My Life on and off the Guest List

The Tinder of Coffee, Trade Coffee, Welcomes Cold Brew Bags

June 16, 2019/0 Comments/in Drinks and Beverages, Frontpage Article, Lifestyle, Product Reviews /by Glasgow Skinner

No two coffee drinkers are alive. We mean more than just liking your coffee light or dark; many people prefer beans from a certain region, different level of boldness, flavors, and roasting times. While some will settle for the simple cup of coffee, more and more people are opting for coffee that’s customized to their tastes. In comes in Trade Coffee, which helps coffee lovers find their perfect coffee. By taking Trade Coffee’s matchmaking quiz, you will be matched to your personalized coffee recommendation that’s shipped straight to your door, thanks to their algorithm. It really is the Tinder for coffee. Although we’re more tea drinkers, we were more than happy to join Trade Coffee and Erika Vonie, NYC’s Coffee Masters Champion and Head of Coffee at Trade to welcome the NEW Trade Coffee Cold Brew Bags.

What is cold brew coffee? Cold Brew is chilled coffee made from grounds that have been steeped in room-temperature (or cold) water for 12-24 hours (depending on how strong you like it). The eco-friendly Trade Coffee Cold Brew Bags are the key to incredible cold brew. With your favorite coffee grounds, a mason jar, the cold brew bags, and a few hours, you can enjoy a batch of delicious iced cold brew, all summer long. Want to enjoy an even more of a personalized flavor, just add in things like cinnamon, orange peels, etc in the bag. With these wonderful bags, there are no equipment or trips to the coffee shop required, and our favorite part – NO MESS!!

The cold brew bags are an incredibly easy and affordable at-home solution for cold brew coffee lovers. The easy-to-use cold brew bags made of compostable corn-based fibers and offer a cafe-quality beverage at home. Each cold brew bag (full of 3oz of coffee) makes 28oz of ready-to-drink cold brew coffee (or tea – it’s great for loose leaf teas), depending on how strong you like it. That’s about four, 8oz cups (adding 4oz of ice to chill it down) at regular strength. If you choose to dilute the coffee down with filtered water, you’ll, of course, enjoy more cups.

To brew, follow these instructions:

Step 1: Fill bag to top
Step 2: Put the sealed bag in your container and fill it with room temperature or cold filtered water.
Step 3: Let it sit and brew
Step 4: Drink to taste

To get your personalized coffee recommendations (Trade has made over 2 million ethically-sourced coffee matches), head over to www.drinktrade.com to take the 2-3 minute quiz. For those that are new to specialty coffee, you’ll be matched to more price conscious Classics blends. For those who are more of a pro at those specialty beans, The Hookup allows you to discover a larger variety of coffees.

The Classics start with a 12oz trial bag for $12.50, and the next order with be two 12 oz bags for $25. The Hookup promises 12oz bags that start at $15.00 and only one bag arrive at a time. All first-order subscriptions receive 30% off + free shipping. How’s that for a coffee lovers dream? Are you ready for your personalized cold brew coffee?

Vinho Verde Wine Experience Returns to NYC for 3rd Year

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

Last year we celebrated National Rose Day by attending the 2nd Annual Vinho Verde Wine Experience and sampling some amazing rose, white, and red wines. Although the day of celebrating rose wine has passed, we’ll be returning to the Vinho Verde Wine Experience to enjoy its 3rd year of amazing Portuguese wines in NYC.

Herald as one of the most anticipated NYC summer events, over 30 top, specially curated wineries from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal will be on-hand to share their varietals. The day-long festival will feature three tasting sessions. Also with ever-flowing wine, sommeliers hosting informative sessions about Vinho Verde, mixologists custom curating delicious beverages at the Vinho Verde Cocktail Bar, live music, food bites from some of NYC’s hottest restaurants, and a photo booth.

