This week why don't you ...

{via DineOutIrene.com}

Fall will officially begin on Friday, but Fall weather has already arrived here in NYC. While many people are mourning Summer's departure, I'm ecstatic. This is by far my favorite season ... mainly for the fashion, but also because I won't be a hot, sweaty mess when I get out of the subway. I also feel more inspired to get out and do something, like one of these events happening this week:

• See: Tickets went on sale this week for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at New York City Center. Performances don't begin until November 30th, but do yourself a favor and get your tickets now before all the best shows (and seats!) are gone.

• Eat: 80% of the local farmers who supply NYC greenmarkets were adversely affected by Hurrican Irene, with 10% of them reporting a loss of 70 to 100% of their harvest. Chefs and restaurants around the city will participate in Dine Out Irene on Sept 25th, donating 10% of that day's sales to aid those farmers. You can reserve a table can via OpenTable.com. 

• Do: The Feast of San Gennaro is an annual MUST do in NYC. Take to the streets of Little Italy now through September 25th for entertainment, yummy Italian street food and of course the annual cannoli eating contest.

• Shop: New season items at ASOS are 20% off in honor of London Fashion Week. Visit the site now and enter code 'SHOPLFW' at checkout to get your savings.

Have any additions for this list? Tell me in the comments!


This week why don't you is a weekly s+s feature spotlighting culture, entertainment and local NYC events/businesses you should see, hear, shop, eat or do. If you have an item you would like included in this list please send an email to StyleSaveur@gmail.com for review.

This week why don't you ...

GOODNESS pop-up restaurant housed at Ed's Chowder House on the Upper West Side
Photo Credit: Abe Shaw

If you didn't realize we're in the midst of New York Fashion Week then I might have to take your pulse. Throughout the week fashion devotees will be traipsing all over town viewing Spring/Summer 2012 fashions from top brands and up & coming designers. If you're not able to catch a cab in Manhattan, this is why. Here are some fashionable NYC happenings to add to your calendar for the week if you're not heading to the tents or need a place to escape the madness:

• Eat: Full service NYFW pop-up restaurant GOODNESS from Lancome model Elettra Wiedemann, which features locally sourced, healthy appetizers, entrees and desserts prepared by a few of NYC's top chefs. GOODNESS is open daily from 7am - 3pm for breakfast in the space typically used by Ed's Chowder House, directly across the street from the tents at Lincoln Center, through Sept 14th. Featured chefs include Nick Wilbur of Fat Radish, Christopher Randell of Whitehall, Rob Newton of Seersucker and Ed Brown of Ed's Chowder House. Reservations can be made via the GOODNESS website or Gilt City.

• See:  NYFW runway shows from the comfort of your desk, couch, bed via livestreams on YouTube's Live Runway and First Comes Fashion.

• Shop: Buy the street style looks seen on the fashion glitterati attending NYFW through American Express Street Seen, in partnership with Style.com and Net-A-Porter. Visit Style.com daily for top street style looks from the tents, as shot by Tommy Ton, and the opportunity to "shop the look" and recreate your favorite outfit (I'm eyeing a red skinnies/plaid button down pairing.) Added bonus - American Express Cardmembers get $100 off any $500 purchase from Net-A-Porter.

• Do: Travel out to the Long Island wine country for Food & Wine's Harvest East End Festival Tasting on Saturday, Sept 17th. Join East End wineries, restaurants, farmers and food artisans in celebrating all things wine and food from the area - taste wine from 28 different local winemakers and eat locally sourced dishes from 18 different East End restaurants. Tickets are $125 and benefit three local East End charities. 

Have any additions for this list? Tell me in the comments!


This week why don't you is a weekly s+s feature spotlighting culture, entertainment and local NYC events/businesses you should see, hear, shop, eat or do. If you have an item you would like included in this list please send an email to StyleSaveur@gmail.com for review.

This week why don't you ...

'This week why don't you' is a weekly s+s feature spotlighting culture, entertainment and local NYC events/businesses you should see, hear, shop, eat or do. If you have an item you would like included in this list please send an email to StyleSaveur@gmail.com for review.

Dekalb Market Shops in Fort Greene, Brooykln
Photo Credit: Trendpool

It's the last full week of August and it'll be Fall before you know it. Take time this week to enjoy some last minute summer activities before the temperatures begin to drop.

• Eat: Newly opened restaurant Tertulia featuring food from Spain, helmed by former Boqueria chef and Iron Chef America contestant Seamus Mullen
• See: Rosemary's Baby at Movies with a View in Brooklyn Bridge Park on Thursday August 25th
• Shop: Dekalb Market in Fort Greene Brooklyn for handmade goods and local food products
• Do: Skip the wait and throw a brunch themed party with these tips from DailyCandy

Have any additions for this list? Tell me in the comments!

