If you are bored of traditional winter weekends in the city, you should try to go to Russia for a day!

Brighton Beach, also known as “Little Odessa” is only 45mn away from Manhattan- it will definitely surprise you. This neighborhood is mostly populated by Russian immigrants who came from the former Soviet Union in the late 60’s. Here you’ll wander around numerous storefronts with traditional Russian signs such as Fur shops, bakeries and Russian bookstores …

Head out there on a lovely sunny day, it’s easy to take the subway and get off at the Conney Island stop. Trot down the boardwalk towards Brighton beach. Sea gulls hanging on the beach might be your only encounter at this time of the year but that’s what makes this place so special.

The empty amusement park (closed for the winter) gives a mystical twist to the atmosphere…

To warm up from the brisk walk go to Tatiana, a typical Russian restaurant with a warm atmosphere and fancy décor where the vodka is generously poured…

Atelier Mayer, the uber chic vintage e-shop from London, dedicated to 20th century vintage, is setting up a Pop up shop at Takamichi hair during Fashion week. You’ll find rare pieces from Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Cristobal Balenciaga, Jean Muir etc….

Vintage fashion lovers, collectors, sylists… don’t miss it!

A-list celebrity event planner, Marley Majcher (aka The Party Goddess) will be hosting the hippest boutique conference in town!  Event planners and professionals, mark your calendar and plan to join us March 17 – 19 at the ultra-swank Hotel Palomar for the time of your life!

The Party Goddess! UNCENSORED will be 2-1/2 action-packed days of education, networking, and guaranteed fun.  Marley has assembled a panel of top-of-their-game professionals and experts to share their tips and experience to:

• land an A-list celebrity client
• get the PR you deserve
• double your income!
• release your brilliance
• reignite your creative spirit

This conference will be a launching pad, empowering you in the next steps to success.  You will receive:

• strategies for identifying the perfect client for you
• action plan for setting and achieving your goals in 2010
• a full list of attendees so you can stay in touch with the friends you will make (and hopefully find ways to make money together!)
• and of course  (because this IS The Party Goddess after all) a crazy-cool SWAG bag full of treats!

Take a look at The Party Goddess UNCENSORED website for a full list of speakers, details, and registration information.

I hope you’ll join me at the conference!  I’ll be the one with the a flower in my hair and a cocktail in my hand, tweeting madly!

“Cheers!”

**********  NEWSFLASH!!  THIS JUST IN!!!  **********

The Party Goddess is offering FREE ADMISSION TO UNCENSORED for one lucky winner!!

Submit your best video (no longer than 3 minutes) on why you have to be at Uncensored.  You’ve got until February 19, 2010 at 5pm PST to send your clip.  One lucky winner will get a free seat at Uncensored (a $497 value!).  Send your submission to katrina@thepartygoddess.com. GOOD LUCK!

Harlem Globetrotter Nate “Big Easy” Lofton taught some special lessons to kids at the Discovery Science Center as captured by Michael Mello in the Orange County Register. Photos and Video also document the presentation. Lofton’s visit was part of the kick-off for the new Secrets of Circles exhibit at the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, CA. The exhibit will be available for kids to explore through May 2.

Two years ago Globetrotters Eugene “Wildkat” Edgerson and “Sweet” Lou Dunbar visited the Anaheim Boys and Girls Club on a Friday afternoon for similar life lessons.

One of the Harlem Globetrotters community outreach programs is C.H.E.E.R. For Character which aims to teach kids Cooperation, Healthy mind & body, Effort, Enthusiasm, and Responsibility.

Check out other places for child exploration at mygrandmasue.wordpress.com

In Maryland and want veggies to eat? Well, check out 3 of my favorite places!

Miss Shirley’s

http://www.missshirleys.com/

Miss Shirley’s Cafe is a premier stop in Baltimore! I absolutely love this place! (Downside: Though they have already prepared veggie meals, it is only a few. So that means you will have to pick and choose through the menu to create a meal.) But what a menu it is!! Check out the plate I had for my 26th birthday lunch! Miss Shirley’s is best known for their Sweet potato fries. Try a batch when you visit. They are served with a crisp and fresh  mango ketchup. Honestly though, just go!

