From the winter Chanel Sport Collection, these lightweight, sleek skis come with either a black lacquered-looking finish or a natural wooden finish. Both styles have the word "Chanel" emblazoned on the backs (and sides) and the classic intertwined alphabet logo on the tips, so everyone will know whence your equipment hails. Be forewarned, with skis like this, you really better know how to schuss down a slope.

At select Chanel boutiques, 800-550-0005

Posted on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 @ 09:12 AM

Check Out More On: Fun Stuff

Well, not exactly dietetic chocolate. But close. If last week's cocoas were just too rich and too caloric for your New Year's resolutions-restricted waistline, then hie thee to Godiva or to Neiman Marcus and scoop up one of the company's brand-new scented candles. Infused with delicious aromas of luscious chocolate flavors, the nearly one-pound candle (the glass container contributes to the weight of the pillar-style candle), imparts heady, chocolate-y flavors even when unlit. Candles are about 3" tall, with a 10"diameter, and are "enrobed" in a cocoa-brown glass container.

Five mouth-watering flavors are on the market: Milk Chocolate Truffles, Black Almost Truffles, White Chocolate Magnolia, Raspbery Ganache, and Peppermint Bark (inspired by one of the company's traditional bestsellers, peppermint bark), and, all of which are truly evocative of the real deal. Created by Laura Slatkin (formerly of the eponymous Slatkin & Co., makers of fine home fragrances, which is now part of the Bath & Body Works family), the scents are intoxicating and they smell as if a few dozen boxes of rich and robust chocolates have been opened in proximity of the receptive scent detectives in your nose! Sniff the caramel, the Madagascar bourbon vanilla, the fresh mint, brown sugar, and ripe fruit...

The candles are available at Neiman Marcus and Bath & Body Works for $22.50 (50 hours' burn time); there are also smaller, travel versions (10 hours' burn time), for $12.50.

Posted on Thursday, January 14, 2010 @ 12:51 PM

Check Out More On: Tabletop | Fun Stuff | Accessories

You don't need a thermometer to know it's bitterly cold outside and, sadly, will continue to be just as nippy, at the very least, for days to come. BRRRR.....get out the handwarmers. Or, get in (as in imbibe) the hot chocolate, the most heart-warming, soothing, cold-weather brew, guaranteed to take the frost off the nose. Among the best cups of hot chocolate to be sipped in the city are those at Maison du Chocolat and Vosges. Just thinking of them warms my soul.

Maison du Chocolat was founded over 30 years ago by Robert Linxe, who opened his charming jewel-box-of-a-shop on the very fashionable Faubourg St. Honoré (when everyone thought chocolate was something to be consumed just for Easter and Christmas, in the form of eggs and Santa Clauses). He started with a mere 15 chocolate creations, almost all of which are still among the favorites in the line.

Linxe was a visionary and was even called the "Sorcerer of the Ganache" by Jean-Paul Aron, a highly regarded French journalist. He completely revolutionized the way Parisians thought of and ate chocolate. Today, the business, located in Nanterre, is under the toque of master pastry chef-chocolatier Gilles Marchal, who has been the creative director since 2007 and who was named the Master Pastry Chef of the Year in France in 2004. (He previously served as a master pastry chef at some of Paris' great grandes dames hotels, Le Crillon, Le Plaza-Athénée, Le Bristol.) His battalion of chocolate wizards includes one chocolatier who garnered the coveted prize of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Artisan in France).

At Maison's café on Madison Avenue, you can sip a cup of hot chocolate ($8.00), or take home a container of the Tasse de Chocolat (the little pearls to make your own hot cocoa) for $ 18.00.

Downtown, the breezes still blow and it's just as cold. So, it's the perfect time to hie thee into Vosges Haut Chocolat's café and shop. Here, the company's signature line of Couture Cocoas, packaged in an elegant purple gift set box, topped with a grosgrain ribbon, sells for $55; the sampler, less suited as a gift, but with three boxes of tantalizing cocoas, is $19.50, and individual packets are $4.50 and $5.00

The cocoas (and you just need to buy the packets to make them at home) include three intoxicating brews: Bianca, an Australian lemon myrtle, with lavender flowers, vanilla, and white chocolate-so good, you could eat it right out of the box; Aztec Elixir, a kicky recipe made with Mexican ancho and chipotle chillies, Ceylon cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla, and cornmeal dark chocolate (swoon!); and the classic, La Parisienne, a combo of Madagascar vanilla bean and dark chocolate.

