[hcmmersnstrings]

for: open! @nycshqstarts location: The Warehouse (a local coffee/beer stop), open mic night!

"What?" A laugh as he tunes his guitar, taking the moments to interact with the crowd. "Honey, I got an acoustic guitar in my hand, I dunno what on God's green earth makes you think War Crimes is happening." He banters with a smile, strumming a bit before continuing on with the set.

From being a strung out kid with bleached hair to a mostly sober thirty-something, music had always been the way he connected with others. Whether it's the strum of a guitar to crafting words that others related to, maybe he'd never been good at talking, but he'd always been good at singing. And this remains true as he sings to a small crowd in some coffee shop in Manhattan on a rainy night. Some know his past work from his old SoundCloud, some know him from his current band, either way hearing the choir of off key voices softly joining him warms his heart. The set ends and he thanks the crowd before heading off and packing away his things, looking to the small stage as the next artist starts up.

"Mind if I sit here?" He asks, nodding to an empty stool in the back.

[anoravarga]

After having a brutal day on set, along with having to handle last minute wedding emergencies, ending the day with a beer was Anora’s go-to when she needed to let off some steam. There was something about sipping her beverage and getting lost amongst the bustling atmosphere that was so incredibly soothing to the blonde as she people watched and enjoyed the live music.

Lost in her thoughts as usual, it wasn’t until she heard the sound of someone speaking to her that she broke out of her daze. “Oh!” It took her a few moments to register what was asked before she nodded her head, moving her purse off the vacant seat by her side. “Of course. Sorry, I didn’t mean to hog the seat like that.” Laughing softly, her gaze flickered up to meet his. “Hey, you’re the guy who was just performing! Great set, by the way. Your voice is fantastic — you make it all seem so effortless up there.”

[lovemetopieces]

Halloween Party at Roller Dreams | Open | @nycshqstarts

Considering this was only Karmen's third time on the rink, she had finally gotten this skating thing down. Gone were the days of inching along the edge, clinging to the rail or desperately holding her friends' hands. Now, she was totally in her element; dressed to impress as an '80s Glam Roller Disco Queen. She’d nailed the theme with a vibrant neon pink bodysuit decked out in sequins and orange accents along the cuffs and neckline. The detachable, sheer orange sleeves were dotted with tiny glitter stars, making her shimmer under the rink lights as she rolled along. Her look wouldn’t be complete without accessories, of course; a chunky orange belt with silver chains draping off one side, fingerless pink gloves, oversized hoop earrings, and layered choker necklaces. Glittery face stickers added to the vibe, and her makeup pulled it all together with neon pink and orange eyeshadow in a fierce cat-eye flick, glitter on her cheekbones, bold orange lipstick, and rhinestones near her temples. Her hair was styled in voluminous curls with neon pink and orange extensions flowing through it. But the best part? Her custom-made pink and orange skates with glitter wheels, which she’d designed just for tonight. Hearing her name, Karmen looked back, giggling as she spotted her friend skating over. “Finally! I was starting to think I’d be dazzling this whole crowd alone!” she laughed, reaching out and grabbing their hand. “I was about to start doing a one-woman show,” she added with a wink, grinning as they locked arms and rolled forward, practically lighting up the rink together.

[anoravarga]

A little known fact about Anora was that when it came to ice skating, she was unstoppable on the rink. She’d never done it professionally, it was merely a hobby that began when she was young — it all started with her mom, an Olympic gold medal winning ice skater who represented Romania in the early seventies, ultimately passing on her talent to her children. As much as Ani took a liking to it, competitive sports weren’t quite her thing. Filmmaking, on the other hand… that was her true calling.

Gliding along the icy rink as if she was made for it, the blonde skated towards a familiar figure, their outfit standing out amongst the crowd — very much Studio 54, Saturday Night Fever chic.

“As if I’d ever leave you alone!” She replied as she approached Karmen, reaching out to grab her hands before pulling her in for a hug. “The rest of these people seriously need to step up their game in the outfits department.” While Anora’s outfit wasn’t exactly giving disco goddess, she adorned the very same bedazzled blue skating dress her mother performed in at the Olympics — looking very much the part upon the ice. “You look fabulous, by the way. Not that I’m surprised, though.”

[rebeccasundstrom]

via @davidebarbieri