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For the Men's Fall 2020 runway show in Miami, DIOR and Kim Jones partnered with Jordan Brand to unveil the limited-edition Air Jordan 1 High OG Dior sneaker. The new line transcends sportswear in an unexpected way through the art of tailoring, as an invitation to dream without limits. By Miami Living Staff, Image courtesy of DIOR

From the moment you wake up, reliable and safe drinking water plays an unsung, starring role for many of your life’s activities: your morning shower, brushing your teeth, cooking and making that cup – or cups - of coffee. Knowing that your water is safe – especially now – during the Coronavirus State of Emergency is even more essential. That’s why the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) and the American Water Works Association (AWWA) are observing Drinking Water Week (May 3-9, 2020) to celebrate and recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. This year’s theme is “There When You Need It.” It is an accurate description of the department’s 2,600 employees who all contribute to our community’s more than 2.3 million customers receiving their water around the clock through our more than 8,700 miles of water pipes each day. Our water professionals deliver essential services and their vital roles are often “behind the scenes.” We withdraw and treat more than 300 million gallons of water each day – enough to fill the Freedom Tower twice! Our lab staff sample and test water throughout the treatment and distribution system more than 150,000 times a year. “Shortly after the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, the EPA and CDC each reminded us that we should trust our tap water as we normally would for hygiene and hydration,” said AWWA CEO David LaFrance. “This proved to be extremely important because handwashing is an important way to stop the spread of the virus. We couldn’t do that without high-quality drinking water.” It’s also important to have dependable infrastructure to deliver the water. WASD is approximately halfway through its multi-billion dollar Capital Improvement Program, which not only will improve water pressure within the system, but in many cases increase capacity that will allow for current businesses to expand and new businesses to open, adding positive economic impact to Miami-Dade County. “Our tap water plays a vital role in keeping each of us healthy and safe during the coronavirus pandemic,” said WASD Director Kevin Lynskey. “It is important to recognize the critical role water infrastructure plays, every day, in ensuring our tap water is there when you need it for drinking, cooking or hygiene.” Words by WASD

Every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards an Oscar to the film with the best original score. The best scores – like those from “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Black Panther” – convey and amplify a film’s emotional landscape. How do composers pull this off? Back in 2014, I wrote a book examining the musical methods of early sound films. Ninety years later, some of the basic techniques developed during that era remain relevant. They include what industry professionals call “spotting,” which refers to when music appears in the film, and decisions about which musical styles to incorporate. This year, two very different Oscar-nominated scores – those from “Marriage Story” and “Joker,” which ended up winning the award for Best Original Score – show how style and spotting can have major effects on a viewer’s engagement and emotional experience with a film. Sounding out the breakdown of a marriage “Marriage Story” tells the story of a married couple whose separation leads to an increasingly bitter and contentious divorce. The film’s score, composed by Randy Newman, uses music in a classical style – but mainly during moments of kindness and human connection. In the film’s lengthy opening, for example, we hear Charlie and his wife Nicole describe what they love about each other. During this sequence, the audience hears strings, flute, harp and piano. Perhaps Newman chose classical music because, for many listeners, its sounds can evoke the perfection of a past era. He splices these sounds with dialogue reflecting what most people want from their romantic relationships: warmth, trust and mutual support. This sets up a stark contrast to the film’s real focus: the couple’s divorce and the messy legal proceedings that cause two well-intentioned people to lash out against one another. We’ve been duped by this opening, in other words. Careful ears may detect a slightly more somber tone during Nicole’s voiceover. But more importantly, when Nicole’s voiceover concludes, the music stops entirely. The scene shifts to a sterile New York City office building. Over the faint sounds of the room and distant traffic, the viewer learns that Charlie and Nicole are preparing for divorce. Newman’s music evokes the nostalgic glow of feelings that the couple could only express in happier times. The absence of music signals the acrimonious present. Bit by bit, divorce proceedings cause the couple to become even more hostile. This culminates in two fights that are completely devoid of music: a heated courtroom debate by the couple’s dueling lawyers and a vicious shouting match between Charlie and Nicole in