello to Seth Troxler to Luciano, this musical dojo has helped NYC's club scene become one of the best in the world. That being said, 2013 marked the venue's 10th birthday and with that a slew of events to help ring in their turning of double digits.
Last week, Hearing Health Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to finding a cure for hearling loss, hosted An Intimate Evening with Cyndi Lauper at B.B. King Blues Club in NYC. Richard Kind served as the comedic MC for the evening and guests enjoyed a silent and live auction, tasty bites and a cocktail reception sponsored by VEEV Liquor. Co-chairs for the evening, Natasha Boucai and Victoria Orlin presented a speech about the foundation and Foundation Executive Director Andrea Boidman talked about the foundation's recently launched Hearing Restoration Project, which aims to find a biologic cure for hearing loss by working on cell regeneration in the ear. A heartwarming tale was shared by Jennifer Harrington, a friend of the foundation, who spoke about her journey with hearing loss.
World class DJ Erick Morillo is set to perform a live set to fans on Saturday, February 16 at MIXX at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa with special guest Funkagenda. A veteran DJ, Morillo has been in the scene since the early 90s and is best known for his international work in house music. He has been linked with the label Strictly Rhythm and produced the 1993 hit "I Like to Move It," which he produced under the pseudonym Reel 2 Real. His label Subliminal Records has produced the #1 Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit "Fun" by Da Mob, and won the Muzik Magazine Remixer of the Year award in 1999.
The mayhem will be going down on Friday, January 18 when React and the MID present another epic edition of MAYHEM at the MID featuring the debut Chicago appearance of the Los Angeles based trap producer RL GRIME along with resident DJ, ZEBO, and special guests Regulators and DJ Real Juicy.
Over the past year, Trap has crossed over into electronic dance music and has gained quick attention. Much of that attention was earned thanks to RL Grime. His debut EP 'Grapes,' was released in April 2012 and since then trap soared to a high level. Grime is far from an ordinary trap producer and boasts an eclectic style that strays from the traditional confines of trap music. A prime example being his critically acclaimed collaboration with Salva on their stomping bootleg of Kanye West's "Mercy" and his own "Trap On Acid." His Houston influenced flavor is connecting the roots of southern hip hop with the new age of electronic dance music and it's been an immaculate turn out.
The Myahem show is FREE with RSVP, so head to Clubtix.com now to save your spot!
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