New York Restaurant Week: The Palm

 

There's a lot of history that goes into The Palm.  It's tradition goes all the way back to 1926.  Two Italian immigrants decided to open up a restaurant in New York City.  Natives of Parma, Italy, John Ganzi and Pio Bozzi went to register the name "Parma" as the business name, the clerk didn't understand what they were saying and issued a license for "The Palm."  That's how the restaurant got its name.

Their steakhouse (which did not start off selling steaks) has grown in popularity over the last 87 years with locations all across the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast.

I first heard of The Palm back in Washington, DC.  It was a favorite amongst the politicos of DC.  I had walked by the place many times, but never went in. 

Getting a taste of The Palm in NYC, the same city where it all happened, now that is a treat for the history books...as in a 'Been There, Done That' moment.  You can see the history all along their walls which showcase caricatures of the many famous guests that once sat in their booths and the many news article reviews that once upon a time graced print journalism.  The caricatures are a time honored tradition.  Artists that couldn't afford their meal would draw or paint on the walls of the restaurant as payment. 

This is what The Palm prides itself in...its history.

The waitstaff is one of the most outstanding I have ever seen.  Your glass is always filled with water.  You never have to ask.  They make sure that the service is impeccable...like the professional service you would expect if you were to dine at "Downton Abbey." 

The food...

You'll find there was a mixed review during my visit.

The menu for New York Restaurant Week at The Palm West location (250 West 50th Street, NYC) is as follows:

FIRST COURSE:

- Classic Caesar Salad (garlic focaccia croutons and parmigiano reggiano)- Mixed Green Salad (romaine, iceberg, baby greens, cucumber, carrots, radish, scallions and cherry tomatoes, tossed in garlic vinaigrette)
- Watermelon and Arugula Salad (watermelon, arugula and feta cheese, tossed in balsamic vinaigrette)- Chef's Soup of the Day

SECOND COURSE:

- Ahi Tuna Steak (wasabi seared ahi tuna with Asian avocado salsa)
- Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos (flour tortillas, shredded cabbage, fresh tomatoes, chiptole lime dressing, red beans and rice)- Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak Sandwich (thinly sliced chicken, grilled onions, provolone cheese and homemade Buffalo sauce served on an Amoroso roll with hand cut french fries)
- Filet Mignon Medallions (two 4 ounce) (Danish blue cheese and wild mushroom demi-glace)

THIRD COURSE:
- Berries and Cream Parfait (fresh berries, crunchy granola, mascarpone whipped cream)
- Banana Crème Brulée
- Key Lime Pie (key lime custard, graham cracker crust, blueberry compote and whipped cream)

I ordered the Watermelon & Arugula Salad, Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos and the Key Lime Pie. 

My thoughts?  First, we'll start with the worst part of this lunch...the salad.  While the whole idea of watermelon, arugula and feta sounds appealing, what troubled me was the balsamic vinaigrette.  The only thing I could think as I tried to 'like' this salad was, "Did the person that developed this combination even try this?  It's horrible!"

Balsamic vinaigrette is not the right dressing for this salad.  Even a sesame dressing would have suited this salad or a very, and I do mean "VERY" light dressing so that the person eating the salad would enjoy the flavors of the watermelon, arugula and feta together.  The balsamic is not the dressing they should have used. 

My advice if you head to The Palm, avoid this salad like the plague.  It's more balsamic vinaigrette than it is salad.

What redeemed The Palm was the second course: Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos.  I've attempted fish tacos in NYC several times.  I've either walked away thinking it was horrible or I got sick.  80% of the time, I walked away sick as a dog. 

The Palm, on the other hand, has created the best fish tacos I have ever had.  The mahi mahi fish was an excellent choice to fill the flour tortillas.  The spices used with the fish were just the right spices to let the fish stand alone, but mixed with the chiptole lime dressing...it was superb.  The use of cabbage instead of lettuce was spot on. 

As for their side dish of red beans and rice...pass.  It was boring and like something I would make if I was a beginner cook and wanted to attempt making red beans and rice for the first time (i.e. dumping a can of red beans on top of some rice and calling it red beans and rice...tasted just like it too). 

As for the key lime pie...it was delicious.  It was so rich, I couldn't eat it all, but it was good.

What I've learned about The Palm...just get the main entree and maybe the dessert.  Do not fuss with the sides or starters.  Go straight for the main course.

