It’s grey and rainy in the city today, I’m not sure where the tease of summer went.  I can’t wait to get out of the city, and cross that bridge.  There is something so freeing about driving, and I think you need a song to suit that road trip vibe.  For some reason when I’m on a road trip I like to listen to folk music now and again, I know who would have thought?  It kind of makes me feel like I’m in my own private car commercial.  I should have my hand out the window and my hair ever so perfectly windblown while a cool folk song plays in the background.

I actually discovered Nick Drake’s Pink Moon from a VW commercial.  But, this is my folk song of the day.  It’s called “Blood” by a band called The Middle East. They are actually from Australia, but I think there is something so ambient about this song, and then it sort of changes at the end out of nowhere.  I’ll listen to it today while crossing the Williamsburg Bridge, staring at the Manhattan skyline and feeling like all my problems are a million miles away.

May 11, 2013 sl 156 Bowery, Music, Soundtrack of My Life No comments

My friend asked me, “what are the spring trends you are seeing on the streets of New York?”  Unfortunately, I had to answer with the worst trend ever, which is, the homely wedge sneaker.  What is with this ladies?  I understand that I’m taller than most, so perhaps am not looking for extra height in my day shoes, but really, there is no excuse.  First, does no one else see that they look like orthopedic shoes, or for those with some sort of foot malady?  The velcro?  Who wears velcro shoes?

In the beginning I thought they could maybe be cool. Granted that was when I saw a picture of Charlize Theron in them, and frankly she could wear Birkenstocks and I’d be in awe of her style.  Yet, they don’t have that cool factor anymore, especially because they are everywhere! Everywhere I look in New York.  I feel like they are like the Von Dutch hats, or Juicy Couture sweatpants of yesteryear; just because everyone is wearing them that doesn’t make them attractive people!  Hopefully this trend will fade out, but in the meantime, I’ll be walking around the streets of Manhattan thinking all these girls who are strutting their stuff, really to me, look as if they just walked out of the geriatric home, and must have a problem with their foot arches or something.

May 9, 2013 sl 156 Bowery, Blah Blah, Blah Blah Blah No comments

My skin is always a bit of a nightmare.  Dry over here, oily over there, some redness on my forehead and some clogged pores on my nose.  Sweet.  It’s a combination mess, and it’s hard to find something to treat all of its ailments.  Should I put the greasy night cream just on the patch that’s flakey, and then the dry out cream on the zits?  You get the idea.

But, recently I found something that I can just rub on all over and not worry about.  It’s called Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate oil, and it’s the new love of my skin life.  I found it while perusing the internet for more rosehip seed oil, and it seemed like it was tailor made with me in mind.  It’s from the UK, and was founded by Sarah Brown.  She developed all of her skin care products for those with sensitive skin.  Hello there Sarah, that would be me!!!!

My skin is so sensitive. I suffer from rosacea and almost anything irritates it.  This however, did not, and, if anything, I saw  my redness reduced over night.  Another thing I absolutely love about this oil, is that it’s more of a dry oil.  Going into the more warmer, humid months I’m totally freaked out about using oil on my skin for fear of major pore clogage.  But, this goes on oily, but dries to a dry finish pretty quickly.  The smell is kind of odd, sort of reminds me perhaps of an old tea bag? But, I figure it’s all those organic oils, and I rather that then an overly perfumed granny bomb.

Plus, the price in my mind is pretty damn fantastic.  Thirty-five dollars, and a little goes a long way, you only really need a few drops to cover your whole face (and I have a pretty big head.)  But, here is the bottom line, aside from their sales pitch which sold me pretty well, “refines appearance of damaged skin and fine lines,” is the fact that I did see noticeable results within a few days of nightly use.  Definitely tighter skin, and definitely less redness. I’m curious to try some of their other products, but, in the mean time, I really do recommend this as the oil du jour.

Pai Skin Care Link

May 8, 2013 sl Beauty No comments

I am cynical. I am jaded.  I am a fundamental pessimist to the core.  You may go in of so far as to say I have a chip on my shoulder from time to time.  Let’s just say, it takes a lot to warm this heart, or make me feel like there is a ton of sense in this world.  But, the BBC’s The Choir does just that.

Essentially, it’s a reality show where Gareth Malone, a choirmaster, teaches choral singing to those who have never had the chance to sing before.  For example, the last season (and I’ve seen them all) was called Sing While You Work.  It took sort of everyday blokes if you will, and taught them how to sing in a choir.  Some worked at the airport, some at the post office.  Very ordinary people and he taught them how to sing.

