BackPocket 33

Global Citizen’s Art, Culture, and Freestyle Guide #33

Alex Chaney’s

BackPocket

Lion Babe Tyga - Denise Bidot - MØ - Hiatus Kaiyote - Elliphant - Burning Man - Love Hultén - Fernanda D’Avila - Preston Corbell

BackPocket Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Alex Chaney

Contributors Angelo Capuano (MaltMileage) David K William Ariel Hyatt (Cyber PR) Andy Kellman David Jeffries, Rovi Carol Morgan

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BackPocketMag.com

Lion Babe

Love Hultén MØ

Koleliba Mobile Hut Fernanda D’Avila

Porsche Mission

Tyga

Denise Bidot

Harley Softail Slim

Burning Man Festival

Elliphant NYFW

Hiatus Kaiyote

Preston Corbell

Red Wine Slows Decline

9 Thoughts

Ciroc Vodka

The Loop, Chicago

Railyard Tennis Table MOOV NOW

La Gloria Cubana

7 Steps Financial Skills

! Alpha Profile

Denise Bidot "THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO BE A WOMAN"

Denise Bidot, the size 14, Puerto Rican and Kuwaiti, international plussize model, TV personality, the voice and advocate for curvy women and self-love, can be recognized for her groundbreaking movements within the Fashion Industry. Her work for straight- and plus-size brands such as Forever 21, Target, Levi's, Nordstrom, Macy's, Old Navy, Lane Bryant and as the face of the Danish brand, Zizzi Clothing, has positioned herself to be a leading figure for all women of different sizes.

During New York Fashion Week 2014 (September), Denise broke many barriers by becoming the first plus-size model to walk two runways for straight-size brands, CHROMAT and Serena Williams' HSN fashion line. Denise was personally selected

by Serena Williams to be the only plus-size model to walk in her show. At the Serena Williams fashion show, Denise experienced a surreal moment when fashion innovator, Anna Wintour of Vogue Magazine, praised her presence at the show and runway. This was a moment that truly symbolized the change of integrating all sizes within the fashion world; a movement Denise has been leading.

In addition, before NYFW 2014, Denise was the face of Copenhagen's 2014 Fashion Week, where she closed the week by walking for the brand, Zizzi Clothing.

Although she has participated in Copenhagen's Fashion Week for three seasons in a row, this was her first debut as a leading model to close the week and show. After receiving great momentum from fashion and consumer press for her accomplishments during Copenhagen and NYFW, Denise was invited to walk London's 2014 Fashion Week for the first time. She

walked the runway for the plus-size brand, Evans.

Denise has traveled the world as a plus-size model and has made herself well-known as a role model, and television personality. This leading lady was a part of Jennifer Lopez's TV network, NUVOtv's, "Curvy Girls," which showcased her life as a curvy woman and model. In addition, Denise's life was profiled in HBO's “Habla Women,” with other empowering stories of Latinas which includes actress, Gina Rodriguez, Cosmopolitan For Latinas Magazine's editor-in-chief, Michelle Herrera Mulligan, and female boxer, Marlen Esparza. Denise was also featured as a mom on the web series with Yahoo! En Español titled "Mama vs. Mama.” On the show, she conducted fun DIY projects and shared parenting tips with fellow latin TV personality, Isolda Peguero.

As a child, Denise was active in theater and acting throughout her childhood and right upon graduating high school. At the age of 18, she decided to move to Los Angeles to further pursue her dreams of being an actor.

After a few scenerios of casting directors requesting for Denise to lose weight in order to gain leading lady parts that led Denise to enroll in makeup school at Studio Makeup Academy in Hollywood, CA. Before she knew it, Denise was doing freelance makeup on photo-shoots and films.

While doing a segment on the Tyra Banks Show about self-image, Denise met a plussize who asked if she would do makeup for an upcoming job she had. Always eager to work, Denise accepted and it was at that shoot that she met the photographer that would change her life. Denise went to the shoot, with no expectations, other than networking, and while there, the photographer asked if Denise had ever considered modeling.

Up until that point Denise had virtually no knowledge of the plus modeling world. But

with a "why not," kind of attitude, Denise agreed to do a test shoot with her, figuring she had nothing to loose.

Unknowing to Denise, the photographer posted the images from the shoot on a well-known bulletin board and the photos generated a huge response - enough to make Denise want to explore the new possible career path.

Within no time, Denise was getting approached by clients asking her to model for their clothing lines, and shortly after she became a part of a wellknown modeling agency and moved to New York.

Currently, she is represented

by Muse Models in NYC and is one of the most recognizable plus-size models and household names in the world.

Beauty to Denise is seen through all shapes and sizes.

With her position as a relatable infuencer, she is focused to continue spreading the message of self-love and confidence. As a single mom to her little one, Joselyn, Denise aspires to continue to focus on spreading the message of “being you is what defines real beauty.â€?Â

Gear Railyard Click-Clack Tennis Table

Hours of fun on this impressive table tennis table. Your friends and family will love how it looks and plays. A unique custom design from Robert Hendrick. Regulation size table and net. Includes four paddles and box of ping pong balls to get you started.

Gear MOOV NOW MOOV NOW will track your daily activity and sleep and coach you through all the sports in the app, including: Run & Walk: There’s a training program to fit any fitness level!

Choose from Brisk Walking, Running Efficiency, Speed Endurance, Sprint Intervals and Open training to find where you can improve form, increase endurance and set new goals.

Cardio Boxing: A fun, calorie burning workout that tests both the body and mind. Moov teaches you proper form while you follow interactive routines requiring hand-eye coordination to accurately hit targets while toning your muscles.

Swim: Moov records every moment of your swim, categorizing your strokes, turns and rests so you can focus on improving.

7 Minute +: Use your bodyweight to combine strength and cardio workouts to reap benefits equivalent of a long run in just a few minutes!

Work your way through Moov’s extensive level system designed for people of all ability levels for improvements you can measure.

Cycle: Moov is there with you at every mi/km, coaching you on your distance, speed, cadence and more. Advanced measurements from Moov give you real-time recaps on how far you climbed and how much power you used so you can get the most from every ride.

Musician Lion Babe

2012–14: Beginnings A New York City-based duo with a simultaneously left-of-center and slightly retro spin on R&B, Lion Babe consists of vocalist Jillian Hervey and producer Lucas Goodman.

The two met at a party, when Hervey, the daughter of Vanessa Williams, overheard tracks Goodman, aka Astro Raw, had created and struck up a conversation with him. The first song they made together, "Treat Me Like Fire," was uploaded to Soundcloud in November 2012, and they were subsequently snapped up by Polydor (in the U.K.) and Interscope (in the U.S.).

Lion Babe resurfaced in December 2014 with a self-titled four-track EP that featured "Treat Me Like Fire," as well as "Jump Hi," a strutting number on which Childish Gambino made an appearance. An album with production input from Pharrell Williams and Dave Sitek, among others, was expected in 2015. ~ Andy Kellman Lion Babe is a neo-soul duo that formed in New York City, the duo is made up of recording artist Jillian Hervey and musician Lucas Goodman. Following their meeting through a mutual friend the pair released the single "Treat Me Like Fire" (2012), the single helped the duo raise their profile, which led them to sign a record deal with Interscope Records. Following the signing the duo released their self-titled debut EP in 2014.

