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Italian shipyard Rossinavi has presented with a private ceremony in their facility of ViareggioEIV, a tailor-made superyacht commissioned by a private American owner that signals a major development for the yard. Previously known as Project Vector 50, EIV is a trideck luxury performance vessel entirely designed with the shipyard’s American client in mind. It is a fusion of Rossinavi’s expertise, Italian interior and exterior design by Venice-based studio Team for Design – Enrico Gobbi plus technological and mechanical components from the United States. Key components and mechanical features as well as the electrical system are made in the USA and US-standard since the vessel will be based in US and Caribbean waters. The attention to US standards is also applied to its ergonomic function and elegant interiors, a response to the clients’ desire and the growing interest in Rossinavi from the American market. “This boat is a step change for Rossinavi. With the increasing and significant interest the shipyard is receiving from the American market, we are constantly working to find ways to collaborate with American suppliers in the production of entirely tailor-made vessels. Following on from the success of the first member of the Vector family (a 63m launched in 2018) that was also delivered to an American owner, EIV boasts the same sportive appeal and features of her ‘older sister’ such as the shallow draft which is perfect for the Bahamas. Key elements are the swimming pool on the sundeck, the lift and five cabins including the owner’s master suite at bow,” says Federico Rossi, Chief Operating Officer of Rossinavi. Click to view larger image > A sport design project with the ergonomic space of a full-displacement yacht and world-class, EIV incorporates technical advancements including a shallow draft of just over two meters and perfect stability that allows it to cruise primarily in the Bahamas, the Caribbean and interior areas of South Florida waters. The unique elements that make EIV one of a kind include timeless elegance of its neat lines and balanced proportions that naturally connect to natural elements bearing stylish details. Inspired by elements of the automotive industry such as the air vent grills of a sport coupé, EIV boasts a well-proportioned and slender silhouette enriched by continuous glass surfaces. Despite its sleek volume, EIV embodies an impressively spacious interior layout that can accommodate up to an owner’s party of 8 in four generous double cabins, situated on the lower deck and each one with en-suite facilities. The full beam master suite is located at the front of the main deck and includes an intimate private terrace on the starboard side. EIV’s design ensures an ongoing dialogue between exterior and interior thanks to its floor-to-ceiling glass windows along the main deck. Portions of the glass slide open for a flood of natural light and for better enjoying the surroundings. The interior design is a thoughtful mix of contemporary and modern: bright and natural nuances of wood and fabrics cleverly combined with prestigious coating materials, such as onyx and leathers, and sophisticated details in bronzed brass metal. Custom carpentry details by Enrico Gobbi are combined with contemporary European furniture, decorative lighting art pieces and exclusive Italian-made fabrics; the impression is of a relaxed, welcoming, elegant interior with plenty of light. Most of the furniture has been personally designed by Enrico Gobbi and upholstered with high-end fabrics of leading international brands such as Hermès, Rubelli and Armani Casa. Class and energy, style and dynamism have been perfectly combined in the grand project that is groundbreaking. KEY FEATURES OF EIV Length overall: 48.80 m – 160 ft 1 in Moulded beam: 8.90 m – 29 ft 2 in Draught: 2.29 m – 7 ft 6 in Guest Cabins: 4 + 1 Crew Cabins: 4 + 1 Superstructure material: aluminium Hull material: aluminium Hull configuration: fast-displacement Main engines: 2x MTU 16V 2000 M96L – 1,939 kW @ 2,450 rpm Maximum speed: 19 kn Cruising speed: 15 kn Range: 3,600 nm @ 10 kn Gross Tonnage: < 500 GT Exterior Design: Team for Design – Enrico Gobbi Interior Design: Team for Design – Enrico Gobbi Naval Architecture: Arrabito Naval Architects By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Rossinavi

Your taste buds and aesthetics are missing out if you haven't experienced one of the following Miami's exquisite culinary destinations. These restaurants offer a pleasant scenic view and immaculate food nonetheless. Due to Covid-19, please be sure to contact the restaurant to learn about safety guidelines, hours and more. 1 - Malibu Farm For the exotic American food, vegetarian friendly cuisine and tons of delicious options "Malibu Farm" will give you an all & all dining experience in a serene and peaceful environment where you can enjoy sunrise & the sunsets right on the beach. Directly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, it is an ideal location for a memorable Sunday brunch. Reservations are highly recommended. Address: 4525 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140-3226 Telephone: +1 305-674-5579 Website: Malibu Farm 2 - Lido Bayside Grill It is delightful to savor authentic Japanese fusion and vegetarian friendly cuisine at Lido. Located at The Standard Hotel, The Lido Bayside Grill offers waterfront dining for breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts plus a weekly happy hour. Enjoy tasty vegan dishes including gluten free food, an extensive steamed selection of plates and expertly-grilled foods. A must-go place to dine with a gorgeous bay view. Address: 40 Island Ave The Standard Spa, Miami Beach, FL 33139-1355 Telephone: +1 786-245-0880 Website: Lido Bayside Grill 3 - La Mar by Gaston Acurio A chic waterfront place to eat traditional Peruvian and fusion fare food. Plus enjoy an energetic bar ideal for cocktails, ceviche & anticucho. Come to La Mar by Gaston Acurio to enjoy authentic and diverse flavors of Peruvian gastronomy with a dramatic water views of Biscayne Bay and Miami skyline. Address: 500 Brickell Key Dr Mandarin Oriental, Miami, FL 33131-2605 Telephone: +1 305-913-8358 Website: La Mar by Gaston Acurio 4 - Kiki On The River Kiki is ideal for lunch and dinner. Enjoy a modern take on Greek cuisine in a chic and classy environment. The waterfront setting offers traditional Greek cuisine, seafood, special salads and a wide range of grilled foods. Address: 450 NW North River Dr, Miami, FL 33128-1628 Telephone: +1 786-502-3243 Website: Kiki On The River 5 - Leynia Leynia sets inside the magical Delano Hotel serving upscale Argentinian fare with an Asian flare. It is an ideal venue for dinner and weekend brunch. Enjoy bottomless drinks, unlimited Maki selections, meat from the Parilla and the Jamon Station. Finish it off with a wide range of sweet and savory desserts. Address: 1685 Collins Ave South Beach, Miami Beach, FL 33139-3136 Telephone: +1 305-674-5752 Website: Leynia 6 - Sugar Sugar is a destination for pure authentic Asian flavors cuisine. Situated on the 40th floor rooftop of the EAST, Miami Hotel at Brickell City Centre, enjoy a hip scene offering Hong Kong inspired cocktails and tapas. High in the sky above urban downtown Miami, Sugar showcases local and international DJs for fun and memorable experience. Address: 788 Brickell Plz East Miami, Miami, FL 33131-3521 Tell: +1 786-805-4655 Website: Sugar 7 - Watr at the 1 Hotel Rooftop From dawn to dusk, it is an excellent choice for dinner, late night sitting and ideal for sunset cocktails. Situated on the roof top of the 1 Hotel, enjoy Latin and Japanese fusion cuisine made from local and organic ingredients. A must-visit restaurant offering a 360 degree view of South Beach including its beautiful ocean and breathtaking skyline. Lunch is only available for hotel guests between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Address: 2341 Collins Ave 1 Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, FL 33139-1608 Telephone: +1 305-604-6580 Website: The 1 Rooftop 8 - Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge Located on the banks of the Miami River, Seaspice Brasserie and Lounge sits in a post-industrial warehouse designed with a sophisticated nautical theme. The venue offers modern dining accommodations including a main dining room and bar, an exterior courtyard lounge, a luscious garden bar, a covered patio, and the Modern Garden. Enjoy top-notch seafood, signature wood-fired casseroles and specially crafted cocktails while enjoying Miami River's magical scenery including Miami's skyline. Address: 422 NW North River Dr, Miami, FL 33128 Telephone: +1 305-440-4200 Website: Seaspice Brasserie & Lounge 9 - Verde Located in the Pérez Art Museum Miami, Verde offers unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay. The modern casual restaurant offers locally inspired dishes made from seasonal ingredients, hand-crafted cocktails and more. Verde offers indoor and outdoor seating and features a coffee bar serving pastries, fresh juices and a wide range of cheese. Address: 1103 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132-1758 Telephone: +1 305-375-8282 Website: Verde 10 - Amara at Paraiso The waterfront venue fuses Latin American flavors along with South Florida’s diverse food culture. Executive Chef Michael Schwartz, the James Beard Award-winning restaurateur, overseas Amara delivering masterful dishes while overlooking Biscayne Bay. Choose from 4 dining areas including: Standard (inside table seating offering bay views), Outdoor (table seating covered terrace), Counter (stools located at the food bar overlooking the open kitchen) and High Tops (tables for two at the window next to the open kitchen). First come, first served areas with full menu available includes bar high tops, bar, terrace lounges and tables, and deck chairs by the water. Address: 3101 NE 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33137-4251 Telephone: +1 305-702-5528 Website: Amara at Paraiso Words By Sumbal Kuraishi, a Writing Maestro, Roll of Honor awarded, Founder of Modernfashionblog, Co-Founder of Designbolts and CEO of Fabnailartdesigns.

