Helloooooo everyone. Today, I feel like sharing a wealth of information – some timely, some random, all truly fabulous.

Silhouette This
So, the first piece of randomness I’d love to share is that I have found the world’s most AMAZING female tailor. Well, a tailor who specializes in female clothing. She also happens to be a lady herself. Ladies are abound, essentially. The studio is called Silhouettes and Profiles, and it’s run by two women named Brenda and Irene. I have to tell you how much I love these women – they are like the Einstein’s of hemlines. I’ll share a personal experience I had recently, just to give you an indication of the level of fabulousness we’re dealing with…I go in with a pair of pants that I need shortened. I tell Brenda that I want to wear the pants with…wait for it…heels AND a kitten heel. Tricky tricky tricky. And…lo and behold, she just a little pin there, a little nip there and voila, I have pants that I can wear with both pedi-options. I’ve had them rework dresses, skirts, blouses, pants – I’d let them help me birth my first child if I could, but I kinda like the gyno I’ve got now. It’s hard to find a good one, you know.

Silhouettes and Profiles. 160 W. 71st St, 2nd floor (between B’way and Columbus). 212.877.3372.

Who are you calling Vintage?
On to my next bit of bag of treats. Raise you’re hand if you’re sure…uh, I mean, if you like Vintage Clothing. In my case, I’ll raise it for both, because I’m fer darn sure I love me some vintage clothing. Granted, sometimes I’ll go into a vintage clothing store and walk out with an asthma attack and in dire need for a shower – but…when you find a realm gem…oooooh nelly is that something you call your most obligatory friend to brag about. So, why not go to one place where all the fabulous finds will be in one place, and will save us that looong trip to Woodstock or wherever else vintage dresses, sweaters, and jewelry live?

Yes, believe it or not, all this vintage goodness does live in one place, even though I sensed you doubting me at the end of the last paragraph. The Manhattan Vintage Clothing and Antique Textile Show and Sale is going to be at the Metropolitan Pavilion on February 3rd and 4th. Come to gaze and admire or come to spend every last nickel in your wallet. The show only happens, like, three times a year, so…uh…you certainly don’t want to miss this because who knows if you’ll be busy when the other two happen. I mean, come on, I can tell you you’re not going to be busy on Feb 3rd and 4th. Oh, wait, yes you are, you’re going to be at the Metropolitan Pavilion.

Manhattan Vintage Clothing and Antique Textile Show and Sale
Friday, February 3rd – 1:00 PM TO 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 4th – 11:00 AM TO 6:00 PM
Metropolitan Pavilion: 125 West 18th Street (Between 6th & 7th Aves)
Admission $ 20.00. BONUS AWESOMENESS – Save $5.00 off Admission Price if you join the VIP Invite List at http://www.manhattanvintage.com/vip.shtm

Just a little bit to the left, no down, oh yep, that’s the spot
OK, get your minds OUT OF THE GUTTER. My next tidbit to make you drool is not muddy like you’re channel 35 minds though it was. I found two massage fellers in the city that are SUPERB, and I couldn’t keep the good news to myself. Of course, I know I’m going to end up screwing myself in the end because now there will ALWAYS be a wait for a massage, but…part of this job is being selfless like that, so here it goes. You know how those nail salon backrubs are usually completely shotty and, well, crap, but we do it anyway just because we’re dying for a little backrub? Yeah, I know. So…check out the Think Pink Nails on 58th (just west of 5th) or the Bloomie’s Nails on 2nd Ave (between 7th and St. Marks). Now, I’m not saying go and get a waxy poo or a facial, but…a nice backrub…sure, go ahead treat yourself.

Think Pink’s man of the hour’s name is David – be sure to ask for David. He’s fantastico. I don’t know the name of the guy at Bloomie’s, but…he’s there everytime I go, so you should be in good hands. Ha ha. Get it? Both of the guys use qi (pronounced “chi”), which is Chinese for “energy feel good awesomeness that makes knots in your back go away.” Ok, I don’t know if that’s the literal translation, but I know that there is no way in the English language to explain it because we’re just not that deep. But however you want to look at it, using qi during these massages is killer – you’ll feel the knots melt out of your body. Now, why do I share such news? Well, it’s kind of rare to find a little pit stop back rubby place that offers such a … useful pit stoppy backrub.

To be totally honest with you, I’ll actually go out of my way to get a little rub now and then from these fellers. It’s that awesome and costs, oh, like $13. Cannot beat it. Nope, Nope, you cannot.

Shhhhh, it’s a secret…
My last tidbit is a big ole secret that I’m going to build up over the next week and then reveal next week at sometime in the middle of one of my articles. That way I’ll know if y’all are really reading what I’m writing.

Basically, here’s the story…I’m coming forward with the truth because I no longer have to live the moniker of a life I’ve been living. Drumroll please…ladies and gents, Razi Schwartz is not my real name. I’m sorry if any of you feel upset by this JT Leroy-ish move. Ok, the only thing JT Leroy-ish about this is the name thing, because everything else is totally my own life. For reaons which shall continue to remain anonyfab, I couldn’t use my real name to write my column. But now, those reasons are no more, so…my true self will come forward.

Ok, I won’t build it up, because then it’ll be totally anti-climactic when I reveal my true self to be Hilary Duff. Uh, I mean…

I know that from time to time, my writing style takes on…a bit of attitude. Oh, ok, all the time. It’s what makes me me, people. But, sometimes when you look past the social commentary, the tangents, and the stream of consciousness writing you’ll see that I find some really fabulous events in New York for you, my loyal and faithful readers, to attend. Hopefully you feel that way all the time, but we’ll leave that for another discussion.

Today I want to tell you about an upcoming benefit on February 11th for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It’s their 2006 Black Tie and Blackjack Casino Night. I don’t know about you, but I love black tie, I love Blackjack, I love Casino nights…but I HATE leukemia and lymphoma so anything I can do to contribute to ending them forever I will do gladly.