an ensuing scene. Thanks to the musical logic Newman established in the opening, the lack of music signals that the proceedings of divorce have ruined whatever positive feelings the couple had tried to salvage. Only when Charlie and Nicole remember to be human at the end of their fight by embracing and apologizing does Newman’s score – in a classical style that echoes the opening – return. Only when the rage dissipates does the music return. The music of a deteriorating mind Hildur Guðnadóttir’s score for “Joker” sounds radically different from that of “Marriage Story.” Yet it, too, relies on style and careful placement to amplify the film’s thematic and emotional landscape. In an early scene, Arthur Fleck, dressed as a clown, performs on a crowded Gotham City street as a nearby piano player performs Henry Lodge’s peppy old-time tune “Temptation Rag.” After a group of teens steal Fleck’s sign, he chases after them – away from the superficial cheer of the street and into a secluded alley, where he’s ambushed and viciously beaten. When this brutal attack begins, “Temptation Rag” gives way to the first original music in the film. When viewers see Arthur Fleck hurt and helpless for the first time, the haunting score makes its first appearance. By saving the score for a moment that captures Fleck’s helplessness and hurt, Guðnadóttir immediately ties her music to Fleck’s psychology, an effect enhanced by the musical style: Its long, repetitive cello notes seem to convey a sense of both dignity and stagnation. It is as if the music, like Fleck, struggles to make progress. As “Joker” continues, Guðnadóttir’s score remains relentlessly tied to Fleck’s deteriorating mental state. The score returns, for instance, when Arthur forces a wide and disconcertingly fake smile onto his face when he is fired. As the indignities mount, the score reflects Fleck’s deteriorating mental state. Later, after Fleck’s boiling anger erupts and he ends up murdering three men on a subway, he literally dances to his theme – as if he’s dancing to a tune that only he can hear. The score amplifies Fleck’s descent into madness. The film’s score disappears during certain moments, like when Fleck murders his mother. Why? Music helps us understand his emotional pain. But its absence during disturbing murders encourages us to pull away and consider his actions with a degree of detachment. Whether warmly classical or bleakly meditative, Oscar-worthy film scores can be the unsung heroes behind the viewer’s experience. By Michael Slowik, Assistant Professor of Film Studies, Wesleyan University. Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today.

New World Symphony (NWS) is hosting a range of virtual concerts, talks and more every week. Below is some of our favorites. The entire New World Symphony community thanks all of us for joining and the support. NWS EDUCATION CONCERTS NWS has s‌even free digital Education Concerts available on-demand. These thematic concerts introduce major orchestral works and composers to students. Each concert comes equipped with a study guide available for download. Click here to explore the archived concerts, each lasting 45-55 minutes. NWS TALK T‌UESDAYS WITH THE CURIOUS MUSICIAN Join NWS alumnus Mark Grisez for a live Instagram conversation on Tu‌esdays at 3:‌00 P‌M for discussions about making music, inner growth and what it means to be a musician in these times. This Tu‌esday he will be chatting with Zoë Madonna, music writer for the Boston Globe. NWS ARCHIVE+ This w‌eek's NWS Archive+ episode features works by Gershwin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Prokofiev. Joining MTT in conversation are NWS alumni Rachel Sandman and Kelton Koch. Click here to browse the past episodes and tune in this Th‌ursday for the newest episode in the series. NWS FELLOWS: LIVE FROM OUR LIVING ROOM Join us every F‌riday at 7‌:00 P‌M for Live from Our Living Room – produced and performed by our Fellows and webcast live via Facebook. Click here to browse the past episodes in the series. By Miami Living Staff, Photo by Gregory Reed

Fashion has always been a way of life for world-renowned fashion designer August Getty. In 2014, August premiered his 2015 Spring/Summer collection at the Mercedes-Benz fashion show in New York City during New York Fashion Week. Just one year later, he collaborated with David LaChappelle for his 2016 Spring/ Summer collection, “Thread of Man.” Flash-forward to this year, where he made his third appearance at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week debuting his Spring/Summer 2020 collection, “The White Hart.” At just 25, August’s distinct vision and support of inclusivity makes him one of the most sought-after designers in the fashion industry today. You may remember the founder of fashion house August Getty Atelier as the designer who dressed Bebe Rexha for Clive Davis’ pre-Grammys party or have seen his genius displayed on some of the fiercest fashionistas in the game, including Lady Gaga, Cher, Jennifer Lopez, and the Kardashians, to name a few. August is also paving the way for the next generation of designers and is a champion of LGBTQ+ rights and advancing the global fight against discrimination and prejudice. He spoke exclusively with Miami Living about “The White Hart,” his philanthropic involvement, and his love for