Miami City Ballet (MCB) offers a love letter to the community for the 2020-21 season which marks the 35th Anniversary season. It’s a celebration of South Florida’s vibrant and richly diverse arts and culture scene, and the audiences that have been there throughout the company’s remarkable 35-year journey. The season opens with three world-premieres by the innovative choreographers of today who will bring Miami’s bustling dance, music, fashion and visual arts scene together in a kaleidoscopic celebration of the Magic City. Thrilling repertory works honor the icons of choreography that propelled the company to international acclaim. And, the North American premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake – makes the 2020-21 season one that will surely unite South Floridians in a celebration of the beauty, strength, and abundant joy that is the heart of Miami City Ballet. Lourdes Lopez, MCB artistic director adds, “Throughout history, the arts have been the unifying glue that bond societies together. More than ever, this season celebrates our love and appreciation of you, the glue that has kept Miami City Ballet going for the past 35 years. The works presented here as part of our 35 th anniversary season illustrate the love, beauty, strength and resiliency that are a sheer reflection of the brilliant communities that have long inspired us and, have kept us moving throughout our journey. We look forward to performing an extraordinary season of dance filled with wonder, magic, joy and grace while unleashing our most powerful weapon: human potential.” 2020-21 35th Anniversary Season Programming and Dates subject to change Ablaze A sizzling line-up of collaborative world-premieres all created with the heart and soul of the Magic City and South Florida communities in mind. MCB School graduate Durante Verzola will debut a sensual new work featuring designs by Miami-raised international fashion designer, Esteban Cortázar (Ungaro, Net-a-Porter). The “skilled and sophisticated” (New York Times) Princess Grace award-winner Claudia Schreier will debut a sexy-cool contemporary work mixed with dynamic visual artistry, providing the perfect canvas for MCB dancers to show off their electrifying kineticism. And, the “supremely gifted” (Vanity Fair), Miami-born, Alvin-Ailey star Jamar Roberts and genre-defying composer Sam Hyken, the creative force behind Nu Deco Ensemble will premiere a powerful new work. Prodigal Son Three emotionally charged works by three distinguished choreographers that pushed the boundaries of what we expect from ballet. These masterpieces helped fortify MCB’s position as a trusted leader in performing master repertory works: George Balanchine’s dramatic tale of sin and redemption Prodigal Son; Paul Taylor’s sensuous tango wrapped in the modern dance idiom Piazzolla Caldera; and Jerome Robbins’ visually stunning tribute to New York City, Glass Pieces. Swan Lake Audiences will discover why “this Swan Lake has become the one by which all others are judged,” (The New York Times) when MCB presents the North American premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s full-length Swan Lake. The timeless and achingly beautiful ballet set to Tchaikovsky’s gorgeous score, has been beloved by audiences for over a century. For this Swan Lake, Ratmansky dug deep within the history of the fabled ballet, reconstructing some of the original choreography through extensive research and notations dating back to the 1895 Marius Petipa/Lev Ivanov production. More than 50 dancers will adorn the stage in exquisite detail to tell the story of Prince Siegfried, Princess Odette and her fellow spellbound swans, the evil Baron and impostor Odile. From a grand and gorgeous medieval court to the lakeside under a midnight moon, the romance of this stunning Swan Lake will set your heart alight. Afternoon of a Faun Two titans of 20th century dance: George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins come together in works that beautifully demonstrate the dancers’ technical virtuosity and joie de vivre that is at the heart of the company. The line-up includes two Balanchine masterpieces – the neo-classical showstopper Symphony in Three Movements, the seminal work that launched MCB’s reputation as leaders in performing master repertory works, alongside the lightning bolt of joy Ballo della Regina. Plus, Jerome Robbins’ minimalistic nod to the narcissism of youth, Afternoon of a Faun and the company premiere of the rarely seen, sublimely contemplative, ancient Greece inspired Antique Epigraphs, both set to music by Claude Debussy. These Robbins works complement each other perfectly in this program by legends of choreography. Of course, no season is complete without George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. Come see how the “magic happens” (Los Angeles Times) when the famed holiday spectacular visits Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach. Ticket Information Programming and Dates subject to change Full Series (4-program) subscription packages start at $108 and go on sale beginning Monday, March 23, 2020. Subscriber benefits include pre-sale privileges with best choice of seats, free ticket exchanges, up to 23% off regular ticket prices on the Full series packages, 15% off MCB School community classes and branded merchandise and more. Create Your Own Series packages are also available. See 3 or 4 performances flexibility in choice of dates and theaters. George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® is available for selection for a Create Your Own Series. Student and young professional special packages will also be made available in the Fall. Single tickets to the season will become available in August and announced at a later date. Current Miami City Ballet Subscribers may renew their preferred seats for the 2020/21 Season at miamicityballet.org/renew or call 305.929.7010. Any subscriptions may be purchased through the Miami City Ballet Box Office, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm: Online: miamicityballet.org/subscribe Phone or text: 305.929.7010 or Toll Free 877.929.7010 Mail: 2200 Liberty Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

Laissez les bons temps rouler! It’s Mardi Gras on the set of Harry Connick Jr.’s talk show, HARRY, today and the studio audience —who are proudly donning the feathered masquerade masks and colorful beaded necklaces provided— is ready to party. I can’t think of a better day to visit the New Orleans native’s show than when he’s filming his Fat Tuesday episode –can you? (Big thank you to Jessica, from HARRY, for making this all happen.) The purple-lit set is trimmed in Mardi Gras décor and its customary hues: purple, gold, and green, which represent justice, power, and faith, respectively. And there’s a whimsical two-storied, iron-balconied building façade behind the big band’s remarkable setup channeling the French Quarter. Then, the big band begins to play and out strolls Harry with the suave, affable confidence of a seasoned entertainer and we’re all smiling and dancing and clapping. It’s a party and we’re here to back it up. (“Back It Up” is the name of his new song, and is the dance Harry does.) Today’s guests are Girls’ Allison Williams, Tiny House Nation’s John Weisbarth and Zack Giffin, and Chef John Besh. Over the course of the 1-hour-long show, Harry smoothly transitions from host to singer to interviewer to piano player. He sings his song “Take Her to the Mardi Gras”; tosses the audience a couple of Crawfish Beignets during the cooking segment; climbs into an aerial hoop for the first time and backs it up in there; and ends the show with a marching band procession, in which he’s plays the bass drum. As a nice little New-Orleans-touch, HARRY sends the studio audience home with a beignet from Café du Monde and John Besh’s cookbook, Besh Big Easy:101 Home Cooked New Orleans Recipes. (The foodie in me is elated!) As soon as the show ends, Harry and I retreat to his dressing room. Outfitted in all-black athleisure wear for his aerial-hooping (a wardrobe change from the grey suit jacket and cobalt blue button-up he opened the show in), the award- winning entertainer seems a little less intimidating dressed casually. At least that’s what I tell myself as I awkwardly try to mirror the way he is sitting so we’re facing one another on the couch. (I’m in a dress and can’t bend my leg toward