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Posts Tagged ‘Old Fashioned Mom Show’

Thanks to the Kardashians, Jenners, and Hadids of the world, thighbrows are the most tantalizing part of your bod to show off on the beach. Ditch the bikini and rock this trendy one piece silhouette instead.

[Photo via @same]

 

SAME

How cute is this black and white striped suit?! We’re loving the added ruffle detail.

The Pin Up One Piece, $250

 

Onia

Sizzle in the sand in this red hot number. You can totally make this suit your own by adjusting the lace up feature on the front.

Bridget Ribbed One Piece, $195

 

Lauren Layne

The scoop neck and side cut-outs make it sexier than any regular ol’ bikini.

The Nova, $120

 

MISSGUIDED

There’s just something chic about a simple, white swimsuit. Plus the stark color will make your tan seriously pop.

High Leg Drop Side Swimsuit, $22

 

Clube Bossa

Everyone needs a Little Black Suit.

Welch One Piece, $350

 

Hunza G

The bow accents on the side are all the rage right now, so get on board (a boat).

Greta Scrunch One Piece, $132

 

Araks

Channel your inner vintage Barbie doll (with a modern, high-leg twist).

Harley One Piece Midnight Stripe, $285

 

Eres

First of all, this color is to die for. Second, this is definitely appropriate for the real world as a bodysuit paired with jeans. Score.

Aquarelle Swimsuit, $280

 

HAIGHT

The 1980s sparked the high-cut leg trend, so the name of this suit is very fitting. And the actual fit of the suit is ideal.

80’s One Piece, $106

 

Solid & Striped

Itsy bitsy polka dot one piece. See what we did there?

The Anne-Marie, $168

 

Written By: Tyler Harris

And you thought champagne vending machines were glamorous?

Upscale Brooklyn hotel, The William Vale, home to one of our favorite rooftop bars in the city and a pretty cushy summertime pool situation, has recently acquired an impressive new amenity: a vending machine that dispenses fine jewelry instead of Snickers bars.

Equipped with an interactive touchscreen, the machine is full of gorgeous pieces by New York based designer Marla Aaron. Guests in need of an emergency accessory can choose between 12 different items, from sterling silver to 14k gold (white, rose, or yellow), with prices ranging from $165 to $1,500. Purchases are retrieved from a suede-lined inner pocket, natch.

The chic new offering can be found in Williamsburg’s Vale Park, the hotel’s elevated, public greenspace. Take a peek at some of Aaron’s pieces below!

 

[Photos courtesy The William Vale]

 

Written By: Stephanie Maida

Every afternoon, at around 2 pm, while you’re most likely sipping your second iced coffee of the day, you probably scroll upon some variation of a meme that reads “bet you really wish you could get back all those naps you refused to take as a kid.” You weakly double-tap, wondering why, exactly, you hated nap time in kindergarten. At this point in your energy lag you can only manage to think Tweet-like thoughts: “Nap breaks should replace lunch breaks.” “Why don’t adults get mandatory nap time?” “Could I pull a George Costanza and get away with napping under my desk right now?”

The bad news, of course, is that not even George Costanza was able to pull off the secret desk-napping scheme for long. The good news, however, is that you are not alone. Everyone wants naps these days – and whether it’s due to the humidity or the inevitable aging of millennials’ bodies, they’ve officially become this summer’s hottest (and most thought-provoking) trend.

It certainly plays into the whole “self-care” thing. The idea of Wellness, once marked by a frenetic desire to sweat and move constantly, has mellowed out. Rest is good for you! Naps are health! But, just like all those pricey fitness classes and colonics (glam!), rest is a privilege. Laziness, as we all know, is a luxury.

In Ottessa Moshfegh’s buzzed-about new novel, My Year of Rest and Relaxation, a tall, blonde, thin, and moneyed Upper East Side twentysomething embraces this concept to the point of dark hyperbole. She quits the cushy gallery girl job she didn’t need for any financial reason in the first place, and self medicates herself into oblivion in an attempt to sleep for a year and return to life renewed. Purified. A sleep cleanse, if you will. An inheritance and the ability to put bills on autopay allows the unnamed narrator to do this without the burden of, oh, you know, getting up and going to work.

Not only is the book strangely addictive (much like the narrator’s pills), it’s also strangely aspirational. Who wouldn’t want an endless series of naps at their disposal?

