A Party At Ryan's Daughter

Photo: The Drink Nation

In early November, I was invited to a party to celebrate the results of a local election. It was held at a cozy bar on Manhattan's Upper East Side called Ryan's Daughter. 

The party was to be low key and mellow, so despite the anticipation of not knowing many faces, I decided to drop in for a drink and appetizer to say hello.

Ryan's Daughter is a neighborhood bar. There is no hostess. But as I entered the small establishment, I could hear people cheering, so I followed the voices, which lead me to the celebration. 

Upon entering the party, already in progress, I was greeted by a lovely woman. She pointed to a nice spread and told me to fill up a plate with food. Even though my invitation said, there would be food, it turned out to be more elaborate than I expected.

I met other friendly people and stood around eating and chatting with them. A photographer took pictures, and my new "friends" gathered around me, and we all leaned in for the photos ... to go into a newsletter I thought.

After a respectable amount of time, I decided to leave. I said my goodbyes, made my way to the exit of the bar ... was just about to step out ... when all of a sudden, I realized I had spent an hour at the wrong "private" party -- as the uninvited guest at a baby shower!  The party that actually sent me an invitation was taking place in another section of the bar -- an area I was just now seeing for the first time. I was mortified and horrified! It was an honest mistake. This could happen to anyone, right!? Yikes!

So I ended up staying an hour longer, because in fact, I hadn't yet attended the party. Even with encouragement, I couldn't eat another bite.

Oh, and can you imagine what the people at the first party will think when they look at their photographs to see a strange woman, with a big smiley face, brazenly posing with their friends? OMG!! (Who is that woman! She ate our food!! What the hell!!! Did anybody bring her?!?)

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A Happy Thanksgiving

Photo: FiradayHarbor

Photo: Sindig

Click here to download. The advice may be useful this weekend.

Photo: (free) Wallpaper  - Photoshopped. Real turkeys are weathered and dirty.

Although I eat lots of vegetables and meatless meals, I'm still a carnivore. I can't imagine a Thanksgiving without a turkey. So lately here is how I think: I take a lesson from Native Americans. Indians ate meat too, but were mindful. They killed only what they needed, then used every part of the animal. Nothing went to waste. 

As a bonafided city gal, I'm a bit of a hypocite. I let others do the killing, then buy the meat from a supermarket. If I raised cows, pigs or turkeys, they'd become pets, my farm would go out of business and my family would starve. (I might be able to kill a rooster who cock-a-doodle-dooed at the crack of down every morning! He might end up as chicken and dumplings, but other than that, I couldn't do it.) Once in a while, I like to reflect on what it takes to get food on the table. Today ... and everyday I am grateful for farmers and the food industry.

A Happy Thankgiving to all! Thank you for stopping by.

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A Savvy Shopper's Guide For Holiday Gifts

The 30 language talking translator for a world traveler

The holidays are coming, and the time to start thinking about gifts is now. This year why not buy fewer, but more thoughtful presents? Quantity doesn't make people as happy as quality does. 

So let's begin: Peruse for ideas. Select items to put smiles on faces. Gave people gifts they need, like and will use, especially things they might not buy for themselves.

Here are six smart websites offering unique gifts:

Planisphere watch
UndommonGoods

1. UncommonGoods - Advertised as "creative living, mindful giving," it offers upscale merchandise and creative design at reasonable prices, including jewelry, accessories and home goods for men, women, and children.

2. Smallflower - Established in 1875, a retailer specializing in European herbal toiletries and remedies. It is an authentic international apothecary shop.

3. Hammacher Schlemmer - The perfect place to shop for the men in your life. Enough with the ties ... a store offering "the best, the only and the unexpected." Lots of practical goods and toys! If you want to spoil your dad or husband with a special gift, this is the place to look.

Crystal box

Archus Jewels

4. Archaus Jewels - It offers Artisan and hand crafted jewelry and accessories for women. They create articles with a breezy style and natural and lux textures.

5. RSH Online Plant Shop - Tools and plants for the gardeners on your holiday list. The Royal Horticultural Society only delivers to UK addresses, but the website is such fun to browse. A look will generate ideas, then check the horticultural society in your town for gifts.

6. The Company Store - Established in 1911, this merchant is all about comfort, offering high thread count bed sheets, cotton quilts, duvet covers, home decor and bath towels. Everyobody loves new, plush bedding and/or big, thirsty bathroom towel sets.

