Read the MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST in mag.
We love a beer garden which originated in Bavaria and is an outdoor space with large picnic and communal tables where you can soak up the sun and enjoy cold beer and food. Loreley Beer Garden is in the LES and has a seasonal rotational floral installation and opened in 2003. It's open year-round and is heated in the winter and is a great place to hang out with friends in the summer.
Although you can enjoy an array of beers, Loreley also focuses on having a high quality food and beverage program. All their German imported beers have hundreds of years of tradition and perfection in their craft. They hand select every beer and only rotate 3 drafts each season. They sample over 30 new beers before selecting one draft line for one season. When it runs out, it's done for the season. They also work with local breweries on a series of collaborations of seasonal beers to fit their program.
This spring they will launch their first collaboration with Brooklyn's KCBC and brew their own Kölsch Style Ale which will be available here and at KCBC Brewer in Bushwick on draft and in cans. Also keep your eyes peeled at your local bodega in NYC. You can also enjoy Radeberger Pilsner which is available year around as well. Another beer to try is Köstritzer Schwarzbier, a dark lager - with a hint of chocolate.
In addition to beer, that have a high quality wine list and an array of seasonally rotating craft cocktails. We suggest the Nitro Cold Brew, Bourbon Sweet Tea, Frosé and if there is a chill in the air, the Bourbon Hot Chocolate is always a must-have!
In addition to German-inspired foods that features doughy soft-baked pretzels and authentic German sausages, there are other dishes on the menu. You can enjoy tacos, guacamole made fresh to order, a 1/2 lb burger with roasted tomatoes, sauteed onions, gouda on a pretzel bun, plus seasonal salads, cedar grilled salmon, portobello sandwiches and Beyond burgers. Their Brunch menu is something special with fresh Baked Cinnamon Rolls
to order, Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes with fresh strawberries and whipped
cream, Eggs Benedict on homemade potato pancakes, Schnitzel & Eggs, to name a few.
As we make plans to hang out with our friends, coworkers and family, they have a few events that we can keep an eye out for. Loreley Beer Garden will host the Spring Beer & Cocktail Festival with a spring floral installation, seasonal beers and spring cocktails. In May and June, they will host the NYC Summer Rosé Festival which features Rosé everything! This will include 10 hand-selected rosé wines by the glass and bottle, rosé on draft, rosé cider, rosé cocktails, and most importantly, their famous Frosé!
7 Rivington St
NY, NY 10002
IG @loreleynyc
PHOTOS COURTESY | Loreley Beer Garden
Read the MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Loreley Beer Garden in mag.
Read the MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag and see #TRIBEGOALS in mag.
When it comes to being an adventurer and navigating an array of terrains and working with what's around you, Bear Grylls is a man that you think of that you'd want to have on your team!
Known for his National Geographics' Running Wild with Bear Grylls where he takes A-list celebs on his expeditions, he has spent his life perfecting his craft and sharing his knowledge with many of us! His survival school comes from years of work that included serving in the Territorial Army of the 21 SAS, he has been awarded the honorary of Lt Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve and was awarded Honorary Colonel in the Royal Marines Reserve. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire as well as the youngest ever Chief Scout of the United Kingdom and Overseas Territories.
We talk with him about how he became an adventurer, shared these skills with us through his TV shows and how he stays fit to continue to do what he loves on and off the camera.
#TRIBEGOALS is Executive produced and hosted by Kimmie Smith, Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director of Athleisure Mag and is Executive Produced by Paul Farkas, Co-Founder/Publisher of Athleisure Mag. #TRIBEGOALS is produced and mixed by the team at @AthleisureStudio.
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PHOTO CREDIT | Jeff Bottari/Getty Images
In this month’s issue, our cover story is with 5 XUFC Welterweight Champion, stuntsman, actor and rapper, Tyron Woodley. We talk about he went from being a 2 X All American wrestler, to MMA, being in the UFC and taking on various interests as a free agent in the MMA. We catch up with BRAVO's Real Housewives of Potamac and entrepreneur Candiace Dillard-Bassett as she talks about her work in public service under the Obama administration, her focus on uplifting women and those in the pageant world and joining the cast to use the platform allowed her to share her music and work in TV/film to the world. We catch up with 9-1-1: Lone Star's Brian Michael Smith who talks about his career, how he approaches his craft, learning about the industry in front of and behind the camera, the show and how he uses his platform to speak out on trans rights. We catch up with Bear Grylls as he talks with us about how he got into being an adventurer, Running with Bear on National Geographic, the importance of supplementation and more. We also talk with Gorjana Reidel, co-founder of gorjana. She talks about how they built the brand, key items that we should have in our assortment and the importance of empowering women!