Guests will be able to enjoy dinner, an OPEN BAR (insert your own excitement here), and…of course…casino games where you can test Lady Luck and maybe even win some fantastico prizes including gift certificates, hotel stays, spa treatments – basically all the things that make yours truly dance with glee.

Obviously, the main point of the evening is to help raise money to fight these awful diseases and to make the lives of those who live with the diseases a little easier. So, pull out your checkbooks, Ladies and Gents – oh come on, add just one more zero.

The Solitaire – $150 for 1 ticket and $20 in gaming chips

The Two Pair – $600 for 4 tickets and $120 in gaming chips

VIP Solitaire – $200 for 1 VIP ticket and $20 in gaming chips

The VIP Royal Flush – $2,000 for 10 VIP tickets and $400 in gaming money
(includes private priority seating in lounge)

VIP guests will have access to the VIP lounge and will receive exclusive food, beverages, and complementary gift bag.

I personally love the idea of being VIP (even though my mom tells my I’m a VIP all the time), but I like the idea of someone else thinking I’m a VIP. I think you should think that way, too, so you spend more money for the cause. And, on a total related note, the event is going to be amazingly fun – it’s being held at The Downtown Association at 60 Pine Street (Between Pearl and William). The festivities start at 8:00pm, so only be a little fashionably late.

For more information and ticket sales visit www.lls.org/nycblacktieblackjack

Allo? Henri Bendel is on the phone for you…
By Razi Schwartz

I’d like to remind you about a little tidbit I told you about, oh, some weeks ago. You know, the BeautyNewsNYC Member Promotion? When our subscribers get one of their friends or family to sign up, your name will be entered into a drawing to win a gift…from you guessed it…Bendel’s. The winner will get a set of Henri Bendel Signature Cosmetic and Travel Bags in a Signature Henri Bendel Hatbox. The drawing is being held on February 11th – SO JUMP ON THIS, YO!!!!!

BeautyNewsNYC is looking for a most fabulous AD SALES person

Contact Kimberly at Info@BeautyNewsNYC.com if you’re interested.

Save Tibet – we’ve all heard it before. But really, what have you done about it? Nothing. That’s what I thought. I mean, how much do you really know about Tibet, its culture, its people? Nothing? Again, I thought so. Ever heard of the Tibet House on 15th Street? Well, ok then, I’ll tell you about it.

I stumbled upon the Tibet House and was really taken with some of the events that they sponsor – aside from being thoroughly educational (i.e. learning about that which we do not already know), but…wait get this…IT’S REALLY INTERESTING. I mean, I’m sorting through the myriad of events, lectures, and exhibits they’re having and, well, now my calendar is totally and completely booked. So, no, we can’t have dinner that night. I’m sorry, ok? I don’t care that you finally got reservations at Per Se…and so on, and so forth.

To shout-out (Bronx in da house!) all of the fabulous events offered at the Tibet House would read like an op-ed piece in the Times, so I have selected a few delicious morsels I would like to share with you. The first on my list goes back to my roots – I had the distinct pleasure of never getting into one of Robert Thurman’s classes at Columbia. But, now I laugh in the face of that because…he’s teaching at the Tibet House and I’m all over that like a fly on…well, you know.

Don’t know who Robert Thurman is? Well, aside from being a world famous professor who specializes in Tibetan studies and Buddhism, he also happens to be Uma’s father. Makes you love her even more, eh? Yeah, she’s just…ugh…fabulous. He is giving two lectures alongside Mark Epstein, as well as a series of lectures he will lead himself.

Lecture 1: Going to Pieces without Falling Apart under the Jewel Tree of Tibet
Feb. 3rd: 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Nonmembers $20/Members $18
Thurman and Epstein lead a discussion on one of the key principals of Buddhist contemplation – how to be ok with and tolerate uncertainty, ambiguity, and unpredictability. Basically, how to chill out and be ok with whatever the world throws your way. As I think about how I freaked out when my mocha latte didn’t have enough foam, I think this is something from which we all can benefit.

Lecture 2: Meditation and Free-Association: A Buddhist perspective on Psychotherapy
Feb. 4th: 10:00am – 5:00pm. Nonmembers $130/Members $120
All day long, yeah! Thurman and Epstein will take you through the journey of Buddhist psychology – going through everything starting with the Four Noble Truths (great name for a boy band, right? Ok, sorry, bad me) through the concepts of emptiness, selflessness, and compassion. There will also be some straight up meditation. The whole thing just sounds so deliciously relaxing – way better than picking up your laundry or taking the dog to the vet.

Lecture series: Module 1: The Blade Wheel of Mind Transformation
Wednesdays Feb. 8th, 15th, and 22nd. 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Nonmbers $70/Members $60. Individual lectures are $25 (cash or check) at door as space permits.
Thurman will lead participants through one of the key Buddhist texts, known as The Blade Wheel of Mind Transformation. Think transcendental wisdom, peace, transformation. In the words of the Dalai Lama, “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.” Ahhhhhhh…

On to my second great find at Tibet House- ART! Ha ha, how hilarious would that be if I claimed to discover art. Well, I’m not. But, there is a great exhibition coming to Tibet House – Tibetan architecture in watercolor. Delicate, Exotic Watercolors Depict 1,400 Years of Tibetan Architecture will be on display starting February 9th through April 7th. Oh, but…yay for opening receptions! The opening reception for this exhibition will be on February 9th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The illustrations are by Michel Peissel, the French explorer, ethnologist, and anthropologist who has dedicated himself and his career to all things Tibet. You can see firsthand – well, almost firsthand – ancient and remote Tibetan monestaries, chapels and fortresses that you would never have had the opportunity to see. Gotta love that – a voyage without ever going below 14th Street.