Finding gifts online can help you avoid the holiday crunch, as well as, save you a few bucks. No gas to put in your car, and shipping is often free of charge. Look for extra value and savings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Agate coasters - Uncommongoods

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Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

Photo: Tina's Chic Corner

Recently I attended an all day conference at Lincoln Center, where I ate ... I won't lie ... several squares of cinnamon streusel coffee cake (also known as crumb cake). Why do conferences always serve platters of pastry? I had to pass the sweets station to get to the morning coffee. I was not tempted by the chocolate biscotti nor the buttery croissants, but the crumb cake -- Arghh! -- was very moist and delicious! And you know what? Indulging ... opened a Pandora's confectionery box. I couldn't get its goodness out of my mind! So this weekend I baked a cinnamon streusel coffee cake.  

By definition, a streusel is a crumbly topping consisting of butter, flour, sugar and often cinnamon. It derives from the German word, streuen for "sprinkle." Here's my version:

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake (a/k/a Crumb Cake)

For the cake --

Ingredients: 
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk, plus more if needed in the batter
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup butter

Directions:
1. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat together with an electric mixer.
2. Next add the wet ingredients to the mixing bowl, one at a time, and blend until the batter is smooth ... not too thick or runny. If the batter seems dry, add small amounts of buttermilk until the batter is creamy and smooth.
3. Pour into a greased square 9" by 9" baking pan.

For the cinnamon topping --

1 cup oatmeal, pulverized in a food processor (or use all purpose flour, if you wish.)
4 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 cup ground pecans or walnuts
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger (optional: for an extra kick)
2 tablespoons cold butter
(I like to double the streusel topping, but leaving the nuts at 1/4 cup.)

Directions:
1. Grind the oatmeal in a food processor until fine like flour.
2. Throw in the nuts.
2. Add the cinnamon, vanilla and ginger to the food processor and pulse until well blended.
3. Finally add the butter, but pulse using the lower setting a few seconds at a time. Leave the texture of the streusel topping lumpy. You want the crumbs.
4. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the cake batter.
5. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

If you use all purpose flour in lieu of oatmeal, you can mix the streusel topping by hand or with an electric mixer. 

A dusting of powdered sugar on the very top looks nice.

Enjoy!

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Boathouse Farms Green Goodness

Looks bad, right? It's delicious!

My mom tells me I was always a good eater. Our family ate lots of meat and potato dinners along with seasonal vegetables and salad. Mom only made dessert, often a cheesecake (with either a lemon or strawberry topping), on Sundays that we ate several hours after dinner while watching televison.

Growing up, I remember eating lots of carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and green beans. It didn't occur to me not to like healthy food. A side salad usually consisted of lettuce, tomatoes, onion and cucumbers topped with a homemade vinaigrette dressing.

People like food that is familiar to them. Some parents encourage their kids to take a few small bites before deciding they don't like a particular food. Then they back off  ... and every so often have their kid try the new food again ... without making a big deal out of it.

Thinking back on our family meals makes me sympathetic to Peter Pan. Unlike Peter Pan, I wanted to grow up. But when I moved out of the family home, I also lost access to the family cook and baker. Alas, all good things do come to an end.

Today I still eat my vegetables, and as a sweet treat I recently discovered Boathouse Farms' Green Goodness smoothie. According to the label, it's loaded with anioxidants A and C, plus a few minerals. It is a blend of 13 servings of fruit and vegetables -- including 6 apples, 2 kiwi, 3 2/3 mango, 1 1/2 banana and 1 1/4 pineapple, as well as, broccoli, spinach, barley grass, blue green algae, garlic and jerusalem artichoke. It has no artificial flavors or preservatives. The texture and taste are fantastic! After dinner if I crave something sweet, I often have a glass of this spinach green drink. 

And equally important, it's reasonable priced: $6.50 for 52 fl oz (1.54L). Buying the ingredients separately to make a similar smoothie costs much more. So the drink is a great value, in my opinion. 140 calories per 8 oz.

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Happy Thanksgiving From THE SAVVY SHOPPER

Hair So Silky, It Shines

Photo: Elle

I spend less on hair care than on skin care. That's because hair cells are dead cells, and I don't want to go broke on hair care products.

Nonetheless, if my hair doesn't look good ... I am upset. I bet every woman has cried at least once over a bad hair cut. And, I would guess some men have too! So it all begins with a flawless, percision cut. That's why I will follow Penny, who cuts my hair, wherever she goes.