Like I said, the fish tacos were the best I've ever had.  That makes The Palm worthwhile, especially if you want to be surrounded in history and political talk from the tables next to you.  Would I go often?  No.  Maybe once every 5-10 years. 

In other words, why eat sub-par food when there are other restaurants out there that can create a fantastic meal from start to finish?

xxoo,

Michelle 

READING MATERIAL: The Glister

 

 

I don't normally read books like this, but the setting intrigued me as well as the storyline.  Just where did these children go?  What happened to them?

 

This book takes place in a community...well, a dead community.  The chemical plant that was once so promising that brought big business to this small town and employed most of its inhabitants had turned this town into a toxic waste site, leaving its workers and inhabitants sick.

 

As the plant shuts down, people lose their jobs.  People become sick.  The woods become a toxic waste littered with what once had been.  Strange creatures changed by the chemical plant's pollutants creep within its borders.

 

All in the midst of this dead community is a struggle to survive, waiting for the moment...any moment to be free of the dead world around them.  People leave.  Children disappear.  People die.

 

Wait...why are the children disappearing?  What's happening to them?  Why are the police not searching for them?  Why don't the residents care that their own children are missing?

 

One child...the police know for a fact...he was killed.  The policeman was, after all, the person that found him, but then buried him to cover up the fact that a child was murdered.  What about the other boys that went missing?  Were they also murdered or did they just run away?

 

These are all questions you ask as you go through this story.  It is a part coming of age book about a teenager struggling in this dead community, dealing with his mother leaving him with his sick father, struggling to find something meaningful in this messed up community, and dealing with the death (or did he go missing?) of his best friend...never knowing if he is the next child on the list to go missing.

 

In the Amazon reviews, the reviewer mentions that his friend called this book "a sleeper."  "It creeps up on you."  What she meant by that is that even after you finish the very last word in the book, you think...that's all there was?  That's nothing.

 

Then as you churn the book over in your mind days or weeks later you realize just how haunting the book really was.  It stays with you.

 

I picked up this book on a suggestion from Oprah.com.  After reading the book, I had to sit back and ask if the person at Oprah.com actually read the book, because it's a very strange book for Oprah to recommend.  I don't even think Oprah would read a book like this.

 

Why would you read it?  Because for some odd reason, this haunting tale means something to you, you just don't know what it is...then you realize it's a reflection of yourself and what you've lost as you moved on through this lifetime. 

 

That, of course, you don't figure out until long after you've closed the cover on the book.

 

xxoo,

 

Michelle

 

MOVIE REVIEW: The Wolverine

 

 

 

No one does The Wolverine better than Hugh Jackman.  NO ONE.  Even if you are bulked up like Hugh Jackman, you can't pull off the look.  Why?  Because, only Hugh Jackman can pull off The Wolverine and still look hot for the ladies and like the Marvel comic book superhero that he is to the guys.  Ok...so maybe Liev Schreiber could pull off the look too, but they never casted him as The Wolverine (he was casted as his brother, Sabretooth).

The Wolverine begins where X-Men 3 left off...life without Jean Gray.  For those who've forgotten...at the end of X-Men 3, Wolverine was forced to choose...save the woman he loved or save everyone from being destroyed by the woman he loved.  He chose to protect the world.  He had to kill the one woman he loved more than anything. 

The Wolverine is life after Jean Gray and Logan trying to live with knowing he had killed the woman he loved.  Where do we find him as we start our story?  Living like a hermit in a cave.

A young woman from Tokyo (Yukio) goes looking for Logan because her employer wants to repay him for a debt.  Logan saved her employer's life back on August 9, 1945...the day the Americans dropped the atom bomb on Nagasaki.  He tried to repay Logan by giving him his family's ancestral sword.  Instead of taking the sword, he tells the young soldier, Yashida, that he should look after the sword for him. 

Yashida has sent this young woman to find Logan so that he can give him the sword and say his goodbyes.  He's dying.  He offers to give Logan something he's never had before...a mortal life.  He could have his immortality taken from him so that he could live out the rest of his life and die.  This appeals to Logan (to a degree). He could, after all, be with Jean Gray again.

Yashida was able to have his company develop a technology that could transfer Logan's immortality to himself.  Logan isn't so sure about transferring his immortality to someone else.  It's a curse, not a gift.  Yashida, an old, dying man, disagrees.

What Logan does not expect is that his ability to heal and his immortality would be taken from him (not at his will).  He wakes to discover Yashida is dead and that something is wrong.

