D’USSE RE-MIXER AT THE MCINTOSH TOWNHOUSE NYC

Drawing fascinating parallels between remixing a classic cocktail and remixing a classic song, the interactive series will travel to select destinations across the country, offering bartenders, influencers and journalists an intimate taste of D’USSE, the cognac category, and its role in both cocktail and music culture. You’ve never tasted Cognac like this before.

Three iconic Masters of their Craft lead the NYC launch sessions:
• Cellar master Michel Casavecchia – fresh from the brand’s home at the historic Chateau de Cognac, the legendary creator of D’USSE XO and D’USSE VSOP will reveal his inspirations behind each expression while offering tailored one-on-one tastings.
• 9TH WONDER – the Grammy Award-winning producer responsible for hits by Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J Blige will unveil the fascinating parallels between remixing classic cocktails and tracks through an interactive DJ Masterclass utilizing The World of McIntosh’s renowned sound system
• Legendary Cocktail Expert DEREK BROWN and his team from D.C.’s award-winning Columbia Room, will provide guests with a sonic wave cocktail demonstration showcasing how using a singing bowl to stir cocktails with sound vibrations allows an interpretation of sound through drinks and impacts its flavor. Each of these artistic elements play off the core concept of how altering one simple ingredient – sound, tone, or even spirit base – can change the way something tastes or is perceived.

MICHEL CASAVECCHIA
Monsieur Michel Casavecchia is the Cellar Master of the prestigious Château de Cognac and the creator of both D’USSÉ VSOP and D’USSÉ XO. He is proud to be part of the privileged line of heirs of the Baron Otard, charged with perpetuating the tradition of the knowledge of blending ‘eau-de-vie’ (water of life) into Cognac.

Michel was born in Lorraine, in the eastern part of France to a father with a passion for collecting and enjoying fine Cognac. This passion, which Michel inherited at a young age, has driven him throughout his career. Though he has not followed the traditional path to becoming an elite Cellar Master, Michel’s relentless dedication to Cognac had led him to the Château de Cognac where he has spent more than a decade overseeing the Cognac making process of some of the world’s finest Cognacs.

After ten years as an apprentice at the Château de Cognac learning from his predecessor and refining his craft, Michel received the opportunity to move into the role he has wanted to achieve most of his life. After nearly 20 years as the curator for some of the most prestigious Cognacs in the world, Michel was tasked with developing a new Cognac for Bacardi, D’USSÉ VSOP.

9th WONDER
Patrick Douthit, better known as 9th Wonder, is a Grammy award-winning hip hop record producer, record executive, DJ, lecturer, and rapper from Durham, North Carolina, U.S. He began his career as the main producer for the group Little Brother, and has worked with notable musicians including Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Drake, Destiny’s Child, and Kendrick Lamar.

As a college professor, 9th is an adjacent hip-hop history professor at Duke University and has held several Artist-In-Residence positions at top universities across the country including University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, and Harvard University. Through his positions in academic, 9th seeks to educate students on the history of hip-hop as well as advocate for its future.

Derek Brown

Derek Brown is a leading spirits and cocktail expert and president of Drink Company, which owns and operates 2017 Spirited Award winning “Best American Cocktail Bar” Columbia Room as well as PUB, a rotating pop-up bar that’s housed the wildly-popular Miracle on 7th Street, Cherry Blossom PUB and Game of Thrones PUB. Playboy magazine named him as one of “The 10 Entertainers, Thought Leaders and Heroes Who’ll Save Us in 2017.”
A native Washingtonian with deep ties to the city — his great-grandfather was once D.C.’s police chief — Derek admits that Washington provides a unique vantage point as the capital city, having mixed drinks for everyone from royalty, ambassadors and senators to fellow Washingtonians, interns and students. He’s concocted cocktails at the White House, clinked glasses with Martha Stewart and was even appointed Chief Spirits Advisor at the National Archives. Derek’s philosophy for crafting memorable drinks goes beyond what’s shaken, stirred and served in a glass. “When I think about cocktails, I think about how they connect to nature, I think about how they connect to history,” he explained to Imbibe magazine, which named him 2015’s Bartender of the Year. “I think about how they connect to the people who made them and the time they were living in.”
Derek’s passion for spirits has taken him across the globe, where he’s learned about the integral role food and drink play in the culture, customs and values of communities worldwide. He’s also written about drinks and drinking for The Atlantic, The Washington Post and Bon Appetit magazine, among other publications.

ABOUT D’USSE: D’USSE [dew-say] launched in 2012, D’USSÉ is an ultra-premium cognac that blends over 200 years of tradition with the modern inspiration of Cellar /Master Michel Casavecchia. D’USSÉ is a uniquely powerful, authentic cognac that starts off with distinguished intensity, giving way to a pleasantly smooth, balanced finish. With exceptionally blended expressions including D’USSÉ VSOP and D’USSÉ XO (launched in 2014), D’USSE lends itself to a variety of elegantly crafted rich, and complex cognac-based cocktails.

Guests enjoyed Derek Brown and Columbia Room’s sonic wave cocktail demonstration using a singing bowl.

