Posts tagged with "new york city"

For The Love of Comic Con

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By: Rodney Ramlochan × Elle Grant × Vaughn Lowery

New York City’s Comic Con is a key annual fan event dedicated to Western comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, movies, television and more. First held in 2006, this classic event was canceled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, devastating fans who look forward to this mainstay of popular culture. Yet this year, Comic Con made its triumphant return, though it looked a little different in the attendance of both its exhibitors and fans. 360 MAGAZINE got the full scoop from well-versed fan Rodney Ramlochan on how this event has changed. He offers comments on the good, the bad, the Covid, and the in between for 360 readers. Read Ramlochan’s full testimony below:

To say that I love New York Comic Con is an understatement. For over a decade, as a pop-culture geek, I’ve enjoyed the fantastic guests, panels, original art, unique exhibitors, industry merchants, and one-of-kind exclusives. It has always been one of my favorite events to cover, and as a die-hard fan, I was deeply disappointed that the pandemic caused last year’s convention to go virtual. However, I was thrilled to hear that the event was coming back in person this year. Since much had changed over the past eighteen months, I thought it would be cool to experience the event as a fan rather than cover it as press. I also wanted to test-drive ReedPop’s Metaverse membership for ordering in-person tickets and focus on the overall fan experience, including Covid safety precautions and notable differences between this year and cons from yesteryear. Here are my post-Comic Con impressions.

I purchased tickets a few months ago in July using the MetaVerse presale process. Of course, this was before the uptick caused by the Delta variant strain. I didn’t expect any issues with purchasing online as I’ve never really had a problem buying 4-day or single-day passes in the past. Still, I was interested in trying out the new Metaverse Membership that gives you first access to NYCC badges, photo ops & autographing tickets. My mission this year was to get both an autograph and photograph with William Shatner, epic space captain of the Starship Enterprise and now a real-life astronaut. In addition to getting first dibs on NYCC in-person tickets, the Superfan membership allows you to buy MCM Comic Con, Emerald City Comic Con, and C2E2 tickets. You can also get paid digital experiences, exclusive access to video content and celebrity panels, access to exclusive NYCC merchandise online.

The Superfan Membership process was relatively seamless. I signed up at the end of June using the Metaverse Membership email and bought tickets using a dedicated link on my profile page within a few days. I purchased single day passes for each day of the convention, and I was contacted for the opportunity to purchase photo ops and autographs in addition at the end of September. Overall, I’d say the membership was worth it. It’s perfect for the fan who would rather have a more significant window of time to purchase tickets. Outside of remembering to click on the notification reminder emails and follow the presale, photo ops, and autographs links, ordering is straightforward. There are no worries about getting tickets for the exact days you want to attend. If you are good with the allotted time frame afforded by the standard ordering process, then paying for the Superfan membership may not be beneficial at this time. However, I do wonder what the future holds for purchasing tickets in the future. Suppose the Superfan method of buying in-person tickets becomes more popular. Will it impact the standard order process and make it more challenging to obtain single-day passes post-pandemic? Only time will tell.

As far as Covid safety protocols, enforcement, and logistics, the ReedPop and the Javitz Center team did a great job managing this. Before attending, I was uncertain why New York Comic Con needed a partnership with CLEAR Health Pass. Especially since vaccination proof was a requirement for attending and could be validated using vaccine cards and existing apps like the NY Excelsior Pass. In hindsight, standardizing the application that everyone uses for admission was a smart move. At the very least, it streamlined the process and expedited entry for most. I picked up my green ReedPop vaccine wristband at the Javitz Crystal Palace a few nights before opening. It took me less than 5 minutes to show the CLEAR app and retrieve the band, and in many ways, this process foreshadowed the overall feel and attendance for the convention. NYC began requiring proof of vaccinations in early September, and the event was following suit. The mandate may have impacted attendance, as I read many social media comments from individuals that stated they wanted to return or sell their tickets because they didn’t know the vaccine would be mandated before purchasing. But, as a whole, most people in attendance complied with the requirements. I was there all four days and only encountered two individuals not wearing masks on the main floor. I didn’t notice security enforcing the mask mandate, but I did hear that a vendor and few individuals had been removed from the showroom floor for not following the rules. At my William Shatner autograph and photo ops sessions, plexiglass partitions protected Shatner and the fans. Partitions were used at all reserved signings and photo op sessions. According to ReedPop, 150,000 paid in-person attendees were at the event this past weekend compared to 250,000 in previous years. Even with 100,00 fewer people, this was the largest indoor in-person event held in New York since 2019, showing a great evolution from where things were at the start of the pandemic. It was good to see that all of the proper safety protocols were in place.

One of the most significant differences between this year’s Comic Con and past shows was the notable absence of large exhibitors like Disney, Marvel, DC, Image, Sony, Amazon, SYFY, and distributors like Funko and Midtown Comics. Of course, it didn’t come as a surprise, as we had been receiving no-show notices practically every week leading up to the event. I’m sure it deterred some folks from attending, but I think it helped provide a unique experience for those who did. It minimized the crowd and offered other smaller exhibitors an opportunity to showcase their properties and spend more time with fans. As a result, I spent a lot more time than I would typically have at smaller booths. For example, I met the great folks at Plunderlings, a boutique toy line presenting a fresh take on fantasy universes from a Caribbean perspective. Although some of the major players weren’t present, there was an excellent turnout for anime fans from Toei Animation, Funimation, VIZ Media, and Tamashii Nations. Without having to compete for floor space, it seemed as if their exhibits doubled in size. If you were a fan of these companies, it was probably the first time in years that you could casually stroll through their exhibits without waiting in line. Although it was less crowded, the show floor did not feel empty. As expected, Saturday and Sunday saw an increase in volume of attendees, but nothing compared to the previous years.

