BERT STERN: ORIGINAL MAD MAN Photo Exhibit and Documentary Celebration

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On April 4th at the Staley Wise Gallery in SoHo, a celebration took place to promote the documentary Bert Stern: Original Mad Man by Shannah Laumeister, honoring Bert Stern, a former art director who turned photographer because he couldn't get the images he wanted for his ads. This decision not only made him one of the most highly regarded photographers in the history of commercial photography, but allowed him the unforgettable distinction of being the last photographer to shoot Marilyn Monroe before her tragic demise.

Documentary Director/Producer Shannah Laumeister and her hubby Bert Stern

SAKE AND THE CITY - Japanese Rice Wine Tasting Celebration

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On February 12 at the Astor Center, In order to increase awareness of Japanese Sake in the US, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) hosted "Sake and the City," a sake tasting event featuring select sake producers from Japan. This event offered American trade and press an opportunity to discover various sake producers and develop their knowledge of the Japanese beverage.

ON LOCATION: JAMES RYECK Art Exhibit

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

“On Location” opened March 29th, at the Lyons Wier Gallery showing the work of artist James Rieck.

The paintings in “On Location” are digitally composited figures in grand landscapes. The figures are clearly models poached from advertisements and the landscapes are classic displays of manufactured nature; but combined, they are on location! The clothing models have been transported to the exotic lands, but they are not actually there. These people were not in these places; they were not interacting with the nature. This revelation brings home an almost universal feeling of displacement, and yet no matter how disquieting, there is a peaceful feeling of serenity, as if that’s exactly how the narratives and compositions should be.

RICHARD HICKAM Art Exhibit

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Richard Hickam with wife Suzin, founder of Suzin L. Chocolatier

On April 3, Allan Stone Gallery presented Richard Hickam: Four Decades, his thirteenth solo exhibition with the gallery that included a group of new works.

Allison Stone Stabile, President of Allan Stone Gallery and Richard, who is due for a refill

ELLIOT HUNDLEY New Works

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On March 29th along west 25th street, one of several "Gallery Rows" in the outer reaches of Chelsea, I attended the art opening of Elliott Hundley's latest art pieces, which were being exhibited at the  Andrea Rosen Gallery

ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION Benefit Concert for Hurricane Sandy Victims

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Ara Gregorian Resnick, violin; Tom Sauer, piano;
Alicia Gregorian Sawyers, cello; Ani Gregorian, violin

The Gregorian Family, comprised of Ani Gregorian Resnick, Ara Gregorian, Alicia Gregorian Sawyers and Tom Sauer, performed in two private benefit concerts at the Sohotel Artspace Gallery to support the Robin Hood Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, which provides much needed support to those still affected by Super Storm Sandy.

The concerts were held at 4:00 and 8:00 on March 16. The 4:00 concert, which was the one I attended, was the more family friendly concert, with children ages 5 and up making up a large part of the audience, most of them Ani's music students.

HOW TO ACT LIKE A KID by Henry Hodges - book signing

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On March 26 at the Drama Book Shop I had, thanks to events photographer Theresa Keil, a mutual friend of Henry Hodges and I, the wonderful treat of attending the book signing of How to Act Like a Kid: Backstage Secrets of a Young Performer, which also included a staged session of Henry elaborating on the experiences written in his book. The interviewer for the occasion was Tim Federle, who like Henry, started as a performer, but excels as a comedic writer...the frothy kind.

Published by Disney Editions, How to Act Like a Kid: Backstage Secrets of a Young Performer was written by Henry and Margaret Engel with the intent of being a guide to stage and screen from a young veteran of Broadway, and therefore aimed to teens from 14–18 years of age. Young aspiring performers will be able to read about, learn from, and be inspired by an extraordinary young actor through his own words. 

VINA CROATIA Wine Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

At the Astor Center on January 7, Vina Croatia, had its second annual presentation to members of the wine trade and press of over 100 Croatian wines available for tasting, some of which have never been sold in the US, .

HAPPY 1st ANNIVERSARY NYC Culture/Style!

Over 30,500 Page Views!!!

JIM DINE Art Exhibit

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

February 21st in Chelsea was sort of a precursor to the Art Week that followed on March 8th with the opening of the Fountain Art fair at the Armory on Lexington Avenue. Countless galleries, mostly located in the stretch of one block—25th Street between 11th Avenue and West Street—had their art opening at the same time. Possessing only one single body, I only managed to attend a few. PACE Gallery was the first I attended, exhibiting at the time the paintings of Jim Dine.

JOHN BAILLY & BILL ARMSTRONG Double Art Show

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

John Bailly

As stated in both the GRINDHOUSE and Jim Dine articles (Click on the names to go to the articles), February 21st in Chelsea was an Art Lover's Paradise. In an area of about four blocks between 11th Avenue and West Street, quite a few galleries had their art opening at the same time. CLAMPART Gallery was my second stop. It was having a double exhibit of the works of artist John Bailly titled Place of Mind and the photography of Bill Armstrong, going by the name of Film Noir.

Bill Armstrong

GRINDHOUSE: JOHNNY ROMEO Art Exhibit

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

The Third gallery I visited February 21st in Chelsea after Clampart and PACE (Click on the names to go to their article) was porter/contemporary Gallery, showcasing GRINDHOUSE, a most enjoyable exhibit of the art of Australian Johnny Romeo

THE DIARY OF A NOSE by Jean-Claude Ellena - Book Signing

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

February 22nd was the date when Jean-Claude Ellena, the "parfumeur exclusif" of the house of Hermès, had his book signing of The Diary of a Nose at Rizzoli New York .

