Fleak Out at the Brooklyn Flea

Do you ever finally get around to doing something or going somewhere and think, "Why wasn't I doing this years ago?"  That is exactly how I feel about the Brooklyn Flea.  The 25th Street Garage flea market in Chelsea (which is for the most part way overpriced for the junk they peddle) doesn't hold a candle to the Flea, in my opinion.  While that market is like a garage sale on crack, the Brooklyn Flea houses some of the coolest little makers of treasures imaginable as well as the furnitury, vintagy, oldy stuff you expect.  Easy to get to by way of Manhattan, the flea is held every Saturday and Sunday in varying locations throughout the year: inside Skylight 1 Hansen in the winter and Dumbo, Williamsburg, and Fort Greene during warmer months.  And, be sure to come hungry because there are six or so vendors serving up delectable delights from artisan grilled cheeses, porchetta sandwiches, lobster rolls, to tacos.  Best weekend afternoon ever!

BrooklynFlea.com  

Lovely light!

Bits and bobs

Help!  I'm trapped in a terrarium!

Pendants made of typewriter keys

Images by Barbara K.

Free and Discounted Museum Days in New York City

Want to become the most cultured New Yorker ever?  Unemployed and looking for ways to spend these cold February days while your friends are at work?  Think it is highway robbery that museums have admission prices of $20?  Oh wait, this is ME!!!  Here is a shameless pick-up straight from about.com on everyday deals, free days, and discounted rates to the city's top museums.  I guess you now have your Friday night planned out 'till after the thaw.

Enjoy, and huge thanks to Heather's NYC Travel Blog!

Everyday Deals

• Forbes Magazine Galleries
  Admission is always free to this interesting museum featuring collectibles such as toy soldiers, Monopoly games and more.
  62 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street)
  212-206-5548
• Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology
  Admission to the museum displaying articles from the permanent collection, as well as changing exhibits on fashion, is always free.
  Seventh Avenue at 27 Street
  Phone: 212-217-5970
• National Museum of the American Indian
  Admission to the the sixteenth museum in the Smithsonian Institution is always free.
  1 Bowling Green, George Gustave Heye Center
  Phone: 212-668-6624
• Goethe Institut
  Weekdays you can experience German language and culture exhibits for free at the Goethe Institut, which is conveniently located across from the Met.
  1014 Fifth Ave
  Phone: 212-439-8700
• Sony Wonder Technology Lab
  Admission is always free to this entertainment and technology museum located in Midtown.
  Sony Plaza Public Arcade at 56th Street and Madison Avenue
  Phone:212-833-5414

Museums With Suggested Admission
In order to make museums affordable for all, these museums have "suggested" admissions. That means you can pay the amount of admission that you can afford and still enjoy access to the museum.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art Although they raised the "suggested" admission to $20, you can pay what you can afford to see one of the greatest art museums in New York City.
  Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue
  Phone: 212-535-7710
• American Museum of Natural History
  The "suggested" admission at the American Museum of Natural History is $15, you can make whatever contribution you see as appropriate to enter the museum (though you'll have to pay full price for planetarium shows, etc.).
  Address: Central Park West at West 79th Street
  Phone: 212-769-5000

Balenciaga @ The Queen Sophia Spanish Institute

Before last week, when I thought of 'Balenciaga' the first thing that popped into my mind was Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and the "Classic" motorcycle bag that was all the rage in 2005.  I knew the house of Balenciaga had much more depth than the "Bimbo Summit" as the NY Post so proudly proclaimed, but I had no clue as to the history or how the founder, Cristobal Balenciaga, drew inspiration from his Spanish seaside upbringing and translated it to Paris haute couture.  Being the fashion nerd that I am, I went to the Hamish Bowles lecture at FIT on his curated exhibit, Balenciaga: Spanish Master, at the Queen Sophia Spanish Institute in NYC to get the scoop from the expert.  I totally adore Mr. Bowles' writing in Vogue, and I am constantly amused by the complete out-of-his-element assignments he receives, most likely from La Wintour herself, being that he is a total dandy.  My personal faves include surf school with Blake Lively and living with an urban gardener slash dumpster-diver type.  

