Retropoplifestyle

Brera Academy – Contemporary Interpretation of a Unique Tradition

(Brought to India by Ottimo)

A timeless tradition of art and culture, at the same time, embodies the “Made in Italy” ethos.

INSPIRATION

It is inspired by the 19th century Accademia di Brera, Milan, known for its annual exhibitionsat its magnificent Palazzo Brera,showcasing the best art and culture of the time. As a homage to this unique tradition, Aster Cucinecomes up with a contemporary kitchen that encapsulates early 20th century Milanese design culture.

FEATURES

A wide range of finishes like wood, lacquered metal effect, glossy lacquered, matt lacquered, etc., in an array of colour tones allow you to express yourself freely.

Diverse details come together to make Brera Academy Collection attractive and inspiring.

The collection comprises sophisticated cantilevered table extensions / pullouts, tall column units that offer ample storage,wall units, island units with hi-tech melamine resin doors, carefully matched to go with the stone counter top and several other features offering immense versatility.

Availability

Ottimo

354, Jagat Complex (1st Floor),

100 Feet Road, Ghitorini, New Delhi – 110030

San Francisco- Home to fine Artistic & Cultural Institutions

Art Enrichment in San Francisco Through Virtual Tours

San Francisco is home to some of the finest artistic and cultural institutions in the United States. It’s also a city where innovation and technology are as much a part of the landscape as Victorian houses and cable cars.When San Francisco’s museums and performing arts organizations temporarily closed to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, their drive to share and inspire kicked into high gear. The result is a broad and colorful spectrum of ways to experience the enrichment of San Francisco while sheltering in place.

The de Young and Legion of Honor museums, SFMOMA, the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University and Alcatraz Island are featured on Google Arts & Culture. This highly interactive platform practically gives you a private tour of the world’s greatest museums.

SFMOMA, the Asian Art Museum, the de Young and Legion of Honor museums, the Walt Disney Family Museum and the Chinese Historical Society of Americaare also participating in the Instagram #Museumfromhome phenomenon, which delivers artwork right to followers’ smart phones and other digital devices.The Contemporary Jewish Museum will also participate in #Museumfromhome, as well as #jewseumfromhome via @jewseum on Instagram and Twitter. The Asian Art Museum also participates in #MuseumMomentofZen.

Highlights of arts and cultural experiences available remotely from major San Francisco institutions:

San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT)
In light of the COVID-19 closures, the San Francisco Symphony is making available nine one-hour documentary episodes of “Keeping Score” with Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT). The program traces the lives of eight influential composers from around the world. MTT, now completing his 25th and final season as Music Director of the SFS, explores the motivations and influences behind major classical works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Copland, Stravinsky, Berlioz, Ives, Shostakovich, and Mahler. Each episode is accompanied by a one-hour concert program by the San Francisco Symphony.
Unlimited free streaming is available on the Symphony’s YouTube channel. Episodes are released Wednesdays and Saturdays through April 11, 2020.
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art’s (SFMOMA) “Artist Interviews” series offers nearly 300 artist interviews with some of the most forward-thinking artists of our time, in their own words, as they share their stories, creative processes and how they bring their visions to life in our artist interview series. Artists interviewed include Dawoud Bey, Judy Chicago, Olafur Eliasson, JR, Ellsworth Kelly and Kara Walker, among others.
SFMOMA’s award-winning arts and culture “Raw Material” podcast features a different “podcaster-in-residence” each season to explore modern and contemporary art through a new lens. The series is currently in season six.
SFMOMA’s digital publications (including the Rauschenberg Research Project, Focus on Japanese Photography and Soundtracks) document and provide context for exhibitions and the museum’s collection, showcase the scholarship of our curators and aim to reach a wide range of readers.
SFMOMA’s online and live interdisciplinary commissioning platform “Open Space” is anchored in the Bay Area but casts a wide net, commissioning and supporting critical + experimental + poetic ruminations by artists, writers and thinkers from all over the world.
SFMOMA also offers an array of educational resources for teachers, including discussion questions for artworks, lesson plans, graphic organizers and worksheets, artist interviews, animations and more.
Finally, SFMOMA offers a series of essays. Read what curators, artists and others have to say about the art they make, study, collect and restore.

MoAD (Museum of the African Diaspora)

MoAD, a Smithsonian affiliate, invites readers to register for the Virtual African Book Club. April’s book selection is “Small Country” by Gaël Faye. Already an international sensation and prize-winning best seller in France, an evocative coming-of-age story of a young boy, a lost childhood and a shattered homeland.

