the T zine
fall in..., oct.'17
I N THI S I SSUE spill t h e T 03 list en t o t h is 05 r ead t h is 06 ou t +abou t 07 w at ch t h is 08 dope sh it 09 in f lu en cer 13 t ast em ak er 15 t h in k abou t it 18
spi l l th e T.. . let t er f r om t h e edit or Fall is cool, no pun intended. But I?ve never been a pumpkin spice kinda gal. I?m just a regular, shmegular, degular girl (shout out to Cardi B) who enjoys creamer in her cold brew. Ok, so maybe I?m a different kind of ?regular.? I do love the feel of changes in seasons, slipping on a nice coat, and the imminent holiday season. I don?t think anyone is more excited for Thanksgiving, than I am. With fall in and summer out, I feel a renewed sense of self. Changes are happening all around and within me. Leaves aren?t the only ones showing off and falling out. My 9-5 responsibilities and stresses leave me reevaluating a lot about where I am and where I plan to be. The end of the summer had me glued to work for an insane number of hours, something that was grueling and more so, taught me a lot about myself. Furthermore, the last few months of the year provide an added pressure to the short and long-term goals that I?ve already set in place. I do the occasional check in with myself and make sure I?m on pace. This all sounds a lot heavier than what I intend it to be. I want this issue to represent changes. For me, it?s all about bettering myself, however small or significant that may be. Fall in means falling in love with who I am. Taking any stresses and looking at them as blessings. Borrowing AA?s fundamentals and taking things ?one day at a time.? Holding myself accountable if I?m not meeting the standards that I set for myself and also welcoming the transformation. Just as the leaves change into beautiful colors only to fall and be crumbled beneath our feet, so do we as people as we go through the motions. But the beautiful part of all of this is that we continue the process as the seasons change.
@m st if f alexan dr a f ou n der / edit or -in -ch ief 03
l i sten to th i s.. . Jh en e Aik o: Tr ip I came to know and love Jhene Aiko?s music from her Grammy-nominated EP, Sail Out in 2013. It was a total of 7 perfectly executed tracks. Her mellow, sweet voice effortlessly carrying you from tune to tune. Her vocals are coy, yet she?s mastered lyrical directness. Listen to ?Bed Peace? and her simplistic demands are spot-on. Sail Out, Souled Out and now Trip hone in on peace, love, loss and spiritual enlightenment. An emphasis on healing, stands out in Trip. The 22-track journey carries a theme of self-discovery, too. This healing, comes from coping with the loss of her brother Miyagi to an inoperable brain tumor in 2012 when he was 26 years old. She was also healing a broken heart from her short-lived marriage of 2 years. She?s since started seeing, rapper Big Sean. It?s clear that the narrative of pain, self-love and letting go are all driven by Aiko?s experiences and can be heard throughout Trip. The highs and lows inspire a full ambiance. Heavily highlighting the use of drugs as she struggles to accept loss on ?LSD,? ?Sativa,? ?Bad Trip,? and ?Oblivion.? The songs are hazy and dreamlike, on a bed of light beats. Trip, is just that, a trip. Aiko is growing and evolving and she?s taken us on this wild ride with her. This has to be her most explorative work and it helps us connect to her inner most emotions. The body of music is consistent with the easy vibe that she?s always exuded. Press play and get lost in the psychedelic soul wave Aiko has delivered to you.