Back to Balenciaga--during the hour of going through one amazingly famous photograph after another with one amazingly gag-worthy garment after another, Hamish narrated the connection between the designs and how they related directly to Balenciaga's Spanish upbringing (along with plenty of lol and quote-worthy anecdotes).  The Cathlolic Church, Spanish regional dress, flamenco dancing costumes, bullfighting, and Spanish artists from Velasquez to Miro have all influenced his designs in such a direct way it is like a slap in the face and Ah-Ha moment in one.  To fuel the fire of my newfound obsession, I headed to the exhibit at the Spanish Institute the following day.  There was no time to be wasted while the info was fresh in my mind.  Up close and personal, the clothing is even more breathtaking, and the attention to detail and finishing made my own ensemble look like a home-ec project.  Below are some of my favorite pieces that are featured in the exhibit.  If you are a fashion-phile or a lover of luxe you will enjoy this collection.  I have been truly inspired, and who wouldn't love a designer who told his protege, Hubert de Givenchy, "A ruffle must be intelligent." 

Balenciaga: Spanish Master

curated by Hamish Bowles

through Saturday, November 19th 2011

Queen Sophia Spanish Institute New York

Park Ave. between 68th and 69th

Cost: $15

Or, catch it in San Francisco at the de Young Museum from March, 26 through July, 4 2011.

 

FREE Levi's on Friday in Bryant Park!

All American and completely classic but with a new twist.  Head to Bryant Park this Friday, August 27th, and starting at 10am you can get a free pair of Levi's Curve ID jeans.  Bring in a pair of jeans that doesn't fit and walk away with one that does...because obviously, all asses are were not created equal (yes, I stole that from the Levi's website).  The new fits are based on shape, not size, so there will be great options for pears, apples, and all the other fruits they try to box a woman's shape into.  There will also be a performance by uber-stylish songstress Janelle Monáe and styling tips from Bobbie Thomas.  Hope to see you there!

When: Friday, August 27th at 10am

Where: Bryant Park

Why: Free Levi's Jeans

Remember: Bring a pair to get a pair

Levis.com

Chelsea Art Walk Tonight!

I am kicking myself for not becoming a gallery junkie when I actually lived in Chelsea, but tonight all can be rectified!  Check out the Chelsea Art Walk, July 29th from 5-8pm (with a nightcap at B.E.S., one of the event's sponsors, afterwards) on 20th - 28th Street west of 10th Ave.  Galleries will be staying open late, neighborhood purveyors of food and drink will have great specials, and you can count on cool events, DJs, and book signings.  Let's get the weekend started early!!  

Click here for a list of participating galleries, events, and food deals.

Get Your Sweat On with MoMA P.S. 1 Warm Up Saturdays

I absolutely love entertaining guests from out of town.  Chances are there is someone else in the city they also want to meet up with, and one thing leads to another and you are mashed up with two new people you never knew doing something totally new.  This is exactly what happened this past weekend when the four of us boarded the 7 train and headed to Long Island City (just across the East River) for MoMA PS1's Warm Up party.  I never even knew this even existed, but thanks to a new friend-of-a-friend we had a blast....as you can see from the above photo.   The party, which happens every Saturday through September 4th, was a very cool mix people, bands (either live or DJ sets), and access to the three story art museum housed in an old school building...hence the name P.S. 1.  The people watching was amazing, the water misters were a godsend (and inspired some partygoers into a Woodstock meets spring break meets dance-a-thon meets chicken fight meets hipster version of a wet t-shirt contest frenzy), the beer was cold, and Ratatat was off the chain.  For an afternoon of people watching, a little boozing, art, music, and a throng of the hipster humanity, this was well worth my $15. My supreme advice would be to get there around 5 and stay till 8 to beat the heat and the crowded subway back.  Definitely go check this out by the time September rolls around. 

MoMA PS1's Warm Up 2010
Every Saturday 2pm - 9pm from July 3rd through September 4th, 2010
Click here for the deets on the music, directions, and other wonderful info.

Photo by Barbara K.

Insiders Guide for Outsiders - NYC Day 4

Ok, onto the fourth, and last, day of my little bro's visit.  The humidity was high, the allergies were awakened, and we were running on fumes.  What's a brother and sister duo to do?