Wine enthusiasts and foodies can enjoy the following sessions on Saturday, June 15, 2019:

Session 1 VIP + GA: 12pm – 3pm
Session 1 GA: 1pm – 3pm
Session 2 VIP + GA: 3:30pm – 6:30pm
Session 2 GA: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
Session 3 VIP + GA: 7pm – 10pm
Session 3 GA: 8pm – 10pm

The wine event takes place in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood at Second Floor’s amazing indoor and outdoor spaces, located at 849 6th Ave. Some of the winemakers in attendance include Adega Ponte da Barca | Viniverde, Adega de Monção, Quinta da Lixa, Arcas, Casa de Mouraz, Adega Ponte Lima, Vecoope, Manuel Costa & Filhos, Encosta do Xisto, José Maria da Fonseca, Aveleda, Campelo, Quinta da Calçada, Enoport Wines, Provam, and much more!

Vinho Verde is a diverse region that produces many different types of wine: White, Rosé or Red, Sparkling or Spirits. Whether blended or single grape variety, dry or sweet, still or sparkling, floral or fruity, all of them have one thing in common: their authenticity and fresh flavor. Born in a coastal region, characterized by fruity and floral aromas, Vinho Verde wines have the perfect level of acidity, providing a long-lasting sensation of harmony in the mouth.

All wine tastings stop 15 minutes prior to the end of the session time. For more information including ticket purchase options and additional event details, head over to www.vinhoverdewineexperience.com. If you’re posting from or following the event on social media, use hashtag #VinhoVerdeWineExperience.

A Spirit of Authenticity: George Dickel Bottled in Bond Whisky

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

We’ve long stated that women enjoy much more than what’s deemed as “girly drinks” – you know, pink, sweet, and fruity. Many of us enjoy something a bit more complex and strong. Which is why we were really excited to experience George Dickel’s latest whisky release, George Dickel Bottled in Bond. Why you may ask? For many reasons, one of which is this newest release was created by Cascade Hollow Distilling Co.’s General Manager and Distiller, Nicole Austin; the first new whisky innovation for the distillery.

We also want to continue spreading the word that women enjoy drinking complex and “hard” cocktails. As you can imagine you don’t see too many female distillers, so celebrating Nicole and her rich whisky. What makes this whisky so special?

(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for George Dickel)

(Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for George Dickel)

For starters, if you can’t tell by the name, it’s a Bottled in Bond Whisky. The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 was enacted in order to help guarantee a spirit’s authenticity and level of quality. To be labeled as Bottled in Bond, a spirit must be aged and bottled according to the following U.S. Government regulations that include the following:

It must be the product of one distillation season by one distillery; the George Dickel Bottled in Bond is distilled by Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. at the Cascade Hollow Distillery, DSP-TN-2, during the fall season of 2005.
It must be stored in oak containers, a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision; the George Dickel Bottled in Bond is stored at Cascade Hollow Distillery in Tullahoma, TN for at least four years (13 years old).
It must be bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) and reduced in proof only by the addition of water to not less than 100 proof

This 13-yr old whisky is bold, balanced. The flavors blend very well, without overwhelming each other. It can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in your favorite whisky cocktail. We joined a slew of George Dickel whisky lovers and Distiller, Nicole Austin, at The Robert Bar on Bond Street (of course) in Brooklyn to celebrate the launch. We enjoyed three delicious Bottled in Bond drinks at the event. The first was Neat to get the full flavor and notes at room temperature; On the Rocks to open up the blend, and of course, a classic Manhattan.

A 750ML bottle of George Dickel Bottled in Bond whisky is available for $35.99

Motorola Welcomes The Moto Z4 5G Upgradeable Smartphone

June 10, 2019/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article, Lifestyle, Product Reviews, Technology /by Glasgow Skinner

When it comes to advances in technology, we all want everything to be faster. This is especially true when it comes to our smartphones. We want to upload and download faster, connect faster, and work faster. With the 5G network already present in cities like Chicago and Minneapolis, with other major cities like New York on the horizon, you need a smartphone that can handle the next major step of mobile telecommunications standards and speeds. This is where the Moto Z4 5G Upgradeable Smartphone comes in.

We had the pleasure of attending the Moto Z4 launch event where the newest member of the Moto Z family was announced. This latest phone is packed incredible new features at just about half the retail of its competitors. Boasting a longer lasting battery, more storage, bigger display, and incredibly crisp night vision capabilities at prices that don’t match a month’s rent, you’ll love what the Moto Z4 5G Upgradeable Smartphone has to offer.

