Saturday's Spot

If you're not on your way already, get to the 13th Annual New York Chocolate Show ASAP. It started at 10 a.m. today and will run until 7 p.m. It is America's largest display dedicated to worship all things chocolate. Chocoholics: Some of the best chocolatiers come from all over the world giving out FREE samples of savory truffles and bite-size chocolate bars at EVERY station. The chocolate is obviously delicious, however it's usually the mind blowing displays that draw so much attention. Try the Jacques Horres hot cocoa while you gaze up at statues of past presidents and even couture dresses, made entirely out of chocolate. So grab that one friend you know would die for this and get to the Metropolitan Pavilion fast. We're talking; melt in your mouth truffles, fondue fountains, wine tastings and pairings, and chocolate gift baskets.

Metropolitan Pavilion: 125 West 18th St, NYC.
New York Chocolate Show

Friday's Bite

To commemorate the Eater awards this past Monday night, we felt it necessary to highlight Torrisi Italian Specialties for this Friday's Bite. Winning "Restaurant of the Year" in both NYC and nationally, Torrisi is one of the most wonderful restaurants in Manhattan, but may not be what you expect. On the brink of Little Italy, this 18-seat, no-reservation burrow is reminiscent of an old-school Italian deli. The menu is written each day on the chalkboard, including five antipasto, one pasta, choice of two entrées, and a dessert tasting. No vegetarians, no allergies, no substitutions, no nonsense.

 The walls are peppered with cans of tomatoes, breadcrumbs, and dried pasta and the vibe is refreshingly comfortable. But, don't let the casual charm fool you. Chefs and owners Rick Torrisi and Mario Carbone are extraordinary chefs with experience at some of the greatest fine dining institutions in NY, and you can taste that experience with each fleeting course and each exquisite bite. As Sam Sifton put it in his NY Times two-star review, "It is not fine dining, but it sure is fine."
              
<3 lk, the little foodie
Little Foodie Blog

 Fresh Mozzarella Hand-Pulled to Order Served with Parsley Garlic Bread

House-Made Lamb Sausage with Pickled Eggplant

Beets with Créme Fraiche, Apples, and Dill

Salt Cod (Baccala) and Preserved Lemon Crostini

Calamari Pasta

Duck over Broccoli Rabe

                                                                                    

This Week's Treat

Hide yo kids and hide yo wife, because Christian Louboutin is hosting a sample sale tomorrow starting at 10:00 am-3:00 pm. Shoes are starting at $200 so get yourself an early Christmas present.

www.christianlouboutintime.com

Louboutin Sample Sale: 306 West 38^th Street—NYC 

Spotlight Thursdays

Photography is the latest obsession in New York. If you don’t have a Nikon D90 digital, trust me, you’ll have one within the next three years. However, not everyone has an eye for photography. There are very few, and among those few are one of my dear friends, Chelsea Van Houten. Noise Girl is a brand that she started in 2009, which is her signature photography name. The Noise Girl blog, is a collection of fashion photographs, most of which have been taken on the streets of New York. 

I asked her about her initial inspiration and main muse—New York City.

“I initially started shooting fashion and style when I discovered The Sartorialist (The Sartorialist). I was fascinated by how Scott Schuman captured the essence of random people on the streets. By focusing on a unique jacket or a vintage top, he brought life to every piece that was featured. In a way, Noise Girl is quite similar to The Sartorialist, but it has an edgier and younger tone. I've always had an appreciation for the small details in an outfit and Noise Girl allows me to bring them out center stage so people can see: even the smallest things matter.” 

About NYC, “Shooting in New York City is amazing. I have so much fun roaming the streets and photographing strangers who have a unique style. At the end of the day, it's not just about the photographs but the interaction I get to experience with the people I photograph. I love seeing and hearing their reactions when I ask to take their picture, it inspires me to keep shooting.”

Nathan Jenden NYFW

Though Chelsea’s blog focuses mainly on fashion and photography, she also likes to include artwork, music, videos, fashion brands and any other object that inspires her.  Along with being a photographer, she is also designing custom reworked vintage clothing pieces that will be sold exclusively on noisegirl.com in 2011.

You can follow Chelsea on facebook.com/NOISEGIRL and twitter.com/THENOISEGIRL to receive updates on future blog posts and more exciting news. Chelly, take my picture.

Xx AT

I Love This City.

View from our apartment--get out there and seize the night.

Wednesday's Je Ne Sais Quoi:



Gray morning in NYC and desperate for the days of the faded golden summer....I didn't make it to Coachella this year but I'm loving this film of the music festival; which turns the whole crowd into dollhouse like miniatures. Directed, shot and cut by Sam O'Hare and produced by Sara Eolin and Leo Nitzberg. Reminds me a little of italian photographer Olivo Barbieri's work of cities from helicopters with a tilt-shift lens--here's one New York City's own Flatiron building:

photo from arthag.typepad.com

Olivo Barbieri

Here's to happy summer memories getting you through to the weekend....
xx MS

Tuesday's Fad features Alabama Chanin

ALABAMA CHANIN-- Alabama Chanin is an eco-friendly company that focuses on designing an array of unique products through slow and careful design. What I admire most about Alabama Chanin, is that they craft limited-edition items for an individual as well as for a home. They even have a bridal line with gowns perfect for a relaxed ceremony outside.

