S: Is for catering with a social responsibility

Founders Michael Steifman and Kaegan Welch unveiled Stuart & Welch, a brand new, New York-based luxury events and catering company. Committed to locally sourced organic foods, social responsibilities and unparalleled service, Stuart and Welch is bringing a refreshing element to catering. The joint venture has a full service catering and event staff with the expertise and flair to satisfy every occasion, from small cocktail parties to large weddings.

The duo have amassed an impressive portfolio of satisfied clients from Manhattan to Paris, and their menus are always seasonal, featuring the finest organic produce from regional farms and New York City’s best purveyors. Both partners bring a combined working experience of over sixteen years in celebrated restaurants and respected catering kitchens that include Olivier Cheng catering & events, Macy’s Culinary Council and Asia de Cuba.

Social responsibility is an integral part of the Stuart & Welch business model. Whether it’s buying locally, organic and hormone-free produce, using biodegradable disposable goods, or helping feed the hungry with a generous food donation program, the company is wholly committed to bringing a new, responsible approach to catering. “Social responsibility to us means reducing waste by maximizing the use of our products” says Welch. “It’s time to give back New York and build an eco-friendly, philanthropic, profitable venture that everyone can benefit from,” the culinary duo affirms. To learn more about Stuart & Welch, please visit www.stuartandwelch.com

Throwing a party doesn't mean you can't do it in a healthy manner while protecting the planet.… and this is a proven F.A.C.T.

T: Is for Traffic Stopped

It's official, this past Sunday, the unthinkable happened: Broadway officially closed… to cars that is. As part of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to reduce traffic in the city, two sections of Broadway, from 47th to 42nd and from 35th to 33rd Streets, were closed to all vehicular traffic. Set into motion as part of the Green Light for Midtown plan developed by the Bloomberg Administration. The goal is to reduce congestion by closing down sections where traffic meets tricky intersections. The hope is that by doing so, flow will be improved. Ready for this? The real change may happen soon after. If the city judges the closure of these sections a success, it is prepared to go even further and close the entire boulevard to vehicular access. The city plans on creating a truly pedestrian friendly walkway in the heart of the Manhattan theatre district. It will effectively become the biggest change to the makeup of the city, an urban companion to New York’s Central Park. There is a problem here, it is impossible to get downtown by bus now if you live on the West Side. I did it yesterday and what normally took 20 minutes now takes 45. I ride my bike and the pedestrians are in a word...rude, even though you are in a bike lane that means nothing in this city (see tomorrows column). Businesses don't want this. The people in the community don't want it. Who does....the tourist. Could this be a step in causing Mayor Bloomberg the election? There are other ways to make the city green, accessible and for the people who live here. Why does no one take this into consideration? Maybe if someone promised this in their election speeches the city would vote for them and that is a check mark of a F.A.C.T.

C: Is for California

Do we have the right to undo what God has put asunder. Obviously not California's Supreme Court, who ruled on Tuesday that 18,000 same-sex marriages performed before the ban were to remain valid. It did however uphold the ban on same sex marriages that voters passed in November. None of this is making sense anymore. Some can be married, some can't? Is it as the saying goes, it's all in the timing? But what about equality? Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Iowa all allow same sex marriages. In 2008 Proposition 8 passed with about 52.5 percent of the vote. This has become a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage. Where is separation between church and state? That is where the problem lies. The District of Columbia voted May 5 to recognize same sex marriages performed elsewhere, though it does not itself give marriage licenses to couples of the same sex. Now that makes sense, right? In New York we are about to face this same question. Gov. David Paterson introduced to legislation in April a bill to make same sex marriage legal. A similar bill died in the state Senate in 2007. In polls a slim majority of Americans are against legal recognition of same sex marriage. Fifty-four percent of Americans questioned say that marriages between gay or lesbian couples should not be recognized as valid, but 44 percent said they should be considered legal. There is however a large gap between ages, with younger people far more likely to approve of gay marriage. The marriage debate has also changed for some Republicans. Steve Schmidt, of Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign said that allowing same sex marriage is in line with the conservative credo of keeping government out of people's private lives. McCain's daughter Meghan recently said the Republican Party needs to embrace issues facing gays and lesbians, approving of same sex marriage.

Issues divide a country and the way to conquer is to divide and this is quickly becoming a F.A.C.T

A: Is for the Art of Andrea Tese

The National Arts Club’s Fashion Committee honored fashion and fine art photographer Andrea Tese with their second annual Young Innovative Award. At a champagne reception at the historic Gramercy Park venue a selection of Tese’s images were on display for attendees to review during the event. The Young Innovative Award celebrates and encourages emerging fashion talent from various realms within the industry. Andrea’s work has a fresh and inspiring perspective. Her images cleverly combine provocation with subtlety. An MFA graduate of The School of Visual Arts, Andrea Tese’s work has been featured in T: The New York Times’ Style Magazine, RG Brazilian Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar Russia. Her photography has appeared in group exhibitions at Conner Contemporary Art and the Georgetown University Art Gallery in Washington, DC and the SVA Galleries in New York City. Tese’s work is owned by the Sandor Photography Collection and has appeared in industry publications such as disTRIBUTE, Phillips du Pury’s phillipsartexpert.com and The Visual Arts Journal. Tese’s fine art photography was recently featured in a solo exhibition entitled “Boats Against the Current” at the Heist Gallery in New York City. Born and raised in New York City, where she currently resides, Tese obtained her BA from Georgetown University. For more information visit www.andreatese.com.

ARt that is captured sees into our souls and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Freedom's won

For most of us Memorial Day means picnic's, hot dogs, the beginning of summer and a day of rest. Memorial day should remind us of battles won and lost. We go into battle to resolved forever the dispute of whether our nation stands united or separate over issues of economics, states rights and slavery. That first war was the Civil War, fought from 1860 to 1865, decided the fate of what was to come. On the only hill overlooking Washington. D.C., sits an elegant mansion. A cannon points to the capitol and what has become a final resting place for the future veterans of the United States of America. How many did we lose in World War II? Vietnam? or any other war fought for freedom? Those who have served in the military during conflict often know what most citizens forget: Freedom has never been free. We enjoy the fruit of their sacrifice need to become their speakers - speakers for the dead. Today we speak for those known only to God - the unknown soldier. Sacrifice only becomes unknown if that sacrifice is not remembered. There are men now, boys getting shot at in Iraq. We may never have the grief of losing a loved one in this manor but we should never allow their deaths to be in vain. For each of us has a sacred duty to remember those who have sacrificed their lives for the whole. Who believed that they were doing what was best for our country and were selfless. I may not believe in war but I do not negate those who have lost their lives and take this day to morn them, to remember and this is a solemn F.A.C.T.