Whom You Know

Sunday, August 18, 2019

#EarthyPeachy #Politics @SecBernhardt @Interior DOI to Treat More Than 1.2M Acres this Wildfire Season, Resources Mobilized across the Nation Agency personnel and critical assets are poised to respond to wildfires across the country

Agency personnel and critical assets are poised to respond to wildfires across the country

With peak wildfire activity predicted in the coming months, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has been working tirelessly to implement preventative measures to limit the size and scope of wildfires, treat current wildfires already underway, and protect wildfire-prone areas to best safeguard people and their communities.

“As stewards of one-fifth of the country’s public lands, primarily in the West, we know that our ability to be prepared for wildfires and reduce their severity is paramount to protecting communities and saving lives,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt. “In collaboration with local, state, and other federal partners, we are using everything in our arsenal to prepare for wildfires this year, treating more than one million acres.”

As a part of the DOI, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the National Park Service (NPS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) contribute to a total workforce of 4,500 firefighting personnel, 500 tribal firefighters, 151 smokejumpers, 18 interagency hotshot crews and 4 Tribal hotshot crews. These firefighters will have over 600 pieces of specialized equipment available for use, including engines, water tenders, dozers, and other equipment. Aviation assets also play a critical role in efforts to manage wildfires as the DOI will have access to 23 single engine air tankers, 6 water scoopers, 41 Type 1, 2 and 3 helicopters, and a number of other aviation resources.

The Trump Administration has prioritized active management of the nation’s public lands as provided in the President’s Executive Order 13855 and Secretary’s Order 3372, which establish a meaningful and coordinated framework for ensuring the protection of people, communities, and natural resources. Implementation of both Orders is a priority for reducing the risks of deadly and destructive wildfires.

This year, the BLM began analyzing a significant, 11,000-mile stretch of strategic fuel breaks to combat wildfires in the Great Basin, which includes portions of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, and Utah. This large-scale, collaborative project could serve as a means to better control wildfires within a 223 million acre area. The environmental impact of the proposal is still being evaluated.

As DOI continues to evaluate innovative ways to best limit the destruction of wildfires in the future, it is nearing completion of more than 2,500 wildfire risk-reduction projects on more than 1.2 million acres of DOI and tribally-administered lands in some of the most fire-prone areas of the country. Some of the state totals to be completed and specific projects already completed this fiscal year include:

Alaska:

More than 43,000 acres of land will be treated.

Already this year, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, in cooperation with two Alaska Native Corporations and the Kenai Peninsula Borough, has implemented 90 acres of fuels management activities through mechanical treatments and prescribed fire treatments. This treatment is a component of a multi-year fuels break project, initiated in 2016, planned and implemented to protect the community of Sterling, AK. The Sterling fuels break was utilized as a contingency fire line, protecting Sterling from the threat from the 2019 Swan Lake Fire, which has now burned 102,521 acres and is currently 80% contained.

Arizona:

Nearly 85,000 acres of land will be treated.

Fuels treatment projects are ongoing with 21,287 acres treated so far this year, including 6,706 acres in the southwest border area. By the end of the fiscal year, more than 27,544 total acres of fuels are targeted for treatment by prescribed fire, chemical application or mechanical methods.

California:

More than 30,000 acres of land will be treated with some projects including:

A 93 acre fuels treatment project in the Sandy Gulch unit of the South Fork Mokelumne Project, near the community of Glenco in Calaveras County.

In addition to the work completed by the Mother Lode Field Office, the Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions, which is a local non-profit partner, has completed an adjacent 35-acre fuel break on BLM-managed public lands. This 35 acres represents the north portion of a fuel break that was identified as a priority by CAL FIRE after the 2015 Butte Fire. The southern portion of the fuel break is scheduled to be completed this fall, and will connect to ongoing fuels work in the southern part of the South Fork Mokelumne Project.

The BLM California Bishop Field Office made improvements to existing fuelbreaks adjacent to residential areas. Wildland fire crews cut and removed downed trees and limbs on BLM-managed lands, reducing the available fuel load. The project was undertaken in partnership with residents of the community of Wilkerson, Inyo National Forest, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Colorado:

More than 27,000 acres of land will be treated.

The BLM completed a 286-acre prescribed fire near Bayfield, Colorado, called the Rabbit Mountain Project Prescribed Fire. It was completed to restore and maintain a healthy ecosystem and reduce the risk of wildfire to private lands and improvements in the area. The prescribed fire will reinvigorate grasses, forbs, and shrubs and improve deer and elk habitat.

