IMG Fashion, the producer of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, just announced that an agreement has finally been reached with the city of New York and the Parks Department. Held beneath the iconic white tents, the twice-yearly event is attended by over 3500 credentialed individuals representing fashion buyers & the global fashion & lifestyle media.
Under the terms of the new contract, the venue will remain in Bryant Park through February 2010...the longest term contract ever signed by IMG with Bryant Park. “We couldn’t be happier,” says IMG Fashion svp Fern Mallis. “The event is synonymous with Bryant Park and, though the search for a new location continues with the Mayor’s office and Parks Department, we are happy that all parties will be able to continue to plan for upcoming events while new locations are explored by IMG in concert with the City.”
If, for for whatever strange reason, you should you find yourself above 14th Street in NYC and in need of beautification, the Riccardo Maggiore Salon provides a full range of hair, skin, make-up, waxing, and nails care. Raised above the busy streets of 57th and Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, they specialize in hairstyles that are tailored to personality, facial features, and way of life. Riccardo and his stylists actually spend the time necessary to ascertain a person's look - trendy, fashion'y, edgy, etc. - and figure out how to enhance the whole package with the right 'do. Check it out at RiccardoMaggiore.com.
Who thinks it’s okay to lean against the pole & force everyone else to grab the ceiling?
Does that guy really need all three of those seats?
And, of course, what is that awful smell?
R.D. Fowler was fed up. Riding the subway during rush has never
been an experience anyone would mistake for pleasant, but rudeness
is reaching epidemic levels. Every day, the battle for space on the lurching, screeching trains
offers up the same set of annoyances and puzzling dilemmas. While most subway riders accept rudeness as an unwanted part of their $2.00 fare, Ms. Fowler decided to do something about it. “I went on Craigslist to vent my anger,” explains Ms. Fowler. “And I asked
other people what made them crazy when they rode the trains and buses.” What started with a simple post on an online bulletin board quickly
grew into something much bigger. “It definitely struck a nerve,” she says. “I was not alone in noticing that there were some serious
subway etiquette problems out there.”
Fowler decided to catalogue and share the responses she had
received in Subway
Etiquette: The Rules We Should All Know, Especially During Rush Hour. And just what did New Yorkers have to say to their fellow travelers?
Riders should respect each other’s privacy: “Don’t lean over my shoulder to read my newspaper!”
The train is not the place for personal grooming: “The vision of flying fingernails is disgusting!”
Not everyone has the same definition of entertainment: “I hate it when I need to hear the announcements but the original cast of Stomp is banging away on plastic wastebaskets!”
Hygiene should not be optional: “If you know you’re going to be riding the train, brush your teeth!”
From giving up your seat to a pregnant woman to realizing that other
riders might not be thrilled you decided to travel with your bike,
backpack, sleeping bag and shopping cart, Subway Etiquette offers an
interesting, and often hilarious, look into the daily commute that
millions endure everyday. For those who might not realize that they’re
part of the problem, she also offers some solid advice on how to
remember that you are, after all, riding “public” transportation. But don’t worry. Ms. Fowler isn’t asking New Yorkers to stop being New Yorkers, nor is she trying to take the “rush” out of rush hour. It is the Big Apple, after all; so when your next train pulls in “get out of the way or you will get pushed out of the way.” Available at Amazon.com.
To the uninitiated, the hip-hop scene in Harlem is like uncharted territory - for residents & visitors to the Big Apple alike. The new Harlem Hip-Hop Tours (H3 Tours) removes
fears, stereotypes, and access barriers to offer hip-hop enthusiasts
from all walks of life a rare opportunity for a safe and unique Harlem
experience. Enjoy unprecedented access to the places, people, and culture
that have inspired many hip-hop legends such as 50 Cent, Fabolous,Jay-Z, Juelz Santana, and Cam'ron - as the sights and sounds of hip-hop videos and music come off the screen and into real
life.