The result, was nothing short of inspiring.  Music is such an incredible thing, and you see it here in full force.  A complete and utter change in all who participate.  It gives them a joie de vivre.  You see them singing whilst sorting mail, talking about how they would have never necessarily talked to their co-worker until now when they are all in the choir together.  How music unites us as a people and moves us in our every day lives is really the message here.  I’ve watched this show and been brought to tears too many times to count.  It reminds you about the little things in life, like music, that make even the most jaded and cynical remember what life’s all about.

Amazon-BBC The Choir

May 6, 2013 sl Blah Blah, Music, TV No comments

I love this song.  I keep listening to it on repeat, it’s just one of those songs that puts a bounce in your step.  It’s by a British band from South London called Bastille.  I’m not sure what it is with  me and my British bands, but I can’t get enough.  They are called Bastille because Dan from the band was born on Bastille Day, pretty cute.

I just love the lyrics of this song too.  “How am I gonna be an optimist about this?”  ”How am I gonna be an optimist about this?”

I can so relate to that, being the eternal pessimist I am.

But, this song will turn even the most cynical into a hop along happy pants.

April 30, 2013 sl Music, Soundtrack of My Life 3 comments

Every summer we bbq like crazy in the Hamptons. You know how that stupid Sonja on Real Housewives of New York wants to do a recipe book based on her toaster oven? We could do that with the bbq. The great thing about bbq’ing though, is that you don’t have a lot of added fat.  No added butter or what have you for taste.  It’s the taste of the grill that’s great, and it’s so easy and gets everyone outside.

One crowd pleaser that I can not get enough of is my sister’s tuna burgers.  They are so delicious and fresh, and are such a healthier option than hamburgers.  Don’t be intimidated by the long list here, or the length of the recipe.  It’s really much easier than it looks, and once you master these bad boys you’ll be the pimp of the grill all summer long.

Heidi’s World Famous Best In the Universe Tuna Burgers Recipe  (makes about 4-6 burgers)

You will need:

For the patties:

• 1 Pound of fresh Ahi tuna (make sure it’s bright and red and super fresh)
• 1 Lemon
• 1 Bunch of cilantro
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Old Bay seasoning
• Worcestershire sauce
• 1 Vidalia sweet onion
• 2-3 tablespoons capers

For the garnish:

You can garnish your burger however you want.  We’ve done our tuna burgers with avocado, diced jalapeños, or whatever you think is yummy.  In general though, we always use this, if you want to follow suit.

For the garnish:

• 1 Iceberg lettuce head (use about half, chop that crunchy joy up)
• 2 Tomatoes on the vine thinly sliced with lots of salt and pepper
• Onion
• Pickles
• Thousand Island
• Ketchup/Mustard
• BRIOCHE BUNS (I’m putting that in caps, because while you can use a regular hamburger bun or any bread product, I really think the brioche buns puts this over the top in the delicious meter)

Recipe:

Preheat bbq to 425 degrees. (You want it nice and hot to get a good seer on the outside-but watch those suckers because they can really over cook at that temp too.)

Cut tuna into 4 pieces using a sharp chefs knife.  Wash your cilantro and set aside.

Take 1/2 of your Vidalia onion and put in food processor and chop so it’s nice and finely diced.  Set aside. (You can use left over onion as garnish on burger.)

Take about 10-15 leaves of cilantro and put into food processor until finely diced as well, then set aside.

Take your 4 pieces of tuna and place in food processor with chop blade as setting.

Add two pinches of sea salt, 4 nice big grinds of pepper, 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce, two shakes of Old Bay seasoning, 3 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of grated lemon zest, 2 tablespoons of grated onion, 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh cilantro, 2 tablespoons of capers, throw all that in your food processor with the tuna.  Then put lid on food processor and pulse it 10-12 times until it resembles tuna tartar.  (Don’t grind it too finely, you still want it to have a bit of chunk.)

Take a cookie sheet and line with tin foil.  Over the tin foil drizzle about 2 tablespoons of EVOO.  Put the olive oil on palm of hands and take tuna and measure about 3/4 cup of tuna and form patties to desired burger size.  (The EVOO on your hands will make it so the tuna doesn’t stick to you.)  Place each side of burger patty on cookie sheet so each side is coated in a bit of EVOO, this way it won’t stick to your bbq.

