MCM X WIZPAK

L-R | Killer Mike of Run the Jewels, 2018 Grammys nominee Rapsody, 6LACK, TI and Jamie Foxx

The Grammys made their way back to NYC for its 60th anniversary. Artists were gifted and have been seen rocking MCM's collab - MCM x WizPak. The exclusive wearable music smart backpack boasts a  breakthrough market technology and fabulous sound quality and made its debut this past weekend. The tech-savvy accessory includes high-quality sound from a 40w 2.1 stereo speaker system with 3D surround-sound technology built inside the backpack and is removable and can connect to any media player through a wireless Bluetooth connection. It has 3-charging ports for up to 14-hours of charge to any smartphone or tablet. In addition to its technology forward abilities, the bag itself embraces the luxury brand's heritage Stark Visetos backpack.

As seen above on Jamie Foxx, Grammy’s Breakout Star Rapsody (only the fifth female nominee for Best Rap Album ever in the 23-year history of the category),  two time nominee  6LACK. Others included  Killer Mike of Run the Jewels, and TI.

Read more from the Jan Issue.

BINGELY BOOKS

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HENDRIX
THE ILLUSTRATED STORY
Voyageur Press
Gillian G Gaar

Hendrix: The Illustrated Story was released this fall on what would have been the rock icon's 75th birthday. This is the first fully
illustrated book that shares his life and the legacy of one of the greatest of all time.

Although the rock guitarist enjoyed the global stage for under 4 years, he is known for his innovative and imaginative interpretation of blues and rock. His work inspired guitarists and music loves across
time and genres.

In this book, Seattle based music journalist
Gillian Gaar delves into the guitarist’s upbringing, his military service as an Army paratrooper, his role as a sideman on the chitlin’ circuit, his exile in the UK, and his eventual reemergence in the US and the fame that followed until his untimely
death in 1970. Featuring design as lavish as Hendrix’s music and carefully curated photography, posters, picture sleeves, and other assorted memorabilia, this is the ultimate Hendrix book experience.

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PRINCE: A PRIVATE VIEW
St. Martin's Press
Afshin Shahide

Author Afshin Shahide is no stranger to Prince as he had documented Prince's One Nite Alone tour, Musicology Tour and was also his cinematographer as well as photographer. During Prince's last 15 years of his life, he was his closest photographer
and is the only one to have shot the legendary 3121 private parties in Los Angeles that became the most sought after invitations in Hollywood.

With a foreward by Beyonce Knowles, Prince: A Private View is a curation of his work that showcases Prince's life. The book includes never before seen imagery from candids, intimate, concerts and more. In addition, the book includes captions that
talk about the moments in his life from those that are personal, witty, and present an insight into one of music's talented and legendary entertainers.

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SUNDAY SUPPERS
Southern Living
Cynthia Graubart

Sunday dinners are known as a great tradition to bring friends and family together. Southern LIving revitalizes the
tradition in their new book by  Cynthia Graubart, award winning author.

Over five chapters and 50 dishes (appetizers, salads, sides, drinks, desserts),
Cynthia shares an array of Sunday Suppers which are delicious and easy meals without any stress. The great thing about this meal is that it doesn't have a set time, can be casual
or formal and can be in any location. Whether you're trying a new recipe or one that has been passed down from one family to the next, it's a cherished time.

In addition to recipes, there are menu-planning ideas, cooking tricks, tips for stocking the pantry, decorating the table and additional tools to host the perfect dinner.

Read more from Dec Issue and see Bingely Books in mag.

FROM LA WITH LOVE, GIA MANTEGNA

When you grow up in a creative family, you get to try your hand at a number of things to find out what works for you. Gia Mantegna grew up in the industry and has been acting since she was a kid, is a singer and in addition to her roles, can say that she has been able to spend quality time on set as a fellow actor with her dad, Joe Mantegna in the nail-biting series, Criminal Minds.

We sat down with Gia to talk about how she got into acting, what it's like to be on Criminal Minds, playing dramatic characters with a twist, her new show that is available now on CW Seed, what's going on with her music and some of her go to places in LA as well as when she's here in NYC.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did the acting bug hit you?

GIA MANTEGNA: I started acting at a really young age in school. I think I was about 11 when I started theater and that’s kind of where I got the bug. I had obviously grown up in the business
because my dad is an actor.

AM: We’re huge fans of him!

GM: Yeah, yeah me too! Growing up around that environment and being in that industry it was just something that was second nature to me. And I was like, "when is it my turn?" Being the second born child and always wanting attention, I was known for having this personality and having a need to be heard. The only outlet for that was to sing and to perform - so that’s how it started. Then after doing theater, I started working in film and going to TV and auditioning. It hasn’t stopped yet – knock on wood.

AM: What are some of the roles that you have been in?

GM: My first big gig was a Christmas film called Unaccompanied Minors which was a film directed by Paul Feig. He did Bridesmaids, The Heat, Ghostbusters (Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy) etc. That was my introduction into really working in Hollywood. It was such a great experience working with Paul and the cast. That was a fun role for me and I have done a lot of
spots on TV.

I’m really drawn to the darker roles naturally. I am a positive person, but I love those really weird roles. I did a role on Perception where I played this girl who swallowed knives and it was a strange one, but I loved it. Now comedy is where things are going for me which I also love because it’s harder and comedic timing is hard to do. The dramatic roles come easier to me but
comedy is where I am falling into and where the world is going, it’s nice to laugh a little bit.

AM: How much has your father been an influence on your roles and how has it been also appearing on Criminal Minds with him?

GM: YES oh my gosh. I can’t watch Criminal Minds – I live alone with a cat!

AM: When we travel, it’s always on as a marathon and we get sucked in, but we have to have a buddy and the lights on to watch it!

GM: Oddly enough, I never worked with him on the show. When I first auditioned for the show, I was 17 there was a different actor playing my father and I never had any scenes with him. Then one day, the writers came to me with an idea where my character came back with Aubrey Plaza’s character as they wanted two strong female characters to come back to shake up the
team. Aubrey and I came out to do it and I didn’t have any good dialogue with my dad, but there was this scene where he pointed a gun at me which was really exciting as that is always fun to work with a family member holding a gun in your face. I mean when is that going to happen? Hopefully not. But it was great because I have worked on a number of shows, but Criminal Minds – that cast is such a tight-knit group, they’re a family. They get along and it’s
been running for so long which is a testament to how great it is to be able to step into that show for a few weeks. It was the greatest gig in the world and to be able to hang out with my dad for a bit. The character was fun too as she was psychotic!

AM: Tell us about CW Seed and how we can watch it?

GM: A lot of networks have digital platforms as I think that they are trying to compete with Netflix and things like that. CW Seed (shows you can catch: Riverdale, Original Dynasty) is CW’s answer to that. It’s their digital platform where they create new media and they also run shows that have already been out on the website. You can watch on their website or their app.

Our show, Life After First Failure has myself and Breanne (who plays my best friend on the show), we received the script and we loved that there were two strong female characters
shaking things up – we fell in love with it. We did 3 episodes in Portland and CW Seed ended up breaking it up into 6 episodes - to make it more palatable for the audience.

The way it seems to be going is that it’s all about quick easy content for quick gratification. At first, I was a little disappointed, but it’s the way that things are going now. I like longer episodes, but the younger generation is easily bored and when they’re bored, you lose your audience. But the character was so much fun to play and it was different and new. Honestly, it was one of my favorite people to play.

AM: Is there a second season coming out?

GM: In a perfect world, yes – the hope was that the network would see that there was a strong response to it – but they’re kind of new. So a lot of it has been left to us and social media has really helped in terms of campaigning for the show. We definitely want to come back to do more episodes – right now we’re not sure so we want people to watch and tweet to request more episodes.

AM: We know that you are also a singer can you tell us about how you started that and what your plans are?

GM: I was always singing at a young age. My parents threw me into everything soccer, piano, saxophone etc. Singing stuck with me – my sister and I took lessons at a very young age. Both of my parents have a musical background and it was just one of those things that I always kept in my back pocket, but I was too scared to use and then it got to a point that I really wanted to do a show so I got a producer and a band and we put it together with a show at The Whiskey in LA. It was so great, but there aren’t really any plans as I was starting to work on an album and then acting picked up, but it's always something I go back to. Right now, I record things and sell them to shows and just kind of do it as a hobby.

PHOTO COURTESY | Scott Bonnie

AM: What is the genre?

GM: It ended up being a rock show when I was at The Whiskey. But the song I’m most proud of, ‘I Won’t Wait’ it’s alternative/electronic. It has a cool vibe to it as I’m inspired by Banks and Tove Lo - just I love that electronic ease and fun. But when I get back into singing, I want to do a lot of oldies covers as I listen to a lot of 70s music. I love Top 40, but I’m inspired by that era. I have been listening to a lot of THEM (Van Morrison’s old band) lately and I thought it would be really fun to do a lot of covers of music that my parents grew up with as that's what I listened to growing up.

AM: What is your personal style when you're going out for brunch versus when you're having a night out?

GM: It doesn’t change – it’s always the same – I’m all black everything – it makes doing laundry very easy. I always dress for winter or fall – I wear Doc Martins all the time, I live in them. I love skinny jeans and a baggy sweatshirt on top. I love jewelry which allows me to go a little crazy and I love makeup! My sister and I went to makeup school just for fun and my sister was really into it – she has autism and is really high functioning, but my parents didn’t want her to go alone so I went as her pal and I ended up loving it. I love playing with makeup looks and it taught me what I could do with makeup – so it’s all about the accessories.

AM: How do you take time for yourself in the midst of your busy schedule?

GM: It’s interesting as an actor, you’re your own boss and there is going to be downtime so you’re always trying to stay proactive. I do piano as much as I can to stay with my music.