Jillian Hervey is the daughter of actress Vanessa Williams and initially planned to pursue a career in dancing. Lucas Goodman began producing in his dorm room at Northeastern University before moving back to New York and interning at retro-minded Truth & Soul Records. During this time he found a a vinyl version of Eunice Collins' "At the Hotel 1974" and would go on to sample it for "Treat Me Like Fire." The pair met through a mutual friend at a party where Hervey heard Goodman's music, during this time she introduced herself to Goodman but the pair failed to stay connected, however did follow each other on the social networking website MySpace.

Hervey then moved to New York college and had to do a dance piece for school with original music, so Hervey contacted Lucas.

This led to Hervey discussing her interest in signing and Goodman encouraged Hervey to try a soulful style of singing similar to that of Lauryn Hill and Erykah Badu.

The duo went onto name themselves "Lion Babe" which they described as taking on further meaning over time, the name stemmed from Lucas’ horoscope sign a Leo and Hervey’s hairstyle. The duo released "Treat Me Like Fire" in December 2012.

During SXSW the following March, rapper Childish Gambino (Donald Glover) contacted Lion Babe and asked them to open for him. The duo subsequently acquired a US record deal with Interscope records and a UK deal with Polydor that summer, and kept in touch with Glover who would go to guest on the lead single, "Jump Hi," from their self-titled debut Extended Play.

Following an underground following, Lion Babe released their debut self-titled Extended Play digitally on December 15, 2014, alongside the digital release the duo released vinyl and stream versions of the project with two extra songs. The EP was written and produced by Hervey and Goodman, under his production name "Astro Raw" and received positive reviews from music critics who described it as "a warm-blooded blend of soul, R&B and electronica" and noted similarities between Hervey and Erykah Badu. Rapper Childish Gambino was the only other artist who made an appearance on the EP, appearing on the song "Jump Hi' making the collaboration the trios second. The song "Jump Hi" featuring Gambino would later go on to peak at number nine on Billboard's interactive chart Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists.

2015: Debut album The duo began work on their debut album, which is set for a 2015 release. Besides Goodman, the album is set to feature production input from Pharrell Williams and Dave Sitek, among others. In 2015 Lion Babe released the song "Wonder Woman" which went on to peak at number one on Billboard's interactive chart Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists.

Artistry Lucas Goodman, is inspired by and studied the work of producers J Dilla, Flying Lotus and Timbaland. Speaking on his influences Goodman stated “Their techniques were like magic to me,� during his production Goodman tries to bring funk and soul into a modern context, with the goal to create an iconic performance and a music brand similar to Prince and Iggy Pop. Goodman also takes production influence from rappers RZA and Kanye West, swell as Just Blaze, throughout High School Goodman began playing the guitar and cited Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin as influences.

Goodman also states that he is influenced by the city of New York describing it as a "melting pot" for "all sorts of other things".

Hervey states she is inspired by "classic vocalists" including Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Tina Turner, Chaka Khan as well as Erykah Badu. Through out their childhood the pair both grew up listening to artists such as Curtis Mayfield and Sly Stone, whilst Goodman stated that music that touched up on the early 2000' was as influence such as The Neptunes as well as The Strokes and the White Stripes. As a duo they stated that The Beatles are a huge influence on their musical style and also listen to various other artists from various genres including Lee Scratch Perry, Sergio Mendes in Brazil, and Fela Kuti. Both Hervey and Goodman stated they were inspired by singer and producer Pharrell Williams, stating they grew up listening to his music and his production.

Musician

MĂ˜

“It’s like ‘mooer’. Or Mo. Or Moo. Or anything.” – Karen Marie Ørsted MØ may not mind how you say her name, but you’d better start practising your Danish pronunciation. The 26-year-old singersongwriter crash landed on the radar of those in the know in 2013 and spent much of last year gunning for the mainstream following the release of her acclaimed debut album No Mythologies To Follow – a unique blend of bedroom beats, soul-punk-electroR&B and pop harmonies – alongside a number of buzz worthy collaborations and a relentless touring schedule that would put most so-called pop stars to shame. If there’s any justice in the world, she’s about to break big.

Karen Marie Ørsted grew up on Funen, one of Denmark’s largest islands, and she wrote her first song when she was seven years old. Even then there were traces of the bittersweet heartache that forms the backbone of her current skewed pop: the first single was called ‘Don’t Believe What People Say’. Karen was a pop obsessive until she became a teenager when she became very involved with politics, punk and the anti-fascism movement, leading her to discover the music of Sonic Youth, Black Flag, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, amongst others.

At 18 she formed a “noisy, trashy electropop punk band” named Mor with her friend Josefine. But Karen had started to write songs on her own, trying out a variety of sounds and styles on her laptop in her

bedroom, and in 2009, she became MØ. At first, MØ was almost a character, a larger-thanlife exaggeration of Karen’s attitude. But slowly she found her own voice, swapping the rapping for singing and then meeting Ronni Vindahl, a producer & guitarist whose work Kendrick Lamar used on “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe”. Suddenly everything fell into place and the sound of MØ was born.

The singles Glass, Pilgrim and Waste of Time soon followed, all characterised by an upbeat, skittish pop melody combined with surprisingly sad lyrics about heartbreak. MØ’s first EP, Bikini Daze, continued that theme, with its lead track XXX 88, co-produced by Diplo, beginning the process that will shortly lead to her featuring on “Lean On” the new record by his band Major Lazer.

It is not MØ’s only notable collaboration, by any means, as duets with Elephant and Iggy Azalea smashed the internet and rode the airwaves through the autumn of 2014, the latter leading to an appearance on the legendary Saturday

Night Live, following MØ’s own solo appearance and US TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier in the year. A nearunprecedented four Danish Music Awards followed in November and 2015 finds MØ firing on all cylinders and ready to capture

hearts and minds on stages worldwide.

Already confirmed for Bonnaroo, Coachella and The Governors Ball festivals, amongst others, you’d better start practising your Danish pronunciation.

Musician

Hiatus Kaiyote Self-termed future soul band Hiatus Kaiyote -- akin to a progressive neosoul group with a little left-of-center hip-hop production -- formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 2011.

Fronted by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Nai Palm, the band also features bassist Paul Bender, drummer Perrin Moss, and keyboardist Simon Mavin (also of the Bamboos). They self-released their short debut album, Tawk Tomahawk, in 2012, and gradually won support from a wide swath of tastemaking DJs (such as Gilles Peterson) and fellow artists (beginning with Taylor

McFerrin and later including Questlove and Erykah Badu). The band signed to Salaam Remi's Sony-distributed Flying Buddha label and re-released Tawk Tomahawk with a bonus track -- a version of album highlight "Nakamarra" featuring a guest verse from QTip. That track was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Performance. In late 2014, Hiatus Kaiyote released a threetrack preview of their second album, led by "By Fire," a dizzying song partly inspired by the house-fire death of Palm's father.

