What you need to eat, do, wear, and check out this month…

ForYourCloset

I’m a bit biased about fashion week in New York City.  To me, it’s better than fashion week anywhere else in the world. We New Yorkers love to be fabulous; it’s our birthright living here. Though it’s gone like last year’s hemlines, here are a few of my favorites from the Fall 2007 runway where grays and blacks reigned supreme in men’s fashion, while women’s fashion took on a similar mode, with some splashes of lavender and cream, too.

Allesandro Dell 'Acqua	Valentino	Etro
Zac Posen	Baby Phat	Malandrino

SPRING PURSES: Chic and Simple

	The perfect spring bag incorporates simplicity and a bit of linen for comfort. The Anna Corinna bag (left) and the Wekk1993 (right) bag provide both, plus ample room and versatility to take you from the office to the beach. Don’t want to spend as much but still want the same look and feel? Try Target’s Leather Cinch Tote—same concept for about half the price. Available at www.shopbop.com and www.target.com

SPRING IS IN THE AIR: Scentsational Scents For Us All

www.sabonyc.com Retail Price: $7.00

Two words come to mind when I think of spring: crisp and clean. Two scents that represent both are Sabon NYC’s men’s line “Gentleman” and Philosophy’s women’s perfume “Pure Grace.” It’s like clean linen meeting fresh soap—simple and fresh!

www.sephora.com Philosophy Pure Grace: $35.00

MEN'S FASHION: Fun Spring T-Shirts

Boundless NYC continues to sell out shirts from favorites like Mighty Healthy to Crooks & Castles. Here are a few of my picks for the spring. All available at www.boundlessnyc.com

The Hundreds	Lemar and Dauley	Sneak Tip
Milkcrate Athletics	J Money	Rocksmith

SALE! YES! SALE!

BARNEY WAREHOUSE SALE: Through March 4th. One of the biggest sales of the year offers up amazing deals on women’s, men’s and children’s fashion for 50-70% off. 255 W. 17th St. (btwn. 7th and 8th Aves.)

LUCA LUCA:  2/28–3/3 Luca Luca’s sales used to be private affairs for VIPs with modest markdowns. Now there’s a serious sale and everybody’s invited: Glamorous dresses, coats, and skirts are up to 75 percent off; jackets are from $350. 19 W. 36th St., nr. Fifth Ave., fourth fl. (212-755-2444); 2/28–3/2 (8:30–7); 3/3 (10–5).

KASHMIR MOON SAMPLE SALE: Through March 23rd.  Looking to furnish your home?  Find a fabulous cashmere shawl? Look no further. 1150 Ave. of the Americas (btwn. 44th & 45th Sts, 8th Fl.

SALLY HERSBERGER DOWNTOWN: Ongoing Every Tuesday night, trust your tresses to the minions in Sally Hershberger Downtown.  The same salon that clips, combs and cuts Meg Ryan, Sandra Bullock and Penelope Cruz among others for upwards of $600 a pop offers a break to civilians.  Cuts ($40), color ($40), and highlights ($60) Services provided by stylists in the advanced training program. 425 W. 14th St., nr. Ninth Ave., second fl. (212-206-8700); from 5 p.m., by appointment only

ForYourBelly

FIVE STAR BRUNCH: Five Points

Finding the ultimate, intimate space for brunch –one that offers delicately prepared over easy eggs and lox, plus unlimited Bloody Mary’s –is the blood sport of in the know and on the go New Yorkers. There’s lots of places that claim to be the best, but Five Points backs it up with mouthwatering food and fantastic ambiance. Located in Noho, this trendy restaurant is known to have the best Bloody Mary in the city. I went back and forth between the dulce de leche French toast and egg rancheros, finally opting for the latter—a decision I wouldn’t regret.  The oven-roasted eggs, salsa verde, tortillas and cheese arrived bubbling in a small glass skillet, smelling of cilantro and pico de gallo. It tasted as good as it looked. My friends’ entrée, the smoked salmon eggs benedict was just as delicious. A word to the wise-- reservations. New Yorkers flock to this place.  Be prepared to stake your claim in a long line of hungry, probably hungover folks by the bar.

