The Rotary Club of Weston and the City of Weston are gearing up to present the 24th annual Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Rotary Run for Tomorrow and Health & Fitness Festival on Sunday, Dec. 5. Since it was founded, the Rotary Run for Tomorrow has raised over $1 million for charities serving local needs, humanitarian projects in other countries and polio eradication programs through The Rotary Foundation. The event will include a half marathon, half marathon relay, 10K, 5K, and the Commission Cup 1 Mile Walk. For the Commission Cup 1 Mile Walk, elementary school students throughout Weston and their families are invited to join a one-mile family health walk and help their school win the 2021 Commission Cup Trophy and cash prizes. Participation is free for the Commission Cup Trophy competition. All registered kids will receive a Commission Cup t-shirt. Following the runs/walk, the Health & Fitness Festival will be open to the public for free with various activities and the opportunity to win prizes. Attendees will be able to visit booths featuring health and wellness products/services, children’s activities, health check-ups and more. Additionally, attendees are invited to join the Get Fit Challenge by participating in multiple fitness activities throughout the City of Weston from Nov. 6 through the Health & Fitness Festival on Dec. 5. The challenge is to collect one million “Get Fit” minutes. All participants will be entered in the Get Fit Challenge raffle with the grand prize of a PlayStation 5. “The Rotary Club of Weston is honored to have Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital return as our generous title sponsor for the 2021 Rotary Run for Tomorrow and Commission Cup Challenge,” said Frank Dreier, Rotarian and chairman of the Rotary Run for Tomorrow. “The way the community keeps coming together for this event, year after year, is so rewarding. The sponsors, runners, City of Weston, volunteers and families who turn out to enjoy the day may not realize the difference they’re making by participating in the fun. But I can tell you, it’s huge.” For more event details and to register for the Runs, the Commission Cup and the Get Fit Challenge visit https://westonrotaryrun.com/ By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Unsplash

This year, Dromoland Castle is offering a new way to make Thanksgiving extra special by offering a safe, socially distanced vacation with loved ones in one of Ireland’s most beautiful and historical destinations. The 450-acre private estate in County Clare is majestic in the fall and it’s also the perfect time to visit popular tourist spots such as the Cliffs of Moher, which will be crowd-free in November and only a 35-minute drive from the Castle. Dromoland promises a relaxing and luxurious stay, while ensuring a completely unique Irish Thanksgiving experience. Imagine roaring fires, fine whiskeys, woodland walks, falconry, golf and the best of local fall produce in a traditional feast including roast Irish turkey and delicious Irish pumpkin pie. A very special itinerary for the whole Thanksgiving week has been carefully crafted. Along with the family-style Thanksgiving dinner, guests at the castle will enjoy additional themed activities including wreath decorating, golf clinic, shopping trips and board games. Special calligraphy classes are set to inspire guests with tips and ideas to bring beautiful handwritten notes and holiday cards to the next level. Prices start from €5,500 EUR per couple based on a Deluxe room category and two people sharing (Tuesday, November 23 to Sunday, November 28, 2021.) What’s included: Accommodation and breakfast each morning in a Deluxe room category for 5 nights Transfers to and from Dublin Airport Antigen test before returning home Guided tours of our historical walled gardens Falconry Holiday wreath making Guided history tour of the Castle Calligraphy classes – writing the perfect holiday card Transfers to nearby Limerick city or Ennis town for festive shopping VIP shopping at Brown Thomas department store Welcome Thanksgiving basket in each room on arrival Family board games Spa treatment of your choice Golf clinic Thanksgiving 9-hole fun golf tournament Family portrait at the Castle Thanksgiving Dinner to include champagne and canapés before dinner and a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with an Irish twist in the Earl of Thomond dining room on Thursday, November 15, 2021. Getting to Ireland As of July 19, fully vaccinated U.S. travelers can travel to Ireland without quarantining. Visitors will have to show proof of vaccination. If unvaccinated, tourists will need to show a negative Covid test and must self-quarantine before taking a second test. Unvaccinated children between the ages of 12 and 17 will be required to have a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival to travel into the country, unless they have valid proof of vaccination or recovery. Children of any age, traveling with accompanying vaccinated or recovered adults will not be required to self-quarantine post arrival. However, where one accompanying adult needs to self-quarantine, then all children must also self-quarantine. About Dromoland Castle Set on 450 acres of parkland with 97 rooms and suites, Dromoland Castle dates back to the 16th century when it was home of the O’Brien family, whose lineage dates back 1,000 years to Brian Boru, one of the last High Kings of Ireland. Converted to a hotel in the 1960s and fresh off a $20 million renovation and restoration, Dromoland Castle exhibits the best of its regal Irish heritage. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Dromoland Castle

Every year, the entire city of Miami comes roaring to life during the week of Art Basel, embracing the vibrant spirit of the celebration and highlighting the extensive talent of burgeoning local artists. This year, Chotto Matte is joining in on the comeback season of this highly anticipated festival. The globally-renowned brand, craved for its elevated take on Nikkei cuisine and mysteriously intriguing ambiance, has announced its partnership with graffiti artist Gustavo Oviedo, who originally created Chotto Matte Miami’s iconic mural, under the creative direction of Marcel Katz, and plans to display five to seven original artworks throughout Chotto Matte’s space. Over the past 15 years, Oviedo has developed a highly personal, self-taught style of art that explores the relationship between the bustle of Miami’s vibrant metropolitan streets and the tranquility of the Biscayne Bay’s aquatic life, currents, and marine dystopia. This style will be evident during this year’s display, which will feature works from his most recent collection — a vivid tribute to the sea with imagery of bright coral reefs and mixed-media sculptures made from upcycled, often polluted materials. Conveying the beauty of the natural world while also highlighting its vulnerability to detrimental human impacts, Oviedo’s work encourages reflection, appreciation, and ultimately a call-to-action for environmental preservation. Chotto Matte will feature Oviedo’s artworks from December 1st through December 29th. The brand will also unveil a bespoke cocktail inspired by Oviedo’s work, available through all of December —Tropical Osmosis, made with Código 1530 Blanco, Mezcal, ancho chili, ginger honey syrup, kumquat, egg white, cream, club soda and a pinch of art. Additionally, Chotto Matte will debut its newest late night entertainment program —Chotto Lates— from7PM through midnight on December 2nd-4th.This new programming will be a sight to behold, inspiring awe, reflection, and interpretation similar to that of artistic appreciation. Between the vibrant tastes, sights, and sounds, Chotto Matte’s immersive Art Basel itinerary will be an unmissable multi-sensory experience! By Ml Staff. Images courtesy of Chotto Matte.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter), the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami (@frostschoolum) and the Lowe Art Museum (@loweartmuseum) are pleased to co-present PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION, featuring the Frost Symphony Orchestra conducted by world-renowned Maestro Gerard Schwarz (@maestroschwarz). The immersive evening of music and art will take place on Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. at the Knight Concert Hall as part of Miami Art Week 2021. Tickets for PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION are $25, $35, $50, $65, $95 and may be purchased at the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722, or online at arshtcenter.org. MODEST MUSSORGSKY’S PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION is a musical work in 10 movements inspired by specific artworks featured in a posthumous show the Russian composer visited of more than 400 paintings and drawings by his close friend, architect and artist Viktor Hartmann, who died in 1873. Composed in 1874, it was orchestrated by Maurice Ravel n 1922. In this dynamic presentation, the work’s 10 movements and “promenades” will be paired with more than 50 projected images created by leading contemporary artists (Doug Argue, Omar Ba, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Claudia DeMonte, Juan Roberto Diago, Michele Oka Doner, Carlos Estévez, Karen LaMonte, Yassi Mazandi, Ed McGowin, Gladys Nilsson, Virgil Ortiz, Carlos Quintana, Alexis Rockman, Arthur Simms, and Agnieszka Traczewska) as well as key works from the Lowe’s permanent collection. The movements, with some followed by a promenade include: 1. The Gnome 2. The Old Castle 3. Tuileries 4. Cattle 5. Ballet of Unhatched Chicks 6. