Monthly Archives: March 2012

March 30, 2012 · 6:21 pm

Ukrainian Dinner

A good friend and I enjoyed a delicious meal at Ukrainian East Village Restaurant the other day. The spot isn’t street level- You have to enter by walking through a small plaza area but that gave it an even more cozy atmosphere. We felt like we were inside a warm, inviting and spacious living room with wood floors and walls, accented with paintings and quite a few tables spaced perfectly, with white table cloth on top.


The menu was quite extensive and gave a wide variety of Ukrainian style cooking. I chose one of the combination specials, consisting of potato pancake, cheese blintz and meat pierogis.

I got to try my friend’s salad and Beef Goulash which also came with vegetables of your choice and baked potato. The beef was quite good, tender and full of flavor. We also shared one of the drinks: Compote fruit drink made with apples and cherries, which cane with actual fruit (pear). It was pretty good, not too sweet and having the fruit in there was a nice touch.

I was very happy with my own meal. It was a great assortment of Ukrainian goodies. Everything tasted wonderful and authentic. I felt like I was having a homemade meal. The potato pancake was large and thicker than ones I’ve had before but delightfully crispy. The blintz had a sweet soft white cheese inside, in a sort of crepe-like shell and very tasty. And the pierogis are kind of like dumplings and filled with meat.

Great almost hidden spot in the East Village. I would definitely return to try a different dish. Also, decent prices and attentive service.

 

Address: 140 2nd Ave

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March 28, 2012 · 12:25 am

Special Screening: Wrath of the Titans

Monday night I attended what I thought was a regular free screening of Wrath of the Titans at AMC Lincoln Center theater with one of my Meetup groups. I quickly found out it was a special screening at the IMAX 3D theater, complete with heavy duty metal detectors we had to walk through and assigned seating. I was in row C (third from the front) toward the middle, which was a bit close but better than first row.

We were also granted the VIP privilege of complimentary popcorn and sodas which was a nice surprise. The movie started half an hour after the appointed time, but that was okay- I was pretty content with just enjoying the experience and excitement of being at the IMAX theater premiere, especially knowing that some of the cast members were in attendance.

The actual movie was just okay. The 3D and special effects were very real, especially being so close to screen, it almost felt like I was inside that world which was very cool. Though, as to be expected, there was a lot of action and not much plot especially since I hadn’t seen the first movie so I don’t really know the back story. However, the fighting scenes were quite good and I enjoyed some of the more passionate moments between the characters.

Afterwards, as I was waiting to use the restroom I noticed some high profile folks gathering around nearby and spotted Sam Worthington!


He looked handsome, sharp, fun loving and in good spirits. I was literally standing a few feet away from him and wanted to, could have ask for a picture with him but then the moment passed. I hate that I missed my chance! And I’m not normally shy when it comes to getting what I want… *Sigh*

Even though I didn’t get that picture with Sam Worthington, I still had a wonderful time at the special screening, and look forward to others in the future.

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March 26, 2012 · 12:44 am

The White House & Cherry Blossoms


I was approved to tour the White House in Washington D.C. this past weekend so made my way there after work on Friday. It was a gorgeous, balmy warm day on Friday so my friend took me to the waterfront to enjoy the view, breeze and some delicious seafood at a Chinese fusion restaurant.

Saturday dawned cool and rainy, but I was still looking forward to my White House tour. My friend and I enjoyed a homemade breakfast of pancakes, bacon, sausage, shredded potato, eggs and mango orange smoothie before heading out for the day.

The White House grounds were beautiful – truly magnificent, and immaculately maintained with perfectly cut grass, Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, a fountain, blooming flowers, and historic trees. The interior was also a sight to be seen with portraits of Presidents and First Ladies, as well as important moments in history, lining the corridors and hallways of the Ground and State floors.

I was able to tour the Vermeil Room, China Room, East Room, Library, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room, State Dining Room, and Ground Floor Corridor.

I loved the Library, home to many books on history, biography, fiction and the sciences all by American authors. There was also a beautiful flower center piece, chandelier, fire place and seats all around, giving the room a warm, almost homey feel.


Another favorite was the State Dining Room where all the most important meals take place, seating up to 130 guests. It had painted English oak paneling, a fireplace mantel and a large stately table.