Florida:

More than 183,000 acres of land will be treated.

Already this year, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has completed 8,747 acres of prescribed fire and 1,839 acres of mechanical fuel reduction treatments, with partners including the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the National Park Service, the Florida Forest Service, and Brevard County. These fuel reduction projects protect residents, tourists, federal employees, public land, and military and private space industry. Minimizing operational disruption and mitigating risks and hazards, the projects reduce the intensity and duration of wildfires, smoke, and road closures.

Montana:

Nearly 85,000 acres of land will be treated.

The FWS and the BLM worked with the state of Montana and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service to reduce fire risk by removing trees and clearing brush. The project near the Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge reduces the risk of catastrophic fires from spreading to local communities. All timber was harvested and supported local economies.

Minnesota:

More than 42,000 acres of land will be treated, primarily from the Red Lake Helitack crew from the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. They completed a 41,000 acre project to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest conditions. The aviation crew flew for eight hours in coordination with ground support using prescribed burns to remove the grassy understory and replenish the forest.

Nevada:

More than 85,000 acres of land will be treated. One project already completed includes:

The BLM Nevada Battle Mountain District has recently completed over 2,115 acres of treatments along roadsides including thinning, masticating, herbicide application, mowing, drill seeding, and broadcast seeding to create fuel breaks to limit the wildfire growth potential of roadside ignitions. In 2018, this fuel break allowed the district to successfully suppress a fire, keeping it from becoming a larger, more destructive disaster.

Utah:

More than 134,000 acres of land will be treated overall.

At BLM Utah, fuels treatment projects are ongoing with approximately 75,000 acres treated so far this year. By the end of the fiscal year, more than 117,000 total acres of fuels are targeted for treatment by prescribed fire or mechanical methods. Fuel treatment accomplishments are continually increasing on an annual basis, with acres targeted for 2019 being the highest planned accomplishment ever.

Also, BLM is seeking comments on an environmental assessment (EA) analyzing a proposal to treat vegetation and fuels as part of a wildfire mitigation project near Castle Valley, Utah. The proposal covers approximately 1,400 acres of fuel breaks within a larger 7,500-acre planning and analysis area.

Virginia:

More than 11,000 acres of land will be treated. One project already completed includes:

The NPS completed a prescribed burn in Manassas National Battlefield Park. The prescribed burn helps to reduce the risk of wildfires and improves the habitat for wildlife.

As wildfire activity likely increases, DOI, in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, is moving wildfire suppression resources to the most susceptible areas around the country. At the center of this coordination is the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), which coordinates eight different agencies and organizations’ emergency management responses. The NIFC produces a monthly “National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook,” which provides wildland fire potential forecasts for the country. The most recent outlook forecasts potential for above normal fire activity in western Oregon and Washington, parts of California and Nevada, and the interior of Alaska.

“Most of the western states experienced a wet spring, which allowed vegetation to grow thickly and quickly,” said Fire Weather Program Manager with NIFC’s Predictive Services group Bryan Henry. “The wet, cool spring delayed fire season, though now, we are seeing hot and dry weather throughout most of the western states, which is rapidly drying the abundant vegetation and creating fuel for wildfires.”

Due to a cool, wet spring season, wildfire activity has been below normal this year with 27,191 wildfires burning 3,325,456 acres. This is much lower than previous years as around 39,700 wildfires burned over 4.1 million acres at this point in the season last year and 5.8 million acres in 2017.

Last year was one of the most tragic years on record with more than 58,000 wildfires burning over 8.8 million acres. Additionally, nearly 26,000 structures were destroyed, more than double the previous annual record.

The DOI is currently managing wildfire incidents in Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Washington, and has deployed personnel, aircraft, and equipment throughout the country to work with interagency firefighting partners.

#ReadThis #LockEveryDoor #RileySager @Riley_Sager Our Coverage Sponsored by Cosmopolitan Dental, Official Dentist of Whom You Know @GaroNazarianDDS #cosmopolitandental #loveyoursmile

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Dr. Nazarian, a graduate of Boston College and Columbia Dental School, opened Cosmopolitan Dental in 2006 and has grown his practice to over 2,000 patients. Peachy Deegan is proud to be the second ever. Cosmopolitan Dental strives to surpass all patients' expectations by catering to your dental needs while providing the utmost professional results. Cosmopolitan Dental has been recognized by America's Top Dentists and has earned both the Patients' choice award and the Doctors' choice award. Dr. Garo Nazarian is a proud member of the New York State Dental Association, New York County Dental Society and the American Dental Association. Cosmopolitan Dental loves to make you smile!

