Dating Manhattan...I'm totally in love!

Dating Manhattan...I'm totally in love!
We truly do live in one of the best cities in the world...last Thursday,on a beautiful sunny day, while playing hooky from work with my new beau who's a total keeper despite his non-Manhattanite nationality (the office was closed for Veteran's Day and I don't really have the balls to literally play hooky but either way...saying it is way more fly).

It's taken me a while, but we decided to date Manhattan together!

Now don't get me wrong here, it's not that I can't share my true love (NYC) with anyone, it's just that I've never really dated Manhattan with anyone...in fact, I've always enjoyed her all to myself...it's time I share my true love for this fantastic city with someone and play nice in Central Park's Sandbox.

We started our day with an early brunch at my favorite (close to home) neighborhood restaurant, Cafe Mogador...strong coffee and fresh food...amazing hummus, pita with Zatar and their Arabic salad with olive oil, lemon, and parsley...I added Bulgarian Feta (I seriously felt like I was in Tel Aviv)...I usually go to Mogador for Sunday brunch (nothing cures a hangover better than Mogador's fresh squeezed OJ, Hummus, and poached Halumi eggs)! The scene is just as good as the food. with French flying off of the majority's tongues and bits of Hebrew and Italian too. Grungy old school Lower East Side meets Europe's finest...well if I may get into this a literally, it's more like North Africa's finest with Morocco at the top tier!

Check out what Zagat had to say about Mogador...http://www.cafemogador.com/zagat.htm

Getting lost in Paris, Rome, Florence, or Neve Tzedek is amazing...who said you can't do that in NYC too?! Even though I've lived here for most of my life, I still love to stroll the streets of any neighborhood even my own! After experiencing Mogador's love in the late AM, walked through my next favorite hood in the city...Bowery between Houston throough Cooper Square...you walk a little south west of Houston, & BOOM...you're in SOHO...the crossroads between the LES, East Village, NoHo, SoHo and Bleeker's start...The Bowery is simply asking for it...we first stopped at The Cooper Square Hotel (my idea of the PERFECTLY decorated abode), home to Chef Scott Conant’s Faustina, I secretly pretended I was walking into my own apartment (shhh don't tell anyone I still play pretend...).

The Sitting Area @ The Cooper Square Hotel

Lobby @ The Cooper Square Hotel

Calla Lilies & Paper Wrapped Chandelier @ The Cooper Square Hotel Lobby

We sat on the benches outside of Keith McNally's bakery and bistro, Balthazar (which by the way, can NEVER GET OLD)...we manged on Tuna Tartar (topped with wasabi fish roe & spicy wasabi mustard mayo) at Delicatessen's...need I mention the mid-day drinking or is that a given? We finally made it back to Avenue A & Houston.


Either I'm in love or simply in love with Manhattan but I can't get enough of her and the wonderful things she has to offer...and yes, despite the prefix, Manhattan is a woman...a deep, intricate, inspiring, cold (at times), driven, sexy, beautiful, passionate city that's home to everyone and anyone. Whether straight, gay, tall, short, fat, thin, weird, straight laced and dry, urban, country, foreign, rich, broke (more stylish way of saying poor), funny, retarded, idiotic, smart, whatever....you name it...ANYONE can date Manhattan!

Salute to NY Boys

Sometimes working in finance pays off (even if you're not in the top tier of the bonus pool).

Kick'n it at Yankee Stadium last night...this was the closes I've ever seen my boys in stripes...and YES...they did look good and their game was up to par...LIKE TRUE NEW YORKERS!

Henri Bendel R U VAIN Trunk Show

Designer Reuven Kassai
Fifth Avenue's newbee returns to Henri Bendel Tuesday, September 14th.

A personal note from the designer:

"I am inviting you to please come and join me , as I exhibit my collection RU VAIN at Henri Bendel, 712 5th Ave. between 55th and 56th st .

The exhibit will start at 10 AM on Tuesday September 14th, until 8 PM on Thursday September 16th.

I will be exhibiting the collection on the 2nd floor...thanks again for all of your support, we're really taking this collection to the next level.

Reuven"

 

What's in Your Labor Day Weekend Bag?

As we bid summer good bye next weekend, we mustn’t leave behind the key items that helped us make it through the hottest months of the year.

Whether BBQ’ing in the suburbs, beaching and boating at Martha’s Vineyard, or mingling in the Hamptons, you could only play the part if you’re prepared for the role. Our Labor Day weekend must haves are products I use year round and always take up prime space in my weekend or gym bag.

