God Save My Shoes

A wall of red-soled Christina Louboutins in the designer's studio.
Photo by God Save My Shoes

I first felt the power of shoes when I was about 7 years old, while getting ready for birthday parties, school recitals, and other special occasions. 

When I was 13 Carrie Bradshaw introduced me to iconic names such as Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik.

As the years passed by I could never understand how a new pair of shoes can elevate my mood into a new stratosphere of joy, or why despite a closet that literally overflows with stilettos, wedges, boots, and sandals I can never seem to get my fill.  I just knew that deep down, a shoe was more than, well a shoe.

Manolo Blahnik Classics
Photo by: God Save My Shoes

Then I was introduced to the up-coming documentary film God Save My Shoes, which explores the relationship women have with their shoes.  During its quest the film journeys through fashionably fabulous cities such as: New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Milan-stopping at locations such as Vogue Magazine's shoe closet, the International Shoe Museum, and interviewing designers Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blanik no less!

The film's world premiere will be held in NYC's Paris Theatre on September 7th, just in time for Fashion Week!  Safe to say that you will see me strutting to the nearest theatre for a viewing, best shoe forward of course!

Check out the film's Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/godsavemyshoes

Check out the film's trailer!



Verizon Protesters Invade New York City

Photo contributors: Paige Glovinsky

When my friend Paige told me that there was a major strike happening in Midtown Manhattan today, I was there in a New York Minute.  Thirty minutes and one subway ride later, as I climbed the steps of the train platform at Herald Square, I was greeted by a sea of red t-shirt clad protestors.  Right there in the middle of the sidewalk.

"What's going on?" was the first question that fluttered through my mind.  The protestors were employees of Verizon's Communication's landline division; who were expressing their extreme frustrations in Verizon's decision to lower their benefits.  Not entirely surprising since the landline phone has all but been replaced by cell phones or other wireless devices.

Photo Contributor: Paige Glovinsky

The company-wide protest does come as a surprise considering the current financial situation.  Still, about 45,000 unionized Verizon workers have rallied not just in New York City, but also Boston, Washington DC, and Roanoke.  The protest is also costing the company millions in lost revenues as they struggle to find non-unionized workers to replace strikers on the field.

The result for NYC?  Many businesses that still rely on landlines for communication have been hindered as a result of slow repair response.

It's going to be interesting how this strike will end.  The communications industry has been dominated by  wireless methods of communications that landlines are almost frowned upon.  Interestingly enough, the last time such a strike took place was when radio network workers protested against their wages.  That battle ended with the country turning to the "new television" for entertainment, thus solidifying the end of the age of radio.

Photo Contributor: Paige Glovinsky

These are early days of course, with the protests having just started on Sunday. I suppose that until Verizon settles in negotiations and union workers are happy, I will have the privilege witnessing possibly the end of an industry.

The Most Famous Pizza of Them All

I didn't have to move to New York to know that the city and pizza go hand-in-hand.  Many NYC-based movies such as Spider Man 2, Saturday Night Fever, Manhattan, and Dog Day Afternoon have all placed a little highlight to the Neapolitan cuisine- not that the little pie doesn't deserve it,  I mean (pizza) was there for me in slumber parties, late-night study sessions, and now as a comfort food in an unfamiliar metropolis.

It's safe to say that there is an endless debate as to which pizzaria in the city bakes up the best slice.  From Little Italy to Hell's Kitchen, many will argue one way or another as to their favorite.  For me however, I was pretty impartial to the whole debate, a pizza was a pizza.  This changed however when my friend Britney got me to cross over to Brooklyn to try the famous Grimaldi Pizza.

Old-fashioned skills.

Stolen snapshot from the kitchen.

Located literally under the Brooklyn Bridge, Grimaldi's has been drawing crowds of people since it opened in .
A line extending down Old Fulton Street is a standard sight outside of the little Italian dwelling.  Once you make it past the threshold however, you are transported to Pizza Nirvana.  Pizza the way the Italians and New York intended that is: thin crust and customized toppings. Frank Sinatra (supposedly a regular of Grimaldi's during his time) and other oldies music serenades through the jukebox while we relaxed in the ambiance of my post-pizza bliss. Yes, I would have to say that the hour and half we spent waiting in line was time very well-spent.

A typical line outside. Our wait time? Approximately an hour and a half.
PS: Totally worth the wait!

Britney and our pie.