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Check out the latest video on Flash Mag’s Youtube Page! This video comes with closed captioning.

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Warm Quinoa Bowl With Butternut Squash

by Bella Oliveira

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 45 minutes 

Serving Size: 2 to 3 (toppings are measured for 1 serving) 

Ingredients:

Olive oil or coconut oil

1 bushel of kale (chopped)

½ cup of yellow onion (diced)

2 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 cup of white quinoa (makes 3 cups cooked)

2 cups of water or low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 medium-sized butternut squash (peeled & cubed)

½ of a ripe avocado (sliced for topping)

1 egg (for topping)

pinch of salt & pepper for seasoning

pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions:

Start off by preheating your oven to 400゜F and peeling the butternut squash. Cut the squash in half, longways, and use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds (Save the seeds to roast later on for a tasty snack and salad topping!) Cut the squash into 1-inch cubes then toss in salt, pepper, two tablespoons of olive oil or coconut oil, and a pinch of red pepper flakes (if you want a bit of a kick). Arrange the seasoned squash cubes evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes until tender and lightly browned.

While you’re waiting for the squash to roast, start on the quinoa! Rinse and drain the quinoa in a pot, then add in the two cups of water (or broth of your choosing) and bring to a rolling boil. Lower the heat and cook, covered, for 15 minutes. Turn heat down to the lowest setting. Cover and cook for additional 15 minutes. Then remove the pot from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.

Heat olive oil or coconut oil in a pan and toss in the diced onion. Let the onions cook until translucent, then add in the minced garlic and kale. Sauté until the kale is wilted and the onions are golden brown. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. (Add red pepper flakes here too for more spice!)

In a large bowl, add the quinoa, kale and onion mixture, and squash and mix together gently. Then portion out the amount you would like in a smaller bowl.

Fry up an egg any style (over-easy is the best for runny yolk) and place the sliced avocado on top and BOOM you’re finished! A warm quinoa bowl perfect for fall weather!

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The Tavi Tagsale

By Sophie Guimaraes

“Hey…,” I say to Tavi Gevinson. I’m unsure of how to pronounce her first name and my head is crowned with a tangled mess of hair. My nose is running from both the cold and a cold. Perhaps the wind has lifted my dress in the back and perhaps I’m flashing all of Brooklyn, but all of that can be overlooked. I am having a casual and jocular conversation with the young woman Janet Mock deemed “queen of millennials.” I maintain laser-like focus on the pair of pretty eyes in front of me and try my hardest not to stare at her ultra-cool boots. Both are green.

Fashion wunderkind, magazine editor, and writer Tavi Gevinson hosted a tag sale this past weekend and all proceeds went to Housing Works. Naturally, I took the C train all the way to Brooklyn with FLASH Mag’s creative director, Emma Childs, and together we raided unwanted clothes from the closets of Tavi and her friends.

Tavi Gevinson is a significant figure in a number of ways. First and foremost, she was a member of the first generation of fashion bloggers with her blog, The Style Rookie.

The first photo I ever saw of Tavi. It was in an issue of Teen Vogue from somewhere around the turn of the decade. I was instantly confused—and fascinated.

A decade ago, the now-prolific pastime of fashion blogging had no precedent, and the movers and shakers of the day—Jane Aldridge and BryanBoy, to name a few—were forging a new path in the digital world. Enter Tavi, who at 11 years old made a name for herself by dressing like a grandma. Well, a grandma only sometimes: she really just wore whatever she wanted and had fun with the idea of dressing herself (I mean, have you ever heard of someone fashioning a belt out of measuring tape?). She quickly became well-known for her creative, unusual, and witty sense of style. Fast forward to 2011: after she blew up as a fashion blogger, Tavi founded Rookie Magazine, a publication that publishes art of all kinds created by and for teenagers. She achieved all of this before turning her ripe current age of 21. But what makes her success truly striking is her intelligence, which is only bolstered by her consciousness of the culture around her and the way in which she impacts it (examples here, here, and here). And she’s kind.

A caption from 2010 (age 13): “I was told I look like an Oompa Loompa during lunch and it made my day increasingly better.” What other 13-year-old would say that?

So let’s talk about these clothes.

Each rack was an explosion of color and texture, featuring fleecy cyan jackets, purple fur coats, scratchy gold pants, and plastic-y black shirts. There were too many sequined and beaded pieces for my own good and loud patterns abound.

One of my favorite pieces was an 80’s-style windbreaker dashed with white, silver, gray, and gold; it vaguely reminded me of a Japanese woodblock print. I also liked a tube skirt that was shrouded in iridescent greenish-peachy-yellow sequins. I thought about buying it. Then I thought about the ten other sequined clothing items I own. I reflected on my aspirations of being a chic, aloof New Yorker covered in head-to-toe black. I walked away.

There were also a couple of boiler suits, which were tempting because a) the idea of a long-sleeve one-piece jumpsuit is an alluring one, and b) the lead singer of my favorite band often wears them on stage (hiiiii, @sgadhia from @youngthegiant). A stripey pair of shorts reminded me of the old New Miley Cyrus, the one from her Bangerz era. It would be cool paired with something simple on top, like maybe a gray sweatshirt of some sort. Gym class chic.

A fluorescent top made of coarse silken material stood out; it was patterned with neon flowers and lined in black like a ringer tee. A fine leather jacket also called my name—I’ve been looking for a good one—but while the dainty gold chains on the shoulder said yes, my budget said no.

And, in a truly iconic display of pattern-mixing, Tavi herself paired this velvet, floor-length, mock-Chinese dress with a bulbous costume necklace. Both were cheetah print, both worked beautifully together. Mind-blowing.

Whatcha got there, Emma?

Contrary to my expectations, not a lot of the clothes were designer. Save for a few LeSportsac pieces and one Prada top, the majority of the items on sale were of brands unfamiliar to me. It sent a strong message, one that I didn’t anticipate from someone who has been so ingrained in designer circles for the entirety of her adolescence and beyond. Her collection of clothes truly proved that style transcends trends and labels, the sellable notions of what’s fashionable. Style transcends the binds of capitalism and time.Emma and I waited in line to talk to the one and only Tavi, the host of this streetside party and the person who inspired Emma to create her own magazine (@childsplaymagazine!).

I nudged her arm with my elbow. “I’m going to gas you up like you’ve never been gassed before.” So I did. After the initial greeting and awkward pause that followed, I grabbed Emma by the shoulders and blabbed about her creative endeavors. Tavi really liked Emma’s theme for issue #4, by the way. The theme is intimacy.

The queen of the day herself. She wore black jeans, a varsity jacket with patches that spell “BOWIE”on the back, giant white clip-on earrings in the shape of stars, and super-cool printed boots.

You should pick up a copy when it comes out—the link will be on the Instagram page.

Before coming to Tavi’s tagsale, Emma and I made a pact: we were each going to buy a piece of clothing and we were each going to make a friend. We talked to some girls in line about dogs, of course—true friendship—but what did we get? Emma bought those delicious wrapping-paper, tapestry, silver-and-gold Christmas-y pants that you might have spotted in a few photos. As for me, I bought a jacket that I didn’t try on until I got to the subway. The sleeves were shorter and the shoulders were wider than I expected, but you know the old saying Tim Gunn whispers into my ear each morning as I navigate another day of life: “Make it work.”

