Global Citizen’s Art, Culture, and Freestyle Guide #32
Alex Chaney’s
BackPocket
Alicia Vikander, Alina Baraz, Amangiri Resort, MK Asante, BMW 3.0CSL Hommage R, Canals of Venice, Doja Cat, Jeff Oster, Miss Mischief, Morgan Aero8, Rosie Mac, Talib Kweli
BackPocket Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Alex Chaney Contributors Angelo Capuano (MaltMileage) David K William Ariel Hyatt (Cyber PR) Wild Lolita Genuine Beauty Artistry Julie Rusk Kym rKane Lena Scissorhands Miss Lizzy D Genuine Beauty Artistry Julie Rusk
Photographers Gia Trimble Kev Cool Jellyfish Jones Dastardly Dave
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BackPocketMag.com
BMW 3.0CSL Hommage R
Canals of Venice
Amangiri Resort
Rosie Mac
Talib Kweli
The Musichead Collection
Alina Baraz
Jeff Oster
Morgan Aero8
Miss Mischief The Hemnet Home
Alicia Vikander Doja Cat
MK Asante
Johnnie Walker Swing
Benromach 10 year old
Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Torpedo cigar
Benefits of Sleeping Naked
Mod Laptop 2
Game of Thrones game Risk Game
Alpha Profile MK Asante
MK Asante is a bestselling author, award-winning filmmaker, rapper, and professor who CNN calls “a master storyteller and major creative force.” Asante is the author of the criticallyacclaimed memoir Buck, described by Maya Angelou as “A story of surviving and thriving with passion, compassion, wit, and style.” Buck made the Washington Post bestseller list in 2014 and 2015 and is a NAACP Image Award finalist. His other books are It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop, Beautiful. And Ugly Too, and Like Water Running Off My Back. Asante is a Sundance™ Feature Film Fellow for the movie adaptation of Buck. He directed the prize-winning Starz TV documentary The Black Candle and wrote/ produced 500 Years Later, winner of five international film festival awards. Asante studied at the University of London, earned a B.A. from Lafayette College, and an M.F.A. from the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. Asante has given distinguished lectures at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, as well as hundreds of other universities. He has toured in over 40 countries and was awarded the Key to the City of Dallas, Texas. Called “the voice of a new generation” by Essence, he has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NBC News, BBC, Revolt, NPR, BET, The Breakfast Club, and MTV. He was selected as “100 History Makers in the Making” by MSNBC The Grio and his inspirational story “The Blank Page” is featured in the #1 New York Times bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Soul: 20th Anniversary Edition. Asante’s essays have been published in USA Today, Huffington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times.
Described by Vibe magazine as “brilliantly complex,” Asante is a rap artist who has performed on four continents. His debut music project, the Buck: Original Book Soundtrack, was described by Okayplayer as “one of the most moving and visually brilliant rap projects to land in quite some time.” Asante is a tenured professor of creative writing and film in the Department of English and Language Arts at Morgan State University.
Gear Game of Thrones Risk Board Game
One of the biggest problems with the original RISK game was how long it took, compounded by the fact that it really wasn't playable by just two players. Enter Risk: Game of Thrones, which is like three games in one huge box. You can play a multiplayer game (using Westeros or both Westeros and
Essos if you have lots of players), the same game in a less-traditional, more GoT style using cards and gold, or a two player version where you can be House Targaryen or the Ghiscari slavers and duke it out for control of Essos. " " " " - A.Marr
Mod Laptop 2
The Mod Laptop 2, Your Mobile Office / a customizable case carefully designed to house and carry your daily essentials. A unique felt wall cradles and protects your laptop. A canvas lined pocket is tailored to your tablet. And, in true Mod fashion, the piece is fitted with the same highpower magnets as the Mod Tablet 2, allowing for seamless integration of our full line of Mod inserts, while also offering generous housings for
Gear
your power adapter, cords, pens, pencils, stylus, notepads, phone, hard drive, battery pack, glasses, cards, and currency. This customizable identity extends to the sturdy, 100% leather strap that allows hands-free commuting without diminishing the case's slim profile. This strap is detachable and the hardware hides cleanly away in the back of the case.
Actress
Alicia Vikander, actress
Alicia Amanda Vikander was born in Goteburg, Sweden to a stage actress mother, Maria Fahl Vikander, and psychiatrist father, Svante Vikander.
Her parents separated when she was five months old and Alicia has five half-siblings on her father’s side. Alicia began her career in television and plays while studying at the Royal Swedish Ballet School for nine years, before she left her professional dance career in 2009 to focus on acting. Alicia started her career on Swedish television in 2002 and gained popularity when she played a lead role in the popular TV series Second Avenue (2007 to 2008). She then made her way into film and won the Rising Star Award at the Stockholm Film Festival and a Guldbagge Award for Best Actress for her leading role as Katarina in the 2009 film Pure. Alicia went on to appear in A Royal Affair (2012), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, and also in 2012 played alongside Keira Knightley and Jude Law as Kitty in Anna Karenina. Alicia won the
Hamptons International Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Performer and was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award and an Empire Award for Best Female Newcomer for her role as Kitty. Since then Alicia has been very busy, appearing in Hotell (2013), The Fifth Estate (2013), Seventh Son (2014), Son of a Gun (2014) and Ex Machina (2015). Her performance as Vera Brittain in Testament of Youth (2014) received a nomination for a BIFA Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a British Independent Film. More recently, she starred in The Man From U.N.C.L.E (2015). Alicia, who lives in London, is currently dating actor Michael Fassbender, 11 years her senior, with whom she co-starred in The Light Between Oceans (2015).
Filmography • The Danish Girl (2015) • Adam Jones (2015) • The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) • Ex Machina (2015) • Testament of Youth (2015) • Seventh Son (2014) • Son of a Gun (2014) • The Fifth Estate (2013) • Hotell (2013) • A Royal Affair (2012) • Anna Keratin (2012) • The Crown Jewels (2011) • Pure (2009)
Cigars Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Torpedo Cigar (Dominican Republic)
Rating: 5 Stars Recommendation: Buy it The Ashton Virgin Sun Grown (VSG) line is blended by Carlos Fuente Jr using Dominican tobacco which has been aged 4 to 5 years. The wrapper tobacco, grown on a private estate in Ecuador, is said to heavily contribute to the flavour profile of the cigars in the line. Taken from the higher primings of the tobacco plant, the theory is that the leaf matures slowly as sunlight is filtered through the layer of cloud which commonly covers the land. The flavour of this cigar is robust and intense with heavy notes of splintered cedar, muddied bark, resinous wood and earthiness, sediment rich Turkish coffee, roasted coffee beans, the darkest chocolate, potent dried oregano, dried whole walnuts, and, a bitter chicory finish. Soapy suds form on the back palate, joined by mild floral notes. A sweetness balances the quite earthy and woody flavour journey, from first puff to last. This is a balanced and full flavoued cigar with a slightly oily touch to the lips. Spectacular. Try it with a peaty malt, such as Ardbeg 10 year old or Perpetuum. A must buy for any cigar aficionado! Full marks.
