Luxe Life NYC - Part 18

Coffeemania Is Much More Than World-Class Coffee And Tea Drinks–It’s Cutting Edge Russian/Modern American Fusion!

January 16, 2017

What a pleasant surprise I had when attending a press dinner at Coffeemania at 40th Street and Sixth Avenue last week. It is gorgeous and spacious (it used to be the site of a Staples store) and has a nice taste of Russian applied to many of the dishes as the owner is from Moscow and has 30 successful Coffeemania…read more

Entertainment

The Smithereens At BB King’s: Don’t Miss It!

January 9, 2017

Pardon the pun, but for 35 years, The Smithereens have somehow managed to stick around without falling into “bits and pieces” like other bands in the "classic rock" genre. They are pretty much intact (well, three quarters intact if you count the change in bass players from Mike Mesaros to Severo “The Thrilla” Jornacion about 10 years ago). They are a band that started with an…read more

Lifestyle

Bettola: An Upper West Side Progressive Italian That Will Have You Coming Back For More

December 20, 2016

I really enjoyed my recent trip to Bettola--while it does not quite count as a new eaterie (it has been in business 12 years), it came under new management and got a new chef back in May 2016...and he is not your usual kind of chef. Vlado Kolenic was a huge rock star in Czechoslavakia who defected to the US in…read more

Beauty

Celebrating The Launch Of A “Pure” Fragrance For The Sophisticated Lady!

December 14, 2016

I was lucky enough to attend the extravagant launch of Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pure in the Issey Miyake offices in early June and was blown away not obnly by the scent, but by the fact that there was an official "fragrance launch" dance done by a few very talented prima ballerinas before the guests got to sniff this gorgeous…read more

Lifestyle

Holiday Kids’ Gift Picks Under 80 Bucks!

December 13, 2016

Never Have I Ever is my favorite game of the past year--I won't mince words. While it tends to be for older kids due to some slightly adult subject matter (I would say it is for teens and adults), it is one of those games that you can't stop playing, like charades. The game is a card version of Truth Or…read more

Lifestyle

Karine & Jeff: The Best Organic French Cuisine For When You’re In A Hurry!

November 28, 2016

The famous chefs' saying is that authentic French cuisine cannot be made in the hurry--so why not let Karine & Jeff serve it to you in a glass jar or bottle and you just heat it up. I was lucky to meet their team at the French Food Week press preview at Fairway last month, and I was so impressed--their products…read more

Beauty

Gucci Cosmetics: A Luxury Line That I Immediately Fell In Love With

November 28, 2016

I was lucky enough to check out the new Gucci Cosmetics line at Saks during their September Beauty Week and was mesmerized by the display even before I got to check out the actual products. I had a great intro to the line through one of their head makeup artists Aaron Smith Henrikson, who has done work on celebs such…read more

Beauty

Dial Soap Is Still #1–And We Helped Them Celebrate With The Launch Of Four Nature-Inspired New Products!

November 28, 2016

I had a ton of fun at Dial's recent beauty blogger breakfast at New York Pilates at 262 Bowery on the Lower East Side. The space was beautiful and expansive and seemed to be a small factory that was converted to loft spaces that took up a whole floor each. Dial treated the 20 or so bloggers to a complementary session…read more

Entertainment

Dateline January 2017: The Smithereens At BB King’s Times Square–This Is A “Don’t Miss” Legendary Annual Show !

November 27, 2016

There is only one rock show I MUST go to every year, and that is The Smithereens annual hoe-down at BB King's in Times Square. It brings together fans from all over the globe to see one of the few classic rock bands that has only GOTTEN BETTER with time, staying try to their original power pop, slightly garage-y sound…read more

Travel

FIRST PORT OF CALL: PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ON FATHOM’S FIRST SOCIAL IMPACT CRUISE, APRIL 2016

November 20, 2016

I was lucky enough to be invited on Fathom's one-week inaugural cruise to the Dominican Republic in late April. Fathom is one of the dozen or so cruise lines owned by Carnival, which as you probably know is the biggest cruise line in the world. What sets Fathom apart is that it is the brainchild of its president Tara Russell, a…read more

Travel

SPICE ISLAND BEACH RESORT: A Fantasy Five Star Diamond Resort Better Than Your Wildest Island Travel Dreams!

November 20, 2016

OK, I will just come out and say it--my five-night visit to Spice Island Beach Resort in Grand Anse, St. George, Grenada, was my greatest island vacation ever! This Five Star AAA Diamond and Six Star AAHS Resort Award Winner--one of only seven in the Caribbean--is the only truly family-owned hotel of this calibre. Sir Royston Hopkin and family run…read more

Beauty

Grande Lips: Plump Up Your Pout Without Any Pain

November 18, 2016

I was lucky enough to attend the recent Grande Lips launch in the West Village a few weeks ago and was so excited to test it on myself. It does was it promises giving a huge volumizing effect in only three to five minutes that lasts for hours. I think everyone knows that our lips loose fullness as we age,…read more

Lifestyle

Lala Sahab: Marvelously Modern Indian In A Simple Yet Elegant Setting!

November 15, 2016

I fell in love with Lala Sahab at 489 Columbus Avenue (between 83rd an 84th Streets) the minute I walked through the doors. It has a loft-life feel as it is one very long L-shaped room with simple modern decor. While the cuisine is officially dubbed "Modern Indian" by the owners, all the classics are here. I started out with…read more

Lifestyle

I Fell In Love With The Moto Z And Now I Can Kiss My Old BlackBerry Goodbye!