The skinny on Harlem Hip-Hop (H3) Tours:
visit with established
and up-and-coming hip-hop artists in "meet and greets" at live music studio recording sessions
learn the latest hip-hop dance steps & slang
enjoy Harlem & the Apollo Theater on a guided walk
ride in a stretch Hummer limousine to exclusive hip-hop dance clubs & cross
the velvet red ropes - VIP style
Day & night excursions are available Monday through Saturday, year-round.
This art mural is made up of 17 arches which gradually change from day to night, and from a cityscape to a rural landscape. Sigh...of course they can't boast a subway system in which the underground population of rats dwarfs the two-legged population a few 100 million times over, food wrappers strewn everywhere, trash on the tracks, and the infernal, earsplitting screeching of train wheels. So take that. via PSFK.
Served under the moniker of The Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata at Norma's in NYC's Le Parker Meridien Hotel, the menu also offers up a challenge, taunting: “Norma dares you to expense this.”
In addition to your massively unlimited platinum (or blue or clear or whatever...) card, bring a massive appetite. This costly, caviar-encrusted affair includes an entire lobster, six eggs and is served on a layer of roasted potatoes. A great option if you're just not in the mood for pancakes. Your meal awaits at ParkerMeridien.com. (via PocketChangeNYC.com)
The night the lights went down in Gotham, instead of the rioting & looting of the bad old days, New Yorkers took to the streets for an en masse bike ride, an impromptu rave in Union Square, and hook-ups galore. Thrillist notes that most residents pretty much spent both days imbibing either in the streets & or in bars. Although this anniversary of Blackout New York is ostensibly committed to raising awareness about energy conservation, it is actually about "promoting alcohol consumption: participating bars throughout Downtown will slash drink prices and, for historical accuracy, douse their electric lights. To keep you from tripping over a chair and suing, the bars will provide luminescence with candles, flashlights, and rags dipped in whale tallow. As for your booze savings, you can use it to replace the food that's been rotting in your refrigerator since August 14, 2003." (via PSFK)
What is probably the world's most expensive wine tasting involves Acker, Merrall, and Condit Co's "Top 100 Wines of the Century” - a hand-picked selection of rare & vintage wines from a variety of international collections. Once a year, New York plays host to the three-evening vino extravaganza, with fancy dinners each night in equally fancy company: forty of the world’s foremost wine connoisseurs.
Prior to each tasting, the director of special events gives wine tasting tips and a lecture about the particular region from whence the wine hails. This year, the event is scheduled for October 20-22, with dinners at Per Se, Daniel and Cru. For more info, visit www.topwinesofthecentury.com (via PocketChangeNYC.com)
Although New Yorkers remain steadfast in their belief that Gotham is the universally acknowledged center of the center of the universe, a mere 45 minute train ride away is charming Greewich, Connecticut, where dining at Polpo is unforgettable.
Designed to look like a country inn with both indoor and outdoor seating, the bar and piano room offers a New York saloon feeling, while the dining room is steeped in countryside atmosphere. Polpo offers a variety of wines by the glass, so arrive early and hang out at the bar with one of the friendly bartenders while the classics are played on the piano.
The food itself is delicious, and it's hard to not order one of everything. Don't miss the fried calimari appetizer, but try and refrain from eating the entire portion. The salad-minded will love the unique & light Insalate Di Crostacei with lobster, crabmeat, asparagus on Boston lettuce and topped with a drizzle of basil oil. For the main course, if pasta sounds appealing, try the Ravioli Cremosi with a savory truffle oil and mushroom cream sauce; Rigatoni Amatriciana with tomato sauce, onions and pancetta is also fabulous. In the mood for more hearty fare? Vitello Con Carciofi medallions of veal with heart of artichokes and parmesan in white wine sauce is as delicious as it is tasty.
Of course, save room for dessert - especially if you like pecan pie. I never finish dessert but this I did, without trouble.
(photo: fashionwindows.com)