Fashion The Musichead Collection
For the Love of Music The Musichead Collection is a bold graphic tee line created with real music fans in mind. This collection is for the trendsetter who appreciates innovative designs and quality apparel that creatively reflect their love of music. In the same vein that music is seen as a universal language, The Musichead Collection aims to transcend boundaries and appeal to the diverse fan that appreciates music across genres. ShopMusichead.com
Tattoo
Miss Mischief Photo by Dastardly Dave
Miss Mischief is an internationally published model, dancer, performer, fire breather and co-owner of Tattoo'd Lifestyle Magazine, Alt Royalty and Tattoo'd Shop. She has graced the cover of magazines spanning the globe along with performances at conventions and venues around the US. When she's not shooting or working on her other ventures, she likes to hang out at home with her
friends and animals including bunnies, chickens, lizards, turtles and fish. She enjoys humanitarian work and has a love for guns, adventures, animals and relaxing with a beer. If you want to catch up with more her on her daily life, you can follow her on IG @modelmissmischief, Facebook www.facebook.com/ modelmissmischief and her website www.iammischief.com!
Photos by Kev Cool Photography Hair by Kym Krane MUA by Lena Scissorhands
Kev Cool Photography, Hair by Kym Krane, MUA by Lena Scissorhands
Photo by Jellyfish Jones Wardrobe: Wild Lolita Hair: Genuine Beauty Artistry MUA: Julie Rusk
Photo by Jellyfish Jones Top: Miss Lizzy D Hair: Genuine Beauty Artistry MUA: Julie Rusk
Rides
Morgan Aero 8 For 106 years the Morgan Motor Company has been coach building sports cars in the beautiful spa town of Malvern. Morgan cars are famous the world over for their unique blend of charisma, quality materials, craftsmanship and performance. All Morgan cars are coach built. One of the brands strongest selling points is the care taken in the manufacture of each car; leading design capability, an extensive array of luxurious materials and the latest drivetrain technologies combine to create an unparalleled driving experience.
Morgan is extremely proud of its heritage. The Morgan Motor Company Ltd was established by H.F.S. Morgan in 1909 when he designed the first Morgan three-wheeler. The first four wheeled Morgan was produced in 1936. The cars are continuously developed and meet current standards of safety as well as offering responsive thoroughbred performance. The Aero 8, launched in 2000, was a major achievement for a small company and developed to take the marque into the 21st Century. Since its launch in 2000, the Aero platform has continued to evolve throughout the years. The latest addition to the family is the dramatic new Aero 8 - a celebration of the finest craftsmanship and advanced technical performance apparent in Morgan’s flagship range. 2011 saw the re-launch of
the Morgan 3 Wheeler. With a truly unique driving experience, this modern interpretation of a classic design has now become a mainstay of Morgan production. The world renowned ‘Classic range’ of Morgan cars continues to uphold the core values. With engine sizes ranging from 1600cc to 4800cc there is a performance level to meet all requirements. Morgan has established itself as a brand of pure excellence, reinforced over time by an adherence to superior principles, high standards and the best in craftsmanship. Witness the charms and the technology for yourself by taking a tour of our production facility in Malvern. The atmosphere at the factory and within the 177 craftsmen and women is one of family, which also extends to Morgan owners.
Prospective owners are encouraged to visit the factory to watch their cars being built, and to choose from a wide range of paint and leather colors as well as optional extras that will stamp their mark on the car and make it their own. Today, the factory produces circa 1000 cars per year. Whether it’s one of the lively ‘Classic’ range sports cars, the extravagant high performance ‘Aero’ supercars or the truly unique Morgan 3 Wheeler, every last detail of Morgan cars are tailored to the customer’s specification. The 2015 Morgan Aero 8 makes its global debut at the 85th International Geneva Motor show, 15 years since the launch of the original Aero Eight. Significant visual and mechanical changes make the 5th generation of this iconic model the most refined Morgan Aero product to date.
Exterior Styling of the new Aero 8 was influenced by classic open cars from the 1960s, reflecting a trend of long, fast and low shoulder lines and cabin focused body work. From above, the view echoes that of a boat deck, enhancing the sense of adventure and escapism. A dramatic rear opening clam shell boot is used to both tension and hide the new double-lined mohair hood. Occupants are seated low in the vehicle, which in turn enables a sleek roof line and balanced vehicle proportions. The Aero 8 is available with an optional hardtop that transforms the car into a coupé with ease.
Interior Passenger experience has been at the forefront of the design process. New dashboard arrangements, real wood surrounds, textured box-woven carpets and fine leather trim enhance the new interior. The introduction of a new air conditioning system ensures that the car is more usable in warmer climates, a reflection of Morgan’s expansion into new markets across the globe. Optional touch screen media systems, low slung carbon seats and bespoke detailing packs add to Morgan’s already extensive options list.
Dynamics The aluminum chassis benefits from improved torsional stiffness, a revised front end, all new suspension, anti-roll bars and a new BMW limited slip differential. The driver benefits from a more responsive and better handling sports car. ABS (with EBD), power steering, cruise control and airbags add further passenger convenience and safety.
Summary This, the most refined Aero product to date, is a fitting evolution of Morgan’s most technologically advanced range of vehicles. The Aero 8 will enter production in Q4 2015 with limited production numbers available. Morgan tailors every car to align with the customer’s personal vision. With infinite combinations of paint, leather and a vast array of detail choices, every Aero built will be a one-off.
Rides
BMW 3.0CSL Hommage R In August every year car enthusiasts from all over the world gather for the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach to immerse themselves in the fascination of both automotive treasures from years gone by and pioneering studies for times to come. The BMW Group has come up with something very special this year with the world premiere of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R – a car that celebrates both the 40th anniversary of BMW in North America and the heady racing success of the BMW 3.0 CSL in 1975.