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle 7. The Marketplace at Limoges 8. Catacombs/Roman Tombs 9. The Hut on Fowl’s Legs 10. The Great Gate at Kiev The evening also includes music by Aaron Copland, Julia Perry and others. “The Frost School of Music is excited to be presenting this important composition in collaboration with the Lowe Art Museum and the Adrienne Arsht Center, and particularly excited it will coincide with one of Miami’s most important events of the season, Art Basel, states Gerard Schwarz, distinguished professor of Music, Conducting and Orchestral Studies and music director of the Frost Symphony Orchestra. “This promises to be a thrilling evening combining music, performed by the esteemed Frost Symphony Orchestra with an extraordinary visual aspect that will enhance the audience’s appreciation of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky’s famed work ’Pictures at an Exhibition,” “The Arsht Center is committed to the continued partnership with the Frost School of Music. We celebrate the artistry of Maestro Gerard Schwarz and the Frost Symphony Orchestra, and look forward to future collaborations,” says Liz Wallace, vice president of programming at the Arsht Center. Maestro Gerard Schwarz is a renowned interpreter of 19th century German, Austrian and Russian repertoire, in addition to his noted work with contemporary American composers. Internationally recognized for his moving performances, innovative programming and extensive catalogue of recordings. In his nearly five decades as a respected classical musician and conductor, Schwarz has received hundreds of honors and accolades including Emmy Awards, GRAMMY nominations, ASCAP Awards, and the Ditson Conductor’s Award. He was the first American named Conductor of the Year by Musical America and has received numerous honorary doctorates. “This collaboration highlights not only two of the jewels in the University of Miami's arts crown, it is also a forceful reminder of the capacity of music and the painted image to ground us, to move us, and to bring us closer to ourselves and to one another. The words of the British philosopher and writer Roger Scurton are fitting here: ‘Art and music shine a light of meaning on ordinary life, and through them we are able to confront the things that trouble us and to find consolation and peace in their presence,’” saysJill Deupi, Beaux Arts director and chief curator at the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of The Adrienne Arsht Center

Gucci was the presenter of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) tenth annual Art+Film Gala. Co-chaired by LACMA Trustee Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, the evening honored artists Amy Sherald and Kehinde Wiley and filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Guests also enjoyed a special performance by Celeste with surprise guest Florence Welch and a DJ set by D-Nice. Proceeds from the annual Art+Film Gala go toward underwriting LACMA’s initiative to make film more central to the museum’s curatorial programming, while also funding LACMA’s broader mission. This includes exhibitions, acquisitions, and educational programming that explore the intersection of art and film. On the occasion of its 100th anniversary, Gucci continues its invaluable partnership with the museum as the presenting sponsor of the annual event. Click to launch slideshow > The menu for this year’s gala dinner will be prepared by 2021 Michelin Star Award Winning Chef Mattia Agazzi of Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura Beverly Hills. This year’s whimsical color palette was inspired by the juxtaposition seen throughout the Gucci world, featuring rich jewel tones and dusty pastels, as well as special details like Gucci herbarium printed napkins. The following attended the event wearing Gucci: Art+Film Gala Co-chairs Eva Chow and Leonardo DiCaprio, honorees Amy Sherald, Kehinde Wiley, and Steven Spielberg, Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele, Gucci President and CEO Marco Bizzarri, performers Celeste, Florence Welch, and D-Nice, and additional special guests including Alessandro Borghi, Anderson .Paak, Anjelica Huston, Ariana Papademetropoulos, Asia Chow, Awkwafina, Benedict Cumberbatch & Sophie Hunter, Bethann Hardison, Billie Eilish, Chris Martin, Dakota Johnson, Diane Keaton, Dumbfoundead, Elizabeth Saltzman, Elle Fanning, Gia Coppola, Honor Titus, Jake Gyllenhaal, James Corden & Julia Corden, Jared Leto, Jeremy O. Harris, Jodie Turner-Smith, Kate Capshaw, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit McPhee, LEE Byung Hun, LEE Jung Jae, Lil Nas X, LIM Seyrung, Michael Govan & Katherine Ross, Mickalene Thomas & Racquel Chevremont, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Wilde, Paul Mescal, Phoebe Bridgers, Reign Judge, Ridley Scott & Giannina Facio Scott, Salma Hayek Pinault, Serena Williams & Alexis Ohanian, Shabaka Hutchings, Sienna Miller, Sinead Burke, Steven Yeun, Suki Waterhouse, Thomas Houseago & Nichole Galicia, Tourmaline, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tyler Mitchell, Zhang, and more. Other notable attendees included: Alison Saar, Ava DuVernay, Ben Vereen, Betye Saar, Brian Robbins, Carter Reum, Charles Gaines, Chris Spencer, Deanna Lawson, Derek Fordjour, Donna Langley, Eva Longoria, Francesco Clemente, Gio Swaby, Glenn Kaino, Guillermo del Toro, Hailey Bieber, Hank Willis Thomas, Hwang Dong-hyuk, Isaac Julien, Jami Gertz, Jeff Bezos, Jeremy Zimmer, Jen Meyer, Jesse Plemons, Jimmy Iovine, Judd Apatow, Julian Morris, Jung Woo-sung, Karon Davis, Kenturah Davis, Kylen McMorran, Landon Ross, Lauren Halsey, Leslie Mann, Lezley Saar, Liberty Ross, Lucila Solá, Lyndon Barrois, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mark Bradford, Moselle Kleiner, Neil Lane, Nicole Avant, Paris Hilton, Princess Alia Al-Seunissi, Rebecca Hall, Richard Wyatt Jr., Robbie Robinson, Bob Iger, Sydney Sweeney, Ted Sarandos, Tyler, the Creator, Will Ferrel, Willow Bay, and more. We are pleased to announce the following VIPs wearing Gucci to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) tenth annual Art + Film Gala: Awkwafina wore a custom Gucci dark peony and candy red all-over crystal and appliqué embroidered tulle gown with dark peony ostrich feather muffs and candy red ostrich feather hem, dark peony satin all-over crystal and appliqué embroidered gloves, red leather high heel platform sandals and silver metallic leather clutch. Alessandro Borghi wore a Gucci white two button contrast black satin peak lapel jacket with a white evening shirt, black wool mohair pants, black patent leather lace-ups and a black flower neckbow. Phoebe Bridgers wore a Gucci cream flower macramé crew-neck, long sleeve gown with tonal contrast crochet plastron and burgundy wine and red tartan skirt with black matelassé leather high heel boots and a black velvet clutch. Sinead Burke wore a custom Gucci jade green and blue multicolor round neck gown with lace top and all-over crystal embroidered skirt with blue mesh flats with Interlocking G detail and a purple moiré mini top handle clutch with enamel tiger closure. She completed her look with earrings with lion head motif in 18kt white gold with white diamonds and aquamarine stones. Celeste wore a Gucci pale green all-over metallic sequin embroidered column gown with crystal stones and vents with silver metallic leather high heel platform sandals, a silver metallic python printed leather Gucci Zumi mini bag with silver and gold Interlocking G Horsebit detail and a crystal headband. She completed her look with Le Marché des Merveilles earrings with butterfly motif in 18kt yellow gold and diamonds. Asia Chow wore a Gucci fuchsia pink silk gazar long sleeve gown with deep V-neck ruffle neckline detail and crystal belt with silver metallic leather high heel platform sandals and a pink metallic leather clutch. Eva Chow wore a Gucci MTO green gown with black crystal embroidered collar, organza 3D flowers on the sleeves and pleated embroidered organza ruffle skirt with a black satin sash, green leather high heel platform sandals and a green velvet clutch. Gia Coppola wore a Gucci MTO black multicolor lamé jacquard mini dress with long puffed sleeves, black duchesse embroidered bow brooch and black duchesse cape with fringe detail with black lace tights, black leather high heel sandals and a black satin mini top handle clutch with enamel tiger closure. Honor Titus wore a Gucci black two button grosgrain notch lapel Signoria