Before Yashida died, he told Logan that his grand-daughter was in danger. He wanted to live to protect her.  Being the honorable man that Logan is, when danger arose, his only mission was to protect Yashida's grand-daughter and try to discover who was after her and why.

In the spirit of X-Men films, you will enjoy this one just as much as the others.  I don't think there's ever been a bad X-Men film.  The storylines are always great with a great cast of characters. 

I really loved the introduction of Yukio.  She reminds me of one of the girl ninja assassins from the Kill Bill films.  She could be just an innocent regular Japanese school girl...or she could be one of the best ninja assassins in Japan.  What I really love about her: she decides that she is Wolverine's bodyguard.  Like he ever needed a bodyguard...apparently, in this movie, he does.  Wolverine is always trying to protect some innocent person.  He's never had someone watching out for him before.  That's what I love about Yukio.  She's that damn good that she can protect The Wolverine.

The movie is out in theaters now.  If you're an X-Men fan, you'll enjoy this just as much as the other films.  After all, I think many of us have loved Wolverine ever since we picked up our first X-Men comic book. 

And yes, I do have a comic book collection.

xxoo,

Michelle


P.S.  Be on the lookout for X-Men: Days of Future Past due out May 23, 2014.  This film is the second installment in the X-Men: First Class trilogy.

Movie Review: R.I.P.D.

 

 

Meet Detective Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds).  Boston's Finest.  Married to a beautiful French woman.  Struggling to make ends meet.

Meet Detective Bobby Hayes (Kevin Bacon).  Boston's Finest.  Nick's partner.  He tries to help out his friend by trying to get him to cash in on some 'found' gold at a recent bust. 

Nick struggles with the ethical dilemma of keeping the gold or turning it in.  Nick decides he's going to turn it in when he can.  Instead he and Bobby get called away to bust a criminal haven at a warehouse.  Little does Nick know, this is his last call.

He heads up for judgment only to be thrown into the Rest In Peace Department (RIPD)...a sort of heavenly police department where they try to bring souls up for judgment before they become malevolent spirits haunting mankind...better yet, before they turn into walking demons and monsters.

Grouped with a bad ass 1800's US Marshall as his partner (Jeff Bridges), both Nick and Roy head back to earth to try and bring back these souls...only to discover that 'found' gold Nick buried in his backyard all of a sudden means something bigger...and it was the reason why he was killed.

Ends up, Nick has some unfinished business down on earth.

This movie is a little bit Men in Black, but throw out the aliens and add a life after death/spiritual/religious montage to it and you have R.I.P.D.  The movie was really good.  The best parts of the film all lies in Jeff Bridges' acting.  He did a superb job.  You can't help but dislike his character Roy because he's a jerk, but at the same time, you love him because he's a crass, bad ass...sensitive underneath it all with a fetish for women's ankles. 

That southern drawl with chewing tobacco sitting in the side of his mouth and spit going all over the place...that's Roy.  Gotta love him.  But what makes his character funny, human beings see him as this beautiful, tall blonde woman...so it's quite hilarious when men enamored with his beauty try to pick him up.  His responses are hilarious! 

As for Nick, they see him as a little old, Chinese man.

All in all, you will definitely enjoy this comedy.

Also stars: Mary-Louise Parker (from Weeds fame).

xxoo,

Michelle 

New York Restaurant Week: Todd English's Ça Va Brasserie

 

Restaurant Week has begun in New York City and will run through until August 16th.  The deal?  You get to try out some of the best restaurants in NYC: 3 courses for $25 (lunch) or $38 (dinner). 

In the spirit of Restaurant Week, I decided to spend the evening out at a restaurant I've never been to.  French food was the desire and Todd English's Ça Va Brasserie was the destination.

In the spirit of Restaurant Week, a special menu was designed for patrons. 

FIRST COURSE

Salad de Cresson (watercress, grilled peaches, feta, toasted pistachio, white balsamic vinaigrette)
Soupe Glacée de Petits Pois Anglaise (chilled english pea soup, buttermilk flan, jumbo lump crab)
Lamb Spare Ribs (apricot glaze, cucumber-yogurt dip)

SECOND COURSE

Strozzapreti Pasta (spicy pork sausage, roasted tomato ragout, broccoli rabe)
Poulet Rôti (roasted half chicken, grilled sweet corn and baby heirloom succotash, warm yellow tomato vinaigrette)
Loup de Mer Rôti (roasted mediterranean sea bass, lentil salad, braised greens, vadouvan butter)

THIRD COURSE

Stone Fruit Crisp (ginger snap-almond streusel, vanilla gelato)
Manjar (chocolate mousse, english toffee, caramel drizzle)

I ordered the salad, pasta and mousse from the menu.  It was so divine, I'm still remembering each and every flavor on the tip of my tongue a week later. 