the back of the couch as easily.) I noticed that when I told family and friends that I’d be interviewing Harry, they each recognized him for something different: my father thinks of him as the renowned crooner; one of my girlfriends loves him for his Christmas music; another friend associates him with her favorite film, P.S. I Love You; and I know him best as Leo, Grace’s husband on Will & Grace. Regardless of what arena you know his work best, whether it be theater, film, TV or music, when you hear the name Harry Connick Jr., you immediately think of two words: extraordinarily talented. Now, as a man with his own show, airing five days a week, he has a platform that showcases and utilizes his grand scope of talent. He jams with fellow stars, playfully competes with guests, tries new things (his Harry Tries segment), highlights inspiring women (his Leading Ladies segment), samples exotic fare, backs it up... Here, viewers get to know the man behind the Blockbuster films and Billboard hits —they get to see Harry’s compassionate-silly-self- deprecating side. And who knew he had the greatest sense of humor? He is a jokester, who is constantly making faces and doing silly voices. And because of all this, we’re falling even more in love with him. Only seven months in, and the show has already been renewed for a second season and brought Harry his first Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Talk Show Host. HARRY picked up four Emmy nominations, too. So, how did the multi-hyphenate end up at the helm of a daytime talk show? “I wasn’t really interested in doing a talk show per se, but I wanted to do a show that combines all of the things I like –talking to people is one of those things. But I just felt like this might be a fun time to have my band play music [this is the same band he’s been touring with for years], perform, and have people on the show that are inspiring people. As an entertainer, I think that’s one of the things that I’m so lucky to try to do, is to try to help people. Try to brighten their day a little bit. So, it was a lot of reasons that sort of led me to it,” says Harry, who drives in from his home in Connecticut to film the nationally syndicated, Manhattan-based talk show. HARRY has been going strong since its premiere last September, which was kicked off with Harry’s Hope Floats costar Sandra Bullock. I tell Harry I’m a fan of Sandra’s and he assures me that she’s exactly what I’d hope. “She’s great. Very smart. Super down-to-earth. I mean, if you consider who she is and what that lifestyle is, meaning, y’know, in the public eye, one of the biggest movie stars in the world. I mean, she’s an everyday girl. She’s like you. She’s a normal, nice — it’s just a nice thing to see ’cause I think you would like that people you admire to be like that, and that’s what she’s like.” Even though he considers them “really good friends,” he seemed a little surprised, yet entirely gracious, that she made the effort to appear on his show. (Sandra is the only guest Harry has personally called up to invite onto the show. He prefers to leave the guest lineup to the show’s bookers since it’s a slippery slope.) “It’s a big commitment for somebody like her to say, ‘Yes, I will come to New York’ ’cause for her to move around is complicated — there’s a lot of people involved, so, I’ll never forget that.” What stands out to me most in this musing is Harry’s unassuming modesty. I concur that Sandra is one of the biggest movie stars in the world, but he is Harry Connick Jr. –an intimidatingly-accomplished man with three Grammys, two Grammys, two Tony nominations, over 28-million albums sold, and multiple Billboard chart-topping hits – of course she’ll appear on his show. With Harry, there is no trace of entitlement, he is the salt of the earth or what many of us deem “good people” –which, in my book, is the highest compliment one can receive. And I noticed that my sentiment is echoed by many who are close to him. “Good people, I think, raise good children,” Sandra remarked during her reunion with Harry’s daughter Georgia, while on his show. When Whoopi Goldberg was on HARRY, she gave this as the reason why she agreed to sing on his Christmas special years ago: “You’re one of the great people in the world, and I love you.” And if that isn’t testament enough, Google his family’s surprise appearance on HARRY, where daughters Kate and Georgia proudly call their dad their best friend. “He does everything for everyone else, he doesn’t care about anything done for himself,” said Georgia. Harry’s wife, Jill, and daughters, Georgia, Charlotte, and Kate, have appeared on HARRY a few times now– though there’s no pressure on them to do so, he tells me. “Any chance I have to be with them, I love to be with them, but I didn’t want it to be a formal, ‘I need you to do this, this, and this.’” They’ll come on for various segments, like when Cameron Dallas was a guest, he invited his two daughters on, who are big fans, to ask him some questions. “My wife Jill loves to cook and she’s a private person, but I said, ‘Jill, what would be the chances of you coming on and doing that recipe? She said, ‘Yeah, that would alright.’ So, it wasn’t something that we contracted them to do, but when the situations come up, it’s a lot of fun for all of us,” he says with a big smile. While researching Harry for this interview, I discovered that his wife is Jill Goodacre. As a huge Friends fan, her name immediately stood out, since she’s the former Victoria’s Secret model Chandler Bing was trapped with during the blackout. Excitedly, I tell Harry how I know her: Chandler repeats Jill’s full name a few times as he tries to discreetly brag to the other friends over the phone that he is trapped with her. “That’s right! ‘I’m trapped in an ATM vestibule...’” Harry impersonates Chandler’s muffled voice. “With Jill Goodacre!” I finish. Harry and Jill have been together for decades. I tell him I had read that he attributed their longevity to being best friends. “I think that’s No. 1. We love being with each other. We make each other laugh. We’re interested in each other’s lives.” Other keystones of their successful marriage include mutual respect and mutual interests. I love hearing about couples who have been together as long as you two have, especially since you don’t see that too often, I tell him. “It’s a really cool feeling.” He smiles. “Like, I used to wonder what it would be like to be with her when she was older. She’s not old, but, y’know, 27 years is a long time. In fact, it’s 27 years tomorrow. And now, I know what it’s like. We really love that. Not everybody is as lucky, quite frankly. People die and people fall out of love, and many things happen to contribute to those unfortunate circumstances. But so far, so good with Jill.” His mouth turns up into a big, genuine grin. The “pretty romantic” entertainer kept his surprise anniversary plans under wraps, though he assures me he’d have told me if it wasn’t the day before. He did reveal that he likes to impress Jill and writes her a song every couple of years to do so. Recently, he serenaded her on HARRY with “One Fine Thing,” a song he wrote her from his 2013 album, Every Man Should Know. “Jill kinda plays things close to the vest. Even though I know her so well, she’s still mysterious to me. I love doing things for her.” As Harry talks about his wife, his face lights up. He’s very open and indulges every inquiry. I am so engulfed in their love story that I forget my next question, and am a little upset with myself for allowing that. “Oh no, that’s alright,” Harry patiently reassures me. In real life, Harry is an adoring husband, but in TV land, Harry, I mean Dr. Leo, is a cheater –and this did not sit well with Will & Grace fans. The recognition that came with doing the Emmy award-winning TV show is what has surprised Harry the most in his career. “When I did Will & Grace [2002-2006], I knew the show was a hit. Like, if you’re in a movie or if you’re on a concert stage, there’s a distance, right? People recognize you, but they don’t necessarily come up to you... Like, if you see Tom Cruise walking down the street, most people will probably look at him from afar. But if you see Debra Messing [who played Grace] walking down the street, she’s in your living room.” Essentially, TV made Harry more approachable and people began to go up to him, but what he didn’t expect was their reaction