No matter the season, no matter the forecast, so long as the sun is shining (even mildly), you can’t go wrong rocking Ray Bans circa 1986

Tom Cruise, Top Gun 1986

The next thing on my list is the (oh so popular) straw fedora. Who said you can’t hide from UV rays and look cool doing it? I purchased my fedora for $10 on St. Mark’s Place in the Village. They usually sell for $15 but you can always bargain them down. This hat has been quite the popular item in the South of France as well as all over the Mediterranean and the US.

Straw Fedora

So now that we’re totally rock’n, we really should have put this as our #1 under the UV category (oops). While your Ray Bans or Fedora can’t entirely protect you from dangerous UV rays, you can lather on that SPF for a full body experience. I like to use Yes To Carrots Hydrating Body Lotion with SPF 30.

yes to carrots hydrating body lotion with SPF 30

It’s not too thick, is 94.7% natural and can be used as a regular moisturizer. I also like to use Jergens natural GLOW firming body lotion to help keep my tan lasting longer. It now has 50% more antioxidants in an already powerful, Vitamin E-infused formula to keep your skin looking healthy and glowing 2x longer than most of the other self tanners I’ve used.

natrual GLOW

While playing safe under the sun, you always want to sport the perfect getup. Whether in your swimsuit, cover up, romper or denim cut offs, there are certain costumes (as I would like to call them), that simply couldn’t go un-garnished. One of my all time favorite outfit toppers is a scarf. Yes, you read me right…even in the summer you could wear a light cotton gauze, linen or jersey scarf. I saved up for Alexander McQueen’s JERSEY SKULL SCARF. It’s perfect with any white simple t-shirt or ‘beater’ with jeans or cutoff denim shorts, maxi dresses, or swimsuits…the list goes on. Check out the McQueen website or http://www.net-a-porter.com/ for different ways to wear the scarf.

GREY/BLUE JERSEY SKULL SCARF

Another perfect outfit garnish is jewelry. Though bikinis and bangles may go well together, always be careful not to over accessorize (which we sometimes tend to do, especially when it comes to jewelry). R U VAIN’s hammered silver bangles are perfectly understated enough to wear on the beach or at the pool. And though you’re stacking several bangles, you could never have too much of a good thing!

R U VAIN Hammered Silver & Diamond Bangles

R U VAIN Hammered Silver & Diamond Bangles

And while we’re on the topic of ‘good things,’ one could never have enough shades of LIP GLOSS!

LIP FUSION

With Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts as today’s poster children for Juvederm and Collagen, there’s no wonder lip plumpers are on the rise like never before! Be careful though, you don’t want to end up looking like Lindsey Lohan. Keep it simple; the more natural, the better. I’ve used lip plumpers that make your lips sting and irritate them so much that they swell up for 10 minutes (so yes, they temporarily work). However, there are two lip treatments I (literally) swear by and which actually work. Lip Fusion and Lip Fusion XL. Lip Fusion comes in different shades and doesn’t irritate your lips. Both Lip Fusion and Lip Fusion XL plump your lips and moisturize them at the same time. Lip Fusion XL is a lip ‘treatment’ that’s applied in the AM and PM over an extended period of time. Though $50.00 is a little steep for a lip plumping treatment, it beats the pain of Juvederm and having to pay over $1,000 and the risk of coming out like Donald Duck. You can read more on the technology of Lip Fusion XL on the website and buy their products at Sephora or Ulta…it comes highly recommended!

LIP FUSION XL

So now that we’re kick’n it in style and totally playing the part, it’s time to party! Raise a glass, love yourself, tell your friends they’re beautiful, and kiss the summer goodbye the right way.

Till next time!

A Fresh Face on Fifth

"So the way I see it...a solitaire diamond, might make people look at you, but this makes you look at it. I use the diamonds, to accentuate my art."

A dear friend of mine, and native New Yorker Reuven Kassai, just recently unveiled his collection of sterling silver and colored diamonds on 5th Avenue’s Luxury (boutique) department store, Henri Bendel on August 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2010.

This New Yorker’s got talent! With a genealogy of antique and fine silver dealers, Reuven veered off the beaten path to explore precious metals and colored diamonds. With coverage in Woman’s Wear Daily, practically the bible to anyone and everyone in the Fashion Biz, and a successful trunk show at Bendel’s, it is no wonder this rookie has already hit the ground running.

A few words from the designer...