I do meditate - big meditator. I tried running for 5 mins. - it was horrible, but I really love yoga. There is a huge yoga culture in LA - which I know is everywhere as well. But I have been doing
yoga for so long that I just do it on my own and I just do it in my trailer. Now that I have this amazing cat in my life, I love meditating and doing yoga at home. I don’t do any high impact – I
don’t. I can’t do it because I have this really weird jaw issue which is a severe form of TMJ where I have to get injections in my masseter muscles. So when I do anything high impact the stress goes to my neck and my face and then I have to go to the Chiropractor and it becomes this whole thing. Everything is low impact and easy – I walk a lot and although LA is not a walking town, I live in West Hollywood so I can do that.

AM: What charity/philanthropy do you do?

GM: Because my sister has autism, I have always been involved in that as it has been a big part of my life and to give back to the community. My family and I do not support Autism Speaks as they have paid celebrities to do endorsements which makes sense, but many don't know what they're talking about and funds have gone to the CEOs and very little of the money is going to autism research. More grassroots organizations is where we go and my dad does a lot of work with veterans so anything that involves them and the military, I am all about it. Autism is big for me and there isn’t one that I champion specifically.

PHOTO COURTESY | Marco David

AM: What's on your playlist?

GM: I’ve been listening to a lot of THEM, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan – I went to a concert of his last year and it was so great. I just really love him. Let me grab my phone out. I love Tove Lo and Banks of course. A lot of oldies - OH - Roy Orbison - he's the best for the holidays - I really love his stuff and I have been getting obsessed with Chris Isaak again. OH Tom Jones is my
go to when I'm getting ready, I go to Spotify, put in Tom Jones and listen to everything. It gets crazy and my dad makes fun of me and asks, “why do you listen to my music?” I love it and everything coming out lately now – it’s cool to vibe out to in the background, but I don’t connect with it and it’s not inspirational to me.

AM: When you're in LA, what's 1 place you work out, 1 place you eat at 1 place you shop? What version do you have for that here in NYC?

GM: The answer to most of those questions is home, home, home haha. In NY, I go to McSorley’s Old Ale House - I was just there last night with my mom and my sister. So only in NY
would this take place, we met these two guys where one had just broken up with his wife and one with his girlfriend and they wanted to recreate this picture that they had taken when they were with them at the same bar a few years prior! One ex was blonde and one was brunette and we re-created the picture.

In LA, people are very "don’t talk to me," but in NY it’s so different and they were from Orange County. It was hysterical and the picture was identical and I even arranged everything on the table the same way. McSorley's is my go to.

In LA, I go anywhere although there is this cool Australian bar called The Eveleigh. Serafina just opened in LA so I love that – they’re on Sunset. I work out at home in LA so I just go outside as there is so much hiking you can do and I want to try boxing. For shopping, I am all about ASOS – they have great stuff, affordable and they always have black options. In NY it’s anywhere.
I’m obsessed with shoes, so any shoe store. I love Opening Ceremony and I love Soho in general. Evolution is here and I love them, we have something similar in LA called Necromance, but I haven’t bought anything. Where am I going to put taxidermy squirrels?

My God mom has a store in Toluca Lake near my parents house called Pergolina and she has these beautiful taxidermy animals which she gets from Necromance. Her store is where I get my jewelry and I wear these bracelets all the time. But I’m not a big shopper – I’m an eater – I love to eat. My mom has a restaurant in Burbank called Taste Chicago.

AM: Wait we have heard of Taste Chicago!

GM: I know a lot of people think that it’s my dad’s, but it’s my moms!

AM: Which one is from Chicago?

GM: Both – my whole family is from Chicago and here. We’re here because one of my family members just bought a house in New Jersey. We’re the only ones in LA. We needed to bring Chicago to LA.

AM: So what are we ordering at Taste Chicago?

GM: Chicago dogs, Sicilian Pan Pizza, Deep Dish, Italian Beef, everything – it’s hard core. You don’t go there to get a salad, you go there to work! But I actually prefer NY style pizza haha but I go there for the Italian Beef.

PHOTO COURTESY | Marco David

Read more from the Dec Issue and see From LA with Love, Gia Mantegna in mag.

NERVO YORK

We end our year the way we began it - with NERVO, but this time, in addition to our interview, we hung out with them right before their Lavo NYC show to shoot the International EDM DJ duo. Liv and Mim have been traveling, DJing around the world, releasing new  music and continuing to connect with their fans.

We brought them to Grammy winner and music icon, Desmond Child's home (we have an exclusive interview with Desmond following this interview), which was the perfect location for this shoot. We talked with them about what they're up to, who they've been working with, where they'd like to perform, their upcoming show for NYE at the W in Miami and what festivals you'll see them in during 2018.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We kicked off the year with an interview with you ladies and it's only fitting that we close it with you as well as you're gracing our Dec cover - what has been a snapshot of this year from what you were up to personally, musically, - whatever you wish to share.

NERVO: We have had a year of absolute madness. Lots of great things going on that we just need to pinch ourselves sometimes. We also are just doing our best to keep our heads above water and enjoy the little moments you know… We think all touring artists or just busy people, in general, are the same. There’s a lot of pressure mixed with a lot of adrenaline filled moments. It can be a lot sometimes!

AM: You ladies are multiple threats as you're DJ's, producers, songwriters, composers, models, brand ambassadors, etc., so it was only fitting to have you shoot in Desmond Child's home
- can you share some of your projects that you did this year or next year?

N: Tell us about it - Desmond Child is a total legend. What an honour to be shooting in his home! Love how we decked his house out.

So… We released a bunch of music this year, including a few collabs - one with New York based band Sofi Tukker and some others with more dance artists like DVBBS and Danny Avila, Oh, and then there’s the collab we wrote with Cheif Keef which was pretty special! We have been touring mainly Europe for the summer, but we also have our residency at Omnia in Las Vegas, which gets us over to The USA about 16 times a year.

We have a bunch of new songs in the works which we are focusing in on now. Quarters 4 and 1 are always for making new music and that means touring a bit less.

AM: What's the process like when you're creating your music and how is it different when you're creating something for another artist?

N: We’re more relaxed when we make music for others or even for a collaboration. Something about it being less pressure. When it’s your own record suddenly you feel like people are going
to hate on you if they don’t like it. It’s a part time job blocking out that noise!

AM: How do you go about finding inspiration for upcoming projects?

N: We are constantly inspired. To be honest we don’t have enough time to not be inspired. We have so many unfinished ideas that we just need an extra 2 days a week to finish. We must be
ADHD or something.

AM: What is a NERVO Christmas like - do you make it home to Australia for the holiday, do you guys cook and what gifts are you looking for this year?

N: It’s pretty low key and is the same every year. We have a huge lunch in our family home in Melbourne, then we all go to our Aunty Mary and Uncle Max’s home for more food, and then we
eventually pass out around 10pm with belly’s so full that we couldn’t dream of eating dinner! Leftovers are eaten for the next 4 days or so. We are Italian/Australian so there’s always SO
much food!

AM: This NYE, where are you playing and what about 2018 makes you excited to ring it in?

N: We are playing Miamiiiiiii! At the W Hotel. We can’t wait!! Miami is just the best for New Year's Eve. We think we might hang around a few days and have some beach time and Cuban food.

AM: What's on your playlist at the moment that gets you up and moving?

N: Massively inspired by what Jax Jones is doing at the moment. Sampling Booka Shade and flipping it into a 2017 anthem! Go JJ!

AM: Where are some festivals/cities that you'll be hitting this year that we can expect to see you performing at?

N: We are playing Tomorrowland in Belgium again. Always a yearly highlight! We are also playing Creamfields in South America. And of course, everyone can catch us at Ushuaia in Ibiza and Omnia/Hakkassan in The USA for our residencies.

AM: What is a gig that you would like to do ie. Super Bowl Half Time show, that you have yet to be asked to do but want to check off your bucket list?

N: Probably Coachella. It’s such a great festival and one of the only ones we have never been asked to play at. We don't think they like us. ha! Maybe we're too bubbly or mainstream or
something... We dunno. But we have been to the festival and it's such a great vibe. Always perfect weather.

AM: You're rocking a lot of fun styles throughout our Dec cover shoot, but what is your personal style when you head out to play a set for NYE versus when you're hanging out?

N: We like to dress things up when we play a gig. We love body suits, lycra, face jewels, creepers, teased up hair, more is more. When we are hanging out we’re a lot more chilled and casual - for example we are loving the Fenty clothes that we wore in the shoot for our travel/studio days!

AM: You guys travel a lot, what are your 3 musts that you take with you no matter what city you're rocking in to feel like you're at home?

N: Iijin snake skin silver and gold shoes (for Liv), Hairspray (for Mim), and our laptops (for both of us).

AM: The Winter Olympics are coming up and we're fans of curling, what teams/sports are you cheering for?

N: Ooohh we’ll have to check it out!! We do love to ski so that’s something we would like to watch. Does Australia even have a team? If Australia is competing then we would have to go for
them but if they don’t then we would go for Italy because that is where our parents were born :).

NERVO YORK CREDITS

COVER + PG 14 | FENTY X PUMA Blocked Track Jacket + Blocked Taped Track Pant | OUTDOOR VOICES Sport Bra | FENTY X PUMA AnkleStrap Sneaker | FENTY X PUMA Monday Cap | FRAME Le Original Patch Jacket |

FENTY X PUMA Hooded Zip Front Leotard | FENTY X PUMA Printed Bra | RUBEN GALARRETA Legging Harness |

PG 16 | BLACK MILK Fatale Dress | LAGOS JEWELRY Black Beaded Caviar Bracelet | ARTISTS' OWN Wrapped Bracelet, Charm Bracelet, Watch + Hat |

PG 19 | MCM Shearling Bag | ARTISTS' OWN Bra, Shorts + Scarf |

PG 20 | SPLENDID Racerback Turtleneck Sport Bra | ELIZABETH ACKERMAN Palazzo Palm Pants | DIANA ROSH FUR Olive + Blue Fur Coat | LOVE KNITZ Hat |

PG 21 | DIANA ROSH FUR Multicolor Coat | HAT ATTACK Arm Warmers | MIRA RAE Velvet Leggings | MCM Shearling Hat |

PG 22 | ROMPLY Blush Wrap Romper | HAT ATTACK Hat | LAGOS JEWELRY Ring | ARTISTS' OWN Bra |

PG 25 | ROMPLY Navy/Gold Tapestry Romper | NINA JEWELRY Swarovski Bangle | MCM Polke Backpack in Starry Eyed Bunny | ARTISTS' OWN Marcher Jacket |

Athleisure Mag readers know that a number of our shoots take place in luxury apartments that have yet to be released to the public or are being sold. We tend to maintain the privacy of the homeowners; however, this shoot was perfectly aligned as it took place at Grammy-winning and Emmy-nominated songwriter/producer Desmond Child's home!