It was that good.

The salad had a mixture of sweet, salty, and bitter all at once.  The combination together was a delightful way to start the palate.

The pasta was beyond amazing.  Each bite was as if I was tasting nectar made specifically for the gods and worthy of heaven.  I can't even put into words what I tasted...you just have to go for yourself and try it. 

The chocolate mousse...you know it's good when after the first bite you are bombarded with so many pleasurable senses that you feel like you don't need another bite.  You are fulfilled.  That is what we call a perfect dessert.

Since the pasta is not part of their regular menu, I'll be going back every week until the end of Restaurant Week to enjoy this special menu.  After tasting this little piece of heaven, I plan on becoming a regular at Ça Va Brasserie.  Not only is the location perfect for me, the way I look at it...if each meal is as heavenly as the last, they are worth taking a little time out of every week to bask in the splendor that is the nectar of the gods.

Chef de Cuisine is Patrick Malone.

xxoo,

Michelle

P.S.  Thank you to @CaVaBrasserie for making my visit even more entertaining.  From the welcome tweets to the 'checking in' to see how dinner was going...their Twitter account made for a very welcoming and pleasant atmosphere during dinner.  I look forward to visiting more often.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Hunt

 

 

 

Out of all of the movies I've seen so far this summer, this is the first movie that I have to give five stars to.  This movie has been getting rave reviews everywhere, and I can see why.  This is the kind of movie that will stick to you for the rest of your life.

This Danish film stars Hannibal star Mads Mikkelsen.  The story is about a man (a kindergarten teacher) wrongfully accused of abusing his best friend's five-year old daughter.  As the child tells the lie, you see the story grow from being just one child to being multiple children...all telling the exact same story.  You see how the story of the abuse is weaved into the minds of the children...by the adults.  The kids become so confused, they don't remember if the abuse actually took place or if it was like the adults described it to them.

In the meantime, Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) is ostracized from the village.  His once close friends become complete strangers and enemies.  He loses his job.  He is denied access to his own son.  He can't even shop in the local grocery store.

All the while, the little girl who made the false accusation is trying to tell the truth because she loves Lucas.  She's known him her whole life.  She kept saying she never meant for this to happen...she never meant to hurt him. 

Everywhere Lucas turns, he finds that only one man (the godfather of his son) is the only one that believes him.  Everyone else has turned their backs on him, humiliated him, and even went so far as to gang up on him, beating him up and killing his dog. 

The only thing Lucas is guilty of...trying to correct a little 5 year old girl's crush.  She tried to give him a gift of a heart she made.  She ran up to him while he was being wrestled to the floor by the other boys in her class, and kissed him on the lips.  He told her not to do that.  She should only kiss her mom and dad on the lips.  When he asked her about the heart she slipped into his pocket, he tried to tell her to give it to her mother or one of the other little boys in the class. 

She didn't like this at all...and that's how the drama starts.

When she realizes what is going on after her accusation, it's already too late.  No one will listen to her.  They think she was traumatized, sympathizing with her abuser.  The stories the adults tell her as far as what happened to her...she becomes so confused (as well as her classmates) that they start to believe those stories really happened.

Throughout this entire movie, the audience all responded the exact same way when each emotional trigger happened in the movie.  From the start, you see the man's innocence, you hear the lie (and understand how she came to the accusation), you see how the adults react and begin to fill her head with things that she wasn't aware of, you watch as the lie grows from one child to all of the children, you watch as the child tries to tell the truth and the adults tell her that is not the truth anymore, you watch as an innocent man is seen as guilty from the start and loses everything.  He has nothing...not even his trusty best friend (his dog). 

Even when they are able to find a break in the case where the truth shows the children had to have been making up the story, he is still believed to be guilty by the entire village.

His saving grace all lies in his best friend.  Sometimes when you've known someone your entire life, you feel like you can tell whether they're lying or telling the truth.  At first, his friend was conflicted and didn't know if his best friend touched his daughter or not.  As time moves on and the village sides against Lucas, he starts to believe the village.

But one look at his friend on Christmas Eve and he knows.  Lucas is telling the truth. 