Still unsure as to what vibe this jacket exudes. Chic Londonite student from Oxford? Star of the high school marching band? Aging politician from the 80’s? I’m still trying to figure it out. I suppose that’s part of the fun.

Signing off,

Sophie

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Alyana: So to start off would you mind stating your name, your age, your college, your major and your hometown?

Catherine: Okay, my name is Catherine Mhloyi, I’m 21 years old, I go to Fordham University Lincoln Center, I’m majoring in Journalism and I’m from Delaware. Middletown, Delaware.

Alyana: Cool, cool. How would you describe your style

Catherine: I feel like its very eclectic, some days I like to do more punk, some days I like to be more girly, some days I like to be more boho. So it’s just whatever I’m feeling that day; I like to incorporate a lot of different things.

Alyana: Okay, so what you wear is kind of like a mood ring for what you’re feeling?

Catherine: It’s like a mood ring, and it’s kinda like...I dunno how to explain it. I like to project how I need to feel that day, instead of just how I’m feeling. It’s like the attitude that I want to bring onto a certain situation.

Alyana: Yeah, that makes sense! It’s like wearing a red lip when you are feeling kinda down, because you know it will just cheer you up.

Catherine: Exactly, it brightens you up.

Alyana: So, you mentioned that your style, it’s sort of on a spectrum, it goes back and forth. Is there one person or one source of inspiration that you have when it comes to your style?

Catherine: I like to draw inspiration from a lot of things. I draw a lot from my cultural background, because my parents are from Zimbabwe, so I like to like, put little African things into my style. I follow a lot of plus-size bloggers, and I like see how they are breaking a lot of barriers with their style. I love Rihanna, she’s like the ultimate fashion icon of our generation. So I like to pull a lot of things together.

Alyana: She is kind of...well you’re kind of like her, I dunno if I can say she’s kinda like you, but she doesn’t have one distinct sort of look.

Catherine: Exactly. She does everything.

Alyana: And she pulls it off. What do you think is the most important aspect of an outfit? Like, any essentials that you have when it comes to, you know, forming your own outfit for the day.

Catherine: I think my main essentials are either my accessories or my makeup, because that- it doesn’t depend on whether I’ve done my laundry, it doesn’t depend on, like, the weather. You know, it doesn’t depend on anything except for how I’m feeling that day. So I like to base things around my accessories and my makeup because it’s pretty much anything I want it to be.

Alyana: Alright, that’s kinda cool. You use what you have in order to make an outfit, and it doesn’t have to be just clothing. So, what in your opinion are some of your favorite colors?

Catherine: I love green, I have a lot of green in my closet. I love gold and a lot of people don’t count that as a color, but I do because I only wear gold jewelry. And I love prints, like more than colors I like prints because they are very loud and they are very fun and very bold.

Alyana: Yeah, I think it’s a very easy way to pull a look together, in order to make something that was drab, very interesting with a bold print. So what are you wearing today?

Catherine: Today I am wearing this vintage peasant top, that’s, like, off the shoulder. These obnoxious hoops, some bright yellow pants because the sun came out today and I’m very excited. And these boots from H&M. the rest of this stuff is thrifted, so there’s like no source.

Alyana: I like your choker.

Catherine: Thank you! I think I got this from Burlington, I pretty much shop anywhere, anywhere I can find something that fits me, or that I like, I will buy it no matter where it is from.

Alyana: You mentioned before how you follow a lot of plus-size bloggers. Could you name a few?

Catherine: Yes, I love Nadia Aboulhosn, I don’t know if I’m saying her name right because she is Lebanese, but I love her. Gabbi Gregg, she’s like a huge plus-size blogger and I love her style. I love this girl named Dounia, she’s like a model, blogger.

Alyana: She’s a singer, East Coast Hiding.

Catherine: Yes!

Alyana: I just listened to it! Oh god, she was actually- I volunteer at this place and she was at the pizza place right next to it, on like 40th or something.

Catherine: Are you serious? Oh my god, I wanna meet her because she lives here, so I’m always like on her instagram, thinking “oh my gosh, I’m gonna meet her someday.” Yeah, I have so many that I follow, but those are some of like, my main people. I have, Lashanae, she’s kind of like a blogger, but she’s kinda just someone who instagrams stuff and she’s really cool. Those are kind of like a lot of the people I follow, people who just have a really dope personal style.

Alyana: Okay, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be a style that you copy, but you just take inspiration from their creativity. So could you talk to me a little bit about your makeup looks? Cause, they are very bold, and I’m kind of wondering where you come up with them.

Catherine: Well, i’ve been wearing makeup since like, 7th grade, and I just started doing eyeshadow because I like playing with it, I’ve just always been super curious. And now I’m into, like, alternative stuff, because I feel like makeup- a lot of people use makeup for a lot of different things, but I kind of reject the idea that makeup just has to be about covering things up. So i like my makeup to be very bold, and unnatural on purpose so that people can see that it’s self expression, not just like, me trying to cover something. And I have an art background, so I like to try different artistic things i guess, because it’s like painting your face. I just have fun with it.

Alyana: Do you think, for example, what MUA’s, makeup artists, do is art?

Catherine: I think so. Very much so. If it wasn’t an art that women did, almost exclusively, it would be in a museum because it’s super artistic  and super detailed and there is so much thought process that goes into it. And it’s constantly being innovative.

Alyana: That’s really cool; you think it belongs in a museum.

Catherine: I think so. I would go.

Alyana: Do you have some favorite makeup artists that you follow?

Catherine: Makeup artists… I don’t really follow them like I follow bloggers in the sense that I know their names and I know where they live. I kind of just like, look at pictures and I pin them. I love pinterest, and then i just look at like, ��Okay, this is what they are doing with the eyeliner, this is what they are doing with their eyebrows”. So i can’t really name any, unfortunately, but I just have a whole pinterest board full of makeup.

Alyana: Are there any specific artists that aren’t makeup artists that you pull inspiration from for your looks?

Catherine: Um...I do like the idea of art deco. And i don’t know how it can be explicitly seen in my makeup, but art deco is all about things like things standing out against different background, and I think that’s a lot of what I like to do with my makeup. I also like...how did I describe it...I dunno if it’s impressionism or post-impressionism? I’m trying to play with that more, like have like very jagged lines in makeup, although everything is blended today. Yeah, if that make any sense at all, I don’t know…

Alyana: No, it does. Sort of a geometric look, to what you are wearing? I think that’s a very bold take on makeup.

Catherine: Thank you!

Alyana: Okay! Now for the hard-hitting question: What dessert best encompasses your style and why?

Catherine: Dessert. Well, I love chocolate, so I always choose chocolate. But chocolate cake with chocolate frosting makes sense because it is very bold, and I keep using that word, but if you don’t like chocolate you are not going to like that cake, there is nothing there for you, and I feel like that’s how I am. If you don’t like people who are bold and unapologetic, then you're not going to like me because that’s 100% who I am. So I like that, I like the unapologetic part of chocolate and it’s flavor.

Alyana: Ok, well you are unapologetically yourself, and you mentioned that a big part of you is your ancestry. Could you talk a little bit more about that?

