ATHLEISURE LIST | JW MARRIOTT LAS VEGAS RESORT & SPA

We enjoy traveling for a number of reasons and sometimes it's great to get a bit of R&R in general. We suggest making our way to JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa and Rampart Casino. Booking a series of days or a weekend is the perfect way for a proper reset.

The property sits on 54 acres in Summerlin where it hosts gaming, dining, luxury accomodations and of course a spa and pool.

Their Spa Aquae is known for their holistic wellness that focuses on the mind, body, and spirit. They offer a membership program that includes their state-of-the-art fitness center, co-ed Hydra Lounge, and complimentary amenities for this package at $169/month where you have preferred pricing for spa treatments, retail discounts, welcome gift, and more.

If you are local to the area, you recieve a 30% discount on a full roster of spa services Mon - Thurs and on Fri - Sun, you can get 20% off.

We love a spa day and it's even better when we take a dip in the pool as well. Starting in July, the pool will be open from 10am - 7pm daily. For hotel guests, the pool is complimentary and for those who are not staying at the hotel, you can also enjoy it for a nominal fee. Enjoy your time at the pool with comfortbale lounge chairs, towels and poolside dining at Waterside Café from 10am to 6pm. With an offering of casual fair available as you lounge throughout your day, it's the perfect pairing.

To take your pool experience to the next level, they have standard and grand cabanas for guests throughout this season. A standard cabana includes a television, mini refrigerator with water, plush seating and designated cocktail server. Each cabana offers space for a maximum of six guests. A grand cabana is also available and includes double the amenities as a standard cabana for a maximum of twelve guests. Outside food and beverage is not permitted.

To find out about special events taking place at the spa and pool or other areas of the hotel, make sure that you check out their social channels to see about what is taking place during your stay.

JW MARRIOTT LAS VEGAS RESORT & SPA

221 N Rampart Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89145

marriott.com

IG @jwmarriottlv

PHOTO CREDITS | JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa

Read the JUN ISSUE #102 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | JW Marriott Last Vegas Resort & Spa in mag.

KINGS OF THE STRIP | PENN & TELLER

When it comes to taking in an amazing show in Vegas, Penn & Teller have been the dynamic duo sharing their magic act for decades. They have entertained countless fans whether they're at the the Penn & Teller Theater at the Rio, traveling around the world, or their CW show, Fool Us. Penn Jillette shared how they got into the industry, their Vegas Residency, their TV show, and their partnership with Mucinex.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in love with being entertainers, magicians, and comedians?

PENN JILLETTE: We both started working before we met each other, and Teller was doing magic when he was five. I started juggling and doing shows when I was 12.

AM: What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to work together?

PJ: We met through a mutual friend during a show, and Teller was still a high school teacher outside of Trenton. I don't know if we ever really decided to work together, I think it's still on a trial basis.

AM: You have your Vegas residency at Rio at the Penn & Teller Theater! What does it mean to you to be able to perform on stage and what are some of your favorite memories?

PJ: All we ever wanted to do are tricks for people, and I also have all the love in the world for Vegas, but we don't care that we’re in Vegas. I mean, it's our home now and we do a lot with the community. But we want to be wherever the Penn and Teller theater is. We will be there. We just love doing the show every night. I mean, it's what we do.

AM: What are 3 of your favorite tricks?

PJ: That's really difficult! I'd have to say the three newest. The next thing we're working on is what I think we're always most excited about. I think everybody's kind of like that.

AM: You are so busy from your residency, to your show Fool Us on the CW, and all of your appearances, how do you approach your health and wellness while you are on tour?

PJ: We try the best we can to eat well, I'm a vegan so that helps a little bit. We also try to get rest and do that kind of stuff. I'm pretty conscientious about not doing anything else when I'm on the road. When you're on the road, you're not traveling. You're doing shows and that's a different thing.

AM: Why did you partner with Mucinex and how have you made Mr. Mucus disappear?

PJ: It is actually a product that I use, which is very important. I didn't choose Mucinex, my doctor did! Mucinex also offered us to do a live show in Grand Central Station, which is really fun. Its cold and flu season and we all just want those pesky cough and cold symptoms to disappear, so we jumped at the chance to make Mr. Mucus - the epitome of mucus, cough, and congestion go poof! As to how we made him disappear - well it was either smoke or mirrors, one of the two.

AM: Tell us about your Grand Central Terminal Vanderbilt Hall event that took place on Feb 7th?

PJ: It was nice! It was back to our old street performing days. I like people just wandering in as they're walking by. It's kind of a nice thing.

AM: We have used Mucinex for well over a decade. Why is Mucinex 12-Hour your go-to for cough and chest congestion?

PJ: It’s what my doctor recommended! Mucinex 12 hour DM is always our go-to for cough and chest congestion, the last thing you need when you’re trying to present on stage. I love that it takes one pill to get a full 12 hours of relief, unlike other medications that last only 4, so I’m set all day as I go from rehearsals to shows.

AM: Tell us about Fool Us as it has been going on for 10 seasons! What is the format of this show and what is it like to work with various celebs that have appeared in the episodes with you?

PJ: Well for those who don't know, it's a show where the best magicians in the world come on. We don't know who it’s going to be. So they do a trick for us and they do it once, and if we can’t figure out their trick, then they win. And it's really that simple and also that impossible. It's a wonderful feeling. You get into magic not because you want to fool people, but because you want to be fooled. And we luckily have a whole organization in place just to find people who can give us that feeling of wonder.

IG @pennandtellerlive

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Michael Simon

Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see KINGS OF THE STRIP | Penn & Teller in mag.

THE ARTISAN | DOMINIC CIAMBRONE "THE SURGEON"

If you've been collecting sneakers and have a passion for some of your favorite Nike, Gucci, Lanvin's etc that are deconstructed, reconstructed and customized with premium and exotic skins, Dominic Ciambrone, a.k.a. The Surgeon is the legendary creative mind that is at the forefront of taking our sneaker game to the next level! His work has been coveted and collected by Justin Bieber, LeBron James, Odell Beckham Jr, DJ Khaled, Canelo, and more. In addition he has worked with Bentley Motors, NBA, NFL, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Heineken, Reese's, Glenmorangie, 7-11, and a number of other brands. We wanted to find out how he got into and pioneered this space, what his work entails, his projects, working with luxury brands, SRGN Studios, SRGN Academy, his passion for sports, The League, and additional projects that he is working on.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be a shoemaker?

DOMINIC CIAMBRONE: When did I realize that I wanted to be a shoemaker? I would say when I was 19 years old. From the age of 15/16, I was painting shoes, but I realized that to actually be a shoemaker, I needed to take my craft a step further. That realization came I think when I met one of my mentors, Michael Anthony who hand makes western boots.

AM: What was that journey like to be able to be self-taught and learning all of those elements?

DC: It was a long road! I started with painting shoes and then I learned how to sew on top of them – I learned sewing in high school. Then I met my mentor who made western boots so I got to watch him make boots and then I realized that that’s what I wanted to do with sneakers. I wanted to make the highest end sneakers in the world and it took many years working for free and just doing stuff to learn about machines and tools. It was a lot of missteps and a lot of learning. I did paint, I did shoe repair, fixed purses and bags. I mean, I did all kinds of things just so that I could learn.

AM: Back in 2011/2012, I had a collaboration with Sebago and I had a line of their boat shoes and we sold it on HSN, Bloomingdale's and a few select retailers and I was so excited. But my background at that time was in apparel and jewelry as opposed to shoes. I remember reading an article about you and your work when I was on my flight heading to the factory in the Dominican Republic. After reading it, I felt that in hearing your story, how you approached your work etc, that if I could take that same approach and focus on the materials and create another way to highlight this style of shoe much as you do with sneakers that I could do it! So reading about you and just thinking about it in a different way saved me from freaking out on my flight I just wanted to say thank you for that!

DC: That’s awesome!

AM: Why do you call yourself The Surgeon?

DC: I was 18 years old in a hotel in NYC for the first time trying to figure out what to call myself, the brand, and what I was doing. I just wrote down a bunch of things and I was just trying to figure out what do I do to sneakers? What do I do to the shoes? I was like, “surgery,” and that’s where it got birthed – The Surgeon. Now that we're expanding the business, we've taken "Shoe" out of the name and go by SURGEON. Our creativity isn't limited to sneakers and you're going to see that more and more next year.

AM: When you’re customizing shoes, where do you start in that creative process when you’re making sneakers?

DC: I mean it changes. I don’t have one set process. For me, I have always been able to build something to life straight from an idea. I love sourcing materials, I’m really big into materials, I think that I’m mostly a materials person. I mostly just love it so much. You can turn something into a product and that’s a beautiful thing.

AM: I’m also a fashion stylist and an accessory expert, so I’m constantly talking about and believe that when someone is purchasing a handbag, jewelry, or shoes, you’re buying what the designer intended in making that item as well as what the wearer puts into it after wearing it and wanting it. Ultimately, that connection between the person who purchased it and the product creates its own history and meaning. When people are buying your shoes, what are they getting?

DC: I mean, ha – they get a piece of my soul. They get a piece of something that’s my entire life and they get a piece of shoemaking history that dates back all the way to Ancient Egypt! I mean, there’s those hieroglyphics on the wall that I looked at recently and some of the oldest ones have people making shoes!

AM: You have been worn and collected by so many people from LeBron James, Justin Bieber, Drake and more. What’s it like when you’re collaborating with them on specific ideas and incorporating your concepts together?

DC: Sometimes they give me the full range to do what I want and then there’s some that have a couple of ideas and I help bring their ideas to life where they will give a little bit of direction and I’m able to go back and forth. I think that a true collaboration is a very beautiful thing. You have 2 energies that are coming together to create something magical.

AM: You’ve also worked with so many brands whether it’s Gucci or Lanvin or Nike or Reese’s, what does it feel like to be able to work with these types of brands and to bring your creativity and artistry into what their lexicon is?

DC: I mean, it’s a beautiful thing. At the end of the day, I just – a friend of mine told me that I’m making commercial cool right? So a lot of the stuff that I get to do is that I get to make cool commercials and I didn’t look at it that way. People just reached out to me for my craft and my artistry and what I have been able to build from my Instagram to just a true foundation where I hold a high value on my quality and my artisanal work with the team so it’s really cool to be able to be part of it.

AM: You’re SURGEON X Bentley partnership last year where you had the limited edition shoes as well as Surgeon-ifying their car, what did it mean to you to work with this brand and to create in this way?

DC: Bentley is one of, if not the most, prestigious car company in the world. So, to be able to fly to Crewe, England and sit with the makers there and to see how they produced one of the highest quality cars in the world was a very humbling experience and it was so amazing to be able to do that because that car is the top of the top!

AM: Oh yeah!

The materials that you use – the leathers, the exotics are amazing. Have you also used sustainable materials like banana leathers, mycelium and things like that?

DC: Oh yeah, I’ve been using different ideas of sustainability whether it’s even recycled materials. I actually flew to Brazil, developed an Elephant Ear plant material and we have used that on shoes and right now, I have a shoe that is launching that the sole is dyed with turmeric, the swoosh is mushroom, pineapple leather, grape leaf leather – I mean, it’s a really cool shoe.

AM: What has been your favorite project that you have worked on?

DC: I don’t really have favorites …

AM: You’re like me – I don’t have favorites, but there are a lot of things that I vibe with!

DC: I think it’s myself – really working on myself is beauty and I never looked at it that way until recently. So to be able to work on myself and to be able to translate that to my children, the work will speak for itself. myself is beauty and I never looked at it that way until recently. So to be able to work on myself and to be able to translate that to my children, the work will speak for itself.

AM: When you started, this industry and the market didn’t really exist in this way and you definitely have left a mark on it. Where do you see the industry in the next 15/20 years?

DC: That’s a great question. I don’t know. I don’t think like that because shoes and the custom industry was something that I think that I really helped pioneer and now for me, it’s way bigger than that. I’m working on architecture, interiors, car design, and so many other things. So just for custom shoes as an industry, I think that more people will respect the process more. I think that some will try it and most won’t like it because it’s a lot of work. I do think that a lot of things will be going to automation and easy to do things.

AM: Tell me about SRGN Academy which you have in LA, Las Vegas and at the Seaport here in NY.

DC: The SRGN Academy was started 8 or 9 years ago now. Growing up, I didn’t have a class or a school that I wanted to go to so I wanted to offer a trade school that you learn how to make a pair of shoes from scratch and at the same time, it’s not just about the shoes. It’s about going through something for yourself and doing something positive for yourself.

AM: Then there’s SRGN Studios, why did you want to launch this and what does it entail?

DC: SRGN Studios and even SURGEON Worldwide, is just a company that I have been able to build. The studio is like my fantasy factory where we have sports and all things under one roof. Not until you’re able to come into the studio do you really get a feel for it. You can only see so much through social media and online. So it's just a way for people to be able to have fun and live life. Life’s too short. I wanted to create a safe and fun place for people.

AM: Tell me about The League.