“I went straight into black emptiness, an infinite space of nothingness. I was neither scared nor elated in that space. I had no visions. I had no ideas. If I had a distinct thought, I would hear it, and the sound of it would echo and echo until it got absorbed by the darkness and disappeared. There was no response necessary. No inane conversation with myself. It was peaceful,” says Moshfegh’s character, describing one of her pre-unemployed workplace naps in the gallery’s supply closet. “I was awake in the sleep, somehow. I felt good. Almost happy.”

Weirdly enough, in the middle of a recent summertime weekday, I had the same exact feeling during an on-the-clock nap. If you’re my boss and you’re reading this, let me explain.

Casper, the social media savvy mattress brand whose subway ads you’ve most definitely been amused by, has expanded its NoHo Sleep Shop to include The Dreamery. It is exactly what it sounds like – a whimsical, Instagrammable space to indulge in a bespoke nap. It is also, quite frankly, genius. And while it’s not the first New York destination to provide middle-of-the-day R&R, it is certainly the chicest.

Like most “experiences” in New York in the year 2018, it is heavily branded and practically made to be hashtagged. But it is so magical, you hardly even care. When I left the office and arrived at The Dreamery for a mid-afternoon sleep sesh, I was greeted by a starry entryway. I was given designer, celestial pajamas by Sleepy Jones. I was escorted into a spa-like locker room with private changing areas and skincare products by the coveted beauty brand, Sunday Riley. I took so many selfies. My sleep mask had adorable little eyelashes on it.

When it was time to tuck in for my 45-minute slot, I was led into a dim, quiet room full of very roomy sleep pods. They each boasted a full size Casper mattress, clean, white bedding, heavy curtain doors, adjustable lighting, and a built-in nightstand complete with power outlets. They’ve really thought of every way to recharge.

I put my phone on airplane mode and concentrated on falling asleep. What Moshfegh wrote was true – my nap mentality differs from my “nighttime sleep” one. I wasn’t wired on the day’s events, rehashing awkward things I said to people or stressing out about tomorrow. There was “no inane conversation with myself.” Before I realized I’d drifted off, I was already being gently roused by the soundless brightening of my pod light – a task that discreetly belongs to one of The Dreamery’s staff members. Unlike most mornings, I felt awake. It was… empowering? I felt like I could get shit done. Feminism, bitches!

Well… the “self care” movement has been generally embraced by the feminist community, though not without some controversy. After all, the spectrum of wellness could range from an expensive treatment approved by Goop, to an hour of much-needed alone time for a working mother. The advertised version of “treat yo self” is excessive, but the crucial version is necessary: manicures versus mental healthcare. It’s understandable that many people find the concept elitist and exclusionary, because, in many ways, it is. Time is money, and an extra hour of sleep in the day can cost you – quite literally. An appointment at The Dreamery? $25. Skipping a shift at the restaurant because of physical and mental exhaustion? That could cost somebody their entire income. See, it’s complicated.

Now, when “self care” is operating at it’s best, it’s obvious that it should fall into the feminine realm. Anyone who’s heard Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” or is somewhat familiar with the history of humankind, would know why: women have always carried not only their own weight, but the weight of their families, their communities. The burden is both existential and biological – women physically carry the children, and there’s never been a time card for punching in and out of motherhood. That’s why “taking some me time,” in the most mommy blog of terms, can feel like a revolutionary act. One could even consider the amplified self-involvement of the narrator of My Year of Rest and Relaxation to be a feminist rejection of the things society expects of her: beauty, empathy, kindness. She’s really just like, I don’t owe anybody anything, I just want to sleep.

Nevertheless, napping is pretty gender-neutral. There was a surprising number of men padding around in their PJs at Casper’s Dreamery, and just last week both my best friend and I were respectively stood up by dates who actually said they couldn’t hang out because they needed to nap. There, indeed, is the blazing difference: dudes have always been privileged enough to be unapologetic when it comes to their needs (ahem, George Costanza). It’s about time women acted the same way.

So go ahead, take a nap. You don’t have to Instagram it, but I won’t judge you if you do.