Contemporary Jewish Museum

The Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) is sharing their exhibition, “Levi Strauss: A History of American Style” exhibition (at the museum through Aug. 9, 2020) with a virtual tour. In 1873, at the end of the California Gold Rush, Levi Strauss & Co., named for a Bavarian Jewish dry goods merchant in San Francisco, obtained a U.S. patent with tailor Jacob Davis on the process of putting metal rivets in men’s denim work pants to increase their durability. It was the birth of the blue jean.

Additionally, the CJM is providing a weekly schedule of online content and activities:

Mondays: CJM Home school

Curated online educational resources from The CJM’s award-winning education team to provide support for at-home learners

Tuesdays: Creativity Prompts

DIY projects, writing prompts, and craft ideas to keep audiences engaged in creative activities at home

Wednesdays: #Zenday

#MuseumMomentofZen content designed to provide beauty and a moment to breathe for online audiences

Thursdays: Todah Thursdays

Todah¸ the Hebrew word for thankfulness or giving thanks, anchors this content in good news about Jewish culture and/or food, mitzvah (good deed) projects audiences can contribute to, etc.

Fridays: Art for Lunch

Mimicking the on-site Friday Gallery Chat series, this content will publish around lunchtime and offer audiences an opportunity to listen to archived gallery chats or watch artist interviews

Sundays: Sunday Stories

Long-form content, including the Facebook Live chats, archived lectures, blog posts, etc.

American Conservatory Theater

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will stream video-recorded performances of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s “Gloria” and Lydia R. Diamond’s “Toni Stone.”

A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2016, “Gloria” is a scalpel-sharp dark comedy that explores how we cope with trauma and the tales we tell each other to escape. In the dog-eat-dog office of a New York magazine, twenty some things Ani, Dean, and Kendra compete for a book deal to kick-start their careers. But after tragedy strikes, which one of them will write the story?

The title character in “Toni Stone” dreams of nothing but baseball. But to become the first woman to play professionally with men as a member of the Negro League’s Indianapolis Clowns, she must confront hostile crowds, ruthless team owners, and players who slide spikes first. As she negotiates life’s challenges and opportunities on and off the field, Toni stays true to herself and reaches for who she can be.

Through a generous partnership with Actors’ Equity Association; Stage Directors and Choreographers Society; and United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 IATSE, patrons who had purchased tickets prior to the cancellations are able to watch a recording of these productions in the comfort of their own homes. To purchase a ticket to “Gloria” and/or “Toni Stone,” visit www.act-sf.org or call A.C.T. at 415-749-2228. Purchasers will receive a link to a password-protected site from A.C.T. to view the production. Please allow 24 hours to receive your order confirmation. Ticket buyers will have until midnight on April 3, 2020 to purchase tickets and until midnight on April 5, 2020 to view the production.

Alonzo King LINES Ballet

The famed Alonzo King Lines Ballet is offering weeklylive online classes for teens and adults. From Ballet to hip hop and contemporary to belly dance, LINES Dance Center offers an exciting selection of styles, faculty and levels for all movers. Dancers must register online athttps://linesballet.org/dance-center/classes/.

Alonzo King LINES Ballet will be mounting a “virtual” Spring Season, featuring “GRACE,” Alonzo King’s work which premiered at Grace Cathedral in February 2020.

Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco – the de Young and the Legion of Honor – offer exclusive content at their YouTube channel and Blog for a behind the scenes look at our exhibitions and collections. Visitors are also welcome to browse the entire collection featuring American, African, European, Oceanic art and more, available atart.famsf.org.

A new blog post gives visitors a sneak peek at the must-see show “Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving” (at the de Young through July 26, 2020). In it, guest curator Circe Henestrosa shares the story of the rediscovery of Kahlo’s personal items at the Blue House in Mexico City in 2003.

In line with the museum’s Free Saturday’s initiative, event programming will continue virtually through social media channels every Saturday. Follow on Facebook and Instagram to tune in to live interviews, performances and more.

Asian Art Museum

Browse 13,205 objects and centuries of art from every corner of the Asian world with the Asian Art Museum’s online collection. Download the museum app to enjoy collections tours as well as activities like a “Meditative Art tour.”

The museum’s YouTube channel and educational resources pages will keep spirits up and the inspiration flowing. For example, the museum doors may be closed, but your eyes will be opened when you take a virtual walk through “Awaken: A Tibetan Buddhist Journey Toward Enlightenment.”