- Back to Murray's Bagels for breakfast.  I usually don't take guests to the same place twice, however, my brother loves bagels, and we had to attempt maple walnut raisin cream cheese again.  Had my brother wanted something more savory, eggy, or pancakey, I would have gone to La Bonbonniere on 8th Ave. near 12th Street in the West Village.  

- Now we got to the 'touristy' part of the trip.  We got off the F train at Bryant Park (42nd Street) and wandered around, made our way up 5th Ave. to Rockefeller Center, laughed at people waiting in line to shop at Abercrombie, then headed to The Plaza to sit and chill by the fountain.  I recommend doing these things before noon on a Sunday after which it turns into a mob scene of out-of-towners.

- What's a hot, sweaty pair to do next? Head to Central Park: Lounge in the Sheep's Meadow, take pictures, and just sit on a bench and chill out.  At that point we had hit a wall--no more outside, no more walking.

- Let's go to the movies!  Be sure to take the bus somewhere during your stay: you get to see the neighborhoods transition and don't just pop out of the earth in an entirely new place like one does on the subway.  I think a great movie theater is Quad Cinema.  It's in the heart of Greenwich Village and is a total gem.  This way you can see a movie and not feel guilty you spent 2 hours inside.  It is a vintage movie house from before the time of stadium seating, Dolby surround sound, giant screens, and 3-D.

- Dinner at Westville, one of my favorite places.  Great sandwiches, salads, sides, etc.  YUMMM!  Delicious and laid-back, it is perfect for a Sunday night.

- Head to Hudson River Park for a post-dinner walk and to escape the heat.  Go out to the end of a pier;  it is 10 degrees cooler and will most likely have a view of the Statue of Liberty.

- Magnolia Bakery cupcake time.  My bro got two cupcakes, I had two iced molasses cookies, we shared a milk, all was right in the world.

- Heading back to the apt. we strolled through Washington Square Park and found the piano man playing in the middle of the fountain (of course it was turned off).  This guy is truly amazing.  He wheels around an upright piano and plays in the park during random times.  I've seen him weeknights, weekends, day, and night.  We sat for a solid hour and just listened to him play everything from The Postal Service, to The Beatles, to classical music.  Pure heaven.

- Bed time and to EWR in the A.M. 

Insiders Guide for Outsiders - NYC Day 3

It's Saturday....but it feels like Sunday because of not going to work on Friday.  Don't you just love that feeling?  We were so tired from all the walking and Yankee-ing the night before that we ended up sleeping until 11am.  No problem---we are on vacation!  Saturday took us through a complete fest of gluttony: an entire day of delectable delights. I am most likely 10 pounds heavier from i, so thank goodness for all the walking we did this past weekend!

- Roll out of bed around 11 and get out the door by 12:30.  In hindsight this was perfect because there is no way we could have fit in breakfast on top of all the food we ate throughout the day.

- I discovered tickets to the Tastes of the East Village on thedealist.com.  This is a great site for locals and visitors alike.  It is dedicated to deals on great stuff to do in NYC: yoga classes, eating events, boat cruise around Manhattan, etc.  If you are visiting NYC, sign up for their email about two months out and see if anything hits your inbox that tickles your fancy.  Back to the food tour: We went to five restaurants in the East Village, got a tasting of their signature dish at each one, explored the neighborhood, and tried to stay in the shade as much as possible.  

- Between restaurants 4 (cupcake and macaroon at Chicklicious) and 5 (sandwich at Baogette) we needed a breather and went to Washington Square Park to people watch, listen to live jazz, and veg.

- After our sandwich at Baogette it was back to the apt for a quick nap and on to dinner at Cucina di Pesce (glutton!) on E. 4th Street.  I had a friend in from London, so I had to soldier on and continue to nosh.

- Then it was on to Whiskey Ward on the Lower East Side for a friend's birthday (just a quick hello, happy birthday, hugs, muah muah).  Back to the apartment and off to dreamland.

Tomorrow: Batteries dwindling and heat/humidity rising!

My bro eating a lobster roll.  Originally uploaded by B. Kratus.

