Author: Moury Khan

Dr. Maryam Zamani’s Guide to Glowing Skin

Post author By Moury Khan
Post date August 16, 2018

On average, a person spends about $43 on a shopping trip to the makeup store. Not counting the time spent on the research, travel, and applying the product, self-care might seem like a bottomless pit of endless needs. As magical as makeup may be, it cannot be a miracle worker on its own. It works alongside your base, and maintaining that base is half the process, and leading Aesthetic Doctor, Maryam Zamani shares a few exclusive tips with Downtown Magazine on how to glow from the inside out.

Exfoliate

The process of exfoliation removes the dead skin cells accumulated on the top layer of the skin. There are many ways you can go through this process, either using a brush, a facial scrub, or even chemicals. Dr. Zamani recommends a Natural Konjac Sponge to slough off the dead skin cells. The iron oxide clay in this sponge stimulates blood flow, as well as adding luster to dull skin. This sponge also rebalances the skin’s natural pH levels, leaving the face with a smooth finish.

Hydration

Staying hydrated from the inside is also important to this process. It helps reduce the appearance of fine lines. In addition to drinking water, it is also important to have a good moisturizer to lock it all in. Look for a moisturizer that has a good amount of SPF, as well as Vitamin C to not only protect your skin but also give it a glowing effect.

Don’t forget your neck!

While you are prepping your face, do not neglect your neck. Remember, the skin on your neck also frames your face, so be sure to take care of that as well in order to avoid unevenness. Be sure to prep your neck the same way you prep your face.

Nutritional Facelift

Having a healthy diet also contributes to your skin and hair health. A diet that is rich in Omega 3, 6, and 9 fights inflammation and preserves the health of skin and hair. Eating your fruits and veggies will help your body get rid of harmful toxins that tend to make your skin look older.

Be sure to avoid salty foods, as it retains water in your body, as well as cutting back on things such as caffeine and alcohol that has a tendency of drying out your skin. Instead, increase your water intake to combat these harmful effects.

When it comes to the skin, it is a multistep process that requires our TLC in more ways than we know.

Have you tried these tips? Let us know your skin journey on Twitter or Instagram!

Entertainment

Skullcandy Launches their Newest Headphone: Venue

Post author By Moury Khan
Post date August 14, 2018

Skullcandy's launch party for the Venue headphones. Skullcandy hosted a product launch party for their Venue headphones and Downtown Magazine was able to get an exclusive peek at their newest product.

This event was hosted in the Elsewhere venue located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The doors opened at 7 pm, inviting guests into the loft and lounge area, where Skullcandy introduced and encouraged visitors to test out their newest product, the Venue headphones.

These headphones offer a Bluetooth wireless feature, as well as a 24-hour battery life to accommodate the most hardcore music lover on the go. Skullcandy also included a rapid charge feature on these headphones that allows the busiest of individuals to never miss a beat even if you forget to charge it the night before. Ten minutes of charge can get you up to three hours of non-stop music, maximizing time for consumers.

Skullcandy also partnered up with Tile, a Bluetooth tracker app, incorporating their technology into their headphones so they are never misplaced. Like the original Tile key ring accessory, the headphones can be registered and tracked via the Tile app. Like the original Tile product, the headphone also incorporates a beeping feature that rings if the headphones are truly out of sight.

While guests enjoyed the exclusive introduction to the newest addition to their product family, Skullcandy also hosted a private concert. The Chicago-based rapper Smino performed an intimate set for the guests attending the product launch party.

The evening was wrapped up with cocktails and charcuterie, as guests were able to swipe a gift bag designed for the average Venue consumer: the person on the go. The bag included a gift card to purchase a Venue headphone, a Skullcandy power bank for the days you are running low on charge, a stainless steel straw kit, a carry-on cocktail kit, a notebook, as well as a Tile keychain.

Have you tried a product from Skullcandy? Tell us about it!

Summer of Fun: Bryant Park Movie Nights

Post author By Moury Khan
Post date August 7, 2018

Bryant Park Movie Night Logo

As this summer marks the 26th year for Bryant Park Movie Nights, New Yorkers gathered another Monday night to screen the classic The Wiz.

Hundreds of New Yorkers filled Bryant Park as many rushed to save their seat for the free viewing. Guests also made sure to get comfortable, as many brought their own snacks and blankets. For those who came unprepared, the park sells blankets at the Bryant Park Shop on the fountain terrace, as well as hosting a different variety food vendors such as Downeast Lobstah, Duck Season, Manousheh, Renegade Lemonade, Home Frites, Rip’s Malt Shop, Manju, Breads Bakery, Oconomi, and Stax Ice Cream. The park also introduced adult beverages for the first time this year on the Upper Terrace behind the New York Public Library to enjoy either beer or wine for their legal guests.

Bryant Park’s Movie Night is sponsored by Bank of America as a part of their open support for the arts, targeting to connect and enrich the lives of the public through film. This event is open to all, creating an inclusive environment for everyone. Guests are subjected to bag checks to ensure public safety.