The Vermeil and China Rooms were also interesting. The Vermeil Room shows a collection of gilded silver and portraits of recent first lady, while the China Room displays pieces of china and glass used by different Presidents.


The East Room is the largest in the White House. It is used for important events, such as receptions, ceremonies, press conferences, and even weddings! Also, the body of 7 presidents have lain “in state” there after they had died during their term, such as John F. Kennedy.


After the White House tour, my friend took me to the Cherry Blossom Festival. The cherry blossoms were lovely white and pink in color; all lined up along the National Mall, water, bridges, and Memorials. We took the path by the water and through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, which was made up of beautiful quotes and fountains of varying heights and stature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed a meal at Fuddruckers, a popular and popping burger joint downtown. I had the Caribbean Special Voodoo chicken in cajun spices with sauteed onions and a slew of free toppings and sauces: Hot melted cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce, mayo. Quite a delicious combination, and also enjoyed some steak cut fries. I normally prefer skinny fries, but these fatter fries were done right- seasoned and crisp to perfection.


For dessert, I stopped by Red Velvet Cupcakery which is a cute little shop with irresistible-looking cupcakes. I, of course had to try its namesake: Red Velvet. This was so tasty with a moist cake and rich cream cheese frosting.  I also had cappuccino cupcake and a birthday cupcake made out of yellow cake and chocolate frosting. Both were unique and sweetly delectable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As always, I had a great time in DC and am looking forward to my next trip where I will be sure to find more new adventures and fun!

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March 23, 2012 · 6:18 pm

Glass Making Experience

Last week I had the pleasure of co-hosting a glass making/glass blowing event at Scanlan Glass with Random Events. Scanlan Glass was a little bit out of the way, in Red Hook, Brooklyn by the water but the experience was worth it. Inside the studio were displays of beautiful glass artistry, from vases to circular objects and much more in gorgeous clear colors.

As for the equipment, there is an ever-burning furnace, glory holes, ovens which are made by Kevin (the owner) using new and recycled materials found in the Brooklyn area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our instructors, Kevin and Seth were knowledgeable and helpful. Kevin started off with a brief introduction about glass blowing, while Seth demonstrated by making a glass vase. It was very cool to see the process in action. Before we were able to try glass making for ourselves, we had to practice holding the glass making-stick and keep it rotating throughout. After that, it was time to make our own glass paperweight!

Step 1: Put the stick into the furnace to obtain the melted glass, which was probably the toughest part for me because you have to get fairly close to the heat and hold the stick a certain way while keeping the stick moving.

Step 2: We had to cool the glass by rotating it steadily against the metal and then placing the stick in the Glory hole to reheat the glass.

Step 3: We rolled the hot glass in the color we wanted (colors were in powder form). I chose to mix pale pink and blue together.

Then we repeated the process of sticking the glass in the furnace and Glory hole. Once that was done, we sat at the workstation and quickly poked holes onto the heated glass to make bubbles and then we shaped the glass to make it smooth and rounded.

When we finished adding all the touches to our glass, the instructor took the glass off the stick and smoothed the bottom then placed our glass creation in a special oven to cool the glass slowly.  After we had all finished, the instructors gave us a glass blowing demonstration and made a mug. It was pretty amazing to watch and see how much skill, precision and beauty is involved in it all. One of the coolest parts was when Kevin transferred the mug from one stick to another in a single, smooth movement and also when the handle was added on.

We had to wait a day to pick up our glass paperweight creation, but they came out beautifully. Mine was medium sized, with a decent amount of bubbles and swirls that had turned purple-pinkish in the process. I had wanted the light pink and blue to keep their individual colors but my glass still looks lovely.

All in all, what a great experience despite the distance. It was awesome to see the glass blowing in action, and then making our own glass was a lot of fun. It also made me feel accomplished for being able to create such a beautiful piece of glass with my own two hands. Okay, with guidance from Seth, one of the capable instructors.

