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A new era of human spaceflight is set to begin as American astronauts once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley flew on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 3:22 p.m. EDT May 30, from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, for an extended stay at the space station for the Demo-2 mission. The specific duration of the mission is to be determined. As the final flight test for SpaceX, this mission validates the company’s crew transportation system, including the launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, and operational capabilities. This also was be the first time NASA astronauts tested the spacecraft systems in orbit. Robert Behnken Behnken is the joint operations commander for the mission, responsible for activities such as rendezvous, docking and undocking, as well as Demo-2 activities while the spacecraft is docked to the space station. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000 and has completed two space shuttle flights. Behnken flew STS-123 in March 2008 and STS-130 in February 2010, and he performed three spacewalks during each mission. Born in St. Anne, Missouri, he has bachelor’s degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Washington University and earned a master’s and doctorate in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology. Before joining NASA, Behnken was a flight test engineer with the U.S. Air Force. Douglas Hurley Hurley is the spacecraft commander for Demo-2, responsible for activities such as launch, landing and recovery. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000 and has completed two spaceflights. Hurley served as pilot and lead robotics operator for both STS‐127 in July 2009 and STS‐135, the final space shuttle mission, in July 2011. The New York native was born in Endicott but considers Apalachin his hometown. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Tulane University in Louisiana and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Maryland. Before joining NASA, he was a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. Lifting off from Launch Pad 39A atop a specially instrumented Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon accelerated its two passengers to approximately 17,000 mph and put it on an intercept course with the International Space Station. Once in orbit, the crew and SpaceX mission control verified the spacecraft is performing as intended by testing the environmental control system, the displays and control system and the maneuvering thrusters, among other things. The Crew Dragon was also in position to rendezvous and dock with the space station. The spacecraft is designed to do this autonomously but astronauts aboard the spacecraft and the station will be diligently monitoring approach and docking and can take control of the spacecraft if necessary. After successfully docking, Behnken and Hurley were welcomed aboard station and became members of the Expedition 63 crew. They will perform tests on Crew Dragon in addition to conducting research and other tasks with the space station crew. Although the Crew Dragon being used for this flight test can stay in orbit about 110 days, the specific mission duration will be determined once on station based on the readiness of the next commercial crew launch. The operational Crew Dragon spacecraft will be capable of staying in orbit for at least 210 days as a NASA requirement. Upon conclusion of the mission, Crew Dragon will autonomously undock with the two astronauts on board, depart the space station and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Upon splashdown just off Florida’s Atlantic Coast, the crew will be picked up at sea by SpaceX’s Go Navigator recovery vessel and return to Cape Canaveral. The Demo-2 mission will be the final major step before NASA’s Commercial Crew Program certifies Crew Dragon for operational, long-duration missions to the space station. This certification and regular operation of Crew Dragon will enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place onboard the station, which benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars starting with the agency’s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface in 2024. Words and images by NASA. Gif courtesy of KeokeN

A new era of human spaceflight is set to begin as American astronauts once again launch on an American rocket from American soil to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley flew on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 3:22 p.m. EDT May 30, from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, for an extended stay at the space station for the Demo-2 mission. The specific duration of the mission is to be determined. As the final flight test for SpaceX, this mission validates the company’s crew transportation system, including the launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, and operational capabilities. This also was be the first time NASA astronauts tested the spacecraft systems in orbit. Robert Behnken Behnken is the joint operations commander for the mission, responsible for activities such as rendezvous, docking and undocking, as well as Demo-2 activities while the spacecraft is docked to the space station. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000 and has completed two space shuttle flights. Behnken flew STS-123 in March 2008 and STS-130 in February 2010, and he performed three spacewalks during each mission. Born in St. Anne, Missouri, he has bachelor’s degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Washington University and earned a master’s and doctorate in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology. Before joining NASA, Behnken was a flight test engineer with the U.S. Air Force. Douglas Hurley Hurley is the spacecraft commander for Demo-2, responsible for activities such as launch, landing and recovery. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000 and has completed two spaceflights. Hurley served as pilot and lead robotics operator for both STS‐127 in July 2009 and STS‐135, the final space shuttle mission, in July 2011. The New York native was born in Endicott but considers Apalachin his hometown. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Tulane University in Louisiana and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Maryland. Before joining NASA, he was a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. Lifting off from Launch Pad 39A atop a specially instrumented Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon accelerated its two passengers to approximately 17,000 mph and put it on an intercept course with the International Space Station. Once in orbit, the crew and SpaceX mission control verified the spacecraft is performing as intended by testing the environmental control system, the displays and control system and the maneuvering thrusters, among other things. The Crew Dragon was also in position to rendezvous and dock with the space station. The spacecraft is designed to do this autonomously but astronauts aboard the spacecraft and the station will be diligently monitoring approach and docking and can take control of the spacecraft if necessary. After successfully docking, Behnken and Hurley were welcomed aboard station and became members of the Expedition 63 crew. They will perform tests on Crew Dragon in addition to conducting research and other tasks with the space station crew. Although the Crew Dragon being used for this flight test can stay in orbit about 110 days, the specific mission duration will be determined once on station based on the readiness of the next commercial crew launch. The operational Crew Dragon spacecraft will be capable of staying in orbit for at least 210 days as a NASA requirement. Upon conclusion of the mission, Crew Dragon will autonomously undock with the two astronauts on board, depart the space station and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Upon splashdown just off Florida’s Atlantic Coast, the crew will be picked up at sea by SpaceX’s Go Navigator recovery vessel and return to Cape Canaveral. The Demo-2 mission will be the final major step before NASA’s Commercial Crew Program certifies Crew Dragon for operational, long-duration missions to the space station. This certification and regular operation of Crew Dragon will enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place onboard the station, which benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars starting with the agency’s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and the next man on the lunar surface in 2024. Words and images by NASA. Gif courtesy of KeokeN

Lady Gaga just dropped her sixth studio album, and Little Monsters, as her fans are called could not be more ready. Chromatica is star-studded, with features from Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK, and Elton John. The 16 track album focuses on the world of Chromatica, where “time and distance do not exist”, as Gaga penned in a tweet earlier this week. Upcoming Chromatica Livestreams Twitter listening party on Friday, May 29th Link: https://twitter.com/ladygaga The full tracklisting: Chromatica I Alice Stupid Love Rain On Me with Ariana Grande Free Woman Fun Tonight Chromatica II 911 Plastic Doll Sour Candy with BLACKPINK Enigma Replay Chromatica III Sine From Above with Elton John 1000 Doves Babylon Image courtesy of Live Nation

Did you know June 3rd is recognized as International World Bicycle Day? The United Nations declared this day as a way to recognize the importance of biking and its huge physical benefits and joy it bring us all. Lets all celebrate International World Bicycle Day right here in Miami this Wednesday! Take out your bike and head out to the streets. If you don't own a bike, just rent one at any of CitiBike's stations -- one of the easiest ways to get a bike around Miami. CitiBike is available at dozens of stations in numerous neighborhoods including South Beach, Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Downtown, Wynwood, Surfside and Bal Harbour. Why celebrate the bicycle? Regular physical activity of moderate intensity – such as walking, cycling, or doing sports – has significant benefits for health. At all ages, the benefits of being physically active outweigh potential harm, for example through accidents. Some physical activity is better than none. By becoming more active throughout the day in relatively simple ways, people can quite easily achieve the recommended activity levels. The mobility needs of people who walk and cycle – often the majority of citizens in a city – continue to be overlooked, states Share the Road Programme Annual Report 2018, even though the benefits of investing in pedestrians and cyclists can save lives, help protect the environment and support poverty reduction. Meeting the needs of people who walk and cycle continues to be a critical part of the mobility solution for helping cities de-couple population growth from increased emissions, and to improve air quality and road safety. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), safe infrastructure for walking and cycling is also a pathway for achieving greater health equity. For the poorest urban sector, who often cannot afford private vehicles, walking and cycling can provide a form of transport while reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, diabetes, and even death. Accordingly, improved active transport is not only healthy; it is also equitable and cost-effective. The bicycle is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation; The bicycle can serve as a tool for development and as a means not just of transportation but also of access to education, health care and sport; The synergy between the bicycle and the user fosters creativity and social engagement and gives the user an immediate awareness of the local environment; The bicycle is a symbol of sustainable transportation and conveys a positive message to foster sustainable consumption and production, and has a positive impact on climate. Background