1975 was the year the Bavarian manufacturer founded BMW of North America, its first official sales company outside Europe. It was also the year in which BMW Motorsport made its debut in motor racing stateside – in the IMSA series – with a specially made BMW 3.0 CSL. Just a few weeks later BMW recorded its first, historic triumph at the 12 Hours of Sebring. This was followed by a succession of victories, including one at Laguna Seca, just 15 miles from Pebble Beach. BMW’s rookie year duly culminated in the white BMW 3.0 CSL, decked out in eye-catching BMW Motorsport livery, winning the manufacturers’ championship at the first attempt. This success, coupled with the car’s striking design and the “Bavarian Motor Works” legend emblazoned across
the sun protection film on the windscreen and rear window, announced the BMW brand’s arrival in racing-mad North America with a bang. “Motor racing is all about the ability of cars to mesmerize, about the unbridled joy of driving,” explains Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design. “And as such it represents the heartbeat of BMW. Back in 1975, as today, winning races came down to how man and machine could work together. Technical innovations have taken the effectiveness of this partnership to ever great heights. And with the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R we’re aiming to show how much closer the driver and car can grow in the future.”
Driver focus – the interior. Given the aim of achieving the best possible fusion of driver and car, the driver was the logical starting point for the design of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R. For the seamless integration of the driver into the car, the designers extrapolated the principle of driver focus beyond the geometric form of the interior. In the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R, the idea of centering attention on the driver begins with his immediate surroundings. This new approach led the designers first to the driver’s helmet, race suit and seat before moving onto the lines and surfaces of the interior. This way of doing things changes the nature of conventional interior functions. As the layer of interaction closest to the driver, the helmet visor assumes the functions of a display and projects situation-based information such as the car’s speed, gear engaged and engine revs into the driver’s
direct field of view. The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R thus enhances the driver’s direct perception. The idea of the Head-Up Display, which has already proved its effectiveness in series-produced BMW models by flagging up driving-related information without distracting the driver, is therefore expressed in a whole new way. “Eyes on the road, hands on the wheel” is the name of the game – i.e. enabling the driver to concentrate fully on the job of driving the car. As well as helping him to do his job, the driver’s race suit (a classical design by Puma®) visually expresses the connection between the driver and the car. If both the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel, illuminated piping integrated into the sleeves of the suit shows the progress of information – from the shift impulse display, for example – out of the steering column over the driver’s arms and into his visor.
The side-section design of the large carbonfibre seat shells reflects the anatomy of the seated driver, thus providing maximum support in any driving situation. At the same time, the seats ensure the driver’s body has the best possible connection with the car, giving him a physical feel for it with almost his whole body, in any situation, and thus allowing him to react faster and more effectively. The seat shells follow a rising diagonal path rearwards, a line extended behind the seats into the rear by a structural carbon-fibre element that increases the torsional rigidity of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R. The white seat surfaces with fanned-out quilting, integrated into the seat shell, mimic the design of the driver’s race suit, while BMW Motorsport’s signature stripes on the six-point safety harness add an extra splash of color.
Lightweight construction and technical refinement. In the area around the driver’s seat, the designers have drawn back the covers on the lightweight design of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R and lent tangible form to its racing character. A carbon-fibre roll cage integrated into the structure of the car’s roof and side sections forms the basis for the interior’s singularly minimalist geometry. All the elements in the interior are there out of absolute necessity; every component has been designed with a purpose, a function linked directly to the structure of the machine or the job of driving. In an interior made almost entirely from carbon fibre, the only wood-like presence is the “instrument panel” – actually a cross-member and purely structural element. This is a reference to a central element of the earlier BMW 3.0 CSL, in which even the racing version had distinctive wood trim ringing the whole of the interior. A particular highlight here is the additional information illuminated through the wood. Recalling the BMW 3.0 CSL’s victory at Laguna Seca in May 1975, the
BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R displays the track layout and braking points through the instrument panel’s wood strip. By using light in this way, this ultra-sophisticated, supersmooth information display removes the need for a classical display and slips perfectly into the car’s minimalist interior design philosophy. Only the small central eBoost charging display interrupts the flow of the otherwise unbroken wooden surface. BMW Motorsport stripes for the instrument panel surround lend extra color. The commitment to paring the car down to the bare essentials places particular emphasis on the steering column. As a mechanical link between the driver and car, it is home to all the operating elements and controls. The only “comfort” function are the two vents on the sides of the steering column, which supply the driver with fresh air at ambient temperature. A small display on the steering column provides the driver with secondary information such as lap times, overall race time and the car’s current track position, as required. Other racing elements in the interior include red anodized safety features, such as the outlet nozzles for the fire extinguishing foam, the extinguisher itself, and the two switches on the centre console for the emergency shutoff and fire extinguishing mechanism. The rear only has space for two helmets integrated into the centre tunnel. These are held in place by a belt when not in use. Underneath the longitudinal braces jutting out to the rear are the covers for the eBoost energy accumulators. Meticulously crafted aluminum sleeves add high-quality accents at the junctions between individual structural elements. In its materials and detailed solutions, the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage displays both technical sophistication and subtlety of form.
Motor racing through and through – the exterior. “Both inside and outside, the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R is primarily a reflection of its function,” explains Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles. “The exterior and interior design is based around the requirements of motor sport as far as the car and driver are concerned; aerodynamics and driving dynamics on the one hand, the most direct connection between driver and machine on the other. In my view, that’s something the Hommage car expresses in a very emotional way. At the same time, all the details from the BMW 3.0 CSL are present in the Hommage model. And they are all there to be discovered in their original form. It’s a bow to the 1975 car.”
The exterior design of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R is a pure expression of motor racing. The stretched body is framed by distinctive air deflectors, powerful wheel arches and a prominent rear spoiler, which likewise cite the successful IMSA racing version of the original BMW 3.0 CSL. Every detail of the Hommage car has its origins in the successful racing machine from 1975, but all have since been updated and integrated technically into a modern design language. The colors and graphics used, not to mention the addition of a number 25, reference the extraordinary record of success notched up by the works BMW 3.0 CSL in 1975. Indeed, the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R even revives details such as the “Bavarian Motor Works” decals on the windscreen and rear window. Swathes of exposed carbon fibre spotlight the 1975 model’s commitment to lightweight construction and, as a cutting-edge material, bring it into the modern era.
Power and athleticism – the front end. The front end of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R, one of the broadest and lowest of any model in the BMW family, positively exudes power and athleticism. The flow of the surfaces and graphic accents in the front apron showcase the car’s wheels and underline its wide, powerful impression. In the centre of the front end is a large version of the signature BMW kidney grille, which references the upright form favored at the time. The familiar four-eyed face – with its contemporary, hexagonal interpretation – emphasizes the sporting intent of the front end. Laser lighting and LED technology enable slim, modern light graphics, and the narrow
contours of the headlights give the BMW the focused look typical of the brand’s cars. A stylized, blue-lit “X” inside the lights separates the light functions from one another and, at the same time, recalls the Xshaped headlight taping used for endurance races. The large, black front splitter made from carbon fibre and with accents in BMW Motorsport’s colours sets the seal on the front end as it plunges down to the road. Together with the kidney grille, it creates a large stylistic aperture, providing a visual hint of the engine’s power and performance. From the side, the front apron and kidney grille present a modern take on the shark nose design that was already turning heads in 1975, ensuring the car would be easily recognizable.