Ok, my third “find” is a HUGE save the date. Wednesday, March 1st – a BENEFIT CONCERT at CARNEGIE HALL. What’s the line-up? Uh…Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Antony, Nawang Khechog, Damien Rice, Sufjan Stevens, Allen Toussaint…THAT’S WHO!!!! If you’re interested in just going to the concert, tickets can be purchased in person at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (154 W. 57th Street), or by calling (212) 247-7800. Tickets are on sale now ranging from $30-$108. Now, this is all fine and dandy, but…who wants to just go to the concert when there’s a post-concert dinner party/fundraiser? That’s what I thought! For tickets to the concert and to the reception, call the Tibet House at (212) 807-0563. A portion of the proceeds of the concert will go to a New Orleans hurricane relief organization aiding New Orleans musicians affected by the hurricane, and a portion of the party proceeds will go to the local Tibetan community, the Tibetan Association of New York and New Jersey.

So, where does all this lead? Well, hopefully it’ll lead you to the Tibet House. I have just one more eensy weensy tidbit. You noticed above that there are some nonmember and member prices – how does one become a member at Tibet House? Go www.tibethouse.org/membership. All the details are there – there are different levels of membership that come with different perks. But…the greatest perk is that members will be automatically eligible to reserve one ticket to see the Dalai Lama when he is in New York on September 23rd-September 25th. The cost of the ticket is $285 – but the priceless element is that you’ll actually get a ticket. Once in a lifetime doesn’t cut it.

www.tibethouse.org 22 West 15th Street. New York, NY 10011. Tel: (212) 807-0563

So, we’re half way through the first month of 2006, and I’ve decided to take a poll to see how everyone feels. Well, as far as I’ve been able to determine from the people I’ve polled so far, everyone still has bills to pay, everyone still has work to show up for around 9am, everyone still has in-laws or pesky relatives, everyone is still freezing cold since it’s still January…and the list goes on and on and on. Why is that a new, fresh year doesn’t necessarily lend to an immediate new, fresh you? I think it’s a load of bullcrap, which is why I’m here to share a tidbit that really will take you down the path of a relaxed and, well, certainly more radiant new you.

Haven Spa in SOHO is saying “ENOUGH!” to this stress and worn-dorn wintry blah-ness. They are offering special deals on spa series so that you really have no excuse not to take care of yourself. Do you like Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Facials, Manicures, and Pedicures? Yeah, I thought so, SO KEEP ON TRUCKIN’. Oops, I mean reading.

So, the series sale/packages apply to any of the following: Swedish or Deep Tissue Massage, a Remedy Facial (a 60-minute facial, personalized special for you), a European Manicure, or a European Pedicure. If you buy a package of six of any of these services, you’ll get one free. If you buy a ten series package, you’ll get two free. I love free, and I love spas, and together I think I’m in love with Haven.

The prices are below in fun chart form. I love charts. They’re so neat and tidy. I’ve also laid out how much of a savings you’re really looking at. I don’t know about you, but I’m not great at math, so…I’m just going to assume you’re not either and lay it out for you.

One Hour Swedish/Deep Tissue Massage

Remedy Facial

European Manicure

European Pedicure

So, as you can see from Exhibit A above, you have no excuse not to take care of yourself this winter. I say, stick it to the stress and stick it to winter crap and let’s get pampered. Amen, sistah.

Haven Spa: 150 Mercer Street; New York, NY 10012. (212) 343-3515
www.havensoho.com

I love anything with pecans in it
By Razi Schwartz

Ok, I know we love pecan pie, pecan ice cream, pecans straight up…fill in the blank of all the things you love with pecans in it, and I think you’ll get the picture. But, I’ve stumbled upon a new coffee shop downtown at the corner of Franklin and Varick that has to be one of my favorite pecan-a-licious things yet! Pecan Fine Foods and Coffee. With a name like that – well, you can guess how delicious-a-rama it is.

But wait, there’s more! Pecan Fine Foods and Coffee is also the host location for Salon@Pecan, a reading series featuring up-and-coming authors who read from their oeuvres du jour/du lifetime/du marvaliciousness. The series is organized by a local Tribecan (Tribecian? Tribecanian?) Gene Kraig, whose own book, The Sentence, will be released in March 2006. It’s all about good people getting together to read good books, and I say “PULL YOURSELF AWAY FROM THE TV, PEOPLE, AND READ SOME LITERATURAY.”

So, who else will be reading? Great question, I’m so glad you asked. First on the roll call is Elizabeth Primamore, who will read from her cutting-edge dramatic novel Michael Field: A Play Based on the Life of Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper. Your blessed feet should trod on over to hear her read, because I’m not sure if you know anything about Katherine Bradley, Edith Cooper, or their amalgamated self Michael Field, but this should be some good stuff.

Aaron Krach is up next – an artist, a writer, and a stand-up guy. He’s been on the scene for years, and he’s finally written his first book, Half-Life. I love the title of this book in contrast with its subject matter, and I plan on asking Aaron what the correlation is – oh, what’s the book about? It’s about a hipster high-school senior who murders his father and then falls madly, truly, deeply for the police officer who comes to collect the body. It spans all of two weeks in the summer of ’99 – I can tell you, I remember what I was doing in the summer of ’99 and it wasn’t nearly as scintillating as this novel.

Who’s on third? Johanna Reiss, a role model who hails from the Netherlands, happens to be Jewish, and was there when WWII showed up for dinner. A non-Jewish family took her in, and she went into hiding for three years. The Upstairs Room is her retelling of those three years of her life. Its sequel, The Journey Back, tells what life was like to be free once again. And now, after 30 years, the third book in the trilogy is complete, and you’ll get to hear Johanna read from The Full Circle.

The reading will be held on Sunday, January 29th from 2pm-4pm. Go on, grab a cup of joe, tea if you like, a pastry, listen, read, and enjoy…plus, Nobu’s around the corner if you’re feeling sushi for din din.