DC: The League started out of – well my business partner Dallas Imbimbo, he plays basketball and I play soccer. So once we got into our newer space, we just started playing pickup games and then we were like, “oh, let’s do more.” So we turned it into a league and it’s been very competitive, and fun, and a great outlet for me to not just be creative – but athletic and to compete in a healthy way.

AM: It seems like you have a full schedule. Will you ever have versions where you go to other cities like here in NY or in Miami.

DC: Yeah, we’re working on it.

AM: A few minutes ago, you were talking about how your passion extends beyond just shoes as you’re working in architecture, interiors, and cars. Will you have a clothing line, will we ever see a hotel that you do?

DC: Yeah exactly! I’m working on all of those things. I think that the hotel is definitely something that I love. I’m passionate about traveling and experience is something that is very meaningful to me so a hotel is definitely ideating.

AM: Here at Athleisure Mag, we love talking about food, it’s a great love that we’re constantly covering. You have the Canevari’s Ravioli Factory & Delicatessen – tell us more about this.

DC: My dad took over this deli 12-15 years ago and growing up my whole life, my dad was a chef. My mom cooked and my dad, when I was going into my freshman year of high school, they opened a restaurant and I got to see them live out their passions by just opening up a restaurant. At the time, I took it for granted and I didn’t understand it. I thought that it was normal and it was just my normal. Now that they have the deli, I have helped them remodel it, help brand it, and to get the right eyeballs on it to continue to grow it. It’s helped my dad and I to become closer.

“They get a piece of my soul. They get a piece of something that’s my entire life and they get a piece of shoemaking history that dates back all the way to Ancient Egypt! I mean, there’s those hieroglyphics on the wall that I looked at recently and some of the oldest ones have people making shoes!”

— Dominic Ciambrone "The Surgeon"

AM: What do you do in terms of working out as we like to know. So what are 3 workouts that you do that we should consider to add into our routines?

DC: Play soccer! Play soccer! It’s such a good workout. I mean and then, steam room, sauna, and I also meditate which is a workout for the mind to relax and physical therapy. I think a lot of people don’t realize how important physical therapy is. We wait until we’re hurt or we need to recover to get to it. But it’s like, if you can be preventative, then you’ll always be good. Mobility workouts are great. It’s less about weight and going crazy, it’s about the body and being really kind to your body and figuring out how to open it up so that you can have it for the longevity of your life.

AM: Totally agree. I turned 40 a few years ago and prior to that I wasn’t as focused on recovering the body post workout and mobility. When I started adding it in, I wondered why I had never done that because your body needs it and you can feel it over time.

When you’re not working, how do you take time for yourself?

DC: How do I take time for myself? I have a life coach that I work with every week. You know, I would say that playing soccer is time for myself even though it is in the studio. It’s really the only time that I ever shut off unless I’m in a meditation or workout. Hiking, traveling, and then working on myself for my children.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share?

DC: Ha! I’d have to ask my team! I can’t even keep up. We’re moving into the new studio, another 20,000 sq ft. We have a collaboration with Allen Iverson that launches next month. I mean, there are so many, I can’t even keep up anymore.

AM: You have so many projects going on and dropping. When a project comes to your attention, how do you decide if that is something that you want to add to your schedule?

DC: We have built such a great team to help manage this stuff so that we can continue to grow and that for me as a creative, I can continue to explore new things. So, it just depends. There are so many great things that we’re working on and a lot of the things that I’m working on is the stuff for the future.

AM: You’re also an advocate and you speak about the importance of mental health which is something we believe in. Why is it so important to you and what do you feel is the connection between mental health and physical health?

DC: As a kid, I went through a lot of mental health challenges, and I don’t think that I knew of it that way. At 24, I ended up jumping out of a window when I was making shoes for Justin Bieber, and I was diagnosed bipolar and I didn’t really know what that meant. Then when I started doing more self-research and figuring more things out, it’s so important – mental health and physical health are one in the same and you need to do both. When you take care of your physical health, your mental health will be better. It’s just true in the same and so it’s very important to physically take care of yourself for your mental purposes and with mindful workouts which is meditation, positive self-talk, it's mindfulness and so many things. And yeah, there’s so many people with how the world is going where people are pushing you know, different types of medicines. There’s something so much more easier about being able to get up and going for a walk, being in the sun, and taking care of your mind, body, and soul.

AM: I heard you like to rap in the office!

DC: HAHA I like to make people laugh! Growing up, my dad always rhymed, more like Dr. Seuss than a rapper, but I do it for myself and also to help people around to laugh. My kids pick it up to and it’s so funny because if I try to start rhyming and rapping, my daughter’s like, “dad, stop!”

AM: I could see you dropping a mix tape!

DC: I mean, I’m working on music more for exploring it. It’s less about rapping and more about just creating!

IG @ciambrone

@thesurgeon

@srgnstudio

@srgnacademy

@srgnnyc

@canevarisdeli

PHOTO CREDITS | FRONT/BACK COVER, PG 20 + 9DRIP 42-45 Bryam Heredia/SRGN Studios + Grooming/Stefanie Guerra | PG 16-19, 22-41 SRGN Studios |

Read the NOV ISSUE #95 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ARTISAN | Dominic Ciambrone “The Surgeon” in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | HAKKASAN LAS VEGAS

When we're out in Las Vegas, we know that when it comes to have an epic, over the top night out, you have to head over to the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and do it up at Tao Group Hospitality's Hakkasan Nightclub! This premier venue is a world-class destination for top DJs and artists for an experience that you won't want to miss!

When the Denver Nuggets won their hard fought NBA Championship, we found them here for their victory celebration! NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter, Bruce Brown, Aaron Gordon, DeAndre Jordan, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the rest of the team started their night with dinner at Hakkasan enjoying signature dishes before they continued their night at the nightclub which was packed with a massive crowd who also joined in on the celebration!

The team kept the party going by sitting at their VIP tables that was on the stage. DJ Pauly D and Justin Credible were in the booth and their win was toasted with a 3-liter bottle of Perrier Jouet Brut Champagne.

Obviously, this was a great place to enjoy their massive win, but even when you're not rubbing elbows with your favorite athletes who are world champions, you can enjoy the nights that Hakkasan has to offer by organizing your night with dinner at their restaurant and then coming in to enjoy your favorite DJ who happens to be there for their set from a number of genres that you have on your playlist.

For those navigating how to get to the nightclub you walk from the front of the hotel through the casino and take a left toward Whiskey Down. Walk past it, The David Copperfield Theatre and TAP and Hakkasan will be on your left.

If you're on The Strip, Hakkasan is located near the entrance of the Las Vegas Strip. Once you walk into MGM Grand, take a right and you'll be at Hakkasan for an epic night ahead!

HAKKASAN LAS VEGAS

NIGHTCLUB

3799 S Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

taogroup.com

IG @hakkasannightclub

PHOTO CREDITS | Sam Marshall for Tao Group Hospitality

Read the JUN ISSUE #90 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Hakkasan Las Vegas in mag.

S3. E4. | ATHLEISURE KITCHEN CHEF TODD ENGLISH

On today's episode of Athleisure Kitchen, we're embracing all the reasons to be out and about with friends, traveling to new destinations, and having the best meals at new and treasured restaurants. When it comes to the culinary industry, there have been a number of luminaries that elevated this space and showcase how they interpret and infuse their passion in this field.

I'm pleased to have 4X James Beard Award winner, Emmy nominated, Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival's 2022 Chef of the Year, restaurateur, entrepreneur, food advocate, best-selling author, philanthropist, and Host/TV personality, Chef Todd English. He is also Athleisure Mag's MAR ISSUE #87 cover! We enjoyed eating at his restaurant Olives, here in NY back in the 2000s as well as eating at his restaurants in Las Vegas.

His passion for his love of cooking rustic Mediterranean, creating an immersive ambiance when you're at his establishments, and having that Todd English aesthetic when you're at his properties is something that we enjoy. He has blown our collective minds, palettes, and senses with such utter delights over the years - with so much more coming!

I sat down with Chef Todd to talk about his culinary background, how he got in and navigated the industry, providing insight into what it meant to be in the industry when there weren't the resources that we have access to today, English Hospitality Group (its portfolio includes Olives, Figs, The Pepper Club, Bluezoo at Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, The English Hotel to name a few), an array of projects, luxury in hospitality, cannabis, and food advocacy. In our conversation, he provides an inside look at how he approaches ingredients, the state of food, and the power of relevancy as a brand.

Athleisure Kitchen is part of the Athleisure Studio Podcast Network and is a member of Athleisure Media which includes Athleisure Mag. You can stay in the loop on who future guests are by visiting us at AthleisureStudio.com/AthleisureKitchen and on Instagram at @AthleisureKitchen and @AthleisureStudio. Athleisure Kitchen is hosted by Kimmie Smith and is Executive Produced by Paul Farkas and Kimmie Smith. It is mixed by the team at Athleisure Studio. Our theme music is "This Boy" performed by Ilya Truhanov.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

HOONIGAN DROPS ELECTRIKHANA

After a billion total views across 10 wildly successful Gymkhana Films, setting the current bar for automotive action movies, Ken Block is back with a new partner to launch the future of his acclaimed viral series. Driving an entirely bespoke machine developed and built by Audi, Ken Block is electrifying Gymkhana in the first ever Electrikhana! To provide the perfect setting for the Audi S1 Hoonitron’s tire-slaying debut, Hoonigan Media Machine shut down one of the busiest cities in the world: LAS VEGAS.

ATHLEISURE LIST | AZILO ULTRA POOL @ SAHARA LAS VEGAS

We all love an epic pool experience. Amber Jung, VP of Marketing at SAHARA Las Vegas talked with us about what we can expect about SAHARA Las Vegas and AZILO Ultra Pool.

SAHARA Las Vegas opened on Oct 7, 1952 and is the city's most historic hotel and casinos. This fall, it will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Guests who stay will enjoy a remodeled property as well as one that is reimagined. WIth 3 distinctive towers including the AAA Four Diamond Alexandra Tower, there are also five-star dining options, a casino, luxury spa, entertainment, bars, lounges and pools.

Guests can choose between Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres, Chickies & Pete's Crabhouse Sports Bar, The Noodle Den, Uno Mas Street Tacos + Spirits as well as Zeffer's Caffe. Balla, a new Italian concept by James Beard award-winning chef Shawn McClain will open later this year.

For entertainment, in addition to MAGIC MIKE LIVE, you can enjoy the alt-rock band Reckless which has its residency with shows on Thurday and Friday.

We're all about the ultimate in relaxation with friends and family and AZILO Ultra Pool is an immersive Ultra Pool. Visually, guests are offered an intimate, sexy Moroccan decor, lush greens and an alluring atmosphere where music engages with the senses. This summer and fall, there are live poolside performances. For an ultra-luxury experience, you can book a VIP bungalow package which includes premium food and a beverage selection.

When you opt to leave the pool but want to continue the good vibes, we also suggest the AZILO Ultra Lounge which is a seductive and spirited lounge that has music, entertainment and a personality that is all its own. Guests can expect a well-balanced and decadent libations along with an Instagrammable cocktail experience!

SAHARA Las Vegas

AZILO Ultra Pool

2535 S Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

saharalasvegas.com

IG @saharalasvegas

@azilolasvegas

PHOTO CREDITS | SAHARA Las Vegas

Read the JUL ISSUE #79 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | AZILO Ultra Pool @ SAHARA Las Vegas in mag.

ENERGY & EVOLUTION | DIMITRI VEGAS & LIKE MIKE

We're big fans of good vibes and sounds that transform us to a special place. Without a doubt, when it comes to some of our favorite DJ/producers Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike has been our go-to for well over a decade! This month's cover is the perfect way to kick off an amazing summer ahead with this incredible musical brother duo - Dimitri Thiavos and Mike Thiavos.

We wanted to find out more about this duo who has performed at Electric Daisy Carnival, Electric Zoo, Creamfields and Tomorrowland to name a few. In addition to their phenomenal tracks, we know that they have projects that they're also focused on whether its acting in the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion, clothing lines, comic books and more. We talk about how they approach their music, how they got into the industry, collaborations that they do with a number of artists and upcoming music.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?

DIMITRI THIVAIOS: From a very early age, we were both into music, but I was the first to really get into buying records and djing etc. Seeing music as much more than just a hobby, but more a career. I started djing when I was 13 and really pushed myself from very early on to try and make a career out of djing, which led me to moving to Majorca and then later Ibiza.

MIKE THIAVOS: Electronic music has always been a part of my life growing up, as that was the main style of music being heard on radios and played out on a mainstream level in Belgium since the early 90’s and even before I was born, remembering the countless “top hits” cd’s being played by my parents on our seemingly everlasting trips in our car without AC to Greece over summer (laughs)… but next to always having been intrigued by my brother’s musical antics and trying to learn and copy my older brother’s behavior, as most younger siblings do. I started writing songs around the age of fourteen, after being introduced to the wonderful sound of hip hop, venturing down my own musical journey shortly after. Finally being old enough to travel by myself at the age of sixteen I moved to Ibiza in 2001, simultaneously banging out hip hop albums on the white island, I gradually fell in love with house music, as anyone would having the opportunity to spend late nights to the groovy beats of various house legends at Pacha Ibiza. My love for music was widespread and I was becoming way more experimental with my musical taste going from classical music to funk of the early seventies and grimy electronic beats in the eighties. Still today I think that is the foundation for the countless big sounds I’ve created and the endless unreleased songs on all my old devices, I must have made over a hundred albums by now ranging in different musical genres.

