Posts made in February 2022

Ethical Pieces from New Luxury Brand

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Jewelry Brand Spotlights Rarity and Transparency

Since the dawn of civilization, literally since biblical times, people have worn jewelry as symbols of wealth, status, and love. Ancient royalty all the way through today’s luxury brands, value a prized piece based on the rarity of the gemstones and the metal which serves as its stage.

In recent decades, our attention has expanded beyond the beauty of the jewelry. Today, we want to know the origins of the materials, the transparency of the gemstones, the sustainability of the manufacturing process, and the welfare of the workers. It has become as important as the rarity and value of the collection itself.

A New Narrative in Traceability

Luxury jewelry brand Holy Gems has been setting a new standard in the jewelry industry through a rigorous transparency process that begins at the stage of mining. Shefa, the parent company founded in 1999, is the first and only mining company focused on the exploration of precious gems in Israel and exclusively holds all the existing rights, permits and licenses issued to date by the State of Israel for the exploration and mining of gems in the country. CEO Tali Shalem has made it her mission to ensure the highest levels of transparency. This includes adhering to the strictest international guidelines regarding the working conditions in the mines where the Holy Gems gemstones are unearthed. Workers’ rights are preserved in accordance with the strict labor laws, and the company prides itself on integrating and diversifying its manpower, regardless of religion, race, or gender.

Each piece of jewelry from the Holy Gems collection is certified by a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisals and is authorized by the European Gemological Laboratory (EGL). The purchaser is presented with a Jewelry Identification & Grading Report which includes all the natural properties of the gems inlaid in the piece.

The Holy Gems Collection

The collection features 101 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry set including a beautiful Sapphire in colors of deep blue to green, a Garnet in sensual red to burgundy, brilliant black Spinel, and Carmel-Sapphire which was once thought to exist only in outer space. Michaella Taub, head jewelry designer, creates distinctive pieces that are brought to life by jewelers who specialize in quality and craftsmanship.

Luxury jewelry brands have a long-standing relationship with sapphires. Holy Land Sapphires are composed of the same mineralogical properties as regular sapphire and are available in a range of colors from deep mysterious blue to prosperous olive green.

Holy Land Garnets are composed mainly of the mineralogical properties of “pyrope” garnets, and are available in colors ranging from eternal brown-amber to passionate red.

Gem quality Spinel has long been used for Jewelry, including in the British and the French Crown Jewels. Spinel is the magnesium/aluminum member of the larger spinel group of minerals. The most famous Spinel gemstones (mistakenly defined as Ruby) are the “Black Prince’s Ruby” and the “Timur Ruby” in the British Crown Jewels.

ReserveBar’s Black Brands

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ReserveBar’s Spirited Change Initiative

Black-Owned Brands

LS Cream Liqueur ($36): LS Cream Liqueur is an award-winning cordial inspired by cremas, an ancestral recipe native to Haiti with notes of coconut, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon mixed with a blend of fresh cream and neutral grain spirits. Since it was impossible to find cremas in stores, husband and wife Myriam Jean-Baptiste and Stevens Charles decided to launch their own cream liqueur, inspired by Stevens’ late grandmother’s handwritten cremas recipe which she left behind and that the family had cherished for decades.

Sorel Liqueur ($40): Born of the spice trade, versions of sorrel date back to the 1600s, when hibiscus flowers were first imported to the new world from West Africa. Valued for its medicinal properties, Jackie Summer’s grandparents carried this culinary tradition with them when they emigrated from Barbados to Harlem, NY in the 1920s. In 2012, Jack left a 25-year career as a corporate executive to launch his micro-distillery, Jack from Brooklyn. When Jack received his distilled spirits permit (DSP), he was the only Black person with a license to make liquor in America, and the first to hold this license post-prohibition.

Brough Brothers Bourbon Whiskey ($29): Brough Brothers Distillery is Kentucky’s first African American owned distillery. Kentucky-born co-founders and brothers Victor, Bryson, and Christian Yarbrough started from humble beginnings in Louisville, where they learned early about hard work and dedication. They took those lessons, traveled the globe, and brought their newfound knowledge of the spirits industry back to Kentucky, where the vision for Brough Brothers was born. Through Brough Brothers, the Yarbrough’s plan to make a positive and lasting impact through job creation and economic development within their local and global communities.

Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey ($59): In 2017, Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey launched in the United States. Honoring the first African American master distiller, this premium whiskey swiftly rolled out throughout the U.S. and abroad, and can now be found in 50 States, 10 Countries, and shipped to over 148 countries in the world. Uncle Nearest is now the Fastest-Growing Independent American Whiskey Brand in U.S. History.

Loft & Bear Artisanal Vodka ($30): Loft & Bear is the brainchild of Paul Ryan Elliott, an east coast native. Paul founded Loft & Bear in 2014 and continues to work toward fulfilling long-term sustainable success, encouraged by the opportunity to bring inclusivity and diversity to the beverage alcohol industry. Loft & Bear’s commitment to social awareness is seen in its Distill.Drink.Donate program in which 5% of Loft & Bear profits are donated to PATH, a charity aimed at ending homelessness and providing support for distressed families, veterans affairs, and human services throughout Southern California.

SPOTLIGHT: NYCHOS

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Blending themes of morbid corporeality with the colorful, hyper-loony aesthetic descended from comics and cartoons, Nychos has developed a unique style that performs with powerhouse effect whether on the street or in the gallery.

Raised in a traditional Viennese hunting family, death and dissection were daily business for Nychos. The proximity to animal viscera had a profound effect on him psychologically and visually–he now explores the theme of dissection in his art, pushing it to playful extremes.

In Nychos’ world, Spongebob has a skeleton, people live inside rabbits and there is always something wicked underneath. Pumped up on the visual adrenaline of comics, heavy metal and graffiti, Nychos’ work reflects the immense energy and technical focus necessary to produce work on the massive scale he has reached on the streets.

Colliding style and subject matter, Nychos slices up animals and innocent childhood characters with unflinching graphic precision. His work confronts the viewer with wicked insistence, using the shock of cartoon violence as a vehicle for exploring subtler themesof mortality and temporality. Nychos pays homage to these deathless cartoon heroes by peeling them open and giving them human substance. His artwork reflects the psychology of an art scene in which creations are sometimes swept away as soon as created.

Nychos also uses subtle imagery such as plastic in an orca’s belly, weaving political commentary seamlessly into his pieces. Using delicious color-scapes and wild, fuming lines to create his characters–whether with paintbrush or spray can–Nychos works with unmatched dynamism.

His command over his tools indicates a work ethic that promises only more staggering output from thisartist. Nychos’ paintings and drawings have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, including six solo exhibitions (Turino, Detroit, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Paris) in the past two years alone.

These pieces serve as unique compliments to his massive public works that give character to cities all over the world. The artist’s last solo show took place in Zurich and was opened in October 2015. A cooperation with Jonathan Levine is planned for 2016. Nychos currently lives and works out of Rabbit Eye Movement, his studio and art space located in Vienna.

El amor y Yo – Jay Wheeler

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The world-renowned Puerto Rican artist Jay Wheeler reveals his new studio album El amor y Yo, available now. His leading persuasive single ‘EaZt,’ too, makes its own unveiling paired with a smashing official music video, watch HERE.

As an incredibly heart-touching and moving artist, Jay applauds the release of his third studio album with El amor y Yo. Comprising a total of 12 tracks produced by reggaeton icon Dj Nelson and Luis Suárez Silva (Siru), the arrangement of the album consists of Marval and Santo Niflo and Jay Wheeler himself with Dynamic Records.

The overall theme of the album resorts back to love, something that draws in his audience. Jay Wheeler speaks on the album, stating, “El amor y Yo is an album that I always wanted to work on. It’s an escape to create the music that I really like to do, my essence, the one that made me known. I think that on this album I shared everything that ever happened to me in past relationships, laughter, tears, a little of everything. It is an album that I worked with so much love for my fans, who are my family.”

Along with the publication of his third studio album, Jay drops an official music video for ‘EaZt.’ The video comes shot in Miami, as directed by Webster Torres Mill and executively produced by Luis Suárez Silva (Siru), Dynamic Records, and Dj Nelson, Flow Music. The song lyrics depict the emotions of one in love, and how these feelings can often make people feel as thought they’re floating on happiness.