I have a theory about New Yorker’s and their dogs: the smaller the apartment, the larger the dogs, and the larger the apartment, the smaller the dogs. I mean, think about it – there’s a dog that lives around Second Ave and 9th Street named Bear who, if I’m not mistaken, is a Newfoundland Terrier. How big can an apartment really be in that neighborhood to fit a Newfoundland? And then, there’s Fifi and Foufou who live on Park Avenue in the Upper 60s – does Fifi really need 4,000 square feet of palatial goodness? Bear thinks not.

Ok, I started on a tangent, but you’ll see where point A meets point B in my brain when you learn of this piece of fabulousness I found for tomorrow night. It’s a screening at the Anthology Film Archives – quel film, you ask? It’s called “A Dog’s Life” a “dogamentary” about Chelsea, a diva-rific Shih Tzu…who happens to belong to an Emmy award-winning filmmaker who knew she was so fab she deserved her own film.

And her own film she got. Follow the day-in and day-out life of Chelsea – and Gayle Kirschenbaum, her owner – as they tackle New York as two magnificent single women should. A huge part of this film focuses on the role that Chelsea and Gayle have in each other’s lives – ok, who are we kidding, it focuses on how important Chelsea is in Gayle’s life, the powerful role she plays, and how she filled a void in one lonely human’s heart that she didn’t even know needed to be filled.

I’m totally a dog person, but because of timing, schedules, blah, blah, blah, I have a cat. Now, don’t get me wrong – my cat is very much like a dog, but…he’s still a cat. And let me be the first to tell you, I never thought I could love a furry little buggar as much as I love him. And if any of you have had a companion like Chelsea…or my Larry (shout-out to the Lar Lar, in da house…!), you’ll know how important those little furballs are in a life. Really, as cheesy as it sounds, one loveable pet can turn an ordinary life into an extraordinary one filled with drool, wee-wee pads, yucky smelling food and lots of love.

One more thing about how amazing Chelsea is – after 9/11, Chelsea became a certified therapy dog delivering smiles to anyone and everyone who needs it. Oh my god, if only therapy dogs could be substituted for therapists – how awesome would that be? Seriously, sometimes I feel like my cat is the only one who understands – maybe we’re on to something here people, maybe we’re on to something.

So…for the feel good film of the day/week/month/year, go check out “A Dog’s Life” tomorrow night. I know you’ll love it…LOVE IT! It’ll for sure make you want to go out and get a Shih Tzu, even if you only live in a studio…

A Dog’s Life, January 18th, 7:00pm, New York, NY
Anthology Film Archives, 32 Second Avenue at 2nd Street
212 505-5181
www.dogamentary.com

Hello, my lovelies. I recently stumbled upon a new store on Bleecker Street, and – shhhh, not many people know about it yet, so…it’s still an untapped original, baby! It’s called Ruehl no. 925. No, it’s not at no. 925 – it’s actually at no. 370, and it happens to be caddy-corner to the Marc Jacobs store. Well, not exactly caddy-corner, it’s more like caddy corner and down the block a little bit. But, I can tell you the bags are so tres fab, that when I went in and bought one, I was so completely enamored by it that I wasn’t even tempted to go in and visit my long lost love, MJ, across the street and up the block.

First and foremost, the store itself is stunning. You are automatically engulfed by the warmth of the lighting, the dark wood structure, and the deep, rich smell of the leather goods. All of the bags are named after fabulous ladies like yourselves – I bought the Frida bag. Oh, she is so pretty. The bags are all hand-made with that deep, rich, seriously killer leather (Frida is made from buffalo leather and bridal leather), and start around $190. They go up into to the thousands – but let me tell you that whatever you pay is worth it like that pair of Jimmy Choo’s was worth it. And no two bags in the store look-alike – trust me, I looked at each one. The best part about the line – the bags are completely utile and functional, which makes it a given that whichever gal you buy will become your favorite everyday tote.

Of course, the store sells more than bags, although I don’t know why anyone needs anything more than bags. There are belts, wallets, key chains, as well as a few other “home” wares. There is even an entire line of man-bags.

Go on – I know rules are meant to be broken, but I’d keep this Ruehl in tact for just a little while…

Ruehl no. 925: 370 Bleecker Street. 212-924-8506

Wine-o 101
By Razi Schwartz

“This vintage is very approachable – not very acetic – it has a lovely apple-y flavor and an angular taste.”

Yes, I give you permission to slap me? Why? Because it’s obvious that I spewed that out of the depths of my vaults of BS…and I only made it through the “a” terms in my wine glossary. Know people like this? Yeah, we all do these days. Everyone – man, woman, frat boy – thinks he/she is a wine connoisseur. YOU ARE NOT CONNOISSEURS. You are connoi-non-sseurs, thank you very much.

Truth is, of course there are some fakers in the wine-loving world – those who are out to impress, those who think it adds to their social rank, those who think it’ll lead to free booze. But, for just as many frauds there are legit oenophiles looking to learn a little more about something that went from a nice beverage with dinner to a fun and exciting hobby … or even dare I say it…passion.

That’s where Tasting World comes in. Tasting World was founded by Dilek Caner, who has an astounding oenerific resume including working with the Chef Sommelier at Alain Ducasse, and serves to educate people about wines and make wines accessible to every audience.

Tasting World currently offers classes, mini series, and tastings, all of which are updated regularly on their website. Two new classes are being offered in February – a four week wine basics course that runs from February 15-March 8 and an eight week “all around the world” course that runs from February 13-April 3, and both classes run from 7pm-9pm. What class is right for you? Ah, the great mysterious questions of life…

Well, the four week class is great if you’re looking to just get your feet wet in the world of wine. Learn a little here. Taste a little there. You’ll start being able to explain why it is you like one wine over another – more than “I don’t know, I just like it.” The eight week course is like the grandfather to the four week course – learn a complete history of the major wine regions in the world, about wine tasting techniques, and the components of what makes one wine this versus what makes one wine that. Oh, and of course, a little tasting here and a little tasting there. No matter what class you take, there’s a little tasting everywhere.