tuxedo with a white piqué bib evening shirt, black grosgrain tie and black leather lace-ups. James Corden wore a Gucci DIY MTO green bouclé two button contrast black satin peak lapel three-piece tuxedo with a white bib evening shirt, black wool mohair trousers, black silk bowtie and black leather lace-ups. Julia Carey wore a Gucci MTO ivory tulle gown with black lace bodice and green satin belt with light pink suede high heel sandals and a green satin clutch with Double G detail. Benedict Cumberbatch wore a Gucci bone white two button satin peak lapel jacket with a white evening shirt, black wool mohair pants and black silk bowtie. Sophie Hunter wore a Gucci dark red silk duchesse short sleeve dress with all-over quilted details and self-fabric sash with platinum metallic leather platform sandals with Double G detail. Miley Cyrus wore Gucci Aria look 62 ivory and black multicolor Flora printed wool silk two button peak lapel jacket with a pearl silk high-neck long sleeve shirt and ivory and black mulitcolor Flora printed lycra pantashoes. She completed her look with a Gucci Hacker mini Balenciaga Hourglass bag in canvas Flora with Balenciaga black script and black leather trim. D-Nice wore a Gucci peacock blue velvet double breasted peak lapel jacket with a white evening shirt, black pants and black patent leather lace-ups. Dumbfoundead wore a Gucci DIY MTO dark blue silk shantung double breasted peak lapel tuxedo with black leather loafers with Interlocking G detail. Kirsten Dunst wore a Gucci MTO black chantilly lace high neck, long puff sleeve gown with pale rose contrast lining and ruffle details on the shoulder with cosmic cat embroidery on the front and black velvet clutch. Tracee Ellis Ross wore a Gucci iridescent powder blue sequin all-over embroidered sleeveless suit with a bronze curved sequin overcoat with black leather high heel sandals and a gold metallic leather clutch. Elle Fanning wore a Gucci black tulle A-line gown with graphic bodice and full skirt with a crystal corsage brooch at the neck with black leather high heel platform sandals and a yellow satin clutch. She completed her look with a ring with feline head motif in 18kt white gold, rubies and diamonds, a ring with Flora motif in 18kt white gold with white diamonds and a ring with snake motif in 18kt white gold with white diamonds. Michael Govan wore a Gucci DIY MTO black velvet two button notch lapel jacket with a white covered placket evening shirt, black wool mohair pants, black silk bowtie and black leather Horsebit loafers. Katherine Ross wore a Gucci MTO green and blue velvet high neck long sleeve midi dress with all-over square and G embroidery with side slits and contrast red crystal closures, red tights, black leather high heel platform sandals and navy satin clutch. Jake Gyllenhaal wore a Gucci navy wool oversized double breasted peak lapel jacket with a pink GG silk shirt, mustard yellow velvet trousers and black leather delicate GG Horsebit chain loafers. Bethann Hardison wore Gucci Ouverture look 7 bright orange and multicolor all-over sequin embroidered tulle high neck long sleeve dress. Jeremy O. Harris wore a Gucci ivory and blue check oversized jacket with ivory and green torchon details, sequin fringes on pockets and pink sequin braided cuffs with a green and camel knitted vest, coral pink GG silk blouse, pink corduroy flared trousers, beige GG Supreme and brown leather loafers with Web, tassels and Interlocking G detail and a black leather Gucci Diana mini bag with bamboo handles and Double G detail. Salma Hayek Pinault wore a custom Gucci dark purple and fuchsia pink gradient all-over sequin embroidered silk satin strapless gown with black leather high heel platform shoes and a purple satin clutch. She completed her look with Gucci High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum necklace in white gold, tourmalines, red spinels and diamonds, a Gucci High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum ring in white gold, tanzanite and diamonds and a Gucci High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum ring in white gold, pink sapphire and diamonds. Thomas Houseago wore a Gucci black GG monogram velvet jacket with a contrast black satin shawl lapel jacket with a white covered placket evening shirt, grey wool mohair trousers, black silk bowtie and black patent leather lace-ups. Anjelica Huston wore a custom Gucci deep green faille cape gown with crystal tasseled fastening detail with black leather low heel sandals and a pale sand leather clutch. Shabaka Hutchings wore a Gucci 100 beige and red GG flower cotton silk double breasted peak lapel jacket with a white evening shirt, khaki pants and beige GG Supreme Gucci Tennis 1977 sneakers. Dakota Johnson wore a Gucci antique silver sleeveless halter-neck bodice with pale rose duchesse satin wide leg pants, silver metallic leather high heel platform sandals and a silver metallic leather mini top handle clutch with enamel tiger closure. Diane Keaton wore a Gucci blue all-over sequin embroidered two button notch lapel suit with a pale rose silk shirt, black leather boots with perforated Interlocking G detail and a black beret with crochet GG pattern. She completed her look with a selection of black Gucci Icon rings. LEE Byung Hun wore a Gucci navy two button satin notch lapel three-piece tuxedo with a white covered placket evening shirt, black silk bowtie and black leather lace-ups. LEE Jung Jae wore a Gucci white one button contrast black satin shawl lapel jacket with a white pleated evening shirt, black wool mohair trousers, black silk bowtie and black patent leather lace-ups. Jared Leto wore a Gucci bone white double breasted oversized peak lapel suit with pink ostrich feather cuffs with a light cream sheer wraparound shirt and grey leather boots. He completed his look with a Gucci High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum lion head necklace with aquamarine and diamonds. Lil Nas X wore a Gucci yellow lurex GG Supreme peak lapel suit with blush feather cuffs with a pale rose silk shirt, brown leather Horsebit loafers and a single earring in metal with palladium finish and Interlocking G baguette. Paul Mescal wore a Gucci black velvet two button contrast black satin peak lapel with a white evening shirt, black wool mohair pants, black silk bowtie and black patent leather lace-ups. Sienna Miller wore a Gucci emerald green all-over sequin and micro crystal embroidered asymmetric mini sheath dress with black leather high heel sandals and a black velvet clutch. She completed her look with earrings in 18kt white gold with Double G and flower pendant. Tyler Mitchell wore a Gucci Ouverture blue and white striped double breasted peak lapel jacket with gold buttons and label detail with a blue evening shirt with contrast white bib, blue and white striped shorts with cream chiffon bowtie, brown GG socks and black leather loafers with Interlocking G detail. Anderson .Paak wore a Gucci brown and camel jacquard all-over GG Marmont print one button brown velvet contrast shawl lapel jacket with tonal crystals with a pale camel GG silk shirt with self-fabric scarf, brick red velvet flared trousers and pale sand leather boots. Ariana Papademetropoulos wore a Gucci pale rose all-over crystal GG tulle embroidered long sleeve gown with black patent neckline detail with silver metallic leather high heel platform sandals and a pale sand python printed leather clutch. Sir Ridley Scott wore a Gucci black wool mohair two button satin peak lapel tuxedo with a white covered placket evening shirt, black satin bowtie and black leather loafers. Giannina Facio Scott wore a Gucci black silk gown with bows, patent leather detail and high slit. Amy Sherald wore a Gucci pale pink soft tulle short sleeve gown with layered plissé bell sleeves, embellished with a cat head patch on the front and “Elton” patch on the back with multicolor crystal and bead embroidery on the bodice with platinum metallic leather high heel sandals and a pale pink satin clutch. Kodi Smit-McPhee wore Gucci Aria look 88 green and orange polka dot silk double breasted peak lapel suit with green ostrich feather cuffs and black leather boots with gold buckle detail. Steven Spielberg wore a Gucci dark green two button contrast black satin peak lapel tuxedo with a white evening shirt, black silk bowtie and black leather lace-ups. Mickalene Thomas wore a Gucci dark brown and camel velvet oversized foliage jacquard two button notch lapel suit with a pale sand GG silk shirt, brown leather boots with Horsebit chain and a pale sand python printed leather clutch. Racquel Chevremont wore a Gucci coral orange moiré sequined gown with bow, crystal brooch on the bodice and heart-shaped opening at the back with silver metallic leather high heel sandals and deep magenta quilted velvet clutch. Tourmaline wore a Gucci Spring Summer 2019 bright pink silk cape dress with multicolor beaded embroidery. Jodie Turner-Smith wore a Gucci fuchsia pink all-over rhinestone embellished lace sleeveless column gown with a center slit, crystal waist and neckline detail and fuchsia pink