Last minute presents

I'm struggling to get all my presents picked and bought and wrapped in the few days until Christmas. For anyone else needing last minute presents, AI Friedman is having a 50% off sale on all of their frames. They run the gammit from cheapo Plexiglas frames to nice silver plated and enamel frames. The silver plated frames are something like $80 now, so if you have anyone you want to impress with a thoughtful present but only have 3 days, head over there. And you can always run across the street to the Container Store for some creative wrapping...

It's at 44 W18th St, at 6th ave

Even MORE Sample Sales

Maybe I'll finally get around to going and spending all the money I've yet to make on Christmas presents and outfits. Until I do, someone should be buying up these amazing deals.

Opening Ceremony

Today (12/11) and tomorrow 12/12 11am-8pm

Sunday 12pm-7pm

201 Mulberry Street

Catherine Malandrino

December 14-16, Monday-10am-9pm, Tuesday-Wednesday-8am-8pm

Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St

Rachel Comey

December 16, 5-9pm

335 West 35th St

I think I may have to hit up Opening Ceremony after work today. They always have amazing clothes, and getting them on sale makes going there all the more fun. (Also, it's a good place to spot celebrities--Jason Schwartzman anyone?)

Quaaludes and Uppers

Jonathan Adler has great home things. Needlepointed zebra rugs, enamel trays, witty pillows... While pretty much everything in the store would look great in a modern NY apartment, I'm always drawn to the black and white striped cookie jars. I supposed they don't have to be for cookies, but that's what I want one for. These striped ceramic jars have sculpted signs on them reading, "Eyelashes", "Quaaludes", "Uppers", "Downers", "Prozac", "Peroxide", "Glitter", and "Dolls." My personal favorite is the "Eyelashes" which is party of his Jonathan Adler for Barbie collecetion. (Yes, you can also get a Barbie with miniature Jonathan Adler furniture to furnish her dream house.) These can get a little pricey, but are a fun Christmas present for a friend with a new apartment, or a wacky relative. If the druggy cookie jars aren't your thing, they also have great enamel frames and other fun home items. You can check out the website or go to the store on Greenwich Ave, or Greene Street.

Fred Flare Stocking Stuffers

I came across a pretty amusing website a while back and just rediscovered it yesterday. Fred Flare is a shop in Brooklyn, but luckily for me because I rarely make it under the river/across the bridge, they also have a website. On here you can find cheeseburger phones, bacon scented soap, and books dedicated to "geeky dreamboats" (George Michael Bluth, anyone?) Despite their wacky and ironic hodgepodge, they also have some cute jewelry and bags thrown in. If you're looking for that perfect, where-ever-did-you-find-this? present, or gag gift, or just want to browse a fun website, check out fredflare.com. I actually really like the forget me knot ring, so if anyone out there wants to get me a present...

More Sample Sales!

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's acceptable to start listening to Christmas songs and eating cookies in excess. It's also time for some serious shopping. Here are some sample sales to start filling up your present quota, or to fill up your wardrobe for the coming Christmas parties...

Colette Malouf
594 Broadway
Wednesday and Thursday, 9am-7pm

Charlotte Ronson
1071 6th Ave
Wednesday-Friday, 10am-7pm

Tocca
542 West 22nd
Wednesday-Friday, 11:30am-7:30pm

Derek Lam
601 West 26th St, suite 1730
Thursday and Friday, 10am-6pm

Tuleste Market
3 Steps, 322 Second Ave
Thursday and Friday, 1pm-7pm

Botkier
195 Lafayette
Thursday and Friday, 11-7
Saturday, 11-6
Sunday, 12-5

Theory
261 West 36th st
Friday, 11-7
Monday-Wednesday (December 7th-9th) 11-7
Saturday and Sunday, 11-5

Dolce Vita
156 Ludlow
Saturday and Sunday, 12-7

Hayden-Hartnett and The Collective Showroom
16 West 36th st
December 8th-10th, Tuesday-Thursday, 11-7

James Jeans
500 Greenwich St
December 8th-11th, Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30-7:30
Friday, 9:30

So run out and get your sister some shiny accessory from Colette Malouf, get your mom a Theory sweater, and get yourself some awesome statement jewelry at Tuleste Market as a pre-Christmas present to wear to all the parties. Happy shopping!

Winter Stories

For those of us who get our daily dose of culture just from walking the streets of New York, it's nice to occasionally expand your horizons. Al and I went to an opening at my friend Kara's gallery a few weeks ago and had a great time. There are so many interesting artists exhibiting in New York, and it made me realize that I really need to get out and go to more openings--if you need more convincing, there is also usually free wine and great people watching. She's agreed to keep me posted on new openings and she just told me about one next Thursday for Winter Stories by Paolo Ventura at Hasted Hunt Kraeutler. (537 West 24th)
Check out the website for other pictures. It's also fun to make a night out of it--our last gallery opening, we hopped in a cab over to Korea Town and got Korean BBQ, but Chelsea is also full of great places like Co. and Red Cat and Cafeteria etc to grab a bite post-opening.