This month’s 9PLAYLIST is from EDM ALOK as well as Curb Your Enthusiasm, comedian, spokesperson and co-host of May I Elaborate? JB Smoove. Basketball influencer and trainer Chris Brickley and adventurer Bear Grylls shares their 63MIX ROUTIN3S of what they do Morning, Afternoon and Night with us. Our 9DRIP comes from our cover Tyron Woodley. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Brian Michael Smith and Candiace Dillard-Bassett as they share their must-haves in grooming/beauty, style and fitness. This month’s 9LOOKS shares some of our favorite ensembles from Herve Leger.
Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack focuses on Baazi in NY. This month’s Athleisure List comes from JAPAN HOUSE | Los Angeles and Loreley Beer Garden. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.
Read the MAR ISSUE #75 of Athleisure Mag.
This morning, nominations for the Academy Awards, known as The Oscars were announced. It’s definitely going to be interesting to see who the winners will be. Ahead of the big night. we’re sharing who we predict will win in bold, winners that we predicted correctly will be in bold italic and those that won that we didn’t get correct will be in italics.
BEST PICTURE
“Belfast,” Laura Berwick, Kenneth Branagh, Becca Kovacik and Tamar Thomas, producers
“CODA,” Philippe Rousselet, Fabrice Gianfermi and Patrick Wachsberger, producers
“Don’t Look Up,” Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, producers
“Drive My Car,” Teruhisa Yamamoto, producer
“Dune,” Mary Parent, Denis Villeneuve and Cale Boyter, producers
“King Richard,” Tim White, Trevor White and Will Smith, producers
“Licorice Pizza,” Sara Murphy, Adam Somner and Paul Thomas Anderson, producers
“Nightmare Alley,” Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale and Bradley Cooper, producers
“The Power of the Dog,” Jane Campion, Tanya Seghatchian, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning and Roger Frappier, producers
“West Side Story,” Steven Spielberg and Kristie Macosko Krieger, producers
BEST DIRECTOR
Kenneth Branagh (“Belfast”)
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”)
Paul Thomas Anderson (“Licorice Pizza”)
Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”)
Steven Spielberg (“West Side Story”)
BEST LEAD ACTOR
Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”)
Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”)
Andrew Garfield (“Tick, Tick … Boom!”)
Will Smith (“King Richard”)
Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”)
BEST LEAD ACTRESS
Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”)
Olivia Colman (“The Lost Daughter”)
Penélope Cruz (“Parallel Mothers”)
Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”)
Kristen Stewart (“Spencer”)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”)
Troy Kotsur (“CODA”)
Jesse Plemons (“The Power of the Dog”)
J.K. Simmons (“Being the Ricardos”)
Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Power of the Dog”)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley (“The Lost Daughter”)
Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”)
Judi Dench (“Belfast”)
Kirsten Dunst (“The Power of the Dog”)
Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”)
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“CODA,” screenplay by Siân Heder
“Drive My Car,” screenplay by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe
“Dune,” screenplay by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth
“The Lost Daughter,” written by Maggie Gyllenhaal
“The Power of the Dog,” written by Jane Campion
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Belfast,” written by Kenneth Branagh
“Don’t Look Up,” screenplay by Adam McKay; story by Adam McKay and David Sirota
“King Richard,” written by Zach Baylin
“Licorice Pizza,” written by Paul Thomas Anderson
“The Worst Person in the World,” written by Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Dune,” Greig Fraser
“Nightmare Alley,” Dan Laustsen
“The Power of the Dog,” Ari Wegner
“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” Bruno Delbonnel
“West Side Story,” Janusz Kaminski
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Encanto,” Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino and Clark Spencer
“Flee,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
“Luca,” Enrico Casarosa and Andrea Warren
“The Mitchells vs. the Machines,” Mike Rianda, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Kurt Albrecht
“Raya and the Last Dragon,” Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Osnat Shurer and Peter Del Vecho
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM
“Affairs of the Art,” Joanna Quinn and Les Mills
“Bestia,” Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz
“Boxballet,” Anton Dyakov
“Robin Robin,” Dan Ojari and Mikey Please
“The Windshield Wiper,” Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“Cruella,” Jenny Beavan
“Cyrano,” Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran
“Dune,” Jacqueline West and Robert Morgan
“Nightmare Alley,” Luis Sequeira
“West Side Story,” Paul Tazewell
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
“Don’t Look Up,” Nicholas Britell
“Dune,” Hans Zimmer
“Encanto,” Germaine Franco
“Parallel Mothers,” Alberto Iglesias
“The Power of the Dog,” Jonny Greenwood
BEST SOUND
“Belfast,” Denise Yarde, Simon Chase, James Mather and Niv Adiri
“Dune,” Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett
“No Time to Die,” Simon Hayes, Oliver Tarney, James Harrison, Paul Massey and Mark Taylor
“The Power of the Dog,” Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb
“West Side Story,” Tod A. Maitland, Gary Rydstrom, Brian Chumney, Andy Nelson and Shawn Murphy
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
“Be Alive” from “King Richard,” music and lyric by Dixson and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
“Dos Oruguitas” from “Encanto,” music and lyric by Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Down To Joy” from “Belfast,” music and lyric by Van Morrison