ostrich feather muffs with silver metallic leather high heel sandals and a pink metallic leather clutch. She completed her look with Gucci High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum earrings in white gold, topaz, red spinels and diamonds with a High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum bracelet in white gold, garnet and diamonds, a High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum ring in white gold, rubies and diamonds and a High Jewelry Hortus Deliciarum solitaire ring in 18kt yellow gold, enamel and red spinel. Suki Waterhouse wore Gucci Aria look 33 pale rose multicolor V-neck dress with lace top with feather muffs and all-over crystal embroidered skirt with silver leather high heel sandals and a gold metallic leather clutch. Florence Welch wore a Gucci MTO sea blue crêpe envers satin round neck gown with embroidered cady lamé belt enriched with embroidered brooch, embroidered jewel fringes on the belt and cuffs and silver metallic leather high heel platform sandals and silver metallic leather high heel sandals. Olivia Wilde wore a Gucci MTO black all-over sequin embroidered high neck long sleeve gown with pink butterfly appliqué on the bodice with black leather high heel platform sandals and a black velvet clutch. Kehinde Wiley wore a Gucci DIY MTO black velvet floral motif embroidered contrast black satin shawl lapel two button peak lapel tuxedo with a white covered placket evening shirt, black silk bowtie and black leather boots with gold buckle detail. Serena Williams wore a Gucci MTO black silk viscose velvet V-neck gown with peonia pink chantilly lace bustier with black feathers and rhinestone appliqué with black velvet thin straps, tonal silk duchesse sash, black lace long gloves with feathers and black moiré clutch. Steven Yeun wore a Gucci black double breasted peak lapel tuxedo with a white evening shirt, black silk bowtie and black patent leather lace-ups. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Gucci

To continue its longstanding tradition of high-quality education programs, the Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami (MOCA) is pleased to relaunch its public programming for children and adults in-person and on-site at the museum. MOCA recognizes the need to enrich the cultural life of the community and to nurture a knowledgeable and supportive audience. MOCA, the cultural hub for Miami and the South Florida community, serves all ages and offers an array of free, creative art programs that the whole family can enjoy. Amanda Covach, MOCA’s curator of education, is responsible for the museum’s educational programs, that engage audiences of all ages and learning styles. The museum’s programs serve families, K-12 school students (especially teens), adults, members, and persons with disabilities. Programs include: MOCA Teen Art Force, a free, afterschool multidisciplinary art program that provides students with a foundation in the visual arts; MOCA Makers, a series of free art workshops for adults on the second Saturday of every month; Sunday Stories, a storytelling experience followed by a DIY project on the first Sunday of every month; and MOCA miniMakers, a free and inclusive series of art workshops on the first Saturday of every month. “We are delighted to have our education classes, camps and programming back on-site and in-person,” said Covach. “During the past year and a half, we shifted our education and public programming online, which significantly increased our engagement, reaching people in places that we wouldn’t have been able to engage with in the past. However, nothing can replace the experience of being in a museum, connecting with the community and the sense of togetherness.” MOCA’s upcoming programming includes: MOCA Teen Art Force: MOCA Teen Art Force is a free, afterschool multidisciplinary art program that provides students with­ a foundation in the visual arts. Students ages 13-17 can acquire art education from trained local artists or develop new skills and techniques in a variety of courses, including drawing, textile design, sculpture and printmaking. This year, students will have the opportunity to put together their own fashion show featuring their creations. They will also learn how to create their own digital portfolio website. MOCA Teen Art Force is made possible with the generous support of Miami Dade County and the Children's Trust. Teen Art Force classes are Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. Session dates are as follows: Session 1: October 4-December 17, 2021 Session 2: January 3-March 18, 2022 Session 3: March 28-May 27, 2022 MOCA Makers: There’s something at MOCA for everyone, and MOCA Makers is the series of art workshops offered every second Saturday of the month, specifically for adults. Classes are free and taught by trained local artists. Students of all levels can learn a variety of art techniques, including figure drawing, printmaking, portrait painting and more. Attendees are welcome to bring a friend and their own art supplies, or art packs are available for purchase from the MOCA Shop. MOCA Makers is made possible with the generous support of the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and in partnership with Commissioner. From 1-3 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month, upcoming MOCA Makers programming includes: November 20: Commissioner Collaboration with Nice N' Easy December 11: Portrait Painting with artist Lucia Morales January 8: Printmaking with artist Lazaro Amaral February 12: Figure Drawing with artist Amanda Covach March 12: The Art of Paper with artist Shawna Moulton April 9: Portrait Painting with artist Lucia Morales To register, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/packagetickets?tab=3&txobjid=1853d4ba-481f-4325-87c0-2fd249951696 MOCA Sunday Stories: Join MOCA on the first Sunday of every month for MOCA Sunday Stories for storytime, followed by a DIY early childhood art project. Sponsored by the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, this early childhood program engages toddlers, and fosters reading, motor skill development and socialization. MOCA Sunday Stories is also great way for children to bond with their parents or guardians as they create together. Upcoming Sessions: National Human Rights Month Saturday, December, 10:​30 - 11:​30 a.m. Inspired by MOCA's newest exhibition, “My Name is Maryan,” MOCA will be reading “Oskar and the Eight Blessings” by Tanya Simon and Richard Simon. Followed by the reading by North Miami City Clerk Vanessa Joseph, attendees will color hearts, to share and give out to their friends, family, and those around them to share. To register, please visit: https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/packagetickets?tab=3&txobjid=932f563f-2481-4692-a197-52be03f4cfa3 MOCA miniMakers: MOCA miniMakers is MOCA’s free and inclusive series of art workshops for children ages six and up. Children will have access to a variety of art techniques, as well as an inclusive curriculum incorporating step-by-step guides, STEAM activation and creative free play. Taught by experienced artists, MOCA miniMakers aims to foster an accessible spirit of learning through the arts. This is a unique opportunity for kids. MOCA miniMakers runs from 2-4 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month and is made possible with the generous support of North Miami CRA. To register, please visit https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/packagetickets?tab=3&txobjid=4e23cefb-d39d-4fde-bdfc-c9f03ea09371 For more information about MOCA’s public programming, please visit: https://mocanomi.org/learn/. By ML Staff. Images courtesy MOCA

Gucci is proud to announce Korean actress Mina Shin and Korean actor Jungjae Lee have been appointed the House’s latest global brand ambassadors. Acknowledged as a fashion icon due to her personal and refined sense of style, Mina Shin won the love and support of fans all over the world as a result of a number of remarkable performances. The passion for her work, along with her distinctive yet encompassing style, speak to Gucci’s values of inclusivity and self-expression. Mina Shin, who proved to be an irreplaceable rom-com queen through recent series ‘Hometown Cha-cha-cha’, will play a major come back with new series ‘Our blues’. Flaunting a truly international fanbase, Jungjae Lee owes his success to a series of top-notch interpretations in movies and tv series as ‘Squid Game‘, ‘New World‘ and ‘Deliver Us from Evil‘ that have won over the audience’s love and support. His talent, combined to his very personal and well-defined take on fashion, speak to Gucci’s values of inclusivity and self-expression. Jungjae Lee was recently a guest at the 2021 LACMA Art + Film Gala sponsored by Gucci and is looking forward to his debut as director for the upcoming movie ‘Hunt’. Gucci welcomes actress Mina Shin and actor Jungjae Lee among its ambassadors and looks forward to their dialogues with the aesthetic of Creative Director Alessandro Michele. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Gucci.