He is one of the most accomplished hit-makers, having written and produced more than eighty Billboard Top 40 hits spanning five decades including "Livin' On A Prayer”, “You Give Love A Bad Name”, “I Was Made For Lovin' You”, “Dude Looks Like A Lady”, “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” and “Waking Up In Vegas.” From Aerosmith to Zedd, his genre-defying collaborations also include Bon Jovi, KISS, Motley Crew, Joan Jett, Cher, Michael Bolton, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks, Meat Loaf, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Sia, Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, selling over 500 million records worldwide as well as downloads, YouTube views and streaming plays already in the billions. His upcoming autobiography LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: BIG SONGS BIG LIFE with David Ritz is scheduled for release the Fall 2018. Desmond Child was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and serves on its Board of Directors as well as the Board of ASCAP. In 2012 he co-founded the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and serves as its Chairman/CEO. He is also Chairman of The Fountains of Musica Foundation, who’s mission is to complete Alan LeQuire's aquatic bronze masterpiece MUSICA located at the entrance to Nashville’s Music Row.

ATHLEISURE MAG: It was an honor to shoot in your beautiful home and NERVO was very excited to see that they were in your apartment. Please share with our readers about how you got into the music business and whom you have worked with.

DESMOND CHILD: My beautiful mother, the late Cuban poet and Bolero composer Elena Casals, was always writing her romantic and soulful songs at her old upright piano on the dairy farm in Hawthorn, Florida, where I was born in 1953. At that time, I didn’t know that most people don’t write songs as a natural expression of the ups and downs of ordinary life. I would sit on my mother's lap at the piano and bang out long unrepeatable classical sounding improvisations. As soon as I could sit upright, she would make me play for her bohemian friends sitting around on the floor smoking and drinking during the Mad Men era when that was actually still good for you.

Not being able to afford a gift, I wrote my first official pop song titled “Birthday Blues” at the age of 15 in 1968 as a birthday tribute to a beautiful girl I was trying to impress named Laura
Stern. After that, I never looked back and kept writing songs all the way into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where I was inducted into in 2008. That only took 40 years. ;)

ATHLEISURE MAG: Your home is awesome and there were so many elements that were amazing, but we all enjoyed your piano - when did you decide that you would have these notable talents sign your piano, and are there signatures that you have yet to get, but still
want to have in there?

DC: It was a random day, and I was walking down 57th Street, and when I got to the Steinway showroom, I looked through the window and saw this gorgeous Steinway D lit up like it was on a stage. I went in, sat down at it, and it seemed to just play itself. I ended up buying it on the spot, but I had to put it in storage for 2 years while my apartment was being renovated. When the time finally came to move-in the piano, I had to hire a crane to lift it up on its side in a massive wooden crate and slip it through the living room window.

It was an incredible feat that tied up Fifth Avenue traffic and pissed-off a lot of people.

As soon as I started doing writing sessions with top stars or important visitors, I would ask them to write their names in the piano along with the date. It started to get crowded in there and some names are completely unrecognizable, so I guess I will have to create a map of the stars to keep track of them all.

These are the names I would love to have in the piano: Joni Mitchell, Sir Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Jennifer Hudson, Sade, Imogen Heap, Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons, Beyonce & Jay Z, Steven Tyler, and Joe Perry.

AM: Are there projects that you are working on that you can share with us?

DC: I am just putting the finishing touches on my auto-biography - LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: BIG SONGS BIG LIFE with David Ritz. I hope to release in the fall of 2018.

AM: What is currently on your playlist?

DC: I only play two records ever… AMOROSO by Jaoa Gilberto, produced by my dear late friend Tommy LiPuma, and Sade’s epic LOVE DELUX. Over the past 5 years I’ve added Concha Buika’s
rare but exquisite albums. Any other music I hear is by accident.

AM: With New Years Eve just around the corner, what's the perfect playlist that we should be creating to celebrate the end of 2017 and the start of 2018?

DC: Any of Amy Grants 5 Christmas albums. Amy is my husband Curtis’ favorite artist of all time…. It just ain’t Christmas without Amy Grant.

We enjoyed finding out more about Desmond Child and his home which is currently on the market. We sat down with Louise Phillips Forbes of Halstead properties to find out more about 1215 Fifth Avenue #8CD as well as the neighborhood it resides in.

ATHLEISURE MAG: There are so many great aspects to this apartment, from its layout to the INCREDIBLE views of Central Park - what can you tell us about this property?

LOUISE PHILIPS FORBES: What’s not to envy in this exceptional home?! It’s a full-floor combination apartment with panoramic views of Central Park that are breathtaking year-round, and an abundance of custom designer details like art-deco moldings and Venetian plaster walls. The grand and expansive formal living room is an entertainer’s dream with four large picture windows (manufactured by Hope's) facing west, high-beamed ceilings and a statuesque
wood-burning fireplace. Plus, the spectacular views carry through to the formal dining room. A peaceful retreat, the master suite also showcases the Central Park views and features superbly crafted built-ins and an oversized walk-in closet that resembles a luxury boutique. You can escape to the spa in the elegant Vitrolite tile and Terrazzo master bathroom with a deep soaking tub, double sink vanity, walk-in steam shower, and heated floors. But it's the park views that will transport you to another world. A culinary delight, the eat-in chef's kitchen is the heart of the home with an open design that includes a substantial casual dining/living and media area. Kitchen highlights are the sophisticated Terrazzo countertops, abundance of pantry storage cabinets, and high-end appliances. A coveted laundry room holds the side-by-side and full-size Miele washer and Asko dryer with a sink and storage. To top it off, there is a new state-of-the-art Lutron lighting system and Crestron integrated surround audio system with built-in
speakers all through the apartment. Two oversized bedrooms and a second full bathroom complete the home with through-wall AC's in every room and great closets throughout. It’s pretty close to perfect!

AM: What amenities are offered in this building for residents?

LFP: A pre-war treasure, the Brisbane House at 1215 Fifth Avenue was developed and built in 1928 by distinguished journalist and columnist for Hearst newspapers, Arthur Brisbane, and designed by the renowned architectural firm Schultze & Weaver. The beautiful 16-story limestone-and-caramel-brick building boasts an elegant lobby and full-service amenities, including 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent, private courtyard, fitness area, central
laundry room, personal storage, bike storage, and pet-friendly attitude.

AM: Tell us about the neighborhood that is directly around this building and what neighborhood is this considered?

LFP: A premier residence nestled near Carnegie Hill, this elegant gem is conveniently located across from Central Park and along Museum Mile with easy access to world-class exhibits at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, among others. Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
beckon with high-end boutique shopping and fine art galleries, plus there is an abundance of distinguished restaurants, charming cafes, gourmet grocers, supermarkets, Equinox Fitness
Club, the 92nd Street Y, and many popular retail destinations.

AM: For those that are interested in purchasing this unit, how can they find out more information?

LFP: It would be very easy to call this stunning apartment home given the grandeur of the rooms, designer details throughout, and abundance of Central Park views! To schedule an appointment, simply contact me directly and I will be happy to give you a private tour and discuss the purchasing details. You can reach me via email at lphillips@halstead.com or at 212-381-3329.

AM: Where can readers find out about additional properties that you represent?

LFP: Visit my website and click on the tab for “My Listings”. You can view pictures, 3D floor plans, and videos along with detailed descriptions of each property I’m working with from
downtown to uptown. The available homes range from a three-bedroom loft apartment in Tribeca to a 6-story grand townhouse on the Upper East Side.

Read more from the Dec Issue and see NERVO YORK in mag.

FOOTWEAR.FASHION.LIFESTYLE | SOUL DXB

There are a number of events that are taking place in the first few days of December as we begin to close out your year. From music festivals Art Basel Miami and more. Sole DXB takes place in Dubai Dec 7th - 9th and focuses on Fashion, Footwear and Lifestyle by merging a number of brands and musicians together for a fun experience. Sole DXB is helmed by Hussain Moloobhoy (began his career at Saatchi London and moves to the Middle East and joined Saatchi and Saatchi Dubai where her served as its Creative Director - he took a sabbatical to explore global designs and fashion industries which led him to create a creative agency), Joshua Cox (serves as Co-Founder of Sole DXB to create a platform to help revive culture and inspire the urban fashion industry of the region), Kris Balarite (with a focus on creative design and advertising as well as freelancing with sports brand consulting, he serves as a Co-Founder of Sole DXB and is the brand creative director for the first ever basketball concept store in the Middle East known as Conquer) and Rajat Malhotra (in addition to being a partner in the Sole DXB, Rajat established a media and telecom business where he served as a CEO as well as partnering with Sunny Rahbar as a Co-Founder of the Third Line Gallery which has allowed curated exhibitions in NYC's gallery Stellar Rays).

With their creative backgrounds, we wanted to know more about what Sole DXB is as it has taken place for a number of years and is constantly focused on specific cultures that are being presented. With its mixture of art, sports, music and footwear, we took some time to find out more about this event.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Summarize in your own words what Sole DXB is?

SOLE DXB: VERY. DOPE. A celebration of hip-hop culture that has been so integral to our lives. We're simply creating an event that we, as people, wold want to go to. Just so seems there's a lot of others like us too...

AM: What is the decision behind celebrating various cultures at various points of your event from Amercan Hip Hop one year, British Hip Hop and this year, Japanese contemporary design?

