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The Town Hall 90th Anniversary Gala

May 17, 2011 by Administrator / 1,404 Views

May 2, 2011

The Great Town Hall 90th Anniversary Gala

Tonight, we went to the Town Hall to attend its 90th Anniversary Gala. It starts with a brief introduction of Town Hall's history, after a few words about the chairmen and sponsors then the show starts.

For tonight, the music setup is just a grand piano. This is an excellent setup to showcase the singer's voice.

Show starts with Tovah, an excellent Broadway singer, powerful and energetic.

Then comes Emily, another powerful singer. Listening to her singing is like watching a doctor performing a delicate surgery. She has such good control; her every tone is in such detail and every pitch is precise. It is a flawless Performance.

I'm sorry to say that Jason, our next performer, is under the weather, and it shows on a few high notes on his Parade song. However, he picked the next song Perfectly. The Vegas song suited him well. I sincerely wish him a speedy full Recovery, and looking forward to see him perform again.

Next comes Bucky and John. I have to give Scott credit for arranging this great lineup. After a few powerful Broadway style performances, it is very nice and refreshing to have something lighter. Bucky and John's guitar combo is just what we need.

Their jazzy performance is like the perfect wine that compliments the main entree. And the crowd showed their love with a standing ovation!

Now comes the bomb. I have to say I'm biased in this case... (Recently, I got the Les Misérables 25th Anniversary concert DVD, and I have been playing it at home over and over.) So, when Norm Lewis came out as a special guest, my jaw just dropped on the floor. And that he also sing the song "Bring him home". Personally, this has just made my night!!!

And just when you think how anyone can keep topping the scale, Scott arranged Jeffrey and Noah, who are not only talent in singing, but also tap dancing. It sure brings the entertaining value to another level when you're singing and dancing.

Liz, our next performer, is a powerful singer, but unlike Tovah who is
Energetic, or Emily who precise and delicate, Liz's singing is smooth and sweet. And she also showed her strength in her song "Another hundred people" who not only require good acting; it is also a tongue twister. I think she just sang for a minute or two with just one breathe.

Then Tovah, who was our first performer, comes out again and does a finale. It was perfect ending to a great night of music!

Overall, another wonderful performance written and hosted by Scott Siegel. I very much look forward to another show of his (especially when there are any unplug performances...)

Last but not least, Happy 90th Birthday, Town Hall!!!!
Best Wishes!!! And many more to come!!!

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Pratt’s 112th annual Fashion Show on Thursday, April 27 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City

May 17, 2011 by Administrator / 1,988 Views

PRATT INSTITUTE HONORED HAMISH BOWLES OF VOGUE AND PRESENTED THE BEST WORK BY GRADUATING SENIOR FASHION DESIGN STUDENTS AT ANNUAL RUNWAY SHOW IN MANHATTAN ON APRIL 27

Hamish Bowles, Vogue's European Editor at Large,was honored with the 2011 Pratt Institute Fashion Icon Award . The award will be presented to Bowles by Diane von Furstenberg, who received the Pratt Fashion Icon Award in 2006. Funding for the Pratt Fashion Show was awarded in part through a competitive grant presented to Pratt Institute by the Importer Support Program of the Cotton Board and Cotton Incorporated. Pratt Institute will hold a cocktail benefit in honor of Bowles immediately following the show.
"We are delighted to honor Hamish Bowles, who has contributed so much to the fields of fashion and interior design, with the 2011 Pratt Fashion Icon Award," said Pratt President Thomas F. Schutte. "We greatly appreciate the support of our sponsors and event attendees as all proceeds from this event help to benefit the next generation of fashion design students at Pratt," he added.

The 2011 Pratt Fashion Show featured the best work of 18 of Pratt's graduating seniors. The designs shown on the runway have been pre-selected by a panel of fashion industry experts and will span several categories of apparel including women's, men's, evening, bridal, sportswear, and costume design. Showcased will be ready-to-wear looks for both men and women; elegantly-constructed and sophisticated bridal and eveningwear; and inventive costume designs. One of the most prestigious colleges for art, design, and architecture in the world, Pratt Institute is home to the first fashion design program in the United States.

"The inspiration provided by the Pratt environment and the broader creative community of Brooklyn has made this year's collections extremely fresh and innovative," said Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman, acting chair of the Pratt Fashion Design Department. "In Pratt's Department of Fashion Design, our world-class faculty not only provides rigorous training, but also encourages students to find their creative expressions, develop their individual design aesthetics, and hold true to their visions," she added

Pratt presents the Fashion Design Icon Award annually to a renowned figure in the fashion industry in recognition of his or her unique style and positive influence within the industry and ability to inspire young people interested in fashion. Bowles is one of the most respected authorities on the worlds of fashion and interior design. Bowles, who oversees all interior design features, writes profile stories, and covers fashion, contemporary culture, and the history of fashion and style for Vogue, will be the sixth Fashion Icon to receive this honor from Pratt, following Catherine Malandrino in 2010, Ralph Rucci in 2009, Carmen Marc Valvo in 2008, Narciso Rodriguez in 2007, and von Furstenberg in 2006.