Kickn it NYC: "R U VAIN...How did you come up with the name? Does it represent your work?”

Reuvein Kassai: “R U VAIN, was an idea that I got, while reading a letter addressed to RUVAIN Kassai. It’s really just a play on letters in my name, so it works. But since Diamonds, and jewelry is synonymous with Vanity, (sorta), it kind of all works. I don’t use ‘proper jewelry techniques and rules to get the look and feel that I want. The jewelry I create is edgy and doesn't play by the rules, like me, I guess.”

KNYC:“So this is your first official 5th Ave. gig, how did you manage to get R U VAIN into such a high end retail establishment and how does that make you feel?”

RK: “Getting past the first round of the Henri Bendel "Open see" or audition as I call it, was the first time that I actually felt that I had something. After seeing the countless people walk out of the store, with gloomy faces, and I walked out with a smile from ear to ear, I kind of felt that regardless of what happens, I’ve done a good job.

As an artist, I am very insecure about my designs at times. I started two years ago, and didn’t know what I was up against. So when something like Henri Bendel comes along, it really changed the way I view my work. Exhibiting and selling my work at Bendel’s?? Absolutely priceless!”

KNYC: “Tell me about your collection and this season’s inspiration.”

RK: “RU VAIN collection is a fusion of the two jobs that I have had in my life.

For 20 yrs I worked in the family business dealing with fine silver, and for five years I branched off on my own, working with colored diamonds. I basically took everything I know about the two and created my collection.

The hammered look, is something that I have always loved from the time that I came to appreciate the aesthetics in precious metals and silver, plus, it’s timeless. The first silver vessels were hammered, and that style has continues thru today.

The use of diamonds, is twofold.

A) Women love diamonds.

B) It’s a way for them to wear and appreciate all the different variables within the diamond.(the 4 C's).

All the pieces are studded with different color, shape, size and even clarity, so that when wearing the piece the person, gets to see the beauty of all the different elements of the diamond. The brilliance, the cuts, the colors etc.

So the way I see it, a solitaire diamond, might make people look at you, but this makes you look at it. I use the diamonds, to accentuate my art."

KNYC: “What were your top sellers?”

Letter Pendants with Color Diamonds

RK: "The top sellers so far have been the small letter pendants, and the thin bangles.

Hammered Bangles with Diamonds

The thin bangles have sold because they are thin, and as much as I love the bigger ones, the customer, likes smaller thinner lighter pieces. But my stomach says, when people realize that it is ok to be VAIN, they will start wearing the larger ones, and embrace their identity."

KNYC: “When exhibiting with your competition, what did you learn about your collection and what do you think makes you different than the rest?”

RK: "I learned from dealing with my competition, that as much as people say that they are by hand, (they really aren't).

There is a lot of machine work that finishes the pieces I’ve seen. I didn't realize it until I walked around, and saw the others, that I was able to fully comprehend that.

I think one major thing that distinguishes me from the other talant, is that my jewelry is really a full circle of life. The collection is eco friendly, in the respect that I use all recycled antique sterling silver to make the pieces.

Hammered rings with colored diamonds

I partnered up with a jewelry manufacturer in Long Island City (NY), that actually takes my antique silver, refines it, and makes it into metal ready for my pieces, so I really am continuing the cycle of the silver’s life. It is also all designed, crafted, and manufactured in NY."

KNYC:“What now? Where is r u vain going from here?”

RK: "My main goal is to hit the four big US fashion markets NYC, MIAMI, LA, and Las Vegas. This is all a learning process to me and I am grateful. I am starting small, but have my pieces in Spain, and in September I will have them in Amsterdam as well. So we shall hit the world!"

Please join Reuven once again at Henri Bendel on September 14th, 15th, & 16th.

Quote of the day...

"I want to be a place you call home"

Kick'n it Tel Aviv..."Welcome Back!"

“The local time is five thirty in the evening, it is 28 degrees celsius under clear skies. On behalf of our Tel Aviv based flight crew and El Al Airlines, thank you for choosing to fly with us today…”

I grabbed my turquoise Goyard, tucked my braid into my fedora (I purchased on St. Marks for $10 earlier that day), slaped on some Coral Love lip gloss (Chanel # 146), and did a once over my (economy class) aisle seat. I have yet to fly first class over the Atlantic, across Europe all the way to the Middle East.