Miami —read on to see what Miami hot-spots he recommends. Was fashion always the career path for you? When did you first realize this was what you wanted to be doing? August Getty: Fashion and I have been intertwined like DNA for a very long time. My mother tells me stories of how at the age of 3, I would take my napkin from the dinner table and wrap it around my silverware like a dress. I guess you could say, I never chose to be a designer, as it has always been a part of who I am. It has become something that I have fully embraced. How does it feel to be presenting at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week for a third time? AG: My Spring/Summer 2020 collection titled, “The White Hart” was my third couture presentation, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to be back. I feel exhilarated every day I’m there, and I am truly thankful. As a designer from Los Angeles, I hope to keep bringing my point of view but with the utmost respect of Parisian culture. I will never stop pushing boundaries, especially my own, and now I have Paris—a beautiful city with such a powerful history—to be the set of my stories. How do you prepare? AG: Mentally preparing for each show has become an art form in itself. Much like my process of searching for inspiration, I must be completely alone before my shows. Then I drown myself in every word, every picture, and every emotion that I went through and studied to create the piece. I must personify my muse, the Getty Girl, so I need to know everything she’s feeling. I have to become her, while holding onto myself, in order to eventually pull myself out of her world and back to the present. It is also important to prepare for after the show is over because it is a feeling like no other. Click below to launch slideshow > Tell us about your Spring/Summer 2020 collection, “The White Hart,” what were your inspirations? AG: “The White Hart” is a completely new idea and format and is different than anything I’ve ever done before. It is much more interactive. You step out of this world and into a sacred garden—a magical place of enchantment and rebirth, protected by a new race that bears no prejudice, only kindness. A place very much needed after my Fall/Winter 2019 collection, “ΣNIGMA.” Can you describe your creative process? AG: My creative process is a bit more unruly. I tend to think of my creativity as a river. When you swim down a river, you may want to turn left, but the river will always bring you to where it wants to go. I surround myself with inspiration—whether it be a movie, a time period, or a myth—and completely indulge myself in it. I create the story. For my previous collection, I was initially inspired by stories of an unspoken Venetian palace, where harm provokes all that look upon it. So I thought to myself, “Who lived there? Was it a woman? Did a man break her heart?” and then the collection unraveled itself to me. Don’t let anyone tell the story for you. When it comes to your dreams, never take “no” for an answer. You are philanthropic, what organizations do you work with? AG: Philanthropy is something I am incredibly passionate about. The love of giving back and helping others is something my mother instilled in me and my sister at a very young age, and it has only grown since then. Being an advocate for my community, the LGBTQ+ community, is not something I take lightly. I am currently involved with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, amfAR, GLAAD, and UNICEF NextGen. Every year, my family and I travel to Davos, Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum, which brings together the most influential leaders in politics, business, and other industries to try and improve the state of the world. Last year, my family and I brought GLAAD to our world leaders’ attention to amplify LGBTQ+ quality and inclusion on the world stage. All of these organizations are like family to us. We love them all very much, as well as the people they help. What are some of your favorite spots to visit in Miami? AG: I have always said… Los Angeles is where my family is, Paris is where my mind is, but my heart? My heart belongs to Miami. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, where I shot my Spring/Summer 2017 collection, “305,” is a huge inspiration behind the Getty Girl. I highly suggest taking a friend or walking through the gardens alone to dream up a little story of your own. Looking for a little break, a good mojito, and a show-like-no-other? Visit my chosen family, my sisters at Palace Bar on Ocean Drive. I promise you haven’t seen anything like this before, and make sure to say I sent you! Lastly, something I encourage everyone to do in Miami is to simply walk around. Breathe in the energy of the city. You’ll see why I’ve had a love affair with the city for so many years. What are three things that make you feel like your best self? AG: I feel my best when I don’t look back, only forward, when I spend time with my loved ones, playing with clothes and makeup, and creating our own little world. One more thing that probably keeps me the most sane is a good bath with a nice glass of red wine. Words by Briana Dodson. Images courtesy of August Getty. For more on August, visit https://www.augustgetty.com and follow him on Instagram at @AugustGetty and @AugustGettyAtelier.