to him. They were angered. How could you could break Grace’s heart and cheat on her? “I was like. ‘Oh, yeah. You know that’s fiction, right? But people, they buy into it.” SPOTLIGHTING LEADING LADIES As Harry was brainstorming ideas for his talk show, he came up with a segment called, Leading Ladies. Having been surrounded by amazing, powerful women all his life (“My mom, who was a judge; my sister who has been in the army for over thirty years, she’s a psychiatrist; my incredible wife, who is my best friend; my three daughters; my manager who is a Harvard Law graduate from Jamaica”), he wanted to create a platform that showcased inspiring women —from celebrities to your next-door neighbor— and how they’re making a difference in their community. “I’m very impressed with people who have done incredible things and I just wanted to have a venue to sort of show that stuff off.” When Debra was a guest on HARRY, she helped him set the record straight with a comical PSA. “He’s not really Dr. Leo Markus. He’s Harry freakin’ Connick freakin’ Jr. Please America, it’s time to let this go,” she quipped. Harry understands it though and recollects how when he met Lee Majors, from The Six Million Dollar Man —his favorite TV show as a kid, he didn’t know what to say since, “he had superpowers and I kinda believed. Y’know? People love to fanaticize and wonder what it’s like to be in these other realities, so I get it. So, people thought I was really cheating on Grace. That’s my friend, Debra.” He laughs. The other big surprise in his career came with the release of the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack –his album featuring soulful, jazz-spiked renditions of “It Had to Be You,” “Our Love is Here to Stay,” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” The album went double-platinum and garnered him his first Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance. “Prior to that I had done a couple of albums and they did OK. They sold 10,000 records, which was, for me, unbelievable. But then that came out and sold millions of records. And I just couldn’t get over that. That was when people started recognizing me, not only in the United States but all over the world. They would come up to me and say, ‘Oh, you’re that guy’ or ‘You’re Harry’ and I was like, Wow, that’s incredible. So, that was pretty surprising.” Four years earlier, Harry had just moved to New York at the age of 18 and was playing in clubs, trying to make a name for himself as a singer and piano player. Then, Rob Reiner asked him to do the soundtrack and his career took off. “Back then they didn’t have YouTube. They didn’t have 85 different ways to get your product out there. So, it was a very powerful way to become famous —so that was a trip.” He smiles. If Harry is sure about anything, it’s that he was meant to be a musician. At a very young age, Harry took an immediate liking to the piano. “I have memories of being 4 or 5 years old kinda plunking out notes on the piano. And I remember being fascinated with that. It was really cool that you could press these little things down and you could hear notes come out, a sound. And that’s just all that I wanted to do... I didn’t understand algebra, calculus, and psychics. My brain can’t compute. But music —not only the sound of it, but the way it works, the way it’s written, the way it looks— was something that I’ve always just had a natural inclination toward. I see everything through that lens. I mean, the way I play music and all of the decisions that I make as an actor, everything comes —it’s all the same brain.” You don’t get to this height of fame and success without a whole lot of heart, talent, and hard work. When I ask Harry what he thinks fans would be surprised to find out about him, he replies, “Maybe the amount of work that I put in to try to achieve what they see or hear. Like, you ever go to a symphony concert and you see all the violinists playing? Well, somebody has to write all those notes out. That’s what I do. I’ll write the words and the music...the notes for the orchestra to play and it takes a lot of time.” All the music performed on HARRY is written, arranged, and orchestrated by the venerable musician. Since I’m not well-versed in the difference between an arranger and orchestrator, Harry explains it to me using a hip-hop version of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” –making the sound of each instrument as he goes. “The orchestrator is the person who actually writes out the notes on the paper. The arranger is the person who comes up with how it’s going to sound. The orchestrator is the person who puts that into motion. Kinda like an architect designs the house, the builder builds the house. So, I’m the architect and the builder and I live in the house,” he says with a smile. How would those close to you describe you? “Probably as a hard worker. I work really, really a perfectionist but I’m not looking for perfection. But the path to trying to achieve that, is really important to me... It’s a great responsibility for me to go out in front of people and entertain them. I mean, that’s asking a lot of people to come in and watch my show here...so I want to make sure that they get the absolute best of whatever it is I’m trying to give them.” Is that how you see yourself? “I also think of myself as somebody who has a lot to learn and somebody who approaches everybody with respect: You. Somebody I meet in the elevator. My wife. Listen, man, life is too short to feel like you could go it alone. You can’t. There’s always something to learn from somebody and we all have something to offer. We’re all gifted. We’re all contributors and I enjoy that. I enjoy talking to you. You’re a professional. You’re a great conversationalist. You’re prepared. I enjoy that. I enjoy not trying to rush through things, but just sort of experiencing things as they come. I think of myself as somebody who is lucky to have my family and lucky to be alive and enjoying my life.” WE WANT MORE! Who has inspired your music? “Lots of people. Growing up in New Orleans, there were local musicians that you probably never heard of. Some you have, like Louis Armstrong and Professor Longhair and Neville Brothers, a lot of people from New Orleans that I love. And then there’s everybody else, like Freddie Mercury or Frank Sinatra or Judy Garland or Steve Perry in Journey. It’s countless, man.” Is there anyone you’ve met where you were like, Wow, I admire your work so much! “Oh sure! You know the band Queen? They did ‘We Are the Champions.’ The guitar player with Queen, his name is Brian May, he’s a legendary guitar player. When I met him, I was star stuck. Or Jimmy Page, who plays guitar with Led Zeppelin or when I met Frank Sinatra. These are people that changed the course of music. That’s incredible. Their contribution, actually, had they not been around, music would be in a different place. So, when you meet people like Frank Sinatra, it’s pretty intense.” I read about how you met Sinatra. Tell me about that story. “In a nutshell, he knew who I was, but it wasn’t like we were friends. So, he got into an elevator with his wife and I got on with Jill,’cause I saw them going on the elevator and I wanted to go talk to him. The elevator was going up and I said, ‘Hey Mr. Sinatra, I’m a big fan.’ Whatever I said, I can’t remember what I said. The elevator doors open on his floor, he’s about to get off and he didn’t say anything to me, but he looked at Jill, kinda held her face in his hands, said she was beautiful and kissed her right on the mouth and walked out. I’m like, OK.” We both laugh. He didn’t say anything to you? “Not a word. His wife did. She said, ‘Frank, this is Harry. He’s a singer.’ He didn’t care. He saw Jill. I don’t blame him. I would’ve done the same thing.” What is something material you can’t live without? “I love gadgets. I love my phone. I love my computer. I like playing games on my phone. And it’s also part of my work. On my computer, I’m able to write, watch things, listen to things. I’m a gadget freak. I like any kind of electronics –whatever’s the latest and greatest thing.” Words and interview by Vanessa Pascale. Images by NBC Universal/Heidi Gutman Be sure to tune into HARRY, check your local listings for specific times and channels, and keep up with Harry on Instagram and Twitter @HarryConnickJr, www.facebook. com/harryconnickjr, and www.harryconnickjr.com.