[Cover photo via Reshot]

 

 

Written By: Stephanie Maida

If you suffer from a guilty conscience, reframing is a valuable technique. No one wants to admit that she is willfully doing something bad for her mind or body (‘social smoking’ is a construct). The idea of a cheat meal is handy because it allows you to think of truffle fries as a one-off indulgence and it removes the need to do penance at The Dogpound. We all have to square our choices with our images of ourselves and what we know is actually good/bad for us. Jim Gaffigan does a whole bit on how pancakes are a way to reconcile our desire to eat cake in the morning with the truth that we should not eat cake in the morning. Assembled here is a way to feel better about your self destructive impulses. Read and follow with three Hail Marys for a spiritual refresh.

 

Asking Your Dad for Money

Dads need attention, too. Straight out of Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, “Make the other person feel important–and do it sincerely.” Your father will feel loved and appreciated when you ask him for a little velvet to supplement your laughably inadequate salary. He doesn’t want you to starve – how else are you supposed to afford oat milk and a spiralizer? Asking dad for money will make him nostalgic for a simpler time when all you requested were his credit card to order Uggs and hinted that a Range Rover would be just fine for your 16th.

[Photo via IMDB]

 

Buying Books You’ll Never Read

As long as you’re patronizing independent bookstores*

Buying books you’re never going to read is the modern day version of Gatsby’s uncut library. Continue amassing those volumes, though, because everyone knows: the more hardcovers you own, the purer your soul. Who cares if your copy of The Beautiful and Damned is gathering dust and Look Homeward, Angel is sun faded–they bring together the look of your gilded bar cart just so. If you’re shopping at Book CultureBluestockingsShakespeare & Co., or Greenlight, you’re giving print publications a reason to exist. Without local bookstore patrons, how could a journal dedicated solely to celebrating the art, ideas, style, and culture of tennis exist? The world is richer for all of the insanely niche magazines that are only available at independent bookstores.

Extra points if you buy something out of print.

[Photo via @strandbookstore]

 

Indulging In Extravagant Sleepwear

If under eye bags were directly correlated to pajama spend, my dark circles would be nonexistent. It doesn’t *quite* work out that way – but they’re not entirely unrelated. This vice is basically self-care because if you have amazing pajamas you’ll spend more time in them, and it follows that you’ll sleep more.

[Photo via @sleepyjones]

 

Buying Aspirational Groceries

You know when you convince yourself that you’re going to eat clean? Like Miranda Kerr clean? Treat yourself to some maca powder and goji berries. Chickpea flour and grapeseed oil. Why not also get some nutritional yeast and coconut sugar? Go full Miranda and get noni juice. The lifestyle change never ends up sticking, but keep doing it because it’s basically a psychological cleanse.

NB: This muesli recipefrom Huckleberry chef Zoe Nathan is my favorite thing to eat in the world. The recipe is ridiculously involved and the grocery shopping will take you forever. It’s the perfect start to a sure to fail diet.

[Photo via @goop]

 

Enjoying A Lazy Afternoon Tea

Save a harpist, go to tea. Besides weddings, who else is hiring harpists? Channel your inner Eloise and go to the Plaza to eat finger sandwiches and petit fours. Sleep well knowing your clotted cream/lemon curd consumption has done something good for humanity.

[Photo via The Plaza]

 

Gossiping Your Way To A Better Self

Gossip facilitates a collective consciousness! Gossiping bonds you with others! Gossip makes you feel good about yourself! These are real things that The Atlantic printed in an article called “Gossip is Good“. What a boon – reading it is as life changing as learning about ‘good fats’. Now I eat prosciutto for long life. Likewise, you can circulate rumors under the pretense that it’s good for you.

[Photo via @jooleeloren]

 

Posting Selfies For Mental Health

Instagram models and bloggers rejoice: the surely distinguished computer scientists at the University of California reported that taking selfies is a beneficial and healthy activity. Selfies lead to “an increase in body confidence and an overall improvement in mood.” It’s not hard to imagine what a study from the same scientists on thirst traps would look like: Thirst Traps Linked to Increase in Metabolism and Earning Power. Let’s hope their study wasn’t state funded.

[Photo via @kendalljenner]

 

Written By: Sanibel Chai

Sticking to the city this weekend? From the three-day Panorama music fest to a massive silent disco in the middle of a baseball field, we have you covered. Click through for all the NYC events you can’t miss!

