After dinner hangout spot…The Library, named for the building’s original use as the Astor Library, is a central element of the mezzanine level of our landmark building’s downtown home at Astor Place. Open late nightly for dinner and cocktail service, the hidden away supper club plays dinner bar, watering hole or backstage lounge to downtown […]
Author Archives: Layla
May
06
ROBATAYA DINNER
posted by Layla
At Robataya NY, where festive meets intimate, we pair oganic, local ingredients with their select Japanese counterparts. Originating in the Sendai region of Japan, Robatayaki is a traditional Japanese barbecue where fresh seafood, savory meats and seasonal vegetables are grilled before you over an open hearth. POSSE PHOTOS:
May
06
ARENA GALLERY: WORLDWIDE ART FEDERATION PRESS CONFERENCE – FABIAN WILLIAMS
posted by Layla
POSSE PHOTOS:
May
06
TENEMENT MUSEUM: MEET VICTORIA CONFINO
posted by Layla
Drop in on 14-year-old Victoria Confino, who lived in the tenement in 1916, to hear about the immigrant experience in a more intimate setting. Tour her apartment, ask her questions about her life, and get a unique perspective on adjusting to life on the Lower East Side. POSSE PHOTOS:
May
05
MET OPERA TRIP: DINNER AT THE GRAND TIER
posted by Layla
The Grand Tier Restaurant and Revlon Bar are located on the Met’s Grand Tier level. Both locations are open two hours before every performance, in an atmosphere highlighted by spectacular chandeliers and original masterpieces by Marc Chagall. TEXT: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera
May
05
MET OPERA LIVE: DER ROSENKAVALIER
posted by Layla
The dream cast of Renée Fleming as the Marschallin and Elīna Garanča as Octavian star in Strauss’s grandest opera. In his new production, Robert Carsen, the director behind the Met’s recent Falstaff, places the action at the end of the Habsburg Empire, underscoring the opera’s subtext of class and conflict against a rich backdrop of gilt […]
May
05
CELEBRATING MS. JUDITH
posted by Layla
Ms. Judith was KAOP’s greatest champion. We took her to surprise club lunch at Bergdorf Goodman to celebrate her and her retirement. She was our main Met Opera contact for the past 5 years. We will miss her so much. POSSE PHOTOS:
May
04
MEETING WITH MR. PETER GELB
posted by Layla
It was an honor to sit down with Mr. Gelb to talk about opera. PHOTOS:
May
02
ATLANTA OPERA: TURANDOT
posted by Layla
Puccini’s epic tale centers around the Princess Turandot, who decapitates each suitor who fails to answer her riddles. Calaf falls in love with the ruthless Princess and heroically wins her ghastly game. Shockingly, Calaf proposes his own riddle to the Princess and puts his love and life in the hands of Turandot. Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova, […]
April
29
JACKSON FINE ART: MATTHEW BRANDT 1864
posted by Layla
Work by Matthew Brandt is in the permanent collections of Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles; Brooklyn Museum, New York; and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, among others. Matthew Brandt was one of seven artists featured in the 2015 exhibition at […]
April
29
COLONY SQUARE: LETTERS OF MIDTOWN
posted by Layla
“The 8-feet tall letters, a collaboration between North American Properties (NAP), Midtown Alliance and Rick Sheppard of MacroTek, are designed to establish a sense of place and build awareness of the Midtown brand as the cultural core of the city.” – The Atlanta Journal Constitution “Curious about those giant, colorful “MIDTOWN” letters in the heart of, […]
April
29
JACKSON FINE ART: RUUD VAN EMPEL EXHIBITION & ARTIST TALK
posted by Layla
FRI APR 28 2017 — SAT JUL 1 2017 Rudd van Empel (Dutch, b. November 21, 1958) is an artist from Breda, The Netherlands, best known for his work in the field of visual arts. Trained as a graphic designer, van Empel is known for using Photoshop and other computer programs in his works. He […]
April
26
ARTS ATL ARTICLE
