Posts made in May 2019

Scandic Hotels introduces standard for allergy-friendly rooms

Leave a reply

Scandic is the world’s first hotel to introduce a standard for allergy-friendly rooms. This means guests booking the rooms can expect careful attention including wooden floors, and fragrance-free, hypoallergenic toiletries by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association. Rooms are also prepared according to strict cleaning procedures and aren’t near the pet-friendly rooms. This new standard will be a part of Scandic’s unique 159-point accessibility standard.

More than 150 million people in Europe* have some type of allergy. Most of them probably do not need specific allergy-friendly hotel rooms. But the fact is that more people are asking for more allergy-friendly options at hotels.

Scandic launched its accessibility standard in 2005. Since then, the standard has attracted attention and been used the world over. The standard has now been broadened from 135 to 159 points to include a new category with strict guidelines to meet the needs of travelers with allergies.

There’s a clear demand for the accessibility solutions we offer and we get many requests to make guests’ stays more allergy-friendly. We’ve also already seen how successful our allergy-friendly “breakfast for all” has been. Our goal now is for all Scandic hotels to offer at least two allergy-friendly rooms within a year, says Magnus Berglund, Director of Accessibility at Scandic.

During the spring, Scandic will also release an updated version of its award-winning online accessibility course. The online accessibility course was originally developed for Scandic’s 18,000 team members as an integral part of Scandic’s accessibility initiatives, since interacting with and serving guests is the most important consideration, regardless of their needs. The course is available on Scandic’s website so everyone can learn more about how to provide high-quality service to people with accessibility needs.

We’re always working to find solutions to make our hotels more accessible. While we’ve offered allergy-friendly rooms at Scandic for some time, we’re particularly proud that they’re now part of our accessibility standard. And the fact that our online course is widely used by others in the hospitality industry to improve service also gives us high marks.

Accessibility at Scandic

Since 2003, Scandic has been focusing on making its hotels accessible so they can welcome all guests regardless of their needs. Today, Scandic is the only hotel company in the world that provides information on how accessible each hotel is on their particular hotel sites at scandichotels.com. Scandic is also the only hotel company to have formulated an accessibility standard that currently covers 159 points, 105 of which are mandatory at all hotels. At newly built Scandic hotels, all 159 points apply.

Scandic also applies a “design for all” concept. Design for all means that an accessible room should be designed just as well as any other room, with smart solutions that are barely noticeable except to the people who need them

Art × Blockchain

Leave a reply
NYC–Ilon Art Gallery and Intaglio Blockchain will host  Art x Blockchain and The Brave New World, at 204 W 123rd street, on May 16, 2019, from 6-8:30 pm. Email info@workhousepr.com to RSVP for the event. Ilon Art Gallery, which focuses on fine art and photo gallery, is nestled in the heart of Harlem and provides access to an amazing variety artists. Like-minded people assemble at the gallery to view the art in an unique and warm setting, although the gallery is not always open to the public, you can always make an appointment. Intaglio Blockchain provides blockchain as a service for artists, museums, galleries, collectors and auction houses to record authenticity and provenance of objects. These transactions are are date and time stamped, available to the public and cannot be changed. 

A panel of experts in the arts and tech communities will be having a conversation about Blockchain technology and this brave new world. The panel will explore the benefits of having blockchain technology, its potential and why it may be the piece we have been missing since the rise of the digital era. All panelists have years of experience in their fields of art and/or technology, many in both.  The speakers are storytellers within their own mediums whether it is photography, sculpture or writing. 

Moderator:

James Garfinkel is a co-founder of Intaglio Blockchain and a seasoned business entrepreneur with 40 years of experience in finance, art and photography.

Panelists:

Stuart Haber, an experienced cryptographer, is the co-inventor of the blockchain technique for ensuring the integrity of digital data. He functions as Chief Scientist of Intaglio Blockchain. Thanks to him and his co-founder, the integrity of digital data is secured.  

David Burnett, co-founder of Contact Press Images, is a photojournalist with more than five decades of experience.   His past work has included everything from world leaders to Olympic medalists and world conflicts. In the mid 70’s, Burnett focused his camera twice on Bob Marley and now currently on view at ilon Art Gallery, the host venue of our event.  