Catherine: Yeah, so both of my parents were born and raised in Zimbabwe, and so I was born here but I’ve been there 3 times, one time doesn’t count because I was only 2 years old, but most recently i went in like 2015. It’s like, for me, being 1st generation it’s really hard to try and see where I fit. So I’m kinda of trying to pave this path for myself, being both American and African at the same time. Because it’s like, I’m not really American but I’m not really Zimbabwean because neither side really claims me like that. But I like to pull inspiration from like bold prints and colors and things that are very, like African, like even it’s not even specifically from my country, but just very non-Eurocentric because I feel like we are raised to be very eurocentric, and everything is like, western and stuff, and I like to pull in stuff from my culture to break that up.

Alyana: So you mentioned your major was journalism. Do you think you are going to use that as a platform for instilling those ideas that you’ve just spoken about?

Catherine: Yeah, I think I’ve already been doing that in the things that I’ve wrote. I wrote a lot about plus-size fashion and how it’s like a very political thing, expressing yourself in what you wear. It has a lot to do with the way the world sees you, #1, having you define yourself rather than having the world define you. I think that’s really big tool that marginalized people usually use. So plus-size fashion is like a really big political tool, as well as also being, like, a fashionable thing. And I write about that a lot.

Alyana: What do you write on?

Catherine: Um, I did write two things for The Tempest, and I do have my own personal blog.

Alyana: The Tempest?

Catherine: Yes, it’s like this online platform for minority women, or like, yeah I think it’s for minority women, and it’s like just starting out but I did write two pieces on there.

Alyana: Do you want to name-drop your blog?

Catherine: Sure, if you follow www.feministcorna.com, but I am changing my domain soon to match my instagram. Do you want me to name-drop that one too?

Alyana: Yeah, sure.

Catherine: My instagram is @fatangryblackgirl and if you want me to explain that I can.

Alyana: Yeah, go ahead I want to hear it.

Catherine: So, basically I thought of changing my instagram name-I always had that as my tumblr name for a while- but I thought of changing my instagram name to that because I feel like, well the thing about speaking, especially online, it’s interesting is that people are always clicking on your profile to see what you look like and how they are going to judge whenever you talk about something. Especially when you talk about social issues, people want to judge you by how you look. So I put it in my @ so that it does the work for them.

Alyana: So you put it all out there, like “This is who I am, what’s up?”

Catherine: And there’s nothing wrong with any of the words in my @, so I put it out there to sort of reclaim that.

Alyana: Is that public?

Catherine: Yes.

Alyana: Cool, so I can follow you!

Catherine: Yes!

Alyana: So what do you think should be the main take-away that people who are listening to this have?

Catherine: I think the main takeaway is that no matter who you are or what you look like, or where you come from, everyone has the right to feel good about themselves. That is not exclusive to any one group, it’s everyone’s right and it’s very much a political thing to love yourself and it’s just kind of like- it should come from a place of arrogance, like, “Yes I am a person, I exist and I deserve to exist just as much as everyone else.” That’s sort of how I look at everything in life, especially like my style.

Alyana: Okay, well, thank you! This was very informative and I had a great time interviewing you.

Catherine: Thank you!

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Show Up, Stand Up

“I am fighting for liberation for all, including myself. Our struggles and stories are intimately tied into one another's, and I believe firmly in collective labor for the rights of all.”

What’s your name?

Lexi McMenamin

What are your preferred pronouns?

She/her

What school do you attend?

LC

What’s your graduation year?

2017

What’s your major?

Political Science/English (Creative Writing Concentration)

What organizations are you a part of on or off campus?

Fordham It’s On Us Coalition - Chair and Founder @ LC

Dorothy Day Center for Service and Justice - Social Justice Leader

Feminist Alliance - e-board member

What do the organizations represent and what is their main objective?

I co-founded the Fordham It’s On Us Coalition to End Sexual and Relationship Violence last summer, and chaired the Lincoln Center group for the 2016-2017 school year. Our objective is, obviously, to end sexual and relationship violence, and on a greater scale to fight dynamics of abuse which are propelled by oppressive structures.

I’ve been a SJL for as many years as I possibly could at LC. I worked on the Community Organizing team, where we’ve mostly focused on racial justice issues.

I’ve been on the Feminist Alliance e-board since sophomore year; our objective is to educate the Fordham community about intersectional feminism.

What issues are most important to you personally? Why are they important?

I believe in the importance of doing intersectional social justice work, and addressing in tandem intertwined issues of oppression. I specifically created the It’s On Us Coalition because I found it very difficult to exist on campus as a survivor of relationship and sexual violence. I’ve always been concerned by the number of friends I’ve had on campus who’ve been abused in some way, and it often seemed to be part and parcel of other elements of marginality they were experiencing. We built that community as a space to push for radical change and for the right to exist and be respected on a campus that does not necessarily make that space accessible for us. Similarly, my roles in the Feminist Alliance and as an SJL have also been about working to challenge the dynamics at Fordham that harm students both physically and mentally, and to encourage students to seek refuge in each other and demand better of their university.

How can others get involved on or off campus?

Come to a It’s On Us General Meeting, or to any of the Feminist Alliance’s frequent events! Or, if you’re in another group, push yourself to build with other clubs. The more we share our work, the less work we’ll be doing in the end.

Why is activism an important part of your life? Why should it be important to others?

I am an activist because I am fighting for liberation for all, including myself. Our struggles and stories are intimately tied into one another's, and I believe firmly in collective labor for the rights of all.

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Alyana: So, to start off, can you just say your name, your major, your college, your age and your hometown?

Rosario: I’m Rosario Ramos-King, I am 18. I am part of FCLC, Latin American Studies Major and I’m from Glastonbury, Connecticut. Is that it?

Alyana: Yeah.

Rosario: Okay.

Alyana: Okay, um...The first question I really want to ask you is: How would you describe your own style?

Rosario: …I don’t know! I feel like, other people tell me it’s like, 80’s or 90’s, but I don’t say that it is? I feel like it’s just kinda a jumble of stuff that I like, so that I wear it.

Alyana: Ok, so like, where do you pull from the most?

Rosario: Um…

Alyana: Like, any icons? Or eras that you really like?

Rosario: I feel like, a lot of the way I dress comes from like, being Latina and being queer. And like, those styles probably. And just kind of like, even like probably like...I don’t dress like Prince, but he’s my biggest icon. Just that kind of thing, like people who are unapologetically themselves are my icons and it’s not necessarily that I want to emulate the way that they look, it’s more like I want to emulate the attitude they put out when they dress, if that makes sense.

Alyana: Okay, so you said that a lot of your style, comes from you being um, Latina and queer. So, do you think that when you dress that you are making a statement?

Rosario: Maybe. Part of me gets frustrated because, like, being very light-skin Latina and being in the middle of a trend where it’s really cool for white girls to wear hooped earrings and name plates and shit like that. I feel like, I look like I’m one of those white girls. When really, it’s like me declaring my identity. So that frustrates me, especially since like as a kid I was never allowed to wear hooped earrings or nameplate necklaces, and I always wanted them. But I wasn’t allowed because that was considered trashy. So it frustrates me, like, that now I’m reclaiming that part, and letting it be a part of my identity. But then it’s just kinda being taken.

Alyana: Ok, speaking about hoops and white girls wearing them, I’m sure you heard about, I think it was a college in California where these girls wrote on like a free speech wall --

Rosario: It was Pitzer (laughs) I know because I wanted to go there, it’s in California yeah.

Alyana: And they were like, “White Girl, Take Off Your Hoops”. Do you have any comments about that?