***

Ooh la la we have a new book we actually liked by an author new to us! Proven authors continue to impress us, but it has been a summer season of crashes and burns for some other authors we considered (and have not told you about) but not for Riley Sager. Is he a nice Irishman? We don't know...we don't know him but Riley is a Celtic name. We question whether some books that are front and center in the top bookstores and are being marketed like crazy are even worthy of being published, but not this one. It is deserving of your time.

First winning factor: it takes place in Manhattan, where you all must want to know about if you find yourself here! What we liked most about this book is the completely captivating start. Sager's descriptive prowess reigns supreme throughout this work, and he excels at setting the stage. We knew exactly what he meant and this review is to quote page 5 "champagne bright and just as bubbly." His stream of consciousness writing makes sense but you will find it is not in complete sentences. We found only one grammatical error in this book.

Sager nails Manhattan living to a T and everything he says about Manhattan is accurate. This takes place at The Bartholomew on The Upper West Side, a venue that is created in the author's mind but surely is plausible. We definitely like that it is not for everyone and its exclusivity is appealing. And for real life real estate, stay tuned for an announcement by Mover and Shaker Tony Marinelli in Florida!

If you are completely unfamiliar with this book, you could cross the classic movie Sunset Boulevard with all of your favorite trips to Disney World's Haunted Mansion, which Peachy personally loves along with Thunder Mountain (Disney tell us you did not close Pirates of the Caribbean because that would be completely ridiculous, and if you did, open it silly!) and then bring it to Manhattan.

Protagonist Jules is clearly down on her luck, and escapades are surely in store because this book weighs in at nearly 400 pages. In the future, we'd like to see tighter execution and more zippy storytelling because as an outsider, we have no edit hesitation. Though, if it is your work personally, you can be too close to the story and hesitate to cut. The first third of this book was the strongest.

You will often question what is going on, right along with Jules and you will be right in doing so. Why is she left a gun? Riley left out the part where she should go in Manhattan to learn how to use it! Before you jump the gun and say to yourself you don't want to read about guns, remember this is a work of fiction and it is the person behind any instrument that makes the decisions. Also, suicide plays a role and our review of Dr. Jennifer Ashton's book is the best book around on that subject matter.

Every page will spark your delight in Sager's exquisite, accurate parallels that emblazon exactly what he intends. And Jules as a character is completely likable, and in possession of common sense, which is not so common in this world.

George is among our favorite characters...keep your eyes peeled for his rock solid personality. Sager's inventive word choice extends to Gargoyle Char-Broil, a fun one.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager is recommended by Whom You Know.

It's great to read outside in the sun!

***

Riley Sager’s third novel, LOCK EVERY DOOR, is as addictive as it is creepy. The book has been sweeping the “Best Books of Summer 2019” and “Most Anticipated” lists for months and it doesn’t hit stands until July 2nd. Ever since his blockbuster 2017 novel, Final Girls, Sager’s unique blend of classic horror and psychological suspense has become a staple of summer reading, and LOCK EVERY DOOR is being praised by reviewers, fans and bestselling thriller writers alike as his best book yet.

LOCK EVERY DOOR puts a dark, unnerving spin on the classic locked-door mystery. Sager has a knack for infusing his novels with hints of horror movie classics, like the odes to Picnic at Hanging Rock in his New York Times bestseller The Last Time I Lied and his homage to the ‘final girls’ trope in Final Girls. His latest oozes Rosemary’s Baby vibes despite being set in one of Manhattan’s most glamorous (fictional) residences, The Bartholomew.

Jules Larsen has had a rough couple of years. She’s recently heartbroken, broke, jobless, and between apartments, not to mention the fact that she’s still reeling from a childhood of trauma. So when she’s given the opportunity to take a job as a well-paid apartment sitter in one of New York City’s most prestigious buildings, she jumps at the chance to spend three months living the life she’s always dreamed of. Sure, the Bartholomew has a few odd rules for their temporary residents—no visitors, no nights spent away from the apartment, no disturbing the other residents, all of whom are rich or famous or both—but that’s a small price to pay for such a huge opportunity. Jules is at the end of her rope, and this is the stroke of luck she needs.