 

What: Panorama is back this summer with some of the biggest acts in music. Returning for its third engagement to New York City’s Randall’s Island Park, the 3 day festival will kick off Friday, July 27 with performances by THE WEEKND, MIGOS, FATHER JOHN MISTY, THE WAR ON DRUGS and DUA LIPA. The festival will continue into Saturday with sets from JANET JACKSON, SZA, GUCCI MANE and ST. VINCENT before closing out the weekend on Sunday with THE KILLERS, THE XX, ODESZA, DAVID BYRNE, FLEET FOXES and more.

When: Friday, July 27 – Sunday, July 29

 

Museum of Pizza x Hotel Chantelle x Williamsburg Pizza

What: We all know that New York is famed for its pizza prowess so why not spend your day paying homage to the city who patented the dollar slice? Hotel Chantelle is hosting an event celebrating all things pizza.

When: Friday, July 27

 

6th Annual NY Women’s Surf Film Festival 2018

What: Just because you are in the concrete jungle doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate the great outdoors. Head to Rockaway Beach Club any time this weekend to experience the first ever Women’s Surf Film Festival.

When: Friday, July 27

 

Breakers Day Party with NY Cult

What: One of the best things about living in NYC is you can always find a party on the roof. This weekend, head to The Breakers for a day party featuring the musical stylings of Justin Miller and friends.

When: Saturday, July 28

 

Silent Disco at MCU Park

What: Head to Coney Island to party all night to the silent sounds of three different DJs in the middle of the Cyclones field. Sure to be a surreal experience.

When: Saturday, July 28

 

Community Bike Ride with lululemon

What: If you aren’t one to let the heat stop you from getting your workout in, head to lululemon  in Williamsburg because Marc Diagl is leading a community bike ride.

When: Sunday, July 29

 

Written By: Camilla Davis

When your parents are Jay-Z and Beyonce, living the good life comes naturally. Spending your summer on a million dollar a week yacht in Italy? It’s casual.

Proving just how unfazed by luxury she is, Blue Ivy Carter, the six-year-old Richest Kid of Instagram, calmly sipped a (virgin) tropical cocktail in pool on her parents’ yacht, decked out in a designer ruffled bathing suit and cat-eye shades. The glamorous moment was captured in a photo posted to her mother’s official website, where other snaps of Blue showed her meditating and matching with her mama during their holiday in Europe.

Needless to say, Blue Ivy On Vacation is the internet’s official summer #mood.

Written By: Stephanie Maida

Summer Restaurant Week is in full swing, and though there are plenty of hot spots across the city to choose from, you may start regretting that text you sent to the group chat a few weeks ago along the lines of: “Omg we HAVE to do Restaurant Week!”

Before your gourmand group of friends turn hangry, whip out their iMessage history, and start bickering about those reservations you promised you’d make, do yourself a favor and consider dining with a group as a blessing in disguise – just think of all the dishes you can sample! Palliate your worries (and later on, satiate your appetite) by exploring our guide to the ultimate squad-worthy restaurants to wine and dine. The more the merrier, right?

[Photo via @legaseany]

 

Quality Eats – NoMad

With three outposts bringing affordable steaks and innovative bites to the Insta-crowd across the city, there’s probably a Quality Eats in whichever hood your group prefers. Nevertheless, the new NoMad location, which opened earlier this year, is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Spacious booths and banquettes provide plenty of room for a party of five, while neon art and tableware provide plenty of photo opportunities. A win on both ends!

Quality Eats, 3 E 28th St.

[Photo via @quality_eats]

 

Legasea

Legasea combines a top-tier seafood prix fixe menu, which includes Spicy Crab Beignets, Flounder Francaise, and Seafood Marinara Pasta, with a young, hip crowd at the Moxy Times Square. Tell your girls to dress their best and get ready to see and be seen.

Legasea Seafood Brasserie, 485 7th Ave.

[Photo via @legaseany]

 

Bodega Negra at Dream Downtown

Located at the Dream Downtown, Bodega Negra is offering a prix fixe menu that incorporates dishes from their newly revamped summer menu. Serving ceviche, tacos and a variety of options that pair perfectly with Bodega Negra’s selection of tequila cocktails, this always-jumpin’ Mexican spot is bound to elevate any group dining experience.

Bodega Negra, 355 W. 16th St.

[Photo via @bodeganegranyc]

 

 

Narcissa

Narcissa features a rotating menu of upscale farm-to-table fare as well as an always-chic crowd. It boasts a large main dining room (perfect for groups), and a charming private garden for an al fresco experience capturing summertime vibes. You and your crew can dine on fluke ceviche with Florida citrus and papaya, skirt steak with grilled summer fruits and chimichurri, and a cheesecake sundae with seasonal ice cream, rhubarb jam, black walnut.