 

Location: 499 Van Brunt Street  in Brooklyn, NY

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March 21, 2012 · 12:40 am

Spring Trends 2012

Having enjoyed a couple of beautiful days, starting the see the pink cherry blossoms, and seeing longer days – You would think spring has sprung! Yet there are still grey clouds, chilly winds and rain storms on the horizon. The current unspring-like weather has gotten me a little down because I can’t wait to sport cute skirts, flirty dresses, strappy sandals, pretty flip flops (which I need more of), little jackets and a more carefree spirit.

While we await the true arrival of spring, let’s look at some of my favorite spring trends… Romantic, Bold Pastels, and Crazy Prints.

I’ve always loved adding romantic touches to my outfits, such as ruffles, florals, lace, ruches and peplums. Another feminine detail are pleats which can be found in tops, bottoms and dresses.

Bold pastels are beautiful, colorful and intense. Go for clean lines and pair solid with solid. Below: Ralph Lauren, Prada, Givenchy, Versace.


Another fun trend is crazy prints, showing off bright colors, bold graphics and designs. These are best in a relaxed fit and black is a good contrasting color.

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March 18, 2012 · 2:48 am

Beauty Photo Shoots

Last week I did a couple of beauty shoots with photographers I’ve worked with in the past, both complete with a makeup artist. The first shoot took place in Brooklyn but had my makeup done first at the Waldorf by my friend who has her own blog, Lipstick and Style. Our vision for this shoot was for a dramatic look with pinwheel color effect on the eyes and red lipstick. For the eyes, my friend used gold, pink, purple on top and a shimmery aqua blue on the bottom lid that I provided by Shiseido (hydro-powder eye shadow).

After the makeup application, I headed to the actual shoot where I met Tashi, an amazing hair stylist and makeup artist. He whipped my hair into a beautiful updo that involved volume, a bun and curls in about 10 minutes. He also added fake lashes to my look which enhanced my eyes. We took several different styles of photos, changing the angle, poses, expressions, background colors and textures, using bare shoulders.

Another beauty shoot I had was with a photographer and makeup artist in Long Beach where we tried out 3 different looks. The first one had a sort of “ice princess” appearance which consisted of white powder for the whole face, silver eyeshadow, pale blue topaz rhinestones in an upward swirl below each eye, and nude lips. We also added a star necklace hanging in the center of my forehead and elegant silver dangling earrings. For this look, we did some regular shots and then played with lighting – lens flare that added a sort of angelic quality to the images.

For the next look, I took my hair out of the updo and loved the high volume, curled big hair effect it had for the remainder of the shoot. The makeup artist used a light pinkish shade for the eyes and we kept the rhinestones on, then choosing a hot pink magenta lip. As a finishing touch, we added 2 swirls under one of my eyes.

The last look was the most sophisticated of the day with bright blue shadow on my upper lid and a sprinkling of glitter, and deep purple below, with a sort of cat eye liquid black eyeliner. The lip was kept simple with a reddish glossy sheen. I also used a glittery intricately swirled silver mask for some of the shots with this particular look, giving it an sexy intriguing feel. Also, I loved that my hair retained the high volume curled shape, so played with my hair quite a bit- hiding behind it, having it fall over both shoulders then one shoulder while trying to catch the best light.

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March 16, 2012 · 2:19 am

Chinatown Night

I headed downtown to MOCA, the Museum of Chinese in America tonight to see FORMOSA by Kelly Tsai which was a real treat because it’s still in the development stage so I loved getting a special sneak peek. FORMOSA is a “solo show that through poetry, movement, dance and spectacle, pushes the questions of global capital, beauty, exploitation, and choice through a poetic narrative and counter-narrative contrasting the experiences of factory workers (in Barbie Doll manufacturing) with the material creation of the Western icon of beauty.”

FORMOSA takes place both in the far past and in the more recent present; it alludes to back in 1566, Portuguese sailors spotted the island of Taiwan and renamed it “La Ilha Formosa” (Beautiful Island).

It is a powerful portrayal of what it means to be Asian American and the issues we face, and Kelly realistically transforms herself into several different characters: The factory worker who immigrates to America and becomes a hip hop artist who conforms to the Western definition of beauty through skin whitening and extreme plastic surgery; the adopted Asian child; the Manhattan mothers.

The show really pulled viewers in and made us interested in what was to happen next, as well as had us in suspense during some moments. There were also some shock-value to the show that really made us think.