All are special hot chocolate drinks, created by founder and owner, Katrina Markoff, who is enamored of chocolate. To wit, she says: "When I was a student at Le Cordon Bleu, a group of us became obsessed with dining at Michelin 3-star restaurants. The Michelin system was huge at that time, particularly in France, and we were so curious as to the ethos of a 3-star restaurant. One evening we went to the famed L'Ambrosie in Le Place des Vosges and at the end of the meal, Chef Pacaud brought out these very particular beignet bonbons on toothpicks. He had frozen ganache truffles, dipped them in beignet batter and deep-fried them to curvaceous golden perfection. One bite and the experience began - a sweet crunchy l'attack en bouche followed by a burst of molten liquid chocolate. Time stood still as it was nothing less than life-altering for me. That was my first chocolate moment and it's why I decided to name my company Vosges Haut-Chocolat."

You will undoubtedly have your own chocolate moment at Vosges' café when you sip Katrina's hot chocolates.

La Maison du Chocolat, 1018 Madison Avenue (78th/79th Streets); 212-744-7117, 800-988-5632; lamaisonduchocolat.com

Vosges Haut Chocolat, 132 Spring Street (Greene/Wooster Streets); 212-625-2929; 1100 Madison Avenue (82nd/83rd Streets); 212-717-2929, 888-301-9866; vosgeschocolate.com

Posted on Wednesday, January 06, 2010 @ 02:20 PM

What do Natasha Bedingfield, Patti LaBelle, Kellie Pickler, Estelle, and India.Arie have in common? Well, yes, they all sing, but what different styles they embody! The one thing they all have in common-at least the one thing we want to underscore here-is that each designed a bracelet for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, which has partnered with prestige costume-jewelry maker Carolee, to create a series of bracelets for fundraising, called "Words to Live By." The limited edition collection is part of Carolee's "Sterling Sentiments" bangle bracelets and 10 percent of the sales from the musicians' collection will be donated to the Foundation, which provides funds for musical education programs in public schools throughout the United States. (And that is a pretty good idea, considering our public schools have been losing budgets for all manner of "non-essential" classes.)

Each sterling silver bracelet has a quote from one of the "divas" and her signature on the inside, and each is produced in a limited edition. (Retail is $100 per bracelet and they are available at Bloomingdales and Carolee.

"Musicians' Words To Live By" feature the following messages from the great songstresses:

Natasha Bedingfield: "No One Else Can Speak The Words On Your Lips"

Patti LaBelle: "Live, Love, Laugh - And Sing Proudly In Between!"

Kellie Pickler: "Worry About Nothing, Pray About Everything"

Estelle: "Call Me 'Diva' and I'll Tell You 'Yes, Baby, What Did You Expect?'"

India.Arie: "Love Yourself"

Posted on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 10:07 AM

Technically, we're mad for tartans, the handsome clan plaid patterns that are so popular in Scotland, and for that matter, outside Scotland, as well. Who doesn't love a fine-looking Black Watch tartan? Or another prevalent tartan, the regal-looking, and appropriately named, Royal Stewart? But, in truth, we're in love with all plaids, and so is designer Jeffrey Banks, who (along with Doria de La Chapelle) wrote about tartans, in a sumptuous coffee table tome, aptly entitled Tartan: Romancing the Plaid (Rizzoli, New York, 2007; $65.00).

Banks also put his considerable design talents to use and created a broad line of tartan-inspired and -bedecked home accessories, everything from coasters to candles, all designed for, of all places, the Home Shopping Network. (Yes, we know, we were surprised, too, to find such stylish, delightfully designed and finely executed goods at the ever-popular HSN.)