One of the most extraordinary changes this year was the unveiling of the new Javits Center expansion project. It took a few minutes to figure out exactly where floors 4 and 5 were, but once you found them in the building adjacent to the old center, you were treated to the fantastic skyline and river views on the way up to the panel rooms and the new Empire Stage. There were a few blockbuster live panels, including Ghostbuster and The Boys; however, many panels like Sandman Act II and Wheel of Time were pre-recorded videos. I did sit in on the Sandman panel, but post-viewing, I felt a bit underwhelmed – watching a video of writer Neil Gaiman, audiobook director Dirk Maggs, actor James McCoy (who voices the title character), and actor/filmmaker Kevin Smith (who voices Merv Pumpkinhead) was not the same as seeing them in person. In addition, ReedPop introduced a new reservation system for the larger panels instead of the “badge tap-in” process used in the past. I have mixed feelings about this, as it didn’t appear that anyone’s reservations for the panels were being checked. It may have been because there was excess capacity remaining at the events I attended. However, I will note that the folks at the Tamashii Nations booth to purchase their exclusive Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Son Goku figure did check for reservations.

Overall, expanding the panels to the new venue resulted in two significant outcomes. First, it allowed more space to return to smaller fan-focused panels, which featured creators interacting with their fandom instead of pitching major studio events. Second, moving the panels out of the main building allowed for Artist Alley to take back a prominent role I felt it had lost over the past few years. This year, the Alley was front and center, featuring principal mainstays like Fabian Nicieza, Chris Claremont, Rob Leifeld, and Scott Synder amongst many others. I especially enjoyed chatting with Ben Bishop, one of the key artists on TMNT’s The Last Ronin.

Undoubtedly, many of this year’s Comic Con changes resulted from how best to host an event during a pandemic, but many of the changes also focused on improving the fan experience. As a result, NYCC 2021 felt more like the NYCC of 2011, but with a few notable improvements. Creators were able to connect more with their fandoms, fans were able to stop and appreciate exhibitors and artists more, and ReedPop unveiled a few new processes to streamline crowd control and help fans maximize their time at the event. It wasn’t perfect, but as a fan, it exceeded my expectations, and I’m even more looking forward to a pandemic-free NYCC next year.

Rodney Ramlochan attends NYCC on behalf of 360 MAGAZINE and meets William Shatner.

LOS ANGELES TOURISM KICKS OFF MEGA SPORTING EVENTS

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LOS ANGELES TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD CELEBRATES LA’S COMEBACK, KICKS OFF THE DESTINATION’S HISTORIC DECADE OF MEGA SPORTING EVENTS WITH SERIES OF EVENTS IN NEW YORK INCLUDING A LOS ANGELES-THEMED TAILGATE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

For its first client, media and consumer events since the beginning of the pandemic, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) set its sights on New York, LA’s largest domestic visitor market. Aligned with the timing of the Rams vs. Giants game taking place at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, October 17, Los Angeles Tourism is hosting four days of activity beginning this Friday, October 15, with a preview of the Los Angeles-themed tailgate experience that is open to the public on October 16 and 17 and concluding on October 18 with an intimate luncheon for key sales clients.

Serving as a kickoff to the decade of mega sporting events LA is hosting beginning with Super Bowl LVI in February 2022, Los Angeles Tourism officials will visit with key clients and media to share information on the destination’s safe and responsible reopening and LA’s seemingly endless supply of new hotels, restaurants, venues and cultural exhibitions.

“New York is an important market for us, both in terms of leisure and group business, so when the time was right to host our first mission since the pandemic, we knew it had to be in the Big Apple,” stated Adam Burke, the President & CEO for Los Angeles Tourism. “While technology has been instrumental in keeping us connected during these challenging times, I think we can all agree there is no replacement for meeting in person. We are elated to see our industry colleagues and share all that’s new in the destination as LA continues its comeback.”

On Saturday, October 16, and Sunday, October 17, Los Angeles Tourism is hosting an “LA Tailgate,” which is open to the public, at the aptly named TailGate Outdoor Sports Bar in Brooklyn. The experience features tacos from Enrique Olvera’s new LA taqueria, Ditroit; beer and wine from LA brands Golden Road Brewing and Angeleno Wine Co.; LA trivia hosted by dumbfoundead; major trip giveaways including round-trip air transportation to LA courtesy of American Airlines; and a limited-edition merch drop from LA Tourism x Obey Clothing by House Industries and Studio Number One.

Over the next decade, Los Angeles plays host to an historic line up of sporting events including the 2022 Super Bowl LVI; 2022 MLB All-Star Game; 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship; 123rd U.S. Open Championship at LA Country Club; 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball West Region Championship; and, the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

To learn more, visit @discoverla on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Visitors are encouraged to #TravelResponsibly and follow all guidance from Los Angeles County Public Health.

