It’s been a long bleak winter for cashmere. Last year, TSE, renowned for their feather light cashmere clothing, closed its location on Madison and began distributing directly to retailers. All of which was all very well for retailers, but unlucky for any shopper who wanted to see the entirety of their collection in one convenient location.

Source: Elle.com

Happily, TSE has now opened a new location at 120 Wooster Street in Soho. The bright, sunny, 2,500 foot space seems ideally suited to showcase all of TSE’s wares, including the men’s line. Shoppers from the former Madison location say that the luxurious space available in the Soho store makes browsing more enjoyable than ever. Moreover, according to the owners, the location in Soho (conveniently situated right next to Barney’s Co-Op) will be likely to attract a younger crowd. This will doubtless please Tess Giberson, the new head of TSE. Giberson is said to be attempting to transition from traditional, uptown basics to trendier, more youthful clothing. This change is evident in pieces like their swingy tank dresses for spring and cap sleeved jackets. For those who might not fancy themselves a member of the cashmere mafia, the flagship also offers an exciting new line of handbags in addition to clothing. The rest of shoppers will be delighted to see the lightweight pieces and knitwear the store is featuring for spring – a refreshing change for anyone apt to think of cashmere as a winter fabric. And, of course, TSE sells some pieces in wool, silk and cotton as well.

Pieces from the TSE Accessories line
Source: Elle.com

Owners are optimistic about the prospects for the new location and expect it to bring in approximately $3 million this year, which should be enough to keep it around for a good long time. So as the weather gets warmer, take a stroll down to Soho, or hop on your nearest R line to the Prince Street station. Either way, the new TSE flagship will give you something to snuggle up to through the last chilly days of spring.

To view the collection online, visit tsecashmere.com

As a vegetarian, I’ve resigned myself to a life of side dishes at Thanksgiving and scrutiny from dining companions regarding my “rabbit food” fare. Funny, though, how folks eat their words come this time of year. Spring has everyone jumping on the veggie bandwagon (bikini season is looming, after all!)

Lucky for us, New York City offers many tantalizing options for alternative cuisine – especially salads. I’ve had my fair share of horrific deli experiences (think: sandy lettuce, bugs, rotten ingredients, raunchy dressings) so I like to consider myself the consummate expert regarding Manhattan’s top-notch salad spots. Without further ado, my five favorites:

PRET A MANGER

The company’s tagline states that, “Pret creates handmade natural food avoiding the obscure chemicals, additives and preservatives common to so much of the ‘prepared’ and ‘fast’ food on the market today” and it is quite apparent from the first bite. Though the popular lunchtime chain offers an array of yummy soups and sandwiches, the stand-out’s for me are their ready-made salads. Their menu is constantly updated, but some of my favorites include the Tuna, Greens and Organic Egg (yes – I do foray into the world of fish every so often), and the Tomato with Mozzarella and Pine Nuts. Another plus: the dressings are available separately, so you can switch up the flavor combo’s at will (not to mention the fact that this option helps circumvent the ‘soggy’ factor of many pre-made salads). Find a location near you at www.pret.com/us.

Looking for one-of-a-kind pieces to sprinkle in your Spring wardrobe? Shop for vintage fashion treasures at the City Opera Thrift Shop’s Annual Spring Vintage Event tomorrow, Thursday, March 27th. This much anticipated event only happens only twice a year and features a collection of vintage, designer, and vintage-inspired clothing, jewelry and accessories from the 1950-1980′s. (If you hadn’t heard, retro is where its at.)

At the event, you’ll see names like Emilio Pucci, Luci Ann, Yves Saint Laurent, Stephen Burrows, Missoni, Norma Kamali, Oscar de la Renta, Krizia, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Balenciaga, and the listwhich, if you haven’t noticed, includes coveted designersgoes on. Dresses will be $35-250, coats and suits range $50-250, vintage furs are running $75-650, and all accessories will be priced somewhere between $10-250. And believe you will find some good stuff. The City Opera Thrift Shop was featured in Vogue as “the highest quality thrift shop in New York.”

Vintage Polka Dot Dress and Khanour Fur Trimmed Cashmere Cardigan, $150.

Hand Knit Crochet Skirt and Top, $125; Christian Dior Original Vintage Fur Car Coat, $350.

Just have your $10 suggested donation in hand at the door and you are set. And just to let you know, the City Opera Thrift Shop’s proceeds help support the creation and design of costumes for new productions at New York City Opera. Yep, good stuff.

