Events Archives | My Life on and off the Guest List

How To Celebrate National CBD Month This January

January 20, 2020/0 Comments/in Drinks and Beverages, Events, Health and Wellness, Lifestyle /by Contributing Writer

CBD is taking off in the U.S. with the market expected to triple in size and reach $1.3 billion by 2022. People all across the country are using it to treat physical ailments, reduce stress, and bolster beauty products and skin care creams. Chefs and mixologists are even using it as a critical ingredient in foods and beverages.

With its popularity booming, it is only reasonable to back up for a moment and answer some underlying questions, the most important being: what is it?

CBD is an abbreviation for cannabidiol. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid or molecule from the cannabis family. It can often be produced precisely and manufactured into oils and vapors for cleaner ingestion. It is entirely free of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive element present in marijuana.

What is National CBD Month?

January is National CBD Month. What does that mean? According to its founders, the purpose of this dedicated month is “to raise awareness, provide education, and bust myths about one of the great wellness breakthroughs of our age.”

cbdMD

January 2020 is the first National CBD Month on record. The same organization began inviting men and women across the U.S. to celebrate CBD day starting two years ago on August 8, 2018.

National CBD Month aims to nurture growing awareness, banish stigma, and educate the general public about the many safe uses of the cannabinoid. Thanks to legislation passed in 2018, namely the 2018 Farm Bill, farms can now legally grow and distribute hemp and hemp-based products like CBD. Shortly thereafter, CBD ranked as one of the topmost searched wellness trends in the United States, coming in at number four in April 2019. Searches for CBD beat out searches for veganism, vaccination, exercise, and meditation.

You can celebrate National CBD month by asking your doctor about its medical uses, researching distributors who practice safe and sustainable production, and posting on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram about your experiences using the hashtag #NationalCBDMonth. National CBD Month also has its own Facebook page! For updates throughout the month, follow cbdMD on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or sign up for the official cbdMD email newsletter.

What are the benefits of CBD?

CBD packs a whole host of potential benefits. Ongoing studies show that CBD may help adults get relief from pain, cancer-related symptoms, anxiety and depression, and acne. What’s more, it may provide protective benefits to patients’ heart health and brains.

Those suffering from epilepsy have been using CBD to reduce instances of seizures for years. CBD can be used to help treat muscle spasm in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and possibly even improve sleep and overall quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease as well. If you think CBD could help you or a loved one with a condition like this, be sure to ask your physician. As 96% of hospitals and 78% of physician’s offices now use electronic health records, your doctor should be easily able to review your medical history and tell you whether or not CBD could help you.

What products are made with CBD?

It is more than safe to say that products containing CBD run the gamut. While oils, pills and capsules, lotions, and topical treatments are most popular for medical, skincare, and pain relief purposes, there are many other types of CBD products out there.

You can choose from a variety of CBD-infused beverages, including coffee, tea, juice, or even beer. They even make CBD pet treats for pets with chronic pain symptoms. Companies also make hygiene products such as CBD toothpaste. Brushing with CBD toothpaste twice a day may offer benefits on top of removing plaque and getting your teeth clean, such as decreased inflammation and protection from bacterial and fungal infections.

CBD is gaining traction and may even be one of the top wellness trends of the past couple of years. If you would like to enjoy all the benefits of CBD during National CBD Month, choose at-home products carefully. Look for labels that stipulate that products have been lab-tested and/or the U.S. organically grown. If you enjoy a CBD-infused beer or meal at a restaurant with CBD as a key ingredient, ask your server about where they get their CBD and plan accordingly. Remember, it takes up to two hours to fully feel the effects of edible and drinkable varieties!

Try CBD before January is over and you just may find yourself starting your year off in a rather relaxing state of mind.

4 Clever Details for the Perfect Winter Wedding

4 Clever Details for the truly Perfect Winter Wedding

January 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Events, Frontpage Article, Lifestyle /by Contributing Writer

Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful times of a person’s life — despite the fact that ultimately, it’s all leading up to a great thing! The last thing you want is for that planning stress to take away from the day that you’ll commit yourself to the love of your life. Nonetheless, a 2017 report by WeddingWire revealed that 63% of brides feel a good deal of stress to put on the perfect wedding. Many people worry about choosing a dated theme, or putting on a wedding that their guests can’t fully enjoy. And furthermore, lots of people aim to have truly unique weddings. This is one of the reasons why some couples are steering away from the typical wedding season. Rather than having their weddings during the spring or early summer, they’re choosing to get married during the winter.