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read th i s.. . F* ck Th at 's Deliciou s Action Bronson and I share the same of love of hip hop and food. I would probably enjoy food more if I didn?t have this faulty gall bladder, but I?ll live vicariously through Mr. Bronson?s delicious eats. He?s a chef turned rapper when he broke his leg in the kitchen. Brilliant, if you ask me. Listen to his lyrics and you?ll hear a slew of gourmet references along with his signature, outlandish bravado. Action hosts, F* ck, That?s Delicious on Viceland, the cooler version of the Anthony Bourdain travelogue show. No offence, Mr. Bourdain. His run actually started as a webseries, which I shamelessly binge watched. On F* ck, he travels the world with his outrageously funny squad. The chemistry between Alchemist, Big Body Bes, and Meyhem Lauren is effortlessly entertaining. They sample foods, show you different trends and cultures, and Action cooks with renowned chefs. This is all while on an epic, world tour. Now with the great success of that show he?s publishing a cookbook-memoir: F* ck That's Delicious: An Annotated Guide To Eating Well. To me: F* ck, That?s Dope. The book mixes recipes and Action?s personal memories. You can see the broad range of Bronson's taste when he can feature a Taco Bell item and then talk about natural wines. Wild! In the book, you can also find art, illustrations, food and backstage photography, storyboards from Bronson's music videos and scans of handwritten lyrics. He got a little help from food writer Rachel Wharton, who will serve as a co-writer. The foreword is written by renowned chef, Mario Batali. Their friendship/mentorship is seen on one of the episodes of Bronson?s show, and it?s clear that they share a bond much deeper than a mutual love of food. Bronson has become one of the internet?s most entertaining food personalities? and his book delivers just as much loud enthusiasm for eating fucking delicious. When asked about the book Action is quoted, ?This book is everything, it's like a journal of my life.? He?s delivered his vision loud and clear. This book isn?t just one to keep on your coffee table, it?s one to digest from beginning to end.
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out+about.. . Jack 's Wif e Fr eda/ Th e Or igin als Recently, I hosted an event for my 9-5. In previous jobs, I never had to schmooze with clients more than what I did there. That experience made me believe that the devil created small-talk and networking. But from that I met interesting, smart, and talented people. I hit it off with one person in particular, exchanged numbers and a few weeks ago went to dinner and dancing. I know what you?re thinking? Before you get any ideas, this person is a successful, bright, woman. (heavy side eye) Our original plan was to go to CafĂŠ Habana in Soho and then dance at Cielo, but day of, she decided to switch it up and suggested Jack?s Wife Freda in the West Vill?. All of me got even more excited partly because I had already been to CafĂŠ Habana and have always wanted to try Jack?s Wife Freda. On top of all that excitement, I had to decide between 2 equally dope birthday dresses that never saw the light of night. The shimmery of the two won the battle. Nike?s on my feet for the dancing part of the night and my confident, sassy butt boogied downtown.
I arrived a bit early, after an eventful, but easy Uber pool ride. My initial feel was how warm and inviting the place felt. I didn?t expect the lovely food smells that filled the air. The staff wears a uniform of a black and white stripe t-shirt and dark bottoms. I sat bar-side where my bartender looked like a 70s British punk rocker. There?s a booth and table choice. Raise your hand if you love booths. [raises hand] My lovely companion arrived and she just happens to be a Brit babe. Only a few years older than me, a happily dating, boss-ass bitch. We started with the roasted cauliflower. To put it simply, it is divine. Vodka sodas helped wash it down. The main course for me was the daily pasta and hers was the vegetable chutney. Both equally good. Somehow, we made room for their number one dessert: Malva Pudding. Best. Dessert. Hands. Down. In between bites we talked about anything and everything. Relationships, goals, our respective families, and on and on. The energy she exudes is golden. She gave me sound advice about 07
a few things that have been plaguing me. Her perspective was fresh and thought-provoking. I came out of it feeling renewed. No time for photos or distractions, signs of a great meal. But I?m also kicking myself because documenting my highs has been a priority lately. The walk to Cielo for The Originals monthly shindig was a nice one. We walked past town houses and chic, off the beaten path restaurants. There was a Joakim Noah citing, too. He?s one tall mofo. We stopped at Serafina for a quick drink and then made our way over to shake what our mama gave us. Cielo was just what I needed. Old and semi-new school hip hop that triggers something in you that feels nothing short of blissful nostalgia. We danced, laughed and people-watched for hours. It was an effortless night and I?m sure there will be plenty more to come.