Phyllis Galembo, a 2014 Guggenheim Fellow, has photographs in various collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Galembo recent travels  has brought her to South America, Africa and the Caribbean, her current book now hitting store shelves Mexico Maskes | Riturals focuses on tribal peoples of Mexico  

Kevin Abosch works in photography, sculpture & installation, using emerging technologies as a method. His work has been exhibited internationally in museums and civic spaces. They explore ideas surrounding identity, value, and human currency.  

A.D. Coleman is an American critic, historian, educator, photography curator, commentator on new digital technologies. Coleman was the first photo critic for The New York Times, authoring 120 articles during his tenure. His work has been translated into 21 languages and published in 31 nations.

Currently on view at ilon Art Gallery are works by David Burnet form his series Bob Marley: Soul Rebel. All works int he show are tagged by Intaglio Blockchain and on their blockchain (chain.ilon.com*).

Galembo has collaborated with the Ilon Art Gallery and Intaglio Blockchain to offer you a unique editioned work. Xentolo, an image from her new book, and the back cover, and is available to collectors in a limited edition, 14×14 signed print, tagged and on Intaglio Blockchain’s network. Editions 1-10 are discounted, they will be available at the event or at currently at http://www.ilonartgallery.com/store/ucla-intaglio-exclusive-offer.

*Intaglio Blockchain allows for private licensing of blockchains. These chains are still part of the Intaglio Network and as always public, decentralized and unchangeable. Loni Efron, director and owner of ilon Art Gallery, has been certified by Intaglio to put artworks on her subscription chain.  Loni Efron’s certification allows her to enter works only by artists she represents at the ilon Art Gallery. The works of David Burnett and Phyllis Galembo are on the blockchain chain.ilon.com, a subscription by ilon Art Gallery. 

Kevin Abosch seated in front of his artwork Yellow Lambo and I Am a Coin

Malala Yousafzai by Kevin Abosch

          Stuart Haber | Ted X | December 2018

    Xantolo by Phyllis Galembo

                   Bob Marley: Soul Rebel by David Burnett

                       Bob Marley: Soul Rebel by David Burnett

 

*Featured image:  Lift Off, Apollo Xl ,1969 by David Burnett

Saweetie, rolling loud, Miami, 360 MAGAZINE, quavo, migos, rap, music, festival

SAWEETIE × ROLLING LOUD

Leave a reply

Saweetie played to a packed crowd at The 5th Anniversary of Rolling Loud Miami, Saturday, May 11th wearing a red jeweled bikini top, red cargo pants and red half finger gloves. Her boyfriend Migos member Quavo watched his love from the side of the stage. The duo just released their song “Emotional” from her EP “Icy.”


*All photos courtesy of Strategic Public Relations.

DOLCE&GABBANA Beauty + new limited-edition scent

Leave a reply

LIMITED EDITION FOR SUMMER 2019

While Bianca Balti and David Gandy remain the iconic faces of Light Blue and Light Blue Pour Homme, a new couple embodies the 2019 Summer limited edition to tell the story of the new fragrances: Light Blue Sun

Light Blue Sun is an invitation to Capri – let the new fragrance take you on a trip to relive your first summer romance.

LIGHT BLUE SUN – POUR FEMME

Dolce&Gabbana Beauty captures the essence of young, sun-kissed passion with new limited edition fragrances, Light Blue Sun, exploring a new olfactory territory: warm, sensual, sunny. Light Blue Sun is inspired by the exhilarating magic of summer love on the enchanting island of Capri, warmed by the dazzling Mediterranean sun rays. This summer, Light Blue’s fruity floral signature takes on a new sunny, sensual quality, as though warmed by the languorous heat of the Capri sun. Light Blue’s mouth-watering top notes of tangy Italian lemon and juicy Granny Smith apple are quenched with a liberal splash of cool, refreshing coconut water, and sharpened by the crisp sea sprays of the ozonic accord. The original heart of sensual jasmine and feminine white rose is now infused with exotic frangipani, creating a heady blend of sun-soaked floral nectar. In the base, aromatic cedarwood is warmed with ambrosial amber and the sweet intensity of Bourbon vanilla. Finally, a hypnotic trail of seductive white musks lingers on the skin, evoking the addictive desire of summer love.