Celebrating its 20th year in Miami, it is with tremendous excitement that SCOPE returns to its iconic location on the sands of Miami Beach, nestled amongst the iconic architecture of Ocean Drive at 8th Street. With stunning views of the ocean, SCOPE’s extraordinary selection of contemporary art from 140 international exhibitors will be presented alongside museum-quality installations, panel discussions, and nightlife events. SCOPE Miami Beach opens November 30th for its Platinum First View and VIP + Press Previews, and the show will be open to the public December 1-5th. SCOPE MIAMI BEACH 2021 | COVID-19 Protocol | Visitors Safety Guidelines We look forward to welcoming you to SCOPE Miami Beach 2021. The health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors, and staff remain our top priority. Our Health & Safety Plan has been developed based on the current recommendations provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Florida State, Miami-Dade, and Miami Beach. There is risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public space, indoor or outdoor, where others are present. By attending this event, you and your party voluntarily assume these risks as they pertain to exposure to COVID-19. Stay home if you’re sick, or if you have been exposed or experience COVID symptoms – even if vaccinated. Entering the Fair: SCOPE Art Show is requiring that all individuals wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status. In addition to mandatory masks/face coverings, SCOPE Art Show requires that each visitor provide the following before entry to the fair: Proof of Full Vaccination in paper form or digital application. OR Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test Result (i.e. PCR/NAAT) taken within 72 hours of your visit. *No Rapid Antigen test results will be accepted. Social distancing is required for all visitors, including children ages 2 and up. Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance for a contactless checkin experience. Inside the Fair: Once you enter SCOPE Miami Beach, your mask must be on at all times. Your mask is also required in our many outdoor activations and lounges. Practice social distancing and keep at least 6 feet apart from other visitors. We ask that attendees and staff avoid physical contact such as hugging and shaking hands. Practice good personal hygiene and consider your interactions with staff and others. We have hand washing stations at the restrooms and hand sanitizer stations throughout the fair. SCOPE Art Show has adjusted its floorplan for a more even distribution of attendees. The number of visitors in the pavilion will be closely monitored, and the capacity adjusted according to local and federal regulations. Timed entry will be implemented at certain times to avoid overcrowding. It is possible that fewer tickets will be sold for access to the fair on public days. The venue has increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and high-trafficked areas using EPA-registered disinfectants as recommended by the CDC. These include, but are not limited to, bathrooms, counters, entrance and exit areas, catering and lounge areas. The venue now operates with higher rates of air filtration, ventilation, and fresh air intake than prior to the pandemic. New High-Efficiency MERV filters have been installed and maintained for all HVAC equipment, and they have established protocols to increase HEPA filter replacements to vastly reduce any potential airborne pathogens & contaminants. Regulations and recommended protocols will continue to evolve. SCOPE Art Show reserves the right to revise measures and requirements as needed, in order to comply with federal and state regulations and to ensure the safety of all visitors and staff. Additional details relating to safety protocols and entry requirements will be provided to all ticket holders via email prior to the show. SCHEDULE Platinum First View: Tuesday, November 30, 12pm - 4pm Platinum Cardholders or by Invitation VIP | Press Preview: Tuesday, November 30, 4pm - 8pm VIP Cardholders and Accredited Press, or by Invitation General Admission Day Pass Wednesday, December 1, 11am - 8pm Thursday, December 2, 11am - 8pm Friday, December 3, 11am - 8pm Saturday, December 4, 11am - 8pm Sunday, December 5, 11am - 8pm By ML Staff. Images courtesy of SCOPE

The Betsy South Beach is a luxurious colonial style hotel located just steps from the Atlantic Ocean and in the heart of the Art Deco District on the iconic Ocean Drive. OVERVIEW Located on Miami’s most famous street Ocean Drive, The Betsy South Beach stands out from other hotels with its unique Floridian Georgian architectural design, amenities, service and active arts and cultural programming. The boutique hotel is independently owned and operated and is the only boutique hotel in the greater Miami area to be awarded four stars by Forbes and Four Diamonds by AAA. Stay in one of the 130 suites, all offering comfort and a modern, elegant colonial-style design. Led by Italian designers Diamante Pedersoli, known for designing the private residences of Ralph Lauren and Carmelina Santoro, the Betsy hotel features historic terrazzo floors, natural fiber carpeting, dark wood Venetian blinds and a charming, cozy design with ocean-inspired color palettes. Suite rates start at $250 per night and range up to $10,000 for multi-bedroom suites. FACILITIES With one of the most active arts and culture programs of any hotel in Miami, the Art and Culture Program features live music, poetry readings, art exhibits, book signings and other curated cultural programs that actively engage the community. Enjoy on-site libraries, the Writer’s Room (a studio space for visiting writers and artists), art galleries and Miami’s best jazz musicians performing live at Lobby Salon on Wednesday and Thursday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. Relax or dine on the Front Deck, the iconic hotel terrace with sweeping views of Ocean Drive and Lummus Park. The Front Deck is an ideal venue for special events such as weddings and corporate events. At the spa, you can take advantage of a range of treatments and therapies, as well as the 24-hour fitness center with weight training and a variety of cardio equipment. There are several public areas worth enjoying, including a beautiful Rooftop Pool Deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, The Carlton Room for relaxing and drinking coffee, The BoardRoom, ideal for meetings, The Gallery, a 1,700 sq. ft. multi-purpose room on the ground floor, and The Atrium, an outdoor courtyard that offers 3,000 sq. ft. of space for events and private dining. Food & Drink There are several different dining establishments on the premises, all operated by Chef Laurent Tourondel. Tourondel has an excellent reputation, has published several books and was nominated for James Beard Foundation Award in 2008. LT Steak & Seafood is the main restaurant at The Betsy South Beach and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The elegant New American restaurant serves international flavors and masterfully blends French, Asian and Latin American flavors. Open daily from 7:30am to 10:30pm. For reservations, please call (305) 673-0044. For a modern trattoria serving simple but tasty Italian cuisine, head to The Alley in the back of The Betsy. Enjoy classic Italian dishes with homemade pasta, beer and wine. Visit Lobby Bar for live music and a happy hour (Mon through Thu from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.). The Carlton Room Café is a spacious lounge area serving coffee, cold-pressed juices, local craft beers and light snacks like pastries and sandwiches. It is the perfect place to relax, work or enjoy the oversized TV. The Carlton Room Café is accessible via 1433 Collins Avenue. Click below to launch slideshow > 1440 Ocean Drive Miami Beach, Florida (305) 531-6100 www.thebetsyhotel.com By ML Staff. Image courtesy of The Betsy