“No Time To Die” from “No Time to Die,” music and lyric by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell
“Somehow You Do” from “Four Good Days,” music and lyric by Diane Warren
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“Ascension,” Jessica Kingdon, Kira Simon-Kennedy and Nathan Truesdell
“Attica,” Stanley Nelson and Traci A. Curry
“Flee,” Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Byrge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein
“Writing With Fire,” Rintu Thomas and Sushmit Ghosh
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
“Audible,” Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean
“Lead Me Home,” Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk
“The Queen of Basketball,” Ben Proudfoot
“Three Songs for Benazir,” Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei
“When We Were Bullies,” Jay Rosenblatt
BEST FILM EDITING
“Don’t Look Up,” Hank Corwin
“Dune,” Joe Walker
“King Richard”, Pamela Martin
“The Power of the Dog,” Peter Sciberras
“Tick, Tick…Boom!” Myron Kerstein and Andrew Weisblum
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
“Drive My Car” (Japan)
“Flee” (Denmark)
“The Hand of God” (Italy)
“Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” (Bhutan)
“The Worst Person in the World” (Norway)
Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“Coming 2 America,” Mike Marino, Stacey Morris and Carla Farmer
“Cruella,” Nadia Stacey, Naomi Donne and Julia Vernon
“Dune,” Donald Mowat, Love Larson and Eva von Bahr
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh
“House of Gucci,” Göran Lundström, Anna Carin Lock and Frederic Aspiras
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
“Dune,” production design: Patrice Vermette; set decoration: Zsuzsanna Sipos
“Nightmare Alley,” production design: Tamara Deverell; set decoration: Shane Vieau
“The Power of the Dog,” production design: Grant Major; set decoration: Amber Richards
“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” production design: Stefan Dechant; set decoration: Nancy Haigh
“West Side Story,” production design: Adam Stockhausen; set decoration: Rena DeAngelo
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
“Dune,” Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer
“Free Guy,” Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, Nikos Kalaitzidis and Dan Sudick
“No Time to Die,” Charlie Noble, Joel Green, Jonathan Fawkner and Chris Corbould
“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” Christopher Townsend, Joe Farrell, Sean Noel Walker and Dan Oliver
“Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Kelly Port, Chris Waegner, Scott Edelstein and Dan Sudick
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM
“Ala Kachuu – Take and Run,” Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger
“The Dress,” Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki
“The Long Goodbye,” Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed
“On My Mind,” Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson
“Please Hold,” K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse
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We've all had those moments when we want to have a clean slate of sorts. When life gets hectic or confusing, it's time to change things up. In The Girl Before, we meet an architect who has a home where in exchange for staying there, you must agree to a series of rules and way of living. We are introduced to 2 women that opt to participate in this contract in different time periods. At times, their lives mirror one another, even when they have never met each other. The connection is the house, the architect/owner and a grieving man.
How much privacy are you willing to give up in order to reduce the chaos and clutter of your life? At what point do you decide that managing your life on your terms of more important then simply giving it away?
In this 4 episode limited series, you see the impact of making decisions and how each choice creates a number of options for better and for worse.
Anna Delvey was a NY It Girl heiress on the move and was on the way to create a social club that allowed the elite sect of NYC and artists to come together. Anna worked to get the appropriate funding to ensure that her vision would be everything she thought it could be. She went on a number of meetings, met the right people and even created an inner circle of sorts that kept her finger on the pulse of what was going on.
The only part that was missing was that she was not a rich heiress waiting for her trust fund or for her father not to cut her off. She was a woman filled with ambition ready to move the chess pieces that she needed and left debts and embarrassment to those that connected with her that didn't know her full story.
In Inventing Anna, Shonda Rhimes delves into this story that has been the subject of a number of podcasts to dig deep into the players involved and additional information on this story that continues to evolve.
When QCODE drops its immersive scripted podcasts, we know we will be intrigued. Their latest, CLASSIFIED, follows Ivan Harris who finds himself at the Ravenholm Institute.
They say that he will remain there until his delusions are gone. He knows that he is an assassin who fell in love with the woman he was supposed to kill. Who's right and how will he find out?
Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Streaming in mag.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. We've all seen tours of our favorite 90's artists, fashions from the era continue to maintain a presence in a number of brand's assortments and let's not talk about the movies that continue to play on our favorite streamed platforms. The 90's was an era that was filled with political changes, scandals, fashion, changes in the musical landscape, major sports moments, TV and cultural changes!
