THE HERO'S Ball - TRIBECA GRAND
United Purpose and General Assembly We thought it was time to bring some purpose back to Halloween so we traded in the serial killer and sexy cop outfits for a our greatest heroes. What was born was a night of purpose and panache filled with art, live music, tap, and spoken word. Hack'O'Lanterns, Custom Haikus, Hero Portraits and more.
ST AIDAN'S INN - UPSTATE RETREAT
UPpers find purpose in the peace and tranquility of St. Aidan's Inn in Brewster, New York. Nothing cures the end of summer blues like soaking in a Japanese hot tub, basking in the warmth of a fire pit, eating tomatoes right off the vine, drinking microbrews, and morning meditation among good friends old and new.
THE ALCHEMY OF IMAGERY - w/ STEVE APKON
Author and Film Maker Stephen Apkon explored the inner working of our mind based on his current work in the Middle East and the subject of his book, The Age of The Image. Steve helped us see the story telling nature of humans while deconstructing the self imposed barriers that stop us from enjoying each and every moment to the fullest.
IF I LIVE I'LL SEE YOU TUESDAY - CHRISTIE'S
UP spent a majestic May day marveling the macabre with a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the new Christie's exhibit "If I Live I'll See You Tuesday" featuring artists like Koons, Basquiat, and Warhol.
ALL MY COUSINS - w/ AJ JACOBS
UP guests were treated to a private dinner and intimate fireside chat between AJ Jacobs, the New York Times Best-Selling author, and Forbes columnist Michael Simmons about AJ's plans to throw the largest family reunion in history and what it's like to live life like a human guinea pig. Among AJ's experiments, he spent a year strictly following 100 rules in the bible and 18 months reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in a quest to learn everything in the world. Delicious food by our favorite chef Laila Gohar of Sunday Supper.
BIG HISTORY
Henry Simonds opened up his beautiful Tribeca home for an intimate dinner featuring Surfer/Scientist Rich Blundell who guided us through a lively discussion about the origins of the universe sparking newfound appreciation for the genesis of all life and some added motivation to discover our purpose within the cosmos.
OUT OF THIS WORLD
In September of 2013, UP curated an otherworldly experience for 150 of NYC's most purposeful doers and thinkers. Guests gathered at Red Bull Studios New York for a private screening of the award-winning documentary "Overview" about the transformative effect that seeing Earth from space has had on astronauts throughout time. The film was followed by an interactive panel discussion with two astronauts (Ron Garan and Michael Massimino), a Zen Priest (Angel Williams), and the Executive Director of the Buckminster Fuller Institute (Elizabeth Thompson). The film's director, Guy Reid, moderated and provided commentary. Guests were also treated to exceptional food by the culinary genius of Laila Gohar (Sunday Supper. ), music by the guys behind Bklyn 1834, and a chance to immortalize their purpose through beautiful portraits taken by Nat Norwood, which can be seen on the front page of our website.
UP THE MET
We came, we saw, we hacked the Met in typical UP style with purpose and panache thanks to our good friends at Museum Hack . Our subversive tour for 30 lucky guests was capped off by an amazing picnic in the park with delectable drinks and delicacies by Sunday Supper.
UP x IMPACTOR
We are and always will be a community shaped by and for the members we aim to serve. That's why when it came to shaping the future or UP's experiential learning curriculum, we called in some of the most inventive, creative, and smartest brains we know for a brainstorming dinner facilitated by our good friends at Impactor. It is inspiring what can happen when good people are united in purpose.
UP BRUNCH @FOURSQUARE - THE POWER OF MASS SCALE MOVEMENTS
In July 2013, over 100 of our favorite adventurers, artists, professors, activists, engineers, musicians, designers, bankers, and all around doers and thinkers of good stuff in the world gathered for brunch at the Foursquare offices in Soho. Guests were given an opportunity to have intimate discussions with renown experts about the power of mass-scale movements to bring about important change throughout history using Turkey, South Africa, Brazil, and the Women's Rights Movement as examples. Delicious food by the reliably inventive Sunday Supper and special musical performance by Swedish superstar Krister Linder.
UP FIELD TRIP - KAYAK DODGEBALL
We always unite in purpose, sometimes the purpose is to throw rubber balls at each other while atop kayaks in the Hudson. Even when we play we strive for innovative formats so when we had a chance to surprise some UP members with a beta test for a new sport, Kayabi, we couldn't pass it up. Thanks to the amazing team at New York Kayak Company for an epic time.
UP BRUNCH - W/ FEATURED GUESTS: TOBY STORIE-PUGH & TUELO MINEH
Our second installment of the UP Rooftop Brunch series was a sun-filled Saturday of friends and frittatas featuring a soulful performance by South Arican singer/songwriter Tuelo Minah & inspiring journey of determination shared by Toby Storie-Pugh of Expedition Everest.