WHAT: Annual Spring Vintage Event
WHEN: Thursday, March 27th, 5:00 to 8:00pm
WHERE: City Opera Thrift Shop, 222 East 23 Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues), 212.684.5344

If you haven’t jumped aboard the mineral makeup bandwagon, then here’s your chance. Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics and Henri Bendel are teaming up to premier the new Spring 2008 Moroccan Collection. In celebration, you will get the chance to have your makeup done for free by a Hollywood makeup artist and meet Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics founder and creator, Pauline Youngblood Soli. If you were hesitant about trying out the line before, this is a great way to learn about the product and see for yourself the benefits of this luxe and healthy line.

For more information, please call 1-800-HBENDEL or visit www.ybskin.com.

WHAT: Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics Hollywood Makeovers & Trunk Show
WHEN: March 24-30th, Monday – Sat 10am-8pm; Sunday, 12pm-7pm
WHERE: Henri Bendel, 712 Fifth Avenue (at 56th Street)

Grab your berets and get ready to kick off national poetry month! On April 1st, the sixth annual Poetry & The Creative Mind will celebrate the role of contemporary poetry in American culture at Avery Fisher Hall at New York City’s famed Lincoln Center. The bashthe largest literary celebration in the worldwill feature guest readers, such as Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep and CBS’s Katie Couric.

All proceeds of Poetry & The Creative Mind, established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, goes towards donating poetry books and classroom materials to thousands of schools nationwide. You’ll enjoy both an exclusive reading hosted by your favorite stars and helping to promote literacy to hundreds of students.

Speakers at the 2007 gala: (Front row) Patrick Wilson, Glenn Close, and Ethan Hawke; (Back row) Jules Feiffer, Dianne Wiest, Wendy Whelan, Alfre Woodard, Simon Schama, David Halberstam, William F. Baker, and John Simon. Last year, the event raised $150,000.

The Academy of American Poets is a 74-year-old non-profit organization that supports American poets at all stages of their careers. For nearly four generations, the Academy has provided over 200 College Prizes to aspiring writers.

Case in point: you don’t have to be Brangelina to hang out with celebrities and be recognized for helping out a good cause!

To purchase tickets, visit: http://lincolncenter.org/show_events_list.asp?eventcode=17012.

WHAT: Academy of American Poets Presents The 6th Annual Poetry & The Creative Mind
WHEN: Tuesday, April 1st, 6:30pm
WHERE: Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza
(Columbus Ave. at 65th St), 212.875.5030

Going “green” is finally cool. With so many great eco-friendly products out there now, it’s no wonder. Every little bit counts, so using a refillable pen, replacing all those single-use plastic forks with reusable bamboo ones, and tossing a nylon shopping bag over your shoulder instead of a plastic one goes a long way. Even better, many of these products will end up saving you money. Take a peek at some of what’s out there, and take a step in the right direction. Leave your carbon footprint in the dust. Mother Earth would be proud.

Product Spotlight: To-Go Ware™
“For here or to go?” the ubiquitous server asks.
“To go,” you inevitably reply. Who has the time to sit and eat, for crying out loud?
Plop, plop. In goes the styrofoam container, the plastic utensils, and last but not least, condiment packets. The paper bag is tucked inside a plastic one with a bright yellow smiley face saying “Thank You.” Dinner is served.

There’s more than dinner in that bag. All those non-biodegradable products inside a plastic garbage bag then get shipped off to a landfill to rot – in about a bajillion years. Check out these not-so-fun facts:

1. Americans throw away enough plastic forks, spoons, and knives to circle the equator 300 times.

2. One styrofoam food container requires more than one million years to decompose in the landfill.

Rather not choke that down? Here comes To-Go Ware to the rescue. Let’s rewind.

“For here or to go?”
“To go, but could you put it in here, please?” you reply, pulling your 2-Tier Stainless Steel Food Carrier out of its Cotton Carrier Sling Bag, hand-crafted by WEAVE, a women’s co-op for Burmese refugees.

“You’re all set,” the smiling server says. And you certainly are, since you have your super cute Bamboo Utensil Set tucked away, too.

All of To-Go Ware’s products are a great quality and hold up against the hustle and bustle of city life. Plus, you can feel good knowing you can chow down while living sustainedly and looking trés chic at the same time!

Find a store in your neighborhood, or simply order online at www.to-goware.com.

OK, I’ll admit it. I was that girl. You know, the one in line at The Waverly Inn, Buddakan, The Spotted Pig, and any other hip new “it” restaurant that the city served up to me on a silver platter. Dressed to the nines, I elbowed my way through the doors of such venues, past the snobby hostesses and beyond the patronizing servers, only to spend an exorbitant amount of money on small bits of prettily-plated cuisine, and – at the end of it all – I still convinced myself that the entire event was worthwhile. Even though the food was sub-par, the prices were sky-high and the occasion was far from relaxing, somehow, being part of the “see and be seen” scene was enough for me.