Breakfast at La Bonbonniere

I will say the one huge upside to having a gaggle of your friends out of town at once is found time.  Not that you ever lost it, but I always find having a bit of 'me' time is utterly amazing. I love to go exploring, try new places (instead of the old, worn out favs) and experience the sheer selfish joy of doing whatever the hell I want to do whenever the hell I want to do it.  Case in point:  I adore waking up early-ish on the weekends.  The city is just a completely different place before 11am.  They say it's the little things that make life wonderful, and I couldn't agree more.  Going out for breakfast is something I rarely treat myself to, but should definitely do so more often.  I woke up craving pancakes, and I knew just the place I wanted to test out.   I have walked past La Bonbonniere on 8th Ave. in the West Village a million times and have had a love affair from afar with the little diner.  After scoping out the farmer's market across the street on Hudson, I picked out a stool at the bar (my fav place to sit and watch the action) and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast...this is most likely the best $6.75 I will spend all week. 

Photos by B. Kratus

My Favorite Fashion Docs

My friend Sara and I have been going back and forth over the past few months on the subject of fashion documentaries. I always find it completely mesmerizing to see the behind the scenes conceptualization of a sketch of a garment and how it turns into something that is hanging in your closet. The hard work, long hours, and hundreds of people with needles and thread is hardly glamorous, but it is on par with creating a masterpiece...especially the couture collections. And, I just gag over watching Anna ask "Where's the glamor...this is Vogue", Karl fuddling around with his rings, and Valentino with all those damn dogs. So, since it is February, I heart fashion, and it is the perfect season for some couch/blanket/tea time here is a quick list of my favorite docs. Please feel free to let me know if I have missed any or what your favs are.

Marc Jacobs & Louis Vuitton - Great to see Marc flip flopping between LV and his own label. He is so hands on and amazingly quirky. This was filmed when he was transforming from totally endearing nerd to stud magnet with Lorenzo.

The September Issue - Anna, Grace, Andre, Virginia, Tonne....my idols at work. This is truly my favorite. And, now I know that Anna lives one block over from me which has completely changed the way I get places (why not stroll past the Wintour residence). The DVD comes out this month with another hour and a half of unused footage. This is a must buy!

Lagerfeld Confidential - What a freak! The ipods, the rings, the ponytail. So great.

Valentino: The Last Emperor - This is complete fashion porn. Just watching the little ladies stitch on bead by bead and paillette by paillette is fascinating. And, Valentino looks like a classier version of the Jersey Shore cast with that carrot hued skin.

Unzipped - I have never been a huge fan of Isaac Mizrahi, but this is during the early 90's hey day of the supermodel: a true time capsule of a bygone era.

Seamless - Follow Doo.Ri, the boys from Proenza Schouler, and other now mainstream fashion designers compete to win the first Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund award. Forget Project Runway, this is how stars are made.

PS - Grace Coddington was absolutely amazing last night at the Q&A for The September Issue at IFC.

Meet Grace Coddington Tomorrow at IFC

Put this on the schedule!

Special Q&A with The September Issue darling Grace Coddington and director R.J. Cutler at the IFC Center at 6th Avenue and West 3rd street. Come on...you know you want to see it the movie again, and with the added bonus of commentary by laCoddington this is a no-brainer for a Wednesday evening. Also, I can't resist getting another peek at Andre Leon Talley's garish Louis Vuitton tennis get-up. Well worth the $17. AND, it has the added bonus of being right around the corner from Anna's townhouse on Sullivan between Bleecker and Houston for easy access to stalking apres movie.

For More Info

Purchase Movie tickets here.

NYC Restaurant Week is ON

I am going to claim complete ignorance here...I know Restaurant Week is happening from Jan 25th-Feb 7th, but I have never participated with the vigor or unending appetite as some of my friends. I know people who literally make a resie every night to nosh on $35 3-course dinners at some of the finest eateries in NYC. I have mixed feelings though...isn't this like gourmet gluttony? Wouldn't one rather spread out these amazing meals instead of concentrating them into a back to back food orgy? Of course, the really hot tables in town don't feel the need to participate (ie Minetta Tavern which I am dying to go to), but there are quite a few places I have had my eye on that would definitely be worth a whirl.

