Monday, May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day!

Rooftop on the Met

You know, three-day weekends in 80ish degree weather is like a sneak peek to the summer...what a tease. I took to the city this Memorial Day weekend, visiting museums and exploring more beautiful and hidden parts of the city. I'm not sure if some of you had come to this conclusion to yourself, but no matter how many times you can pass something by, there's always something new you didn't notice before. For example, I was walking through Midtown (which could very likely be the gazillionth time I've walked through Midtown) and I looked up while waiting at a red light; there were so many moments  that I found myself thinking, was that there before? Because of the fact that I have grown to become that   walk-everywhere-quickly-make-this-next-light New Yorker, I don't often look up. 
So it was great to just chill around on the rooftop on the Met and see everything from above. 
"I've reached the top guys!" 
*gasp* Fooling around at the Met
Some good reads at Bryant Park
frozen yogurt: a necessity to staying cool, sane, and satisfied in the heat...

Ah, yes. There's nothing like sitting down at the park after a long walk...
I actually rather not smell neither... allergies from the flowers and asthma from the cigarettes. I deal.

Thank God. Seriously, it sucks when you're trying to relax only to have to move because someone's just clouding up the park with their killer sticks. Isn't it enough that NYC is one of the most polluted parts of the country and the highest number of asthma affected youth? 
Yeah, I'm a part of that statistic. Go away smokers!
may not be a beach sunset, but close enough

Happy Memorial Day and thank you to the troops! 
-C

Sunday, May 29, 2011

My Reel Lives Graduate Film Screening

Graduates of the Reel Lives 2010 class and educators Bridget Jordan and founder Lyle Kane
photos by Lou Dembrow

I'm reminiscing guys...I gave birth to my 9-month old *heart attack here* documentary last Friday! 
I've been working really closely with a program called Reel Lives since September of 2010, on my first documentary, Loud Silence.
Reel Lives is a not-for-profit film making program that teaches marginalized, refugee, and war-effected youth in finding their authentic voices through film making. 
I had no previous experience with documentary film making or using the Canon 7D cameras to shoot before the class. I've learned so many new techniques in film making and final cut pro that I honestly thought I would never learn. And let me tell you, documentary film making is not easy! 
(Yes, I am writing in italics and bold lettering because it seriously is not easy! :)
It takes a whole lot of patience and passion for what you're doing. There were so many moments when I was just so exasperated that I needed to do some deep breaths in between shooting. Especially when I was shooting an interview myself. Setting up the camera, sound, and reviewing questions with your subject, one interview itself can take more than one hour; only to use 10 second bites. I worked on a film for 9 months and it was 12min.11sec. So, as you can see, it takes more work than you think! Because my film was on such a sensitive topic (homosexuality), it was difficult to conduct interviews without making people say exactly what you want them to say. You just sorta have to keep asking more questions on their responses...
Read my film synopsis here:
On the red carpet in BCBG MaxAzria
Film makers (from left) George Tarr, Parbat Chapagai, Buddah Tamang, Myself, Marieme Sall, Pnyessa Rose, Renée Laster
Q&A with the film makers after the Screening 

I'm so grateful for Reel Lives and my amazing educators Lyle Kane, Bridget Jordan, and Joan LeFosse.
They are amazing in what they do and I'm happy to have been a part of their first class!
Thanks to Reel Lives, I see film through the eyes of a film maker. 
I blame Reel Lives in making me critique other film makers. Now I can't sit through any film or video without thinking, "the sound wasn't synched" or "the frame and lighting look terrible" 
Ha! Not a bad thing at all ;) I can proudly now say that I am a film maker.
It was such a great screening, the night was still young. I'm grateful for my friends who came to support me!
 I love every single one of them! 
Watch my first documentary, Loud Silence here:

LOUD SILENCE from Reel Lives on Vimeo.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Couture for a Cause: the Fresh Air Fund

I was superr early for the Tibi/Man Repeller event at Bloomingdales, so heck, guess I'll just wander for an hour... Little did I know that Juicy Couture was also hosting an event on the same floor, on the same day, at the same time. Benefiting and celebrating the one and only, Fresh Air Fund. I was greeted by he lovely ladies who work at the Fresh Air Fund, a surprise indeed!