These classes are by no means intended to be a part-ay scene, but they are meant to be entertaining. And, the big “yay!” of today is, if you sign up for these classes before January 16th, you’ll get a big ole whoppin’ discount. It’s very difficult for me to say what I love more – wine or a discount. Qu’est-ce que c’est ce discount? The four week class is normally $345, but is $295 if you register before the 16th; and the eight week class is normally $695, but is $595 if you register early.

I guess this is what they mean when they say “the early bird gets the worm.” I really had no idea I would like worms so much…

Ladies, may I be the umpteenth person to wish you a Happy/Merry/Splendid 2006! Oh, wait, what do you mean it’s not so splendid? Funny you should mention that, I’ve been hearing from a lot of my girlfriends that this year is starting out a bit rough around the edges. Why this year of all years? Who knows. I like to think it’s something in the cosmos because at least than there is some flightly, non-concrete reason for why 2006 isn’t starting out stellar for ladies one and all. And a few men, too, I suppose. Oh let’s face it – who says 2006 sucks?!? Give me an aye, a raise of hands, or a hell yeah – the message is loud and clear.

Unfortunately for you fellas, this entry is for the femmes seulement. Pourquoi, you ask? Well, I stumbled upon something in the wealth of knowledge I like to call my brain, and I thought I’d share. Guys, if you feel left out, I thoroughly apologize. I promise I’ll have a male-only entry sometime soon to make up for it. And no trying to crash the event – girls’ time is serious business that is not designed to accommodate any XY visitors.

Tomorrow night – that’d be Wednesday, January 11th – Life Works is having a free seminar at their downtown space entitled, “Creating a life that fits you.” To bring it to the personal level, I’ve always had this dream of opening my own boutique – a haven for all things fabulous, unique, and anything that takes the shape of a handbag. But, my fear of my dream being a big flop, the financial commitment, the unknown – it’s all so daunting to me that my dream has gone dusty in the closet next to the sewing machine I never learned to use, the sweater folder from the infomercial (and the second freebee sweater folder I got for calling within the first 30 seconds) and so many other unfinished moments of brilliance in my life.

This workshop is geared toward encouraging women to do…or push women away from…not doing. It’s a workshop that is geared to guide you to being…a better you.

The seminar on Wednesday starts at 7:30pm and lasts around two hours. It’s going to be held at the Life Works downtown offices at 55 Fifth Avenue, and you should call for a reservation at 212-741-8787. And of course, because it is “this day and age” check out the website at www.lifeworksgroup.com.

If you can’t make it this Wednesday, check out their website. The group offers several weekend workshops and courses throughout the year (the one entitled “Having what you want with a man” is particularly interesting, no? Oh I’ll tell you what I want with a man – sit, look pretty, massage my back, cook…RAZI, WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, Ok, I’m back…) – and believe it or not, some are co-ed (score one for the XY-ers). Will it work for you? I can’t say for sure. But, if you’re looking for something new and filled with positive female energy…it definitely can’t hurt.

The Meat Packing District
By Stacey Cervellino

The Meat Packing District has an element of mystery about it. The cobblestone pavement, narrow side streets, the Hudson River being only a stone’s throw away, this area of Manhattan has experienced a renaissance since the mid 90′s with the modernist and posh Hotel Gansevoort, exclusive velvet rope nightclubs, and major fashion industry players moving into the neighborhood. While it often feels deserted during the day, as if you’d reached the very tip of Manhattan, the Meatpacking District, maintains an old world feel to it. Scarce is a deli, chain store or Starbucks, although the Western Beef monstrosity sandwiched in between Son Cubano and Mark’t is evidence and a reminder of how the Meat Packing District earned its title.

CATHERINE MALANDRINO
652 Hudson Street (between W13th and Gansevoort Streets)
212.929.8710
www.catherinemalandrino.com
M-Sat: 11-7
Thurs: 11-8
Sun 12-6

The Hudson Street store offers two collections: the Fall collection and the runway collection. Her clothes are exquisite and the store itself manages to be both mod and bohemian at the same time, as are her designs: sexy and bohemian, with an element of vintage style. Through mid-Jan items are 30-40% off the sale price. For a mere mortal like myself, seeing her exquisite collection was sheer torture. At $1,500-$1,800 dollars a pop, more than a month’s rent for me, I could only ooh and aah and hope that one day I’ll turn into a princess who wears nothing but Malandrino.

CALYPSO
654 Hudson Street
646.638.3000
M-Sat 11-7
Sun 12-7

Calypso is known for its natural perfumes. Each perfume is infused with other natural ingredients such as patchouli or basil to compliment the top notes: Rose, Gardenia, and the ever-popular Mimosa. The scents are strong and lean towards the soapy side-all I can suggest is to not only smell before you buy, but wear before you by. The store is full of bright colors, many items from the cruise collection: turquoise, purple, and orange tops, snakeskin open toed wedges and square heeled pumps that look like vintage finds. Shoes range from $230-$375. Check out her sexy winter boots and studded leather clogs. There is an ongoing a sale through mid January and on the sale rack you’ll find a few pretty tops and stretchy dresses for $400 and a fun felt trench coat for $500.

PARADOU
Vin.cuisine.jardin
8 Little West 12th Street
212.463.8345
www.paradounyc.com

After my visit to Paradou, I realized what makes a restaurant successful-at least in my book: Personalized service, detail of design, food made with love.

The staff and owners at Paradou clearly love what they do and their passion for food and for their customers is apparent from the moment you enter. In April I had the good fortune to dine in the back garden. We had a leisurely meal enhanced by excellent service. Since then, they have winterized the garden by heating and enclosing it. The front room and small bar remain a cozy choice for the locals and regulars who come here again and again.