w atch th i s.. . Lady Gaga's: Five Foot Tw o Last night, in my very cozy, hotel room I watched Lady Gaga?s Netflix documentary, Gaga: Five Foot Two. I?m not sure if it was the three vodka sodas that I had at dinner or slight homesickness, but I cried. A lot. She made herself vulnerable, yet strong and resilient. The perfect formula for any woman in the entertainment industry. She demonstrated a candor unlike many can, when speaking of all her insecurities, an injury and coping by hiding behind her bizarre costumes. Her honesty went as far as speaking of her heartbreak, most recently the dissolution of her engagement. Admittedly, I?m not a Gaga stan or Little Monster as she calls them, but this documentary humanizes Gaga?s celebrity. I never quite understood her need to wear outrageous get-ups. Need I remind you of the ?meat dress?? She explains how the male dominated music industry has a gross sexual expectation of female artists, and that her unique looks were her way of staying in control. Even if it was only a miniscule way, it was her way. Also, Gaga speaks of hiding behind those looks because she was never fully confident in her singing voice. They served as the perfect distraction that set her apart, but it?s something that hindered her. In this documentary, Gaga strips herself of the ridiculous persona that made her a megastar. You see her tell her team that in the release of her new album (Joanne) her look will be of a basic black t-shirt and denim. A costume, that?s a far, far, cry from her meat dress days. Apprehensive, she tries to convince herself by saying that her ?true? fans will grow with her in this stripped version of Gaga 2.0. This raw version of her doesn?t allow for any distractions. Finally, she?s confident in who she has become as an artist and a woman and isn?t afraid to show it.
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As the film progresses her openness gets magnified from the pain of a hip injury she suffered while on tour. I watched in almost equal agony as she dealt with pains from what we know now is fibromyalgia. A chronic, incurable disorder characterized by muscle pain and tenderness, fatigue, altered sleep, memory, and mood. Also, Gaga openly speaks of suffering from debilitating pain as a result of depression and stress. It?s a lot to watch, she openly voices she's privileged to have so many people trying to treat her pain but doesn?t understand how people in similar situations without the resources are surviving. She can, if anything, shed light to those suffering from the same disorder about how to cope. So, Gaga put me in an introspective mode. Especially, as a confident, successful woman navigating relationships. She says something about shedding insecurities, being in a different time in her life and how she?s exhausted the bullshit threshold she had when dealing with men. That spoke volumes to me. Her breakups usually came after huge milestones in her career. It?s almost as if she needed to shrink herself, shrink her successes to sustain a relationship. You see her still struggling to come out of that, but with visible optimism. It?s unfortunate that most women go through that in relationships. Gaga rises up out of that heart wrenching reality and delivers beautiful music. The lyrics to ?Million Reasons? speak of a relationship based on a cycle of toxicity while in ?Perfect Illusion? she mistakes modern ecstasy a.k.a. lust for love. Her emotional pain is pure and deep rooted. This version of Gaga is the rawest an uncut. There?s no need to hide behind a costume. Undoubtedly, she will resonate with fans old and new because of how genuine she is. Here?s to every inch of the Five Foot Two that is Lady Gaga.
dope sh i t.. . Jacob Lew is Galler y/ by CHLOE I?ve accrued much needed extra time off since a recent event at work. A couple of days here and there are being used for discovering art galleries and eats. Two of my utter favorite past times. I?m lucky enough to have friends who share the same interests, have coinciding schedules, and gladly accompany me on these little adventures.
and they?re blowin? in the wind. For me, the key piece is the two-canvas painting featuring the words ?us? and ?them,? on a background of black and white that looks like an ant farm. The pieces are seemingly identical which begs you to consider the synthesis between ?us and them.? It?s a visual language open to all contexts.