ABOUT LOS ANGELES & LOS ANGELES TOURISM

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (Los Angeles Tourism) is the non-profit destination marketing and sales organization for the Los Angeles tourism industry and the ultimate resource for where to stay and play in the L.A. area.

Los Angeles is a dynamic, ever-evolving destination – where diversity thrives, and everyone is welcome. Discover the true L.A. by exploring its more than 30 culturally rich neighborhoods, each one offering a distinct vibe. L.A. is home to more than 300 days of warm sunshine, 75 miles of idyllic shoreline, more museums and performing arts venues than any other U.S. city, and an innovative culinary scene led by influential tastemakers. A global creative capital and the epicenter of the sports universe, L.A. presents limitless possibilities for visitors from around the world. For more information, visit discoverlosangeles.com, follow at facebook.com/DiscoverLosAngeles, or @discoverLA on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Lamborghini Huracán STO

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“Can perform a corner without losing its speed, there is no secret, only a matter of overall balance.” – Andrea Caldarelli

By: Conan Zhang, Elle Grant × Vaughn Lowery

The Lamborghini Huracán first debuted at the 2014 Geneva auto show, and it is nearing 17,500 sales nationally, making the Huracán of the most popular cars in the United States. In the year 2022, This legendary model displays its prowess in a powerful performance! The “Super Trofeo Omologato,” in short as STO, is making its name in the Lamborghini Huracán family.

The Huracán STO is the most powerful Huracán ever made, created with only one goal: to deliver the most genuine feeling of a track car in the body of a road-legal machine. The car is inspired by the racing heritage of Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s one-make race series, featuring the Super Trofeo EVO and also GT3 EVO model, which won 3 times at the 24 hours Daytona and twice at the 12 hour Sebring race. In this car model, drivers are provided with the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate race experience every time they take to the road.

Once again, 360 Magazine is excited to be invited to the exclusive Lamborghini Lounge NYC; the opening of this site coincides with the debut of Huracán STO! This private space is located at 533 W 26th Street in the heart of the Chelsea district. The space was designed in an extravagant way offering us and other users the most luxurious experiences. The sound system in the room provided by Bang & Olufsen brings forth a progressive listening experience, maximizing the atmosphere of rallies and parties that can be held in the space. All the rooms here feature Italian furniture by Living Divani, while the kitchen is furnished by La Dolce Vita, allowing all the guests to not only enjoy driving Italian but also living Italian. Most excitingly, 360 had the chance to see and drive the 2022 Lamborghini Huracán STO with the guide with a Formula 1 Racer from the Lounge.

Design

The exterior is designed to achieve the balance of being both powerful and functional. It inherits the appearance of the Huracán Super Trofeo EVO while being even more aggressive! The usage of carbon fiber in the model makes up 75% of the body panels, which means every part viewable to the consumer’s eye is made of carbon fiber. This unique configuration makes the car 88 pounds lighter than the Performante model.

The one thing extraordinarily unique about the design is in the front of the car. It is called the “Cofango” – a specially designed body component that incorporates the front hood and fender. It looks like a stylish clamshell made purely of carbon fiber resting on the head of the car and it can be lifted as a whole.

When we move our sight to the back of the car, there is an exaggerated double-profile rear race wing that can be adjusted into 3 positions. It will provide 714-925 pounds of downforce, equivalent to the weight of a highland cow! On top of the car is a central shark-fin along with several air scoops that helps drag optimization and an ideal aerodynamic performance. Compared with the Performante model, this vehicle is 37% more aerodynamic efficient.

Compared with the 2021 Lamborghini Huracan EVO RWD Spyder, which 360 had the opportunity to test drive last month, the drag coefficient is much better on the STO model, as the EVO is a Spyder version where the drag force is extremely high with the top down.

Performance

The rear-wheel-drive not only contributes to making this car’s ability to drift and turn in a more sophisticated way but also assists in making the car lighter than the AWD models. It is equipped with rear steering that makes handling even more precise. With a V10 naturally aspirated 640 hp (470 kW) power plant, it produces a torque of 565 Nm, at 6,500 rpm. These components combined provide an acceleration of 0-62 mph in 3.0 seconds, 0-124 mph in 9.0 seconds, and a top speed of 192 mph.

The brakes on this car absolutely provide us with a race evocative adrenaline! The CCMR Braking System, which is directly derived from F1, is now built into the carbon-ceramic brakes that help stop this speed monster in 3 seconds when driving at 62 mph.

Technology

When we settle into the driver’s seat, there features a delicate touch screen on the center of the console. New Human Machine Interface (HMI) is equipped on the car, which helps the users to control the drive mode, monitor tire pressures, and tracks brake temperatures. The car is exactly what is needed to be a champion on the track day on the weekend without sacrificing the high-end features of a technologically advanced model. What is more satisfying is that the STO Connected Telemetry System will record a splendid performance which drivers can use to check our phones anytime and everywhere.

There are 3 driving modes that one can choose on the steering wheel – STO mode which is for daily driving, Trofeo mode which is for a fast and furious track driving experience, and Pioggia mode that adds huge traction designed expressly for driving on the wet surface.

Besides those technical features that help monitor the Huracán’s day-to-day performance, this car also features more classic modern features such as Apple Car Play and USB cables for convenience on the daily commute!

