The following sexist, annoying ad turns out to be … Well, not what you’re expecting:
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Rather, it’s a viral video aimed at driving traffic to http://www.madisonproducts.com.au/site/, a facade that turns out to be the official Australian site of Mad Men.
Bravo. Or brava - whatever’s applicable.
Want to know a secret? Before I moved to New York, I had no idea what Japanese cuisine and culture consisted of beyond sushi and hot sake. After spending a few years here, all the great Japanese food is one of my favorite things about the city. Granted, I still don’t really know which places are authentic and which aren’t (Emma’s our authority on that one), but what I do know is that there is some really terrific food available at Japanese places all over the city. I have a favorite soba place, a favorite katsu place, a favorite ramen place…
Today I’d like to share with you one of my favorite blocks. East 9th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, is a powerhouse of great Japanese places that are totally worth a visit. There are terrific Japanese places all over the city, but it’s hard to beat this block for sheer density.
If you’re a reader and have a little streak of voyeurism in you, you might want to check out LibraryThing. LibraryThing, a website that allows users to share the contents of their libraries online, has a group project called “I See Dead People’s Books” containing the libraries of people of historical and literary significance from Marilyn Monroe to Ernest Hemingway.
My initial thoughts? Samuel Johnson spoke a lot more languages than I do. Marie Antoinette, on the other hand, had a book entitled “Les loisirs d’une jeune personne raisonnable et sensible.” Did she actually read this book? Some of these people appear to have been torturing themselves, but possibly that’s what you have to do for great art. For example, F. Scott Fitzgerald had a copy of Dreiser’s “An American Tragedy.” Dreiser, whee! (I will spare you my thoughts on the subject of “Sister Carrie.”) On the other hand, Dreiser had a copy of Fitzgerald’s “The Beautiful and the Damned,” so I guess that’s only fair.
New libraries are still in the process of being posted, so check back for your favorites!
The view of NYC from my 'hood
For the past three years, I’ve lived in an amazing area of Hudson County, NJ. Alas, my time here has come to an end.
A variety of reasons has fueled the decision to pack it up and move, but the decision wasn’t an easy one. I’ve come to love my little town within a big city, and have truly made this little slice of New York my home. I’m leaving behind a lot of people whom I’ve grown very close to, people who’ve not only seen me through some of the toughest times of my life (including one memorable summer which brought the death of a family member, identity theft, a bad breakup and my ex’s subsequent decision to try his hand at a bit of stalking), but have also been right by my side through some very fun moments.
I’d rather not post publicly where I’m headed to (so if you’re a friend of family member, please don’t comment on it); that said, it’s going to be an interesting and exciting move. I’m looking forward to it, even as I’m a bit sad to see this chapter of my life come to a close. I’ll be back in NYC regularly, which I think is helping soothe my sadness.
That said, my posting has been rather light this week, as I’ve been dealing with utility issues, my current landlord and packing. My Internet is getting turned off tomorrow afternoon, but I hope to be back and posting like normal by Monday. As always, I have a LOT to say (including a couple posts on Gym Bag Essentials and Navigating The SPF Aisle). 
Have a weakness for handbags? New Yorkers can hit the Rebecca Minkoff sample sale running from next Wednesday through Sunday on West 17th Street and scoop up some great deals on the line’s gorgeous leather bags.
The full invite after the jump.
Subtly striped and completely summery. From Theory.
Folks, we have finally come to the end of the line for Betsy’s spring wardrobe update. We’ve done flats, wedges, and summer cover-ups (cardigans and jackets). Betsy’s last request for her update was spring/summer pants. Inspired by the terrific (one might almost say scorching) weather this weekend, we’ve gone a little beyond just spring pants and included bottoms that will take us into summer.
Any fans of Spike’s “Deadliest Warrior” series out there? For those who haven’t seen it, this is, shall we say, a show for guys. It pits history’s best fighters from all eras against each other, with demonstrations and a final computer-based decision on who wins in the end. I saw the tail end of the “Viking vs. Samurai” episode, and, well, it was just about what you’d expect. Big shock, the samurai with his better armor and arms won. I have admittedly not watched much of this series, but I’d like to register an objection to a billboard advertisement I keep seeing for the “Spartan vs. Ninja” episode. While I hesitate to be too picky (ha!), does anyone actually think that you could possibly put Spartans in a level comparison with ninjas? Really?
Here’s my issue. Sparta was Greece’s dominant military power as of approximately 600 BC. Ninjas, on the other hand, were active in Japan somewhere around the 14th century AD. For anyone who hasn’t noticed, that’s almost 2000 years. While I’m not an expert on military technology, I still feel pretty sure that there were significant advances in weaponry and armor over the course of those two millennia. Sparta’s peak military days were following hard on the end of the Bronze Age. The ninjas had gunpowder and cannons. The Spartans may have been kick-ass warriors, but matching them against weaponry from the 14th century is ridiculous.
I’m thinking the next episode should be Taco with AK-49 and body armor vs. the Mongol hordes. Want to guess who’ll win?
Finally! The weather has turned gorgeous, and I’m returning to my warm-weather pursuits. One of my favorite parts of summer is going to the Union Square Greenmarket and watching the different fruits and vegetables come in as the season goes on. Eating strictly local and seasonal isn’t always possible for those of us who live in city apartments, but I still like to take advantage of the best stuff in season while it’s available. If you have access to a farmer’s market and enjoy cooking, there are few things more fun — come check out the season’s best with me!
Women have a complex relationship with hair. We’re obsessed with our “crowning glory,” and will spend large sums of money to get the hair we want. In fact, hair care garners the largest percent of beauty editorial coverage in the pages of women’s magazines - beating even skincare and cosmetics.
So how do you deal when your pride and joy starts coming out in clumps? Female hair loss happens, and the causes range from the natural thinning that comes with age to alopecia areata (a condition in which the body attacks the hair follicles). It’s a surprisingly hard reality to accept, but there are some simple techniques you can use to make your mane look thicker.
One quick tip: take some “before” shots of your hair with your camera or cell phone, then take some “afters” at least three months later. You’ll be pleasently surprised.
Embrace Niacin-based Hair Products
Niacin is a B-vitamin which has the ability to dilate blood vessels, enhancing the scalp’s circulation. Because of this, it is actually capable of stimulating the activity of hair follicles, improving hair growth. Possibly the most famous niacin-based brand is Nioxin, a line of hair products that includes everything from shampoo and conditioner to more in-depth treatments. It’s not the sexiest hair care brand around, but it’s been proven to work in as a little as 12 weeks.
The Nioxin Collection
While it’s the most well-known brand out there, Nioxin isn’t the only niacin-based line for thinning locks. Hair guru Frederic Fekkai has his MORE line, a a four step system that nourishes thin hair and troubled hair follicles. It contains a patented Niaplex technology which basically releases essential doses of niacin to your hair each day. With continuous use, after just 90 days, your hair will seem thicker, stronger and fuller!
Fekkai's MORE collection
More tips after the jump …
Happy World Tapir Day! That’s right, April 27 is World Tapir Day. I can hear half of you (okay, maybe three-quarters) asking “What in God’s name is a tapir, and why do I care?” The short answer to that is that tapirs are charmingly rotund relatives of the elephant and the rhino, and you care because they are a) freaking adorable, and b) endangered or vulnerable everywhere they live.
A lowland or Brazilian tapir. Isn't he a charmer?