As the events of the evening unravel, he realizes the truth when his daughter (half asleep) begins apologizing to Lucas for what happened.  She doesn't realize it's her father she's talking to.  When he tells her it's him, he finds out from her that she had made a mistake.  She never meant to hurt Lucas.

This conversation is the saving grace because he's able to face the village and tell them it was a false accusation.  Lucas and the village can go back to normal...

Truth is, like all small towns, even if you are absolved of a wrongful accusation, there are always people that will believe you really did do it.  You will always be guilty, even when you are innocent and proven you were innocent.

This isn't just something you see in Denmark.  It happens everywhere.  Someone is wrongfully accused of child sexual abuse...even if innocent (and proven innocent)...there are people out there that will always look at you as a pedophile, even though it never happened.  With that, you are never safe or innocent.

This film will probably stay with me for the rest of my life.  It reminds me of my own hometown and how people reacted to things like this.  Even if the person was innocent and the child made it up, people never forget.  They will always call that person a pedophile.  It's a black stain that can never be washed clean. 

Mads Mikkelsen won best actor at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival for his role in this film.  Is this an Oscar-worthy role?  Hell, yes.  It is.  The film should also be considered for an Oscar.  It was so thought-provoking and emotional.  To hear the entire audience all have the same shock, sorrow, and disbelief echoed throughout the cinema, you know this is a powerful film.

The film has a very limited engagement in the United States (in NYC, only two theaters are showing the film).  It grossed only $44,000 over the weekend, but that is due mainly to the film showing only in art cinemas (and extremely limited engagements).  Critics and reviewers have ranked this film very high (4 stars and above).  It is that good.

Take time to see this film...even if you wait until it comes out on video.  Like I said, this movie will cling to me for the rest of my life.  This is the kind of story you never forget. 

Well done, Mr. Mikkelsen.  Well done.

xxoo,

Michelle

P.S.  Topic of conversation overheard as we were all walking out of the cinema?  Thought-provoking discussions on Hannibal Lecter as a psychiatrist. 

Bag of the Week: Prada

 

And the Devil Wears Prada...

This happens to be a great bag I picked up from Fashionphile.  Fashionphile deals in couture designer consignment accessories.  You can pick up some qualitative merchandise for much less than the retail price. 

Besides the great, qualitative authentic merchandise, there are two things I love about the site: 1) you can put the items on layaway, and 2) you can use your own unwanted couture collection as credit for future items. 

For instance, this year, since I'm preparing for the move, I'm getting rid of a lot of stuff.  Instead of wasting time with Craigslist, consignment shops, etc., I sent a few pieces to Fashionphile and received a credit on account for the items they accepted.  You can opt to consign or just sell the bag outright to them.  I don't have the patience to consign so I just sold the items to them.  You can opt to receive a check or obtain credit on account towards a future purchase. 

Since my New Year's Resolution goal = a Chanel bag as a reward for successfully completing 52 books (10 classics), I'm using the credit towards that Chanel bag as well as clearing out my closet.

The layaway option is a nice feature.  If you see a bag you like, you can pay the minimum on it and then you'll have 90 days to pay it off. 

This Prada bag is my second purchase from them.  I originally purchased an Hermes agenda from them a few months ago.  It was perfect!

For those fashionistas looking to upgrade their accessories collection to more haute couture designers, I highly recommend Fashionphile.  There are a lot of reasonably priced items.  The layaway option makes it more realistic to own those bags. 

If you're already a haute couture accessories collector, you can get rid of the stuff you're tired of (make sure you have your paperwork), and use the accepted offers for credit or cash. 

As for the "Devil Wears Prada" comment...check out the latest book in the series this summer: Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns. 

{Thanks to PopSugar Must Have for sending me a copy.}

 

xxoo,

 

Michelle

Shopping For an Investment Watch

 

Last week, I picked up this Gucci watch for my 37th birthday.  It was a belated gift to myself, so I wanted to make sure I got something that would be a memorable gift.  {Last year's gift was a trip to Italy and that was a very memorable gift.}

I had been considering buying a new watch for myself for some time now.  I had to think...did I want a trendy watch, a classic watch, an expensive watch...what?  I decided that I didn't just want some flashy, trendy watch.  I wanted an investment piece that would last for a very long time. 

I did some research on the Bloomingdale's website and decided that I wanted a couture designer watch that would look nice if I wore it to the Opera and would still look appropriate with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans at a hockey game. 