Conclusion

This stunning beast of a vehicle starts at USD 327,838, which is surely more expensive than the RWD Huracán EVO. People may doubt whether it is worthwhile spending more on a car that is both a daily vehicle and born for the track. The answer, from experience, is this STO model is a supercar of its kind and features peak performance qualities across the board – the STO stands in a class of its own. In a look towards the future, Lamborghini has announced that they will go completely hybrid on all model lines beginning in 2024. Despite this development, we are glad to still be living in an era where the STO still shines on stage, or rather, the track.

Pre-order now.

Photos by: Anthony Marotta

Edited by: Jeff Langlois

Julia Wolf – Girls in Purgatory

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One of the most sought-after independent artists Julia Wolf (aka WOLF) has released her highly-anticipated debut EP Girls In Purgatory. A prolific lyricist with a unique and captivating tone, WOLF, who hails from Queens, NY, crafted her first body of work with co-writer and producer Jackson Foote of Loote (Demi Lovato, Zara Larsson, Jonas Blue).

Click HERE to buy/stream.

Filled with empowering, no nonsense anthems that puts “shy girls” at the forefront, Girls In Purgatory sees WOLF drawing from her own experiences of feeling in limbo. On the inspiration for the 8-track record, she said:

“This name comes from constantly having to choose between being the good guy vs. being the bad guy. Since I grew up such a shy kid, I always felt the need to put others’ feelings before my own so as not to step on toes or cause issues that would then lead to confrontation. It was practically ingrained in me to feel guilty when I put myself first, which is why I never did. But as I’ve gotten older and have found my voice through music, the decisions have started to get less clear, placing me in my own sort of purgatory where I slowly weigh out my options. Each song on this EP is a reflection of times where the road to take has either been crystal clear, or extremely blurry. There are moments of empowerment and moments of doubt, but ultimately a collection of moments I think people will be able to relate to.”

Girls In Purgatory has already seen strong support across DSPs with early singles “Resting B*tch Face: Part 2” and “Falling In Love” landing on several of Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and Tidal’s top pop and new music playlists, and her songs have been used in nearly 5 million videos on Snapchat, an incredible feat for an emerging independent artist. WOLF now has over 20 million streams across all DSPs before releasing her first body of work, proving her to be an artist to watch in 2021.

WOLF will celebrate the release of Girls In Purgatory with a bi-coastal run of her first-ever headline shows (see dates below). Kicking things off in her home state of New York, she sold out her first show at the city’s Mercury Lounge in just three days.

Girls in Purgatory Track List

Falling In Love
Nikes
In My Way
Gigi Hadid (Interlude)
Resting B*itch Face: Part 2
Checkmate
Goodnight (Interlude)
Girls In Purgatory

Upcoming Julia Wolf Live Shows

Sat, Oct 16 – New York City, NY – Mercury Lounge

Sun, Oct 17 – Brooklyn, NY – Elsewhere

Mon, Oct 25 – Los Angeles, CA – Moroccan Lounge

About Julia Wolf

Julia Wolf (aka WOLF) is an Italian-American indie-pop artist from Queens, NY. A prolific lyricist with a unique and captivating tone, WOLF began releasing freestyles and snippets of her music on social media in September 2019 and almost immediately garnered heavy buzz from both early adopter fans and industry professionals alike, amassing over 18 million streams all within the walls of her bedroom. A true DIY artist, WOLF writes her own lyrics in both English and Italian, co-produces her own music, and creates her own bold and eye-catching visuals and artwork. In May 2021, she was chosen as one of the first independent artists to be featured in Spotify’s Fresh Finds program, which focuses on helping developing artists learn, collaborate, and grow, by giving them the tools for long-term, sustained career success. As part of the partnership, she released an exclusive Spotify Singles track titled “RBF: Part 1.” Now, all eyes are on WOLF as she releases her first full body of work Girls In Purgatory.

Confront Art Launches SEEINJUSTICE Exhibition

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Confront Art—which promotes diversity and education in the arts through collaboration between emerging artists and established organizations—is announcing today its inaugural exhibition SEEINJUSTICE, which will be on display for the public beginning October 1^st through October 31^st in Union Square. The SEEINJUSTICE series will feature three sculptures by Chris Carnabuci: “FLOYD”, “BREONNA”, and “JOHN LEWIS.”

Confront Art is working with the family of George Floyd and their charity “We Are Floyd”, the family of Breonna Taylor and John Lewis’ foundation for the SEEINJUSTICE series, aiming to raise awareness on racism and provide a safe place of healing and community through art.

The exhibition will take place in Union Square, selected for the location’s storied history as a gathering place within New York City for generations to express collective empowerment and to make their voices heard. As a venue that has historically protected the right to free speech and demonstration, Union Square NYC has long brought together people of all ages, races, nationalities, religions, and orientations in the name of community and discourse.

“We are inspired by the important work that Confront Art is doing to support the cause of “We are Floyd,” said Terrence Floyd, George Floyd’s brother. “We are looking forward to an extensive partnership with them as we bring art and creative resources to communities around the country.”

“We founded Confront Art to create art that is inclusive, progressive, and sparks something deep within to discover one’s own creativity and causes,” said Lindsay Eshelman, Confront Art Co-founder.” Our mission is to foster art that is an immersive experience and allow our visual representations to push forward a movement of change and unity.”

“Confront Art’s mission is to inspire people to continue to create art during times of sadness and confusion and to share an awareness of empathy and hope for the future,” said, Andrew Cohen, Confront Art Co-founder.