Choose Your Weapon, an expansive album twice the length of the band's debut, was issued on Flying Buddha in 2015. ~ Andy Kellman

Musician

Tyga

With a rangy set of friends from Fall Out Boy to Lil Wayne, it was obvious from the start that Tyga was not your everyday rapper from Compton.

After recording a mixtape and promoting it around the city, Tyga ran into his cousin, Gym Class Heroes member Travis McCoy, in the Flight Club L.A. sneaker shop. Their conversation went from shoes to rappers, and as Travis' group went from unknowns to MTV stars, he would always remember that talk and his cousin's unique style. Travis signed Tyga to his Bad Squad label and then invited him along when the punk-pop group Fall Out Boy came calling. Travis and Tyga would appear on the remix to Fall Out Boy's "Arms Race," which also featured Kanye West, Paul Wall, Skinhead Rob, Lupe Fiasco, and Lil Wayne. When the remix

became a hit, Tyga found himself performing the track on MTV's Video Music Awards in 2007. He soon entered the studio to do some guest shots for his new friend Lil Wayne before shifting the focus to his solo career. His first single became the hooky "Coconut Juice," a S*A*M & Sluggo production that borrowed a bit of Harry Nilsson's hit "Coconut." As the club track was climbing the charts in the spring of 2008, Tyga was hard at work on his debut album, No Introduction, which was officially released that June. He returned in 2012 with Careless World, an album that featured Game, Snoop Dogg, and Drake among its guests. Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, and 2 Chainz landed on his 2013 effort, Hotel California -- his second straight Top Ten album. Among his many guest verses were a pair of hit collaborations with Chris Brown, namely "Deuces" and "Loyal." The two opted to take their success to another level with Fan of a Fan: The Album, released in 2015. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi

Musician

Elliphant

Ellinor Olovsdotter, known by her stage name Elliphant, is a Swedish pop artist. Her unique sound has been likened to a cross between M.I.A. and Diplo. The artist name Elliphant, was said to be a play on words between her name and the saying "Elephant in the room." She has featured in the media for her

unique sound, including The Guardian and NME. Her debut single Tekkno Scene featured on the award winning video game, FIFA 13. In 2013 she released her first EP, which was self-titled. In 2014 this was followed up with her debut album, titled A Good Idea.

Elliphant was born in Stockholm, Sweden. At a young age she was introduced to travelling by her grandma, who took her to India at the age of 16. Following her journey to India, she decided to begin travelling the world. She stated in an interview that she had again spent time in India and also Burma.Her travelling allowed her to spend a summer travelling across the UK. She was heavily influenced by the urban sound when in London. One her return to Stockholm, she is said to have developed skills as an MC. Her career began with the release of her debut single Tekkno Scene in 2012. The track featured Adam Kanyama, and was positively received. The music video for the song was uploaded on Elliphant's YouTube Channel in April 2014. Following the release of the song, it went onto feature on the award winning soccer video game, FIFA 13.

Following the release of the song, it was likened by some to have a similar feel to a M.I.A. track.

Following the release of her first single, Elliphant released the track Down on Life, with the Official Music Video featuring in December 2012 on Pitchfork's YouTube channel. The music video went onto secure over 1 million views on the channel. The success of the song was recognised by many, with Katy Perry tweeting that it was "of the most bad ass music videos I've seen in a long time".

Pitchfork said the song showed off "a faint smidge of softness", when compared to her first two singles, Tekkno Scene and Ciant Hear it. During the same article, it was announced that she would be releasing her first EP, which would be self-titled. It was also stated that she shared the same management and production as Icona Pop and Niki and the Dove. Collectively they have been said to be a shift towards Swedish Electro Pop.

In January 2013, she released her first EP, which was titled Elliphant. The debut EP featured four sings and a remix, including her the tracks Ciant Hear It and Down on Life. The remaining tracks were two new songs, Make it Juicy and In the Jungle, with the EP's fifth track coming in the form of a remix of the In the Jungle track. The two new tracks were positively received on Elliphant's YouTube channel.

Following the release of her first EP, she featured in a short interview with Idolator, stating she was signed by Dr. Luke's label and that her upcoming Swedish album would be called A Good Idea. In the summer of 2013, Elliphant stated that she had worked in the studio with Skrillex in Stockholm. During the same interview, she also stated that one of the main reasons she worked with Diplo, was because of the track Down on Life.

In July 2013, Elliphant released a music video for the track, Music is Life. The song would go on to feature on her debut album.

On 9 October 2013, she released her debut album in her native Sweden, titled A Good Idea. The album featured a number of artists and producers, including Niki & the Dove. A Good Idea also featured the hit Down on Life, which had appeared on her debut EP. The album also featured the track, More Fire. In early 2014, the track had received recognition as it was the first collaboration between herself and fellow Swedish artist, Niki & The Dove.

Cigars

La Gloria Cubana (Dominican Republic) Rating: ★★★★ Recommendation: Buy it Almost a decade after Senator Ernesto Perez-Carrillo fled Cuba in 1959 he rekindled a bit of his

homeland in Miami’s Little Havana in 1968, when he began to make La Gloria Cubana cigars. Needless to say, it seems they were a hit and production of these cigars continues to this very day in both Miami and the Dominican Republic.

Angelo Capuano (MaltMileage)

La Gloria Cubana contains long filler tobacco from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Nicaragua, which means that this 7 inch Churchill is a bunch of long full leaves all lovingly rolled together and wrapped in a dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper – that bad boy, as you will see from our tasting notes, is responsible for much of this cigar’s flavour. The ring gauge is a standard of 50.

The dark Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper clings against my lips, coating it with an oily film and a sour taste that is pleasant and offers hues of woodiness. Dark chocolate and unsweetened espresso accompany the oiliness, with notes of mild campfire, charred twigs and a bitter finish of chicory infused within the tobacco smoke. Mid-way the cigar becomes fuller, gaining soapy notes for a few puffs which then recede and are taken over by a consistent woodiness and earthy sourness – that chicory bitterness remains, though the chicory is wilder and reddened with an intensified sourness while a puckering red wine cask finish reminds me of the woody dimension of some Pinot Noir wines. The filler tobacco seemed to balance out the bitterness and sourness of the wrapper, to create an enjoyable and imminently puff-able cigar.

This is an elegant cigar that is mostly consistent throughout, though the sourness intensifies towards the end. Excellent.

This cigar pairs nicely with a soft red wine, such as a light Pinot Noir, or a wine cask finish whisky – try it with Glenmorangie Companta or Benromach Sassicaia.

Buy it, if you are after a balanced cigar with a bitter chicory finish and shades of earthy woodiness that showcase the flavours of a lovely Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper. These wrappers can sometimes be quite sour or bitter and thus overbearing on the palate, but La Gloria Cubana seem to have selected a wrapper that integrates nicely with the filler tobacco but which holds its own and becomes prominent on the finish.