Check out some of the amazing features below:

An integrated in-display fingerprint sensor right on the phone’s 2.5D curved glass screen
15w turbo power charging for quicker battery power
Enjoy amazing speeds with the new 5G moto mod at Verizon
Etched matte glass screen, water resistant, aluminum, the earphone jack is back, 6.4″ max vision, full HD+ OLED
Qualcomm Snapdragon 675, AI engine, 3.0 GHz Octa-core
Enjoy up to 2 days of battery life
Moto Mods don’t just customize your phone with experiences you want,t hey add an extra battery to the Moto Z4
The 48-megapixel and 25-megapixel front-facing camera are amplified thanks to the sensor with OIS and Quad pixel technology.
Smart Composition feature that recognizes potential improvements to your photo and creates a second photo based on those improvements
One button navigation at the bottom of the screen. Quick flashlight with a flick of your wrist
Add fun, animated characters to your photos with AR Stickers
Spot Color Mode allows you to pick one color to keep, and then turn everything else in the photo to black and white. You can also choose from twelve different live color tones filters
Timelapse / Hyperlapse, Slow Motion, and YouTube Live
128GB internal storage expandable up to 512GB with a microSD, 4GB RAM

Some of our favorite features include the incredible photo sharpness and clarity of the Moto Z4’s night vision; the auto smile photo capture that can capture up to 5 people in a group and single photos; the ability to add an artistic blur effect in the background for professional-looking selfies in both front and rear cameras with portrait lighting; and the 360 photo and video capabilities when you add on the 360 Moto Mod.

The Moto Z4 5G Upgradeable Smartphone is available now through Verizon in Flash Grey and Frost White. It can be purchased at Best Buy, B&H Photo, and www.amazon.com in the US; Starting June 13, customers who purchase the Verizon Moto Z4 at Best Buy will receive a limited time offer of $5/month for 24 months for new lines or $10/month for 24 months for upgrades.

Get the Moto Z4 at Verizon for only $10/month for 24 months. For those who want to bundle, the Moto Z4 + 5G Moto Mod starts at $439.99 for new activations; and the Moto Z4 + 360 Mod Camera Bundle is $499.99 unlocked. Canadians will be able to purchase the Moto Z4 this summer.

We highly encourage you to pop into one of the above retailers and try out the Moto Z4 5G Upgradeable Smartphone for yourself. Try out all the mods and see which is best for you, then go enjoy this epic phone.

Belvedere Vodka X Janelle Monáe “A Beautiful Future” Limited-Edition Bottle

June 9, 2019/0 Comments/in Alcohol, Celebrities, Drinks and Beverages, Lifestyle /by Glasgow Skinner

We love and get excited about notable keepsake spirits bottles. While we always enjoy what’s in the bottle, we love the artistic expressions of the outside. One such bottle is the Belvedere Vodka X Janelle Monáe “A Beautiful Future” Limited-Edition bottle. Last year Belvedere Vodka and Janelle Monáe hosted a brunch for Monáe’s grassroots movement, Fem the Future; a movement dedicated to advancing opportunities for women and those who identify as women, through music, arts, mentorship, and education. Following that event, a social media campaign asking the general public to define what “A Beautiful Future” was to them. The responses included optimistic messages of diversity, self-expression, inclusion, and empowerment. This collaboration birthed a global series of uplifting content and the Belvedere Vodka X Janelle Monáe “A Beautiful Future” Limited-Edition Bottle.

The Belvedere Vodka X Janelle Monáe bottle boasts a metallic collage design that peels away to reveal the beauty within. This design detail illustrates the multifaceted character of both Janelle Monáe and Belvedere vodka. The final punctuation is the phrase “Beautiful Future”. A nod to Monáe and Belvedere’s shared vision of a future where diversity, self-expression, and inclusion are celebrated.

“When I sat down with the Belvedere team, it was incredible to realize that they shared my passions of philanthropy, community, the desire to uplift others, my vision for a Beautiful Future, which is one where women feel empowered and are given equal opportunity,” said Janelle Monáe. “I’m thrilled to be partnering with the brand on championing positivity and charting a path for a Beautiful Future.”