All of the products are made by hand using a combination of new, organic, and recycled materials. Constructed by talented artisans, this line of sustainable style seems to exude a relaxed, playful feeling of being free—preferably in a whimsical garden somewhere down south.

Notable press includes; American Vogue, Japanese Vogue, Interior Design, Surface, Vogue Living, Bloom, NOWNESS, and the New York Times online.  

If you would like to see for yourself, Alabama Chanin will be featured tonight at Skylight West—500 West 36^th at 10^th Avenue at 7:00 p.m. Other eco-friendly designers will be featured as well; Behnaz Sarafpour, Costello Tagliapietra, and Johnson Hartig. Music will be provided by, Fabrizio Moretti (from the Strokes) with an open bar and delicious hors d’oeuvres, compliments of Lexus. If you would like to go and see Alabama Chanin rock the runway tonight, I would strongly advise you to join us razz girls. See you there!

Xx AT

Shop Alabama Chanin

*Photos taken from the Alabama Chanin Website



Also, feel free to click this link and vote for Alabama Chanin! They are tied for first and need to win!! You can say you did your good deed for the day...
http://www.articulate-sf.net/lexus/lhl3/competitions/competitions-fashion/vote 

Monday's Marks

I couldn’t wait to get to John Baldessari’s exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum, his first major US show in over twenty years. When I heard that the College Group at the Met was sponsoring a late night viewing party, complete with music and food, I knew that the night to relive my glory days and pull out the trusty old college ID had come.  Pretty sure my slow sipping of a glass of red wine and endless attention to John Baldessari’s later works separated me from the revelers focused on dancing to the beat of the opening band the Beachniks, but it really was exciting to be amidst a group of young art lovers celebrating in the Met after hours.  The exhibit itself spans a vast portion of Baldessari’s career; definitely take note of how elements of his earliest works, like body parts (God Nose, 1965) continue to be his focus in later pieces like Nose and Ears, (Head with nose), 2006.

I particularly enjoyed his photographs that had been painted over and attached—pieces like Heel, 1986, The Overlap Series: Jogger with Cosmic Event, 2000 and The Duress Series, 2003. In The Overlap Series, Baldessari experimented with photographs printed on clear acetate, attaching and reversing them. Two seemingly incongruent scenes, a black-and-white still from a Buck Rogers movie and a color snapshot of a local jogger become intertwined, the new, fused image brought to life with bright, acrylic scratches of color. Images like this are the fire behind Baldessari’s work; a unique and somewhat odd vision that allows him to take everyday shapes, images and primary colors and turn them into something completely new and eye-opening. This is a main reason he has been so influential in contemporary/conceptual art—he highlights subjects that have historically been very important in the evolution of art; eyes for emotion, the ability to create a realistic human form, and upends that focus—into separation and abstraction.

This show is a must see, for its expertly curated evolution of style and subject matter and more importantly, Baldessari’s witty commentary on the conventions of art, mass-media, and his heightened awareness of the world around us.  Huge kudos to the College Group at the Met for bringing students (and delicious hors d’oeurves) to this important exhibition.   xx MS

 John Baldessari, Pure Beauty, is on view through January 9 at the Metropolitan Museum.

Overlap Series, Jogger with Cosmic Event

The Duress Series

Recovery Sundays

Finding the perfect brunch spot in New York isn't hard, especially when your standards are to eat anything with eggs and drink spiced bloody mary's. With the limitless dining options in NYC, we can set our sights on the perfect "recovery spot" that will be sure to go above and beyond the needs of a hungover post-grad.

Good Enough To Eat - 483 Amsterdam Avenue

Good Enough To Eat, a brunch spot that produces "comfort food and home-cooking" definitely hit the Sunday spot for me and my friends when we headed to the Upper West Side for a post-Saturday night cure all. 

Some specialities include the "Lumber Jack", pictured on the left with two pancakes, bacon, eggs on the side, and maple syrup. Needless to say, you could feed a small family with this. Good Enough To Eat also gives two freshly cooked biscuits to every diner at the start of the meal, with homemade strawberry butter on the side.

The WallStreet Omelette with homemade biscuits and strawberry butter

If you're looking for a new place to meet with friends, rehash Saturday night's debauchery, and enjoy some home-style cooking (or if you're just looking to avoid the gym on a Sunday afternoon) Good Enough To Eat is the place to go.

Brunch Menu - Good Enough To Eat

XX MC

Saturday's Spot

Trinity College.