Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LOOKS in mag.
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Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LOOKS in mag.
Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see BULGARIAN ROSE BEAUTY in mag.
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with the legendary, culinary trio of Bravo Top Chef's Chef Tom Colicchio, Chef Kristen Kish, and Gail Simmons. We talk with them about S21 which premiered on Mar 20th, we find out about how they came to the show, what we need to know about the upcoming season, how they approach their roles on the show, and more.
This month, we caught up Chase Stokes of Netflix's Outer Banks. He talks about the upcoming season, being a dog dad, and upcoming projects that he is working on.
We also caught up with 90s heartthrob, Joey Lawrence to find out about various projects he's part of, his podcast Brotherly Love that he does with his siblings, and the importance of oral care.
We had a great time sitting down with Access Hollywood and Access Daily with Mario and Kit host, Kit Hoover! We have been a fan of hers since we saw her on the first season of Road Rules.! From there, she took on hosting in entertainment and sports broadcasting such as ESPN and of course, she has been at NBC for the past 14 years! We talked about her career, how she approaches interviews, and her podcast that launches Apr 5th, The Coop.
We also chatted with Brandon Soo Hoo of Paramount+ The Tiger's Apprentice and Netflix's Mech Cadets to find out about how he got into the industry, how he approaches his roles, the importance of Martial Arts in his life, projects he's excited about, and more.
We kicked off Awards Season by chatting with Charles Joly globally acclaimed mixologist who created craft cocktails at the Emmy's as Johnnie Walker Blue Label was the official sponsor. We end Awards Season by chatting with him about pouring for the Governors Ball, the after party of the Oscars. He talks about how Don Julio has an array of cocktails that we can enjoy whether we were there or want to celebrate the red carpet moments of our lives.
We always enjoy sharing our favorite Olympians with you! In this month's issue, we have 3X Olympic Medalist Team USA Gymnastics' Suni Lee! We talk about how she fell in love with this sport, how she trains, being at Tokyo 2020, and what the qualifications process is like as she works towards being on the team for Paris 2024.
When American Rust debuted in 2021, we thoroughly enjoyed this show which looks at a small industrial town that has to navigate their reality when they see that there has been a shift in the American Dream. In S2, they continue to grapple these issues while navigating dynamics where they all see justice for what they feel that they deserve. We had the pleasure to chat with Executive Producers of the show as well as various castmembers who are back for American Rust: Broken Justice.
This month's The Art of the Snack comes from Mishik which is located here in NY's Hudson Square. We wanted to know more about this elegant restaurant, what we should expect when we come in to dine with family and friends, and more.
We know that when you hit the Spring and continue into warmer seasons, we do all kinds of traveling, and staycations are a great way to be in a different area while still getting to know your city and neighborhood in a richer way! In Spring Staycation, we focused on SoHo and stayed At NoMo SoHo which put us in the heart of fashion, art, great eateries, and more. In our interview, you can learn more about this hotel, what it offers guests, those who are traveling, enjoying staycations, or live in the neighborhood. We also know that in a staycation, just because you're in one neighborhood, it doesn't mean that you can't hop to another. We included the UES' Chola which has been in NYC for 26 years! We share more information on the restaurant, it's dedication to Indian Cuisine, and more.
Next month, The Joy of Sake will be back on Apr 11th where guests can enjoy sampling an array of sake as well as participating restaurants. We spoke with the founder of The Joy of Sake's, Chris Pearce who talks with us about why he created this event that takes place here in NY as well as Honolulu. He also shares what we need to know about attending this event.
We first got introduced to Brooke Burke on E! Wild On. We got to learn a lot about her and enjoyed traveling alongside her through locales all over the world. Since then, she has continued to host a number of shows, and she has acted in various programs, created a fitness/wellness platform, been a brand ambassador for amazing brands, and is an author. We talked about her career, her ability to take her passions and to build the life that she enjoys living. We also talked about upcoming retreats that you will want to know more about!
This month's Athleisure List comes from Nobu Barbuda, an exclusive Beach Club where can guests can lounge and take in experiences from this well known restaurant destination. We also have Music For A While which is located in the Selina Hotel in Chelsea. This lounge is definitely for those that enjoy their music and a vibrant environment.
We enjoyed Awards Season and this month, our feature 9R3DCARP3T looks at iconic talents that hit the runway along with exclusive thoughts about the creation of their looks from them as well as their glam teams! This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from our cover editorial, Chef Tom Colicchio, Chef Kristen Kish, and Gail Simmons as they share their songs in 9COLLAB. We also habe actor Brandon Soo Hoo share his 9PLAYLIST as well. Lionel Messi. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Kit Hoover and Brooke Burke. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Chase Stokes and Suni Lee. This month's THE 9LIST 9CH3FS and THE 9LIST 9B-L-D comes from Chef Tom Coliccio of Craft Hospitality, Chef Kristen Kish of Arlo Grey, and Gail Simmons.
Read the MAR ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag.
Apparently, 22 years ago today, the first The Bachelor aired which was a historic moment for this series. In addition, tonight, apparently whatever happens with Joey Graziadei, will also be a first and historic as well! So with those notes from Jesse Palmer, it sets the tone for the rest of the night! We’ll be watching the finale as well as checking in with the studio audience for After The Final Rose! Joey walks us through his relationship with Kelsey as well as Daisy. You can tell that he has a lot of love for both women who are very different from one another.
We see that Joey’s family has assembled to assist him with his decision! He lets them know about the 32 women who were on his season and he fills them in each on woman. His mother, sisters, brother-in-law, and uncle are eager to meet the women, but also hesitant about what could happen to Joey as he finalizes his decision.
The first meeting is with Daisy and she shares her story on how they met, and how she arrived to the mansion. She shares what it has meant to be with him and says that a lot of that has to do with how he was raised and the support that he has from them. His sisters pull Daisy to the side to get to know more about her. They have great vibes from her and then they sit down with Joey to get more intel from him so that they can see how they make sense with one another.
Daisy and Joey’s mom also have a chat and you can see how they would get along with one another as well. It seems like everyone sees her as a fit.
Next up is Kelsey! They spend a moment together before they connect with his family. She feels the weight of what the day means and how important it is. You can see the ease between her and his family which is a great way to see how they could fit together. His sisters take time with her and they find out that marriage for her may not be something she is 100% ready for. But she also says that she could see herself marrying him. They like her and see how amazing she is and she has great energy; however, they have a concern about what it means in terms of her rediness in getting married. They note that Daisy is all in and ready, but Kelsey seems to have a bit of hesitancy. So now he knows he needs to have this conversation with her so he has clarity. They chat and it seems like he found the answers that he needed.
He takes Daisy out on a date as this is the final one before decision day. They have a spiritual date where they cleanse the spirits. Daisy wants to tell him that she loves him and she hurts because she feels that he is not sure of her as he is juggling 2 women at the same time. Daisy gets into her head as she wonders if it will be her ultimately. At their nighttime portion of the date, she decides she needs to get out of that headspace and tell him how she feels so that she is being 100% vulnerable so that he has all the information that he needs to make his decision. They talk about the date and what happened as well as how it made her feel. They also talk about how she felt meeting his family. She tells him that she loves him and she’s glad that he is in the loop on everything that she is feeling. She feels that she didn’t get the validation that she was looking for. But after hearing her say that, his responses to her are very measured as Daisy let us know in her confessional. She feels that if she had to be 100% honest, it will not be her.
So Daisy felt unsettled, but he has moved onto his date with Kelsey. It’s their last date as well as the final one he will have on this show. Their date is a spa date and they can enjoy this time together and to relax. It’s a fun date and you can see how easy it would be with them.
Back at Daisy’s, she’s feeling all the feels and not in the best way as she is thinking about the date that they must be having.
Back at Kelsey’s, they’re enjoying their nighttime together and the debrief on the date as well as what she felt when she met his family. In addition, they talk about her marriage response and why she answered it the way that she did. She tells him that she just wants to be with him.
Well, it’s decision time! We’ve been inching our way to this moment and yet there are still some twists and turns ahead. Neil Lane arrives and they select a ring and he talks about how he feels in this moment. We see Kelsey dressed and making her way to the spot; however, we see Daisy and realize that she has a lot of misgivings. She feels that her last date was a bit off and that he was trying to prepare her for the day.
It seems like Kelsey is on a mission and she makes her way to Kelsey’s room! We thought that she was going to Joey’s! They trade notes on their dates, getting validation, and how they feel. We can see how uncertain Daisy feels about everything is. But, ultimately, she says that she will follow it through because what is Kelsey is not the one chosen?
Back in Tulum, Joey is at the spot where conversations and a proposal will take place. Kelsey and Daisy arrive in the same car together! Daisy meets Joey first in her power red dress. They both talk about what they have enjoyed about the journey - while at home, we’re all shocked at these twists that have been peppered in this final episode. Daisy lets him know that she knows he will not pick her as she knows that she is not his person! She opts to walk out on her own without being walked out - power move in a power dress!
We can’t wait to see what happens and then we get to know a bit more in After the Final Rose! Joey is sad about what happened, but at the same time, he wasn’t going to choose Daisy so now he’s focused on Kelsey. They also talk about what loved about their experience together as they have gotten to know one another more. He tells her that he is choosing her and that he is in love with her as well! He gets down on a knee and proposes to her and she accepts! He also gives her the final rose!
Now that we have seen everything, we’re now in the After Show! We see Joey and Jesse says that he could not have imagined how the day would end for him. Daisy comes out and talks with Joey and Jesse about when she realized that it wouldn’t be her in the end. She mentions that when Rachel was sent home, she remembers seeing a look between Kelsey and Joey that let her know that they had a connection. She even remembers that when they threw the rock into the fire, she knew he couldn’t picture a future with her past that date. She felt validating in watching eveything that her intuition was right.
Seeing Kelsey and Joey together is great! You can see their connection and energy and now they can officially share with everyone! In addition, it is revealed that Jenn will be the next The Bachelorette which we’re so excited about!
JOEY FINAL ROSE WAS GIVEN TO | Kelsey
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Bachelor and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
PHOTO CREDIT | The Bachelor Contestants/Richard Middlesworth
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
We're always thinking about the upcoming festival season and we have a number of people that we hope to see on stages we're heading to! Martin Garrix is a legendary international EDM DJ/Producer with residencies around the world, that we love rocking to. His passion for bringing people together with his music and those that he has collaborated with is undeniable! Just in the last few days alone, he has dropped tracks, revealed his full sets for performances at Amsterdam Dance Events - ADE last fall, and has announced his summer residency in Ibiza which he is currently in the midst of his South American tour. This artist is constantly on the move and we took a moment to find out about how when he fell in love with music, how he approaches creating his music, collaborations, recent releases, his residencies, and how he truly loves when people are able to enjoy his music and the vibe he presents!
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall in love with music?
MARTIN GARRIX: I have always loved music. I grew up in a musical household and started playing guitar by the age of 8. However, the moment I fell in love with electronic music was while seeing Tïesto perform at the 2004 Summer Olympics, for the Opening Ceremonies. They were airing this on tv, and I remember my mom calling me over to come and watch it. The energy that I felt from the music was amazing. After that, I started experimenting with electronic music myself.
AM: How would you define the Martin Garrix sound?
MG: I would say it’s energetic, uplifting and melodic. The most important thing for me is to make people feel something with my music.
AM: What's your creative process when it comes to making your music - where do you start and how do you get inspired?