AM: When did you realize that you wanted to be DJs/producers?

MT: Although I love deejaying and as it’s not really rocket science, I’ve always considered myself a performer, musical creator, and a producer instead of a DJ. Making music is where I can find the real art of expressing myself with whatever mood I’m in in that moment, both instrumental and vocally, in sound and lyrics.

I would say the producing of electronic music started after coming back from working abroad for a couple of years and realizing the market and prospect for making rap albums wasn’t a very lucrative thing being from Belgium back then (although it’s a different story now). So going back to our roots of electronic music was an inevitable but nevertheless easy decision for me to make.

After inviting Dimitri to move into my apartment the ball really started rolling when we decided to work together as a team. I learned all my earliest tricks from Dimitri who was already very knowledgeable when it came to software and computers.

It took me a couple of years before I was able to fully produce my own tracks and get into making sounds like ‘Mammoth’ and ‘Tremor,’ but it was a wonderful journey that has continued until this very day.

AM: What’s your process like when it comes to creating your music and where do you find inspiration?

MT: I create sounds and make songs every day that I can; it’s a ritual and something that brings a certain type of fulfilment that almost nothing else can bring me…almost like a drug. Not being able to let out my creative drive will make me feel on edge and I’m always happy being able to return to my studio, as being on tour and having a heavy tour schedule sometimes makes it hard to have a creative outlet. But then there’s other ways of doing that like writing, drawing or designing fashion, architecture or even ideas for movies or businesses that could change our planet and way of life in a positive way, cooking and food are also amongst some of my biggest passions.

Whenever I make a song that could be a good fit for DVLM I always send them to Dimitri to get his thoughts and feedback.

DT: We are always bouncing ideas around for new tracks, especially when on the road as you get a lot of inspirations from daily life and of course shows.

AM: Do you have specific roles when it comes to how you go about creating your music or planning your setlists?

MT: Dimitri has always had full control over our sets and mashups. I’ve always taken the part of being the hype man. But I do like to come up with crazy ideas or songs or concepts to bring back from the past. I do mostly focus on the production side of it, for example trying to make the sickest intros for our biggest shows of the year.

DT: Not really, our thing has always been about an equal share on the creative side. We’re willing to take risks and try new methods and ideas. If you want to be forward-thinking with your career and to keep everything fresh you need that openness.

AM: How do you balance your working relationship while also being siblings?

MT: We grew up together, so we’re used to being in each other’s lives. It’s familiar to us and if anything, it makes it easier to communicate ideas and be honest with one another about what we want to achieve.

DT: That honesty and dedication for the same targets is what makes it work.

AM: How do you define your style of music?

DT: It is difficult to put our sound into one category or genre. We love such a wide array of music across many genres, and I think that is reflected in our music. One thing that always runs through our music is energy. Our style is mainly upbeat and has an energy that people can vibe to.

MT: We get inspiration from so many different areas in life, and I think that shows in the people we work with. We try to work with people who inspire us, for example, we’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with some of the best names in music, such as Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Hans Zimmer, Natti Natasha and Daddy Yankee.

AM: Is there a different approach when you’re working on your own music versus when you’ve worked on projects with the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or various artists that you collab with whether for remixes like Coldplay or Lady Gaga or editing for Sean Paul, Jennifer Lopez or Pitbull?

MT: Of course, you must respect the creative side of other artists when you’re collaborating with someone else and everyone has a different approach to their work in the studio, but we love that.

DT: With remixes it’s a little different because we are there to bring our sound to the project, so it’s about respecting the original but also remembering our role is to apply our style and vision to the project.

AM: When it comes to collaborating with someone whether it’s a film or person, what do you look for?

DT: For us its simple, we have to be into the music they’re making or inspired by the project.

AM: Who are 3 people that you have yet to collaborate with that’s on your list?

DT: Lost Frequencies, Dr Dre

MT: Keinemusiccrue, Artbat, Eminem

AM: You have won a number of accolades for your work, played in major clubs, have ongoing residencies and have been in major festivals year after year, what does it mean to you that you have this reach and love with your fans?

DT: It means everything to us. Our fans are incredible and the support they’ve shown us over all these years is something impossible to put into words. To be a part of such an unbelievable scene, perform at these amazing events and share it with the best fans in the world is a dream come true.

AM: Musically, as well as looking at your social feed, you have an incredible group of people who you have creatively worked with, as well as are friends with, from Steve Aoki who was a previous cover, Afrojack, Martin Garrix, David Guetta and more. How does this fuel your work to be surrounded by these creatives?

DT: Every day we are inspired by all our music friends and colleagues. To witness our scene become so internationally accepted, and to see our friends help build the foundation of that is something very special. It’s never been a competition for us, we’re blessed to have such amazing people in our life and happy to see each of them flourish and have their successes inspire our own career.

AM: You guys are always working on a number of projects, do you have any upcoming ones that you can share with us that we can keep an eye out for?

DT: With touring now back on the agenda, we have a lot of new music ready to go so stay tuned for announcements soon. What’s next from us is collaboration with a legend of the harder side of dance music, Brennan Heart. This one is going to blow the roof off!

AM: What festivals will you perform at this summer?

DT: We’ve a busy schedule this summer and excited to be back on the road again. Fans can catch us at Ushuaia Ibiza for our summer residency, as well as AirBeat One, Balaton Sound, Barcelona Beach Festival, Neversea Festival, Dance Valley, Creamfields, and of course we’ll be at our home Tomorrowland.

AM: What are your 3 favorite events to play?

DT: Playing our own shows at Ushuaia Ibiza, or our end of year parties at the Antwerp Sportpaleis, are always a special occasion because we get to be a part of the whole process.

MT: And being a part of Tomorrowland.

AM: How do you stay in shape as you’re on the road frequently and we’re always looking for routines that we can include in our workout?

MT: Touring life can be intense, both physically and mentally, especially when you’re on extensive touring schedules. Sleep is a vital part of looking after yourself when touring but it’s hard to keep a steady circadian rhythm, also having the right nutrition and staying away from stimulants is key. We manage it by fitting in time to exercise regularly.

AM: How would you define your personal style?

DT: Casual but stylish.

MT: My style is a combination of different influences picked during my life and the constant drive to improve and find a better version of yourself, ever evolving and not holding on too much to old ideals.

AM: You do a lot of traveling, what are your 3 favorite cities that you enjoy visiting?

MT: My absolute favourite city is Athens but I do love spending time in New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

DT: Ibiza, Ibiza and… Ibiza (jokes).

AM: In addition to working together, both of you have a number of projects that you’re involved in. Dimitri you’ve been acting in movies such as Men In Black: International and Rambo: Last Blood and you’ll be in the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion – what was it like to be involved in this and what can you tell us about it?

DT: An incredible experience both as an actor and more so as a fan of the franchise. A real childhood dream come true. Being a part of these amazing movie projects and around so many phenomenal actors and actresses has taught me so much already. I’m super excited to see the movie on the big screen with my friends and family. Anyone who follows me knows I’m a huge fanboy of the movie and comic business, so I’m truly honoured to be a part of these projects. And now with my first lead role in the movie H4Z4RD coming up, I can’t wait to do more stuff…

MT: On a personal level, I’ve designed my past two houses, created a new label and fashion line and several concepts for restaurants that are about to be put into fruition and am invested in very forward-thinking companies and concepts that are hopefully taking the world by storm in the nearby future. The ultimate goal is combining all passions and curating unique experiences that are unmatched.

AM: You’re a comicbook fan, we recently interviewed Rodney Barnes where we talked about his work with Marvel, Star Wars and the Killadelphia series. How did you fall in love with comic books and what are your 3 favorite comic books?

DT: For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by comic books. I grew up on stories like Ninja Turtles, Batman, Spider-Man, all of which were and remain my favourite superheroes. I still collect comics and have a room dedicated to my passion of all things Marvel and DC.

AM: You also have Dino Warriors – what was the thought behind creating this and what can you tell me about it?

DT: It’s been a dream of mine to create my own universe within the comic industry. I’ve had the Dino Warriors idea in mind for a long time. Teaming up with David Uslan and his father Michael, the originator and executive producer of the Batman movie franchise, felt like the perfect moment for this project to come to live.

I’m proud to say that we also have onboard one of IDW Publishing's most critically acclaimed writers Erik Burnham, best known for writing Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Transformers, A-Team, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. As well as Jim Starlin (creator of Marvel's Infinity War uber-villain Thanos and more), Brett Booth (Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men), Stephen Segovia, known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel and Valiant Entertainment, and Diego Galindo (Power Rangers, Dungeons & Dragons, and Stranger Things) are all part of the projects creative team.

AM: What is Smash Universe?

DT: We’ve a deep-rooted passion in other creative art forms beyond music, everything from film to esports so we decided to launch our lifestyle agency Smash Universe to allow us the freedom to explore these areas more. The project had been in our minds for a while. We got introduced to Miranda Huybers, a gaming industry veteran who was part of Activision’s “Call of Duty” team, by one of our team members, and it immediately felt good. Miranda brings a wealth of knowledge to the table, along with our Smash The House team and our manager Nick Royaards. Add to that Nick Depauw, head of SMASH esports, Nick Royaards, as well as Perry van de Mosselaar and Dwayne Megens from our label Smash The House and we have the nucleus of a formidable team.

AM: Mike, I know you just had a collaboration with BLACK BANANAS – the tracksuit looks cool. How did this collaboration come about, and will you continue to work with them?

MT: There’s a long connection with Tomorrowland and the popular Dutch streetwear. It’s a friendship that’s lasted over a decade. We wanted to lay down casual street wear, athleisure, that symbolizes the ideologies of both BLACK BANANAS and my label GREEN ROOM.

A perfect combination was found with the inspiration from the world of football, hence the captain style armband.

This is just the beginning of our story working together.

AM: You also released a solo album, “Pain, Love, & What Comes After”, how long did it take to put this album together and why did you want to release it?

MT: I would say it’s an accumulation of some of my favourite songs and collaborations created in the past 5 years. It was a very personal project for me, highlighting some of the most emotional and captivating moments of my life, depicting a beautiful but sometimes also sad story and, outside of mine and Dimi’s work together, was a chance to showcase a different side of my musical creativity.

AM: You had your first solo set in Vegas last month. What was that like and will you have upcoming solo sets that we should keep an eye out for?

MT: Being able to play out my new music and curating a night by myself was an incredible experience that asks for more!! It was a chance to showcase my new sounds and to be around so many incredible people that decide to fly in from all over the world. The energy and buzz from that experience was one of the best I’ve ever felt, and I could feel all the love. I was really nervous on the night, especially since it’s a totally different sound than what people are used to hearing from us as DVLM. It’s literally taking it back to our roots and some of the earliest vibes we grew up loving. I’ll be doing more shows again soon, planning a US solo tour at the end of this year so stay tuned.

AM: In terms of the Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike brand from your music, touring and additional projects, how do you want your legacy to be seen?

MT: Well, we’re far from over. We’ve got so much more planned, so many exciting projects coming up and new shows scheduled. Although never having a clear vision of the path, I'm absolutely confident there are many more goals to achieve, so answering this question right now doesn’t feel right. Evolution is key.

AM: How do you take time for yourselves when you’re not in your projects?

MT: Grounding and healing yourself and being creative in different ways is a big part of my time off and spending it with friends and family is what matters most for us.

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Read the MAY ISSUE #77 of Athleisure Mag and see ENERGY & EVOLUTION | Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike in mag.

TURNING NEGATIVES INTO POSITIVES WITH SUZANNE SOMERS

This month, we caught up with one of TV's favorite sitcom actresses who also made an impact in the fitness world as an icon. We talked with Suzanne Somers about how a series of events took place that got her into the industry, how she nabbed one of her most known roles as Chrissy Snow of Three's Company, how leaving this role created an opportunity for Thighmaster as well as her focus on women living their best lives as the navigate the process of aging. She shared her insights as well as the negative moments that she forged into positives and her ultimate success.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment when you realized that you wanted to be in entertainment and to be an actor?

SUZANNE SOMERS: There was no moment. You’d think that there was a moment and you’d think that there was a dream. But I am a recovering Catholic and I got pregnant the first time that I had ever had sex. I was 17 or 18 – I was very young. The other day, my granddaughter said, “you got pregnant and lost your virginity on the same day?” I said, “yep”. So at that time, it didn’t matter whether you liked the boy or not, you were going to get married. I found myself walking down that aisle that I didn’t want to walk down in an outfit that I hated. My mother and I went to buy it and I remember her saying, “it shouldn’t be too white.”