A short interview with Jean Shin, whose installation “Pause” is currently at the museum, assesses unplugging – literally, aesthetically, metaphysically – offering a serendipitous commentary on our current state of physical isolation. She’s a warm, thoughtful voice in a very destabilizing moment.

The museum has also queued up playlists of their best YouTube content, including in-gallery storytelling, peeks behind-the-scenes, and short Asian art docs for those interested in diving deeper.

Resources for teachers and students of all ages include art activities to enjoy at home, from creating a Mandala, to learning Arabic calligraphy, exploring Chinese ink painting and Balinese shadow puppets, and much more. There are even pages to print and color.

Via their digital portals and social media channels, audiences can also speak directly to the museum on Facebook and Instagram about the kind of content they want to see during these uncertain times.

Exploratorium

The Exploratorium has launched an online learning tool box that helps make sense of timely topics and provides general science support for virtual classrooms or learning together at home.

Science Snacks are bite-sized science activities to do with simple materials. The results can be shared with #ScienceSnacks.

The Science of Food brings a pinch of science to the kitchen, from freeze-drying to pressure cooking.

The Exploratorium will continue to create and share digital programming and content in the weeks to come. Find more at www.exploratorium.edu.

The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. For information on reservations, activities and more, visit www.sftravel.com or call 415-391-2000.

For more about San Francisco, follow www.facebook.com/onlyinSF, www.instagram.com/onlyinsf and https://twitter.com/onlyinsf. Please use hashtags #sftravel and #AlwaysSF.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 50 international cities on 44 international carriers. The Bay Area’s largest airport connects non-stop with 85 cities in the U.S. on 12 domestic airlines. SFO offers upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com. Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and www.facebook.com/flysfo.

United Airlines is the preferred airline of the San Francisco Travel Association.

#InThisTogether

Decide, Immunity or no Immunity? Isolation is no Excuse to Skip Workout

Decide, Immunity or no Immunity?

Isolation is no Excuse to Skip Workout

by Dr. Shreyash Gujrathi, Senior Exercise Science Professor, Gold’s Gym Fitness Institute

.If you want to call someone “Fit”, there are 5 criteria that you need check as follows:

Cardiovascular fitness [CVF] : In simple words, CVF means how well your heart is able to supply blood and oxygen to a muscle when the muscle is busy working/exercising/ performing daily chores and activities. If a person has low CVF [for example special population like Hypertensives who are chronically sedentary] they will not be able to perform simple daily activities efficiently. Which means, low CVF directly affects a person’s normal day to day functionality.

There is absolutely no physical activity/exercise in our life which does not need CVF. As every activity you perform directly has an impact on your blood circulation.

Muscular endurance [M.E.]: When a person is performing an activity, for how long can their muscles sustain that activity indicates their M.E.

We need this component for common activities life carrying a grocery bag for a ‘long’ time, even carrying a bag pack to college standing in the bus.

ME has a direct relation with CVF, the more your CVF the more your muscles will be able to perform.

Muscular Strength [M.S.]: When we talk about ME we talk about how many/how long, but when we talk about MS, we talk about “how much”. In simple word, Muscular Strength means How much weight that a muscle can lift in just one single rep/one single effort. For example, the 1 rep max which is displayed by professional power lifters.

Comparatively, there are very few scenarios in our daily life where we really need to display our muscular strength, for example, briskly shifting a bike in the parking-lot which is parked incorrectly, lifting a heavy gas cylinder in your kitchen.

P.S. – performing M.E. and/or M.S. activities on regular basis helps shoot up your B.M.R [Basal Metabolic Rate]. BMR and Body Fat % are inversely proportional. The higher your BMR the lower shall be your Body Fat Percentage.

Flexibility [FX]: If a person is able to take each and every joint and muscle in his body to its full natural range of motion, he is flexible!

Lack of flexibility is one of the prime indicators of old age. Flexibility is the 1st fitness component that you loose with age.

Body composition –Body composition simply means how your body looks – lean/muscular, obese, stocky, underweight. In the process of achieving above mentioned components, your body composition gradually changes.

During this quarantine, if you abruptly stop workouts – no lifting, no long duration activities, no stretching, and not even running, then this is what happens –

Your body has an amazing habit of Adaptation. ‘No long duration enduring muscular activities’ [no ME] and ‘No heavy lifting’ [no MS] sends a message to your brain “muscular strength and endurance is not needed” so your body adapts by gradually reducing the muscle mass and strength. Which in-turn reduces your BMR, which leads to increase in Body Fat Percentage!
‘No stretching/flexibility training’ again leads to an adaptive response by making your joints stiffer and tightening your muscles, as there is no enough blood circulation happening, no clearance of waist products happening!
Last and most importantly, ‘no running or cardio activities’ leads to lethargy, laziness and even eventually lack of efficiency in performing daily activities.

