An Evening of Elegance

When someone says to you that they recently watched a show in New York, your first thought would most likely veer to one of those famous Broadway and off-Broadway productions.  You instantly think of classics such as Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera or new favorites such as The Lion King and West Side Story.  With so many large scale commercial productions to choose from, it's very easy to overlook a New York classic: live big band performances.

Big band performances have been a jewel piece of the night scene dating back to the swing days of the 1920's.  There's something special about its intimate setting, the live band in view with the pianist tinkling away the melody, and the stage light illuminating the evening's star singer.  Maybe its because I'm a cliche black-and-white-movie-loving-romantic, but I would easily pass off a ticket to a cliche pop singer's concert for one of these performances.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to attend (courtesy of my fabulous father) one of the best NYC shows of the season: the final performance of Lea Salonga at the Cafe Carlyle. Filipino legend Lea Salonga ran an intimate show at the famously classic Upper East Side hotel for 3 weeks and featured a selection of her best songs and a few classics.  


Perhaps its the authenticity of the show: the lack of voice alterations and the impossibility of a performer lip-syncing their way through a show without the audience noticing that makes a big band performance very special. Maybe its the fact that these special performances only run for a few short weeks, and when they're over, they're gone until the next run.  I'm not entirely sure, but I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday night than to be captivated in this time-stilled ambiance and forget about the city for a few short hours.

Backstage post-show.

Lea Salonga is a Filipino singer and actress.  She was the original actress to portray Kim in the musical Miss Saigon and was the first Asian to play the roles of Eponine and Fantine in the Broadway musical Les Miserables.  She also provided the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and Mulan in Mulan.  She is now preparing for her next Broadway production: Allegiance.  

Sheep Meadow - NYC's Quick Escape

The entrance to Sheep Meadow,
where on a good summer day lines
would form with anxious people waiting
to escape from city life - if only for
a moment.

Sweet summer time means being pool side, soaking the sun, or surfing the easy waves.  Unfortunately in New York City, it's not quite as easy.  It's ironic that so many tourists flock to New York in the summer, and all New Yorkers want to do is leave.  Leaving isn't the city isn't the hard part, it's finding a place to escape to that poses a problem.  Unless you have a Hamptons house share or rooftop pool access summers in NYC's scorching heat can be torture.

I discovered however a quick escape from the city's noise and craze right in the middle of Central Park.  Located towards the west side, between 66th and 69th Streets, lies Sheep Meadow.  A vast open land for family and friends to gather for picnics, kite flying, or just relaxation.  A few minutes in this open terrain and you will forget you live in the largest, busiest, and most chaotic city in the United States.

Modern-day Sheep Meadow, full of sun
bathers, kite flyers, and family picnics.

Sheep grazing the original Sheep
Meadow. They were removed from the
Park and moved to Brooklyn in 1937.

Spending a relaxing Sunday afternoon at Central Park's
Sheep Meadow.

Apartment Decorating... NYC Style

So you made it to New York. 

Found an apartment.

Signed the lease. 

Got your stuff all moved in. 

Now you're ready to make those finishing touches that turn an empty apartment into your home.  But somewhere along the way realize something... your apartment is very much on the small side.  Much smaller than you're probably used to.  

That's one reputation that New York City is never going to lose: tiny shoebox apartments whose monthly rent costs more than your first car.  An even bigger dilemma is how you're going fix up such a tiny space.  Having been faced with this dilemma before, here are a list of space-saving decorating tips that my NYC friends and I made.  They may not be miracle workers, but when combined together, they help make that shoebox more tolerable.  

Mirror mirror on the wall, help me make this apartment not so small!
The reflection casted by mirrors plays tricks on your mind, making a room look bigger than it actually is!

Keep it neutral... at least when it comes to a color theme.  Shades of grays and browns work with lighting to open a space as opposed to extreme colors that close them off.

For the large pieces like your chest and bed paint them the same color as your walls.  This way you hide just how big they actually are.

Shelves aren't limited to books.  Utilize all your wall space by creating a desk on the bottom and additional storage space on the top.

 

Paint an accent wall.  Painting just one wall creates depth in a room.  For a finishing touch, add one or two decorating pieces that match the wall behind it.