S'MACKIN GOOD: S'Mac: More Of This Cheese Please

When I first heard about S’MAC on the Lower Eastside, I was intrigued because of my natural love of what I consider pasta made the right way being their specialty, but I was also skeptical that an establishment that focuses solely on macaroni and cheese could stand behind such a bold move. I visited S’MAC on a late Saturday night and was the only patron there along with my friends. This concerned me a bit, but the smell of pepper jack cheese and list of options changed my mind. I went back and forth between the classic four cheeses (Muenster and American with a touch of Gorgonzola, topped off with sharp Cheddar) and buffalo chicken special.  I ended up getting both.  The four cheese, served in a cute mini cast iron skillet, was literally bubbling over, delighting the cheese lover in me four times over. The buffalo chicken was true to its name, with a hint of blue cheese, pepper, and large moist chunks of buffalo flavored chicken. S’MAC is sure to be appealing to children and adults searching for the next best thing to their mom’s perfect recipe…well, to my mom’s perfect recipe. .

ForYourMindAndBody

QUE CALOR: Dancing Con Sabor

www.dance-manhattan.com
It’s amazing what a little dancing can do for the soul. This month, Dance Manhattan (voted best salsa class in NYC by New York Magazine) is offering four days of crash workshops in salsa, tango, and ballroom dancing, for just $35.00.

WINE TASTING BENEFIT: NYC Public School Funding
The Puffin Room 435 Broome Street New York , NY 10013 March 20, 2007 (Tue) 617-876-7700 x 205
http://www.schottfoundation.org/

The Schott Foundation Young Patrons Committee, which seeks to fully fund public education for grades pre K-12, is holding a Wine Tasting Benefit that includes a tasting of wines from around the world, plus hour d’oeuvres. Tickets are $45 in advance and $55 at the door.

ForYourEntertainment

LOUNGIN': Madame X
(Soho) www.madamexnyc.com

I’m a sucker for living room type lounges with mismatched velvet couches and red lights. Fortunately Madame X oozes with these details.  A trip down a small flight of stairs leads to a typical bar scene, but the next room is a mix between the soulful 70s and a Parisian bordello. Rotating DJ’s set a different mood each night but draw the same eclectic crowd. My favorite night is Thursdays with DJ Jon Oliver, a Cleveland native who mixes everything from Swing Out Sisters to Sly and The Family Stone. Did I mention the incredible daily happy hour Madame X offers? For just five bucks until 9pm every night, you can sip beer, California reds white wines, or signature drinks like the Cherry Pop, which includes Bacardi Limon rum, triple sec, Rose’s lime juice, sour cherry syrup, and sour mix. For the sweetness of this drink alone, Madame X is worth a visit.

EXHIBIT: Butterfly Conservatory
Daily from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. through May 28, American Museum of Natural History Central Park W & 79th St New York, NY 10024 Upper West Side (212) 769-5100 www.amnh.org , $16–$25

Escape from the cold and into this 1,300 square-foot enclosure mirrored after a rainforest, with lush, tropical vegetation and array of flowers. Over 500 brilliantly colored butterflies float freely amongst the trees, if you’re lucky one might land on your shoulder! There’s a reason this exhibit has been around for nine years.  One visit is all it takes and you’ll know why.

ForYourCollection

DVD: Persona (1967)
www.amazon.com

This classic from Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman is my favorite amongst his countless films that comment on the rawest of human emotion and reactions to the world around us. In Persona, two women, retreat by the sea after one becomes speechless and the other is hired to look after her. What follows is a beautiful visual montage exploring the underbelly of a trio of human emotions—jealousy, greed, lust. A must-see for foreign film fans and photographers.

THE KID IN ME: Munny By Kidrobot
126 Prince Street (212) 966-6688 www.kidrobot.com

One of the world’s premiere retailers of limited edition art toys and eclectic apparel has done it again. The toys sold at Kidrobot are at the center of a new urban movement with its own culture, rivalries, and heroes . Born in 1997 when designer Michael Lau showed up at a Hong Kong toy show with a handful of GI-Joe's he'd customized into hip-hop street fashion figures, one of their most popular toys, the Munny continues to be released in new sizes and colors. There is really no rhyme or reason for Munny other than sheer amusement and the element of surprise. Each kit comes with secret accessories, and you can draw and paint on your munny, disassemble and reassemble arms. Oh and we can’t forget the coloring book and crayons. Hey, it’s wintertime. Retail Price: $24.95

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