MG: I can get inspired by basically anything, and inspiration can come at the most random moments. That’s why the voice notes app on my phone is filled with me most random moments. That's why the voice notes app on my phone is filled with me humming new song ideas while I’m on the road. Then when I get into the studio I usually start with melody lines either on guitar or piano. Especially the songs with lyrics they always start with a guitar and vocal or piano and vocal and then afterwards I produce it out. I much rather start with stripped-down versions so the song is strong on its own and not relying on the production. I really enjoy the songwriting process and have a soft spot for beautiful chord progressions and melodies. If the song sounds good with just a vocal and guitar, you can produce an electronic version, rock version, anything. Every song starts and ends differently. I do need to be in my own home studio to finish a song, that’s the place where I work the most comfortable and know the sound system the best.
AM: You have collaborated with a number of artists from Bebe Rexha, David Guetta, Dua Lipa, Khalid, Usher, Tïesto, to name a few. What do you look for when it comes to creating with other artists?
MG: I really need a certain connection with an artist, otherwise I can’t be in the studio with them making music together.
AM: We’ve been fans of your music since Animals and have enjoyed In the Name of Love with Bebe Rexha, Scared to be Lonely with Dua Lipa, Summer Days featuring Macklemore and Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, and Carry You with Third Party, Oaks, and Declan J Donovan. What are 3 of your favorite songs?
MG: It's impossible for me to choose. All my songs have different memories attached to them which make them special to me. Of course Animals will always be special because that song really kickstarted everything for me. At the moment I’m really loving playing the new songs live and seeing the crowd’s response to it.
AM: I’ve had Carry You on a loop since it came out! What's the backstory of the song and how did it come together?
MG: The song was in the making for quite some time before we released it. Third Party and myself created the lead melody a year ago and I premiered it during Ultra Music Festival. After that it become a staple in my sets and I even used it as intro to my sets every now and then. The response from the crowd has been amazing every time I played it, so we just had to finish it. The vocals from Oaks and Declan really pushed the song to another level and I’m super proud of the end result and the responses we have been getting so far.
AM: Last fall you dropped Real Love with South African singer/songwriter Lloyiso. You guys teamed up here in New York and created this song. How did this song come about and why were you so excited to work with him?
MG: I found an Adele cover from Lloyiso online and was immediately blown away by his amazing voice. I reached out to him, but due to travel schedules and visas we weren’t able to meet in person for two years. We finally hit the studio together when we were both in New York and recorded Real Love there. He has one of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard.
AM: You just dropped Breakaway with Mesto and WILHELM. How did this song come about?
MG: Mesto has been a really good friend of mine for years and we have worked together before. We had an early version of the song which I also premiered at Ultra and we both played it in our sets throughout the summer. A few weeks ago we decided to finish the song and added in vocals from Wilhelm.
AM: A few days ago you dropped your 3 hour set, IDEM for ADE from last fall and we thoroughly enjoyed it! What's it like to perform at that event, especially being in your hometown?
MG: ADE is always a special one for me as it is in my hometown. It had been 4 years since we last did my ADE solo shows at the RAI and it was so special to bring them back. We always have a show for all ages as well which is so amazing. The young kids have the craziest energy! It’s also very special to be able to invite all my family and friends to the show and celebrate together after, that doesn’t happen often.
AM: How do you approach putting your setlists together and what's that process like?
MG: I don’t have a fixed setlist for my shows as I like to feel the energy and responses from the crowd and play whatever song feels like the best fit for that moment. As a starting point I have my intro and last song. Of course there are certain songs that can’t be left out of my set, and I usually have some new music lined up that I would like to test.
AM: Ushuaïa Ibiza just announced that you are back for a residency that will run Jun - Sep! What are you looking forward to for 15 Thursdays this season?
MG: Performing at Ushuaïa feels like coming home. It’s been the same team we have been working with for years and no matter how many shows I’ve done there, it will never not be special. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to test out new music and I’m really looking forward to the shows.
AM: You travel a lot! Just looking at 2024, you rang in the New Year in Bali. You hold residencies in Ushuaïa Ibiza and Omnia and Wet Republic in Vegas. You also have festival dates for Creamfields in Hong Kong and Ultra Miami along with your personal show schedule and special events like Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to name a few!
Where are some of your favorite places to perform?
MG: I am currently in the middle of my South American tour and the love I am getting there is overwhelming. People really know how to party and bring energy which is amazing. I also did an India tour last year which was absolutely crazy. A big part of my most loyal fanbase is over there so that always makes it special. But to be honest, I'm super grateful to be able to play in all these amazing countries. I'm still nervous for the shows because I want every show to be the best and for everyone to have a good time.
AM: What are 3 things that you must have when you're traveling to feel like you have a bit of home with you?
MG: I don’t really have those items to be honest. For me my headphones, laptop and phone are the most important items to have with me on the road.
AM: Do you have any pre-show routines that you do prior to hitting the stage?
MG: I usually like to wind down a little before the show, go through some of the songs I have lined up and then I’m all good to go. I don’t have any superstitious things I do before I get on stage or something.
AM: Do you have any post-show routines that you do after coming off the stage?
MG: I’m usually on a high and like to debrief some things with the team in the dressing room.
AM: When you're on stage, if we could bottle the feelings that you have, what would it be?
MG: I honestly wish I could share it with you because it is the most amazing feeling ever. It’s a burst of adrenaline and happiness mixed together.
AM: You founded STMPD RCRDS back in 2016. Why did you want to launch your label and what should we keep an eye out for as we head into the Spring and the Summer?
MG: I wanted full creative freedom over my music which was the main reason we started STMPD RCRDS. We quickly also started signing other artists and the label grew into this creative hub for all kinds of artists. I’m so proud of the label and all the amazing artists that are releasing on there weekly. We have signed really talented artists like Eleganto, Mesto, DubVision, Julian Jordan but are also releasing S.Salter which is neo-classical music for example.
AM: How do you stay in shape as we're always looking to add to our fitness routines?
MG: This can be a challenge for me, but the last couple of months I have found a routine that really works for me. I try to eat healthy and be in the gym almost every day for a workout. I also really enjoy sports such as padel and wind surfing whenever I have the time.
AM: How do you take time for yourself?
MG: It’s difficult but I do try to take time for myself to do sports or spend time with family and friends. As weird as it may sound, making music is also something I really like to do in my time off. It’s my biggest hobby so making music really doesn’t feel like work to me.
AM: Are there any projects that you can share that we should keep an eye out for that you're working on?
MG: We released Carry You and Breakaway as surprises the past two weeks, but there are two more releases coming up the next two weeks because we are releasing an EP called IDEM. The EP has the same name as the live show because it represents the period leading up to the show where I premiered and played all the songs that will be on the EP. The next release will be Biochemical together with Seth Hills.
AM: What do you want the Martin Garrix legacy to be?
MG: All I want is to make people happy with my music.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Louis Van Baar
Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see MAKING THE WORLD HAPPY WITH MUSIC Martin Garrix in mag.
This month, we attended a number of NYFW FW24 shows which is a great way to see the upcoming collections from an array of designers that are on our radar. We kicked off the season with New York Men's Day - NYMD on Feb 9th that presented its 21st season of 8 designers between the morning and afternoon session at Location05 in Hudson Yards.
NYMD | TERRY SINGH
We started off with Terry Singh's presentation with his namesake collection for his menswear brand that launched in 2014 and is based in NYC. Terry was raised in NYC and began working in the fashion industry in the '70s. He also took some time to go to India where he immersed himself into Indian culture as well as meditation. He returned to the city with his shift in how he approached his life and wanted to take what he learned to bring it to make his mark in fashion.
Terry feels that, "this collection resonated with the narrative of my odyssey, visually manifesting the metamorphosis that defines who I am today."
The collection included a number of pieces that included blazers, outerwear, structured skirts, intricate fabrications and coordinates. It was a rich tapestry that allowed us to see where menswear as well as genderless looks can be elevated for gala and soiree looks.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 98 Terry Singh
NYMD | Y.CHROMA
The 4 designers that presented their collection in the morning of NYMD, showcased collections that included suiting and eveningwear. We were also excited to check out Y.Chroma, founded by Max Israel! This brand was founded in 2023 in Lisbon, Portugual.
The collection is focused on male midlife re-invention with a customer base of 40+ and want to wear vibrant hues. The European crafstmanship was evident in seeing this collection and we truly enjoyed the unique textiles that were included in this show and still presented a youthful collection that we could totally see being worn by those that are outside of the intended demographic. We love how they embrace midlife reinvention and the universal appeal of this brand!
PHOTOGRAPHY Courtesy | PG 101 Y.Chroma
BACKSTAGE PRABAL GURUNG
We left Location05 to pop out to cover Backstage at Prabal Gurung who showed at the Starrett-Lehigh Building. Being backstage allows you to see how the inspiration for the designer's vision comes together for the hair, makeup, and nail teams.
The inspiration behind Prabal Gurung's comes from the loss in his home country of Nepal where he created silhouettes that offered a balance of warmth and melancholy through tactile fabrics that were sculpted and ethereal.
“It was to give into grief,” Gurung said backstage. “That was a new thing for me, but I decided to give in simply because that was the only way that I could go through it, which took me back to my father’s side of the family — which I normally have stayed away from, to be completely honest — and it led to these images and everything. It was just so cathartic and so healing, so I brought this to life because it gave me comfort.”
To merge the gravity of the somberness of the inspiration of the show, there was still a balance with his signature feminine styles by incorporating fringe and drapery. These ethereal elements gave a sense of uplifting ones spirit.
The apparel that hit the runway was supported by a glam team that worked with the models, Super Models such as Precious Lee, and celebs such as Sarita Choudhury (Homeland, Blindspot, And Just Like That...). We had the pleasure to chat with Celebrity Nail Artist, Gina Edwards who is the Kiss Product Inc U.S/Canada Brand Ambassador and Lead Nail Artist for this show. In addition to her role with these products, she has worked with Chanel Beauty on a Valentine's Campaign, she was the manicurist for Nicole Kidman for her Balenciaga Ambassador imagery, and was the manicurist for Vera Wang for her CFDA Award to name a few.
We wanted to find out how she extended Prabal's vision into the nails that worn by the models who were part of the runway show.
ATHLEISURE MAG: We always love going backstage to see the magic come together and we've been watching the models as they're in prep to hit the runway. We know that you used acrylic nails to create this look. Can you tell us more about this?
GINA EDWARDS: For the show, we used these acrylics in nude in XXL and we stiletto’d it out to be coffin shaped. We just created the color over it to give it that exclusivity that is the theme of this show. The look whether it’s the red or the silver is a bit of a moonstone/cat eye effect. When you look at it one way, it has one color and then another, you see the other one. It’s a bit of a haunting effect and that ties into the makeup that has that smokey and sultry look to it. So the nails really add to that vibe. It’s amazing to see how everything comes together. The designer has a vision and he explained it to the glam team of hair, makeup, and nails. So we came up with this idea and everyone loves it and along the way, you tweak it to get it to where you see it today.
AM: How long did it take for you to arrive to what we’re seeing on the runway for tonight’s show as it’s a collaboration between Prabal's vision of where he sees it and how you’re interpreting the theme?
GE: Well, there was about 2 weeks when you’re having the conversations and when you land on what you think will work and then you get the products in and to be able to create what has been decided on. Once you select the teams that will actually execute it, I would say it’s about 5 days.
The elusive nail which was the theme for the show was inspired by the experimental use of fabrics in Prabal's collection. The magnetic, cat-eye finish on the KISS nails really merge that eccentric and elusive element together to create that haunting look which is in keeping with this collection which is known as, Fragmented Memories.
AM: Oh wow and there’s so much work to build the nails!
GE: Oh yeah, I mean, shaping takes the most time! I mean shape is everything when it comes to the nail. You have to shape the nail, look at, then look at it from the birds eye view. It looks one way when you see it from one standpoint and then another and then, this nail isn’t on you so it’s a lot of work to really articulate the nail.