Lisa Vidal can shake it, hit those high notes, and knows how to really throw a party, oh, and she’s starring in a hot new TV show. Read on for why everyone’s dying to hang out with the sassy actress. It’s the end of February. I am waiting for Lisa Vidal in the lounge of the W Atlanta hotel. The actress, known for her roles on hit TV shows, including Being Mary Jane, Rosewood, and ER, is running a little behind because of a makeup situation. A few minutes later, Lisa takes a seat next to me on the couch. The beautiful petite actress is dressed in a fuchsia snakeskin-print pant suit and black strappy heels. Her light brown tresses cascade around her shoulders in soft curls. And her makeup looks amazing and I tell her so. “Thank you. Oh my god. It’s hard when you’ve never worked with somebody. [This is her first time working with this makeup artist.] They don’t have a lot of time… I just got off a plane an hour ago, so... I’m so sorry to make you wait,” Lisa says genuinely. For the last five months, Lisa has been in San Juan, Puerto Rico filming ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty. “It was our last day of shooting yesterday. We shot until 9-ish and then went out to dinner with one of the executive producers to celebrate. Puerto Rico is beautiful. I’ve been doing this for forty years --don’t ask how old I am, even though it’s everywhere anyway.” She laughs. “But that was the best crew I’ve ever worked with. Amazing people. It was like being home with the family.” The Baker and the Beauty takes place in Miami and is based on the Israeli hit TV series by the same name. “We’re doing a Cuban-American version of it. Basically, it’s a sweet love story about this guy [Daniel, portrayed by Victor Rasuk] who is a baker, who comes from this very tight-knit Cuban family and his family is expecting him to take over the business. They’re very working class. And he kinda falls upon this gorgeous, amazing woman [Noa, portrayed by Nathalie Kelley] who is a big celebrity/fashion mogul and it’s just how he starts to fall in love with her and how those two worlds kinda collide.” While the show primarily focuses on this relationship, Lisa tells me that there is more than one beauty and more than one baker on the show. “We’ve got my other son who bakes. My husband is a baker. Then you have three other girls... There’s all these great intertwining stories. You’ll be cracking up and then you’ll be crying. It’s that kind of show,” she tells me about the 1-hour dramedy. “We shot the pilot and we knew it was magical. We’re like, ‘I think we’ve got something here.’ It’s a beautiful ensemble and you just really get to know these characters and fall in love with each one of them because they’re just so well-written.” I watched the pilot with my significant other and we’re both already hooked. As soon as Lisa read the script (suggested to her by friend Carlos Gómez, who had already landed the role of Rafael, the Garcia patriarch), she knew she wanted to be a part of the show. “I had already said no to two other things where I felt the script wasn’t very strong… but I read this script and I was like, This is the one. I was like, ‘God, I gotta get this.’ I just immediately connected with the character, the words were easy to say, it was well-written, and I knew Carlos was going to play the husband.” Lisa auditioned for the role of Mari, the matriarch of the Garcia family, and landed it. “She is a spitfire!” Lisa laughs. “She’s funny. She’s sassy. She’s definitely that warm mom, very protective of her children, very in love with her husband. They have quite a hot sex life still.” Lisa basically just described herself to a tee --both ladies also have three children and are happily married. Mari was a showgirl/singer in Cuba, who left that behind for a life with Rafeal in Miami, Lisa tells me. “There’s still a little bit of that in her though, her own dream. So she kinda sees that being played out in her kids and stuff… She’s still got it.” In the show’s trailer, Noa asks Daniel, “What do you want more than anything in the whole world?” Daniel replies, “I want what my parents have. It’s magic, the two of them. They make each other better.” Tell me about Rafael and Mari’s love. “It’s that unconditional love. That deep love where you’re with your best friend, someone you enjoy being with, someone you can laugh with, cry with, just have a bad day with and they still love you the same everyday.” Rafeal is “the silent, strong, stern Cuban father,” while Mari is the “fun sassafras” who keeps their relationship exciting. “To see this couple, who have been together forever, be romantic with each other and have fun… This is something different, which is nice.” Lisa knows a thing or two about creating a lasting, loving relationship; she has been with her husband Jay for 35 years. The two have three children (Scotty, Max, and Olivia) together. So, what’s the secret to a successful marriage? “A lot of laughter, a lot of compassion, unselfishness, and consideration. And allowing someone to drop the ball sometimes and not holding it against them every minute of the day,” she laughs. “Though, sometimes that’s hard. And being with your friend. You have to like the person and like being with the person. And keeping it exciting, that’s a big part of it, especially for the guys,” she laughs. “That’s it in a nutshell. I could go on for days.” You get a pretty good sense of Lisa’s personality from her Instagram page. The perky, family-loving, super-supportive actress loves to dance, and she doesn’t shy away from showing off her killer moves to her followers. When I mention that I’ve noticed this, she laughs. I know