Week of October 19 – October 25, 2010

Since my horoscope (Gemini, of course) stated this week that I need to recharge my batteries, and get back into my fabulous GEM routine – I thought to myself, well - what better way to do so than by catching up with this week’s NYC staples (film, theatre, fashion, music)?
I feel rejuvenated already – try it yourselves!

Let us know where you’ve gone or plan on going this month by sharing some
of your own GEM NYC finds, or if you’d like to drop us a line please do so at gem@ulmedia.net.

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FILM

Freddy Vargas, born in the Dominican Republic and currently living in New York, returned to Santo Domingo to shoot “Hispaniola,” a short-film/docudrama that ambitiously–and successfully–tackles a number of themes relevant to Dominican society today, including racism, relations between Haitians and Dominicans, immigration, and economic challenges in the developing world.

The film depicts two families from drastically different economic, social, and cultural backgrounds. There’s the well-to-do family of a Dominican politician–who live in a beautiful home. Right across the street is a family of Haitian immigrants, who have come to Santo Domingo to work. While they construct the home of a verbally abusive Dominican, they cook and sleep on the worksite and worry constantly about being deported by immigration, as they’re in Santo Domingo without legal work papers.

The families, of course, would never cross paths were it not for the young sons of each group. It’s a tense, explosive 12 minutes, and one that accurately portrays painful truths about current social problems on the island.

Yet as interesting as the film is (albeit biased), so too is Vargas’s story of making it. Vargas confronted a number of obstacles for such a short film. Following the screening of this film in 2006, there was great opposition from the government for its distribution. This short-film garnered an entry with the Havana Film Festival in New York City, and won HBO’s Best Short Film Competition Award in 2007 at the New York Latino Film Festival.

Vargas’s goal in making “Hispaniola” was to raise consciousness about identity and race relations in the Dominican Republic, and to advocate social change by inviting conversation about these issues.

You can watch the full version of “Hispaniola” here.

From the AV Room: Hispaniola - Watch more Entertainment Videos at Vodpod.

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FASHION

BOOTS: I'm a big ballet flat person and wear them as long as possible into the cold weather without socks. When I finally can't stand cold ankles any longer, I typically turn to ankle boots and tall boots. However, I have also been known to wear socks with flats on occasion.

Some flats are easier to pair with socks than others. For instance, an Oxford flat or menswear-inspired shoe looks great with a sock, and mary jane style flats tend to look great with tights. The trickiest kind of flat to wear with a sock is a ballet flat or similar shoe that shows off a lot of the top of your foot (instep), however, it can be done. The key to pulling off this look is to match your sock color to your shoe color. Black is always the easiest, so a black sock with a black shoe looks fine. Choose a smooth sock (or tights) that won't bunch up.

There is a big trend towards socks this season, as seen with this year’s NY Fashion Week last month, as designers placed many looks down the runways showing off socks with heels, sandals and ankle boots. GEM has picked out a couple of boot styles for you to start thinking of your current or future : ) boot collection. Fall into style this month with GEM!

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SAMPLE SALE: Elie Tahari Fall 2010 Sample Sale

October 19 - October 23 2010
Tues-Fri (8:30am-7:30pm), Sat (10am-5pm)
510 5th Ave., New York, NY 212-398-2622

Elie Tahari is hosting their fall 2010 sample sale, offering 70% - 80% off Women’s, Men’s, Shoes and Handbags!

Below are some GEM deals and steals – I hope you can get to them!

Women: Leather distressed jacket with exposed zipper detail - originally $1,298, now $279 Cozy fall sweaters and cardigans in lux yarns, originally $198-$398, now $49-$89 Silk printed and wool dresses originally $198 to $448, now $99 to $129 Pencil skirt with lace overlay originally $268 now $59 Dress pants originally $248, now all $59

Footwear: Suede caged bootie- originally $498, now $99 Leather platform clogs- originally $248, now $99 Leather ballet flat with jewel and metal embellishments- originally $298, now $79

Handbags: Metallic distressed leather tote with chain handle- originally $468, now $249 Clutch with floral and embellishment detail - originally $368, now $179 Oversized leather pleated hobo bag- originally $898, now $249

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DANCE

El Repertorio Español announces the World Premiere of "Habanera," a new dance by legendary Flamenco and Spanish dancer, Pilar Rioja.