SD: Culture is global, its nuance local, our individual upbringings widespread. As partners, we all grew up across different cities all around the world, but moved to Dubai eventually. During that process, Dubai had so much to offer, but there were parts of our past lives that we missed and we didn't feel that we should have to get on a place everytime we wanted to experience it. Last year, we looked at how the scene goes down in London. For many it was the year of grime, so we brought out champions of UK sounds like Skept, Stormzy, Little Simz, and Chipmunk. The year before it was very much a look at how the orginators of hip-hop, the US, did things. So we brought in legends like Mobb Deep and DMC (of Run DMC). We consider ever event an education through experience for our consumers. This year. we've looked East, especially at the real design finesse from Japan. So we're bringing out (Fragment founder and) icon Hiroshi Fujiwara to give a talk. Then we have brands like Visvim, Wacko Maria, Neihgborhood and Undercover showcasing their wares. Beyond that, there's some real godfathers of the industry coming down - we have Mass Appeal offering an exclusive international screening of (yet to be shown) Word is Bond. And that's before we even talk music (read: Kano, Pusha T, Goldlink, IAMDDB and more ...).

AM: What are the pillars of DXB offerings that attendees come to expect regradless of the theme running within the year?

SD: The best in beats, kicks, design, food and vibes, all under a big blue sky in the sun. As Bobbito Garcia, our longterm guest and friend said, "there really is nothing else like it in the world." We pride ourselves on a humble and open atmosphere. The days are smooth, the parties are bumping.

AM: What is the Dubai Design District (d3) and why has this partnership been integral to your event?

SD: Dubai Design District is our home, and moreover, the city's destination singularly dedicated to to design. It's the chosen home for the region's growing collective of creatives, artists and designers - and an institution we are very proud to work with. We have been partnered with Dubai Design District for three years now, and recently signed a further three-year contract to mark our mutual respect, and furthermore, agreement to nurture the Middle East's creative culture together. If the last 3 years have been about building our brand and establishing a global presence, the next 3 years will be about nurturing and fostering regional talent We will serve as a platform to showcase our stories to the rest of the world and to connect our international visitors to the community here d3 are central to all of this.

AM: You have a number of amazing entertainers and brands that are participating this year, who are you excited about?

SD: NxWorries (presented by PUMA), King Push, Kano, Teyana Taylor (presented by Reebok), Goldlink, IAMDDB... We have such a variety of great performers it's difficult to pinpoint just one. But there's also the talks, the brand showcases, the art. Hiroshi Fujiwara (Fragment), Jeff Staple (Staple Design), Melody Ehsani, and Peter Bittenbender (Mass Appeal Records) are all speaking amongst others. Then we have the Nike basketball tournament in conjunction with Ball Above All. And Cadillac is hosting the regional debut of Cadillac X Warhol: Letters to Warhol. FRAME is a concept store bringing down some of Japan's leading brands. Then there's' a wealth of really exciting local brands, like amongst few and ANTHLGY doing their thing. And really, that's just the start of it There is a lot to see and do.

AM: Are you already planning next year's event and will there be future cities that you will bring this to?

SD: We are always cooking up plans. 2018 will be a madness - trust us on that!

AM: Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about DXB and how those of us who may not be attending can still be a part of this event?

SD: Follow us on Instagram @SoleDXB - you might not be there but it will definitely make you want to visit.

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Footwear.Fashion.Lifestyle Soul DXB in mag.

TURN ON THE LIGHTS

"You can't know where you are going, until you know where you have been." This quote always seems to take on more meeting when we find out the varied paths that people get to where they want to be. We sat down with Lights (Warner Bros Records) to find out how she got into the industry, her upcoming tour next year, her new Skin&Earth album, which also includes a series of comic books, her favorite travel destinations and how she defines balance as a songwriter, performer, wife and mother.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you get into the music industry – tell us a little bit about your journey.

LIGHTS: That’s a loaded question! I started out having no idea about how to get into the industry and I don’t think that anybody does. And there really isn’t one specific way to do it. I
think at the beginning, I had a pretty skewed view of how it was to be done and how it would pan out. I did music because I loved it and I started writing songs when I was 11 – I had my little
8-tracks and I started producing when I was 13. By the time I was 15, I had multiple albums of music and at that time, it was before MySpace, Peer Volume or YouTube and there was no place to put it. You actually did have to have a way in. So I enter contests like songwriting
contests, local singing contests and stuff – just to see what would happen.

Randomly, my way in came. My mom worked at Walmart. She was an employee, so you could be in the flyer. We took a picture which they selected and we had the opportunity to be in
the flyer. The photo I sent in had me with a guitar and they picked me. They came to my town and shot some pictures of me and a few other locals for the Walmart flyer. I got $30 and modeled their turtleneck – it was great. So the makeup artist said, “oh the picture that you sent in with you in the guitar – do you actually play?” I was like, “Yeah, I have a whole EP.” I was like 14 or 15 at the time. So he asked me to sing for them and I did a Mariah Carey song in the trailer and he asked me to bring the EP by his hotel, which I did and then he brought it to his friend who was in the industry that happened to be coming into the area later that summer for a
festival and he ended up becoming my manager. We worked on the music for a couple of years and then shopped it to the labels and then a couple of years later, I got a development deal with Sony and then I made some connections in the industry and 2 years after I was dropped from the development deal, I got signed to publishing which is songwriting for TV shows as well as working on my own music with sessions with other writers.

At this time MySpace came along and that’s when I was able to put my stuff up and everything changed. It wasn’t the label that launched my career but an online platform that allowed other
people to have access to me. Then Old Navy used a couple of my songs in their campaigns and that is when other people found out about me and then I got signed on from there at 19 with Warner – everything went from there!

AM: We never figured that Walmart would play into this story!

L: You never know where your break is going to come from! The most important thing is to do what you love and to take the opportunities that present themselves. You never know where it
will lead to! With that said, many people ask me what way they can get into the industry and I tell them that they have what they need right in front of them as the access is online to get your music out there!

AM: We’re beyond bummed that we missed your show here in NYC earlier this month, but what can we expect when we go to a Lights show and what kind of music is it that you are doing?

L: It’s really about putting my shows into a story arc and that’s even more imperative now with the comic that comes with the record as we will be implementing that into the next tour. It's an emotional journey and it starts out energetic as I want to make sure that everyone is comfortable and singing along. My favorite part is to see that in a show and then I like to break it down to more of an intimate tone and then end it on a high note. Set lists are always really well thought out. People should come ready to dance and ready to sing and of course there are cool lights – literally, which is really cool.

AM: What is your personal style in terms of dressing at your shows versus out and about with you and your family?

L: It’s interesting how I dress for a show isn’t too far from how I dress day to day, it’s just more amped up. It’s more extreme and over the years, I have come to know that how I dress really affects how I walk and how I am on stage. I need to feel empowered and I need to feel like a woman. It’s somewhere between Lara Croft from Tomb Raider with short shorts and big boots – I always wear big boots and big socks even in the summertime. I love a crop top that channels my whole Anime Manga face with the bright hair. I like a little spice of fantasy mixed in with a bit of a warrior.

AM: Obviously you are extremely talented, how did the comic book into this portion of your music as well?

L: I have always loved comics and have been reading them for years. I think that comics, like music is one of those forms of entertainment that all the fans want to become the creators.
Once you read comments you want to make it, you want to try it – to create the content. I have always wanted to do it and it has been a dream of mine for a long time. Part of that dream has
been wanting to see out in that world a music comic project, by a woman. It just didn’t exist and there were a few things here and there and even with dudes, it wasn’t that common. So I
wondered, when is a girl going to do this? One day I was like, “why can’t it be you – get to your computer girl!”

I shrugged off the fears of not knowing how to do it as I think that is one of the major factors that holds us back from doing what we want to do because we feel that we don’t know how
to do it. I just taught myself how to do it! I did the research, I got the books - went online and watched webinars and tutorials and I just had to start from somewhere. I have seen my dreams come true in putting this together over the last year. It’s just been amazing. I did a lot of work – I write it, draw it, render it, color it, package it and ship it! I send it to the publisher and it’s from my heart and mind and it’s so cool to see it all come together!

AM: That is so cool so do you go to Comic Con with this?

L: Yeah! I have always gone to Con as a fan and last year I was at Toronto Fan X which I have gone to for 10 years as a fan. This year, I was there as a guest with a professional pass and people were CosPlaying as my character! It was so awesome!

AM: This is so inspiring and once again, we’re bummed that we didn’t see you tour!

L: Well, when we came through the fall last year, it was a shorter set as we were supporting Paris but next Feb/March when we come through, it will be a full production experience and a
full set! It will be directly related to the comic.

AM: Obviously you travel a lot, what are some of your favorite places that you love going to?

L: Oh one of my favorite cities to go to is Amsterdam! Everywhere you look is an Instagram shot – it’s so scenic and there are flowers all over the place. It’s gorgeous and I have even more of an appreciation for it especially doing the comics – as an artist now. You have to do studies and backgrounds in art and lighting. I’ve noticed things in the environment that I would have never noticed before like the way a shadow falls – so you notice your surroundings more and Amsterdam is one of those cities that everywhere you look it’s picturesque and inspiring. Another area is Mexico – I love the beaches and it's one of my favorite places in the world.
I grew up traveling and last year, my husband and I went to Thailand and explored the jungles and then we went to Tokyo – that trip itself was a bit of a catalyst that made me really want to
do the comic and a month later I was drawing!

AM: We love Tokyo, being there really changed the way we looked at things for sure!

L: I know – when I got there I was like, “I want to do music and have it played here – how can I make this happen?” So, we have Giants in four different languages and Japanese is one of them!

AM: This holiday season, are you doing a lot of performances, will you be doing festivals for 2018?

L: Yeah it’s going to be a festival summer this year I think and our tour is 2.5 months in the spring with the festivals in the summer and then touring in the fall. The final issue of the comic comes out next month and then we will be packaging it into a graphic novel and then will tour on that in comic shops which will be some pretty cool stuff on that as well.

AM: Clearly your busy, how do you take time for yourself – are you a yogi – what do you do?