that Mari is a former showgirl, do you have any dance training? “I don’t have any dance training, except for my mother, grandmothers, and aunts in the living room. I love to dance. I am a singer.” Lisa used to sing professionally with a club date band. She treats me to a couple of verses of a song. Yep, she is the real deal. “I actually suggested that to the creator of the show, that Mari was a singer because Mateo, her son, is a rapper.” They plan to work her talent into the show’s storyline. Scroll a little further back on Lisa’s Instagram page, and you will find videos of her singing. And she can hit those high notes. Jay frequently records his wife doing her thing in the kitchen. “It’s hilarious. He’s always catching me in my kitchen. I put on my salsa music and I start dancing while I’m cooking and he’s like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to get this.’ And then we come up with a great video.” The videos where she is singing, cooking, and dancing are her followers’ favorite posts. “It’s like, ‘I just want to be in your kitchen with you right now.’ And I’m like, C’mon in! Let’s go,” she says with a big smile. Lisa loves cooking, especially Puerto Rican food and pasta dishes; however, she confesses that she is not much of a baker. “But, my kids think I’m Martha Stewart because I have a brownie thing I do with peanut butter cups and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, Mom, you’re amazing.’ And I’m like, ‘I know, right?’” She laughs. “It’s totally Betty Crocker, but they don’t have to know that.” Lisa and Jay love to entertain at their house and often host big parties with family and many of her long-time, industry friends. “It’s another side of Latino Hollywood, so to speak. We have a good time. He’s another fun person, my husband. They call him White Chocolate DJ because sometimes: You listen to that? He’s hilarious. He’s this Jewish boy from Brooklyn and he loves hip-hop --it’s hysterical.” Is he in the entertainment industry as well? “He is not. He wishes he could be, but I said, ‘Absolutely not!’” she jokes. Good times, positive vibes, and supporting others --that is what Lisa is all about. “I think it’s important that we support each other, especially in my Latino community of actors, but also African American.” Lisa feels that the most effective way to spread her positive message is to lead by example. The benevolent actress regularly praises and supports her friend’s projects with social media posts; I found her supporting friends and fellow actresses Taraji P. Henson, Roselyn Sánchez, and Gina Torres. The “lover of God and Life” (how she describes herself in her IG bio) also shares uplifting messages like, Let’s Take Care of Each Other. “This is what we should be doing for one another… Something to help someone’s self-esteem feel good. This is what I struggle with. I do this, it really helps. Try it. That kind of thing. And I just really feel like people respond nicely to that. They need that.” So, what’s next for Lisa? At the time of our interview, Lisa had plans to appear on an episode of her friend, Justina Machado’s show, One Day at a Time. “I’m very excited about that because she and I have not worked together, which is crazy.” And now that Lisa’s kids are all grown up, she would love to pursue her dream of performing on Broadway. “I’d like to work with Lin-Manuel [Miranda] on something one day. I’ve always wanted to do a Disney animated project and sing,” she laughs. “So, who knows?” MIAMI LOVE “My husband’s family lives in South Florida. Him and I lived there a short time when we were dating, and then his family moved out there permanently, so we go there a lot. I love Miami. We have fun there. We always go to South Beach. The beaches are beautiful. Get on a boat, go out on the ocean, The Keys --I love it.” WE WANT MORE! What would fans be surprised to find out about you? “I don’t know, it’s pretty much all out there,” she laughs. “Believe it or not, I think that because I did a lot of 1-hour dramas, people didn’t know that I could be funny.” Who are you listening to now? “Believe it or not, I’m listening to everything my daughter is listening to, she keeps me hip. So Billie Ellish. I love Lauren Daigle, who came out with that whole album. She’s introduced me to some of the Bad Bunny and some of that stuff, so it’s like, OK, wait a minute. Alright. I’m kinda like an old school girl. I like a lot of oldies. I just recently was listening to Gloria Estefan. Billie Holiday and all that kind of stuff. I’m even getting into a little country, Shania Twain. I listen to a lot of Patsy Cline. I kinda have an eclectic choice in music. And being in a club date band, you have to know a little bit of everything, because you never know what they’re going to want to hear.” What are you watching? “Oh my gosh, I’ve been watching a lot of stuff on Netflix... The Outsider. I watched Messiah. I’ve been catching up on my movies, too. I just saw Parasite. Amazing! And oh, my daughter, hilarious, she’s like, ‘Mommy, you have to watch Love is Blind. No judgment, Mommy. No judgement. Just watch.’ So I started watching it and I was like, People are talking in pods. They don’t see each other. They’re getting married. I was like, What the hell is going on? But then, I was tuning in. I’m almost done watching that. I love documentaries. Then of course, I watch Modern Family, Black-ish. I love those shows; I have friends in those shows.” Words by Vanessa Pascale • Photo Courtesy of ABC Keep up with Lisa on Instagram: @thereallisavidal and Twitter: @thelisavidal and don’t miss the premiere of The Baker and the Beauty on ABC, Monday, April 13th at 10 pm.