Thoughts on Restaurant Week? Not worth the hype or something you really look forward to? Good experiences, bad experiences?

Click here see the full list of participating restaurants and to reserve a table.

This Weekend: Decades Out FREE Theatre

This just came across the Shitty Chic radar screen:

Looking for something to do this weekend? Something involving theatre maybe? Something free?

Tonight, Friday, is the opening of the DecadesOut playwright's reading series, The Launch Pad. A reading of 'Dark Matter' kicks off the series at 7pm (a really wonderful script), tomorrow Sat afternoon 2 to 5 pm they'll be reading 3 short plays. And, another full length feature ends the series on Sat evening at 7pm. All the details and descriptions of plays and directors actors etc are below. And this evening the posse will reroute to a local watering hole for a toast or two afterwards. I hope you can make it out for some FREE cultural activity this weekend. A great opportunity to get to know a fantastic group of artists in the collective, DecadesOut.

3-Legged Dog (3LD) Art & Technology Center
80 Greenwich Street at Rector St in Lower Manhattan

Half of the donations collected throughout our series will be donated to Haiti Relief in partnership with the Beholders Group.

• Friday, January 15th
  7:00pm–10:00pm
• 
  
• DARK MATTER by August Schulenburg
  Directed by Zack Calhoon
  Maxine Clerk is a physicist chasing after the mysterious dark matter and energy that make up 95% of our known universe. As a rival colleague undermines her efforts, her personal life also begins to unravel. Facing the illness of her daughter and father, the distance of her lover and mentor, and the dangers of her own darkness, Maxine's struggle to understand the universe becomes a matter of personal survival.


• Saturday, January 16th
  2:00pm–5:00pm
  


• Two Shorts and a Solo Piece
  Directed by David Denson
  WORMHOLE by Whitney Hamilton
  A female astronaut drifts on the outer reaches of our solar system as her radio contact tries to help her back. She squeezes through a wormhole --- a hypothetical "tunnel" connecting two different points in spacetime in such a way that a trip through the wormhole could take much less time than a journey between the same starting and ending points in normal space. Thus, she is propelled into another dimension.
  
  LISTEN TO THE UNIVERSE by Francis Kuzler
  Radio astonomer Peter Haskell has spent years deciphering the sounds of space, but now he hears something that he's never heard before, the voice of a woman screaming about love and the human soul. Can Peter cope with his latest discovery?
  
  FIRE IN THE GARDEN by Ken Weitzman
  In 1965 Norman Morrison, a Quaker from Baltimore, drove to the Pentagon and, in protest over the U.S. policy in Vietnam, doused himself in kerosene and lit himself on fire. Looking on as he did this was his one-year-old daughter. Fire in the Garden is told by a new father who finds himself haunted by Morrisonís act as he struggles mightily (and comically) with the challenges of modern fatherhood.
  
  Featuring: Jennifer Larkin*, Ryan McCarthy*


• Saturday, January 16th
  7:00pm–10:00pm


• EXILE by Lindsey Ferrentino
  Directed by Tony Macy-Pérez
  Exiled historical figures Einstein, Brecht, Lenin, Trotsky, Napoleon Bonaparte, and a Catholic Nun meet in front of a wall to contemplate how and why they need to get over it, confusing themselves into wondering whether or not they have already done so. Consumed with the menial, they debate action vs. intellect with cynically humorous dialogue as bleak and ironic as their landscape. Inspired by the proposed wall to be built between the United States and Mexico, this play questions the idea of boundaries, what it means to be contained, and the isolation of genius. The cast of characters must work together to salvage their sanity before it's too late in this new absurdist tragicomedy.
  
  Featuring: Grace Kiley*, Pascal Escrout*, Thomas Garvey*, Patrick Melville*, Marek Sapieyevski, and Leal Vona

Associations of Hip Needs Your Help Today!

All I am asking is for a few bucks. It's the 15th (one of my two favorite days of the month) so I believe most people got paid today and what better way to do your "good deed for the day" than to donate a few bucks to get this project produced. My great friend back all the way from middle school, Sarah Saunders, is involved, and they only have until midnight tonight to raise the money needed to get the rest of their funding. If they don't get to $4k it's lights out, so they need our help!