Since you need to fiddle with your hair every single day of your life, it's only common sense to:

(1) Find inexpensive hair products that really work.

(2) Love the hair you were born with, be it straight or curly. If you make changing your natural texture a daily chore, the hours and money you spend on your hair really add up. Embrace what you have to keep your hair routine simple.

(3) Focus on keeping your hair healthy, clean and neat, and you will always look fabulous!

Photo: thebeautydepartment.com

I have straight hair ... that actually has some wave or body to it, if it is left to air dry. Here's how I style my straight hair to make it shine:

1) Wash it with a nickel-size amount of shampoo. I like TRESemme, a drugstore brand. Using less shampoo cleans hair without removing all the natural oil from your scalp, making hair look its very best.

2) Some sources tell us to wash with lukewarm water, then switch to cold water for a final rinse. I don't think it matters. Lukewarm water feels better than hot or cold. What is important is to rinse your hair and scalp squeaky clean of shampoo.

3) Follow with a rich conditioner suitable for your hair type. My favorite is Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Length's Strengthening Conditioner, another drugstore buy. Use a quarter-size amount, applying most of the conditioner to the ends, working your way up to the roots of the hair (but stop short about an inch, your roots don't need conditioning). Most of us use too much product, which doesn't make hair look any better. It just gets washed down the drain.

4) Towel dry hair removing as much moisture as possible. This shortens your drying time.

5) I spray my damp hair lightly with TRESemme Thermal Creations, a heat protector. If you let your hair dry naturally, you don't need it. I blast my hair with a blow dryer every day.

6) Next, a blow dry: For straight hair use a blow dryer with a comb attachment. To give hair volume and shine, start with a cool setting until nearly dry, then switch to hot to style it. 

The drill: I begin blow drying my hair (on the cool setting) by tilting my head forward and flipping my hair over my head. That way, I dry the under layers first and against gravity. I use the blow dyer with its comb attachment on one side of my hair and a paddle brush to free the hair of tangles on the opposite side. When my hair is nearly dry, I pause ... part it ... switch to hot, then continue styling.

Remember that the cool setting at the beginning adds fullness, and the hot setting near the end produces shine. Drying my hair takes 5 - 7 minutes. 

Most days, this is all I do. Done!

But on days when I notice some hair static, I will either smooth the flyaways with the heat of a (1" plate) flat iron ... or with a tiny bit of body lotion. I think body lotion works as well as a fancy hair smoothing cream. The results are exactly the same, and the fewer hair products you use the better (less build-up). Your hair will look silky clean. Basically, what you're doing by rubbing a tiny bit of body lotion with your fingers on the flayaways is neutralizing the charge (electrons) in your hair. Rub some on the ends too, especially in winter.

Furthermore in my experience, there is no real need to buy expensive blow dryers or flat irons. High-priced brands do not dry your hair faster, style your hair smoother, nor last longer. All blow dryers and flat irons damage your hair if misused, as well as, burn out with frequent use. It hurts less to replace a $22 Conair 1875 Styler than a $125 Cricket Centrix Q Zone dryer.

Likewise, your hair looks the same whether you use a $20 Revlon Cermanic Straightener, or a $100 Farouk CHI flat iron. Usually a well known beauty company will make a good, inexpensive blow dryer or flat iron that gets the job done.

Since I can't give tips on caring for curly hair, I am turning to YouTube. Here's an information-packed clip where four different women tell you how they care for their curls. (The video has a cornball introduction, but stick with it.)

Now go out and have a gooood hair day!

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Happy Halloween Wishes

These are the "yes" RSVPs attending the Village Parade. (Go to Heather's Animation here to see them animated. She is brilliant!)

I love Halloween just as much now as I did as a child. What's not to like about a chance to dress up in costume, eat tasty treats, spook your friends (with gore) and PARTY.

When I was a congressional intern in Washington, D.C. there were bewitching festivities on Halloween night in the streets of Georgetown. As darkness fell, zombies, skeletons and bloody, lacerated faces walked M street in every direction before dispersing into bars, restaurants and private parties.

Here in New York City the annual Village Parade marches up Sixth Avenue in Greenwich Village on Halloween night. The parade was founded in 1974 by Ralph Lee, who worked as a mask and giant puppet designer in the theater. Giant marionettes, controlled by puppeteers, are still part of the parade today.