Florida Grand Opera will be holding its Summer program known as LOL or Live Opera Lab. This intensive two-week program will be offered in four separate sessions beginning June 22, 2020. The program will follow all CDC guidelines as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each session will have a maximum of only ten (10) participants and adhere to all safety precautions. The program is geared towards high school and undergraduate college students who are interested in and/or studying classical voice and are working towards pursuing a career in the performing arts. Two sessions will be dedicated to high school level and two will be focused on undergraduates. Participants will benefit from a wide variety of programs geared to enhance their knowledge of opera, voice, and performance. Sessions will include movement, acting, diction, a vocal forum, and character development to name a few. Instructors are members of the full time and seasonal artistic staff, and well as other performers and coaches. FGO's new Director of Education Luis Valenzuela said, “We are proud to be able to continue to inspire young singers and help them with the tools they need to succeed in the future. LOL 2020 offers a well-diversified program in a professional environment keeping our campers safe. By following the CDC guidance and considerations, we at FGO/LOL summer camp will be implementing precautionary measures to mitigate the potential spread of the virus.” Director of Artistic Administration, Mitch Roe, further explained the program. “These classes provide a holistic approach to the student’s journey of becoming an artist. Students will have classes specifically focused on how to study a story and classes training them how to listen to the nuances of singing. LOL also provides a daily emphasis on lessons, coachings, language, movement, and acting! Students will go back to school at the end of the summer more confident and refined. This is a two-week intensive program with an invaluable amount of one-on-one attention. It is a difficult time for aspiring artists to feel inspired and we want, in the best way we can, to continue to help them believe in and reach their dreams.” The program cost is $900 for the two-week intensive for the high school sessions and $1000 for the undergraduate sessions. Partial scholarships are available. Those interested can apply at www.fgo.org/education/Live-Opera-Lab or for more information contact 305.403.3308. By ML Staff. Courtesy of Florida Grand Opera

Music is a total brain stimulant, helping one with joy, entertainment, supporting quality of sleep, reducing stress, enhancing mood, giving psychological alertness and more. Either it be "All I Do Is Win" by DJ Khaled, “Bailando” by Enrique Iglesias or “Party Time” by Gloria Estafan, music has everything to offer as long as you are ready to have your mind invigorated. I am listing down the top Miami musically acclaimed artists whose’ music has been hitting the Miami waves and the world for decades. These popular Miami musicians and artists give us all a surge of inspiration. 1: Enrique Miguel Iglesias The "Rhythm Divine" singer, the King of Latin Pop, born in Spain, studied at 'University of Miami', became the biggest star in Latin America, surely he "Ring my bells", just like a "Hero". This best-selling Latin music artist is top-notch with sales' estimates of over 70 million records. His song "Move to Miami" is certainly dedicated to the lovers of Miami. 2: Pitbull (Rapper) "The international love", an American rapper, a singer, a dashing songwriter with his debut album M.I.A.M.I. was influenced by the Miami bass genre of pop music. This "I Know You Want Me" artist has been one of his kind rappers globally. His "On the Floor" stage performances are killer and he has sold over 7.5 million studio albums, over 100 million singles worldwide. 3: Camila Cabello The pretty young Cuban-American singer/songwriter, a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony, the "Señorita" singer topped the Billboard Hot 100, Cabello won many awards, including two Latin Grammy Awards, five American Music Awards, and one Billboard Music Award. When Cabello was five, she relocated to Miami, Florida, in the United States, with her mother. She is a big name belonging to Miami itself. The "Havana" artist is the hot crush of youth. She is totally "worth it", and has received three Grammy Award nominations as well. I am sure in these challenging times, she would suggest you to "work from home". 4: Jason Derulo Jason Joel Desrouleaux is an American singer, a songwriter, and a dancer who has sold over 30 million singles and has achieved eleven Platinum singles, including "Wiggle", "Talk Dirty", "In My Head", and "Whatcha Say". The Florida born “swalla la la” artist is a big name of Miami. This pop, hip hop and R&B guy did breathtaking performances and is unstoppable. 5: DJ Khaled Khaled Mohamed Khaled is among the world's highest-paid hip-hop artists. He is an American DJ, record executive and a songwriter who earned early popularity as a radio host in the 1990s on Miami hip hop station 99 Jamz. Since Miami is his hometown, he is making Miami a world renowned hot spot. The song "I'm on One" became his first top ten hit. He owns a waterfront home in Miami for $25.9 million. 6: Flo Rida (Rapper) Flo Rida's net worth is estimated to be roughly $30 million. He is an American rapper, singer and songwriter Carol City, Florida. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists. His hit and the most popular singles include "Right Round", "Club Can't Handle Me", "Good Feeling", "Wild Ones", "Whistle", "I Cry", "G.D.F.R." and "My House". 7: Ricky Martin The artist of the song “Maria” is a Puerto Rican pop musician, actor and author who has a net worth of $60 million dollars. He holds dual American and Spanish citizenship, Ricky Martin has become one of the best-selling Latin music artists of all time with over 70 million records worldwide. “She's All I Ever Had" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. "Livin' la Vida Loca" is Ricky Martin's biggest hit. 8: Gloria Estefan A Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman who started her career as the lead singer in the group Miami Latin Boys, which later became known as Miami Sound Machine. Many of her songs, such as "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You", "1-2-3", "Don't Wanna Lose You", "Get On Your Feet", "Here We Are", "Coming Out of the Dark", "Bad Boy", "Oye!", "Party Time" and a remake of "Turn the Beat Around" became international chart-topping hits. Gloria Estefan has won three Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Las Vegas Walk of Fame. She studied from the University of Miami and also worked as an English/Spanish/French translator at Miami International Airport Customs Department. 9: Sean Kingston Sean Kingston is an American-Jamaican singer, songwriter and a popular rapper. The “Eenie Meenie” singer has a net worth of $2 million. He is Miami, FL born and has been nominated for a handful of awards, including Best Reggae Video for "Back 2 Life (Live It Up)" at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards and Outstanding New Artist at the 2008 Image Awards. 10: Iggy Azalea Amethyst Amelia Kelly is an Australian rapper, singer, songwriter, model and music video director. At the age of 16, Azalea moved to the United States to pursue a career in music. When she first arrived in the United States in 2006, she stayed in Miami, Florida. Azalea earned public recognition after releasing the viral music videos for her songs "Pussy" and "Two Times" on YouTube. Azalea has sold 48 million records worldwide, with 22 million singles in the United States alone. Her accolades include 2 American Music Awards, 3 Billboard Music Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, a People's Choice Award, four Teen Choice Awards, and four Grammy Award nominations. Words By Sumbal Kuraishi, a Writing Maestro, Roll of Honor awarded, Founder of Modernfashionblog, Co-Founder of Designbolts and CEO of Fabnailartdesigns.

Have you ever heard of Velvet Denim? Denim is associated with being tough, rugged: the world’s most recognizable fabric. In contrast, velvet is luxurious, soft, and elegant. For DIESEL’s Fall 2019 collection, DIESEL has mashed the two fabrics together to create one mind-blowing, paradoxical, need-to-feel-to-believe hybrid: denim jeans that have the fabric hand of velvet. Available in three classic silhouettes for both men and women, this innovative textile is created by flocking denim fabric to create a velvet-like texture. The end result is a perfect transitional jean from late summer into the fall/winter season. Multiple color offerings are DIESEL’s autumnal answer for brightly-hued summertime jeans. Click to view larger image > To support this evolution in the brand’s product offering, DIESEL has launched the “FOR SOFTIES” campaign. Presenting two ideals: the perception of ‘hard’ such as tattooed bodies, and a snake draped over a model’s torso and the perception of ‘soft’, needlepoint, teddy bears, and throughout all, Velvet Denim. The fact that your outside appearance may deceive others with a wrong first impression, does not mean that you are a bad guy or girl. As the saying goes do not judge a book by its cover. DIESEL is where being unpredictable and full of contradictions is and will always be embraced, a philosophy which has powered the brand since the brand’s beginning over forty years ago. Always innovating, always challenging conventions, with denim at its heart. For more info visit DIESEL. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of DIESEL