There are many benefits to having a winter wedding. For one thing, as this isn’t the typical wedding season, you’ll probably have an easier time reserving the venue that you want for your ideal dates. There can be a lot of competition for space and decor during prime wedding season. Another reason why you may want to aim for a winter wedding is that the rates for everything from venues to event planning services are often lower during the “off season”, saving you money in the long term. Of course, you may be worried about the chills that come with a winter wedding, and for that matter the weather itself. But in fact, winter weather is often less predictable during the spring and the summer, both of which are prone to winter showers. Of course, if you do choose a winter wedding, it’s not enough to just decide on the winter and move on from there. You’ll still want to think about food, decor, and many other details. With that being said, we’re counting down some of our favorite winter wedding ideas — maybe you’ll want to try them out!

1. Ice Sculptures

Of course, ice sculptures may seem to be a bit classic for a winter wedding — but lots of people aren’t sure about investing in them as pieces of decor. A lot of people have the idea that ice sculptures are messy or melt down too quickly. In fact, if kept indoors, a typical ice sculpture lasts four to six hours — which is plenty of time for them to last through your reception if they’re made at the right moment. Ice sculptures can be carved to fit virtually any theme. For that matter, their glass-like appearance simply creates an air of elegance, and they reflect the light beautifully. They should be considered for any winter wedding!

2. Embrace A Wintry Menu

Think of the classic winter foods and beverages that people tend to gravitate towards — and imagine coordinating your menu around them! Offering your guests hot chocolate, or perhaps mulled wine, creates a lovely winter wonderland feeling. People tend to want to eat things that are somewhat heavier during the winter, and you may want to indulge in well-cooked red meat and creamy pastas. With that being said, you’ll want to make sure that all of your guests have something to eat. Veganism is growing increasingly popular, increasing by 600% in the United States over the last three years. It might seem to be a little challenging to create a winter-themed menu that accommodates vegans, but the right caterers will be able to help you.

3. Embrace Seasonal Bouquets And Centerpieces

During the winter, you may feel as if flowers would be out of place. In fact, you can certainly still decorate with flowers, as well as other plants. For your bouquet, you may want to consider seasonal plants. These may not include the giant blooms that we’re regularly used to seeing during the spring or summer, but you can still include holly, berries, and smaller blossoms or winter greens. If you’d like to include natural centerpieces, you can consider some of the same plants; however, you may also want to add in delicate branches, which during the winter will be without flowers but in fact can easily look quite elegant if arranged correctly.

4. Take Advantage Of The Lighting

It’s true that the fact that the natural light window is shorter during the window may create photography challenges. However, dim lighting can also create an amazing opportunity for your venue. For one thing, you can add to the coziness of the experience by using candles to light the room. Not only will the candles enhance the appearance of your venue — they’ll probably add to the warmth as well. You may also want to embrace the similarities between ice and crystal. By decorating with a good amount of crystal — a chandelier could very well help light the room, for example — you’ll be rewarded with the dazzling, ice-like effect of the light bouncing off of the surfaces. And really, you shouldn’t worry too much about photos. The right photographer will be able to get you the results you want. With that being said, you should employ a photographer that has experience in photographing effectively without a lot of natural light.

You don’t have to embrace a winter wonderland theme just because you’re having a winter wedding — but it’s certainly an easy theme for you to take advantage of. Otherwise, you can certainly incorporate the natural beauty of winter into whatever other theme you choose, and ultimately create the wedding of your dreams. Furthermore, saving money by sticking to the off season will open up your budget. What more is there to ask for?

Celebrate National Booch Day with Flying Embers

Celebrate All Things Kombucha on National Booch Day

January 14, 2020/0 Comments/in Alcohol, Drinks and Beverages, Events /by Glasgow Skinner

Kombucha fans, your day has come. On January 15th, get ready to celebrate all things Kombucha with the first-ever National Booch Day. Thanks to Bill Moses, the founder of KeVita, and now Flying Embers Hard Kombucha, we finally get to honor the lightly effervescent fermented beverage that boasts a bold, invigorating taste.

To celebrate National Booch Day, Flying Embers welcomes a new national campaign, Dry Fermented January. For those not familiar, Kombucha offers amazing health benefits; it settles your stomach and serves as an all-around good-for-you drink. Like traditional kombucha, each bottle of Flying Embers is packed with live probiotics; live cultures that are considered “good” bacteria that offer lots of health-promoting benefits; supplementing your body’s natural microbiome and gut health. What makes Flying Embers Hard Kombucha different is theirs is brewed with botanical adaptogens and champagne yeast. This delicious, sparkling probiotic tea, is handcrafted with an adaptogen root blend of Ashwagandha, Turmeric, Ginger, and Astragalus. The result is a truly better-for-you buzz from a beverage that has zero sugar, zero carbs, low-calorie, is USDA certified organic, vegan and gluten-free.