This week why don't you ...

'This week why don't you' is a weekly s+s feature spotlighting culture, entertainment and local NYC events/businesses you should see, hear, shop, eat or do. If you have an item you would like included in this list please send an email to StyleSaveur@gmail.com for review.

Bird boutique in Cobble Hill Brooklyn
Photo Credit: PaperMag

It's going to be a rainy week here in New York and we've already hit record rainfall. I prefer to avoid looking like a wet, muddy mess so this week's list of happenings is focused on what you can do indoors. 

• See: The season premiere of What Not to Wear tomorrow night (August 16th) on TLC at 9pm (I love Stacy and Clinton)
• Do: Start planning your Fashion's Night Out itinerary by visiting the just launched site.
• Eat: Seasonal ice cream flavors made by local experts at New Amsterdam Market at the South Street Seaport on Sunday August 21st (a covered outdoor market so it counts!)
• Shop: The end of summer sale at Brooklyn boutique Bird (all locations) where you can find Rachel Comey blouses and Current/Elliot denim for up to 75% off. Sale ends on Aug 24th

Have any events to add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

This week why don't you ...

'This week why don't you' is a weekly s+s feature spotlighting culture, entertainment and local NYC events/businesses you should see, hear, shop, eat or do. If you have an item you would like included in this list please send an email to StyleSaveur@gmail.com for review.

The Brisket Taquito at Cafe de La Esquina via GrubStreet

We're already into the second week of August and it seems as though Summer is quickly slipping away. While many summer festivals have come to a close there are still plenty of things to do in New York:

• Eat: Mexican street food at the La Esquina outpost in Williamsburg, which soft opens starting Monday, 8/8
• Do: Book a nail or waxing appointment at Polish Bar of Brooklyn (Clinton Hill or Prospect Heights locations) and receive $5 off in celebration of their 5th Anniversary
• Hear: Jay Z and Kanye's hotly anticipated Watch the Throne album drops Tuesday, 8/9
• See: The movie adaptation of New York Times bestseller The Help, which opens on Friday, 8/12
• Shop: Vintage Furniture and Decorative Accessories on sale at One Kings Lane starting Saturday, 8/13

Have any additions for this list? Tell me in the comments!

Recipe | Spinach Cheese Strata

I have close to 50 cookbooks at home. Seriously. For some reason I have a thing for cookbooks and buy them often for inspiration or simply because they're pretty to look at. I will admit that that it's on the rarest of occasions that I actually attempt making recipes from those cookbooks. As I mentioned before, I generally don't have the time to cook or shop for ingredients and often order in or cook the same meals over and over again.

Spinach Cheese Strata
Recipe and Photo Credit: Annie's Eats

After a conversation with and some encouragement from a very dear friend of mine, I've decided to attempt at least one new recipe each weekend. This weekend I've decided to treat myself to a luxuriously lazy Sunday morning at home and will bake this Spinach Cheese Strata for brunch. I was introduced to this recipe by sugarpie project on Pinterest, which in turn led me to the wonderful Annie's Eats food blog where I found the full recipe. The genius of the recipe is you do the prep the night before and bake it in the morning, which means my Sunday morning will still be easy.

Haute Table | Vino Vino Wine Bar

Haute Table is a regular feature on s+s that showcases where to eat or drink now. It focuses on local New York restaurants and bars, but will occasionally spotlight places I've visited while traveling. I only write about places I have actually visited and would recommend to a friend.

My friends have to drag me to nightclubs, but I'm ALWAYS up for a good wine bar. Something about wine and cheese plates I guess. I discovered Vino Vino Wine Bar from a deal they offered on Living Social at the beginning of the summer. I immediately purchased the voucher and made plans to check it out with my sister. We weren't disappointed and now Vino Vino is on my list of go to places for an evening out.

Photo Credit: Nathaniel J Oliver Photograpy

Vino Vino offers a variety of wine from California, Italy, France, Greece and a host of other countries. Wines are served mainly by the glass and cost around $6 - $20. The bar also hosts a 1/2 off happy hour daily from 5pm to 7pm, where all bottles of wine are 50% off! For those of you who don't drink wine, they also serve craft beers and soft drinks.

Aside from the extensive selection of wine, Vino Vino also serves a menu of artisanal cheeses, cured meats and small plates. I highly recommend the Pan a la Catalana (you may need two) and the Mixto antipasto plate.