Chuck Klosterman takes us through this time in The Nineties: A Book. Chuck explores this era which was a kaleidoscope of changes that were felt regardless of your location, race, gender etc. He examines it all from the highs, lows and everything in between. Whether you lived it or are looking back to a time that your friends and family have told you about - this is a book that should be on your radar.
We've been following Justina Blakeney's IG account Jungalow for a number of years as we love the decor inspiration! You'll find good vibes, vibrant prints, and visual texture that makes you want to rethink the spaces that you reside in. The name is derived from Justina's belief in her brand being the embodiment of her wild, but cozy and homey, style.
Jungalow: Decorate Wild: The Life and Style Guide is the 3rd book by Justine and continues to inspire you as your flip through each page. You also get insight into the designer as well.
As you flip through the pages, you get the sense that you are taken through a vibrant journey that shares how you can implement this in your own home as well as how you can make this come together to make it your own. You also get to know a lot more about Justina in a bit of a biography of sorts in terms of how she approaches life.
With her encouraging and inspirational words, you may look at how you engage in life in a different way as well as embrace the idea of going in and out of nature in the way that works best for you!
101 THAI DISHES YOU NEED TO COOK BEFORE YOU DIE: THE ESSENTIAL RECIPES, TECHNIQUES AND INGREDIENTS OF THAILAND
Page Street Publishing
Jet Tila
In 101 Thai Dishes You Need To Cook Before You Die: The Essential Recipes, Techniques and Ingredients of Thailand, we are taken on a culinary journey with Jet Tila as he shares his Thai heritage and ensures that home cooks are able to create his authentic recipes.
He connects with fellow chef and long-time friend, Tad Weyland Fukumoto share their favorite Southeast Asian dishes from Street-Style Basil Pork, Glass Noodle Stir-Fry and Hung Lay Northern Pork Curry. With a mix of classic dishes, popular street foods and unsung heroes from the regions, you'll have the perfect guide for the rich culinary traditions of Thailand.
Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see Bingely Books in mag.
We love taking moments and heading outside for a bit of fresh air and to hang out with friends and family, When we heard about Hot Tub Boats, we knew this was something we would enjoy doing on our next visit to Seattle!
Created by Adam Karpenske, Hot Tub Boats are not hot tubs that can float or boats with hot tubs, but truly a Hot Tub Boat. Combining the freedom of a boat and the comfort of a spa, these one-of-a-kind teak decking vessels come with Bluetooth speakers, joystick navigation, plenty of storage space for food and drinks, continuous onboard heating at 104 degrees, thermostat and unparalleled views of Seattle.
Every single Hot Tub Boat is handcrafted in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle by devoted shipwrights. You can rent them at their Lake Union location. Visit their site and click Book My Boat. This pulls up the calendar where guests will see the availability on their calendar to select the date, add amenities and confirm the booking with your credit card. Each rental is in 2-hour increments.
When you’re planning your experience, it's worth noting a few rules to keep in mind for you and your guests. Hot Tub Boats has a maximum of 6 people, no drugs or alcohol is allowed, no swimming and no nudity is allowed. They are available every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas and regardless if it is raining or snowing! Keep an eye on their site as they have plans to open in a new city this summer although they are keeping that under wraps for now!
Your group is bound to have a good time and customers drive the boat! One person must be 21+ on board the Hot Tub Boat, but due to its custom engineering, only a valid ID is required to drive the boat - no boater's or even driver's license required!
After seeing these boats and thinking about enjoying taking them out in Lake Union, we were excited to learn that if you are as intrigued as we are about these vessels, that you can have a custom boat built for you! Just check out Hot Tub Boats Builds and fill out the form so that they can get back to you!
IG @hottubboats
PHOTOS COURTESY | Hot Tub Boats
Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Hot Tub Boats in mag.
Since 2019, guests have enjoyed staying at Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove as its amenities are worth taking in. We suggest BēAtala, a wellness suite (spa complete with their products), private sauna, treatment rooms, a rooftop pool and private cabanas. Guests can enjoy a fitness center featuring Technogym equipment, personal trainers, and yoga classes. They also have a ballroom for weddings and private events.
The award-winning architecture firm, Arquitectonica, conceived the exterior design modeled after the pier-like Stiltsville structures located off the Florida Cape. Mr. C overlooks Sailboat Bar (also known as Schooner Bay in the days of Miami's beginnings) the largest marina in the South.
Naval architecture is a large part of the Inspiration of this property. In addition, the Cipriani family hails from Venice, the city where one travels by boat, they have a love for those beautiful Riva Yachts of the post-war era. Then insert Coconut Grove, famous for its lush tropical setting, and its enormous Banyan trees engulfing the main highway to complete the ambiance.
AD100 interior designer, Martin Brudnizki created a nautical vibe and designed the 100-room, 6-story boutique property overlooking Biscayne Bay. The nautical look of the resort, as shown by its azure and white-colored terrazzo floors and glossy wood paneling, is influenced both by coastal Italian culture, and the sleek interior of a yacht or cruise ship.