SWARM and the Wynwood Business Improvement District (BID) announce the first-ever Wynwood Pride, set to take place in June, National LGBTQ Pride month. Wynwood Pride will include a range of neighborhood activations from panels on LGBTQ issues, film screenings, new mural installations, and more throughout June. The month-long celebration will culminate with the Wynwood Pride Music Festival on June 21- 23, showcasing local and international LGBTQ talent. “The Wynwood BID is proud to partner with SWARM in hosting the first-ever Wynwood Pride festival, honoring the LGBTQ community and adding to the BID’s diverse lineup of cultural programming,” said Albert Garcia, Wynwood BID Board Vice-Chairman. “We encourage the South Florida community to attend the numerous events during Wynwood Pride that will spotlight the contributions of the LGBTQ community in June.” Festivalgoers can look forward to a live concert series featuring: international headliner, drag-pop superstar PABLLO VITTAR, AJA, DORIAN ELECTRA, DJ CITIZEN JANE and CARMEN CARRERA as Host – with more talent being announced throughout the month. Additional programming includes drag shows, lip-synching battles, late-night DJs, large-scale art installations, voguing competitions and more. Inspired by the quality and richness of the Coachella festival, the Wynwood Pride Music Festival is set to be Miami’s very own “Queerchella!” The Festival will also feature a non-profit community village, spotlighting the Festival’s non-profit partners focused on work for LGBTQ Youth, Justice, and Health. The organization’s activations will include HIV testing, counseling information, wardrobe donations, family space, safe space, and more. “SWARM is thrilled to back the first-ever Wynwood Pride. It’s more than time for the cultural center of Miami to celebrate some of its most vibrant citizens and to do so in one of the most multicultural cities in America during Pride month is just perfect.” said Tony Albelo, SWARM CEO. “We are excited to welcome the City of Miami’s inaugural Wynwood Pride festival, taking place in a neighborhood that’s historically been home to people of all backgrounds,” said City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “We invite visitors from Miami’s LGBTQ community and beyond to join us in celebrating Wynwood Pride this June.” The Wynwood Pride Music Festival will be held at The Wynwood Marketplace located at 2250 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127 and is free and open to the public. Following are the dates and times for the Festival: Friday, June 21: 4pm – 3am Saturday, June 22: 12pm – 3am Sunday, June 23: 12pm – 10pm Key festival features and events include: Live Music Concert featuring International & Local Talent Community Outreach Village National (RuPaul’s Drag Race) & Local Drag Performances Family Zone (Drag Queen Story hour, face-painting, games, & more) LBGTQ Centered Programming Large scale Art & Fashion Installations Drag Brunch Vogueing Competition Film/Theatre Showcases Wellness Activations Wynwood Pride events will be held in June at various venues throughout the Wynwood Arts District to help inform, unite, and raise awareness of the LGBTQ resources, artists, and activists dedicated to improving our community’s lives. The Wynwood Pride Music Festival is produced by SWARM, in partnership with the Wynwood BID. To learn more about Wynwood Pride including the Wynwood Pride Music Festival and its schedule of events, participating businesses and special offers, please visit WynwoodPride.com and WynwoodMiami.com By ML Staff. Courtesy of Wynwood. Image by Capital Pride Alliance

Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) is pleased to announce the acquisition of eight artworks by artists represented by Miami-based galleries for the museum’s permanent collection, the largest number of works purchased by PAMM’s Collectors Council in a single session since its inception 15 years ago. The new artworks were purchased with $145,000 provided by PAMM’s Collectors Council, which specifically dedicated this round of funding to bolstering Miami’s arts ecosystem, taking into account the vital importance of supporting local artists and galleries while acknowledging the significant financial toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon Miami’s arts community. “As Miami’s flagship arts institution, PAMM must do what we can to shine a light on the city’s vibrant, multi-cultural community of artists and galleries who have been hit hard by the current crisis,” said PAMM Director Franklin Sirmans. “Our Collectors Council, made up of prominent Miami-based collectors, has purchased an impactful selection of works—the most ever in its 15 years of operation—which both supports the Miami arts community and bolsters our collection in a major way.” The new acquisitions include works by artists represented by Central Fine Gallery, Emerson-Dorsch Gallery, Nina Johnson Gallery, PRIMARY, Fredric Snitzer Gallery, Mindy Solomon Gallery, and Spinello Projects. Notable works from the acquisition include a large assemblage sculpture by Yanira Collado that testifies to the importance of artistic traditions in the preservation of cultural knowledge; an abstract-geometric painting by Kelley Johnson that creates striking optical effects; a flag featuring elaborate beadwork by Haitian artist Myrlande Constant, whose work blends Vodou myths with references to the contemporary moment; a painting by Conrad Egyir, who uses portraiture with text to create narrative paintings of Afro-diasporic figures; a soft sculpture consisting of an oversized bag of sugar by Lucia Hierro; and another large abstract work on canvas by Eamon Oré-Girón. “It would be hard to overstate the importance of our local art galleries to Miami’s cultural and economic well-being. We hope this gesture will inspire others to support these spaces (and others) during this challenging time. We are all in this together,” said René Morales, PAMM Director of Curatorial Affairs and Chief Curator. In addition to PAMM’s dedication to supporting Miami’s arts landscape during this crisis, these acquisitions further exemplify the museum’s commitment to diversifying its collection with artworks by underrepresented communities, including the U.S. Latino experience, the African diaspora, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The works purchased by PAMM’s Collectors Council: Untitled/sumando lineas (2019), a multimedia assemblage by Miami-based artist Yanira Collado that addresses the concept of restoration of cultural memory Exorcism (1994–2019), an adorned flag by Myrlande Constant, whose work blends Haitian Vodou myths with references to contemporary concerns Eros. Allegory of Love (2019), a painting by Conrad Egyir from a series inspired by the allegory of Eros, the Greek god of love Fet Chaloska (2005–2016), a work by Viktor El-Saieh included in a 2017 solo exhibition at Central Fine Gallery in Miami Beach, the result of extensive exploration of the sinister Haitian carnival figure Chaloska Can I Borrow a Cup of Sugar (2020), a large sculpture by Lucia Hierro that addresses sugar as a political, economic, and social object Untitled (2020), a painting by Kelley Johnson, whose work centers on abstract geometric motifs that create optical vibrations Infinite Regress LXXV (2019), a painting by Eamon Oré-Girón, whose work evokes a variety of references ranging from modernist architecture and design to “New Age” cosmic diagrams, traditional textiles, and Mesoamerican indigenous cultures Work on Felt (Variation 8) (2020), a musical sculpture by Naama Tsabar that can be activated as a live instrument in musical performances By ML Staff. Courtesy of PAAM. Art by Kelley Johnson

The second edition of Art Basel's Online Viewing Rooms will feature an international lineup of 279 leading galleries from 35 countries and territories. From June 19 to June 26, 2020, with preview days from June 17 to June 19, 2020, the second iteration of the Online Viewing Rooms will provide a platform to connect galleries with new and existing collectors worldwide during the COVID-19 crisis. Featuring premier galleries from Europe, North and South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, the June edition promises an extensive overview of the diverse art scenes across the world. 10 galleries will be showing with Art Basel for the very first time: Lars Friedrich from Berlin; Emalin and Union Pacific from London; Bridget Donahue, Yancey Richardson Gallery, and Queer Thoughts from New York City; Loevenbruck from Paris; LambdaLambdaLambda from Pristina; Hosfelt Gallery from San Francisco; and René Schmitt from Westoverledingen. For the full gallery list, please visit artbasel.com/viewing-rooms. Like Art Basel’s physical fairs, the second iteration of the Online Viewing Rooms will be structured into sectors, each with a particular focus. Sectors include: Galleries, the main sector showing painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, photography, video, and editioned works of the highest quality; Edition, dedicated to prints and multiples; Feature, showcasing curated presentations of works by 20th- and 21st-century artists; and Statements, focusing on emerging voices. While no digital platform can replace the experience of seeing art in real life, Art Basel's Online Viewing Rooms will provide an additional opportunity to stay connected across continents at a time when international travel is nearly impossible. For that reason, a digital events program will accompany the upcoming edition of Online Viewing Rooms. Details on the overall program will be shared in the coming weeks. The Online Viewing Rooms will be available via the Art Basel website under artbasel.com/viewing-rooms and the Art Basel App. By Art Basel