The lyrics read, “’Cause my favorite tune is your voice, and without darno’ notice, ‘tamo in the same tone, you were hanging out with Cupid when he hit on me, when it hit my chest, I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

About Jay Wheeler

José Ángel López Martínez, artistically known as Jay Wheeler, is an urban latin singer born in Puerto Rico on April 25, 1994. In 2016 he released “freestyle” and created a cover to Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself,” reaching 1 million views on YouTube. In 2018 with Dynamic Records he released his first single and music video “Por Tu Culpa.” His romantic and melodic style provoked amazement among his fans and in 2019 he released “Mensaje De Voz,” captivating his fans with an emotional record. By the summer of 2019, he reached millions of followers along with a viral music video. Due to this success, DJ Nelson became interested in Jay and wanted to meet him. At this time, Dynamic Records and Flow Music united and started working with him on two singles “Te Soñé” and “Otra noche más.”

In November of 2019, he premiered his first album “Platónico” (composed of 13 songs), and within his album the track “Otra noche más” ft. Farruko Remix. In February of 2020, he launched the first digital urban concert Platonico Unplugged, a live acoustic version of his first album. In June 2020 he premiered his second album “Platónicos,” with the participation of various artists such as Dalex, Brytiago, Feid, Nio Garcia, Miky Woodz, Myke Towers, Alex Rose and Casper Megico. Jay Wheeler has participated in collaborations with Cauty, Lenny Tavarez, Bryant Myers and so many more. Among his many collaborations, he joined forces with Onell Diaz for a project highlighting suicide prevention. Jay Wheeler is considered an influential phenomenon within the music industry and his talent continue to reach millions making him La Voz Favorita.

Daniela Uribe Luxury Footwear

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Daniela Uribe, the luxury Latin-founded footwear brand, known for its size-inclusive and genderless styles, celebrated its first NYFW debut with Flying Solo. Founded by Columbian native designer, Daniela Uribe Lopez, the brand is deeply rooted in inclusivity and re-establishes the paradigms of beauty and comfort offering styles in extending sizing to fit every gender.

Flying Solo showcases new talented and independent designers from across the globe at the annual fashion exhibition. Despite the snowy weather, during the show, a selection of conceptual and fashionably utilitarian looks graced the runway including Daniela Uribe’s luxury styles in conjunction with clothing brands SK Creations, NMB New York, Bye Bambi, Pauline’s Friends and Va’ceiA.

Daniela Uribe’s Collection stems from years of curated artistry involving the eclectic rhythm of embracing individuality while celebrating unison. The luxurious designs cross the border between nostalgic comfort and bold inspiration and meld the world between fashion and function. The styles shown include the brand’s signature Be Yourself Pump featuring the sleek signature logo heel, The Inclusiveness Bootie, Together We Can Sneaker, and The Love Yourself Pumps all plated with gold hardware buckle and chain detailing.

The latest collection debuted with a runway show for The Flying Solo NYFW Runway Show and will be available for purchase at a pop-up on March 1st in Soho’s independent designer platform-brick-and-mortar, Flying Solo, and on the brand’s website.

SOUTH PARK’S 25TH SEASON

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CONTINUES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH AT 8 pm ET/PT ON COMEDY CENTRAL WITH “City People”

“City People”: CARTMAN IS FURIOUS WITH HIS MOM WHEN SHE TELLS HIM ABOUT HER NEW JOB.

All-New Season Episodes will be Available to Stream in HD on SouthPark.cc.com, CC.com and the Comedy Central App post-premiere.

Comedy Central’s “South Park” the series launched on August 13, 1997, and is based on the VHS-shared, animated short entitled “The Spirit of Christmas.” Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the co-creators of “South Park.” Parker, Stone, Anne Garefino and Frank C. Agnone II are the Executive Producers of the Emmy® and Peabody® Award-winning “South Park.” Eric Stough, Adrien Beard, Bruce Howell and Vernon Chatman are Producers. Christopher Brion is the Creative Director of South Park Digital Studios. “South Park’s” Website is SouthPark.cc.com.

Watch clip HERE.