Acknowledging the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health, the General Assembly decided to declare 3 June World Bicycle Day. It encouraged stakeholders to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace. The Assembly welcomed initiatives to organize bicycle rides at the national and local levels as a means of strengthening physical and mental health and well-being and developing a culture of cycling in society. World Bicycle Day Encourages Member States to devote particular attention to the bicycle in cross-cutting development strategies and to include the bicycle in international, regional, national and subnational development policies and programmes; Encourages Member States to improve road safety and integrate it into sustainable mobility and transport infrastructure planning and design, in particular through policies and measures to actively protect and promote pedestrian safety and cycling mobility, with a view to broader health outcomes, particularly the prevention of injuries and non-communicable diseases; Encourages stakeholders to emphasize and advance the use of the bicycle as a means of fostering sustainable development, strengthening education, including physical education, for children and young people, promoting health, preventing disease, promoting tolerance, mutual understanding and respect and facilitating social inclusion and a culture of peace; Encourages Member States to adopt best practices and means to promote the bicycle among all members of society, and in this regard welcomes initiatives to organize bicycle rides at the national and local levels as a means of strengthening physical and mental health and well-being and developing a culture of cycling in society. By ML Staff. Courtesy of UN. Gif image courtesy of gifbin

Ricky Martin released the first phase of his albumPAUSA, as part of a two-part release. The EP features collaborations with multiple artists including Bad Bunny, Residente, and Farruko to name a few. Tracks include “Recuerdo”, a unique romantic ballad that Martin describes as a “touch of fresh air” to “Cántalo”, a collaborative track and rendition of an era of salsa from the 70’s. Martin released the first single and music video off the EP, “Tiburones”, earlier this month. Watch the video below: PAUSA “Simple” with Sting “Recuerdo” with Carla Morrison “Cae de Una” with Pedro Capó “Quiéreme” with Diego El Cigala “Tiburones” “Cántalo” with Residente & Bad Bunny By Live Nation

Recently, Tom Ford has thrust in some chic and celebratory ‘Graduation boxes’ for Graduation Day. What a lovely way to make young graduates feel special during these challenging times! The graduation box is an ideal gift to celebrate the warm sentiments, smiles, confetti and graduation celebrations. Make this graduation a cherishing experience for your loved ones by presenting them with this special graduation gift set. Visit Tom Ford's Miami boutique located at 103 NE 39th St, Miami, FL 33137. Telephone: (786) 749-2600 The Black Orchid Luxe Gift Set includes: 1. BLACK ORCHID 50ML 2. SABRINA SUNGLASSES IN BLACK 3. PERFORATED LEATHER T TWIST CAMERA BAG IN BLACK 4. PADLOCK LEATHER BRACELET IN BLACK The package is sold as a set, with exclusive product badge. For other exclusive gift sets, don’t forget to visit www.tomford.com Words By Sumbal Kuraishi, a Writing Maestro, Roll of Honor awarded, Founder of Modernfashionblog, Co-Founder of Designbolts and CEO of Fabnailartdesigns.

Tiffany & Co. is storied brand beloved by many, including Hollywood starlets who are constantly seen wearing Tiffany designs on the red carpet. 77th Golden Globe Awards Charlize Theron, Michelle Williams, and Billy Porter shined in sustainably sourced Tiffany & Co. diamonds at the 77th Golden Globe Awards. Best Actress in a Drama nominee Charlize Theron appeared on the red carpet in an exquisite Tiffany & Co. High Jewelry Collection Fall 2020 necklace. Actor Billy Porter wearing a Tiffany & Co. pendant in platinum with a pear-shaped diamond of over 11 carats, a Tiffany diamond dragonfly brooch, and Tiffany rings at the 77th Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles. Donning Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger® Ribbon Fan earrings, nominee for The Morning Show Reese Witherspoon complemented her look with a bracelet inspired by the waning pattern of the lunar cycle, in which Tiffany artisans deconstructed the heart and star motifs and re-created them with baguette and round brilliant diamonds. Actress Reese Witherspoon wearing Tiffany & Co. diamonds and gold cuff at the 77th Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles. Nominated for her performance in Knives Out, actress Ana de Armas’ red carpet look featured a striking necklace with 19 pear-shaped sapphires of over 101 total carats and princess-cut diamonds of over 6 total carats. She complemented her look with mesmerizing pear-shaped diamond earrings of over 24 total carats, paired with Tiffany diamond stud earrings, and a tanzanite ring of over 18 carats. Actress Ana de Armas shined in Tiffany & Co. diamond earrings and a sapphire necklace of over 101 total carats the 77th Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles. Pose nominee Billy Porter dominated the red carpet in a scintillating Tiffany diamond pendant featuring a significant pear-shaped diamond of over 11 carats and round brilliant diamonds of over 31 total carats. Porter completed his look with a Tiffany dragonfly brooch and a selection of Tiffany T rings. 