Pakistani-American filmmaker and actress, Aizzah Fatima, has managed to do what many before her could not. She turned her intimate stage play, Dirty Paki Lingerie, a monologue-driven piece about everything you don’t know about Muslim American women, into the critically acclaimed film, American*ish, the first ever romantic comedy about a Muslim American family trying to assimilate into American life while preserving their culture. Fatima’s Muslim American romcom is currently taking the national film festival circuit by storm and racking up awards. Blending acting with activism, Aizzah Fatimah is resolute in using her film and television work as a conduit to create a new conversation about what it means to be someone of the Muslim faith and culture in America, even more specifically, a modern Muslim American woman. Her film is clearing up a lot of the misconceptions and fear-based prejudice about a religion and a people that are often misunderstood in the west. In this candid discussion, Aizza and I really dig into the stereotypes surrounding Islam and Muslim women, modern day feminism, and what it means to be Americanish. Allison Kugel: How old were you when you got into acting? Aizzah Fatima: Oh my God, I was very late. I was already in my 20s. I had already gone to school, already graduated and I was 23 years old and working at Google. You know, as an actor you start when you’re nine, and then your career launches by the time you’re thirty. To be in your twenties thinking about acting, I actually had people tell me, when I said I wanted to make the shift [into acting] a lot of people said, “Aren’t you too old?” Allison Kugel: (Laughs) It’s such a weird business, I know. But I was so excited to speak with you for many reasons. I watched your film, Americanish, twice. Aizzah Fatima: You’re like taking notes (laugh). Allison Kugel: I was! The first time I watched the film, I thought it was a cute movie, and then I watched it again last night, and realized this movie is an important conversation starter. With everything going on in our world and in our culture right now, I don’t know if that is what you set out to do but tell me a little bit about that. Aizzah Fatima: I feel like, in some way, I’ve always been trying to do that. The film came about because I had a comedic one woman show called, Dirty Paki Lingerie. I started performing that in 2011, while I was still at Google. This film came about because I was performing In New York City at the Cherry Lane theater and the Filmmaker and Director, Iman Zawahry, happened to be in the audience the one day she was in town visiting for her birthday. She was with her family and friends, and they saw the poster, which was a woman in a hijab, holding up a piece of lingerie next to her body and she’s laughing. It is just joyful. She actually wears a hijab. She’s visibly Muslim, whereas I am not. She felt really represented through the [show’s] poster and she really loved the stories in the show. She’s Egyptian American, and obviously the stories are Pakistan-American and so the stories of the women in the play are also from Pakistan, they are immigrants, and American Pakistani woman. She approached me and asked, “Did you ever think about turning this into a film?” I said, “You know, I actually have been, because I’ve been thinking about how to reach a wider audience.” I wanted to create conversations within my own community about all of the issues the film talks about, which comes from the play. Issues of identity, sexuality, relationships, religion versus culture, and what does that look like? Racial profiling, bullying. I knew I wanted to do it, I set out to do it, and I kind of looked at the play and it’s just a series of monologues. I was thinking, “How do you make this into a narrative feature?” Allison Kugel: Was the series of monologues about your actual life, or was it fictionalized? Aizzah Fatima: No, it’s not about my actual life. It’s based on interviews I conducted within the Muslim American community, and research based as well. It’s characters that range from a six-year-old girl to a sixty-five-year-old woman. I looked at what things the characters talked about in the play, so I thought, “How do I bring these themes into the film through these characters?” That is one thing I wanted to keep intact, and another thing was I literally went through the play, highlighted all the jokes, and thought I need to figure out how to rework these jokes from monologues to a feature film, because I know these jokes land with a live audience on a stage, so I want to make sure I preserve that funny. It was so interesting that we ended up going with this romcom (romantic comedy) genre. Allison Kugel: Has there ever been a romcom about a Muslim American family before this film? Aizzah Fatima: This is the first, and it’s 2021! Allison Kugel: That’s huge that your film is the first. That’s a real moment. Aizzah Fatima: It’s a moment, well, I hope it’s a moment. I hope it becomes a movement, and I hope there are many more to come after us. That is how you create movements, it’s not just one person that does it by themselves. Allison Kugel: What’s also interesting is, I’m Jewish, and I feel like there are a lot of similarities here, because we are also, both, a religion and a culture. As Muslim Americans, you are a religion as well as a people. Aizzah Fatima: When I was growing up, it’s interesting because I grew up in Mississippi in a small town, and so my parents would always say to me, “You’re Pakistani. This is who you are.” Then the world would be like, “What are you? You’re not American.” Everyone was always telling me that I was not from here. Allison Kugel: But you were born here in the states? Aizzah Fatima: I was actually born in Saudi Arabia, in a compound with a very freaking American upbringing. It is so hard for me to explain this. I grew up on all the TV shows, and all American everything. We went to a school where all English was spoken. It was all so American. It’s hard for me, sometimes, to convince people that it was very American. Then, of course, I’m growing up in Mississippi. I feel very American. This is where I feel at home. I feel like a New Yorker. I think it’s only because first generation, people who came here really had lived their whole lives in another place, so they wanted to hold onto that so badly, and they wanted their children to hold onto that, so badly. This whole conversation about being a hyphenate, of being an American Muslim, for us, didn’t exist until a few years ago. As an adult, honestly, I’ve had to unlearn all of the stuff I learned as a kid about not belonging, not being from here, and now figuring it out for myself Allison Kugel: This is an important point, because there is a lot of fear-based thinking among first generation Americans from a different culture, and there was in my community too, especially a few generations ago. You have the Jewish people that came here through Ellis Island to the Lower East Side of Manhattan. They were told to stay with their own, and many of them spoke Yiddish. Some of them didn’t even speak English, and I think you have different groups in New York. New York was almost tribal in some ways. You had the Italians, the Irish, the European Jews, you had all these different groups that came here and created subcultures within the boroughs of New York. I know that you didn’t grow up in New York, but in the early 1900s they came in on boats, they were told, “Stay with your own, don’t trust anybody else, they may not like you, and this is what you are.” Even in your movie, Americanish, I was laughing at the father who broke down crying, because his son didn’t want to marry a Muslim woman. Aizzah Fatima: Yes, it’s tough, right? It’s so interesting, because I feel like the younger generation looks at it in such a different way. We’re gaining more. We’re spreading the love, you know (laugh)? I feel like it must have been so hard for my parents and that whole generation to come from this whole other place to a country that didn’t want you, told you they didn’t want you in many different ways, and you felt like you didn’t belong. You felt like you had to hold onto so much of your identity, your culture, and all that stuff. Allison Kugel: Being that America and the “west” is what is referred to as a “Judeo-Christian” society, there is this narrative of, “If you’re a Muslim, you’re not one of us. You’re an ‘other’ and you don’t belong.” Then, of course, it got ramped up even more after 9/11. Tell me what that is like for you, living in this country, as a Muslim American. Aizzah Fatima: I think as a little kid I just didn’t want to have anything to do with it. I didn’t want to have anything to do with religion. I just wanted to be like everyone else. In my world, I’m trying to be like everyone else, in Mississippi, in this little bubble. Everyone was super blonde, super cute (laugh), and that’s what normal was. As I got older, and finding my way into an artistic career, I realized I can’t and don’t want to be like everyone else. I have to honor the parts of me that make me different. This is what a Muslim looks like, not a bearded dude with a sword saying, “Allahu Akbar (God is most great).” It’s a girl saying, “Allahu Akbar, we’re going to make a great film!” You know what I mean? It’s that. It’s kind of like reclaiming your identity and exploring it. I love that you said this film is a conversation starter. I think that’s the whole point. For me, I can’t make art and not marry it to my activism. I don’t know how to do that. Allison Kugel: Another interesting thing is you cast the comedian Godfrey in the role of the romantic love interest who marries a Pakistani woman. Aizzah Fatima: We did. We knew we wanted a Black guy for the role. We need racism to end with our generation. This has to end, and how do we do that? Let’s create a film and put a Black guy as a romantic love interest for a Pakistani woman. And when I say racism has to end with our generation, I’m also talking specifically to the Muslim community. Sometimes I find the most racist of the racist are brown people towards Black people, believe it or not. I think I read this statistic that said one third of the