NERO
46 Gansevoort Street corner of Greenwich Street
212.675.5224
www.neronyc.com

Romantic, mysterious, and inviting, Nero is the perfect candidate for a romantic date or an intimate dinner with close friends. The candlelit rustic wooden tables are warm and inviting. Nero’s handsome owner Gino, who has cultivated a name for Nero over the course of its first year, making it, in his warm and open Neapolitan way, a neighborhood place, where everyone is welcome, greeted me.

The menu offers Italian dishes with a world touch: with an impressive selection of fish dishes: black cod, salmon, scallops, and trout, risotto, veal, duck and venison, salads that could double as main courses, and updated traditional favorites such as Oxtail soup, Rigatoni with braised wild boar or Ricotta dumplings with sweet sausage and cannelloni beans. Pizza will be added to the menu, giving locals another reason to pay Nero a visit. I expect to see Nero become a local favorite for years to come.

5 NINTH
5 Ninth Avenue between Gansevoort and Little West 12th Street
212.929.9460
www.5ninth.com

5 Ninth is enclosed in a three story brownstone dating back to 1848 with 2 fireplaces on each floor, exposed brick, and a breath taking garden enclosed in ivy covered walls. Both a restaurant and bar, 5 Ninth offers romance, comfort, and style. The garden, when it is open, is truly the best feature of this romantic spot, with a New Orleans feel-a true oasis during the long hot summer. In the colder months, cozy up to the bar or at a table near one the fireplaces, order a bottle of wine, watch the beautiful people pass by, and maybe make a friend or two. The most enchanting facet of 5 Ninth is its location in one of the only open squares in Manhattan, straight out of a Henry James novel. There’s no name or flashing sign outside the building, but you can’t miss it and you’ll be glad you risked certain death as you navigate down cobblestone streets in your new heels.

Of course there are many other notable destinations in the Meat Packing District: the Stella McCartney Store, Design Within Reach, Son Cubano: a delightful Spanish restaurant, the Bodum store, the new Bubble and Bubble Salon, and old standby’s Mark’t: a Belgian bar and bistro, and the Gaslight, a bar that overflows with Wall Street types and Jersey boys.

Take the A, C, E or the 1,2,3 to 14th Street and walk east, where you’ll find quiet streets, smell the river air, and take some time to meander down the cobblestone streets. You never know who you might meet or what you’ll find.

(Leslie Rice Hart also contributed to this story)

Just years ago, the word laser inspired images of handheld toys or government operated weapons. Today, a game of word association would link lasers to hair removal. However, hair removal is just one of the many procedures doctors conduct with high-tech laser equipment. Whether you want to rid yourself of hair, scars, birthmarks, or the ultimate sign of aging, droopy skin, there’s most likely a laser out there that can cater to your needs.

Though we usually read about laser centers in metropolitan cities, there are certified doctors everywhere. The three doctors we spoke to all have offices in Manhattan and the suburbs. In addition to convenience, some locations also offer evening and weekend hours. So, with all these options, what’s the best use of your time and money?

Hair removal is still the most popular laser treatment. Contrary to lengthy procedures of the past, such as Electrolysis, laser hair removal usually involves about three visits. Until recently, customers were told the best candidate was a person with light skin and dark hair. This was true because some of the first lasers developed detected the hair follicles best with contrasting tones. However, technology has produced an array of lasers that cater to everyone, from ash-blonds to ebony beauties. As such, individuals like Dr. Stephen Bracci, the owner and founder of VERVE™ Skin Laser Centers, are investing in a few different lasers to accommodate the needs of different patients, in his case, four to be exact – two Diode, one Yag, and one Intense Pulse Light (IPL).

“There are several variables when we look the laser choice – one is the color, but the size of the hair is equally important. Finer hairs are more difficult to treat since they’re smaller in size and do not absorb the light as well as a thicker hair does.” says Bracci. “The color of the hair, the darker it is, the better it absorbs the light. Likewise, with the skin, the lighter the skin, generally the less likely it is to be burnt by the laser.” But, Dr. Bracci insists that it’s not so cut and dry because new lasers like the YAG allow better treatment for darker skin.

The real defining point is the color and thickness of the hair in relation to the skin. “There are long pulsed 1064 ndYAG lasers that are effective for treatment for thick dark hair and dark skin phenotypes. There are new machines such as Aurora which combine diode plus radiofrequency that is effective for treatment of light blond and whitish hair,” says Dr. Neil Sadick, a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and Global Advisor to Christian Dior.

Most places that offer laser services can be defined as one-stop-shopping medical day spas. SkinCentre, a year-old, all- purpose cosmetic facility in Westchester, has a number of different lasers to treat hair removal and hyper pigmentation, and they employ a large staff of dermatologists, plastic surgeons, cosmetic and laser surgeons, licensed nurses, and estheticians to administer topical cosmetic procedures and cosmeceuticals. Like many other medical spas, SkinCentre offers Botox, and fillers including Restylane, Collagen, Radiesse, and even Sculptra™, a Poly-L-lactic Acid filler also known as New-Fill™. Most commonly injected in the cheeks, chin, temporal regions, buttocks, and hands to smooth and plump skin, it was first approved years ago in Europe to treat facial lipoatrophy (facial fat loss) in HIV patients; now it’s also used to fill lines and wrinkles by facilitating the body’s production of new collagen, which plumps the underlying tissue.

But despite a full menu of services, it’s the laser procedures that offer the greatest variety of treatments for skin imperfections otherwise deemed incurable. According to Dr. Sozio, a resident physician at SkinCentre, lasers use a wavelength of light that is precise to the specific skin concern. Though many offices use the same lasers for very different services, a laser to treat wrinkles might not be as effective, or proper to use on a red birthmark. A red lesion would need a more penetrating, longer wavelength because of the condition of the vessels. Since the energy level for treatment of some scars must be higher, certain lasers are designed specifically for that particular purpose.