L: I do a bit of that. It’s all just balance. I’ve learned a lot over the years and still have a lot to learn about getting work done and taking time. I mean it’s not about saying I’m going to work here this week and then take time out here on this day. There was a time in my life, that I thought that was the way to do it. Instead it’s more like, today I am going to work 4-5 hours and then have dinner with my kid or spend some time tonight to do whatever. Everyday is in
front of you so you need to take the time daily you need to do the work but you need to take the time. I mean life moves and we spend so much of our time waiting for life to happen and
it’s right now and we need to enjoy it while getting stuff done.

AM: What would you like to share with Athleisure Mag’s readers that you may not have been able to share?

L: I’d say check out the album …… it’s my Opus and the greatest thing that I have done so far and I’m proud of it. Listen to the music on its own, read the comic on it’s own and then do so
together – it’s a totally augmented experience and check out the Instagram page @SkinAndEarthWorld – it’s a map of the world from within the comic and its interactive - click through the various accounts and explore the world and go to different locations and find hidden song clips. It’s just a fun way to experience the world without having to pay for anything right now.

THE GOLDIE AWARDS SHINE BRIGHT IN BROOKLYN

September marked the first annual Goldie Awards DJ and Beats Battle in Brooklyn, NY. Presented by Fool's Gold, Thump, Noisey, TMWRK, and Serato - the night featured an array of
promising beats and DJ artists from around the globe. The star-studded judges panel was stacked with Diplo, Just Blaze, DJ Craze, Destructo, Mija, The Whooligan and Mannie Fresh,
who rooted on the artists with awe and strong community vibe. Dave East joined in with hosting duties for the evening breaking up the show with light and crisp banter, always with a
brew in hand.

The packed house cheered and bopped to beats, scratches and remixes as they filled the air for each battle. The battles were a good formula and the pulse was fresh through the show. The
few moments of downtime between sets allowed for some drink breaks, audible digestion, and IG moments.

A-Trak is right, all of the artists are winners in gaining some great exposure with the event. You never know who s watching and what next lies in store. Congrats to all artists that performed.
The Beat Battle contestants were: Brace, City the Beatmaster, Fresh Kils, HOLLY, MSCLS, R!OT, STFU, and Young Sidechain. The DJ Battle contestants were: John Beez, K-Swizz, Kayper, Miles Medina, Rafik, Rocket Jackson, Vekked, and Yuto.

The Goldie Awards bring good recognition and flavor to the industry truly cutting across genres. It is highly recommended for fans of various musical tastes. DJ’s don’t sleep on this – make sure you have your short demo submissions hashtagged and ready for next time.

Read more from the Sep Issue and see The Goldie Awards Shine Bright in Brooklyn in mag.

2017 GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL

On Sept 23rd, the 2017 Global Citizen Festival came back for its 6th year on Central Park's Great Lawn in NYC. This event culminated Global Citizen Week, a series of more than 30 public, advocacy-driven events and digital activations that took place across NYC. Prior to this week, Global Citizens took 1.6 million actions over 2 months that secured 29 commitments, 55 announcements and 13 calls to action which totaled $3.2 billion to assist in affecting the lives of 221 million people. These efforts will continue to assist in holding governments and business accountable to deliver on their promises for years to come. The concert and summit like festival included world leaders, non-profit organizations, social conscious focused artists and Global Citizens that are intent on leading the world to Global Goals for Sustainable Development to end extreme poverty by 2030.

Over 60,000 attendees and millions watched live (via broadcasting partners at MSNBC, Youtube and Twitter) with performances by Stevie Wonder, Green Day, The Killers, The Lumineers, and featuring the Chainsmokers, with special guest performances by Pharrell Williams, Big Sean, Andra Day, and Alessia Cara.

| PHOTOGRAPHY Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Global Citizen - Model & Activist Joan Smalls |

Top Campaign Victories  

Economic Empowerment | Accenture, Citi, Ernst & Young, and Procter & Gamble each committed to source $100 million from women-owned businesses - a majority of whom will be based in the developing world. This amount totals $400 million will be delivered through Global Citizen's partners at WEConnect International which brings the amount to $1 billion committed on the Global Citizen stage from corporate entities towards women's economic empowerment in the past 12 months.

HIV/AIDS | Global Citizen partners Johnson & Johnson commits to accelerating the healthcare company’s HIV vaccine and announced that for the first time it is going into late-stage human clinical trials. It is the world’s first ever “global” vaccine, which means it can protect against all strains of HIV. In early-stage studies the vaccine has shown 100% success rate.

Famine | U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), as a member of the Appropriations Committee announced that encouraged by Global Citizens taking over 60,000 actions, his colleagues in the Senate have proposed $311.5 million more in funds for International Disaster Assistance compared to last year.

Yazidi Justice | Three years since the genocide was committed by ISIS, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, Matthew Rycroft, announced that the UK led the UN Security Council to a unanimous vote this week on the decision to set up a UN Investigation Team to pursue justice for the Yazidis. The UN resolution on ISIS accountability was described as a “long overdue first step” by the UN Office for the High Commissioner on Human Rights. This comes after an 18 month campaign and over 100,000 actions taken by Global Citizens.
 

| PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen - Priyanka Chopra; Demi Lovato; Michelle Monaghan; Freida Pinto |

Top Accountability Updates

France | Thanks to Global Citizen’s two year long campaign, and nearly half a million actions, including those of Global Citizen and Global Partnership for Education Ambassador Rihanna, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that for the first time ever a G7 country — France — was to co-host the Global Partnership for Education replenishment with an African country — Senegal in order to raise $3.1 billion to provide 870 million children with vital education.

GHANA | President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, committed on the Festival stage to end child marriage. The newly elected President inherited the initiative to end child marriage in the country from his predecessor, so this stage moment provided confirmation that the new president has officially committed to continue with the National Strategic Framework on Ending Child Marriage in Ghana. As part of this announcement, the President also reaffirmed his pledge to provide universal free secondary education.

Famine | Executive Director of the World Food Program, David Beasley, confirmed that $575 million of $990 million committed by Congress in May — a commitment helped by 49,291 actions taken by Global Citizens — has been released to the WFP and others to immediately fight the famine. He then issued a powerful call to action to Global Citizens, revealing that after years of progress, the number of hungry people in the world is going up.

Partners of Global Citizen Week included: Gucci and CHIME FOR CHANGE, MSNBC & Comcast NBCUniversal, Live Nation, Johnson & Johnson, Citi, HP, Cadillac, T-Mobile, iHeartMedia, NYC Parks, lululemon, P&G, The New York City Mayor's Office for International Affairs, Bira 91, Universal Music Group, the Empire State Building, Forbes, Guardian US, Omaze, TOMS, and Tribeca Enterprises.

Partners of the 2017 Global Citizen Festival included: presenting partner GUCCI and CHIME FOR CHANGE, premier media partner MSNBC & Comcast NBCUniversal, entertainment partner Live Nation, global health partner Johnson & Johnson, and other major partners Citi, HP, Cadillac, T-Mobile, iHeartMedia, and NYC Parks.
 

KEEPING IT SIMPLE WITH KATIE AUSTIN

Growing up, we remember watching Denise Austin as her fitness DVDs ensured that we targeted areas of our body that we wanted to optimize. Her videos included positivity, fun outfits, beach locales when she was outside of her studio and Katie Austin appeared on set from time to time as a child.

Clearly, Katie is all grown up and is continuing in her mom's footsteps. We caught up with Katie to find out what brought her to the fitness industry, what we can expect from her fitness methods and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We know your mom (clearly) as we grew up watching our mom's work out to Denise Austin, when did you have that moment that you knew you wanted to delve into the
fitness industry?

KATIE AUSTIN: It was never a moment it was more like steps I took in life to realize! Ever since I was little, I grew up watching my mom film her shows and got to travel with her to all these different cool locations. My mom always tells me that even when I was 3 years old I’d sit and watch her film as my sister would be playing in the pool or catching lizards. She said she knew
then that I’d be into it! BUT it wasn’t until college that I thought of the fitness industry as a career. After I moved on from playing D1 lacrosse at USC, I decided to do weekly fitness segments on the college station. After a great reaction from my student segments for a year, I decided to start a blog. And it started from there.

AM: Having a fitness icon such as your mom, what did you learn from her that you have applied to your unique mark in the industry?

KA: I feel like there are three big things I have learned from her.

1. Always be positive- no matter what. People look up to you for that light.

2. Make your workouts practical for your target demographic. She knows exactly what the regular girl wants and can do for their daily lifestyle.

3. Sounds cliché, but always stay true to yourself! Be authentic, and just be you. Because people will love the real YOU.

AM: Tell us about Get Fit With Katie.com and what one can expect from this membership workout site.

KA: So my site is still kind of new!! I just launched my membership program about 2 and a half months ago. It’s really exciting for me because it’s a subscription plan for all my followers. Meaning it’s a big library of all my workout videos, 50+, and counting because I always add new ones! So you can either pick and choose what workout you’re feeling up to that day whether
that’s abs, booty, cardio, etc. OR follow my exact workouts I give you in my Daily Workout Calendar- like a guide within the subscription!

AM: What is your goal with Get Fit With Katie.com and where do you see it in 5
years?

KA: My dream for forever has been to My dream for forever has been to have a TV show. I studied TV production at USC and just fell in love with it. I actually am a sports host for Fox on
the side as well, so combining my love for hosting and TV with fitness is the goal. So to have a fitness/wellness TV show like my mom did would be my 5 year plan!

AM: Everyone is focused on how they can have energy packed meals that they can take with them for lunch, what are 5 dishes for the work week that are easy to make that can be enjoyed
on the run?

KA: Well I’m all about keeping meals SIMPLE. In my food guide, my recipes are all 7 ingredients or less, so it’s never anything too complicated. Usually I do a grain (brown rice- or quinoa, not technically a grain but I consider it one), with a healthy fat (avocado), with a protein (grilled chicken or salmon) and 2 different kinds of veggies (like zucchini and carrots).

AM: What is your personal style when you are working out versus when you're going out to brunch?

