Lifestyle | Sunstone Online

With Broadway Dark, What Are Actors to Do?

We all know that the entertainment world has been completely devastated by COVID-19. Broadway has been closed for almost a year, and there isn’t much light in sight. As reported in a recent CNN article, New York City benefits from the close to $15 billion that the entertainment industry generates each year – and 97,000 people rely on Broadway for their livelihood.

But one place where the lights are still on is Australia – and it’s fascinating to hear from performers who have gone there to continue their trade and their dreams.

One actress, Gabrielle McClinton, explains how she has been in Australia for the last few months playing a leading role in “Pippin.” She explains how they managed to make it work in Australia:

“It definitely had its challenges, but we got through the season. People came to the show wearing their masks and we would get Covid-19 tested every week. When we (weren’t) on stage, we were in our masks and everybody obeyed all the rules and we did our due diligence. And when we were outside the theater we made sure we weren’t putting other people at risk.”

She offers hope for the revitalization of the industry in New York.

Time will tell when such benefits will return stateside, but for now we can read about what’s happening in Australia, and hope.

Louis Vuitton Announces Ambassador

It’s refreshing to see the fashion world embracing women with different body types and different backgrounds. Louis Vuitton has just announced their new brand ambassador – and it’s Naomi Osaka. Osaka is a three-time Grand Slam winning tennis star. Her strong body and bountiful curly dark hair are a refreshing change from the borderline-anorexic look with typically see by brands.

Artistic director of their women’s collection, Nicolas Ghesquière, said that Osaka is “an exceptional young woman who represents her generation and is a role model for everyone.” He continued, “She stays true to herself and doesn’t compromise on her values. I am looking forward to sharing new projects with Naomi in the year to come!”

Osaka is of both Haitian and Japanese descent and has used fashion in the past to proudly show her Japanese roots.

Vegan Restaurant Wins Michelin Star

Most people in the world would probably assume they would starve if told they had to start eating on vegan food. Claire Vallee and the Michelin Guide beg to differ. For the first time ever, the Michelin Guide has awarded a star to a French vegan restaurant.

The restaurant is called ONA (Origine Non Animale) and is situated in the small village of Arès, near Bordeaux. It is one of the 54 restaurants to earn its first star in the coveted Michelin Guide, and the only vegan restaurant to ever receive such an honor since the guide started in 1900.

Even more unusual, perhaps, is that the restaurant was started by a completely self-taught chef and former archaeologist, Claire Vallee. The sit down dinner includes a seven-course menu for $72.

As Vallee said,

“Cooking with my team is like performing in a theater. You never really know how it’s being received until the very end.” She continued, “This is a good thing for the vegan community as this star is evidence that French gastronomy is becoming more inclusive. That plant based dishes belong there too.”

Cooking with Netflix

With so many of us at home around the world, it’s no wonder that Netflix and other companies have been doing great business. If you’re bored, like so many of us, here are some great cooking shows that you might enjoy. Whether they offer you ideas for your own creativity, or they are just there to entertain, they will certainly help the time to pass more quickly!

Chef’s Table: This show is an hour long series that uses captivating photography to feature one chef around the world during each episode. These are chefs with unusual backgrounds, amazing abilities and fascinating practices.

Nailed It!: If you’re looking for some giggles, this is the place to go. Nailed It! takes three novice chefs and offers two baking rounds where they have to try to master making cookies and a cake. The episodes are short and the laughter is plentiful.

Sugar Rush: These episodes are close to an hour long and it’s also a baking competition. But unlike Nailed It, they bring on four couples, each of whom own bakeries or have baking experience. They have three rounds within which to impress the judges and win the prize at the end.

Other great shows offers cooking fun and surprises include: Street Food, Million Pound Menu, Ugly Delicious, The Final Table and so much more.

Your Canine is Your Corona Companion

The coronavirus pandemic forced us all to retreat indoors and seclude ourselves from colleagues, friends, and even some family. Lockdown and quarantine have meant long stretches of time without in-person interactions and human contact. Feelings of loneliness, solitude, and anxiety are not uncommon. However, pet owners, specifically those with dogs, are reporting profoundly less isolation and increased cohesion with their furry friends.

According to dog-owner Evan Metropoulos, dogs have an exceptional capacity for companionship, love, and friendship. They are almost always willing to play, their clever and curious nature can be entertaining, and they are fiercely loyal. Scientific research backs up Metropoulos’s assertions showing that the company of a dog can be as comforting and mood-enhancing as that of a friend or loved one. Furthermore, owning a dog is shown to be good for your heart: dog owners have lower cardiovascular responses when stressed.

Evan Metropoulos with dog seated oppo — Evan Metropoulos with his best canine friend

With all the tensions and pressures of COVID-19, mental and physical health are a top priority. So if you already a dog owner, now is the time to develop a stronger bond with your pooch and explore new ways to have fun together. If you don’t yet have a dog at home, consider fostering one or even caring for a neighbor’s dog for a few days. This will give you the chance to experience some of the benefits without making a full commitment.

Evan Metropoulos with dog standing oppo — Metropoulos recommends finding different ways to play and exercise with your pet

Dr. Jaymie Albin On Current Trends in Therapy

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many more people to seek the help of mental health professionals. Technological advances and the prevalence of telemedicine are also making it easier for people to participate in therapy.

Dr. Jaymie Albin, a New York City-based clinical psychologist, CBT practitioner, and yoga instructor says that many of the stress management techniques people used before corona are not available to them, compelling those in need to seek professional intervention. The app Talkspace, which connects clients to licensed therapists via text and video calls, has seen user growth double since March.

Similarly, Dr. Albin says that the current trend of using Zoom and other interactive platforms is making people feel more comfortable about talking to a therapist. According to Albin, whereas some patients might have once been loathe to be seen walking into a therapist’s office, now they can talk to the right person from the comfort of their own home. Albin insists that in some cases, and for some patients, it makes the entire thing a lot less nerve-wracking.

Jaymie Albin trends in therapy3 — Teletherapy is making it easier to seek and provide mental health support

Albin also reports that an immediate result of prolonged isolation has spurred a swell in the therapy industry. In a turbulent economy, Albin says, it is not uncommon to see a decline in therapy-seekers; people view mental health as a luxury. But when economic realities are coupled with extended periods of social isolation, health uncertainties, and extreme stress, most people find the time and resources to devote to their emotional and psychological states.