Superb.

Rides

2016 Harley Davidson Softail Slim S They’ve taken everything that was great about the Softail Slim and added a little more. For starters, they’ve added power with a Screamin’ Eagle Air-Cooled Twin Cam 110B engine, taken the military theme even further with an awesome Olive Gold Denim paint option, and made the

rest black to the core. Black triple clamp and riser, gloss black headlamp ring, fork slider covers and lower forks. Black brake levers, mirrors and black over/under shotgun exhaust with slash cut muffler. Every inch is modern power with old iron attitude.

Rides

Porsche Mission E Concept Porsche is introducing the first allelectrically powered four-seat sports car in the brand's history.

The concept car combines the emotional design of a Porsche with performance and practicality of the first 800-volt drive system.

Key specification data of this sports car: four doors and four single seats, over 600

hp and over 310 mile driving range. Allwheel drive and all-wheel steering, zero to 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds and a charging time of around 15 minutes to reach an 80 per cent charge of electrical energy.

Instruments are intuitively operated by eyetracking and gesture control, some even via holograms – highly oriented toward the driver by automatically adjusting the displays to the driver's position.

Drive system The drive system of the Mission E is entirely new, yet it is typical Porsche. Two permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) – similar to those used in this year's Le Mans victor, the 919 hybrid – accelerate the sports car and recover braking energy.

Together the two motors produce over 600 hp, and they propel the Mission E to a speed of 60mph in less than 3.5 seconds. In addition to their high efficiency, power density and uniform power development,

they offer another advantage: unlike today's electric drive systems, they can develop their full power even after multiple accelerations at short intervals. The needbased all-wheel drive system with Porsche Torque Vectoring – which automatically distributes torque to the individual wheels – transfers the drive system's power to the road, and all-wheel steering gives precise, sporty steering in the desired direction.

Driving range

It is not just passionate sportiness that makes up a Porsche but also a high level of everyday practicality. Accordingly, the Mission E can travel over 300 miles on one battery charge, and it can be charged with enough energy for around 250 more mies in about fifteen minutes. The reason: Porsche is a front-runner in introducing innovative 800-volt technology for the first time.

Doubling the voltage – compared to today's electric vehicles that operate at 400 volts – offers multiple advantages: shorter charging times and lower weight, because lighter, smaller gage copper cables are sufficient for energy transport.

can be charged to approximately 80 per cent of its capacity in around 15 minutes – a record time for electric vehicles. As an alternative, the technology platform can be connected to a conventional 400-volt charging station, or it can be replenished at home in the garage via convenient inductive charging by simply parking over a coil embedded in the floor of the garage from which the energy is transferred without cables to a coil on the car's underbody.

A moveable body segment on the front left wing in front of the driver's door gives access to the charging port for the innovative “Porsche Turbo Charging” system. Via the 800-volt port, the battery

Another feature that is typical of a Porsche sports car is a lightweight concept with optimal weight distribution and a low centre of gravity. The battery mounted in the car's underbody, which is based on the latest

Driving dynamics

lithium-ion technology, runs the whole length between the front and rear axles. This distributes its weight to the two drive axles uniformly, resulting in exceptionally good balance. In addition, it makes the sports car's centre of gravity extremely low. Both of these factors significantly boost performance and a sports car feeling.

The body as a whole is made up of a functional mix of aluminum, steel and carbon fibre reinforced polymer. The wheels are made of carbon: the Mission E has wide

tires mounted on 21-inch wheels in front and 22-inch wheels at the rear.

Design Every square inch, every angle, every radius of the Mission E reflects one thing above all else: emotional sportiness in the best tradition of Porsche design. The starting point is the sculpture of a sport saloon with a low height that embodies visible innovations such as its integrated

aerodynamics. Distinctive air inlets and outlets – on the front, sides and at the rear – typify the body's full flow-through design that enhances efficiency and performance.

Integrated air guides improve airflow around the wheels, for instance, and air outlets on the sides reduce overpressure in the wheel wells, thereby reducing lift.

The much reduced sculpting of the front end shows a classic Porsche sweepback, and it relates the concept car to the 918 Spyder and Porsche race cars. A new type of matrix LED headlights in the brand's typical four-point light design captures the viewer's gaze. Integrated as an element hovering in the airflow of the air inlet, they lend a futuristic character to the front end.

The four LED units are grouped around a flat sensor for assistance systems whose

border serves as an indicator light.

Distinctive front wings and an extremely lowcut bonnet reference 911 design. As in the 911 GT3 RS, a wide characteristic recess extends from the overlapping front luggage compartment lid up and over the roof. The line of the side windows is also similar to that of the 911, however, with one important difference: two counter-opening doors enable convenient entry – without a B-pillar.

Another difference: instead of the classic door mirror, inconspicuous cameras are mounted on the sides that contribute to the car's exceptional aerodynamics.

The rear design underscores the typical sports car architecture. The lean cabin with its accelerated rear windscreen, which draws inward at the rear, creates space for the sculpted shape of the rear wings that

only a Porsche can have. A threedimensional “PORSCHE” badge illuminated from inside hovers beneath an arch of light that extends across the entire width in a black glass element.

The interior of the Mission E transfers all of the traditional Porsche design principles into the future: openness, purist design, clean architecture, driver orientation and everyday practicality. The all-electric drive concept made it possible to fully reinterpret the interior. The lack of a transmission tunnel, for instance, opens up space and gives a lighter and more airy atmosphere to the entire interior. Race bucket seats served as inspiration for the four single seats. Their lightweight design is weight-saving, and it gives occupants secure lateral support during dynamic driving. Between the front

seats, the centre console – elegantly curved like a bridge with open space beneath it – extends up to the dashboard.

Display and control A new world based on an innovative display and control concept opens up before the driver. It is intuitive, fast and free of distractions – created for the sports car of tomorrow. The filigree driver's display is curved, low-profile and free-standing. The instrument cluster shows five round instruments – they can be recognized as Porsche, but they are displayed virtually in OLED technology, i.e. by organic lightemitting diodes. The round instruments are organized according to the driver-relevant

themes of Connected Car, Performance, Drive, Energy and Sport Chrono.

The controls are just as innovative. An eyetracking system detects, via camera, which instrument the driver is viewing. The driver can then activate the menu of the instrument in focus by pushing a button on the steering wheel and navigate in it – which also involves an interplay of eye-tracking and manual activation. But that is not all: the display follows the seat position and body attitude of the driver in what is known as a parallax effect. If the driver sits lower, higher or leans to one side, the 3D display of the round instruments reacts and moves with the driver. This eliminates situations in which the steering wheel blocks the driver's view of certain key information, for instance. All relevant information such as vehicle speed is always within the driver's line of sight.

The Mission E can even portray driving fun: a camera mounted in the rear-view mirror recognizes the driver's good mood and shows it as an emoticon in the round instrument. The fun factor can be saved together with individual information such as the route or speed, and it can be shared with friends via a social media link.