**Side Note**

El Al Airfare Average in season

Coach Fair: $1,560 (April-October)

First Class Fair: $9,000 (April -October)

EL AL Official Site

My stomach was in knots but my mind was at ease as I walked off the 747 smiling out loud..."I'm home"

Walking through the limestone corridor toward customs and baggage claim, I got an overwhelming feeling of excitement and instantly went over the inventory of bathing suits and beach outfits in my luggage. I must have packed suits to last me a month! But with new roof top pool parties opening up by the minute in Tel Aviv, multiple daily options were a must.

I scanned the customs area for the shortest line and jumped behind an orthodox family of eight. Each sibling watching over the younger one (with the oldest child probably nine years old). The ten minutes online felt like hours! I couldn't wait to get my bags and on my way..."Shalom." The customs officer behind the bullet proof glass said. I slid my passport under the glass and smiled back...she fliped through the pages, and scanned my face.

"Welcome back Yael," she slid my passport back to me.  "It's good to be back!" I said.

And there I was, at carousel #3 anxiously looking for my luggage...familiar faces from my flight were surrounding the carousel all patiently waiting for their belongings.
GD must have been listening, because mine was one of the first to arrive.

I am here, I am now, I am so alive and couldn't be happier...

Kick'n it @ Nanuchka (Lilinblum 30, Tel-Aviv Israel)

The thing about Israel is this...no matter where you go, no matter what you do, you're never visiting a new place. You're always returning to a place you've been to before (whether in your dreams or in a past life), hence the, "great to see you again" smile greeting you wherever you go. Sometimes it's at the train station, at the coffee shop, at the beach, or even on line at a public restroom...the entire country is one big neighborhood...your neighborhood. It is a place where biblical history and modern spirituality collide.

Yalla!!! Let's go...we've got much to live for...

The view of Topsea Beach from Liberty Park (Tel Aviv)

Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv

Salute to the IDF

Israel's fresh produce

Kick'n it Tel Aviv

Follow us to the beautiful Mediterranean shore lines of Tel Aviv and Hertzelia...from exposed skin and tini bikinis, to pretty girls and boys kick'n it beachfront, we're going to the Holy Land for one heck of a party!

Afternoon rooftop parties with internationally renowned resident DJ's, and sunsets that could send you straight to heaven...

Check out Time Out Israel (online magazine)

This place comes pretty close to anything you've ever wanted and imagined...we take off at 11:55pm TONIGHT. Grab your iPod, Ray Bans and lather on that SPF and let's go! I promise, Israel won't let you down...she awaits you with open arms.

See you @ baggage claim!!

Kick'n it w/Keith McNally

Restaurateur, Keith McNally of Balthazar, Pastis, Schiller's Liquor Bar, Odeon, Lucky Strike, Morandi, Pravda, Minetta Tavern, and most recently (opened in February 2010), Pulino Bar & Pizzeria http://www.pulinosny.com/, brings affordability, great taste, and appealing eye candy to NYC’s East Village.

McNally’s baby resides on the notoriously busy corner of Houston & Bowery with downtown’s trendy crowd swarming on the street corner hoping to be seated inside (or out) to get a taste of Nate Appleman’s brick oven pizza and modern Italian antipasti (http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/pulinos-bar-pizzeria/menu).

Pulino’s corner is truly the crossroads between the Lower East Side (LES), SOHO, East Village, NoLita, and (Meat Packing’s rival), the Bowery. Seaming that it was a Saturday night between the hours of 8pm and 11pm in downtown Manhattan, I was surprised my mother and I were seated so quickly. It could have been the Hebrew connection we had with the Maitre D, or simply our modest party of 2 on such a busy night.

With Daniel Boulud’s more affordable (than Daniel), burger joint, DBGB (http://www.danielnyc.com/), across the street, Pulino’s competitive prices may also attract the price conscious customer. The rise of the sister restaurant has become more common in Manhattan over the past few years. As fashion designers create a sister line such as DKNY is to Donna Karan, or Polo is to Ralph Lauren, CK is to Calvin Klein, so too is DBGB to Daniel Boulud and Pulino to Balthazar, Pastis, Minetta Tavern. With antipasti ranging from $8.00 for the Roasted Olives (with dried fruit & almonds) to $15.oo for the Smoked Sablefish (with bottarga, celery, capers & dill)...The pizzas are priced anywhere from $9.00 for the Bianca (extra virgin olive oil & sea salt), to $18.00 for the Gamberi (rock shrimp, speck, tomato, garlic & oreganoand). The most expensive bites on the menu are $29.00 for the Roasted Scallops (with grapefruit, olives, shallots, herbs & radicchio) and the NY Strip (with anchovy butter, potatoes, rosemary & parmigiano). http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/pulinos-bar-pizzeria/menu

Pulino follows a similar model like sister restaurant, Schiller’s Liquor Bar, (http://www.schillersny.com/), where the wines are listed by category under the headings “cheap, decent, and good,” except at Pulino, if you opt to not buy a full bottle of wine, you have the option to get an 18 oz. carafe categorized under red/white, “light, medium, full body.” They are $18.00 and serve approximately three glasses of wine…AMAZING!