What came out of that was this baby. I mean at 18, who wants to have a baby – I didn’t I’ve been very honest with my son about that and said, “who wants a baby at 18? I didn’t know you.” When I delivered him, I looked at these little eyes that were all bunchy and out of my mouth came this statement, “I promise that I am going to make a good life for you.” I did. I figured it out. I got pregnant at 18, I gave birth one month after my 19th birthday and I got divorced from the father and it was just me and my son against the world. I was never going to stay with the father, I knew that. I was the first person in my family to ever get a divorce and the first person in my hometown who ever got that divorce and I kept that promise.I didn’t know how to be a mother. My son never got into drugs, he never got into alcohol. I believe that we’re hard wired and when I had my baby, I knew I was going to make it right and I had the wisdom to know that part. I am so proud of him. He’s a good father, I wish that I had had a good father like him. He has 2 little girls that are now in their 20’s. They’re not screwed up although they are entitled – because that generation is. I did my part!

AM: Growing up, many of us remember seeing reruns of Three’s Company and then as we got older, seeing you on Step by Step. What was it about taking those roles and being on those shows that you enjoyed being part of them?

SS: By the time that I got to Step by Step, I was pretty ensconced in that world of sitcoms. But honestly, when you’re talking about the lead up to all of that, then it goes back to when I got the lead of Guys and Dolls in high school. I played Adelaide and I didn’t know that I had any talent. I tried out because the rest of the classes were too hard for me. But I did love Fine Arts. I loved music, singing, acting. I got a scholarship to college and there was no one in my family that had ever gone to college and no one in my hometown that I knew had gone to college.

I got a music scholarship and do you know what I chose? I was so dumb. I chose a Catholic girls college – that was the worst place that I could choose to go to college. Then 2 months into college, I got pregnant. Here I was, the first person in my family to go to college and the first one in my family to have that opportunity and I got pregnant. I thought that all my dreams were out the window. The last night of the show, that guy came and at the time, I didn’t know who he was. He was really well known in radio and his name was Walter Winchell – he had a trademark look of a beige raincoat and a pork pie hat. He walked up on stage that last night and he went right to me. He walked up to me in his NY accent which I had never heard before in my small hometown of California and he said, “you’re going some place sister.” That was fortuitous. Then when I got pregnant, I felt that my college dream was over and I had to go to work and I felt that I didn’t have any talent or skills that I knew of. I’m trying to make a living so I got a job as an extra, the lowest rung on the whole showbiz totem pole – you couldn’t go any lower. I made $32 a day and that was how I was able to survive.

My childhood was actually terrible. I look at people who have had negative things that happened in their life and I tell them, use it – make this be your asset. My father became my asset. The fact that he told me growing up that I was a piece of crap all the time, that I was a nothing, that I was a zero, he would make his hands shape into a big “o” – he would tell me all this stuff. So you believe how you are programmed and that was my programming. So when you ask me, “what was your dream and how did you end up in this business?" I'm an accident and I had talent that I didn’t know that I had. I now encourage people that come from a negative to use that as your opportunity – because you want it more then the average person. Every time my dad would say these things, I would think to myself, “I’ll show you.” One night, I was on stage and I was headlining a concert in Vegas at the biggest room in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, he was in the audience and it wasn’t revenge or anything. I called him up on stage and if ever there was a moment where I had the “I’ll show you,” it was that night. He was so proud of me. I sang him a song – “you made me love you, I didn’t want to do it – I didn’t want to do it.”

AM: Wow

SS: Kind of poignant right? The negatives are the positives. So I had another thing that happened. After I divorced my husband who I never wanted to marry in the first place, I fell in love with Alan Hamel (Anniversary Game, Wedding Party, Lou Grant). I had taken an extra job and you know I walked into Studio C in ABC San Francisco and I was hired to be the prize model. It was like Vanna White but not as glamorous and all. I would open the refrigerator and pull the drawers out and show that it just wasn’t any kind of refrigerator but it was a refrigerator freezer.

When I walked into that studio, I met Alan Hamel and my knees felt weak. I had never felt like that. It was almost like we had known each other in another lifetime. So we started dating and I would meet him at his hotel. Everything that my mother would tell me not to do, I didn’t care. I felt like, I’ll show you. I’m in love with this guy and there is nobody like him in my hometown. I owned my power although at the time I didn’t see that. I did anything that I could to have a date with Alan Hamel.

I’m reading the trades one day and they say, there’s an interview for a guest starring part on a sitcom called Lotsa Luck with Dom DeLuise (Blazing Saddles, The Muppet Movie, Smokey and the Bandit II). The description was, small town girl doesn’t know who she is and doesn’t know who she wants. I thought, that’s me. I tell Alan and he says that’s great, I’ll pick you up at the airport. So I gather together 50 bucks – probably sold a jacket or something that I owned. I flew to Los Angeles and he picked me up. The whole reason I wanted to fly is because of that kiss he would give me in the car. It was this romantic kiss that I just couldn’t believe that you could feel like that. He drives me to Burbank for the interview. I didn’t know that you needed an agent, I didn’t know that you need them to set up an appointment. I just thought that you just go over there and had to be there at the time. I walk in and they ask me why I’m there and I say that I have an interview for the Dom DeLuise talshow. I had never had a professional part before as I was just an extra. I didn’t know that the one extra part that I had had when I was in the Thunderbird would catapult me and I was a writer at the time.

I see the girls walking in, signing in and receiving their scripts under my lashes. I read my part for a guy that I would end up doing sitcoms with, he said, “very nice.” I said, “I know that I’m exactly who you’re looking for because I’m a small town girl, I don’t know who I am and I don’t know what I look like.” He said he would give me a call back. I thought great and I went to reception and told them that I had a call back and she said that was great and I asked her what it was. Johnny Carson walks in. I look up and I’m like that’s Johnny Carson. He’s looking at me and walks over to me and says, “hey little lady, what are you doing here?” I proudly said that I had a call back because I now know the lingo. He asked for what show and I told him and he said that Dom DeLuise was a great friend of his and he wished me a lot of luck. I gave him my little book of poetry and didn’t realize that on the back the only credit that I had listed was that I was the mysterious blonde in the Thunderbird of the movie which I hadn’t seen because I couldn’t afford to go to the movie. I knew that it was a dumb credit and I didn’t know who George Lucas was. I eventually did do a one woman show on Broadway 10 years ago called, The Blonde in the Thunderbird – I didn’t know anything.

I guess when he went back to the office on Wed, he read the back of the cover and saw the credit. I was booked on the Tonight Show for that Fri – can you believe it? I didn't have a dress to go to the show. But I guess, I wrote a bag check or whatever you do when you're desperate – desperate people did desperate things. I always had the mentality of “I’ll figure out tomorrow what I did today.” I bought a one shoulder long gown to the floor - I should have worn a short one as I didn't realize that my legs were my asset. Fri night, Alan drives me over there as I couldn’t afford a taxi. I’m standing behind that famous curtain in that aqua dress – I’m the mysterious girl in the Thunderbird and I don’t know that that’s anything and I hear Johnny Carson say, “we’ve all wanted to know who the mysterious blonde in American Graffiti was. Well we found who the mysterious blond was and it’s Suzanne Somers.” I was so nervous and thinking, “you were?” The curtain opened and I walk out to an audience who was cheering and I didn’t know what that was for. I go out there and he liked that he had never met someone so naïve about Hollywood – he liked me. He was from Iowa – he liked simplicity. He was so nice to me and so good to me. I sit down after the applause stopped and he let me know that they didn’t get that kind of reaction from guests very often. I wasn’t acting like anything. He started having me on once a month to read from my book of poems and my little book of poetry became the best selling book of poetry in America from all the Tonight Show appearances. He was so great, they would place an isolated camera on him so that as I read my poems, he would have over the top reactions to go along with it.

One night, after so many appearances, a guy by the name of Fred Silverman who was the president of ABC Television had already casted Chrissy Snow and neither of them had tested very well. They knew that they had a hit with the show, but this one part was not testing very well. Fred later told me, “I got the girl. I’ve seen her on the Tonight Show all the time. So I get called in for an interview for a sitcom that I have never heard of and no one had because it hadn't been heard of called "Three's Company." The rest is history and you know. I got it and I was the most surprised person in the world to find myself on the #1 sitcom. That’s how I became who I became and I guess because I had natural talent, I was able to play the ping pong game with John Ritter (Hearts Afire, Bad Santa, Child’s Play). I didn’t realize then that he was the most talented physical and comedic actor. He was so good and I recognized that when I would watch him and I could see how talented he was. I learned by watching him. Within a year I understood comedy. Even though I didn’t study comedy, I understood the music of it and comedy is musical it’s set up – set up – beat. The writers got that and when they started writing John and I, it created a tension on the set with Joyce DeWitt because she had studied under scholarship, she was under contract. I had never had an acting class, had never studied and it made her so angry with me.

AM: We see you in that part and to see all of the happy accidents that took place to make that happen!

SS: I think for your readers, it’s a story to know that no matter where you come from and it’s about using the negative things in your life as positivity and that’s what I do. I’m looking outside right now on the 93 acre land that I live on watching sheep chase each other and I grew up living in a closet hiding from my father’s temper. We had a lock on the inside of the door so that no matter how hard he kicked at it – he couldn’t get us.

AM: How did you partner with ThighMaster? That’s a fitness icon right there!

SS: Right! I get these huge opportunities that come into my life. I get on Three’s Company which shoots to #1 at a time when it really mattered. Our show had the highest demographic across all television. I had the highest demographic of all women at that time and I had never heard of demographics. When I signed onto Three’s Company at the time, I was like where should I sign and just signed! I didn’t have a lawyer, I didn't care about how much the pay was, but by year 6 when my contract was up, I recognized that monetarily, I was worth something. It pisses people off when they realize that you know their worth. At the time, the men were making 10-15 times more than the women. I now recognize my worth and I wanted to be paid what they were being paid. Laverne and Shirley had just renegotiated with ABC and they gave them a colonic as I like to say so they were ready for my husband when he came in. They had already decided that the next big female star that would try to get paid what they were worth, would be made an example of. When my husband walked into the meeting with all the men, all the lawyers and all of that they decided as my husband says, “that you were fired before the moment that I walked in.” He said that I wanted to be paid X as that is what the men were being paid. I was waiting at home because he had left that morning – there were no cellphones there.

I can tell by the fact that he’s not running up the stairs and there’s not that long of a way to walk. He meets me where I am, looks me in the eyes and says, “you’re out.” I asked what he meant. He said you were fired before I walked in. I wasn’t getting a raise and I wasn’t going to be on the show he said, “you’re O-U-T out.” I died inside. The greatest job that I had ever had, I made a jewel and I figured out Chrissy Snow myself. I created this character where most people don’t like dumb blonds and I took this person from a small town, who didn’t know what she was or what she looked like and created someone that is beloved to this day. Wherever I go even in Jerusalem and Warsaw, Poland – people point out Chrissy Snow. Not only was I out, but it became this thing where not one woman backed me up and they all felt like, “who does she think she is?” Everyone was afraid to talk and I don’t hold it against them, but it was to their detriment because in not supporting me, I could have made life a lot sweeter for all of them.

Now, I had to find a job because we were living a life of means because we thought we could afford the house that we had just bought. My husband was very well known in Canada and ironically could become the Johnny Carson of Canada because that’s who he was up there. He had the late night talk shows – at one point he had 11 series on at the same time. So Alan made a deal for me at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. I knew that I could sing and that I could dance a little because of Guys & Dolls. People said, what's your credit and I said, “well I had the lead in Guys & Dolls in high school.”

Some people came to me and pitched us ThighMaster. It was originally called The V-Bar. My husband and I always debate on which one of us named it as he thinks he did and I think I did, so I just say we both did.

AM: You mutually named it.

SS: Yes we mutually named it. We both said, you put it between your knees and squeeze and that became the byline. Oh God, Johnny Carson loved it, Jay Leno loved it, David Letterman loved it and comedians loved the name and the byline! That’s what we started doing. After we sold 10 million – again no plan. Life is a journey and it’s about following the flow and life will take you on the right road. ThighMaster started us on the road and we became and we’re seen as brilliant marketers. So I lost one job and got another job and then I got another job with Step by Step. I was just talking to Patrick Duffy (Dallas, The Bold & The Beautiful, Welcome to Sweden) this morning – the other great husband that I have had in my life. He is the most kindest, funniest and we got along great. He is very humble, doesn’t care what he looks like, where he comes from and he simply loves to work. His wife passed away and that was the saddest thing as he so adored her. He and I got along so great – that’s what led me to what I now do. In this pandemic, I have thrived during this time. Do you want to know why?

AM: Yes.