Rosario: Um, it’s a valid sentiment, because for so long, like, Hoops are mainly like Black and Latina fashion in the United States, and have been for a very long time, and they mean something, and it’s, I feel like when you like put on a big-ass pair of hoops, that’s like… really not caring about beauty standards that were given to you. The thing is, like, hooped earrings came out of Black and Latina-I feel like I’m rambling so much-they like, so hooped earrings came out of Black and Latina’s own creation, so that was Black and Latina people in the United States creating their own beauty standards, which is like in direct resistance to the white beauty standards that have been pushed on them for so long, and have been, like, yeah. They are just pushed on them and telling them that their hooped earrings are trashy, and then all of a sudden turns around and now they are super chic - when white people wear them. But, they’re still trashy when a non-white person wears them, so, yeah. Like that’s what, I feel like to me, that’s what the sentiment was, like saying. So I agree with it.

Alyana: Okay, so you see your hoops, which you are wearing right now, as integral to how you perform your identity, in a way?

Rosario: Yeah. I would say so.

Alyana: So, I mean, I really like what you are wearing right now, and I was wondering if you could tell us where, like, where you got your clothes and everything.

Rosario: Okay, um...so a lot of what i wear is like second hand, but like, I don’t like New York thrift shops because they are too trendy and expensive. I go to like, Saver’s in Connecticut all the time, which is like the cheapest place. That’s where my pants are from, that’s where a lot of my clothes are from. My jacket is actually out of my mom’s closet, and my earrings are like from Macy’s or something. My shirt is from like H&M. And my beanie from like, online somewhere. And I’m very the type of person who spends as little as possible on my clothes.

Alyana: You know, you should check out No Relation, I think it’s down on like East 13th. It is a New York thrift store, but it’s very cheap, you can find jackets like that, all the time there.

Alyana: So, if you could describe your style as a type of music, how would you describe it?

Rosario: Um...I feel like it would be...feminist rap slash dream pop.

Alyana: Dream pop? Could you give me an example? I’m not familiar.

Rosario: It’s like...who’s dream pop...like, I don’t know. There’s this band Saint [unintelligible]. It uses a lot of synths, and it’s very ethereal sounding.

Alyana: So, like ABBA? No? (laughs) Ok.

Rosario: Do you know FKA twigs?

Alyana: Yeah, uh-huh. Wow, I didn’t even know she was dream-pop.

Rosario: She’s like a genre-bender, but she fits. (laughs)

Alyana: Okay, I really like her music, this is kind of startling to me; I didn’t know that’s what you would call her.

Rosario: It’s okay, I’m terrible at music genres (laughs) I’m awful.

Alyana: Okay, so you talked a lot about your hoops. Do you think those are, like, essential articles that you have to wear everything single day? Or what would you consider essential to crafting, like, an outfit in your day to day?

Rosario: In my day-to-day...eyebrows are important. (laughs) Which isn’t clothing, but I fill them in so that’s part of like presentation. Um...I feel like I wear clothes that don’t fit very well. Like I wear very loose clothes a lot, and I feel like I feel weird if I’m not wearing at least one thing that’s kinda baggy. And I don’t wear hoops everyday, but I feel like if I haven’t worn them in too long, I like need to-’cause I need to feel like myself. (laughs)

Alyana: So you wear a lot of baggy clothes. I feel like that’s something that you see a lot in street style; do you pull from street style in New York or anywhere else?

Rosario: Yeah, I feel like, I like New York more than anywhere else.

Alyana: ‘Cause I know, like baggy clothes was a big thing for hip-hop in the 80’s and 90’s, or zoot suits in California was pretty big.

Rosario: Yeah, I feel like.. I do like street style and I think really where I take my inspiration from is like my friends. I don’t dress like a lot of my friends, I don’t dress like most of my friends but it’s like, the fact that like, the most creative people I know are like creating art every single day, in like, how they dress, and it’s not high-fashion that costs so much money or that you have to go to school to get a degree about, they are being creative and they are artists and it’s just, the way that they are being and presenting themselves. So that’s definitely like, that’s what I take inspiration from, and I take inspiration from artists and musicians and people who are just generally, are considered stylish, I guess? I take inspiration from the people who are unapologetically themselves. And also, I really hate any type of scene or art platform that is elitist, so that’s also why I don’t shop any super expensive brands, and stuff like that. Streetwear, I guess is a thing that I’m into.

Alyana: Okay, so that’s really cool. What you wear isn’t just a statement, but it’s also art? In a way.

Rosario: Yeah, like that’s the way I see the way other people dress. I think that’s especially the way I see communities of color dress, like, the Latino community specifically, because that’s one that I’m part of. And also, the queer community. Definitely, the way that you dress- I think that just being yourself and being unapologetically yourself is itself art. And I think it’s a very artistic thing to be creative in the way that you dress, and I love people who dress, especially in like queer communities, that dress super outrageously, and they don’t really care. I love that. So I think it is like an art form. You don’t have to get a degree in it to do it.

Alyana: Well, it was really fun talking to you and hearing what you had to say about fashion as a whole, you know? I think that’s really profound, that you think that it’s, it’s about being yourself and unapologetically yourself. So thank you!

Rosario: Thanks!

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Spring Peach Makeup Tutorial by Alyana Vera

An on-trend peach makeup tutorial that’s perfect for spring! Product List Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB Cream: https://www.maybelline.com/face-makeu... Ulta Duo Brow Powder: http://www.ulta.com/brow-expert?produ... Lorac Pro Palette: http://www.loraccosmetics.com/make-up... Colourpop Lo-Key Palette: https://colourpop.com/products/lo-key Milk Makeup’s Highlighter in “Lit”: https://milkmakeup.com/products/highl... Too Faced’s Better Than Sex Mascara: https://www.toofaced.com/p/mascaras/b... Nyx Cosmetics Butter Gloss in “Tiramisu”: http://www.nyxcosmetics.com/butter-gl... Makeup, Filming and Editing: Alyana Vera Model: Sami Jumper

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Step into Spring

by Rachel Lung

With spring finally here, we can look forward to warmer weather and natural makeup with subtle pops of color. ColourPop Cosmetics’ newest collection is spot on with spring trends including bright pink themed products. Since I am all about bold colors, their Belle of the Ball eyeshadow palette ($18, Colourpop.com) caught my eye immediately. However, you don’t have to wear bright pink eyeshadows and lipsticks to be trendy this season. From pastel colors to soft highlights, there are other ways to achieve a simpler, clean spring look.

ColourPop Cosmetics' Belle of the Ball Eyeshadow Palette (Source: Colourpop.com)

Highlighter: Wearing intensely blinding highlighter or making sure your highlight is ‘on fleek’ has been a popular beauty fad of the past year. If you prefer a softer look, mixing a liquid highlighter such as the Nyx Cosmetics Born to Glow Illuminator ($7.49, Ulta) with your foundation will give you a natural, dewy glow.

Nyx Cosmetics Born to Glow Liquid Illuminators featured with other powder and liquid highlighter products (Source: Rachel Lung)

Lipstick: A soft peach or a pastel pink lipstick, such as Wet n wild MegaLast Lip Color in Just Peachy and Think Pink ($2 each, Drugstores) will match perfectly with any outfit you’ll be wearing this season. Swipe on some lipstick for a natural pop of color for either your spring formal or your everyday wear.