We're not the only ones with a passion for plaid, specifically for Banks' plaids from HSN. His extensive collection of plaid goods and goodies has been such a hit that the shopping Behemoth has already sold out of his unusual cheeseboard (who would expect a cute ceramic cheeseboard in plaid?), a wonderful plaid blanket set, and elegant, plaid, glass Christmas ornaments, particularly fetching for the season. Among other merchandise, Banks also designed a set of mugs and plates (that may soon be going-going-gone), flannel sheets, a bathrobe, and wristwatch bands.

But our favorites are the candles, so meticulously made, with clever touches-like the surface-raised Scottie dog on the metal lids, and the decorative presentation boxes. They are sold in a set of three: the Gordon tartan blue candle offers a rich pine scent; the McQueen tartan red candle holds a tantalizing orange-spice fragrance; and the yellow McLeod tartan candle wafts off the most delicious vanilla aroma. (This threesome is sold as a set for $29.95, and may even go on special as we write, and be available for less, prior to Christmas-mirabile dictu!) Another favorite is the set of six cotton-fabric coasters, tethered together in a dainty, leather, buckled strap ($14.95). Still not enough plaid for you? There are also pictures frames, a tote bag, and a mini plaid umbrella.

Prediction for the new year: You'll shop and shop and still want more plaid...and you'll end up coming back to the site, proving the Scottish greeting, "haste ye back."

Posted on Wednesday, December 09, 2009 @ 12:03 PM

Compass Box is a specialist among Scotch whisky-makers. A small, boutique firm, it was founded by American John Glaser, who spent years in the wine industry here and in France, and who is also the former Global Marketing Director at Johnnie Walker, no slouch in the Scotch business. It was Glaser's passion for fine Scotch whisky that led him to found Compass Box nearly 10 years ago, in Edinburgh. Starting out on his kitchen table, in his flat in London (where the ex-pat lives), he began systematically and scientifically "dabbling." His idea was simple: Create whiskies of unassailable high quality in a style that is more congruent, to his palate, to the tastes of 21st-century drinkers. Many would agree that Compass Box has achieved that goal...and to boot, the company has won countless awards for its products.

Glaser's neophyte company has garnered the "Innovator of the Year Award" four times from Whisky Magazine, an unprecedented feat, and the "Pioneer of the Year Award" twice from the Malt Advocate. Compass Box whiskies have been awarded over 60 medals and prizes in its short history. His products represent a wide range of Scotch whisky, with one of the premier products being Hedonism Maximus (produced in a limited edition), a reserve version of the company's classic grain whisky Hedonism, with deeper, more intense flavors. Additionally, Compass Box is dedicated to creating fine infusions of smooth, sweet Scotch whisky-- meaning the best whiskies are enhanced with subtle flavors.

Another of Glaser's top-sellers is Orangerie, a delicate infusion made of smooth, sweet Scotchwhisky enhanced by the aromas and fragrances of the hand-zested peels of Navalino oranges, subtle accents of Indonesian cassia bark, and Sri Lankan cloves. The infusions complement the whisky and augment its overall aroma and flavor.

What are the secrets of this delicious, smooth mixture? For starters, Glaser uses a truly top-tier whisky, a single malt and a single grain whisky from Fife. Secondly, the company uses only the freshest, highest quality oranges and top-class, aromatic spices. Also of note is the fact that the fruits are all zested by hand (no synthetic flavorings or oils), and only the freshest of fruits are used.

Orangerie is ideal for mixing wonderful holiday drinks, too, and is not only an incredible match with dark chocolate (see Promenade's chocolate page in the current issue, especially when served slightly chilled. It's also ideal for making soothing holiday cocktails, including the aptly named St. Nicholas. Here's the recipe:

50ml Orangerie

20ml Lemon juice

20ml Maple syrup

10ml Orange juice

Shake ingredients and pour into a rocks glass along with ice cubes; garnish with orange and lemon wedges.

Note: A bourbon sour made with maple syrup is called a St Lawrence; St Nicholas is associated with oranges in Christian (specifically Dutch Christian) iconography, hence the name.

Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 @ 03:00 PM

Now that the holidays are officially here, it's time for fizzy, bubbly things...most notably Champagne...but today we are writing about something more pedestrian, which we drink all year-carbonated water, seltzer, club soda, and the like. We love those kinds of fizzy waters...and are ardent consumers.