Georgia Fowler enjoying the classic Sidecar at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER

Ron Hill crafting his own re-mixed cocktail with D’USSE VSOP

Jamal Jackson at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER at McIntosh Townhouse

TK Wonder with DJ Millie, in between her sets of the evening at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER

Martin Salomon enjoying the Side Chick cocktail – a riff off the Side Car – at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER

Quiana Parks and her friend at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER

Elijah Dominique and friends at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER at the McIntosh Townhouse

DJ Millie entertained guests with sets throughout the evening at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER

Grammy Award-winning producer 9^th Wonder led guests through a DJ Masterclass using the World of McIntosh’s renowned sound system

Amrit at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER at the McIntosh Townhouse

Vashtie enjoying the Side Car at the NYC D’USSE RE-MIXER

Bulgari x KNOWAutism – Houston Charity Event

Iris Covet Book had the privilege of attending a Bulgari-hosted charity event in their beautiful Houston Galleria boutique. The event was in support of the Houston-based organization ‘KNOWAutism,’ where a portion of sales proceeds was donated to the charity. Dr Sippi Khurana, Stephanie von Stein, and Meghan Bailey (Director of Luxury for Simon Malls) curated the “Bulgari’s Favorite Things” jewelry chosen to showcase that evening. Up-and-coming opera singer Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen performed, and it was clear why he has been inducted as the first ever countertenor to the Houston Grand Opera Studio. The 23-year-old gave a stunning performance of two arias that left the audience on the brink of tears. KNOWAutism used the opportunity to spread awareness of their work and ongoing mission.

Above: Opera singer Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen

The organization was founded in 2013 with the goal of helping families of children with autism better navigate the process of diagnosis, treatment, intervention, and education. Efforts were initially focused on creating an online library of resources, connecting families with support and services, and raising awareness about autism, especially in communities with language barriers.

In the past 4 years, KNOWAutism has funded numerous projects in the community, both large and small. Early on, KNOWAutism recognized the need for a specialized center in Houston that could provide comprehensive assessments, diagnosis, and early intervention for children with autism. To meet this need, the Foundation provided funding to help launch The Stewart Center at The Westview School in 2013. A few years later, KA provided a small grant to Centro De Autismo Cozumel in Mexico for their autism diagnostic program. In partnership with the Pasadena Rotary Foundation, the grant covered diagnostic testing for 400 children at the center.

Above: Dr. Sippi Khurana

As the organization became more established, they shifted their focus to providing direct financial assistance to families and supporting community efforts to serve special needs children. In the past three years, KNOWAutism has also created community partnerships that serve autistic children and their families. The largest of these partnerships is with TUTS/The River, through which they helped create the Community Arts Residencies, which has brought inclusive fine arts education into elementary school campuses. KNOWAutism also stepped up to serve the Houston community in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. In addition to coordinating donations to the community, KNOWAutism also partnered with special education teachers whose homes and/or classrooms were damaged by the storm to help them replace needed supplies for their public-school students. With a grant from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, KNOWAutism was able to provide additional financial assistance for therapeutic treatments and care related to autism for families impacted by the disaster.

KNOWAutism is adapting to meet the evolving needs of the autism community, as well as the Houston community as a whole. Their commitment to continuing to serve the ASD community today, tomorrow, and every day to come is truly inspiring and will greatly benefit Houston for years to come.

For more information, including how to donate, please visit www.know-autism.org.

All photos by JhanePhotography.com

Above: Meghan Bailey, Director of Luxury for Simon Malls

Above: Stephanie Von Stein

Calligraphy Tent cards notes “Sippi’s Favorite”, “Meghan’s Favorite” and “Stephanie’s Favorite”

MARC JACOBS AND RUPAUL HOST DRAG BALL BENEFIT FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD

NEW YORK, NY – September 8 – Last night at Marc Jacobs Beauty & RuPaul’s DragCon Present: Fashion Does Drag Ball, RuPaul and Marc Jacobs welcomed guests to their benefit for Planned Parenthood at McKittrick Hotel. The event also celebrated New York Fashion Week, along with the inaugural RuPaul’s DragCon NYC, taking place this weekend at the Jacob K. Javits Center.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYw1rkrHv9b/?taken-by=themarcjacobs

RuPaul served as DJ, playing sickening music, encouraging guests to lip sync for their lives and sashay on the dance floor.

“Dancing to the beat of a different drummer is what DragCon is all about, and last night we danced, danced, danced!” -RuPaul

Additional photos are also included of guests including Michelle Visage, New York Housewife Luann de Lesseps, Paulina Porizkova, Nina Agdal, Derek Blasberg, and numerous contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race including Detox, Raja, Miss Fame, Milk, Bebe Zahara Benet, Violet Chachki, among others.

Marc Jacobs Beauty & RuPaul’s DragCon Present: Fashion Does Drag Ball was sponsored by World of Wonder, Marc Jacobs Beauty and VH1.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYyGhukA3EN/?taken-by=missfamenyc

After three successful years in Los Angeles, the inaugural RuPaul’s DragCon NYC takes place Sept. 9-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Center.

Presented by RuPaul and World of Wonder Productions, RuPaul’s DragCon is the world’s largest annual celebration of drag culture. The two-day convention welcomes fans of all ages and backgrounds to unite and celebrate the world of drag in a friendly and accessible environment.

For more information on RuPaul’s DragCon NYC and a full list of exhibitors, programming and merchandise, please visit: RuPaulsDragCon.com. Buy tickets here.