My Saturday was shaping up to be a busy albeit an interesting one. It all started with an event at Dylan's Candy Bar sponsored by the Syfy Channel. To celebrate the season three premiere of their beauty competition show Face Off, the channel threw an afternoon ice cream social at my favorite candy parlor. Since I wasn't familiar with the show (not sure how since I love a good competition on the small screen), the promise of free ice cream lured me in.
What kept me at the event was the chance to get all glammed up. Syfy had partnered with the makeup brand Make Up For Ever to offer mini makeovers: face painting for the kiddies and make up sessions for the grown ups. Since I love the opportunity to have my make up done professionally for any reason, I eagerly signed up. To kill time, my friend Lauren and I perched ourselves at the bar to order a sweet treat for the 21 and older set. With a menu full of drinks like the Patron Puppy, Sour Patch Margarita and Pop Rock Explosion, I opted for a Garden Party Mojito with mint leaves and Lemonheads.
After we finished our candy cocktails, it was my turn to get my makeup done. Each guest could choose from an eye shadow design, a cat eye look and a va-va-voom red lip look. Since I love color, I chose the first and went with a color I normally don't do—poison ivy green. My make up artist Alice, who also happens to be a freelancer, event producer and YouTube sensation (Channel MissAliceAn), gave me a green ombre look with three shades from her Make up For Ever palette. With my eyes done to the nine's and my sweet tooth satisfied, I was ready to make the remainder of the day just as interesting.
The LBD is a staple in fashion. For those of you that have no clue what those three letters mean, they stand for the 'Little Black Dress,' that one timeless frock that works for any occasion. Enter the LBJ or the 'Little Black Jacket.' The latest article of clothing garnering attention thanks to an iconic French brand (and the designer that helms said brand) and one iconic stylist. That brand would be Chanel designed by Karl Lagerfeld and the stylist, also once the Editor-In-Chief of French Vogue, would be Carine Roitfeld.
Originally conceived by Coco Chanel and now modernized by Mr. Lagerfeld, the designer partnered with Carine to compile a book of photographs of celebrities, models, musicians, royalty, tastemakers and trendsetters donning the jacket in stylish variations. From sophisticated to punk to free as the wind, there is an image for every style. He even convinced some species of the opposite sex (i.e. Kanye West) to rock the jacket.
Anna Wintour
Charlotte Casiraghi
Clemence Posey
Elisa Sednaoui
To celebrate the collaboration, an exhibit is traveling the world, and I was lucky enough to pay a visit on the closing day of the New York leg. Tucked deep into Soho in a cement studio space with sliding garage doors, I approached the exhibit in great anticipation. Greeted by two massive portraits of the two leading ladies of fashion—that would be Anna Wintour, American EIC of Vogue and the aforementioned Carine Roitfeld, I was immediately struck with amazement. Each image was cooler (for lack of a better word) than the next, and it was fun to play guess who in the black jacket. I wanted to include all the images I took of the portraits but had to play favorites for the sake of you reading this post. But continue on, because they say you can never have enough of a good thing and that good thing, my friend, is a LBJ.
For someone who wanted to be 25 when she was 15, I'm actually a big kid at heart. From the excitement I get whenever I pass a candy shop to my love of games, my next adventure came courtesy of one local and her ride. Jane's Carousel, a carousel created in 1922 and restored by a woman named Jane after purchasing it through an auction, was my latest kid activity du jour.
After years of restoring it back to its regal self, Jane's Carousel opened to the public in Brooklyn Bridge Park last fall. Missing my chance last year, I thought it would be the perfect activity to usher in the summer. And then I thought who better to help me relive my childhood than the woman that was right there with me through it all—no not an imaginary friend but my mother. For less than a price of coffee (a ride is only $2 bucks), we both rode one of the beautifully designed horses around the merry-go-round. What made it more amazing is the fact that you gaze out at the East River, the Manhattan Bridge and best of all—the Brooklyn Bridge, giving you that magical feeling that only children get or the lucky ones who call New York home.
Places of Interest:
Jane's Carousel, Dumbo Section of Brooklyn Bridge Park
I started this blog as a creative outlet for my writing (and to brag about all the cool things I do). I never thought it would lead to an invite to Lulu's Blogger Event during New York Fashion Week.
The WHO was Lulu's, an online boutique featuring emerging and indie designers. The WHAT was a shindig for fashion bloggers to mingle and preview their latest assortment. The WHERE was Open House Gallery in Soho, an event space that sponsors such creative events like Park in Here (an indoor faux park to cure those with seasonal affective disorder) and The Big Cheesy Grilled Cheese Championship (a "cheesy" contest)that occurred last weekend.
As for the entertainment, there was booze, sweet treats and games. Hpnotiq, one of the evening's sponsors, provided creative concoctions using their liquor and a table full of candy and cupcakes. As for the (drinking) game, each attendee got to spin the wheel for a prize. Since I've never been on "Wheel of Fortune," I gave it my all and spun the wheel. The result—a lovely suede jacket with shearling lining from B.B. Dakota. Score!