From the side – sporting flair with a touch of elegance. The long wheelbase and sweeping bonnet stretch the Hommage car’s silhouette visually and lend it a touch of elegance to go with its dominant sporting brio. The familiar line graphics along the car’s flanks further strengthen this impression. The exclusive exterior color Brilliant White with its slight metallic effect adds a gleam to the
surfaces and lends the powerful contours a vivid sculptural impact. The line graphics in BMW Motorsport colors pick up the surface movements in the front, rear and flanks, further emphasizing the car’s sinewy looks. Dark carbon-fibre surfaces round off the flanks at their lower edge and point to the commitment to lightweight design of the original BMW 3.0 CSL. The matt gold 21inch light-alloy wheels with black inlays add a special flourish.
The rear end – muscular presence. The rear of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R makes a statement of maximum sporting intent. The large rear spoiler and carbonfibre double diffuser are straight out of the racing car blueprint and brim with aerodynamic sophistication. The powerfully contoured rear apron draws the eye to the car’s wheels and, in so doing, visually showcases the power of the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R. The BMW Motorsport line graphics reproduce this movement, further strengthening its muscular presence on the road. The rear light design is particularly
distinctive, a strip of LEDs extending along the spoiler to link the two lights and providing a stylistic border for the rear end. The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R also cuts a dynamically imposing figure when viewed from above. The bonnet fans out in a wide “V” from kidney grille to headlights, recalling a striking and dynamic element of earlier BMW coupes. The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R therefore combines all the classic BMW hallmarks within a modern and emotionally rich design language, adding even greater lustre to the already glittering engineering achievement of 40 years ago.
Spirits Benromach 10 year old Rating: 5 Stars Recommendation: Buy it! Type: Single malt whisky Origin: Speyside, Scotland ABV: 57%
Nose: Chocolate and stewed fruits, cooked strawberries, drying grapefruit, nuts and balsamic; this a lusciously sweet and yet drying bouquet with waves of Oloroso sherry and wood dominating over mild smokiness. Taste: Sweet sherry, dried fruit (dates, raisin), wood and undercurrents of honey unleash on the palate with a medicinal and herbal eucalyptus/menthol hue that is interlaced with peat smoke. The malt becomes more potent towards the finish. This is a serious flavor packed malt with an angry slugger’s punch – Kapow! With time it becomes clear that the peat is the backbone, supporting sherry, dark chocolate and the herbal eucalyptus/menthol Finish: The finish is slightly drying with underlying creaminess, dark dried fruit and wisps of smoke remaining on the palate. Bottom line: Buy it! This is a complex malt with a big sherry nose and palate that seems to inspire a wrestling match between the dry notes and sweet notes, as they vie for supremacy on the palate amidst mild peat smoke and a herbal hue. Tasting this whisky is almost as phenomenal as watching Hulk Hogan and the Macho Man Randy Savage, back in the – *ahem* – “olden days”. Oooohhh yeahhhh!
Angelo Capuano (MaltMileage)
Johnnie Walker Swing Rating: 4 stars Recommendation: Buy it! Type: Blended Scotch whisky Origin: Scotland ABV: 40%
The Johnnie Walker Swing is a blend of whiskies from the Highlands and Speyside region of the mainland of Scotland, and the Isle of Islay. Nose: Soft vanillas, with an aroma that is similar to melting vanilla ice cream, fill the glass. Mild notes of grass and hay – which seem to be flickers of the peat influence in this whisky – sit beneath shades of fruit; find orange zest, apple cores and a backbone of sherry. Impressive. Taste: Smooth and full of flavour, the whisky has a lovely mouth-feel that is slightly viscous. The taste of soft peat sits beneath buttery shortbread and almond croissant. There is wave after wave of orange zest, vanilla, cream, chocolate, coffee beans, wood and butter. It is sweet and teases, ever so gently, with Islay peat and the mild spray of salt. The peat seems to increasingly get more noticeable with each dram. Finish: The finish presents with the aftertaste of avocado, as it leaves a fatty and oily film on the palate. The oak come out more, as the taste of wood and dark chocolate merges with cracked coffee beans. Oyster shells, just removed from a bed of rock salt, lingers.
Spirits Bottom Line: Buy it! Johnnie Walker Swing is full of flavour and yet extremely smooth and quaffable. Its price, whether you are in the United States or Australia, is very reasonable for a whisky of this quality – there is no semblance of overly immature whisky as far as I can tell; a far cry from other no age statement whisky on the market.
Casa + Architecture The Hemnet Home
SWEDEN’S MOST SOUGHT AFTER HOME A home built by 2 million Swedes, the Hemnet Home is a data experiment to lead the way for a new type of architecture. After analyzing 200 million clicks and 86,000 properties on Hemnet, Sweden’s most popular
property site, Hemnet asked Tham & Videgård to create Sweden’s statistically most sought after home. The house is in short based on two parts. A direct interpretation of Big Data statistics from all the Hemnet users gave an average
value that determined the measurable properties of the home including size, price, number of rooms, bathrooms and floors. To this Tham & Videgård have added a reading of the Swedish house condensed into two iconic types: the red wooden cottage that represents history, local resources, crafts and national building traditions, and the white functionalist box which stands for modernity, optimism, industrial development, the welfare state and international ideals. The aim was then to create an architecture that combines the statistics with the features of the two iconic types – the rationality of the functionalistic box combined with the quality of craftsmanship and material presence of the Falu red cottage.
The result is partly a mathematical translation of the statistical 1.5 floors within a cubic volume that is fully utilized by fitting in a terrace and a double height void on the upper level. This corresponds to statistics which indicate a desire for a balcony / terrace and an open kitchen, which Tham & Videgård have interpreted to make the kitchen one of the home’s most important social spaces, emphasized with a double floor to ceiling height and the inclusion of space for both dining and stairs. A terrace is inscribed within the cube and thus provides a sunny terrace protected from the wind and also offering privacy. This is beneficial, particularly for denser housing areas. The kitchen’s extra floor to ceiling height together with one large window placed in each room combines into a simple and energy-efficient construction filled with generous daylight and a spacious interior.