XS

http://www.xsbaltimore.com/

Fa-bu-lous!!! I love this place! Great spot to go out and have fun with your friends. The beautiful interior alone is enough to make you want to stay forever! Compare that with the loveliness that is their menu and it is a wrap! My fav meal is the Fruit and Veggie wrap.Tomato, avocado, cucumber, mango, green apples, mixed greens, and miso vinaigrette all wrapped in a light and airy tortilla bread. While  you are there make sure you treat yourself to one of their many coffee drinks. I personally like the Mint Latte! Yum.

Mari Luna Mexican Cuisine

http://www.mariluna.com

There are two Mari Luna’s in Baltimore; the Latin grill and Mexican Cuisine. Though the Latin grill is fancier  and more spacious, the Mexican cuisine is more inviting and the food is less fussy and more authentic. So  what do I order from the Mexican grill? Well duh! Veggies! The veggie burrito is well worth the arm and leg  that you will pay for it. Overly stuffed with zucchini, squash, pepper, rice, black beans, spring beans,  broccoli, corn, and lots of cheese, this colossal burrito is sure to please!

Bon Appetit!

Baltimore Magazine’s article on the Best Vegan Dessert in Baltimore.  No, I’m not a Vegan, but sometimes I may as well be. One day I will work my way up to Veganism. via Best Vegan Dessert: Sweet Tooth Dessert Shop | Baltimore City Paper.

I had the pleasure of being invited to a Tweetup this week,  at a little bar called The Ten Bells on the Lower East Side. It was to showcase a new line of shoes called Naya.

First of all, let me just say that I have to get back to The Ten Bells. You could walk past its anassuming front several times (like I did) because there is no sign out front. But once you get inside, it’s welcoming. Small, but welcoming. Oh, and it serves organic wine and and what looks like delish food, including local cheeses from raw milk. When I walked in out of the softly falling snow, it was bustling with patrons sitting around the bar and gossiping over the tables. Impressive for a Tuesday, for sure.

At the back of the bar, I was welcomed by representatives of the brand, who showed me some styles. To be honest, a few were a little dowdy – no stilettos here. But once I learned that Naya is the daughter of Naturalizer, that made a little more sense. Still, in the dim light of the bar, I picked out a few shoes that I will be coming back for next fall, like a pair of chocolate brown, knee-high boots with a medium heel and tassels.

Honestly, it’s nice to find even passably pretty shoes that are eco-friendly. Last time I tried an “eco-friendly” store, it was vegan. I hate vegan shoes. They’re just plastic fakes with an extra 75 bucks tacked on. Also, I have very high standards for my shoes as far as aesthetics. Naya shoes just about make it there. Pretty, not drop dead, but pretty.

So here are their green credentials (full disclosure, I’m quoting from their marketing materials.)

• Chrome-free or vegetable-tanned leathers
• Natural, organic or sustainable fabrics
• Heels made from sustainable bamboo
• Biodegradable latex foam cushioning
• Natural cork and rubber footbeds
• Outsoles made with recycled materials
• Nickel-free metal buckles
• Recycled paper boxes
• Water soluble glues and cements

Not bad, right?

Bottom line: I think I might get their white shoes (shown above) for spring. I’m always looking for comfy white leather summer sandals that look nice. And when fall comes… I’ll be in the stores looking for those boots!

Naya is currently available at Shoes.com, PlanetShoes.com, and select Naturalizer stores. Later you’ll find them at Zappos, Piperlime, and Nordtrom.

As I wandered the Union Square farmers market, looking for food and then Christmas presents oh so long ago, a girl in her twenties approached me. “Excuse me,” she said. “Who does your hair?”

I raised my hand self-consciously to my not-so-great bob. She actually liked my hair?

“Well, this salon in SoHo, but I don’t really like how they did it.”

“Oh that’s perfect,” she said. “Because I have this special offer…”

I considered running away, but I’m too nice to do that. (I guess I’m not a “real” New Yorker yet) I ended up buying a $60 offer from Gio Salon that gave me rights to a haircut, highlights, conditioning treatment, blow dry and finish, and neck and shoulder massage. (That last “service” is BS, but whatever.) That’s $20 less than what I was paying for just a haircut at my salon.