As she begins to settle in, Jules slowly becomes acquainted with the building’s other residents, including an equally rootless apartment sitter named Ingrid, who confides to Jules that she is beginning to wish she’d never set foot in the Bartholomew. At first, Ingrid’s fear that the beautiful building is hiding something more sinister behind its glitzy façade strikes Jules as paranoia or ghost stories rooted in harmless urban legends and antiquated tabloid gossip. But then Ingrid disappears, and suddenly Jules finds herself second-guessing everything.

Determined to find her new friend, Jules starts digging deeper into the Bartholomew’s mysterious, sordid past and the secrets kept within its walls. What she discovers sends her reeling and pits her against the clock, fighting for her life before the building—or something darker—silences another outsider.

With tongue-in-cheek nods to the horror genre Sager loves and twists that will keep readers guessing at every dead end lead, LOCK EVERY DOOR is the summer thriller that will have everyone talking this July.

About Riley Sager

Lock Every Door is the third thriller from Riley Sager, the pseudonym of an author who lives in Princeton, New Jersey. Riley's first novel, Final Girls, was a national and international bestseller that has been published in more than two dozen countries, won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel, and is currently being developed into a feature film by Universal Pictures. Sager's second novel, The Last Time I Lied, was a New York Times bestseller.

LOCK EVERY DOOR

Riley Sager

Dutton | July 2, 2019 | ISBN: 9781524745141

Also available as an eBook and a Penguin Audiobook

www.rileysagerbooks.com | Facebook.com/RileySagerBooks | Twitter: @Riley_Sager | Instagram: @Riley.Sager

About Dutton

Dutton is an imprint of the internationally renowned Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade book publisher. Dutton is home to many bestselling fiction and nonfiction authors such as Lisa Gardner, Tami Hoag, Linda Fairstein, Hank Green, Joseph Finder, Daniel J. Levitin, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Mark Owen, Jonathan Tropper, Sean Carroll, Carl Zimmer, Craig Unger, Fiona Davis, Eric Jerome Dickey, and Mark Adams, among others. Penguin Random House is dedicated to its mission of nourishing a universal passion for reading by connecting authors and their writing with readers everywhere.

Peachy Picks Uncle Paul's Pizza Since 2012 #PeachysPicks #TerrificTakeout #UnclePaulsPizza @UnclePaulsPizza by #ExecutiveChef #DinoRedzic #NickKrkuti and of course Uncle Paul himself, #PaulNicaj !!!

LOBSTER PIZZA: What you need in your summer!

It's not who you know, it's WHOM YOU KNOW and everyone knows that by now!

In the world of our readers, pizza is a priority and there is no better place for pizza than Manhattan, and the best pizza (tied with what we had at Battery Gardens, no accident) we've had this summer has been by Executive Chef and Owner, Dino Redzic, above, with a custom vegetable pizza that Peachy Deegan picked out.

We are pleased to announce that Uncle Paul's Pizza has joined the ranks of Peachy's Picks.

It was first featured twice in 2014:

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2014/08/terrific-takeout-uncle-pauls-pizza-our.html#.XVmYjOhKg2w

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2014/10/peachy-picks-uncle-pauls-pizza-our.html#.XVmYdOhKg2w

and was most recently featured in 2016:

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2016/08/terrific-takeout-uncle-pauls-pizza.html#.XVmYGehKg2x

As you remember, back in 2014, Dino earned his initial feature on his own merit, and we discovered once we were there that we knew his business partner, Paul Nicaj, first!

He is of course Uncle Paul, and was featured in a Battery Gardens review earlier this summer:

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2019/07/peachypicks-batterygardens-summer2019-PaulNicaj-AlexMiljkovic-ChefMauroLujan.html#.XVmbL-hKg2x

Dino and co-owners Paul and Nick Krkuti make fabulous pizza, and much, much more.

Great pizza places start with great salads...because you want to eat something nutritious while your pizza is baking! The signature Uncle Paul's salad is fantastic: Crispy bacon (obviously, a favorite vegetable!), roasted peppers, red onion, fresh mozzarella, grilled mushrooms, cucumber and a homemade dressing, put on the side as requested by Ms. Picky, make a winning combination for contrasting flavors and textures. The Caesar Salad below is a proven classic with romaine lettuce and herb croutons with homemade caesar dressing made daily. We asked for this one dressed. We also applaud the fact that we see five salads; if Peachy is not eating salad this time of year, she is not fitting into her bathing suit and we can't have that.

