Spotlight Thursday—
A place where the beer flows like wine… Where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano.. I'm talking about a little place called…Sweet Paradise!!


This week’s limelight is on Headband and Hooligan—USC alums migrated east to get you dancing in NYC. These music gurus have been drumming and mixing since the ripe age of 14 or so and team up under their monikers to bring heady beats to New York's recent grad scene. Fun fact: Headband once caught a pitching session for Mariano Rivera—if he’s good enough for the yanks he’s sure as hell good enough for you. Plus, rumor has it Hooligan played HORSE with Obama. And won.

Ok reputations aside—this Saturday they’ve teamed up with Sweet Paradise (everybody’s favorite secret hide-away on the Lower East Side, complete with candy, liquor and a jukebox…um hello!) to bring us Pleasure Treasure. All night Sweet Paradise is offering $5 shot and beer combo and $8 Jameson/beer special...that's sure to get your boyfriend off the couch. Bottom line: this evening is dont-miss guaranteed party-your-face-off fun with a sexy crowd, insane beats and strong drinks—does it get any sweeter?

Sweet Paradise Lounge

        located at:   
14 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002                                                              Better see you in paradise...MS




The Elusive Twosome

 

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

Spotlight Thursdays

Last Friday we started the Halloween festivities off on an extremely loud note at the Boyznoize and Rusko concert at Webster Hall. Spotlight Thursdays was created to highlight the events, places or people that we were most excited about and this week I have to pass that torch to Rusko. While Boyznoize were the headliners at the show, Rusko completely stole the lime(laser)light with his innovative dubset tunes.  While he did not come on until after Boyz, an interesting twist, he had the venue packed and rocking well into the early morning.

 If you were there I know you were jumping along with me when he wrapped up the show with his single Hold On, but if you didn’t make it on Friday fear not; your electro buzz shall go on.  Inspired by the eclectically dressed crowd and hyper beats—we compiled a few of the most exciting upcoming electronic sets for November—starting with Scottish DJ Calvin Harris at Lavo tonight, 10pm.  If the rain keeps you from donning your favorite neon sneakers this evening, definitely look into tickets for these:

Crookers/Jack Beats, Webster Hall, 11/5

Simion Mobile Disco, Santos Party House, 11/18

Dirty South, Pacha 11/19

Axwell, Webster Hall, 11/20
A-trak/Miike Snow/Tiga/Flying Lotus, Terminal 5, 11/27

Spotlight Thursdays

Last night we had the absolute pleasure of meeting Christine Creamer at her Alfred Kenney jewelry launch party. Her tasteful approach to designing her collection was inspired by movement, delicacy, and unrefined beauty.

The event was held at the Allegra La Violla Gallery and featured some of the most aesthetically dramatic painting displays I have seen since my move to New York. Everyone in attendance looked equally as razzling, with banquet gowns and dapper suits. In terms of the jewelry, Christine explained in detail what each type represented and with what they would look fabulous with. Her favorite part of her “movement” mini collection was that it had an upscale hipster style that would accompany a baggy graphic tee nicely. Her delicately elegant pieces, she explained, would be the perfect accessory to a Nicole Miller stunner or a simpler Malandrino cocktail dress.

What I appreciated most about the collection was its ability to integrate life and art into such chic and fragile pieces. Alfred Kenney’s mission statement says it all; “Always been a girl, always loved dancing in silk dresses on a beach or gazing at the deep dark indigo orange mix over a skyscraper's balcony at dusk. And pausing to breath in the moment, even when sublime. That's the type of raw, natural existence that inspires the Alfred Kenney line.” The line’s name is dedicated to Christine’s great grandfather who worked in New York’s garment district for the majority of his life. 

To purchase some of these pieces, see her website: Shop Alfred Kenney

Xx AT

Spotlight Thursdays

BIRCHBOX-- Ever wandered Sephora aimlessly for a good hour before ending up with 10 different brands of mascara? Or worse, just that little mini perfume from beside the counter? How about that foundation you bought online that made you look like a warrior princess? The answer to these dilemmas seems to have arrived in the compact yet adorable shape of BirchBox. We stumbled upon this “fruit of the month”- esque makeup company at the MyNines event at the Buckingham Hotel last week and were immediately drawn to its perky pink packaging and the fun girls enthusiastically singing its praises. When we found out those girls were Harvard Business School alums and fellow new transplants to New York City like us—we were sold! 

The co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp, classmates at Harvard Business School, were first inspired to create BirchBox when their friend Mollie Chen, a former beauty editor at Condé Nast Traveler, would bring them home samples that she hand-picked to fit their skin, coloring and personality. Hayley and Katia were determined that everyone deserved their own Mollie to get them the best beauty products—and figure out the ones that didn’t work—without a huge investment upfront. Mollie is now the Director of Content for BirchBox, so technically once you sign up you do have your own Mollie!

With 3 to 4 deluxe samples each month from brands like Cargo, Nars, Benefit and Kiehls, just to name a few, custom picked to match your “beauty profile,” you are sure to find the colors and brands that work best for you—while trying out some pretty amazing products along the way.  Hayley gave me a sample of The Face Shop Collagen Mask Sheet, a featured item in the September box. While I greatly resembled Hannibel Lector while watching Boardwalk Empire on Sunday, I could not believe how amazing this mask was—my skin was glowing and looked relaxed—it really was like a facial right from the comfort of my couch. So if you love one sample, like my Hannibal mask, you can go online and purchase it right from BirchBox’s site—no hassling the woman at Bloomingdales to locate the exact shade or size you want.  All this for $10 a month or $110 a year—I’d definitely skip my Starbucks soy latte two Mondays for that! 
xo,
MSS


www.birchbox.com