Fashionable Fete

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Last night was New York's Fashion Night Out celebration of all things wardrobe-related, and I popped in to experience the madness for a couple of hours with some friends. It was actually a lot more fun than I had anticipated, at least at the first stop. I didn't make it out until almost 9 pm so I think most of the soirees were winding down - it was a Thursday, after all - but Michael Kors was still swinging and made the night feel worth it as my first stop. I sipped champagne and caught up, eyeing the brand's signature-chic bags and boots. Those poor salesgirls must have been chomping at the bit to get commissions on FNO, I had three Pretty Young Things ask me if I wanted to try on the same pair of boots I was eyeing the brief time we were there. Afterwards we stopped by Saks, Tommy Hillfiger and Louis Vuitton, but all drinks were gone and the staff was starting to usher people towards the doors. The madness on the streets outside was fun enough to make it feel like the night was a worthwhile experience, however, as I made my way home. Such fashionable men and women flocking about 5th and Madison, I can't even imagine how crackalackin' SOHO must have been last night!

I will say, I almost wish I could have experienced all this even 1 year ago, when being surrounded by so much decadence and luxury - and so many fabulous people - would have really sent my heart soaring. At this point, having been surrounded by consumerism-ad-nauseum for a solid year in this city of consumption, I felt rather underwhelmed by purses selling for my month's rent and the admittedly supple-leather boots that looked like any other pair of flat boots except to the select few with enough money and interest to notice a logo. I liked watching the people, though, the night was worth it for that alone. The vibrant and fierce denizens of style with their Mohawks, tattoos, thick make-up, and swagger. Those are the girls - and boys - I think FNO was created for, and it was invigorating to see them parading around in all their creative glory.

Pizza Pizza!

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Last weekend, a friend's parents were gracious enough to take me out to lunch with them, to an amazing new pizza place they had found, "close your eyes and you'll swear you're in Italy" they promised. And this family would know, Italian to the core, the father owned a restaurant in the city for years and trips are still made as a family back to Italy to visit family and friends. But, back to it, the pizza place with the incredible pies was Forcello Eatery, located on the north side of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and may I just say that it did not disappoint. Owned by 2 Italians, it was pointed out with obvious disappointment that already the restaurant was not employing Italian waitstaff or cooks, the undercurrent of the notification being that soon enough the flavors of this shop would start to slip, presumably as others had before it. Authenticity requires a certain bit of upkeep I suppose. Still, the interior of the restaurant was delightfully simple and bright, with mirrors on one wall and a mish-mash of photos on another showcasing a pizza cook in a venetian mask, shots of Italian streets, and one photo of three boys happily eating pizza that my friend's father smiled at, saying that the photo could have been of he and his brothers.

 Refreshing decor aside, onto the food! Now, I prefer my pizza crust to be crispy, but it would appear I am all kindsa wrong on that point, because this pizza was not crispy in the least. Thin-crusted and almost sweet, with a wonderful sauce and just the right amount of fresh mozzarella. Fantastic bruscetta was our appetizer and - obviously - I picked off of everyone else's plates so I can vouch for the house salad as well as an arugula Panini and my own escarole fried pizza which was rather like a Stromboli but with incredibly delicious, chewy dough and stuffed to the brim with escarole (a leafy green rather like arugula that I had never hear of prior to my dish), anchovies and capers. Trust me when I tell you the rest of the table was shocked at my order, and that it was absolutely divine. Even reheated days later, it was delightful.

I will forever insist that Williamsburg has the best Italian food out there - New York claims itself to have the best pizza all over the island, but a neighborhood so steeped in traditional Italian families, heritage, language, food and history just cannot be topped - and I am happy to report that Forcello is a definite go-to spot! Pop in for a meal, I promise you won't be disappointed.


Forcello is located at 485 Lorimer St. (between Grand St & Powers St), Brooklyn, NY 11211 or they can be reached at (718) 388-8820.

PS - I am very aware, whoever-may-still-be-reading, that this blog has been mopey of late. I am doing my darndest to pull it - and myself - out of those doldrums. A point will be made to keep mopey posts - and moments in life - to a minimum from here on out.

09.07.11

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...There are moments when I miss home and family and comfort so much I can hardly breathe...and I have to will myself back to calm...and I only hope that these are the moments that will yield growth or a benefit of some sort...

raintastic

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It would appear that Labor Day certainly pushed summer out of the way with force. It has been raining consistently since Sunday night - yesterday I got caught in a torrent although thankfully this time I had an umbrella with me. I love how empty the streets are on rainy days though, gives me some room to breathe. Such weather also makes it cozy for me when I'm stuck in the office anyway, although it does make me want to do nothing other than snuggle up under a blanket and watch television after work, rather than going out and mingling with other human beings. Tonight, however, I have already accepted an invitation to do dinner with a friend I haven't seen in some months, so wish me luck on dragging my blanket-craving self to the quasi-reunion! This picture is because it made me laugh, and I've been needing some laughter lately, and also because I wish I was in a hoodie, on a beach, watching this rain come down over the ocean instead of through the office windows.

Non-Laborious Labor Day

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I'm happy to report that yesterday was as non-laborious as a Labor Day could possibly be. Not only was it rather gloomy, but yours truly also did not emerge from bed until about 1 pm. At which time I ate a delicious breakfast sandwich, called my mother - what good it always does to hear your mother's voice! - and had a fully lazy day comprised entirely of watching television and eating. Lethargic and unhealthy, perhaps, but I very much enjoyed it. Today has begun completely gloomily as well, with the threat of rain in the air, lending to a very cozy first-day-of-the-work-week, even if I do rather wish I could have just laid in bed and dozed all morning again. I hope everyone else's weekends were wonderful, and that your Tuesdays are going swimmingly!

Friday, Friday, Fri-Day!

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We made it kids! And on a half-day no less! Truly fabulous. I have no plans this weekend, in what I'm accepting to be a truly glorious turn of events. I hope to rest and nap and watch TV and do much of nothing. Probably not the best way to spend the end of summer but, so it goes. I will be back on Tuesday, and I hope all of you stateside enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

almost there...

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It's rather sad that after starting my workweek on a Tuesday and knowing that the weekend will be a long one with no real plans of any sort, I am still so antsy for Friday to get here. I've been having a rather wonky past few days - perhaps catching up on sleep is the culprit but I can't imagine I would still be suffering sleep deprivation this many days after my airport all-nighter. Evenings spent watching old seasons of "True Blood" followed by dreams about my sister and I watching musical theater rehearsals outside my bathroom window, and then re-starting with "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" soundtrack listenings on my walk to work, and I've been having some rather sleepless nights and some relatedly exhausted mornings. Perhaps I'm mixing too strange a combination of interests all together. Regardless, I am looking forward to a long weekend of nothing - and with any luck some rain - to get my mind focused and back on track. Is it sad that I'm already looking forward to an quick October weekend back in San Diego? Perhaps that's a little telling too...I guess I'm antsy, feeling bored? Needing change? Or...return to comfort zones? Maybe I just wanted to an excuse to use that picture? Le sigh who knows. Regardless, we've made it to Thursday, friends, and I hope your days all go smoothly!