Simply Put…Thank You May 20, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in NYC, FAME.Tags: Serino Coyne, ¡WEPA!, BAR 13, The Kenkou Group, 2012 AIDS Walk, Porter Gallery, DJ Omar Abdallah
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On May 17th, F.A.M.E NYC in conjunction with The Kenkou Group hosted its annual 99 Red Balloons AIDS Walk Fundraiser. Because of this event, F.A.M.E NYC was able to meet and exceed its pledge to raise $300 for GMHC’s 2012 AIDS Walk. We were blessed with a beautiful night and when I saw those balloons ascend into the sapphire sky, I became very emotional. For me, each of those balloons represented someone that I had admired who had passed away from AIDS or are living with it. The three balloons I released from my hands were for my three brothers and their experiences were the genesis for this event.
Throughout the evening many people asked me how I came up with the concept for 99 Red Balloons. Part of the idea came from the 1984 new wave song from Nena titled, “99 Luftballons”. The other part came from the fact that by 1999 I had lost two brothers from AIDS and had another brother living with the illness. In a span of 10 years, my family had been decimated by this epidemic. AIDS had touched a third of my immediate family.
Because HIV/AIDS has been a part of our global landscape for so long, people forget how terrifying this disease was when it first began receiving media coverage. It was the equivalent ofa biblical plague and those who were diagnosed with it were the most fiendish sinners. People treated those with AIDS and their family like outcasts. I was 13 when my first brother was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. It was my last opportunity I had to give my brother a hug and I couldn’t touch him without wearing gloves, a mask and other medical garb. A month after he was rushed to the hospital he was gone. I remember being instructed by my mother on what to say about my brother’s death. She feared being ostracized by our neighborhood as others had been. When my second passed away in 1997, I knew I had to join the fight to raise awareness and find a cure.
Although last Thursday’s event was titled 99 Red Balloons, the subtitle should’ve been “With A Little Help from My Friends”. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to make this event happen. First, I must extend a massive thank you to The Kenkou Group for partnering with me. The Kenkou Group, http://www.thekenkougroup.com, is a concierge health care and advocacy group out of Harlem. Being from an area where its residents are at high-risk for new AIDS cases, their concern, passion and assistance were invaluable. They treated this event with the same dignity and care as one of their patients. Thank you to Joann Jimenez, Creative Director of ¡WEPA!, for your unwavering support. Thank you Jim Glaub and Serino Coyne and Jessica Porter of Porter Gallery for your wonderful donation, I truly believe the event wouldn’t have gone as well without your assistance. Thank you Gabe and everyone at Bar 13 for allowing us to have our fundraiser at your venue, you guys are the best! Thank you DJ Omar Abdallah for a blazing DJ set, you knocked my Pumas off. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended and donated. You are the reason this fundraiser was a success.
99 Red Balloons AIDS Walk Fundraiser was the beginning of a bittersweet weekend that culminated with today’s AIDS Walk. And as the anniversary of my brother’s death fast approaches, I firmly continue to honor my brothers by making sure I do what I can to lend my voice and energy to a cause that affects us all.
Come Join F.A.M.E NYC for Our Annual AIDS Walk Fundraiser May 14, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in FAME, Going Out, NYC.Tags: AIDS Walk 2012, F.A.M.E NYC, GMHC, The Kenkou Group
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Where: Bar 13 35 E. 13th Street New York, NY 10003
Time: 6:00pm until 10:00pm
F.A.M.E NYC Magazine & The Kenkou Group
Present
99 RED BALLOONS AIDS WALK FUNDRAISER
Come join us after work for an event of nostalgia
as we dance to the best 80’s & 90’s house, Hip-hop, R&B & pop.
Write a message to your loved one on the balloons and watch them float into the night sky as we release the balloons from the rooftop of Bar 13.
DONATION: $10
(All Proceeds to be donated to GMHC AIDS Walk NYC)
Your donation guarantees your entry to win a pair of tickets to one of the HOTTEST shows opening on Broadway this spring!
Come out and celebrate love & life!