“There indeed was an obvious synergy between us,” said Rodney Williams, President of Belvedere Vodka. “This collaboration is a convergence of our shared beliefs: optimism and the power of the “we, not me” to bridge divides and make the world a more positive place. We’re looking forward to year two of this empowering campaign alongside Janelle with our beautiful partnered bottle.”

Belvedere and Monáe will reveal the limited-edition Belvedere Vodka X Janelle Monáe bottle at several events planned for this summer. Along with the bottle launch, fans have the chance to attend “A Beautiful Future” brunch this November, hosted by Janelle Monáe. Additional information on this brunch will be available in July 2019 at www.belvederevodka.com.

The bottle comes in 750ml at $29.99 and 1L at$37.99; both are available for purchase on www.clos19.com and in local retailers.

Can You Guess Sparkling Ice’s New Limited Edition Mystery Flavor?

June 1, 2019/0 Comments/in Drinks and Beverages, Frontpage Article, Lifestyle /by Glasgow Skinner

Around this time last year, Sparkling Ice launched a NEW limited edition mystery fruit flavor and contest. Thousands of you entered with your flavor guesses for a chance to win over $45,000 in prizes. Sadly, we didn’t correctly guess the mystery flavor as Passion Fruit Punch, but hopefully, this year is different. That’s right, Sparkling Ice welcomes a New Limited Edition mystery flavor and another chance to win. The grand prize for this year’s Sparkling Ice What the Flavor contest, like the new mystery flavor, is tropical. Fans can enter to win an all-expense paid, 7-Day Holland America Line Caribbean cruise for two with roundtrip airfare, in addition to 500 other pool-themed prizes.

Like all of Sparkling Ice’s flavors, the new flavor has zero calories, zero sugar and made with antioxidants and vitamins. The new flavor is inspired by the scents and flavors of an exotic tropical getaway; it is a clear carbonated beverage balanced with just the right amount of fizz. The bottle is wrapped in a distinct blue packaging with tropical leaf accents and a signature toucan. Sparkling Ice Mystery Flavor is available in retailers nationwide beginning in May through the end of July 2019. The contest is up now and goes until July 31st. All fans who guess the flavor via the instructions will be entered for a chance to win.

“Our sweepstakes were a huge success last summer. We witnessed record-breaking sales as a result of our Mystery Flavor offering and, as such, wanted to create a second iteration of a limited-edition flavor for this summer as well,” said CEO of Sparkling Ice, Chris Hall. “Beyond our sales success, we also saw a direct boost of engagement on social media through our What the Flavor sweepstakes. Our whole team is looking forward to seeing the creative guesses our Sparkling Ice fans come up with for the new Mystery Flavor this year.”

To participate in the What the Flavor sweepstakes, just enter your flavor guesses via the entry form on the sparkling ice website, through Instagram or Twitter using hashtag #WhatTheFlavorSweeps. Your guess may give you the chance to win over 500 unique prizes. These prizes include Yeti Cooler, JBL Bluetooth portable speaker, Ultimate beach chair with built-in cooler, Spikeball game set, fun inflatable float, and a beach bag with summer must-haves.

The mystery flavor will be revealed on August 1st. Do you think you have what it takes to guess this year’s new flavor?

Clyde May’s Whiskey: An American Whiskey Legend

May 30, 2019/0 Comments/in Alcohol, Drinks and Beverages, Events, Lifestyle /by Glasgow Skinner

It’s a known fact that history is filled with legendary moments, but only a few possess an iconic history. One of those noteworthy historical moments is when World War II veteran Clyde May became a moonshiner. To support his family after the war, Clyde May turned to moonshining. He began producing and selling an unaged, right from the still moonshine which he perfected over the years into small-batch whiskeys. From the first moonshine batch up until 2012, Clyde May’s Whiskey was technically participating in the illegal trade of whiskey-making. Mr. May’s son, Kenny May actually produced the first legal batch of his father’s whiskey in 2012, named Clyde May’s Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey.

We had the please of getting to know three whiskeys from the Clyde May’s Whiskey portfolio at an intimate tasting and lunch with Clyde May’s grandson, LC May. On deck for our tasting pleasure was the award-winning Alabama Style Whiskey, Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Straight Rye Whiskey.