Holographic display The entire dashboard is chock full of new ideas. Its division into two threedimensionally structuring layers reinforces the impression of lightness and clarity. The upper layer integrates the driver's display, and between the levels there is a holographic display that extends far into the passenger's side. It shows individually selectable apps, which are stacked in virtual space and arranged by priority with a threedimensional effect. The driver – or passenger – can use these apps to touchfree control primary functions such as media, navigation, climate control, contacts

and vehicle. The desired symbol is activated by gestures that are detected by sensors. A grasping gesture means select, while pulling means control. Moreover, driver or passenger can use a touch display on the centre console to control secondary functions such as detailed information menus.

The concept vehicle can also be configured externally from a tablet via Porsche Car Connect. Using “Over the Air and Remote Services” the driver can essentially change the functional content of the vehicle overnight. A simple update via the integrated high-speed data module is all it takes to implement the travel guide or additional functions for the chassis, engine or infotainment system. The driver can use a smartphone or tablet to start updates conveniently from the Porsche Connect Store. Furthermore, Porsche Connect enables direct contact to a Porsche Centre for remote diagnostics or to schedule appointments. Another function of integrated Remote Services is the digital key, which can be sent via the Porsche Connect Portal. It not only lets the owner open the doors, but also other persons authorized by the owner such as friends or family. After successful authentication, the key can be used within a specific time frame and defined location.

The virtual exterior mirrors are literally eyecatching. The lower corners of the windscreen show the images of the outside cameras that are mounted in the front wings. The benefits: the driver gets a better view of images and the surroundings, and safety information can also be actively displayed there.

Spirits Ciroc Vodka (Italianesque grappa!)

Score: 85/100 Ciroc “vodka” is an interesting creation, because while it is called “vodka” it is made from the French grapes Mauzac Blanc and Ugni Blanc and hails from the Gaillac region of France. It is distilled an astounding five times, and seems more like a grappa with a luscious but modest nose that does not give adequate warning of the elegant explosion of flavors to strike the palate. This is so much more than a vodka; it is more like a beautiful grappa with hints of mint, licorice and earthy flavors. Why has Diageo called this drink “vodka” when it is clearly styled like a fine Italian grappa that is distilled five times? Who knows, but I think sales have motivated this decision because “vodka” is a more common and therefore sellable drink than “grappa”.

Nose

Overall

Fresh mint and aniseed sway gently in the fresh breeze, as the smell of lush green vinyards and overturned earth meet with fresh lemon and lime. This brings back memories of weaving in and out of the surrounds at the local Italian club as a child, the gentle smell of herbs in the kitchen would meet clumsily spilt sambuca at the “Scopa” card table and dry wine at the bar as the fresh breeze swaying in the massive green fields carried the scent of earth and vegetation as we escaped to the bocce courts. I’m sorry, but I cannot see how this drink is a “vodka”.

This Ciroc is incredibly fresh, with flavours of the earth coming though on the palate and the finish. From soil and herbs to the distinct taste of rock minerals and underground vegetation, this Ciroc seems to bring together the flavours that have fed the grapes that in turn have produced the juice to be distilled five times. That is something quite special!

Taste Outrageously smooth, the Ciroc releases on the palate a symphony of fresh earthy flavours beginning with mint and soft fennel as licorice gently develops to add body and depth to the bouquet of spicy ginger and earthy herbs. Citrus like lemon and lime also add a kick. This is sensational, and I can only imagine how it might develop in an oak barrel!

Finish With a very long finish, the Ciroc provides a burst of flavors that dance on the tongue late into the night.

Thanks for bringing back lots of memories of Nonno at the Italian club! This Chiroc is, in my view, undoubtedly Italianesque grappa in every way. Although traditional grappa is made from what is leftover in winemaking (including seeds, stems etc), it is easy to see how spirit made from the first press can be a (possibly, depending on opinions) more superior version of this! It is made the same way as grappa and from the same base ingredient as grappa (grapes), but distilled five times and from the first press… looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, quacks like a duck, waddles like a duck… so it must be a (premium quality!) duck!

-Enjoy!

Angelo Capuano (MaltMileage)

Casa + Architecture

Koleliba Mobile Hut by Hristina Hristova Bulgarian designer Hristina Hristova has created a structure with a unique market niche. The Koleliba (Bulgarian for “hut on wheels�) appeals to the micro house trend many like in theory but could never practically accept, while also offering a more affordable option for people interested in owning a vacation home.

The Koleliba takes advantage of the tranquility of cabin life by shrinking it down to a size that is both transportable and affordable. Living in small quarters can be a liberating experience, forcing one to forgo all possessions that aren’t essential to feel comfortable in the space, but it can be hard to live this way throughout the year, especially if your not into the whole ascetic thing. And while beach houses and weekend rentals can be a nice getaway from the working life, the cost can balloon rather quickly. Hristova’s design solves both these dilemmas, and its mobility ensures that the owner can take it to any destination

they desire. At only 97 square feet, the cabin seems too small to handle its load.

But when it’s time to unwind after a long day, the 8-foot ceilings, modular furniture and broad glass door confirm that it is more than up to the challenge. It even comes with a retractable awning to provide a pleasant space for quiet meals in the great outdoors.

The project was a DIY attempt by Hristova to solve the problems of affording a vacation home, and hopefully will find its way into production soon.

-gessato.com

Money 7 Simple Steps to Improve Your Financial Management Skills - Carol Morgan

Have you ever wondered why our educational system doesn’t teach life skills? I have. I teach communication at the university level, but by the time the students get into my class, their habits are pretty much already formed—and many of them are bad ones.

For example, maybe they saw their parents yell and scream at each other. Or maybe they avoided conflict altogether. These are not good skills to adopt. It’s really sad that they didn’t learn better life skills while they were in school.

Another life skill we weren’t taught in school is how to handle money. Once again, we learn from how our parents handled money.

Were they spenders? Were they savers? Did they teach you invest? Did they teach you about the stock market or how to save for retirement? I’m betting the answer is “no” for most of us.

Just because you didn’t learn good financial skills in school doesn’t mean that you can’t learn them now. Here are some tips you can follow to get better at managing money.

1. Make a budget—and stick to it.

Do you know where all your money goes?

Do you know how much money you spend on things like going out to eat, seeing a

movie, buying beer, or purchasing clothes?

Most people don’t. Are you one of those people who just prays every day that you don’t overdraw your bank account? If so, make your budget. Go back through your checkbook or bank statements for the last year and write down how much you spent in each category. You will probably be surprised at how much of your money is “wasted” on things you weren’t even aware of.

2. Be a conscious consumer.

When you go to the grocery store, do you have a list? Do you look at prices? Do you use coupons? There are many online resources and apps that can help you be more focused on what you are actually spending.

Don’t “sleep walk” through life. Be aware of every single cent you spend! When people don’t do that, their money tends to just evaporate. It takes a bit of effort to look for coupons, make lists, examine the prices at the stores where you shop, but it’s worth it in the long run. And, it makes a BIG difference.