“As a result of the death of George Floyd, there came a global awareness and understanding of the plague of injustice across the world,” said Chris Carnabuci, Artist of the SEEINJUSTICE series. “The exhibit represents this global understanding, and from understanding comes action and from action comes change.”

“We are honored to work alongside Confront Art in bringing Chris Carnabuci’s SEEINJUSTICE installation to Union Square,” said Jennifer Falk, Executive Director of Union Square Partnership. “As a long-standing venue for public demonstrations in pursuit of social change, we are proud of Union Square’s history as a space for New Yorkers and people from all over to congregate in the name of free speech, a legacy that we will always protect and uphold.”

“We are proud to display Confront Art’s inaugural exhibition through our Art in the Parks program,” said NYC Parks Acting Commissioner Margaret Nelson. “Chris Carnabuci’s statues of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and John Lewis highlight the need for social change and build upon Union Square’s long history as a democratic space where individuals gather to call for equality and justice.”

The final sculptures stand at 10-feet tall on top of a base inscribed with dedications from notable hip-hop artists, social figures, and family members. Each statue layers precision- cut wood to craft a detailed and realistic monument of each subject, based on 3-D models by Daniel and Rodman Edwards.

The exhibition will be on display for one month and available for public view in Union Square in New York City. For more information on Confront Art, visit them here.

About Confront Art

Confront Art was founded by Andrew Cohen and Lindsay Eshelman in 2020, with the mission to promote diversity and education in the arts by creating collaborative opportunities between emerging artists and established organizations. The collective aims to create productions that foster socially progressive art and merchandise. For more information on Confront Art, visit here.

About We Are Floyd

WE ARE FLOYD is a 501C3 led by Terrence Floyd, George Floyd’s brother. We Are Floyd supports initiatives to help communities dealing with mental health issues, poverty, police brutality, and social injustice. In the name of George Floyd, We Are Floyd partners with existing community-centric organizations, bringing awareness to issues surrounding underserved communities, highlighting the lack of educational programs, and promoting change and progress. For more information on We Are Floyd, please visit them here.

Sculptor – Chris Carnabuci

Chris Carnabuci is a New York based artist & sculptor. He has been creating work for commercial accounts and private collectors for the past two decades. In 2016, Carnabuci began incorporating his skill as a CAD designer to create stacked plate sculptures using a CNC Technique. The process slices a 3D model into a set number of layers, precisely cut and stacked to create an artistic rendition of the original model.

By far his most well-known work, “Mariposita” is a massive sculpture of a female figure emerging from a shell. Composed of over 2500 pieces of CNC cut wood, she stands at over 20FT tall. Created in 2019, Mariposita has exhibited at the Toronto Light Festival, and then again, she was commissioned to exhibit at Electric Daisy Carnival in Mexico City. Chris’ work and Mariposita have been featured in publications such as Forbes, Business Insider, Artsy and many others.

About Union Square Partnership

For over 45 years, Union Square Partnership has been working to ensure the best possible neighborhood for its residents, businesses, and visitors. As the leading advocate for the Union Square-14th Street community, we work to enhance the neighborhood’s quality-of-life by creating a cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable environment. With our vibrant community continuing to evolve and grow, the Union Square Partnership’s role is now more important than ever. We are dedicated to this neighborhood, and work 24/7 to make sure that Union Square remains a phenomenal place to live, work and visit.

#USQArt is an incredible opportunity to bring engaging artwork to one of NYC’s great public spaces. Exhibitions are presented by the Union Square Partnership with NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program and NYC Department of Transportation’s Art Program in collaboration with selected galleries and artists.

About NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks Program

For over 50 years, NYC Parks’ Art in the Parks program has brought contemporary public artworks to the city’s parks, making New York City one of the world’s largest open-air galleries. The agency has consistently fostered the creation and installation of temporary public art in parks throughout the five boroughs. Since 1967, NYC Parks has collaborated with arts organizations and artists to produce over 2,000 public artworks by 1,300 notable and emerging artists in over 200 parks. For more information about the program visit them here.

Marcel Spears × The Neighboorhood

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Marcel Spears stars as Cedric the Entertainer’s son “Marty” in the CBS hit-comedy The Neighborhood. The popular series is currently in production for season 4, and will return on September 20th.

The Neighborhood continues to use its platform to address systemic racism in the U.S., beginning this season by confronting the federal government’s promise to give reparations to its oppressed citizens. The show gives audiences a feeling of community but also addresses these heavier, sometimes uncomfortable, topics, with a creative delivery utilizing comic relief to provoke discourse in people’s homes. Marcel’s character “Marty” will return home this season with a variety of circumstances that audiences are excited to unpack.

In addition to The Neighborhood, you may have seen Marcel as the scene-stealing “T.K. Clifton” on the ABC comedy The Mayor and co-starring in the BET film Always a Bridesmaid, on Netflix.

Marcel was forced out of his hometown of New Orleans by the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought to his beloved city. To this day, his strong affinity for New Orleans remains along with his second home, New York City, where he attended and received a Master of Fine Arts in acting at Columbia University. Marcel spent many years delving into meaty theater roles, including the title role of the Classic Stage Company’s production of Shakespeare’s Othello, A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Tyne Rafaeli, for which he was awarded the Rosemarie Tichler Fund Grant for his performance, and a prominent role in an adaptation of August Wilson’s ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’.

