S: Is for "Seeds of Peace"

We are constantly bombarded by war, and peace seems like a feudal thing of the past. Conflict is inevitable, especially when we can't even get along with those we love. The reason walking into Gibaud's event on Tuesday was so exciting was it was multi layered in information and each time I learned something new my passion for life increased. I had the honor of meeting Nicolla Hewitt a network news producer for 18 years, working for ABC, CBS & NBC News. She is now the President of Seeds of Peace. Covering stories of conflict, and stories of peace with a unique and a fresh prospective. She has interviewed world leaders, witnessed history, covered wars, peace treaties, and Presidential Inaugurations giving her insight into their world. Nicolla was the first American journalist to interview Yasser Arafat the day he returned to Gaza and the first American journalist to produce a joint interview with Mrs. Arafat and Mrs. Rabin for “Good Morning America. ”She states in her role as president for Seeds of Peace“There is no greater gift, than the gift of giving back to others. I know we can make a difference to so many people.”

So what is Seeds of Peace? After the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 award-winning author and journalist John Wallach, was inspired. That summer, he brought together 46 Israeli, Palestinian, and Egyptian teenagers selected as future leaders. He wanted to reveal the human face of those they were raised to hate. By dispelling fear, mistrust, and prejudice—the root causes of violence and conflict—Seeds of Peace ensures that the future of peace is in the hands of friends rather than enemies. In 1994 more females were appointed and Morocco joined in. 95’ Jordan. Balkans and Tunisia join the program. Over 200 Israeli and Arab Seeds gather in Jordan thanks to His Majesty King Hussein. Qatar and a The Olive Branch, a youth magazine finish off the year. 98 sees The first Middle East Youth Summit in Villars, Switzerland. The result an Israeli-Palestinian peace treaty that so impresses the UN and Kofi Annan that a charter to the UN is started. 1999 The Seeds of Peace Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem is attended by Palestinian, Israeli, American and European leaders of the peace process, and more than 500 Palestinian, Israeli, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Greek and Turkish Cypriot's. Located on the former dividing line between East and West Jerusalem, the Center served as a neutral, safe meeting space for Israeli and Palestinian Seeds of Peace. In the 2000’s the Israeli and Palestinian Seeds release the award-winning documentary film, Peace of Mind and is awarded UNESCO Peace Prize and "Teaching Peace”. In response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, Seeds of Peace convened the International Youth Summit on Uprooting Hatred and Terrorism, which was held at the United Nations in November of 2001. At the conference, Seeds of Peace brought together 120 Seeds from 22 nations to address the very roots of terror, hatred, and violence.
We, Seeds of Peace, young people representing 22 war-ravaged nations, hereby declare that we are tired of hatred, violence, and terror…Do not dismiss this as youthful idealism. Many of us live in places where killing and humiliation, poverty and homeless refugees are commonplace. At Seeds of Peace, we have experienced real equity, understanding, and joy…We now refuse to accept what is when we know what can be…We know it is possible to redirect human passions, even class for revenge, toward the positive goal for creating peace.

John Wallach passed away but his dream has enter its fifteenth season. Together Israeli and Palestinian Seeds won the Voices of Courage award by the Women’s Commission on Refugee Women and Children. Over 100 Seeds are on scholarships at universities and colleges in North America through the Education Program. Sesame Street, Marithe + Francois Girbaud, SAK, Bond, and Jewelry designer Catherine Michiels have designed products and agreed to lend their support. What are you doing to promote peace? Lets join together and find ways to continue this F.A.C.T. and end conflict and ultimately war.

To learn more: www.seedsofpeace.org

T: Is for sustainable living

In yesterday's column I talked about a polyester/ petrol wall and promised to enlighten you on what I encountered. When you enter the sanctum of Marithe + Francois Girbaud one of the first things you see is a wall of living plants. Not only is it beautiful but it gives fresh oxygen to all who are in proximity. When talking to Francois he enlightened me that he commissioned it from Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. The picture above is the Museum whose wall is completely made with plants and polyester. It is self sustaining while adding what we have taken away from our environment. Since global warming is an issue of great consequence, having sustainable gardens on walls offers a remedy. With our rainforest's disappearing this is a solution to the green house effect. The picture to your left is from the elevator in Bangkok’s Emporium Shopping Center. Like Jack in the Bean Stalk the available space is life reaching. It is tiring and monotonous to live in an urban jungle. How many of us are able to take a break from the concretes that surrounds us? With our landscape disappearing for the commerce of America, here is an answer. Green Exchange, a shopping center opening in Chicago, in 2008 will be the first environment-friendly shopping center in the U.S. and hence a socially conscious business. The building will be 250,000-square-feet and hold about 100 vendors all of whom must be green. The designer of most of these walls is Patrick Blanc. Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Garden System, known as Le Mur Vegetal in French, allows both plants and buildings to live in harmony with one another. Blanc’s Vertical Garden System can be implemented anywhere: indoors or out and in any climatic environment. This three-part system consists of a PVC layer, felt, and metal frame, providing a soil-free self-supporting system light enough to be hung on the wall, and even suspended in the air. The Vertical Garden can be an indoor as well as outdoor system, with the help of artificial lighting. I am grateful that Francois Girbaud is conscious and for bringing this remarkable invention to NY. I question the architectures and designers of buildings everywhere "Why is this not a must in every building being renovated and more importantly built"? Shouldn't this definitely be added to the plans for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center? How amazing it would be to add sustainable life in a space where life was taken and to make it a F.A.C.T. to give back what was lost.