Loss of all these important components, leads to loss of normal functionality and loss of functionality means reduced Immunity!

In today’s date, a human need not be equipped with weapons but with Immunity.

Sans Souci Decorated Ritz Carlton Berlin

Tailor-made decorative lighting fixtures, glass objects and architecture features for projects around the world, has recently decorated the luxury hotel Ritz-Carlton, Berlin.
Sans Souci employs an eye-catching, lavish approach to embellish the luxury hotel. As you enter the majestic lobby, the Starburst components fill the atmosphere with the brightness and excitement of firecrackers. This is true star attraction that fills the air with glamour and joy.

Next, the simple, yet elegant design of Space Balls defines the modern and vibrant tea lounge. The play of contrasts with silver and brass nano-coating finish have subtle references to the Golden age, but with a modern twist, adding a new dimension to the space. The enchanting Bowls, a light fixture with contrasting metallic coatings – cold white combined with warm gold tones – highlights the luxe ambiance of the Den of Heaven. So with site-appropriate designs that enhance the spaces, Sans Souci adds yet another feather to its illustrious cap.

Drawing on the experiences of past generations of glass-makers, with the quality of work defined by the purely Czech origin of their products, Sans Souci also masters in creating original architectural features, such as railings, stairways, tables, skylights, columns, and others.

Availability:

Sans Souci Sro – India

Unveils Exciting Entertainment areas

42 mm Architecture

Unveils Exciting Entertainment areas

Exciting entertainment areas that make an edgy statement with their unique design themes and fun elements.

Pic 1: Fun playing card designs become interesting wall art to add a bit of vivacious in this entertainment area fitted with formal seating. The glimmer from the gorgeous chandeliers and floor lamps highlights the raw walls and the wooden ceiling.

Pic 2:A charming combination of rustic and sophisticated elements – unfinished wall, wooden ceiling with track lights,and casual, yet refined furniture pieces – create a supremely chic and laidback vibe.

Pic 3: Gorgeously rich flooring and specially treated ceiling set the stage for a simple, yet impactful entertainment area with an uber stylish bar. The black and white artworks add a hint of quaintness to the space.

Pic 4: Heavy doses of decadent design elements are combined in a heady mixture to envision a captivating scenario. Strikinggeometric and graphic patterns highlighted with golden accents on the wall and the floor; a grand chandelier; a detailed bar unit withstylish stools with gilt touched legs… there is a lot going on here. But the beauty lies in the way all elements fuse together harmoniously.

KEEP A CHECK ON YOUR BEHAVIORAL CHANGES DURING THE PANDEMIC

KEEP A CHECK ON YOUR BEHAVIORAL CHANGES DURING THE PANDEMIC

by Dr. Anju Sharma

Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), almost all the people are working from home. The virus has already created a stressful environment for all leading to worldwide psychological chaos. These fear and anxiety about the disease cause strong emotions in adults and children. You need to cope with the stress to make yourself and the people you care about stronger. Each individual reacts differently to a stressful situation. Besides these virus fear, various other factors will lead you to stress. Learn to face these factors and spend quality time with your near and dear ones.

1. Out of comfort zone – Each individual has come out of their comfort zone during this pandemic. A person who was habitual to his/her routine is now bound to change the routine. An office-goer whose daily routine was to get ready and go to office work with his colleagues and then back home is now at home. Even a housewife’s routine has changed with her kids and husband at home. During this time, a person tends to get a little frustrated and loses the temper. It is important to understand that each one is dealing with the changes and it is in our hand to accept the change and spend some quality time with them.

2. Increase in expectation –With more time at home, everyone is having more expectations from the other person. Please do understand that an individual will do only that he/she wants to do. Making them do something forcefully will only ruin the situation. For example, a husband who usually works for 8-9 hours only gets to communicate with his family for 1-2 hours, during his stay at home, will not be able to communicate with his family for 4-5 hours. He has been stimulated in that routine. Be happy and content with what the other person is doing for you. Having high expectations will only harm your mental peace.