No thanks to global warming, the days that I took off happened to be uncharacteristically warm for October. No complaints. The latest art gallery I discovered while scrolling through Instagram is the Lewis Jacob Gallery in Chelsea. If have to know anything about Chelsea is that art is super prevalent there. My friend happens to live a couple of short blocks from the said gallery and we were pleasantly surprised that the building housed five floors of art. My inner art fiend was giddy with excitement.
Wandering through the Benrubi Gallery I was taken by Matthew Pillsbury?s photography in Sanctuary. Urban environments, museums, beaches and parades are scenes depicted throughout the exhibition. He was able to capture an intimate moment of a woman reading the anti-Trump messages written on a wall of Post-Its in the Union Square subway station. Pillsbury uses the long exposure technique in his photography. It?s almost as if he?s capturing magic with every shot. The integrity in forward momentum is maintained perfectly between each individual piece.
We boarded the elevator to the top and slowly made our way through, around and down every floor. Josh Reames is the featured artist at the Jacob Lewis Gallery (September 15-October 21). The exhibition is called the ants are my friends
A roam around these art pieces in an empty gallery, where you can literally hear a pin drop, was an epic experience. The juxtaposition of a howling city a mere elevator down and out was enough to feel like a small escape. I?m used to the busy 09
museums, buzzing with long lines and loud patrons. Usually, having to wait your turn to really embrace a beautiful piece. Feeling slightly spoiled. l can?t sign off without letting you guys know about the ?eats? part of this outing. We went to plant-based food spot by CHLOE, the Flatiron location. It?s a chef-driven vegan menu that features locally-sourced ingredients, made daily. Doesn?t hurt that the place is an Instagram-able heaven, with a bench neatly placed out front and a sweet swing inside. Just in case you want to get your swing on after your guac? burger. It was delicious! They serve adult bevs, because you know us health conscious folks love our buzzes, too. But we opted for virgin drinks with lunch. Shocked? Me, too. If this day doesn?t sound like the best day to you, let me assure you that it was. Side note, there were a few adult bevs enjoyed on the rooftop of my friends Chelsea apartment on the most gorgeous of summerish-fall evenings. Perfect way to round out what was a needed escape from reality.
Josh Reames
Matthew Pillsbury
.. . Pan dor a M ixt ape M ixer / 205 One of the best things about me is my Latino heritage. The food, music, culture, everything. I?m not one of those people that turns down their nose on being called Hispanic. If you do enough research, you will come to find out that ?Hispanic? can be a point of reference to persons of Spanish-speaking origin or ancestry. Generally, ?Latino? is referred to anyone of Latin American origin or ancestry, including Brazilians. National Hispanic Heritage Month was observed September 15-October 15 and Pandora NYC kicked off an awesome event called the Pandora Mixtape Mixer to celebrate it. Pandora, powered by the Music Genome Project, gives you personalized radio that allows you to browse through hundreds of curated genre stations. I?ve never used it personally, but some of my friends are users and I?m a music junkie so the invite was much appreciated (thank you, Erika Star!). Also, I jump at the chance to be be part of a diverse group of successful, creatives. There are always great conversations to be had when picking the brains of directors, junior associates, and even assistants with a similar background. This event didn?t disappoint. This mixer was held at Pandora NYC's super cool office. The music was being played by Pandora associates who moonlight as DJs and they kept the music vibe flowing. Multiple coolers held booze to keep you buzzed enough to schmooze responsibly. I met some fellow New Jersey natives, which always makes me happy. My girls enjoyed the event equally and we?re hoping to get an invite for future ones. After the mixer we made our way down to the lower east side where a good friend was celebrating his birthday at 205 Club. You have to descend steps and pass a red neon sign that reads: lie to me and tell me you love me. It?s the perfect post for your IG story, you?re welcome. A friend of mine, spins on Wednesday nights, which made the night more enjoyable. He plays the perfect mix of hip hop and other genres seamlessly. The night wrapped up after a few group shots and shaking of the booty. My only gripe of the night was not being able to stay out longer, because I?m not a spring-chicken anymore.