The Diary of a Nose is a collection of Ellena’s meditations on the world of scents, and what stirs his creation of some of the world’s most desired fragrances. Inspiration can come from anywhere—a market stall, a landscape, or even the movement of calligraphy. Though each smell has its own distinct character, a gifted perfumer creates olfactory experiences that are intensely personal and unique, that blossom on the body and leave a trace of us lingering after we have left a room. Seductive, delicate, and elegant as any of Ellena’s creations, The Diary of a Nose seeks to capture the most elusive facets of this rarefied and mysterious art.

GRUPO MATARROMERA: A Taste of Spain

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Carlos Moro, President and CEO of Grupo Matarromera
gleefully displays a bottle of Prestigio, his premier red wine

On March 13,  Grupo Matarromera had a wine tasting at the Gabarrón Foundation.

Group Matarromera is the only group present in the four Destinations of Origin surrounded by the Duero River: Ribera del Duero, Cigales, Toro and Rueda.

WINES of PORTUGAL Wine Tasting

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Master Sommelier Fred Dexheimer

On March 5, 2013, I had the privilege of tasting wines presented by more than 35 producers from Portugal who are seeking importers and/or distributors in the U.S.

The event was arranged by Full Circle Wine Solutions, a wine and spirits education firm that grows brand loyalty and client profits through tailored wine programs and effective hospitality training. Their invitation provided a great opportunity to learn more about the exciting wines coming from this unique Iberian nation. The list of participating producers is included below.

A VISUAL LIFE: SCRAPBOOKS, COLLAGES AND INSPIRATIONS by CHARLOTTE MOSS - Book Signing and Auction

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Charlotte Moss with all of her wonderful stuff to be auctioned in the background.
All the objects within the premises up until the day of the auction, were part of her collection

At Doyle New York on March 5, a book signing reception celebrated the publication of the new book by Charlotte Moss,  A Visual Life: Scrapbooks, Collages, and Inspirations, which was published by Rizzoli in the fall of 2012. The event was arranged to take place within the exhibition of The Charlotte Moss Collection, for Doyle New York was to auction the furniture, decorations and art from the collection two days hence, on March 7.

"I have been collecting and decorating for a long time and the time has come to edit, do some redecorating, and make room for new purchases of my own," commented Charlotte Moss about the upcoming sale.

M to M of M/M (Paris) book signing

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

The Payne Whitney House, which is the official venue for the Cultural Services of the French Embassy, was the place where Rizzoli New York had a book signing on March 3rd.

M to M of M/M (Paris) was the book featured, a 528 page monograph from the Design Studio of Mathias Augustinyak and Michaël Amzalag, now celebrating its 20th anniversary. This book records hundreds of their projects in Fashion, Music, Art, Graphics, and Visual Styling. In it are featured collaborations with a spectrum of creative worlds, including fashion works with Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs and Yohji Yamamoto; music works with Benjamin Biolay, Björk, Kanye West and Madonna; magazines such as Vogue Paris, Arena Homme+ and Interview; art projects and exhibitions at the Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern and Guggenheim Museum.

Art Week NY: RUSSIAN PAVILION

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On March 8th, The Russian Pavilion had a juried exhibition showcasing emerging and established artists from Russia, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Baltic regions during leading international contemporary art fairs in New York, San Francisco and Miami. Russian Pavilion NY offered a unique forum for critics and collectors to encounter the works and some of the artists in person.

Dasha Fursey talks about her crashing plane

Art Week NY: HIJO NAM: CYCLES

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On March 4th, Hijo Nam had a showing of her incredibly elegant painting/sculptures at The Gabarron Foundation, an art promoting organization located in a converted carriage house on the east side of Midtown Manhattan

Nam’s Cycle of Nature is a construction made of a circular metal form whose inner parameter contains a bent wooden semi-circular element held at intervals with metal clips. In its center there is another tondo that can be read as the earth, sun, moon or other natural entity that has to do with astronomy.

Fashion Week Fall/2013: RAUL PENARANDA

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Originally from Cali, Colombia, Raul Peñaranda grew up in Caracas, Venezuela and then moved with his family to Miami, Florida. After moving to New York in 2000, He enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parson's and was also offered a position at the Liz Claiborne Corporation. Over the years he also worked at Oscar ge la Renta, DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger.

In 2009 he decided to open his own Fashion House Raul Peñaranda LLC.

Designers Collective Fall 2013: YAMIL Q

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

Yamil Q (Yamil Quiñones), is a  fashion designer based in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. He graduated in 2010 at EDP college where he studied digital fashion design. He has exhibited his work in West Fashion Week PR 2011, Nueva Era Latinos Magazine, Trendy Magazine, New Condado Magazine, Vogue MIlan, Imagen Magazine, Revista Ego among others..

Couture Fashion Week Fall/2013: MARLENE HAUTE COUTURE

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

The latest collection by Marlene Haute Couture was presented at the Couture Fashion Week  of February 16, 2013 in the New Yorker Hotel.

With over 28 years in the fashion industry, Marlene’s one-of-a-kind creations are known for their dramatic femininity. Elaborate detail work and fine fabrics distinguish her designs. The designer is mostly best known for her wedding apparel and formal evening wear. Marlene's designs favor feminine, soft flowing lines, and she refuses to blindly follow design trends.

BARBARA BARRY: AROUND BEAUTY - Book Signing

reporter: Miguel Dominguez

On October 17th at Baker Furniture and then again on the 18th at ABC Carpet & Home, Award-winning designer Barbara Barry was at hand to sign her first published book Barbara Barry: Around Beauty.