Trust me, you will never miss that dollar (or $3, or $5, or $7), but you will make a huge difference here.



About the project:

"Art scenes come and art scenes go. What then remains? New York City and its Burroughs have long been a place for the aspiring to enter and the famous to exploit. Each new art neighborhood shifts according its own the economic status. When one neighborhood’s art scene explodes, so does its real estate. For instance, West Village turns to Soho turns to Williamsburg turns to East Williamsburg turns to Bushwick. When a scene is brought to a neighborhood hype grows, there becomes a pressure, an obligation to be cutting edge; an obligation of hip.

Associations of Hip takes place during a demolition party. This party models itself off a party I attended the summer of 2008 in the Lower East Side where the entire building was being torn down to build condos so the tenants decided to throw a party and make as much noise as they’d like, spray paint the walls, kick holes through partitions and plenty of drugs. Associations is a tribute to the underground art scene and asks the question; are these artists, or are these kids trying to be cool?

Incorporating multi-media and live stream video to explore the power of a camera and the vogue of celebrity. An allure and curiosity we all carry with us. Laura Fitch is a young photographer turned video-blogger who is dealing with the loss of her first great love and left to face the reality of her current job. She’s making money and doing her art, but is that enough? Through avoidance, drugs, liquor, friends, and an underground party, she learns to jump out of her own pain and discover self-expression.

There are many movements towards giving our artists a place to play, let this be another."

New Year Resolutions - 2010

Ok, so it is January 5th but each day is a new day, and today I choose to make my 2010 resolutions on how to lead a more Shitty-Chic life. If 2009 was the year of the broke bitch, then it will be interesting to see if 2010 will be the year of luxe living (on a shoestring, of course).

1. Stop buying "disposable" clothing - You know what I am talking about...as in buying for one occasion, shoddy quality, knowing you will get a few wears and toss it before the seams have time to come apart. This dirty little habit does not a luxe life make. So, in 2010 I am buying for quality and longevity which is much more cost effective in the long run. I am not talking about Gucci or uber designer duds, but solid pieces to build many outfits. Sorry, but H&M is so 2009.

2. Wear lipstick during the day - Ladies, we need to get on this because the trend won't last forever. I started wearing lipstick for going out at night this past summer---lovely shades of magenta, coral, and red, and now I feel like I am going to the gym or something without it...haha I don't go to the gym.

3. Don't leave the house without a little bit of glam - This can be as small as a bracelet, belt, or lipstick, but remember...the accessories make the outfit. The clothes are the cake and the baubles are the frosting. Yum!

4. Don't leave the dishes in the sink overnight - Just a good rule to live by.

5. End the party at 2am - Everyone needs their beauty sleep, and really, the party never gets better after 2am...it has usually just hit its peak. Do yourself a favor and head home. Your hangover will thank you in the morning.

What are you planning on doing more of or not doing at all this year?

Your Shitty-Chic New Year's To-Do List

I always start off the new year with a to-do list. They are mostly things I have been putting off since Thanksgiving when the holidays gear up (like getting my passport renewed) or things I wanted to do in 2009 but never really got around to it (like painting my kitchen/living room in my tenement). The whole idea is to purge your life of things that are cluttering it up and to streamline. Here is the Shitty-Chic January 2010 to-do list for your wardrobe, your home, and your life. Enjoy and here's to gettin' shit done!

Wardrobe to-do's:

1- Try on everything in your closet (except summer items). If it doesn't fit, decide whether it can be made marvelous again by your tailor, should get a new lease on life at the Goodwill, or is headed to the glue factory. You must leave out all emotion and get real with yourself. Brutal honesty is what we are going for, so enlist a real friend if needed. If you headed into a shop today and tried the garment on, would you buy it? If you haven't worn it in a year it's time to clear out the dead wood unless it is something designer, vintage, or fabulous.