F.A.M.E NYC Remembers Dick Clark April 28, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in FAME, Music, NYC.add a comment
Even before I was granted the privilege of staying up late and bringing in the New Year with my parents, Dick Clark was a part of my life. Every Saturday we would watch American Bandstand, a weekly event which signified the end of the Saturday morning cartoon shows, toggling between it and Soul Train, depending how the channels scheduled the two music shows. By the time I got hip to Dick Clark, he had already earned the reputation of “America’s oldest teenager”. His seemingly ageless face and graceful presence provided the soundtrack and memories of my childhood. Pyramid was one of my favorite game shows as a girl and the American Music Awards, which he also produced, always kept me glued to my TV screen. I swear if I had sat any closer, my parents would have experienced a Poltergeist-like scenario as I would have been in the television.
Dick Clark was born in Bronxville, New York, and was raised in Mount Vernon. After high school he implemented a dream to be in radio by attending Syracuse University, graduating in 1951 with a degree in advertising and a minor in radio. After stints at different radio stations in New York, California and Pennsylvania, Clark became host of a local show titled Bandstand in 1956. In 1957, the newly renamed American Bandstand and Dick Clark burst onto the landscape of American pop culture as the show debuted on ABC. Along with breaking color lines, Clark assisted in transforming rock n’ roll from a musical pariah amongst parents into one of the most popular genres of music. In 1972, he produced and hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. In April 2004, Clark announced he had type 2 diabetes and in December of that year he suffered a minor stroke, which left him with a speech impediment caused by dysarthria. Because of this, Ryan Seacrest assisted Clark in co-hosting the annual New Year’s Eve celebration. On April 18, Dick Clark passed away after suffering a heart attack following surgery. He was 82. On April 20, he was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Each year, Dick Clark hosted the biggest party in Times Square. For decades people descended from all parts of the globe to participate. As far back as I can remember Clark has been a part of me toasting in the New Year – first with eggnog, then with wine – it is unfathomable to believe I will not see his luminous eyes and boyish smile during the last hour of this December 31st. I guess it is because of New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and American Bandstand I have always associated Clark with new beginnings and inspiration. Even his illness couldn’t tarnish his eternal youthful spirit. He left an indelible impression in music and media, all while being a good person to boot. I suppose learning that your heroes and people you admire have succumb to their mortal fate is a symptom of getting older yourself. And while it’s just a fact of life, doesn’t stop it from hurting like hell. Thank you Dick Clark for all your contributions to media and music, thank you for such an incredible, inspirational legacy – New Year’s Eve won’t be the same without you.
The Splendor of the Lens April 2, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in FAME, Fashion, NYC.Tags: Fashion Photography, New York City, Oscar Correcher, Photographer
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My first introduction to Oscar Correcher’s work was through viewing the photo album of model/actor Hector Lincoln on Facebook. He had uploaded a few new photos, shot by Oscar, which I found to be gorgeous. A lot has always been said about the love affair between a model and the camera. We have all heard derivatives of the expression, “The camera just loves him or her!” And while this can be true, not much is said about the romance between a photographer and the camera. If the camera and a model have a love affair, then the photographer guides the liaison. The photographer is the person responsible for the shot that makes consumers want to purchase the latest trends. They are an essential component to the fashion world. And it takes love and passion to stand with dozens of photographers during fashion week and fight to get a good shot as a model walks the runway or to wake up early to get the best light for a photo shoot.
As a former model, Oscar’s relationship with the camera has been from both sides. His love and passion for life has prompted him to travel the world, capturing the beauty of experience. Whether it is a fashion story or Dali, his canine, Oscar’s photos lure the viewer in to a world of splendor. Recently, I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions about fashion, New York City and his bucket list.
Tell me about your background and travels.
I was born in Barcelona, Spain. At the age of 17, I went to London, when I was 19 to Paris and when I was 21, I came to NYC.
When did you first fall in love with photography?
When I started seeing old black and white pictures at home with my family. When I was eight years old, my father gave me my first camera, a second hand camera that he got on the streets of Barcelona on a Sunday.
What was the first camera you ever owned?