SS: I fractured my hip. I’m on a crutch and I’m having a hard time moving. Alan and I have been doing the Facebook Live Show that people love! When the pandemic started, I invited everyone to bring their own tequila, salt and hors d’oeuvres where I tell people about my products and I just finished my 27th book called A New Way to Age and I don’t know how or why but when you write 27 books, you learn something. I have interviewed so many doctors and they trust me. I’m able to speak for them in a language that my followers understand. By the time I interview a doctor, I verify everything and get approval on their interview so that they can learn about hormones, how to replace what you do when you’re aging. I love the way I look and how many people when aging feel this way? I have a great sex drive and aging is about worn out parts. You have to understand that your hormones wear out at a certain level and they have to be replaced and to understand how to replace them through lab and blood work and to have your doctors analyze where this is and how to put back what you have lost in this process. It includes what you need. Aging is great – just know what you need to do to put those items back. The women who love me, have learned so much from me and that’s what we do every Tues and Fri night. 25 million of my books have sold globally and they have the opportunity to learn a lot, have fun with me and to see my husband and I who have been married for 50 years. That’s what happens when you replace worn out parts. It’s my proudest achievement. I loved Chrissy Snow and treated her demise like a death in the family and then I made that negative work for me and I made falling in love with Alan Hamel work for me and my baby who I had at a young age I turned that for me. I live a happy and blessed life that I can be proud of.

IG @ SuzanneSomers

PHOTOS COURTESY | Suzanne Somers

Read the Sep Issue #57 of Athleisure Mag and see Turning Negatives Into Positives with Suzanne Somers in mag.

6 OF THE BEST INTERNATIONAL HANDICAP VACATIONS TO TAKE IN 2019

Approximately 25.5 million Americans over the age of 5 have some kind of travel-limiting disability.

Are you part of this group? Do you have a loved one or family member who is?

Certain disabilities can make traveling more difficult. It's not impossible to find a vacation location that's more accessible and inclusive, though.

Read on to learn about some great handicap vacations you can take with your friends or family this year.

1. Disneyland and Disneyworld

When most people think of Disneyland and Disneyworld, they think of endless walking and standing in lines. The truth, though, is that all the Disney parks work hard to make the park accessible to those who need wheelchairs or other accommodations.

All you have to do is let a park official know what you need and they'll do their best to ensure you're taken care of.

2. New York City Tours

Some New York City tours are designed specifically for those who require wheelchairs to get around.

These tours take you through all of the greatest attractions in the Big Apple, and, while you're on them, you never have to worry about navigating your way through a location that isn't ideal for those with mobility limitations.

3. Hanauma Bay

You can even take a beach vacation when you're dealing with limited mobility or a disability.

Hanauma Bay in Honolulu, Hawaii makes it easy by offering beach-friendly wheelchairs. These chairs are free, too, so you don't have to worry about fitting one into your travel budget.

4. The National Ability Center

If you want to visit a location that has lots of activities available for people with disabilities, the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah is a great option to consider. Here, you'll find fun and engaging activities for people of all abilities, including tons of different sports and recreation programs.

5. Washington, D.C.

There are plenty of wheelchair-friendly and accessible attractions available in the nation's capital.

You or your loved one can participate in all kinds of tours here, including a free tour of the White House. You do need to secure tickets in advance, but they're free of charge.

6. Las Vegas

Las Vegas is another place that's surprisingly wheelchair-friendly. Almost all of the attractions are wheelchair-accessible, including the SlotZilla zip line on Fremont Street.

If you're not sure about whether a particular attraction will work for you or your loved one, just check out the brochure template ahead of time (most of them are available online for free).

Start Planning Your Handicap Vacations Today

As you can see, there are tons of great locations for handicap vacations that you might want to consider.

It doesn't matter if you're traveling alone, with your friends, or with your family. Either way, there are tons of options for everyone, regardless of their abilities.

Do you need more help planning your dream trip? Are you ready to book your stay?

If so, take advantage of our free online booking tool today. We'll help you get your trip schedules and plan all of your accommodations in no time.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | A GREEK FEAST FOR THE TASTEBUDS

We head back to Las Vegas and swing by Greek Sneek, a festive restaurant and bar serving fresh, authentic Mediterranean cuisine and cocktails at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. We sat down with Executive Chef William DeMarco to talk about his culinary background, restaurants that he has worked at and their signature dishes.

ATHLEISURE MAG: You’re the Executive Chef of Greek Sneek. We also know that you are the Corporate Executive Chef for all of Morton Group, which includes Greek Sneek, CRUSH, La Cave, La Comida and MB Steak, which are all located in Las Vegas. Tell us what your culinary background was prior to coming to the group as well as what your role as a Corporate Executive Chef is with so many restaurants under your belt?

CHEF WILLIAM DEMARCO: I was introduced to the restaurant industry at an early age, as my family owned a neighborhood pizzeria in Long Island, New York. I spent some time in the kitchen, which sparked my love for the culinary field. I began my culinary career in Brooklyn working for renowned chef, Sam DeMarco, and eventually worked my way up to executive chef for several of his restaurants. In 2005, I relocated to Las Vegas, and worked for a few different restaurants on The Strip including Aureole, inside Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino, and The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas, before becoming Corporate Executive Chef for Morton Group.

I now oversee the food programs at Greek Sneek and CRUSH at MGM Grand; MB Steak at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino; La Cave Wine & Food Hideaway at Wynn Las Vegas; and La Comida located in Downtown Las Vegas. My day-to-day responsibilities include maintaining the highest of standards in servicing guests, overseeing the restaurants’ chefs and food preparation, scheduling and staffing, as well as menu development, using my culinary expertise to craft new, inventive dishes with fresh ingredients.

AM: For those who have yet to attend Greek Sneek, what can one expect in terms of the ambiance, dishes, etc?

CHEF WD: Greek Sneek is tucked away down a hallway reminiscent of the maze of narrow streets in the old country. The entryway passes through the wine room before opening into a 2,000-square-foot white brick barrel-vaulted dining room. The main dining room features an open kitchen with a wood-burning oven for baking fresh pita bread and Saganaki. The dining room is flanked by a full bar which accommodates ten guests for dining or toasting “Opa!” with a glass of Ouzo. A private dining room on the opposite end comfortably seats parties of up to forty people. Greek Sneek’s menu is inspired by authentic, traditional Mediterranean and Greek cuisine, including hummus, Mykonos salad, gyros and more.

AM: What are signature dishes that we should know about at Greek Sneek?

CHEF WD: For starters, the Mykonos Salad and baked feta are some of our most popular dishes. The Mykonos salad is our rendition of a Greek salad, made with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, green peppers, barrel aged feta and Greek olives. The baked feta is a reimagined caprese salad with a Greek twist, made with roasted heirloom tomatoes baked with fresh feta cheese.

Our lamb gyro is also one of our most popular items, made with fresh pita, red onion, tomato and tzatziki. End the meal with our house made Greek yogurt, served with huckleberry compote and honey.

AM: Greek Sneek is located at the MGM Grand can you tell us the meaning behind the name?

CHEF WD: CRUSH (neighboring Greek Sneek) always had a “hidden” ramp located on the side, which served as an alternative entrance to the restaurant. When the concept of opening a Greek restaurant adjacent to CRUSH was forming, we decided to use the long, narrow ramp as the main entrance to the restaurant, and played on the “sneaky” aspect, deciding to call it Greek Sneek.

AM: What are 3 signature cocktails available at Greek Sneek?

CHEF WD: In addition to our signature Greek and Mediterranean dishes, we also offer a selection of specialty cocktails, Greek wines, beers and Ouzos. Three of our signature cocktails, all made with Greek spirits, include the Greek Freek, made with Don Julio Blanco, Skinos Mastiha Liqueur, fresh lime juice and middle cucumber; the Mediterranean Mule made with Ouzo 12, Shrub & Co. Peach, coldpressed watermelon juice and Fever Tree ginger beer; and the Adonis, made with Metaxa 5 Star, Om Meyer Lemon & Ginger Liqueur, fresh lemon juice and Aromatic Tonic.

AM: If there is anything else that we should know about Greek Sneek, let me know!

CHEF WD: Greek Sneek is great for any occasion, including private parties and special events. Available for full or partial restaurant buyouts, Greek Sneek seats 120 guests or up to 40 guests in Greek Sneek’s private dining room. Greek Sneek offers happy hour Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., and includes wines by the glass, sangria and select beers, priced at $6; and flatbreads, priced at $11.

IG @GreekSneek

Read the May Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | A Greek Feast for the Tastebuds in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | THE AFTER WORK SPOT

In this month's The Art of the Snack, we're focused on where one goes when it's after work! Whether you work from home, co-working locations or an office, we all need to grab drinks and have great bites after work - even if you're Friday starts earlier in the week! We make our way to Therapy in Las Vegas which is exactly what the doctor would prescribe. We get the scoop on this American Gastro Pub from Executive Chef Christopher Robyn.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to coming to Therapy, what is your culinary background and how would you define your style of cooking?

EXECUTIVE CHEF CHRISTOPHER ROBYN: Prior to joining the Therapy team in spring of 2018, my career has taken me to very different areas of food & beverage, giving me multiple styles of cooking. I spent time in New Mexico as the Corporate Executive Chef for the Apache Nugget Corporation, specializing in Native American and Spanish cuisine; I have worked on the Strip as a sous chef at New York New York Casino & Hotel; and I have also worked in Asian cuisine as the Corporate Chef for Bachi Burger.

AM: For those who have yet to attend Therapy, when did it open, what can one expect in terms of the ambiance, dishes, etc?

EC CR: Therapy is an American gastro-style pub that has been thriving in the Fremont East Entertainment District since June of 2015. This restaurant elevated downtown dining with its ambient class, while constantly finding ways to combine unique flavors of great food and drinks.

AM: What are signature dishes that we should know about at Therapy?

EC CR: Signature dishes, that have proven to be customer favorites, include our fried mac & cheese croquettes, served with house-made tomato bacon jam and Sriracha aioli; and our red velvet chicken & waffle sliders, served with house-made coleslaw and vanilla maple syrup.

AM: What is the meaning behind the name, Therapy?

EC CR: The name of the restaurant, Therapy, stemmed from the slogan ‘Good Food. Good Friends. Good Drinks.’ By putting these three components together, one could create its own kind of Therapy and good food, good friends and good drinks are a way to release stress.

AM: What are 3 signature cocktails available at Therapy?

EC CR: Three signature cocktails we serve include our St. Therapy, the Relapse and The Smash.

AM: If there is anything else that we should know about Therapy, let me know!

EC CR: At Therapy, we truly have something for everybody. Not only do we offer lunch, dinner and happy hour, we are launching a new weekend brunch and our new club concept, Relapse. If you are in Downtown Las Vegas, Therapy is a must stop spot.

PHOTO CREDIT | CHRIS WESSLING

IG @THERAPY_LV

Read Athleisure Mag’s April Issue and see The Art of the Snack | The After Work Spot in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | ELEVATED ITALIAN FARE

In this month's The Art of the Snack we head to the award winning TREVI Italian Restaurant (Morton Restaurant Group) at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, which is known for their Italian menu that has a traditional menu, along with a few unexpected twists that their guests enjoy. We talked with their Executive Chef, Jose Navarro about his culinary background, his role at the restaurant and what dishes and cocktails we should enjoy there.

ATHLEISURE MAG: You’re the Executive Chef of TREVI. Tell us what your culinary background was prior to coming to the restaurant as well as what your role as an Executive Chef is at TREVI?

EXECUTIVE CHEF JOSE NAVARRO: My culinary background has been pretty diverse. I started off in my serious cooking journey at Palace Court (now closed), where I spent two years learning the classics, as well as nouvelle French culinary techniques. My earlier Italian culinary education came under Chef Paul Bartolotta, where an emphasis on fresh ingredients and classic Italian preparations was the focus. Prior to TREVI, I was in the steakhouse wheel house. I was the Executive Sous Chef at Morels in the Palazzo, Executive Chef at Beso -Eva Longoria's Restaurant, and Chef d' Cuisine at SHe by Morton’s.

In my role as Executive Chef at TREVI, I'm responsible for the seasonal menu, where the focus is to source quality ingredients and prepare them in a way that showcases the season. Additionally, I am responsible for the training of Sous Chefs, but most importantly, training the cooks whom will be making the dishes day in and day out. In addition to the core menu, I'm also responsible for crafting a Vegan Menu, which is a personal passion as I have a lot of respect for vegetables, and this is a great platform to showcase both.

AM: For those who have yet to attend TREVI, what can one expect in terms of the ambiance, dishes, etc?

EC JN: Our menu is peppered with classic Italian-American dishes, with a modern theme, focused on seasonality and quality. The food is approachable, with a touch of comfort. There is also a focus on ingredients that typically would not be on a neighborhood restaurant, like our Short Rib Ravioli with foie gras sauce, as an example.

AM: What are signature dishes that we should know about at TREVI?

EC JN: In reference to our "signature" dishes, they really change from season to season, and even week to week. It's here where the creative legs are stretched a little, and future menu items are developed. As a rule of thumb, I recommend trying the kitchen's special for the night.

AM: What are 3 signature cocktails available at TREVI?

EC JN: Tuscan Dream, which is a spin on the classic Negroni; made with sweet vermouth, Millet Bitters and Vietti Moscato. Aperol pear spritz, a modern twist on a very classic cocktail found in Italy. Made with Aperol, St. George Pear liqueur, St. George vodka, and sparkling wine. And of course our, a must try, the TREVI Bellini. A frozen blend of peach nectar, Peach Schnapps, rum and sparkling wine.