LIGHT BLUE SUN – POUR HOMME

The iconic woody, spicy scent of Light Blue Pour Homme is reinvented with a splash of freshness and suffused with the warmth of the Italian sun. A chilled cocktail of Italian bergamot and juicy frozen grapefruit is invigorated with the vibrant, spicy tang of ginger and the fresh aquatic wave of the ozonic accord. As the fragrance evolves to an intensely Mediterranean and masculine heart, the warmth of cedarwood and cypress conjure the power of the sun at its midday peak, setting aromatic rosemary against a refreshing cooler of coconut water. Woody oakmoss and sensual white musks dominate the drydown, as earthy vetiver and carnal vanilla recreate the irresistible allure of salty, sun-kissed skin.

THE PACKAGING

The warm sun of Capri lends its golden amber hue to the fragrances, while the sky- blue boxes are embellished with a traditional illustration of the beaming sun, in the style of the Mediterranean majolica of Capri.

THE NEW DIGITAL CAMPAIGN

The launch of Light Blue Sun marks the sequel to the Light Blue story with the summer crush of two young blondes, who meet on the enchanting island of Capri.

CHAPTER 1: SUNCRUSH

While she enjoys a gelato, and he works on the harbourside, the young couple catch each other’s eye.

CHAPTER 2: SUNSATION

As she sunbathes on the beach, he approaches to whisper an invitation in her ear. They spot a boat moored near the Faraglioni and hatch a plan.

CHAPTER 3: SUNSCAPE

Winding along the clifftops on his scooter, her arms wrapped tight around his waist, they arrive at a secluded cove, the sea sparkling in the midday sun. He dives into the water towards the boat anchored just off shore….

CHAPTER 4: SUNKISS

She basks on the sun-soaked deck, while he pulls anchor. Finally, they can resist each other no longer, and he draws her towards him in a passionate kiss….

THE MASH-UP:

Lunching in the sun with her friends, she spots him working on the dock, and her imagination starts to race. Suddenly she is basking in the sun, as he whispers in her ear, then stripping down to her bikini as they dive into the water. She imagines them frolicking on the deck of a boat by the Faraglioni cliffs, and imagines him drawing her towards him in a passionate embrace. As she finally emerges from her reverie, she holds his gaze with a flirtatious smile.

Why Whole Grain?

Leave a reply

Whole grain can contribute to health by changing intestinal serotonin production

Adults consuming whole grain rye have lower plasma serotonin levels than people eating low-fibre wheat bread, according to a recent study by the University of Eastern Finland and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In the study, the consumption of cereal fibre from rye or wheat was also found to reduce serotonin levels in the colon of mice. In light of the results, the health benefits of whole grain cereals may be linked, at least in part, to the alteration of serotonin production in the intestines, where the majority of the body’s serotonin is produced. The results of were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The consumption of whole grain cereals has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. There may be effects on bioactive compounds contained in whole grains, phytochemicals and fibres from which different metabolites are produced by intestinal bacteria.

The new study explored how the consumption of wholegrain rye modulates concentrations of different metabolites in the bloodstream. The study employed untargeted metabolite profiling, also known as metabolomics, which can simultaneously detect numerous metabolites, including those previously unknown.

For the first four weeks of the study, the participants ate 6 to 10 slices a day of low-fibre wheat bread, and then another four weeks the same amount of wholegrain rye bread or wheat bread supplemented with rye fibre. Otherwise, they didn’t change their diet. At the end of both periods, they gave blood samples, which were analysed by a combination of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Their plasma metabolite profiles between the different diet periods were then compared.


The consumption of wholegrain rye led to, among other things, significantly lower serotonin concentrations when compared to consumption of low-fibre wheat bread. The researchers also tested in mice whether the addition of cereal fibre to the diet changes serotonin production in the intestine. The diet of the mice was supplemented for nine weeks with rye bran, wheat bran or cellulose flour. The mice receiving rye or wheat bran had significantly lower serotonin in their colon. For additional information on supplements and how they can modify diets go to website. 


Serotonin is best known as a neurotransmitter in the brain. However, serotonin produced by the intestines remains separated from the brain, serving various peripheral functions including modulation of gut’s motility. Increased blood serotonin has also been associated with high blood glucose levels.

“Whole grain, on the other hand, is known to reduce the risk of diabetes, and on the basis of these new results, the effect could at least partly be due to a decrease in serotonin levels,” says Academy Research Fellow Kati Hanhineva from the University of Eastern Finland.

