Emergent fashion markets can be volatile, so why risk? Why not work with established brands?

Hmm, I think out of empathy… I was never pushed or limited in my creative development. My grandma still has sketches of wedding dresses that I made at six or seven years old. You know, Lebanese weddings are a cultural phenomenon! [Laughs] I used to sing and dance and wanted to go to drama school. Parents encouraged me to focus on the business side of the arts. Now I want to do everything I can to make sure talent can get out there. You see, I’ve done “big” for a decade. In fact, everyone on my team comes from a top brand or a major agency. We all have worked on multinational campaigns with mega budgets. We want to put that knowhow to better use, because the drive is unparallel. A one-page editorial can bring joy and make all the difference to a growing brand. For big brands, it is a joke, an insult. Plus-minus a thousand likes means nothing to them. When you see an account grow 10, 50, 100 thousand followers in a year, there is real excitement, real engagement. The sense of discovery is what is lost in big brands right now. It is such a beautiful and rare feeling.

Bridesmaid Dresses

Cincinnati's Historic Neighborhood Hums Again

With street after street of fine Italianate buildings, Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is getting its due these days as one of the nation's premier historic districts. For decades in deep decline, OTR is now a grand tale of urban revival, booming as it is with some 150 new restaurants, bars, and shops and businesses that have opened in the last few years.

Supported by a 19th-century cast- and wrought-iron frame, which deservedly earns it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, Findlay Market is an OTR landmark to which many visitors make a beeline.

A good way to see and taste all the market delights is to put yourself in the hands of Cincinnati Food Tours whose guides have relationships with all the vendors, thus making your sampling as fun and informative as it should be.


You'll meet in the center of the 167-year-old market, happily facing a more recent food stand addition called Taste of Belgium. You'll watch waffle maestros prepare a thick dough that in a style from the city of Liège is cooked in a cast iron press that caramelizes its beet sugar. And then say goodbye forever to your morning waffles.

Today, most of the ground floors to the fine Italianate houses that surround Findlay Market once again hold food establishments and businesses. Whether dining indoors or sitting under a picnic tent out front, you can enjoy Vietnamese soups and bánh mì at Pho Lang Thang. From sustainable cacao sourced worldwide, small batch bars and truffles are made in-house at the Maverick Chocolate Co. Pop into Dean's Mediterranean Imports and you'll find hummus, labneh and all kinds of foods that the area's original German immigrants certainly never dreamed of.

Another climate rally scheduled for Friday in Revelstoke

Students in Revelstoke are expected to turn out in record numbers on Friday, May 24 at City Hall between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Organizers are expecting students from each school in Revelstoke to participate. Each student has their own perspective, but overall they are asking for more urgent and stronger action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Others from the community are also expected to attend in support of the student movement.

This will be the third climate rally in Revelstoke, with previous rallies taking place on March 15 and May 3.

City councillors, the mayor and city staff have also been invited to this rally.

It is hoped that the students will have a chance to have their voices and concerns heard directly at the event and that city council will take the time to talk with students as well.

At the event, messages from individual students will be shared through email and instagram directly with representatives at local, provincial and federal governments.

After receiving messages from students at the rally on May 3, Wayne Stetski praised the students in the House of Commons and pushed for urgent climate action and the Green New Deal.

Stetski is unable to attend the May 24 rally but met with students from Revelstoke Secondary School last week to talk about climate action.

Individual Revelstoke city councillors have been supportive of previous events, but only one councillor has attended a rally to date. Students are hoping for a much larger city council and staff presence on May 24.

The previous Global Climate Strike had a strong turnout around the world. Organizers are expecting an even larger showing this Friday.

Join the event at lunch, bring your children. Join Youth from Revelstoke in pushing for climate action. Attend a solution oriented positive climate rally. Volunteers will be at City Hall to support you to make messages on cardboard and white boards which can be sent out to all three levels of government.

They will have all contact information at City Hall. This has the potential to be the biggest global climate rally yet, with a show of students from each school expected.

How to Travel with Kids

From antsy toddlers who don't want to sit still on a plane to dealing with popped tires on a long road trip, consider this your cheatsheet of pro tips on how to make the most out of family misadventures.

"My wife and I have different ideas about what vacations are all about. Her idea of a good time is to sit on the beach and read. When I go on vacation, I want to do things, and my boys, Jack and Tommy, ages 11 and eight, are the same. I've finally figured out that it's best to hire a local guide. They can handle some of the logistics, and everyone surfs and fishes better when we have someone leading us. Your kids will also listen to a guide more than they'll listen to you, which is key if you want them to learn a new skill, like how to catch a wave. But don't get the guide from the hotel concierge. Make friends with other hotel employees—they usually grew up nearby and have a cousin who surfs or fishes who can show you the real spots. Or use Instagram and reach out to pros who live in the area. You'd be surprised how many of them will respond with good info. I always try to answer people who direct-message me asking for advice."

"My husband and I took our minivan to 23 ski resorts around western North America when our daughter, Betty, was just eight months old. My parents followed in their own car. There were definitely logistical challenges, stressful times, and nights we barely slept, but we were skiing powder and with our family. Minimizing time on the road with the kid was the number-one goal. The roof box on the van was packed. We brought one pair of skis each and not much in the way of clothes—we lived in long underwear. The rest was stuff to keep the baby fed, clothed, warm, sleeping, and amused. We couldn't have done without the $20 plastic sled we bought from a gas station. We used it for entertainment, and it was much smaller and way better on the snow than a stroller. We also found ski towns with great activities for kids. For example, Washington's Mount Baker has cats that live in the lodge, and in Colorado, Crested Butte has a children's museum and there's a petting zoo near Aspen Highlands."