The signature Bellini rooftop restaurant's vantage point has views of the bay, coastline and the horizon. You can enjoy the soft breezes of the southeast Trade Winds that provide a perfect temperature for outdoor dining.
At the base, Il Giardino is a secret tropical garden set in a courtyard for casual dining. Guests are surrounded by large blue umbrellas away from the energy of the streets of Coconut Grove.
A third venue is the street side cafe, a lively setting for people-watching under the monumental stilts that support the building 25 feet above.
This summer, check out upcoming events such as Cinema Nights, Concert Series and Art Exhibitions.
Mr. C has achieved a Silver Certification from the FGBC (Florida Green Building Coalition), the equivalent of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for an environmental sustainability as well as green energy -efficient lighting. They also received the Travel Sustainable Badge from Booking.com
IG @mrchotels
PHOTOS COURTESY | Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove
Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Mr. C Miami Coconut Grove in mag.
We're heading to Brooklyn where we found out about Vineapple Cafe, a coffee shop that was beloved by Aubrie Therrien and Zac Rubin who enjoyed the vibe. When it closed, they stepped in to become the new co-owners to ensure that the neighborhood still had a destination to enjoy. They imagined how Vineapple could be more than what it was known as so that the community could still come together.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell me about Vineapple Cafe prior to when you took ownership of it. What was it about the original that drew you to it and what made you want to revive it?
AUBRIE THERRIEN: Vineapple was a neighborhood coffee shop that we frequented daily and the neighborhood really loved. Before that, it also had many other iterations as a steak house, a Mexican restaurant, and a gay nightclub. When we moved to the neighborhood, we would always wonder what Vineapple would be like if it had a great bar and an enoteca-like food menu. We joked that we would at least eat there 2-3 times a week. So one day, when we saw that Vineapple had suddenly closed, we not only jumped at the chance to revive this little cafe that the neighborhood relied on, but also turn it into something we had always hoped it could be.
AM: As you’re co-owners of Vineapple Cafe, what is your background in the culinary space?
AT: I’ve worked as a server and bartender at a variety of restaurants throughout the City for about 10 years, helping some open and also at other well-established places. My family also owned a restaurant in Little Italy for 75 years called Giambones. Cooking and eating is a huge part of my family and heritage.
Zac is a lover of good food and wine and an entrepreneur in the city who opened a cafe in his soccer stores a few years ago and caught the restaurateur bug.
AM: What was it like launching the concept right before the pandemic and navigating the process of renovating and opening during this time?
AT: It was both exciting and scary at the same time. We took over the restaurant in February 2020 and then the world completely changed in March 2020, right before we were going to try to reopen. We took that time to really reflect on the place we were trying to create and also worked on recipes and making the place beautiful with the help of our friends and family. We opened in phases starting in June 2020, with a shower curtain covering areas that were still being renovated. The neighborhood was so kind and patient with us and with us every step of the way.
AM: The kitchen is helmed by Executive Chef Joel Mendia, can you tell us about his culinary background, where he trained and how he came to Vineapple Cafe?
AT: Joel is a really wonderful person to work with and he has been with us, in many different roles, since the very beginning. He has trained in several kitchens in the city under the helm of some really fabulous chefs, with a focus on Italian foods, most notably Café Lalo and Café Falai.
AM: How would you define the cuisine that people can enjoy here whether they are coming to dine?
AT: Vineapple is an Italian-Leaning restaurant, featuring both old world favorites and New American Cuisine with some personal twists from our Chef and our family.
AM: What is the ambiance of Vineapple Cafe as I know you have a patio, garden and indoor seating.
AT: Vineapple is a neighborhood café with a casual, cozy and inviting vibe. We have a great mix of local regulars and visitors joining us from all over the world.
Our staff works hard to make them feel immediately at home.
AM: What are 3 dishes you suggest for those that are coming for breakfast?
AT: Our most popular item is our Breakfast Burrito. It’s massive, stuffed to the brim with all your favorite fixings, and comes with a side of our amazing roasted potato wedges. Our Breakfast Sandwich isn’t your run-of-the-mill breakfast sandwich! Farm fresh eggs are prepared with our house-made tomato jam, asiago cheese, and arugula, for an incredible start to your morning with just the right pairing of sweet and savory. Our Avocado Toast goes above and beyond the expected, with an obscene amount of Avocado, everything spice, and housemade pickles, rounded out with Caputo’s Olive Bread, it is literally the best avocado toast I have ever had.
AM: What are dishes for lunch that you suggest for those stopping by?
AT: Our Warm Vegetable Farro Bowl is a hearty, delicious, nutritious meal, it’s especially wonderful if you add our roasted chicken or a poached egg. The Prosciutto and Mozzarella Panini with our House-Made Tomato Jam is an absolute show stopper, and one of our best selling lunch items. The Kale, Apple, & Goat Cheese Salad is the perfect afternoon bite. Great as a starter, but excellent as a mid-day meal.