I printed out a list of 'bracelet' watches, highlighted the ones I wanted to view and headed to Bloomingdale's to try them on.

To help me decide, I found a sales person that ended up being a world traveler who also enjoyed the Opera.  These two important attributes allowed me the assistance I needed to find a watch I could bond with.  She was able to help me decide what kind of watch would be perfect for me.  I had already decided that I wanted to purchase either a Gucci or a Fendi watch, so that narrowed down the choices. 

Working with the sales lady, I was able to decide how to choose my investment watch.  Here are some things to consider when you are shopping for your own investment watch:

1. The first question all centers around who YOU are.  What is your personality?  Are you trendy? Fashion Forward?  Or are you more of a classic? 
   
   [An easy way to figure this out is by taking a look at your wardrobe and accessories you already own.  Do you tend to buy fashionable items that are the latest trend every single season?  Are you the type of person that always has the latest IT item straight off the runway?  Or are you the type of person that leans more towards the classics that will be in style for the next 20-40 years (think Jackie O or Audrey Hepburn)?]
2. How often do you plan on shopping for a new watch?  Every 2-3 years?  When the style goes out?  Or until it stops running?
3. What type of band do you want?  Leather, silver, gold, duo tone?  What color suits you and your wardrobe?
4. What type of face do you want?  Do you want a watch that marks each hour or one without?  Do you want a digital watch or a watch with hands? How about diamonds?  What kind of color/pattern background do you want on the face?
5. Next...what type of details do you want on the watch?  Does it need to be water-resistant? Glo-in-the-dark?  What types of links do you want?  Do you want a bracelet style, cuff style, or a trendy/classic link bracelet?

When you are at the counter, these are the questions you need to ask yourself.  A good sales person will already be asking you these questions as they try to help you decide on a watch.  The most important thing here is that you need to choose a watch that best reflects your personality.

For me, I went with a classic style because this was an investment watch.  I don't go watch shopping often (haven't worn a watch in 13 years) and I wanted to make sure I chose a watch that would go with everything I own...including those formal gowns.

It is important to actually go to the counter and try the watch on.  I was strongly considering buying one of the leather cuff Gucci watches.  I tried it on and didn't like the way it looked on me.  It was a trendier, more fashion forward watch that I knew I would love.  Truthfully, I thought that was the watch I would end up buying when I saw it online.  Sometimes when you see it on...you don't love it as much. 

I tried on 7 different watches before deciding on a link bracelet watch with a black face and diamonds marking the hours.  The sales lady couldn't find the tag that went with the watch so she brought out a different watch with a chocolate, checkered print face (sans diamonds).  I saw it and said, "No, that's the watch I want."  Ends up that was about a $1445 price difference. 

Bloomies had sent me a $100 gift card for my birthday so I used that towards the watch...and I walked away a very happy customer. 

I don't think I would have been happy with the black face, diamond hours setting.  I was happier with a chocolate face, checkered pattern background.  That is more a reflection of my personality than the diamonds...to me, life is all about the little details.  With the checkered pattern you have to look very close to see it...those are the details I'm looking for.

An investment watch is what it is...an investment.  You're investing a lot of money into a product that you plan on having for a very long time, maybe even something to pass on to future generations.  It is important while shopping for an investment watch that you get a watch that best reflects who you are. 

xxoo,

 

Michelle

Bag of the Week: Tory Burch Amalie Tote

 

Many, many months ago, one of my colleagues suggested I do regular posts on my bag of the week...as in...what bag I'm carrying this week.  To start off that weekly tradition of posting a pic of my bag of the week, allow me to introduce you to this week's bag: the Amalie Wildflower tote by Tory Burch. 

When I picked this bag up from Bloomingdale's last week, it was one of those...I saw it, asked how much it was and bought it.  The sales lady didn't know it was on sale.  I had done my research before going into the store.  I picked it up and said, "This should be on sale, can you tell me how much it is after the extra 20% off coupon?" 

After she told me the price, I responded, "Wrap her up."

The sales lady was amazed that I knew exactly what I was looking for and didn't waste time browsing around looking for something.  I told her that I needed to know what I was looking for when I walked into the store.  Why?  Because of their marble floors.  I can't walk around on their floors for long periods of time without needing to be carried off in a wheelchair (walking around on marble floors causes excrutiating pain for me).  Shopping in person is very rare for me.  I usually know exactly what I'm looking for if and when I do walk into any store. 