Scientists are constantly revealing newly discovered benefits of exercise. In experiments over the past 10 years, my research has found that exercise can help with a respiratory problem known as ARDS. ARDS is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs that prevents oxygen from reaching the organs. It has been reported in many COVID-19 patients. I am an exercise physiologist with training in medicine. More than 30 years ago, I gave up my career in general surgery in China and came to the U.S. to pursue a basic research career in molecular exercise physiology, as I was intrigued by the superb health benefits of regular exercise. Most recently I’ve been thinking about the potential impact of regular exercise in preventing this deadly complication of COVID-19. I have not done any experiments specifically around COVID-19, but my work with mice may inform other researchers exploring ways to protect people that suffer from ARDS. What is ARDS? A cause of death for 3%-17% of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is ARDS. COVID-19 patients with this dismal clinical complication have a mortality rate of greater than 50%. Specifically, ARDS can occur when viral infection of the cells in the lungs activates the immune system and attracts white blood cells to travel through the bloodstream to the lung tissue to fight off the viral infection. However, when too many white blood cells appear in the lung tissue at once, it can cause lung tissue damage. This is because they produce too much of damaging molecules called free radicals which break proteins, the cell membrane and DNA. As a consequence, the blood vessels in the lung become leaky, causing accumulation of the fluid in the lung tissue, and the air sacs of the lung fill up with fluid. This prevents those same air sacs, called alveoli, from filling with air, blocking oxygen in the air from getting into the blood. Patients die of oxygen deprivation. The cells that line our blood vessels are flat-shaped endothelial cells. One early step in this complicated ARDS disease process is the lining of the blood vessel becomes sticky to white blood cells by making sticky proteins on the cell surface, a phenomenon called endothelial cell activation. This triggers a vicious cycle; the greater endothelial cell activation, the more free radicals the white blood cells release. This in turn destroys the endothelial cells, making the blood vessel leak more and damages lung tissue. An exercise-induced antioxidant in our body More than 10 years ago, I started to study the protective role of exercise-induced antioxidant enzymes against loss of muscle size. My research has shown that endurance exercise promotes production of an antioxidant called extracellular superoxide dismutase (EcSOD) that breaks down the free radical superoxide outside of the cells. EcSOD is the only antioxidant enzyme that is secreted into the blood that reaches other vital organs and binds to the endothelial cells and other cells through a unique binding structure of the enzyme. This makes EcSOD unlike any supplemental antioxidant pill or food rich in antioxidants that we may consume. An oral antioxidant, once absorbed into the blood, does not target a given organ to provide protection, while EcSOD sticks to specific organs. When I first saw the evidence of increased EcSOD in skeletal muscle by aerobic exercise training, I was inspired to do an experiment in which I tested whether just increasing the amount of this enzyme through genetic engineering, instead of naturally through exercise, would provide protection from various diseases in which free radicals are known to play important roles, such as muscle atrophy and heart failure. EcSOD in protection against ARDS I engineered a mouse that produced more EcSOD in skeletal muscle than would the typical mouse to mimic the effects of aerobic exercise training. We obtained clear evidence that these mice were protected from muscle atrophy and diabetes-induced heart failure. I then artificially triggered ARDS in mice by injecting mice with a chemical produced by bacteria that are known to cause this condition. To my pleasant surprise, genetically engineered mice with higher concentrations of EcSOD in their blood were far more likely to survive the severe ARDS and multiple organ failure compared with a dismal mortality in the typical mice. This mimics the situation in intensive care where more than 80% of the patients die when they suffer from the failure of multiple organs, including ARDS. I then confirmed that indeed it was the EcSOD in the genetically engineered mice that provided the protection. When I performed an experiment in which a genetically engineered mouse shared blood with a normal mouse following a surgical procedure called parabiosis, or I took blood from a mouse with high EcSOD and transfused it into a normal mouse suffering from ARDS, the normal mouse had reduced severity of ARDS and clinical blood markers of multiple organ failure. Using various biochemical and imaging technologies, we saw the evidence of reduced endothelial cell activation and reduced protein, cell membrane and DNA damage caused by free radicals in the lung tissue. Learn from exercise These studies have provided proof-of-principle evidence that delivery of the EcSOD gene or protein to elevate the amount of EcSOD in the blood and vital organs may be an effective intervention for protection of the lungs and other vital organs against damages caused by ARDS and multiple organ failure. My findings in mice may inspire other researchers to come up with innovative ways to prevent and treat the deadly complication of COVID-19. For example, future studies may identify the exercise type, intensity and duration to optimally increase EcSOD levels in the lungs and other vital organs in humans to build up the defense against deadly complications of COVID-19 or other disease conditions. Of course, the findings may inspire research to foster pharmacological, protein and or gene therapies to treat COVID-19 patients with ARDS. The EcSOD antioxidant story is just one of many about the health benefits of exercise. I believe we can learn from exercise to develop effective therapies to treat ARDS caused by COVID-19 and other disease conditions. Words by Zhen Yan, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Virginia. Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is the epitome of class, style, and all that jazz. It’s late November, and I am waiting for Catherine Zeta-Jones in a room inside Facebook’s New York City headquarters when I realize that I am a tad nervous to meet the illustrious actress. A bonafide star, Catherine’s acting credits run the gamut, from romantic comedies and dramas to thrillers and musicals. She sings, dances, and acts (hello, triple threat!). And she’s Hollywood Royalty: the wife of Michael Douglas, the daughter-in-law of Kirk Douglas. Add to that the fact that she often portrays unapologetically bold women, whose piercing stare would cause anyone to recoil in fear (remember when she stabbed the table with a raw steak in No Reservations?!). So, can you really blame me for feeling slightly intimidated? The door opens, interrupting my thoughts. As I enter the next room, I am greeted with a jubilant, “C’mon in!” from Catherine. Her Welsh accent surprises me as I’ve become so accustomed to the American accent she often uses on screen. While taking a quick bite, she warns me that it may smell foodie in here. Catherine is dressed in a floor-length, fuschia dress, and has her signature long, dark hair styled in waves. Over the years, she has been lauded as one of the most beautiful and sexiest actresses around —a title that, I can attest, continues to hold true. As I sink into the banquette beside Catherine, I inconspicuously breathe a sigh of relief —elated to find that she is as lovely as she is gorgeous. I immediately tell her that I love Queen America —her new web TV series on Facebook Watch. “Yay!” she says enthusiastically and claps her hands. In Queen America, Catherine plays Vicki Ellis, the ruthless Oklahoma beauty pageant coach helping the adorably clueless Samantha Cole win the Miss America title. Catherine describes Vicki as complicated. “Aren’t we all? Some of us are very good at hiding it better than others. I think we’re all insecure, I think we wouldn’t be women if we didn’t have the ability to have all those different elements within us. We’re strong. We’re vulnerable. I’m a lioness around my kids if anyone... set in a world of fake perfection that we have to live in and my kids get bombarded by it. When I was a kid, if I wanted to get body shamed, I’d have to go to a store and buy a magazine and look at a supermodel and go, Mmm, I wish I looked like that. Now, it’s every second of the day. And that’s not even real perfection. There’s no real perfection —a lot of it you can buy an app to correct.” Queen America came along at the perfect time. Ultimately, Catherine was looking for a TV series that would allow her the time to really dive into a multifaceted character. “I was like, THIS is it. I have to get my ass down to Atlanta, Georgia now! I just felt that I could have a lot of fun with this woman, who on the surface looks like she’s ruthless...but as the series goes on, you find out it’s not all what you see, the river runs much deeper... And Meaghan Oppenheimer, our creator and writer, just found wonderful relationships within the whole piece, in a world that looks very stereotypical and could be stereotypical, she found very grounded characters and I just fell in love with it.” Having grown up a competitive dancer, Catherine understands the pageant world, now, much more than ever. Born in Swansea in Wales, Catherine began her career in musical theatre at a young age. Even as a child, she did all that she could to grow and succeed in entertainment: working tirelessly on her craft and competing in talent shows that awarded her the money needed to get her to London. “I was 10 when I did Annie in the West End of London. I was 14 when I played Tallulah in Bugsy Malone in the West End. Then, I left school at 15 to be in The Pajama Game to get my work permit, and then I was in 42nd Street for 3 years. And then, I decided to do film and television after that. So it’s all I’ve known, and I know how hard it can be and I know the sacrifices that I had to make to fulfill a dream.” Her mastering of choreography, singing, dancing, and acting coupled with the discipline learned early on has helped her excel in a career that has called for her to expertly wield a sword (The Mask of Zorro), adroitly and sexily slink through a laser security system (Entrapment), and sing and dance well enough to garner an Academy Award (Chicago). Time and time again, Catherine has demonstrated that her talent knows no bounds. All of her hard work has translated into an impressive portfolio of blockbuster hits and over fifty awards and nominations, including an Academy Award, a Tony, SAG awards, and two Golden Globe nominations. And even though being an actor means dealing with a great deal of rejection, and myriad trials and tribulations, Catherine and Michael’s 18-year-old son, Dylan, and 15-year-old daughter, Carys, still want to follow in their parents’ footsteps. Dylan (who is currently in college and will likely major in history or politics) and Carys (who, at the time of our interview, had just landed the lead role in her high school play) have been honing their acting skills in drama camp every summer since they were kids. “Michael and I look at them, and go, ‘Mmm, they’re just good.’ If they weren’t, we would so happily guide them in a different direction, y’know? We both had amazing careers and great lives. We met each other in this business. The reason why they’re born is because of this business... They understand that it’s not sunglasses and autographs. They know the work. They know how sad you can get —even at careers like Michael and I— if things don’t work out or how hard it is to get good things made... So, after all that, they still want to do that.” What sort of advice do you give them? “Well, do it! Because it’s very clear to me that it’s an inherent passion... I have my kids on a very long leash, so I’ve never told them that they couldn’t do anything, so I’m certainly not going to start now.” A chameleon on screen, Catherine can just as easily portray a needy, diva, like in America’s Sweethearts as she can depict a cutthroat drug kingpin in Cocaine Godmother. I especially love her in No Reservations, where she plays a serious chef who takes in her niece, played by Abigail Breslin, after her sister is killed in a car accident. “A lot of people love No Reservations! It was kind of a little movie and it had legs. So many people saw it after it opened and go, ‘I love that movie.’ People just like food, but it’s a fun movie. Me too, I love that. One of my favorites, of course, Chicago, because I got the chance to do that on film. I love Traffic, I got to work with my husband, but I wasn’t in a scene with him. We got to promote a movie together —I was very fond of Traffic.” Catherine would love to do more comedy, a genre she’s comfortable in when it’s written well. “I can’t even tell a joke, I forget the punchline. The idea of doing stand-up comedy, for me, is probably a recurring nightmare that will never ever, ever go away. Acting comedically, I really enjoy. I loved working with Billy Crystal and Johnny Cusack in America’s Sweethearts. We were cracking up all the time.” She also relishes diving deep into her emotions and pushing herself further than she thought possible, which she can explore in dramatic roles. “I’m lucky that I started in theatre...I know what it means to do the same show for two years with different audiences, eight times a week. It’s challenging and it’s really, really rewarding. So, it’s all one of the same really —finding the truth in the character.” Catherine is now at a point in her life where she’d rather stay home and sew than work with unsavory people. “This is not brain surgery...this is making entertainment, and I don’t want to be around [that], and I have been in the past, early on in my career. People are just plain mean and make you sad. So, for me, now, I’m only working with great people who have no attitude and who want to work as hard as me to get it done and have no ego —that’s it,” she says matter-of-factly. Her passion for sewing and home decor informed her latest venture: Casa Zeta-Jones. A self-proclaimed “frustrated interior designer and architect,” Catherine has also been channeling her creative energy into decorating her homes and sewing curtains, a skill inherited from her mother and great-grandmother, who were seamstresses. “Basically it’s like, I don’t want to take that job with those a-holes and those egomaniacs, what am I going to do?” One day, while watching Shark Tank —as she always does— she thought, Who would be my shark? She concluded it would be FUBU founder Daymond John, so she phoned him with her proposition. Since the two had never spoken or met before, Daymond initially assumed she was calling to invite him to a party, she tells me. “Two years later, I have a brand and he’s my business partner. It’s a lot of work, but I just love it. It’s like a hobby that went viral.” Casa Zeta-Jones, which is available on QVC, boasts luxurious, vintage-inspired, home decor —bedding, pillows, rugs— as well as pretty pajama sets and robes. Of all the rooms Catherine has decorated in her Bedford, New York mansion, her favorite is their cavernous, Moroccan-inspired family room — appointed with decadent fabrics and loads of pillows piled atop two huge Chinese daybeds. Perfect for entertaining, the room has a big big-screen TV, piano, and karaoke machine. “I lie in there on a Sunday and read a bit, nap a bit with one of my throws. When my house is full, with all my family from Wales and Michael’s family, my nieces and my nephews, we all congregate there before dinner and then after dinner.” This November, Catherine and Michael will celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary. The secret to their successful marriage, Catherine tells me, is being kind, tolerant, and forgiving of one another. “First of all, we spend so much time going, ‘Thank you’ to total strangers. ‘Thank you so much. Oh, I appreciate it. You’re so sweet.’ And then you go home and are like, Mehh! to the person you love more than anything else in the world. So that’s a bit of mantra for us. It’s like, OK, leave that all out there, come in, and just be kind to each other. And he’s my best friend, y’know? Through thick and thin. I lucked out, he’s a very special person.” What do you admire most about Michael? “He’s a good citizen of the planet. A lot of egos in the acting world, and there’s a lot of people we don’t see outside their bubble in this world, but he looks outside the bubble. He’s really concerned with what’s going on out there. He’s philanthropic. He’s thoughtful. Great friend. He’s loyal. His loyalty to other people and his loyalty to the planet and what’s good, what’s right —that’s what I admire more than anything,” she replies fondly. Catherine truly believes that the two of them, who met at the 1998 Deauville Film Festival in France, were destined to be together. “I do believe in destiny. I probably would’ve met him at some film festival in my life, y’know? Look, all the odds seemed to be against us. Ugh, it will never last [all the naysayers said]. Well, it did,” she says with a smile. She also believes in compatibility based off astrology —Catherine and Michael share the same birthday, September 25th. “25 years apart! People are starting to forget that. God damn men!” she quips with a smile. “Sometimes we look at each other and it’s like we know, kinda, what the other is thinking. I totally believe in that. There is an alignment of where you are born and I don’t know whether it’s the date or...I don’t know, but for sure.” Their handwriting is even similar. “I’ve been in New York or he’s been in L.A. working and we’re both in different hotels and we’re both having room service and we both order the same thing: beet salad and something. I just ordered beet salad. Really? Me too.” While the couple have tried to work together on screen, nothing has panned out yet. “It’s always a bit weird when you’re married to somebody, it takes the movie magic out of it, I think. They certainly don’t want us kissing on screen. It’s like, ‘Eww, go home to do that. I’m not paying to see that!’ The idea of us wanting to kill each other, like Kathleen Turner and him in War of the Roses, that makes sense. That’s fun. People like that. They go, ‘Oh my god, those guys are crazy together!’" WE WANT MORE! What film was the most challenging for you? “Film? One I didn’t like, but I’m not going to say, just because people were mean to me on it. That was a long, long time ago and well forgotten. I think the challenging one physically had to be Chicago because of the workload or the dancing. It wasn’t like going on stage and doing it once, right? It was like three days of four different camera angles. So, the stamina of that. But the pure joy of it completely... I’d do it all over again. Oh my god...I loved it.” Any plans to do more theatre? “I’m actually meeting a theatre director at my house on Saturday about something. It just has to be the right thing... And this particular piece I’m talking about would actually open in London, then come to Broadway —I’d be going home. But I have a 15-year-old daughter who doesn’t really want me to go away for 6 months. It’s a huge commitment for me because of my family. If I was single, oh yeah, I wouldn’t care. I’d be doing it straight away, but I have responsibilities... It all comes down to: What is it that’s so special that would make me do that...and commit to something so wholeheartedly? It has to be something good. So, we’ll see.” What do you think people would be surprised to find out about you? “A lot like our show actually, is that people always think, ‘Oh, she’s just together, successful, and pretty...’ and I’m just a regular woman. I’ve got all the insecurities that every woman has. I’m just like you. I’m very down-to- earth. I’m a Welsh girl who happened to work really hard and make good. But I feel very humble that the work that I had to put in to get here. It was never handed to me. People think, ‘Oh, she swans around in kimonos and mules. She has her hair and makeup done every morning and every night.’ I really don’t. And I think that’s the beauty of how close I am to my family. We’re very, very close because we’re pretty real. And Kirk Douglas —Spartacus! We’re a regular family, so that’s it. I’m heading back to my family now.” Interview and words by Vanessa Pascale. Images by John Russo. Follow Catherine on Instagram and Facebook @CatherineZetaJones and follow Casa Zeta-Jones on Instagram @casazetajones · casazetajones.com Don’t miss Queen America on Facebook Watch now, a free video-on-demand service operated by Facebook and accessible when you log in to your account.