New York

Editor’s Note:  Starting this month, we’re bringing you a new feature series which will highlight some of our favorite place in our own cities or cities we travel to.  We’re kicking off August with TDO Editor Carolyn’s currently obsessions in New York City. Hope you enjoy and let us know what you think! (more…)

Someone once told me that the difference between a good colorist and a great colorist lies in whether or not they’ll simply refuse to do something that doesn’t suit you, regardless of how badly you want it. Thus, after years of dabbling amongst good colorists, I finally stumbled upon a great one- Marie Robinson of her eponymous salon.  Ever since I first started getting my hair colored, I’ve developed this fascination (obsession almost) with achieving perfect light ashy brown locks- a feat that colorist after colorist attempted- only to garner the identical result- great color for a couple weeks followed by months of drab, rusty, brassy mess.  Someday, I thought, I’ll color my hair back to black…but in the meantime since I have access to all the top colorists, I’ll try to achieve that elusive brown just one more time…

Before I went in to see Marie, I did a bit of background research on the color guru and was impressed to find her celebrity clientele to include names like Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams and Scarlett Johansson- all beautiful, at-one-time-or-another brunettes with the beautiful brown hair that I’ve long desired.   (more…)

Every summer I inevitably find myself spending some weekends “out east” (in Manhattan vernacular) or heading to the Hamptons, an idyllic consortium of towns located on the eastern tip of Long Island and a popular hangout for young professionals to socialites. Some people go for the “scene” bar-hopping, party-going, bash-throwing, while others go simply go to get away.  Earlier this summer, I spent a long weekend out in Southampton for the latter reason, a little trip to rejuvenate me after months and months in the city.

While I’ve spent multiple summers before in Southampton, it’s always been at a friend’s house or a summer share, which isn’t exactly conducive to relaxing. So this time, I checked into the Southampton Inn, a casual chic inn located just around the corner from downtown Southampton, and a free shuttle away from Cooper’s Beach. Nestled on five acres of manicured lawns, the Inn houses 90 simple but spacious and charming rooms, a new pool and OSO, the property’s first restaurant. The country style décor exudes laid back Hamptons charm and the friendly staff helps you feel at home right away. What I love about this place is that the inn is completely unassuming and unpretentious, a welcome relief amongst the typical Hamptons scene. That’s not to say, however, that the inn doesn’t provide top of the line amenities.  Each room is equipped with Gilchrist & Soames toiletries and super comfortable Tempur Pedic® mattresses. In fact, the Inn’s balance of privacy and luxury makes it the lodging of choice for a number of celebrity clients every summer and the stylish grounds made it the location for the filming of upcoming Kate Hudson movie, Something Borrowed. (more…)

Lobster, fresh lemon juice, and the taste of clarified butter: foods for me that conjure up summertime memories of when I was 7 or 8, and our family used to make yearly car-ride pilgrimages to Arcadia, Maine, for a taste of the outdoors that suburban New Jersey couldn’t provide.  Rather then playing the “Am I There Yet” game with my brother, I spent the 8-10 hour drive to Maine sleeping.  But I always knew when we were getting close to our destination when my dad pulled into the nearest, decent open-air, roadside seafood joint advertising LOBSTERS in capital letters.

Our whole family would sit down to a fresh lunch (or dinner) of a few, simply steamed lobsters with sides of lemon and melted butter, as we dug into their nooks and crannies, seeking out the fresh, sweet meat.  My dad was always the best and fastest at digging, always offering us the choicest, largest morsels, something he still does today whenever we eat shellfish.  I was always amazed when he could crack a lobster claw, and remove the entire thing intact, like extracting a puzzle piece.