Starring brand ambassador Chris Lee, the renowned singer and actress, the new Gucci timepieces and jewelry campaign is inspired by Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele’s love of libraries and literature. Shot at Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome, which was established – and opened to the public – in 1701 by the Dominicans of the Convent of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, the campaign sees Chris Lee in the character of a book lover, wearing Gucci watches and jewelry. In images taken by photographer Colin Dodgson and art directed by Christopher Simmonds, the new campaign has Chris Lee display the House’s new watch and jewelry creations in the antique, book-lined interior of the Biblioteca Casanatense. The pictures capture Chris Lee among old, beautiful and leather-bound tomes that promise adventures for the imagination. For timepieces, Chris Lee presents a Gucci Grip with a yellow gold PVD case engraved with the GG motif, three windows (indicating hour, minute and date), and a yellow gold PVD bracelet. In another image she wears a G- Timeless Automatic with a steel case, a black onyx dial with a bee motif, and a steel bracelet. A third image showcases a G-Timeless with a yellow gold PVD case, a green-red-green House Web stripe nylon dial with an embroidered gold bee design, and a white calf leather strap. As for jewelry, she wears GG Running earrings in yellow gold and a ring in yellow gold with diamonds, and a Gucci Flora necklace with matching bracelet and rings in white gold with diamonds. Click below to view larger image > By Miami Living staff, Images courtesy of Gucci

For this Mother's Day, we bring you some memorable quotes from notable individuals. From the entire Miami Living team, we wish all moms a lot of love! “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.” Maya Angelou "My instinct is to protect my children from pain. But adversity is often the thing that gives us character and backbone. It's always been a struggle for me to back off and let my children go through difficult experiences." Nicole Kidman “There’s something really empowering about going, ‘Hell, I can do this! I can do this all!’ That’s the wonderful thing about mothers, you can because you must, and you just do.” Kate Winslet "Acceptance, tolerance, bravery, compassion. These are the things my mom taught me" Lady Gaga "My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it." Mark Twain "My mother, she is beautiful, softened at the edges, and tempered with a spine of steel. I want to grow old and be like her"- Jodi Picoult "Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love." Stevie Wonder “Motherhood puts you in your place, because it really forces you to address the issues that you claim to believe in—and if you can't stand up to those principles when you're raising a child, forget it." Diane Keaton "There's no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one." Jill Churchill "Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother."Oprah Winfrey "A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." Agatha Christie “My advice for new moms is this: You’ve never been a mom before, and your baby is new to this world. So be kind to yourself, and be patient. It takes time, but you’ll get the hang of it!” Hillary Clinton “You don’t know what to expect because it’s just completely, existentially out of anything that you’ve ever experienced before, and it’s quite indescribable.” Emily Blunt

My health conscious friends and colleagues tell me that they need an alternative to soda but plain water is too boring. They, like many people, are turning to sparkling water and flavored seltzer water. Carbonated waters are being promoted as the low-calorie or zero-calorie alternative to soda. In a 12-month period from August 2018 to August 2019, sales of sparkling water increased by 13% compared to the previous year. But is it really a healthy alternative? As a registered dietitian nutritionist, I get this question all the time. As with much of nutrition, the answer is not a clear yes or no. Researchers have studied sparkling water, though not extensively, for its effects on teeth, bones and digestion. Is it bad for you? Probably not. Is it good for you? Maybe. Is it better than soda? Definitely. Seltzer vs. soda Seltzer water is simply water infused with pressurized carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide creates the bubbles in fizzy water but also adds acidity to the beverages. Manufacturers also infuse many of these seltzers with the ever mysterious “natural flavors.” These are usually just chemicals extracted from plants or animals that add flavor without using sugar or adding many calories. Soda, specifically cola with its caffeine and phosphoric acid, eats away at teeth and bone. Soda, on the other hand, is carbonated water plus a sweetener such as cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Some sodas, in particular colas, also add phosphoric acid or citric acid for flavor and to act as a preservative as well as caffeine. The most well-studied risk posed by seltzer and soda are their potential effect on teeth and bones. In 2007, researchers soaked teeth in seltzer water for 30 minutes and found that the seltzer did start to erode the enamel. This isn’t great if you plan on soaking your teeth in seltzer or drink it all day. But researchers compared the erosive effects of seltzer to soda, coffee, energy drinks and diet cola and found seltzer to be the least harmful to teeth. While plain seltzer is better than more acidic sodas and coffee, in 2018, researchers looked at the potential risks of added artificial flavors in bottled water. They found that different additives produced varying levels of acidity, and like past studies, that acidity did cause some enamel erosion. The bottom line is that both plain and flavored