That is why at this time of year, when the entertaining calendar is full, and people are stocking their bars for parties, this is the ideal time to become a member of the Soda Club extended family. And what, pray tell, is that?

Well, the Soda-Club, USA (it's not really a club and there are no dues and there is no membership) is the world leader in home carbonation systems, with sales in more than 20 countries, distributed through Sodastream. Here in the States, Williams-Sonoma , among others, sells the chic dispensing machines (that whip up sodas and waters) and handsome coordinated carafes.

It could not be easier: You own the machine, they supply you with refill carbon dioxide cartridges, as needed (depending on your machine, you can make anywhere between 60 and 110 liters of soda or carbonated water); and if you want to create sodas from your carbonated waters, the company sells mixers, called, aptly enough, sodamix. (They have less sugar, calories, and carbs than standard sodas and diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda brand sweetener.)

For me, the best part of the fizzy experience is making my own mildly flavored water drinks, although many people are in it for the sodas they can create. Soda and sparkling water mixes are available in more than 25 flavors, including traditional best-sellers like cola (and diet cola), root beer, cream, and lemon-lime; my faves are the unusual flavors like the diet pink grapefruit and cranberry-raspberry. Additional mixes include ginger ale, tonic, flavor essences for sparkling water, and an energy drink.

In an era when we are all concerned with being green, this is also a smart thing to do. We drink an average of 55 billion liters of soda and sparkling water every year, nearly 2,400 cans and bottles for a family of four! Pundits estimate that a mere 20-30% of those cans and bottles are actually ever recycled. (And here is a nugget you may not know: Plastic bottles take 700 years before they begin compositing!) So this is a way to cut down on the abuse to the environment and to create wonderfully thirst-quenching, fizzy waters and sodas at home.

Soda-Club, USA, manufacturing under the SodaStream brand, sells four different models of its carbonating machines and bottles:

Fountain Jet, Sodastream Design, Sodastream Pure, and Sodastream Penguin. (The latter is the top of the line and at Williams-Sonoma for about $200.)

• The Fountain Jet: available in several lively colors; comes with two BPA-free, one-liter bottles.
• The Design: includes two BPA-free one-liter bottles, a 12-variety sodamix sample pack and samples of MyWater flavor essences.
• The Pure: made of stainless steel with gray or white accents; comes with two BPA-free one-liter bottles with fizz-preserving caps.
• The Penguin: a highly stylized machine available exclusively at retail at Williams-Sonoma; comes with two elegant cut-glass carafes.

All models come with CO₂ carbonators and none uses electricity or batteries, making it easy to take them with you-if you're entertaining on a boat or in the backyard.

1-800-763-2258

www.sodaclubusa.com/wheretobuyRETAIL.htm

Posted on Monday, November 23, 2009 @ 03:33 PM

Check Out More On: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Working with nearly a dozen of France's greats "noses" (including the likes of Pierre Bourdon
Jean-Claude Ellena, and Edouard Fléchier, not people who are household names, but who are well- known in the fragrance field), Malle has created a line of nearly two dozen sumptuous fragrances, all branded and packaged in his signature crisp, clean black, white, and red. Prices range from about $125 to over $300 for some scents (in 50 ml. and 100 ml. bottles). "Carnal Flower" is among our favorites, with heady tuberose wafting up our nose and setting our pheromones loose. But if fleurs are not your thing, there are plenty of other musky, oaky, woodsy scents and a few for the gents, too, including the new "Geranium pour Monsieur."

Malle's shops all feature "smelling booths" which look like something out of 1950s American television-where, on a quiz show, the contestant would be locked into a sound-deprived chamber so as not to hear the "secret word" or the answer to the blockbuster, big-prize question. Malle's smelling chambers are tall, tubular columns, constructed in clear Plexi, with a door. The scent can be sprayed into this antiseptically clean, vacuum-sucked structure, so that the only smell in it is the one you want to savor. After spraying, huge air pumps or extractors remove the aroma and you've just sprayed...and then you're ready to spritz another into the chamber, to get the pure essence of the next fragrance. Very high tech for such a sensuous experience.