Narcissa, 25 Cooper Sq.

[Photo via @narcissa]

 

Aureole – Liberty Room

Chef Charlie Palmer’s Aureole has been a fancy NYC staple for almost three decades, but the Liberty Room provides a more casual night on the town experience for you and your friends. Try the marinated heirloom tomatoes with Vermont mozzarella and basil pesto, organic chicken breast with rainbow Swiss chard and purple potatoes, and the vanilla sponge cake with berries, spearmint and ice cream.

Aureole, 135 West 42nd St.

[Photo via @aureolenewyork]

 

Beauty & Essex

A speakeasy of a restaurant and watering hole, Beauty & Essex is always a fun time with your group of well-heeled ladies. Wine and dine with your squad and enjoy offerings from the scrumptious signature menu of international small plates along with dry-aged steaks and raw bar offerings. Oh and do be sure to leave room for the restaurant’s decadent desserts.

Beauty & Essex, 146 Essex St.

[Photo via @beautyandessexnyc]

 

The Breslin Bar & Dining Room

The Breslin Bar features a meat-centric menu that embraces unique cuisine methodologies at their Flatiron District gastropub. Executive chef April Bloomfield is serving up bites like braised shin of beef with polenta and black cabbage, stuffed pig’s foot (for two), and a chargrilled lamb burger with cumin mayo. Not the best option if there’s a vegan in your group…

The Breslin Bar & Dining Room, 16 W. 29th St.

[Photo via @peachytravels]

 

 

Buttermilk Channel

True to its name, this cozy Brooklyn eatery serves up buttermilk ricotta, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and buttermilk fried chicken with cheddar waffles. Come one, come all, any time of day for your share of drool-worthy comfort food.

Buttermilk Channel, 524 Court St., Brooklyn

[Photo courtesy @littlemissyum]

 

The Capital Grille Chrysler Center

Need a night out with the boys? The Capital Grille serves classic steak house offerings such as chops, large North Atlantic lobsters and fresh seafood in an atmosphere with art deco chandeliers and rich mahogany. It’s an elegant, old school New York classic.

The Capital Grille, 155 E. 42nd St.

[Photo via @thecapitalgrille]

 

Park Avenue Summer

Winter, spring, summer, fall—for every season, the eatery Park Avenue changes its name, appearance and menu, taking the concept of seasonal cuisine to new heights. Stop in for a taste of summer!

Park Avenue Summer, 360 Park Ave. South

[Photo via @parkavenuenyc]

 

Written By: Danielle Spoleti

Thanks, no doubt, to the dawning of the age of Kardashian, big booties have never been more covetable (although, hey, Sir Mix-a-Lot knew the deal way ahead of his time).

While the widely-accepted way to amp up your derriere has always been le squat, it’s not always the most effective. Sure, squats definitely help build muscle (in your glutes and quads), however, it is all too easy to turn your squat into a quad-dominate exercise – especially if you’re using weights. Long story short, you’re working the wrong part of your body.

So how do we make sure to target that gluteus maximus? This new dream machine is a start…

The DB Method (DB as in ‘Dream Butt’) was created by Erika Rayman to improve your backside with a machine that isolates the glutes, and stabilizes your hips and core. The best part? It’s super affordable, compact, and portable enough to take on vacation. That explains why a jet-setter like Khloe Kardashian herself has already fallen in love with it.

A home gym must-have, the DB Method is also a great all-in-one, as you can also utilize it to tone everything from your obliques to your arms. Add it to your daily workout routine for at least 10 minutes and you’ll start seeing the difference.

Of course consistency is key, so no skipping days! Get ready to feel (and look) like a Kardashian (no lip fillers required).

Get it HERE for $199

 

 

 

Written By: Raya O’Neal

Larry Bacow.

“It is our responsibility to engage,” Harvard’s new president said at Thursday’s Institute of Politics event in Washington, D.C. “It’s our responsibility to work on behalf of others less fortunate.”

Photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Harvard’s new leader tells audience he’ll be a vocal advocate for public service, higher education

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During one of his first public events as the University’s 29th leader, Harvard President Larry Bacowsignaled Thursday evening that he will be a steadfast advocate for public service and higher education.