I was pretty skeptical. After all, if the salon felt the need to practically give away their product, it couldn’t be that good, right??

Well, I was pleasantly surprised.

Gio Salon is in a tiny little hole-in-the-wall at 21st and 8th Avenue. It couldn’t be much bigger than my bedroom. When I walked in it was abuzz with several hairdressers fluttering around their clients, and more girls sitting on a couch and reading with foils in their hair.

They quickly set me up with a shampoo and rinse, and gave me to a hairdresser that looked like he spends more time in the gym pumping iron that snipping women’s hair. But he was a sweetheart, and listened carefully to what I wanted, and soon I was flipping through a magazine while he snipped away.

Two seats down I watched a stylist do some final primping on a dark-haired girl with dark, silky, long hair and straight bangs. Love! And then another gorgeous girl walked past, her rich brown hair done in those perfect it-almost-could-be-natural curls of a lingerie model.

The end result of my haircut? Adorable! I’ve been through two haircuts in pursuit of the perfect bob, but here — this was it. I thanked him warmly, tipped him accordingly, and decided that I would refer anyone there who needs a haircut.

AND I still have this coupon that I can give to anyone who wants free highlights! None of my friends or coworkers highlight their hair… so who wants it?

some places are always home, no matter where you go.

this is a complete re-work of a song that’s been kicking around for a while, a version of which was on my last album. this version features another wax cylinder recording (with many thanks to the cylinder preservation and digitization project). this one is called “my old new hampshire home” and was recorded circa 1890 and sung by the consolidated quartet.

anyway, please enjoy the listen. and if you ever get a chance, visit new hampshire.

listen here:

or you can click here to download

thanks for listening! check back daily for a new song, join my facebook fan page here and feel free to contact me via email (eatingalonemusic@yahoo.com). releasing a song every day is my way of growing as a songwriter and musician — your comments and feedback are very welcome!!

New York’s iconic downtown restaurant, INDOCHINE celebrates its 25th anniversary. With its stylish ambience, tropical décor, exotic French-Vietnamese cuisine, and yummy cocktails, INDOCHINE is one of these few, time less, restaurant that manages to stay a hip destination after all these years.

INDOCHINE, the book, celebrates twenty-five years of being an important legacy in New York’s downtown social swirl. It gathers Vintage photographs from the 1980s and ’90s mixed with collages and Polaroids taken during the restaurant’s most notorious private parties.  Stories by Moby, Julianne Moore and Bob Colacello are combined with photographs by Roxanne Lowit and Patrick Demarchelier, along with artworks by Francesco Clemente, Helmut Lang, Narciso Rodriguez, and Julian Schnabel and many more…

The restaurant is a must-see and the book is a must-have!

New York is obviously full of great burger joints but NY Butterfly has a special little something for the one hidden in the Parker Meridien hotel.

When visiting the city, everyone craves for a good burger… This one should definitely be your pick! Not only are the burgers exceptionally juicy and tasty, the place itself is quite surprising. Located Midtown West, inside a fancy hotel, you would never expect such an authentic decor- It takes you straight on a road trip across America with Jack Kerouac by your side…

Ideal after a walk in Central Park or a visit to the MOMA.

Bikram yoga is supposed to have all sorts of benefits. According to BikramYoga.com (maintained by the practice’s namesake who pioneered the movement) it just about solves every problem. Do you have kidney disease? Bulging disk? Sinus infection? Dengue fever? Well, then pull on your Lululemon hot pants and get down to your local Bikram studio, because your problems will be solved!

Ok, maybe not. I’m not sure I believe in the magical healing powers of contorting your body while you drip sweat, even if the website does give long, heart-warming testimonials for each of their hundred listed ailments ailment from a client whose life has been changed . I mean, hardly scientific. But it really can’t hurt. You know how you work out in the gym and then get in the sauna? Well, just think of Bikram yoga as saving you some time by combining the two.

The main benefits for which people go are weight loss and detoxification. Lord knows I need some detoxifying, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to lose a couple!