Health
7 Unexpected Benefits Of Sleeping Naked This might sound a little naughty, but bear with us here. You need to ditch your pajamas and start sleeping in your birthday suit. What’s that, you say? According to numerous scientific studies, the health benefits of sleeping naked are too many and farreaching to ignore.
From improved hormonal balance to less belly fat and more sex, you really need to make it a habit of sleeping nude. Only 10% of Americans sleep in the nude, according to one survey. That is probably typical of most other countries of the world, and it should change. Here’s why sleeping naked is so much better for you:
You’ll slow down the signs of aging and look more beautiful and youthful. Sleeping naked in a room maintained at a temperature no higher than 70˚F stimulates the release of the anti-aging hormone called melatonin and the growth hormone in the body. The release of these hormones can improve athletic performance, according to a 2012 study published in the journal Sleep. The hormones work better at lower room temperatures by allowing the body to regenerate, resulting in better skin and hair. A sleep environment that is too hot will not allow the body to naturally cool itself and can disrupt the release of these hormones.
You’ll feel happier and more stressfree. That’s because sleeping naked boosts the release of oxytocin. Oxytocin (also called the “love hormone”) is a powerful feel-good hormone that is involved in orgasm and sexual responsiveness, combating stress and depression, reducing intestinal inflammation by improving gut motility, and blood pressure reduction. So, if you and your partner are sleeping in your birthday suits, skin to skin touching can boost your oxytocin levels, trigger sexual desire and of course lead to more intimate moments with your partner. In fact, a survey from Cotton USA has found that couples who sleep in the nude are happier than their clothed and PJ’d counterparts.
You’ll get better quality of sleep. An Australian study found that some forms of insomnia can be provoked by improper body temperature regulation at night. Another study showed that the regulation of in-bed body temperature could significantly help in improving sleep quality and reaching deeper slumber. In one particular study, Dutch scientists placed thermosuits on participants in order to lower their skin temperatures without affecting core body temperature. The researchers found that participants had an uninterrupted sleep and spent more time in the deep sleep stages as a result. Sleeping naked can positively affect your sleep quality.
You’ll lower your cortisol levels and maintain healthy body composition. Poor or no sleep is associated with the release of cortisol, or the so-called stress hormone, as well as hunger hormones that can trigger our appetite for comfort foods and thus lead to overeating. Lack of a good night’s sleep is also related to less active production of the fat-burning and appetitecontrolling hormones. Specifically, researchers at the University of Warwick found that those who sleep less than six hours are three times more likely to develop diabetes and heart disease and, therefore, unwanted weight gain. Because sleeping naked helps you get deeper sleep and keeps your body temperature at the optimal ranges, your body is better able to regulate cortisol.
That, in turn, helps to combat belly fat and general weight gain, thereby ensuring you maintain a healthy body composition.
You’ll boost your immune system. Moreover, increased oxytocin and reduced cortisol levels – both previously mentioned – contribute to a more robust immune system. Keeping these important chemicals at their optimal amounts in your body’s ecosystem by sleeping naked means giving yourself the best shot at fending off germs, viruses and other disease-causing organisms.
You’ll protect your lady parts from infections. Ladies, it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to your health down there. As you probably already know, bacteria thrive in warm, moist environments, especially in women prone to vaginal infections. Nicole Prause, an Associate Research Scientist at the University of California Los Angeles, speaking to Medical Daily revealed that, “Sleeping naked would reduce the ability of those (always-present) bacteria to overwhelm the normal healthy vaginal flora.” The vagina will get more ventilation, when you sleep naked, increasing its ability to stay dry and reducing the probability of fungal infection.
You’ll increase your virility. This applies to men. Gentlemen, sleeping naked has been found to increase virility by keeping the testes cooler, which is why the testes are located outside of the body in the first place. When you wear tight briefs and cover up with heavy blankets, the testes heat up and lower your sperm count. You really don’t want that, do you? Of course, you don’t. Ditch the sleepwear and start sleeping naked today to enjoy these totally amazing health benefits. "
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- David K. William
Musician
Talib Kweli
If skills sold, Talib Kweli would have been one of the most commercially successful rappers of his time. As it was, however, the earnest MC became one of the most critically successful rappers of his time, which dawned in the late '90s when he rapped alongside Mos Def and DJ HiTek as part of the group Black Star.
This trio of up-and-comers and their widely acclaimed self-titled 1998 album debut, Black Star, helped make Rawkus Records one of the premier underground rap outposts of the late '90s. Kweli and Hi-Tek then collaborated as a duo on Reflection Eternal (2000), which firmly established them apart from Mos Def, who had gone solo. For a moment there, Kweli and his Rawkus associates seemed like a fullfledged movement — a return to the sort of hip-hop associated with the so-called
golden age. However, it wasn't to be. Rawkus somehow lost its momentum, and its roster sadly dispersed, leaving Kweli on his own to carry the torch. He continued his output, beginning with a proper solo debut, Quality (2002), and though he didn't rack up towering sales numbers, he remained a critical favorite. In fact, he was one of the most admired and respected rappers on the major-label circuit during the mid-2000s, best evidenced by Jay-Z's famous Black Album rhyme: "If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be, lyrically, Talib Kweli." Born in Brooklyn as the eldest of two sons born to college professors, Kweli's first name, Talib, is an Arabic name meaning "the seeker or student," while his last name is a Ghanaian name meaning "of truth or knowledge." He began developing his literary gift in elementary school, when he'd
write short stories, poems, and that sort of stuff. It wasn't until years later in high school that he turned to hip-hop as an outlet for his self-expression. There in high school he met a young Dante Smith, better known today as Mos Def. This fateful meeting further drew Kweli toward hip-hop, and another fateful meeting further convinced him that he had a bright future as an MC. During a 1994 trip to Cincinnati he met Tony Cottrell, aka DJ HiTek, who at the time was part of a local rap group called Mood. Kweli impressed Hi-Tek during their time together, and the DJ invited the MC to guest on several tracks for Mood's 1997 album Doom. Shortly afterward, Kweli and Hi-Tek formed a partnership as Reflection Eternal and recorded "Fortified Live," which a thenfledging Rawkus label released on its first Soundbombing compilation.
A year later in 1998, the two invited Mos Def into the mix, and the Black Star album resulted. And with it came a steady downpour of critical acclaim that turned these guys into media darlings overnight. They might not have sold millions of albums, but Kweli, Hi-Tek, and Mos Def most certainly impressed a great many people, among them critics, fellow rap artists, and a lot of folks who enjoyed a good oldfashioned hip-hop album with an emphasis on beats, rhymes, and life — not dramatized gunplay or interpolations of proven pop songs. That was the end of Black Star, however. In 1999 Mos Def released his debut solo album, Black on Both Sides, and turned away from music and toward an acting career, leaving Kweli and Hi-Tek on their own. The duo returned to their Reflection Eternal partnership and released an album of the same name in 2000. It spawned a few minor hits: "Move Somethin'" and "The Blast."
