If you haven't visited Urban Zen yet, you are in for a treat. Located on a quiet West Village street, the store/gallery was established by Donna Karan.

Hand-crafted Balinese furniture, gorgeous exotic jewelry (like the pieces that Donna always wears), oversized art books and, of course, all those neutral linen and jersey must-haves (for those with money to spare) to entice Karan's many fans.

What distinguishes this space are the exceptional events that take place in the enormous, former sculpture studio of Donna's late husband, Stephen Weiss.

Recently, I strolled over to Urban Zen to attend the high-energied event for Elizabeth Jordan, a documentary photographer and world traveler who depicts the plight of people in war-torn and developing countries. The walls of the gallery held striking, brightly-colored images of African and Haitian women balancing enormous baskets of produce on their heads . Jordan, a philanthropist, had promised much-needed money to Rawandan women, so she sells her images to honor her commitment.

Donna Karan and Maria Bello, photo by Rose Hartman

Activists Donna Karan, Elizabeth Jordan, Maria Bello and Zainab Salbi, photo by Rose Hartman

Maria Bello, photo by Rose Hartman

Elizabeth Jordan, photo by Rose Hartman