I didn’t really know any of this before I showed up this evening to Bikram Yoga NYC. All I know is that I had gotten a Groupon for one month of yoga on the cheap, and I decided, “Why not?” I hoped it would motivate me to get my cubicle-bound, soft little butt into the classroom. I haven’t been to yoga in forever. Partly because of the new job, partly because of laziness, partly because of drinking on the weekends. So I packed a bag before work and put it on my priority list. With classes starting as late as 9:45 pm, I have no excuse not to go.

Bikram Yoga NYC is located on the second floor of a building on 72nd Street and Amsterdam. As soon as I pushed open the door to the studio, a wave of soggy, warm air hit me. I was a half hour early, but there was already a waiting list. (Once you are a member, you can reserve a spot ahead of time online.)

I fought my way through the overcrowded little locker room, trying to avoid touching the apologetically naked women who didn’t seem to realize I had a prize view of their cootchy when they bent over. Ew. As soon as I could, I stuffed my bags into a locker and went back into the lobby to discover I had gotten off the waiting list and into a class. Score!

When I got up to the classroom, I found it to be very long and thin, with two rows of twenty people each pressed together, mat to mat. It’s a good thing it’s not a flailing, power-type of yoga, or else there would be some bruises. The classroom already felt like a swamp, and everyone was wearing tiny little shorts and sports bras. I, in my misguided modesty, was wearing long pants and a tank. A decision I would later regret.

In front of me was a hairy, middle-aged guy with nothing on except short shorts. I would get disturbingly acquainted with that guy’s back and the v-neck design his back hair made during the class. Two people to my right was a beautiful girl in her twenties with ornate tattoos all over her arms. And a few over from her was a girl with an Astroturf haircut. “How do you give yourself an Astroturf haircut?” you might ask. Well, you buzz your hair into a strip from ear to ear, leaving bangs in the front and your hair long in the back, and then dye that strip neon green. Beautiful.

Not really.

Anyway, the little Asian instructor bounced in right on time. She was leanly muscled, the picture of a well-practiced yogi. She took the names of all the “new friends,” including me, and then exhorted us to move to the outside, where it wouldn’t be so hot. I stayed put. I could take it! I’m a 7-mile-jogging, regular-yoga-attending, weight-lifting, former athlete!

Oh, how wrong I was.

We started with deep breathing and stretching exercises and then moved into basic stretching poses. “Streeeeetch yor body out!” She would exhort us. “Puuuuuuuh [pull]  yor stomach uuuuuup!” Like she was on the toilet straining instead of trying to get us to stay upright. I couldn’t understand half the things she said, but at least she was enthusiastic.

The poses themselves weren’t that bad, nothing I didn’t do in all of my other yoga classes. But as the class progressed, the air became thicker and hotter, until I felt like I was drinking soup instead of breathing. At 4o minutes, I thought I would pass out, and I still had 50 more minutes to go.

I’ve only felt like this three times before. And every time it was August, during field hockey preseason, right after sprints, as the ground spun beneath me and a felt that either I would collapse or vomit. But here I was in a little box with 39 other people, voluntarily subjecting myself to what felt like water boarding. I kept going through that yoga class, occasionally dropping to the ground to suck in slightly cooler air, kind of like what you’re supposed to do if you are in a fire. Stop, drop, and breathe deep!

When the class mercifully ended, I stumbled out and down the stairs. I had to sit for a bit in the locker room and just get my energy back. I needed time to fill my lungs back up with regular air.

So will I go back?

Yes. I bought a whole month of yoga, and damn it, I’m gonna use it! Plus the athlete in side of me is telling myself to stop being such a wuss. All signs point to it getting better, including all the happy and energized women who milled around me in the locker room right after. There were some -ahem- chubby people in that yoga class, but they made it through. If they can do it, So. Can. I.

Update: This morning I weighed myself, and I’ve dropped 3 pounds since Sunday. It’s gotta be the yoga.

I really love Thailand.

Forty minutes till the library opens. Forty minutes to write a post before I dive into my homework. Now, for the update…

We left our home in Washington, knowing that we were feeling led back to California. All Abby knew was that she was going to see more of her grandparents, aunts and uncles, and good buddies, and that she would be able to go to a big beautiful library and swim in her pool (be it one at our apartment or Auntie Sharon’s). What we didn’t know was where we would live, and what would really occupy our time.

