Read the APR ISSUE #124 of Athleisure Mag.
We spent an afternoon with Deborah Czeresko at Brooklyn Glass making three of her acclaimed and well-sought after Forgotten Potatoes with her, and her assistant Em. An acclaimed NYC-based artist and designer, Deborah is best known for her work with glass. She won the inaugural season of Netflix’s Blown Away glass competition show in 2019, where contestants compete in glassblowing challenges for prizes and the title of champion. Her work challenges societal norms with elegant, sophisticated and often whimsical themes rooted in gender and feminism. Her work has been shown in Corning Museum of Glass and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
We love how she is such a deep thinker and super creative in speaking is art and metaphor. An extremely thoughtful and determined creative, we were honored to spend working time together to truly embrace the elegant fierce fragility that glass blowing presents at this top level. It was truly exciting to see her in action and hear her stories about past, present and future projects.
We first met her and her lovely partner, Three, on the eve of our January Cover drop, where we enjoyed Diageo’s legendary Burn’s Supper Night in NYC together, complete with Haggis, Poetry & Song, Bagpipes, and a medley of favorite Scottish Whiskey’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Oban Single Malt, Buchanan’s Blended Scotch Whiskey, and more.
ATHLEISURE MAG: You said glass was your first love, what were those first moments for you?
DEBORAH CZERESKO: It felt like a real true love. Like when you just are instantly attracted to something. It’s sort of fourth dimensional on some undefinable plane what you’re feeling, this kind of attraction, because it combines all the things you don’t know about yourself necessarily at that time. Like when I was younger and why was this material for me? It seemed kind of mystical and magical [and] what I didn’t know is the intelligence that I had in connecting to it in a physical way and in a conceptual way. I mean, now I can intellectualize it, but then I was just instinct-driven.
AM: And you knew it off the bat or within, say the first month - or looking back now, you’re saying that?
DC: Oh no. The moment I saw the glass, hot glass, I knew this was for me. So, first of all, you’re sculpting a fluid. That’s not like sculpting any other material. The stuff is flowing… [i]t’s a weird way to think that you’re actually sculpting a liquid. It’s the weirdness of how you sculpt this and the weirdness of the material itself. The material seems otherworldly when it’s hot, so it’s like lava. I was really attracted to the fact that this stuff seems so atypical and not stereotypical as a medium, really. So it definitely feels magical.
AM: So what does glass allow you to say that other materials wouldn’t let you do?
DC: Well, I touched on the fluidity, and also it’s transparency. So that’s something you can’t find in that many materials. So anything having to do with transparency and fluidity and this moving from different states in this particular way, in the middle of kind of a binary - it’s not soft and it’s not hard - it’s a fluid. So it’s constantly moving and even in its perceived state, when it’s cold it’s called a super cooled liquid, so I think you can say anything with glass they can say with any other material, but with glass I think the fluidity, and it inherently brings fragility on one side and then fierceness on the other.
And then at some point it becomes permanent. So when you’re working on it you’re able to go from A to B, and then a number of stops, and then you’re in control and you’re changing things. But at some point you lose control, right? At some point it’s beyond adapting, like after placing it in the annealer. The minute it’s in the annealer, you can’t then take the glasswork and put it back in the fire and remold it again right, so at some point you lose control.
I would say if we were having a dialogue with this material, it’s more like speaking this material’s language. It’s not going to speak our language, it’s not human, and when you can’t be receptive enough to learn about this material as it is [ultimately] going to take control. It’s going to dominate as dominant material, and that’s one thing about it in its property. It doesn’t look that way, it’s so demure in a way when you just look at a glass thing like a huge hunk of 100 pound glass could look like an enormous ghost, but it’s this massive thing that has these strengths you can’t even see and it’s just demanding that you sort it in a soft way to to be at one with it, rather than collaborate withn it.
AM: So how do you approach a project? What are some of the steps you take initially? Generally what do major project timelines look like?
DC: For my own artwork project or one initiated by a prompt of some sort, like as in the case of the large piece I did for the public school called “Everybody’s Gotta Eat,” in that case, I was told where the piece would be going. So it’s going to a public school for grades 1-6 outside of the school cafeteria. And so, the other criterion was to be significant and relevant for 100 years, and immediately that’s very intimidating. How could anything I say or do be relevant for 100 years, when the world is changing so rapidly at this point? I don’t know what demographic of person is going to be there, or even if the school is going to be a public school for that long. Let’s assume it is, so then I have to fit within those boundaries, but that’s a pretty open criteria. So I start thinking about the dialogue and the vernacular. I’ve started to create with my own work and how that can fit into that parameter. In that case, I submitted an initial idea and was asked to modify that idea because they really wanted the idea to be primarily glass. I submitted an idea that had a lot of metal in it because the project was so large and had to take up so much space. And glass is rather expensive, well so is metal, but I tried to occupy the space in other ways than just glass objects. So I started to think in terms of those limitations, and also financial in that situation. So that’s a commissioned piece.
Now, in the case of my own imagination, without any limits, I’m thinking about what I’m going to make all the time. I never am not thinking about those ideas and how what I want to put forward conceptually can be connected to some kind of form. And in recent years, I’ve been doing realistic forms, like eggs, for example, I’ve become synonymous with the egg. What kind of symbolism does that have? Is it enough to just put that egg out there? Do I have to do some kind of action to the egg? And so, as I’m going through the world, that’s how I get my creative ideas. That’s when I’m in the most, I think, creative mindset. I’m just influenced by New York. I’m in New York. It’s so beautiful and filled with art, like we walk down the street and we see graffiti and we see shoppers putting their potato chips in designer ways in their windows and entire shops making beautiful installations with their tires and hubcaps. I just feel like that’s part of me too, like my how I live in New York as that’s my world. So I try to do the similar things with the glass, like as if I were a storefront in New York with food. I try to tell my story here or what I think is relevant. I’m more like a miner. I’m mining for things constantly around me.
So you kind of have that page open, and it’s kind of like a piece of your personality where you’re thinking of ways for storytelling and expression that can always happen through this medium.
It just feels good so like being in that zone, I mean when I really connect, I really feel like I have an idea that is meaningful and just running on all cylinders, that’s when I feel the best, honestly.
AM: Oh, that’s cool. How often would you say that has happened?
DC: I don’t know. That’s more rare. It’s like to really nail it. I think the piece that would be the most iconic piece for me would be the Meat Chandelier that’s in the Corning Museum of Glass. I feel like I nailed it there. Sometimes that gets in the way of finishing a piece though, because once I already feel like I did it, then the assemblage becomes the hardest part, because then the most fun part of thinking I nailed it is over. So now it’s an aesthetic and a construction problem, rather than a conceptual problem. And that’s a different energy process. And it’s more like vacuuming. You have to make sure we’re cleaning the dishes. You have to make sure how to build something. It’s a different kind of energy than creative energy, I think with the installations because there’s a lot of other problems to solve, which aren’t right. The fun icing on the cake part.
AM: So what part would you say is the most fun? Is it thinking of it, making it, or having it up where people can enjoy it?
DC: I think on both ends of the spectrum here, like having it up and having people enjoy it is really satisfying to know that it’s done. And if I get to the point where I’ve actually thought of something, I think I like to have nailed it. That’s the most satisfying. The making part, it’s not as satisfying as those two things, honestly.
AM: Let’s talk about making it. So there, I was with you and your assistant Em making three Forgotten Potatoes at Brooklyn Glass, and there’s a lot to it in setting it up, making it, and constantly working and re-working it. There’s a lot of physical movement. So do you stretch before you start and do you work out certain areas to be more inclined to doing that? Tell me about the athleticism behind it, and also you started out wanting to be an athlete?
DC: I think that was one of the things that clicked for me in being attracted to glass. I wanted to be in a physical medium and I wanted to be in a creative medium. I wanted to express myself through my body, but not as a dancer. So, because that is something that was very intimidating to me, like rhythm and dancing, but I knew I was very physical. What material is going to incorporate that aspect of me is something I was asking without asking. I would say I wasn’t as conscious of it as I am now, but it’s obvious now why I was really attracted to this material. So challenging! It’s just like a feeling that you can’t get anywhere else really to work with glass in a variety of ways.
So [about] the athleticism, I was in high school sports and college sports, and it’s interesting to have an equal part athleticism and creativity with what you are going to do with that and how it is going to manifest. What is that going to make you in your life, and so I guess I found it by mistake. So I do prep and I make sure my body is in condition to work. So I work out in a gym doing strength training. Strength training is the best thing for prepping for this type of activity. I mean, glass can be easy physically, but it depends what you’re really going for here. If you’re doing a large production and making a thousand pieces in a day, that’s going to be physical in one way, versus a really large piece that weighs like 50 pounds. It’s going to be physical in a different way. Or you could just be a hobbyist and just make one thing a day and not really need to prep your body at all. But I don’t work every day. So I don’t want to go in there after not working and not be conditioned or ready to go. So it involves a lot, especially in the heat.
AM: So what gym do you workout in?
DC: I just recently moved to Crunch South Slope. It’s in Brooklyn, two blocks from the studio I’ve been training with a friend of mine, one of my people I work with to make glass. His name’s Alex Kruger. He’s a trainer at Crunch. It’s really cool because how often you get a trainer that’s also a glassblower, so it’s a pretty special situation right - he knows exactly what touch points help you and how I can do the workout and still be functional the next day. We’re doing a lot of higher reps.
AM: What kind of music do you listen to in the studio? Today we heard a lot of Buena Vista Social Club, which we absolutely love! So I was very happy. So what kind of music?
DC: I do like dance disco. I like Purple Disco Machine. They’re good. Groovy. Anything that goes well in hot weather actually does work well in the hot shop. Something with good vibes, something just open. Having good music, I think, is important doing art. I’m also influenced by my studio mate who’s over there. He’s Colombian, and so he does a lot of Latin beats and I like Celia Cruz, that came with that. I think it’s just such a lovely rhythm to work in glass with like and some people come in and try to play things like heavy metal and what not, but it doesn’t really go. It makes the time pass much slower, when you don’t have a good rhythm going.
AM: So what are some of the works you would say you’re most well known for?
DC: I would say there’s three. The one that sort of put me on the map, I think, as an artist was the Meat Chandelier, which is in the Corning Museum Collection. And that started my dialogue with using food and consumables and everyday objects as kind of a vernacular that I talk in with these objects. And that one was specifically sort of a critique of the hot shop that we work in and the patriarchy in general, and this patriarchal world of trying to enter in as somebody other than someone of the patriarchy. So it was a play [on that]. I always like to put a little humor in my work. So I see both sides of this coin on this. Like so many people have helped me of all genders, and so many people have hated me of all genders. So I’m kind of in the middle, but it’s a place where physicality matters and typically people working larger pieces are guys, so it by it’s very nature and we’re talking here specifically, about sculpting glass, not in factories and production in those situations, it’s almost all men.
So, like when I went to Italy, there are no women working on the pipe. By pipe, I mean blowpipe. There’s maybe an assistant helping somebody, but that is really still separated as far as genders go and glass making, outside of the studio glass movement of America and other countries. So this is an art scene, which is different, but it still has that aspect to it. Who gets the jobs? It tends to be the guys, whatever. It’s better in my world because I’m an artist and it’s an art world, but I’m also speaking about the world in general in my work. So that is real.
AM: So what are a couple of the other pieces you would say you’re most well-known for?
DC: Another piece would be the piece I just recently finished last year, which was “Everybody’s Got To Eat,” that is in the public school. It’s one of my bigger works. And I feel like it was sort of a sweet and delicate piece in a way where it’s made for children, and also in a way it’s made for everybody because more than just children go through a public school. People love to eat, as do I, [but] maybe not at the school cafeteria, but it’s 24 fruits and vegetables from around the world representing different worldly cultures. There was a limit and how many I could make due to the financial scope of the project, but I tried to get different regions of the world represented through their fruits and vegetables, including things like New York, an apple, and that represents school and an apple. Then there’s things like an avocado, which represents South America, but also hipsterdom. So these vegetables and fruits have dual meanings sometimes, and who can see themselves in there because they gave another task requirement of being relevant for a hundred years. I mean, it’s a tough one.
AM: I see it. I’m looking at it online now. Wow.. That’s beautiful.
DC: And then it’s really kind of touching to see - you can tell they’re handmade and supposed to be inspiring to people to see that you can make these things with your own two hands in the world of AI and Technology, and have these handmade things in front of students. I think it’s really meaningful to connect them to the planet in some way, in their own bodies. So all that’s in there. And make them feel special that it’s there for them, right?
AM: So it seems like there’s a realistic meets artistic formula that I’m looking at through this project where there’s some surrealism, right? But then some practical vision of what it would look like. And you’re balancing that in the piece.
DC: Yeah, I think that this idea of creating a vernacular is really important to me as an artist - like what is this piece and who are you just putting a dragon fruit out there?
AM: I like that one! Looks very challenging, with all the green around it. Now that I got to see all the intensity it took for the sprouts of the Forgotten Potatoes. Wow, I really like the corn too.
DC: Yeah, that was another challenging one. See, this is a public school project, so the budget wasn’t huge, but it was a decent budget. But I really needed four or five people per piece. That’s a 50-pound corn, and I had a team of three. So for glass, that’s a reasonable-sized team. But for that piece, each corn kernel was brought in a wrap. So one person had to bring all those wraps, whereas I formed all the reps. So we divide into teams, where one person’s bringing the wraps; one person’s on the main blow pipe reheating keeping the piece hot doing all the forming; so if we had another person at least, that would have been helpful. But it really wasn’t in the cards for that project.
AM: See, it’s good you said it was 50 pounds because from looking at the image hung up, I don’t know if it gives the sense someone would know.
DC: Well, to get the texture of getting the corn kernels… I have to solve some technical problems about how I’m going to get all those kernels on there without applying each one individually. So we put on glass wraps that are vertical wraps that are rolled in powder color I divide out with a tool. I then crimp the kernels into it and it creates a personal style I think you can identify that piece kind of as something I made because I choose to work in this style and this level of detail a lot. I could spend the entire day putting every kernel on individually, but I do not need to do I so. One of the maestros I studied with would do that. His demos were excruciatingly long. His name was Pino Signoretto. He was my most influential maestro that I studied with. And he’s so detail-oriented and could work on all different scales. I think he was just an amazing, like, approaching God of Glass, honestly. He could make things other people couldn’t make at the furnace, that is.
AM: So to get the corn, for example, looking that way, did you study corn for a while to look at kernels? And how long would you do that for? Or is this something you would look at really quickly and then put your spin on it?
DC: Oh, I pull up images of corn. I mean, they’re all over my desktop. Like when I’m making a corn, I print them out. I bring in corn to work from. I eat a lot of corn. I just want to know about corn. You live your work. I grew corn in my garden…
AM: So when you see corn now, do you think of corn and that project?
DC: Oh yeah. That’s in my garden. I love corn though. Bi-colored is harder to make as the two colors for each kernel are applied separately.
AM: So tell me about how the Egg series you started. And being in your studio, I saw a whole bunch of Eggs dripping all over. So tell me about the Eggs!
DC: So the Egg pieces, I would say this is the third piece that really defines me as an artist’s third installation. But that happened on TV. That happened on the finale of the Netflix competition show Blown Away. So the prompt there was to make your ultimate art exhibit or something really high there, like something amazing, fantastic, unduplicatable, like just your most amazing piece of art ever! So, with these parameters where we had to fit into that space and you only get so much time to make it, I start to think about some of the pieces I had previously made and what aspects of those concepts I wanted to focus on. So within that, the egg came about because I had the Meat Chandelier in the back of my mind - I knew it couldn’t make a chandelier, but I could use the egg as a metaphor for a female and aspects of what it means to be a female in the world of art into my final finale of the show. This gender inequality, like my feminist side in art, because I’m an artist and a feminist, and I like to make food and glass - so I’m like, how can I make this a meaningful statement? So I started to think of a classic art pedestal, so saying it’s good finally taking over the art world starting to become equal, or the egg not aggressively, but oozing over and in a different way creating a stand in the art world that’s equal to males. Then i also wanted to play on queerness and gender bending and that’s where the frying pan comes in. It’s obviously everything’s glass, but the frying pan is cast iron as very male. But the egg, it was the primary character. Without the egg, there would be no installation.
AM: So what brought you to that show? So you applied or you were asked to join the competition show? What was it like to be on the show and win Blown Away S1 on Netflix?
DC: It was intense to be on it and intense to win it. The structure was where we had to create a new project every three days and it was from a prompt, like creating a floral, or a biological with the human body and moving through space. So they would give us a prompt and then we would have a little bit of time to come up with an answer for that, and we would be in our own hotel rooms doing this. It’s a lot of pressure to have to get on camera the next day and produce. First of all, come up with the idea before you go to bed that night, and then present it the next day in drawings on camera. So it was 10 episodes of forced creativity in a way, but what I learned about myself from that is to actually function really well in that regard when I have a deadline and I have to produce.
AM: Yep. I know what you’re saying. Urgency to Deliver - I’m going to deliver. It’s like a diamond, right? Under pressure, you’re going to produce and maybe not the same every time, but often you’re going to nail it really way and often win!
DC: Yeah. When we first got on there, I had [to look at] space to organize or deal with, like space is a luxury. Time is a luxury and I have it, and I’m like, Oh My God, why am I not more productive when I have all this time to get my Corning residency together? Why am I not doing this in a way that I’ll just get it over with? It lingers. But if you told me tomorrow I’d have to get in there and tell them exactly what to do, I would be up all night figuring it out.
AM: Did you know of anyone else on the show? Were you familiar with any other competitor?
DC: Actually, I only knew one other person, which surprised me.
AM: What was your experience on the show as far as winning? Did your career change after that? What were the effects after being announced the winner?