You can get The Magnetic Effect Manicure at home which is one of the hottest trends from the runway. Using KISS Gel Fantasy Magnetic collection in style Ruler or imPRESS Color Press-On Manicure in style Red Velvet you too can rock these stunning nails from Prabal’s show in minutes. These ready-to-wear styles are easy to apply and last up to a week.
HOW GINA EDWARDS CREATED THE CUSTOM-DESIGNED RUNWAY LOOK:
• Step 1: Select and size KISS Salon Acrylic Natural Nails in style Crystal and shape to stiletto
Natural Nails in style Crystal and shape to stiletto
• Step 2: Apply nail glue to belly of the nail and natural nail, then press down gently, repeat x10 nails
• Step 3: Apply a coat of your favorite magnetic color and use magnet on both sides parallel to the nail. Cure each finger for 90 seconds
• Step 4: Apply second coat and use the magnet again to see the glass like effect on the nails. Cure for 90 seconds.
• Step 5: Add top gel coat and cure for 60 seconds.
PHOTOGRAPHY | PG 102 + 103 Go Runway.com
After spending a few hours at Prabal Gurung's backstage courtesy of Gina Edwards and the KISS Products team, we made our way back to Location05 for the second session of NYMD and the designers that were showing during this presentation.
NYMD | THE SALTING
Designers Michael Ward & Manel Garcia Espejo founded The Salting, a menswear/womenswear brand in 2018 and is based in NYC. With their second presentation at NYMD as well as being recently inducted into the CFDA as interim members, they are carried in approximately 20 locations in the US and Canada including Bergdorf Goodman.
They're fabrications are globally sourced with sustainable mills and all of their tailoring is done in the US. This design duo has an extensive background in fashion design in the luxury space.
This season's collection's inspiration is On The Waterfront and has an aesthetic that honors longshoremen and dockworkers with its use of buffalo checks, plaid, tweeds, chalk stripes and more. Even their sportswear showcases their tailored DNA and we enjoyed their classic pea coats and other structured pieces.
PAS UNE MARQUE
In 2018, Sean Coutts founded menswear label, Pas Une Marque in Paris. The brand's entire manufacturing takes place in Peru. Within each of their collections, they work with a number of artists to tell their brand story. Printemps, the first department store in Paris, carries the brand. We loved the outerwear that was included in this show and can't wait to see more from this brand.
We had a bit of snow that hit NYC, but with 2 shows that we had been looking forward to from 2 Project Runway alums, we were ready to be dazzled by their NYFW FW24 collections.
BISHME CROMARTIE
The afternoon of Feb 13th, we made our way to The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad to see Bishme Cromartie's NYFW FW24 presentation. We first learned about Bishme when he competed on Season 17 of Project Runway where he came in 4th. For Season 20 of Project Runway All-Stars, he came back and won! It was amazing to see a number of our favorite designers across the season on this show and the ability to see Bishme push the boundaries of Avante Garde to his self-proclaimed, Street Garde, has been a great evolution.
His brand has been worn on a number of red carpets by Michelle Williams (American Soul, Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story, Kingdom Business) of Destiny's Child, Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish, Swarm, Praise This), and Jennifer Hudson (Cats, The Jennifer Hudson Show, Respect), to name a few.
This presentation had a palette of red, white, and black and spanned from elevated streetwear all the way to red carpet looks during Awards Season.
When asked about where the inspiration from his show came from, he shared, "I further explored my obsession of mixing Streetwear with Avant Garde designs. Striking, feminine and bold shapes paired with a variety of coats, edgy tops, form fitting and dramatic gowns. I continued to define what “Street Garde'' is by staying true to my aesthetic and testing new ideas. I wanted the collection to feel strong, effortlessly sexy, masculine, and feminine at the same time. The collection showcases the Bishme Cromartie woman who is ready for change, constantly on the go and loves to stand out, no matter where she is. This season we are entering the Batrix."
PHOTOGRAPHY | PG 104 - 108 Paul Farkas |
LAURENCE BASSE
We ended our NYFW FW24 shows the evening of Feb 13th with Project Runway alum, Laurence Basse who was a finalist in both Season 15 as well Season 20 for Project Runway All-Stars. We have been a long time fan of her mastery of leatherwork and in seeing her first solo show at The Paramount Building in Times Square, we were thrilled to be able to talk to her in detail about how she got into the industry, her namesake line, her NYFW show, and what we can expect from her as she continues to push the envelope of her brand.
ATHLEISURE MAG: It is such a pleasure to be able to talk with you as I’ve been a fan of your work and aesthetic!
LAURENCE BASSE: Thank you so much, thank you! I really appreciate you having me.
AM: Of course! I have been a fan of yours since I first saw you on Season 15 of Project Runway, and just your artistry, the way you work with leather, your style, and attitude – everything about you is definitely Black Girl Magic.
LB: Oh I’m trying, I’m trying.
AM: Oh no, you are not trying, you are doing!
So you got your start in the industry as a model. You have modeled with BENNETTON, Jean Paul Gautier, and you have been in French Elle as well as Cosmopolitan. You did this for 15 years, what was the moment that you realized you wanted to be a fashion designer.
LB: Well I mean, this is the narrative in the streets, but really, I went to fashion school in Paris before I was even modeling. I started fashion school when I was 17 years old. So from 17 – 22, I was in fashion school and I started modeling when I was in Paris I think 3 years into fashion school. It was just there and I thought, “why not?” I used that to then move to the US and it became a 15 year off and on.
AM: Where did you go to school?
LB: I went to school, my first one was in Normandy called Elisa Lemonnier and then I went to another school in Paris, an art school by the same name at the 12 Arrondissement.
AM: When I first saw you in Season 15 of Project Runway, I was just blown away by what you did throughout that season. What drew you to compete on the show?
LB: You know, let’s just say that I never casted for the show. I never did. I quit modeling, I was in LA, I was bartending, and I had my studio, but I was like, ok, since I didn’t do the designing the way that they are saying which is you get out of school and you go work for a brand, and I didn’t do that. I was modeling, traveling, and living my best life.
So at this point, I was 35, I had started this thing, but how do I go from zero to 50 at least? I had a friend of mine that was a Super Model back in the days in France and she actually reached out to me a year before my season to do the French version of Project Runway in France, and I said, "hell, no! I'm not doing a reality show blah blah blah boom boom boom – not when it comes to designing.”
Time went by and I got an email after that from the US. They told me that they were casting for Project Runway. My first reaction, “hell, no!” I’m not doing this. But my friend was with me and she was like, “Laurence it is a good opportunity and you should do it.” I didn’t say no. I literally waited until the deadline. If the deadline was like Mar. 30th at midnight, I waited until the deadline to submit whatever it was that they were asking me.
Then they called me back. I didn’t know that they had already had a casting in the US. So I thought that I was going in for the casting, but it had already been done. I went straight to the final 2 appointments that they had before they decided on who they wanted to have on the show. I went in and I brought in like 10 pair of clothes and they loved it and after that, they asked me to come in the next day. The next day was a whole hour – hour and a half interview. That’s when they say, ok we know you can sew, we love you, but as far as your personality, they have to figure that out.
I did my interview for a little over an hour and it went well I think. I was good! The lady told me, “Laurence, if you made it this far it means you’re perfect for this show. But If we do not cast you for this season, please come back next season.” I told her, “I won’t be coming back.” If I make it, great and if I don’t, I’m still happy. I literally left the casting and I literally left the casting and I was going to my car in LA and I was like dancing in the parking lot. It was an investment for me. It’s already mine and if not, it’s ok too. Then they called me and that’s how I made it onto the show.
AM: I’m glad that you did because the moment you started creating dynamic pieces and watching how you work with leather beyond what I have seen anyone else do – it was phenomenal to watch. As a fashion stylist and someone who has grown up in this industry from a young age – watching you make leather do things that we don’t think that that fabrication supports usually, I was like, “where did this women come from?” I became obsessed and it was thrilling to see you be a finalist on that season.
LB: Thank you!
AM: And then when it came to Season 20 that aired last year with Project Runway All-Stars, what were you thinking about coming back to this crazy environment of a competition show?
LB: Oh yeah, it’s definitely crazy!
So basically, the first time that I went, I didn’t know what I was expecting. I went in and I thought to myself, I am going to win. There was no other option and then I didn’t win. So I went home and I thought, “what am I going to do now?” But God has other plans. With the show rolling, it just jump started my career. I have just been going ever sense since that. It did a lot of things that were great for me. So when the second time came around, I thought, never again would I do a show like that. Right?
AM: Yeah!
LB: But, the only reason and again, they came back and said, “Laurence, do you want to jump on a call? We’re thinking of doing All-Stars.” I said sure and got on the call. But I wasn’t like, “yay!” I had to pause and think about it. Like I said, it did great for me, they have their own agenda and I went in with my own. Even when I accepted to do it, and I did it because it was All-Stars. It was about the contestants coming back to compete for something bigger. So I was like ok, this can’t hurt me and it can only reboost the machine. So I went in and I remember I said, “my head said that the best position for me to land was to be a runner-up.” Technically, I don’t want to win because I don’t want to be tied into anything.
But my ego, wanted to win the whole thing. The ego is the one that got hurt, but everything happened the way that it was supposed to happen. I did what I wanted to do and it was ok.
AM: Well, you turned out amazing pieces yet again!
LB: I was like, keep playing in my face!
AM: I love it!
So why do you like working with leather? Your mastery of leather is just insane.
LB: Thank you!
Well, I’m self-taught when it comes to leather. But my background is really haute couture, making the dresses and all of the extravagant things that people like to wear. I was like, everyone is doing this – a lot of people are doing it. I wanted to be different. I don’t want to be in the norm. I wanted to know what was out there that I could do and work with that I could separate myself from most designers. So I was thinking about leather for 2 reasons. As a child, when I was younger, leather was – when I would look at people who owned leather, they were rich. It was something that, yes I wanted it. But I couldn’t afford it. Then, before that, I love luxury. All of the stuff that I love when I go to the stores, it gives me a real headache! Because it’s $5,000, $6,000, and $10,000! I’d look at it and I’d say, “I can’t do it!” So I decided let me teach myself how to do this and I am going to do it better and I'm going to do it as a challenge to myself. I thought, “ok, all the stuff that I love the Balmain, Saint Laurent, the Gucci, the Tom Ford – it’s over overpriced,”, but look who’s talking now?
It's overpriced, but I’m going to one day sell my stuff at the same price as those people. I’ll be up there with them and that was the bet to myself. So, then leather when people think about it, they think it’s rigid and that there’s not a lot of what you can do with it. But for me, I was like, I’m going to get in there – me and leather are going to have a talk and we’re going to get to know each other. Now I know leather pretty well and I work it like it’s any kind of fabric. There’s no limitation to it. If you want a wedding dress, I’ll make your wedding dress in leather. If you want a flowy skirt or whatever it is, I just don’t want to put limitations on it.
AM: Well you are a master at it. You work a leather like it’s a silk or a taffeta and before you, I had never seen people treat it that way!
LB: That was the goal.
AM: How would you describe your brand your line. You have a number of NBA athletes and different celebrities that have worn your collection.
LB: Well my line, my line is definitely – it’s not haute couture, I’m not RTW. I’m somewhere in between so it’s a luxury brand catered to strong women and strong men. It’s very – for me it’s normal – but the stuff that I put together, they’re not supposed to exist in the same world. But they work for me, because it’s just an extension of me – female/male, cold/hot, edgy/soft – I just love to mix the two together.
AM: What are 3 core pieces that if someone was purchasing pieces from you for the first time that they would be essentials to have in their closet?
LB: Oh you have to have a classic leather jacket. The classic LB is the one with the shoulders. I have been rocking that one for the past x amount of years. You would think that I have a lot of leather jackets, right?