Sprinkle each patty with a bit of Old Bay seasoning and salt and pepper.

Place patties on bbq.  (Be careful with these suckers as they can fall apart and it sucks when they fall through the grates.)

Turn timer on for 3 minutes at 425 degrees.

While cooking patties cut brioche buns in half, and cut your veg garnish for burgers.

Flip your burger at 3 minutes to other side (again, careful careful.) Place brioche buns on bbq to toast. (You don’t have to toast your buns, but I think they are scrumptious  when they have that extra crisp crunch.)

After cooking patty on each side for three minutes , take off and let the tuna rest. (You can always cook for less time if you want it more on the raw side.)

Garnish your bun as you would see fit, grab that tuna and put in burger bun of joy.  How yummy is that?

See how nice and red?

Four pieces, cilantro and onions.

Tuna tartar from food processor.

Cooked patties off bbq.

Final product, Heidi’s World Famous, Best In the Universe Tuna Burger.

April 28, 2013 sl Dinner Party 5 comments

I am obsessed with Susanne Bier.  I love her films, love that she is a smart, powerful woman, and love that each movie she makes strikes some sort of an emotional chord with me.  Her films are believable, honest, and heart felt.  I could go on about all of them, but I’m going to focus on two.

Even though she won an Academy Award for In a Better World, that’s not my favorite.  My favorite film of hers, is After the Wedding.  If you haven’t seen it, stop reading my rambles and go watch it now.  It’s a family drama, that intertwines a bunch of stories and stars Mads Mikkelsen.  So many of the Danish/Dogme films use the same actors, and who can blame them? I could stare at Mads face for days.  Not that he’s some super Hollywood man-hunk, but you can just feel his emotions through the subtle expressions on his face.

Essentially it’s about a family secret that changes everyone lives.  It left me as per usual, sobbing on the couch at parts, to brimming from ear to ear with a big smile at the end where they are all dancing to It’s Raining Men.  I can not recommend this movie enough to anyone who hasn’t seen it.  But, I know for some it’s old news, so now I’m going to wax on about another movie by Susanne Bier that I recently saw called, Love Is All You Need.

I loved this movie too.  It’s lighter than some of Susanne’s other films, but I think that is a risk in of itself.  To make a romantic comedy that isn’t completely stupid or filled with predictability, but still has some emotional back bone to it is truly a cinematic feat. The movie stars Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dryholm, who was also in In a Better World.

Firstly, Pierce Brosnan, what the hell is he doing in a Danish film? My thoughts exactly.  But, he works so well in this, playing a dick head business man with a chip on his shoulder.  He’s so smoldering, I caught myself developing an instant crush.  But, the real star of this movie is Trine. She completely carries the film, and I think if it had been anyone else it wouldn’t have worked.  She plays a hairdresser who has recently had cancer and has been left by her douche bag husband for a younger woman.  She’s so innocent and likable, you completely cheer for her through the whole film.  She goes to Southern Italy (you know how I love a good setting) for her daughter’s wedding and meets Pierce(her daughter’s fiancee’s Dad) along the way.  What ensues is pure joy, with laughable moments, to tugging at your heart strings tenderness.  I think it comes out early May, but I suggest you mark it down now and busy yourself watching all Susanne Bier’s films until then.

Amazon-After the Wedding

April 23, 2013 sl Best Foreign Language Films, Movies 1 comment

There is a trend sweeping the island of Manhattan that I have been noticing every which way I turn.  It’s this sort of trendster-hipster-yoga meets blissed out person.  Everywhere I look it seems someone is living a much more blissed out life than moi. Granted,  I know that’s not too hard but still…

I looked up a few of said people’s blogs.  They are all about “living every day bliss.”  While another preached that if you are having trouble in life you merely need to “dance.”  Does this mean physically bust a move, or do I dance a jig in my mind until I reach the road to happiness?  I don’t understand this.

While certainly I applaud, and there is a rather large part of me that is jealous of these zenned out creatures. I can’t help but wonder how many downward dogs and sun salutations does it take to be so damn happy?  Is it the hummus or copious amounts of green leafy vegetables in liquid form?  If I’m only drinking spinach through a straw, I’m not going to be walking around in some vitamin B induced euphoria, I’m going to be walking around cursing the world and those that eat solid food.  How do they do it?