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Bombshell Female Leading Actor nominee Charlize Theron was joined by Big Little Lies nominees Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz in Tiffany & Co. on the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® red carpet. Charlize Theron dazzled in $4 million worth of Tiffany diamonds, including stunning Tiffany diamond earrings of over 11 carats paired with exquisite Tiffany diamond bracelets and rings, with a Tiffany Victoria® bracelet in her hair. 73rd British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTA Awards) Leading actress nominee Charlize Theron stunned at the BAFTA® Awards red carpet in a dazzling high jewelry choker from Tiffany & Co.’s new Tiffany T1 collection, launching April 2020. Theron complemented the choker with a selection of Tiffany earrings and rings. Leading Actress nominee Charlize Theron debuts a diamond choker from Tiffany & Co.’s new Tiffany T1 collection, launching in April 2020, at the 2020 BAFTA® Awards in London, UK. After stunning on the BAFTA® Awards red carpet in Tiffany & Co.’s new Tiffany T1 collection, Charlize Theron kept the dazzling Tiffany T1 high jewelry choker on as she headed to the British Vogue and Tiffany & Co. celebration of fashion and film party at Annabel’s. Irina Shayk sparkled in Tiffany & Co. diamonds. Co-host Irina Shayk at the Vogue and Tiffany & Co. Fashion and Film party at Annabel’s in London, UK. 92nd Annual Academy Awards Best Actress nominee Charlize Theron walked the 92nd Academy Awards red carpet in a stunning Tiffany High Jewelry Collection Fall 2020 necklace, featuring a mesmerizing D color, internally flawless marquise diamond of over 21 carats. Theron’s necklace is valued at over $5,000,000 and includes an astounding 165 dazzling Tiffany diamonds in total. She completed her look with Tiffany diamond studs and band rings. Presenter Gal Gadot exuded glamour in the Tiffany Clara necklace, featuring over 76 total carats of Tiffany diamonds and valued at over $2,000,000. Gadot’s necklace took Tiffany’s master artisans almost two years to create and culminates in a sensational oval diamond of over 11 carats. Gadot complemented her look with radiant Tiffany diamond earrings and a Tiffany diamond ring of over 9 carats. Model and actress Camila Morrone dazzled in over 46 total carats of Tiffany & Co. diamonds at the 92nd Academy Awards®. Morrone arrived on the red carpet wearing a platinum necklace from the Extraordinary Tiffany High Jewelry Collection Spring 2020. Model and actress Camila Morrone dazzled in Tiffany diamonds on the 92nd Academy Awards® red carpet. Tiffany & Co. is located at Miami Design District Address: 114 NE 39th St, Miami, FL 33137 Phone:(305) 428-1390 By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

Thrive Philanthropy is showcasing its 2020 Connect Summit, a two day virtual event called Thrive Philanthropy's Connect Summit in order to explore the key interconnected drivers of change, the various ways of giving and the impact that technology has on philanthropy. The virtual Connect Summit will be held on June 23-24 and is designed as a platform where questions raised will help organizations make more informed decisions about the future. The event will feature the who’s who in the non-profit and philanthropy circuit, including keynote speakers who include Matthew McConaughey, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, George and Amal Clooney, Ashton Kutcher, Charlize Theron, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Camilla Alves, and Julie Cordua, and are joined by industry panelists including Cotopaxi’s Annie Agle, Walt Disney Company’s Elissa Margolis, Patagonia’s Cara Chacon, Ben & Jerry’s Dave Raport, Hilton Foundation’s Shaheen Kassim Lakha, UN Foundation’s Kathy Calvin, MacArthur Foundation’s Dana Rice, Obama Foundation’s David Simas, Novo Foundation’s Jennifer and Peter Buffett, CMA Foundation’s Tiffany Kerns and The Rockefeller Foundation’s Dr. Rajiv J. Shah. KEY TOPICS Why Nonprofits Will Matter In America’s Next Chapter More Than Ever What the future of giving back will look like The future of sustainable and impact investing ( pre-recorded panel with the heads of sustainable and impact investing for Glenmede, Morgan Stanley, Boston Consulting Group and Lazard Asset management) How to lead a business with purpose How philanthropists and ultra high net worth individuals can drive innovation with new avenues for social good The two-day Connect Summit is Thrive Philanthropy’s virtual conference uniting humanitarians, advocates and visionaries to educate, enlighten, and engage on the most crucial and urgent global issues.  Attendees will have access to influential innovators in philanthropy virtually and learn how they can implement unique strategies to drive more impactful programming, fundraising strategies and advocacy. Those interested in attending can learn more by visiting: connectsummit

Born of a revolutionary bloodline to activist filmmaker, Melvin Van Peebles, you could say that Mario Van Peebles was born to make films that nudge our social consciousness and encourage us to answer questions we hadn’t thought to ask. An actor, director and writer, Mario Van Peebles’ first foray into acting was playing a younger version of his father Melvin’s character, Sweetback, in the senior Van Peebles’ most notable film, 1971’s Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song. Baadasssss Song pioneered a new era of African-American cinema throughout the 1970s. It was this small role in his father’s groundbreaking film that set the stage for Mario’s life and career. He would continue to be driven to add to his father’s earlier legacy with films that push audiences out of their comfort zone and question social and societal boundaries. One theme that run through much of Mario Van Peebles’ work is the assertion that we all have the right to be fully recognized human beings, but more provocatively, how do we react when we feel that right has been infringed upon? Some might call Van Peebles an iconoclast, coming for long cherished, yet often potentially destructive social norms and institutions, while remaining inherently likeable to his fans. The secret, he says, is in the characters he writes, directs and sometimes portrays; they are complex portraits that make us look at the gray areas of life while being entertained. As a filmmaker, he has an endless fascination with American culture, with all of its bumps and bruises. And as he states, "America is often referred to as ‘the melting pot.’ If you take immigrants from all over the world with different beliefs and bring them together you get conflict and sparks, but from that cultural [suffuse], you also get great music and art.” In his latest independent film, Armed, written, directed and starring Van Peebles, he plays a former U.S. Marshall who has fallen on hard times after he led his team of under-cover agents on a raid that went horribly wrong. Now, suffering from PTSD and other mental health issues, as well as a somewhat warped sense of reality, he must navigate life as a civilian while desperately trying to regain some former glory and recognition. Armed aims to portray the complexities of human nature and questions the publicly floated theory that “a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun.” Van Peebles’ character, Chief, was one of the good guys in his career as a U.S. Marshall. Still armed with a collection of guns, he now struggles with mental illness; a potentially combustible combination. The questions that this film asks are topical and obvious, but the conclusions are not, which is what makes Armed an interesting watch. Interview and words by Allison Kugel Allison Kugel: I’m going to lead with a comment that your character, Chief, makes at the end of your new film, Armed; “We’re all born into this world looking for love, and sometimes we settle for attention.” That statement is profound and ties into our culture’s current obsession with social media. What’s your take on that? Mario Van Peebles: It’s understanding the ego and its need to experience itself. The ego doesn’t like being invisible. It can’t handle that, and so we need recognition on some level. Also, as pack animals we need recognition, because we need to have a designation within the pack or we don’t survive. A great white shark doesn’t need recognition, it just needs to eat (laughs). But a wolf… is it the beta wolf, is it the alpha wolf? It needs to know what its role is within the pack. Social norms and structure play a big part when you’re a pack animal. For example, if a kid can’t get recognized for being an A student, he’ll settle for being recognized as a disruptor, or the class clown, or the athlete, or even as the cutter. The bigger thing, of course, is to be loved. That’s the ultimate high. But when we can’t get that, we settle for some sort of attention. Now, with social media, people are creating these faux-lifestyle commercials that are not really them. There’s a Drake lyric where he says, “I know a girl happily married ‘til she puts down her phone.” The pictures you take, those Snapchats you take, are capturing these created or staged moments. Allison Kugel: How do you connect that statement to the mass shootings that are happening with increased frequency? Mario Van Peebles: The people that seem to commit them are often referred to as loners, and people that didn’t fit in; people who wanted a sense of importance that they didn’t feel. Part of it, I think, is that we have evolved rather quickly, socially speaking. I’m in New York right now, and I’m on the eighth floor. Someone above me is on the ninth floor, and someone below me is on the seventh floor. We’re not really designed to live like this, where we’re stacked up on top of each other. Cities are these artificial social constructs. Our bodies are pretty much the same as when we were in Egypt, or maybe when we were in chains. But socially we’ve evolved very quickly. As pack animals, as hunter gatherers, we do well in groups of maybe fifty, or even a hundred. Beyond that, we divide into sub-groups. We want to be in groups where everyone knows our name, where we are not nameless. When you live in a city and you suddenly are around whole groups of people who don’t know your name, you can be surrounded by folks and yet have feel very lonely and disassociated. Allison Kugel: You’ve come up with a catch phrase, “Make America Think Again,” an obvious retort to Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again.” What inspired it? Mario Van Peebles: Even before [Trump] put that slogan out there, I wanted to make films that made people think. There are three loves in life: love what you do, love and enjoy the people you do it with, and love what you say with what you do. If I can make people think while they consume art, maybe they’ll think when they’re ordering their food, or when they’re picking out what car to drive, or maybe, even when they’re voting. I’m intrigued by the relationship between the art we watch and how we vote. My film will hopefully make people discern, “Oh wow! We all have some good guy and some bad guy within us.” “A good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun,” is a very reductive way of looking at the world. The reality of human beings is much more complex. I’ve always wanted to make films that make people think, so it was just natural to say, “Let’s Make America Think Again.” Allison Kugel: Human beings are very complex. Personally speaking, I am the first to say that I’m not a good candidate to be a gun owner. I’m a very passionate person, an emotionally driven person, and I had a temper in my past. I think those of us that are in the arts tend to experience some high highs and low lows; it’s how we are able to create. But I know that because I feel things so deeply, there have been times I may not have been in the best state of mind. So, I have always said that I never want to own a gun. Mario Van Peebles: I have never ever heard anyone say that. That is awesome that you’re aware of it, and that says a lot about where you are in your life, emotionally. But you’re able to make a good living doing what you love, as am I. To some degree, the system works for us. It’s much easier when the system works for you, to be in that emotional state to even analyze yourself on that level. Allison Kugel: It requires having the luxury of time to get to know yourself, and to develop that consciousness… Mario Van Peebles: And perspective, correct. You’re not just hustling hand-to-mouth, trying to feed your baby, buy pampers, and figure out how to avoid the drug dealer down the street. Allison Kugel: I’ve heard so many people say that putting your own money into a film is the worst investment one could make. You even wrote in your director’s statement, “The golden rule is he who has the gold makes the rule. The other [golden] rule is he who uses his own gold to finance a film is a knuckle head or has the last name Van Peebles.” (Laughs) Are you in it simply for the social impact, or is this film also a business venture for you? Mario Van Peebles: It is for me, as well as one of my sons (Mandela Van Peebles). He took the money he made from Roots, and that’s why his name is [in the credits] as Executive Producer. He liked the idea of Armed, and I think he’s going to get a pretty good return. I’ve done it before, and it is a risk, but it’s a calculated risk. I can’t think of anything better to do with it other than paying for education and travel. I don’t want more clothes. I have one hybrid car and the air conditioner is broken (laughs). I’m laughing, but I’m serious. I will eventually get another car. But what do I want to look back on when I’m an old fart? I want to do the movies I want to do. And like I said in my director’s statement, you can’t make Supersize Me if you’re going to take McDonald’s money. All the movies lately with casts of color, and there are some wonderful movies out now, but they’re all race-centric. My movie, Armed, is not race-centric; it has nothing to do with race, and yet it’s a multiracial cast. Click to view larger image > Allison Kugel: I’ve noticed that you tend to sway more societal than racial with your messaging. Mario Van Peebles: If you look at my film Baadasssss!, the same day that Baadasssss! came out, the movie Soul Plane came out. Baadasssss! is about my dad and his film, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971). The LA Times wrote that these two movies came out on the same day; Soul Plane was made for $16 million by a big studio with a predominantly African American cast, and the premise was that black people running an airline is laughable. It’s a message of disempowerment. Baadasssss!, made for $1 million in 18 days by an independent filmmaker, says that the idea of people of all colors coming together and making a hit movie that changed the complexion of Hollywood is a possibility, and it’s a fact, and it’s a real story and a message of empowerment across color lines. I couldn’t have made that impact within the system. Allison Kugel: You have to value your own soul to make those kinds of decisions; that has to be worth something to you. It’s hard to find sometimes in certain industries, but I have no doubt that it does exist. I’m talking to it right now. Mario Van Peebles: Sometimes you find it in people who don’t look like you. They don’t have the same beliefs as you; they’re white, they’re black, they’re gay, straight, male, female, all of it. If you’re open to that smorgasbord of humanity and you make it a welcoming place, then you learn. And boy do you learn quickly when you’re working with people. Allison Kugel: The first time I became aware of you was in the early nineties, with the film New Jack City, in 1991. New Jack City was a social and political commentary on the crack epidemic, and it was a very profitable film. Throughout your career, the roles you’ve played in front of the camera, and the films you’ve made, have all had social and societal messages, beyond their entertainment value. Do you ever like to take on a role or become involved with a project just for entertainment’s sake? Mario Van Peebles: I could probably talk myself into it by saying, “Well, I could do this slant on this character, which would make it interesting.” I was in Jaws: The Revenge (1987), and I found a way to have fun with that. Part of the fun is finding other ways to enlarge the story or the experience. So, absolutely! But I find ways of making it work for myself and enriching it. That’s a lot of fun to do. Allison Kugel: With this film, Armed, do you fear the echo chamber effect, where people that are on the left and proponents of gun control laws are going to be responsive, while people on the right who are very pro-Second Amendment aren’t going to be interested at all? Mario Van Peebles: I think if you are absolutely committed to a position, then you will be committed to it with or without this film. If I make a documentary about [guns], then yes, that absolutely is the case. We don’t tend to learn informationally; we learn behaviorally. If you make something entertaining and you play against type it tends to grab people’s attention. People are used to seeing me playing a character that is heroic. In Armed I’m playing against type. With this character, you’re kind of waiting for him to get it together, and you’re rooting for this guy. You’re in this guy’s skin, and then when it goes sideways, you’re still right there with him. It makes you feel like, “I enjoyed being there and still wanted him to win, but I was super conflicted.” The moral of this film is, can I put myself into the skin of someone who is kind of a ticking timebomb? Good film takes you in, just like good religion takes you in. Bad religion is exclusionary and says, “You can’t come in because you’re different. You mentioned New Jack City. It’s the same thing with Chris Rock’s character in New Jack City. How many gangster films make the crime seem victimless? In New Jack City, it’s not just the good cops and the villains or gangsters. You also have Chris Rock, who’s a victim of the crack epidemic. When audiences watched “the victim” in that film, I had kids in the first screening of New Jack City stand up and yell at the screen, “Just Say No Motherf*cker!” When you get kids to react against drugs in a gangster movie, wow! With this new film, Armed, I can try to get people inside the head of a guy who loves to be recognized, who would settle for attention, and who realizes he might not be a good candidate to be a gun owner. Allison Kugel: What do you think you are on this earth to learn, and what are you here to teach? Mario Van Peebles: That’s a great question. For my