Flying Embers has a lot of fun flavors you can choose from. Ancient Berry is a popular choice, featuring a bright and fruity mix of elderberries, goji berries, raspberries. Ginger and Oak offer a clean, refreshing, yet earthy flavor. Lemon Orchard features a delicate mix of lavender, mint, and ginger. Grapefruit Thyme combines the tangy sweetness of grapefruit, punctuated with the subtle flavors of thyme. Black Cherry’s fresh dark cherry mix is complemented with a bright lime spritz. And Pineapple Chili offers a delicate sweet and spicy mix.

Along with the campaign, they will have a national wholesaler distribution drive, events & samplings, and consumer giveaways. Larger National Booch Day events will be held in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, New York City, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Portland, and Boston.

“All ingredients are USDA certified organic, including our unique adaptogen root blend of ginger, astragalus, turmeric, and ashwagandha – all with a healthy amount of live probiotics,” adds VP of Marketing, Kyle Ingram.

For more information on National Booch Day and Dry Fermented January, visit the Flying Embers website.

Score Sailor Jerry Tattoos For $20.00 For Norman Collins 109th Birthday

January 9, 2020/0 Comments/in Alcohol, Drinks and Beverages, Events, Lifestyle /by Glasgow Skinner

Calling all tattoo addicts and anyone else who’s wanted a tattoo and didn’t have the budget for it. If you live in and around NYC, this is for you! In honor of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum’s Founder, Norman Collins, 109th birthday, they are giving away 109 Sailor Jerry designed tattoos for only $20.00 each. That’s right, full-on, exquisitely done Sailor Jerry Tattoos for only $20.00!! Who gives away professional tattoos for only $20.00? That’s unheard of. Keep reading for how to score just that.

On Tuesday, January 14th, from 12 pm – 10 pm, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and Daredevil Tattoo, will get you tatted. You can choose from one of the 18 available Sailor Jerry Tattoos shown below:

We are proud members of the Sailor Jerry Rum tattoo club, having been first inked last year, at the Norman Collins 108th birthday celebration. We are looking forward to adding to our Sailor Jerry Tattoos collection. Which of the above do you think we should get? Should we get the Eightball, Star, or Cherries? Which do you think would best compliment our previous Sailor Jerry tattoos? Better yet, which of these tats would you get?

After you get tatted, head over to the Daredevil Tattoo’s museum to learn about the history of Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. Learn all about how he built his reputation inking soldiers and sailors in WWII-era Honolulu. Continue the celebration 3 doors down at ForgtMeNot, who will be offering delicious $10.00 Sailor Jerry and Ginger cocktails.

For those who don’t know, Norman Collins, the godfather of old-school American tattooing. He pioneered innovations in tattooing such as inventing the color purple for ink, promoted the use of clean and sterile needles and inspired future generations of tattoo artists. At 19, Norman Collins joined the U.S. Navy which exposed him to the art and culture of Southeast Asia; after his service, he made Honolulu his home where he built his reputation as the father of old school American tattoo and established his now-famous tattoo parlor on Hotel Street.

Brunch with Bread & Butter Wines and Chef Ashton Keefe

October 14, 2019/0 Comments/in Alcohol, Drinks and Beverages, Events, Food, Lifestyle /by Glasgow Skinner

Growing up, there’s nothing we enjoyed more than watching with than our mom creating delicious treats in our kitchen. It was with total adulation that we watched her every move and of course the gift of participating was priceless. We watched our mom make the best cakes, bread, drinks, and much more; as you can imagine, this fueled our love of creating. This is why when we were invited to brunch with Bread & Butter Wines and Chef Ashton Keefe to bake bread, we were ecstatic.

Although we were a little late, we jumped right into the breadmaking process with the approachable wines. The classic California wine company boasts easy-drinking wines with rich and lush fruit flavors. The entire breadmaking process brought back memories of helping our mom and how much fun we had creating delicious dishes in the kitchen.

While we were waiting for our dough to rise and our delicious brunch by Chef Ashton Keefe, we learned quite a bit about Bread & Butter Wines. Throughout the day’s event, we enjoyed three of their varietals, Bread & Butter Chardonnay California, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir California, and their Rosé. The wines were wonderfully paired with the courses of our brunch.