Dino told us about his friend Sharleen Ravishankar, who crafted the Cabernet above we are told...we are initially impressed but will contact her to consider it further.

You'd be hugely remiss to go into UPP for only pizza. Even if you just take it to go for the next day, you indubitably should order the Linguine alle Vongole: Little Neck Clams sourced from Long Island twice a week with white wine sauce. The resident garlic monster, Peachy of course, loved the beaucoup de garlic and this solid classic is a summer must. The pasta is perfectly al dente and the clams are fresh.

Keep in mind we never edit pictures.

You either excel like Dino, or you don't.

The red pasta of choice this summer was the Follie di Melanzane: Rigatoni, Tomato with Eggplant, and fresh mozzarella. Again, this dish announces less is more and you will again revel in the stunning simplicity done so well. There are many pasta choices-maybe a dozen-and we have further carbohydrate ambitions here.

Summer is for sandwiches, and Uncle Paul's Paninis are superb.

We opted for the winning Roasted Red Peppers and Fresh mozzarella, a complete classic that will brighten your day tremendously. We also loved the panini itself and Peachy personally likes this presentation over flatbread by a million miles. The red peppers and mozzarella are like Peas and Carrots: like Forrest Gump and Jenny.

Now, drumroll please.

If you have not had this lobster pizza, you are not living your best summer yet.

Normally, we only order large pizzas, however, the Maine Lobster Pizza with Grilled Corn is to-die-for and comes only as a Special Pizza Pie 10-inch. One entire lobster tail is dedicated to each pizza, and it is decadently exquisite. If you like lobster and you like pizza, you are going to love this hot white number. We'd also like to see it with red sauce sometime a la fra diavolo!

For both pizzas, the crust, cheese and sauce were perfection.

Dino is extremely enthusiastic about his culinary endeavors, as is evident above.

Peachy is extremely enthusiastic about eating them, and she chose tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, garlic and spinach to grace this large 18-inch pizza at Uncle Paul's.

Check out the pizza horizon:

The crust was the right amount of chewy and balanced to be the right amount of strong to hold up all these nutritious vegetables, that go so well together and were placed in perfect proportion to one another. Usually Peachy eats one slice immediately. She did not. She ate two. Actions speak louder than words, readers.

Uncle Paul's Pizza even does formal entrees, and we chose the Salmon alla Griglia: Grilled Salmon with Mustard Sauce, evocative of the continued talents in the Times Square restaurant which you can look forward to hearing about this fall. Atlantic Salmon swims into the pizza palace three times a week to make your day and is delicious. Finally, do not pass go and collect $200 without trying the spectacular tiramisu.

Peachy Picks Uncle Paul's Pizza!

Uncle Paul's Pizza is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.

https://www.unclepaulspizzamenu.com/

https://twitter.com/UnclePaulsPizza

https://www.facebook.com/uppny

Dino and his niece; this business is a family effort!

Friday, August 16, 2019

#DiamondsAreAGirlsBestFriend #Diamond #AmazingAccessories #FashionAlert #MoverandShaker #EmilioCavallini @EmilioCavallini Creates Diamond Tights to Make Your Legs Stun the World!

(By Peachy Deegan, who changed the lyrics!)

The Italians are glad to die for love

They win at fashion duels

We prefer International and American brands who strive for excellence

And celebrate universal jewels!

A solid black tight

May be quite continental

But Cavallini diamonds are a girl's best friend

A nude stocking may be grand

But it's not monumental

Or make heads turn

And make the compliments churn!

The weather grows cold

And girls need looks that are bold

And our legs aethetically please, both straight and with a bend.

But square cut or pear shaped

These tights don't lose their shape

Cavallini diamonds are a girls best friend!

Wear these while you watch Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (and Peachy Deegans!)

FALL/WINTER 2019/20

Balanced between modern-day romanticism and a seductive celebration of femininity, the new Emilio Cavallini Fall-Winter 2019/20 collection plays with innocence’s elusive allure. In a play of light, shade and color, the ‘girl next door’ confidently sports intriguing sheer textures, audacious lace and openwork patterns, and rewrites the rules of bon ton with printed floral designs and vibrant autumn hues.

The colors are basic and necessary: burgundy, olive green, purple, navy and of course black, the most important color.