KA: When I’m working out I love being colorful, I love wearing bright sports bras and leggings. I also LOVE high-waisted workout leggings because they hold everything in!! For brunch, I would usually wear a sundress with some wedges! I also love wearing one piece leotards right now.
It’s funny because I always wear my mom’s old 80’s workout leotards to go out in, and ALWAYS get compliments and questions on where they’re from. I have to use that Mean Girls line... “It’s
my mom’s from the 80s.. Vintage!”

AM: When you work out, what is on your playlist?

KA: I love the two opposite types of music. Hip hop/rap or country. So usually Drake, Future, Nicki Minaj, OR Little Big Town, Maren Morris, or Jason Aldean!!

AM: What are 3 of your favorite workouts and what areas are they targeting?

KA: I love HIIT [High intensity interval training], dance cardio, and basic toning moves. Dance cardio is a great way to have fun while burning calories, and my toning moves (like leg lifts, bicep curls, etc.) are a great way to sculpt my muscles. But, I definitely see most results with HIIT workouts. Usually, my HIIT workouts are a combination of cardio and toning, and they’re QUICK! So they’re more intense in a shorter amount of time to make them super effective.

Read more from the Aug Issue and see Keeping it Simple with Katie Austin in mag

WE ARE PROUD

NYC PRIDE took place June 16th - 25th to bring the community together under this year's message, "We Are Proud". With an array of events offered - kicking off with The Rally, there
was something for everyone from the Pride Luminaries brunch which was held at The Garden at acclaimed David and Burke Kitchen, which honors business leaders that  make an impact on
LGBT workplace equality, Family Movie Night and a number of parties and performances. Of course, The March is another key event that took place that is one of the closing activities of this week. This year's March included over 45,000 marchers, over 500 marching groups as they covered 2.1 miles of the city! This year, ABC7 broadcast the parade for the the first time.

One of the exciting events that took place this year - PRIDE ISLAND provided entertainment across various genres on each day of the weekend. The kickoff of the music festival included Patti Labelle and Deborah Cox for a night that embraced R&B. Electronica hit the stage on Saturday with a number of acts, including Grammy nominated duo Tegan and Sara, Gallant
and Dimitri from Paris to name a few. Sunday night brought Pier 26 to the next level with Grammy Award winner Nelly Furtado.

A number of dance parties took place throughout the week. Notably, there were those that were dedicated to women dancing the night away such as Teaze (with Orange is the New Black's Taryn Manning who is also a DJ spinning), Moxie and Femme Fatale.

It was exciting for Athleisure Mag to be a media sponsor for this event and to share with you what was taking place throughout the week. The message of unity and having fun regardless of
who you are and just being yourself is one that we share and are happy to promote.

Read more from the June Issue and see We Are Proud in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

IT HAPPENS IN THE HAMPTONS
William Morrow/Harper Collins
Holly Peterson

Sometimes the universe calls for a change of plans. Katie Doyle heeds this call and leaves the West Coast cross country to the Hamptons. This move is embracing the possibility of summer
employment, new friends for her son and the opportunity to enjoy a love affair with an investor
named George.

Upon arrival she witnesses the interplay between those of the 1 percent that co-exist with the locals of the island that have been there for generations. Somehow Southampton isn't what it appears to be on its surace which makes her nervous to mingle with her boyfriend's Elite Circle.

She realizes that regardless of the circle that one runs in, regardless of the socio-economic
position, everyone is maneuvering and looking for ways to stay afloat in their community.

The summer continues with Katie learning more about the town and the shifting alliances that take place within the groups of people. From betrayals, sexual predators and a missing person
- Katie learns that things are not what they seem. It's a meeting with Luke, a marine biologist
and teacher where she has to confront the only truth that matters - what is it that you really
want as opposed to simply existing in the Hamptons' playland that changes from one moment
to the next.

WHERE IN THE OM AM I?
Worcester Square Press
Sara DiVello

Sara DiVello's journey is one that many can relate to. At some point, we have gone through the motions of our jobs, relationships etc only to realize that it's not what we want. At the same
time, it takes a catalyst to really get us out from the place we're stuck in.

Sara shares her story and process of getting to a place where she ultimately wants to go. She leaves her PR job at a major financial services company and transitions to pursuing yoga-teacher training.

Her frank depiction of navigating chaotic corporate culture to the catty, but slow-paced world of yoga showcases the complexities of interrelationships in both worlds as she finds her place.

VISUAL VINYL
Verlag Kettler
Heerlen Schunk

The world of records has always been one of constant change. Prior to the 1940s, they were sold in plain, uniform jackets. Post the war, musicians and record companies discovered that
graphically designed record covers had the potential to boost sales! By the 1960s contemporary artists began to create record jackets that became an inspiration for others due to their radical, groundbreaking designs. Many of them have become symbols recognized not only by fans but by the wider public, symbols of an era where artistic freedom, experimentation, and innovation were encouraged.

This coffee table book is the first-ever comprehensive collection for vinyl lovers. These covers are taken from the extensive archive of Dutch designer Jan van Toorn, one of the most active
collectors and leading experts in the field. Enthusiasts will enjoy covers by famous pop artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Read more from the June Issue and see Bingely Books in mag.

THERE'S A BEER FOR YOU

The summer is OFFICIALLY on (although we've been feeling its love for awhile). That means everything can be celebrated at a drop of a hat! With long weekends, summer Fridays and after work drinks - may we suggest Treadwell Park? Known as the Cathedral of beers, those
who have loved the location on the UES can now make their way to Battery Park (301 South End Ave) for even more tasty libations!

Whatever your knowledge of beer may be, you'll love the ever-changing draft and bottled beers, beerhall classic foods and with ceiling windows that open out - it's all about embracing the energy that is found here. Enjoy sitting outside or bring it in by listening to the DJ, playing ping pong, foosball and various pinball machines. We took some time to chat with their Beer Curator & Director Anne Becerra to get the lowdown on what's taking place here and why it
should be on our must list this summer and beyond.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about Treadwell Park in Battery Park. Should people know it as the Cathedral of Beers?

ANNE BECERRA: "Cathedral of beers" may be a little much, but we do carry several beers brewed in monasteries and we do have two giant skylights so I suppose....

What we're really looking to do is bring as much great beer to the neighborhood as we can with 20 rotating draught lines and over 50 rotating bottles. A lot of thought goes into the
beers we choose, and it's really important to have a wide array of styles for every palate and budget. We're fortunate to be able to bring in some incredibly rare, hard to find and highly specialized beers, and our goal is to get them to as many people as possible. Whether you
already love beer, or are just starting to enjoy it, we can pretty much guarantee you'll find something you love at Treadwell Park.

AM: We heard someone say that there is no such thing as a person who doesn't like beer, they just haven't found the right one - what beers do you suggest to those that tend to shy away from this beverage?

AB: You probably heard me say it, because I wholeheartedly agree. The diversity of flavors you'll find in beer is unlike any other beverage. It can be tangy and effervescent, full bodied and bitter, vicious and chocolatey - you name it. When someone tells me they don't like beer, I usually ask what it is they don't like about it and what they typically drink. Based on their responses, I can tailor a few recommendations to their palate based on flavors they enjoy. 9
times out of 10, they like it. "This doesn't even taste like beer!" is a line I hear all the time and I usually respond with, "But it does! It tastes like good beer."

AM: What are your 3 favorite summer beers that can be enjoyed at Treadwell Park?

AB: Just three? That's a tough one since we don't really have permanent lines: everything is constantly rotating. But, all summer long you'll definitely be able to find a spicy saison, a refreshing kolsch or a juicy witbier. Another style I love that several New York breweries, like Hudson Valley are doing a great job making, are fruited sours. They're tart, refreshing and made with real fresh fruit-- ideal for warm weather.

AM: How is the Battery Park location different than the one on the UES?

AB: Well, every neighborhood in New York – and often every street – has it's own energy and vibe. Even though we'll be keeping several things consistent with our uptown location such as our rotating selection, food menu, ping pong/pinball games, etc., the people are the real heart and soul of a good bar. I'm so excited to meet and share our passion for what we do with a whole new crowd.

AM: What is your role at Treadwell Park and what is a Beer Curator?

AB: I take care of anything relating to beer from choosing what we pour to curating events, dinners and pairings, staff trainings, glassware, descriptions, quality control, the works. If it
has anything to do with beer, I have my hand in it.

AM: We can only imagine how much fun the atmosphere is at the Battery Park location with the beer garden, large windows, foosball games, DJ etc. - what are you excited about for this
space?

AB: Besides all the things you just mentioned, I'm really excited that we don't have upstairs neighbors. Instead, we have two beautiful skylights that bring in natural light and really open up the space. We also have a small more intimate theater-like space in the back for special games, concerts, or whatever else we want to zone out and watch while drinking a beer.

AM: What are some events coming up at Treadwell Park that we should keep an eye out for?

AB: We're in the planning stages of some fabulous events with some of my favorite brewmasters, but we're still working on travel details before we can get the exact dates set. When we do events, I like to incorporate other elements in addition to the beer that can really showcase the people and culture of the brewery we're working with. Just wait until you see our three week long Oktoberfest celebration!

AM: Anything else you’d like to share?

AB: I'd just like to re-emphasize that everyone is welcome at Treadwell Park, regardless of your level of beer knowledge. We have a wonderful staff that loves to help people find their new favorite beer, there's always something new and exciting to try, and the atmosphere is fun and relaxed. I care a great deal not just about the beer in the glass but the people brewing it, selling it, growing the ingredients for it, delivering it, the works! Hopefully, that shows through in the menu.

Read more from the June Issue and see There's a Beer For You in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | TMPL GYM

TMPL GYM is where NYC's sexy fitness focused come to get a workout. Created by CEO and Founder David Barton (creator of his iconic namesake, David Barton Gyms) in March 2016, this Hell's Kitchen location is the ultimate destination in fitness. Keep your eye out for additional locations that will pop up in Manhattan.

The 40,000 square foot gym is filled with amazing amenities, including but not limited to; a group fitness studio, 25-meter saltwater pool, spin studio, juice bar and all showers in the TMPL
locker rooms have Oribe shampoo and conditioner.