ANYONE in costume can join the parade, and it can get wildly creative and bizarre. People dress as aliens, cartoon characters, landmarks, mermaids, Frankenstein, a Monopoly Game set, a brass band of mummies, brides and grooms, celebrities, politicians, massage parlor employees, royalty, super heroes and so much more. You will see anything and everything, including dog owners with their pets disguised as a lion tamer and lion cub, or a feathered swan and "her" ugly duckling. The Village Halloween Parade may be big, exotic and original, but it's also friendly and very much a neighborhood celebration.

The Village Parade almost didn't happen this year. Last year's cancellation due to the blackout of lower Manhattan caused by Hurricane Sandy left a huge debt. The organizers successfully raised $50,000 by appealing to the public, and thanks to private donations from ordinary people, it's back on.

And now to put you in the Halloween spirit, I dug up a classic, yet haunting song performed by a dead artist who influenced an entire generation of singers who followed him. Have you heard of this iconic singer and songwriter? A blast from the past. Guess who???

Have a safe, frightening and Happy Halloween!

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NBC's Dracula

Photo: NBC

Tonight Dracula premieres on NBC as a ten episode limited series, starring Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Shot in Hungary, the bloodthirsty drama begins in London at the end of the Victorian era. I love a scary vampire story -- the colossal interplay of good versus evil -- so I hope this one, based on Bram Stoker's 1897 legendary tale, is well-made. 

I am looking forward to the lavish costumes, the period sets, the acting chops (or fangs, grrr) of an international cast, as well as, the blood, lust and gore that result when a character uses bad judgment and ends up keeping Dracula alive for another day.

A modern Dracula has to be smart, charming and drop dead handsome. Otherwise you would sense the danger and run away screaming. But to be tempted and lured into his orbit, you have to perceive evil as good (and perhaps good as evil).  Oh ... you may sense there's something off about the Count of Darkness, but your eyes see only what they want to see, and your ears hear only what they want to hear ... and so you trust! (Into his lair, you go, grrr.)

And what if you are the Bloodsucker Prince? How will you hide your evil nature? You wake up every day of your undead life thirsting for blood. For you to live another day, someone ... a human ... must die. You did not ask to be immortal ... or a monster, but so it is. A curse.

Now ... what happens if you fall hopelessly in love with a woman? A good woman. An innocent woman. How safe is that person in your arms ... considering your evil, predatory nature? Most likely, you have heightened senses. You remember what it was like to be a man. Can love ever trump evil? Or will the smell of her warm blood be too strong to resist? Will you ... in the end ... suck the life out of her???

Dracula is centuries old, so when he rises from a long slumber, he always has a few scores to settle. Festering wounds that require vengence. Surely, the past will mingle with the present. That should be fun to watch.

 I hope this mini series thrills and frightens viewers to death ... and would it be too much to ask for it to adhere to the spirit of the original ... and have a few kernals that ring true about the human condition?  

Ok, I'll settle for clever entertainment. Please writers and show creators ... just don't mess it up!

Photo: NBC: Cast of Dracula

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6PM.Com ... Outlet Shopping At Home

Calvin Klein Olwyn, $41.99 (53% off) 

6PM.COM just celebrated its sixth birthday, but I only discoverd the website recently. Best described as internet, outlet, shopping, it features name brand clearance clothing, shoes and accessories.

Since July, I've ordered several designer dresses and pairs of shoes, receiving tremendous savings. I needed 3 to 4 new summer dresses, as well as, the shoes to replace wardrobe items that wore out ... and was thrilled to find quality and style at bargain prices. Where was I for six years?

Customers can expect the same awesome customer service that sister company, Zappos, provides ... plus free shipping on all orders. But there is one difference. While Zappos offers free returns, at 6PM you pay for returns or exchanges if articles don't fit. In my opinion, the risk is acceptable because you get fabulous deals on all merchandise. You will come out ahead even when paying for return postage occasionally. To avoid ordering mistakes, do as much product research as possible. Read decriptions and google customer reviews. Other customers will talk about sizing and how they like the product. When purchases do work out, you save up to 75% off of retail.

Ted Baker

So try putting the name of your favorite brands in 6PM's search box before looking elsewhere. 

A customer loyalty program leads to additional 10% off coupons, which is a nice bonus. 

Above, meet Calvin Klein Olwyn, my new walking shoes. They are constructed of a leather and mesh material. Padding in the arches and heels, plus supportive rubber soles will make my feet happy. I love their dressy-and-sporty look. 

6PM has such a wide selection of designer goods, you really can find exactly what you need at budget-friendly prices.