C: Is for the architexture of clothing

There are times that you get invited to events and the joy of what you discover is so multi layered that you are thrilled beyond all expectation. Last night was one of those rare moments. When I got the invitation to see an art installation at the Girbaund Boutique at 47 Wooster in Soho I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. Was it art? Was it clothing? Was it "Seeds of Peace" and what was "Seeds of Peace"? My instinct told me to go, so on the journey I went. It was all that and more. For the sake of this article not turning epic I will stick to the clothing and the amazing designer whose vision is global. Marithé and François Girbaud’s designs sometimes echo an androgynous feeling with overtly femine accents. Details like ribbons and off quiltered buttons add unique touches. The soft embroideries mate with zippers for a bold yet subtle statement. It is poetic urban wear with volume and texture.
In the 1960's Marithe and François Girbaud were somewhat of an anomaly in Paris when they began importing cowboy garb. This husband and wife team were out to represent the French population obsessed with music and American cinema. Being the true pioneers that they are, this duo began experimenting with denim washes in laundries around Paris, ultimately producing stonewash. Though this style was a huge success, it never took hold in the French market. Girbaud, however, did extremely well in America and Italy and continues to pursue setting trends on an international scale. Their jeans are inspired by French work clothes. For those who have owned them it seems they are their favorite pair as stated by several Bloggs and articles I found. Until tonight I'd never heard of this designer. I thought I knew fashion and I now realize I have lived under a rock. All I can think of is did I not pay attention to the brand of jeans I was wearing? It was not so much as a status symbol then as what was funky and individual. Most popular are the Shuttle jeans, which have knee and ankle adjustable velcro straps that come in a large variety of colours to match. One of the highlights of the evening was meeting and getting to know François Girbaud. Animated he talks with lively arm movements, projecting strong, messages of world peace, communication and global warming. This is a man who puts weight behind his words backing "Seeds of Peace" (see Fridays column) and commissioning a polyester/petrel living wall for oxygen (see tomorrows column) as well as aesthetic beauty. He has an inherent need to break rules and make changes in order to move himself and society as a whole forward. Passionate and un-egotistical he takes responsibility for his actions. His fashion is an evolutionary work in process, that has to blend realistically within our lifestyles. Always quenching his thirst for the new, he recently tackled "lazerblading" (clean, hem-free fabric cuts) and "thermal fusion" (heat fusion to replace stitching). His current puzzle solving agenda includes developing, skin-protective bathing suits. Caring for the environment his clothing is biodegradable and giving back to the earth. But the collection is not just about clothes. Flat studded boots and shoes are the accessories of choice. For the past four years M&F have commissioned installations for their stores called "Construkt". This years "The Hanging Garden of Pulp" and it creator Zoe Bradly deserve their own column...so look for it on Tuesday. This clothing is pricey but so well made and individually different it is worth the price. I can promise you my next big pay check will be purchasing this Fabulous midnight blue dress with grey piping and corset style back and that is a F.A.C.T.

A: Is for the end of Museum madness

To end the month and to incite every New Yorker to explore their own backyards, I'm highlighting 3 lesser known museums. The most well known is Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Located at 91st street and 5th Ave. Seeking out innovative work from the fields of architecture, furniture, film, graphics, new technologies, animation, science, medicine and fashion "Design Life Now" celebrates emerging ideas. The National Design Triennial is an ongoing exhibition inaugurated in 2000. While viewing these innovative creations until July 29 take a flight of creative fancy. Made to Scale: Staircase Masterpieces
is on view till June 3.

