La Maison du Chocolat Tasting & Giveaway, April 1st

La Maison du Chocolat

Invites you to an afternoon tasting of pastries and chocolates at all our NYC locations, enter your contact information in our raffle to win a gift valued at $60.

April 1^st 2015

 2-6PM

Photo Credit: La Maison du Chocolat

Boutique Locations

1018 Madison Ave (at 78^th St)

30 Rockefeller Center (at 49^th St)

63 Wall St

The Plaza Food Hall: One West 58^th St

The Shops at Columbus Circle: 10 Columbus Circle

Asia Week NY March 13 - March 21

Last week I attended a preview of  Asia Week New York, a week-long celebration which includes gallery open houses, Asian art auctions, museum exhibitions, lectures, symposia, and special events, with 42 top-tier international Asian art specialists, five major auction houses —Bonhams, Christie’s, Doyle New York, iGavel, and Sotheby’s, and 22 museums and Asian cultural institutions. 

Asia week is definitely one of the highlights of my year.  It's an amazing opportunity to see and discover the story behind beautiful works of art, and possibly start your own collection!  This year, I was really drawn to the subject of fantastic animals, both real and imagined. 

We started the gallery tour at China Fine Art 2000 which showcased work by An Ho 安和, a female artist born in Beijing 1927, who began studying at the age of 17 under Pu Ru 溥儒 (master painter and cousin of the last emperor of China). Her painting, Prowling Tiger, impressed her teacher so much that he completed the background and wrote the inscription for the painting. At Carole Davenport gallery, the scroll painting of two tigers by Maruyama Okyo (18th C.) shows a gorgeous, stylized tiger with piercing eyes that jumps off the scroll.  The Chinese bronze horse (2nd Century AD.) at Gisele Croes (Gagosian Gallery), was stunning, its motion beautifully expressed in fluid lines.

Other favorites of mine included an adorable Khmer Sandstone Lion (9 - 10th C.) at Nancy Weiner Gallery that reminded me of Doraemon. There is a similar looking (although more elongated version) Guardian Lion (11 - 12th C.) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The mythological beasts (Carole Davenport) looks like a cross between a rhino and a dinosaur with 3 spikes.  The fanged Tomb Guardian at The Met also has 3 spikes but looks like a gargoyle.

It was so amazing to see works from 2nd Century AD. to modern day, with artists who were and are still influenced by the beauty of nature and fantasy.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NYC Venexiana Fall Winter 2015

This season, Venexiana designer Kati Stern, found her inspiration at the cubist exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  This was evident in some of the asymmetric and geometric patterns in the collection, but still featured her signature lace overlay gowns with punk rock glam edge.  The lineup started with looks in soft neutral hues of beige, nude, and blush pink, elegantly drape but with a hint of sparkle at the neck or waist. 

Hair was romantic and piled high in a modern day version of the Marie Antoinette pouf, braided in the back, and adorned with jeweled barrettes.

Watching the Venexiana show was like being a kid in a candy store. There were so many "I want!" moments.  For me that included gowns that had any of the following combination: floral, animal print patterns, sequins, halter or unique or asymmetric necklines, velvet, and flowy chiffon.

The colors are perfect for the fall/winter and holidays with black and metallics (gold, silver, bronze), and rich shades of plum, turquoise, and one stunning orange/red velvet dress.  With so many choices, it's difficult to pick a favorite.  Which one is yours?

Spirit Airlines #TBT Travel Deals from $23.10

Great Travel Deal from Spirit Airlines: Bare Fares from $23.10* one-way (for $9 Fare Club Members) and from $34.10* one-way (for non-members) when traveling to select destinations on select dates in March 2015, April 2015 and May 2015. These fares are limited in availability. Additional baggage charges may apply.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NYC: Son Jung Wan Fall/Winter 2015

Ever since I attended the Concept Korea fashion show a few years ago at Lincoln Center, I've been a big fan of Korean designer Son Jung Wan.  This season's Fall/Winter 2015 show did not disappoint.  

 The color wheel ran the gamut of rich hues including fuchsia, violet, orange, turquoise, mint gree, with metallic gold and silver thrown in to the mix.

I imagined myself wrapped in the brilliantly colored and  luscious coats made of fox and beaver fur, cashmere coats dramatically trimmed in fur, ideal for frigid New York City temperatures.  

These brightly colored pieces would definitely make an sophisticated alternative to the masses of urban black puffer coats (e.g. Canada Goose, Moncler) and keep you warm!

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: Mongol F/W 2015

On Friday the 13th, I attended the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week debut of the brand Mongol's Fall 2015 fashion show at Lincoln Center. The fashion house was started by Mongolian designer Bayarmaa Bayarkhuu in 2005.   The show started with a performance of traditional Mongolian music and live throat singing!

Her collection is inspired by traditional Mongolian costumes combined with urban casual. The colors, textures, and patterns were really a feast for the eyes.  

There were some brilliantly colored Mongolian lamb fur lined outerwear, and cashmere pieces (cashmere being a special material from Mongolia).  Bold colors such as turquoise, amethyst, sapphire, and emerald accentuate the raw materials used, keeping the essence of Mongolia.

I was coveting the intricate Mongolian accessories and headpieces that were made of silver and beaded with gems and stones.

From a distance this looks like large green dots, but up close you can see they're actually Asian symbols.

BB uses Mongolian raw material in over half her collection, as Mongolian nomadic traditions play a large part in their culture.  Bayarmaa sees herself as a citizen of the world, as her brand MONGOL so celebrates.

Vino 2015 Italian Wines

I recently attended Vino 2015 and Slow Wine, held at the Waldorf Astoria which hosted more than 200 vintners and producers' delegations from all key Italian viticultural areas including producers of wines never before marketed in the United States.  See below for some of the wines and spirits that stood out to me:

Sambuca Arandrea: A delicious, sweet, and smooth sambuca, said to be a favorite of Pope Giovanni XXIII.