Pandemic Mental Health with Dr. Friedberg

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On Saturday, September 25, Dr. Ahron Friedberg, distinguished Manhattan and Sag Harbor psychiatrist and resident, held a reading and discussion of his book, Through a Screen Darkly: Psychoanalytic Reflections During the Pandemic, in the home of renowned fellow psychiatrist and Hamptons resident, Dr. Mirjana Blokar. Attendees and discussion participants included prestigious neuroscientist, Dr. Heather Berlin, among numerous Mount Sinai colleagues and friends.

Dr. Friedberg explains, “The book shows that, of necessity, people can learn to adapt, even in the most difficult circumstances. Even though we can only see “darkly” we can call on resources we do have, in addition to those we can acquire to retain our sense of dignity and purpose. Through a Screen Darkly is a time capsule of how we struggled – and are continuing to navigate – a disease we do not fully understand.”

The book addresses the pandemic in phases, including I) Pandemic, II) Venturing Out, III) The New Normal, and IV) Life Simplified. The essays provide perspective on several subjects relating to mental health, including parenting, elder care, work life (losing jobs, finding jobs, choosing new work, commuting), loneliness, children, and dating. Through a Screen Darkly offers practical examples of how patients coped with these conditions and (in many cases) found the resilience to get past them.

“The ultimate goal is to bolster your resilience,” states Dr. Friedberg. “In my experience counseling patients through the pandemic, I found that they had greater capacity for resilience than they realized. Deploying this resilience was their pathway to successfully managing their mental health.”

In addition to Through a Screen Darkly, Dr. Friedberg has also written Flashing Seven: Seven Essential Skills for Living and Leading, co-authored with Dr. Jack Hischowitz, Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai, Between Us, A Father and Son Speak, co-authored with his father, Dr. Eugene Friedberg, and Psychotherapy and Personal Change; Two Minds in a Mirror, also written with Dr. Sandra Sherman.
Through a Screen Darkly is available for purchase at amazon.com.

About Dr. Ahron Friedberg
Dr. Ahron Friedberg, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is a practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in Manhattan. At Mount Sinai, Dr. Friedberg served as Co-Chair of the Psychiatry Advisory Board and has helped develop and lead several academic and teaching initiatives including their Innovations in Psychiatry Symposium. Dr. Friedberg also directs the ‘Symposium’, a national meeting held annually at Mount Sinai. He has participated in clinical research as part of the Department’s Mood

and Anxiety Program, which focuses on translational neuroscience and understanding resilience.
Dr. Friedberg has served twice as national President of the American Society of Psychoanalytic Physicians. He was named first Executive Editor of International Psychoanalysis.net, a highly regarded online psychoanalytic resource. In addition, he is an Acquisitions Editor of International Psychoanalytic Books, Book Editor of Psychodynamic Psychiatry, Editor of the American Academy of Psychodynamic Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis Academy Forum, elected chair of the International Council of Editors, Psychanalytic Journals, as well as a regular contributor to Psychology Today.

His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including The Psychoanalytic Review, The American Journal of Psychoanalysis, Neuro-psychoanalysis, and Psychodynamic Psychiatry. Dr. Friedberg’s writing focuses on the treatment of anxiety and trauma, clinical technique, and the concepts of resilience, consciousness, and desire in psychoanalysis. He has received awards for excellence in writing, in addition to originality and scholarship.

HENDRICK’S GIN × KATZ’S DELICATESSEN

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HENDRICK’S GIN AND KATZ’S DELICATESSEN LAUNCH FIRST EVER GIN-INSPIRED PICKLED CUCUMBERS

The Delightfully Peculiar Gin & Iconic Deli Come Together To Create An Unusually Spirited, Limited-Edition Pickle

Hendrick’s Gin and New York City icon, Katz’s Delicatessen, are proud to announce their first ever collaboration for the launch of the limited-edition Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers. Hendrick’s, a most unusual gin, and Katz’s Delicatessen, with over five generations of pickling experience, are uniting cocktail connoisseurs and pickle aficionados through a first-of-its-kind gin half-sour pickle: a delectable fusion of gin botanicals and cucumbers.

The marvelous invention draws inspiration from a case of mistaken identity between Hendrick’s key ingredient, the cucumber, and its pickled cousin. What started as an outlandish April Fool’s joke, quickly became a reality, as Hendrick’s Gin and a jar of pickles have more in common than one may have thought. Both Hendrick’s and Katz’s have brought together their unique and secret magisterial recipes to create this unusual medley of botanicals and cucumber, resulting in a radically new kind of pickle, designed to be enjoyed with your favorite pastrami sandwich and refreshing gin cocktail.

Jake Dell, Owner of Katz’s Delicatessen, and Hendrick’s Master Distiller Ms. Lesley Gracie spent countless hours concocting and evaluating flavor profiles and mixtures. Connecting virtually from across the pond to compare results, the masterminds swapped notes and ideas on how to perfect the recipe.

“The signature expression of Hendrick’s Gin is the curious yet marvelous infusion of our eleven botanicals in addition to rose and cucumber,” highlights Gracie. “Naturally, pickles, the cousin of our beloved cucumber, effortlessly blend with our gin’s rich and intricate spirit. The botanicals take on remarkably compatible sensory characteristics when pickled and we’re relishing this opportunity to collaborate on such an exciting endeavor.”