The shop is located at 898 Madison Avenue (at 72nd Street); 212-249-7941; editionsdeparfums.com

Posted on Monday, November 16, 2009 @ 12:04 PM

Check Out More On: Beauty: Fragrance

They have also created a boutique-y line of clothing that they will custom-make to your size, mostly vintage-inspired, with touches of period laces, beading, or remarkable trims. But not all the line has its root in fashion history. There are also young, hip garments that are cut from very edgy designs-a cute straight, asymmetric white skirt with interesting black writing on it, and a flirty little ruffle, $120. There is a fabulous crochet-look, long, straight coat-sweater, with the cuffs embellished with layers of ribbon ruffles that are iconic of this season's Chanel chiaroscuro silhouettes, and so Irene's interpretation is, of course, fashioned in classic black and white, $275. She has also designed an extraordinarily stylish, black-and-white, Courrèges-inspired jacket, with red leather trim, $450. (It is also a great buy, because it's reversible to a small checkered woolen fabric, so it's really like getting two jackets in one.) There are sexy sweaters, blouses, and a half-dozen styles of dresses (also with various vintage trims mixed into the styling), and naturally, if you walk in with your own fantasy design, they can whip it up. You dream it up, they stitch it up.

Naturally, they still do repairs, so that if all you need is a hem put up on trousers ($24)*, or a jacket ($45) or a skirt ($25), they will cheerfully do just that, or take in/let out anything, or patch a knee, elbow, or inner thigh.....in other words, whatever.

*prices quoted are the starting tariffs for these types of repairs; so for example, a trouser with a cuff and a lining may cost more

Silhouettes and Profiles

160 West 71st Street

(Broadway and Columbus Avenue)

212-877-3372

closed Sunday and Monday

www.silhouettesandprofiles.com

Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2009 @ 04:03 PM

Check Out More On: Women's Clothing | Services | Hat Repair

It is with that proprietary label that the company excels: Jazzy Dopp kits, great eyelash curlers, a rainbow of facial color, and all manner of neat accessories, from cooling-ice eye masks to suction-cup, stick-'em-up-on-the-wall mini magnifying mirrors that seem to enlarge pores to a scary 10x. For the holidays, the Sephora designers always surpass themselves with great color kits, combo palettes, and makeup compacts. This season is no exception. "The beauty of fantasy is taking over this season," says Stacy Baker, Sephora's Editorial Director. "Whether you're looking for jeweled-toned eye shadows and liners, or super shimmer gloss sets, Sephora's limited-edition collection is sure to capture the true magic of the holiday spirit and translate it into everyday beauty!"

There are perhaps a dozen facial color kits, another half dozen new tools, and a few new fragrance packages, all suitable for gifting, to yourself or to others. Here are just a few samples of the fab combo packages and products (some are exceptionally good deals, too) available starting N-O-W:

• Colorful Play Palette II ($24 a $120 Value) - The secret spell for creating diverse looks, this palette shines with enticing eye shadows, blush, powder and lip glosses.
• Glitter Eye Tutorial Kit ($38) - Get a hypnotizing look with this step-by-step guide to the ultimate sparkling, glittery holiday eye.
• Glitter Spray ($12) - Shine like a star with this illuminating spray-on glitter for both the hair and body.
• Ultimate Blockbuster ($48 a $400 Value!) - The ultimate fantasy, this captivating collection includes 90 eye shadows, 60 lip glosses, 6 cream eyeliners, 6 brow powders, along with blushes and a how-to beauty guide.
• Red Diamond Traincase ($110) - This enchanting treasure chest is perfect for storing all your makeup marvels in a methodical fashion.

sephora.com

Posted on Thursday, October 29, 2009 @ 01:42 PM

The Gucci Icon-Temporary sneaks are uniquely packaged (like you thought they weren't?), and since the show will then travel on to Miami after Gotham and next year, to London and Tokyo, the packaging will be city-specific. Sneakers will be produced in limited additions, making them all the more coveted, and they will bear dog togs indicating their provenance; proud owners can even have their shoes personalized with their names.