DC: It was remarkable. Like the effect was kind of like a wave. I got on the top of a wave and it just took me. I wasn’t doing anything. Part of the prize of winning this was that the Corning Museum Store would buy $10,000 worth of my work. But it wasn’t necessarily art. The store sells collectibles. So for the first time in my life, I came up with a line of objects that I could sell. People just kept writing me and asking me. I couldn’t keep up. I couldn’t catch up. I couldn’t make enough posts on Instagram. It was a lot! It was life-changing in that I wasn’t able to consistently sell my work like that beforehand. And it changed the work I did to make a living from that point on. So a lot of the work I did prior to that was fabrication for other artists, which I find that extremely demanding psychologically and physically to do. You put a lot of yourself into other people’s work as opposed to your own work. And it could be draining to you making your own work in multiple ways. And then, I also had a lighting line I did with a rep that was called site-specific art, and we would do custom high-end projects.
The show kind of launched during COVID too, and that was an interesting time to have this launch. Then I got opportunities to show in galleries and asked to do things I think I normally wouldn’t have had as a result. It’s not magic, you win a reality tv program and still have to work really hard and try to control my own life in some way in a direction that I want it to go, but there’s a magic to life, right - and what door is going to open next I don’t necessarily know!
I could do that like the project for Mortlock whiskey through Diageo, that was just out of the blue in designing a whiskey pipette. So the brand was Mortlock, and they specifically have design projects going every year. This was the fifth year. So it’s part of their marketing and bringing people together. They found me and asked me if I could make something for their design line and I’m thinking.. oh a glass or something - sure I’d love to make a glass, but they’re like it’s a pipette, [which is] basically an eyedropper. I can make anything in glass, but you want me to make this tiny thing? So I suggested that they had me make the pipette holder too to hold the water as well as a set. It was inspired by the the stills using copper embedding copper in glass, and in the case of the finished product I rolled the hot glass in copper foil and had a violent reaction under the glass that bubbled and turned blue. When it was hot, the copper looked black, but the finished glass ended up being blue. Yeah, it looked very pretty, very elegant 120 sets.
AM: So one of the things you made on this show were Forgotten Potatoes on one of the episodes.. So tell me about the episode. How did you came up with that? And they’re continuing in your studio and people are excited to order and get them?
DC: So that was a botanical-themed challenge. They came up with that challenge because one of the first things you make in glass when you touch it for the first time ever is this thing called a flower. It teaches you how to use the pincers and pull the glass out and it ends up looking something like a very rudimentary flower. I was like thinking about potatoes that sprout, and I really like them because they represent to me, these like unsung powerhouses. It’s not something that’s typically considered beautiful as a potato, yet here it is being this amazing powerhouse! Like, yeah you got your typical beauty which is a flower with its color and all its proportions, but I see the world in a different way - so many other things that could be beautiful and are beautiful and powerful and to me it represented marginalized people as very super powerful people that get disregarded and overlooked. They were represented in the Forgotten Potato and they are often forgotten or overlooked or pushed down and not allowed to shine, but the potato comes through no matter what!
AM: We made three of those together, which was awesome and I saw that you put a lot of effort into getting the exact hues and colors you wanted for the potato. So what’s involved with trying to recreate something that you created before and trying to stay true to the system, rather than creating a new thing as an artist?
DC: Well, the good thing about potatoes and sprouting, they’re endlessly variable - like consistently fascinating - they’re not boring, so it’s not like making a production line in that everyone’s the same. Each one has a little personality and people relate to them in different ways like and people really do relate to the Forgotten Potato or they relate to the metaphor behind the piece heavily. It really gave me a lot of faith in people in a way.
AM: And the sprouts were super cool. It was noted that the sophistication and quality of the sprouts is similar to fine stemware. So it really gets to show off both some of your superb skills and it also gets to relate to and maybe be something the owner gets to flaunt in a way.
DC: That they’re an art piece and has something as fine as stemware, there’s some people that might look to use it as a conversation piece with their guests. It’s challenging to make when you’re opening that up and trying to get it hot as it’s flopping all over the place in the hot box. The hot box is called what we have for our furnaces, and then reheat the glass in glory holes, many are now calling reheating chambers. A challenging part of it with young glass is timing that is really huge here… so you got to know your glass and and what temperature it’s it’s at because it will self-destruct if it gets too cold, and if it’s cold and then goes back into the glory hole which is super hot, it can shatter! In order to become a maestro at this, you have to make a lot of mistakes and work on a lot of different projects to get really good as a sculptor in glass.
AM: How do you generally decide what to make if you’re selling glass pieces?
DC: It’s not just selling, but having a place to put it, because I don’t have enough space in New York to just make stuff. So we thought about that as if I had a beautiful studio in upstate New York that I could bring my work and work on it, I would be creating worlds. I think worlds with these, I would probably make my garden like that. [Presently] there’s a practicality in that there’s the limit of space, and glass is expensive, and part of it is time making it.
AM: What’s the longest time you spent on a project?
DC: Probably one of the ones we mentioned already.. there was also a show I did a couple years ago with the Hannah Traore Gallery that took a couple years to put together. I’m known for it and it was involving mushrooms and their mycelial network that I made in neon so the mushrooms would communicate with trees which I made also in the galaxy called Creatures of Culture That was very popular recently.
AM: Oh, wow, that’s cool.
DC: So I made a tree out of mirrored mosaic, like how it would look like a disco ball. Then I brought in a thousand pounds of glass soil, which was broken up brown chunks of glass from a defunct factory in West Virginia that I brought into the gallery and put on the floor. That also had a queerdelier, it’s like a chandelier, but a queer chandelier because the mushrooms are like non-binary beings - they’re neither plant nor animal, so they have one foot in each category, because they don’t have photosynthesis they get their nutrients through enzymatic digestion.
AM: So if glass could talk back to you, what do you think it would say?
DC: Stop hurting me. That’s when you’re working it too cold. It feels so painful to the glass. You can see it like hates it. Okay. you’re pushing too hard trying to just get every working second out of the heat you just did, and you just go too far it always scars the glass, and it shows you it just went too far! I think it speaks to me most when it’s hot. So when it’s in this molten state. So once the sand and whatnot is heated together. Then it forms an identity, a personality. Yeah.
AM: What would you say the most absurd commission request you ever received was?
DC: Oh, David Letterman, to make glass soap for him. He wanted to use Christmas gifts. Oh I thought this guy is hilarious, because that’s the gift you give somebody when you don’t know what to give them! So he’s creating this glass soap, like when you don’t know what to give someone, you bring a housewarming gift or something, you get soap and candles as two of the biggest things. He was going to use it as a charming novelty to hand out to people saying, I normally would give you soap, but now I’m giving you elevated glass soap. I thought it was hilarious.
He had me make other things too. A tie. OK, then there’s the tie which he still had hanging over there from his son’s prep school tie when he was graduating. So he had me make that - then the tie broke - the tie was broken by someone cleaning the house and he wanted me to do something with the tie’s broken shards to make it into a new sculpture, so I edit those shards into like a big kind of paperweight. He is a fan of glass because he went to an undergraduate school that had glass in Indiana, and he really fell in love with the material. He made a documentary about making that [Editors Note: “Clear Reception” is the Documentary]. Also another thing - so he has a duct tape cell phone holder of different colors on it and it became this big mass of duct tape and plaid and he wanted that reproduced in glass, which I was able to do. He gets very attached to things!
AM: So what’s on your bucket list now?
DC: Well, I’m heading up to the Corning Museum. The next thing is I got asked to be in the show in Venice, so I have to make pieces for that, which I’m calling the project Big Fruit. I’m sticking with fruit. When I was thinking of what to do in Corning, I wanted to turn the fruit project into lighting.
AM: You had won a residency at Corning from the show, right?
DC: That was years ago, but now I applied. So I was two weeks in there, the museum hot shop… they have different hot shops there… I ended up making car parts there, because I was like let’s let me do something that’s not fruits or vegetables... so I made like a car mufflers with big plumes of exhaust coming out of them and hubcaps as the jewelry of the car. So my goal was non-toxic masculinity and that was represented by the car, so glass can transform anything that I thought into something gorgeous and beautiful.
AM: You worked on a cool project with Cake Boss as well?
DC: Oh yeah. That was another TV program. Yeah. Buddy Valastro - Cake versus Glass. His production team found me because he was doing a special for Christmas time or the holidays. It was going to be cake against other materials. And they reached out to me because they wanted to use glass. Glass was one of the mediums. Set design was one of the meat. Legos was one of the mediums. Toys was, I think. So they reached out to me. And they did a four-episode series, which is Buddy versus, and I was the Buddy versus Glass. Okay, I forget the exact prompt now, but it was something about “The Night Before Christmas.” And Buddy did a cake where Santa Claus crashed into a house. He does these huge elaborate installations with armatures underneath -
AM: Yeah they’re crazy! Our jaws were just dropped when we binged a Buddy Versus Duff season recently when we were working around the clock during on a staycation at Coda Williamsburg, ironic no? So much creativity, passion and skill for both of them!
DC: I did a christmas cookie that was out for Santa that got eaten by a mouse. So it was a mouse that ate part of a cookie, and the cookie thought the mouse was in love with it, but the mouse ended up eating the Christmas cookie, so it was not true love. We had two judges. He was on the left side of the stage and I was on the right side of the stage.
AM: So what happened?
DC: I won. He was great [about it].
AM: What are some of your favorite museums and gallery exhibitions?
DC: I like Friedman Benda Gallery. It’s a furniture art gallery. Salon 94. As far as museums go, my preference is the Whitney in New York. The gallery I showed in - Traore gallery. That’s cool. Gotham was doing an ashtray exhibit - they have a gallery in addition to the store where they show some lifestyle things like clothing, and also an art gallery. [Editor’s Note: The Exhibit is called “The Smoking Section.”] It’s a really cool art gallery because they do show things that maybe can’t go anywhere else, like an ashtray show. For that I used a traditional Venetian style goblet that has a dragon in the stem. It’s still there in their store.
AM: What are some of the things you like to do in your downtime when you’re not glass blowing or glass working?
DC: I do yoga okay with Three, because she teaches yoga and I don’t think it would be as fun if she wasn’t teaching. It’s great because that [helps] the flexibility part, especially as you get older, you have to keep limber. And then skiing, we went skiing. I’m a beginning skier, really, but I’m enjoying it. That’s new for me. Then dining and going to movies.
AM: How do you like having a studio office at Brooklyn Glass?
DC: Brooklyn Glass is like a shop that is really devoted to having artists fabricate their work. So there’s two shops near here. One is Urban Glass, which is a non-for-profit artist organization or arts organization. And then there’s this one, which is Brooklyn Glass. I like this one. Well, first of all, I have a studio within this one. And it’s really like a community here that’s a small community that I can rely on to talk ideas over and to help. And so it just feels like more of a community to me than the larger space down the street.
So I like that. And it’s just really focused on professionals here. They have an educational program, but it’s really only at night. So during the day, it’s all professionals working here, which is great. And it’s just a good range of projects coming through that you can see different things being made and different people coming in. They have several departments, including neon, fabrication, hot sculpting or hot blowing, and cold working the finishing area studios where drilling and grinding and cutting of the glass is done. So getting special shapes outside of what you can do in the hot shop. That’s here too. It’s a nice small shop.
AM: It was great making some Forgotten Potatoes together, we look forward to some Eggs & Fruit another time!
IG @dczeey
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT | Paul Farkas shot with Sony Alpha |
Read the MAR ISSUE #123 of Athleisure Mag and see MAESTRO OF MAGIC | Deborah Czeresko in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Ed Sloane/World Surf League
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with current #2 ranked WSL Champion of 2023 and Team USA Surfing Olympic Gold Medalist, Caroline Marks. She talks with us about the love of the sport, how she optimizes her fitness for it, what her favorite tournaments are on tour, being a surf ambassador for Lexus and what she is looking forward to in the upcoming season! She also talks about her Red Bull film, Now Days.
On April 16th, the Youth America Grand Prix will have their 2026 Stars of Today, Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala which brings the best ballet talent together from those that are rising stars to those we enjoy seeing on the stage. This year, Misty Copeland will be the host and there will be a number of people honored at this event, performances, and an auction for pointe shoes.
We grew up watching Joshua Jackson in Mighty Ducks as well as Dawson’s Creek. He continues to act in a number of shows that we enjoy including: The Affair, Dr. Death, Dr. Odyssey and more. We talk with him about his passion for hockey, partnering with the NHL to fight against cancer, and a number of projects coming up that we will want to check out!
We enjoy the tennis season which takes us all over the world! One of the most noted WAGS is Morgan Riddle. We caught up with her to talk about how she navigates constant travel, her beauty routines, the importance of SPF, and more!
March is a busy month and when March Madness takes over, we’re all excited for weeks of basketball on end! We made our way to the Reese’s Bracket Summit to hear how NY Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, and analysts - Andraya Carter and NBA Champion Richard Jefferson focused on their brackets. We also talk with them about their love of the game and how a busted bracket can win you Reese’s!
We caught up with Team USA Olympic Speed Skaters, Erin Jackson and Jordan Stolz to share what they love about this sport, how they continue to push boundaries in it, and their participation in Happiness is the Real Gold Campaign with Hershey’s.
Last month, our Athleisure Mag Summit Series took place at SaltDrop in the East Village. Dino Malvone, founder of this fitness method sits down with us post class to talk about how he came to the fitness industry, why he wanted to create this method, class offerings, and what we can keep an eye out for this brand!
The Boston Marathon is coming up (along with a number of marathons) - we caught up with Becs Gentry to get tips on how we can prepare for our next race, her passion for it, and more.
We connected with Chef Chris Valdes to talk about his style of cooking, what dish he fell in love with, and pairings that he enjoys with Tanqueray cocktails.
In this month’s issue, we made our way to Brooklyn Glass to watch noted glass blower, Deborah Czeresko S1 winner of Netflix’s Blown Away, create her noted potatoes! She shares with us about her passion for this medium, phenomenal projects that she has been able to do, and more.
This month's The Art of the Snack takes us to NYC for Brazilian cuisine at Berimbau Brazilian Table which is filled with savory dishes, cocktails, and great vibes all around!
We sat down with Founder of Black Girl Tennis Club, Kimberly Selden to find out why she wanted to create this organization, the power of tennis and it’s roots as well as upcoming events that we want to know about.
This month's Athleisure List comes from New York Pilates, a studio with a number of locations in NYC as well as the Hamptons that is the city’s go-to-spot. We also included Carlisle Bay in Antigua that woudl be perfect for our next trip!
With Awards Season coming to an end, we recap some of our favorite looks from this season along with insights from glam teams that participated as well as the talent walking the red carpet themselves in THE 9LIST 9R3DCARP3T. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Morgan Riddle where she shares her must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness. Our 9PLAYLIST comes from EDM DJ/Producer ILLENIUM to see what he is listening to now. Our 9LIST ROUTIN3S comes from Dino Malvone and Misty Copeland.
Read the MAR ISSUE #123 of Athleisure Mag now.
This month, we have all enjoyed watching the Olympics and seeing so many stories whether our favorites or new to athletes that hit the podium, played our favorite sport, or just seeing them navigate their Olympic journey! We love snowboarding and Team USA had a number of great stories that we enjoyed watching. Bea Kim has been on our radar for a bit, watching her journey on the global stage along with seeing her hanging out with Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro. We caught up with Bea as soon as the Olympics concluded to talk about her Olympic debut, the sport, being at her first Olympics and more!
ATHLEISURE MAG: What is your first memory of being on a snowboard and when did you fall in love with it?
BEA KIM: I honestly don’t think I can remember my first memory on a snowboard. I just remember things about when I started. My family would ride on Chair 7 at Mammoth and I had a green jacket and this 8-ball helmet. The jumps were tiny but I was having the time of my life. I think I’m honestly trying to chase that feeling every time I strap in.
AM: When did you realize that you wanted to snowboard competitively and at what point did you go pro?
BK: I realized I wanted to try snowboarding competitively when I randomly entered and podiumed at the JLA Banked Slalom in Mammoth. I saw a kid ride by with a Mammoth Snowboard Team Jacket and I told my dad I wanted to join. He initially laughed because we live by the beach, not close to the mountains, but he allowed me to join and has been my biggest supporter since. I decided I wanted to go pro when I watched Chloe win her first Olympic gold in Korea. That was a pretty pivotal moment for me.
AM: Tell me about halfpipe and why do you love doing it?
BK: I love the halfpipe because it’s always challenging me, both mentally and physically. There are always new tricks to learn and technique to refine. I honestly nerd out on the super little things and sometimes my coaches have to say, “Stop thinking so much -- just go snowboard!” Great advice. I
think playing that line between being analytical and going with what feels right is super exciting.
AM: We always like knowing about what athletes do to optimize themselves in their sport. Are there 3 workouts that you do that you can share with us?
BK: My top three are:
• Bulgarian split squats
• Squat jumps
• Shoulder press
AM: What is an average week like when you are preparing to compete?
BK: Hectic. I’m historically not great during competition practices, so I typically feel a little weird on my board. Majority of the week is spent recovering physically and resetting my brain to approach the next practice or competition day with a strong mindset.
AM: This year, you made it to the Olympics and you placed 8th in your debut! What has the journey to get to the Olympics been like and what are your biggest takeaways in competing this year?
BK: The journey has been wild! I mean it’s been almost a decade now, so to finally get to the Olympics and have the opportunity to compete was super surreal. If I’m being honest, I got caught up in the “Olympic stress” leading up to the Games and had a few rough days. But landing a run in finals really reignited that childish love for snowboarding and has made me super excited for the future. Moving forward, I am going to try and not take everything so seriously. Still put maximum effort and hard work into everything that I do, but loosen up. It makes the journey more enjoyable.
AM: What were the Opening Ceremonies like?
BK: A lot of standing haha. It felt like prom or a graduation because everyone was all dressed up taking pictures just hanging out. I like to think it was our joint celebration of the hard work we all put in of training and qualifying for the Olympics.
AM: We’ve enjoyed seeing images of you and Chloe Kim together. How did you guys connect and what has it meant to you to be able to share your Olympic experience with her competing as well?