As president, Bacow said he plans to advocate not just for Harvard but “for all of higher education, for the enduring values of colleges and universities which have enabled the American dream for so many of us, because it’s important that we not let that dream die. It’s important that each of us commit ourselves to work to ensure that the next generation has opportunity just as we have enjoyed.”

His remarks came during a reception at the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington. The event was the latest annual summer gathering organized by the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Institute of Politics’ (IOP) Summer in Washington Program, which helps introduce Harvard undergraduates working as interns or research assistants to the range of careers and experiences available in politics and public service.

The capital event held special resonance for Bacow. More than 40 years ago, he and his wife, Adele, spent their first summer as a married couple working in the city. The experience inspired them to consider working in the government after they finished graduate school, he told the crowd in his brief remarks. “But life intervened, as it sometimes does,” said Bacow, who instead headed to Cambridge as a two-year, adjunct faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “And two years turned into 24 years.”

The son of Holocaust-era refugees who arrived in the U.S. after World War II, Bacow said he is one of the countless college graduates whose life was “transformed by the opportunity to get an education” and by the doors that opened for him because of that.

Bacow speaks with Jessica Edwards and Eric Jjemba, both ’21.

The president’s predecessor, Drew Faust, often promoted public service and was a leading supporter of higher education. With his remarks, Bacow signaled he would continue that unwavering commitment.

Bacow, M.P.P. ’76, J.D. ’76, Ph.D. ’78, said he was blessed to have studied at Harvard and acknowledged that a Harvard education carries great responsibility.

“It is our responsibility to engage. It’s our responsibility to work on behalf of others less fortunate. It’s our responsibility to carry a mantle of public service which was so eloquently stated by the president for whom [the Harvard Kennedy School] is named,” said Bacow.

Such work, he said, isn’t divided along party lines or by political ideologies.

“We all have to work together: liberals, conservatives, Democrats, Republicans. It is our responsibility to make sure that we leave this country and this world a better place than we found it. It is an honor beyond words to be part of this journey together with each and every one of you. Thank you for what all of you do for Harvard, for what each of you do for the country. I look forward to working with you in the years to come.”

Bacow meets with Kevin Ogonuwe ’21, as well as Mahnoor Ali (from left), Malvika Menon, and Asma Elgamal, all ’19.

Art and hors d’oeuvres

The nearly 500 guests at the two-hour event had access to the galleries as well as the remarks by Bacow in the museum’s Luce Foundation Center. The space there is covered by block-long skylights and showcases more than 3,300 works of art on two levels, including sculptures, portraits, craft jewelry, and paintings from the 18th‒20th centuries.

Attendees snacked as they strolled through the nearby Great Hall, a vaulted space adorned with late-19th-century architectural highlights. One nearby gallery featured portraits, including a rendering of former first lady Michelle Obama by artist Amy Sherald. Nearby were portraits of Harvard’s E.O. Wilson, Pellegrino University Professor Emeritus, and of author and Harvard honorand Toni Morrison.

Lisa Fitzpatrick is an epidemiologist and infectious-diseases physician who received her master’s in public administration from the Kennedy School’s mid-career program in 2015 and currently runs a health literacy and patient-engagement business for individuals from low-income backgrounds. She was invited by the director of admissions at HKS to meet Bacow, and said beforehand that she was looking forward “to seeing who he is, and seeing what he does. I wish him luck and I also hope that he is able to emphasize service across all the Schools at Harvard because I think it’s really important, no matter what School you are in.”

View image on Twitter

Meeting, greeting, and connecting

For more than an hour, Bacow and his wife wandered amid the crowd, connecting with old friends, shaking hands with well-wishers, and warmly greeting students, alumni, political pundits, media representatives, and members of Congress, including U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, M.P.P. ’73, J.D. ’82, of Rhode Island, a friend since their student days at the Kennedy School.

A few minutes later, Bacow chatted with U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, M.P.P. ’85, of Maryland, and introduced himself to U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey ’84 of Pennsylvania, and to Toomey’s daughter Bridget, who will attend the College in the fall.

“This is my first time meeting President Bacow. He is a very, very charming and engaging man and obviously enormously accomplished, so I am looking forward to getting to know him and learning about his vision for Harvard,” said Sen. Toomey. “Harvard is a unique and really important institution for America, and so the leadership of Harvard is really important too.”

