Since it was first introduced by Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa has been part of the suite of holidays celebrated by Americans at the end of every year. Yet compared to other winter holidays, Kwanzaa is not especially popular, even among its target community of African Americans. Though a variety of Kwanzaa events take place every year, some attracting crowds of thousands, many of us are unfamiliar with the core principles of the celebration, its history or its original intent. For others, the disconnect is aesthetic, rooted in 60s perspectives on Black culture and diaspora and hard to connect with today. But the seven principles that form the core of the celebration, Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Familyhood / Cooperative economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith), are powerful points of focus and we should be careful not to lose them to neglect. 

Christmas is one of our favorite holidays. Every year the season brings up memories of growing up in Philadelphia. As kids we couldn’t wait to get to the Wannemaker Building to see the Christmas Light Show and tour the world of Ebenezer Scrooge in the animatronic Dickens Village. We’d walk beneath the dazzling ornaments hung in Rittenhouse Square before going home to sit with moms and grandmoms to be reminded of the parts of the holiday that aren’t about trees and toys. There was more family, food and fun than at any other part of the year. And - at least for a while - we didn’t have to go to school. It was a magical time, and each year we try to share the same warm feelings we remember with our New York family, transforming our home into a winter wonderland just in time for our big party. 

For Thanksgiving brunch, think outside of the box.  Brunch calls for an affair that’s a little less traditional.  Update your Thanksgiving table with a mix of modern and rustic details.  Vintage-inspired chairs, cutting boards used as chargers and plates, and galvanized buckets as candleholders, can all add to the beauty of your harvest table. Use bright pops of color for a festive tabletop display.  Start with linens and florals to make a colorful statement.  Layer brightly hued napkins with fall floral arrangements to add to the colorful mix of your table arrangement.

For her 30th birthday, Thaïs Sala wanted to do something special. The hotelier, who owns Jnane Tamsna, Morocco’s first Black-owned hotel, with her mother, Meryanne Loum-Martin, decided on an event that would bring all of her favorite people together to welcome in her fourth decade of life.

“Our dinner parties are about ownership, belong- ing, leisure, and community,” says Amber Mayfield, founder of To Be Hosted, an innovative supper club that hosts dinners focused on highlighting Black food culture and building community. “We gather at one table, share a family-style meal, and have meaningful conversation.”

Stephanie Summerson Hall is the founder of Estelle Colored Glass, a luxury brand of colored glassware that’s handmade by artisans in Poland. Jewel-tone stemware, decanters and cake stands are all part of Stephanie’s collection that has a cult following. Oprah, Hoda and Martha are fans.

On a beautiful day, with a hint of spring in the air, a group of New York City creatives gathered at the historic Bedford Playhouse in Westchester County, NY. The goal of the gathering was simple - to celebrate artistry, the creative spirit, and community. The Bedford Playhouse was the perfect backdrop for the afternoon. Once a struggling movie theater, it was saved by a community of entertainment industry artists, many with New York City roots.

There are some days that are magic. Days when it all goes right - the perfect setting, the perfect weather, and the perfect group of friends gathered to mark an important occasion. For Donnell and Courtney Baldwin, New York fashion stylists known for their brand, Mr. Baldwin Style, that moment came on a sunny day at Havens Beach in Sag Harbor. The idyllic location, set among bright white sands, long blades of grass, and even a few deer roaming by the ocean, was perfect for the couple’s celebration of their six-year wedding anniversary.

The understated centerpiece of every successful gathering and the cornerstone of a modern trend of cool and sophisticated interior style, bar carts have been growing in importance over the past few years. And with the trend, comes questions: how to get the look that you want while optimizing your cart for smooth and easy use during your next soirée? Camille Simmons of Planning Pretty has answers. An entertainer extraordinaire, she shares her tips on how to style a bar cart that’s fit for entertaining.