The Lowline Anti-Gala - Skylight Modern, New York City - October 8, 2014

On Wednesday, October 8th, 2014, the Lowline - the anticipated world’s first underground park in New York City celebrated its fundraising Anti-Gala at Skylight Modern in Manhattan. Using solar power, this park will illuminate an abandoned former trolley station in the heart of New York City's Lower East Side-- enabling plants and trees to grow.  This project is now supported by every single elected official representing the Lower East Side, along with major community organizations and the local business community.

The Anti-Gala featured Chef Julian Alonzo of Neuman’s Kitchen a dinner menu that was inspired by the diverse food traditions in the Lower East Side neighborhood where the Lowline will be built. During the dinner, Lowline co-founders Dan Barasch and James Ramsey shared the latest on the Lowline’s progress, including its political advocacy, technology research, and design updates.

“Our vision is a stunning underground park, providing a beautiful respite and a cultural attraction in one of the world’s most dense, urban environments,” said Dan Barasch, co-founder and executive director. “The event mirrored the underground space in design with the help of Terrain, a lifestyle brand known for endless home and garden inspiration on the look and feel, while showcasing the Lowline’s pioneering urban design and focus on unconventional green spaces. We are thrilled to have presented a unique opportunity to New York City and we’re so grateful for the continued support.”

Co-hosts actor Lena Dunham and film director Spike Jonze joined notable guests in attendance, which included actor Ed Norton, actress Laura Prepon, film producer Megan Ellison, High Line Co-Founder Robert Hammond, artist Tom Sachs, journalist Serena Altschul, DJ/Founder of DFA Records/LCD Soundsystem James Murphy, Grammy-winning musician and guitarist Jack Antonoff among others. Political elects such as Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Alicia Glen, Senators Cory Booker and Charles Schumer and Council Members Margaret Chin and Corey Johnson also showed their support.

Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen

Lena Dunham

rendering of the Lowline

Spike Jonze and Robyn Shapiro

beautiful event space at Skylight Modern

The evening was capped off with an after party with live performances by Bleachers, headlined by Grammy-winning musician Jack Antonoff, and a live DJ set by James Murphy of DFA/LCD Soundsystem. Throughout the night, surprise performances by local subway performers connected the event to the vibrancy and wild creativity of New York City.

*The event was sponsored by ABSOLUT, Terrain, Citi, Viacom, New York Magazine,

and Neuman’s Kitchen featuring Chef Julian Alonzo was also produced by Empire

Entertainment. Additional local sponsors have contributed considerable in kind support.

2014 Korean Food Festival – Times Square, New York City – October 17 - 18, 2014

We see a lot more variety of food from different cultures in supermarkets and grocery stores nowadays with increasing diversity in our cities.  To show and educate consumers on how to use and enjoy Korean food products to create healthy and tasty dishes right at home, the Korean Agro and Fisheries Trade Center will be hosting the 2014 Korean Food Festival in Times Square, New York City on October 17 – 18, 2014 (which falls on a Friday and Saturday).  This is a free event at the heart of Times Square Plaza – 43^rd to 44^th Broadway Plaza.

In addition to live cooking demonstrations, and food samples - this year’s event will feature live performances by modern percussion group ‘Super-Stick’, and ‘I Love Dance,’ a popular K-Pop dance team right here in New York.  There will also be a pop-up restaurant opened to registered guests, where Marriott Hotel Executive Chef Robert Mirabelle will be preparing a 3-course Korean fusion meal using Korean food products featured at the event.

At the event, you’ll find many products you can use at home to create new inventive flavors.  Below are examples of some dishes you can create at home with Korean soy sauce, and Korean olive oil.  As many chefs can attest to, even staple condiments like soy sauce and olive oil will vary in taste depending on the region and country they are from!  

We had a chance to sample delicious braised cod and sautéed mushrooms at Gaonnuri - All cooked with Korean soy sauce.  

We look forward to attending next week’s Korean Food Festival to sample and learn more about how we can create tasty healthy dishes and new flavors with Korean food products.  Given that the first day of the event falls on a Friday, we’ll be stopping by during lunch hour – see you all there!

The Truth Behind Our Titles, 3 West Club: New York City – October 1st, 2014

For high achieving women, the road to the top is not always smooth sailing and luck as many would think; it is more often a long road of small and large triumphs - mixed in with setbacks, challenges, and deeply personal struggles and difficulties.  To bring these issues out into the public discourse, Michelle Tenzyk, President of the East Tenth Group, has founded The Truth Behind Our Titles - a movement and forum where women can openly talk about the difficulties and adversities one encounters on the road to success. 

On October 1^st, 2014, The Truth Behind Our Titles held their first event at the 3 West Club in New York City.  It was a night of networking, drinks, and a panel discussion where a group of high achieving women collectively share their stories of struggles in their professional journeys. Speakers at this event included Tracy Davidson (NBC Philadelphia News achor), radio show host Susan Rocco,  branding and marketing executive Jennifer Brooks, tax lawyer Nikki Johnson-Huston, matrimonial lawyer Wendy Samuelson, executive coach Kelley Black, and Chief Human Resources Officer of American Express Global Business Travel JoAnne Kruse. 

Everyone on the panel shared stories of personal struggles (from disabilities to family members with addiction problems) and reflected on how leadership and management can make it more acceptable for employees to openly share their struggles and ask for help in the workplace.  To improve productivity in the workplace and create a good corporate culture, leadership teams need to make it easier for people to get help for personal struggles; and as one speaker brought up, keeping what happens at home at home is not always the best solution. 

A workplace where people can be their authentic selves and not get stigmatized for being open about their personal challenges is a more productive workplace.  A culture like this can only be created top down and it starts with good leadership.  As people spend more time at work, it is even for critical for the workplace to function as a support network as are families and friends so that companies can stay even more competitive and productive.