A sense of community and connecting with those that work out extends beyond the styled walls of the gym. David and his team are dedicated to fostering a community at TMPL since its launch. The community is created throughout the gym starting with the lobby, in the weight room, at the pool and even at the Juice Bar where members congregate daily. TMPL additionally hosts monthly events such as Yoga in the Plaza, Pool Parties, DJ nights and more.

TMPL has also connected the community of members outside of the gym via social media. Through the gym’s growing social presence, members can be kept up to date with all the
happenings at TMPL and connect with each other through their mutual love for the gym.

TMPL offers a slew of group fitness options including yoga, strength training, spin, cardio, and aqua-based classes. Membership at TMPL includes customized metabolic programming. This unique training program combines state-of-the-art technology with an assessment of one’s metabolism. This makes goals like strength and muscle gain or fat loss attainable.

Pop by TMPL's boutique which just launched a retail line including all athletic wear from tank tops and leggings to swimwear and sports bras.

TMPL GYM
355 W 49th St NY, NY 10019

Read more from the June Issue and see Athleisure List TMPL Gym in mag

4TH OF JULY PICKS 2017

The 4th of July is the perfect time to hang out with friends to raise a glass while watching fireworks. As it can be a long day, may we suggest these finds.

| MIEL Nana Bra and Iris Hipster in Forest Night | NOMADIC STATE OF MIND JC American Sandal | HAPPY PLUGS Ear Piece Wireless White | SUN BUM SPF 30 Original Sunscreen Lotion | JANE IREDALE Jane's Garden Perfume | BIG MOUTH INC Red Cup Shot Glass | AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS Off The Shoulder Eyelet Romper |

Read more from the June Issue and see 4th of July Picks 2017 in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | JUN ISSUE

We're very excited to have our cover star, Alysia Reiner who plays one of our favorite Boss Ladies,  Natalie "Fig" Figueroa on Netflix's Orange is the New Black. Beyond being an amazing actress on this show and a number of roles in TV as well as in film, she is a producer, actress, wife and mother! You can learn more about her and see her rock some great looks that are perfect for the summer in Our Fempire.

In addition, we sat down and had a few sips with NFL/FOX Sports sideline reporter and Co-Host of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, Erin Andrews about her upcoming wedding as well as her favorite teams, we talk with Cassey Ho of Pop Pilates, innovative Creative Designer of Hermès and namesake Pierre Hardy and we also share The Body Shop's initiative on banning animal testing. Our contributor, Bonnie Halper tackles the issue of Water: Hot or Not and hydration continues with a Q&A with Treadwell Park's Beer Curator and Director. We also tackle items worth noting your bikini line with Shobha. This year, we were the Media Sponsors for NYC Pride and we recap a bit of the activities that took place earlier this month.

Of course, we have our ongoing features, Athleisure List which shares a subterranean spa and hot gym, Athleisure Beauty, our ingredient focused roundup on Avocado and Olive Oil, The Art of the Snack which focuses on Smitten Icecream - taking this treat to another level, Bingely Streaming, Bingely Books and #TribeGoals reccommendations for you and your tribe.

Read more from the June Issue

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LENS | A CONVERSATION WITH ED CARAEFF

When you think of some of rock and roll's iconic imagery from festivals, album covers and concerts, you may have seen some of the work of photographer Ed Caraeff who was there for some of music's major moments! With the release of his work in Burning Desire: The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Iggy & The Stooges: One Night at the Whisky 1970, we took a moment to find out more about this photographer, how he got into the industry and where he is now.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your background and how you became a photographer.

ED CARAEFF: I was fifteen years old, in high school and taking a photography course. My school was two miles from Los Angeles International Airport. During lunch hour, I went to the airport and took photos of a band called The Seeds returning from tour. A smartly dressed woman tapped me on the shoulder, handed me her business card and asked to see the
photographs when developed. That was the beginning of a career I never knew existed!

AM: We know that in addition to photography, you are noted for doing a number of album cover art for iconic artists. What albums that you created have been some of your favorites?

EC: After years of being hired to photograph artists for album cover art, I started to first Art Direct the entire album packaging. Soon after, I learned how to do all the Graphic Design work as well - size the photos with stats, spec the type, paste-ups, etc. Since I also did my own
darkroom work, developing b & w and color film, making prints, I was one-stop shopping.
Never had an agent, portfolio, business card or a listed phone number.

I did hundreds of covers, too many to mention. I like most all of them ... never hung any on my wall.

AM: Tell us about Iggy Stooges: One Night at the Whisky 1970 - how did you get to be involved in this and what made the Whisky such a key place?

EC: I was hired by their NYC record company. Whisky was THE place, World Famous.

AM: It seems like your career can be credited with being a great photographer as well as being at the right place at the right time! How did you get the iconic shot of Jimi Hendrix?

EC: Exactly, thanks for mentioning that. I'm a very good photographer, same today with my iPhone. It comes very naturally, fast, smooth, kinda like Jimi playing his guitar, or anyone doing
something effortlessly.

The burning guitar shot was taken while standing on a chair I had snagged in photographer's pit and then jammed it up against the elevated stage. I had just turned 17 and had an authorized photography pass issued by the Monterey Pop Festival.

AM: Why was the Monterey Festival such a pivotal moment in music history?

EC: With the 50 Year Anniversary next month there's many expert opinions, I do believe. For me, it was the furthest I'd ever been from home without my parents. The Summer of Love in Southern California. Lots of great images to capture and I had use of my family's friends high end German camera.

AM: Of the people who you have had the opportunity to shoot, which ones crossed over from a professional relationship to one of friendship?

EC: Members of Three Dog Night, Cheech & Chong, Sergio Mendes, Elton John.

AM: What can you tell us about Jimi Hendrix as we love that your imagery showcases him on stage as well as just hanging out - what is it about this artist that drew so many people to him?

EC: Jimi had the style, the swag, the coolness, and backed it up with the genius talent. One of a kind.

AM: Besides shooting one of Jimi's most iconic moments, do you have a story/experience that you shared with him that you can share with us?

EC: Picking him up at his two story motel on the Sunset Strip, smoking a joint and driving to John and Michelle Phillip's Bel Air mansion to party was a memorable evening.

AM: Beyond working with some of rock's biggest artists, you also worked with artists such as Marvin Gaye - what was that like?

EC: Marvin was one of a very few I photographed that I was in awe of meeting. I was a big fan. He was not in a good mood, going thru a divorce, obligated to release an album by his father in law's (Berry Gordy) record company. Motown hired me to "replicate a place in Jamaica that
Marvin had just returned from." The photographs were never published. The cover used on "Here, My Dear," is a funky b & w illustration.

AM: Do you still have artists that you have yet to work with, but they are on your bucket list?

EC: No. I left working with artists to working with food while a single parent with two sons living in NYC in 1985.

I was a photographer, art director, graphic designer for 14 years and then answered an ad in The Sunday New York Times to become a chef. I got the job on east 48th near 2nd Ave and started a career as hands on chef, restauranteur for 27 years.

When I thought to do my bucket list, only one thing popped up and it was instantaneous. I started working so young, still in school, and worked continually. I missed out on spending time after graduating and wandering and sleeping in my vehicle. Low stress, Zen, lifestyle.

AM: How do you view the photography industry now in terms of the use of digital and even being able to break into the industry to work with notable artists?

EC: I love digital, apps, social media. I like not having to worry if I have enough or the right kinda film! You just remember to have battery life.

For me, great way to express myself. In terms of breaking into that industry - I shudder to think.

AM: We hear that you're on a bucket list journey. What made you want to do that?
 

EC: I had a health wake-up call in 2012. Also, I attended funerals for two long time friends in the same week. Learned I would become a grandfather, twice, by both my children within a five month period. My Cardiologist said of my bucket list trip, "If not now, when?"

Then it took me a year and half to make sure I really wanted to do it. Followed by another year and half to find loving homes for my pets, got rid of ALL my possessions, sell my home and even sell my photography archive. Because that too is "work," though I love my work.

June 15 will be two years I've lived 24/7 in a vintage VW Westfalia Van named "Moonbeam."

AM: Can we expect additional books of your photography to be released, and if so, what artists will it be?

EC: Yes. Next month, my Jimi Hendrix photographs, "Burning Desire" will be available. I'm grateful for the books I have and the future is uncertain.

Stay in touch with Ed Caraeff's bucket list trip on Instagram via @thebucketlisttrip

All photos are courtesy of Ed Caraeff

HOLA MEZQUILA

Sammy Hagar has a wide range of achievements from being a member of Van Halen (as well as a number of other bands), a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, an advisor on The Voice and
having one of the most successful tequilas - Cabo Wabo.

It was a dinner out in Cabo San Lucas with his fellow The Voice co-star and friend, Maroon 5's Adam Levine and Jack Daniels (no relation to the whiskey brand, but he is the Co-Founder of Wilson Daniels a wine and spirits marketing company that at one time distributed Cabo Wabo prior to its sale to Gruppo Campari). Upon enjoying various tequilas, the restaurant owner suggested they try a mezcal (the younger Mexican cousin to tequila). The group found it to be too smoky; however, when they paired it with a tequila, a lightbulb moment took place which resulted in over 2 years of development and this produced the world's first Mezquila! Santo
Mezquila is a premium blend of two distillates 100% Blue Agave (tequila) and Espadin Agave (which produces Mezcal) - an entirely new spirit category was born.

"When Adam and I started tasting the different blends, I knew we had something special that people would love. It was only right to get the team back together and share Santo with the world," states Hagar. This "spirit band" that was united included those that were involved with the creation of Cabo Wabo.

As we noted earlier this year, Mezcal has definitely been an upcoming trend within the wellness industry in 2017. Levine describes Santo as a spirit, "that has a smooth, full agave, rich tequila flavor with a touch of smoky-sweetness that you can only find with Mezcal." This balance makes it perfect for sipping.