Coming to Mary’s Fish Camp, made me feel like I wasn’t on Charles Street anymore, but exiting onto the highway off a family trip from Maine into one of those roadside seafood joints.  Perched on the corner, Mary’s Fish Camp is a small open-window corner restaurant with walls lined with faded old-time nautical ads  and ’70s rock playing overhead  (when I was there, it seemed like the entire Virgin Suicides Soundtrack was on rotation).   One of their famed Lobster Rolls can be seen on practically every one of their ten tables and along the smooth metal counter. (more…)

Who: Aida and Selma at Salon AKS

What: Natural, glossy highlights and face-framing eyebrow tweezing

Where: Salon AKS 689 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10022, (212) 888-0707

When: Monday-Saturday

Why: Ever since the highlight disaster of 2009, I’ve been wary of anyone touching a hair on my head.  I come into haircut appointments now armed with a swath of pictures, and I haven’t gotten professional color in a year.  Highlight roots were a reality and after hearing someone describe my hair color honestly as “spotty,” I knew that enough was enough: it was time to get over my fear and ditch the two-tone color situation. (more…)

I normally don’t make a fuss about sales, but it’s payday and I couldn’t resist some seriously glam accessories like this Large Gold Turquoise Bubble Klimt Ring, $116.25, above. Pick it up along with a pair of Miss Havisham Clear Liquid Lucite Earrings, $145, (my fave) for 25 percent off at Alexis Bittar’s annual summer sale, which kicks off July 1st (tomorrow!) online at alexisbittar.com and in his NYC boutiques.

You’ll be able to get discounts on the Spring/Summer 2010 collection, full of sculptural, ethereal, fun and funky pieces made of semi-precious stones and metals. (Inspired by his antique-collecting parents and NYC club days in the ’80s, Bittar makes jewelry fit for the likes of Bergdorf’s, Saks, Burberry, Estee Lauder, Michael Kors — and Sex and the City’s stylist Patricia Field. So this is one designer you’ll want to add to your wardrobe.) Go, go, go!

Love Gilt Groupe?  Us too- though sometimes we admit it can be kind of a mess with all the volume on the site.  But recently we discovered a new Gilt Groupe project that is still in beta (though we can’t resist sharing) and we can actaully buy things.  And if you live in New York, you’re in luck!

Welcome to Gilt City, where you can get weekly deals on shows, restaurants and other events in NYC for up to 70% off- solid discount!  This week they’re doing a 9 course tasting menu and cocktail at the new West Village hotspot Betel for under $50 a person!

We can’t wait to see what else they have! Intrigued?  We’ve got a code for you to join.  Click here and enjoy!

Continuing with my newly formed (but best ever) tradition of Friday after work spa visits (first the Ritz-Carlton, then the Plaza), I checked out (and into) the Upper East Side’s newest luxury spa a couple weeks ago- the gorgeous space at the recently reopened Surrey Hotel. Being mostly a downtown New York gal, I never gave the Upper East Side its due attention but something about the elegance of this institution captivated my interest from the moment I learned about it.  The Surrey Hotel is a throwback to the turn of the century Edith Wharton  glamour that gave New York it’s rich and illustrious history. Built in 1926 as a residence hotel, the original Surrey was home to some of New York’s  most recognized names- JFK. Bette Davis. Claudette Colbert. Located at 20 East 76th St just off Madison Ave, The Surrey resides at one of New York’s most desirable addresses.   The hotel recently underwent a $60+ million renovation, completed in November 2009, under esteemed interior architect Lauren Rottet who said her inspiration was the ideal of a New York City townhouse passed down through the generations. (more…)

We just got wind of a fun and free event Jouer Cosmetics is offering exclusively at Henri Bendel during this Mother’s Day weekend.  Love free makeup?  You’ll love this event!

In honor of Mother’s Day, Jouer invites all mother/daughter pairs local to the Manhattan area to enjoy complimentary makeup applications,  free Moisturizing Mini Lip Gloss Sets,  faux mimosas and other treats.  From Friday, May 7^th through Sunday, May 9^th customers can indulge in these beauty freebies with their moms.   All customers have to do is call to reserve an appointment and they will be able to enjoy all of these exciting goodies, no purchase necessary.  We got a sneak peek at the goodies they are giving away- beautiful  lip gloss sets as picture above!

Check out the full invite below and make sure to call to reserve a spot: 1-800-HBENDEL. (more…)

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