Manhattan Magazine Preview Party @ Salon de Ning, The Peninsula Hotel, NYC

6/12/08

What better way to spend a Wednesday evening than hangin' high atop 5th Avenue at Salon de Ning, the new Shanghai-chic rooftop bar and lounge at the posh Peninsula Hotel, to preview the also new Manhattan Magazine? All in perfect 84 degree weather no less.

While I'll admit that I didn't even get a chance to look at the magazine (I'm sure it's wonderful), I did enjoy all the pretty dresses, designer handbags and breathtaking views of midtown (the open bar with exotic vodka cocktails and delicious Peking duck rolls didn't suck either).

Thank you to my always fabulous date Glenn Belverio for having me.








This girl had the most beautiful vintage Dior clutch! I had to get a shot of it with her cute dragonfly brooch.


I'm a sucker for spectacular city views--especially during sunset...

...But to give a more clear idea of the rooftop atmosphere, I took the liberty of stealing some photos of Salon de Ning from NYmag.com.



Knockin' on heaven's door: Glenn, post-party, in front of a church we walked passed on the way home. Great door, right?

At this point, I should have really been in that cab passing by behind me instead of standing on 5th Ave. taking pictures...

Cool Kids on the Block, Greene St., SoHo...

5/22/08

I love seeing groups of kids just hanging out on the street like this. Maybe its a sign that I'm getting old or something. The mere fact that I call them "kids" is quite telling in itself...I don't know. In any event, my boyfriend and I were driving up Greene St. on our way to dinner when we passed by these guys chillin' -- what a great photo op. So he stopped the car, ran out and snapped this photo of them for me. I love how they all just knew how and where to pose themselves. Aren't kids fabulous!?

Cinco de Mayo @ APT, Meatpacking District

5/5/08

Stylist Extraordinaire: The always lovely Robyn Fernandes

'Be Cointreauversial' party hosted by Dita Von Teese, New York

4/23/08
The spring social season is officially here! (I think it actually "officially" arrived for me last week, but whatever...) And what better way to welcome it than with my good friend Glenn, "Cointreauversial" cocktails, and the lovely Ms. Dita Von Teese.

The burlesque babe hosted a fabu party Tuesday night with Cointreau liqueur at the Angel Orensanz Foundation Center in the Lower East Side (a beautiful neo-gothic building originally designed as a synagogue in 1849). While I'm still not 100% sure, I understand the party served as the U.S. debut of Dita's new burlesque performance, which was sensational, and the debut of Cointreau's new cocktail in honor of Dita called the "Cointreau Teese" (Dita is the face of Cointreau, in case you didn't know).

Dita Doing Her Thing:
A woman (literally) sparkling from head-to-toe is a woman who wins my respect! Dita's costume couldn't have been more spectacular. Unfortunately my photos of her in full costume didn't come out (here, she's already in full swing, having removed half her gown), but you can see it on Confessions From the Velvet Ropes.

Dita's performance ended with her inside the giant glass sipping her own Cointreau Teese and servers coming off the stage holding silver trays full of Contreau Teese cocktails to the audience. Bravo!

Now for the rest of the evening...

Glenn and I, pre-Cointreau Teese cocktails

Richie Rich

Susanne Bartsch (right) and friend


Designer Zaldy (right) and friend





Glenn and Michael Schmidt

A little later, Dita enters the VIP area looking stunning in a fuchsia strapless gown.
Awaiting her...?

Photographer Steven Klein

Designer Catherine Malandrino

Later, later...we head over to Bungalow 8 where the scene is much more intimate and relaxed (ahhhh). And Glenn and I finally get a close-up with Dita.

Catherine as she bids her farewell to the party

Dita with Glenn...on his who-knows-how-many-Cointreau Teese's later

Me with Dita

"Cocktails and Cufflinks" hosted by Patrick McDonald @ the Verdura Salon, New York

4/17/08
New York 'Dandy' and fashion fixture Patrick McDonald hosted a swanky cocktail party Thursday night at the Verdura Salon on 5th Avenue to celebrate the launch of their new cufflink collection. Guests, a mix of fashionistas, industry insiders and high society peeps, were treated to free flowing (and extremely yummy) prickly pear martinis and an up-close-and-personal view of Verdura's insanely beautiful jewelry collections (ring for $49,000, anyone?). While I've never been one to wear fine jewelry (I'm more the 'ghetto gold nameplate earrings' type...), I was lucky enough to try on a few pieces, and lets just say I 'get it' now. A $100,000 necklace could make anyone look fabulous! (Verdura jewelry has been coveted by royalty, Hollywood and high society for nearly a decade.) Being there with my date, the always fabulous Mr. Glenn Belverio, however...PRICELESS.

Host Patrick McDonald and guest

Kenny Kenny

Lovely Ladies: Nancy Baicich and Laren Stover

Love the shoes, Nancy!

Douglas Keisler

Cator Sparks


Phillip Blonde

Blonde's Balenciagas

Master of Hair Design: Stephen Knoll

The view from the Salon


...And several prickly pear martinis later @ the Regency Hotel: Glenn Belverio and moi

Greetings from Hawaii

I just returned from Oahu where I discovered some pretty stylin' island folks at an event called "Frenemies"--a b-boy battle by Style Len Productions and hosted by none other than Crazy Legs of Rock Steady Crew.


Cute in crochet: I really liked this girl's hippie-chic vibe.