Pre-brunch, and again with our starters, we started with the Bread & Butter Wines Rosé. This delightful rosé features generous aromas of fresh strawberry, green melon with hints of hibiscus and rose petal. Its rich texture is complemented with balanced acidity leading to a refreshing and supple finish. The event started with “welcome toasts” consisting of eggs and prosciutto toast and mushroom and ricotta toast. Our brunch featured Gem Lettuce Salad with Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon dressing; Harvest Panzanella with heirloom tomatoes, plums, fig, burrata and toasted bread; Vegetable Tart with eggplant, peas, parsley & eggs; Quiche with roasted zucchini and goat cheese with squash blossoms.

The Chardonnay (shown above) opens with rich notes of vanilla bean and almond husk, reminiscent of a decadent crème brûlée. The creamy notes are balanced by a soft minerality and a hint of tropical fruit. Those creamy notes continue to your palate where they are joined with bright acidity and well-integrated oak that leads into a long, creamy finish.

The Cabernet Sauvignon expresses captivating aromas of mocha, ripe berries, violets, and blackcurrant with intertwining layers of subtle black pepper, toasted oak, and rich vanilla. This beautifully crafted Cabernet Sauvignon enters the palate with layers of ripe blackberry and chocolate-covered cherries. The round mouthfeel is accented by soft tannins and a little spice that weaves into a smooth, lingering finish.

The above Pinot Noir boasts juicy red fruit. Think cherries and raspberries with a touch of cassis. It features delicate hints of cedar and bay leaf to balance the sweetness of the fruit; this creates an enduring bouquet. That luscious fruit bouquet continues onto the palate, where it’s joined by soft flavors of oak and savory notes. The rich mouthfeel is complemented by a long and beautifully smooth finish.

For dessert, we had a Boozy Bread Pudding with Bread & Butter Chardonnay and berries. We love the idea of adding the heavy berry and subtle spice of the Cabernet as a component of this delicious dessert. As you can imagine, we were quite full after that hearty brunch and was excited to take our dough, along with a bottle of Bread & Butter Wines, home to bake in own ovens. Let’s just say, once we did, our fresh bread did not last very long.

Have you tried one or more of the Bread & Butter Wines? What are your thoughts on these easy-drinking California wines?

NYC Food & Wine Festival Preview Dinner with Knob Creek Bourbon

October 5, 2019/0 Comments/in Alcohol, Drinks and Beverages, Events, Food, Lifestyle /by Glasgow Skinner

During the month of October, all foodies prepare to attend the NYC Food & Wine Festival, a 4-day festival, hosted by renowned chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary insiders. We had the pleasure of getting a preview from one of the participating brands. Our culinary journey highlighted the brand’s product as the main cooking ingredient. What was that ingredient? Knob Creek Bourbon!! Their local Grill Pro, Jason Baker, was back to give us an exclusive recipe he created exclusively for NYC Food & Wine Festival. We also enjoyed signature Knob Creek Bourbon cocktails and a behind-the-scenes look at how their bourbon gets its flavor.

It was a majestic evening of great cocktails, a delicious meal, and a mesmerizing process of the whiskey-making industry. We started off the evening with three Knob Creek cocktails, Rose on the Rye (pictured below), Kentucky Luau, and Smoked Rye Old Fashion; all of which will be available at the NYC Food & Wine Festival.

In addition to a taste test of Knob Creek sauces, the highlight of our exquisite dinner, which included Arugula Salad, Grilled Vegetables, Pulled Pork Sliders, Three Cheese Mac & Cheese, was the Grilled Chicken Thighs with Knob Creek Alabama White Rye Sauce. This wonderfully creamy and smoky chicken dish will be highlighted during the NYC Food & Wine Festival’s Titans of BBQ event at Pier 97.

After the amazing dinner, we got to see first hand how Knob Creek gets its flavor with two demonstrations; a live barrel rebuilding and charring demonstration, by one of their highly skilled Coopers. For those who don’t know, Coopers are craftsmen that make and repair wooden casks. Check out our Instagram post of the live charring, it’s an amazing thing to see.

What an amazing experience from an amazing bourbon brand! We advise you to attend the 2019 NYC Wine & Food Festival to partake in Knob Creek and Grilling Pro Jason Baker’s delicious offerings. You will definitely be happy you did. The NYCWFF takes place from Oct 10th – Oct 13th.

Let's Do This Bitches a New Daytime Drag Extravaganza BRUNCH

This Brunch is a Total Drag: Drag Brunch at Haswell Green’s

October 5, 2019/0 Comments/in Drinks and Beverages, Events, Food, Lifestyle, Restaurant Reviews /by Glasgow Skinner

Have you noticed weekend brunches have become somewhat pedestrian? We mean lacking in excitement. While it’s great to connect with friends, the overall experience doesn’t deviate from the usual mimosas, runny eggs, etc. What if we told you there was a better way to do brunch; a more entertaining way. You can still enjoy connecting with your friends but with entertainment. Welcome to Drag Brunch at Haswell Green’s, an experience that brings “dinner and a show” to your weekend brunch festivities.