Emilio Cavallini’s background

“Hosiery for me, has never been a detail, it’s the heart of a specific aesthetic view,” says Emilio Cavallini. These words express the thoughts of the legendary designer, who has been the first to revolutionize the nature of women’s tights and of men’s socks. He has turned a basic accessory into a unique garment that can transform any look, ensuring compliments and accolades from strangers as you walk down the street as Peachy Deegan has experienced consistently since 2012, shown on Whom You Know.

Emilio’s creative instinct for fashion is paired with his careful research for materials and cutting-edge technology, leading to the emilio cavallini well-known strong and unique style. Geometric cuts, fishnets, optical patterns and bright colors are Emilio’s trademark characteristics.

emiliocavallini.com

facebook.com/emiliocavallini

https://twitter.com/emiliocavallini

https://www.instagram.com/emiliocavallini/

https://www.youtube.com/user/EmilioCavallini

Mover and Shaker Emilio Cavallini

“When I started my company (Stilnovo SpA) in 1970, I was intrigued by the idea of pulling hosiery out of anonymity, of transforming it into a ‘garment’ unto itself,” says Cavallini. The designer adds, “Miniskirts expose so much of the leg that tights are an integral part of any outfit. Let’s face it, the leg makes up more than 30 percent of a head-to-toe look.”

Made in Italy…

All Emilio Cavallini products are MADE IN ITALY, produced by expert Italian craftsmen and a huge staff that prides itself on excellence in every step of production, delivery and service. All production processes (knitting, dying, ironing, printing, packaging) take place in the Stilnovo factory located in San Miniato (near Florence, Italy). , which has just undergone major renovations, including a new showroom space designed to present the product.

The Cavallini look…

#CulturedPeachy #NewYorkNotes #RockandRoll @MetMuseum The Met's Rock & Roll Exhibition Reaches a Milestone 500,000 Visitors

Attendance at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's acclaimed exhibition Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll topped 500,000 visitors—an attendance milestone—during the afternoon of August 14.

In the 18 weeks since it opened on April 8, 2019, the exhibition has drawn many visitors to the Museum for the first time. Surveys conducted by The Met's market research team showed that, of the 500,000 total visitors to the exhibition to date, 12% (or 60,000) were first-time visitors to the Museum who came specifically to see the exhibition.

The exhibition is on view through October 1—just 48 more days.

To celebrate the attendance milestone, a catalogue of the exhibition was presented to a visitor by the show's curators, Jayson Kerr Dobney, Frederick P. Rose Curator in Charge of the Department of Musical Instruments at The Met, and Craig J. Inciardi, Curator and Director of Acquisitions of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

About the Exhibition

Dedicated entirely to the iconic instruments of rock and roll, this major loan exhibition explores how individual artists used their instruments to create unique sounds and visual identity. Featuring more than 130 instruments dating from 1939 to 2017, the exhibition includes the instruments of such artists as Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan, Lady Gaga, Jimi Hendrix, Joan Jett, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Steve Miller, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page, Elvis Presley, Prince, Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Eddie Van Halen, St. Vincent, and others as well as vintage posters, stage costumes, and epoch-making videos.

The exhibition is made possible by the John Pritzker Family Fund, the Estate of Ralph L. Riehle, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, Diane Carol Brandt, the Paul L. Wattis Foundation, Kenneth and Anna Zankel, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

It is organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Image: Gibson Guitar Corp. (Kalamazoo, MI); painted by Keith Richards. Les Paul Custom electric guitar (serial no. 7 7277), 1957; painted 1968. Carved mahogany body and neck, ebony fingerboard, 24 3/4 in. scale; black finish with hand-painted design; three patent-applied-for (PAF) humbucking pickups, three-way selector switch, two volume and two tone controls. Collection of Keith Richards

#LondonPeachy #CulturedPeachy @NationalGallery @59productions National Gallery reveals images of ‘abandoned’ angel and Christ underneath its The Virgin of the Rocks, ahead of ground-breaking new Leonardo experience this autumn

National Gallery reveals images of ‘abandoned’ angel and Christ underneath its The Virgin of the Rocks, ahead of ground-breaking new Leonardo experience this autumn

New scientific research by the National Gallery into Leonardo da Vinci’s The Virgin of the Rocks (about 1491/2-9 and 1506-8) has expanded our knowledge of the composition he began before abandoning it for the version we see today. The drawings, underneath one of the Gallery’s most popular paintings, have been revealed ahead of a new immersive experience featuring the work - created by 59 Productions - that will open later this year.