slaves who came over here were Muslim. I don’t know how accurate that is, but that is what I read. What does that mean for us as a community? We are basically building off of their backs. Yet, there is so much internal racism. In Mosques, and Muslim Community Centers, and places like that, we won’t accept Black people. We will be very “judgy” about them, the older generation. I’ve grown up around this. Allison Kugel: I like that you put that in the film, and you didn’t shy away from it. And I like how in the film, Godfrey’s character says, “You know, there are Black Muslims.” That was so interesting to me, because I really only have a pop culture education about your religion and your culture, which is pretty distorted, I admit. Aizzah Fatima: It’s a messed up education, isn’t it? Allison Kugel: It’s a messed-up education, yes, that’s what I’m saying. I know about the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, and all of that. Then of course the unrest in the Middle East. I actually didn’t know there was racial discrimination within the religion and culture. Aizzah Fatima: The religion absolutely does not discriminate. It’s the culture that does. It’s all of our cultures that do. We were so lucky to get Godfrey through our casting directors. They were so impressed that he even came in, because they said, “Guys, we send him projects all the time and he doesn’t even come in to audition.” Allison Kugel: Are you serious? Aizzah Fatima: Yes, and if you talk to Godfrey, he would say, “Yeah this film really resonated with me.” So much of his comedy is about race, and he talks about a lot of the stuff the film talks about; the interracial stuff, race in America, and all of that. Allison Kugel: So, he turns down movie auditions left and right? Aizzah Fatima: He does apparently (laugh). Allison Kugel: Who does that (laugh)? Aizzah Fatima: He does that, and I was talking to him about it, and he said, “You have to do that. If the stuff doesn’t resonate with you, then you say ‘no’ because what’s the point?” Allison Kugel: That’s integrity. Aizzah Fatima: I have done things I wish I hadn’t done sometimes. Allison Kugel: Because as actors, actors need to work. Aizzah Fatima: We need work, and then I’m playing a Sudanese woman, and thinking, “This is weird, like, “Dang! I’m never going to do this again because that made me feel really disgusting on the inside.” Allison Kugel: Yeah. There is a young actress in your film, Salena Qureshi. She plays your younger sister, and her character is the most religiously observant. She wears a hijab when she goes out, and she’s told in the household, “You shouldn’t wear that with all the discrimination out there.” She then says, “No, no, no, I believe in doing this.” In other scenes you show her at home, not wearing a hijab, and looking just like any other young twenty-something woman. That humanized her character to the audience. Aizzah Fatima: I think people see a younger woman with a hijab on, and they think she’s oppressed. What is missing from that conversation in America is the young people who are doing it, anyone who is doing it, even the older women I know who are doing it, for many Muslim woman in America, this is part of their identity. Many of them feel, “This is who I am. This is my feminism, and this is my activism.” I think that is really something that is missing from the conversation. That is very important for me, personally, because I grew up in a very mixed household. I’m one of three girls and all three of us sisters were very different. My mom has worn a hijab her whole life, since she was in her twenties. A lot of us have flirted with the idea of it, as I did. I wanted to show that in this film, because I feel like that story gets told in American media all the time, where a girl covers up, but then she takes it off in the name of Western Feminism. Those stories are also written by men. Allison Kugel: Interesting… Aizzah Fatima: Yes. They are not written by woman. I find that really fascinating, because I literally at one point had three auditions in a row for a girl named Fatima who took her hijab off and I remember I actually turned down. This is where I did have integrity. I said, “I’m not going to do this anymore, because I think this is a silly story.” Allison Kugel: Men sometimes tell silly stories. No offense to the men out there. I’m kidding, but I had to take the shot (laughs). Aizzah Fatima: They sometimes tell silly stories. I think when it’s not your experience, when it’s not your true lived experience, you tend to tell a story that you know from the periphery. One of the comments we’re getting a lot about Americanish,is that the film is nuanced.” I’ll say, “Of course it is. Look at who made it. Diverse Muslim woman made this film.” Allison Kugel: You really humanized the characters in your film, which I know sounds really stupid, like what did I think, that you’re not human? Aizzah Fatima: No, but people do think like that. They think that you’re oppressed, you’re abused, and you’re being told to put that hijab on by men. It was very important to us to show Salena’s character as somebody where her own sister says, “Don’t wear it. Wax your mustache and take off the hijab, and you can get any guy you want.” We wanted to keep the dialogue light. I was always being told to wax my mustache and I would say, “Dang it. I have the South Asian hairy girl problem. Guys please.” Allison Kugel: George Wendt of Cheers fame is also in the movie. How did that happen? Aizzah Fatima: We got so lucky. We reached out to him through our casting people and when he said, “Yes,” We said, “Yes, he is the right choice.” He does comedy. He’s like a Second City guy. He was so awesome to work with. He also is somebody who read the script and he believed in it, he thought it was great, and it was something different that he wanted to be a part of. Allison Kugel: George Wendt’s character is that composite of the white supremacist; a bigoted politician. It’s that fear-based mentality, like, we have to keep America a certain way. We have to keep it a certain color, a certain culture, a certain religion, because these other people are scary. Aizzah Fatima: I would blame pop culture. I think it’s the news and the media. I think it’s the way we show people those images, because there is no difference between a woman who covers or wears the hijab and a woman who wears a nun’s habit. It’s the same. So why does one become a threat, and the other is the epitome of piousness? There is no difference. It’s just how we have been taught to perceive it. So, I thought I’m going to pivot with this. I’m going to do this film and create this thing, and I’m going to try to change this narrative that is out there. That is Americanish. Allison Kugel: Orthodox Jewish women, Hasidic Jewish women, of which I am neither, they also cover their hair either with a head covering, or a wig which they call a Sheitel. Is it essentially the same thing? The modesty? Aizzah Fatima: All of it is modesty. You cover your hair, cover your arms, cover down to your ankles. It’s all the same. It’s the same as how Jewish women do it. I think there is also a hint of it in the film, even after she takes the hijab off, she has trouble showing this much. She doesn’t want to show it, so she is still covering down to here and to her wrists and stuff. We talked about this at great length. I’ve seen so many films like this made in America where the woman takes it off, and next thing you know, she’s wearing hot pants. Allison Kugel: It’s like one extreme to the other (laugh). Aizzah Fatima: What is happening? No, no, no. When you decide to take it off, you feel so weird and seen. You’re not like booty shorts next. It’s more incremental, maybe a little one ankle first (laugh). Allison Kugel: To clear up a huge misconception that I think exists, religious Muslim women who wear a hijab, it doesn’t mean they are anti-west, anti-America. Aizzah Fatima: No. They are absolutely American. This is their feminism and their activism. There is a point where she says in the film, the mom says, “You should take it off, because you’re never going to get a guy.” And she says, “I don’t want a guy who doesn’t get my values.” Allison Kugel: It’s about being able to walk in your truth and being your authentic self, and it not being fetishized either. You also did a TV pilot recently called, Muslim Woman DTF… as in “Discuss Their Faith.” Not the other DTF (laughs). Aizzah Fatima: Wink, wink. Definitely the other DTF, but they also discuss their faith (laughs). Again, we are thinking what is this crazy narrative that Muslim woman don’t like sex? What is this crazy narrative? It’s not even true. Also, the Islam religion is sex positive. It’s not like Catholicism. Allison Kugel: Islam is sex positive? Aizzah Fatima: Very much sex positive. Well, get married, have a husband, and have all the crazy wild sex you want. It’s that kind of sex positive. It’s not like Catholicism where it’s a sin. It’s not like that with Islam. Have as much sex as you want with your husband. Allison Kugel: That