AM: You have a new dinner menu that we want to explore. What are 3 appetizers that friends and family can enjoy to start their meal?
AT: Our house charcuterie board is not to be missed! We call it The Big Board because it’s simply sprawling! Mama’s Prosciutto Bread is a family recipe held near and dear to us, a delicious combination of homemade bread, aged prosciutto and basil with gooey mozzarella cheese. Our Burrata with Roasted Beet Puree is both beautiful to see, and delightful to eat. The perfect table starter.
AM: What are 3 entrees that you would like to tell us about that we should enjoy?
AT: The Hanger Steak is fantastic and always cooked to perfection. We change the dish seasonally to include the freshest local vegetables. The Brown Butter Chicken is the most perfect winter chicken dish of all time. The warm peppery crust is simply to die for. The Cacio y Pepe Mac and Cheese is also a really iconic dish, served in a cast iron skillet. It comes bubbly with a breadcrumb top and is just really satisfying.
AM: To end the meal, what are 3 desserts that we should have on our radar?
AT: Chef Joel makes the best House-Made Tiramisu of all time! I’ve never tasted anything like it. Our Apple Pie Bread Pudding is a delectable sweet bite. Perfect for sharing at the end of your meal. Our Affogato uses the freshest Devocion Espresso with incredible gelato from local purveyor, Dolce Brooklyn. I would suggest ending your meal with an after
dinner beverage too, like a hot Amaro Caldo or a signature Espresso Martini.
AM: We have heard that you have a great beverage program and that you brought on Jennifer Sandella as the Bar Director as well as the General Manager. Can you tell us about her background as well as 3 crafted cocktails that she has created that we should try?
AT: Jennifer is a Brooklyn Heights local and has a true love and passion for crafting amazing experiences for our guests. She’s been creating cocktails for over a decade and also has a background in the theatre. She suggests you try the Bird of Passage, a refreshingly floral combination of Gin and Amaro, the Brooklyn Heights for a strong dram on a chilly evening, or the Golden Harvest made with passionfruit and mezcal, which is delicious, easy to drink, and perfect for any day of the week.
AM: It seems like those who come to Vineapple Cafe has a number of options whether patrons are interested in a café vibe, a bar or a restaurant. Did that influence how you approached the décor in terms of its vibe?
AT: We wanted to make sure the folks who loved the coziness of the old Vineapple still had that same vibe at Vineapple 2.0 while also adding some hints of sophistication and that brooklyn-enoteca ambiance that would translate to dinner. In addition to beautifying some of our outdoor spaces, we just wanted to create an unpretentious space where everyone can feel welcome; and of course, filled with hidden pineapples everywhere.
AM: In addition to food, you have live music and trivia nights. Can you tell us about these offerings?
AT: Yes! We are doing a weekly Trivia night on Tuesday that is so fun and a nice thing to do in the neighborhood. We give out prizes to the winning team and offer some food and drink specials. It’s VERY popular so if you are interested, definitely make a reservation. Our live music on Sunday is also popular and just a lovely way to end a weekend - relaxing with a bottle of wine, some homemade lasagna and jazz twists on some contemporary songs. On live jazz night we also offer 50% off bottles of wine.
AM: You also have non-profit nights. Can you tell me more about this and why you wanted to do this? What organizations have you partnered with?
AT: Giving back to the community is really important to Zac and I. He is involved with several nonprofits and when I’m not at Vineapple, I’m also the executive director of two Brooklyn based community organizations. When we reinvented Vineapple, we wanted to ensure that the community was part of that equation. One way that we give back is to host nonprofit nights for our local partners. We call them our "Eat Out for Nonprofits" nights, and 20% of all dinner revenue is donated to the nonprofit of the evening. The nonprofit can also use that evening to host an event, invite folks interested in learning more about the program, put information out for guests or a QR code for donations or use the projector to showcase their program. Recently, we’ve partnered with Horizons Brooklyn, Launch Expeditionary School, and local middle school PS915. If a local nonprofit is interested in partnering with us for a Dine Out night, they just have to get in touch!
AM: As we get closer to the spring and summer, are there special events that you will have at Vineapple Cafe that we should keep an eye out for?
AT: Mother’s Day is just around the corner and we will be hosting a special brunch for all the Mama’s out there. Our menu is seasonal, so we will be bringing some spring and summertime special goodies back starting in April. And summertime Happy Hour in our garden is as close to an evening of magic as one can get in NYC. Keep an eye out for fireflies!
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PHOTOS COURTESY | Vineapple Cafe
Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ART OF THE SNACK | Vineapple Cafe in mag.