As he made his way around the room Bacow frequently stopped for photos, even appearing in a brief smartphone video for Harvard College students and IOP members Grace Bannister ’21 and Diego Garcia ’20, who were posting to the University account. Bannister, who is spending her summer interning for U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, liked that Bacow kicked off the segment with a Yale joke. “He is pretty funny,” said Bannister.

Garcia, a government concentrator working for the summer at Quorum Analytics, a big-data startup founded by Harvard undergraduates, said Bacow’s presence sent an important message. “I really feel that we are being appreciated and that we are getting a lot of important [attention] by the fact that President Bacow is here … in Washington, D.C., to celebrate public service and the work we are doing.”

Carlos Díaz-Rosillo, M.P.P. ’98, A.M. ’03, Ph.D. ’09, the senior deputy chairman and chief operating officer at the National Endowment for the Humanities who until recently was director of policy and interagency coordination for the Trump administration, said he was thrilled to be part of the Thursday celebration. Prior to working in the White House, Díaz-Rosillo spent 20 years at Harvard pursuing his degrees and serving as a government lecturer and Dunster House resident dean.

“What better way to celebrate public service than to have the president of the University do his first public event in the nation’s capital with alums who are doing amazing work?” said Díaz-Rosillo.

Bacow with his wife, Adele, and at the podium.

Two of Bacow’s former Kennedy School classmates said the Michigan native’s intellect, humility, and temperament make him a perfect choice to lead Harvard. “Personality-wise, everybody is going to get along with him. He knows how to get people together,” said Joseph B. Tompkins Jr., M.P.P. ’75. Susan J. Irving, M.P.P. ’74, Ph.D. ’77, said she hoped Bacow would help dispel any misconception that Harvard is for the elites. “It’s hard to meet Larry and think snob,” said Irving, since “it doesn’t fit.”

The importance of service

Support from the Kennedy School’ summer program enabled current IOP Director Mark Gearan ’78 to intern as an undergraduate in the office of the late U.S. Rep. Robert Drinan in 1978. He called the experience life-changing. An IOP-backed internship or research position “opens the doors of possibility, it opens the window of service across the spectrum politically” for undergrads, said Gearan, “and I think is yet one more testament to Harvard’s mission of really working toward creating citizen leadership in our country.”

Before Bacow spoke, Christabel Narh ’18, the IOP’s summer program coordinator, addressed the crowd. Narh moved to the U.S. from Ghana at age 9 and quickly took advantage of the country’s education system. At Harvard she worked with the IOP, and with the Phillips Brooks House Association helping vulnerable women and children in Boston.

“Harvard gave me the opportunity to engage in direct service and social action as a means to promote social change and combat the harmful effects of power imbalances within our society,” said Narh.

 

Strawberry-Rum Coolers
Greg DuPree

The joyful laughter that comes from sitting around the BBQ pit, under the sun, wiping your brow, sipping a refreshing drink is all about the love of food, family and friends, and reverence for the cook. It’s hard not to be dutiful to the person cooking for you, “Is there anything you need?” When I’m the one wearing the cook’s hat, I want something cold, boozy, and delicious. And delicious is what this drink is. It’s the kind of drink that upon first sip seems to stop the sun’s rays in their tracks and makes the breeze feel somehow cooler. That’s called refreshment. Excerpted from Soul by Todd Richards. Copyright © 2018 Oxmoor House. Reprinted with permission from Time Inc. Books, a division of Meredith Corporation. New York, NY. All rights reserved.

How to Make It

Step 1

Bring the strawberries, 1 cup water, lime juice, agave syrup, and ginger to a simmer in a saucepan over medium-low. Cook until mixture is fragrant and strawberries are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool completely, about 1 hour.

Step 2

Transfer the strawberry mixture to a blender. Process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 5 days. Makes about 2 cups.

Step 3

For each cooler, combine 1⁄4 cup Strawberry-Rum Cooler Base, 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) white rum, 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) dark rum, and 6 dashes of bitters in a mixing glass, and top with ice. Stir mixture until ice dilutes the liquid into a smooth puree. Pour over crushed ice, and top with 1⁄4 cup ginger beer. Garnish with an orange wedge.

Serve With

This is a seasonal beverage and can be served with any seasonal item spring and summer.

 

Written By: TODD RICHARDS