This year's recipient, Hamish Bowles, is a recognized authority on fashion and currently contributes to Vogue.com under his rubric "The Hamishsphere." He curated the much-acclaimed exhibition, "Balenciaga: Spanish Master," which was held this winter at the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute, New York, and opened this spring at the de Young Museum, San Francisco as "Balenciaga and Spain." He also curated "Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2001. Bowles has written and lectured extensively on fashion history, art, lifestyle, and interior design, and he has authored and co-authored several books including Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years (Bulfinch, 2001); Carolina Herrera: Portrait of a Fashion Icon (Assouline, 2004); Vogue Living: Houses, Gardens, People (Knopf, 2007); Yves Saint Laurent Style (Abrams, 2008); The World in Vogue: People, Parties, Places (Knopf, 2009); Balenciaga: Spanish Master (Skira Rizzoli, 2010) and Balenciaga and Spain (Skira Rizzoli, 2011).

2011 PRATT FASHION SHOW RUNWAY LINE-UP
on Thursday, April 27 at the Metropolitan Pavilion at 125 West 18th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Manhattan.

SPORTSWEAR
JiHye Wang The Layla
Hannah Peyser Elytra
Abby Dubois Surrounded Bodies
Olivia Y. Choi Modern Armor
Nadia Mohamed Ezili
Sunjee Kim La Jaune Fontange
Megan Jones Poetic Time
MaRu Jung Bohemian Travelers
Alfredo Cabrera Sportswear Award
Stephanie Chudy Pastoral Existence
Maureen Flint Fontanelle

MENSWEAR
Emma Rowe Kings of the Wild Frontier

COSTUME
Sarah Lind Metropolis

EVENING AND BRIDAL
Joana Rigol Metamorphosis
Dara N. Rosen Look Me in the Heart
Outstanding Achievement Award
Melanie Miracolo Love Her Madly
Megan Carlée Frost From Fire
Gianna Lucci In Flux
Renee Hunter Eveningwear Award
Elishah Rho Flight of Fancy
Images by Rene Perez.
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The 11th Annual New York Indian Film Festival

May 5, 2011 by Administrator / 1,456 Views

The 11th Annual New York Indian Film Festival kicked off in spectacular fashion on Wednesday night, May 4, with the Opening Night celebration which featured the U.S. Premiere of the Delhi-set comedy "Do Dooni Chaar," Disney's first live-action Hindi film. The star-studded red carpet premiere, held at Manhattan's prestigious Paris Theater, was attended by special guests Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh Kapoor along with writer/director Habib Faisal. Also attending the premiere were Aparna Sen, Madhur Jaffrey, Aditya Bhattacharya, Ajay Naidu, Samrat Chakrabarti, Meetu Chilana, Rehana Mirza, Pulitzer Prize winner Siddhartha Mukherjee, Sarita Choudhury, Ami Sheth, Poorna Jagannathan, and many other actors and filmmakers whose films will play at NYIFF through Closing Night on Sunday, May 8.

Following the screening of "Do Dooni Chaar" was a discussion with Faisal and the Kapoors moderated by festival director Aseem Chhabra which had the audience laughing throughout. A gala benefit dinner followed at the opulent Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South.

(L-R) Neetu Singh Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor on the red carpet.
Photos by MichaelToolan.com
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DIOR AND THE PUSHKIN MUSEUM PRESENT THE EXHIBITION INSPIRATION DIOR FROM APRIL 28TH TO JULY 24TH 2011 IN MOSCOW.

Apr 28, 2011 by Administrator / 1,092 Views

FEBRUARY 12TH, 1947: CHRISTIAN DIOR PRESENTS HIS FIRST COLLECTION AT AVENUE
MONTAIGNE. THE REVOLUTION IS UNDERWAY AND THE NEW LOOK IS BORN. WITH IT, THE
HOUSE OF DIOR ENTERS THE WORLD OF LEGEND.
UNKNOWN UNTIL THAT MOMENT, THE GENIUS DESIGNER WHO REVERED THE FRENCH WAY
OF LIFE ENTERED A TRIUMPHANT DECADE, PROVIDING WOMEN WITH REGAL BEARING
AND A SUBLIME LOOK. SKIRTS WERE LONGER, SHOULDERS WERE SOFTENED AND
WAISTS WERE CINCHED. A DIOR FLOWER-WOMAN BLOSSOMED IN THE POST-WAR ERA,
AND OUTRAGEOUSLY SPLENDID, WAS SOON TO CONQUER THE WORLD WITH INFINITE
GRACE.

NEW AND HIGHLY INNOVATIVE, THE EXHIBITION DEMONSTRATES HOW INSPIRATION
HAS NOURISHED THE HEART OF DIOR FOR DECADES. THIS AMAZING JOURNEY GUIDES
THE VISITOR THROUGH THE DIOR ARTISTIC CREATIVE SOURCES OF FASHION AND ITS
LINKS TO HISTORY, NATURE, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, DRAWING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND
FILM. IT REVEALS HOW AN IDEA, A FEELING, AN ERA, A GARDEN, A PERCEPTION OR
EVEN A SMELL CAN INSTIL AN IDEA IN THE HEART AND MIND, GIVING RISE TO A UNIQUE
CREATION.

IN THIS MAJOR EXHIBITION, THE PUSHKIN MUSEUM SHOWCASES DIOR MAGIC AND
LUXURY WHILST EMPHASISING THE OUTSTANDING HOUSE’S LINKS WITH ART.
THE KEY THEMES OF THE DIOR LEGEND - PAST AND PRESENT - ARE PRESENTED ON A
GRAND SCALE IN ORIGINAL FASHION, SET AGAINST UNIQUE WORKS OF ART. IT IS A
JOURNEY OF CORRESPONDING ELEMENTS AND MAGICAL SYNERGIES, WHERE THE NEW
LOOK IS ECHOED IN WORKS BY PICASSO, MODIGLIANI, RENOIR, CEZANNE OR EVEN
GAUGUIN. NUDES BY VANESSA BEECROFT, MAURIZIO CATTELAN AND ORLAN EMPHASISE
THE GLORIOUSLY MODERN LINES OF THE FEMALE BODY, ACCENTUATED BY CHRISTIAN DIOR.
THIS WALTZ THROUGH TIME ENCHANTS THE VISITOR WITH LUSH GARDENS AND RECOLLECTIONS
OF THE 18TH CENTURY AND THE BELLE ÉPOQUE. MARIE-ANTOINETTE MEETS
JEFF KOONS, BONNARD’S LANDSCAPES CELEBRATE DIOR’S FLOWER-WOMEN AND
AND THE EGYPTIAN GODDESSES FROM SPRING SUMMER 2004 ESTABLISH A RADIANT,
GOLDEN DESTINY.

THE DIOR GRAND BALLS ARE ALSO CELEBRATED IN ALL THEIR GLORY IN AN
ENCHANTED SETTING WHERE INGRES’ ARISTOCRATS ADMIRE BREATHTAKING CRINOLINES
AND HAUTE COUTURE GOWNS. THE VISITOR IS THEN TRANSPORTED AROUND THE
WORLD WITH DIOR VIA GOYA’S SPAIN, MATISSE’S HEADY ORIENT AND OF COURSE,
RUSSIA AND ASIA.

THE WORLD OF DIOR BEAUTY ALSO PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW RENÉ
GRUAU’S STRIKINGLY MODERN ILLUSTRATIONS AND ALLOWS THE RUSSIAN
PLASTIC ARTIST, OLGA KISSELEVA TO CREATE AN INSTALLATION EXPLORING THE SENSUAL
AND SENSORY UNIVERSE OF DIOR PERFUMES.
A MIRROR EFFECT OF DELIBERATE SIMILARITIES LAYS DOWN THE FRAMEWORK OF THIS
EXCEPTIONAL EXHIBITION, IN WHICH THE QUEST FOR IDEAL BEAUTY CREATES THE LINK
BETWEEN CHRISTIAN DIOR, GENIUS COUTURIER, AND THE IMPRESSIVE AND UNEXPECTED
GALLERY OF GREAT MASTERS.
AS MONSIEUR DIOR SAID: “FINALLY EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN PART OF MY LIFE -
WHETHER I WANTED IT TO OR NOT - HAS EXPRESSED ITSELF IN MY DRESSES Read more »
BURBERRY EYEWEAR COLLECTION

Apr 22, 2011 by Administrator / 2,475 Views

The Burberry Eyewear collection builds on the brand’s strong association with Britishness, function and innovation drawing inspiration from the season’s ready to wear and non apparel collections

Key sun styles for women include square shaped styles with iconic Burberry quilted metal inserts on the temples

Key sun styles for men include oversize aviator styles with Burberry check engraved temples inspired by the brand’s strong heritage in aviation

The collection also includes the Burberry Brights eyewear collection which features the first foldable Burberry sun style

Previewed during the Burberry Prorsum Spring Summer 2011 womenswear show, the Burberry Brights eyewear collection draws on the Burberry heritage in function, design and craftsmanship

Optical styles in the collection include styles with facetted temples for men and women‬.

The colour palette for the collection includes trench, black, white, tortoise, oxblood, beetroot, opal, fuchsia, lime, pollen, citrus and spearmint

Burberry Eyewear is available online at Burberry.com and from Burberry stores and selected retailers worldwide

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