When Kweli returned with his Quality album in 2002, things had changed a bit. For one, he was truly solo. Mos Def was long gone, and Hi-Tek was off focusing on his own solo career as a for-hire producer. So Quality featured Kweli collaborating with a host of different artists, among them a young and promising yet still largely unknown producer named Kanye West. "Get By" was the fruit of Kweli's collaboration with West, and it became the rapper's biggest hit to date, aided quite a bit by a non-album remix featuring Jay-Z of all people. The remix got a lot of radio play, but still, Quality didn't put up Jay-Z numbers and Kweli remained a critical favorite, a reputation cemented all the more in late 2003 when Jigga gave him the aforementioned high-profile shoutout in "Moment of Clarity."
All of this set the stage very well for The Beautiful Struggle, which dropped in fall 2004. The expectations for the album were gargantuan because of the Jay-Z rhyme, and also because a great many hip-hop disciples felt Kweli was long overdue for a commercial breakthrough. The album was undoubtedly his most commercial effort to date, featuring a few token radio-ready hook singers like Mary J. Blige and Anthony Hamilton, not to mention a roster of hitmaking producers like the Neptunes, Just Blaze, and Kanye. It was also Kweli's most self-conscious to date, however, as it was well apparent that the commercial pressures had begun to affect his mindset. He responded by splitting from his distributor, Universal, and lying low for a while, releasing a stopgap mixtape, Right About Now (2005) via Koch.
In anticipation of his next solo album, Kweli collaborated with producer Madlib on the digital-only Liberation, which was made available as a free download during the first week of 2007 on the Stones Throw website. Finally, in August of that same year, Kweli issued the full-length album Eardrum on his own label, Blacksmith, via a partnership with Warner Bros. Debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and selling about 60,000 copies in its first week, Eardrum was Kweli's best-selling album to date and featured beats from not only Madlib but also Hi-Tek, Kanye, Pete Rock, and will.i.am, among others, and featured guests like Norah Jones, UGK, Justin Timberlake, and Strong Arm Steady. In 2010, the album Reflection Eternal: Revolutions Per Minute reunited Talib and Hi-Tek under their Reflection Eternal moniker, then that same year, the solo Gutter Rainbows was the first album to be released by Talib's Talibra imprint. His 2013 release Prisoner of Conscious balanced radio-friendly numbers with more abstract tracks and featured Nelly, Curren $y, and Kendrick Lamar. The 2014 effort Gravitas followed the same path, this time with Big K.R.I.T., Mike Posner, and writer Neil Gaiman among its guests.
Musician
Alina Baraz
It’s safe to say that Cleveland-based singer/songwriter Alina Baraz is flying way below the radar. Over the past year, the R&B songstress has released a handful of singles and an EP produced by Danish musician, Galimatias. Best classified as R&B, her slow, sultry songs—similar in sound to Jhené Aiko—will have you begging for more. Alina Baraz is a singer and songwriter whose uniformly mellow material flits between downtempo electronica and slightly left-of-center R&B. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio but based in Los Angeles, California following a creative epiphany, Baraz gained some notice in 2013 through her collaborations with producers Galimatias ("Drift," "Make You Feel") and ESTA ("Paradise"). Baraz and Denmark native Galimatias developed a deeper creative partnership, instigated by Baraz via Soundcloud, which birthed Urban Flora. Credited to both artists, the eight-track EP was released by the Ultra label in May 2015 and debuted on the Billboard 200 chart at number 111.
Alina Baraz, a 21 year old Los Angelesbased singer and songwriter, is the ‘’next leading star of the emerging class of leftwing pop singers.’’ Alina invites listeners on an explorative journey that challenges their perspective and frees the mind of all boundaries. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, and the first child in her family born in America, Alina was introduced to music at a young age by her classically-trained parents. At 19, she discovered her passion for songwriting during the creation of her first song Roses Dipped in Gold. Following her discovery, Alina withdrew from college, relocating to Los Angeles to pursue her music career fulltime. Alina eventually caught the attention of electronic musician Galimatias, who she connected with via SoundCloud after writing and recording her own lyrics over one of his previously-released instrumentals, which would ultimately become their first collaboration, entitled "Drift". Alina and Galimatias soon began working on additional songs together, releasing the single Make you Feel plus an EP, which includes Drift and Pretty Thoughts. They recently followed up that project with the new single titled Fantasy, which will appear on the EP Urban Flora this spring, a comprehensive trove of their collaborations to date.
Musician Jeff Oster
Often described as Miles Davis meets Pink Floyd, trumpet/flugelhorn artist Jeff Oster has just released his fourth album this spring. Jeff’s sound is a unique combination of his parents’ influences of 30s and 40s lyrical standards and his own passion for progressive rock, with some jazz/funk thrown in for good measure. As a child, his father would sing the standards as Jeff would play his trumpet. His horn became his voice, singing the lyrics. And as his taste in music developed, Jeff began to add his love of progressive and jazz/funk music into his own songs – mixing the groove and the haunting sound of his horn with people walking or talking, the sounds of nature, and more. After years of playing jazz and funk music in Los Angeles clubs in the evenings and driving a limo during the day to make ends meet, Jeff chose an unusual path for a musician – he became a financial planner at the urging of a friend. As his business career grew, this lifestyle afforded him the luxury to approach his music with a comfort that other musicians may not have. “I have the freedom to play music exactly the way I want to play it,” explains Jeff. “And I get to play with the people I always dreamed of playing it with.”
In 2002, Jeff’s music transformed into what it is today with the simple purchase of a Sony Vaio computer. Creating a combination of electronic synth loops, ambient sounds, and his own flugelhorn, Jeff developed the unique sound that he has become famous for: layered soundscapes with a lead melody and horn arrangements that perfectly harmonize with the rest of the song. When Jeff uploaded his new ambientstyle sounds to mp3.com, he quickly topped the ambient charts there, and knew he was on to something fresh and different. Encouraged by his online success, Jeff decided to create his first album, and followed his dreams by reaching out to one of his heroes, Grammy-winning guitarist and producer Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records. Jeff has now recorded three albums with Will: Released (2005), True (2007), and now next (2015). He also released Surrender (2011) (coproduced by Jeff and Bryan Carrigan). His albums have featured well-known contributors such as Bruce Swedien, mixing engineer for Michael Jackson’s Thriller, guitarist Nile Rodgers, iconic bassist Chuck Rainey, legendary drummers Bernard Purdie and Keith Carlock, and Grammynominated artists such as pianist Philip Aaberg and bassist Michael Manring. Jeff’s music has earned numerous awards – such as ZMR Album of the Year (3x winner), multiple #1 albums on NPR’s Echoes, and 2x winner of Best New Age Song in the Independent Music Awards. His music receives steady airplay on Sirius/XM, Music Choice, and a variety of other programs worldwide.