An earlier discovery in 2004/05 revealed that the Virgin’s pose had been changed, but there were only hints of the other figures that were assumed to have been part of that first effort. Following months of cutting-edge research using the latest imaging techniques, more information has been revealed regarding the first and second compositions underneath the painting. Now for the first time Leonardo’s initial designs for the angel and the Infant Christ can be seen, showing significant differences to how they look in the finished painting.

In the abandoned composition both figures are positioned higher up, while the angel, facing out, is looking down on the Infant Christ with what appears to be a much tighter embrace. These new images were found because the drawings were made in a material that contained some zinc, so it could be seen in the macro x-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) maps showing where this chemical element was present, and also through new infrared and hyperspectral imaging.

Why Leonardo abandoned this first composition still remains a mystery. The new research has shown how the second underdrawing, while aligning much more closely to the finished version, nonetheless displays his characteristic elaborations and adjustments from drawing to painting. For instance, the angle of the Infant Christ’s head was changed so that he was seen in profile, while some parts of the angel’s curly hair have been removed. Handprints resulting from patting down the priming on the panel to create an even layer of more or less uniform thickness can also be seen, probably the work of an assistant - but perhaps even by Leonardo himself.

500 years after his death, Leonardo remains one of the world’s most popular artists and the National Gallery’s Leonardo: Experience a Masterpiece will provide an immersive exploration of his genius as a painter, focussing on The Virgin of the Rocks. From 9 November 2019 the ground floor galleries will be completely transformed into a space that investigates this painting and the inventive mind that created it.

A wide range of multi-sensory experiences will be presented across four separate rooms. Visitors will be able to step inside a similar chapel-setting and see what art historical research suggests the painting’s setting may have looked like. They will be able to explore Leonardo’s own research, which informed the specific compositions in the painting. In addition they will see how Leonardo used his scientific studies to create strong effects of light and shadow in his painting. The modern process of discovery in a conservation studio, where the mysteries and secrets of a painting are uncovered, will also be brought to life with visitors being able to engage in detail with the latest findings underneath The Virgin of the Rocks.

The experience has been created by 59 Productions, the multi award-winning company of artists, architects, designers and technologists behind the video design of the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Exhibitions and installations feature prominently in the company’s recent roster of commissions, including; the design and creative direction of David Bowie is, the record-breaking V&A exhibition seen by more than 1.8 million people on its international 10-stop tour; twentieth anniversary celebrations for Guggenheim Museum Bilbao; Array, a City of London Culture Mile and Barbican commission that saw Beech Street tunnel transformed by a vast projected artwork set to Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Karawane; and most recently, transforming the Washington Monument into a full scale Saturn V rocket for the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s celebration of Apollo 11, witnessed by 500,000 people on the National Mall.

Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said: “This exhibition represents a fascinating new venture for the National Gallery, combining the most recent technical research on The Virgin of the Rocks with an immersive, enveloping experience, giving visitors the opportunity to explore Leonardo da Vinci's creative process in making this masterpiece.”

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of Collections and Research, said: “By its very nature, much of the research we do at the National Gallery takes place in closed studios, laboratories and libraries. This is an exciting opportunity to not only share our innovative findings, but also to invite the public to explore and engage with what we have found.”

Richard Slaney, Managing Director of 59 Productions, said: “59 Productions are thrilled to create the first digital-led experience for the National Gallery, that will allow visitors to explore the fascinating layers of this iconic masterwork in an immersive way. We work at the nexus between technology and art, and are passionate about applying the latest cutting-edge technologies in the pursuit of incredible storytelling - something that seems to align well with Leonardo’s broad view of the world. By focusing on this single artwork, the experience will introduce visitors to this great painting through the bold techniques and innovative approach of Leonardo making it feel reinvigorated and newly relevant for contemporary audiences.”

A Peachy's Pick Since 2018, District Social Summer 2019 #DistrictSocial @district37st #WhomYouKnow #PeachysPicks @ManhattanPeachy #PeachyDeegan #TerrificTakeout #Manhattan #Restaurants

They may be drinking consultants, but they are also Charred Octopus Specialists!

Owner Sean Marr with District Socials Flatbreads, the best Flatbreads in Manhattan!

Hot town, summer in the city where can you eat where it's delicious and pretty?

District Social!

Start off with a refreshing sparkling rose, and waste no time diving into the flatbreads.