Sunburst

I just saw this yesterday at Daffy's and am kicking myself for not buying it. If anyone is decorating an apartment and needs something to spice up a wall, run to Daffy's on 57th st. This sunburst mirror was only $89 and there were 2 of them left.

Gap Sale

I went into Gap yesterday for the first time in a million years. I didn't see all that much, except they had these great down puffer jackets that were 50% off. So I got one in navy, with a bright blue interior lining. It's warm and perfect for winter. And I mean, when a $128 coat is half off, it's hard not to buy it. I know it's not the trendiest thing out there, but if you wear a warmer coat you can wear cuter, smaller clothes underneath, right?

High Line Hot Cocoa

Of course, strolling the new High Line this summer was nice. Flowers, warm breezes, and everyone at a leisurely pace enjoying the view. In the less flowery holiday season, I didn't see myself visiting the High Line, but now I want to go. November's been unseasonably warm so far, but I hear it's about to get colder. Now that it's almost Thanksgiving, I'm craving New York at Christmastime and hot chocolate and shopping. Apparently, now on the High Line they're serving up one of those--hot chocolate. It's an organic hot chocolate stand with cocoa made from sustainably grown cocoa and milk from local farmers. If you're doing some Christmas shopping in the West Village, maybe hitting up Marc Jacobs for some accessories or the apple store for a new iphone, take a break and linger above the city for a while with some hot chocolate--I know that's my plan for next weekend.

Click here to learn more

ok sorry, i know this is random but this little girl was richard simmons for halloween...

HOW FREAKING CUTE?!

Little Branch

I was out to dinner at some random sushi place on Prince--Nagomi, not bad but nothing to write home about, we went there because the line at Tomoe was way too long--and stopped at Little Branch on the way home. (It's is on the corner of Leroy and 7th and it's super easy to miss--it's through an unassuming door with "Little Branch" lightly etched on a plaque.) It was a Monday night, so I expected the underground cocktail bar to be somewhat empty. To my surprise, as I descended the narrow stairs I was met with a live jazz band and a slew of fellow Monday-night-revelers. If you're looking for a fun Monday night, this is the place to find it. On the cocktail menu flanked by "Perfect Manhattans" and other alcoholic confections, was one that intrigued me: bartenders choice. Little Branch is famous for its "mixologists" so I thought I'd see what they could cook up. He asked me what I liked, I told him vodka or rum, and then I watched him add drops of this and shots of that, and even an egg white, to a shaker, followed by a blur of vigorous shaking. Once in the glass, he topped it with little droplets with some unknown substance and swirled them into a heart. I'm not sure what was in it--some sort of sour--but it was great. Next we each tried a dark and stormy, which was spicy and gingery--not as big of a production as the Bartender's Choice, but equally unique and yummy. So head to Little Branch for live music, great cocktails, and a kind of pricey bill.

HUNGRY TIGER

in college, my friends would call someone a "hungry tiger" whenever they let their inner aggro-ness get the best of them. it could be in reference to boys, drinking, and just partying in general. well, sybil, miller and i got hungry tiger last night. at BLIND tiger on bleecker street. blind tiger has a huuuge list of great beers on tap from all around the world - hefeweizens, IPAs, pale ales, tripels. you want it, blind tiger has it. http://www.ratebeer.com/forums/allagash--blind-tiger_126653.htm

sooo yeah we went for what was supposed to be a casual beer or two at the local watering hole but it turned into the three of us taking self-timed pics in my living room (who am i kidding? the self-timed pics were ALL my idea) at 2am. ill be sure to post that pic here as soon as i can get it loaded up. maybe tomorrow? get excited.

Bib necklace

Please excuse the sideways pictures...

I don't know if you guys have seen the bib necklaces at Roberta Roller Rabbit, but they're awesome. I've been dying for one, but after moving into a new apartment and spending way too many nights dining and drinking I haven't been able to scrounge up the $$$ to buy one. However, I was in Loehmann's the other day and spotted an adorable green and clear jeweled bib for only $20! Any struggling 20-something in the village can afford that. Granted, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the original, but for 20 bucks it certainly jazzes up a white tshirt!


They also just talked about a bib necklace from Bebe on elle.com, but I think the $20 is cuter. Thoughts?
elle

Sample Sales

Everyone wants to find that perfect outfit to wear to all the Christmas parties. If you're anything like me, you're hoping to find a deal. Until the Bergdorf's amazing shoe sale--which fills up my shoe quota for most of the year, got great Prada and Miu Miu shoes last year for less than $300 each!--here are some sample sales to tide you over...