BK: We connected through the U.S. Team once I made the pro team. It was very full circle to be able to share my Olympic experience with her. Before she even knew who I was, she was inspiring me to go out and snowboard. Now, she not only continues to inspire me but treats me like a little sister. We talk about snowboarding and life. Lots of selfies and exchanging lip products haha.
AM: When you were not competing or preparing to compete, what was your favorite Olympic experience?
BK: Ooh. The late night pizza runs after training.
AM: What’s next in terms of your snowboarding career?
BK: Having fun. That might be in the halfpipe, or the backcountry, or just riding with my little brother. I want to keep pushing myself while learning to maintain a better relationship with snowboarding.
AM: This Fall you will be attending Columbia University, which is exciting! What are you looking forward to?
BK: Everything! It’s going to be such a new experience and world, than snowboarding, so I am looking forward to all of it. Getting to meet new people and grow a different part of my brain!
AM: You partnered with Protect Our Winters. Can you tell me more about that and why this is synergistic with you?
BK: I grew up in the outdoors. Snowboarding, camping, and hiking were such a huge part of my childhood and who I am as a person. The outdoors has given me my career and so many amazing adventures and opportunities. As I started to travel more it became impossible to ignore climate change. I got in contact with POW because I want future generations to be able to explore and adventure like I did.
AM: When you are not snowboarding, how do you take time for yourself?
BK: It’s pretty simple, haha. Reading, eating, spending time with my friends and family.
IG @hellobeakim
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 78 - 82 Courtesy of Bea Kim | PG 84 Trevor Brown Jr./X Games | PG 87 - 89 Isami Kiyooka/Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games |
Read the FEB ISSUE #122 of Athleisure Mag and see HER HALF PIPE JOURNEY | Bea Kim in mag.
For the past decade or so, we have been fans of curling. We find it so calming to watch the stones glide across the ice, while also feeling all of the anxious feels of the frantic sweeping that takes place. It’s such a fun sport to watch and we’ve always been fans of Matt Hamilton, who as a member of the Men’s Team USA Curling where he helped secure the first-ever curling gold medal for the US at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, and he also competed the following year at the Winter Games in 2022.
We took some time to hang out with Matt to talk about curling, dynamics of the game, his partnership with Swiffer, and how important it is to him to grow this sport, which has been on the rise!
ATHLEISURE MAG: Matt, it is so good to connect with you! We are such a fan of curling. Love the sport, seeing you play, and it’s good to talk with you today.
MATT HAMILTON: Thank you! It’s a lot of fun to play. So you should, you should find a place and get into it. It’s way more fun than just watching.
AM: Whenever it’s on, it’s always something that we love watching. It looks like it’s a lot of work to see athletes really working those stones to get them across the ice. So, I don’t know how good we’d be on that front, but we love the camaraderie and the emotions involved!
When did you fall in love with curling, and when did you think about it as a career?
MH: So, I fell in love with curling - I first was exposed to it in, like, 2003, my dad was doing it, but I was like a 12-year-old kid. So, like, what is Dad’s doing, that’s an old man’s sport?
AM: Right.
MH: I don’t want to play that and literally, a couple months later, one of my buddies asked me if I wanted to do it. So then it was like, oh yeah, it’s cool!
AM: Haha right!
MH: Absolutely. Sorry, Dad. It just took a little extra push. And I would say it would have been four years after that. I got picked up on the defending US National Junior team and we ended up going to Worlds that year, and we won the World Championships. So, that’s when I was kind of like, these are all my peers, like if I can beat them now, as long as I stick with it, there’s no reason I can’t beat them. You know, in an Olympics, if I, if I ever make one, so I just got to make sure I keep practicing stay with it. That’s when I was like, convinced I wanted to do it. I will say there’s there’s no such thing as a professional curler in the United States.
AM: We can imagine.
MH: Right? I have a regular job, then I have curling, and I have social media stuff. I’m definitely a regular guy, I have a fairly normal job, I work on radio and I have my own radio show (Editor’s Note: Jim, Matt, and Molly is an afternoon sports-comedy radio show on 100.5 ESPN Madison as well as being available as a podcast – the hosts are Matt, Jim Rutledge, and Molly Brown). It’s, it’s fun to say, I’m a professional curler, but if you want to be correct – it’s semi-pro because curling is not as lucrative as basketball or football.
AM: Well, that is true.
For those that may not be familiar with the sport, can you kind of tell us about the mechanics, and what position you play and how do you score points and ultimately, how do you win?
MH: So, during the 2018 Olympics, I was the second, which means I throw second. There’s 8 stones per team, and you alternate throwing. Right now, what they do to start the game is they throw a draw, which is like a rock that stops in play.
They try and run as close as they can to the center, and then they measure it, and whoever gets the closest gets to go last, which is called the hammer. It’s the last shot. If you have the last shot, you should score. That’s the theory behind it. There’s these 12 foot rings, and it looks like a target or a bullseye. One of the big misconceptions is the rings don’t mean anything like being right in the middle of the bullseye is no different than just barely touching the edge. The goal of the game is to get as many of your rocks closer to that middle, then the opponent’s closest stone.
AM: Right.
MH: So if you don’t have any in the rings, mine could be anywhere they’re worth a point. The rings are actually there visually during the game as you’re strategizing how to score and where to put rocks. I can look down from the top and try and visually see which one’s closer. If it was just a big circle with a hole in the middle, it would be very hard to tell. So now, those rings are just like reference points so I can make that quicker decision at which one’s closer and why I would play one shot versus another.
AM: We always like asking when you have athletes that are doing a particular sport, what are the workouts that you do to optimize yourself in that sport? As mentioned at the top, there is a lot of upper body strength that’s going on, and so are there things that you do for that?
MH: For me and my position at second, I’ll throw 2 of the 8 rocks, but I sweep for the other 6.
AM: Right.
MH: So, there’s a lot of, sweeping involved, and it’s way more physically demanding than most people think. Maybe that’s a credit to us, like athletes everywhere, like when you’re very, very good at something, you make it look easy. That’s definitely the case in curling with sweeping. So for me, it’s a lot of back, shoulders and pectoral muscles. So I do obviously work on everything. Your legs are important because you gotta drive out of the hack (Editor’s Note: A rubber block embedded in the ice at each end of the rink, which curlers use to push off from to gain momentum for their delivery). The core strength for balance, and maintaining while you’re sweeping which is super important.
Well, the biggest thing I think is different about curlers is a lot of, like interval training, so sweeping is something you do during the shot, right? A shot could be up to 30 seconds long, so you might have to be going in like sweeping as hard as you can for 30 seconds.
AM: Yeah.
MH: You know, I would say to anybody, do something physical for 30 seconds straight, like you will be out of breath!
AM: Right!
MH: The other team has to throw, and then you’re right back at it. So you might have to sweep another one right away for another 30 seconds. You might have to throw, and then you have a finesse shot something where you need a lot of finesse and touch. If your heart rate’s at a buck 60, it is not easy to throw that finesse shot - you got endorphins and adrenaline running. Like, that’s not easy. So for us, it’s a lot of interval or circuit training where I might not go with the highest weights, but I’m gonna go for a minute doing whatever. Maybe it’s rowing as fast as I can, and I’m going to take about a minute to try and recover, and then do it again or go to the next exercise, and do that for a minute. So rather than rep based, it’s time based workouts.
AM: We have such a respect, because when we’re watching it, you see all of that and although it would be great to try it, we realize there is so much sweeping across the ice. Ours arms ache every time we see it as it is very intense, but it’s very cool.
MH: The beauty of this partnership that I’ve got with Swiffer is that I sweep really hard when I am on the ice, but when I’m at home, I don’t need to sweep that hard with the Swiffer it’s way easier. I prefer sweeping at home, then I do on the ice, that’s for sure.
AM: Plus, when you guys are on the knees and going in, we always think about people with knee issues. But it is so exciting to watch it and even with all of the action and the precision, it is very calming, while being aggressive as you mentioned with the intervals on and off.
So you competed in 2018 at the Olympics and won Gold, and you also competed in 2022, and you have a gold medal as well. What does it mean to you to play on such a global stage at the Olympics?
MH: It’s an honor and it’s such a privilege to get to represent the United States and with curling being such a unique sport, what other sports do you have the athletes mic’d up where you can hear everything that I am saying and I am not wearing a helmet. You can see my face. You can see the expressions and I really feel like our sport really shows the emotion and feelings of players, in game. Having the opportunity to represent, like myself, on the world stage, but also like the United States and trying to convey that we’re regular people and really awesome people that just want to put on a show and play at a high level, I think it is great. Pressure is a privilege, so having that opportunity - there was a lot of pressure, but it was thrilling and I wouldn’t obviously change it for the world.
AM: Although you’re not competing this year at the Olympics, do you plan on trying again for 2030?
MH: I’m a little up in the air on that. I think I have the juice to keep going. The problem is, I think, some of my teammates are going to retire and I’m an old guy, so I don’t know how much young guys are going to want to play with an old dude. We’re gonna see how things shake up. The team that went to the Olympics are good friends of ours. I actually talked for like an hour with a couple of the guys, just like how to pack for the Olympics, things to expect, how I dealt with media, and social media. People can be pretty brutal on social media too. I gave a good fair warning, and so hopefully they’ll ask me to play with them next year, but who knows? It’s up in the air. I think I’d like to play, but I’ve got a lot of, life changes coming up. We’ve got a kid on the way.
AM: Oh, congrats!
MH: My first one! I’m super excited about that. So we’ll see how that carves my time up. I don’t want to go into a potential Olympic run and not be able to give it my all. There’s a lot of things that I’m weighing back and forth right now.
AM: Well, you clearly have a passion for the sport. How are you working to pass it on to that next generation? When we think about when we first heard of curling, which has been over a decade as we started watching in 2012 and to see where it is now - a lot of people are aware of it and are playing it. Truthfully in the beginning we were always looking for Matt with the hair. What are you doing to keep people aware of it and to encourage them to play it?
MH: I mean, part of it is just playing it and self-promotion. I got a lot of good followers from the Olympics and because curling is always on my mind, it ends up being on my timeline. So I think that really helps. Getting that Gold medal and seeing the way curling blew up in the United States – I think that after the 2018 Olympics, there’s 10 to 15 new curling clubs that popped up in the United States. 8 or 9 of them were all in the South where you would not expect a curling club.
AM: Wow, not at all!
MH: Texas has a couple Arizona’s got one, Southern California’s got a club. Both the Carolinas have a club. Florida’s got a group, so like places you wouldn’t expect an ice sport. They are picking up and getting into curling, so being on the forefront of that curling explosion in the U.S. It’s been amazing so! Basically, what I tell everybody. It’s an amazing game. You can use it as something to get through the winter, that’s why my dad did it. He didn’t really like bowling, so it was a good way for him to look forward to something each week and get through the winter and it makes the time go by. Or, you could do what I did and be like, I’m all in. Yeah, I want to practice every day. I want to hit the gym. I want to travel to Canada, Europe, and Asia for curling tournaments and everywhere in between. There’s so much room for athletes of every level at curling that it really is such a great sport, and it’s so inclusive.
There’s common interest in the sport, but part of like the roots of the game is, when you’re done, you sit down with the other team and talk about life. Talk about the game, talk about curling the camaraderie. You kind of feel that sense of family with curling outside of just your direct teammates, so that’s what I think is really the most appealing part and why I would pitch this to people. If you’re looking for some of that camaraderie, meet new people in a town or just try something new, it’s just unparallel.
AM: And you mentioned Swiffer earlier, what does that partnership look like, and what are you doing with them?
MH: So super excited! After the 2018 Olympics, I would get people who dressed their kids up like me, and I got videos of people throwing random things on ice and using a Swiffer to sweep in front of it. So, when they finally contacted me, I was like, it’s about time!
AM: Exactly!
MH: This has been a match made in heaven for a long time. I was super excited, and they came here to my house. We did some filming, and I would spill stuff, and I used their Power Mop to clean up some of my messes. There’s no movie magic going on there. I just use the mop the way you normally would, and it was fantastic. It picked everything up and I got to try the new exclusive one, which is 10,000 scrubbing dots to help you pick up all the dirt and grime, and it does exactly what they advertised it to do. It is, it is an all-in-one cleaning system. So, I’m stoked on it because I got a bunch of stuff down in the basement for a future messes, but it was a great time and we cut up all the videos and I’ve seen them all and they’re hilarious. They’re very much my taste and show my personality, but the sweeping on the ice and sweeping at home is just so similar, and it’s just hilarious how this all worked out. I am so fortunate to be able to work with such a great group like Swiffer, because not only they’re quitting products work great, they see the humor in it and we had a great time!
IG @hamscurl
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 94 ©2022 – IOC/Michael Smith – All rights reserved | PG 97 ©2022/International Olympic Committee (IOC)/PARR, Abbie (photographe Beijing 2022) |
Read the FEB ISSUE #122 of Athleisure Mag and see CURLING NATURE | Matt Hamilton in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | LIV Golf
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with NHL NJ Devils, 3X All-Star Player and Team USA Olympic Hockey Golden Goal Champion of the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Jack Hughes. We had the pleasure of attending the first home game of the NJ Devils post the Winter Games where we caught the celebration for making the Golden Goal, seeing him play against the Buffalo Sabres, sharing what those overtime minutes were like at the Olympics, his passion for the sport, and the importance of the team.
We all enjoyed 3 weeks of Olympic coverage and this month we have a number of stories to share. We kicked it off with Hershey's at their Fireside Chat which took place at Ludlow House where we sat down with Team USA Olympic Gymnastics Aly Raisman, Team USA Olympic Figure Skating Jason Brown and Team USA Paralympic Snowboarding Amy Purdy. We talked about what happiness means to them, their sport, and what they are looking forward to at the Olympic Games as they were all on site in various capacities.
Curling is one of our favorite sports to watch during the Winter Games and we sat down to chat with Matt Hamilton who is on Team USA Olympic Curling. We wanted to know more about the sport, the dynamics involved, how he is working to grow the sport, and his partnership with Swiffer.
We also caught up with Team USA Olympic Snowboarding Bea Kim as she made her Olympic debut. We talked about her sport, placing 8th at the games, her friendship with fellow teammmate Chloe Kim, and more.
We also talked with Team USA Olympic Figure Skating alternate, Starr Andrews to find out how she navigates her sport from workouts, planning her program, and more.
This month, we enjoyed NYFW FW26 and are sharing some highlights from runway, presentations, and backstage as well.
Over various issues, we have chatted with Chef Kristen Kish who was a former cover a few years back. This time we check in with her as S4 of The Traitors which she competed on just concluded and the premiere of S22 of Top Chef is about to start on Mar 3rd. She shared with us about why she chose to be on the competition show as well as what we can expect for the culinary competition show.
This month's The Art of the Snack takes us to Santa Monica at Xuntos where we enjoy the best Spanish tapas.
This month's Athleisure List comes from Ride & Seek, an immersive bicycle tour where they have launched 2 Japanese trips to participate in. We also included Cala de Mar Resort & Spa in Mexico for the ultimate in relaxation.
Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Bea Kim where she shares her must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness. Our 9PLAYLIST MULTI Collab comes from Aly Raisman, Amy Purdy, and Jason Brown on what they are listening to on their playlist, reading, and streaming. Our 9PLAYLIST comes from iconic band, Nine Inch Nails. Our THE 9LIST 9M3NU comes from Daru, Xuntos, and Ruse.
Read the FEB ISSUE #122 of Athleisure Mag.
We’re days into the New Year and we’re making sure that we are setting ourselves up for the best success! Although we know that the 1st is the beginning of the year, it’s that first Monday that really lets us know what we’re in for. Jan 5th is really the beginning of a series of days and weeks where we really have to get in gear!
We sat down with actor, standup comedian, producer, Co-Creator and star of Netflix’s Survival of the Thickest Michelle Buteau to talk about her career, her creative process, her projects and why she partnered with Premier Protein! She talks about the importance of showing up for herself and being good to herself.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Hello! We met briefly at Chuks Collins dinner this Fall when he shared his collection at Bryant Park Grill. I was waiting to be seated, turned around and then there you were looking stunning walking by and all I could get out was, I love you in Survival of the Thickest!
MICHELLE BUTEAU: Oh yes, that was a great dinner and Chuks is so special!
AM: Yes it was such a good dinner and it’s great talking with you now.
MB: I love to hear that people love the show because it makes me feel like I am doing my job, so thank you for that! I will never get tired of that.
AM: I am a fan of your energy, your humor, your authenticity and all the things! Honestly, I don’t know where I was in life, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I was like wait who is this – I loved you on Netflix’s Barbecue Showdown, you were the host of a social reality show that I loved watching, being on BET’s First Wives Club – I was like this woman is working! You literally got me through the pandemic which then brought me to watching the other things that you do as well!
You’re an actress, a comedian, a producer, a host, you can do drama – when did you realize that you wanted to be an entertainer?
MB: Oh my goodness! I feel that every kid thinks that they can be an entertainer. I think that it was when I was around 12 or 13 that I was like, “I think that I want to do this” to my parents and they were like, no you don’t. I don’t think that I really told myself or gave myself permission or license to really go far with this until my 20’s which is so crazy, but you know, whatever makes you happy!
AM: Well, whether you’re preparing for a character or an upcoming film, or series, what is your creative process or what do you pull from when you’re trying to get ready for things that you’re working on?
MB: You know, that’s such a great question! I don’t really have a process, the main thing that I have to do, because I have a husband, 2 dogs, 2 kids, are responsibilities at home and in life. The main thing for me to do is that I am happy and healthy, that I have all of my vitamins, and I am taking care of myself because my brain is working! When I have a good amount of rest because I like to be busy – the main thing is that I am taking care of me throughout the day!
AM: In Survival of the Thickest, I love it with the energy of that show! You are showing the industry and what goes on in it. I am the Co-Founder/Creative + Style Dir of Athleisure Mag but I am also a Fashion Stylist. So when I am watching the show and your character, I’m like oh yeah – that is what it is!
MB: Yeah, you get it!
AM: Yup, I’m like, that’s pretty much it! It’s glam when it’s glam and then it’s just not.