Haswell Green’s drag brunch is aptly named, Let’s Do This Bitches; this daytime drag extravaganza stars the very talented Ritzy Bitz and another drag queen for your total entertainment. Get ready for a comedic and lip-syncing extravaganza. On the Saturday we attended, Misty Mountains Davenport, daughter of Rupaul’s Drag Race Season 11’s Honey Davenport, was the co-headliner. Check out our social media coverage on our Instagram page. While the bottomless brunch menu does feature mimosas and Bloody Marys, they also offer a signature “mean girls”-inspired cocktail, ‘That’s So Fetch”, to go along with the hilarious and fun performances.

When one thinks of brunch, pizza doesn’t normally come to mind, but during the Haswell Green drag brunch, you’re able to order from three pizza varieties – Breakfast Pizza, Classic Margherita, or a Sausage Pizza. We indulged in the breakfast pizza which featured onions, peppers, eggs and lots of cheese.

If you want to stick to breakfast favorites, the menu also features Greek Skillet, Huevos Rancheros, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Waffle Fries, Grilled Cheese Benedict, Steak and Eggs, Guacamole Goat Cheese Toast, and Chilaquiles. Bee Pollen Pancakes and Almond French Toast are also available for those with a sweet tooth. Those who love savory will love the Brisket Burger, Mac & Cheese, and the Fried Chicken Waffle (featured below).

Aside from the great food and amazing performances, our favorite part of the event was the crowd participation. Several guests were invited on stage for a Lipsync for your Life challenge a la RuPaul’s Drag Race. Needless to say, thanks to the bottomless brunch cocktails, hilarity, and a few shocking instances ensued. After the show, we all got to take photos with ladies.

With an incredible $45.00 unlimited drinks and entree package, there’s no reason to miss out on the fun! Brunch hours at Haswell Green’s run from 12:30 pm to 4 pm every Saturday & Sunday, with the drag show running from 1 pm to 3 pm. Haswell Green’s is located at 240 West 52nd Street. For Let’s Do This Bitches drag brunch reservations, call 212-245-2801.

National Taco Day w/ Taco Dumbo Midtown West Grand Opening

October 4, 2019/0 Comments/in Events, Food, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Restaurant Reviews /by Glasgow Skinner

Today is National Taco Day, what better day than that day to celebrate the grand opening of the new Taco Dumbo Midtown West. Granted, the grand opening was late last month but as we said, what better day than the day to celebrate all things tacos than to celebrate this taco heaven.

Taco Dumbo is no ordinary taco spot; this market fresh taqueria and cold-pressed juice margarita bar are inspired by the healthy lifestyle where the beach, surf, and sun are synonymous with fresh local food. The goal of Taco Dumbo is to not only provide delicious, healthy food but they also strive to cultivate positives vibes. They’ve created a space where you can relax and escape from the outside world while enjoying a curated selection of eats and drinks. It’s almost like escaping for a quick tropical beach trip (the “flight attendant, and airport body and baggage scanners that greeted you at the door were a great addition).

Walking into Taco Dumbo felt like no other. The vibe was an incredible party atmosphere; the music was pumping and you instantly felt transported from the hustle and bustle of NYC to the beaches of Southern California.

When it came to the food, rest assured, all-time classics are recreated. Using responsibly sourced ingredients. Taco Dumbo has curated a delicious menu that compliments all eating lifestyles. Inclusive food is woven into Taco Dumbo’s DNA, providing options for the meat-lover, vegan, vegetarian, kosher, dairy-free, or gluten-free eater.

Menu highlights range from a truffle shroom and rotisserie chicken “tinga” to beef short-rib and nori spicy tuna tacos. The chef’s special plant-based “impossible” taco pairs perfectly as a side to the grain bowls and salads. Market fresh ingredients are locally sourced and are an essential element in elevating the drink selection. Taco Dumbo allows you to create your perfect margaritas; with six types of pressed juice options and nine different salts for the rim, you can customize your margarita.

The entire team, kitchen, register and bar staff, are made up of people who genuinely care about putting good energy into the food. They aim to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. We enjoyed several rounds of “guess the song” with one of the servers as the DJ played hit after hit. That personal experience only added to the great service we were already enjoying.

Current Taco Dumbo Locations:

56 Prospect St., Dumbo Heights
2 Pennsylvania Plaza, Penn Station
1385 Broadway, Garment District
111 W 32nd St., Rosé Mansion
56 Spring St., SoHo