posted by Layla
ArtsATL is a non-profit organization that promotes a healthy and vibrant arts community in metro Atlanta. We do this by providing a combination of thoughtful, critical analysis, news resources, commentary, programming and in-depth features of the city’s vibrant arts scene across all disciplines – visual art, design, music, dance, theater, books and film. TEXT: Courtesy of […]
April
22
MET OPERA LIVE IN HD: EUGENE ONEGIN
posted by Layla
Tchaikovsky’s setting of Pushkin’s timeless verse novel is presented on the Met stage in Deborah Warner’s moving production, starring Anna Netrebko and Dmitri Hvorostovsky as Tatiana and Onegin. Alexey Dolgov sings the role of Lenski, and Robin Ticciati conducts. TEXT: Courtesy of The Metropolitan Opera VIDEOS: PHOTOS: VIDEOS: POSSE PHOTOS:
April
22
MARCH FOR SCIENCE: PROTEST ART
posted by Layla
You know how much I love Protest art.., PHOTOS:
April
06
STACY PITMAN: IB ART EXHIBITION
posted by Layla
CURATORIAL RELEVANCE FROM THE ARTIST: I believe that my artwork is not politically motivated or culturally eye catching; my pieces are meant to appeal to the human senses and heighten the experience. The works I have chosen “Mann in Blau” and “Waterlilies” fall into this realm. I wanted to create pieces that show depth in […]
April
06
FABIAN WILLIAMS NEW STUDIO DRIVE-BY & STRATEGY SESSION FOR WAF ART FEDERATION ART BATTLE
posted by Layla
Stopped by to check out Fabian’s new studio space and have a chat about the WAF Art Battle taking place this month. I needed to understand my role- I’m so excited! POSSE VIDEO: POSSE PHOTOS:
April
03
IL VOLO: NOTTE MAGICA TOUR
posted by Layla
Italian operatic trio Il Volo has taken flight across the United States with their largest, most intricate tour to date, hitting 15 shows in just over a month selling out New York, Washington, Mashantucket, Chicago, San José, Tampa, Miami and Atlanta. Il Volo started their US tour with a sold-out performance at New York’s Radio City Music […]
April
02
ATLANTA OPERA: DON PASQUALE
posted by Layla
In this modern production from director Chuck Hudson set in the golden era of Hollywood, Don Pasquale is an aging silent film star at the sunset of his career. Our protagonist sets off to find a wife and heir to his fortune. He gets hitched to the devious Norina, a widowed gold digger who conspires with Ernesto, […]
March
29
MET OPERA LIVE IN HD: IDOMENEO
posted by Layla
Mozart’s first operatic masterpiece returns to the Met in the classic Jean-Pierre Ponnelle production, conducted by Music Director Emeritus James Levine. The superb ensemble includes Matthew Polenzani as the king torn by a rash vow; mezzo-soprano Alice Coote in the trouser role of his noble son Idamante; soprano Nadine Sierra as Ilia; and soprano Elza […]
March
17
DINNER WITH AYANA V. JACKSON
posted by Layla
Great dinner at Char Korean where we were able to just hang out, talk about Ayana’s journey as a photographer, her process and just life in general. An awesome night! POSSE PHOTOS:
March
17
NBAF: ARTIST TALK: PAUL BENJAMIN & AYANA V. JACKSON AT THE ARNIKA DAWNS GALLERY
posted by Layla
FA+F Artists In Conversation By National Black Arts Festival FRIDAY, MARCH 17 20176:00 PM — 8:00 PM ABOUT NBAF and Arnika Dawkins Gallery host “A Conversation with Artists”, Ayana V. Jackson and Paul Stephen Benjamin. NBAF’s Fine Art+Fashion 2017 Visual Artists Awardees. Ayana V. Jackson is a critically acclaimed international artist whose work seeks to crystallize the experience of contemporary Africa […]
March
17
THE HIGH: DANIEL ARSHAM: HOURGLASS
posted by Layla
This exhibition continues artist Daniel Arsham’s (American, born 1980) ongoing project Fictional Archaeologies, in which he creates replicas of everyday objects—such as basketballs and cameras—in precious and semi-precious stones. The objects become fossils, remnants of our present seen through the eyes of a future researcher. Hourglass comprises three related, site-specific installations, each infused with mythology and striking […]