AM: Oh yeah!
LB: I have probably 3 but I recycle them. I have this one that’s like a Motorcycle Jacket with the shoulders and it’s classic and I love it! So, either that one or a Bomber – whatever classic is to you. A pair of leather gloves, and a jumpsuit!
You don’t even need 3, if you like to have just one, it’s either a leather jacket or a jumpsuit. If you can’t afford it, get a pair of gloves!
AM: There’s a solution and then keep saving your coins to get one of those pieces!
LB: Exactly!
AM: My Co-Founder and I had the pleasure of going to your NYFW FW24 show! My mouth was on the floor throughout the runway show and I even teared up a bit because the craftsmanship of seeing great pieces always transports me.
LB: Thank you!
AM: What was the inspiration behind this collection?
LB: You know, I always tell people that the place I design from it’s I guess a storytelling place, but it’s like I tell my stories by creating. That’s my communication. I don’t sometimes put words into it. I don’t always have a story, but for this one, it started with one piece – a Bulletproof Vest. With everything that is going on in the world, you know – all the crazy stuff, the wars, but if you stay in it, you go crazy. So we still have to find other beautiful things in the world that is going on. So it was a mix of the two. The leather Bulletproof Vest – that’s why I mixed it with the soft and beautiful flowy stuff. I got it from that piece and I just let it flow.
AM: I’m sure it was such a project to undertake, a solo show during NYFW!
LB: Girl, it was insane!
AM: Days leading up to your show, I was on your IG and I could see that there were a lot of moving parts going on. It definitely built up the anticipation, but I know you must have been spending a lot of time getting all those things together.
LB: My God! One day I will tell that story. But we kind of documented everything on film – not everything, because sometimes you don’t think about it. It was by far one of the hardest things that I had ever done. I self-financed it, I had a great team, but me and Mykel, we were both wearing different hats and I had to try and stay kind of zen and to be able to create. I mean, I made all of my samples. There was no team, that’s maybe for next season. But we literally decided because Project Runway All-Stars wrapped in Sept. and technically, we were already at Fashion Week. So I thought, “ok, it doesn’t make sense for me to do a collection in Sept.” But really, if I wanted to wait until I was ready to do it, I should have waited until the following Sept. But then I thought, “no because while things are still hot, I can’t skip Feb.” So we decided that we had 2.5 months to do it. We didn’t know how, we just went by faith. It was like, I believe in you, you believe in me and we just jumped out of the building with no parachute and we hoped that it would land.
AM: What other projects do you have going on now that we can look forward to or that we can keep an eye out for?
LB: Well right now, everything is moving so fast, we are getting our appointments together – so the sales teams so that we can start getting into production and getting into stores. So we will do that in Mar. and we have Market week coming up and April, back thinking about Fashion Week in Sept. So for that, we want to take this to Paris. So the goal is to do Paris Fashion Week and NYFW.
AM: What do you want your legacy to be as you have done a lot and I can only imagine what you will still do with yourself and your brand. But you are a trailblazer and a role model, because there are still not a lot of visible Black people that own luxury brand and especially in the fashion space. That’s something great to see you do unapologetically and in your own style.
LB: Absolutely, like I tell people, it was super important for me growing up in France and even being here, all you hear is people telling us what we can and cannot do and how far we can dream. It’s like when I used to tell people when I was in school to my teachers, they would look at you and roll their eyes. They would tell you to come back down, to be real, and those jobs aren’t for you.
AM: Yup.
LB: And because you said that, that’s why I tell people that I know that I am a Black woman and it’s not going to be easy and that I will have to work 10X harder than the next one because they already have a leg up. I know that and I’m at peace with that. I’m strong. I’m going to knock all of those doors down until I get to where I need to be.
When I went to Italy and they are the kings of leather, how they received and reacted to my work, I looked at their reflection in my eyes and I knew that I had it. I just want my people, or even any people, but especially my people to see me and look at me like, she did it. The hard part of it, I will tell my story and write my book one day about it. I want people to look at me and know that it’s possible. Sometimes, all you need is 1!
I’m not doing it just because I love fashion. I could be ok and I have done a lot and I can be content. But no, I need to continue forward and that's what I want my legacy to be. Because when I have to think of a high end Black designer, I have to do some research and think about it and that’s not normal.
For me, we are fashion.
AM: Absolutely!
LB: Seriously, I look at Christian Dior today, Balmain, and Gucci with the stuff that they are doing now, if you told me 20 years ago that this is where they are going, I would have said you’re dreaming!
AM: 100%
LB: But they’re taking those aesthetics, and we’re not getting credit for it. And then we go and give them our money. I think one of the mistakes I think sometimes we do as Black people when we enter that industry, we set limitations. Money is money wherever it comes from, I don’t care. I’m designing for whoever loves fashion.
I tell people that I am Black everyday, we don’t have to debate about that. But, you need to think about how you move. Hire your people – that is where the power is. Where the money comes from like I don’t care. My clients are everywhere. They’re European, American, African, wherever I don’t care. They love fashion and that is what we’re going to talk about. That is the business model of what everyone is doing. You’re presenting a good or service and then via marketing, you’re able to translate that story; however, the offering is universal.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Laurence Basse
Read the FEB ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see NEW YORK FASHION WEEK FW2024 EDIT in mag.
Season 3 of STARZ's BMF premiers on Mar 1st. There are light spoilers in this interview, so make sure that you catch up on what you've missed of this Detroit crime family show that is based on a true story of brothers Demetrius Edward "Big Meech" (Demetrius Flenory Jr) and Terry Lee "Southwest Tee" Flenory (Da'Vinchi).
We took some time to sit down with BMF's Showrunner, Executive Producer, and writer, Heather Zuhlke. We wanted to know more about her background, how she came to this show, and what she is looking forward to in terms of this season!
ATHLEISURE MAG: We have been such a fan of your work since Southland and of course on POWER so congratulations!
HEATHER ZUHLKE: Oh thank you!
AM: What kinds of stories are you drawn to in terms of writing and Executive Producing?
HZ: Oh yeah, always character driven. Things that touch us really on a soul level! I love – I mean, Southland was never about the case, it was about the people. This show is marketed as a crime and family drama, but the heart and soul of BMF is the family aspects – the blood family and the street family. I think that people really relate to those themes because family is so universal. It’s heightened in our story because your brother is a drug kingpin, your son is a kingpin, so everything is heightened!
AM: I live in NY now, but I grew up in Indianapolis, so I’m familiar with the BMF story as they were in Detroit.
What drew you to being involved as I knew you signed onto the second season and now you’re a Showrunner and helming everything for this season.
HZ: So my journey started – gosh, 9 years ago when I met Randy Huggins (The Unit, Criminal Minds, Star) on the original POWER along with 50, and Randy hit me up and said, “hey, will you be my number two Season 2?” Randy really empowered me on set to produce and to get to know everyone. Then he unfortunately had a health complication right after we wrapped Season 2 so 50 asked me to step in and so this has been so much more for me than a job, because we’re carrying on Randy’s legacy and honoring his vision! And again, this isn’t just a TV show, or a job, we’re really a family.
AM: Obviously, the first 2 seasons were amazing, and the 2nd had me at the edge of my seat with the finale. We had the pleasure of watching the first 3 episodes of the 3rd season and it’s beyond exciting to see what’s going to take place.
What are you excited about for us to see in this new season?
HZ: You know, I’m really excited about the collision of the streets, hip-hop, and pro sports! What you saw in episode 3, there are some big moments for the fans.
I’m also really excited about the finale and the way it pushes story forward and there is going to be another big moment. I’m really excited for the world to see Russell Hornsby (The Affair, Fences, Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector) who plays Charles Flenory and he has his directorial debut which will be for episode 7 and Randy Huggin’s daughter Ms Haven Huggins is making her acting debut in that episode too!
AM: We can’t wait to see how it all plays out! The season is off to a great start and being a fan of yours for such a long time, it’s awesome to see how you bring your worlds to life and your style. It’s great to see you in this show that touches all the points of prestige TV!
HZ: Thank you for being a fan as we do it for you guys!
In addition to chatting with Heather, we also wanted to talk with the cast for them to share their thoughts on being in this show and what we can expect from this season. We sat down with Kelly Hu (The Scorpion King, Dietland, Arrow) and Morgan Alexandria (How to Get Away with Murder, Twenties, This is Us).
ATHLEISURE MAG: It was so exciting to watch the first 3 episodes from the screeners and to get right into it after how Season 2 ended! It will be exciting to see how this season turned out!
Before we dig into that, why were you drawn to BMF?
MORGAN ALEXANDRIA: For me, I was really excited. Obviously, it’s a great story, it’s a true story, and I know of a lot of people who know a lot about the story as they grew up around it and that type of thing. So, it’s legendary in that sense. I’m not going to lie, I was so nervous to play a cop, because it’s one of my things that I’m like, “ah, I don’t know with all of the jargon and so forth!” My team pushed me, I pushed myself and then I was like, the writing is so good and then joining it was such a blessing! Being able to work with Kelly was such an honor, seriously! It was so much fun! She made it so fun!
KELLY HU: We had a lot of fun on set! It’s such a great show and it’s really well done and it’s well written. The actors are amazing and 2nd Season when I came on, I got to do almost all of my scenes with Steve Harris (The Practice, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) who was so much fun! It was nuts! And this season, I get to do all of my scenes with Morgan and we had a blast, seriously! We got pretty close on this.
AM: You can definitely see the chemistry between you and how you’re connected. It made it fun to watch. After I finished the screeners, I wanted to know what happens in the remaining part of the season between your character’s dynamic, because it’s always fun to see the interaction between you on screen.
Kelly, for our readers who need a bit of a refresher. Where do we leave Detective Veronica Jin and what can we expect from her this season?
KH: Well in the 2nd season as I mentioned, she had partnered with Detective Von Bryant. They had their thing going, and that went beyond the police partnership and he got in trouble and she was trying to help him out and got sort of dragged down with him. This season, she’s really trying to save herself and him!
AM: Morgan, this is your first season and we’re just getting introduced to Detective Colbie Anderson! What can you tell us about her?
MA: She’s really an interesting character. For me, there is really a dichotomy going on between her and her internal feelings. She’s a wealthy girl, she comes from a really great background, but she’s still connected to the streets in a sense that she wants to save everyone and try to make a change within her own community. It’s not always welcomed, but we’ll see, you know?
AM: Seeing you guys as partners this season, it’s fun to see the dynamics and how both of you are unveiling certain things about your characters, what can we keep an eye out for that you’re able to share?
KH: I think that we start off the season where Morgan and I are very at odds with one another because of this background that she has as this rich girl. If people saw how I entered into Season 2, they’ll see sort of the same thing going on with me and Steve. You know, me being the new girl and now Morgan in this season, and how things have turned and I sort of get to switch and become Steve’s character where I am testing her all of the time, but then you can watch as we go through the season on how our partnership really blossoms.
MA: I would say that for my character, Anderson, it’s just a lot of proving herself. Not even necessarily of whether she can do the job, but just her background alone makes a lot of people standoffish.
AM: We can’t wait to see how it unfolds. We’ve been a fan of both of your careers in other projects and it’s really cool to see your dynamic together!
IG @kellyhu
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | STARZ/BMF
Read the FEB ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see BMF | Heather Zuhlke, Kelly Hu, & Morgan Alexandria in mag.
This month, we had the pleasure to sit down and talk with Chef Alton Brown who is known as a TV Personality, super informative food scientist, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. Growing up, we enjoyed watching Food Network's Good Eats so much, which examined the origins of ingredients, and shares culinary customs and shared recipes with us. In addition, we enjoyed watching him host Iron Chef America on the network as well as Netflix's Iron Chef: Quest For An Iron Legend.