Much like Hendrick’s Gin, the process for creating Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers was intricate and detailed, with a two-step brining process taking over 72 hours. Katz’s unique recipe features whole juniper berries and cubeb berries to best incorporate the botanicals of the gin into its half-sour brine.

“To create this particular pickle concoction, we experimented with a variety of botanicals to marry the unique flavor profiles of Hendrick’s and the Katz’s half-sour pickle. Ultimately, the key to creating the distinct and balanced taste of the pickles was emphasizing coriander in the brine, a common ingredient in Katz’s pickles & Hendrick’s Gin,” says Dell.

Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers will be available for purchase at Katz’s Delicatessen for $14.95 per quart shipping nationwide for a limited time only beginning September 27. Sign up for the launch to secure a spot on their email list to be notified as soon as they become available and purchase a jar for you and yours. The pickles will also be a special menu item at Katz’s Deli beginning September 27, while supplies last. Note: the cucumbers continue to pickle while in the jar, so it is recommended that they are consumed within 5-6 days.

“The Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers are as perfect of an accompaniment to a Katz’s Pastrami sandwich as an ingredient in our signature Hendrick’s cocktails,” says Vance Henderson, Hendrick’s Gin National Ambassador. “To bathe the palate in taste and wonderment, we were inspired by the light and alluring notes of the pickles to create an unexpected and refreshingly bright take on classic cocktails.”

Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers Signature Cocktails:

PICKLED IN PINK

This bubbly blusher has an undercover twang: pickle brine curiously infused with a bouquet of gin botanicals. The sour splash tangles with sweet grapefruit and pink peppercorns in an altogether alluring twist on a classic highball.

1 ½ parts Hendrick’s Gin
½ part Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumber Brine • ¾ part Pink Citrus Syrup (recipe below)
3 parts Premium Club Soda
Method: Combine all ingredients in a highball glass filled with cubed ice, lightly stir. • Garnish: Half of a Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumber, Pinch of Dehydrated Grapefruit Peel, Pink Peppercorns
Pink Citrus Syrup:
- 1 part Grapefruit juice
- ¼ part Lemon juice
- ½ part Granulated Sugar

HENDRICK’S PICKLED SNAPPER

This alluringly aromatic, deviantly delicious version of the Bloody Mary is the kind of cocktail hijinks for which our Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers were born.

1 ½ parts Hendrick’s Gin
1 part Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumber Brine • 2 ½ parts Quality Bloody Mary Mix (Zing Zang or another premium brand)
Method: Combine all ingredients in a double rocks glass filled with cubed ice, lightly stir and garnish.
Garnish: 1 skewered Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumber Boat, 1 Lemon Wheel

HENDRICK’S PERFECT PICKLED MARTINI

No disrespect to vanguards of garnishing, but olives and onions have had more than a century of martini appreciation. Instead, consider a slice of a Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumbers and while you’re at it, a dose of barrel brine for a novel direction for the dirty martini.

2 parts Hendrick’s Gin
3 Barspoons Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumber Brine • ½ part Dolin Blanc Vermouth
Method: Combine all ingredients in a double rocks glass filled with cubed ice, lightly stir and garnish.
Garnish: 1 Hendrick’s Gin and Katz’s Delicatessen Gin-Inspired Pickled Cucumber Slice, Dill Frond, Expressed & Discarded Lemon Twist

For further information and a list of pickle inspired cocktails, go to Hendric’s Gin.

ABOUT KATZ’S DELICATESSEN

Katz’s Delicatessen is an iconic restaurant serving traditional Jewish deli fare in NYC’s Lower East Side. Since 1888, Katz’s pastrami and corned beef sandwiches have been the gold standard for an ‘authentic’ NYC deli experience, thanks to Katz’s emphasis on traditional slow-curing processes and hand-carved slicing techniques. Today, Katz’s serves thousands of hungry customers daily and ships their deli classics nationwide. Katz’s storefront is considered a NYC landmark and is a popular destination among locals, tourists, and celebrities. For more information, visit the official website.

ABOUT HENDRICK’S GIN

Hendrick’s is a deliciously super premium gin, made with several unusual twists. To deliver a most curious and delightfully unique flavor, Hendrick’s combines a distinct blend of 11 botanicals, as well as the signature infusions of cucumber and rose petals, producing a wonderfully refreshing gin with a delightfully unique aroma. Hand crafted in Scotland in miniscule batches by William Grant & Sons, Hendrick’s is the only gin that uses a marriage of spirits from both a Carter-Head and Copper Pot Still, a combination that produces a divinely smooth gin that has both the required character and balance of subtle flavors. Since Hendrick’s was first introduced to America nearly 20 years ago, it has gained widespread acclaim and received numerous awards, including a Gold medal in the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; ‘Gin of the Year’ at the Food and Wine Magazine Awards and voted ‘World’s Best Gin’ by the Wall Street Journal. Hendrick’s Gin has an ABV of 44% and an SRP of $34.99. Please drink the unusual responsibly.

ABOUT WILLIAM GRANT & SONS

William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur.

William Grant & Sons has been honored as “Distiller of the Year” by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge 13 times over the past 14 years, including the most recent award in 2020.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the US with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Fistful of Bourbon, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Flor de Caña Rum, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy.