With his newest album, next, Jeff brings his horn front and center – you'll hear his unmistakable tone floating over these 12 new tracks like never before. For Jeff, this album is about rebirth and change, and tells the story of what’s next for him, both as a musician and in his life. “next is about claiming who I am, and who I've always wanted to be,” says Jeff. “It’s why I live. It takes strength and power to step out into the unknown. Not everyone opens the door and takes the risk to try something new, something you've dreamed of for years. And with uncertainty comes the joy of freedom. This album represents my moment to truly make a statement…to claim my place as a musician with something important to share.” With next, Jeff creates a new genre – New Age Ambient Funk – and along for the ride are guitarist Nile Rodgers (Chic, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Madonna) on the title track, and includes five songs created during an epic session with the duo of drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie and bassist Chuck Rainey – musicians that he has admired and respected for his entire musical career.
Bernard and Chuck are featured on five tracks, including Jeff’s first cover song, I Can’t Make You Love Me, inspired by Bonnie Raitt’s amazing performance – a song that has always resonated with him, expressing the deep feelings of pain and joy, as well as the openness and vulnerability that occur when you open your heart to love. You can almost hear Jeff’s horn singing the words… “Bonnie poured her heart and soul into this song, and I did the same with my horn. If she could sing like a horn player plays, to me, this is what it would sound like,” describes Jeff. “My performance embodies the voice of my heart, without words, and that is what my horn playing is all about. If you want to know who I truly am inside, listen to my horn.”
Musician Doja Cat
This Malibu raised, LA-based double threat came out of nowhere. Born Ami Zandile, Doja Cat is a talented rapper and singer with a smooth, colorful sound and cheeky flow. She has released a series of freestyles and tracks on Soundcloud including the trippy love song, “So High.� Doja Cat has started performing at venues throughout L.A. and is scheduled to perform in Paris next month. Her debut EP, Purrr!, is available now on iTunes.
Travel
Canals of Venice Anyone who's been to Venice, Italy, knows that it's one of the most magical place on earth. Sitting in the Adriatic Sea like a vision (especially if one first approaches it from the mainland by boat), the city is an emblematic symbol of art, culture, and evokes the power of imagination. It simply seems to float over the sea by nature.
Of course, the city wasn't built by magic. Venice is a testament to the ingenuity of the human spirit and invention. Stone buildings of great beauty sit on the water; boats of varying sizes traverse the canals the way cars, trucks, and busses crowd the streets of more conventional cities; crowds throng the bridges and narrow pedestrian streets.
If one wants to understand the history of Venice, the best starting point is to understand the canals themselves, and how their construction and history reflects and explains the city itself. Venice contains over 150 canals, spanned by over 400 bridges. The largest canal in the city, the Grand Canal ("Canalasso"), is approximately 2 miles (3 km) long and wends its way in a giant "S" curve through the city from the train station to the Piazzo San Marco and the stunning church of Santa Maria de Salute, at which point it is over 350 feet wide. More than 170 buildings line the Canalasso.
Three bridges span the Grand Canal -- the Ponte dei Scalzi, the Ponte d'Accademia, and the famous covered Ponte Rialto, which teems with shops and retailed stalls. A fourth bridge near the train station that connects Venice to the mainland is currently under construction. Other bridges throughout the city cross the narrower canals. Some of these are quite famous in their own right, such as the "Bridge of Sighs" at the Piazza San Marco. The steps that lead up to many of the bridges make bicycle traffic nearly impossible, so the majority of day-to-day traffic in the city takes the form of foot traffic.
This doesn't mean that there isn't plenty of traffic on the canals themselves. The canals are the main transportation route in the city, and workboats, garbage and freight barges, ambulances, and busses (called "vaporettos" by the locals; there are also smaller boats called "motoscafi" that serve as taxis) pass each other through the narrow waterways at all hours. Of course, the most well known watercrafts in Venice are the gondolas – the narrow, curiously shaped black boats that are poled through the shallow canals by gondoliers in striped shirts and wide brimmed hats. The locals, who once used the gondolas as a primary mode of transportation, leave them
to the tourists these days, and anyone passing the canals becomes used to the cries of the gondoliers trying to attract business. When Venice was originally settled by villagers from the mainland in the 5th century, the canals were essentially the naturally occurring inlets and channels between the marshy islands of the Lagoon of Venice (Laguna Venezia). Buildings were constructed on pilings made from closely spaced tree trunks set into the layers of sand and clay that made up the islands. As the buildings became more and more elaborately built of stone and brick, more and larger trees had to be brought from
father and farther away – many of the pilings still in use today came from Slovenia hundreds of years ago. The canals had to be deepened and widened and lined with stone in order to accommodate the construction traffic and the commercial traffic that came with the exploding population; more canals were created as fill was added into the lagoon to create more islands for building, leading to the present maze that makes up the city. Since the canals are the main circulatory routes of the city, a great deal of maintenance is constantly being done on them. Canals are shallow – no more than 10-15 ft deep in many places – and are
defined by spaces between the buildings that crowd their banks. They must be dredged regularly to remove the silt and sand that is deposited in the canals by the frequent high tides that can flood the city (also known as "acqua alta, or "high water"). The water that fills the canals is, to say the least, not clean. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the combination of industrial waste from the mainland and human waste has caused the canals to be, in a word, filthy – the natural rhythms of the ocean can no longer handle the overflow, and microbes and pollution fill the water and the sediment at the bottom. Many plans have been created over the years to try and
remedy the situation, but at the present time, the memories of children swimming in the canals remain only memories. In recent years, the level of industrial pollution has eased, but the situation still remains difficult. Human activity and the rerouting of rivers and streams into the lagoon have in recent years caused the city to begin sinking. The dredging of canals to maintain a useful depth is constant; many residents who could once step from their homes into a private boat to traverse the city have moved into the upper floors of their houses to avoid the frequent flooding of the canals. In 2011, a system of inflatable gates was put into place to control the water that floods the city.