MB: Yeah and I love that about it. It’s a parallel to comedy which is why I chose that job for my character. That job will humble you real quick and the next day you could be flying first class or private in this whole different realm, so I think it is important to know that there are a whole of different places that you can live especially with the job that you love.
AM: What made you want to be a Co-Creator of this show and also star in it as well? I know that you’re back in production on S3 and I am so bummed that this will be the final season – but the series has everything!
MB: I mean, it was just really natural right? I have been doing standup for 24 years and it has helped me figure out my voice, my platform – and when I wrote this book when I brought my kids home from the hospital. I was like, “oh, I have twin babies now and I guess I will be at home so I need to write a book – I mean what? What?” But I will say, hot tip, I do put some Premier Protein Shake in my coffee because that’s how I get my protein! I get my coffee kick, my caffeine kick, my protein kick! So that was very helpful! Obviously lots of hugs and fresh hugs too – but anyways!
AM: What is life without fresh veggies and hugs?
MB: Ok now! Downward dogs and everything – cat/cow!
I mean, I wrote the book and then when Netflix optioned the book, they said, “do you want to build this world yourself or would you like to work with someone?” There’s nothing better than collaborating. When you find the right person it just sings and so I am so happy that Netflix introduced me to my Co-Creator Danielle Sanchez-Witzel (My Name is Earl, New Girl, The Carmichael Show) because we had a time! We had a whole kiki! It’s been so fun! It is 3rd and final, but that’s ok because I think that it is a gift knowing that you are not coming back so that you can do what you want to do. Also, no one is a 1 trick pony! We can go out there and do other things – I mean look at you!
AM: Tell me about The Surviving and Thriving Tour!
MB: Oh my goodness! Well, you know, everybody has got – the whole point is that we can live in 2 places at once. While we feel like this is really hard, there also some really good things too. You have to wake up really early, but isn’t it really good that you get to wake up really early and get to do all the things that you want to do? I feel like being busy or stressed is a privilege – I get to have the responsibility to do these things which is really fun. So Surviving and Thriving is named kind of after that. I love standup and I can’t wait to go back out on tour. I love performing and just writing hard jokes, hard jokes. I want people bending over with laughter! I want people to just be cackling because laughter is medicine and I’m a doctor!
AM: I mean, I will take in all the prescriptions that you’re providing!
MB: Yeah! There’s no Co-Pay, come get you some laughs!
AM: Spa Weekend looks amazing! It’s a great cast! Why did you want to be part of that project?
MB: I mean, there is just this beautiful, wild and comedic powerhouses coming together! I love Isla Fisher (Now You See Me franchise, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Nocturnal Animals), Leslie Mann (The Other Woman, Blockers, Motherless Brooklyn), Anna Faris (Scary Movie franchise, Mom, The House Bunny) and how could I not want to be part of that team? I also love the idea of strong female bonds and relationships when we are from different walks of life. The one thing that we have in common is that the women of Spa Weekend, go on a spa weekend because they need it. They are really busy with the responsibilities and the mundane things that are done in life and they have to go away. They just go away for a wild weekend and they just have a lot of fun stuff going on and a lot of hijinks!
AM: I cannot wait to see it!
You recently partnered with Premier Protein as a part of their New Year campaign and Go Get ‘Em Mode. Tell me about this mode and what it is and why did you want to partner with this brand?
MB: Oh my goodness because I like to Go Get’ Em so let’s Go Get ‘Em, come on sis – let’s roll! Are you for real? So I remember and this was a full circle moment. My dad, he was like the busiest man alive. He would lift weights in between meetings, take me to the mall and he was so busy. He would always have a Premier Protein Shake! So I grew up watching the busiest man I know always being in Go Mode and getting it done and always taking care of his body. So when Premier Protein Shake approached me, I said yes! Everyone knows about that hard start of the year at the top of January 1st and it isn’t always that and then people beat themselves up – it’s the Monday – it’s the January 5th of it all. It’s really exciting because Premier Protein wants to set people up for success by going to goget2026.com and you can go on there and try them out for free! They will send it to you in your house in select cities (Atlanta, NY, Chicago, LA, Philadelphia and Miami). We all know what that is! We know what the pre-party is before you have to go to work so it’s that 5-9 where you’re like, uh-oh how am I going to do this, who am I going to be, what am I going to wear? You know, can I touch my toes, will I have enough energy – yes you can! It’s Premier Protein and they want to help you get that energy sis so let’s go!
AM: I love that and a shake is a great way to do all of that!
What do you love about drinking these shakes? Do you have a special flavor?
MB: I’m a Chocolate or Caramel girlie! What I love about it is that I am doing something for myself. I feel like because women – I mean, I’m no doctor – I only play one on TV – actually I did!
AM: I was going to say you did!
MB: You got me!
AM: You did!
MB: We need between 40 and 65 grams of protein a day. So you get 30 in one shot with the bottle, it’s like pretty great! When I have more energy, I’m nicer to people! There’s no road rage you know what I mean? I hope you heal! Oh my God there’s a spot! I found a parking spot? Yes you can cut me in line! You go –
AM: That’s right!
MB: I’m just a nicer person when I have more energy. So yes, I do that for myself - treat yo’self all year long!
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Netflix/Vanessa Clifton
Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see GO GET’EM MODEL | Michelle Buteau in mag.
It’s been another great NFL season and it all culminates with Super Bowl LX which takes place on Feb 8th at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, the home of the San Francisco 49ers! This year, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots will battle it out to see who will be the champions! During this time of year, there are a number of events and activations taking place. One of them is Origins: An NFL Collection which in addition to be a collaborative line of apparel that is created with designers who are in the community that the Super Bowl is being held, but it is a time where those who are in the area can enjoy the pop-up! We wanted to find out more about this collection, the pop-up event, the NFL’s committment to highlighting artists and bringing them in to the experience of Game Day! We took some time to catch up with the Director of Marketing and E-Commerce at the NFL, Ashley Daniel to find out about this and more.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell me a bit about your background prior to coming to the NFL.
ASHLEY DANIEL: I’ve spent most of my career since coming out of college working for the NFL. During undergrad, I volunteered with the Super Bowl Host Committee and later interned with the NFL in the Media Strategy & Business Development department. After graduating, I was selected for the NFL’s Rotational Program and have continued to grow my career within the Consumer Products department ever since.
AM: As the Director of Marketing and E-Commerce at the NFL, what does your role entail?
AD: The role is dynamic, which is one of its most rewarding aspects. My work ranges from leading our Local Club Collaboration Program and developing capsule collections with small, local brands to collaborating with our advertising team on national NFL Shop TV campaigns. At its core, the position is about tying inspiration to conversion and strengthening fans’ connections to their cities and teams through product.
AM: Tell us about Origins: An NFL Collection in terms of why this program was created and what it serves to do.
AD: The Origins program was first developed for the Super Bowl in Los Angeles. Although we produce incredible Super Bowl merchandise, there was an opportunity to showcase products from local brands that authentically represent the host city and its communities. The program emerged from that insight, grounded in the belief that every host city is home to artists and designers who reveal dimensions of the city often overlooked.
AM: How do you go about finding designers to partner with, and what are you looking for?
AD: Each year, the approach evolves. In previous years, my colleague, Xaimara Coss, who is also a Director on the Consumer Products team at the NFL, and I relied heavily on web research and social media, tracking who was showing up at local markets, consistently launching collections, actively engaging with their communities, and creating truly distinctive work. This year, we partnered with our licensing partner, NoCallerID, to support the search. Together, we spent several weeks reviewing candidates and hosting introductory conversations before ultimately selecting the final group of brands.
AM: Tell me about the designers who will be participating in this year’s Origins: An NFL Collection.
AD: Each designer brings a distinctly different point of view, which is what makes this group so compelling. Aaron De La Cruz is an artist by trade, and his work immediately stood out to us, particularly his use of shape and movement, which introduced an aesthetic we hadn’t previously explored within the Origins program. We knew he would bring a bold, unexpected reinterpretation of the Super Bowl. Nostalgia approaches design through incredibly unique silhouettes; when we saw a previous collection featuring intricate woven paisleys, it was clear they would offer a fresh perspective on what fan apparel can be. Lastly, there’s Blvck Scvle, an iconic Bay Area streetwear brand that has been shaping the culture since 2007. Their product is elevated and refined, with exceptionally strong design execution. Together, the three brands form a powerful cohort that authentically represents the spirit and creativity of the Bay.
AM: This year, there will be a one-day pop-up event ahead of the Super Bowl in the Bay Area. Tell us more about this.
AD: Each year, we host a launch pop-up retail event that serves as the first opportunity for fans and the community to shop the new collection. The event brings together shopping, music, and a strong community presence in support of the participating brands, attracting both locals and visitors in search of authentic Super Bowl products and experiences. This year’s launch will take place on Thursday, February 5, at the Pearl from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is free and open to the public.
AM: For those who are unable to attend the event, how can they be part of this experience?
AD: On Friday, February 6, at 9 AM ET, the product goes live on NFLShop.com/origins. They can also follow the brand stories as they launch on @NFL on IG and on NFL.com/origins.
AM: In terms of the Super Bowl, will this collection of Origins: An NFL Collection be at the stadium?
AD: No. Any product that does not sell out at the launch event will be sold at the NFL Shop Presented by Visa at Super Bowl Experience Presented by Jersey Mike’s.
AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share with us that we should know about at the NFL that you are involved in?
AD: There are a lot of great drops coming out around the Super Bowl. We can’t say much right now, but stay tuned.
IG @nfl
After speaking with Ashley about Origins: NFL Collection, we wanted to talk with one of the designer collaborators, Aaron De La Cruz, to find out more about his work, participating in this assortment, and more!
AM: Before we delve into this collaboration that you did with Origins: An NFL Collection, can you tell me about your background and what led you to design?
AARON DE LA CRUZ: From as far back as I can remember, I have loved to draw. As a kid growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I spent a majority of my time outside surrounded by skate and graffiti culture. The graphics I would see on clothing, skateboards and art in the streets influenced me to create my own at home, school and, eventually, on the streets too. I was fortunate enough to have the support of my parents and teachers who recognized my talent, which helped me get into programs and eventually art school. I graduated from college with a BFA and went into teaching art for ten years until I became a parent and I decided to pursue being a full-time artist. That was exactly 13 years ago this month – wow, time flies! I’m the first full-time artist in my family, so my main focus is to show my kids that being a creative for a living is possible. This occupation is hard and definitely has its challenges. They are old enough now to see what it’s really like, but projects like this are moments to celebrate and make it feel like a dream come true.
AM: You have done a number of collaborations with Maison Margiela, Diesel, ESPN, etc. What is the creative process that you go into when you are creating something for or with another brand?
ADLC: When taking on collaborative projects, I prefer to have a personal connection with the client or find a way to connect the project to my family. Because many of my works are considered abstract at times, they can appear as decorative considering the context in which they are displayed. I always try to find a way to integrate my family into these types of projects because, for me, these are the people in my life I’m surrounded by the most. When given the opportunity, I make it a point to provide a story that will connect with the audience, especially for those who are interested in what’s beyond the surface.
AM: How much does the Bay Area influence your work?
ADLC: The Bay is a special place. We have a rich history of movements that were born here that have spread throughout the world. That, plus our unique landscape, draws people to visit and live here, including myself. I don’t know if the Bay is something visually noticeable in my work, but I can say the culture here has definitely influenced what I do with my artwork. Social justice is something very important to me, and I use my art as a vehicle to express my opinions. I try my best to donate works to nonprofits that are doing amazing work. I also give away my work from time to time for those who might not be able to afford it and promote social interaction.
AM: As one of the collaborators in the Origins: An NFL Collection, what does it mean to you to be part of this project?
ADLC: This project is HUGE! As a kid, I was a big NFL fan, and now as a parent, football plays a big part in my life 24/7. I have twin sons (and a wife) who are borderline obsessed with the sport, so for me to be involved at this level is definitely a project I am happy about, and so are they. Being Mexican and a fan of the sport, you don’t see much representation on the field, so for me, this project was an opportunity for us to be seen at this level. I really wanted to show any kids who are artists or have a desire to play the sport that we can find ways to be seen on and off the field in the NFL.
AM: What were you inspired by in terms of the items that you designed in this collaboration?
ADLC: Many of the works I create involve the idea of deconstruction and breaking something down to its simplest form. For the collection, I wanted to create something that my fan base – who might not be football fans – would appreciate, and for football fans who aren’t familiar with my work would recognize.
First, the use of black and white was inspired by the referee uniform. The referee is someone who plays a big part in the game and, at times, can control the game. The artwork on the garments is scaled at 2” wide, which is the width of the black and white stripes found on the official NFL referee uniform.
Second was the location of the artwork. This was inspired by the player, their passion and what they put their body through playing the sport. I created an all-over design because they take hits all over the body and sometimes walk away with wounds and scars that they have for life, all for the love of the sport.
Third was the design, I created unique marks using my signature style that reference routes found in a playbook. I wanted to capture the simplest thing that was recognizable and had that feel of hand-drawn.
I wanted to capture the simplest thing that was recognizable and had that feel of hand-drawn.
The colors of the garments are white on black (chalk on board), black on white (marker on dry erase board) and the grey colorway is a nod to San Francisco and our reputation for being covered in fog.
AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share with us that we should know about?
ADLC: Please be on the lookout for the online release of the collection at AARONDELACRUZ.COM on Feb 7th. If you happen to be in San Francisco for the Super Bowl, be on the lookout for a city-wide project I’m doing on Feb 6th. This project will involve me creating 11 original works of art and dropping them off at 11 different locations throughout the city. I’m using this as an opportunity for people to discover and support independently owned businesses within the 11 districts (11 players on the field!) of San Francisco. All of this will take place on my Instagram (@aarondelacruz) so you will need to follow and see what happens!
Aside from that, I’m working on multiple projects and continuing to play this game of life while supporting my team (family). Trying my best to win the MVP for being the best Dad in the league and not end up on the injured reserve list haha.
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Origins: An NFL Collection
Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag and see ORIGINS an NFL Collection in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | LIV Golf
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with 24X PGA Tour Champion, 2016 US Open Champion, 2020 Masters Champion, LIV Golf 3X Individual wins Dustin Johnson. We talk with him about the passion for his sport, preparing for the upcoming and his 5th LIV season, being Owner/Captain of the 4Aces, how he stays in shape, and more. 4Aces' GM, Chris Rosaasen also talks about how he came to the team and what we can expect as the season kicks off in Riyadh.
The NHL season is well underway and we had some time with NJ Devils star, Jack Hughes to talk about how he came to hockey, being drafted in 2019, his partnership with Mucinex Kickstart and how he takes time for himself.
We caught up with the most decorated X Games Winter female athlete, Jamie Anderson to talk about how she navigates being a snowboarder and what it means to her. We also talk about how she trains, takes time for herself, and participating in Rockstar Energy Open and the Legendary X Games!
With the Super Bowl approaching on Feb 8th, we're looking forward to seeing the Seahawks vs the Patriots to see who will win this season. This time of year brings so many events that take place during then. We talked with Ashley Daniel, NFL Director of Marketing and E-Commerce to talk about Origins: NFL Collection which is a collaborative effort between the league and designers to create products that have the spirit that the Big Game takes place and being created by those from that area. We also chat with Aaron De La Cruz to find out how he became part of this project and what he is looking forward to.
We're looking forward to festival and this season we talk with DJ/Producer KAAZE about his upcoming schedule which includes debuting at Tomorrowland, new music, his collaboration with Steve Aoki via their EP Head Rush, and how he approaches creating music and what that process involves.
We also sat down with HYPATON to talk about how he got into the industry, working with and being mentored by David Guetta, how he approaches his music, and his upcoming Tomorrowland debut.
We have had a few weeks to get used to being in 2026. We sat down with Michelle Buteau to talk about how this entertainer, comedian, and actor approaches her work, concluding the final season of Netflix's Survival of the Thickest where she is the lead and Co-Creator, her upcoming projects, how she navigates the New Year, and her partnership with Premier Protein.
We sat down with the filmmakers, Sadhvi Siddhali Shree and Sadhvi Anubhuti of BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey which not only brings awareness to this series of periods in women's lives, but also the issues of how to navigate it whether through Hormone Replacement Treatment (HRT) or through natural means. We hear from an array of doctors on all sides of the issues, regular women, and from Executive Producers Alyssa Milano and Jeannie Mai with their stories as well.
This month's The Art of the Snack takes us to DC at Daru where we enjoy cuisine from India and Nepal.
This month's Athleisure List comes from Pave Padel, a padel club located in Montauk. We also included Four Seasons Resorts Bali as well all think about warmer weather and phenomenal trips.
Our 9LIST ROUTIN3S comes from Jack Hughes where he shares what he has, does, and enjoys Morning, Afternoon, and Night for his GAM3DAY. Our 9PLAYLIST MULTI which looks at what Dustin Johnson is listening to as well as streaming. Our 9PLAYLIST comes from Aaron De La Cruz. Our NEW YEAR N3W YOU includes Jamie Anderson, HYPATON, and KAAZE.
Read the JAN ISSUE #121 of Athleisure Mag.
We’re excited to share an interview from our Athleisure Mag Summit Series which gives you an indepth look at a brand that we have had the pleasure of including in our photoshoots from celeb covers, model editorials, and even wearing it personally with a number of looks. Virgins Saints and Angels is a brand that includes a number of accessories that tell an array of stories and adds visual texture to whatever your style may be!
We sat down to talk with Cheryl “Finn” Finnegan, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Virgins Saints and Angels. We talk about the origins of the line, the assortment, her design process, and essentials you need as you begin to build your own collection.
ATHLEISURE MAG: I have to say it is such a pleasure to be able to chat with you finally for this Athleisure Mag Summit Series Virtual Event! This series allows us to talk with great fashion brands that I know our readership and community should know about. Having them hear from the brand, learning about their assortment, and what we can expect from them in upcoming seasons! As you know, I have been a fan of your brand for the past 2 decades from wearing it personally when I’m out and about, for TV segments and also including it in our photoshoots for Athleisure Mag!