Gobble’s Valentine’s Day Meals and Desserts

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Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Scallops & Asparagus

Cacio e pepe is a delicious, elegant dish that couldn’t be simpler. Our fresh spaghetti is tossed in a savory pan sauce of grated Italian cheese and Parmesan butter and topped with pan-seared scallops, asparagus, and sweet peas. Cracked black pepper and fresh arugula are the finishing touches on this satisfying gourmet meal.

Ingredients

■ Dry Scallops

■ Fresh Spaghetti

■ Garlic Parmesan butter

■ Peas

■ Asparagus

■ Italian cheese blend

■ Arugula

Seared Duck Breast in Cherry Port Wine Sauce with White Cheddar Grits

You’ll want to eat these creamy, savory grits with everything, but they’re especially good with our juicy pan-seared duck breast in a tangy cherry port wine sauce. A sautéed hash of Brussels sprouts and garlic complete this gourmet Southern dish.

Ingredients

■ Duck breasts

■ White cheddar grits

■ Rosemary thyme butter

■ Dried cherries

■ Sweet tangy sauce

■ Brussels sprouts

■ Shallots

■ Garlic cloves

■ White cheddar cheese

■ Port wine

Garlic Pesto Sirloin Steak with Rosemary Mashed Potatoes & Sautéed Spinach

Become a dinner hero with a gourmet dish, made simple! Tender sirloin steaks are seared, crusted with a roasted garlic pesto, and finished in the oven. Serve it alongside creamy rosemary mashed potatoes and our butter-sautéed spinach, guaranteed to leave you licking your plate!

Ingredients

■ Top sirloin steaks

■ Roasted garlic pesto

■ Spinach

■ Mashed potatoes

■ Rosemary sprigs

■ Butter

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake with Sour Cherry Compote

A 4-ounce mini cheesecake is the perfect way to end an excellent meal. This rich and creamy chocolate truffle cheesecake is a chocolate lover’s dream come true. It’s topped with a sweet and sour cherry compote. Live life without regrets — order dessert!

Valrhona Chocolate Lava Cake

Treat yourself to this gourmet chocolate lava cake prepared with Valrhona Tainori dark chocolate from the Dominican Republic. These delectable single-serving cakes need only a quick trip in your microwave or oven and can be topped with your favorite ice cream or fruit syrup.

For additional information visit site HERE.

NICKI MINAJ F/ LIL BABY – BUSSIN

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Nicki Minaj’s new track ‘Bussin’’ in collaboration with Lil Baby comes following one week of the release of another cooperation project between both artists on ‘Do We have a Problem?’ Listen to ‘Bussin’” HERE.

The fast-paced, electrifying hit releases amidst growing anticipation for Nicki’s new 2022 album. She has been caught pondering the new persona she aims to take on with the latest album, stating on Instagram Live, “what should we call this person’s name?” Although nothing has been revealed yet, she assured her fans that she would “figure it out.”

The icon has, too, been in the public’s attention following TikTok fumbling a Black History Month (BHM) event with Nicki herself. The event was entitled Black History Month Creator Meet Up x Nicki Minaj, as corresponding with emails showcased in a TikTok by the creator Dessy Joseph.

TikTok promised to celebrate BHM with this event, but the turnout spoke otherwise. Attendees observed that those in the turnout for the event were primarily non-Black creators. It was also revealed that Black creators were not given a link to the event until ten minutes after the beginning of the meetup, around 6:10 PM.

Joseph spoke on the disappointment, stating in a TikTok, “Black creators with millions of followers didn’t receive links till 6:10, weren’t prioritized, weren’t given questions, nothing. When people did get in, they did see a screen full of not-Black faces.”

TikTok released a statement that attributed the upset of the event to “extensive technical issues with production,” as to why guests had problems accessing the event. They, too, noted that a wide range of creators were invited to the occasion.

As seen by BuzzFeed News, the email statement stated, “The meet-up was open to our collective community of creators — including #BlackTikTok #CasaTikTok, #LearnOnTikTok, and more. On behalf of the TikTok creator team, we apologize for the confusion and negative experience, as this was intended to be an opportunity for fans to connect with Nicki in a unique setting to celebrate her new music.”