Kick'n it on Fire Island

Thanks to an invite from a girlfriend (Shera), this past weekend was my first on Fire Island. Shera and her college friends (roommates and coworkers) rented a beautiful beach house in Ocean Beach for the weekend of July 4th, and invited me to join in the festivities. 100% of the house was single, professional, pretty girls from NY, NJ, and CA. In fact, I’ve never met a group of females less competitive and catty than this group. I instantly made new friends and couldn’t have been more welcomed by them (so thank you ladies). Some of the girls were graduates of University of Michigan; some went to Indiana and Syracuse. All of them knew how to play Flip Cups and Beer Pong along with the rest of Ocean Beach! I felt a little left out at first but once I learned the rules of the games, I was playing with the big dogs in no time!

I truly did not know what to expect when I first got to Fire Island. I mean, all I knew was that it was low key, no cars, flip flops, BBQ’s, and tons of beach time! It wasn’t hard to get out there from NYC at all.

I purchased a $30.00 “weekend getaway” at Penn Station (http://www.mta.info/lirr/getaways/Beach/OceanBeach.htm) which covers 1 round trip train ticket to Bay Shore, 2 one way taxi rides w/David Brothers (http://www.davidbroscarservice.com/) from the train station to the ferry, and a round trip ferry ride to and from Ocean Beach. David Brother’s taxi also offers shuttles to and from NYC to the Ocean Beach ferry station for about $25.00 one way and the ferry runs every hour and costs $17.00 for a round trip ticket.

**Fire Island Fact**

It runs 32 miles east to west and one mile north to south and is located south of Long Island.

I was so excited to get out of New York for the weekend and our forecast was PERFECT (90 degrees and sunny all weekend long).

“I’m going to greet you at the ferry. It’s like the movies…are you going to run into my arms?” (text message sent to my phone from Shera @ 5:30pm Friday July 2nd).

I got off the ferry to find a crowd of people meeting and greeting each other. I spotted Shera waiving her hands at me, sporting her Carrera aviator sun glasses, cut off denim shorts and a Rolling Stones vintage T-shirt with flip flops (this was definitely NOT the Hamptons)!!

(walk to the beach)

Ocean Beach is a hybrid of young 21-26ish year old post college grads kick’n it at the beach and young families vacationing at their beach houses for the weekend. The town is cute (literally), with no cars on the island…just Radio Flyer wagons and bicycles as means of transportation! All structures are dollhouse-like and I found myself flashing back to fond memories of summer camp. The mission on the island was to drink beer, get some sun, and hopefully do the “walk of shame” out of some cute boy’s share house the following morning. I couldn’t tell whether I belonged or not.

From beer games like Flip Cups to Beer Pong and $5.00 cover charges to get into dive bars on the island, I wasn’t quite sure the night scene was my ‘thing.’ I was a trooper and did go out one of the three nights I was kick’n it on Fire Island. I managed to learn how to play Flip Cups like a champ, and acquired a mild taste for beer (that only lasted for one night).

Now don’t get me wrong, Fire Island is one HOT place to party! If you’re between the age of 21 and 26, with a standard deviation of approximately 3 years on both ends of the curve then this is the place for you. The beach was crowded (which I totally did not mind), but from a snapshot, it sort of looked like MTV’s The Jersey Shore, minus the tattoos, and Snooki’s bouffant! With Michigan University in the lead and Syracuse University and Indiana University right behind it…it truly felt like I was crashing a college reunion.

(the Seasons Bed & Breakfast)

Please don’t misread this blog for a bad review. Quite the contrary! If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say it at all.

Fire Island is fun, fun, fun. If you’re looking for Spring Break during the Summer months of June-August, and don’t care for expensive bottle service, polo and golf or high heels and pretty manicured boys in fancy cars, then Ocean Beach @ Fire Island is where it’s at!

Had I spent my summers in Fire Island three to four years ago, I would have probably been raving about how this was the best place on earth!

However…I think I’ve missed the boat ;-)