Usually if I'm paying the store a visit, it's because they may have a better sale than what they list online OR I need to try on the product.  For this shopping trip, I was trying on formal gowns for the upcoming opera season.  Two gowns, a dress, sweater and top later...I was looking for a new Rebecca Minkoff bag, but didn't see anything I wanted to add to the RM collection when I remembered I needed a weekender bag.  More specifically, I was looking for the Tory Burch Robinson weekender bag.

I explained the dilemma to the sales clerk in the Tory Burch department.  The Robinson weekender was apparently not in stock at the moment.  When I saw the Amalie tote, I picked it up and decided, well...since I'm here...

I was eyeing this tote online, so with the discounts putting it around $170, I had to have it.  Apparently, I purchased the last one. 

There is an alert that comes up for the sales clerk when this happens.  The computer notifies her that she needs to put in an order for more...when she pulled up the stock list, it came back with only ONE tote left in stock in all of the Bloomingdale's network.

So that means...you won't be able to get this exact tote style, but you will be able to get a different tote style with the same pattern.

 

This style is available at both Nordstrom (retail: $295) and Saks Fifth Avenue (retail: $275).

As for the Weekender bag...I did find one.  I'm not a fan of Longchamp, and I told the sales lady this, but she convinced me to buy it after I saw how HUGE it was and how it would fit my travel needs this fall.  She said it was one of the biggest bags they're carrying right now.

 

This weekender is expandable.  The way it is pictured above, that is how it looks when it is not expanded.  Pretty big, right?  When it is expanded, it looks like this...

 

It's a pretty big bag...big enough for three weeks of traveling and not dragging a suitcase along behind you.  You can find this bag at Bloomingdale's (retail: $255).

I have a lot of BIG bags...this one is officially the biggest of them all (even when it's not expanded).

Now, before I go, I wanted to give you a few outfit ideas on a couple of items that would look great with the Amalie bag.  Here are a few pieces I'm loving from Tory Burch...

 

 

The Alice Dress is super cute.  A little pricey, but adorable. (retail: $895).  As for the Chandra Loafers (retail: $250), they look almost exactly like the mini-print on the Amalie tote. 

You can find these items at Tory Burch.

Oh, and if you're curious what the b/w stripe skirt is from the first photo...

 

I picked this up from Ann Taylor on Monday.  I didn't think I would like it, but I'm in the market for dresses right now and this looked amazing on.  Retail is $98, but today, it's on sale (50% off).

xxoo,

Michelle 

The Best Club to Be a Member of This Summer

 

One of the coolest memberships I've discovered recently is probably the best membership I've ever become a part of.  If you love movies, but can't stand the huge ticket price ($14.50 in NYC these days...$19-$20 for 3D movies), then you need to become a member of MoviePass. 

For $34.99/month, you can see unlimited 2D movies.  Here's the fine print though...it's ONE 2D movie a day, no 3D movies, and you can only see the movie once in movie theaters.  BUT there are ways around it.  If you're an AMC Stubs or Regal Crown Club member, you can rack up points for each movie you watch and use the points towards extra tickets and those 3D movies. 

Everyone I've spoken to that has signed up for this club have been raving about it.  One of the best things about it is that I can use it at the local community center's movie nights.  They're a not-for-profit, so ticket prices are only $7.  I can still use my MoviePass to get in.

All I can say is that this membership has been well worth my $25 annual fee (due when you first sign up) and the $34.99/month (if you Google 'coupon codes for MoviePass,' you should be able to find some sort of coupon; I found one for $10 off my first month).  It's allowed me to actually have an entertainment budget and find a way to stay in the air conditioning during the hottest parts of the day during the weekends.

How does this work?  Well, first you need to have an android/iPhone.  After you sign up, they will send you a MoviePass card that works just like a debit card.  You'll also need to download their app.  When you arrive at the theater, check-in at the theater using the MoviePass app.  You will also need your GPS turned on in order to select the movie/time.  After it says "Purchase your ticket now," it immediately activates your debit card.  The card will work for only 30 minutes.  Once the app accepts the movie/time, you immediately head to the kiosk to purchase your ticket.  It works the same for the smaller budget theaters that don't have a kiosk.  They just swipe the card as a regular credit card.

At the kiosk/teller, you can swipe your movie rewards card to collect points. 

It's all very simple when you get the hang of it.  I've seen people complain about sold out movies, etc.  That's why they tell you to check-in 100 feet from the theater.  It will automatically update what movies are sold out. 