In talking with you right now, I am wearing the first ring that I ever received from your collection as that in itself is a full circle moment as it was the first piece that I wrote about for a blog that I started back in 2004 and how was I to know that in 2011, my boyfriend who I am still with who is a Co-Founder of Athleisure Mag, would not only buy this ring without knowing that I knew about it, but he ordered it through Ylang23 which is a retailer that I knew and would talk to off and on when I was working on my site! They knew me and thought it was such serendipity and then around that time, I was in Santo Domingo designing my collab line with Sebago as we were were preparing to launch the collection on HSN and I ended up meeting the leather team that supplied leather for your belts because their company was supplying the leather for my shoes!
CHERYL FINNEGAN: Oh my gosh thank you so much and I just think the world of you!
AM: Same! It’s a brand that I have loved ever since I knew about it, it’s what I wear every single day and I love everything about it. I just want to say thank you for creating it and your aesthetic is something I appreciate and I really love that you are taking the time!
CF: Of course!
AM: So prior to launching Virgins Saints and Angels, I’d love to know about your background because I know you are a fashion veteran as you worked in marketing for Levi Strauss and Co.
CF: Yes, I have been working in fashion since I was probably 16!
AM: Same!
CF: Yeah, starting out in the local department store and moving on from there. I worked with Levi Strauss and I had the best title on the planet! I was called an Image Consultant!
AM: Ok, that is the best title!
CF: It is the best title! I loved handing that card out! So, I was in charge of going out and checking out boutiques. I was searching out for places for us to be in. So I was always on the cusp of what was happening. So when I moved down to San Miguel I originally started doing these plastic woven bags. They were super cute and I reinvented the whole plastic bag in the mercado and I had to brand it because I am a marketing person.
The branding in these plastic bags – I couldn’t sew anything in there and it was cheesy to glue something in there. So I had the weavers who were prisoners, they did that job in the prison system in Mexico – I had them weave the little ring in there and I did a key fob.
AM: Ah I’m seeing where the DNA of VSA came from the minute you said that and now I know why the brand also has key fobs!
CF: Then that key fob turned into a belt buckle which then turned into a ring and then a rosary and that is how it all began!
AM: Yeah, I always wondered what was the piece that sparked everything else – this is fascinating because it’s an extensive assortment that has an array of pieces that speak to each other inside of the collections as well as those adjacent to it, but I couldn’t figure out where it started and what the root was.
CF: Right! I was making these little itty bitty key fobs and I had a sweet little logo under resin and then Fred Segal was buying the bags. But one day he said to me, “do you think that you could just sell me some of the key chains?” I thought that was great because the bags take up major bulk right?
AM: Yes!
CF: So most of the cost of the bag was the shipping. So I thought, I could ship 100 key chains in a little box. So then I started putting in the religious imagery in them. Then I had cute little hangtags on them so it would be Adam and Eve and the cute little tag would say, “They always look better than they taste” or something fun about the Virgin of Miracles or whatever. I had these cute little tags on them and Fred Segal went crazy over them! I was just selling them as fast as they got in and then eventually, it turned into a belt buckle. Literally, I was walking down the street in LA with my belt buckle and Laurence Fishburne’s (Matrix franchise, John Wick franchise, The Amateur) relative stopped me and asked me what I was wearing and I told her that I had just made this belt buckle and it was my prototype. She said that she had to have one and I just took it off my body and I sold it to her!
AM: Oh my God, that is insane!
CF: Then I thought, I think that I could be onto something!
AM: The pieces are so iconic. When we had Lala Kent from Vanderpump Rules as our cover for our MAY ISSUE #29 in 2018, she wore one of your crowns for the cover.
CF: Yes – insane.
AM: It’s just amazing the responses that you get when you’re wearing them even in the wild. On days where I’m running between editor’s appointments and showrooms and I’m just rocking leggings and a top but I have my VSA which takes it to another level, I do get stopped and you have mini conversations about them and it’s so fun to engage with people in that way.
What is your sourcing process like? I do like the elements in the pieces an San Benito and then the Magdalena – where do you get all of these things from?
CF: Well inspiration is local, I mean you’re in Mexico. When I first got here, I didn’t get it. I come from the Midwest –
AM: Same!
CF: Right, your religion is private.
AM: Same! That’s how I was raised too!
CF: I’m from near Chicago.
AM: I’m from Indianapolis originally and obviously, I’m in NY now. But I totally get it. Like growing up there you’re religious, but it’s not something that I would just throw out in conversation.
CF: It’s reserved right?
AM: 1000%
CF: In Mexico, Guadalupe is on every other tattooed man – it’s just very visible. I found it interesting and then I started looking into it more and then I started adding in this Gothic kitsch. I was definitely more of a punk goth chic when I was young. I had the spiky hair and black that was my thing. I definitely have a bit of those elements in every piece that I do. The Magdalena was that ability to wear a rosary and to wrap it around. I particularly love the belt buckles and to me, those were it! That was my go-to piece that I was known for and every celebrity would wear the belt buckle and be pictured in it and you would see it! An earring you may not see necessarily, a ring you may not see, but a belt buckle – you’re going to see that.
AM: I do love the Gothica style of it. I always say that there is this noir/macabre feeling in the pieces that are pleasantly moody where it’s not fully leaning in that direction but you get that essence. I’m not a preppy girl by any means, although I growing up that is how I dressed – hello Midwest. But, I love that I feel when I wear them that it grounds the look, it gives an edge to it. It feels approachable, it has visual texture, and there are always great conversations around the pieces and it goes on for minutes! You see a cross, then there is an interesting design, or some other fun element.
CF: I know! It does kind of push the limits! I will never forget when I was in San Francisco, I was in a store and a woman came in and she told me that her parents had a dining room and it was all in black velvet and had Jesus and Mary in it as they were very religious. This woman was wearing her Virgin of Guadalupe belt buckle and she felt kind of dirty wearing it there – ha! It definitely pushes something.
AM: It does push the limits but you have created this world from the jewelry to the campaign imagery that you put around it that creates a cohesive story and what it means to be in that space. Sometimes our shoots end up popping up so quickly that I may not have time to reach out to your team to put a request in for something that is in a new collection or an archive piece and I will shop my personal VSA collection to bring it to set as it adds that element of drama.
CF: Oh honey! We’re so happy to work with you!
AM: Of course sometimes when there is a tight window you have to make do! You had a cameo set that we pulled a couple of years ago and I had requested various pieces from it as I wasn’t sure how we were going to have it with our model and by the time I saw the looks, I realized that they all needed to be worn together as we shot it at the Algonquin Hotel here in NYC.
CF: Oh yes! I loved that!
AM: Your team was great to work with to get that going. And between the dress and the layers of statement necklaces and the earrings this Cameo Noir moment just really came together. My team was like, wait all of this together and I’m like the whole thing!
CF: You’re too cute!
AM: Where do you start in your design process? Being where you are in Mexico, walking around definitely must be something for the senses and crazy inspiration.
CF: My new collection is just coming out and it’s called Brigid. So, Brigid took me back to my original roots. So when I was first introduced to San Benito, I was in Ireland. I saw the Celtic cross and I remembered being in San Benito and seeing the San Benito Monastery. That was the Celtic cross and I have Celtic roots. So Brigid takes me back to the first trip in Ireland when I was first introduced to that Celtic cross in a town called Kildare. Killdare happens to be the town where Brigid is. I wanted to do something that was very Irish and I started looking back into it and the famous Celtic cross in Ireland is in Kildare and Brigid, she is the only Goddess who is also a Saint. So she is a pagan Goddess and a Saint at the same time.
AM: Interesting!
CF: She is all 4 elements. She is Air, Water, Fire, and Earth.
AM: Now it makes sense with the images that you sent knowing that!
CF: Exactly right? So, I’m tying things back to my Celtic roots but yet, it is so very Mexican inspired for the pieces. All of my pieces are handmade!
AM: That’s another thing that I love about your brand! It already comes out with that heritage aspect to it due to how it is crafted. It is polished not like something that is mass produced, but in a way where you feel that an artisan made it and it is passed down to you. Every time I put it on – even if it is a new piece or one I haven’t worn in a while, you have this feeling that is warm and as if it something that you have had for years.
CF: You need to come down here and come down to the workshop!
AM: I want to come and see this, I would probably freak out!
CF: All of my clients that come to the workshop, they always say, “you don’t charge enough for your pieces.” They are blown away!
AM: I have to say that I have always felt that your pieces are a great price point; however, you have all the people that are making it by hand –
CF: It’s a lot! I have the same workers for 25 years.
AM: Really?
CF: Yes, the same people! They are the best of what they do. They love when I bring a magazine photo in and show them. They love seeing Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus or a number of the people that have worn their brand. They all have their little alters at their work stations. They really put a lot of love in what they do.
AM: When you make a collection each season like Brigid, how long is that process from concept to finish?
CF: It’s a lot. It can take – Brigid is coming out on Feb 1st and what we do is that we always wear the pieces beforehand. So after awhile in wearing a piece, you can see how it feels and you may say, this isn’t right. So we have to change and we have 2 pieces that we are right now in the process of getting ready. For Brigid, we have been working since Oct on this. It takes a long time and as a designer, I’m working all of the time. You don’t just stop your brain from being creative right? Every time you are looking at something, you’re saying, how does this translate?
It’s very interesting and I love it. I sit with the workers, I don’t hand them a sketch. I sit with them while we are making the pieces. I don’t have my cell phone with me or my laptop, I sit with them and I say, let’s do this and let’s do that. Then, they give me ideas, and we do it together.
AM: I did the same thing with my shoes as there was so much to learn by being able to talk with the artisans that have been doing this for years. I was able to share my vision, how I wanted the leathers arranged and then to watch them put it together, offer directions and adjustments to make a beautiful collection that I sold on HSN. So being in Santo Domingo and to have that experience really opened my eyes to craftsmanship. They knew that product and it was a pleasure to work with them. They knew that leather better than anybody, they knew about the last and so many components of the shoe.
CF: Yes! I have to say that it is very different than going to a factory in China where they are throwing things in a machine and spitting it out. There was a period where there was a copy cat of mine and they were making it in China and you could tell that it wasn’t the same.
AM: You knew the difference! Just the weight alone. It always surprises me that the pricing of your collection is so reasonable and then when you think about the hand made element as well, it’s amazing that your prices aren’t higher.
CF: People know once you start wearing it and playing with it. Our pieces in addition to being hand made are also hand polished. In this industry, when people say handmade – what does that mean because there could be elements that are and others on a machine. I do such a volume that I am fortunate that I am able to keep the prices at where they’re at. That definitely helps and we have a nice kind of flow to our factory – I don’t call it a factory I call it an atelier. We have about 13 people who work with us and every piece has its own hand antiquing. I don’t like that usually in jewelry when you antique it, they throw it in a black pot and they tumble it. I don’t like that. I like to brush it on by hand and I tell them where I want it to be more intense and where I want it to be less intense.
AM: Oh wow that explains something else I have always wondered. It’s yet another little detail that I am learning about you and the brand! I always noticed that it wasn’t the same all over in terms of my rings as I have more in this category than other portions of your line. So I will see certain parts of the ring will look one way or another when I am turning my hand or picking something up. I just thought that my skin was making it do that!
CF: There is a designer that wore my cuff to death in the shower, swimming in the ocean and I ran into her in NY and I said Nicole, would you like for me to replate that for you? It was black! And she was like, it’s my natural patina piece – my personal patina! I was like ok!
AM: Oh wow!
Who would you say is the VSA customer if you had to put a person in a category or categories?
CF: I know! There is the woman that I think she is that is this punk rock cool chick. But it’s so difficult because we have people from Miley Cyrus to Maria Shriver to Marilyn Manson. It is the most bizarre brand. A marketing company will come to me and say who is your customer and I really know that we are all over the board. We are being included in the upcoming season of Euphoria –
AM: Oh yeah, that’s huge! It’s their 3rd season!
CF: Yeah and they’re using my pieces all over! Yeah! So I have that kind of client and I have no idea as I have never seen that show.
AM: I did try to watch it but I feel like the show the cast when it first started they were like 16 but they’re definitely show the cast going through it. They’re drinking, doing drugs, navigating relationships. For me, watching younger kids do that isn’t for me versus seeing the same thing done with adults. But it is an acclaimed show and I know people really love it! I mean Zendaya (Challengers, Dune franchise, Spider-Man franchise), Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons, Fear the Walking Dead, Sing Sing) – so now I feel like I need to get on that train.
CF: I know! I have to watch it.
AM: So now that VSA is in it, I have to support it.
CF: You’re not going to see Zendaya in it but it’s another main character –
AM: Could be Sydney Sweeney (White Lotus, The Housemaid, Eden) as I know she is in it.
CF: I don’t know, but the main character is going to be wearing a signature rosary as that is her thing. You’ll see a belt buckle and you will see everything. I don’t want to say too much but I am excited.
I have also had a number of programs contact me as there is this whole witchy aesthetic that has been going on lately. When VSA started, Passion of the Christ came out, The Da Vinci Code so there was a lot of the religious thing, then we moved into Disney because there was Once Upon a Time –
AM: Yes! Loved that show and the pieces for that were huge as that was such a major collab with Disney!
CF: I fit in with those things personally. Then things got a little boring and now there is this whole witch thing going on. So there’s a movie called Forbidden Fruit that they chose my pieces for and then there is this new series that they are filming in Canada right now and I sent them 150 pieces. They went crazy for everything!
AM: I would love to see them in White Lotus, I don’t believe they are in production just yet. When they were filming in Thailand for S3, I was reached out to by someone working with them and they were looking for designers to partner with. I don’t know if it was for the show or for promotional items that would flow coming off of that and I told them then that they should talk with you and that I would be happy to connect the 2.
CF: Love it! I will tell you that my team is so professional and you have worked with them so many times. We say that we will have it on X date – we do, we have the return label, everything is packaged clean, we do what we say we will do. I don’t know how many people in the industry do that.
AM: Not a lot! Many times I have the request with a buffer and you’ll have some people still missing that window – so crazy!
CF: They’re kind of taken back at how easy it is to work with us!
AM: Oh yes, you guys package it nicely and everything is just ready to go. I find that in this business even though some people don’t do things to standard, when you are not a massive brand or with a massive firm or whatever the case may be, you have to be more on point and easy to work with so that you can continue to navigate and I always appreciate when people take care and pride in what they do! It’s about the details and the follow through!
CF: I also have this immense archive!
AM: I was just going to ask you about that!
CF: It’s massive – it’s crazy! So this program called The Body that is coming out, they shared the storyline and I told them that I would pick all of the pieces so they could give me direction. I gave them my mood board with all of the pieces. The pieces I showed them were not on the website. I can just pull from the archive and it’s so fun and most people don’t know that I do head pieces – I have thousands! I’m not going to put them on my website. People don’t necessarily want to spend a $1,000 on a headpiece that they will wear once.
AM: But it is there should they want it!
CF: It’s been so much fun and I can’t believe that I have had this life.
AM: Your photoshoots are productions in themselves and I get it as we do a number of them here at Athleisure Mag. What is that like as they are immersive and they have such a storyline and you had one that always comes to mind which was a Last Supper motif.
CF: I know! That one was so controversial. I would have surprise photoshoots with my team and that one was a team photoshoot.
AM: Oh wow!
CF: They didn’t know it was going to happen we were just eating like we normally do. I do them at my house, so I have the MUA sneaking in, the costume guy, the hair guy – everyone is setting up. So I let everyone know this is it – the Last Supper photoshoot. I have Mariana there with her long black hair naked, covering her breasts with the black tears and huge belt buckle. We have 12 women dressed super elegantly with the hairdos and I wanted a crystal turkey – the food had to be crystalized! We have so much fun with these shoots and they are all at the office or at my house!
AM: I always enjoy seeing your campaigns, photoshoots, and videos. There have been times that I have used them in terms of creating my moodboards for a shoot or concept. It’s art and it has everything in there.
CF: I go outside of it. When I do Marie Antoinette, she’s going to have the white makeup on and we’re going to go all out. Forget about the hybrid! I’m the real deal!
AM: What do you feel are the 3 key pieces that someone should have if they are just starting our their VSA collection?
CF: Ok, well for certain my Magdalena which is a multi-beaded piece that is super versatile and the first necklace that I designed! It’s still in the line and still my #1 piece. Lady Gaga wears it, Madonna wears it, everyone! That was the necklace that Britney Spears put me on the map. Then when she was going through that period of time where it was about Save Britney Spears was all over the Internet. She decided that she was going to pose naked on the Internet with only my necklace – she is like Maria Magdalena reincarnated. Lady Gaga wore it for her half time show and people choose to wear my pieces during key moments. Miley Cyrus wore that necklace for forever. It means something to them.
I would definitely say a VSA ring. I would also say a belt buckle. These are great statements. A lot of people think that with a belt buckle you have to have a skinny waist – no you don’t. You can wear your belt buckle high on the waist if you want our buckles are big it’s somehow an illusion!
AM: I tell people it’s a look that should be incorporated.
CF: Those 3 items the Magdalena the beaded necklace, the buckle, and the ring. My rings are statement pieces as you know – don’t be afraid of them!
AM: I say that too. You get used to wearing them and I don’t leave the house without them! I would feel weird leaving the house without them. The few times I do, they are probably in my bag waiting to be put back on. I workout in them and they sit in the little ring tray when I am getting my nails done.
CF: It’s like protection.
AM: I do feel that they are a bit like armor when I put them on. I have had them for so long and I like being able to choose a nice arrange of rings as I tend to wear 4 and always 2 from VSA. The fact that you have archives I do want to dig into those as a few years ago I was looking through that with one of your team members because we thought a project was going to take place and I couldn’t believe pieces I was drooling over that I had never seen on the website.
CF: Oh yeah the archive!
AM: Right and to your point, I was like we need to go to San Miguel because I can only imagine!