A Variety Wet N Wild MegaLast Lip Color Shades (Source: canadianfashionista.net)

Baked Blush: If you haven’t already, opt for using a baked blush instead of a regular powder one this season. Although both formulas will give your cheeks color, baked blushes have a richer pigmentation and are more dimensional than regular powder blush. Once blended into the skin, baked blushes will appear more naturally luminous, which is another option besides liquid highlighter to get your glow on this spring. Popular among makeup artists and beauty enthusiasts alike, Milani Cosmetics Baked Blush in Luminoso ($9, Drugstores) is a peachy blush that looks amazing on a range of skin tones.

Milani Cosmetics Baked Blush in Luminoso featured with the rest of the brand's range of baked blushes (Source: Rachel Lung)

Nails: Lastly, wearing pastel nail polish is an easy and fun way to stay trendy this spring. Personally, I’ve been loving a cool toned pastel blue such as Revlon Nail Enamel in Dreamer ($2.99, Ulta). From mint green to creamsicle orange, there are so many pastel colors to perfectly match your style with.

Revlon Nail Enamel in Dreamer (Source: Ulta.com)

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Pietro Nolita

By Peri Rohl

During the days when women march proudly and wear pink with pride, it is only fitting to eat at an all pink restaurant. Pietro Nolita, found in Little Italy on Elizabeth Street, is the perfect combination of cozy and Instagram worthy. 

Sticking out of the city block like a beautiful bright Skittle found under a dusty rug, Pietro Nolita is an exciting find of 2017. Pietro Nolita serves Italian cuisine with a healthy, American twist, catering to many different kinds of taste buds. The 50’s diner vibes of the restaurant make this newly opened restaurant truly one of a kind.

When I got to the restaurant with my brood of five other ladies, our table was waiting for us to sit down. If you intend to bring a gaggle of gals to Pietro, I definitely recommend calling ahead to smooth out the seating process.  I immediately noticed the fluorescent pink napkins that read “Pink as Fuck,” giggling at the relevance the napkins had with the Women’s March happening only blocks away (#equality).  I ordered a Vanilla Bean latte to start my long process of eating-for-sport with energy and determination. And, as a dedicated coffee consumer, this latte was the best I’ve ever had. Foamy, light, and sweet- but not too sweet like the Starbucks ones. 10/10 recommend! TRY IT.

Though the service was a little slow, I didn’t blame the wait staff since the atmosphere was amazing. For such a little place, the squeezed a lot of people in there, and the energy was wonderful. It could have something to do with the uplifting qualities of the color pink, or just the Vanilla Bean Latte speaking (seriously—go try this, your life will be changed.)

For lunch I ordered the Steak, Salsa Verde, Mayo sandwich, and dayummmmmm it was so good. Perfectly toasted bread with fresh steak and a pesto like salsa. Yummy in my picky tummy! I also recommend the Buckwheat pancakes and the Bucatini Cacio E Pepe, two other intriguing options that looked healthy and delicious.

After lunch was consumed and we were rolled out of the restaurant, we couldn't resist having a mini photoshoot outside the building. How could you not? IT’S PINK.

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Health in the Age of Dieting: a Millennial’s Guide to Sustained Clean Eating

By Andrea Chilson

The latest and greatest in the world of dieting is constantly changing, but each new 'diet' makes the same claim: shed inches and pounds overnight - a miracle! Not so fast. While it may be tempting to fall for the 'miracles' that these fads promise, more often than not, they'll leave you feeling less than satisfied, hungry, and in some cases poorly nourished. Here are a few diets to try that will leave you with sustained energy and lasting results to kick-start the New Year!

*Always check in with your physician and do thorough research before radically changing your eating habits. Focus on how to best nourish yourself and not on weight loss in order to be your best, healthiest self.*

Vegetarianism

Photo by Everyday Health

What is it?

A vegetarian diet is probably the easiest, and therefore the most popular diet globally. Though many religions call for a vegetarian diet year-round or on certain, sacred days, the diet has been adopted by people of all backgrounds and religions for its environmental and health benefits.

What can’t I eat on it?

Animal meat of any variety; including fish, poultry and animal by-products like beef gelatin.

Benefits: Clear skin, reduced bloating, lower cholesterol, reduced risk of heart disease.

Veganism

Photo by Emaze.com

What is it?

A vegan diet is a step up from a vegetarian diet in terms of difficulty. While a vegetarian diet restricts only animal meat and meat by-products, a vegan diet prohibits the consumption of animal products of any variety. Veganism can be perceived as an ethical or a health statement. Some vegans cut out animal products entirely from their lives in addition to cutting them out of their diet. This includes products containing animal materials such as leather, fur, feathers and silk as well as refraining from using beauty products that contain animal materials or have been tested on animals.

What can’t I eat on it?

Anything that comes from an animal (meat, milk, eggs, any product containing these ingredients, etc.).

Benefits: Healthier bowel movements, improved cardiovascular health, high intake of vitamins and minerals, and improved energy levels.

The Macrobiotic Diet

Photo by Dish and Delite

What is it?

A macrobiotic diet isn't just about your weight - it's about achieving balance in your life. It boasts a healthier, more holistic long-term lifestyle that encompasses mental outlook as well as food choices. Macrobiotic dieters are encouraged to eat regularly, chew their food thoroughly, listen to their body's signals, and stay active, all of which should result in improved energy and outlook on life.

What can’t I eat on it?

Dairy, eggs, poultry, processed foods, refined sugars, meats, along with tropical fruits, fruit juice, and certain vegetables like asparagus, eggplant, spinach, tomatoes, and zucchini.

Benefits: Improved mental and physical state, gradual and sustainable weight-loss, and  lowered cholesterol.

The Alkaline Diet

Photo by Chef Good

What is it?

Also known as the alkaline ash diet or alkaline acid diet, the alkaline diet can boasts such symptoms as weight-loss and reduced risk for problems such as arthritis and cancer. The theory is that some foods, like meat, wheat, refined sugar, and processed foods cause your body to produce acid, which is bad for you.

What can’t I eat on it?

Dairy, eggs, meat, most grains, and processed foods, like canned and packaged snacks and convenience foods, fall on the acid side and are not allowed.

 Benefits: Improved chemical balance, reduced risk for cancer and arthritis, and sustainable weight-loss. 

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Revamping the Runway: How the Fashion Show is Changing

By Deanna Scorciolla 

With New York Fashion Week right around the corner, fashion darlings are buzzing about next season’s collections. However, with the onslaught of social media, the upsurge in the number of brands, and increased efforts to directly reach consumers, the traditional fashion show structure has reached its breaking point, which has prompted overhauls of dizzying proportions. Even if you're a steadfast follower of fashion news, these changes are a lot to keep up with. Let's break down what's going down, and look at the two biggest changes of fashion week: the alterations of where and when fashion shows are taking place.

Dancers wearing Opening Ceremony’s Spring 2017 line. Photo by Opening Ceremony.

Amid industry commotion, many designers are forgoing the traditional fashion show location – the runway – and are instead rethinking promotional strategies for new collection. For instance, on January 28th, Opening Ceremony co-founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon traded in the runway for a collaboration with New York City Ballet choreographer Justin Peck. Guests were invited to Peck's provocative ballet for the NYCB's 2017 Winter Season, "The Times Are Racing”, wherein dancers were outfitted in urban street-wear designs created by OC co-founder Humberto Leon. Desiring to step outside the restrains of Fashion Week, some designers are beginning to trade in runway shows for unique and innovative fashion presentations.