Actually, they are so amazing you will want to cannonball into them and make a splash on your palate: they are in the best in the city (and we have eaten a lot of lesser flatbreads that we have not published on to say that.)

District Social was first featured in June 2017:

http://www.whomyouknow.com/2017/06/district-social-inaugural-review-our.html#.Wv3E8UgvzIU

and it graduated to Peachy's Picks in 2018:

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2018/05/peachy-picks-district-social.html#.XC_lkFxKg2x

It was most recently featured last winter:

https://www.whomyouknow.com/2019/01/a-peachys-pick-since-2018-district.html#.XVaxtehKg2x

Opened in December 2015, District Social was once the newest of this team's endeavors, and it is the newest we have published on so far...but it is not THE NEWEST as of this time of publishing. We have yet to publish on the newest so hold on to your hats and stay tuned. This is among the hardest working teams in the business of their (our if you are Peachy!) generation and District Social is owned by Sean Marr, Bennett Page, Michael Geddes, Philip Smith and Aiden Stenson. District Tap House is a Peachy's Pick and Bedford Falls has also been featured.

Above, the shrimp flatbread remains Peachy's favorite menu item. That manchego is fabulous as it teams up with the cute little shrimps, cilantro, and piquillo puree to form a celebration of summer on your palate.

Below, crisp 100% beef meatballs await you upon the perfectly crisp flatbread with intoxicatingly delicious catalan sofrito and smoked mozzarella.

You are not living your best life if you have not had the flatbreads here.

Another great start is the croquette section. Here is the Risotto variety: Preserved Lemon Aioli is an absolute burst of refreshment in your summer season, aptly suggested by Owner Sean Marr. This is perfect to munch on to begin your District Social experience as well.

Summer is for Ceviche!

A completely festive arrangement of Fluke Ceviche is a total party on the plate: orange, radish, cilantro, the fluke itself of course, and habanero pepper brighten your palate with their contrasting flavors that meld together beautifully. This is a figuratively hot new number on their menu but of course served cold.

Our favorite cold soup in Manhattan is the Gazpacho at El Pote...however, this is a close second. Keep in mind that the District Social owners were born around the same time El Pote started...meet the Sweet Corn and Crab soup! It's meant to be cold, and is a new menu item.

The crab part is obviously our favorite component. The corn goes well with it, but it would probably be terrific without it or with another companion. The creme fraiche is another totally winning component and yukon gold potatoes also come to this liquid celebration.

Spinach Salad is another great aspect to your meal, and it should be ordered with any entree. The spinach itself is always fresh and red peppers, parmesan, kataifi and shallots round out this well-balanced nutritional powerhouse. On the side is aioli, red peppers, lebanese yogurt and oil and vinegar because Picky Peachy likes her dressing on the side. Always. And, District Social listens.

The Charred Octopus really puts this venue in a class by themselves in the tavern industry, as no one else excels gastronomically at this level. Potato Confit and Chimichurri are gorgeous companions to the perfectly tender octopus that is sliced in a classy, elegant presentation.

The result is an overall homerun appetizer.

Peachy really does not care for lamb. But, she likes this lamb!

That is what great restaurants do. They convince us we like something that normally we do not.

Suggested by Owner Sean Marr, the Lamb Skewers, a new menu item, are completely intoxicating in a brilliant eggplant ragu and unique grape molasses which evokes a delightful, carnivorous flavor. They are yet another new menu item. These guys constantly reinvent their commitment to excellence and are always impressing us with their latest and greatest.

We are great advocates of vegetable sides, and from the Charred Broccoli, above, enhanced with garlic, basil and mustard seed, to the Haricot Vert, directly above, District Social nails the fresh sides that balance out your meal and make you feel terrific. Our favorite are those green beans with Idiazabal cheese, derived from a baby sheep from Spain, and soy butter and ginger.

The Branzino with Fideua, Cherry Tomatoes and Artichoke Puree is the epitome of dining sophistication and will please even the most discriminating eaters. The fish is fresh and we really applaud that fideua, which is gracing more and more menus overall. As far as chicken goes, this Roasted Chicken is the best chicken dish we have had this summer. Joined by Watercress Risotto, White Miso, and Royal Trumpets, this chicken is truly extraordinary in flavor and style. And all of these dishes have style like no other because of course the District is the FASHION DISTRICT, silly! The wine list is tremendous and the cabernet is tops any time of year in our book. Apricot, green apple and coconut sorbet round out your meal even if you think you are full, it's never complete without a refreshing dessert!