The program originally started in 1993. Bryant Park partnered up with HBO to screen free films of the public. Since opening with the Movie A Streetcar Named Desire, the park has continued to entertain New Yorkers every summer with cult classics.

The summer was kicked off with The Breakfast Club, then screening The Phillidalphia Story, A League of their Own, Little Miss Sunshine, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and The Wiz.

With only two more Mondays left of the 2018 Bryant Park Movie Nights, they are scheduled to screen Thelma and Louise on the 13th, and The Terminator on the 20th.

Want more? Check out more summer fun that Downtown New York has in store for you!

Entertainment Music Uncategorized

Summer Fun with the Chuck Braman Band

Post author By Moury Khan
Post date August 6, 2018

The Chuck Braman Vibraphone Quartet kicked off this past weekend with a free concert on the Hudson River featuring Chuck Braman on drums, Behn Gillece on vibraphone, Paul Bollenback on guitar, and Matt Clohesy on bass. The concert began at 7 pm and continued until 9 pm.

Originally intending to perform a guitar quartet, last minute changes lead to a vibraphone quartet performance.

Photo courtesy of the Chuck Braman Jazz Facebook page.

This event was organized by the Hudson River Park team as a part of their Summer Fun event.

Concert-goers were encouraged to bring a blanket so they could sit on the grass and enjoy soulful jazz as well as a view of the city while enjoying the sunset.

Chuck Braman is a jazz musician based in New York City. As a drummer and a bandleader, Braman can be found in a jazz club with his core band or performing in a summer series with his guitar trio/quartet, trumpet-tenor saxophone quintet, saxophone quartet, vibraphone quartet, or even his piano trio. With different members in each series, Braman aims to represent and recreate all aspects of music he loves.

Guitar Trio/Quartet

With either one or two guitarists, this band pays tribute to Braman’s favorite jazz composers of the 1940s through 1970s. This quartet pays tribute to the compositions of Thelonious Monk by performing his pieces. Monk is known for his unorthodox approach to the piano. Unlike his peers, Monk focused on improvisions and angular twists in his music. Though Monk’s style was not recognized as art and garnered harsh criticism, the Chuck Braman Band reminds us of his artistic genius by playing his classic piano tunes in his guitar quartet.

Trumpet-Tenor Saxophone Quintet

Inspired by the compositions of trumpeter Kenny Dorham, this quintet brings back it’s listeners to the height of Jazz music–the roaring 20’s. The Chuck Braman Band also draws inspiration from Joe Henderson, a very well known saxophonist in the jazz community. Henderson’s inspiration comes from a more modern jazz as opposed to Dorham, who embodied classical jazz. The Chuck Braman Band finds the middle ground for this combination by keeping the elements of classic jazz while adding on the modern twist.

Saxophone Quartet

This band consists of a saxophone and guitar. With Chris Bacas on the saxophone, Tom Guarna on the guitar, Thomson Kneedland on bass, and Chuck Braman on the drums, the music behind this is inspired by underground compositions from the 50’s to the 70’s. These pieces are known to be the more challenging pieces of composition. Unlike the other styles, this particular band explores a more “avant-garde” jazz, as explained on his website.

Vibraphone Trio/Quartet

This particular band focuses on a vibraphone either by itself or accompanied by a guitar. Much of this band is inspired by vibraphonist Gary Burton’s performances of Steve Swallow, Michael Gibbs, Carla Bley, and many more. This band features Behn Gillece on the vibraphone, Nate Radley on the guitar. Matt Clohsey on bass, and Chuck Braman on drums.

“The common denominator between these compositions is that, to my ears, their melodies lend themselves to the sound of the vibraphone more so than any other instrument.” –Chuck Braman

Piano Trio

In this Piano Trio, the Chuck Braman Band focuses on pieces that are often overlooked and underperformed by jazz pianist Bill Evans and Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. Unlike his other groups that have permanent performers, Braman performs these pieces with his favorite pianists who he previously worked with. Such performers including Gary Versace, Art Hirahara, and Adam Birnbaum.

Braman’s series has already performed fifteen concerts this summer alone and has more to come. His quintet will be performing in Gantry Plaza State Park on Tuesday, August 21st hosted by Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA) at Queens College.

The Chuck Braman band also performs private events. For more bookings and more information, visit New York City Jazz Band. Be sure to follow him on Facebook for future performances, and also be sure to check out his website.

Education Living News Uncategorized

Domino Park: The Journey from Sugar Refinery to Public Park

Post author By Moury Khan
Post date July 23, 2018

A year ago, James Corner Field Operations, the design team behind the New York High Line, revealed that they would be designing a 6-acre public waterfront park on what used to be the Domino Sugar Refinery. Today, the park is finally open to the public as Domino Park.

Built as a tribute to the families who have worked in the factory, this park has opened its gates for the first time after more than 160 years.