Millie Bobby Brown for Calvin Klein By Appointment. Photo by calvinklein.com

Furthermore, some designers are not having physical presentations at all, and they are instead utilizing the power of social media. For instance, on January 22, without the standard media frenzy that always goes along with a physical show, Raf Simons relied solely on the Internet to reveal his first collection for Calvin Klein— a completely new line called Calvin Klein By Appointment. Images of the 14-piece, “made-to-measure” collection were posted on Calvin Klein’s Instagram account and calvinklein.com, which allowed potential customers to directly connect with the line.

While designers have arguably always played around with locations, potentially bigger changes are occurring in production and scheduling. These changes have been prompted by frustration at an increasingly confusing and outdated fashion calendar: collections show in February or September, but they don't hit stores for another six months. With the rise of fashion show coverage online, consumers can look at collections half a year before they can actually buy them — which often means that they’re already bored of seeing them by the time they're physically in stores.

The Burberry September 2016 runway finale. Photo by Hollywood Reporter.

In an attempt to combat this problem, Burberry designer Christopher Bailey started two bold trends in September of 2016: he presented seasonless men’s and women’s collections together, and his entire collection was available immediately after the show for purchase at Burberry’s Regent Street store and online. Similarly frustrated over maintaining two disconnected calendars, brands like Bottega Veneta, Kenzo, and Vetements have followed in Bailey’s footsteps by combining their men's and women's runway shows. Furthermore, designers from Tom Ford to Ralph Lauren joined Bailey’s direct-to-consumer movement, selling their collections online and in stores right after debuting them. In short, designers aren't happy with the current fashion show calendar, so they're experimenting and putting forth some promising changes.

Whether designers end up showing a season in the conventional runway format or in new alternatives, ahead of season or in season, Fashion Week is rapidly evolving. However, there is no firm consensus on how brands will be handling the upcoming Fashion Week, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the mounting pains that fashion is currently experiencing. Nevertheless, there is one pertinent common thread: the status quo fashion show is becoming less and less relevant. Thus, expect next season to be a bit bumpy as designers figure out what works best for them.

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A Cheap Vegan’s Guide to College Cooking

By Katie Coombs

Photo Credit: www.rebloggy.com

Any college student who makes their own food is well aware of the perils of feeding oneself on a tight budget. Health and taste are often sacrificed for price in the process. However, you don’t have to sustain yourself on ramen and easy mac (unless you want to). There are equally cheap and vegan alternatives.

I am a college student that works a minimum wage job, pays for my own groceries, and still manages to maintain my vegan lifestyle. I have spend around $35 on average on groceries per week. Veganism is often seen as being too expensive, but it is feasible even on a tight budget; often times it’s even cheaper than a non-vegan diet. 

Disclaimer: I am lucky enough to live somewhere where I have affordable produce and healthy foods available to me that makes following a vegan lifestyle significantly easier. While following these guidelines has allowed me to eat healthily while saving money, the results may change place to place depending on what is available to you and the food prices in the area.

Minimize Spending on Processed Vegan Luxury Products

Here in New York City, vegan cheeses, meats, ice creams, yogurts, and all kinds of other foodstuffs are sold at several grocery stores. While these products are tempting, they are often much pricier than the food that they are imitating. The same cravings can often be satisfied through cheaper foods. Admittedly, I will buy the occasional specialty product as a treat, but they are too pricy to be a staple in my diet.

Swap Vegan Luxury Products for These Foods instead:

Photo Credit: blog.fatfreevegan.com

Vegan Cheeses for Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional Yeast should be constantly stashed in every vegan’s cabinet. It is an affordable way to add a cheesy flavor to any dish. Also, it is frequently fortified with B12, which is the one vitamin that can not be naturally acquired in a vegan diet. It is also much healthier for Daiya (the most popular vegan cheese brand)- it is lower in fat, calories, sodium, and is less processed in general. 

Photo Credit: chewandtaste.com

Vegan Ice Cream for Homemade Banana Ice Cream

Banana ice cream is the cheapest, most popular, and healthiest alternative to commercial ice cream. It can be made in minutes by blending a frozen banana with a little bit of your favorite non-dairy milk. Once it is all blended up, you can top it with whatever toppings your heart desires/are lying around. Personally, I like to top mine with chocolate chips, strawberries, or granola. The dessert satisfies your sweet tooth while costing under a dollar to make.

Photo Credit: authoritynutrition.com

Faux Meats for Beans or Tofu

Possibly the most frequently asked question vegans and vegetarians hear is where they get their protein from. However, it is unnecessary to buy specialty vegan proteins in order to meet the daily requirement. Faux meats can be delicious; I personally am guilty of buying the occasional bag of Gardein chicken tenders. However, you can get protein through eating cheaper and healthier foods like beans and plain tofu. When seasoned well, these alternatives can be just as satisfying as processed vegan faux meats.

Photo Credit: in.gov

Buy your Produce Wisely

You can save a good chunk of money by simply knowing what foods are cheaper to buy fresh, canned, and frozen. Also, buying whole foods versus packaged produce will allow for bigger savings. Here are some easy tips to become a smarter shopper:

Photo Credit: huffingtonpost.com

Buy Fresh Kale and Not Fresh Spinach

Both leafy greens are high in iron and great for your health, but kale is the more economical option. It doesn’t cook down nearly as much as spinach does, so you are able to get more servings out of the same amount of fresh kale than you would out of spinach. Kale is also often a cheaper price per pound than spinach is to begin with. In addition to all these wonderful properties, it can keep up to a week in the fridge while spinach can get slimy and wilted within a couple of days.

Photo Credit: greenblender.com

Buy Whole Fruits and Veg Instead of Pre-cut or Packaged

Though it may require a bit more work, buying fruits and veggies in their whole form will save you some cash. Instead of peeled baby carrots, buy whole large carrots. Also, kale on the stem is always going to be significantly cheaper than bagged kale. Another economical swap is to buy baby portabella mushrooms instead of the big portabella mushroom caps. Prepping all this whole produce will take a bit more time and effort, but you get to save some money and feel like a masterchef in the process.

Photo Credit: cookeatpaleo.com

Go for Frozen Fruits and Veg

Berries are fruits that I love dearly, but I am always hesitant to buy them because of their price. Also their short shelf life, 2-3 days, makes them seem like an even less practical purchase. I satisfy my berry cravings by buying frozen berries and then using them to make ridiculously oversized smoothies. It is so cheap and so tasty.  Vegetables like spinach, corn, and peas are other products that are better to buy frozen. They are cheaper than buying their fresh counterparts, but do not sacrifice flavor or texture.

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Alyana Vera: So, just to start, would you mind saying your name, your major, what college and what age you are. Oh, and your hometown.

Sabrina Leo: Okay. I’m Sabrina, my major is Comp Sci, I forgot what the rest of it was. I’m 18, I’m from New York. I’m from Queens, New York. And…

Alyana: Your college.

Sabrina: My college, Fordham College at Lincoln Center.

Alyana: So, just to start off, I kind of want to know your inspiration for your, you know, your style and how you present yourself.

Sabrina: I like a lot of old paintings, a lot of impressionistic paintings, I don’t know, bohemian sort of like the 19th century, inspire me. It’s very fancy, but at the same time very elegant. The 1920s, definitely, like the hair, the messy bun. They revolutionized the messy bun (laughs). Um, I don’t know. A lot of musicians, i guess. Going with the Bohemian style.