3. Balance your checkbook.

I record everything I purchase. In fact, sometimes my friends make fun of me because I’m always whipping out my checkbook to record everything I spend whether it’s at Target, the gas station, the bowling alley, or pretty much anything else.

These days, most people just rely on looking at their bank balance online. But if you only do that, then it allows you to not care what you are spending in the moment. But if you hold yourself accountable by recording everything, then you will not over-spend or overdraw your account.

4. Have a plan and a vision.

In order to accomplish anything, you have to have a plan, right? I mean, if you wanted to go to San Francisco but you didn’t have Mapquest or a GPS to calculate your route, you would never get there! Instead, you would just drive aimlessly into nowhere.

That metaphor is pretty much what happens to you when you don’t have a financial plan.

You often ask yourself, “Where did that money go?” But if you have a plan and a budget (see #1), then you will know exactly where your money has gone.

5. Think like an investor.

As I said in the introduction, our educational system does not teach us anything about how to handle money—especially when it comes to how to grow it. But think about it.

Did the wealthiest people in the world just save $500 a month and leave it at that? Of course not! They learned how to turn that $500 a month into $1,000. Then $10,000.

Then $100,000. And so on. You get the point.

You can’t expect to have a solid financial future if you’re not thinking about how to grow your money. So if you start to think like an investor, you’ll see your nest egg expand.

6. Work together with your partner/spouse on the same financial goals.

If you’re married or in a partnership where you share money, then you need to work together. Since I teach about relationships, I know that one of the biggest conflicts in relationships is money! Frequently, one person will be a saver, and the other will be a spender. This doesn’t work! So it’s important that both you and your partner get on the same page about your financial goals.

Sit down together and make your budget.

Meet with a financial adviser so you can learn how to invest your money wisely. But if nothing else, you need to make sure that the two of you have the same goal and vision.

And that you actually stick to it!

7. Commit to saving money.

Speaking of sticking to something, commitment is everything. You can’t do anything half-way. You can’t “sometimes” do something and “sometimes not.” You have to be consistent! You have to stay the course!

It’s kind of like losing weight. If you only occasionally eat less and exercise more, you MIGHT lose some weight. But chances are, you’ll probably just go back to your old habits. So that’s why you need to commit to saving money and building your future.

Otherwise, you might as well not even bother!

If our schools taught us these financial skills, then what I have talked about in this article might come naturally to us all. But for most of us, it doesn’t. But it’s not rocket science.

It’s just like anything—if you want it badly enough, you will do it! If you want to make your financial situation better you can do it!

But you just need to start with the decision to do so.

Subculture

Burning Man Festival On the last Monday of August until the first Monday in September, the annual Burning Man festival in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada - where some 50,000 peoples themselves gegadigen to dance, chill and anything else what you can not do in everyday life. People dress up - or

just walk around half naked, mud baths, body painting show themselves and even get married here.

Watch the 38 most impressive pictures of the ridiculous theme park which is called Burning Man.

Health

A Glass Of Red Wine A Day Slows Cognitive Decline We often see conflicting studies about food all over the Internet. One day cow’s milk is good for you, the next cow’s milk is harmful to your health.

But, when it comes to wine, it seems people across the board are in agreement: a glass of red wine a day is good for your health. In fact, red wine could do more than just enhance your food. It can preserve your memory for longer, researchers say.

Scientists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago released findings of a new study funded by the National Institute on Aging that was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. The study showed that just one drink of red wine a day may delay dementia in those at risk from the disease and keep the mind sharp.

As you may already know, cognitive decline is a normal part of aging.

“Everyone experiences decline with aging; and Alzheimer’s disease is now the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., which accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia’s cases,” Martha Clare Morris, a nutritional epidemiologist at Rush University Medical Center, said in a statement about the new study.

Morris and her team of researchers reported that elderly adults who strictly followed a diet called MIND, described as a hybrid of the Mediterranean diet that emphasizes eating plant-based foods, were 7.5 years younger cognitively over a period of nearly five years than those who adhered to the diet the least.

“The study findings suggest that the MIND diet substantially slows cognitive decline with age,” Morris said. In an earlier report, the researchers announced that the diet developed at the Rush University Medical Center may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Specifically, the MIND diet lowered the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 53 percent in participants who adhered to the diet rigorously, and by about 35 percent in those who followed it moderately well.

“We have been studying the effects of nutrition on dementia for 20 years and felt that it was time to consider an overall diet that incorporated all of the science on nutrition and the brain,” explained Morris.

Other studies on cognitive decline have also shown that wine contains high levels of flavonoids, natural compounds that have an antioxidant effect, which helps with good blood circulation and improved cognitive function. These flavonoids are thought to work by mopping up excessive amounts of harmful chemicals that are naturally produced by the body, as well as making the blood less likely to clot.

To do so, the researchers carried out an observational study of 960 adults with an average age of 81.4 years at 40 retirement community and senior public housing units in the Chicago area over a period of 4.7 years. They uncovered a slower decline in mental ability among the seniors who adhered most closely to MIND, or Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.

While this particular study by Morris and her team only shows correlation and not causation, we’ll take it as an excuse to hunker down with a glass of the good stuff.

Enjoying a glass of red wine in moderation may help with cognitive function and reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, after all. That’s good enough reason for all of us to feel good about enjoying a glass of red wine every day

This diet focuses on foods known to provide the greatest protection from cognitive decline. These foods include whole grains, green leafy vegetables, olive oil, fish, beans, nuts, the occasional chicken, and wine.

Followers of the diet limit the amount of the five unhealthy food groups — red meat, butter, cheese, stick margarine, sweets, pastries, and fried or fast foods — that they eat. The only fruits in MIND are berries.

- David K. William

Success

9 Thoughts Successful People Refuse To Believe Beliefs precede thoughts. Thoughts precede actions. Actions determine your journey and your destination. So, it all starts with beliefs. Successful people not only have a different set of

beliefs, they also refuse to believe so many ideas that seem to be commonplace.

Here are nine thoughts successful people refuse to believe:

They Don’t Think That The Right Timing is Everything

They Don’t Believe It’s a Sign of Weakness to Ask for Help

Successful people like the timing to be right, just like everyone else- but they also know that the right timing is not everything. All that the right timing will provide is an edge – the work needs to get done and they don’t shy away from it. They take control of what they CAN do with what they have.

Successful people know what their strengths are and they also know where they need to receive help. The good part is that they are not afraid to seek out that good help that they need to make something meaningful happen.

They Don’t Believe Slow and Steady Wins the Race Successful people know that ‘slow and steady’ rarely wins the race because they know that there are other smart people out there who are ‘smart and fast’ and playing the same game.

The concept of “slow and steady wins the race” was popularized by the famous Tortoise and the Hare story, in which the hare sleeps in the middle of the race, paving the way for the tortoise to win.

The problem with this?

Flawed logic.

In the real world, if a race between the tortoise and the hare actually happened, there is a little chance that the hare would sleep in the middle of the race.