The downside to this is if you're meeting friends and decide to go to X movie at X time, you can't purchase the ticket online ahead of time.  You would have to go to the theater itself to purchase the tickets for that time.  If you wait until movie time, no guarantee it won't be sold out. 

For me, I just show up at the movie theater and look to see when the next movie is playing and then I purchase the ticket. 

Also another downside is that you can only view the movie once.  For me, that's not an issue, but there are some people that like to see a movie while it's still in the theater more than once.  Consider this your one discounted admission...you'll have to pay for all the extra entries to the same movie.

The membership pays for itself in 2.25 movies/month (in the big city standards).  For me, I go 2-3 times a week. That's like paying only $2.91 - $4.37 per movie.  Not bad considering the present day movie prices.

How do you join?  Well, first you'll need an invitation: CLICK HERE.  The first ten people to join through that linked invitation ARE IN.  After that, you'll be put on a waiting list. 

Before joining, please make sure to read the fine print and to make sure the theaters you go to are on their list.  Most likely, they are, but just check to make sure. 

After you get your card, go out and enjoy the movies (and get out of this heat!).  Share your movie reviews on Twitter with your followers.  A lot of us MoviePass members do.  I also pass on hockey player reviews too on my feed.  You can find my reviews for movies HERE on this site, as well as on Twitter: @MichelleKenneth.

Trust me, this is the best membership I've come across in a long time.  It's worth every single penny.

xxoo,

Michelle

Something New, Something Blue, Something Borrowed

 

 

 

I decided it was time to put together a new site that I've been thinking about for a long time now...something that takes the home stuff, fashion stuff, photography, books, etc. away from Running to Stand Still so that the site can just focus on the longer, more drawn out journal written adventures/spirituality posts. 

People don't necessarily want to weed through all of the long posts just to get to the shopping, recipes and DIY posts.  By keeping everything separate, it will help people find what they're looking for in a shortened post, as well as allow for each audience to head to whichever site floats their boat. 

Besides the home and fashion stuff, I'll also be talking about the little discoveries I find that are worth sharing, like amazing new sites, products and memberships that are worth every single penny.

Oh, and for those who loved the Fantasy Wardrobe posts and how to create your own...this site will help you with that.  I'm also going to be putting a lot of my rare finds up in the SHOP MY CLOSET (see tab in the navigation bar).  You'll find a lot of designer stuff in my closet, as well as bags upon bags I've accumulated over the years and only carried for a week. 

Did I mention I have a purse collection?  Some people call it an obsession.  I call it my PURSE WARDROBE.  I've been phasing out the non-couture bags and filling the closet with couture bags and bags I've picked up in my international travels.  I'm sure the collection will grow even more when I finally buy and move into my new house.  As for now, I don't have enough room for the entire closet, so the items I'm phasing out of the closet are the non-couture bags...which you will also find in the SHOP MY CLOSET.

Did I mention that since I live in NYC I can find major deals all of the time?  I used to buy Valentino scarves at $40 (retail is over $300).  I once bought a $3,300+ Valentino dress for $2.  Best $2 I've ever spent in my entire life.  When I was in Italy, I told the woman in Florence who was willing to work a deal with me on a Valentino scarf that I paid only $40 in NYC for a Valentino scarf (and I have around 10 scarves).  She said it was impossible.  She bought hers direct from the House of Valentino and couldn't get them for less than 235 euros.  In NYC, you apparently can get the better deal.

Why do I mention this?  Because some of these finds I'm willing to pass on to the readers in the SHOP MY CLOSET.  I put up the first batch of Prada, Fendi, Jimmy Choo and Valentino I'm parting with.  I have a couple of Nicole Miller dresses waiting, as well as some Marc Jacobs, Armani Exchange and Kate Spade items to go up.  So check the tab out each week to see what's available.  Oh, and SHIPPING IS FREE (sorry, I'm only selling to US customers). 

Now, enough about my closet...

Another aspect of this site will also share with you my New Year's Resolution to read 52 books this year (10 classics).  I'll share with you what I'm reading along with a synopsis of my review of the book. 

Soon, I'll also be making my photographs available for sale.  You'll be able to get exclusive sneak peeks into the latest collections I'm working on. 

So that's about it for the introductory post on what's going on and why there's a new site.  I hope you like it and will pass the word on. 

Thanks for stopping by!

xxoo,

Michelle