His passion behind the science of food, as well as its history, is always exciting to learn about. We took some time to find out about brain health, how he got into the industry and his partnership with Neuriva.
ATHLEISURE MAG: I have been a fan of your work ever since 1999 when I saw the first episode of Good Eats on Food Network!
ALTON BROWN: Oh wow! You were in grade school?
AM: Hmm ’99, I was in college!
AB: It’s funny, it still sounds recent. When I hear someone say 1999, I’m like that’s not too far away!
AM: Same! I was born in ’79 so I don’t feel it’s that far away!
AB: I graduated from high school in ’79!
AM: We’re always talking about health – fitness, gut, mental, and we don’t always get to brain health. But that is an important component as well. Why is it important to you?
AB: Well I really started to think about it a lot when I was thinking about the fact that I was going to turn 60 soon. I studied nutrition so much and I have read so much about it – I have probably forgotten a lot but, I hadn’t really spent a lot of time thinking about what my brain actually needed from me from a culinary standpoint, a supplemental standpoint, an exercise standpoint, or any standpoint. So I started doing a fair amount of research from a few years ago reading peer review papers and I have always enjoyed research. When I got a call from Neuriva, I was like, I already know what is in there, because I have already read papers on ashwagandha and papers on NeuroFactor and so it was very clear to me very quickly that they were very into the science, as was I. That’s how that started and that’s how I got interested in learning about what brains need and they are very complex organs. They do need things and a lot of what it is that they need, is that we need to feed them. The rest, I think supplementally helps.
For me, I break it down into exercise, quality sleep – which most of us do not get – as sleep is gigantic and really almost more important than exercise, nutrition, and what I call – brain stretching. For me, I always need to be in a state of always learning about something that I don’t know. It’s about studying and not just reading for fun. I have to have the ability to actively acquire information.
AM: Yeah, like putting the pieces together.
AB: Right, or my brain gets lazy. It does the equivalent of cracking a beer and sitting down in front of the TV if it’s not actively learning. That’s my brain – not me!
AM: Of course not you!
AB: I’m not a beer person!
And the other part is supplements. When I was studying nutrition from a brain standpoint, I thought there are a lot of things that I would like to get, but it’s just hard to get in food. You can, but not easily because you would have to eat a whole lot of something that you don’t want to. So I break it down into those 5 parts. I try to learn and now that I am in my 60’s, I need to try to learn enough so that my brain can continue to go for perhaps a little while longer.
AM: So what is Neuriva?
AB: You mean the actual supplement itself?
AM: Yes!
AB: Well, there are several of them. They have different things in them, but really, it’s a matter of adding, so the original Neuriva has this thing called NeuroFactor which is an extract from coffee berries – not the seeds, the berries. It also has Phosphatidylserine which is a phospholipid which supports cell membranes especially in the brain. So those 2 chemicals together – originally they were obtained from animal sources and then someone figured out how to get them from soybeans so it’s vegetable derived now. But those 2 things together formed a core of the two nutrients that I was interested in that I couldn’t just get.
You can get coffee berries for your beverage, but you need a lot and I’d rather take them in this supplement. On top of that I don’t really like the way that it tastes. For the Phosphatidylserine, it’s just almost impossible to get. So, those 2 things help you do maintenance for connectivity and cell membranes and then they added Neuriva Plus which brought B6 and B12 to they party. They are very symbiotic vitamins for brain health with those others. Then when Ultra came out, that added an extract from a member of the ginger family – Galangal – there are 4 different kinds of Galangals in the ginger family. They are wonderful for enhancing alertness. I like that one because it also works symbiotically with caffeine. It doesn’t have caffeine, but it works with it and I am a coffee person, so I have moved to that. It’s the same package plus the B Vitamins, plus that extract so it’s kind of like, you can get the base model or the extra! Of course when they come out with their next one, I don’t know! Because now that they have used Ultra, I told them to be careful about that as when it's out, what are you going to do? I mean what’s next, Super Ultra?
AM: Just hearing you talk about how you delve into the base parts of how things come together, how did you come to the culinary industry?
AB: I was a filmmaker, cinematographer, and director for TV commercials. I watched food shows and back in the late 80’s and the 90’s, I thought that they were boring and I knew that I wasn’t really learning anything. It was like, I have another recipe, great. But I don’t know why and I don’t know why any of this works?
I wanted shows that were more exciting and more visual. I wanted to know more on why that was going on and no one wanted to make that show.
So I quit and I went to culinary school. When I went to culinary school, I realized that they weren’t going to show me why either. Luckily, there was another college in this little town I went to for culinary school in Vermont and they had a library that we could use. So they would publish their chemistry reading list and I just went and started studying it because unfortunately, science is the answer to just about everything. There’s a science play everywhere, not necessarily for matters of the heart, but everything else.
So I think that I got addicted in a way that was chemical to telling those stories and to get people excited and to get people to be curious. It sparked in me a curiosity engine that I wouldn’t want to turn off.
AM: We love hearing about people's routines! What are 3 things that they enjoy doing, having, enjoying/being in the Morning, Afternoon, and at Night. We call this 63MIX ROUTIN3S.
AB: This has very much come out of my brain studies.
AM: I assumed!
AB: As a matter of fact, I'm not naturally a routine person. The only routine that I used to have was that I will stumble out somewhere and I will find coffee. When I went to bed, where I got to bed – at that time, everything was about work. I would work until 4 in the morning and then when I got up, I did it all over again.
So now with this routine that I have, it's about sleep and I have a bed time! I have a bed time. I have a bed hour that I have to get to bed during. Somewhere between 10:30 and 11:30, I must be in bed.
I can’t look at a screen at least 2 hours before then. It screws up everything. I can read, but it has to be a book. I have to get that sleep!
I also have a time that I get up and it’s no later than 6:30 in the morning. Because the morning to me is like stolen time it’s before you have to do things for other people. I’m working on my first collection of essays and memoirs stuff right know which has been a very challenging thing right now. I write better in the morning and I edit what I wrote at night better at this time. So that's a very big one.
My wife and I, Elizabeth, do not eat after 8pm at night. If that’s not enforced, you automatically set a clock where it forces at least a 15 hour break for the next day which puts me off my schedule for breakfast!
And then the other thing that I won't call a routine is that I used to say, ok, I'm going to workout. It's like, I have to put on clothes that I don't like.
AM: No 3-piece suits!
AB: It depends! I knew that it would be an hour and a half and that I would hate it. So instead, I have learned to break it up into chunks. I do micro workouts! I try to do 3 of them everyday. One of them has to be weight related. It doesn’t have to be a lot of weight.
One of them has to be 100% cardio. It can be fast - or when we're in NY, we have an apartment here and we live in Atlanta. If there is a coffeeshop that I want to go to like when we have our apartment here in NY, as opposed to picking the one on our block, I’ll pick one that is 3 miles away. So I earn -
AM: You earn that coffee!
AB: Yes! So there's always a cardio, there's always a weightlifting and this is going to sound so stupid, but my wife read this book called Breathe and convinced me that the entirety of my life, I had been breathing wrong. I don’t meditate because it makes me fall asleep, but I literally stop and work on nothing but breathing for half an hour.
AM: Breathwork is so important!
AB: Well I never knew that! I just thought that is was eh?
AM: I started doing it about a year ago and it really is effective!
AB: I was like, I'm already breathing! But the truth is, I'm a scuba diver and when I got the scuba diving training when I was much much younger, breath control was such a huge huge part of making your air last and not sinking all of the time, so it reminded me of that training that I went through and it's incredibly effective both mentally and physically! Two years ago, I wouldn't have been into it!
AM: It has been such a pleasure to chat with you and to be able to meet you and being such a fan of Good Eats as well as other shows that you have been on!
We enjoyed interviewing Alton and in addition to having time to talk with him, we enjoyed an intimate dinner party with him and the Neuriva team that would fuel our brain health.
Over our four course dinner at Hearth, Chef Marco Canora's (founder of Bone Broth brand, Brodo) Tuscan-American farm-to-table restaurant in the East Village of NYC, Alton walked us through each of the dishes! Of course, he provided the science behind them and why they are effective. Our first course was the Ribollita. It's an honor to share some select notes highlighted by Chef Alton from this special dinner.
AB: I’m so excited that we’re sharing this intimate dinner party together and as we enjoy our various courses, I’m going to tell you a bit about the brain nutrients that are involved in the dishes that we’re going to enjoy! The brain needs a number of nutrients for its health and you can get those outside of a supplementary way. One of the ingredients is coffee berries – I like coffee but I don’t like the berries and I’m not a fan of the taste and another one is Phosphatidylserine which is a lipid, a phospholipid that we used to get from brains in animals and now we get them from soybeans. It helps to build and maintain cell membranes and I want this stuff, I need to get this, and I can’t get enough of it in food. Then, all of a sudden there was the original Neuriva formula which I believe only contained those two things. So I knew it was the supplement for me as I wouldn’t be able to get enough of it in food.
So not too long after that, I was called up by them and I thought yes, get your scientists on the phone because I want to talk about white papers and everything. So it happened very naturally to partner with Neuriva and it’s been a couple of great years. I have been taking the product for awhile now and Ultra happens to be my favorite because it works really nicely when the caffeine hits.
We have a very stimulating evening ahead and we also have what I like to call instead of a Tasting Menu, a Thinking Menu as we talk about food. Everybody knows what the Mediterranean Diet (Editor’s Note: The Mediterranean Diet is a diet inspired by the eating habits and traditional food typical of southern Spain, southern Italy, and Crete, and formulated in the early 1960s.) is as it can be a bit loosey goosey and sexy and cool. It has had some great effects. From that is another diet that emerged from it known as the DASH Diet (Editor’s Note: Known as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, it is a flexible and balanced eating plan that helps create a heart-healthy eating style for life) that some of you may not have heard of that is a version of the Mediterranean Diet that was designed specifically for people that were fighting hypertension problems. So if anyone with us was in the 80s we used to have these things called Graphic Equalizer Stereos that turned things up and down on different parts of the soundwave and that’s what that diet did. It went for the hypertension part and removed salt and then it did some other things. Then in the 2015, Martha Clare Morris came up with the MIND Diet (Editor’s Note: Known as The Mediterranean – DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet combines portions of the DASH Diet and the Mediterranean Diet which have been shown to improve cognition) and it takes the same componentry of the Mediterranean Diet and changing it up for our brains. What would our brains want out of that diet? It’s a little bit different as it emphasizes some other components that might not have been as focused as much. For instance, all the diets have fruit! No one is going to talk bad about fruit. The MIND Diet says, you know what? The brain really wants dark berries. Blueberries - eat your blueberries. Have more olive oil, eat more leafy greens. No one is going to say anything bad about these things either. The MIND Diet has more poultry, even more than fish! There is a substance in poultry called choline (Editor’s Note: Found in poultry, this prevents abnormal storage of fat in the liver, which ensures proper body metabolism and efficient utilization of nutrients. It also supports the proper functioning of the nervous system and ensures its harmony.) which is really hard to get anywhere else, but in good lean, protein meat. Choline has a lot to do with enhancing the way that phospholipids work in the brain and our membranes as well. The good news is that unlike other diets, red wine is on the MIND Diet currently. There is some research for that. Tonight, we’re going to eat 4 courses. We’ll try to enhance and bring to the party, some of those foods that are incorporated into the MIND Diet and we’ll talk about it course by course as we go through it.
We are very fortunate to be at this restaurant! Hearth is one of the best restaurants in NY and I have known Chef Marco Canora for many years. There are brilliant, brilliant cooks here. Chef Michael Keough is here tonight and I hope he will come in and say something to us in a bit. I had some questions for him this morning and he was so gracious about answering about things that are on tonight’s menu.