And if the footwear isn't enough for you, Gucci is simultaneously launching a Gucci App for iPhone and iPod touch (available from the App Store). The app synthesizes the worlds of fashion, technology, and music, and offers Gucci devotees access to exclusive Gucci products, unique playlists, videos, fashion shows, news, events, sneak-peeks at the latest collections, store listings, and the ability to mix their own music, with Gucci Beats, which sort of allows users to become a DJ in Ronson's image. There is a virtual turntable and users can layer pulsating beats, sound types, drums, bass, and vocals to create a uniquely personal sound. The app also provides access to Giannini's and Ronson's personal playlists and if you don't like their lists, the app functions also like a Gucci radio station, with a constant stream on demand. There is also the Gucci Little Black Book, which offers up an insider's 4-1-1 on the top-picks of hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, and so on, in more than 20 major cities around the world.

The Gucci App is available for free from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore and for further information about the flash sneaker store, call 201-392-2666.

Posted on Thursday, October 22, 2009 @ 09:44 AM

So, it was with excitement that we grabbed our brand-new, nifty-colored Travel Press ($30.00), which has recently hit the stores. This is genius-on-the-go, frankly. If you're really in a rush, just boil the water, start the (figurative) engines (i.e., dump in the coffee and the water), and let it brew; then, four minutes later, plunge. Then take the plunge, as it were, and just take the mug and go, wherever...you've got 16 ounces of coffee or tea to stoke you through the day! And the silicone exterior grip means no butterfingers. The container is vacuum-sealed, double-walled, and constructed from a dependable stainless. I like all the color choices, too, something for which Bodum is known.

I first found my fancy tickled by the colors of the Bistro Toaster ($79.95), with its retro look and cool, organic design. It's a classic two-slicer, with variable browning and temp settings, a defrost and cancel buttons, a pop-up warming rack, and adjustable-width toasting slots. Cool. Well, hot really. The crumb tray is removable for easy cleaning (not like the last toaster I had which just had a hinged bottom...a real pain.) The cord is also adjustable, so it stores neatly. And again there is that rich palette of Bodum's colors for the rubberized shell.

New to the Bodum family is the Flatbed Toaster ($79.95) which espouses the Danish toasting experience, according to its press release (and all this time we thought the Danes and the Eskimos and others in cold climes just snuggled for a toasty experience). The heating surface is sort of like a grill, and while it doesn't win points for the foot print (it's big, obviously-but it has to be, because that is part and parcel of what a flatbed is!), but it does win points for accommodating Eric-the-Red-size pieces of toast, and then odd-shaped carbs, like croissants, bagels, brioches, and so on. Like the other Bodum items, it comes in red, pink, purple, green, black, brown, grey, and white.

All three are available now (or will be available shortly) at Sur La Table.

Posted on Thursday, October 15, 2009 @ 04:31 PM

Check Out More On: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Nina Ricci: There couldn't be a more polar opposite to the D & G fragrances, at least so far as packaging is concerned, than the new Nina Ricci fragrance, Nina, being distributed as we speak.(Perhaps it will be destined to become a classic, like L'Air du Temps, although it is supposedly being produced in a limited edition.) Composed of tantalizing fruit essences, the scent opens up with brilliant, fresh notes of Calabrian lemon and Caipirinha lime; the heart notes then move into a luscious toffee apple, accompanied by peony and moonflower. It's a perfectly feminine and rich scent. And the bottle -- did we mention the bottle? -- is the height of femininity. A sort of matte pink meal accented lavishly embellished with petals of "Crystallized Swarovski elements," as the company calls them; you'll think they are very sparkly rhinestones. No matter.They are the perfect accent to such a delicate, desirable fragrance.$72 (80 ml) at Macy's.

Posted on Wednesday, October 07, 2009 @ 12:55 PM

Check Out More On: Beauty: Fragrance

It's beauty time at Saks Fifth Avenue and the lagniappes are plentiful. From last week until October 4th (Sunday), there is a veritable make-up marketplace on the first floor of the venerable department store, with grand, gorgeous, and great goodies for all. There are gifts, makeovers, and give-aways at nearly every counter, and oodles of beauty experts roving around, not only dispensing make-up artists' insider-y tips but also ready and eager to use their painterly hands and makiage supplies to transform your visage into something glowing and glamorous.