Professionally, a Chinon 35mm that a friend had sitting at home on the lower east side, we didn’t even know if it was going to work.
What year did you move to New York?
October 1997
What made you want to move to New York City?
The need of keep traveling and having new experiences in the world.
Has your experience as a model assisted your eye as a photographer?
Definitely! It wakes up a sense of intuition.
What do you love most about shooting fashion stories?
Being able to tell stories and show locations and places by using a theme or clothing.
What is the importance of photography to the business of fashion?
It is a way of translating what the brand or the designer is about or wants to communicate to the public for that particular season.
Who are your top five designers and why?
Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Ann Demeulemeester, Alexander Wang and Richard Chai because of their perfection/style, beauty and hard work.
If you had a photography bucket list, tell me the top three:
Locations
The dessert, Brazil and cities from all over the world.
Celebrities/Artists
Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey and Lady Gaga (an amazing young and very talented young lady from our time).
Random Things
Love, friendship and kindness.
What do you have planned for the rest of 2012?
To keep doing what I love and improving myself by learning and sharing.
To view Oscar Correcher’s photography, click oscarcorrecherphotography.dphoto.com.
Photo courtesy of Oscar Correcher
A Legendary Evening for Legendary Damon March 24, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in Entertainment, FAME, Going Out, NYC.Tags: Bridget Kelly, Chef Roble, Estelle, Karen Gravano, Legendary Damon, Marquee Nightclub, Mob Wives, Pretentious PR, Roc Nation, Studio 54
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So who can pull off making a grand entrance into a packed nightclub atop a white horse dazzling spectators? Legendary Damon, that’s who (eat your heart out Bianca Jagger). Last Sunday, NYC belonged to “the King of New York nightlife” as he celebrated his birthday with all the grandiose fabulosity that he has become recognized for.
Known for his lavish birthday soirees, Damon didn’t disappoint this year as he paid homage to one of the most iconic clubs in Manhattan’s history – Studio 54. The Marquee, located at 289 10th Avenue, was decked out in silver, reminiscent of the famed hot spot, complete with various old school album covers on the tables of the VIP section and the smiling half moon (minus the spoon filled with snow). Cocktails were being knocked back courtesy of Remy Martin V, and may I add they were extremely scrumptious.
Like the legendary club created by Steve Rubell, the A-List, philistines and everyone in between mingled in harmony as DJs Jimmy the Gent, Charlie Brown, Goldfinger, Kiss and MOS spinned an array of classics and hip-hop bringing the club to a frenzy. Among the celebrities toasting with the famed stylist and promoter were Chef Roblé, Karen Gravano of the hit VH1 show “Mob Wives”, UK R&B diva Estelle and Roc Nation’s Bridget Kelly, both of whom serenaded Legendary Damon.
All and all it is a fete that won’t be forgotten soon. Swankier and more fierce than last year, Legendary Damon knows how to put the swagger back into NYC clubbing. The countdown is on until next year; I can’t wait to see what he will pull out of his fashionable chapeau.
FAMERS, take a gander at the video that preceded his entrance into the club.
Photos and video courtesy of Pretentious PR, Maria Maltsava and Sarah McColgan
A Blizzard of Savings February 9, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in Entertainment, FAME, Going Out, NYC.Tags: Broadway, Off Broadway, Season of Savings, Theater District
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Well, the weather outside isn’t so frightful. But the savings are still delightful. The new Seasons of Savings booklet is out and offers discounts of up to 50% for shows, parking, hotels and attractions around the theater district.
Published twice of year, Seasons of Savings makes Broadway and Off-Broadway more accessible by providing amazing discounts to the hottest happenings in Times Square – the Superbowl is over, pick up a guide, run your fingers through a winter land of savings and warm up with a show.
To learn more or view the booklet, click http://www.seasonofsavings.com/.