PHOTO CREDIT | TREVI

IG @TREVIlv

Read the March Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Elevated Italian Fare in mag.

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW | GET YOUR SWIMWEAR READY

We know that some of our readers may be battling the remnants of snow, while others have enjoyed amazing weather. No matter where you're based, we're thinking one thing - swimwear. Pretty soon, all of us will be able to rock our favorite suits and with so many days of summer coming on the horizon - we had to talk with Monica Hansen of Monica Hansen Beachwear. This swimwear model, Miss Norway 1997, reality show star and host launched a line that has been a cult favorite and opened FUNKSHION's Miami Swim show last year. We talked with her about her passion for swimwear, how she goes about creating her collection, her upcoming show for Miami Swim and where we can find her hanging in Las Vegas where she is based!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to creating your swim line, tell us about what you are up to previously as we know you modeled and were Miss Norway 1997!

MONICA HANSEN: I started modeling when I was 14, so it was a long time. I started out as a model and I used to do a lot of swimwear modeling, everything from runway to then getting into TV, hosting, some reality shows. Some people when they want to become models, they want to do it so that they can become famous or to become an actress – for me I was really into fashion photography and things behind the camera as opposed to being in front of the camera haha! Believe it or not, I am actually camera shy! I can’t take selfies unless I’m really drunk. I’m fine when it is a professional camera or it’s in my mind that I am going to be on TV to host, I’m fine and I’m on it. But when a friend or someone close to me wants to take a family or a group picture, I become shy and I just can’t do it – but I made a living doing it this way! It’s always been out of my comfort zone. When I’m modeling, I’m thinking that I creating art – professional work and so I know that it makes sense that I will be a part of this art. It’s really strange, I don’t know why I am like that, but it’s just the way that it has always been for me!

My passion is that I really do love photography and I do love art! I love creating and I have always been a business woman – even when I was modeling, in order to get work, you have to manage yourself like a business as there is a lot of marketing. Many people think that just because you have an agent, you’re set – but you really have to take charge to put yourself out there. Since I have always been an artist at heart, creating bathing suits was a natural transition for me from a design standpoint as well as other parts of this business. I really do enjoy doing this even more then modeling!

AM: What was the moment that you told yourself that you were going to create your own swim line?

MH: I guess that I always wanted to – it was just a matter of time. The timing was right because I was starting to get some recognition in my home country because I did a lot of TV and I thought, I should probably get some product out there. Previously, I had done a lot of swimwear and had worked for a line that is very well known now and one time the owner told me that she didn’t have a sales rep, but that she knew that I had worked with her for so long that I knew the line by heart. She had an emergency as she had buyers coming and didn’t have the sales rep so I ended up being the sales rep and I got to see all of the numbers and I was like, “I’m in the wrong business!”

I started with swimwear not because it’s the easiest – it’s actually complicated. You have to understand the bodies, the fit and the stretch and how it changes with different cuts of fabric with your patterns. I never went to design school, but I make all of the paper patterns myself.

AM: Really!

MH: Yeah because I can draw and I had a mentor that would help me and a designer girlfriend of mine. She taught me how to do the paper patterns, I was able to pick it up and now I am able to do them myself. I do the whole collection myself, I run the business myself as well! We’re a small business so I’m the CEO, but I still manage everyone as well as doing the designing. It’s a lot, but with swimwear, it’s cheaper production in general although all of my fabrics are 100% Italian and I wanted to create something that I could produce and not have to worry about a larger production where I would have to worry about investors. Hopefully we will expand into more beachwear, but right now we’re focused on swimwear.

AM: Who would you say is the Monica Hansen Beachwear girl?

MH: It’s interesting because our target market is that we are trendy so we focus on a younger girl, but believe it or not, we have a 95 year old woman wearing our line and sending me pictures! It used to be that you could say that a number of swimwear designers were focused on younger generations, but now I feel like more people are wearing it and it’s more acceptable to wear it out even outside of the beach. I mean we had Christie Brinkley just wear it in Sports Illustrated and she was just in my bathing suit and she looked amazing! I would say that any confident woman that is all ages. What I did with my swimwear is that we have a lot of mix and match so I have like 7 bottoms that can go with a top. So the good thing about that is that you can buy 2 tops with 2 or 3 bottoms and every time you pair them together, it looks like a different suit. Also, everybody’s body is different. I purposely did it like that because sometimes you will go somewhere and say I love the top, but I don’t love the bottom with it – and that happens with every woman! Were all so different and we cater to everyone. I have suits for everybody in every shape. Some of our suits are a little more sexy and more revealing, but I feel that every woman in any shape wants to feel sexy and hot no matter what you are. Regardless of your shape, you’re not saying, “I want to wear this big diaper.”

AM: That is what has drawn us to your line the versatility, recognizing that that there are a number of shapes out there and the quality construction and fabrication!

MH: When I first started, I began with small, medium and large. Now, we have XS and XL and actually, the grading is a lot tighter. I made them as opposed to a whole size up – doing a half size up.! Because when you do 3 sizes, you’re missing the in-between and the grading becomes a bigger gap. So when you add the XS and XL, you’re bridging the gap where someone would say that it is a little too small or a little too big. Because of the fabrics that have stretch, you’re even luckier due to the 4 way stretch which makes it fit just right.

I used to have 100s of bathing suits and yet I would only wear 2 that were my favorite. They were the most comfortable, they didn’t have metals on them, etc. So when I design, I think of something that’s classic, great style and colors that go well with the skin tone. It’s also about having fabrics that feel good because you don’t want something that feels tight sitting on top of you and that makes marks. I’m trying to focus on fabrics that give you that hold and stretch but when you wear it, it doesn’t feel like you have anything on. My focus was keeping it fashionable and also being inspired by the 90s as I love that time period because it’s kind of my generation also! These suits are a higher cut because it gives women a longer look and it compliments every woman’s body. It’s more of a minimalist approach.

AM: We couldn’t agree more. When we looked through your Instagram, we know you have a number of the 90s supermodels on your page. But even when you don’t see them, the suits do give off the 90s “It Girl” vibe which is so classic and timeless juxtaposed against the Bardot elements of the line. It’s fun and has core pieces that you can truly wear over and over.

MH: Absolutely, I mean think about leopard that is a classic print that someone can wear as it will always come back and never fade. All of my colors are custom made and I’m very particular. When I first got into this because I didn’t go to fashion school or anything, I would look at these suits that just came with these stock colors and I would look at this bright orange and say, “Oh my God how do you wear this?” As it’s something that my grandmother would wear.” What sets us a part is that even though everyone can copy and try to do the same thing, people will copy you and that is part of what happens when something becomes part of the trend they make similar items. There is no copyright unless you make a print. It’s a compliment when I have seen some of the big brands copy us – it means that you’re in fashion and it will become trendy and there is a market for what you make.

What I have noticed is that when you have custom colors it makes it harder to do that as you’re mixing colors. It’s about the tones of the suit. We try to get colors that work on every skin tone as well.

AM: We can appreciate this because you have a gold tone on your website and it’s not brassy or more of an ancient, tone it’s just a great gold hue that we can see whether you’re fair, caramel complexion or olive in tone – it will work for you.

MH: I’m particular, I custom make every color except for black and white. Everything is made in Italy and I am proud of the fact that everything is Italian made! We have that stamp that says that we are 100% Italian made because from start to finish that is what we did. It wasn’t initially the plan to go that way, but when I started sourcing I consistently kept picking Italian fabrics. Our prices are in keeping with our competitors pricing but the difference is that when you buy their suits it’s not these quality fabrics manufactured in Italy, but our pricing is the same. I wanted to have quality.

AM: When you’re creating each season, what is this process like for you when you’re seeking inspiration and what is this process like for you when you’re deciding on your styles and cuts?

MH: Well that is the difficult thing. You have to be almost two years ahead when you’re designing. Because I have been in the fashion industry for so long and I was so tuned into it by looking at the editorials, photography, models and more – you can’t really go to school for that. It’s all about going into cycles were certain things are trendy and the predictions are difficult because it can be a bit hit or miss. All year around I pay attention to all of these factors and I see where the trend is going. The process is constant. I take tearsheets, screenshots and more and I have them in a folder where I put them together and label what that inspiration is. Then I start sourcing the fabrics. Right about now, the vendors have their 2020 selections available, so I sit down to then design. The process is that I get the idea and I do the sketches, the flat drawings and the paper patterns. Of course, the paper patterns – when they come in, there is a lot of back and forth between Italy which means a lot of late nights. There are a lot of video calls and more. It goes back and forth and then we get the final product – some works and some doesn’t. It’s a lot easier now because I have my classics that I do season to season and I can change the fabrics/colors or the trend idea. I also do runway pieces as well to have a little difference and we build them around the core collection. It’s a long process and it’s a difficult one. Being creative is not logical – when you’re creative, you can’t just always do it on demand. Some days you’re more that way and other times you’re not. So when you are pressured by time and a deadline, it’s not easy. Creating for yourself is great because you know what you like, but there are more elements involved when it’s for a range of women so it’s like being locked in a box and still being creative!

AM: Will Monica Hansen Beachwear be heading to Miami Swim this year?

MH: YES! We opened their Fashion Week last year and that was the first year to do a big show with the FUNKSHION platform. It was a big show and we had 30 models along with a full house. It was amazing we has Sports Illustrated, Elle Magazine. It was overwhelming and a lot of pressure because we knew that some people didn’t know who we were as we’re still a growing brand. People had heard enough that they were curious. More then just opening Miami Swim it was also my first show to do. I wanted it to be a big brand and I learned a lot from last year and we will do it even bigger this year!

There are a lot of brands that don’t have to do the fashion shows but where we are, we’re in that phase where we need to do that. We do 3 big events there that include the stores, the influencers, and it’s becoming such a big deal with that show and it’s like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and it cost a fortune too!

AM: How would you describe your line for 2019?

MH: Definitely 90s influenced, retro and the main piece of our line is called Bardot. The reason that we called it that is because we did that shoot in St Tropez and our model looked like her! That particular suit that she is wearing is actually from the 70s and so it’s a little like a spin off of that, but is inspired by that time. We have the animal print, there are colors that are more earthy tones and a bit of a safari/military aesthetic because we have the olive green. The summer/spring will still have the leopard which started last summer and trended into the winter so it will be there through the summer.

AM: So when you’re sitting poolside or at the beach, what are your 3 must hav3s that you love having?

MH: Obviously one of my bathing suits that I have made! There is a sunscreen that I like with a doctor friend of mine, Dr. Garth Fisher MD – Doc Block, that it’s the only medical sunscreen that you can actually wear makeup over and it’s healthy for the skin. It is clinically approved and I swear by it! I also bring a spray bottle with water and I like to bring virgin coconut oil for my hair. Coconut is also a natural sunscreen and is really good for you! I’m a huge fan of natural products and hydration.

AM: So you’re based in Vegas, we’d love to know where you enjoy going out for a meal/cocktail, where we could find you working out and of course where you like to shop!

MH: Oh boy! So I do Mega Pilates and it’s not like your grandma’s pilates. It’s called Mega Pilates and it has a reformer and it’s called Studio Remixx. It’s one of the toughest things that you can do and I have done everything because I’m a fitness fanatic. I do that 4 times a week. My favorite place to go out to for dining is Estiatorio Milos at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. I love the Apex Social Club at the Palms Casino Resort – which is more loungey. I love to shop at the Fashion Show Mall, but I also like the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace as they have the high end shops like La Perla! It’s always so packed with people but it’s one of the most beautiful malls.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Monica Hansen

IG @MonicaHansenBeachwear

Read the March Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know | Get Your Swimwear Ready in mag.

THE ART OF THE SNACK | GRAB A HEARTY MEAL

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior coming to MB Steak, what is your culinary background and how would you define your style of cooking?

EXECUTIVE CHEF PATRICK MUNSTER: I started my career in St Louis, working in a great farm-to-table restaurant called King Louie’s. The menu at King Louie’s changed daily, depending on what the farmers would bring. That gave me the opportunity to learn hands-on with a variety of cooking styles and ingredients. From St. Louis, I moved to New York and studied at the Culinary Institute of America and worked at a few restaurants around campus in the meantime. I fell in love with Las Vegas and its culinary scene when I took an internship at the Effiel Tower Restaurant, located on the Las Vegas strip. I began working at SW Steakhouse at the Wynn Las Vegas in 2004, where I remained for 10 years, rising to the level of Chef de Cuisine under Chef David Walzog.

My experience at the Wynn fueled my passion for great ingredients and flawless service – the same passion I carry today in MB steak. My style of cooking is relatively simple, as I let the ingredients speak for themselves. I am careful to not to mask the flavor of the ingredients by overthinking a dish. This helps keep the flavors of each ingredient bold.

AM: For those who have yet to attend MB Steak, what can one expect in terms of the ambiance, dishes, etc?

EXECUTIVE CHEF PM: While MB Steak is known to be a sexy and luxurious steakhouse, the restaurant is also comfortable and fun. I feel like steakhouses have a different value system as far as fine dining. There are certainly expectations a person has coming to a steakhouse and upholding those old standards is what keeps guests coming back. A guest should have the same experience if they are ordering a filet with mashed potatoes or if they decide to venture down a more adventurous path with something like octopus or a dry aged bone-in New York Strip with maitake mushrooms. No matter what you’re comfortable spending, you should feel comfortable in the dining environment – that is the intention at MB Steak.