Our first course is going to be a soup called Ribollita. If anybody has spent time in Tuscany, this is a soup that you would have seen there. It's a basic - I hate to say the word the word but here it comes – rustic soup. What this one does is it’s going to hit one of the major notes and chords of the MIND Diet – beans! When we talk about green beans, we’re also talking about dry beans. This is a bean soup in vegetable stock and we will be enjoying those vegetables tonight! There will be carrots, there are some onions, and I believe there is some cabbage in there. This also has some sage and garlic infusion. The cool thing about this in its traditional form, is that is bread based. It is thickened usually with moistened bread and always served with crisp, giant croutons on top. There is also a dusting of parmesan cheese. But most of the flavor will be coming from those beans. That’s going to guarantee that we are getting those beans that we want. Of course you can enjoy the bread as well as the olive oil which is also perfect for this diet as well.
We enjoyed this hearty soup which was flavorful and nourishing. It really set the stage for the next portion of our meal which was a Pizzocheri, a ribbon pasta.
AB: As we continue on in the MIND Diet, the next course is a Pizzocheri. We don’t talk much about mushrooms in brain health and brain support, but there’s a lot of research that suggests that we should be focusing on them a lot more. They’re good for our bodies, our planet, and our brains. This Pizzocheri is topped with a little bit of fontina cheese and what we’re getting is some great vegetation with the cabbage and some brain healthy mushrooms that are not currently listed on the MIND Diet, but I think that they will be in the next few years and a whole grain pasta which is a perfectly acceptable way to get your grains.
This was yet another dish from the night that was filling an full of nutrients that are beneficial to our health. We all agreed that this was something that we would enjoy eating throughout the winter! Where the first, second and the fourth course are dishes that are currently on Hearth's menu, but were adjusted to have the brain health specific ingredients that are part of the MIND Diet, our third course is a recipe from Alton Brown that we were excited to try as we know his love for chicken!
AB: We are at the Main Course event for tonight! This is my recipe and it is actually a conglomeration of two of my spatchcock recipes. I like to cut the back of my chickens – some people call it butterflying, I think that spatchcock is far more sexy! So this features a couple of Middle Eastern spices that I am a big fan of, Aleppo pepper and Za’atar that I know that you all are very very familiar with. So we’re getting our poultry in which is definitely on this diet. But also, we’re taking in our greens from another chicken dish of mine, a Sesame Glazed Dark Greens which it is being served with it tonight. I believe we’re going to have a Black Kale and 2 other greens, I’m not sure what they ended up with tonight, but it is 3 very different organic greens. They have been sauteed and it’s whatever they got from the market today. The sauce is a straight forward pan sauce that are the drippings from the chicken with a little bit of butter and poured right over the chicken. This is something that I like to do once I got into the MIND set of the MIND Diet which is combining various things that were in the diet to support each other. I love chicken, it’s my favorite meat. There are days where I don’t want to eat my greens and I try to hide them – I will tell you that! But because they are brought together by the lemon glaze with sesame, it unites the dish in a really handy way! So I hope you enjoy it and smell it!
Without a doubt, this is a chicken that we could have again and again! The greens were also something that we want to put in our rotation as well! We have the recipe for both of these dishes that you can make for yourself for Alton's Butterflied Chicken with Aleppo and Za’atar as well as his Lemon Sesame Glazed Greens!
Of course, we ended this amazing meal with dessert and enjoyed a Tangerine Almond Cake.
AB: Dessert! Believe it or not, on the MIND Diet, desserts can be had especially when they contain nuts! Nuts are a big part of this diet because nuts have a lot of fantastic fats that are not only good for your body, but also for your brain. It’s the phytochemicals that are still being studied as we speak. This is an almond with most of the cream off to the side and kumquats. Of course, they are a great source of Vitamin C and so this is a dessert in the Italian style where the accent is really on the flavor of the ingredients rather than an added sweetness. Enjoy!
We enjoyed being able to chat with Alton as well as to be invited to his dinner party to enjoy a great meal as well as one that benefits our brain health!
We also learned about the brand's 30-Day Brain Health Challenge, an easy and fun way to redefine cognitive potential and establish a brain-healthy routine. This allows consumers to choose their Neuriva of choice and taking it for 30 days to help support up to 7 indicators of brain health, including memory. You can also download the Neuriva Brain Gym app, to play stimulating Brain Games daily and see the results for yourself.
IG @altonbrown
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 60, 65 + 67 Discovery+/Good Eats: The Return | PG 62 Neuriva | PG 69 - 73 Netflix/Patrick Wymore |
Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see BRAIN HEALTH IS KEY | Alton Brown in mag.
During NYFW FW24, we found ourselves after a long day of shows in Midtown East on a Fri night at Sabai Thai. There's nothing like a classic night out where you know you'll have a well rounded meal, great cocktails, and the perfect vibe! We enjoyed this Thai restaurant from the food, the staff, and the ambiance. We took some time to chat with this team to find out about the restaurant, their menu, what we can expect when we're dining there, and more.
ATHLEISURE MAG: When did Sabai Thai open?
SABAI THAI: In 2018, Sabai Thai opened on Park Avenue South by Owner Karan Daryanani, who spent a lot of time in Thailand and made his foray into the hospitality realm with a vision of happiness for his guests – encapsulated in the Thai term "Sabai."
AM: What does Sabai mean and how does that connect to the ih that you want people to have when they come in?
ST: The word “Sabai” means happy in English which is why we pride ourselves on bringing happiness to guests through traditional Thai cuisine and hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere. We wanted to create a place where New Yorkers and tourists alike could come and escape the bustling streets of Manhattan after a long day and enjoy Thai cuisine and hospitality in a relaxed atmosphere, with the intent of leaving ‘sabai’ - happy, relaxed and content.
AM: Karan Daryanani is the owner of Sabai Thai. Can you tell us about his hospitality background, and how his time in Thailand from the food to the culture, led to this restaurant?
ST: Karan, a world traveler and entrepreneur, has traveled to Thailand numerous times over the years and during all his visits, one memory stood out. He was walking through Petchaburi Soi 5, a street food market in Bangkok and vividly remembers the delicious street food, liveliness, and energy surrounding him. He shares “everyone is just enjoying a good meal, and everyone is happy and relaxed after a long day's work.” This experience inspired Karan to create an atmosphere where patrons could bask in the happiness and warmth reflective of Thai culture while enjoying the best food Thailand has to offer.
AM: We enjoyed coming in during NYFW on a Fri night, as it was a lot of fun to be in the midst of the energy of a classic night out. From being able to see the bar and watching people's faces as they received their cocktails and dishes, it was a great vibe. Can you tell us about what guests can expect when they come in for their next meal in terms of the decor?
ST: Our 2,300-square-foot restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, high ceilings, Thai paper umbrellas, a gold backsplash at the bar, lotus fountains and gold statues throughout. The decor takes inspiration from traditional Thai culture, offering guests a glimpse of the country. The back wall of the bar is inspired by the golden roof tiles of Thai temples, which make its the perfect focal point for the restaurant.
AM: We loved the outfits of the staff. Can you tell us about them and how it fits into the overall aesthetic?
ST: At Sabai, our staff wears a traditional Thai attire known as, panung, originating from central Thailand. These traditional Thai garments feature beautiful colors, intricate patterns and ornate details. Sabai is one of few restaurants in New York to showcase traditional Thai attire as part of the staff uniform. In having the team wear panung, we are showcasing yet another element of Thai culture into the restaurant.
AM: Tell us about Thai cuisine, the regions that it pulls from, and the ingredients and spices that are indicative of this cuisine.
ST: Thai cuisine is a combination of Eastern and Western influences. Similarly, it pulls inspiration from many of its neighboring countries. A Thai dish can vary depending upon the area or region of Thailand the dish originates from, for example in Northern Thailand you’ll find — while in Eastern Thailand you’ll find —-. Further, Thai cuisine offers many different flavors such as sweet, salty, sour and spice, giving you an explosion of flavor in every bite.
At Sabai our menu focuses on the cuisine of central Thailand. First time guests and regulars alike enjoy Sabai’s cuisine as it lends to many different dietary restrictions. On our menu you’ll find a handful of vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free dishes, like our curry which is all three.
AM: Your Executive Chef is Mingmitr Eddy Amnuaypanich who is a native of Central Thailand. Can you tell us about where he trained and kitchens he worked in prior to coming to Sabai Thai?
ST: Chef Mingmitr’s culinary journey began in his mother's kitchen in Bangkok, where he cultivated a deep-seated passion for cooking through innovative experiments with local ingredients. While pursuing an education in banking, Chef Mingmitr simultaneously honed his skills by working at various restaurants in Thailand. However, his career trajectory took a significant turn when he decided to pursue his culinary path in New York.
Embarking on his career, Chef Mingmitr began as sous chef at PONGsri in 2000, the then-notable restaurant for both theater enthusiasts and locals. He continued to elevate his craft as Executive Chef at Kelly & Ping, an esteemed SoHo establishment situated on a charming cobblestone street, revered as one of the premier Asian food and lifestyle destinations of its era.
AM: In presenting Thai cuisine at Sabai Thai, how did you approach Thai with a Western twist?
ST: Sabai unifies traditional Thai cooking with modern twists, catering to every palate. Chef Mingmitr’s blends his traditional style of cooking with Thai and American ingredients, creating dishes that offer a western twist, such as Thai Chicken Wings.
AM: What are 3 appetizers or Arharn Wang that you suggest that we should try when dining with family and friends?
ST: Our Curry Puff comes together with potatoes, green peas, carrots and is wrapped in roti canai bread, plus it’s vegetarian.
Our Sabai Sampler includes fried chicken dumplings, calamari, vegetarian spring rolls and curry puffs, with a sweet and sour Thai chili sauce - making it perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Our Thai Lettuce Wraps can be made with chicken and tofu and are a more interactive dish, as they require you to fill them up and dip them in a delicious sauce.
AM: The Sup & Yum or soup and salads had a number of our favorites on it. What are 3 that you suggest that we should try?
ST: Tom Yum, a traditional Thai soup, is a hot and sour soup packed with tons of flavor. It’s especially fragrant from the shrimp and fish sauce and packs a punch of heat with every bite.
Tom Kha Gai, a coconut milk soup, is a creamy, tangy, salt soup infused with lemongrass, galangal and makrut lime leaves.
Som Tam or papaya salad is a classic Thai dish known for its variety of flavors and textures. It’s bright, tangy, and spicy all at once and a must try.
AM: In terms of main courses and specials or Chan Lhak and Pi Set, what are 3 that you suggest that we should have in mind when coming in?
ST: Palor, also known as Pork Belly Stew, is a very traditional pork stew from Bangkok. It’s rich and hearty with a ton of flavor coming from the tender chunks of pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, hard boiled egg and Thai spices.
Pad Thai is undoubtedly the most well known Thai dish. It comes together with chewy rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, scallions, lemon and crushed peanuts. We take it a step further by adding tender juicy prawns and lobster, making it a hearty seafood noodle dish.
A fan favorite, our Massaman Curry offers everything you could want in a curry - warmth, creaminess, soft bites of potatoes, crunchy peanuts and more. Massaman Curry is one of the most popular curries, given its subtle sweet and tangy flavor, compared to spicier curries like Gan Kiew Waan.
AM: We also noticed that Kratha, From the Wok had amazing dishes as well - what are 3 that you suggest?
ST: Pad Thai, is undoubtedly the most well known Thai dish. It comes together with chewy rice noodles, eggs, bean sprouts, scallions, lemon and crushed peanuts. It’s hearty, tangy, sweet, and well loved for good reason.