"Habanera," with music by Cuban composer and singer Guillermo Portabales is a new Flamenco dance which highlights the creative influences of African and Caribbean rhythms on Spanish dance.

The premiere will take place during a limited three week engagement, part of Ms. Rioja's 38th season in New York, from October 21st through November 8, 2010 at Repertorio Español's Gramercy Arts Theater located at 138 East 27th Street New York, NY 10016. Ms. Rioja performs with live music and flamenco singers.

The program will also include some of Ms. Rioja's most popular dances such as the flamenco "Taranto"; the Andalusian "Café de chinitas" and "El vito"; and Boccherini's classic "Grave Assai-Fandango."

TICKETS for PILAR RIOJA begin at $25 and may be reserved online at: www.repertorio.org; by phone: 212-225-9999; or in person at El Repertorio Español’s Gramercy Arts Theater Box Office located at 138 East 27 Street, New York, NY between Lexington and Third Avenues (Sun-Thurs 10am-7pm | Fri-Sat 10am-9pm).

Get to know Pilar’s famous dance moves by clicking on the video player below:





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THEATRE

When Pedro Almodóvar arrived in town in 1988 to show his new film at the New York Film Festival he became an instant sensation. Channeling the burst of energy and freedom in post-Franco Spain, Mujeres al Borde de un Ataque de Nervios was one of the most unusual and exhilarating new films in years. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and quickly became not just a classic, but a favorite.

Now, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown is a new musical based on Almodovar’s indie film. Both touching and hilarious, it's a story about women and the men who pursue them... find them, lose them, need them, and reject them. At the center is Pepa, played by Sherie Rene Scott, whose friends and lovers are blazing a trail through 1980s Madrid. And why do they all keep showing up at her high-rise apartment? Gazpacho perhaps?

Along with Pepa, there's her missing lover, Ivan, played by Brian Stokes Mitchell; his ex-wife of questionable sanity, Lucia, played by Patti LuPone; their son Carlos, played by “Idol’s” Justin Guarini; among others. Mayhem and comic madness are a plenty, balanced by the empathy and heart that are trademarks of Almodóvar's work.

Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown is now playing for a limited time at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway – before it moves to its semi-permanent home with Lincoln Center in November, 2010. You may purchase tickets to this limited screening by Telecharge here (last show will play on October 24th, at 8PM EST).

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MUSICA

Jennifer Lopez has been keeping a low profile for a while now. Some of that time has been voluntary -- motherhood and running a family are no joke -- and some of it hasn't; her 2007 album Brave was her least successful album, commercially. But with a couple of proven hit-makers behind the boards, Jennifer Lopez is looking to make a comeback with "Good Hit."

Produced by The Dream and Tricky Stewart, "Good Hit," which will likely be featured on Lopez's long-awaited Love album, features a rather different sound… especially since we don't really hear Jennifer Lopez's voice. But she’s lovely nonetheless.

Over a slick dance beat, Jennifer Lopez sings about dropping it low in a voice coated with the much-maligned but incredibly popular vocal filter.

You can listen to a snippet of the "Good Hit" below. What do you think? Is Auto Tune back? Or should it stay locked away somewhere in T-Pain's storage space? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

**Please note that JLo has not released a video for this track as of yet, however our awesomely talented friend 2VegasBaby :) has made a compilation of JLo videos for us to view - with lip-synching to boot!

Listen to a snippet of Jennifer Lopez's "Good Hit" by clicking on the video player below, courtesy of 2VegasBaby.