Though the cost to operate equipment necessary for such treatments can be costly, SkinCentre’s experts use only the most appropriate laser for each procedure. The Pulsed Dye Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions or Candela V Beam was designed to treat benign vascular lesions. Among those pigmentation problems laser treatments can successfully correct are Rosacea; facial veins; scars; stretch marks; and port wine stains, vascular birthmarks made of enlarged capillaries that produce a reddish discoloration of the skin.

“Laser treats hyper-pigmentation and birth marks by blasting melanomas which contain melanin, the major substance of pigment,” says Dr. Sadick. “The intense pulse light sources and short wavelengths KTP and Pulse Dye lasers are effective in treating the redness and flushing cause by Rosacea. The studies performed by our research group have shown that maintenance treatments are required at three to four months to maintain the effect. This represents a major advance in this previously difficult to treat problem.”

The V Beam treatment is so safe and effective that it has been used on infants and children to treat port wine stains.

The Candela V Beam has the dynamic cooling device (DCD), which sprays a cooling mist on the skin before each laser pulse to enhance the comfort of the patient during the treatment. According to SkinCentre associates, there is little to no discomfort during the procedure, and the side effects, if any, are minimal and temporary.

What’s unique about this use of laser is that it caters to clients who want to embrace their adulthood, but are burdened by the physical scars of their adolescence. However, for those plagued with adult acne or routine breakouts, SkinCentre offers CoolTouch, which targets acne at the root of the problem. The laser energy penetrates deep enough to shrink oil glands, decreasing the occurrence of acne without affecting the oils necessary for healthy skin.

The Cool Touch procedure can improve the surface of the skin caused by acne scarring by allowing the body to rebuild and replenish its own natural collagen to fill in acne scars. Each procedure is relatively short depending on the severity of the acne, but doctors usually recommend a series of three to six treatments, administered on a monthly basis, with suggested follow-up visits to extend the results.

The CoolTouch laser is also used to improve pigmentation irregularities and reduce wrinkles on areas of the face and neck. There is no downtime after the treatment.

However, other companies are employing new, more traditional lasers to do the job. This summer, The Skin Spa started offering a similar treatment after putting their new Cutera TITAN machine to work. The TITAN uses infrared light to heat the skin layers below the surface, causing the collagen fibers to thicken over time. Because of the cooling sensation the treatment is so light you can hardly feel it. Insiders claim the TITAN provides more even distribution of energy than radio-frequency lasers. Since the treatment tightens skin, it can be used all over, including around the jaw, under the chin, and on the belly.

If we learned anything last year, it was that quality skin care products and treatments are on their way to the masses, via doctor-developed drugstore brands like Skin Effects and the latest at-home laser systems, such as Nulase. The Nulase system is comprised of a soft touch laser, a small handheld with a red spectrum light; a foaming cleanser; an exfoliator with crushed pearl powder, bamboo extract, and hyaluronic acid; and a rejuvenating cream with 12 regenerating elements including rare root and fruit extracts, sea algae, soy, and yeast and mulberry extracts. The red light delivers energy that permeates the top layers of skin to increase the cellular metabolic rate, which controls how much fuel the cells take in nutrients. Through this process, the cells can absorb more energy and regenerate faster, thereby producing more collagen. The main drawback to this system is that it requires a commitment; the laser must be applied for about 10 minutes twice a day, but it is far more affordable that the professional treatments which start at about $2000 per session.

If you’re supremely overwhelmed at this point, yet craving multiple treatments take a step back. These treatments are meant to offer an alternative to invasive surgical procedures and time-consuming hair removal habits, but they are also about fixing features that may have caused insecurities. Whether you’re self-conscious about sagging skin, course hair, or spots, there’s a manageable treatment in sight, and many patient, knowledgeable doctors at your disposable.

However, the decision to undergo these treatments should be viewed the same way surgery would be. Anything that has the power to make such changes is capable of negative impacts too. This is not the area to be stingy. It’s well worth paying a few hundred more to get a doctor to perform hair removal not only to ensure a positive outcome, but also in case legal action is concerned. A non-medical professional will likely have much less insurance than a doctor. Like any cosmetic procedure, serious treatments should be pursued only after reaching the decision that no exercise, diet, facial, or make-up routine could fix the issue that is causing emotional discomfort. So before you fall in love with a laser, try to love your flaws.

For more information about FDA approved treatments and machines, go to www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/laserfacts.html

SkinCentre is located at 220 S. Central Avenue in Hartsdale (Westchester County). For more information call 914.949.6200 or log on to www.MySkinCentre.com

Verve Skin Laser Centers are located in SoHo, Midtown, and Garden City, Long Island 212.888.3003 or 516.222.2002 www.vervelaser.com

Sadick Aesthetic Surgery & Dermatology also offers hair implants and treats skin cancer. Offices are located on the UES and in Great Neck 212.772.7242 or 516.482.8040 www.sadickdermatology.com/sd-drsadick.htm

For more information on The Skin Spa TITAN Treatment, call 212.684.4914, or visit www.loveyourskinspa.com

The complete NuLase system retails for $276 but is currently available at an introductory price of $179 www.nulase.com

Outsiders may wonder how can someone continue to obsess over beauty products after their closets and counters are full, and their brains near saturation. The truth is a combination of two factors more complex than onlookers may realize. While some view beauty and fashion as fluff, insiders know they are complex, competitive industries that have a huge impact on the economies of developed nations. With the advent of the ubiquitous hotel spa, they will soon have an indirect impact on developing countries, too. However, at the heart of the beauty craze, each consumer is searching for the product that will deliver smooth, clear skin, the kind we took for granted in our youth.