CF: You and Paul need to come down you would have so much fun! I love how versatile the pieces are the people that love this brand. I remember when Tim McGraw was in a photoshoot and he was styled in various pieces. The shearling coat was Dolce Gabbana and the best photo of all is a full page shot of him in his lounge chair in his office. He had his belt buckle on – VSA belt buckle and his hat and his favorite denim shirt and the credits said that the buckle was designer’s own. He was so proud of wearing that piece. I don’t care that he didn’t say my name –
AM: I remember seeing that picture and looking at the credits and I knew it was VSA!
CF: Yeah! That’s the thing – he chose that outfit because that was the picture and he looked so relaxed and so great.
We get phone calls and emails of people claiming that the pieces have done something to save their life – it is bizarre. We had a woman from NYC call the office and she was crying. She told me that she was weaing the Guadalupe belt buckle in Central Park and walked up to a woman crying on a park bench. She put her hand on her shoulder and said can I help you? The woman looked up and saw the belt buckle and said, “you just did.” The woman on the bench had prayed to Guadalupe asking for a sign or she would end her own life.
AM: Oh my.
CF: I mean, we were all crying by the end of that story. It was just amazing and we get these stories. People from Patagonia that had a life changing event that happened while wearing the necklace and now they aren’t going to take it off. You can’t believe some of the things that we hear and there is a power behind it.
AM: I always feel settled when I wear them it’s putting on those last elements to take on the world like armor.
CF: Listen to us!
AM: I’ve always felt that when you wear an accessory and especially when it comes to jewelry and that skin to skin contact, there is what the designer intended by designing it and then it merges with who you are as a person and then it becomes like a totem in many respects. You wear it every day, stories and moments in time are being associated and there is something there.
CF: I think jewelry does that way more than a sweater or something of that nature.
AM: Totally! I think it’s like when you walk into someone’s home, you feel a vibe because you are in the space of the inhabitants that eat, sleep, and live there and the home becomes an amplifier of the energy and sentiments that are there.
CF: Exactly.
AM: So the pieces that you’re wearing, because it is everyday and next to your skin – it is a thing.
IG @vsa_designs
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 56 - 65 Virgins Saints and Angels | PG 73 - 75 Paul Farkas
Read the DEC ISSUE #120 of Athleisure Mag and see AVANT GOTHICA WITH VSA in mag.
As we close the year, we know that this time of year is one where we spend even more time celebrating various moments and enjoying eating at phenomenal restaurants that only enhance the memories that we share with friends, family, and colleagues! In this month’s Athleisure Mag, we make our way to DC to sit down with Owner/Chef Ryan Ratino to talk about Bresca, their tasting menu, and what we can expect when we swing by for our next visit!
ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve had the pleasure of chatting with you before for with Jônt and Ômo by Jônt which is also part of Hive Hospitality. Currently, your restaurant group is now tied for the most Michelin-starred concepts of any hospitality group in America (4) and the 2nd group with the most Michelin stars (5) in America (with Thomas Keller having the most), what does it mean to you to have these distinctions?
CHEF RYAN RATINO: I have always had the utmost respect for the guide and the chefs who are highlighted in it - it means so much to me, our teams, and our restaurants. The designation is globally known, and it is one of the benchmarks in the industry. It is a reflection of our hard work and tenacity in this industry.
AM: Bresca has had 1 Michelin star every year since 2019! How do you balance navigating your goals, interests, and needs for the restaurant with those elements that involve maintaining the Michelin star?
CHEF RR: It is a validation that our hard work has paid off, year after year. Receiving the star year after year enables us to be more creative and more attentive to details - it just makes us better at what we do; and that for me, is balance. I also enjoy time off playing golf and fishing and have always been into physical fitness when I need time away.
AM: In looking at your mission for Hive Hospitality, you are focused on pioneering the future of hospitality, delivering exceptional experiences, and practicing environmental safety. Why are these so important to you?
CHEF RR: It is a pillar of the our company to inspire our guests - as well as give back to the industry and lead by example. While we are driven by passion, it is important to me and our teams to push the envelope a little further with hard work - one of the Midwestern values that were instilled in me from a young age.
AM: What cuisine is offered at Bresca and what ingredients or spices are indicative of it?
CHEF RR: Seasonal, plus the most responsibly sourced and finest ingredients from the Mid-Atlantic and beyond, while using cooking techniques rooted in France with a touch of regional influence.
AM: Tell us about the ambiance of the restaurant and what diners can expect when they come in?
CHEF RR: Fun - the most important thing of all - as well as personalized warm service. The restaurant is buzzy & lively - the chatter of the guests and the dining room teams working together is the music of a french bistro.
AM: Tell us about your 3 Course Menu!
CHEF RR: The three course menu is a celebration of seasonal ingredients, where we feature some of the local farms what we have worked with for years, as well as inspiration from my childhood favorite snacks and inspiration from my home state of Ohio.
AM: On your A la Carte menu, what are 3 items that we should have our eye on?
CHEF RR: Rohan Duck à la Presse (when on the menu -a signature), “Smoke in Chimney” Trout, Berkshire Pork tenderloin, and Brioche stuffed Amish Chicken.
AM: What are 3 cocktails that you suggest that we should have our eye on?
CHEF RR: Bananas for Coffee, Oyster-tini, and Buttered Beet Manhattan.
AM: Tell us about your wine program.
CHEF RR: Our wine program includes some of the very best wines from around the world - and our sommeliers taste every single day to find the most interesting, plus the ones that work best with our food. We have had relationships with some of these producers for years.
AM: What should we know about Restaurant Week and what can you tell us about the menus that will be available during this time?
CHEF RR: We’ll be offering Restaurant month starting on Friday, January 2nd to February 1st, with exclusive 3 and 5 course tasting menus, each one designed to showcase the season’s boldest, most expressive flavors.
AM: Will there be events coming up that we should keep an eye out for as last month you had the Bresca Wine Dinner Series?
CHEF RR: Stay tuned:)- follow us at @brescaDC on Instagram.
IG @brescadc
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Rey Lopez
Read the DEC ISSUE #120 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Bresca in mag.
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with 3X Olympic Team Canada Snowboarding medalist, 24X X Games medalist, Mark McMorris. We talked with him about the passion for his sport, preparing for Rockstar Energy Open, X Games, and the Olympic Winter Games for 2026, the McMorris Foundation, and more!
We caught up with Founder/Chief Creative Officer of Virgins Saints and Angels, Cheryl "Finn" Finnegan who talks about her noted jewelry brand, her approach to design, collaborations, and upcoming collections.
We head down to DC for a phenomenal meal at Bresca. We chatted with Chef Ryan Ratino to talk about this restaurant, his Michelin stars, and his restaurant group - Hive Hospitality.
This month, our THE 9LIST M3NU editorial took place at Handroll Bar Rolling in NYC's NoMad.
This month's Athleisure List comes from SEABA, a helicopter transportation company that allows those visiting Haines, Alaska to get in and out of the backcountry for seeing the area up close and personal! We also included Carmel Resorts which is a restorative house and guest house for those that need to take time for themselves whether they are traveling alone, with their significant other, or small group.
As we close the end of the year, this month, our NEW YEAR, N3W YOU comes from our cover, Mark McMorris, Actress, producer, stand up comedian, and Creator/star of Netflix's Survival of the Thickest - Michelle Buteau, and Cheryl "Finn" Finnegan.
Our 9CH3F ROUTIN3S is from Chef Martin Öfner. Our 9LIST 9M3NU includes Chef Juan Carlos Ortega of Blu on the Hudson, Co-Founder/Beverage Director Simran Bakshi of INDN, and Owner/Chef Ryan Ratino of Bresca who shares what they love about the upcoming New Year, ingredients that they cook at this time, and what we should enjoy when we come in to dine with them.
Read the DEC ISSUE #120 of Athleisure Mag.
We enjoyed Spartacus on STARZ which ran from 2010 - 2013. It brought the vivid life of the Roman Republic in 73-71 BC. The show focused on a Thracian gladiator who led a slave uprising against the state. Ancient Rome was filled with sex, violence, political corruption and more.
Now on Dec 5th, Spartacus is back with Spartacus: House of Ashur which is a alternate timeline that looks at what if Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay) didn’t die from the previous season. In this new world, we are met with characters that we have seen before as well as a host of individuals that are part of this retelling. We had the pleasure of attending the press junket for this show to talk with Steven S. DeKnight (Pacific Rim franchise, Spartacus, Daredevil) - Creator/Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer, Nick E. Tarabay (Star Trek Into Darkness, The Cleaning Lady, Stargirl), Graham McTavish (The Hobbit franchise, House of the Dragon, Outlander), Tenika Davis (Saw VI, IT: Welcome to Derry, Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities), Claudia Black (The Nevers, Ahsoka, Transformers: EarthSpark), India Shaw-Smith (The Magicians, The Pines Still Whisper, Andor), and Jaime Slater (Jupiter’s Legacy, Pacific Rim: Rising, DareDevil).
ATHLEISURE MAG: It’s a pleasure to talk to all of you about this incredible series. Starting with you Steven, we have been a fan of your work for awhile with Pacific Rim, Spartacus, and DareDevil – what led to your creating the original, Spartacus and then deciding to come back with this amazing Spartacus: House of Ashur?
STEVEN S. DEKNIGHT: In the original, I got a call from my agents one day saying that Sam Raimi (Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness, Spider-Man franchise, The Quick and the Dead) and Rob Tapert (Xena: Warrior Princess, Evil Dead franchise, Time Cop) wanted to do some gladiator show for STARZ. They asked me if I was interested in taking the meeting. I said, Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi – yes! I will take that meeting. I didn’t know it was Spartacus until I was in the meeting. They had already sold the concept to doing Spartacus to STARZ and they needed someone to come in and to figure out the story.
That was really the start of it and I was thrown into the deep end. I didn’t know anything about Roman history except for Ben Hur and the original Spartacus. That’s all I knew, but we had some great historical consultants. So that was the genesis of the first show.
For the second one, STARZ and Lionsgate has been reaching out over the last decade every now and then to see if I had any interest in doing some more Spartacus and I was always too busy or recovering from the original show. But the last time, I guess it was about 2.5/3 years ago, they reached out and I was free. I had had enough time to rest up from the original show and so I started kicking around ideas. It was what you would expect – it was Caesar, the Triumvirate, Anthony and Cleopatra, but there was something that I loved about the original couple of seasons about Spartacus. I liked the upstairs/downstairs, the political intrigue of the city – I wanted to capture that feeling. So at the end of Vengeance with the original show, Nick has a line where he talks about the rise of the House of Ashur. Then he gets his head chopped off so he never gets to do that.
AM: Right.
SSD: So, I always thought that that sounds like something fun and that would be a show that I would want to do. I love working with Nick so I pitched the idea, they really liked it and here we are!
AM: Wow! Nick, what drew you to the original Spartacus and what do you think about coming back into this series which is like an alternate history type of aspect?
NICK E. TARABAY: Originally what drew me to it is that again, that world has always been fascinating to me. The original Spartacus is that world of the gladiator, Roman history, and all the drama that goes with that in between. I have always been intrigued by this. I then remember that at the time that I auditioned for it, I thought it was really interesting – the character. So going into it and because the character evolves so much as you go into it, originally he was going to be friends with Spartacus or maybe he was going to be part of the rebels – then they switched it and he was going to become an enemy to them. That’s what intrigued me, I was always behind Ashur meaning, I was never ahead of him. As an actor, I like to be surprised as I’m reading! Now after developing this and I was lucky enough to be able to work on the prequel and to be able to show why he is the way he is. That was just a gift. Then in S3 in Vengeance, I got to play a little bit more. So it was a great arc for a character – beautiful arc for a character. So coming back to that, you can’t say no to this! It doesn’t happen very often.
AM: Right!
NET: And to think, they have added even more colors to him this season which I really like! It’s really a full embodied character and I really love that. So yeah, it’s a privilege to be back on this.
AM: We just heard from Nick and Steven about Spartacus and Spartacus: House of Ashur, we’ll be looking at this new series as we continue to talk with the rest of the cast. What drew you to Spartacus: House of Ashur?
INDIA SHAW-SMITH: What certainly for me, I was such a huge fan of the original series. So when I heard there was to be a new iteration focused on Ashur, I was so excited to watch it – let alone to audition for it. So certainly when that came through, I jumped at the chance to be part of this world that I love so much!
CLAUDIA BLACK: I wanted the opportunity to embody a woman who is in her 50s as I am who is fighting for relevancy. While I don’t want to fight necessarily as that can become scrappy and ugly, it’s a bizarre situation to find oneself in in mid life with culture sort of turning its cheek. Quite specifically, when I had the meeting with Rick and Steven, they said that “they were doing something new and fresh and that they were going to have a Black Gladiatrix.” Every being in my body said that it was a hard yes to that! It was really interesting to know that they were for women and Black women and that they were going to do something and this was really just so important. I thought, that this tells me that they want to bring this show which is so beloved – into the new age and the new era. That feels important and relevant.
GRAHAM MCTAVISH: Well, so many things! First of all, I’m such a fan of Steven’s writing. I just think that it’s such a unique writing style that he has. It’s semi-Shakespearean and it’s Shakespeare meets Conan the Barbarian kind of vibe. I love that. I was a huge fan of the original Spartacus and I watched all of them when they came out. So the opportunity to do this was a no brainer. I don’t know if you know this, but when Steven wrote the character, it was for me for Korris. So that was very flattering!
Also, I’m a huge history buff so ancient Rome is a place that I have always been fascinated by and when I did Outlander, people always asked where I would time travel to and I would always say Rome – just for a day, I wouldn’t want to spend more than a day there. After that, it’s good, I will just catch the last plane out. That would have been fantastic. I think that the thing about Rome is it seems like this far away world and obviously there are things that when you look at it, obviously there’s this, that, costume, weapons, gladiators, etc. But there are actually things that are more in common with their world than what we think. I actually think that we have more in common with Rome then we imagine. I think that there is a Roman inside all of us. We just dress differently. In similar circumstances in the world that they were working with, that’s how we would have been – you and I. We would have been part of that world. If we were dropped in there now, there would be certain things – probably the smell – that would be pretty unusual although the Romans were very clean people. They had baths, spas, and all of those things – maybe a bit like a Four Seasons experience perhaps – who knows? But in all seriousness, you would probably find yourself going, “I recognize these people.” I recognize him, I know what he is thinking and I recognize her and I think that is what is so interesting about doing anything historical because it is the chance to bring it into a modern world and to be able to hold up a mirror to us.
JAIME SLATER: What didn’t? I mean it was everything! It was just such a vivid, colorful, depraved world where anything goes. It’s just fun and entertaining.
TENIKA DAVIS: I’m a huge fan of the world. I just love shows that are bloody, audacious, sexy, and drama filled. That initially made me hooked already! But the fact that I got to play a female gladiatrix and tell that part of history and not only that, a Black Kushite (Editor’s Note: Kushites are ancient Africans from the Kingdom of Kush, an area that encompassed parts of modern day Sudan and Egypt. Historical figures includes Queen Amanirenas a formidable leader who fought and led her army against the Roman Empire in 27 and 22 BC – she halted the Roman invasion and buried a statue head of Augustus Caesar under her temple. The biblical figure of Moses’ wife who is described as a Kushite women. The Kingdom of Kush was known for its powerful queens and warriors.) woman who now becomes a female Gladiatrix. It’s powerful in and of itself and we get to redefine history and retell stories that have not been told before. It’s just bold!
AM: So bold! In reading the notes about this series and learning that a Black Gladiatrix would be in it, it reminded us of the Black Samurai named Yasuke who was African and arrived in Japan in 1579 and became a samurai under the warlord Oda Nobunaga. He was the 1st non-Japanese person to achieve the rank of samurai in feudal Japan.
Tell us about the characters that you are playing!
CB: Cossutia is to be villainess, but she is really fighting for her safety and her daughters because in this environment, when women are not well matched – they really fall through fast cracks. They have fought their way to being in this elite world and they don’t want to lose their power. In this environment, power is really everything and it is their main currency.
ISS: So, Viridia is the daughter of Cossutia. She is a young Roman noble woman and when we first meet her, she is in a period of deep mourning for her husband who was killed by Spartacus and his rebels at the show opening. Viridia is a very raw ethereal soul. She is very good natured and kind hearted. She really sees the best in people and I think that that is something that makes her very unique and a rare figure in this world that is really driven by brutality, death, deception, and high stakes. Certainly where we find her in the beginning of the series, there has been some regression. She was a wife and now she is once again the child. She’s having to find her place in society and she knows that she will have to do her duty by her family and likely remarry.
JS: Cornelia is one of the elites. She is the elite on the show. She is the wife of Caesar. She is very powerful and very wealthy. She plays by no rules and she has zero consequences. She is menacing, duplicitous and I have heard some refer to her as evil. I had to kind of come at this from a different angle because of all the things that she does and says! There’s a lot of things that are hard to relate to with her so I had to approach this in a very much so “what if” state of mind – what if this was fun, what if I liked this, what if this felt good? Once I did that, things started to fall into place.
GM: He’s a fascinating character because he starts in a very typical way as someone who is very guarded, very reluctant to become friendly with people based on experience really. They live in a world of sudden death and to become close to somebody who can literally be dead the next day is probably not a good idea and he has probably lived through that experience. However, as the show progresses, you see those relationships develop particularly through Achillia and Ashur and with Opitur (Arlo Gibson). Those are the 3 principal relationships along with Celadus (Dan Hamill) – but those are the other ones where you will see the other side to Korris. The vulnerable, emotional, tender side and that is just such an interesting area to explore for an actor.
TD: I really believe that life prepared me for this character. I have black belts – a 2nd degree Black belt in Martial Arts. To earn that in and of itself, was a huge feat in really fighting awesome Korean men in our version of the arena at the time. There were lots of tournaments, competitions, and all sorts of stuff. I started realizing that this character Achillia is actually going through a version of the same thing. So I do believe that I was built to play this type of character. Now, there are new elements that are brought into it. I had never used a sword before or a shield or those kinds of weapons to fight somebody. It was normally my arms and legs, but I remember going to that place where I said to myself, “you know what to do in this world. You have been here before and if you’re frustrated and you’re annoyed – understand that that is part of Achillia’s journey and she knows that she is the underdog and that she is going to have to find her way with these new weapons.