While it feels like months ago, we’ve been here only 3 weeks. We got to California on Tuesday, January 5th, and were instantly showered with love from our families. Josh’s mom (Grandma Dell) opened her home to us, better than any hotel we could have stayed at. Zack took this opportunity to push 3 new teeth through his tiny gums, so with him being the exception, we were very comfy and got plenty of rest. Oh, and then me and the kiddos caught a cold . . . ok, not so much fun. But, within the first week, we got to celebrate Christmas with both families, enjoy my dad’s tri-tip, Josh’s mom’s yummy breakfasts, and Josh’s grandma’s famous cookie tray. Pretty sure we’ve all put on a little weight since we’ve been here .

For a month leading up to our flight home, and throughout the first week, Josh and I had been hunting for a place to call our own, and were feeling pretty discouraged. The cost of living being higher here, and the uncertainty of where some of our income would come from, left me feeling pretty stressed. Josh has been blessed with an interim position assisting with the youth and music at our old church home, Camarillo Christian Church, but we would need to supplement with an additional job somewhere. However, talk about wanting to have AND eat our cake, we also were not interested in sacrificing our sacred family time for comfort’s sake. Enter God’s timely reminder that HE is bigger than monetary things. Within the span of two days, Josh was hired on at the Starbucks he pulled his first shot at, and we got the keys to THE PERFECT home. This is the best part…

On a whim, Josh inquired about our old landlord to a few friends of ours. We had rented a great condo, shortly after we were married, from one of the sweetest women we had ever met. This condo, which had belonged to her family for many years, was a 2 bed + bonus room, 2 bath place, just a stone’s throw away from the church, a Starbucks (and the angels sang), and Rolling Pin Donuts (drool). Josh called up sweet landlady and found out our old condo was vacant. Awesome. So, back in the day, it was rented to us way too affordably 8 years ago when we first moved in, so when we met with the owner, we planned on paying a LOT more. So, you can believe our relief (shock, peace) when she told us we would only need to pay the same rent we paid when we first lived here (and the angels sang again . . . only this time for real). What an incredible blessing at a perfect time.

So, since this post is getting so long, and there’s only so much I can say without showing pictures, here is what we have captured so far of our town, our move, and our house.

View of Camarillo from the Conejo Grade . . .

View from Josh’s mom’s driveway . . .

View from the Camarillo Christian Church parking lot . . .

Another iPhone sunrise . . .

View from Great Grandma Yolly’s back door . . .

The amazing moving men (and fabulous moving woman ) of Camarillo . . .

Don’t let their size fool you. Carter and Abbott also got in on unpacking the truck . . .

And without further ado, a really long video of a tour around our VERY VERY messy new home (yeah, hold on to your seats . . . this is almost exciting) . . .

Don’t be fooled by the “psychic” sign on the window… the fortune teller will not read the lines on your hand, but grant you (or not ) access to this intimate bar, where it seem everything is still allowed… Behind the counter, bartenders in white blouses and mustaches concoct sophisticated drinks. Careful, the absinthe served at the bar might drive you cuckoo about this place!

I love to bake.  I love the smell and warmth of chocolate chip cookies in the oven.  I’m a sucker for pumpkin bread.  I discovered a decadent recipe for Kahlua Cake recently and love adding that to my collection of “recipes I know I can make well”.  So imagine my delight to discover a baking class devoted to the fundamentals of baking. 

Kiss My Bundt Bakery offers a Baking Academy, with such class subjects as Baking 101: Cakes, Intro to Frosting, Chocolate Decadence, and even a Kids Only class!   Owner and Senior Pastry Chef, Chrysta Wilson, believes that baking from scratch can be fun and easy with a few professional tips and the right foundational recipes.  In fact, the philosophy of Kiss My Bundt is baking from scratch, “using ingredients that you can spell, pronounce and find at your local grocery store.”  Focusing their menu on the highest quality ingredients, they can also bake vegan and lactose-free cakes, and sugar-free options are in the works.