Read more from the May Issue and see Hola Mezquila in mag

THE BAKER MAN | DUFF GOLDMAN

Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes is no stranger to Athleisure Mag as we chatted with him in this year's Anniversary issue about coming back for another race with Chefs Cycle (a fundraising endurance event May 16th - May 18th featuring award-winning chefs and members of the culinary community fighting hunger outside the kitchen where proceeds go to No Kid Hungry) and how he was preparing for this activity. We took some time to chat with Celebrity Chef and Food Network personality Duff about his role as a judge for a number of the network's shows, including Spring Baking Championship, Kids Baking Championship (to name a few), his partnership with Bounty, National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day and his inner workings as he continues to embrace the magic of baking.  

ATHLEISURE MAG: We loved talking with you earlier this year about your preparation to participate in this year's  Chefs Cycle - are you excited?

DUFF GOLDMAN: Yes it starts on May 16th! I'm so excited it's going to be great.

AM: We can only imagine! Well, we've been fans of you since your first show with Food Network, Ace of Cakes. In our opinion, you're the first baker that we knew that represented an edgy out of the box style with all of the sweet treats that you created.

DG: Oh thanks!

AM: Oh yeah, watching you while we grew up, we were struck with how this guy - not to say that you're not delicate, but there is a certain idea you have (at least back at that time) of what a pastry chef would look like.

DG: Absolutely!

AM: To see a cool tattooed guy busting out with these really cool friends - it was cool. Even if you weren't a baker yourself, it was cool to see that barrier being broken and changing the idea of what it means to work in a given profession. So how did you bring that into all of these other Food Network shows that you have been a part of especially with incorporating kids and making it look cool and fun while taking your ideas from concept to reality?

DG: Well you know, I think that most of cooking is really fun and interesting. It's not that hard to make it seem that way. When the kids are excited about it, it's not hard for those who are watching to see that they are and to want to know more about it. They watch us do what we do and then they're fascinated. It's like when you pick up a new album from somebody - if someone else has really got down on that record and tells you - you really have to listen to this record, this beat or chord progression, then you really get into it because someone you know has brought you something that they think is cool. 

I think cooking is the same way, especially on TV - you've got to be excited about it. I am - to this day when I put something in the oven, and it starts to rise, to this day, it's still magical for me! I still get really excited. When it's working you're like, 'check it out' it's bubbling, moving, growing and cracking! It's doing what it's doing and it's still neat!

AM: Which is cool and we can totally tell that about you because you look like you're loving life! You can tell that you really love the process, the creation of it and the looks on your face - it's priceless. 

DG: Yeah man! It never gets old!
 

AM: We know that the 3rd season of Spring Baking Championship ends this month with the adults. You also judge a number of children's baking shows on the network. How is it working with these young chefs and bakers?

DG: Um a lot messier! Definitely a lot messier - you always want a lot of paper towel nearby because kids are messy. Other than that, the judging is really the same. I'm honest and fair and when they mess up, I point it out. I think that with kids, I spend a little more time on when there is a mistake on how to correct it. When adults make mistakes it's usually a bone head move and they know better. With kids, they haven't made something enough times. They're 10 years old - how much patachou have they made? So it's like hey you put too many eggs in there - don't put so much in so that you don't have a puddle.

AM: Haha exactly! So how important do you think your role is as a role model to them in terms of giving them that encouragement and feedback?

DG: I think it's really important - the kids see me as this big goofy guy, but then they also see me as this expert as it's what I do and what I'm good at. It's really important that I never want to discourage them and I want any challenge that the kids are having in the kitchen as an opportunity for them to learn. So they don't see a mistake as a mistake, they see it as an opportunity to learn something. That's what makes baking so fascinating. 

I'm still learning at the same pace as I was learning back then. Every day, I learn something and am doing something new. I refine my technique, I try something different and it's important as I have been baking for over 20 years! You have to stay awake and if you go on autopilot, you're putting a stake in your career. You have to be present in the moment and mindful when you're baking. You have to just be fascinated by it as that's what it is.

AM: One of the things we really love is when you take your first bite. Your face lights up, your eyes take it in and we can see there are a lot of wheels turning. What is going on in your head at that moment?

DG: It's funny because I love to eat and I love food. I love taking bites and I love it! The thought process going on in my head is that I want to viscerally enjoy this bite! Then I have to remember that I am judging something so I have to dissect it - but I don't want to dissect it, I just want to eat it - leave me alone haha! There's always a conflict going on in my head like - pay attention - but then it's so good - but pay attention! I just want to chew. But it's usually that when you see that look because I'm confused between the two.

AM: For sure when you have that first bite, we see all the synapses firing and you have the best responses coming off of the taste! It also seems tough because you only have a few seconds to take it in and grasp what it going on. Our team laughs everytime we see it!

DG: I know I take these big stupid bites! It's funny because my girlfriend always yells at me saying I need to take smaller bites because I'm going to choke to death. I'm like, I've been taking these big bites for 4 years now, I'm going to be fine. 

The other thing that's funny is that I take these bites - because I'm watching the shows and live tweeting them and when I'm not on camera and I'm just out and when it's a nice restaurant where there is something new or they are trying a new technique - I do the exact same face. I look up at the ceiling and people have said - that's the same face from the Baking Championship! I'm like, "it's not an act!"

AM: Tell us about your partnership with Bounty and how we can keep having fun while we're cleaning on the go or different tips that you have come up with.

DG: Bounty and I partnered up to celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day (May 15th) and I came up with a recipe that would be really fun for kids to make - a Rainbow Chocolate Chip Cookie. I think it's important to get kids cooking and baking to see the work and ingredients that go into it to get them to start thinking critically at an early age about what they are eating. When you bake with kids, they are really messy but you want to make sure that they are still having fun. You want to make sure that you keep their attention. If you're stopping to clean every 5 mins - it's taking away from the experience. It's important to have a really good paper towel. 

You can clean as you go, because when it gets too messy, you can't do anything. You have to keep it clean, but you have to keep it moving. Bounty Paper Towels really are great, because they don't shred, tear or turn into liquid when they get wet. They're really useful beyond just cleaning up! If you're whisking something in a bowl and don't have another hand free, you can take a sheet of Bounty under the bowl and whisk it and the bowl won't move around. The same is true for the cutting board - it won't slide.

AM: Wow that's really cool!

DG: Yeah it's good! Also when you have a hot pan like you're sauteeing a piece of chicken and you have taken the chicken out of a non-stick pan, what you can do is take a sheet of Bounty, ball it up, take the tongs and you rub it on the inside of the hot pan and it picks up all that grease and cleans the pan really well so that you're not scrubbing with something abbrasive. You can't do that with a cheap paper towel - it's impossible. The other brands start to char and catch fire! It's REALLY good for greasing cake pans. You spray the pans, but you don't want the puddles so you take a sheet of Bounty and run it inside your cake pan or tins and it makes it nice and even so it doesn't burn in the oven.

AM: Okay those are some serious tips and I wouldn't have known some of those.

DG: Yeah it's really cool!

AM: We know you have your own line of cake mixes, baking tools and more - what are your favorites?

DG: Oh man that's a good question. My favorite, I'd say the tie dye or the camouflage cake mix.

AM: Wait - you have camo?

DG: Yeah we have camouflage. They're so neat. Again, speaking to that magic - when you do these things with a kid - you're dropping the different color batters into a pan, that's just fun. You're having a good time. But then when it comes out and you cut it and you see that it really looks like camouflage, kid's minds EXPLODE! They can't believe it and are like, "WHAT, how did this happen?"

AM: That sounds pretty cool! Speaking of National Chocolate Chip Day, we saw the Rainbow Chip Cookies and it reminds us of the whole "unicorning" trend that is popping up throughout various lifestyle verticals - why are these cookies so perfect to enjoy on this holiday?

DG: I wanted a recipe that was going to be good with kids. Kids love touching things and it's a very tactile recipe. There are colors and then you're rolling them out like snakes and you twist that big snake out and then you have that big magical moment that when you cut it, you see all the colors that have mushed together and then what's really fun, you get to place each chocolate chip on each piece yourself. It's fun because kids can make smiley faces or do their initials with the chocolate chip cookies - really decorative things. 

It's a really fun recipe that is pretty involved and is not the easiest recipe in the world. I don't dumb it down. I don't dumb it down when I judge the kids and I don't dumb down the recipes or kids. I think about what kids are going to think is fun and sometimes it's hard, but they're still going to think it's fun!

AM: That's really cool. Last question! So June 2nd is National Donut Day. Do you have a favorite donut that you like to make?

DG: Mmmmm - I have a favorite one that I like to eat!

AM: Ok make or eat!

DG: Have you ever had the blueberry cake donuts from 7-Eleven?

AM: No we haven't haha!

DG: It might be my favorite donut in the world!

AM: We will have to try that!

DG: Yeah they are amazing HAHA - I love those things!!!

Make sure you watch Duff and the rest of the judging team for the season finale of Spring Baking Championship on Food Network at the end of this month. Also, follow him on Twitter and IG to see more about upcoming shows!

Read more from the May Issue and see The Baker Man with Duff Goldman in mag

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Your mom and mother figures are meant to be honored every day; however, Mother's Day is a great way to pull out the stops and we have some items that we feel are perfect to give her!  

| STOKKE® My Carrier | NOT YOUR MOM'S Apple Pie Beer | PULSE™ Personal Lubricant  Warmer + Dispensary | LOVE BUDS His and Hers Earbuds |  VINEBOX Memership Wine | TRILOGY Certified Organic Rosehip Oil | MONTELLE Gatsby at Midnight Plunge Bra + Thong | PARROT POT Self Watering Smart Pot |  

Read more from Athleisure Mag and see the Mother's Day Gift Guide in Mag

COACHELLA STYLE | WEEKEND 1

The first weekend of Coachella is already in the books. The weekend included amazing music acts, branded parties and of course, tons of style. This week, we recap some of our fave Victoria's Secret Angels (Jasmine Tookes, Alessandra Ambrosio etc), Pretty Little Liars (Shay Mitchell) cast and more that made our heads turn as we deployed for amazing tunes in Indigo, California.