sparkling water could have effects on your teeth after long exposures. The farther you go from plain water – whether that is with carbonation or flavoring – the worse for your teeth. Experts recommend that you drink bubbly water while eating food and avoid swishing it around your mouth to avoid the effects of acidity on your teeth. Another general concern people have about seltzer is that it might cause osteoporosis – a condition where bones get less dense and become fragile. In 2006, a team of researchers investigated this idea in a study that looked at 2,500 people and compared cola drinkers to people who drink other carbonated drinks without caffeine or phosphoric acid. They found that people who regularly drank colas were more likely to have some bone loss compared to those who did not. The scientists thought that the people consuming colas were also less likely to consume foods and drinks which helped build bone. People who drank seltzer or other carbonated beverages aside from cola didn’t have any of the bone density loss. Many people make carbonated water at home and add their own flavors. Unexpected benefits More recently, researchers have begun to investigate whether there are any potential health benefits of carbonated water, and there is some early but encouraging evidence. Two small randomized controlled studies with elderly patients showed that drinking seltzer water relieves constipation and stomach pain better than tap water. So is fizzy water healthy? Well, there isn’t much evidence that sparkling water is bad for you. If you are more likely to drink water when it is carbonated, there is not enough evidence to give it up. The acidity might harm your teeth if you drink a lot of it, but if the choice is between sugary, acidic soda and seltzer, choose the seltzer. Words by Rahel Mathews Assistant Professor, Nutrition, Mississippi State University. Image by Ryan Zi. Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today.

The new Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is located in Museum Park, part of the redeveloping downtown waterfront on Biscayne Bay. Its direct neighbours are the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science and a major freeway, connecting mainland Miami with Miami Beach. Simultaneously oriented towards the park, the water and the city, the new PAMM is an open and inviting structure from all sides alike. Miami is known for its iconic art deco district, decorated boxes with no great relationship and exchange between inside and outside. What makes Miami so extraordinary however, is its amazing climate, lush vegetation and cultural diversity. How can these assets be fully exploited and translated into architecture? Nature As in previous examples of our work, such as the Dominus Winery in Napa Valley, the building’s environmental circumstances become central to its architectural concept. Due to its proximity to the water, the museum is lifted off the ground for the art to be placed above storm surge level. We use the space underneath the building for open-air parking, exposed to light and fresh air thatcanalso handle storm-water runoff. Rising from the parking level, the stilts supporting the museum platform become columns supporting a shading canopy, which covers the entire site creating a veranda-like public space that welcomes visitors to the museum and the park. Facing the bay, a wide stair connects the platform to the waterfront promenade. In this exceptional location, we wanted the museum to offer generous views to the outside. Yet all the building’s expansive windows are recessed, with wooden planks under the concrete beams to minimize the sun’s impact on the glazing and to reduce the building’s energy consumption for cooling. Tropical plants selected for their resilience to the local conditions engulf the structural system. Roof and plants combined will create an overall microclimate reducing the extreme temperature gaps between outside and inside in the hot weather. The exterior surface of the museum’s massive concrete walls is chiseled in places and polished in others. When adjacent to the glazing, the concrete is smooth and reflective. When facing the outside, the concrete becomes rough, exposing its natural ingredients. Specificity The spaces at PAMM and their materiality are very specific. They can be considered an antithesis to the flexible, abstract white cubes that have been a dogma in most recently built art spaces. Concrete and wood are used in different combinations, reflecting the outside materials of the building. Typical drywalls are detailed in a way that they are legible as added to the main structure. In order to enhance the inside-out transition, we designed a customized concrete mullion system that holds the largest ever-used hurricane-proof glass in Florida. For more info visit ArchDaily, Perez Art Museum / Herzog & de Meuron

Choreographer and dancer Liony Garcia returns to the spotlight as we take an in-depth look at his practice! This past year, Liony’s standing-room-only performances of Corporeal Decorum, a whimsical interpretation of Art Deco architecture through movement and form, wowed the crowds and brought down the house. In this member-exclusive virtual program, relive the magic in the comfort of your own home (or experience it for the first time!) by watching streamed video of his boundary-pushing dance piece, then sit in on a Q&A with Liony himself to get inside the artist’s head. Corporeal Decorum is presented with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and Board of County Commissioners. Free and open to members; to become a member, join online | Email membership@thewolf.fiu.edu for Zoom link Wednesday, May 6, 6–7pm EDT via Zoom Members, this is for you! Re-watch Corporeal Decorum, a performance of Liony Garcia's Art Deco architecture-derived dance piece, then hear from the choreographer in a Q&A.