Joel Rivera – ABOLITION & BLACK LIBERATION

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The Stonewall Protests

By: Javier Pedroza

Joel Rivera, affectionately known as Joela Joela, was born and raised in the Bronx, New York to a mother with Trinidad and Tobago ancestry and a father from Borinquen (aka Puerto Rico). Ms Rivera is an incredible and inspirational 20-year-old Black Revolutionary who began her revolutionary work in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the rebirth of the Black Lives Matter Movement. This Afro-Caribbean young woman says, “my mission and message are rooted in both abolition and black liberation, believing that both go hand-in-hand.” In fact, she founded The Stonewall Protests to uplift, and inspire the Black Transgender & the Queer community by centering abolition and radical love.

The Stonewall Protests is a widely known organization that brought out hundreds at a time every Thursday for necessary civil disobedience and grassroots work. Joel’s passion, voice, and message reflect the reality that Black Transgender Women face every day. She consistently inspires love, courage, and self-sufficiency. Now, Joel, alongside other comrades of the Stonewall Protests, focus on mutual-aid and community building; Joella says “This new chapter of grassroots organizing and community building for The Stonewall Protests is revolutionary. The act of loving, supporting and uplifting Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities is a necessary form of protesting because in this society we are conditioned to be ignorant, societal robots. It is easy to serve but under this system they want it to be impossible. Once people start loving themselves, they see their worth and we are worth more than what this government gives/takes”.

The Stonewall Protests is actively hosting actions to provide for black and brown communities all around New York City. Joel’s life revolves around creating a new and better world for every human being and the Latino Commission on AIDS is recognizing her contributions. This Fall, Ms. Rivera will be awarded the 2021 Youth Ambassador Award at the annual “Cielo” (Heaven) Gala, held at the prestigious Cipriani Wall Street.

Interview with Tim Tadder

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If you have ever seen photos of an Olympic athlete, you have no doubt seen Tim Tadder‘s work. As a photographer, he has captured the likes of Michael Phelps and Simone Biles. Recently, Tadder hosted an exhibition at Avant Gallery in New York City. 360 was given the opportunity to ask him about his artistic inspirations and his style.

How did you get into art? Was there a moment you realized you wanted to do art professionally?

I’ve always been involved in some capacity with art as a major thematic in my life. It was always what I most enjoyed in school, as a hobby, & just overall being creative. I left a career as a teacher and pursued photography as a craft and a creative expression form when I was 27, after realizing I needed to enjoy my occupation and creating was a massive part of that.

When did you realize art was the career choice for you? Was there a moment when you realized you were gaining recognition and success in the art world?

People see me as a highly creative photographer and artist. The way that I see the world has a particular point of view that is sought after. I think embracing that as who you are and what you do and how you perceive and see has value and therefore is a viable career once you can monetize that vision. Everything else falls into place from there.

People will collect and want to own a piece of your vision and hang it on a wall, which ultimately empowers you as an artist to continue to create and explore your vision knowing that you have the financial support in order to do so.

When ‘Nothing to See’ first was shared as large format prints, the response was overwhelming. It was at that point that I knew there was serious traction in a new marketplace, one that I had always dreamed of being a part of and was fortunate that this particular series of images was embraced by collectors and galleries.

How does knowing a multitude of art mediums help you with your artwork?

I come from a background of 20 years of creating advertising campaigns for the world’s biggest brands and our job is to create on demand art that sells a product. And in doing so, you learn to use all the tools at your disposal to make the most powerful image for that purpose. I have been able to use all of that skill and knowledge and channel it into my personal fine art work to create images that convey messages that are important to me and that should be heard around the world.

What do you look at to get inspiration to create?

Pre-COVID I attended a lot of art fairs and contemporary museums to look at trends, masters, & to find inspiration on how people explore visual presentation. I found that going to those events and seeing the art in person really helped me refine my message and refine my voice. In a COVID world, I try to follow artists on IG and Twitter who I’m inspired by and keep abreast of their new work and from there I try to find my own lane to blend out, be distinct, and be noticeable. Right now there’s so many rabbit holes that one can go down to find inspiration, whether it’s instagram or twitter or the NFT space.

You use bright and vibrant color schemes in your artwork, when and how did that start? What’s your process when deciding about the colors you will use?

I’ve always been attracted to bold use of color. It’s been a monochord in my commercial work since my career began. For me that’s an instinctual choice. To use bold colors to help story tell. In choosing, a lot of it comes from instinct and a lot comes from what those colors represent. For ‘Nothing to See,’ I chose the bed, black, & white hues because they were historically represented of fascist banners and that collection was born out of a desire to create iconic, anti-fascist imagery.

You photograph both still-lives (mostly mannequins) and people. Is there one you prefer to photograph? What led to you choosing a humanoid inanimate object as your main subject in many photos/series?

I choose to use real people and not mannequins. I select models that have very androgynous, mannequin-esque features because I want my images to represent humankind and not just a type of individual, which sometimes comes from casting talent with defining characteristics. It’s not a picture of someone, it’s a picture of something.

You edit with high contrast, high-saturation as your signature style. What drew you to this editing style?

Instinctive choices. It’s how I see, it’s how I visualize, it’s what I as an artist feel is beautiful. It wasn’t a choice to follow a trend, it was my own visual aesthetic.