brings me to feminism. It doesn’t mean we have to be more masculine, compete with men, be like men, or play down our femininity. They don’t play down their masculinity. Why do we have to play down our femininity? Aizzah Fatima: And that corporate culture that teaches us that, and I kind of wanted to use the Sam character in the film for that. The film’s director and I had these long conversations about who is Sam? Sam is trying to fit herself into this man’s world. She is stripping herself of her femininity and by the end of the film she is going to go back to all of those things. Her own identity, her Muslim identity. Her Pakistani cultural identity. Her femininity. She’s going to come back to all of it but when we start with her, she has tried to fit this idea of we are woman we have to be more masculine and that Is the only way otherwise we are not going to make it. So again, that is part of the character in the conversation. What does that look like in the corporate world? I think for a long time that is what woman thought they had to do. Allison Kugel: I’ve suffered with it myself. I have found myself at times being tough, being tomboyish, aligning myself with male energy, male behavior because that is strength whereas woman who are more vulnerable. Than I had to come back to this place where I’m like no actually our vulnerability, our ability to feel such a wide array of emotions, our nurturing capabilities, that is our strength. Aizzah Fatima: That is our strength. Absolutely. It has taken me a really long time to realize all of this stuff too by the way. I used to feel like you can’t bring emotion into a meeting. You can’t do this; you can’t do that. I have to be assertive and tough. It took me so long to say, “No because that is not me, and that is me faking it.” if I feel an emotion, I’m going to just live my truth. I want to cry at a meeting I’m going to freaking cry at a meeting and that is what is going to happen today. Allison Kugel: Americanish is on the festival circuit right now. Is it going to be streaming soon? Aizzah Fatima: Fingers crossed, really soon we will have some news. Right now, we are doing festivals through the end of November for sure than I think in December things are slowing down a little bit than hopefully early next year we will have some exciting news. Allison Kugel: I’m very excited at the prospect of people being able to turn on one of their streaming networks and have access to this film because it really is such an important conversation starter. Speaking of religion and spirituality I’ll go into this one first. I think I know the answer, but I may not. Do you pray and if so who or what do you pray to? Aizzah Fatima: I do pray. I feel deeply religious, and I know in America people think Muslim woman must cover their hair, but I don’t yet. I fast and I pray. I pray to God. I do the Muslim prayer but there are so many times during the day I find myself it’s so interesting I find myself just in my head making deals with God about various things. I say, “God give me this one thing and I promise I’m going to be so good.” Allison Kugel: (Laugh) Aizzah Fatima: I’m going to feed the hungry, I’m going to give to the poor kids, I’m going to be so good. I do sometimes. It’s so funny, but that is part of how I interpret my own religion in this bizarre way, where I make deals with God. I also believe in spirituality and the universe. I didn’t grow up with Sufi Islam, which is more spiritual, but I do kind of believe in some of the teachings for sure. I grew up Sunni Islamic where you pray the five times [a day] to the one God, but I have found a kind of peace with my own religion, with Islam, in a spiritual way. Allison Kugel: What do you think you came into this life as Aizzah Fatima to learn, and what do you think you came into this life to teach? Aizzah Fatima: That’s a tough question. God, I’m getting all emotional now. It is an emotional question because I think about all the woman who came before me who couldn’t tell their stories. They weren’t allowed to, because of circumstance of where they were born and what they were born into. You’re born in the 1950s versus the 1960s and the 1970s, and so many women in so many places didn’t have a voice, so I think for me it’s being able to give a voice to those women, (crying) sorry. Allison Kugel: Dude, I cry all the time (laugh). You’re making me feel better about myself. Aizzah Fatima: I do think about this all the time, and I feel this responsibility to somehow leave the world a little bit better than I found it. For me, I think that is through storytelling. Listen to the extended interview with Aizzah Fatima on the Allison Interviews Podcast at Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Follow Allison Kugel on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at allisoninterviews.com. Visit AmericanishFilm.com for screening locations and tickets, and to watch the trailer. Follow on Instagram and Facebook. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Aizzah Fatima

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is pleased to announce a November show in the Garden After Dark live music series. The Garden’s lush grounds provide the perfect setting for these intimate, outdoor shows featuring a slate of music performances designed to provide rousing entertainment while still offering safety protocols in a Covid-conscious environment. Rainbow Full of Sound • Friday, November 12 • 6pm doors/7pm show Waynard Scheller and Rainbow Full of Sound have become one of the East Coast’s premiere bands playing Grateful Dead songs, thanks to talent and a lot of practice - 300 shows’ worth. But their current tour comes with a very special twist: for the second time, they will recreate the Dead’s legendary 1972 tour of Europe, tracing the path of twenty-one shows from England to Denmark to Germany to France to the Netherlands and back to England. Waynard played with Weir himself in a San Francisco Bay area benefit for the Jerry Garcia Foundation called “Imagine There’s No Hunger,” and after they hit it off, on several other shows. Working with the Foundation brought him into contact with Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, then another event connected him with Jason Crosby and Grahame Lesh of the Lesh Family Band. Tickets for the event cost $35, $25 if you are a Garden member. Visit www.mbgarden.org for ticket info. All concerts are held on the grounds of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, located at 2000 Convention Center Drive on Miami Beach. Series sponsors include: City of Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, and State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Producer Gene De Souza curates the Garden After Dark series. About the Garden The Miami Beach Botanical Garden is a 3-acre subtropical garden and event space, featuring a wetland with red mangrove and pond apple trees, an expansive water garden with a cascading oolite fountain, and diverse collections of flowering trees, palms, cycads, orchids, and Florida native species. Its mission is to promote environmental enjoyment, stewardship and sustainability through education, the arts, and interaction with the natural world. The Garden is a unique oasis of beauty and tranquility within an urban setting – a community resource that refreshes, inspires and engages our visitors. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Miami Beach Botanical Garden

We are beyond excited to announce the upcoming unveiling of 'Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience,' coming to Miami's Ice Palace Studios this January 2022. Building from the impressive success of the sister exhibition, 'Beyond Van Gogh,' which sold over 2 million tickets in just 6 months, the teams at Paquin Entertainment Group and Normal Studios are ready for their next artistic venture, showcasing the works of the French master painter, Claude Monet. The multisensory experience will showcase 400 of Claude Monet’s most iconic works, including the beloved Water Lilies series, Impressionism: Sunrise and Poppies. Breaking free from their frames, these works are thrillingly brought to new life, swirling and dancing across the entire space, using cutting-edge projection technology (4 trillion content pixels) skillfully combined with music and sound effects to create a poetic and dreamlike display of Monet’s iconic career and legacy TICKET INFO: The exhibition opens at Miami’s Ice Palace Studios (1400 N Miami Ave. Miami, FL.), on Friday, January 7th. Ticket prices start at $23.99 for children and $42.99 for adults, with packages for families and groups as well as discounts for seniors, students, and military personnel. VIP tickets will now include valet parking and a special treat from the gift shop! Pre-sale tickets are available for purchase from Tuesday, Nov 9 at 9 AM - Friday, Nov 12 at 11:55 PM, with a 10%-off discount code GARDEN, (not valid for VIP or Group tickets). To purchase tickets, visit MiamiMonet.com. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Beyond Exhibitions