2- Find yourself a good tailor. This can bring back garments on the brink of going the the Goodwill and make newer items fit like a glove. Always get jeans hemmed, collared button downs fitted, and dresses morphed to a flattering length. I use GG Cleaners & Tailors at Thompson and Grand. They are marvelous.

3- Take any shoes that are looking worn, need new heels, etc. to the shoe repair shop immediately. I notice that I wait, and wait, and wait some more to get this done until I have one pair of heels left (I'm really not a huge shoe person). Paying $30 to get your shoes rehabbed is much less than buying new ones, and they will look like brand new. I go to Louis Shoes on 77th between 1st and 2nd Ave. Arty's on 8th Ave. between 22nd and 23rd is also amazing.

4- Coordinate your hangers. I think I would jump out the window if I had a mix of hangers, but maybe that is a little OCD peeking out. I like the white plastic ones I get from Kmart (and right now they are on super sale). Just as long as things coordinate.

5- Go through your socks and undies drawer. Trash any undies or bras that you wouldn't want to get caught wearing on a hot date. Socks with holes are no bueno, and there is nothing better than putting on a new pair.

Home to-do's:

1- Install dimmers. This is a no brainer when it comes to lighting. I did this about a year ago with no help of an electrician, and it was really easy and costs roughly $20 per socket. Head to Home Depot where they have the best price and great selection. I saved the old fitting so I can take my dimmer with me when I move out.

2- January is a great time for an uber deep cleaning. This way you get in the habit of doing it every six months. Move the furniture, clean out the sofa cushions, and scrub your tile. Also, go through your fridge and cupboards. Look for things that have expired or look completely unappetizing.

3- Painting is one of my projects this coming month. I have gotten tired of the yellow in my kitchen that makes me want to strangle small children, and I am switching so a lovely blue called "Soft Chinchilla". Yum. Painting is the cheapest way to change a room you have tired of. It will run you about $25 a gallon at Home Depot plus the $10 painter's kit with rollers, brushes, etc. which I always use.

4- This is a bit more extravagant, but installing a soft-close toilet seat is really the ultimate luxury on the home front. Really, if I could live in a soft-close world I would. Home Depot has seats made by Kohler for under $50. How often do you buy a toilet seat? Go for it!

5- Purchase some really nice hand soap for the bathroom. It's the little things that make a difference in life, and this is an affordable luxury for anyone. Anthropologie has great little soaps that always seem to be on sale.

Life to-do's:

1- Start writing thank you notes. Yes, with pen and paper and stamps and envelopes. Shocking, I know. How much do you love getting pieces of mail that aren't bills or magazines? This is fast becoming a lost social grace, and I am determined to not let it die!

2- Schedule all your doctor and dentist check ups in January. Not only does your deductible renew at the first of the year, but scheduling in a certain month every year helps you to not forget. AND, be sure to go to the dermatologist once a year for a skin cancer screening no matter how pale or tan you think you are.

3- Get yourself a planner. I always get the Moleskine day planner in red. I just love writing things down, but do whatever you need to keep organized (blackberry, outlook, etc.).

4- Start working out. I am totally not a gym person. I like to run outside, do yoga, etc., so find whatever works for you. Maybe you want to ride your bike to work or go power walking in Central Park with friends like soccer moms (not that I do that or anything...). Just find something you like and mix it up every now and then. I find that I sleep so much better when I am working out and am an all around happier person.

5- Don't be too hard on yourself! There are a lot of inflated expectations with January 1st like it's some magical day. News flash: you can start doing things any day of the year. Just remember that clutter leads to chaos in your life, a soothing home environment is your getaway from the day, and being organized leads to making time for yourself.

What is on your to-do list to start the new year?

My Christmas Gift to You: the SATC 2 Trailer

Merry Christmas and God bless us every one (insert Tiny Tim voice here). No matter how cheesy, corny, or rediculous the Sex and the City movies get, no doubt I will be there on opening day with bells (and stilettos) on. Click below for the SATC 2 movie trailer. YUM!

Sex and the City 2 movie trailer

A Single Man - Meticulous Living Meets the Big Screen

I saw A Single Man this past weekend and, truthfully, I have been on pins and needles for the past few months waiting for this movie to come to a theater near me. Luckily, I live in New York, and I never have to wait very long for movies to open since they normally premiere here first. Hehe. I have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with anything Tom Ford has put his lovely little stamp on, and I remembered when he recently left Gucci he said he wanted to go into film making....and I have been waiting tirelessly for years for the final product: A Single Man.