Pad See Ew, is a close second to Pad Thai for most popular and for good reason. It’s a soy sauce stir fry made with thick rice noodles, Chinese broccoli, and eggs. It’s simple, yet packed with a ton of salty umami-ness. It’s a great dish to try if you are trying Thai food for the first time.
Green Curry or Gan Kiew Waan, is a rich, spicy curry with a hint of sweetness and herbal notes. It’s one of the spicer curries on the menu and perfect for a cold day or if you’re feeling under the weather.
AM: For dessert, there were a number of options - what are 3 that we should share?
ST: Mango Sticky Rice is a classic combination of coconut milk, sticky rice, and sweet ripe mango. It is one of the most well known and most popular Thai desserts and just as delicious as it sounds.
Fried Ice Cream is just as delicious as it sounds. Vanilla ice cream is wrapped in thick roti canai bread and deep fried until golden brown. It is then topped with logan (a sweet tree fruit similar to lychee) and a chocolate drizzle - and perfect for sharing.
Khanom Pang, a popular dessert in central Thailand, comes together with bread, coconut ice cream and sticky rice.
AM: We enjoyed meeting Demetrius Butler who is the Beverage Manager and we enjoyed his energy, how he worked the room, and our Cucumber Mezcalitas! Can you talk about his background in hospitality, where he trained and worked and how he came to Sabai Thai?
ST: Beverage Manager, Demetrius Butler, brings his extensive knowledge of working in New York City’s nightlife to Sabai Thai. Previously making stops at Blue Midtown and Wild Birds, Butler infuses his grandiose personality with Thai-inspired flavors in his drinks, resulting in the creation of distinctive signature cocktails.
AM: We are huge fans of Suntory and for the bar program, Sabai Thai has partnered with Suntory and has their Toki Highball Machine. Can you tell us more about this?
ST: The owner, Karan, is also a huge fan of Suntory. Fun fact, the majority of our cocktails list is made using Suntory Brands as he believes they offer the best quality liquors. We partnered with them last fall to launch three highball towers - which are the first of its kind. A highball is a mixed alcoholic drink, composed of alcohol and often a carbonated beverage. It's very popular in Asia where you have a “highball session.”
AM: What are 3 cocktails that you suggest that we should have when we come in for our next meal?
ST: Our most popular cocktails are the Pink Lychee Martini, Mamaung Margarita, and the Cucumber Mezcalita. Our Pink Lychee Martini is cold, refreshing, tropical, and perfect for sipping on. The Mamaung Margarita comes together with Hornitos tequila, mango puree, and lime. Our Cucumber Mezcalita offers a refreshing cucumber and mint flavor paired with the smokiness of Verde mezcal.
AM: Are there items on the menu that are only available for lunch or dinner?
ST: Sabai offers a lunch special weekdays Monday-Friday from 12:00-3:00 pm, starting at $21. It comes with a garden salad, choice of a bite and entree. Choose from your favorite Thai classics like Pad Thai or Green Curry, to name a few.
AM: Do you have a Happy Hour or Bar Menu and if so, what are 3 pairings that you suggest in terms of a cocktail and 2 dishes that you suggest?
ST: We don't have a happy hour at the moment, however; we plan to launch our happy hour in the late spring of 2024.
AM: Are there any upcoming events that we should know about or anything that you would like to share about Sabai Thai that hasn't been covered?
ST: Sabai will be throwing a happy hour launch party with Suntory in the spring of 2024.
PHOTOS COURTESY | Sabai Thai
Read the FEB ISSUE #99 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Sabai Thai in mag.
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.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Michael Simon
Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see KINGS OF THE STRIP | Penn & Teller in mag.
We have a bit of a cliffhanger from last week and it’s also the Women Tell All on tonight’s The Bachelor. Jesse Palmer lets us know that Susan and Kathy will host the Bachelor Nation The Golden Hour - we can’t wait for this to launch so we can hear from them as what a great duo! We get to see some of the viewing parties which is always fun.
We finally have the women on the stage so that we get to know more about what took place during the season. Thinking back that there were 32 women and how far we have come, it’s been a great season so far.
Of course, there are always dramas that need to be talked about as the tape is run back and the women are able to chime in. Lea doesn’t come off so great - she looks surprised that everyone reminds her of her involvement and she walks off the stage for a time. We get to the bottom of the source of the conversation between Medina, Sydney, and Maria. We then delve into the issue between Maria and Jess.
We then get to hear from Lexi in the hot seat who left early back in Montreal. You could see that she really liked Joey Graziadei and it was sad when she decided to leave. She acknowledges that he is a great guy and she felt seen and heard by him. People loved learning about her story and how she has dealt with Endometriosis.
Next in the hot seat is Jenn that we hoped she would make it all the way to Hometowns. It’s sad to see her see their relationship and how it ultimately played out. She shares that when you realize that it’s not happening, you sit back wondering what could have been done, what happened to the alignment etc? Of course, with her going all the way until almost making it to Hometowns.
As each person talks, we’re thinking of who will be the next The Bachelorette. Up next for the hot seat is Maria. We see how their relationship progressed and that she is sent home. They also talk about her family and her bond with her father. She also talks about the disconnect between her and Sydney because Jesse wanted to know what happened. As they talk about it more, Maria ends up saying that she doesn’t appreciate the bullying that took place online at Sydney and Lea and that she doesn’t like, support, or condone it! She even gives them a hug.
We go back to last week’s episode when Joey reads the note about needing to talk with Kelsey. He says he’s confused about why the note is there and how things could have gone wrong. Kelsey arrives at Joey’s suite and she tells him that she cares about him and wanted to tell him how much she misses him when he’s not there. Although this is great to hear, leaving a message that says, “We need to talk,” has put him in a bad head space. We know that we will see the rose ceremony and then we will see the person who was sent home tonight on the stage as well! It’s a great way to keep everyone tuned into this episode.
We’re back in Tulum as Kelsey, Daisy, and Rachel make their way to the rose ceremony. He gives a rose to Daisy and then another to Kelsey. He walks Rachel out and does not give her a rose. They chat for a bit and he lets her know it would be wrong to keep her there if he is not feeling the way he should be with her at this point. We know what he did tell the remaining women that he was falling in love with her.
Seeing Rachel looking beautiful on the couch with Jesse after watching how her relationship ended is heartbreaking. Hearing her talk about although it has been tough, she had tears of sadness and joy watching everything back. Joey finally makes his way out to see them and sits with Rachel. He lets her know that he cared about her and that when he realized he couldn’t go further, there was nothing else he could do.
They also talk about the awful hateful racist comments that Rachel received and how the other women received hateful comments too. Jesse lets everyone know that they love the conversations that they see, but there is no place for those hateful conversations!
Joey gives his first impressions from night one when they were in the house and he says that hey were all amazing. He talks with the women and says what he loves about them. He’s asked if he has single friends and in addition The Golden Bachelor contestants remind him that their single dads would be great as well. Joey asks about some of the women to see how they are doing - we find out that Kelsey T was able to connect with her father after not speaking with him for so many years. He also says that people forget that many moments take place that he never saw and so to be able to see them, it adds new awareness to everything. He says Rachel and Maria made him laugh the most during the season. We also enjoy a series of bloopers!
But we have a sneak peek of what the final episode will be and it seems like it’s definitely going to be an emotional one.
JOEY GAVE ROSES TO | Daisy, Kelsey
JOEY DID NOT GIVE A ROSE TO | Rachel
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Bachelor and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
PHOTO CREDIT | The Bachelor Contestants/Richard Middlesworth
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
We love a good kingpin podcast and in The Godmother, we are transported to the 1930s where Lucky Luciano is one of the most notorious mobsters of his time. He was taken down by a rookie prosecutor. Eunice Carter was one of the first Black women ever to be a prosecutor in America.
With her world and office being centered in the Harlem Renaissance, she navigates the world which is a blend of corruption that is rampant in downtown Manhattan politics along with the nuances of a racial and sexist pre-Civil Rights American social structure and society.
As a pioneer in what would be known as the “trial of the century” that has been previously lost to history.
In this podcast we learn how Eunice, a writer, social worker, mother, teacher, sister, socialite, political candidate, community organizer and previously known pioneer made her mark in this case as well as a far reaching legacy, search for justice and an undeterred ambition.
In the limited series Expats, we are introduced to those who have taken residency in Hong Kong. On the surface, we see successful men and women at work, home, and at play. We watch as they engage in their surroundings and even enjoy the aesthetics of their wardrobe, homes, and the way they relax!
But throughout the episodes, we see that the goals and ambitions of the women in a multifaceted group are challenged by a series of events that bind as well as fragment them.
This complex web takes place between two friends with increased tension and a young woman who was initially there to assist their lives while becoming a catalyst to a chain of events that will affect all their lives as well as those that are related to them!
What is the balance between blame and accountability and where does forgiveness come into play - at what cost?
Although we hope that there will be a second season of this immersive series, you can watch all episodes in the perfect binge now!
From the special investigations team at the Financial Times, Untold is a new podcast that we can't wait to see future stories. In Untold: The Retreat, host Madison Marriage looks at the Goenka network which promotes a form of intensive meditation known as Vipassana. Numerous people go on these retreats every year; however, there are those that attend and suffer while there as well as when they have returned. Some have described feeling terror or a break with reality that makes it difficult for them to cope and ultimately, they are no longer the people they were prior to going to the retreat. The investigative team follows the leads to see what is going on in this wellness space.
Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY BOOKS in mag.
Travel videos have the power to transport viewers to far-off destinations, igniting a sense of wanderlust and inspiring adventure. This article explores how video editing techniques are instrumental in crafting immersive travel experiences, capturing the essence of destinations, and inviting audiences to embark on a journey of discovery.
I. Evoking Wanderlust: Capturing the Beauty of Destinations
At the heart of every travel video is the desire to evoke wanderlust and inspire exploration. This section delves into how video editors can showcase the beauty of destinations through breathtaking visuals, sweeping landscapes, and immersive cinematography. By capturing the essence of each location, editors ignite the viewer's curiosity and desire to experience the world firsthand.
II. Storytelling Through Travel: Weaving Narratives of Adventure
Travel videos are more than just showcases of scenery; they are narratives of adventure waiting to unfold. This part explores how editors can use storytelling techniques to engage viewers and create emotional connections with destinations. From personal anecdotes to cultural insights, weaving narratives into travel videos adds depth and meaning to the viewing experience.
III. Dynamic Editing for Visual Impact: Enhancing the Journey
Dynamic editing techniques are essential for enhancing the visual impact of travel videos. This section discusses how editors can use techniques such as fast-paced cuts, dynamic transitions, and rhythmic editing to convey the excitement and energy of travel. By infusing the video with movement and momentum, editors keep viewers engaged and immersed in the journey.
IV. Soundscapes of Exploration: Elevating the Audio Experience
Sound plays a crucial role in setting the mood and atmosphere of travel videos. This part explores how editors can use sound design to enhance the audio experience, from ambient sounds of nature to the bustling rhythms of city life. By layering immersive soundscapes over visuals, editors transport viewers to the heart of the destination, stimulating the senses and deepening the connection.
V. Personalized Adventures: Tailoring Experiences to the Viewer
Personalization is key to creating memorable travel experiences through video editing. This section discusses how editors can tailor content to the interests and preferences of viewers, providing recommendations, insider tips, and interactive elements that enhance the journey. By creating personalized adventures, editors cater to the diverse tastes of travelers and foster a sense of exploration and discovery.