For over 30 years, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has inspired children. Guided through 5 floors of art, literature, media, science and communications, children learn about the diversity of the world we live while learning about themselves. Settled in at the Tisch building located on the Upper West Side at 212 83rd Dr Seuss, The World of Pooh, Snoopy, Mister Rogers, Arthur, Curious George,Peter Rabbit and Max and the Wild things rain supreme. PlayWorks for ages birth – 4 lets you feed alphabet letters to a talking baby dragon, drive a New York City fire truck, paint on a six-foot art wall, make your way through a crawling challenge course, and connect an air tube puzzle. Encourage your child’s natural capacity to learn and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Brain Games lasts until April 11 and is for 5 and up. Here you can test your creative problem-solving skills in this hands-on exhibition of more than 40 brain challenges! From Dora, to the city of New York this is truly a wonderful Easter present for you and your kids.

Has the city of New York ever just boggled your mind with its rich history. Where does one go to learn besides PBS? I got the surprise of my life when invited to an opening of Trade at the Museum of the City of NY. Furthest up on museum mile (1220 Fifth Avenue) I wander through the ports of New York and discovered their vital role in building the city. Timescapes: A 25-minute multimedia experience, tracing the roots of growth. Narrated by Stanley Tucci, the film features animated maps and archival photographs, prints, and paintings from the Museum’s collections. New York's richest gift to the world has been its gift of Theater. Highlighted until July 8th costume designer Alvin Colt has been clothing the casts of Broadway and off-Broadway productions with flash for more than 52 year. From his 1944 Broadway debut with On the Town to his ongoing work with the Forbidden Broadway revues, Colt has garnered costume credits on some 90 shows--more than any other costume designer--including Guys and Dolls (1950) and Pipe Dream (1956), for which he won a Tony Award. By far this has been one of my favorite places to visit. These have only been 6 museums in a list of over 50 that I hope you have enjoyed reading about. But don't live vicariously through this column take a day and discover one for yourself. I look out at the Hayden Planetarium and the Natural History Museum from my window and I have only discovered their delights once. There is so much in our world to explore. Lets make it a F.A.C.T. to open our eyes and do more.

F: Is for fusion of scotch and film

My idea of drinking is a great glass of red wine. So when Tom asked me to join him at a Johnnie Walker Scotch tasting I had my doubts. They were soon dismissed. This company cares about its product, its users and its intentions. What could of been an evening of hard core drinking turned into a spectacular multi-media extravaganza complete with a symphonic rock and roll beat.
Let me take you through the night. When you arrive you are given one drink ticket and are introduced to JWR or JWB in an assortment of ways. Not being a scotch drinker I tried the tropical JWR Margarita and was surprised that I liked it. While enjoying the drink there was an array of appetizers to allow for a full stomach in which to continue the night safely. Next the group was assembled into another room that was comfortably set up with white leather couches and 4 wide screens. In front of each guest was a place mat of the five colors of Johnnie Walker and 5 places for shot glasses, 3 filled. Placed next to the mat was a striding man pin, the symbol for Johnnie Walker. To complete the set up was a bowl of ice, and vases of coke, ginger ale and water. Starting the program was the ambassador a man we later find out resembles the original inventor. He is the perfect person to lead us through this journey of scotch. Witty, knowledgeable and a true lover of the product he makes every color seem like the perfect drink for every occasion. Starting with "Vibrant Red" the screen fills with images of stop signs, red cars, lava, sunsets and every imaginable red image. We are told about the hint of vanilla and spicy warmth and the combination of 35 single malt and grain whiskeys that make this label distinctive. Moving on to "Deep Black" the screen turns retro with city landscapes and Rolls dominating. Aged 12 years it is the original. Smokey with sherry, raisin, orange and citrus zest this label is meant to be served neat. Rainforest's, trees, flowers, grass growing all things "Nature" make up the "Green" label. The combination of 4 malt whiskeys aged 15 years offer an intense blend of forest, shore and fruit. Spicy with coco, ceder and smoked, it is finished with sweetness and oak. "Indulgent Gold" was brought in chilled by hostess eager to share their bounty. Creamy with honey, raisin and toffee this 18 year old scotch was like a Carmel richly blended into a drink. While enjoying visions of gold filled the 4 screens. Finishing off "Rare Blue" one of the rarest aged whiskeys in the world was served. This diamond of the collection came in a snifter. Smooth, mellow, with honey, toffee, smoke and sweet spice. On the screen the ocean with sails blowing in the wind while whales keep the pace assaulted my senses and I don't know if it was my love of the water or the drink but I found a whiskey I could enjoy. I recommend this visual journey that started in 1820. Not only is it informative but some of the best film making around. Everything should be tried once for you never what your missing and that is a F.A.C.T.