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.. . Caf e Bu st elo Pop-u p Sh op I. Love. Coffee. Always have and always will. Nothing compares to Cafe Bustelo. The century old company hosted the cutest pop-up shop for a weekend in lower Manhattan. There, we came to find out that Cafe Bustelo was born in the Bronx when Gregorio Bustelo birthed it. They served complimentary coffee accompanied by live art, music, and dancing. We went on the first day toward the end of the afternoon. Thankfully, the place wasn't packed and it served us nicely. The staff was so sweet! Take a look at a few flicks I captured.. .
i nf l uencer.. . @r on n ief ieg Imagine turning your first job at 13 years old into a retail streetwear empire? Unimaginable, but it?s Ronnie Fieg?s truth. He started as a teenage stock boy for David Z., a New York City shoe store founded in 1983 by David Zaken, Fieg?s second cousin. Zaken was that cousin that would slip hundred-dollar bills into Fieg?s pocket at parties, leaving an impressionable mark on the youngster. At 13, that train ride from Jamaica, Queens to Manhattan was a positive trigger for his eager mind. At 25, Fieg climbed the ladder to head buyer and managed David Z.?s special make-ups (SMUs) ? product collaborations between the store and other brands. His biggest break came when he released three different sneaker colorways of the Asics Gel-Lyte III from the Japanese athletic equipment brand Asics. The release was of 252 pairs; one was available in David Z. stores, another on the website and the last was released at a party with culture magazine Complex. Marketing genius. One of the sneakers ended up on the cover of The Wall Street Journal and sold out in a day. The rest is footwear collaboration history. Surprisingly, and maybe evening humbling, is Fieg?s stance to work with unexpected brands like Sebago and Red Wing. Both relatively unknown within the sneaker-head, hype-induced streetwear culture. It?s interesting to see his confidence in wanting to bring his talent to underdog brands and make it profitable, while being so young. He based the collaborations on quality not necessarily popularity. Not long thereafter, that hustle gave him leeway to start his own brand. Fieg left David Z. to launch his own brand when he was 28 years old. He found a partner in Sam Ben-Avraham, owner of SoHo clothing boutique Atrium, founder of PROJECT tradeshow, and owner of the Liberty Fairs tradeshow. The partnership was able to invest enough for two locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. In 2011, the first Kith store opened in the back of Atrium locations. A modest start, for the extravagant build-outs that Fieg has now. Kith means ?kith and kin,? an archaic Scottish term that loosely translates as ?friends and family? and ?to make known.? The brands motto is ?Just Us,? an ethos that describes Fieg?s inner circle. Fieg says, ?I?ve always felt like my friends are my family.? This can be seen from his recent wedding in Israel to longtime girlfriend, Shira Yaakov, where his partner Ben-Avraham, served as best man. Tommy Hilfiger designed the tuxes for the gentlemen and Fieg had custom, black Nike blazers to round out the fit. White Air Force 1 lows were designed for the bridal party. Further details can be seen in a beautiful feature done by Vogue.
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Fieg has matured and grown his brand astronomically. His in-house apparel line launched in 2012 after he personalized a pair of Atrium camo, cargo pants. The apparel line grew from capsule collections until Kith Classics launched and made it an official basic clothing and accessories label. Kith Classics are sold instore and online and is joined by labels like New Era, Off-White, Fear of God, New Balance and Adidas. He attributes the apparel business success to a maturing streetwear consumer who is in the market for more than just shoes. If you haven?t visited one of his stores, you should. The Brooklyn store, redesigned by Snarkitecture, boasts a display of about 750 white cast Air Jordan 2 sneakers suspended in mid-air, same as the Manhattan location. Fieg started Kith Treats to cater to his teenage customers. He knows that this younger demographic might not be able to purchase items regularly. So, they can browse and hang out for a few hours at Kith Treats. Take a few pics for the ?gram or Snapchat and Kith can have customer-generated promo across social media platforms. Brilliant. I?m a devout ally of the Kith movement. Growing my collection slowly. There?s no denying the dope, frenzy-inducing pieces alongside the fantastic everyday basics. Fieg master ?s inclusivity while maintaining a fresh perspective. It shows in his collaborations. His latest presentation for SS18 was full of partnerships, at least 15 of them. Companies like Disney, Champion, Moncler and even Chase are on board with Kith. Are you impressed? Clearly, Fieg has made a mark in the athleisure movement with Kith that isn?t going anywhere.