I've been involved with the Fresh Air Fund for about nine years (that's crazy since I'm only 16) and the experience has been life changing. Every summer I was able to go Upstate to Fishkill, NY for summers filled with swimming (learning anyway), friends, and s'mores, all for free. An extraordinary opportunity for sure. And this summer I'll be working again at Camp Mariah as a Career Awareness Teen or CAP Teen and be a counselor/fashion class assistant. 
So I was soo excited to see that Juicy Couture was getting involved with the Fresh Air Fund and finally finding its way back to us after a couple of years. 
these vanilla, pop rock, funfetti, cake ball things were AMAZING.
I mean, I've been to events where they gave out hors d'oeuvres and sweets, but these were so good!
I couldn't help but to take another when the waiters passed by.
Okay. That was my fattie moment ;)
Me and the Career Awareness Program Pre-Occ members
I was able to talk to the director in marketing of Juicy Couture about the event, how they found us, and most importantly how they could get involved with the FAF. We've kept in touch so I'm excited to work with them in the future!
So this is my way of saying thanks to everyone at Juicy Couture!
Donors like you make summers possible for thousands of NYC kids! So thank you!

Men, Are YOU Repelled?

Me and the Man Repeller

"DJ TURN IT UP!"

Designer Tibi with guests
that's right! You better be!
Designer Tibi, Me, and the Man Repeller

Stick to Your Roots

these girls rock their fro's in style!
Who says you always need to have long, straight hair? (I know, you must be thinking look who's talking). But honestly, by a show of hands, how many of you truly love and embrace your locks? Too many girls have there hands raised. Particularly curly-haired girls. With weekly perms and japanese hair straightening treatments at easy reach, natural hair is losing its shine.
I mean, look at these girls above, you know they look great!
So embrace every single part of yourself!
You are beautiful. Just sometimes, you have to be reminded ;)
-C

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Yigal Azrouël Event S/S 2011

Yigal Azrouël, an Israeli American has been an influential designer in the fashion industry since launching his collection in 1998 (really not that long ago!). 
His S/S 2011 collection is so fresh and modern. Azrouël has an eye for great draping! As I was looking through his collection today, I was just imagining how amazing it would be to see the magic of that draping on me (oh, don't we all!) 
His first boutique opened up in 2003, here in the city, in the Meatpacking District:

designer Yigal Azrouël: caught off guard and looking extremely handsome!
Biscotts
and champagne? Don't mind if I do!
Designer Yigal Azrouël and I
What an honor!
Necklace: Forever 21
Socks: H&M

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Alexis Wolfer: A Real Beauty, A Real Role Model

Alexis Wolfer, beauty blogger of The Beauty Bean is NY1's NYer of the Week and shares her tips for true beauty for Prom at the Lower East Side Girls Club.
It was great to be a part of this interview for Alexis, she's such a fun and energetic person that I really look up to. If you guys haven't seen Alexis' interview for NY1 or checked out her amazing beauty blog, check it out here:
Getting interviewed on true beauty for NY1

See the entire news report here:

Monday, May 2, 2011

"Justice has been done"

It has been announced last night, Osama Bin Laden has been killed.
I was sleeping when my sister woke me up from the news. Groggy from sleep, I wiped the sleep from my eyes as I couldn't believe it. Osama Bin Laden, the most wanted terrorist in the world, is dead.
This is the man who caused one of the greatest pains and tragedies in American History. With more than 3,000 American deaths on September 11th, "Justice has been done" announced President Obama on his speech last night.
There were celebratory cheers on the streets of Times Square and infront of the White House not only from Americans but from many other countries around the world.

The US has been on the hunt for Bin Laden for nearly 10 years it was time. Bush has been searching for Bin Laden  for years. With just 2 years in office, Obama has succeeded in finding him.
Definitely an advance to his presidency.
Someone always told me, "there are choices, decisions, and consequences". Something needed to be done to prevent any other type of attack to America and to any other nation. No one's safety or life should ever be threatened. Hearts are still sore from that September morning. And I'll never forget that day.
This day will go down in history.
But just because Osama Bin Laden is dead, does not mean we are safe. As Americans, we need to continue to stay wary and cautious of safety in our country.