After my turn at the wheel, I wondered around and discovered a room full of racks with trendy, colorful clothing. I thought I had died and gone to closet heaven. I learned each attendee could take home one article of clothing from one of the four racks. To figure out where to start, a map was provided with a chart of questions leading to one of four styles: Peony Vintage, Rose Sweet Heart, Spider Mum Edgy and Hydrangea Uptown Prep. Of course, I felt I could be any of the four so I quickly surfed the racks making a mental list of my wannabe wardrobe. Luckily I was in the third round so I got to choose rather early and ended up with a mint green, pleated mini-skirt perfect for spring. I left with treats for my tummy and my closet. If these are the perks of writing down my words once in a while—well all I have to say is that I need to start writing more.
Places of Interest:
Open House Gallery, 201 Mulberry St. (between Spring St. & Kenmare St.)
It's a tradition I look forward to every Christmas. When the season roles around, I head up to the North Pole a.k.a. Midtown to gaze at the windows of the top department stores. First, I paid a visit to Henri Bendel, a New York accessory mecca. It wasn't their one large window that made an impression but rather the four miniature displays depicting the various rooms of a NY apartment. The minute details of each room were what set this seemingly ordinary window display into holiday display worthiness.
Race to the Fashion Line
Ice Ice Baby
Further uptown I headed to the finest department store on the block Bergdorf Goodman. Their windows are always nothing short of intricately detailed and luxurious looking. A window of carousels and gowns and a snow tundra theme were some of my favorites.
Come One, Come All
I Am My Hair
Off to Madison Avenue to check out a pop star's take on "Santa's" workshop. The hip, trendy department store Barneys paired up with the uber popular musician Lady Gaga and her stylist Nicola Formichetti to create Gaga's Workshop. Our first taste of a Gaga Christmas were the four windows each with its own theme. My two favorites were the "Hair" window made completely of wigs and the Gaga constellation window created by the digital agency Q4 where viewers could text in their holiday wishes to appear across the constellation.
Gaga's Version of a Mannequin
Oh Gaga Tree, Oh Gaga Tree
Mother Monster is Now a Spider
One step into Lady Gaga's Holiday Workshop, and I was blown away. Everything from the merchandise to the fixtures screamed (or sang) Gaga. The workshop, taking over an entire floor, was an explosion of color and design.
Not Your Average Display Fixture
Mother Monster Merchandise
Lady Gaga needs to rename her single to "Shop This Way" because the merchandise designed by Gaga and Nicola was addictive and fun to shop. There were Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes in chocolate, nail press on's, snow globes, leather gloves, skull candy heads, ornaments, jewelry and more. We had definitely saved the best holiday event for last. With such an impressive line up this year, not sure how next year can be topped.
Places of Interest:
Henri Bendel, 712 5th Ave. (at 56th St.), 1-800-HBENDEL
Remember when the most fun you had at a museum was when you visited a Children's Museum? (the one at Navy Pier in Chicago was my spot). With all their interactive or DIY exhibits, you could run, play, build, scream and shout without getting a nasty glance from a security guard or being kicked out. Well last night I got as close to those nostalgic feelings of being young again when I visited the New Museum on the Lower East Side. I always have trouble describing the type of art displayed at the New Museum so for lack of a better word I always use the term 'weird' art. Their official description is "a leading destination for new art and new ideas. It is Manhattan's only dedicated contemporary art museum and is respected internationally for the adventurousness and global scope of its curatorial program" (basically what I said).
Floor by Floor Map
WEEEEEE!!!!
I frequent the museum every so often but was overly excited to check out their latest exhibit by Carsten Höller titled "Experience." The main attraction of this exhibit was a two-story tubular slide with clear plexi windows twisting and turning from floor to floor. My roommate Shana and I sped up to the top and were the first in line for a ride. We loved the five seconds of childhood exhilaration so much that we rushed back up to get a second ride before the massive lines started to form.
The Mirrored Carousel
The 2nd attraction was none other than every little kid's favorite: the swings. The kid in me thought the ride would go higher and/or faster, but the adult in me didn't mind that it moved slower than molasses. It was nice to hop on and off and just rotate slowly. It was rather relaxing—especially after the thrills and spills on the slide.
Like the Dead Sea in the USA
The final attraction was said to be an 'out of body' experience. Unfortunately it was out of service during my visit, but that didn't stop me from playing 20 questions with the security guard to find out more about the piece titled Psycho Tank. Apparently visitors could "experience" the Dead Sea in 15 minute increments by float weightlessly in the water of a sensory deprivation pool.
Do Not Disturb the Animals
Bright Light White Walls
Other highlights (no pun intended on this one) included the visual sensory wall titled Double Light Corner with flashing strobe lights meant to create a hallucinatory experience. Taking inspiration from the zoo, as the artist often does, animal sculptures were created of polyurethane and scattered across the floor in relaxing or sleepy positions amongst the flashing lights.
Wondering what the best part of this whole night was? It was FREE. Every Thursday night from 7PM to 9PM the museum offers free admission. I can finally agree with those that say, "Money can't buy you happiness." Places of Interest: New Museum, 235 Bowery (at Prince St.), 212-219-1222 http://www.newmuseum.org Exhibit runs through January 15th, 2012