AM: What was your biggest takeaway in playing Achillia and being able to showcase something like that that we have not been able to see before?
TD: For me, it’s empowering. But it is important because we haven’t seen this world before, we haven’t seen these types of characters before. We haven’t seen these characters depicted in this version of Roman society. So that just makes this show new, bold, and audacious.
I know that as a little girl, I grew up with the role models like the Warrior Princess – Xena – Lucy Lawless (Spartacus franchise, Battlestar Galactica, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D.)! She was so good in that role and I remember just looking at her and thinking that she was strong, fierce, and powerful. But even with that, she didn’t really look like me. When I had the opportunity to create a character in Achillia and to understand that the responsibility of that is that somebody is going to look at her and feel empowered and that maybe one day they can look like that and be her too. That is the relevance and importance to this telling of this story, and to this world that we have helped create.
AM: What was your biggest takeaway in being able to play Cornelia?
JS: She’s so powerful and I am a very petite person, so the power she exudes over men that tower over her, the way that she humiliates them, the way she makes people tremble and to have an experience and embodying that level of power was really fun. Because in real life, that just doesn’t happen – not that I want it to!
AM: We were fans of the original so we’re excited to dig into this series. So what should fans of this show from the original who are now coming into this new alternate timeline with its colors and tones – how can we frame our minds best as we begin to watch this series?
SSD: Oh I think that you’re going to have everything that you love about the original and more! It’s brutal, it’s romantic, it’s sexy, it’s operatic!
NET: Yes! I just said this before and I am going to say it again! The new show is like cocaine with sugar on top! There you go! That’s what the fans should expect – it’s full on!
CB: I think that the original DNA is there sufficiently. The passion, the people involved at the head of each department, they worked vigorously to make sure that the beloved DNA is still in this. We now have a sort of refreshing trajectory so it has something for everyone, every age group, there’s some wonderful representation for the LGBTQ community, it’s nuanced, it’s layered, it’s dense, it takes a minute to set up this whole new world. But, I do think that it’s juicy and that people who say that they are just so attached to the original – I get it. I order the same thing from the same restaurant every time and yet, I would say in this instance, this is really great on the menu – give it a go and it’s not going to disappoint.
TD: Fans of the previous show, me included, you’re going to get all of the wonderful things that made Spartacus the powerhouse of a show that it is. Spartacus: House of Ashur is going to be bold, it’s returning to that world of blood, sex, drama, but this new chapter focuses on new things that we haven’t seen that is defined in a new way – that’s power, legacy, defying expectations, giving a voice to underdogs and outsiders in a society that doesn’t want them. Doing all of this with new characters that are telling stories through a fresh lens.
JS: Come in with an open mind and expect anything!
Read the NOV ISSUE #119 of Athleisure Mag and see SPARTACUS REVISITED in mag.
We love the thought of having comfort food that comes in the form of street food with a twist that can be enjoyed with family and friends! We make our way to DC’s neighborhood, Georgetown to enjoy Thai cuisine that is filled with foods and traditions that we can all enjoy when we come in to dine at Rimtang! Chef/Owner Saran “Peter”Kannasute shares with us how he brought this restaurant into his hospitality group, the foods he grew up with, and what we should order upon our next visit with family and friends.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Chef Saran “Peter” Kannasute, can you tell us about your culinary background in terms of where you went to school, kitchens you trained in and what led to the creation of the Yume Hospitality Group?
CHEF SARAN PETER KANNASUTE: I graduated from military school in Thailand, following a long family history of military and police service on both sides of my family. Several members even served the King of Thailand. That background shaped my discipline, but my passion was always in cooking, inspired by my mother, who ran a small street-food restaurant in Bangkok. Throughout my childhood, I would go with my family to the fresh market and select all the freshest, seasonal ingredients to be used for the day. That experience shaped how I approach food and has become one of the most important influences on my culinary path. I moved to the United States in 1999 and began working in restaurants. I later had the opportunity to train under Chef Hiroyuki Sakai, known as the first Iron Chef of French-Japanese cuisine, while he was culinary advisor for Benihana in Florida. From early on, I knew I wanted to open my own restaurant to apply what I’d learned and create dishes that reflect my experience and heritage. That vision eventually became YUME Hospitality Group.
AM: Before we delve into Rimtang, tell me about Yume Hospitality Group, when you launched it, and the restaurants that are within it.
CHEF SPK: I moved to Washington, DC in 2009 and spent several years consulting for restaurants while exploring opportunities to open my own. In 2013, a mutual contact introduced me to my now business partner, Jeff King. He tried my food at a sushi bar I helped open, and we realized we shared a common vision for future ventures. That was where our journey began, and the beginning of YUME Hospitality Group. We currently operate three restaurants:
• YUME Sushi: Modern Japanese cuisine with French influences Located in Arlington, VA | Opened in 2018
• KYOJIN Sushi: Expanded interpretation of that same Japanese foundation Located in Georgetown, DC | Opened in 2023 after the pandemic RIMTANG: Thai street-food o Located in Georgetown, DC | Opened in 2024
AM: What are the flavors, spices, and ingredients that are indicative of Thai cuisine in general?
CHEF SPK: Lime, chili peppers, lime leaves, and lemongrass.
AM: When we say Street Food, what does that mean?
CHEF SPK: Street food refers to the everyday food culture found throughout many Asian countries, traditionally served from small stalls in morning or night markets. It’s fast access to comfort food.
AM: What led to you launching Rimtang as this is a departure from the other restaurants in this group that focus on Japanese cuisine?
CHEF SPK: I don’t see it as a departure from Japanese cuisine, but as an expansion of who I am. Rimtang allows me to return to what defines my roots and the cooking techniques I come from. Rimtang is more personal— it represents the flavors of my childhood and the generational recipes I grew up with. It’s not a different direction; it’s the continuation of my heritage.
AM: You mother, Chef “Mama” Prapit La Femina is the Head Chef at this Georgetown restaurant. Can you tell us about her culinary background as well as how she approaches the menu that is offered here?
CHEF SPK: Before entering the restaurant industry, my mother worked as an accountant. She learned how to cook from my grandmother when she was young and continued to develop her skills on her own. I have memories from my childhood of all the different meals she cooked for me, not only Thai dishes, but also Chinese, Vietnamese, and even Italian. Her approach to the menu at Rimtang is based on intuition and memory rather than formal training. She cooks the way she always has, and that authenticity defines Rimtang.
AM: What does Rimtang mean?
CHEF SPK: “Rimtang” means “sidewalk” in Thai and is commonly used to refer to street-side food stalls in Thailand.
AM: Tell us about the ambiance of this restaurant and what guests can expect when they are coming in to dine.
CHEF SPK: The space is designed to feel like home. It’s a cozy, two-story converted row home. It reflects the atmosphere I remember from eating my mother’s cooking as a child.
AM: What are 3 appetizers that you suggest that we can enjoy with friends and family?
CHEF SPK: Calamari, Tom Yum Soup with seafood, and Crabmeat Egg Omelet.
AM: What are 3 soups and salads that we should have our eye on when we are coming in with friends?
CHEF SPK: Papaya Salad, of course, and Seafood Tom Yum Soup.
AM: What are 3 Mama’s Signature Dishes that we should be thinking about when we come in?
CHEF SPK: Mama’s Signature Fried Rice, Tom Yum Soup, and Papaya Salad.
AM: Between the Stir Fry and the Thai Curry Specials, what are 3 that we should have in mind?
CHEF SPK: Panang curry with protein of your choice, Tom Yum Soup, and Salmon Curry.
AM: For the sides to add to our meal, what are 3 that we should have in mind?
CHEF SPK: Sticky Rice, Steamed Veggies, and Steamed Rice.
AM: What are 3 desserts that you suggest that we should enjoy?
CHEF SPK: Now we have Mango Sticky Rice, Coconut Ice Cream, and Peach Sago.
AM: We love a good drink, what are 3 that we should consider sipping on our next visit (this can be a cocktail, wine, beer, non-alcoholic)?
CHEF SPK: For non-alcoholic, Mama’s Signature Herbal Drinks like Pendant Juice & Thai Tea. Also Signature Thai Beer: Singha.
IG @rimtangdc
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Rimtang
Read the NOV ISSUE #119 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK Rimtang in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Justin Pagano
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with singer/songwriter and producer, JJ Julius Son of Grammy nominated Kaleo who is known for their song, Way Down We Go. We talk with him about his creative process, how the band came together, touring in iconic venues, his wine in partnership with Maison Wessman, collaborations with Kingmaker cigars and Clocks + Colour that includes hats and jewelry.
We caught up with Chef Kristen Kish to talk about her upcoming shows that we can't wait to see her hosting S23 of Bravo's Top Chef: Carolinas, which returns in Spring '26 and she is joining the cast of Peacock's Traitors for S4 which premieres in Jan. We also talk about the importance of kindness and her partnership with KIND bars, holiday gifting, and more!
We sat down with the cast and the Creator/Executive Producer and writer of STARZ's Spartacus: House of Ashur to talk about this alternate timeline show and what we can expect from a sure to be riveting series!
After attending a dinner at Manhatta where we got to hear from Medtronic about their latest device, Altaviva that allows those who have battled bladder contol problems to have a better quality of life, we took some time to find out more about the device and to learn about incontinence with Dr. Janet Harris-Hicks.
We enjoyed taking a class at Pvolve in partnership with Hers to find out about menopause and why mobility is so important as this stage of life is being navigated. We talk with members of each brand's executive team to find out about the program and what we need to know.
We sat down with Chef David Rose to find out about Holiday Eats as we prepare to make meals during this time of years as well as tips that will let us enjoy them and our guests!
We pop down to DCs Georgetown to enjoy Thai street food at Rimtang where the recipes are passed down from the chef/owner Saran Peter Kannasute's mother who also works at this restaurant in this month's The Art of the Snack.
This month's Athleisure List comes from Cash Mountain Ranch which is Johnny Cash's former home that you can enjoy staying in when you're looking for a bit of rest and relaxation in Casita Springs, CA. In addition, Taqueria Condesa in Hell's Kitchen makes sure that we get all of our taco and cocktail needs met!
Our 9DRIP feature comes from this month's cover - JJ Julius Son who shares what he purchased for himself when he felt that he made it, his go-to style, and how he gave back to friends, family, and mentors. Kay Sides, founder of Roam and owner of HATCh Showroom shares her 9LIST STORI3S for her must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness. This month's 9PLAYLIST comes from DJ/Celebrity Choreographer Matt Steffania as he shares what he is listening to on his playlist. Our 9LIST 9M3NU includes Chef Karen Akunowicz, Chef Matthre Cutolo, and Chef/Host Jeff Mauro who shares what they love about the Fall, ingredients that they cook at this time, and what we should enjoy when we come in to dine with them.
Read the NOV ISSUE #119.
The month of Oct has a number of events that are iconic and one of them is the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show that blends the brand, models, personalities and entertainers together here in NYC. Walking the runway, rocking the wings and harnassing all of that energy means preparation. Some of that preparation involves working out so that each person has the confidence in how they feel and look. Kirk Myers, founder of DOGPOUND Gym has been working with models since 2016. We wanted to know more about how he approaches this show with his clients, how we can incorporate their workouts into our own sessions, and the power of recovery and hydration! If you missed the show, we have soem of our favorite moments.
ATHLEISURE MAG: How long have you been doing this runway-model prep work? What’s your ideal timeline when a client has a target date?
KIRK MYERS: I’ve been a trainer for over 20 years, and The Victoria’s Secret Angel work began around 2016 when I was introduced to Jasmine Tookes by her hairstylist Marty Harper. The ideal timeline would be around 12 -16 weeks, but can be adjusted according to their goals. If I know ahead of time that someone has a runway show, we can adjust quickly.
AM: What are your go-to tips you give in prep for the show?
KM: My go-to tips are:
○ Core control & breathing over “abs for show.” Engaging the core properly (with breathing) supports everything—not just aesthetics.
○ Train for function and movement, not just isolation. For models, strength, mobility, stability, sometimes boxing, and other low-impact work, like resistance bands, help keep the body balanced.
○ Volume + consistency wins. We usually go through repeated higher-rep cycles (bands, sliders, and bodyweight) to fatigue.
○ Recovery & rest built in. Models don’t want to be constantly sore. So I suggest rest days, lower-impact exercises, stretching, and hydration to aid recovery. Replenishing electrolytes with something like Vita Coco helps restore balance and supports muscle repair after training.
○ Tailor every plan - I like to tailor each plan to the client. Taking into account what they’ve done before, while adapting our training to include what they enjoy most.”
AM: For a beach-body runway feel (or just prepping for a vacation), what are 3 workouts to include?
KM: Here are three I would include with some variation:
○ Circuit of Resistance Bands + Bodyweight Supersets - Combine exercises like banded glute bridges, lateral band walks, pushups, inverted rows, core planks, etc., in supersets. Very model-prep friendly.
○ Core & Anti-Rotation Movements - Moves like planks, side planks, and medicine ball slams. These help define the waistline and improve posture.
○ Low-to-Moderate Load, Metabolic Strength Rounds - Use lighter weights with higher reps in a circuit style (e.g. walking lunges, dumbbell swings, overhead presses) to build lean muscle while metabolically challenging the body (i.e., burning fat). You can layer those with mobility work, active rest, and light cardio (walking, incline treadmill, etc.) for extra burn without overtaxing the body.
AM: How important is functional strength training and what does that look like?
KM: It’s pretty important to help create a balanced look. Functional strength means strength you can use: stability, balance, core control, coordination, and mobility integrated for daily life.
What that entails:
○ Multi-joint movements (squats, deadlifts, lunges, and presses)
○ Single-leg, unilateral work (e.g. single-leg deadlifts, Bulgarian split squats)
○ Core + anti-rotational work (to resist twist and torque)
○ Mobility + stability paired (e.g. loaded carries with anti-lateral fl exion as well as crawling patterns)
○ Dynamic & reactive work (e.g. plyometrics, mini bounds, and stability challenges) where appropriate
AM: Recovery is essential. What recovery rituals do you suggest?
KM: I would suggest the following:
○ Active recovery and mobility days (light movement, yoga, stretching, as well as foam rolling)
○ Massage, soft tissue work, and percussion devices
○ Quality sleep
○ Hydration + electrolytes through beverages such as Vita Coco
○ Compression and stretching post-workout
AM: Let’s talk hydration! How important is it before, during, and after a workout?
KM: It is important before and after! I recommend hydrating well in the hours leading up, especially with something electrolyte-heavy like Vita Coco. Coconut water is one of the most effective natural ways to hydrate since it is packed with potassium, magnesium, and sodium to help your muscles perform at their best. Bring a water bottle filled with Vita Coco to sip on throughout your workout; it’ll keep you refreshed without the artificial dyes found in many sports drinks.
Post-workout, hydration is just as key. Vita Coco helps replenish electrolytes lost through sweat, supporting faster recovery and preventing that sluggish, dehydrated feeling that can follow a tough session. Think of it as the natural way to power your performance and bounce back stronger.
AM: How can we juggle fitness goals and holiday season indulgences?
KM: I don’t want clients to go into guilt mode. We can plan to be smart, be fl exible, and stay consistent with habits even during the holiday season. Clients do virtual training to maintain balance and also focus on nutrition so they can continue to make healthier choices, even while traveling. Going for a walk is always a good idea!
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | PG 156/Kirk Myers | PG 159 - 161 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show |
IN PHOTO | CANDICE SWANEPOEL
IN THE PHOTOS | L: Angel Reese + R: Emily Ratajkowski
Read the OCT ISSUE #118 of Athleisure Mag and see FITNESS ANGELS WITH Kirk Myers in mag.
We had the pleasure of having a great meal at Leonetta last month in The Art of the Snack and we made our way to another Chef Ed Cotton restaurant, Jack & Charlie’s 118 in the West Village. With a menu focused on American cuisine, fabulous martinis, and an aesthetic of Old New York, it was another amazing meal that was perfect o embrace all that is the Fall season.
We took a moment to catch up with Chef Ed Cotton again for this month’s The Art of the Snack to find out more about the restaurant, what we should have our eye on, and hearing about why this should be a restaurant that we visit often whether in the dining room or at the bar!
ATHLEISURE MAG: We had the pleasure of having a satisfying dinner as well as taking in the good vibes at Jack & Charlie’s 118 the other night! Before we delve into the restaurant, what led or inspired you to open this restaurant?
CHEF ED COTTON: When you walk into a space it sometimes just tells you what it wants to be. It is such an iconic space, and was formerly home to Cafe Bruxelles, so we wanted to open up a restaurant for the neighborhood that felt like it had been there for a number of years. The name comes from the two cousins that founded the original 21 Club, Jack Kreindler and Charlie Burns. It was first opened by Washington Square Park and then bounced around the West Village before it landed on 52nd Street. We wanted to bring that vibe and feeling for their original idea for 21 Club to the West Village.
AM: Tell us about the team at Jack & Charlie’s 118.
CHEF EC: Chris Coco, Frank Falesto, and Craig Hutson approached me about the space and opportunity and we quickly agreed on the concept and formed the team.
AM: Tell us about the ambiance and vibe of this location as we saw it in the final season of HBO’s And Just Like That and knew we had to see it for ourselves as it gives you all the feels of classic New York.
CHEF EC: It definitely has the old world 21 Club atmosphere. We really wanted to open something that was evocative of that time period and that looks and feels like it’s been there for a number of years - not shiny and bright but storied and lived in. We left the floors as we found them to keep that lived in feeling.
AM: How do you define the cuisine that is available at this restaurant?
CHEF EC: It’s an updated throw back to classic American fare, with a focus on bringing certain old school staples back to the forefront.