The researchers are also interested in the association of serotonin with colorectal cancer.
“Some recent studies have found cancer patients to have higher plasma serotonin levels than healthy controls,” Scientist Pekka Keski-Rahkonen from IARC adds.

The consumption of wholegrain rye bread was also associated with lower plasma concentrations of taurine, glycerophosphocholine and two endogenous glycerophospholipids. In addition, the researchers identified 15 rye phytochemicals whose levels in the bloodstream increased with the consumption of rye fibre.

 

Bene Drops “Evil Spider”

Leave a reply

Hailing from the suburbs of Auckland, 19-year-old indie pop artist Bene returns with her latest single “Evil Spider,” out today—listen HERE! Coming off the heels of her Gold-Certified hit “Soaked,” the up and coming singer and songwriter also announces her upcoming debut EP is set for release on June 28.
 
Of “Evil Spider,” Bene says, “‘Evil Spider’ is about wanting someone that’s already taken. When writing the song, I didn’t wanna make the lyrics too obviously evil, so I thought I’d turn myself into the spider, making it a lil lighter and making the song revolve around me weaving webs to lure the person, catch ‘em like a spider then reel them in. I remember humming ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ in the studio, which inspired the playful vibe of the song.”
 
Bene has emerged as New Zealand’s artist to watch with her chart-topping hit “Soaked,” which quickly climbed Spotify’s Viral Charts, accumulated over 17 million streams to date, charted on Australia’s Triple J radio’s Hottest 100 of 2018 and held the number one spot on New Zealand’s Shazam Top 100 for two months, not to mention achieved Gold Certification in New Zealand and Australia. With endorsements from Zane Lowe and Apple’s Beats1 radio, Bene went from playing her first small club gig to her first arena show—opening for longtime role model Lily Allen—in a matter of months. 

In support of “Evil Spider” and her upcoming debut EP, Bene will be performing at New York’s Mercury Lounge on June 17. Tickets are available now HERE.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER US Showcase

Leave a reply

On May 9, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Big Hit Entertainment’s newest boyband since BTS, kicked off their highly-anticipated US showcase tour with an electrifying performance in front of a sold-out crowd of over 2,100 fans at the PlayStation Theatre in the heart of New York City. To watch the five members, SOOBIN, YEONJUN, BEOMGYU, TAEHYUN and HUENINGKAI, fans started lining up early in the day, and were spotted singing lyrics from the record-breaking debut album ‘The Dream Chapter: STAR.’
 
‘TOMORROW X TOGETHER SHOWCASE: STAR in US’ began in a vibrant splash of colors with a performance of “Blue Orangeade”, followed by personal introductions, playful banter and games. From the moment the band took the stage, the theatre was filled with the sound of fans cheering nonstop. The band’s recently released English single “Cat & Dog” had the crowd singing and dancing along on their feet. The set then continued with a mashup of “Nap of a Star” and an acoustic version of “Our Summer”.
 
Closing the showcase with their first hit single “CROWN”, TOMORROW X TOGETHER said “Just like the title of our debut album, it feels like we have made such an amazing first dream chapter. We thank all our fans who came out to see us. Everything was only possible because of them. We will continue to show our best music and performances.”  
 
The Dream Chapter: STAR is the highest charting debut album by an all-male K-pop group on the Billboard Top 200. 
 

Allan Rayman Releases “Poison”

Leave a reply

Toronto-based singer/songwriter Allan Rayman releases his new single “Poison.” Listen HERE!
 
Of the song, Allan says, “I really forgot about the song. I had made it with the intention of it being part of Harry Hard On, and I guess I just overlooked it. I rediscovered it and I love the song so here we are.”
 
Beginning on May 21, Allan and his band will be taking their live show on the road. The tour dubbed The Allan Rayman Show will be heading to 22 cities across North America. Kicking off in Portland, OR and making stops in major markets including Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Boston, Austin and Vancouver. A full list of dates is below and tickets are available now HERE.
 
“Poison” follows Allan’s critically acclaimed album Harry Hard-On released late last year via Republic Records/KIDindaKorner. “Rose,” the album’s debut single, climbed the alternative radio charts and has over two million Spotify streams to date. Harry Hard-On has also been met with critical praise, with TIME Magazine heralding the track “Crush,” saying,“Rayman’s voice contains multitudes: a rough ache, a smooth hum, a rock star’s confidence.”