Happy 6th year, 6PM.COM! Thanks for making it easy to be a savvy shopper!

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Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream

There's a new Kiehl's face moisturizer out on the market. It's lightweight and non-greasy -- an all-in-one cream that does the job of several products. As the jar says, the moisturizer contains beech tree extract, jasmonic and hyaluronic acids to lift, firm and smooth the skin. At $62 for a 1.7 ml size, it isn't cheap, but it is created to reduce the number of separate anti-aging face products you need to buy.

Kiehl's is famous for its skin care products. According to industry reports, half of its clientele in Los Angeles and New York are men. The company began as a 19th century homeopathic pharmacy in New York's East Village. The original store at 109 3rd Avenue still exists, and the lotions, creams and toners are still made from botanicals. It's a great line for sensitive, dry or problem skin.

Other Kiehl's skin care products I like include their face serum, Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, which brightens your complexion and the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which is nice to slosh on right before bed. I can also recommend Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. It's rich, protective and healing, yet absorbs completely into your skin.

The cost of good skin care can take a big bite out of your budget. A face serum and moisturizer are probably your bare bone essentials. (I usually forgo the face cleanser, exfoliator, toner and eye cream. I don't want to empty my wallet, nor spend all my time in the bathroom! I use Noxzema as a cleanser and Olay as a sunscreen.) You can save a few bucks by choosing and using products wisely. Figure out what you really need, what works and never waste a drop of product.

By the way, I have my morning routine down to 30 minutes. That includes showering, hair washing, blow drying and styling, makeup and dressing. I've gotten it done in 14 minutes after oversleeping (MANIC!), but would rather ease into the morning. Multi-tasking skin care helps speed up getting ready. Sometimes a lush body lotion smoothes dry hands and tames a mane of flyaway hair. What? You've never tried it? Trust me ... just as good as John Frieda.

Kiehl's gives out tons of free samples for you to see which targeted treatment is best for you. Their staff is knowledgeable and helpful. You can buy their products online, but it's worth a trip to the store.

Photo: Kwame J - Kiehl's original store

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10 Websites That Save You Money

Like many of you, I find myself shopping more and more online lately. Not only is purchasing online convenient -- saving time and transportation costs -- the mechandise, itself, is often less expensive. Here are ten easy-to-navigate websites, which can save you big bucks on essentials, plus cut down on your errands ... leaving you with free time on your weekends:

Merchants:

1. Walmart - There is a wide range of non-perishable grocery and drugstore items you can order online and have delivered directly to your door with free shipping, as long as, you have a $50 minimun order. Examples include: bathroom tissue, snacks like dry roasted peanuts and Tazo chi tea, personal care products such as soaps, shampoo and hair condition, as well as, home goods like storage containers, blenders and food processors. The prices at Walmart are usually unbeatable; and it is easy to put together a $50 order of articles you need to restock each month.
2. Amazon - You can buy just about anything on the site -- truly the sky is the limit-- and there are always many sellers around the country, so you can select the best price. But, the reason this blog loves Amazon is because it offers amazing customer service, so if anything goes wrong with a purchase, Amazon will step in and help you resolve the issue.
3. Overstock - Offers lots of products, low prices and fabulous customer service. (See my review here.)
4. Zappos - Ditto. (See here.) Zappos began by selling shoes, but quickly expanded to include clothing and home goods. Their customer care is awesome.
5. 6PM.COM - Offers deep discounts on name brand clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children. 6PM is Zappos' sister company, so you receive the same excellent customer service and free shipping on all orders. Unlike Zappos where returns are free, you pay to send back a mistake, which is fair enough considering the huge savings.

Tools: 

6. TheFind - A website to help you peruse your favorite stores, locate the best prices on goods of interest and (if you wish) receive sale alerts on products you like. You enter the name of a product in the search box to pull the information up.
7. InvisibleHand - A browser add-on to notify you when there are lower prices available on goods, flights, hotels and retal cars.
8. PriceGabber - A website that compares prices and provides product information so you can zero in on the best deals.
9. PoachIt - A browser add-on that tracks products you are watching to go on sale and emails you as the price goes down. -- out of business. People are using Shoptagr instead.
10. RetailMeNot - A website to find discounts for all your favorite retail stores. I never buy anything without first checking this site for promotional codes to save 10% - 80%.

With a little help from the internet, you can always find the lowest price, rarely paying retail for anything. Plus, what a blast receiving packages in the mail these days!

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