Feeling "Fancy" at The Andy Lecompte Salon

I was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago visiting friends and my old haunts when I mentioned to my friend Stephanie that I needed to get my roots done badly but my colorist was out of town the week before my trip. I had no idea that Steph worked at the Andy Lecompte Salon (celebrity stylist known for doing Madonna and Lindsay Lohan's hair) in West Hollywood as a receptionist and she told me that she could hook me up with the "industry" discount. Clearly I took her up on the offer and walked my jet-lagged (and slightly hung-over, not gonna lie) self to the fancy WeHo salon that Saturday morning (yes shocking but I "walked" in LA, I did not have a rental car and my host was unable to drop me off. . . .but it was only a mile away and a lovely walk!).

Part of the deal with the "special" rate is that you have to sit around and wait until the colorist has time to squeeze you in. Not to worry, the people watching in this place is entertainment in itself. And the customer service is first rate. It's the kind of place where they serve you water with cucmber slices and coffee with soy milk and miniature chocolate chip cookies. Local restauarnts walk around the salon with lunch baskets of pre-made sandwiches and salads so clients can pick up some gourmet eats while they are being serviced (that sounded kinda dirty, lol!). There's also a lovely back garden to relax in while you wait. After about an hour, finally it was my turn. My colorist was a very sexy Brazilian man who was so pleasing to look at as he applied the dye to my roots that I almost missed the client to my right. Yes people, the one and only Kojo (Steven Cojocaru) was getting his roots done next to me. I had a fabulous time feeling "fancy" and thanked Stephanie, my Manchvegas partner in crime, for the opportunity. It's not everyday that you get an invitation to get your hair done at a salon owned by a stylist to the stars!


Here she is! Miss Stephanie Saunders hard at work! Not only is she the "hostess with the mostest" at the salon. . . . .but she's also a fabulous actress and writer. Check out her Reality Web-Series A Bachelorette in Koreatown which will soon be adapted into a feature and follow both Steph and her show on Twitter! @stephsaunders and @abikoreatown

Mysterious Little Italy Feast

Okay, so I have just spent the past half hour trying to find out info on the street fair I walked through in Little Italy last night, and I am truly at a loss. I google searched a million different combinations of words and phrases to get you all the correct info on the Italian street festival on Mulberry St. but I am afraid I came up short. What I can tell you is that it runs from Spring St. to Canal St. on Mulberry in Manhattan. I am not sure if it is this weekend only or if it is every weekend this summer (as a blog about "Summer In Little Italy" which seemed to be written a few years ago on About.com declared), but what I can tell you is that it is up and running tonight and all day tomorrow for sure! The food is delicious and plentiful AND since no one seems to know that it even exists (or at least no one on the world wide web), you will not see the crazy crowds that the annual San Gennaro feast in September brings. If you have the time, stop by and grab some eats! Pics of scrumptious zeppoles, cannolis and Italian sausages that I took last night are pasted below to entice you! And if anyone knows more info about the feast, please let me know so I can update my readers! Buon Appetito!

Vegan Friendly Diet Busters

The other day I walked by The City Bakery (a NYC favorite for 15 years) and since I had not been there in forever, it seemed appropriate that I stop in for a cookie and iced coffee. "It's been years, I deserve it!" I said to myself. I was planning on ordering their famous buttery, crispy yet soft melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookie but to my surprise, I saw in the bakery case that they now offer VEGAN chocolate chip cookies as well! Clearly, I was ecstatic. Vegan baked goods aren't exactly "health food", but without all the butter, eggs and milk (usually substituted with either applesauce, tofu or mashed bananas and soy-based butter but I honestly have no clue what is in their vegan chocolate chip cookie recipe, it is top secret!) I usually don't feel as guilty eating them! And for some reason they are always so moist, fresh and delicious!

I was definitely not disappointed with my selection! The City Bakery's vegan chocolate chip cookie is just as orgasmically scrumptious as the original. If you are in the neighborhood, you have to check it out. And if you are an LA transplant, you are in luck because the folks at The City Bakery now have a west coast location as well in The Brentwood Country Mart. Try one and let me know what you think!

3 W 18th street
New York, NY 10011
212.366.1414

225 26th St
Santa Monica, CA 90402
310.656.3040

www.thecitybakery.com



If you are craving even more vegan pastry selections, head to their sister property Birdbath: Neighborhood Green Bakery (also known as “Build a Green Bakery”). There are two locations of this eco-friendly organic bakery in NYC, one in the east village and one in the west village. They are open 7 days a week and stay open until at least 10pm.

From the store's design to the ingredients in the delectables, they really have thought of everything. The paint on the walls is milk paint produced with 99% food based ingredients, the walls and ceiling are made of Dakota Burl (sunflower seed husks with bi-product from agricultural fiber) and wheat board, the floor is made of reclaimed wood from Pennsylvania and of cork (specifically from the waste created when cork tops are made for wine bottles), the cups made of biodegradable corn, and the store is 100% wind-powered.

All ingredients used in their yummy treats are 100% organic and the honey and organic coffee are made and roasted just about 2 hours outside the city. And if you do dairy, you’ll be happy to know that all milk and cream served in the store comes from a family farm just north of Manhattan where the entire process from milking the cows to bottling takes place on that farm. They also offer a 25% discount if you arrive by bicycle or skateboard!

Their vegan options include: vegan raspberry muffins, vegan blueberry scones, vegan chocolate chip cookies and vegan oatmeal raisin cookies. They are always baking something new, stop by and see for yourself!

145 Seventh Avenue South
New York NY 10014
646.722.6570

223 1st Avenue
New York NY 10009
646.722.6565

www.buildagreenbakery.com

Do Fabulous Shoes Count in a Recession?

I was walking to Bed, Bath and Beyond today with my Aunt Elaine and as we turned left onto 19th street from 7th avenue to walk east, our path on the sidewalk was obstructed by an extremely long line that just kept growing in size. It was filled with women, extremely stylish women, both young and old, dressed to the nines, patiently waiting. Some chatting with girlfriends, some reading, some texting. My aunt and I continued to walk but were clearly distracted by the growing mass of humanity wrapping all around the city block. It looked liked an open casting call for Project Runway. Finally I stopped and asked someone, "Excuse me Miss, what are you all on line for?" and the woman replies, "A Jimmy Choo Sample Sale."

A Jimmy Choo Sample Sale? Seriously? It was incredible! First, that he was even having one, and second, that in the midst of a recession and the swine flu scare, hundreds of women took the day off (or took an extremely LONG lunch) in order to wait on line for hours in hopes of taking home a pair of $400-$1,500 shoes for a mere $75 and up. Yes, even in the darkest of times a rare event can bring out all sorts of women with the fantasy (and hopefully soon reality) of owning the unattainable. These photos were taken around 1:30 pm, only 30 minutes after the sample sale began. Lord knows what happened later in the day! Carrie Bradshaw would have been proud!

WHAT: Jimmy Choo Sample Sale

WHY: Shoes starting from $75 and bags starting from $150

WHEN: April 30, 2009 (Thursday) @ 1pm-7pm

WHERE: The Metropolitan Pavilion, 18th Street (btwn 6th & 7th Aves), 4th floor, NYC

www.jimmychoo.com