We always have a series of shows that we look forward to watching and have placed on our Bingely Streaming list. This month, a number of shows are currently in that group. We caught up with Rebecca Henderson who is currently in Freeform's Single Drunk Female, Netflix's Inventing Anna and the upcoming 2nd season of Russian Doll.
She shared how she came to acting, preparing for her characters, chatted about these shows that are out now, upcoming projects and how she takes time for herself.
ATHLEISURE MAG: You have appeared in a number of shows we enjoy from Westworld, Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll and I am really enjoying seeing you in Single Drunk Female. What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to act and to do it professionally?
REBECCA HENDERSON: Oh my gosh! Nobody has asked me that, that’s such a good question!
AM: Really?
RH: Yeah! It’s so funny. I’m from Canada and I was a synchronized swimmer – it’s a different kind of performance and then I didn’t want to be a swimmer anymore and I was in junior high basically and I took my first drama class and I just loved the people so much and the community of it. I loved how much it taught me about being a teenager and just not knowing anything. I was such an uncomfortable and embarrassed person that it made me feel that we all pretty much feel like that. I never stopped. I went to undergrad for it and I came to NY and I did my Masters degree in Theater at Columbia and that was that!
AM: What’s your process like when you see these projects coming to you. How do you decide on something that you want to do and be attached to?
RH: Basically, I read it and if I like it, then it’s like – let’s go! It’s not that mysterious. If it speaks to me, I go for it generally and I would say that there is something about actors that when we start auditioning for something, you start to fall in love with the thing and you start to really want it which is part of it. So sometimes when I get offered roles that I don’t audition for, I kind of find it more difficult because it’s like, “ok, now I’m here – I hope that they like what I’m going to do.”
AM: Ha it becomes a bit of a grab bag!
RH: Yeah, it’s like, “is that what you wanted – am I fired?” Once I get a part, I tend to read it over and over again. I am obsessed with knowing the lines word perfect forward and backward and I tend to just write, fantasize about it – I think about the voice, the movement, the costumes. The hair always helps. I love to do my hair for parts. Then of course, when you’re there for the day and you’re there with the other actors, that’s when it hopefully comes together.
AM: Once you have immersed yourself in your character, is it difficult for you to step away from that when you’re no longer doing that role?
RH: It depends on the material. I find that if I have worked many days in a row and then suddenly, I have time off, there is a dip more so in my own personal mood. When you’re on all the time and you’re so focused on these long hours and then you’re just like, “ok, what am I going to do today?” I don’t have makeup on, I look weird – so that I find harder. I have done a lot of theater and sometimes I think that when you do theater and you have done it for such a long time and you’re always living for that 8pm current, it can be a little more all-encompassing.
AM: What drew you to Single Drunk Female?
RH: Well, I love the sponsor/sponsee dynamic. I have many friends in recovery, addiction is something that has touched so many of our lives and I thought it was hilarious as someone who is very honest and very straightforward, I think that I would make a good sponsor. I loved the idea of this show that was just this young person – we don’t have that many young female protagonists trying to get sober – we just don’t have that. So I liked that that story was being told.
AM: What did you pull from to become Olivia who is such a great character.
RH: Thank you!
AM: There’s such a bite to her, but at the same time, we see this duality of how she is in her sponsor relationship, and we also see how she is in her own relationship with her wife. You get the sense that when you see people who are dominate in one area of their life, that they have a different personality in other areas of their life and they’re juggling just like everybody else.
RH: Yes, that’s so smart. She’s an alcoholic. She happens to be sober for 10 years, but I think that at work and when she is in her sponsorship role, she really understands what she is talking about and then at home with her wife, there’s another source of energy where it’s like, “I don’t know and are you happy?” She really throws herself into work and working with her sponsees so she could probably stand to spend a little more time with her wife and paying attention to her needs.
AM: The other thing that is really great about this show is that you see all of these different interactions. When we first heard about the show, we knew that it would be about seeing the process of someone who is an alcoholic and their journey to being sober. But then we really get a birds eye view on how it affects the family members and the quirky things that they are trying to deal with. How important is it to show these full 360s of what it is like when someone is part of that community of people?
RH: I think that the show really shows the way that alcohol has brought her to this point. How alcohol isn't going to fix what's currently going on and how she has a lot of repairing to do and that she has to exist in a world without alcohol. So there are so many firsts that she has to make it through. She has to make out first with someone without alcohol, she has to apologize to somebody without alcohol, she has to put herself in all of these awkward situations and attempt to not start drinking again. That’s the way life is and we have a real problem in this country with alcohol. If you go out to dinner and sit down at the table, there are wine glasses already there. I’m glad that this show is in the half hour comedy format where it can go out to the country and it’s a light touch on how we can start talking about these things.