birthday, I had my kids record answers to some questions I asked them. I gave them six questions and that was one of them. I guess I want to stay old enough to be a great teacher and remain young enough to be a badass dude. I always want to be okay with saying, “I don’t know.” If you fill a glass with water, you can’t put milk in it because it’s already filled up with water. You’ve got to be willing to not be full to take new things in. Allison Kugel: Which goes back to our earlier conversation about remaining open to information that may not fit your current narrative… Mario Van Peebles: That’s why I always want to remain open to learning new things. If the world needed green, I think I would try to find a way to bring in some green. If the world needed more yellow, then I would try to find that. Each of my kids is different and it has made me be a different dad to each one of them. It’s been interesting to learn that parenting is not one size fits all. Right now, the world needs an elevated consciousness and a sense of the we. My kids recently asked me, “You mean if all the kids all over the world refused to fight, there would be no more war? And if they listened to us there’d be no more prejudice? It would stop in one generation?” Sometimes what I’m here to learn, I learn through my kids. The basis of all of this is to just be kind. Be kind to the planet, be kind to yourself, be kind to your neighbor. It sounds corny, but that’s at the essence of it all. Photo Credits: Mario Van Peebles, GVN Releasing, MVP Armed, written, directed by and starring Mario Van Peebles, is out in theaters, on digital platforms and VOD. Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, and author of the book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com. For more info visit https://natu-real.com

As the Miami Design District (MDD) has officially reopened on Wednesday, May 20th, exciting art programs are debuting in the neighborhood. During the past few months, MDD ensured to maintain its connection with the arts through virtual offerings and panel discussions. To continue celebrating and supporting its longstanding relationship with the arts, the neighborhood will enhance its artistic programing, bringing local and international arts and artists to our local community. The latest art program and series of installations debut under the direction of the Miami Design District’s new curator Claire Breukel, who helms from such prestigious organizations as Locust Projects and sports lifestyle brand PUMA. Claire has previously curated, co-produced, and ran a number of high-profile art programs, exhibitions, and auctions, such as Unscripted for Bal Harbour Village, the (RED) Design Auction at Sotheby’s New York and also the one at the MDD. She has also written for leading art publications, such as Harvard’s Revista, Whitewall, and Hyperallergic as well as co-edited the publication Y.ES Collect Contemporary El Salvador, and was a co-founder for the organization YES, where she still serves as a council member today. Situated in unique spaces throughout the neighborhood, the new art installations feature artwork from a range of artists both domestic and abroad, which will serve to continue inspiring and connecting guests with the arts. Conceptual artist and Miami local Tom Scicluna unveiled his latest anticipated piece titled "3060 sq. ft.” on May 15th. The Piero Atchugarry Gallery will showcase sculptors from Latin America, expanding his program from Uruguay and the USA beginning Monday, May 25th. PLACE Miami Preview Edition is focused on bringing local artists and designers together beginning Monday, May 29th. Artist Pepe Mar will highlight his work at a pop-up exhibit in the neighborhood starting on Friday, June 5th.  Finally, art lovers missing the Peréz Art Museum Miami (PAMM), which is closed until September, can get a taste of its beloved museum’s gift and book shop that will be temporarily popping up at the Miami Design District, beginning Monday, June 22nd. TOM SCICLUNA "3060 sq. ft.” is a site-based intervention comprising a large 36 x 85 feet vinyl billboard advertisement that activates the Miami Design District property. Sourced and shipped directly via an online used billboard website, "3060 sq. ft." physically makes real and sculptural a two-dimensional image; with content that was unknown until its arrival and installation within the Paradise Plaza space. One of Miami’s most celebrated conceptual artists, represented by Nina Johnson Gallery, Tom Scicluna questions ideas of artistic control, display, the function of the image and distance that exists between viewer and image, idea and reality. Location: Paradise Plaza 133 Date: May 15, 2020 - June 27, 2020 PIERO ATCHUGARRY GALLERY Piero Atchugarry Gallery’s (t, x, y, z) exhibition, presents the work of contemporary Latin American sculptors Verónica Vázquez, Pablo Rasgado, Artur Lescher and Túlio Pinto in the Miami Design District. Each artist has a signature sculptural practice that redefines our understanding of time, space and gravity. (t, x, y, z) subjects human association to the rules of space and time as laid out by the autonomous sculpture. Location: Palm Court 102/202 Date: May 25, 2020 - June 27, 2020 PLACE MIAMI - PREVIEW EDITION PLACE Miami is a collaborative, curated artist grouping focusing on local artists as we embrace the re-opening of Miami. Assembling work of art+design, PLACE Miami will showcase furniture design by Vivian Carbonell, sculpture and wall pieces by Gavin Perry, textile works from Tawnie Silva and video pieces by Hush Fell. Location: Paradise Plaza 127 Date: May 29, 2020 - June 27, 2020 PEPE MAR POP-UP Miami-based artist Pepe Mar is joining Miami Design District’s cultural happenings with an exhibition of dynamic assemblage work made in studio. Pepe’s art practice is inspired by fashion, pop culture, sub cultural history, and more, which results in colorful and psychedelic mixed media collages, sculptures and installations. Represented by David Castillo Gallery, Pepe's recent solo exhibition “DragonFruit'' at the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh received critical acclaim. As a fashion icon himself, you can visit Pepe Mar "in studio” at NE 40th Street’s 104, opposite OTL, from June 5, 2020. Location: MO104 Dates: June 5, 2020 – July 31, 2020 PEREZ ART MUSEUM MIAMI POP-UP Art lovers missing the Peréz Art Museum Miami’s (PAMM) much-loved gift and book shop, don’t have to fret much longer, as it is popping up at the Miami Design District, bringing visitors a selection of art books, limited editions, designer accessories, and the perfect ideas for those quarantine birthday gifts. Open from June 22nd through August 22nd on the corner of 41st Street and Jade Alley, the PAMM Shop will continue to offer creative retail therapy to its fans before the museum reopens in September. Location: MR108 Dates: June 22, 2020 - August 22, 2020