The 85-proof Alabama Style Whiskey is made using a mash bill consisting of corn, rye, and malted barley. It is aged 6-7 years in caramel-charred oak barrels and finished with a hint of apple. It is the closest to the original Clyde May moonshine from 1946 which featured baked apples to the barrels at the end of the distillation process. The intensely bronze-hued spirit is a medium-bodied spirit with hints of black pepper, anise, and oak. You will pick up distinct notes of caramel, green apple, and fruits on the nose. The original definitely packs a punch and you’ll love how smoothly it evens out. That’s why in 2004, it became Alabama’s official state spirit.

The 92-proof Bourbon Whiskey is aged 4-5 years in 53-gallon oak barrels and is non-chill filtered. It boasts a slightly reddish bronze hue and starts out very soft and smooth but finishes bold and spicy with a lingering presence.

The 94-proof Rye Whiskey is an earthy golden brown and the most intensely flavored of the three whiskeys. It boasts an abundance of floral, fruit, and spices that presents themselves in layers. The crisp zest of citrus is the first thing we tasted, with a robust spiciness following shortly. A full-bodied whiskey with a dry and peppery finish.

During the tasting, we enjoyed two classic whiskey cocktails – a Manhattan and Old Fashioned, accompanied by a savory Grilled Branzino which paired wonderfully with our Clyde May’s Straight Rye Whiskey-based Old Fashion. The fennel and grapefruit vinaigrette in dish perfectly accented the spices and citrus in the straight rye.

It was such a pleasure to learn about the interesting history of Clyde May’s Whiskey; how the brand fully embraces and celebrates his creator’s past and his family. From its birth from moonshine to Clyde May’s arrest for bootlegging, and of course his farmland in Conecuh Ridge.

If you’re looking for an award-winning whiskey that celebrates its American history, look no further than Clyde May’s whiskey.

Tan France & Alexa Chung Host Competition Series ‘Next In Fashion’ On Netflix

May 30, 2019/0 Comments/in Celebrities, Fashion, Lifestyle /by Contributing Writer

With a finger constantly on the pulse of pop culture, production giant Netflix always seems to know precisely what the public wants. It’s seen overwhelming success with the lifestyle improvement shows like Queer Eye and Tidying Up and competition series like Nailed It. Now, Netflix is combining a bit of both into its newest series, Next In Fashion.

The show doesn’t have a trailer quite yet, but it does have two very well-known hosts. Tan France became a household name when he took his place as the fashion expert in Queer Eye‘s Fab Five. While the Fab Five’s Bobby Berk redesigns the homes of the show’s participants and Johnathan Van Ness transforms their hair, a feature that 68% of women are unhappy with, Tan zeros in on their closets.

NEXT IN FASHION

He has since become known for his ability to guide their questionable wardrobes to a more stylish place while maintaining their unique identities and comforts. He is also slightly infamous for the shirt-tucking technique he recommends to nearly every guest on the series known as the French Tuck, in which just the front part of the shirt is tucked in the pants and the rest is loose around the hips.

To perhaps reel in his love of the French Tuck is Alexa Chung, the co-host of Next In Fashion. As a model, designer, and an OG it girl of the fashion world, Chung will be able to offer a different perspective than Tan. The show will also feature stylist and fashion editor Elizabeth Stewart and Instagram’s director of fashion partnerships Eva Chen as recurring guest judges.

The premise of the competition series starts with a pool of 18 designers who will have to tackle a variety of design challenges. These designers are all already acquainted with the fashion industry in some way, either with experience dressing A-list celebrities or working with major brands. They’ll put their talents to the test as each of the show’s challenges will be centered on a different trend or style that has impacted how the world dresses.

Although about 62% of Americans say that they own more than 10 t-shirts in their wardrobe, contestants will have to go well-beyond their sartorial comfort zones to earn the high-stakes prize. The winner of the competition will be awarded $250,000 in prize money and the chance to debut their collection with Net-a-Porter, a luxury fashion retailer.

Next In Fashion is created and produced by theoldschool with Robin Ashbrook and Yasmin Shackleton as executive producers and Adam Cooper as co-executive producer. Netflix has ordered 10 episodes for the first season of the series. No premiere date has been announced for the series yet, but as Netflix’s first fashion-focused series, Next In Fashion is sure to be streamed in households everywhere as soon as it’s available.

Posts