Nicki answered to fans uproar around the BHM event on an Instagram Live, telling them, “I heard what y’all were saying, and let me see if I can schedule something else for you guys.”

Official ǀ Merch ǀ Instagram ǀ TikTok ǀ Facebook ǀ Twitter ǀ YouTube ǀ Spotify ǀ Apple ǀ Soundcloud

World’s Most Expensive Cleats

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The world’s most expensive cleats have been commissioned by The Shoe Surgeon for the RAMS to wear this Sunday!

Superstars, Odell Beckham Jr. and teammates Jalen Ramsey, Cooper Kupp, and Von Miller have teamed up with famed sneaker designer The Shoe Surgeon & world-renowned bespoke jeweler, Jason of Beverly Hills to come correct this Sunday to hopefully walk away with their superbowl ring.

These 1-of-1 bespoke Super Bowl cleats were designed with luxury & opulence coupled with performance. Yellow gold was chosen as it is symbolic of the Rams colors alongside 1,494 individual round brilliant white brilliant diamonds with a total weight of 25 carats! Over 100 man hours went into creating the diamond hardware for these cleats.

Inspiration Behind the Design

“Big cultural moments like the Super Bowl fuels my creativity and inspires me to push my creative boundaries. Through the years, I’ve built a close relationship with athletes around our shared interests in expressing individuality through fashion,” said Dominic Ciambrone. “It’s an honor to bring their ideas together to help them celebrate these key moments in their careers.”

“I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of players lives on and off the field, which is why they request Jason of Beverly Hills to commemorate their big wins. The walk to the locker room has become the runway and it was only a matter of time before that bled onto the field. I had a great time collaborating on this piece with Odell and Dominic. Excited to see how they do on the field,” states Jason of Beverly Hills, well known bespoke jeweler trusted by top A-listers.

Design Details

1,494 brilliant white diamonds
Total carat weight of 25 carats
D color flawless clarity
150 grams of 14 karat yellow gold
Royal blue and yellow python
Valued at $200K

Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show

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By: Skyler Johnson

The Super Bowl Halftime Show is always a performance to remember and is oftentimes defining for an artist. Audiences are consistently provided with top-of-the-line choreography, special effects, and artistic direction. This year was no different, with performances by five legendary hip hop artists, including Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg.

Unlike other past performances, Super Bowl LVI’s didn’t include a ton of huge, fancy getups and expensive sets. And, this is one of the few performances where there weren’t dramatic changes to the set and outfits throughout. No one performed on a chariot like Madonna, or on a metallic lion, like Katy Perry. Instead, the entire set was five white stages that looked like buildings, placed in a row, on top of a large, overhead shot of Compton that carpeted the field.

This Half Time performance made history as it was the first time there were five headliners and the first time the artists were predominantly hip hop/rap artists. Rappers have performed during the event beforehand (including Puff Daddy and Nelly) but never have there been that many at a time.

Another unique aspect of this Super Bowl was the color scheme. Most of the performers wore dark or earthy tones, save for Mary J Blige and Snoop Dogg. The former wore a striking, silvery-white outfit and the latter wore a regal blue suit.

There were sequences of intense choreography but not from the performing artists. The result is that the music shined through. And the track list was legendary. “The Next Episode” and “Lose Yourself” are just examples of some of the great, classic music that was played during this show. Unforgettable moments included a sequence where 50 Cent rapped “In Da Club” upside down, reminiscent of the iconic original music video. Eminem performed “Lose Yourself” with Anderson Paak on drums.

Kendrick Lamar delivered an intoxicating and beautifully choreographed performance of his hit songs “M.A.A.D. City” and “Alright.” For many, they saw their childhood compiled into one performance given how many artists and songs were represented.

At the center of it all is Dr. Dre, who produced many of the songs, and discovered many of the artists that were represented here. The artist who founded Dre Beats and other iconic brands was celebrated during this performance.

This performance came at a very interesting time for rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg. The rapper is known as both a Billboard no. 1 artist and an actor (Beach Bum, Soul Plane), who also hosts a cooking show with Martha Stewart. He has now purchased Death Row Records, a record label founded by Dr. Dre.

Overall, this Half Time Show, while not flashy or extravagant, was certainly one for the books.