I suggest calling up some friends and signing up for a class!  Have some fun, sharpen your culinary skills and reap the rewards!

“Enjoy!”

Kiss My Bundt Bakery is located at 8104 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048, situated between Fairfax and La Cienega, just blocks from Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Stop by for one of the “Daily 8″ (their most popular cake flavors:Vanilla Cake (with Vanilla or Chocolate Buttercream), Chocolate Cake (with either Vanilla Buttercream, Cream Cheese Frosting, or Dark Chocolate Glaze), Red Velvet Cake, Carrot Cake, and Luscious Lemon Drop Cake.)

This new exhibition, unfortunately only on at the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin, seems an interesting take on the Modernist ideal of Utopia. Shame it’s not travelling.

The PS1 Contemporary Art Center is an offbeat offshoot of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. It’s housed in an old Public School (hence the name) in Long Island City, only a few stops away from the hubub of upscale commercial activity by 5th Avenue. But it seems to inhabit its own world of quiet thought.

Nothing is pretentious, everything is beautiful – or at least interesting. A couple weeks before Christmas, I found myself with a free day and a free ticket, and decided to venture over. The day was cold and overcast, like a wet blanket laid across the sky, so I bundled up before I set out.

Even as Manhattan teemed with gawking tourists and cranky Christmas shoppers, this industrial-ish area was empty and quiet. I picked my way around some workers putting up a new installation in PS1’s courtyard (something to do with felt) and up the steps. After I bought my ticket, I set off through the white-walled renovated classrooms, my footsteps echoing. So different from the main MoMA, where I had to elbow my way through the Tim Burton exhibit.

Downstairs were various student pieces (gorgeous). I took a couple pictures, until I got fussed at by a guard. There’s also a piece called “Swimming pool,” by Leandro Erlich, with a twist. That’s all I’m going to say because I don’t want to ruin the surprise!

The next floor took me through a several rooms filled with modern conceptual pieces from 1969. It was like taking a trip back in time and having a conversation with artists who were influenced and inspired by the Vietnam War, campus protests, and the Civil Rights movement.

But the top floor, oh, that was my favorite. Well, it’s a bit of a weird setup. Most of the rooms are just art classrooms or administrative offices. It seemed like I could have wandered right in and had a conversation with the curator.

The room that took my breath away – or rather, gave it back – was the open air room. As the door opened and another visitor came out, I was caressed by a breeze of cool air. I walked into the small, spare space and sat down on a teak wood bench that hugged the square wall. Others sat quietly as well. And we all stared up at the sky.

You see, there was a square hole in the ceiling. There was no molding or trim. For a moment I wondered if I was looking at a window, or a picture of the sky. But it was just the sky itself. The light was slowly fading, and I sat there, silently watching the sky turn blue and purple. Sometimes a seagull would wheel into the frame and I would contemplate it as it moved in and then out of my view.

I would never sit and watch this on a TV, or a computer monitor. But I was entranced by the sky. I thought back to my childhood, when I would lay on my bed and watch the clouds move past through my skylight. I lost track of time, and when I left, I felt peaceful and happy.

When I got outside, I checked my phone and saw a missed call from Ogilvy. They were calling to say I got the job.

Before I stepped foot into SPiN, it didn’t occur to me that Ping Pong could be so fun… It’s  even more than that when played in New York’s trendiest spot, with funky music, cocktails and a great crowd!



Dont forget to check out the beautiful vintage Ping Pong table in the Fred Perry room.

Trust me and go play!

Bailey’s Dash is a 5k run/walk for dogs and there owners. All proceeds go to the Kent Co. Parks Foundation. The 10th annual event was held at Wabasis Park in Rockford Michigan on October 17th, 2009.  http://pages.pathwaynet.com/~sanste/

Check Out all the pictures at: http://www.shetookmypicture.com/

Well, summer is a memory and winter is here. There is no stopping the season changes in Michigan. We don’t get out much in the winter time. We did join the Vandersyde family on there day of tubing at Pando Winter Sports Park in Rockford, Michigan. http://www.pandopark.com/index.php We thought you might enjoy seeing some of the pictures.

You can check out all the pictures at: http://www.shetookmypicture.com/