Successful people pierce through such flawed logic before blindly believing something.

They Don’t Believe That They Have to Be Right to Be Respected Successful people have an opinion, but they don’t claim that their opinion is the only opinion that counts. Their self-esteem is high enough that they are the first to admit if they are wrong. In other words, they are “often wrong, never in doubt.” (Yes, that’s the title of a book by Donny Deutsch)

They Don’t Believe That Others Have to Reciprocate Successful people can move the needle for a lot of people. Only a small percentage of them will reciprocate back in some way. The good news is that successful people are aware of this skewed ratio and are at peace with it.

They Don’t Believe That They Can Skip Reciprocation

They Don’t Ever Believe That They Have Made It.

While successful people don’t expect people to reciprocate, they are very clear and committed in their choice to reciprocate- in terms of things like time, energy, money, mind share or insights- with anyone and everyone who makes a meaningful contribution to their lives.

Successful people thrive on taking a meaningful journey. A milestone reached or an accomplishment they are proud of is all good, but, for them, these milestones and accomplishments are part of the journey and nothing more. In their mind, their life is in “permanent beta” (a term I first heard from Reid Hoffman, founder of LinkedIn).

This worldview keeps them hungry to learn more.

They Don’t Believe in Waiting to Get Lucky Successful people don’t wait for luck to strike them in order to achieve a breakthrough. They believe in the old saying that “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”.

They Don’t Believe That Luck Does Not Exist Successful people don’t dismiss luck either.

When they do get a breakthrough because of a lucky strike, they acknowledge the effect of luck and do not give themselves undue credit for that accomplishment or breakthrough.

Artisan

Love Hultén Swedish designer & craftsman Love Hulten is a Swedish designer, craftsman, and innovator fusing modern technology with traditional artisan knowledge, creating a unique blend of function and aesthetics.

With delicate execution and mystique, Hultén aims to breathe life into objects and create unique stories, leaving the viewer in a state of curiosity and fascination. Playing with values - the social, cultural and historical relations to objects we all share, he tears the consensual connections apart and provide a new context, suggesting a different perspective on how to relate and interact with objects.

The works of Love Hultén are also nostalgic visions in a world of throwaway excess and economic efficiency gone awry.

Hultén carefully selects the finest local materials to provide strength and durability. The unique collectible objects breathe through time, rather than get suffocated by it. Specializing in creating one-of-a-kind exclusive items, Hulten offers the buyer a genuine and personal experience.

Everything is produced, polished, and assembled by Hultén himself in his one-man studio in Gothenburg, Sweden. Special custom designs of Hulten may be made upon request.

BP Girl

Fernanda D’Avila

Filmmaker Preston Corbell

I kind of stumbled into acting and eventually filmmaking. It all started with a wrong number, someone from North Carolina looking for an actor.

An actor huh? Well hold on a minute, I may not be what your looking for but I am more than willing to fill in. Living in Colorado at the time I caught a flight to North Carolina. The show was a perfect fit for me as well as the production company so much that I moved to Wilmington, North Carolina and started working as Chad Michael Murray's stand-in and photo double for season 3 and 4 on a show called One Tree Hill. In the span of a few years I worked on multiple major productions such as Eastbound & Down, NBC's Surface, Cabin Fever 2, The Marc Pease Experience with Ben Stiller and a co starring role in a popular sci-fi web series called IQ-145 along side Thomas Dekker and Paul Johansson. It was a crazy ride that left me a little burnt out, which resulted in me leaving film. I started my own clothing line and currently I am pursuing my graduate degree.

Which all brings me to my return to film after a hiatus. There was something different this time, for the first time I focused on the behind the camera aspect of filmmaking.

After leaving North Carolina I returned home to Texas where I was born but left around age 10. I lived all over the United States but I spent the majority of growing up as a teenager in Orange County California.

Currently residing in Austin Texas, a city which is full of creativity and has a tremendous opportunity to the independent

filmmaker. Austin was always that dream city I would want to live in and, the film aspect of the city was an added bonus. It gave me the drive to return to film with a new found creativity to filmmaking. I had always worked for someone else, acted out someone else's script and held on to someone else's dream.

In 2014 I created "Nitrous" my first film as a director. Throughout that year I also did a pilot called "Going Back". In 2015 came the cornerstone of my filmmaking career so far, "The Name I Know". A dark look into mental illness in such a raw light that has not been explored in film before. The film is very close to me, as I have a close connection to mental illness. Every aspect of the film was done solely on my own. It has produced a self growth and personal solace. It will be released October 13, 2015 on Amazon Instant Video. My newest production "The Rumpelstiltskin Killer" will be released in 2016.

I had an unique approach to becoming a filmmaker, I kind of started backwards in a sense. I was fortunate to work on major productions and watch the process behind the scenes. Now it's my turn to produce pieces that shine beyond the screen. It is a true sign of art to give the audience a piece of your heart left as a stamp on your film.

Travel The Loop, Chicago

The Loop is the central business district of Chicago, bounded by the Chicago River to the north and west, Harrison Street to the south, and Lake Michigan to the east. It contains the tallest members of Chicago's skyline and much of the city's finest architecture, holding within them much of the city's working stiffs; for visitors, it also has the glitzy downtown theater district, and the biggest annual music festivals.

The Loop is the center of Chicago and without a doubt the most iconic section of the city. If you've never been to Chicago,

begin here. Whether on an official architecture cruise along the Chicago River, or an unofficial one along the veritable river of elevated trains, only the most jaded could shake that feeling of awe at the canyons of LaSalle and the cliffs of Michigan Avenue.

Moreover, the Loop contains a world-class collection of public art, in the form of huge street-side statues by many of the 20th century's most famous sculptors.

The Loop initially got its name from the looping route of streetcars that served as the transit hub of early downtown Chicago, but the name has come to be defined by the modern era's looping route of elevated train tracks, serving seven CTA lines, which ensures the continued prominence of the area as the center of Chicago's working

world. Despite the gradual northwards shift in the city's center of gravity and the centrifugal force of suburbanization, all tracks lead here and accordingly the Loop remains the most attractive location in the city for major businesses, and for most of the city's visitors.

On a work day, you won't have to walk around long to realize you are at the center of things. Busy-looking people in suits hurry in and out of tall buildings, major theaters hawk their big-name productions on neon marquees, and every block has a reminder

of a scene from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Dark Knight, or another Chicago movie. The Loop is the United States' second largest central business district, owing largely to its historical position as the financial hub for the Midwest and the modern world's biggest futures market. Many of those suits walking by (as you stand and gape) work for one of four major financial exchanges, the largest of which is the recent merger between the Merc (the Chicago Mercantile Exchange) and the Chicago Board of Trade. The CBoT was the world's first modern futures exchange, set up principally to serve the

needs of the Midwest agriculture market, and along with the other major exchanges in Chicago, pioneered the massive modern derivatives industry. Not too long ago the streets sagged under the enormous profits, as the Merc and CBoT traded over nine million contracts daily, worth over $4.2 trillion. Today's economic outlook has soured, though, and the ranks of those suits have been thinned by layoffs, golden parachuting, and other extreme sports.