At the young age of 7, Elizabeth Greene, known to most as Lizzy, got her start in local theater at the suggestion of her music teacher. “I was a very confident and energetic kid. I used to play soccer and do gymnastics, and I’d make up little plays for my family. Theater seemed like it fit perfectly.” Five years later, the Texas-native landed an agent, and in 2014, she found herself in a starring role on Nickelodeon’s Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn playing Dawn Harper. “It’s a great network to be involved with. It was such a good point in my life. It was able to grow with me. People have no idea how much work goes into it. I have such a massive respect for the business and every person that’s giving 100% all the time,” says Lizzy. Lizzy had been living in Los Angeles for five years filming the Nickelodeon show, before experiencing her first pilot season, during which she landed the role of Sophie on ABC’s A Million Little Things. The hit TV show follows a tight-knit circle of friends in Boston who are shocked by a member of the group’s unexpected suicide. The friends realize that they need to finally start living life as they cope with the tragic loss. The show’s title is a reference to the adage, “Friendship isn’t a big thing –it’s a million little things.” Lizzy plays Sophie, the daughter of Delilah and Jon Dixon, the man who commits suicide in the show’s pilot. Last month, A Million Little Things’ Season 2 finale aired. “She’s an incredibly strong character who’s just gone through losing her father. She’s been through so much. She acts as the glue for the family. She’s tying up her laces and moving forward. She’s not too far from myself actually,” she laughs. “Stubborn and just wanting the best for everybody.” The 16-year-old actress just got her legal 18, meaning she can dedicate as many hours as she wants to acting. “I’ve been working for nine years, nine hours a day. So it’s something I’m really thankful to be able to continue doing. I love horror movies, gritty stuff. I’d love to be a female James Bond, Lara Croft or play in something supernatural. I love to work, so I’m open to everything,” says Lizzy. Lizzy is also passionate about her philanthropic work with the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention. She is currently filming a PSA-style clip for her Instagram that touches on encouraging youth to speak up and discover their stress methods. “It’s a phenomenal group to be with. I’m connected to them because they’re good with speaking to youth and breaking the stigma. They have absolutely amazing reach. Huge fan of charity work. I love giving back. I have fans that have grown up with me and I want them all to know that they are worth it. They should never have to experience going through this alone.” With much of the world implementing #StayHome because of the widespread COVID-19, Lizzy is taking this time to focus on a few things that she really loves doing. “I love to cook. Every Thanksgiving, I make these pumpkin chocolate chip muffins that are so delicious! I’m also really good at stir fry tofu and vegetables. But if there’s one thing I’m really looking forward to doing, it’s getting better at my art. I’m really passionately tied with art since I was little. Even acting reminds me how much I love it. For me, it’s a little escape. There are no rules or guidelines. You just get to do.” Side note, if you have an interest in art and have yet to discover Posca Pens, do yourself a favor and order some. Thanks, Lizzy! Words by Briana Dodson • Photo Credit: Lesley Bryce. Watch Lizzy in A Million Little Things on ABC, Thursdays at 9 p.m. and keep up with her on Instagram: lizzy_greene and Twitter: greene_lizzy.