Alyana: Do you have one particular person in mind?

Sabrina: I’m trying to think…not really, but I don’t know. I feel like what I’d imagine like, I don’t know.

Alyana: It’s okay. You know, it sort of seems as if you pull from the best aspects of an age, and you sort of incorporate that into your own style, which I think is very interesting. You’re an eclectic mix of the 19th century, basically.

Alyana: Where do you mainly shop? Do you thrift, do you go to Urban Outfitters, stuff like that.

Sabrina: I get most of my basic clothes from thrifting. I like going to No Relation, which is on 1st Avenue near Stuytown. And also a lot of shops near Williamsburg for thrifting. For like, bigger things, like shoes or- more expensive things like coats, I usually go to Urban Outfitters. I don’t really like the store per say, but I like certain items they have. I just, it’s hard to find things in my size, so like whenever they have more glam-ish items, I tend to get those. Yeah I think that’s most of my shopping. And also, I like going to other cities and shopping a lot. So like a lot of clothes I have aren’t from New York, but from Pennsylvania or Montreal, you know wherever I end up with friends.

Alyana: Okay, do you mind telling me what you’re wearing right now?

Sabrina: Like where I got each thing? Uh, I’m not sure where I got these shoes, but their vagabonds, which is a really nice pair, or nice brand, that I like. It’s some kind of…I want to say Swedish? But they just have very durable, kind of- I mean these are platforms but they are very comfortable platforms. So that’s another thing that I just like having, which is a lot of comfort clothes. I used to dress up really fancy (chuckles) but then I was like, “I don’t want to be cold. I want to feel really comfortable in what I’m wearing. So, I don’t know, I’ve incorporated more comfortable stuff. My leggings are from, probably a dollar store or like Jax or something- which is a store in midtown, around 34th street. They just have, you know basic clothing and stuff. This shirt is from a thrift store, uh, I think from L-Town, which is also a really nice thrift store. For some reason they had a lot of velvet clothes that day, so I got this and two other velvet shirts, which was really nice. And this jacket is from Urban Outfitters…

Alyana: And your glasses?

Sabrina: My glasses are from Warby Parker, which is a really good glasses store, very inexpensive. So…

Alyana: If you could describe your style as a movie, what movie would it be?

Sabrina: Um…that’s such an interesting question, I love that. What movie would it be? Hmmm…

Alyana: I don’t know, ‘cause the kind of vibe that I get from you, is that you feel sort of like a Wes Anderson movie, you know?

Sabrina: I’ve never watched a Wes Anderson movie.

Alyana: Really? You should. I think you’d not only enjoy it, you’d get, like, aesthetically pleasing thoughts from it, you know to incorporate into your own day-to-day.

Sabrina: Hmm. I’m still trying to think, what movie would I be, what my style would be…It’s been awhile since I- I used to be really into movies, but it’s been a little while…I’m like my racking my brain through past movies I’ve seen…

Alyana: Well it doesn’t have to be a specific movie, but how about, like, a genre?

Sabrina: Uh, surrealist. I’d say.

Alyana: Surrealist? Oh, like Dadaism, sort of?

Sabrina; Yeah, yeah. Err, I don’t know, maybe Japanese minimalist as well. Those are good movies.

Alyana: Okay, okay. Do you have any favorite colors or prints to work with? I noticed that your shirt has a very interesting print on it.

Sabrina: Yeah, uh I actually don’t know what my shirt is supposed to be, it seems like it’s a patchwork of velvet. But, I just, I like a lot of colors, I think right now there is a big trend in black, white and gray, very monotone colors, which is aesthetically pleasing but at the same time, I just want so much vibrancy from my clothes. I don’t know, so a lot of colors,a lot of bold colors. Maybe even primaries working together, things like that.

Alyana: Okay, um. Well you mentioned that back in high school you used to wear a lot more elaborate clothes, but now you’ve sort of fallen into this sort of thing that I think all college students get into, this sort of fashion- not rut, but like, you want to be more comfortable when you are going to your 8:30 class, you don’t want to get all dressed up, wear heels and whatnot. How do you think your style has evolved since you were a kid to now?

Sabrina: Well, I think when I was younger my mom would always buy me clothes but I always hated them, so much because she would always buy the most off shade colors, if that makes any sense- like very, i don’t know, just really gross colors. And so, for a while, i think by that by the time i was 10 or 11 I just tried to take over my own fashion style. I used to watch so many movies as a kid, especially a lot of older movies, so you know, I just wanted to be dressing up in these 50s, very intricate dresses, very glamorous kinds of clothing. So I’d go and I’d go shop for like the most- you know I’d go to go with my mom to the women’s section and get the XXS petite clothes, cuz I just wanted to be, I don’t know. I feel like I’ve always wanted to look a little more sophisticated than casual. I’m not sure why (laughs). And that’s like stayed with me through high school, but then I met my boyfriend in high school, who’s very…he has a good sense of style but, he’s more casual, you know he wears sneakers but he also has very colorful sandals. He’s probably wearing the same jeans on and off, during the week. But you know, he makes it work, and that’s inspired me a bit, you I just- he’s comfortable while I’m freezing, or my feet hurt, so i also i think I’ve become a little more casual in my style. But at the same time, I can’t be too casual because that’s not me. So yeah, I’m more comfortable these days.

Alyana: Do you think your style speaks to you as a person?

Sabrina: What do you mean?

Alyana: Well, you say that you’re fascinated with the idea of older clothing and the 19th century, and stuff like that. Do you think that reflects who you are as a person? Do you think you are an old soul?

Sabrina: I don’t think I’m an old soul, but I think I just have an appreciation for, I think a lot of older clothing was more extravagant in a way or they were always made out of richer materials. It wasn’t just cotton, but people would wear silk, or people would wear you know things with gold threads in them, it was just very, an attention for detail, that I really like and admire. But I feel like i belong in this century, at the same time. No, I don’t think I’m an old soul, but I think I have an older taste.

Alyana: Ok

Sabrina: Like, more retro tastes.

Alyana: Okay, final question. How would you describe your aesthetic, in a couple words, say three.

Sabrina: Vibrant.

Alyana: Three words.

Sabrina: Vibrant, simple, and metallic. It just comes to me.

Alyana: Okay, thank you for letting me interview you!

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A New New York: New Experiences for the New Year

By Andrea Chilson

Now that your New Year’s resolutions are (hopefully) underway, it's time to take your new, improved self out and enjoy all that this great city has to offer. Boasting some of the top cuisine, entertainment, and nightlife in the world, here are a few noteworthy places in New York City to try out in the 2017.

The Paris Theater (City Cinemas Paris Theatre)

Photo by Garrett Ziegler on flickr.com

What's there?

The Paris Theater is home to a rich history of Parisian films -- from classics like An American in Paris, to modern blockbusters like Verhoeven's Elle, the Paris Theater is your one-stop-shop for a romantic date night or solo night on the town! Fun fact, in season five of Sex and the City, Carrie visits the Paris Theater for an indulgent evening and some much needed 'me time.'

Cost: Without concessions, as little as $15.

Must do: See the film of your choice and try not to read the subtitles. Even if you don't understand the language, the French are notorious for speaking with more than their words. It will give you a whole new appreciation for performance and film as an art form.