There is a newly opened restaurant around the corner from my house where it’s all vegan.  It has a line out the door like McDonald’s in Times Square.  The menu is filled with the likes of “detox salad wraps.”  Isn’t a salad enough of a detox in of itself? It’s first ingredient is julienned burdock.  What the hell is burdock, I thought that was some sort of bark? Maybe it is?

I feel like I am the only person left on the island who eats cheese and who isn’t having ten bowel movements a day.

April 18, 2013 sl Blah Blah, Blah Blah Blah 4 comments

When Mad Men is getting you down, watch the BBC’s The Hour.  I don’t know what it is about Mad Men, the first season or two blew me out of the water.  I loved the characters, the time period, everything about it.  But, somehow I keep watching hoping it will get better this season, but it never does.

Why does Matthew Weiner always focus on irrelevant characters?  This season it’s that brat of a daughter’s friend, to the random new kiss ass guy in the office.  I don’t care about them.  I want to watch Joan, Don, and perhaps a little Peggy and Pete thrown in.  Damn it, where the hell is Betty? It’s just not working for me.  Of course, like any good addict I’ll keep watching, and then will curse at the end of the episode.  But, the scenes from next week will leave me all eager beaver for the next episode, and thus the cycle will repeat itself.  Why is the upcoming preview so much more titillating than the actual episode?

However, there is somewhere you can turn to get a good solid fix of not quite 1960’s (it’s set in 1956, but close enough) drama, if Mad Men isn’t delivering.  This would be known as The Hour by the BBC.

It’s set around a news current affairs show, called The Hour.  So like Mad Men, you have all the inner workings of the office, and the great politics that go with it.  Dominic West, who is completely swoon worthy is Hector. The suave, straight British version of Anderson Cooper, a news presenter at The Hour.  Romola Gari is Bel, the gorgeous blond haired producer, think Betty with a job.  There is lots of sexual tension between these two (the kind that you so want to happen between Joan and Don, that never does.)

Then there are some other characters too that are great.  Ben Whishaw who was last seen in James Bond (I have no idea what he was doing there and don’t get me started on how bad the last James Bond was) but, he plays the journalist Freddie.  Unlike Pete Campbell, he’s super likeable and sweet, and has to compete with the dashing Hector for Bel’s attention.  It’s just a really entertaining  show, and it throws in some history too, adding the current affairs of the time, like the Suez Crisis for example.

It’s got all the good costumes and hair, just like Mad Men and a Don Draper with a British accent.  Don Draper with a British accent? !?!  That’s not delivering like Dominos, that’s eating a slice of heaven!

Amazon-The Hour

April 15, 2013 sl TV No comments

My mood has swung like a pendulum  and I’m a cranky beast.  The weather in NYC has flipped in the most heinous of ways.  The warm summer sun has given way to cold blistering wind and torrential rain.  This morning I left my house, could see my breath, stepped in a puddle, bought an umbrella, walked a block, had said umbrella fly backwards in the wind and snap and break and wind up in the trash.  All in all it left me cursing with a chill.

I’m fairly certain I have that seasonal affective disorder or whatever it is when you are so affected by the weather.  Since I’m not going to go buy a sun lamp (that’s what they recommend online-what the hell is that anyways?), I’m going to remedy my nasty mood with a great movie.

I love a good buddy film.  This is one of the best I’ve seen in a while.  An unlikely friendship of a quadriplegic  aristocrat and a somewhat thuggish kid from the hood.  It’s French, which made me think, oh great one of them will die in the end.  French films always seem to take a dark turn, but this movie is just right.

It’s called The Intouchables and stars Francois Cluzet and up and coming actor, Omar Sy.  I love this movie also because it’s based on a true story, don’t you just love that?  You think to yourself, no that couldn’t happen in real life, oh but it did! It did and it shows the two guys whose story it is based on at the end.  Ok, back to the movie.  So Francois Cluzet is an aristocrat whose stuck in a wheel chair, and over all stuck in life.  He has a beautiful home,  with gorgeous furniture, and exotic fast cars.  The only problem is he doesn’t use the car, and doesn’t really enjoy his luxurious life.  That is until Omar comes along and re ignites not just his passion for the finer things in life, but for living.  They form an unlikely bond and friendship that helps them both in profound ways.  If you’re feeling like I am today, or any day where you are grumpy for that matter, I propose you watch this movie stat.

Amazon-The Intouchables

April 12, 2013 sl Best Foreign Language Films, Movies No comments