Jul 27
Summer Nights In NYC
One of the best parts of living in New York is stumbling upon someplace wonderful where you least expect it–especially when it comes to culinary delights.
Back in April, a Google search led me to Il Punto. And a few weeks ago, my cousin Alexandra and I returned to this gem of a restaurant. It didn’t disappoint.
Il Punto: an Italian gem in Hell’s Kitchen (photo courtesy: ilpuntoristorante.com)
Located on the corner of Ninth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, Il Punto is an inviting bistro with delicious pasta and seafood dishes and a host who exemplifies Italian charm. We were well taken care of by both him and the wait staff this second time too.
Alexandra and I split a bottle of Collio Sauvignon Blanc, which we were introduced to during our April visit.
After a complimentary amuse bouche, we savored our entrees, capped off by panna cotta for dessert and a complimentary round of limoncello. It was a truly epic night, with nearly six (!) hours of soul soothing conversation and laughter made even more enjoyable by the setting.
A very different but equally engaging venue provided the backdrop for Thursday’s night out with gal pal Lauren. We met up at Skylight Modern in Chelsea for Travel +Leisure‘s party celebrating its annual World’s Best Awards.
The scene at T+L’s World’s Best Awards party
The swanky soiree featured a fashionable crowd, on-site sand artist and award winners dressed in authentic attire representing various destinations. In addition to signature cocktails, the menu included passed hors d’oeuvres (empanadas, mini grilled cheese, caprese sticks, tuna tartar) and food stations (paella, lobster rolls, fried clam sandwiches, crab cakes). Delish.
While savoring both the menu and the people watching, Lauren and I caught up on summer travels, work and home makeover projects.
Two fantastic nights on the town with two of my favorite ladies. Summer in NYC simply doesn’t get any better than that.
Nov 1
Celebrating The Season With InStyle Magazine
Earlier this week, I headed down to Chelsea for Celebrate The Season hosted by InStyle Magazine and Single Edition Media. Held at The Glass Houses, a fabulous venue with stunning city views, the blogger event offered a sneak peak at seasonal beauty/fashion trends — and the chance to enjoy some fantastic cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
I kicked off the evening by trying Flight Song Wine’s crisp new Sauvignon Blanc, a delightful find that I look forward to having again.
Cheers: Enjoying a glass of Flight Song Wine
Another tasty highlight — discovering Gardein‘s line of meatless, plant-based bites. As someone who is a happy carnivore at heart, I was blown away by how flavorful the Canada-based brand’s fishless filet and chips, lightly breaded ‘turkey’ burger and rosemary pecan crusted ‘chicken’ skewers are. Yummm.
Among the many great brands in attendance — Sears, which showcased the relaunch of Metaphor, its versatile collection of mix and match items that easily transition from day to night.
Pieces from Sears’ Metaphor collection
Signature pieces include a faux leather dress, embellished metallic brocade skirt and knit sweaters with embellishments and asymmetrical backs. Best of all — every piece is under $100.
Elizabeth Arden wowed with a selection of bold Moisturizing Lipstick for the holidays (I love bronze berry/#35) and Untold, a sophisticated fragrance with floral notes and an amber base that I was immediately smitten with.
Absolut is my favorite in the Untold collection
Buying perfume as a holiday gift? Elizabeth Arden’s rep at the event offered these tips: consider the recipient’s leading personality traits, qualities that best describe them and favorite time of day.
During the cocktail hour, I had the chance to catch up with Globetrotting Mommy blogger Lyla Gleason. We chatted about her adorable, fashion savvy five-year-old daughter, the perks of being a blogger and how swiftly time seems to go by – especially at this time of year.
After checking out all of the brands on display, we enjoyed a presentation of holiday tips and trends. Makeup artist Patti Dubroff raved about Jergens’ BB body cream. And one of InStyle Magazine‘s beauty editors shared her picks for amping up your holiday look. Among them: pastels (in makeup), textured waves for hair (the messier, the better) and flower accessories.
InStyle has long been one of my favorite magazines, with its accessible take on celebrity fashion and lifestyle. So I wasn’t surprised that the gift bag featured some fabulous items—including Balsam Hill’s white river spruce scented ornaments and Beautiful Textures’ hair gel.
Thanks to InStyle and Single Edition media for a fantastic night that reminded me all over again how much fun it is a New York City gal.