In terms of ambiance, the 7,800-squarefoot space occupies two levels, including a gorgeous low-lit main dining room, bar and lounge, and private bar room on the first floor; and a garden bar and lounge, with a towering skylight above the bar surrounded by succulents and moss on the second floor.

AM: What are signature dishes that we should know about at MB Steak?

EXECUTIVE CHEF PM: We are running a 24 oz bone-in Creekstone Farms ribeye currently, and hands down, it’s one of the best steaks I’ve personally tasted in a while. I like to encourage people to eat family style, so a lot of the dishes are created to share. To name a few, the calamari, rock shrimp, and roasted heirloom tomato salad are all great for sharing. The porterhouse is one of my favorite steaks and it really is actually two steaks in one. One side is the New York Strip (my favorite) and the other side is the more well-known and beloved filet mignon. It’s prepared sliced and ready to share.

I also personally love our bacon, and it’s one dish I usually recommend to tables. Big slabs of braised bacon, grilled and glazed with maple syrup, it’s one of those simple, still elegant, bold flavor type dishes that is perfect to start a meal. The octopus is definitely a favorite.

I love side dishes, so narrowing it down to just a few is impossible, but the maitake mushrooms with aged goat cheese and balsamic is probably my favorite. I should mention that we’ve gotten a lot of viral buzz from social media in response to a feature we had on our whole roasted 17lb. Tomahawk Steak.

AM: MB Steak is located at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and has been noted as the best steakhouse in Las Vegas in 2017 – how do you continue to push the envelope of creating great dishes that distinguish you beyond being a steakhouse?

EXECUTIVE CHEF PM: Seasonality is the great motivator for creating new dishes. Each season has its own “voice,” so I’m there to add a bit of creativity in the mix. Great, quality ingredients like stone crab, truffles and mushrooms that have limited seasonal availability are always great to cook with, and people really get amped when it’s back on the menu. I like to get the entire staff educated and excited about new ingredients and dishes. When a cook or server sees how passionate I am about something, they can easily convey that to the guest. With today’s accessibility to food knowledge, the general public is a lot more knowledgeable than past eras, which drives the stakes naturally higher, and emphasizes the need to always be at our best.

AM: What are 3 signature cocktails available at MB Steak?

EXECUTIVE CHEF PM: Magic Mike Live is our neighbor inside the Hard Rock. We wanted to bring that fun, exciting vibe into a cocktail. Our “Magic Mike” cocktail is made with Channing Tatum’s Born and Bred vodka, raspberries, and moscato rosé poured over cotton candy. Keeping with the rock and roll theme of the Hard Rock, we created the Hotel California cocktail, made with lemongrass and buddha-hand citrus infused vodka, grapefruit and pineapple. Lastly, Chicago Way is made with barrel-aged rye whiskey that we age in-house. It’s made in old fashioned-style with Punte Mes vermouth and St. George Brutto Americano. It’s belly warmin’ and always smooth.

IG @MBSteak

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Grab a Hearty Meal in mag.

THE HITMAKER WITH NATHAN MORRIS

When you think about R&B you always come to Boyz II Men who had one hit after another with their cool sound, great sense of style and music videos that you remember when thinking about their songs. Although they are a phenomenal music group, we had the chance to hear about a project one of the founding members and Grammy winning artist, Nathan Morris is doing with the DIY Network in his new show, a four part series premiering on Oct 6th – Hit Properties with Nathan Morris. We had a moment to chat with him while he talked about the legacy of his group, his interest in real estate, how this show differs from a number of flipping programs and what we can find him doing when he is not touring and flipping houses!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Before we get into your new show on DIY Network, we know you kicked off this year’s NFL season with Boyz II Men at Lincoln Financial Field. We’ve been a fan of the group since Cooleyhighharmony. How have you guys continued to be an amazing group that has produced a number of hits, videos and more?

NATHAN MORRIS: I just feel that we are truly blessed to still be able to do what we love, to see our fans and for them to still find that after 27 years, our music is still relevant to them. Our fans are from all over the world and they give us so much love. When you hear fans say that the first song they slow danced to was, “I’ll Make Love to You” or they had a Boyz II Men baby – to know that we have been a part of people’s important moments is crazy!

AM: You guys have a residency at The Mirage in Las Vegas – how is it to prepare for these shows and is there a place that you have yet to perform that you would still like to do?

NM: We love that our fans know that 22 weekends out of the year, they can come see us at The Mirage – we have done this for the past 3 years. We know a number of our fans who have really enjoyed our music over the years may have never seen us in concert - so this is the venue to do it! We just signed an additional 3 years there.

I’d love to see us performing throughout South America and we’d love to be able to have the chance to go to the Middle East and to perform in Duabi. We’d also love to go to Africa as well.

AM: Clearly, we know you’ve been a powerhouse in the music business but how did this translate to real estate?

NM: I’ve had the pleasure of investing in some serious real estate deals on the business side and on the personal side, I’ve done some construction, renovation and designing.

AM: Tell us about your new show Hit Properties with Nathan Morris?

NM: I’m really excited about this show. I know that there are a lot of shows about flipping houses, but we really go in there to show you what it’s like. I take this old mansion in Orlando and I Nate-a-cize it – I love luxurious upgrades and I really like smart home upgrades, remote controlled toilettes and WiFi enabled lighting. In addition to showing the work of taking this 8,200 sq feet mansion from a decrepit place to a glamourous one, we also have humor in this show and you see my right hand man, Bryant Gipson working right along side with me as he has done in other projects that we have partnered on together.

AM: Why did you focus on Orlando?

NM: Mainly, the weather is ideal there as you can pretty much work year around and it just made sense to do it there.

AM: What do people who want to get into the flipping industry need to know about the business?

NM: If you’re a person who can’t be flexible and only has a plan if everything goes right – then this is not for you! You also have to remember that when you're flipping a house, you're not building it for you. You want to put finishes and touches that someone buying it could see for themselves. If you make it with amenities that you personally want, you may find that they are too much to your taste and not universal.

AM: What are areas that you suggest a flipper should focus on when doing a home?

NM: I believe that the kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms are essential. I spend the most time in these areas of my home after my bedroom. These are areas where you want to be able to relax. I don’t like small spaces so you’ll see in the show that I increased one of the rooms by 15 to 20 feet in order to be more spacious and inviting.

IG @NathanMorrisPHD

Make sure to check out this season this season of Hit Properties with Nathan Morris on DIY Network which debuts on Oct 6th at 10:30pm EST.

Listen to our conversation with Boyz II Men's Nathan Morris, on an upcoming episode of #TribeGoals on Athleisure Studio, our multimedia podcast network.

Read more from the Sept Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Hitmaker with Nathan Morris in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | SAHRA SPA + HAMMAM AT THE COSMOPOLITAN LAS VEGAS

When visiting Sahra Spa & Hammam at the Cosmopolitan Hotel Las Vegas, we suggest the Oxygen Radiance Facial. This treatment is a partnership with Intraceuticals products and patented technology. Intraceuticals is a professional cosmetic skin care brand founded and formulated in Australia. The Oxygen Radiance Facial is based on the concept of delivering hyaluronic acid and custom anti-aging ingredients deep into the skin’s structural layer through high pressure therapeutic tic grade hyperbaric oxygen. The supporting line of revolutionary skincare products was designed to combat free radical attack, supply essential vitamins and ultimately restore elasticity to the skin.

This facial launched in 2014, followed by the Signature Decadent. Youth. Glow. facial in 2015 which fuses three of the industries most coveted technologies - HydraFacial, Intraceuticals and NuFace Microcurrent- into one innovative treatment.

In addition, there are a number of luxury facials and massages to traditional Hammam treatments. The treatments are designed to treat a variety of ailments, such as dehydration and dry skin, as well as invoke an overall sense of mental wellness among guests. Sahra Spa & Hammam also offers complete Sahra Transformations, designed to treat the entire being rather
than one isolated issue.

The 43,000 square-foot spa boasts 16 massage rooms, including four body treatment rooms with private steam showers as well as two hydrotherapy rooms. For guests looking for a complete spa getaway, there is the luxurious penthouse spa suite, complete with plush seating, a steam room, complete spa services and dining room service.

Inspired by the desert’s striking contrasts, exhilarating intensity and ageless tranquility, the spa atmosphere encourages the sensations of awakening and utter peace. Unique products and therapies draw from the richness of the desert – its minerals and plants, light and colors. Special treatments, such as Turkish hammam baths and Arabian beauty rituals, evoke desert
cultures from around the world.

To combat physical signs of jetlag, Spa Director Shannon Stringert, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, recommends combining the LED Light Therapy skin care enhancement with the Oxygen
Radiance Facial. This combination is great for all skin types and helps calm sensitive, dry and stressed skin, which is often a side effect of air travel, while providing instant hydration and lift.

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SAHRA SPA + HAMMAM AT THE COSMOPOLITAN LAS VEGAS
Level 14, The Chelsea Tower, 3708
S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
www.CosmopolitanLasVegas.com

Read more from the May Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Sahra Spa + Hammam at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas

THE GEM OF MIAMI

With the holiday season upon us, we wanted to share one of our favorite luxury jewelry designers with our readers. Our Style Director has included pieces in shoots in this publication and we sat down and talked with Miami based, Buddha Mama which is created by Nancy and is also designed by her daughter Dakota. The brand is the perfect mixture of fine jewelry, dramatic pieces and wellness. We found out about how they are inspired to create luxe pieces, what they do during Art Basel that took place earlier this month and how they give back.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We've been fans of the brand for years, but tell us how Buddha Mama was created and what are the inspirations behind the pieces?

BUDDHA MAMA: My mother Nancy started stringing Mala’s for her local Buddhist center to help raise funds and it sort of took off from there. To this day we still donate a portion of monthly proceeds. The inspiration comes from everywhere, travel definitely has a strong influence on our collections. Different architecture and symbols appreciated in other cultures, these are things that inspire us to keep creating and share what we love.

AM: Who is the Buddha Mama girl or boy?

BM: We never really know how to answer that question. It seems like it can be just about anyone, whether you are drawn to the beauty of a mandala pendant because you know of the
meaning or you just appreciate the piece. I wouldn't say we have one specific client, there's certainly a range of people we've come across.

AM: How do you decide what pieces are a part of each of the collections that are in the line?

BM: Depends on the collection. Some pieces are placed in certain collections due to gemstone colors, others are specifically created - such as our Lantern pieces for the lantern collection. Our auspicious collection is by far our largest, with everything from mandalas to flowers, skulls and cross pendants.

AM: What charity/philanthropy are you involved in?

BM: We donate a portion of proceeds to Kristi House in Miami, which is a center for sexually abused and trafficked women and children. As well as Tibet House in New York.

AM: During Art Basel, do you do anything in conjunction with this event?

BM: Usually Nan and I are pretty busy creating new collections for the COUTURE Show in Vegas but we always attend at least a few Basel events. Miami is always a blast in December and we try to enjoy as much of it as we can!

AM: How important is Art Basel to the Miami scene?

BM: It’s incredible. One of the main areas for Basel is called Wynwood and it’s literally unrecognizable from just a few years ago. I feel that Art Basel is important because Miami has always had an art and graffiti scene- maybe not like New York but it was always present. To
now watch it expand and get its recognition, it’s great.

AM: With the holidays coming up, what can we look forward to in terms of great gifting options from the brand?

BM: We have a daintier collection that is great for gifting! Also of course our special one of a kind pieces are always a hit.

AM: Where are your favorite places to eat, grab a cocktail and to do yoga/meditation in Miami to keep on our radar?

BM: Macchialina’s on the beach for great Italian. River Oyster Bar in Brickell for amazing food and drinks. For yoga we’d have to say Dharma Yoga Studio in Coconut Grove.

Read more from the Dec Issue and see The Gem of Miami in mag.

NERVO YORK

We end our year the way we began it - with NERVO, but this time, in addition to our interview, we hung out with them right before their Lavo NYC show to shoot the International EDM DJ duo. Liv and Mim have been traveling, DJing around the world, releasing new  music and continuing to connect with their fans.

We brought them to Grammy winner and music icon, Desmond Child's home (we have an exclusive interview with Desmond following this interview), which was the perfect location for this shoot. We talked with them about what they're up to, who they've been working with, where they'd like to perform, their upcoming show for NYE at the W in Miami and what festivals you'll see them in during 2018.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We kicked off the year with an interview with you ladies and it's only fitting that we close it with you as well as you're gracing our Dec cover - what has been a snapshot of this year from what you were up to personally, musically, - whatever you wish to share.

NERVO: We have had a year of absolute madness. Lots of great things going on that we just need to pinch ourselves sometimes. We also are just doing our best to keep our heads above water and enjoy the little moments you know… We think all touring artists or just busy people, in general, are the same. There’s a lot of pressure mixed with a lot of adrenaline filled moments. It can be a lot sometimes!