Even if the story and acting were awful (which they so obviously weren't), A Single Man is visually arresting. The story is about a professor mourning the loss of his partner, his friend Charly, and how you would experience things if you knew this were to be your last day on Earth. The stark visual contrast of the saturated colors "pre-loss" and the gray-scale tones "post-loss" are enough to make you feel like someone is sitting on your chest. As George takes notice of the little wonders of his day...his last day....you can see the vividness return like he is waking up from a haze.

I just loved a Single Man for many reasons (wonderful acting, great story, beautifully shot), but ultimately I am a total sucker for wardrobe and set. The movie takes place in the early 1960's, and I was mesmerized by how the film looked and the way people were outfitted....you know, when people used to actually "get dressed" do go somewhere. To leave one's house in sweats was completely taboo (thank you Juicy Couture for changing that), and the hair/makeup was just amazing. I also have a new found appreciation for eyeliner after seeing a magnificent set of eyes drawn on Charley (Julianne Moore). The interiors were also fantastic. Set before the days of Corian and ultra sleek Italian sterility, I loved the contrast of George's glass and wood house (quite impressive for a professor's salary) to the luxe girlishness of Charly's. I caught myself thinking of ways to redecorate my apartment after I left the theater, which means the movie got the wheels in my head turning and is completely dangerous to my pocketbook. The scenes between the two of them are just amazing, and yes, I am wearing black liquid eye liner today. Thank you for the inspiration, Charly.

50 Gifts Under $50: Mixed Bag (#21-30)

Back again for day #3 and 10 more amazing gift ideas....all under $50. Sorry that I am one day behind....technical difficulties. Today is mixed bag: cool gifts that don't fall into any particular category and would work just as well for a co-worker, friend, or someone close.

Remember the rules:

• It can cost no more than $50 before sales tax.
• It must be something fairly luxe and fall into the category of an item that the recipient may wish to have but out of practicality would never spend their own money on.
• It must be relatively easy to find (either online, national retailers, or adequate substitutes are available).
• Finally, it has to be something I would love to receive or would personally give to a friend or family member. I would never recommend something I wouldn't pony up for myself.

• 

To bridge the gap between the 19th and 21st century.

Iomoi e-stationary subscription - $20

The perfect present for your favorite narcissist.
Portrait by Richard Haines during Holiday sale - $50


The seats may be nosebleed, but it's just fun being there.
New York City Opera tickets - Prices start at $12


I think real style on the street is way more interesting than anything in a magazine.
The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman - $20


Spend your nights and weekends with Uncle Karl....and his favorite tunes.
Vogue Presents Karl Lagerfeld: My Favorite Songs - $41 for the two-CD set


For your frequent flier friend. Crucial for red eye flights.
J.Crew striped travel set - $30


Help someone get their groove back, or at least get some moves.
Dance Class at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre - $16.50 per class


Get a sneak peek into the world of MJ #2.
Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton DVD - $27


Each page is marked with a date and 5 sections. Look back 5 years from now at what you were doing on that exact day. I love this.
5-Year Diary - $25


Matches from restaurants are so blah. Lighters have no magic.
Iomoi 2-box match set - $12

Day 1: For Her
Day 2: For Home
Day 3: Mixed Bag
Day 4: Eat & Drink
Day 5: For Him

Ring in the Holidays with Doyle & Doyle...pun intended!

Come with me to celebrate everything Holiday--especially lovely, sparkly things--on Thursday December 3rd from 6-9 with Doyle and Doyle, my favorite jewelry spot south of 56th and 5th (Harry Winston). In addition to having sweet treats and the requisite bubbly, they will have a "Downtown Dressing Room" where you can try on amazing antique and vintage jewels hand-selected by the Doyle sisters and staff. Love it!

Be sure to RSVP to lauren@doyledoyle.com ASAP. See you there!

Doyle & Doyle
189 Orchard St.
www.doyledoyle.com