tastemak er.. . @em ilyw w eiss Emily Weiss grabbed my attention eons ago as the ?mean girl, super intern? on MTV?s The Hills. She upstaged Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port at the Teen Vogue offices with her nonchalant intelligence. It?s no surprise that years later she became a CEO. She founded Glossier, a multi-million-dollar skincare and beauty empire. Well, Weiss started the beauty blog Into the Gloss in 2010, which quickly developed a cult-following, then birthed Glossier. Either way she has turned her passion into a movement of inclusivity and awareness of beauty for the masses. As an avid, excitable beauty customer, Weiss?story brings me such satisfaction. She?s using something so vain, such as makeup, and turning it into what I always believed makeup to be, a form of self-expression. I don?t care how ?natural? you claim to be, put some mascara and lip gloss on and I?m sure you?ll quickly start ?feeling yourself.? Weiss and I share commonalities in that we did our friends?makeup as young girls. I still do it to this day. Sharing tips and tricks as we go, simply to help them see this isn?t rocket science. There is nothing better than enhancing someone?s features and seeing them smile a little brighter. Weiss is quoted as saying, ?getting people to think a bit differently about beauty is very important to me.? She?s creating a culture that doesn?t just tell people what to use but engaging with her customer in ways to help improve, impact and enhance her daily routine. You get a sense of urgency and responsibility to her customer from the need to create lasting, innovative products. It?s a collaborative effort in many ways and it shows with their continued success. Weiss and her team are sustaining their global appeal through inclusivity and quality products and will continue to be an unstoppable force.
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th i nk about i t.. . self -love People say that the older you get the more you ?love? yourself. It?s true. Finally, I think I?ve become one of those ?people.? I stopped making excuses for self-love. Forgetting the misconceptions that self-love can be narcissistic and selfish. Trust me it can be all that and more. Especially, in this social media driven, selfie-posting, world that we live in. But that?s an entirely different monster that I choose not to face at this moment. In the meantime, sit down, be humble. Thank you, Kendrick Lamar. Unfortunately, or fortunately(?), the rode to self-love isn?t paved with unicorns and rainbows. Yet, you only hear of this journey to self-love painted in glitter and warm sunshine. As if once discovered, all will be right with the world and yourself. This shit is a lot messier than that. No one speaks of the tear-soaked pillows, daily effort and energy it takes to get to the through the journey. Never mind the annoying amount of discipline and consistency needed to stay the course. Falling in love with yourself, as clichĂŠ as it sounds, should be a priority. You love your family, friends, that Drake album. So, why is it so difficult to find love within? We forget to love our lives because it?s easier to focus on the all-consuming flaws, disappointments, stresses. Looking for approval beyond ourselves instead of internally. It isn?t easy to embrace the negative aspects of who we are, but it?ll help in the process of growth. Those negative traits shape us. Get uncomfortable, remember? Above all, self-love is incredibly demanding. To change and grow the relationship you?ve tried to build with yourself past your insecurity-ridden teens and twenties requires effort. The familiarity found in sadness and disappointment is natural. Both take no effort and all the effort. Some of us dismiss the idea of building confidence in fear of failing ourselves. But you have to take care of yourself. Whether it?s with writing, yoga, therapy. Nobody, said it?s going to be easy, but you have to try.
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Yes, love yourself. But also, analyze and be critical of how you think, act, and behave. Self-love without self-awareness is useless. Be accountable.
th eTzi ne
getth eTzi ne
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