Bryant Park

Photo by Vogue

What's there?

While every seasoned New Yorker worth their salt has been to the sprawling lawns of Bryant Park, most glaze over the little hole-in-the-wall shops that surround the park. Looking for a cozy atmosphere and a superb cup of coffee? Try Breads Bakery just outside the main grounds. In the mood for some light reading? Check out one of the many free periodicals offered on the patio-esque space just off the green.

Cost: Free! Unless you care to indulge in a warm cup of joe or fresh pastry.

Must do: Play a round of ping pong and go for a spin on 'Le Carousel.'

Tea at the Plaza

Photo by New York Living

What's there?

Elouise isn't the only one who can experience the quintessential afternoon tea. For those willing to pay a pretty penny, The Plaza Hotel offers a simply delightful dining experience in the world famous Palm Room. Home to mini, crustless sandwiches, custard laden scones, and fine china, tea at The Plaza is truly an experience like nothing else.

Cost: Approximately $150, including tip.

Must do: Try the Holiday New Yorker tea special. This decadent mid-afternoon treat includes a level of delicate mini-sandwiches, scones, rich desserts, and your choice of herbal tea.

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Meet the E-Board: Emily

By Sabrina Polkowski

Name: Emily Tiberio

Position: Creative Director

Year & School: FCLC ‘16

Describe your style: 

“That’s something I’ve been kind of trying to nail down lately. I feel like I don’t necessarily have, like, a style. I feel like I have so many friends who have such an aesthetic, and I’m like ‘how do I do that?’ But I definitely try and keep things fairly casual, but when I’m really feeling up to it, do like a glam aspect to it. So something that’s easy to wear around, but can be dressed up easily if you just need to throw something else on, you know, that can go easily from work to class to wherever you need to be. So I kind of just try and keep it fairly simple, but definitely try and have a little something more, like a little oomf to it.”

What does expressing your style on campus mean to you? 

“To me, that definitely means just like, showing up for class looking like you’re ready for the world because it can be kind of hard to motivate yourself to get dressed just for class. I know for me I feel so much better, and like I can accomplish so much more in a day if I feel good about how I look. So to me that’s just getting up and getting ready to go; not deciding whether it’s for class or whatever, like I want to be ready for the world. So trying to just feel good about myself. It definitely takes a little extra time in the morning to do that, but on the days that I do it I just feel ready to go, ready to take on whatever I need to take on, and do my work, and go around town, or whatever.”

How would you dress for an 8:30am class? 

“I’m very fortunate and I’ve only had one 8:30 class ever-- really creative scheduling and refusal to take science classes that were at 8:30, I’ve avoided those until now. But for me, I love that right now athletic clothes can totally be stylish too, you can throw on some black leggings, a sleek shirt, and some sneakers and you’re ready to go. I have these ridiculous sequined joggers that I love, and I can just throw that on with like a shimmery shirt and it’s like ‘alright, we’re good to go!’”

What’s your favorite thing to do in New York City? 

“Definitely just going around to like every coffee shop in the city that I have the time to go to, and sit there for hours just either reading or doing work, or sometimes just sitting there and being a bum on my phone, but just sitting in coffee shops, drinking coffee, eating pastries, that is like, my passion.”

What are some of your favorite coffee shops? 

“When I’m around school, I love Kahve, because Kahve is so cute. It’s like, girlie and they have fun jazz music. By where I live, Max Cafe is really fun. It’s not so much a cafe as it is just a place that you can sit and drink coffee or order a meal, but if you go in there and order a coffee you can literally sit there for hours. They have really comfy couches, and like, nice lighting.”

How do you keep up a beauty routine through the stress of college? 

“Ah, always the struggle. For me, in the mornings, I tend to keep it really simple. Depending on how bad my skin looks, I might put on foundation or not, but I usually stick to mascara, blush, and maybe a lip color depending on my outfit. But my key is always, when I have the time during the week, do like, a facial or something that’s very self care; making sure that I am taking the time to take care of myself, whether to relax, or to do something nice for my skin, or to splurge on a manicure or something. Definitely just trying to find the time to do something once every week or so and just keeping it simple.”

Anything else you want Flashionistas to know: 

“I would definitely encourage anyone who is even slightly interested in any aspect of the magazine, you don’t even have to be like ‘Wow Flash is the coolest thing ever!’ One thing that I think is great is that if you have any interest in writing, in photography, in whatever, do it because getting that on your resume and having that experience is so beyond valuable. For me, Flash has been something I’ve talked about in every interview I’ve ever been at for an internship. It’s something that people are really interested in, and when they see that you have a project that you are invested in aside from school, it really shows that you’re willing to put your passion into something.”

[flashmag--fu]

Not That Dusty After All

by Nicola Campos and Alexa Sanders

The B, E, and G subway trains led us to our long awaited destination on a sunny Sunday morning. We finally arrived on Greenpoint Avenue in Brooklyn with $30 in hand and eyes on the prize—or prizes.

Dusty Rose Vintage was the first of many thrift stores we decided to visit as a part of our Thrift Shopping series, and it proved to be the perfect place to kick start our adventure.

Upon walking into the store, we were greeted with trendy, vintage-inspired wholesale clothes, bits and bobs in the form of pins, brooches, and eclectic necklaces, colorful, minimalist artwork that decorated the white walls, and antiques adorning the tables. A few typewriters were scattered around, but would anything less be expected from a vintage store? Beware, though, as these items are not set at typical thrift-store prices. The cheapest thing we saw was a small cat brooch for $15, and despite being lovers of cats and collectors of brooches, we couldn’t find the will to spend that much.

Beyond the front of the store lied the real goldmine: stacks of immense black tubs, filled to the brim with used clothes, lined the walls and circled around the warehouse. There was just a small, narrow path through the black tub maze for thrifters to navigate through. Each tub was marked by clothing category and price, i.e. Cotton Blazers $10 - $25. However, Dusty Rose, and thrifting in general, is not for the faint of heart or faint of arms. A lot of digging and stamina was required to excavate through the bins stuffed with apparel.    

Being the avid thrift shoppers that we were, our hands were itching to plunge right into those bins— hopefully in search of more “rose” than “dust.” We cradled everything from hawaiian shirts to floral printed midi skirts in our already full arms, experiencing the thrill that only thrifting can bring.

Its funny how one would question purchasing a skirt for only $10 at a thrift store but it’s precisely because we are on the hunt for bargains that $8 still seemed like a dent in the wallet. That is what it felt like at Dusty Rose for while the pieces were reasonably priced, we found it hard to shake the sweet sweet chime of Goodwill in our ears, reminding us that we are in New York City and nothing is truly cheap in this city.

We left the store with a few carefully curated pieces, each as stylish as the next. And while the Dusty Rose certainly had seriously good vibes and stunning pieces, the payoff for searching through all those bins could be better. It is a workout burrowing your nose through miscellaneous fabrics thrown into a basic container only to have that fabric be $25. So while the idea of sifting through clothes all day is a thrifter’s dream, thrifters also like cheap come-ups. Either you put in a lot of work and the prices are cheap, or hardly any work is needed and the prices are a bit more expensive.

 Stylish patterned pants purchased at Dusty Rose.

Dusty Rose is always worth a try if you’re downtown in Brooklyn for it was not that dusty after all.

[flashmag--fu]

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