Forget work, though — the fun of Millennium Park and the festivals of Grant Park are here, and the Art Institute is fantastic. A walk by the Sears Tower and the Chicago Board of Trade is a requisite Chicago experience, but the Loop is eclipsed by other parts of the city in terms of nightlife, shopping, and dining. Being as it is first and foremost a business district, things shut down when the commuters punch the clock and hop on the train, so even if you have a room at one of the Loop's classic old hotels, don't plan to spend all of your time here — even though

your camera will likely receive no finer workout anywhere else.

In the old days, the Loop was the theater district in Chicago. Few of the originals survived the demolition wave of the 1960s, but most of the ones that did are now part of the Randolph Theater District. The Broadway in Chicago consortium stages big-budget shows there, most of which are in previews before their Broadway debut (hence, the name). Tickets for hot shows are snapped up in droves, so inquire with your hotel concierge about dinner-and-a-show packages.

The Loop is ground zero for Chicago festivals, and the festivals run long and large. Take note of these dates, as hotel reservations will become more difficult to find and prices will rise.

• Saint Patrick's Day Parade. Chicago has a large Irish-American population, and its one that punches above its weight — St Patrick's Day is a huge affair in the Windy City. The

endless parade takes place on Columbus Drive along the Chicago River, which is dyed green for the occasion.

• Gospel Fest. The world's biggest free outdoor gospel festival is in Grant Park! Like the Blues Fest, the performers are a combination of national and local acts.

Chicago has a thriving gospel scene and this is one of the best ways to experience it for the uninitiated.

• Blues Fest, Top national and local blues musicians perform all day long throughout the festival just a couple miles from where modern blues was born. This is the world's

premiere blues festival, and the list of greats who have performed here (like Albert King, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Chuck Berry, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Dixon) gets more impressive each successive year.

Admission is free and the performances are spread out across six stages throughout Grant Park.

• Taste of Chicago, An outdoor showcase of Chicago restaurants, vendors, and performers, plus big name concerts. The specifics of the scheme vary from year to year, but generally, you buy a roll of tickets and then trade in those tickets for beer,

drinks, food, and desserts. It's a great chance to sample the range of Chicago cuisine (at steeper prices). Also a great opportunity to watch Independence Day fireworks from the park and lakefront, but beware: it gets crowded.

• Grant Park Music Festival Chicago is spoiled for free music in the summer — the excellent Grant Park Symphony Orchestra plays in Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion about three times per week June–August, usually W,F Sa. The symphony is hardly the only free show at the Pritzker Pavilion, though, and it's worth walking by on any night around 6:30PM to see if any other

classical, dance, etc. performances are running.

• Lollapalooza, Formerly a traveling tour, Lollapalooza has now found a permanent location in Chicago and grown quite a bit.

It's a massive three day collection of popular and lesser-known national and local rock and hip hop bands.

• Jazz Fest. The great Chicago Jazz Festival was inaugurated in 1974 just weeks after Duke Ellington's death to commemorate his life's work, and has since become one of the world's largest annual jazz festivals, pulling some of the biggest names in the jazz world each year. And this one is free. If you have

the means, you might want to come earlier in the week — there are usually a host of jazz-related events in the run up to the festival. The Magnificent Mile ends at the Chicago River, but there are still more than a few places to shop in the Loop, particularly on and east of State Street. The two landmark department stores that once anchored the area, Marshall Field's and Carson Pirie Scott, are both gone. The Carson's building, designed by Louis Sullivan, is being remodeled to serve as office space. Interior tours are still available through the Chicago Architecture Foundation, though.

The fate of Marshall Field's is a somewhat thornier one. Marshall Field himself was one of the original Chicago aristocracy, and his gorgeous store on State Street defined Chicago retail for several generations. In spite of its ties to Chicago culture and identity, when New York retailer Macy's bought the chain, they announced plans to rebrand all Field's stores as Macy's. Amid shock and uproar (among Chicagoans) and dire warnings (among industry analysts), Macy's executives assured reporters that focus group research had suggested people would, in fact, come to prefer the new brand. Today, sales have plunged, workers have been forced to take a sharp

pay cut, and the interior is like a tomb. Ain't corporate hubris great?

Today, there are a few discount department stores, a few big stores for national chains like Old Navy and H&M, and a few amusingly shady joints on the streets under the elevated tracks.

It's easy to find cheap food during the day — this is where most of Chicago works, so this is where most of Chicago eats lunch.

However, most of those places close when the work day ends, so it's more difficult to keep costs down at night, when it's gourmet

or bust. There's a sizable food court at Ogilvie/Northwestern Station (Canal and Madison) if you're on your way in or out of town.

In general, it's wise to avoid the restaurants right by major tourist attractions (e.g., the Art Institute, Millennium Park, etc.), as the quality of service and food tends to improve with distance from these one-time-visitor hot spots. There are some gems in the Loop, but you should also consider a quick cab ride west to one of downtown Chicago's premiere dining strips in Greektown.

Events

NYFW Brands Around the World

The "A Cosmo Life": Brands Around the World event in honor of New York Fashion Week event took place September 6th, 2015 at 230 Fifth Avenue and it was a huge success. Guests enjoyed scrumptious signature cocktails of 230 Fifth Avenue along with today's hottest music & previewed amazing companies via a pop-up installation.

The entire event was to raise awareness for Stand Up 2 Cancer.

The following brands were featured: +55 Canga: Two lovely ladies - Camila & Bruna - flew in from Brazil to be featured at the event & they made a huge splash with the unique designs that imprint each of the cangas, making it the perfect accessory for women of all types. The brand implements women empowerment while exemplifying that "Brazilianess is to live life". Currently the collection is sold in the US, at Fancy.com.

For more info, visit www.55canga.com.

Scrub Me Coffee: This brand was featured at the event and it's a cruelty free skincare line, that is amazing for everyone's skin type - be it Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter.

Guests loved learning of the brand and experiencing first hand the effects that it created. For more info, visit www.scrubmecoffee.com.

Dafne Collections: Dafne - founder & designer of Dafne Collections - is Mexicanborn from French parents. The brand was created in 2010 DafnĂŠ's line started with the idea of creating elegant and edgy functional jewelry that could be easily put on and removed, which inspired the use of a strong magnetic clasp on all her creations. In only five years, she's

been featured in Miami Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week as well as can purchased in boutiques such as Intermix.

For more info, visit www.dafnejewelry.com.

TribeTats - All guests had the enjoyable pleasure of having a tattoo placed on their body at the event. TribeTats is the highest quality metallic tattoo brand, representing the intersection of jewelry, tattoos and body art. Using only the best materials to create non-toxic body jewelry with a deluxe adhesive that lasts for up to six days, TribeTats is raising the bar in its category. It is also the exclusive provider of perforated sheets for easy separation -- no scissors required -- and Rose Gold designs. For more info, visit www.tribetats.com.