3. Re-invent yourself – With every place being shut, humans don’t have anything to do. They cannot go to malls, no cinemas in the theater, no restaurant, no sight-seeing. This is the time when they have to realize what their hobbies are and invest your time in those activities. Those working from home will get some time off. One tends to get bored watching Netflix all the time or playing with play station, so at that time when you are bored analyze your interest and utilize the time in some creative pursuit.

4. Challenge for females- All the females out there are facing a hard time with their kids and family being at home. Females have to look after their office work, domestic work as well as look after their kids. Even a little help offered to the females can give a little relief. Men need to share the work so the environment at home goes smoothly.

5. Give personal space – As we all are home, we are spending more time with our near and dear ones. But it is important to give them some personal space as well. Spending time 24*7 will create aggression and lead to a mental breakdown, therefore, allow them some private space to revive their emotional factors.

Amidst the pandemic ensure you adhere to all the rules shared by our health institutes and follow social distancing. One more thing that we need to be very careful is of currency dealing. A currency has traveled across and passed through so many hands, therefore, it is highly important to wash your hand or at least sanitize it after you touch a currency. The world is changing and all these changes are indicating that it’s high time to bring the change within. With the changing outside world, you should welcome the change within.

For a relaxed environment, play soothing music or chant mantras to exhibit positive energy into the environment. Stay at home and stay safe.

Dr. Anju Sharma, is a Psychiatrist, Sound & Energy Master,Wellness-Holistic Coach, International Speaker and Founder of the Musical Healing Band named “Sound of Infinity”.

Sanjyt Syngh Presents Exciting TV Lounges

Sanjyt Syngh Presents Exciting TV Lounges

Some inspiring designs from Delhi-based interior designer and stylist Sanjyt Syngh

One way to do this is by packing a punch in your décor with some zesty colors that bring life to your space. “Our favorite color this season is yellow. Not only does it add vivacity, but when teamed with shades like emerald or black, it makes the space youthful,” says designer Sanjyt Syngh.

Next up, choose the right kind of furniture for your TV lounge – something comfortable, luxurious and stylish that speaks for your personality. An eclectic combination of furniture pieces allows you to change posture, even as it adds diverse shapes and contours. Cushions help you impart color and patterns. “And, the fabric of the upholstery should feel nice against your skin,comfort is of utmost importance.”

No space is complete without some hand-picked accessories – décor articles, artworks, sculptures, lamps, potted plants, etc. Throws play a very important part in this space for when you feel the chill from the air conditioning.

“We always like to introduce bold art in this space. When your television is not in use, there should be something to overpower the black rectangle,” says the designer.

Walter Knoll Launches Exclusive Living Room Furniture

Walter Knoll

Living Room Furniture by Plüsch

A new collection of exclusive living room furniture, brought to India by Plüsch, pioneers in bringing the finest German luxury brands to the country.

KEY FEATURES

The spacious upholstered seating area of the sofa and récamière seem to float over the understated framework in a balanced harmony of lightness and weight. The casual look of the leather is complemented by the light down filling of the upholstery.
The extension boards in glass or leather offering convenience to display lamps, vases, mementos or resting your wine glass, coffee mug, or books, newspapers, and such paraphernalia. What is in fact the back, is effectively the front.
The different variants of the sofa can be arranged to form diverse geometries depending on the layout of your space.

#PlayDatewithStarMovies – Parents! Your babysitter is here, Playdate with Star Movies

#PlayDatewithStarMovies

Parents! Your babysitter is here, Playdate with Star Movies

Children missing out on summer is a sight many parents don’t want to see. It can be quite a hassle to manage a household and come up with new and exciting ways to keep your children engaged at the same time. Well not to worry, because Star Movies is here to take your kid’s entertainment off your hands, with movies which will tickle their funny bone, excite them and peak their curiosity.

The channel will air some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed children films such as – Cars 2, The Incredibles, Baby’s Day Out, Coco, Ice Age: The Meltdown. The Lion King, Frozen, Ferdinand, Finding Nemo, Zootopia. The Jungle Book, Planes: Fire & Rescue, Beauty and The Beast, The Good Dinosaur, Rio.

Star Movies is set to take it further up a notch, leaving no stone unturned in keeping your kids busy. Move over to twitter and Instagram and @StarMoviesIndia will engage with your child further with #PlaydatewithStarMovies, offering wordplay games and puzzles – which besides being fun also help in aiding skill development. Also, there is something to learn everyday with motivational quotes from characters such as Ms. Incredibles, Mufasa, Sid from Ice Age and many others pushing your young tots to manifest their dreams and aspirations.

Get ready for some fun afternoons with Star Movies, everyday 1 PM.