“Was” being the operative word.

Staying afloat in the sea of the never-ending Manhattan restaurant openings has lost its luster after all these years. At this point, I’m as unimpressed with the glitzy, pretentious exteriors of such establishments as I am with the crowds that flock to them. I’m tired of all the effort that it takes to look – and play – the part of a savvy New York City foodie. What I want is high-quality, reasonably priced food and relatively un-snooty folks serving it to me. I’d like my dining experiences to be pleasurable, not a battle. Novel idea, eh?

My, how I’ve matured!

Such desires have forced me out of my Manhattan bubble – straight into Brooklyn. The borough still has its fair share of trendy spots, but for every over-crowded Peter Luger or Al di Là , there are three dozen hidden gems full of friendly staff, cozy ambiances and affordable, delicious food.

And there’s one restaurant that can take full credit for initiating my adoration of all things Brooklyn.

Venturing just outside the hip Fort Greene section of the borough, I happened upon an unassuming Clinton Hill spot called Kush (17 Putnam Avenue, kushcafe.com). After only one visit, I was completely enamored – the restaurant has become my version of Cheers, where I am warmly greeted by the servers and managers, owner and head chef Samuel Beket (known to his loyal following as Sammy) welcomes me with a kiss on each cheek, and I am as comfortable within Kush’s walls as I am during a family dinner at home.

I’ve been an UES nail salon nomad in search for a place that’s friendly, clean and affordable since I moved to the neighborhood a year ago. Thanks to well timed detour from my normal route home and a much-needed manicure on a Friday night, happenstance has ended my search for the best salon in my hood. Sakura Salon and Spa has gained a lifetime customer.

Sakura is celebrating their One-Year Anniversary and all treatments are being offered at a 20% discount until April 30th. The name means cherry blossom in Japanese and the décor of the salon is hip, yet soothing, much like their staff. The incredibly friendly girls greet you in matching Anthropologie-esque cherry blossom aprons and a steaming cup of hot green tea. I sat down to an organic grapefruit massage with hot towels, followed by the most precise manicure I’ve had to date. For $10, I almost wanted to chip a nail so I could come back the next day.

WHAT: Sakura’s One Year Anniversary Sale
WHEN: Now until April 30th
WHERE: 1709 2nd Avenue (between 88th and 89th Streets)
www.nailspasakura.com/index.html

For more great mani/pedi picks, read BN’s Favorite New York City Budget-Conscious Manicures in the March issue.

Let’s “face” it – even those of us with the clearest skin could use a little help and guidance from time to time. What if there were a product out there that could instantly enhance skin’s appearance, making it look naturally airbrushed and gorgeous? Good news: Per-fékt Beauty’s Skin Perfection Gel, with its rich abundance of antioxidants, can do just that.

Even better, Per-fékt’s creator, Richard Anderson, will be appearing at Henri Bendel on March 28-29th to share his skincare secrets with you. After launching cosmetic lines like Yves Saint Laurent and Bobbi Brown Essentials, he branched out on his own with Per-fékt Beauty. His Skin Perfection Gel is a total hit in five gorgeous shades – Translucent (for all skin tones), Luminous (fair skin), Radiant (fair-to-medium skin), Rich (dark or olive skin) and Decadent (used for darker skin tones and as a bronzer).

So stop by Henri Bendel to meet with Anderson and find out his skincare tips and tricks. He’ll even teach you application techniques, help you select the gel most suited to your skin tone and give you a free sample with your consultation. Sounds pretty per-fékt to us.

WHAT: Per-fékt Beauty Event
WHEN: Friday, March 28th, 12pm-6pm and Saturday, March 29th, 12pm-5pm
WHERE: Henri Bendel, 712 5th Avenue, 1st Floor, 212.247.1100

What will some of the BN editors be doing come Monday?

“We make cupcakes with green frosting to rival Magnolia Bakery’s, and add green sprinkles for special effect.”
- B. Kim Taylor, Metro Mama/Baby Editor

Source: Flickr.com

“I plan to celebrate St. Patty’s Day at the east-side dive bar, Crocodile Lounge (325 E. 14th Street). It’s no Irish pub, but the free pizza per drink purchase, skeeball, and a laid-back crowd is the perfect place for a good time. Plus, I figure, crocodiles = green, so the color’s taken care of!”
- Jasmin, Health & Fitness Editor

Source: Nymag.com