AM: During the Summer, we saw people with picnic baskets from the restaurant - can you tell us about this?
CHEF EC: We thought about the outdoor experiences available in the West Village and Little Island and wanted people to get off the subway, grab a picnic basket and head over to the park or Little Island and enjoy the outdoors and everything this neighborhood has to offer.
AM: A number of your dishes are made with a wood fire oven - can you tell us why this is so important?
CHEF EC: We took over the space which had a wood burning stove already installed, so we wanted to create a menu based around this oven. Even the Bloody Mary mix is based around wood charred tomatillos. The end result when you cook this way is just great flavors - so we try to use as much as possible for the majority of our menu.
AM: Seasonality is important to you and as we are going into the Fall what are the kinds of dishes that we can expect?
CHEF EC: We are already in the fall season - so we are featuring a Butternut Squash Soup with homemade cinnamon marshmallows. We also offer a delicious Wild Mushroom Tartare that is 100% vegan.
AM: As you know, we enjoy breaking down the menus for our readers and community. What are 3 dishes that you suggest that we should enjoy from the Sunset Menu?
CHEF EC: Happy Hour Popover “French Dip” - shaved roast beef, horseradish, steak sauce, au jus
Jack’s Junior - all beef patty, american cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, secret sauce, sesame bun & french fries
Happy Hour Rosemary Parmesan French Fries - black truffle aioli, dijonnaise dip, au poivre sauce $3/$8
AM: We enjoyed our dinner, what are 3 appetizers that we should have in mind?
CHEF EC: Wood-Fired Littleneck Clams Casino
Hand-Cut Steak Tartare - prime beef, quail egg, whole grain mustard, caper berry, country toast
Shepherd’s Pie Croquettes - potato, beef ragù, curry mayo
AM: For our mains when we are enjoying a meal with friends, family, and colleagues - what are 3 that we should have in mind?
CHEF EC: “Bone -In” Duck Meatloaf - whipped potato, charred Chinese broccoli, fig jus
Wood Fired Branzino - miso & sake braised leeks, wild mushrooms, warm yuzu broth
Lamb Carbonara - Bucatini, house-made lamb pancetta, smoked egg yolk
AM: To share with the table, what are 3 sides that we should think about?
CHEF EC: Creamy Green Spinach - fresh nutmeg
Warm Cheddar Cheese Popovers - Vermont salted butter & au jus
Maitake Mushrooms - roasted garlic & herbs
AM: What are 3 that we should have on our radar?
CHEF EC: Warm Apple Pie - toasted oat streusel, creme fraiche ice cream
Sticky Toffee Carrot Cake Cream - cheese frosting, walnuts, butterscotch sauce
Dessert For Two | Flourless Chocolate Cake “Sundae” Whipped - cream, hot fudge, sundae toppings, vanilla bean ice cream
AM: We enjoyed Slightly Promiscuous and the Oaxacan Painkiller. What are 3 cocktails we should think about?
CHEF EC: Express 2 Martini, Stoli O, Stumptown espresso, vanilla
Hot Charlie, London dry gin, chili vermouth
Lydia Fields Elixir, Crop cucumber vodka, elderflower, lemon, honey, celery bitters
AM: What can you tell us about the beverage program as we really enjoyed the well crafted martinis?
CHEF EC: A dedicated martini list that nods to mid-century supper club glamour; and known for our Bloody Mary Cart and tableside service touches that add a little show to the pour.
AM: What are 3 items that we should have the next time we come in for Brunch?
CHEF EC: Chocolate Babka French Toast - whipped cheesecake, berry compote, Berkshire maple syrup
Prime Rib Panini “French Dip” - four cheeses, caramelized onions, au jus & fries
Turkey Club - house turkey, country ham, swiss, bacon, spicy club sauce, pickles & herb mayo
AM: What can you tell us about holiday meals coming up that we should know about?
CHEF EC: The holidays are really special at Jack and Charlie’s, and we plan our menus accordingly. For Christmas we do a ‘Celebration of the Christmas Goose’ special on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Our holiday menus are always really well received, which we are proud of.
AM: Are there any upcoming projects that we should know about?
CHEF EC: We are excited to announce the opening of The Derby Club in Sutton Place in November. It will offer American Tavern fare in a cozy upscale atmosphere with old world dining fanfare.
AM: For those that are interested in having a private event, what can you tell us?
CHEF EC: We can accommodate 25 people in our Oyster Room for semi private events. We have done complete buy outs for the entire restaurant. Jack and Charlie’s is really a special place for the holidays with the fireplace and decorations which makes for very warm and festive events.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Dillon Burke
Read the OCT ISSUE #118 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Jack and Charlie’s 118 in mag.
PHOTO CREDIT | Matt Swinsky
In this month’s issue, our front and back cover story is with Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (front cover) and Chef Gregory Gourdet who both had various events during the Food Network NYC Wine Food Food Festival that took place at The Seaport this month. Our coverage focused on events that celebrated food, great sips, legendary chefs, and more! It also included our coverage of adjacent events we attended, a dinner we enjoyed at INDN, and our staycation at CODA Williamsburg Hotel.
This month, we have our interview with Megan Eugenio, sportsbroadcaster of Overtime. We talked about how she got into the industry, being a fan of an array of sports, her love for Tate McRae and more! We also did a fashion editorial photoshoot with her at Margaritaville Resort Times Square.
We sat down with super agent, Leigh Steinberg who many of know as the character that Jerry Maguire was based on. He has represented a number of top athletes across various leagues, and looking specifically at the NFL, he worked with Troy Aikman, Steve Young, and Patrick Mahomes II! He talks about his career, being a consultant for films/series that focus on sports, the agency he built, his comeback, the Leigh Steinberg Foundation, and his book that will be released after the Super Bowl.
We also chat with Thomas Winstanley, who heads up the new edibles.com platform powered by Edible Brands, of Edible Arrangements fame. The platform has gummies and chews with the goal to destigmatize the hemp derived edibles space further and safely curate some of the best brands for those looking to be Healthy Not High.
During this year's US Open, we attended the Lavazza Suite to watch Mixed Doubles, to meet the team, and to learn about launches around the brand. We sat down with Daniele Foti, VP of Marketing at Lavazza North America to talk about all of this and more in Espresso Time.
The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show hit the runways again here in NYC. We sat down with Kirk Myers, founder of DOGPOUND, to talk about how he approaches training the Angels who are walking the show, how long he has been doing it, and tips that we an use to incorporate into our workouts, hydration, and recovery.
We caught up with Kay Sides, Founder of HATCh Showroom, as well as owner of R0AM, to talk about her career in the industry, her company, and her apparel and footwear line.
We recap the sights and sounds of this year's NY Comic Con which took place this month. We attended panels and press conferences for Apple+'s Slow Horses, Prime Video's Cross, and 2 of AMC's Anne Rice shows.
We headed to NYC's Jack & Charlie's 118 which is known for their classic American fare, old New York feel, and phenomenal martinis! We sat down with Chef Ed Cotton to know more about the restaurant, their beverage program, and upcoming events in this month's The Art of the Snack.
This month's Athleisure List comes from a fun eatery in the East Village, Kebabishq and a wellness center, MiniCircle.
Our 9LIST STORI3S shares sportsbroadcaster Megan Eugenio of Overtime for her must-haves in beauty, style, and fitness. Our 9LIST 9M3NU includes Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Chef Gregory Gourdet, and Chef Chris Scott who shares what they love about the Fall, ingredients that they cook at this time, and what we should enjoy when we come in to dine with them.
Read the OCT ISSUE #118 of Athleisure Mag.
Last year, we got hooked to a twisty romantic thriller The Couple Next Door on STARZ. Each week, we were hooked on couples who lived in a cul-de-sac who had so much going on in and between their homes. As we don’t want to share any spoliers, if you have yet to check this out, you need to. With S2 of this show currently airing their latest season, you hear more about what took place in S1 as well as getting connected with new characters that will leave us open mouthed on what takes place!
We sat down with Sam Palladio (Nashville, The Princess Switch franchise, Catherine the Great) as well as his co-star, Sendhill Ramamurthy (Never Have I Ever, Heroes, New Amsterdam). We wanted to know how they came to this franchise, approached playing their characters, as well as preparing to bring them to life, and more!
ATHLEISURE MAG: Well we have been fans of both of your work, so it’s good that you guys are here! What drew you to The Couple Next Door?
SENDHILL RAMAMURTHY: It was just very different! I was doing a show for Netflix that was a real kind of fantasy show where there were a lot of special effects, and it’s very kind of heightened where people have powers and all of that. This was just more of a grounded scenario and it really appealed to me, because I’ve been talking to a tennis ball stuck on a stick for weeks and weeks! So to be able to actually speak to Sam and to Bel was really nice to speak to human beings! That was the draw for me!
SAM PALLADIO: Yeah, for me. I think you know I grew up in the UK. I’ve been in Nashville and in the states for over a decade, but I really felt a draw to go back and do some, um, great, you know, British television, even though we shot it in Belgium!
Finding a role that was something different. This is my first time sort of playing that character that’s not just the sort of charming singer/songwriter, you know? Jacob obviously, given a huge arc to the show and becomes our villain, you know, and that was really exciting for me to lean into that as a sort of? As I sort of age into my late 30s and finding a bit more gravitas and having lived a lot more life, it was a really exciting challenge to a bit like Sendhill says. Play something real and grounded, but a character that that does some dark things you know and explore that world with a British production behind it.
AM: Wow!
What is that creative process like when you’re bringing these kinds of characters to life? Are there certain things that you do and how do you connect with each of the people you play with?
SR: We were really lucky in that we actually got to sit down for a few days, just kind of like the 4 of us around the table with our director, Dries Vos and just read through the scripts. I mean, it wasn’t quite a rehearsal –
AM: Right.
SR: Bit, it was as close as you get on television to a rehearsal. I don’t know about you Sam, but for me, that that’s never really happened. We’ve never had the opportunity to kind of like, sit there, and you know, you get the table. You get a table read every once in a while, but we, you know, you never get to sit around for hours, talking about scenes, and like, “hey, I’m not sure this works or I don’t understand this –“
SP: Yeah!
SR: This was all before we guys came on set, that was like it was a huge blessing really. I’m grateful that they made sure that we were able to have that because I think that it was hugely helpful for all of us!
SP: I think that’s it. The production team were really collaborative, and I haven’t been part of a show where I felt like we were all equal, you know, and had a say and and they really valued our opinions. You know, there’s a lot of jobs you do where you’re a number on a call sheet, and you turn up on the day, you learn the lines, you’re in and out, and nice to meet you guys bye! This felt from the ground up, like a like a big collaboration. For me, sort of preparing, well, one thing we got to do, which was amazing, was, you know, I? I play an anesthetist and Bel is my wife and an incredible heart surgeon. Ahead of filming, we got to go and observe, a real open heart surgery.
AM: Oh, wow!
SP: We were able to be in the room and be a fly on the wall. Well, kind of more than a fly on the wall, actually, because the surgeons were really excited to meet us, even though they were in the middle of the bowel replacement! We were really chatty, and myself and Aggy (Oh Ramona, Eden Lodge, The Perfect Escape) went along that that morning and was just trying to like, be quiet, and they were just asking questions and they were really excited. But for me to observe the anesthetist and his world, it was just invaluable, you know? Because a lot of that hospital drama and the medical drama, you know, we didn’t want to just be actors.
AM: Right.
SP: You know? So that was a really great grounding for all that medical side of the show. And then, for, you know, the sort of emotional side, I just had lots of threesomes!
AM: As you do, apparently!
SP: Haha no – no!
AM: Right, exactly?
Well, we were huge fans of S1. This show is all about the intricacies and dynamics that take place over the season, and if S1 was any indication, it will be exciting to see how it plays out here as well!
What can you tell us about Jacob and Leo that we should be prepared to know in watching S2?
SP: What you need to be prepared to know is that, I think what was so great about series 1, and that we’ve sort of expanded on in series 2, is this relationship drama. This sort of, you know – coming from episode 1, there’s this kind of tension, and this this thriller aspect to it, which I think is really watchable and really enjoyable for a viewer. It’s nicely paced. It doesn’t sort of jump straight in and throw these characters into crazy situations. It’s like a slow burn, which I really like, because that allows you to sort of get to know the characters.
You know, Jacob, is this sort of high flyer? Got it, got it. All you know, seemingly has a great relationship, but they are also at a stage in their life where they don’t have kids, they’re sort of like they’ve reached the kind of peak of, like, we’re great at what we do. We’ve got the house we’ve got all you know, what’s missed in and there is something missing from their relationship, and it turns out that Mia is quite a catalyst for bringing out this darker side and these darker fantasies, and I think it’s just interesting watching a couple explore that. Obviously, Jacob’s jealousy, professional jealousy, and personal jealousy really starts to amp up and progresses as things start to unravel. So for me, it’s a really great opportunity and challenge to show some of those darker colors, and you know, and not giving too much away - it’s quite a journey.
AM: It’s exciting!
SR: From Leo, the thing that I guess the audience should know about and the thing, though I really enjoyed about him, was also very hard to kind of, you know, to convey. He was an insider in this group, but he was a very different person. He wasn’t a fully formed human being. He came from an extremely wealthy family. He was very spoiled, very self-involved, and he has his heart broken, you know, by Bel’s character, Charlotte and he leaves. This is him coming back as a much more involved person and somebody who’s learned from life. He’s kind of like an observer a lot of the time, you know?
He’s able to see Charlotte, for who she was and who she is now, and what may be lacking and saying to Jacob, like they’ve never had a great relationship. They’ve always kind of been like in opposition to each other, and those were, you know, some of my favorite things to play actually were with Sam when we got to, you know, kind of, because we get along really well off camera.
AM: Right!
SR: We’re living above each other in the same facility, and we were hanging out all the time, but we got to have this very different relationship on camera. That was something that was a lot of fun to play, but I think it’ll be fun for the audience also to just kind of watch. Like, it’s always fun watching, like two kind of alphas going for the same girl.
AM: Love it.
SR: Yeah, it’s fun. I think that people can expect a thrilling kind of ride, and it goes in places that I never thought it was gonna go! As I was reading it, I was like, “we’re gonna do that?”
Okay! I think there’s a little something in there for everyone.
IG @sampalladio
After chatting with both of the male leads in this series, we took a few moments to chat with another co-star, Annabel Scholey (Apollo Has Fallen, The Split, Dead and Burried) who plays Charlotte, a surgeon that is married to Jacob. We wanted to find out more about how she came to this series and what we should expect when we’re about to watch this thriller.
ATHLEISURE MAG: What drew you to want to be part of The Couple Next Door?
ANNABEL SCHOLEY: Well, I saw series 1 actually and really loved it, and I’m from that part of England. I’m from Yorkshire.
So that was a big draw because I haven’t - I don’t always get to play that region!
AM: Right.
AS: Because I went to drama school, and I have a pretty RP accent (Editor’s Note: An RP accent or Received Pronunciation, is a non-regional, educated accent of English associated with the upper classes and public schools of southern England, rather than a specific geographic region.) So, it was really nice to go back to my route, and I’ve always wanted to play a surgeon because I’m a big Grey’s Anatomy fan –
AM: Same.
AS: Oh yeah! Christina Yang (Sandra Oh) has always been my favorite, so I was, like, oh my God, this is amazing! I get to be Christina Yang! It’s kind of the initial attraction and it is just a really brilliant part - very complicated and quite challenging, physically as well. I like a good challenge normally.
AM: And what was that creative process like, for you and being able to bring Charlotte to life?
AS: I had to work pretty hard on particularly the medical stuff, because obviously you can’t really - you have to fake it so well, right? It just looks, shit, basically if you don’t do it right.
We did do a lot of research. We went into an open heart surgery.
AM: That’s what Sam was seeing this morning!
AS: Yeah, it was incredible. It really was it. I thought I might faint because I can be a bit fainty, but I just thought it was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen and really empowering. And I just thought, thank God, there are humans who can do this!
AM: Exactly.
AS: Sam and I had quite physical things to do together with the big scene towards the end. It’s very physical, very difficult. Obviously, the sex element of it was quite a big challenge as well. Sam and I got on so well, right from the start from our chemistry test so we’d be comfortable with each other, which really helped obviously.
AM: Well, what can you tell us about Charlotte? Like you, we love S1, so it will be exciting to see what the dynamics will be for these characters.
AS: Yes, I think, because she’s 40 and so am I, that is an interesting point in a woman’s life, I think, you know? Charlotte hasn’t got any children, I do, but she’s at the top of her game. She’s worked really hard on her career. But she doesn’t know what’s next.
I think it’s an interesting moment turning 40. It doesn’t mean what it used to mean like, that’s it, you’re done. And it certainly doesn’t mean that anymore. It’s more like a rebirth, and I think that that’s what she goes through during this. She has a rebirth and that was really attractive to me to explore.
AM: So, what do you want fans to walk away from as we watch S2 and seeing this cast of characters together?
AS: I really hope the fans, I mean I know the fans are HUGE fans of Sam Heughan (Outlander, The Couple Next Door, Love Again), so I, I hope they come back!
AM: Right!
AS: We have the wonderful Sam! I feel like, because it was loved and the momentum of the show, it is shocking. It has a lot of twists and turns. It’s gripping. I’ve been told by everyone over here who watched it that they couldn’t stop. They binged it. I really want people, though, to, to get the sense that, you know, it’s okay to keep exploring yourself sexually. When you’re married, don’t just settle out of a habit, you know? I do think it explores those themes and that has happened in the UK. I think the audience did. That was the topic, the conversation. Like, I think that’s great. What it is to be a woman and to feel sexy also professional, and not necessarily a mother. And so, yeah, I really hope the audience obviously, enjoy watching, the sexy and the thriller side of it this time; more so than in series 1 I think. But yeah, I think that that’s what I wanted to take.
IG @bel_scholey
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | STARZ/The Couple Next Door
Read the SEP ISSUE #117 of Athleisure Mag and see BACK TO THE CUL-DE-SAC in mag.
