Yes, I won! Thanks ML!

Thank you, Zach Brooks, for picking me randomly to win a spot at the taping of Wine Library TV next week and free dinner at Lily's!! I can't wait!

http://midtownlunch.com/2009/08/18/gary-vaynerchuk-is-bringing-wine-library-tv-to-midtown/

Will let you know how it goes: )

Burn the Floor!

Tonight after a crazy crazy day, met up with my dear friend Becca W., who gave me an extra ticket for the new ballroom show that just opened on Broadway, Burn the Floor. It was HOT! SO much energy, packed with really great ballroom dancers (pretty much all Latin), great costumes, and amazing bodies haha. Plus, guess who I saw...(I know you're going to scream, Tony...: )

ANYA AND PASHA from So You Think You Can Dance!! They are the feature couple, after Maxim and Karina finished their debut. Pasha is so nice, I wanted to talk to him all night: )



Thank you so much to Becca, the amazing runner who just finished her first half marathon this weekend (NY) - your friendship is the best...and love going to shows with you too!!

Top Chef Premiere! Las Vegassss

Yes, another season of Top Chef is ON! I actually haven't seen the past few seasons b/c I thought it got a little old after a while...but after a few seasons, and watching the finale of the Top Chef Masters show, I think I can get into it again this season. Lots of different personalities on the show this year, though tattoo chefs seem to be the thing this year. And sorry, couldn't tell if Ashley was a girl or guy...but I think she's a girl. Next week's show will tell us for sure, b/c it's girls v. boys!

We wanted to kick this show off with a little dinner and catching up, so we put on our cowboy hats (I had a bunch extra from work haha) and had a nice evening together! Thanks to Greg R. for cooking such a yummy dinner! Look forward to the next one: )

Yeehaw! Las Vegas! haha
TOP CHEF - Las Vegas - on Bravo, Wednesdays at 10p

What Happens When a Ken Liu Comes in Town...

We love having old friends come in town because it gives those of us from CHS already here the perfect excuse to get together (since just living in the same city isn't enough: )...hehe, it feels like old times anyways, don't you think? No time lost, just new memories to make together...

So great you could come for a visit, Ken! I really think you and JJ made the most of your trip: ).

Here's how it all happened:

SATURDAY 8/15
11AM - Started my morning standing in a room full of smelly guys of all sizes wearing white and running back and forth on a gray panel, attached to a wire, no less, with a long sabre = yes, that's right, fencing! Went to see Jerry L. do his thing against US Olympians and the bunch, and it was such a neat experience! Thanks for inviting me, Jerry!

8PM - I enjoyed the afternoon, and then we all met up for dinner at Ippudo! I've heard such good things but never had a chance to go. It was quite an experience, much in part to having to wait 2 hours before getting seated! But, no worries, because the "it was life changing". I think I ate it too quick b/c I was so hungry haha, but it was good! (grabbed some photos from Ken's fb album too: ).

While we waited though, we enjoyed Momofuku's Milk Bar, where my new friend Steven hooked us up with soft serve, cereal milk, and each of the cookies! Delicious!

11PM - Ended the night at my favorite drink/lounge place, Wine Bar near St. Marks!



THURSDAY 8/20
One more breakfast on their last day! Met up at Essa-A-Bagel, "The Best Bagels in NY".

Until next time!

Cutest Dog Competition: Meet Gemma

This is a great work pastime: check out the Cutest Dog Competition!

MEET GEMMA!
My co-worker Katie R. put up a picture of her 4 year old and would love for you to vote for her this week, until 8/14! Her name is Gemma, and she was rescued from a NY animal shelter.

Vote here!

Jeffry's NY Restaurant Recos (in 5 Minutes)

If there was a contest for most restaurant recommendations in 5 minutes, I would put my money on my friend Jeffry C. (we're childhood friends from GA, same b-day, knows how to eat his way around NY (esp Japanese: ), obviously!).

We were looking for a dinner place for another HS friend Ken L., who's coming in town this weekend, and after 25 fb messages back and forth (granted, there are 7 people chatting haha), Jeboody came back with this great list first thing this morning that I wanted to share (I reformatted it so it's prettier, hehe), and so I can keep it on file for later! Let me know if you're interested in trying anything with me!

JEFFRY'S QUICK NY RESTAURANT LIST (that I stole from our FB converstions):
If you want...

...Japanese

• oh taisho! will be ok w/more than 6 people, i've been there w/ more. but of course, you'd have to wait.
• alternatives: go! sushi or that yokoso restaurant above the supermarket nearby. i can't remember the name
• you should go to ippudo (we're going!) and get kogashi miso ramen.
• if you got a hankerin (we're from the south? haha) for katsu, go to katsu-hama like charlene (me!) suggested, it is really good. don't let the indian waiters fool you, it's a pretty japanese place.
• the takoyaki/okonomiyaki (no idea what it is, but i'm ordering it!) place is called otafuku. both their takoyaki and okonomiyaki are good. but any place you go to like oh! taisho is going to have this stuff.

...Italian by a japanese chef - (interesting)

• go to dieci on 10th b/w 1st & 2nd.
• there's also basta pasta, a lot more japanese influence here.

...French, try la sirene, pretty good.

...pizza, try artichoke (14th b/w 1st & 2nd ave) or bleeker st pizza (bleeker st and something)

...Mexican style corn and you're in soho/nolita area, go to at cafe habana (elizabeth & prince - the to-go place).

...brunch, go to jane or the smith (smith on sunday, only day they serve brunch). their country breakfast is good (cuz of cheddar grits - yum!) and french toast. i know jane takes reservations so that's useful. of course there are more popular brunch places out there but these are good alternatives to waiting in line.

...desserts

• momofuku milk bar is worth going to for the blueberry cream or cornflake/marshmellow/chocolate cookie.
• nearby all of this is also chikalicious to-go place (and the regular restaurant), but get the sundae and/or smores cupcake at the chikalicious to-go place.
• and if you're ever in Midtown East, where bloomingdale's is, go inside bloomie's to 40 carrots and get their froyo.

[THE END]

I bet there are many other restaurants he would suggest if asked, but I'm just saying--this is impressive for for an immediate response, right? Thanks for letting me share your picks, Jeffry: ).

What do you think, out there? I think it's time to eat!

8/8 Part II: Angie+Alex's Housewarming!

After being amazed by the yo-yo skillz (yes, they deserve a z) of the yo-yo kids, I headed over to my cousin Angie's apt for a housewarming dinner party! She and her fiancee Alex just moved to Midtown West a few weeks ago with their dog Scout, and I'm happy to see them settled in already and really enjoying the new place. It was fun meeting their friends and having a delicious meal. Thanks again for having me over!

MENU: Strawberry Spinach Salad, Delicious Yam +Veggies Soup, Grilled shrimp, and Black Forest Cake! I forgot to take a picture of the figs + goat cheese, but those were a hit too:D

FUN: one of the endless fun things you can do with the iPhone (pics from Andrew's phone: ). Took some coordination, but we did it! Nice teamwork!

+ =

The end product:
1: Dinner Guests - perfect, 8 on 8/8! So lucky.


2: our love children


3: Look who else showed up!


And yes, we had a Housewarming Song to wish them a Happy...Warm House haha.


Look forward to seeing everyone again at Bonnie's Lincoln Center Out of Doors performance today at 12!