There is a lot to take in, but Kelly does a fantastic job with the writing, movement, and gives a heartfelt emotional performance. That being said, I would’ve liked to see more of a connection between the characters and I also felt that the ending was a little bleak and abrupt that doesn’t give much of a feeling of transcendence or hope. But it’s still a “Work in Progress” so there’s time to perfect and polish the piece.

After the show, I headed to Shanghai Café with some friends. This place had a great atmosphere, with lights of hot pink, blue and yellow on the ceiling with plenty of seating and an extensive menu, including soup dumplings, traditional Chinese specialties, desserts, bubble tea, and more.

We ordered family style, and started with a Shanghai Style Dim Sum: “Steamed Tiny Buns,” the famous Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao),  — Pork and Crab Meat/Pork and fried scallion pancake. I liked the pork soup dumplings better than the ones including crab meat, and they had the perfect amount of hot tasty soup inside. I also liked that they weren’t too delicate so it was easy to eat. The scallion pancake was a little too puffy than what I’m used to and quite oily but still delicious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next came lo mein with chicken, pork and shrimp which is made out of the thick, fat noodles that are always so tasty. We also had crispy pepper pork chop, mixed vegetables of broccoli, bamboo shoots, carrots, mushroom and snowpeas. The pork chop was very salty, but its charms were still irresistible and had the perfect texture of crisp crunchiness. The vegetable dish was an assortment of tasty delight in a yummy sauce. The vegetables themselves also tasted fresh and were bright in color.

I also tried the one of the bubble teas, choosing Coffee and Tea mix with tapioca pearls. It was decent, but the taste of the coffee overpowered the tea a little bit. I would’ve preferred the drink to have a little more of a milky tea flavor but all in all, pretty good.

The pricing at Shanghai Café was quite good and we only paid $14 for our food, including tax & tip. Keep in mind, like many restaurants in Chinatown, it is cash only.

 

Address: 100 Mott St.

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March 14, 2012 · 11:18 pm

Korean Film: Cyrano Agency

Last night, I enjoyed Cyrano Agency, a hilarious and touching romantic comedy at Korean Movie Night taking place at Tribeca Cinemas. This movie takes a page out of the more well known tale of Cyrano de Bergerac, who believes he is too ugly (he has a prominent nose) to make the girl of his dreams fall in love with him. Cyrano hides behind a handsome man (Christian) and lets Christian woo the girl using Cyrano’s romantic words.

Now, the Cyrano Agency consists of 4 people who help their clients win the woman (or man) of their dreams. “The company intricately devises and implements schemes, custom tailored to match the interests of their intended target” and they have a 99% success rate. However, their high success rate is in danger when a sweet but awkward hedge fund manager wants to capture the heart of the head of Cyrano Agency’s ex (whom he is still in love with).

Within Cyrano Agency, there was a lovely romance that built slowly between the two main characters which was refreshing and enjoyable to watch. It was full of ridiculous plot twists that had me literally laughing out loud; endearing heartwarming moments; interesting and engaging dialogue; beautiful stars and a fitting end.

2012 Korean Movie Night “Series II: It’s a Fine Romance!” continues at Tribeca Cinemas every other Tuesday over the next few weeks. The next movie is My Girlfriend is an Agent on March 27 at 7p and the last film in the series is Petty Romance on April 10 at 7p.

If you go, there will be a line so try to get there around 6:30PM. Also, know that the movie theater is a little on the small side and it gets crowded quickly. We managed to get decent seats, but weren’t able to all sit together.

 

Address of Tribeca Cinemas: 54 Varick St

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March 12, 2012 · 12:16 am

Cuban at Coppelia

At Coppelia

I had the chance to dine at Coppelia tonight with a group of great friends, old and new. This is an easy to find restaurant on W 14th St with its yellow and blue neon sign. The interior is charming, “done up in sun-faded pastel hues, with blue and white tiles on the floor, a sea-foam pressed ceiling and lovely teal shutters along the west wall that evoke images of old Havana.” There were also colorful artwork tiles in translucent light bordering the restaurant:

We were seated in a cozy booth. First thing, I had to try the Dulce de Leche milkshake.  It was quite good but a little bit too liquidy (I prefer thicker shakes) but I loved the taste of sweet caramel. So, we decided to order family style so that we could try a little bit of everything.