March
17
THE HIGH: RISING UP: HALE WOODRUFF MURALS AT TALLADEGA COLLEGE
posted by Layla
Rising Up: Hale Woodruff’s Murals at Talladega College In 1938 Atlanta-based artist Hale Woodruff was commissioned to paint a series of murals for Talladega College, Alabama, one of the first colleges established for blacks in the United States. Installed in the institution’s newly constructed Savery Library, the six murals portray noteworthy events in the rise of […]
March
16
NBAF FINE ART + FASHION 2017 @ NEIMAN MARCUS
posted by Layla
FASHION SHOW VIDEO: POSSE PHOTOS:
March
11
MET OPERA LIVE IN HD: LA TRAVIATA
posted by Layla
Sonya Yoncheva sings one of opera’s most beloved heroines, the tragic courtesan Violetta, a role in which she triumphed on the Met stage in 2015, opposite Michael Fabiano as her lover, Alfredo, and Thomas Hampson as his father, Germont. Carmen Giannattasio sings later performances of the title role opposite Atalla Ayan, with the great Plácido […]
March
10
HIGH MUSEUM: TEEN NIGHT / DANIEL ARSHAM EXHIBITION
posted by Layla
I went to see if the sound had been fixed in the exhibition and discovered that tonight was Teen Night. The museum was full of teens with more and more arriving in waves. There were activities, music and a live DJ on the piazza. It was way too noisy for me- so I just checked […]
March
09
MA VIE DE COURGETTE, 2017 OSCAR ANIMATED SHORTS & THE RED TURTLE
posted by Layla
POSSE PHOTOS:
March
07
DANIEL ARSHAM STUDIO VISIT
posted by Layla
I took Daniel & Meghan up on the offer to visit Daniel’s studio when I was in NYC to see the behind the scenes of the artwork process. POSSE PHOTOS:
March
04
WERTHER BACKSTAGE MEET & GREET
posted by Layla
This performance was incredible! I sat front row center, then Cory met us to escort us backstage to meet Vittorio & Isabel. Vittorio was incredible- he drew me a picture, signed my program, took selfies with my mom and I and gave us hugs! On the way out of the opera house, he motioned me […]
March
04
THE MET OPERA: WERTHER
posted by Layla
After a crazy week- we flew to NYC and went directly to The Met Opera to see Werther with Isabel Leonard & Vittorio Grigolo! What a performance! POSSE PHOTOS:
February
28
DANIEL ARSHAM PRIVATE TOUR DURING INSTALLATION & VOICE OVER
posted by Layla
A total surprise- a request from The High Museum to record the voice over for the new Daniel Arsham exhibition that will be on a loop for the entire 3 months of the exhibition. The journey started with a private walkthru of the installation and explanation of the work with Daniel to understand the tone, […]
February
25
MET OPERA LIVE IN HD: RUSALKA
posted by Layla
UKristine Opolais stars in the role that helped launch her international career, the mythical Rusalka, who sings the haunting “Song to the Moon.” Mary Zimmerman brings her wondrous theatrical imagination to Dvořák’s fairytale of love and longing, rejection and redemption. Brandon Jovanovich, Jamie Barton, Katarina Dalayman, and Eric Owens complete the all-star cast, and Mark […]
February
22
GEORGE HARTLEY ART CAR
posted by Layla
Art moment on the way to school- we drove up alongside this super snazzy car – rolled down the windows and started chatting at the light. Pulled into a parking lot in the pouring rain on the way to get a closer look- met George Hartley- a local folk artist and checked out his car! […]
February
17
THE HIGH: CROSS COUNTRY: THE POWER OF PLACE IN AMERICAN ART 1915-1950
posted by Layla
During the first half of the twentieth century, the relationship between American artists and their native land changed dramatically. While travel and study in Europe remained a priority, many American artists also felt newly compelled by their national surroundings. Life in the big city, with its bustling crowds and towering skyscrapers, is widely recognized as […]
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