In an effort to uplift Latino-owned small businesses in Miami and across the United States, Pitbull joined forces with Jeff Hoffman, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), and founders Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore of Hello Alice to launch the Hispanic Small Business Center to help business owners through COVID-19. In addition to offering invaluable resources, mentorship and step-by-step guides, they are also actively fundraising and deploying $10,000 emergency grants to Latino entrepreneurs. Owners can apply for emergency grants HERE, and chosen applicants are awarded grants on a rolling basis as funds are raised. "It's an honor to partner with Jeff Hoffman, The Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) and Elizabeth Gore and Carolyn Rodz from Hello Alice to support grants to Latino Small Business owners across the United States," said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). "We are here to help those who need it the most. We're not here to talk about it, we're here to be about it." The global pandemic has upended and ravaged corporations worldwide. However, its damage, disruption, and decimation of Latino entrepreneurship borders on irrevocable and irreversible. Of the 5,337 Latino business owners who have already applied for help at Hello Alice, 93% are asking for emergency cash assistance. 76% cite declining sales due to social distancing. Even with the recent extension of government PPP loans, the Center for Responsible Lending predicts that 90% of all applicants will or have faced rejection. Given this widespread rejection, statistics show only 9% of Latino small business owners could possibly receive PPP stimulus money. Since the beginning of COVID-19, one-in-four American small businesses have already shuttered and projections predict the closure of another 40% within the next month. Unfortunately, the Latin community's companies are closing faster than that of any other demographic. "As a Latina entrepreneur, I know success in business is a direct result of the social capital, financial support and mentorship that amplify our hard work," says Carolyn Rodz, Co-Founder of Hello Alice. "This is why I am so committed to ensuring that every Latino-led business has the resources they need to give their businesses a fighting chance. Time after time, Hispanic entrepreneurs have proven they can do more with less, but we need to step in and offer them the resources they've long deserved." Alongside GEN and Hello Alice, a consortium of organizations have come together under the umbrella of the COVID-19 Business Resource Center to provide specific resources, mentorship and guides for support through the Hispanic Small Business Center. To further uplift the Latino community and raise awareness for the Hispanic Business Center's resources and emergency grants, GEN Chairman Jeff Hoffman and Pitbull created a PSA that reinforces the shared sentiment that together, we will win. View the PSA HERE.

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa reopens spring of 2020. The island has been completely rebuilt following damage from Hurricane Irma.  Located off the Florida Keys and accessible only by seaplane or boat, this remote island oasis offers the choice of blissful relaxation or leisurely adventures. Bungalow suites feature new interiors with modern British Colonial flair.  Authentic thatched roofs and vaulted ceilings bring the Caribbean feel to the spaces, and airy mosquito netting surrounds the four poster beds.  Ocean views from all suites are standard, many with decadent outdoor copper soaking tubs.  Private outdoor showers complete the retreat from reality. The iconic Dining Room features an array of ever-evolving delicacies.  Sourcing seafood, produce and spices from the islands, the chef serves a masterful menu fit for any guests’ escape to paradise.  Intimate indoor and outdoor seating is available, along with dreamy beachside tables.  In-room dining is an option for those desiring a private experience. Click below to view larger image > The resort pool offers secluded relaxation with views of the Atlantic Ocean, boasting private cabanas and the quintessential Palapa Bar.  SpaTerre offers exotic Four Hands Massage and Thai body rituals that are custom designed to replace the weight of the world with the feeling of utter relaxation. The healing properties of flowers and spices are used liberally to enhance each spa experience. Leave feeling relaxed and renewed with the one you love after indulging in our Heart Chakra Ritual together. Take to the water from the private marina and experience backcountry fishing, a yacht cruise, or scuba diving at the Looe Key Reef. Tour the waters via helicopter or seaplane for a once-in-a-lifetime thrill. Discover the diverse bird and marine life on an eco-tour. Suite have no telephones or televisions, so disconnecting from the rest of the world is possible, and encouraged. Reservations are being accepted for visits beginning on April 1, 2020.  Call their personal escape planners at 800-3GET-LOST or visit www.littlepalmisland.com. Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is located at 28500 Overseas Hwy., Little Torch Key, FL 33042.