Grand Re-opening…Grand Closing? January 21, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in Entertainment, FAME, Going Out, NYC.Tags: 40/40 Club, Jay-Z, Warren Buffett
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On January 18th Gotham’s hottest celebrities and Warren Buffett came out to celebrate with rap mogul Jay-Z. And it was not to celebrate the birth of his daughter Blue Ivy Carter; it was to officially announce that 40/40 Club was re-opened for business. Or is it? Yes, the Flatiron nightclub, located on West 25th Street, received a $10 million overhaul, but apparently that wasn’t enough to get the club a passing grade with health inspectors and was closed again a day later.
According to the Post, the health inspector gave the club 69 violation points and a “C” grade, and in case you are unsure what that means, that is bad. The health inspector found perishable food at dangerously warm temperatures inside the walk-in refrigerator, “hot” food left out on the counter and a worker mixing salsa with bare hands.
The grade will be adjudicated at a hearing next month. Ron Berkowitz, spokesman for 40/40 Club, stated to TMZ that the grade was a still pending. Since news broke of the club’s closing a day after its star-studded re-opening, some have rushed to various websites to question Jay-Z’s business acumen. But even “The Donald” has had his share of bumps along the road. I’m sure HOV could’ve oversaw the details of re-opening of 40/40 Club with a platinum tooth comb to ensure no hiccups like this would happen, but I believe Jigga has much more on his mind as of late. Wouldn’t you agree?
Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
It’s Good To Be The King January 21, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in FAME, Fashion, NYC.Tags: CEO, MSN Money, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren
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Or at least the CEO. According to MSN Money, fashion icon and creator of the Polo dynasty Ralph Lauren’s income as a CEO is $66.7 million dollars. The average salary for a Ralph Lauren employee is $$50,200. Now for you FAMERS that hate math as much as I do, that is a CEO-to-worker pay ratio of 1,328-to-1…Holy Hemline! We all know that there would be no Polo Ralph Lauren without the master designer; he is the founder of this colossal fashion and lifestyle brand. And this fact is not lost on Polo Ralph Lauren’s board which bestows homage by granting him with options and restricted stock.
In high school Lauren wrote in his yearbook that he wanted to be a millionaire. Well, I think he can cross that one off his bucket list. Although Mr. Polo appeared on MSN Money’s “7 CEOs pulling in outsized paychecks” article, Lauren, unlike some of the other CEOs, is in a unique position. He is after all only reaping the benefits of a dream he had and turned into reality. No one ever smote King Midas for his golden touch, did they?
To read the entire MSN Money article, click http://money.msn.com/investing/7-ceos-pulling-in-outsized-paychecks.
Lady Gaga Top Artist For 2011 January 21, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in Arts, Entertainment, FAME, Music, NYC.1 comment so far
Whether she was born that way or is just a brilliant creation – an ingenious splice of Grace Jones, Madonna, Elton John, David Bowie, Donatella Versace, Andy Warhol and a host of other musical, cultural and pop icons of the 70s and 80s, there is no one that can deny that 2011 was the year of Gaga. She is all those influences, stirred the melting pot of New York City and poured out for the world to admire. And doesn’t hurt that the girl can truly sing and bang out on those ivories.
Already becoming an icon in her own right, Lady Gaga cemented her status as the Grand Dame of pop music when she released Born This Way in May 2011. The album debuted in the top five spots in every major market and sold 1.108 million copies in the first week. The album’s title track became the fastest selling single in iTunes history. By year’s end, Born This Way had sold over 8 million copies and received three Grammy Award nominations. As she stood with Mayor Bloomberg to drop the famous Times Square ball on New Year’s Eve, legions of “Little Monsters” wait on bated breath to see what Mama Monster will do this year. What ever it will be, I’m sure she won’t disappoint them, her detractors and the rest of the universe.
Here is a look at the best of Lady Gaga’s videos for 2011:
The Mountaintop Top Play For 2011 January 21, 2012
Posted by famenycmageditor in Arts, FAME, NYC, Theater.add a comment
Angela Bassett…Samuel L. Jackson…Kenny Leon…need I say more. This production is a masterpiece! A work not to be missed, don’t deny yourself a trip to The Mountaintop.
To view F.A.M.E NYC’s review, click http://famenycmagazine.com/2011/10/16/the-mountaintop-mlk-comes-to-broadway/.