Imagine four million women of different ages, backgrounds, and interests, all alone in front of the mirror at 11:30 p.m. on a Tuesday, picking from the array of potions on their dressers, night tables, and inside their medicine cabinets, in the midst of what I call ‘the moment of hope’. This moment of hope is the minute before application when you think perhaps this cream will erase signs of exhaustion and return the face to its original state – as it was when we were blissfully ignorant and well rested. The second reason for our pursuance of radiant skin is a matter of control. No matter where you live or what you do, you will inevitably experience the chaos that is life on earth, a tumultuous whirlwind that combines joy, success, and miracles with disappointment, competition, and tragedies. Surviving the roller coaster is partially due to our focus on small things, like finding sexy shoes at a Vivienne Tam sample sale, formally meeting your Missed Connection, hearing a song that perfectly verbalizes your emotions, or discovering a moisturizer that allows your beauty to shine through without gobs of makeup.

So, in our continued search for the perfect products, we bring you the latest line purporting spring water, vitamins, and nutrients to deliver glowing skin, free from the bounds of foundation and concealer. We bring you concentrated solutions from the company whose water is delivered in truckloads to famous models – Evian Affinity.

The main premise supporting the Evian skin care line is based on research performed by the Johnson & Johnson Global Research Team and UC Berkeley biology professor, Dr. Lester Packer. The research showed that the skin and the body share the same needs – water, air, and nutrients. Recognized for its healthy source of nutrients and its mineral composition, which includes calcium and magnesium, the Evian company utilized the water when creating cleansers and moisturizers. Then, they added vitamins B, C, and E; Trehalose, a sugar found in desert plants that functions as a moisturizer; and Arnica Montana, a plant known for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.

The oil-free Original Cleansing Fluid is great for oily skin during the winter because the Arnica Montana wipes away impurities and the 7.2 pH balance of Evian water melds well with skin cells and helps restores moisture. The original hydrating lotion is made with Trehalose and comes in a few varieties: normal, dry, or sensitive skin, and with SPF 15. The original line also offers an oil-free toner, wipes, and the Intense Quenching Beauty Mask, a glycerin-based cream mask.

The Evian Affinity Smoothing and Lifting Line reminds us that while carbohydrates may not be good for our diet, they are essential to maintaining healthy, plump skin.

The Smoothing products all contain Melibiose, a combination of two sugar molecules, Galactose and Glucose, which diminishes wrinkles by stimulating cell regeneration and healing actions. The Exfoliating Smoothing Gel is a light scrub with Jojoba. The De-stressing Smoothing Lotion can be used in the morning or evening; it employs Magnesium to energize the cells and improve the elasticity of skin. The Re-energizing Smoothing Anti-Wrinkle Care is meant for nighttime use and employs Ginkgo to revitalize the skin because it is an anti-inflammatory that also improves circulation. The Eye Contour Lift Gel is a creamy, foggy looking hydrator that absorbs quickly and utilizes an amino-acid complex to lessen dark circles and bags.

The Oxygenating Line improves the appearance and texture of skin by cleaning oil and bacteria, and allowing the skin cells to absorb oxygen. The amino acid Carnitine and the energizing, anti-inflammatory Sodium Pyruvate her help the skin cells take in more oxygen. The Oxygenating Cleansing Wipes and the Micro-Exfoliating Oxygenating Gel both clean skin and prevent breakouts by ridding the skin of sebum, a fat produced by the sebaceous glands that mixes with sweat and bacteria, and clogs follicles. The two cleansing products also contain zinc, which regulates the production of sebum, as does the oil-free moisturizer.

The Evian Affinity line falls in the category of science-based products that also benefit from the healing and moisturizing properties of plants and minerals found in nature. They are drugstore priced products comparable to the Aveeno line, for women who don’t expect miracles, but who envision a day where makeup is unnecessary because natural radiance and full, healthy skin is beautiful as is. These are the kinds of cleansers that reveal smooth, fresh skin with a touch of glow in the cheeks, a flush around the apples. It’s fitting that nature-based products produce such a glow but it’s most similar to the flush that arrives when the body is experiencing fluctuations in hormones and adrenaline for good reasons, like creating life or experiencing pleasure.

Now, if a skin care line can create that kind of flush, isn’t it worth a trial?

Original line features seven products, $16 to $27
The Smoothing & Lifting Line contains six products, $16 to $33
The Oxygenating Line contains four products, $16 to $27
www.drugstore.com
www.evianaffinity.com

If you are planning a trip to Canada anytime soon, look out for Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, and Coutu Jean Pharmacie locations across the country, where the Evian Affinity lines are sold.

If you’re looking for a place in the LA area to relax and be pampered around the Santa Monica area, the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel spa is the place you want to be.

I have to be honest, the pool scene at this hotel is not my favorite. In fact, I would recommend that, unless you’re looking for a scene–or to ‘be seen’–you book your room elsewhere. The space is crowded and lacks the class of other local hotel pools such as the Fairmont Miramar (just down the road) or the Ritz Carlton (Marina del Rey). The pool atmosphere won’t appeal to those looking to escape the stress of the high-life. However what the pool lacks in class, the spa makes up for with top-notch service.

The spa treatment rooms are equipped with state of the art tables, equipment and skin care products. But the real stars of this show are the staff. Knowledgeable, friendly, attentive and attuned to the clients needs, I found they offered more personal service than any spa I have visited in months. I truly feel there is a long term effect when you have a massage from someone who understands your body and can identify your particular needs. It’s an added bonus when they can advise you on exercises and stretches that will help you correct certain issues.

The facial was also first rate. The spa uses Pevonia products (check out Andrea’s article from the November 05 issue BeautyNewsNYC.com – Restoring your Faith in Facials) and the facialist is trained to address not only current skin issues, but to advise on possible future issues. We all know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…and with all that caviar in the Pevonia line, it’s probably a lot less expensive, too!

The spa shop sells the Pevonia line, as well as various other body products, workout gear, robes, slippers, candles and more.

A trip to the Loews Santa Monica spa can revive you in a matter hours. Just call and book your appointment. You can even bring your bathing suit…they have a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. You won’t miss that
scene outside one bit!