Mara Hoffman and Isabella Fiore
42 Greene St 2nd Floor
Thursday, November 19th 10-8
Friday, November 20th 10-8
Saturday, November 21st 10-7


Steven Alan
87 Franklin St (between Broadway and Church)
Thursday, November 19th 8:30am-8pm
Friday, November 20th 8:30am-8pm
Saturday, November 21st 12pm-7pm
Sunday, November 22nd 12pm-5pm


L.A.M.B.
42 Greene St 2nd Floor
Tuesday, December 1st 10-8
Wednesday, December 2nd 10-8
Thursday, December 3rd 10-7


Autumn Cashmere
231 West 39th, 9th floor, suite 924
December 1st-4th 9am-7pm
December 7th-11th 9am-6pm


Twinkle by Wenlan
545 8th Avenue, 17th floor
Wednesday, November 18th 10am-7pm
Thursday, November 19th 10am-7pm


Lela Rose
224 West 30th St, 13th floor
Wednesday, November 18th 10am-7pm
Thursday, November 19th 10am-7pm
Friday, November 20th 10am-5pm


Christian Lacroix
260 5th Ave
Wednesday, November 18th 10am-7pm
Thursday, November 19th 10am-7pm
Friday, November 20th 10am-7pm
Saturday, November 21st 10am-1pm


Rebecca Minkoff
17 West 17th St
Wednesday, November 18th-Sunday, November 22nd 10am-8pm


Araks Lingerie
137 Grand Street, 5th floor
Thursday, November 19th 8:30am-7:30pm
Friday, November 20th 9:30am-6:30pm



Maybe you'll even get a little Christmas shopping out of the way--who are you kidding, you know you'll keep it all. Remember to get there early to beat the other discount-crazed sample shoppers

i love shoes

Just came across these amazing specimens for Topshop: http://www.mykromag.com/blog/?p=1159. I'm not sure if they've hit stores yet, but I will be heading down to Soho ASAP to see for myself!

In other news, I'm prepping for China and packed mostly everything I'll need last night. I'm a little sad that I'm going to be away for so long (China Nov 20-29 and South Africa Dec 1-9), but I'm sure once I get there I'll be happy. I just hate knowing that everyone will be doing fab things without me... sigh.

More to follow

:)

Los Feliz

Apparently a Mexican restaurant by day, I wandered into Los Feliz Saturday night for a friend-of-a-friend's birthday party. While the bar upstairs looks quaint and fits in well with its Ludlow neighbors, if you walk past the bar and down a small staircase, you end up in this basement club. For all those claustrophobics, don't worry: the high ceilings are met by giant mirrors hanging on the walls, making the little club embody a sort of old Hollywood glamor. There was dancing by the bar and then banquettes flanking the walls towards the back. This is a great place to go if you're looking for a fun new place downtown where you can drink and dance without going to a big club. Also, they apparently have tons of kinds of tequila, which I'll remember for next time.

Commerce Brunch

I had to go to a mandatory Sunday brunch with my parents this weekend--dragging myself out of bed after a way too late Saturday night--but luckily I got to pick the place. I'd been wanting to try Commerce for a while, and it's one of the village brunch spots that will actually take reservations. For a little hair of the dog, I had a mimosa. My parents each ordered a Bloody Mary. These were basically vegetable soup with vodka--a rich, orange drink brimming with celery and a few other veggies--but delicious. The very cute and friendly waiter came over and suggested we get an order of cinnamon buns for the table. These giant, gooey confections were delicious and sweet, a perfect thing to split. Though the time between the cinnamon buns and the rest of the food was a little longer than it could have been, it was great sitting in the booth by the bar and watching the foot traffic around adorable Commerce Street. My mom and I split a tomato and mozzarella tartine and the slow cooked eggs with polenta. The eggs were incredibly rich, but so tasty and unique, and a perfect complement to the slightly acidic tomato tart. The baked eggs "Shakshuka" were also a hit, and I think my dad had 3 of the Bloody Maries. I wondered out onto the quiet block of Commerce street extremely satiated. I haven't been for dinner yet, but I'd love to go. Check out Commerce for brunch--yum!

Welcome

Hi! We're new bloggers, but bare with us. I'm Sybil. I grew up in New York City and am very into fashion and food. Alice is from New Jersey but lives in the city and is in food PR. Between the two of us, we've found great restaurants, bars, sample sales, discount shops, street food, recipes... Basically, we plan to share our growing network of "finds" in the city, and anywhere we might travel.