November 14, 2016

People have been laughing at me for not giving up my BlackBerry, which as you know, except the Priv cannot take on any of the Android apps that you really need. I was hooked on the Qwerty keypad and could not make the adjustment to any of the latest smartphones, so I carried around both a BlackBerry Q10 for typing…read more

Lifestyle

Taittinger’s (Very) Early Winter Holiday Press Party Rocked

October 28, 2016

Taittinger Champagne is a classic that most people cannot picture the winter holidays without. I was lucky enough to attend a recent (early August) press event called The Art Of Celebrating The Holidays in a gorgeous townhouse in Gramercy Park that including being able to taste all their popular products including the runaway hit Prestige Rose with its lively flavor…read more

Lifestyle

Desi Galli: Taking Over The East Village With A Punjabi Punch

October 28, 2016

I recently visited Desi Galli at Avenue B and Tenth Street--this is a second location as they have already caused a big commotion at their Curry Hill spot. They have many classic Indian dishes but they bring the best of the Punjabi/gastropub movement that is so popular in London right to the East Village. (Some people also compare their cuisine…read more

Lifestyle

Nuts For Nambe: Blending Modernism With Classicism For A Real Wow Factor!

October 19, 2016

I was recently introduced to Name Jewelry via a blogger's event to announce that Macy's will be the one department store exclusively carrying this stunning handmade line by veteran jewelry designer Carolyn Pollack. Many Macy's bigwigs were there to meet and greet with bloggers and Carolyn herself on a step and repeat and everyone at the event got to peruse…read more

Fashion

Lovin’ LaCoste For Spring/Summer 2017: They’re Not Just About Polo Shirts!

October 18, 2016

While LaCoste's crocodile polos are longtime legends (and I am simply mad for the polos with the GIANT crocs on them because they always make me chuckle especially on a child), this company known for high quality and durable fashions has wonderful accessories. Their handbags are classic and fashion-forward and I love the way they have so many compartments. They are…read more

Fashion

The New Century 21’s At Albee Square In Downtown Brooklyn: We Went To The Ribbon Cutting And Shed Some Tears!

October 15, 2016

The ribbon cutting in early October for the new Century 21 store in Albee Square was not only attended by the Gindi family who owns it but all of the stores employees (dressed elegantly in black). There were more than 100 people in attendance when the ribbon was cut by the Gindis and their executive staff. Founder Al Gindi made…read more

Beauty

Back To The Beach (Without Actually Going To The Beach) Thanks To The Beachwaver!

October 8, 2016

I was lucky enough to go to a Beachwaver event with inventor and legendary hair stylist Sarah Potempa--who demonstrated many great effects the different size Beachwavers can create. It was a bloggers event at the glamorous Dream Downtown Hotel in Chelsea (complete with a wooden hot tub on the hotel suite's deck that blew my mind and made lots of…read more

Beauty

HOORAY FOR DR. MARK + HIS KM PRODUCTS–HE’S REALLY MAKING HIS MARK ON SKINCARE!

October 3, 2016

I recently attended a skin product launch event for Dr. Kenneth Mark at the Upholstery Store eatery in the West Village and started using his KM All-In-One Cleanser and KM Anti-Oxidant Boost which combine stem cells, antioxidants, peptides and revolutionary precious stone extracts that you can't find in other products and I have to say that they really made a…read more

Lifestyle

La Chine: The Waldorf Astoria’s Latest Eaterie Is A Real Gem

September 28, 2016

I was lucky enough to attend the opening celebration for La Chine, a gorgeous modern gem of a restaurant located on the Waldorf's lower level. As expected at such a legendary hotel, La Chine is elegant from top to bottom but has a distinctly modern flavor. The restaurant officially opened on November 3 and it is already booked up…read more

Lifestyle

Otis Spunkmeyer, You’re One Sweet Dude!

September 28, 2016

My favorite cheap eats are not always at New York restaurants, but sometimes fun new packaged snacks that I encounter at fun food press events like Food Fete and Advance Public Relations' uber-popular Holiday Gift Guide event (which was bigger than ever and held at the Sheraton on West 53rd Street instead of at The Hilton this year). I have…read more

Lifestyle

The Gilroy: A Speakeasy That Anyone Can Get Into!

September 27, 2016

I recently visited The Gilroy at the northwest corner of 81st and Second Avenue which has a great classic 1920's speakeasy feel--but I guarantee that you do not have to give in a secret password like was shown in several Three Stooges episodes and countless gangster flicks, LOL! Besides great eats--they have artisanal hard liquor and the mixed drink menu changes…read more

Lifestyle

TESSA: An Upper West Side Mediterranean Spot That Will Have You Saying “MMMM”!

September 22, 2016

I recently went to TESSA for the first time and was immediately blown away by it's wide open space (no "close seating" here) and the gorgeous criss cross iron lattice work on the ceiling. It gives a loft space feel but somehow TESSA still feels warm and like a "neighborhood place." When you sit down, you are offered an immense wine list but…read more

Lifestyle

Padoca Bakery: The Ultimate Upper East Side Quick Lunch Or Brunch Spot

September 16, 2016

I recently went to Padoca Bakery for the first time--it is on the NW corner of 68th and First on the Upper East Side in the spot where Wok 'N Roll was for many years. Not only does it have a super convenient location, but they have unique Brazilian pastries and sandwiches that you cannot get elsewhere and counter service…read more