AM: I think it’s also great that with the show being on Freeform which has other programs that are also focused on making its viewers aware of issues – there is a scene in the series where she goes to where her friend is trying on bridal gowns and the glass of champagne is being passed to her and you see her navigating that situation. Prior to COVID, if I was out for a media event and you decided not to drink there was a need to explain why and that you weren’t feeling well or to have a club soda with lime in your hand to give the appearance of a cocktail so that you didn’t have to say anything. So it’s definitely something that people are aware of.
RH: Yes and there’s a lot of pressure around it where people feel like, well if you’re not drinking, where is my drinking buddy? Then you start thinking about your own drinking. I love that scene from the show because she gets that glass and she’s holding that glass way out!
AM: Yeah and eventually she tells someone else to hold the glass.
RH: Yeah, she was very scared. I think that that is a big fear for a lot of alcoholics that they will go to a party and a drink will be put down on the table and it will look like seltzer but it’s actually a vodka.
AM: That juxtaposed against the St. Patrick’s scene where the two sober friends are “playing” a game as they navigate past people who are drinking and heading to various parties. As a viewer, it makes you think about this on another level and even though this season is only 10 episodes, what is your hope if there is another season – what will we see between your character and her wife and how would you like to explore that sponsor/sponsee relationship?
RH: I mean, I was just thinking that I would like to see Olivia’s rock bottom and how she got sober if we did flashbacks. I think that that would be really interesting. Perhaps how she met Stephanie and how they fell in love. I’d love to see them become parents and see how that relationship as a mother/child is sort of mirrored in a way like Carol and Sam’s relationships. Also, what might that bring up for someone who is in recovery? To suddenly have a baby in the house and not be able to sleep. It would be interesting to be able to dig into those tools.
AM: The other part that is interesting to watch with Olivia is the sponsor/sponsee relationship where she operates in two different ways. Sometimes she’s like, look you have to figure things out and have a plan and then there is a compassionate side where she says if you can't be by yourself, come with her and her wife on a weekend trip – even though she was not down for that. This tough love and safety net paradigm is such a powerful relationship to see there.
RH: I mean, I think it goes to a bit of a codependent area where her wife is telling Olivia that Sam has to take care of herself. I think that Olivia really sees herself in Sam and she has a kind of a motherly quality toward her. She really wants her to succeed.
AM: While talking with you about this, I’m really excited that Inventing Anna has dropped and can’t wait to see it.
RH: I’m so excited to and I’m so happy that it’s finally out there!
AM: We’ve listened to so many podcasts about Anna Delvey and since we’re based in NY it’s definitely been making the rounds of conversation. What was it like being apart of this project, being able to work on this Shonda Rhimes production and tell us about who your character is on this show.
RH: I loved, loved, loved working on this show and I also live in NY and we shot in NY. I’m basically obsessed with Shonda Rhimes – meeting her was the highlight of my life! She appeared and was like, “I’m Shonda” and I was like my God! She’s an amazing woman. We started shooting right before the pandemic. It was one of the best projects that I have ever had. There were tons of NY theater people and amazing actors. Julia Garner and Anna Chlumsky are just like unbelievable. I play the prosecutor, A.D.A. Catherine McCaw. I’m obsessed with putting this woman away in prison. I was just saying that I feel like Shonda has successfully just told the first female sociopath story. By the end, you really get it and you understand why people lent her this money and she’s very, very smart. I also like that this series puts forth this idea that if she had been a man, she probably wouldn’t have gone to jail because men on Wall Street do this all the time.
AM: Very true.
RH: Yeah, but she’s in jail and I put her there.
AM: It’s definitely going to be good and there’s such great buzz around it.
Are there other projects that you have going on that we should keep an eye out for?
RH: Yes, in April, Russian Doll season 2 comes out. I’m back in my character Lizzie with blonde hair and I’m very excited for that. I did 2 movies with Sigourney Weaver. One I play her daughter and in the other, I play her friend. One of them is called, Call Jane it was just at Sundance and now it’s at the Berlin Film Festival and The Good House should be coming out soon, it was at TIFF earlier this year and it should be coming out in the next couple of months.
AM: When you’re not in the mix of planning projects, how do you take time for yourself – do you have a workout regimen, do you like shopping? What does Rebecca do?
RH: Well my wife works in the industry as well and is currently making a Star Wars series (Editor's Note: Leslye Headland is an executive producer, showrunner and writer for Disney+'s The Acolyte). I love being a wife and I really love taking care of her. People who really work at a high level in this business really need help. Maybe it sounds silly to say, but I really love cooking meals, making sure she has what she needs!
I do love walking and I spend a lot of time talking with my friends that are also a bunch of actors and we process all of our stuff together. I love shopping and everything that you said I love!
PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | Freeform/Single Drunk Female
Read the FEB ISSUE #74 of Athleisure Mag and see IT’S ABOUT THE CHARACTER | Rebecca Henderson in mag.