The best part about this particular wine bar? The adjacent store, Maslow 6, sells all of the wines served in the bar so you can take home your favorite!

Vino Vino Wine Bar and Maslow 6 Wine Shop
211 West Broadway
New York, NY 10013
212.925.8510

Know of any other wine bars that are a must visit? Let me know in the comments!

This week why don't you ...

'This week why don't you' is a weekly s+s feature spotlighting culture, entertainment and local NYC events/businesses you should see, hear, shop, eat or do. If you have an item you would like included in this list please send an email to StyleSaveur@gmail.com for review.

Summer Movies in McCarren Park ... Photo Credit: Brooklyn365

There's lots of interesting happenings going on this week, some of which I absolutely cannot wait to attend! Check the list and mark your calendars:

• See: Clueless at the McCarren Park Summerscreen on Wednesday Aug 3rd (I'm way too excited about this one.)
• Hear: Haiku at The House of Haiku on Thursday Aug 4th at Brooklyn Historical Society
• Eat: NYC Restaurant Week has been extended through Labor Day so take advantage of Lunch for $24.07 and Dinner for $35.00 at some of the city's best eateries
• Buy: Pre-order Design*Sponge at Home from Barnes & Noble for 40% off the cover price. (Grace Bonney's Design*Sponge blog is one of my daily reads and I can't wait for my copy of her book to arrive in September!)
• Do: There's still time to get in shape for Labor Day so join JCF bootcamp for women only bootcamp classes

Have any additions to this list? Tell me in the comments!

Gourmet Food Delivery from 19 Charles Street

Like most New Yorkers I'm quick to order in for dinner after a long day at work, but I actually love to cook and prefer a home-cooked meal to any takeout. I enjoy pouring myself a glass of wine and cooking from a recipe out of one of my many cookbooks. Problem is I don't always have the right ingredients on hand and who has time to decide on a recipe, then go to the store, then come home, then prep the ingredients ... by then I'd rather just pick up the phone. That is until I found the solution ...

I was introduced to 19 Charles Street via DailyCandy and I've been a fan of the company ever since. Launched earlier this year, 19 Charles Street is a "members-only, recipe-specific gourmet food and farmers market delivery service in NYC." They're an excellent resource for the home chef interested in trying gourmet recipes (like me), but with little time to go to the farmers market/butcher shop/cheese shop to source the best ingredients yourself (also like me.) 19 Charles Street does it all for you - crafting gourmet recipes, purchasing local organic produce and meats, packing items into the right portion size and delivering it to you ready to cook a meal for one or more.

Here are some things you should know before you order:

• The site is members-only so you'll have to request an invite to join.
• Every Monday four new recipes are offered up to members. You have one week to place an order for delivery the following week (they only deliver on Monday's and Wednesday's.)
• This service is not at all cheap, but quality never is. Meals cost $30 per serving, though the servings are substantial, so be prepared to shell out big bucks if you're ordering for a dinner party.
• The recipes may seem complicated, but they're actually fairly simple and generally take under an hour to complete. If you know your way around a kitchen then you have nothing to worry about, but I'd probably save it for a weekend project if you barely know how to boil water.

Whether you want to impress a date or have a girls night in or even if you just want to treat yourself to a great meal, 19 Charles Street is a great option.

Red Rooster Comes to Harlem (in the Fall)

When Chef Marcus Samuelsson was announced as a contestant on season 2 of Bravo's Top Chef Masters, listed next to his name was the name of a restaurant that no one was familar with. Flash forward a few weeks and the questions have been answered - Chef Samuelsson is set to open Red Rooster in Harlem later on this year.
 
This is one restaurant I'm really looking forward to. Chef Samuelsson's understanding of flavor is unmatched and I truly believe he'll be able to create a fine-dining establishment with some soul. The concept will focus on New American cuisine made with fresh local food, definitely inspired by his New American Table cookbook.

No word on where the restaurant will be located, but the rumor is it will be on 125th Street. I plan on being there opening night.
 
 
Image courtesy of HarlemCondoLife.com.

How to Throw a Vintage Chic Tailgate Party

While perusing my usual list of blogs and sites I came across YumTV and became entranced. Brought to you by the ladies over at PopSugar, YumTV showcases recipes and chic party ideas for the modern girl. I was able to learn a new way to make Chicken Paillard, a great idea for a fine-dining level party appetizer (Filet Mignon crostini) and some tips for making food the center of a party.

If you're looking for some foodie inspiration then definitely logon to yum.popsugar.tv. In the meantime, whet your appetite with this video on how to throw a Vintage Chic Tailgate party, just in time for the Superbowl: