SLOW WINE/VINITALY: Italian Wines Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On February 3rd, SLOW WINE/VINITALY launched the new 3rd edition of the Slow wine guide at the Metropolitan Pavilion.

It was a big deal, with the largest gathering I've witnessed in any of the countless wine tastings I've covered for NYC Culture/Style blog so far. More than 110 wineries plus local importers were present during the walk around tasting session to offer importers, distributors and journalists the opportunity to spend a pleasant afternoon conducting business, exchanging views and tasting fine Italian wines.

CEY ADAMS Art Exhibit

reporter: Miguel Dominguez
Biography: Cey Adams web site

Art consultant Joyce Towbin Chasan had an exhibit of Ex Graffiti artist Cey Adams on May 14th at her beautiful loft Artsource International LLC.

Although some of the "usual suspects" (Artsource's very loyal art fans) were there, the crowd was somewhat different than the previous ones I've seen when covering earlier openings at her place, such as the exhibit of Eric Buechel and Joe Miller. Due to Cey's provenance and professional contacts, the recording industry was very prominently in attendance that night.

JOSEPH GINSBERG: An Evening of Art & Cocktails

reporter: Miguel Dominguez
copy: Cathy Crisci

May 9th was the date when Joe Ginsberg exhibited a dynamic grouping of oil on canvas, watercolor on paper and other mixed media paintings at his design studio, featuring his private collection of large canvas oils.

WOMEN & FASHION FILMFEST + GIRLS EMPOWERMENT FASHION RUNWAY Show

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On June 7th at the Yotel Hotel, Women & Fashion FilmFest (WFF) in conduction with Girls Empowerment Fashion Runway (GEFR) featured fashion designs on the runway by students and recent alumni of Pratt Institute, Fashion Institute of Technology, and United Colors of Fashion Academy (UCOF), a non-profit that provides free fashion education to under resourced youth.

KHADIA debuts at the WOMEN & FASHION FILMFEST

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On June 7th at the Yotel Hotel, in anticipation of the August release of her singles “If” and “Too Perfect” and her September album debut, rocking singer Khadia made her solo musical debut at the Women & Fashion FilmFest (WFF)/Girls Empowerment Fashion Runway (GEFR) sponsored by TRUE Model Management.

THE ART OF MODELING: Wilhelmina Models

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On June 13th, the Fashion committee of The National Arts Club had a most enjoyable presentation. Melissa Wilhelmina Cooper, daughter of the legendary Dutch model Wilhelmina Cooper, who founded Wilhelmina Models, brought three of the agency's "Supermodels," Coco Rocha, Armando Cabral, and Robyn Lawley, to discuss the art of modeling and tell some personal stories from their modeling careers.

Melissa Wilhelmina Cooper was the interviewer of the program

NEW YORK SPACES Celebrates Summer at MICHAEL DAWKINS HOME

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

The advent of Summer was the excuse for a bubbly celebration arranged by NEW YORK SPACES Magazine at Michael Dawkins' showroom on June 11, but the real treat was to feast one's eyes on the gorgeous home goodies that are a testament to his Zen taste in house appointments.

Michael Dawkins not only designs for the home, but does jewelry as well

AN EVENING OF OLD HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR: Benefit Auction for the NY Center for Children

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Hand painted by children who are being helped by the NY Center for Children,
these fans were being sold to the guests as part of the fund raising

On June 3rd at Magnises, the Junior Committee of The New York Center For Children arranged a cocktail party with a silent auction to benefit an institution that is very dear to all the members' hearts.

Bettina Bennett and Mom-to-be Peyton Hostetler,
Co-Chairs of the Junior Committee of the NY Center for Children

SCENTSORIUM: Design your own Fragrance

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

For more than 5 years having been listed as the premier custom perfumery in New York City and around the country, on May 28th, after being located for three months in the Tribeca area, Sue Phillips, President and CEO of Scenterprises™, finally unveiled to the press her fragrance boutique/atelier Scentsorium, to create bespoke perfumes by appointment only.

MAGGIE NORRIS & MICHEL PIRANESI: 'Marlene' Eyewear + Jewels by the tableful

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On January 30th, designer Maggie Norris and jeweler Michel Piranesi banded together at Selima Optique to show off their latest creations. For Maggie, it was the unveiling of her new design in eyewear, 'Marlene'. V.I.P.s in the worlds of fashion, the performing arts and the social scene made up the spirited crowd.

ATELIER COURBET: New Designs in Textiles by ANNA KARLIN

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On May 18th, Interior Design Magazine, which had done a cover on Anna Karlin stools, arranged for a presentation of Anna's new designs in fabrics, being executed by the prestigious Hosoo of Kyoto, and what better place to do it in, than at that den of luxury, Atelier Courbet, which carries other lines of the Hosoo output among its treasures.

Anna Karlin stools

THE DRAWN BLANK SERIES: Bob Dylan's Work on Paper

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Dealing in only original vintage posters, no reproductions, The Ross Art Group also deals with selected limited edition prints and original paper art. It is in this latter category that on May 8th, the gallery, located in the very heart of Touristland, NYC (around the corner from Rockefeller Center), an exhibit on the original watercolors, gouaches and limited edition prints of music legend Bob Dylan, was arranged to benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation which is the music industry's largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation sources and supports early-stage research projects aimed at developing more effective clinical treatments for patients which otherwise might not be funded.

The Sopranos' "BACALA" Gets Saucy

reporter: Miguel Dominguez
copy: Steve Schirripa web site

On May 7th at Grace's Trattoria, Steve Schirripa, who played the role of Bobby Baccalieri on The Sopranos, unveiled three different kinds of his organic pasta sauces, Uncle Steve’s Marinara Sauce, Tomato Basil, and my favorite, spicy hot Arrabiata.

NANCY C. DONAHUE & HARRY KING'S Annual Fashion Reunion 2014

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Nancy C. Donahue and Harry King, hosts of the party with Joey Mills peeking in the back

Café Un Deux Trois was the place on May 19th, where Nancy C. Donahue and Harry King had their annual get together with friends from the fashion industry. The usual guests, well known names in the fashion/beauty field, plus an assortment of  "Supermodels" whose heyday encompasses every decade back to the 60s, greatly appreciate these reunions, and judging by their high spirited behavior, they all were truly hellbent into having a blast.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT: Nomi Network 4th Annual Gala and Award Ceremony

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Farah Zulaikha with Diana Mao, Co-founder and President of Nomi Network, and Joe Flippin

Nomi Network’s 4th Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony took place on May 7th at the New York Academy of Medicine, to further Nomi Network’s commitment to raise awareness about human trafficking and encourage attendees to take a stand against this global crisis. It paid tribute to Shannon Sedgwick Davis, CEO of Bridgeway Foundation, and Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS shoes.

At far left, Shannon Sedgwick Davies, with Mamie Gummer seated in center, and
Diana Mao, and Shandra Woworuntu, survivor of human trafficking to the right

MARGINS: Frank Webster Paintings

reporter: Miguel Dominguez
copy: Frank Webster web site

On May 16 at f The Lodge Gallery, the art exhibit of MARGINS, Frank Webster's paintings and drawings of a landscape/architectural theme took place.

WAYS TO WILLS: Important Lecture About Estate Planning

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Founder of HK & Co. and promoter of this event, Helen Kim, with Author Herbert Nass,

and Arts International Director Joyce Chasan

On March 4, guests gathered in Joyce Chasan's Arts International loft to hear Herbert Nass, a trusts and estates lawyer for many of today's famous celebrities. He offered an engaging look at how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls made in estate planning, advising what not to do when setting up an estate plan, or administering an estate, and giving helpful tips that will save families money and potential emotional trauma.

STARGAZER: Luis Alves Collage

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On May 9th at the Chelsea Eye Art Gallery, Luis Alves Collage had an exhibit of his latests art series.

I also published a previous exhibit of a series Luis did on Kate Moss. Please click here to go to the article.

Luis Alves with Chelsea Eye Art Gallery art curator Tracy Von Becker-Legge

ART AS FURNITURE: Aldo Bakker

reporter: Miguel Dominguez
biography: Hans den Hartog Jager
archival images: http://www.aldobakker.com/

Aldo Bakker with two of his 'Tonus' stools

On May 10th, the exhibition ‘Aldo Bakker & the European masters’ opens at Atelier Courbet, New York. On show are new editions of the Tonus in urushi, oak and bronze, a new silver pourer, and other recent works.

Cocktails at St. Regis with Jacob&Co.

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On April 25th, the St. Regis Hotel, one of the premier luxury hotels in New York City, arranged and hosted a small, intimate cocktail reception for the presentation of Jacob&Co. jewelers.

LLADRO Unveils 'NATURO fantastic'

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

April 28th was the date  the Lladró showroom in midtown Manhattan had a presentation of their latest series in ceramics that goes by the name of 'NATURO fantastic'.

MANSION IN MAY: BLAIRSDEN Show House

reporter and photos: Miguel Dominguez

copy: Mansion in May

Just having opened on May 1st and ending on the 31st, Blairsden is the sort of venue that interior designers are always dreaming they could do from top to bottom. A lot of them would consider such privilege the highest point of their careers. Located in at the end of the New Jersey Gladstone train line and within one hour from Penn Station in New York (For information on how to get to Blairsden, please click here), it's one of the best Spring outings one can have this month, for not only seeing the beautifully designed rooms is as much a cultural experience as going to the Metropolitan Museum, but the house has an extensive terraced garden and is surrounded by acres of hilly parkland, turning the visit into a very relaxing day in the country.

As with all Show Houses, always planned to benefit charitable projects and/or organizations, this particular project of the Women's Association of Morristown Medical Center (WAMMC) benefits the expansion of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and a new Pediatric Autism and Child Development Center of the Goryeb Children's Hospital at Morristown Medical Center.

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA: Small Scale Works

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Marlborough Gallery just signed architect Santiago Calatrava up for representation, and on April 24 his smaller scale works—sculptures of bronze, wood, and alabaster, and also ceramics and drawings—debuted at the Midtown gallery. This is his first representation by a major international gallery, although Calatrava has previously shown in New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

SAKE IN THE CITY II: Wine and Wagyu Beef Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On October 28, 2013 at the event space '404', JETRO, the Japan External Trade Organization of New York, presented "Sake and the City II" — Discover Japanese Wagyu.

JETRO, a Japanese government organization that promotes mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world, brought experts in the Wagyu beef industry and also sake distributors to present seminars and tastings.

In one of the seminars, Yosuke Yamaguchi of ZEN-NOH described Japanese Wagyu. A specialist in horticulture and livestock general planning, Yamaguchi establishes relationships with restaurants, retailers, promoting sales of ZEN-NOH meats to the US, .

Distributors poured a variety of sake, some of which are not available in New York. Several of the choices complement Wagyu.