Let me close with pics from my favorite NYC apartment.  Drumroll please....

SATC's Carrie Bradshaw's newly decorated apartment after her Mr. Big Wedding Disaster in the first movie!  Too cute!

Tart Heaven in Soho

The city was hit with the most bizarre weather this past Saturday.  Friday was all about the summer: 90 degrees, high humidity, and the sun beaming down on you.  However, less than 24 hours later, the temperature had dropped 20 degrees and it was nonstop drizzling in the city.  It wasn't the best day to be walking around, but this was exactly what my friend Jennifer and I were doing when the weather took its unfortunate turn.

So, when the downpour really hit, we were quickly scouring for a place to hide.  That's how we literally stumbled into Once Upon a Tart.  Once Upon a Tart is located in the heart of Soho (on Sullivan Street just south of West Houston) and features the most delectable selection of tarts, pastries, and pies I had seen in the city.  The warm ambiance and old fashioned decor made me feel like I was back in Paris. It was clear upon arrival that this cafe is for the locals.  No ridiculous lines or outrageously priced foods.

So what does one order in such a place? Well, it seemed a sin to not order a tart... when the place was named for tarts. So I settled for the lemon tart, and let me just say it was a little tart from heaven.  A flaky crust and semi-sweet filling. DELISH! Of course, the menu wasn't limited to those with an extra sweet tooth.  The cafe featured a delightful selection of soups, salads, and sandwiches.  What more can I ask for on a cold rainy day?

Lemon  Tart. Yum!

Kaftan in the City

This week the city was hit with its first heat blast of the year.  Yes, the blazing sun and humid subways confirmed that summer has finally arrived at NYC.  It's funny how a city that was so cold just a few weeks ago can now be tipping at 100 degrees.

Boho queen Nicole Richie's
kaftan style.

I suppose that's one thing ironic about New York - its weather. Despite its deathly blizzards in the winter and its relatively northern location, the summer's heat is enough to melt any ice stand.  That's not factoring in the added effects of black asphalt and elevated humidity levels.  Yes, New York summers can be quite the miserable experience.

Stylist Rachel Zoe demonstrates
a more formal side of the kaftan.

As I was walking to work one day I wondered "What can one wear to battle this heat?"  That's when the thought came to me: a summer kaftan.  I was first introduced to the significance of a kaftan when reading Rachel Zoe's Style From A to Zoe.  The beauty of a kaftan is that it can portray elegance and style without sacrificing comfort.  Let's not forget that 70's bohemian style is top style this season!  The best part about this little piece is that the light fabric makes it perfect in the heat.  Bright colors reflect off heat and light fabrics such as cotton and jersey provide protection from the sun's deathly rays.  Yes, summer just got a lot better now that I found my secret weapon against all this heat.

Beating the city's heat with my kaftan in Union Square.

A Broadway Night

Even though it was late into the evening the night air was still thick with heat and humidity from the scorching day.  The tour bus ten feet away was providing an additional yet unnecessary source of heat from its engine.  The show ended almost an hour ago and I am wedged between countless fans as we all await anxiously for the back doors of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to open.

The show of the evening was "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" starring Harry Potter's own Daniel Radcliffe and veteran actor John Larroquette.  The play was originally based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same title.  It features of the story of J. Pierrepont Finch's (Radcliffe) journey from a window washer to vice president of the fictitious company World Wide Wicket Company.  The satiric comedy brings light into the promotion strategies of some corporate business world's best employees - with a few light-hearted musical numbers of course! If Glee and The Office ever had a child, it would be this play.

Daniel Radcliffe's long awaited appearance.

My adventure however started when the final number ended.  Even before the last stanza was sung my party and I made our way to the back door in hopes of capturing a few autographs of the cast.  We made our way toward the front and settled on standing second row behind the barricade. As the minutes passed, our numbers grew until we were huddled in tightly like sardines. Waiting patiently for their appearance.  One by one they made their appearance and I pushed my wait through the first row, my program clawed in my hand.  I felt the light pressure of someone as they scribbled on it, but I wasn't sure if I was successful until I pulled the program in front of me and saw it: a slightly dented Broadway show program boasting the full cast's autograph. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Sweet success!