VI. Sustainable Travel Advocacy: Promoting Responsible Tourism
In addition to inspiring wanderlust, travel videos have the power to promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices. This part explores how editors can use their platform to advocate for ethical travel initiatives, highlight conservation efforts, and raise awareness about environmental issues. By showcasing destinations through a lens of sustainability, editors inspire viewers to explore the world with a sense of stewardship and respect for the planet.
Conclusion:
Travel videos are a gateway to exploration, adventure, and cultural discovery. By harnessing the power of video editing techniques to evoke wanderlust, weave narratives of adventure, enhance visual impact, elevate the audio experience, personalize adventures, and promote sustainable tourism, editors can craft immersive travel experiences that resonate with audiences around the globe. Through the artistry of video editing, every frame becomes a window into the world, inviting viewers on a journey of discovery and transformation.
In this cross-cultural coming-of-age story follows Andrea Rodríguez who at the age of 9 leaves her factory town in Massachusetts to go to a village in the mountains of Puerto Rico. Her mom promises that one day, they will return in The Things We Didn't Know.
A few months later, they go back to Massachusetts only to find that their hometown isn't the same! She learns to navigate what it is like to grow up as well as to learn about changes that take place around her from family values, American culture, and what it means to just get older.
In this novel, we see the 1950s through her eyes and the decisions that she ultimately makes.
What do you do when you realize that life as you know it, has changed? A Friend in the Dark introduces us to to Eden Miller. We find her blindsided by her husband wanting to divorce her and her daughter barely talks to her. In order to take a step back from the present, she sends a friend request to college crush, Justin Ward.
We find out that one night, 23 years ago her life changed! A decision resulted in closing the door on Justin and an opening existed where her husband Dave became an option. But what if you could do it all over again?
By reconnecting with Justin, she realizes that she is alive in ways she wasn't before and that anything is possible! Their online relationships makes her bolder, but she is also suspect as it seems that he knows too much about her as well as her family! Although she has enjoyed the attention, she needs to come back to the present and figure out what she needs to in her dealings with him. Who is this man that she has reconnected to and what happened all those years ago?
Lindsey Johnson, along with Chase Reynolds Ewald, often find their cooking and baking inspiration from the West. Flavor profiles, ingredients, and artistic decorating ideas are all sparked by the romantic and rustic western mountains. In Wild Sugar: Sweet Treats Inspired by the Mountain West, we learn how to create amazing desserts via more than 50 recipes plus additional frostings, fillings, and toppings that are based on seasonal ingredients. These recipes are designed for the home baker, and her detailed instructions along with decorating tips and hints, will have you serving showcase cookies, pies, cakes, and sweets in no time.
Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY BOOKS in mag.
YAO opened on Jan. 29th of 2024. Executive Chef-Owner, Kenny Leung, immersed himself in a government culinary program in Canton, China. After graduating, Chef Kenny flourished at Canton’s prestigious White Swan Hotel and Restaurant; it was the only restaurant to earn a Michelin Star. In 1988, he moved to NYC to join the culinary landscape. In 2015, he co-founded August Gatherings with Thomas Tang.
Thomas is an Owner-Operator, who grew up as the son of one of China’s top chefs who catered for regal events. As an adult, he moved to New York City. He met Chef Kenny while working together in the original location of August Gatherings. They decided to purchase the Canal Street location and have been partners since.
Every detail of YAO’s interior reflects the harmonious blend of Chef Kenny’s culinary art and meticulous eye for design.
YAO is a modern Cantonese cuisine located in the Financial District. Center to the YAO’s ethos are the crown jewels of Cantonese cuisine, abalone, sea cucumber, and fish maw.
The six-course tasting menu, named “Jia Yan”, a Chinese word loosely translating to “a celebratory family gathering” or “banquet begins with an amuse bouche followed by Shikoku Bamboo Shrimp Dumpling. The banquet continues with Gold Leaf wrapped Fried Abalone, sustainably sourced grade-6 wild abalone from South Africa that is deep-fried, sitting atop a house made sauce on a crispy wonton skin, wrapped in edible gold leaf. This creates several layers of texture, notable in Cantonese cuisine.
One of the main stars of the progression is the Alaskan King Crab Wensi Tofu Soup. The broth is a two-day production, made from the shell of the crab with ham and chicken, not boiled, then placed in a water bath. Grilled Angus Short Rib is tenderized with kiwi, drizzled tableside in a pear and oyster sauce. Longevity Noodles with Fish Maw is a jewel in Cantonese cuisine as it's rich in collagen. The final course of the progression is their seasonal signature dessert, a warm Deep Fried Mochi Sesame Ball filled with Red Bean Paste served on top of a homemade seasonal fuji apple sorbet.
The six-course tasting menu is available for both lunch and dinner, Monday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
In addition, you can order from the a la carte menu as well. For appetizers, we suggest Brown Sugar Duck Thigh, Shumai Abalone and Pork as well as Fried Crab Meat with Shrimp dim sum. For entrees, we suggest Oven Roasted Black Angus Short Rib, Wensi Tofu Soup and Assorted Organic Mushrooms in Hot Stone Pot.
PHOTO CREDITS | YAO
Read the FEB ISSUE #98 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | YAO in mag.
JETSET Pilates was founded by Tamara Galinsky in 2010 in Miami Beach and has grown to become an internationally recognized brand with a growing, loyal community devoted to the unique 50-minute modern Pilates workout that challenges body and mind.
This studio has 8 locations throughout South Florida - Coral Gables, Downtown Miami, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Brickell, South of Fifth neighborhood in Miami, Edgewater, and Sunset Harbour. There our 20 in-development studios include NYC (multiple locations), Tampa FL (multiple locations), North Miami, West Palm Beach FL, Orlando FL, and Melbourne Australia, to name a few!
JETSET's custom-made reformer is designed to elevate the pilates experiences. With a unique configuration of seven springs, each varying in weight, this reformer offers unparalleled versatility in resistance exercises. When working at the front, the springs seamlessly assist movements, providing support tailored to individual’s needs. Conversely, shifting to the back intensifies the challenge as the springs add resistance, ensuring a well-rounded and dynamic workout. The reformer's platforms and carriage are equipped with strategically placed leverage straps and pockets, enhancing stability and control throughout the session.
Their private sessions offer an exclusive 50-minute class, delivering a signature total body workout with the added benefit of personalized attention. With a dedicated instructor at your side, the session is entirely tailored to fit clients' unique needs and body, ensuringa workout that aligns seamlessly with goals. Private sessions are offered either in private pilates rooms as a single or duet (two clients) in select studios or in the main studio space.
JETSET's Arms and Abs class is a 50-minute session that zeroes in on sculpting the upper body, center core, and obliques. They're also rolling out more specialty classes such as Fundamentals and lower-body focused.
Pre/post-workout, they have cold water in eco-conscious packaging and pre/post-workout drinks such as Amino Lean. Some studios feature a selection of local juices available for purchase. You can also purchase JETSET Pilates apparel and accessories as well.
For your nearest location or studios that are opening in your area, visit their website.
PHOTOGRAPHY | JETSET Pilates
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On tonight’s The Bachelor we’re continuing on with another key portion of the process, Fantasy Suites. We know that this episode is going to be a doozy and we’ll see how it all comes together now that we’re in Tulum. We have Daisy, Kelsey, and Rachel. We hear from each of the women about how they feel about the process and this important week with Joey Graziadei.
Susan sits down with Rachel and it’s a bit like sorority house mom vibes as she’s talking with her. How could you not want to hang out with Susan and feel good about yourself? To have the ability to get great wisdom from someone while also sharing the Bachelor Nation experience with them is great. Susan’s best piece of advice is that if she really wants to be with him, she needs to open up and to be vulnerable.
Their date will be in a lagoon and they will dive off of various levels that are around it. They jump off of different platforms until she falls in an odd way into the water. She ends up going to the hospital to get checked out, but ultimately, she ends up being ok! They talk later on and he wants to make sure that she is ok and she apologizes for what happened during the date - he lets her know that it was unforseen and it’s ok. She opens up more with him and she shows her vulnerabilities.
He gives her a card and lets her know that although their date was cut short, he wants to spend more time with her in the Fantasy Suites. They explore their villa and she looks forward to spending time with him off-camera. He wakes up the next morning with Rachel and we can definitely see them together as a couple. She told him that she loved him and she let him know that she loved how he took care of her. In Joey’s confessional, he says that he is falling in love with her.
There are still 2 more dates for him to navigate. Over the last few episodes, we’ve started liking Kelsey as we’ve gotten to know her. Leslie from The Golden Bachelor arrives to give her some advice. She hears her story and lets her know that she needs to be present when she is with Joey. She also lets her know that as much as she should enjoy her time with Joey, she needs to also realize that there is a possibility that she may not be chosen ultimately. Leslie tells her that she wishes that she didn’t feel so confident when she was going into the experience with Gerry as ultimately, she wasn’t chosen. She wouldn’t wish that feeling on her worst enemy.
Joey and Kelsey are finally on their date! They take a boat out to see the animals in the ocean and dive in. You can see how comfortable they are with one another. This could be a match - this season, The Bachelor definitely had a great crop of women as it got closer to the end. As they continue on to their dinner, they both talk about how much they have enjoyed spending time with one another. Kelsey tells Joey how she chatted with Leslie and the advice that she gave. He also talks about what it was like for him when he was with Charity and what happened to him on The Bachelorette. He tells her that he has felt that he has been falling in love with her for a long time and he knows how real it is. He knows how he feels and wants her to know. She accepts going to the Fantasy Suites.
We see them making breakfast together the next morning and they definitely look like they would be a great couple too. She tells him that she is in love with him. She’s going to hold onto everything that she has enjoyed as she waits to hear from Joey.
Daisy is looking forward to her date and is a bit anxious. Sandra tells her that she should stop thinking about the anxious vibes, she tells her to stay focused and she needs to talk with Joey. She needs to stop thinking about the other women who are still in this process.
We’re on the last date of the week. Daisy is nervous and knows she needs to be open and to express herself. She greets him and gives him an extended kiss. They take a ride with an ATV through Tulum.
We see Kelsey battling her thoughts about where she sits in the midst of the dates that have been going on. She even references her conversation with Leslie and how she needs to have a wall up.
Back on Daisy’s date, they enjoy some champagne in the jungle. They talk about Hometowns and she lets him know how much she loves him. They continue on with an outdoor shower so that they can clean up and get a bit closer.
They continue onto their dinner. Daisy lets them know that she had a great time with him. She lets him know that she gets frustrated with herself because she’s an emotional person. She lets him know that she overthinks things a bit. She tells him about her past relationship and how she would get shut down when she felt a certain way and expressed it. She loves that he is so emotionally available as she feels safe and seen. He lets her know that talking it out is an important part to being in a relationship so that the person you are with feels special. He lets her know that he is falling in love with her and they continue on to Fantasy Suites.
So 2 women have been told that he is falling in love with them and we know that someone writes a card saying that they need to see Joey.
It’s the next morning and we see Daisy and Joey together in bed. He says he loves being in that moment and they both say that they are falling in love with one another. She feels super calm and assured.
We see Kelsey continuing to feel confused about what is going on and whether it will be her. Joey feels that he has no concern that the women are there for him and he has no doubts. Kelsey goes by his room, but he is not there. So she writes him a note letting him know that they need to talk prior to the rose ceremony. She feels that she would rather leave now than have her heart broken. Hoey arrives later that day and finds the note that she left.He spirals a bit as usually a note saying “we need to talk,” tends to be something that doesn’t end up well.
The Tell All is next week. We’ll also get to know more about what happened with Kelsey.
JOEY GAVE ROSES TO |
JOEY DID NOT GIVE A ROSE TO |
Each night during this season, we will tweet about The Bachelor and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!
Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.
We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!
PHOTO CREDIT | The Bachelor Contestants/Richard Middlesworth
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.