AM: You ladies are multiple threats as you're DJ's, producers, songwriters, composers, models, brand ambassadors, etc., so it was only fitting to have you shoot in Desmond Child's home
- can you share some of your projects that you did this year or next year?

N: Tell us about it - Desmond Child is a total legend. What an honour to be shooting in his home! Love how we decked his house out.

So… We released a bunch of music this year, including a few collabs - one with New York based band Sofi Tukker and some others with more dance artists like DVBBS and Danny Avila, Oh, and then there’s the collab we wrote with Cheif Keef which was pretty special! We have been touring mainly Europe for the summer, but we also have our residency at Omnia in Las Vegas, which gets us over to The USA about 16 times a year.

We have a bunch of new songs in the works which we are focusing in on now. Quarters 4 and 1 are always for making new music and that means touring a bit less.

AM: What's the process like when you're creating your music and how is it different when you're creating something for another artist?

N: We’re more relaxed when we make music for others or even for a collaboration. Something about it being less pressure. When it’s your own record suddenly you feel like people are going
to hate on you if they don’t like it. It’s a part time job blocking out that noise!

AM: How do you go about finding inspiration for upcoming projects?

N: We are constantly inspired. To be honest we don’t have enough time to not be inspired. We have so many unfinished ideas that we just need an extra 2 days a week to finish. We must be
ADHD or something.

AM: What is a NERVO Christmas like - do you make it home to Australia for the holiday, do you guys cook and what gifts are you looking for this year?

N: It’s pretty low key and is the same every year. We have a huge lunch in our family home in Melbourne, then we all go to our Aunty Mary and Uncle Max’s home for more food, and then we
eventually pass out around 10pm with belly’s so full that we couldn’t dream of eating dinner! Leftovers are eaten for the next 4 days or so. We are Italian/Australian so there’s always SO
much food!

AM: This NYE, where are you playing and what about 2018 makes you excited to ring it in?

N: We are playing Miamiiiiiii! At the W Hotel. We can’t wait!! Miami is just the best for New Year's Eve. We think we might hang around a few days and have some beach time and Cuban food.

AM: What's on your playlist at the moment that gets you up and moving?

N: Massively inspired by what Jax Jones is doing at the moment. Sampling Booka Shade and flipping it into a 2017 anthem! Go JJ!

AM: Where are some festivals/cities that you'll be hitting this year that we can expect to see you performing at?

N: We are playing Tomorrowland in Belgium again. Always a yearly highlight! We are also playing Creamfields in South America. And of course, everyone can catch us at Ushuaia in Ibiza and Omnia/Hakkassan in The USA for our residencies.

AM: What is a gig that you would like to do ie. Super Bowl Half Time show, that you have yet to be asked to do but want to check off your bucket list?

N: Probably Coachella. It’s such a great festival and one of the only ones we have never been asked to play at. We don't think they like us. ha! Maybe we're too bubbly or mainstream or
something... We dunno. But we have been to the festival and it's such a great vibe. Always perfect weather.

AM: You're rocking a lot of fun styles throughout our Dec cover shoot, but what is your personal style when you head out to play a set for NYE versus when you're hanging out?

N: We like to dress things up when we play a gig. We love body suits, lycra, face jewels, creepers, teased up hair, more is more. When we are hanging out we’re a lot more chilled and casual - for example we are loving the Fenty clothes that we wore in the shoot for our travel/studio days!

AM: You guys travel a lot, what are your 3 musts that you take with you no matter what city you're rocking in to feel like you're at home?

N: Iijin snake skin silver and gold shoes (for Liv), Hairspray (for Mim), and our laptops (for both of us).

AM: The Winter Olympics are coming up and we're fans of curling, what teams/sports are you cheering for?

N: Ooohh we’ll have to check it out!! We do love to ski so that’s something we would like to watch. Does Australia even have a team? If Australia is competing then we would have to go for
them but if they don’t then we would go for Italy because that is where our parents were born :).

NERVO YORK CREDITS

COVER + PG 14 | FENTY X PUMA Blocked Track Jacket + Blocked Taped Track Pant | OUTDOOR VOICES Sport Bra | FENTY X PUMA AnkleStrap Sneaker | FENTY X PUMA Monday Cap | FRAME Le Original Patch Jacket |

FENTY X PUMA Hooded Zip Front Leotard | FENTY X PUMA Printed Bra | RUBEN GALARRETA Legging Harness |

PG 16 | BLACK MILK Fatale Dress | LAGOS JEWELRY Black Beaded Caviar Bracelet | ARTISTS' OWN Wrapped Bracelet, Charm Bracelet, Watch + Hat |

PG 19 | MCM Shearling Bag | ARTISTS' OWN Bra, Shorts + Scarf |

PG 20 | SPLENDID Racerback Turtleneck Sport Bra | ELIZABETH ACKERMAN Palazzo Palm Pants | DIANA ROSH FUR Olive + Blue Fur Coat | LOVE KNITZ Hat |

PG 21 | DIANA ROSH FUR Multicolor Coat | HAT ATTACK Arm Warmers | MIRA RAE Velvet Leggings | MCM Shearling Hat |

PG 22 | ROMPLY Blush Wrap Romper | HAT ATTACK Hat | LAGOS JEWELRY Ring | ARTISTS' OWN Bra |

PG 25 | ROMPLY Navy/Gold Tapestry Romper | NINA JEWELRY Swarovski Bangle | MCM Polke Backpack in Starry Eyed Bunny | ARTISTS' OWN Marcher Jacket |

Athleisure Mag readers know that a number of our shoots take place in luxury apartments that have yet to be released to the public or are being sold. We tend to maintain the privacy of the homeowners; however, this shoot was perfectly aligned as it took place at Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated songwriter/producer Desmond Child's home!

He is one of the most accomplished hit-makers, having written and produced more than eighty Billboard Top 40 hits spanning five decades including "Livin' On A Prayer”, “You Give Love A Bad Name”, “I Was Made For Lovin' You”, “Dude Looks Like A Lady”, “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and “Waking Up In Vegas.” From Aerosmith to Zedd, his genre-defying collaborations also include Bon Jovi, KISS, Motley Crew, Joan Jett, Cher, Michael Bolton, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Meat Loaf, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Sia, Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, selling over 500 million records worldwide as well as downloads, YouTube views and streaming plays already in the billions. His upcoming autobiography LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: BIG SONGS BIG LIFE with David Ritz is scheduled for release the Fall 2018. Desmond Child was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and serves on its Board of Directors as well as the Board of ASCAP. In 2012 he co-founded the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and serves as its Chairman/CEO. He is also Chairman of The Fountains of Musica Foundation, who’s mission is to complete Alan LeQuire's aquatic bronze masterpiece MUSICA located at the entrance to Nashville’s Music Row.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It was an honor to shoot in your beautiful home and NERVO was very excited to see that they were in your apartment. Please share with our readers about how you got into the music business and whom you have worked with.

DESMOND CHILD: My beautiful mother, the late Cuban poet and Bolero composer Elena Casals, was always writing her romantic and soulful songs at her old upright piano on the dairy farm in Hawthorn, Florida, where I was born in 1953. At that time, I didn’t know that most people don’t write songs as a natural expression of the ups and downs of ordinary life. I would sit on my mother's lap at the piano and bang out long unrepeatable classical sounding improvisations. As soon as I could sit upright, she would make me play for her bohemian friends sitting around on the floor smoking and drinking during the Mad Men era when that was actually still good for you.

Not being able to afford a gift, I wrote my first official pop song titled “Birthday Blues” at the age of 15 in 1968 as a birthday tribute to a beautiful girl I was trying to impress named Laura
Stern. After that, I never looked back and kept writing songs all the way into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where I was inducted into in 2008. That only took 40 years. ;)

ATHLEISURE MAG: Your home is awesome and there were so many elements that were amazing, but we all enjoyed your piano - when did you decide that you would have these notable talents sign your piano, and are there signatures that you have yet to get, but still
want to have in there?

DC: It was a random day, and I was walking down 57th Street, and when I got to the Steinway showroom, I looked through the window and saw this gorgeous Steinway D lit up like it was on a stage. I went in, sat down at it, and it seemed to just play itself. I ended up buying it on the spot, but I had to put it in storage for 2 years while my apartment was being renovated. When the time finally came to move-in the piano, I had to hire a crane to lift it up on its side in a massive wooden crate and slip it through the living room window.

It was an incredible feat that tied up Fifth Avenue traffic and pissed-off a lot of people.

As soon as I started doing writing sessions with top stars or important visitors, I would ask them to write their names in the piano along with the date. It started to get crowded in there and some names are completely unrecognizable, so I guess I will have to create a map of the stars to keep track of them all.

These are the names I would love to have in the piano: Joni Mitchell, Sir Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Sade, Imogen Heap, Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons, Beyonce & Jay Z, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry.

AM: Are there projects that you are working on that you can share with us?

DC: I am just putting the finishing touches on my auto-biography - LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: BIG SONGS BIG LIFE with David Ritz. I hope to release in the fall of 2018.

AM: What is currently on your playlist?

DC: I only play two records ever… AMOROSO by Jaoa Gilberto, produced by my dear late friend Tommy LiPuma, and Sade’s epic LOVE DELUX. Over the past 5 years I’ve added Concha Buika’s
rare but exquisite albums. Any other music I hear is by accident.

AM: With New Years Eve just around the corner, what's the perfect playlist that we should be creating to celebrate the end of 2017 and the start of 2018?

DC: Any of Amy Grants 5 Christmas albums. Amy is my husband Curtis’ favorite artist of all time…. It just ain’t Christmas without Amy Grant.

We enjoyed finding out more about Desmond Child and his home which is currently on the market. We sat down with Louise Phillips Forbes of Halstead properties to find out more about 1215 Fifth Avenue #8CD as well as the neighborhood it resides in.

ATHLEISURE MAG: There are so many great aspects to this apartment, from its layout to the INCREDIBLE views of Central Park - what can you tell us about this property?

LOUISE PHILIPS FORBES: What’s not to envy in this exceptional home?! It’s a full-floor combination apartment with panoramic views of Central Park that are breathtaking year-round, and an abundance of custom designer details like art-deco moldings and Venetian plaster walls. The grand and expansive formal living room is an entertainer’s dream with four large picture windows (manufactured by Hope's) facing west, high-beamed ceilings and a statuesque
wood-burning fireplace. Plus, the spectacular views carry through to the formal dining room. A peaceful retreat, the master suite also showcases the Central Park views and features superbly crafted built-ins and an oversized walk-in closet that resembles a luxury boutique. You can escape to the spa in the elegant Vitrolite tile and Terrazzo master bathroom with a deep soaking tub, double sink vanity, walk-in steam shower, and heated floors. But it's the park views that will transport you to another world. A culinary delight, the eat-in chef's kitchen is the heart of the home with an open design that includes a substantial casual dining/living and media area. Kitchen highlights are the sophisticated Terrazzo countertops, abundance of pantry storage cabinets, and high-end appliances. A coveted laundry room holds the side-by-side and full-size Miele washer and Asko dryer with a sink and storage. To top it off, there is a new state-of-the-art Lutron lighting system and Crestron integrated surround audio system with built-in
speakers all through the apartment. Two oversized bedrooms and a second full bathroom complete the home with through-wall AC's in every room and great closets throughout. It’s pretty close to perfect!

AM: What amenities are offered in this building for residents?

LFP: A pre-war treasure, the Brisbane House at 1215 Fifth Avenue was developed and built in 1928 by distinguished journalist and columnist for Hearst newspapers, Arthur Brisbane, and designed by the renowned architectural firm Schultze & Weaver. The beautiful 16-story limestone-and-caramel-brick building boasts an elegant lobby and full-service amenities, including 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent, private courtyard, fitness area, central
laundry room, personal storage, bike storage, and pet-friendly attitude.

AM: Tell us about the neighborhood that is directly around this building and what neighborhood is this considered?

LFP: A premier residence nestled near Carnegie Hill, this elegant gem is conveniently located across from Central Park and along Museum Mile with easy access to world-class exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, among others. Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
beckon with high-end boutique shopping and fine art galleries, plus there is an abundance of distinguished restaurants, charming cafes, gourmet grocers, supermarkets, Equinox Fitness
Club, the 92nd Street Y, and many popular retail destinations.

AM: For those that are interested in purchasing this unit, how can they find out more information?

LFP: It would be very easy to call this stunning apartment home given the grandeur of the rooms, designer details throughout, and abundance of Central Park views! To schedule an appointment, simply contact me directly and I will be happy to give you a private tour and discuss the purchasing details. You can reach me via email at lphillips@halstead.com or at 212-381-3329.

AM: Where can readers find out about additional properties that you represent?

LFP: Visit my website and click on the tab for “My Listings”. You can view pictures, 3D floor plans, and videos along with detailed descriptions of each property I’m working with from
downtown to uptown. The available homes range from a three-bedroom loft apartment in Tribeca to a 6-story grand townhouse on the Upper East Side.

Read more from the Dec Issue and see NERVO YORK in mag.