And on top of all the fantastic, fun indulgences, if you spend $75 on make-up/beauty/skincare/fragrance, you'll get a metallic (either luscious hot pink, bronze-y-gold, or shimmery black) shoulder tote from designer Stephanie Johnson filled with tons of samples and testers--things like Frédéric Fekkai hair products; Guerlain's new Idylle fragrance (it's dee-vin). Also from Guerlain, should you buy the Rouge G lipstick, (which we have touted), you can get your space-ship-style lipstick case engraved. There is bath and shower gel from Molton Brown; Clinique lip gloss; Natori fragrance; and other dressing-table must-haves.

Here are a few of the happenings around the beauty counters during this time: There are give-aways (with purchase) from Bobbi Brown, Anthousa, Canyon Ranch, Chanel, Chantecaille, Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Estée Lauder, Sisley Paris, Phyto, Trish McEvoy, Yves Saint Laurent, Laura Mercier, and on and on. There are extravagant gifts and precious presents at nearly every counter. So head over to "Face Value" at Saks for the mega-watt beauty blow-out and get ready to haul home a bundle. (And for the record, you don't even have to go to Saks; you can order on line at saks.com and still get the product-filled tote, but you'll miss out on the hands-on advice from the beauty experts.)

Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 @ 03:50 PM

"Do yourself a favor and check into rehab," chuckles Christo, of the eponymous Christo Fifth Avenue Salon. What he means is: Get your hair rehabbed. And we could not agree more. A while ago we noted, post-summer, that it was time to rehab your skin after the sunning and funning all July and August. Well, now it's time to think about the hair--and Christo is just the guy to call upon.

Jet-setter that he is, Christo is off to Paris twice a year (for the collections, to "do" hair at several runway shows) and he's usually pretty busy: Given that he writes a regular column for his homeland?s Cyprus Mail; given that he has a roster of celeb clients who demand his time and focus (just look at his Web site and there he is with Marcia Gay Harden, Rosanna Arquette, Mary McCormack, Brittany Murphy, and on and on...); and given that he has developed and sells a line of superior hair care products (many of which are geared toward curly hair, his specialty), you'll want to call and get on the calendar. But, if you don't catch the maestro himself, fear not; the hair guru has bottled his products for your hair rehab, and you can take the do-it-yourself route. (At the salon, the treatment which lasts up to about 8 weeks, costs $150.) If you do it yourself with his products, you'll save a small bundle. You'll need the Rehab Cleanser, Rehab Conditioner, and Rehab Masque. (And just for the record, if your hair is really badly damaged, you can sign up for a hair rehab program at the salon, which provides you with four treatments within two months, for $500, representing a $100 savings.)

The genius of tresses developed these unique formulas while visiting the Mediterranean. They contain seaweed to stimulate and revitalize the scalp; algae to strength the hair; and kelp which imparts emollients to the hair shaft. All in all, they revitalize the hair, strip away build-up of impurities, restore shine, and promote healthy new growth. The trio of products retails for $200 and will easily provide at least six treatment; use it once a month and watch your hair get back its shine and glory.

Christo Fifth Avenue Salon, 574 Fifth Avenue, Fifth Floor, New York, New York; 212-997-8800

Posted on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 @ 01:18 PM

Call it Mostly Moser. Or rather, Entirely Moser. The fine furniture maker, Thos. Moser Company, is debuting up a pop-up shop in SoHo, opening on Friday (the 18th), where a "special inventory-selling event" will be held, featuring showroom samples and the like. Formerly the home of Shabby Chic, the shop at 83 Wooster Street (just south of Spring Street), will function as a downtown annex to Moser's beautiful uptown showroom location (Madison Avenue between 62nd and 63rd Streets) and will feature hundreds of pieces of Moser's top-quality furniture, from seating of various types (dining, lounge, stools, benches), dining and occasional tables, beds, desks, dining sideboards, and cases.

Not to worry that you have to get there the first day, as inventory will be re-stocked throughout the duration of the event, which will last until early December. This is the perfect opportunity to snag some of Moser's truly fine work at a "good" price; the company is calling it a "special savings event" and it's bound to be a rare opportunity to select from a large collection of floor models, one-of-a-kinds, not-quite-perfect samples, and first-quality pieces at reduced prices. While the company specializes in traditional design, the newest collection, MOSERForm, an elegant, less traditional collection of to-the-trade-only goods, is also going to be available.