At its peak, the refinery was considered to be not only the largest but also the most productive, refining 4 million pounds of sugar daily.

The Domino Sugar Refinery produced 98% of the sugar in the United States, all from the comfort of the Williamsburg location.

Due to the social and economic changes in the 1950s, Domino Sugar Refinery began to slow down. By 2004, the sugar refinery permanently shut their doors.

The James Corner Field Operation reopened the former sugar refinery on June 10^th as Domino Park.

The park features an extension of River Street. Historically, the views of Manhattan were not accessible to the residents living around the abandoned refinery, which was something the architects behind this project wanted to eliminate. The park now has a 1,200-foot-long waterfront esplanade that allows a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline and Williamsburg Bridge.

In addition to its surroundings, the park also created recreational spaces that include a Japanese garden that holds up to 100 guests and a four-tiered seating area decorated with syrup tanks from the refinery.

The park welcomes its guests to bring food and enjoy the view, or even purchase food from Taconia, conveniently located in Domino Park.

“The design will reconnect New Yorkers to the East River waterfront and foster interest in the history of the site and the surrounding neighborhood,” said Lisa Switkin, Senior Principal of James Corner Field Operations.

Though the factory has new features, the history of the refinery is celebrated. The factory has a five-block-long artifact walk. This includes over 30 large-scale handpicked pieces from factory machinery, as well as Kara Walker’s A Subtly installation.

Domino Park also aims to educate the younger crowd with Sweetwater Playground. Designed by Mark Reigelman, known for his public art installations, his concept of Sweetwater aims to take children through the sugar refining process with ramps, tunnels, and slides.

This park is now open to the public seven days a week from 6 AM to 1 AM. For more information on Domino Park, check out their official website.

Entertainment Lifestyle NYC Uncategorized

Meet Christopher Weeden: A New York Based Artist

Post author By Moury Khan
Post date July 19, 2018

Photo courtesy of Weeden's Instagram page.

Hailing from Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, Christopher Weeden, or better known as SmurfoUDirty, is a New York-based artist who gained momentum in the past few years through his distinctive style of art.

Harlem born and Brooklyn raised, Weeden finds most of his inspiration from the Lower East Side.

Photo courtesy of @SmurfoUDirty on Instagram. — Photo courtesy of @SmurfoUDirty.

“I’m an open book that’s mostly pictures. I’m an artist, cartoonist, painter, DJ, comedian and a steward of feels…and I also have a meme page.” -Christopher Weeden

Involved with art since he could hold a pen, Weeden describes his earlier work as contemporary pop. His love for art eventually led him to attend Manhattan’s Art and Design High School in 2003.

Art always came naturally to Weeden, but he is constantly evolving as he grew as an artist. “At first as a young student, it felt good to create and draw. Then I got older and saw the attention I got from doing portraits of people and doing their name in graffiti letters,” said Weeden.

Much of Weeden’s art is considered to be provocative, as he likes to incorporate adult themes into work. This creates a plethora of reactions from his audience. Some love it, others don’t, but that does not affect Weeden’s creative process. In fact, he welcomes criticism. “If my art is not invoking emotion then why am I even doing it?” said Weeden.

While art lovers observe Weeden’s work, Weeden is also observing and learning from his audience to create his next piece. Inspiration comes from a variety of places for this artist, but sums it up as “just life in general as it is today for a 29-year-old New Yorker.”

“My eyes and brains are like a big sponge that soaks in everything, consciously and subconsciously.”-Christopher Weeden

Photo courtesy of @<a href="http://instagram.com/smurfoudirty">SmurfoUDirty</a>. — Photo courtesy of @SmurfoUDirty.

Much of his inspiration also comes from his younger brother Darius and his father who worked in advertising and design back in the 70s. He also attributes L’Amoure Supreme as one of his mentors.

Artists like R. Crumb and Big Ed Roth today stimulate a lot of his art. His work also features Disney and Hanna-Barbera elements but attributes his biggest inspiration to be his phone. “Think about it, it’s the first thing in my hand when I wake up, and the last thing in my hands before I sleep. I need books,” said Weeden.

The creative process for Weeden never stays the same. He creates whenever inspiration strikes, but he does stand by one routine: sobriety while working in his studio.

While the mind of this artist is constantly absorbing his setting to encompass into his art, Weeden also DJ’s, or if he’s not doing that, he can be found hanging out with @WCKidsNYC.

“I’m just trying to be out and be myself. Somehow it’s all creating art. Every day of life is thought, strategy, execution, and most of the time revel.” -Christopher Weeden

Weeden leaves his fellow artists with several pieces of advice: “Never stop. Don’t start off doing art for other people to like it. Don’t get discouraged because of social media. Practice your craft every day. Take less selfies. Try not to use a pencil. Treat it like a sport. Do not copy styles that are recyclable.”

To see more of Weeden’s artwork, check out his Instagram page.