We started off with the following appetizers: Empanadas- beef, chicken, oxtail; yellow plantains; chips and guacamole, and mac and cheese with crispy pork belly and chicharron. All the starters were flavorful and delicious but the mac and cheese was the best out of all of them. The pork belly was perfectly crispy and there was just the right amount of cheese, garlic and seasoning.

Mac & Cheese

Plaintains/chips & guac.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Onto the main courses, of which we ordered an abundance. There was the special grilled pork chop with spicy sauce, spinach and tomatoes. We also had the classic ropa vieja which is slow-cooked beef in tomato salsa, peppers and chiles. This was decent, full of flavor.

Porkchop

Ropa Vieja

Another dish was baby back ribs in a Mexican chocolate glaze and chipotle-cotija corn on the cob. The ribs were tender and wonderful, but I couldn’t detect the chocolate flavoring. I tried a bit of the corn- It wasn’t one of the highlights.

These were my favorites: Salmon (per my suggestion) in a puree with tomatilla salad and orange sauce. The salmon itself was divine- flaking beautifully and cooked just the right amount.  Saving one of my favorites for last was lomo saltado, which is Peruvian stir-fry of beef short ribs, red onions, tomatoes, french fries and light soy ginger, along with rice. This dish was a gorgeous display of bright colors, great flavors mingling together and you could even taste the freshness of the meat & vegetables.

Salmon

Lomo Saltado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a treat to eat here, and I would definitely come back- Perhaps to try one of their desserts. We were all too full to order this time around. The prices were reasonable, and it is definitely best to share the meal as you will get more for your buck. Service was decent, though they cleared the table too fast and we were not finished with all the dishes.

The very cool thing about Coppelia: It is open 24/7 and breakfast is served all day, so if you’re craving some omelets, eggs, steak, pancakes, or waffles  in the wee hours after clubbing, this is a great spot!

 
Address: 207 W 14th St.

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March 9, 2012 · 2:20 am

Shecky’s Girls Night Out

I attended Shecky’s Girls Night Out with 2 friends tonight, which is famous for their glorious goodie bags, unique designers and free drinks.

Inside the Goodie Bags: Full sized Jergens moisturizer, cocktail mixer, rain kissed water lily scent, body washes, hand sanitizer, hair accessories, soft lips, nail appliques, and vitamin water. To be honest, I’ve seen better especially through Shecky’s so it was a bit of a let down but at least I didn’t pay full price for the ticket.

There were mostly jewelry, clothing, skincare, beauty along with some tea, treats and dessert as well as “Passion Party” vendors sprinkled throughout. I preferred the more delicate jewelry; for example shown here:

Stella & Dot

Stella & Dot

There were quite a few Swedish companies known for their skincare and beauty brands. There were  also Passion Party tables so one of my friends signed up to host “Slumber Party” possibly the most crazy and fun sounding of them all. I checked out some of the clothing racks, many between the prices of $20-$55 and fell in like with several of the dresses: The beautiful vibrant blues, silver belt detail, simple but flattering cuts… Alas, I didn’t end up purchasing any.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also got to try some appetizers: Beef empanada which was packed with flavor, as was the pulled pork mini slider. What I really enjoyed and ended up taking home was Jessy’s Peruvian Pastries– little bites of dulce de leche heaven. Wrapped individually and smelling of sweet shortbread and caramel deliciousness, a bagful was only $10.

Despite the somewhat disappointing Goodie Bag and very crowded space (some pushing, shoving, rudeness), I had a lovely time checking out all the different vendors and partaking in giveaways for skincare products, laser skin removal treatments (I actually received a free gift from SLEEK for microdermabrasion or chemical peel!), Broadway shows and more… Who knows– Maybe I’ll win something.

If you go, make sure to find a special code to save $5 or $10 off the original ticket price of $25 (available at different vendor locations and online). And bring cash as vendors may charge more if you use a credit card. Also, here’s hoping that next time around the Goodie Bags will be more substantial (like in previous years).

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