Despite the continued threat to the health of Venice's canals, they remain one of the most distinctive and compelling architectural features in the world. The canals of Venice are one of Europe's top tourist attractions. A ride through the canals, whether by gondola or in a powered boat, exposes the magic of this unique city in a way that's unequalled by any other method. Travel the Canalasso at night, or explore the maze of smaller waterways during the day; the traveler is sure to come away with memories never to be erased.
Travel
Amangiri, resort Amangiri, ‘peaceful mountain’, is located in Utah in the southwest United States. The region is also known as the Four Corners where the states of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado meet. Situated on 243 hectares (600 acres), the resort is tucked into a protected valley with
sweeping views of the area’s dramatic landscape. Designed to complement its surroundings, Amangiri features natural hues and materials, providing a spacious, yet intimate setting from which to experience this starkly beautiful region year round.
The resort is built around the main swimming pool which embraces a natural rock escarpment. The pool’s lounging terrace features king-sized daybeds, some of which appear to float on the water, and pairs of sun-loungers. An outdoor hot tub sits adjacent to the Campfire Pavilion, warmed by a fire during winter. At the centre of the resort is the Pavilion, with dramatic views of rock formations and the swimming pool to one side, and panoramic views of the surrounding plateaus to the other. Within the Pavilion are the Living Room, Library, Gallery, Dining Room, Private Dining Room and Wine Cellar.
Two accommodation wings lead from the Pavilion into the desert: 16 suites are located within the Desert Wing and another 18 suites, together with the Aman Spa, are located within the Mesa Wing. Mesa View Suites enjoy uninterrupted views of the surroundings. Each Pool Suite features a private plunge pool and a private sky terrace accessed via a flight of stairs. The sky terrace offers a daybed that is ideal for daytime lounging or night-time star gazing. Every suite enjoys a spacious living area which opens onto a desert lounge with spectacular views. An adjacent dressing room extends the full length of the suite, to
one end of which is a spacious bathroom and to the other, a separate toilet. Bathrooms feature twin rain showers and a comfortable soaking tub with uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape. The Girijaala Suite boasts panoramic views and a large desert lounge. Stairs lead up from the entry courtyard to a sky lounge offering two daybeds. A terrace with sun-loungers and built-in lounge seating around a dining table surrounds the expansive swimming pool. The interior follows the layout of the suites with a spacious bathing area.
Entry to the Amangiri Suite is through a private courtyard which extends around the suite to a tranquil swimming pool and terrace with two daybeds, four sun-loungers and a dining area. The interior of the Amangiri Suite follows the flow of the suites with a spacious bathing area containing twin showers and a deep soaking tub. Rising from the entry courtyard are steps that lead to the sky terrace. This features a large daybed for lounging during the day or star gazing in the evenings. The Aman Spa at Amangiri is a 25,000square feet destination unto itself, providing a serene setting for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Aman Spa opens into a reception area which leads to a series of pavilions. A key feature of the spa is the Water Pavilion featuring an outdoor heated step pool and an intimate lounge. Guests can also soak in privacy in a number of Jacuzzis. A sculpted steam room and spacious sauna provide more opportunities for guests to relax, while the Floatation Pavilion offers meditative floatation treatment combined with color therapy. Five candlelit treatment rooms (one double and four single) each feature a dressing room, treatment area, steam shower and
bathroom. The couple’s room offers open-air views of the surrounding mesas. The spa menu has been created to reflect elements of the Navajo culture and healing traditions with particular attention to the four elements of life – earth, wind, fire and water. There is a range of facials, massage and body treatments offered, as well as Thai and hot stone therapies. The Fitness Centre on the upper level of the Aman Spa is fully equipped with a wide range of cardio, strength-training and freeweight exercise equipment. The Beauty Salon offers manicures and pedicures while the Yoga Pavilion (below) provides
individual and group yoga sessions in a light-filled setting. Two outdoor treatment terraces are located at one end of a large reflection pool. There is an endless variety of ways to enjoy the dramatic landscape and beauty surrounding Amangiri. Home for centuries to the native Navajo and Hopi tribes, guests can explore the region with expert archaeologists, geologists and naturalists on guided hikes or horseback rides. Other options include customized rock climbing, via ferrata (fixed climbing
routes) and canyoneering, as well as recreational biking and private visits to slot canyons. Scenic hot air balloon, helicopter and fixed wing flights offer a spectacular aerial perspective of the region’s canyons, peaks and mesas. Amangiri is in the centre of the Grand Circle, surrounded by such iconic attractions as the Grand Canyon, Colorado River, Monument Valley, Grand Staircase – Escalante and Bryce and Zion National Parks. Boating day trips on Lake Powell allow guests to swim, kayak and fish the turquoise waters of this immense lake.
The Four Corners region has a geographic diversity that is unrivaled, resulting in scenery as captivating as it is majestic. Amangiri lies at its heart.
1 Kayenta Road, Canyon Point, Utah 84741-285, 435 675 3999 amangiri@amanresorts.com www.amanresorts.com
BP Girl
Rosie Mac
There are so many options, it's hard to choose which is the actress best cat of Game of Thrones. But surely Daenerys Targaryen to, played by Emilia Clarke is there in the Top 5. But who knew the actress of stunt is as or even more cat that own?
Almost all the actors in the series has a stuntman. Whether for the action scenes ie to the sex scenes. Then you enter the spectacular Rosie Mac. Every time you see khaleesi naked during the 5th season, know that in real that body belongs to his double. The substitute is an actress and dancer of 18 years and is much like Emilia Clarke. I even venture to say that she has some upgrades compared to the mother of dragons.
Separated some photos for you to know a little more of Rosie Mac, Daenerys the double in Game of Thrones. Rosie Mac is an English born multitalented performer Actress, vocalist, dancer, model, and business woman. This extra ordinary teenager strives for perfection in all that she does. Her dancing career began at the tender age of 2 years old. Trained in Ballet, Street, Zumba, and breakdance, she has performed all over Europe, winning the acclaimed “Champion of the world” Moving to Spain at the age of 9 years old, her incredible talent for dance has Rosie often appearing in Music Videos such as
MIKA "Boum, Boum, Boum" & James Blunts "When I Find Love Again" Spotted age 13 by a photographer who encouraged Rosie to break into the modeling world, where she has since excelled Rosie has appeared in Countless magazine editorials and covers all over the world. Her Passion for acting began not long after when she started to perform and sing as child in the Royal Theatre Cornwall and continued in Spain. Being bilingual she has played Alicia en los paises de maravillas (Spanish version of Alice in Wonderland ) Viva Girls (Tv Series ) aired by TLC And most recently playing Daenerys double in GAME OF THRONES season 5
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