Thos. Moser has been in business for about thirty years; the company grew from literally a mom-and-pop operation with Moser doing the furniture-making and wife Mary doing everything else?in a barn in Maine. Today, Moser's got seven showrooms around the country, including the aforementioned Madison Avenue property. He's also got four sons, three of whom are in the business, and the fourth in a related furniture/interior-building business. Also, today, there are over 100 fine craftsmen in Maine who provide the hands to master-craft the furniture.

The shop will be open daily, Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Sales at the shop are on a first-come, first-served cash-(and credit)-and-carry basis. The nice thing about this is that you won?t have to wait six months to have a piece built that you want--if you see it there, take it home that day! (And, you'll likely be doing just that with a savings of up to 25%, which on a $3,500 lounge chair amounts to Money.) The staff will help you load your new possession in to a car (taxi seems more like it, but good luck if it's a dining table!); however, for those large pieces, local delivery (which will be priced based on destination), can be arranged in the shop.

For more information, directions/parking suggestions, and delivery rates, call 212-343-9760, check out the Web site, or shoot the company an e-mail at NewYorkShowroom@thosmoser.com.

Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 @ 02:16 PM

Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 @ 01:37 PM

I was thinking this morning just how important that cow is when I was watching the Today Show, seeing Ann Curry, Al Roker, and Matt Lauer absorbed in a steak cook-off, grills afire and beef blazing, as three renowned chefs discussed their succulent cuts of beef and assorted techniques. And that reminded me of two other things: The Trowbridge Angus Farms  in Ghent, New York, home to celebrated cattle (and some handsome, prize-winning studs), and New York City wholesaler DeBragga and Spitler. 

I visited Trowbridge Farms in the spring, and made the acquaintance of some velvety-black Angus cows, prized bulls, and "dainty" calves, most of whom were going to make their way to an elite wholesaler like DeBragga (which became the sole distributor in 1982 of Certified Angus Beef and then to a top-tier restaurant, and ultimately, to a diner's plate. DeBragga sells to some of the biggest and boldest names of the professional kitchen, and more importantly, to steak businesses: top toques with legendary steakhouses, like David Burke, Laurent Tourondel, Wolfgang Puck, Tom Colicchio, and Michael Lomonaco.They all know good beef when they see it, and DeBragga deals in the best only. (When I walked the newly renovated High Line, which starts in the Meatpacking District, I spotted the DeBragga mothership and was very excited about seeing it, as I stock my freezer also with the best Certified Angus Beef, something you can do now, too, given that DeBragga has begun to retail and you can order right on line. (It's pricey, but it's oh so delicious and worth it.)

Only the finest and most tasty beef can carry the appellation Certified Black Angus, a mere 8% of beef production, and to be Certified Angus Beef brand Prime, a mere 1%. When you see a gorgeous steak from the brand, you'll know it: exquisite marbling tells the tale, but behind the story, that beef has met nearly a dozen stringent quality specifications. Since there are a few more weeks (months, if you're a diehard) of outdoor grilling left on the calendar, here are a few tips:

NEVER, never pierce a steak with a fork to turn it (like do you want to let all the juice out?); use tongs.And when the grilling is finished, allow a steak to rest and redistribute its juices for ten minutes before serving.If you're grilling kabobs, try the newest gizmo on the market, FireWire, which is a flexible, stay-cool stainless steel cable design, allowing you to easily thread your foodstuffs onto the wire and to also use grill space efficiently. Once the out-of-doors grills are covered, fear not that you'll have to give up grilling for the winter: Cuisinart makes a great appliance, the Griddler, which does a mighty fine indoor job.  And for extra taste and zest, when grilling, or even for indoor broiling, get some of Neita's Charleston Vinaigrettes & Marinades, (pictured at left) which are flavorful, tangy, zesty, and whatever "succulent" adjective you want to insert...they are worth the price, at Dean & Deluca.

Posted on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 @ 11:23 AM

Check Out More On: Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 @ 10:12 AM

Posted on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 @ 06:23 PM