The Black Dress Traveler

What NOT to Do if You Should Meet Prince Harry During His Visit to NYC

Move over Harry Potter -  another bloke named Harry is trying to work his magic in the Big Apple! Crossing the pond from Britain for his first official visit to America, 24 year old Prince Harry's two-day itinerary (May 29 & 30) includes visits to the World Trade Center and the Harlem Children's Zone school. The Prince will also get to show off his athletic prowess in a polo match at Governors Island  before he heads back home (although I think that a pick up game of basketball at Harlem's Rucker Park would be a more authentic New York City experience for the young royal). Third in line to the British throne, Prince Harry is known as a first-rate party boy in Europe so perhaps this trip is only 2 days long to decrease the likelihood of any nightclub shenanigans?

Since the United States doesn't have royalty (unless you count athletes and Madonna), even the most sophisticated amongst us might be a bit baffled on the proper way to address Prince Harry in case we run into him. Here are a few tips from the royal etiquette experts.

1. Only speak when spoken to. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to ask Prince Harry to slip Wills your phone number.

2. Flexibility is key. Who knew that all of those yoga classes would prepare you to give the most graceful curtsy EVER!

3. Even if he is younger than you, Prince Harry should be addressed as His Royal Highness - not the Little Prince nor Big Red.

Of course, not everyone in the Big Apple is thrilled about Prince Harry's visit. An anonymous person left this comment on the Daily News website, "He drives drunk. He uses marijuana, he's loud and vulgar, he occasionally dresses as a Nazi and he's not very bright. Ah, another annoying tourist. And WE are spending money to entertain HIM."

Hey Harry, welcome to New York!   

Click here to see Prince Harry's New York itinerary.

Fly the $9 Skies

I love a great bargain as much as the next girl but something about a $9 airline flight makes me nervous. JetAmerica, a new how-low-can-you-go-to-fly-high airline carrier based in Clearwater, Florida, will launch service on July 13. The current JetAmerica fleet consists of one leased Boeing 737-800 but they plan to expand to four jets by July 2010.

The first 9 seats on each JetAmerica flight will sell for $9 and prices will max out at $199. It comes as no surprise that additional fees will apply to check luggage. Snacks and in-flight TV will also cost extra.

JetAmerica will service mid-size U.S. cities like Toledo, South Bend and Lansing to fill the void left by major carriers who have reduced the number of flights to those markets. Flights will also be available to and from a small selection of major airports like Newark.

Air travel should be more affordable and accessible but I can't tune out the little voice in my head that says "you get what you pay for." I pray that JetAmerica's rockbottom prices don't compromise service and safety.

Shoofly Pie and Wine: Five Things I Just Learned About Pennsylvania

It all started with a slice of pie. Shoofly pie to be exact. Apparently, I am the only person on the planet who had never tasted this sticky sweet confection of molasses and brown sugar with a crumb crust.

A Pennsylvania Dutch staple, each bite of Shoofly pie made me realize how very little I know about the Keystone State (aka the Quaker State or the State of Independence). Sure, I can rattle off some Philly trivia (Benjamin Franklin, Brotherly Love, cheese steaks, the Liberty Bell, Patti LaBelle) but Philly is just one city in a state of more than 12,000,000 people. Energized by the sugary goodness of the Shoofly pie, I was determined to learn more about Pennsylvania. If my list below inspires you to visit PA, log on to www.PAStories.com to enter a sweepstakes to win one of 12 fantastic Pennsylvania vacation packages.

1. Wine - Who knew that Pennsylvania had more than 100 wineries? With approximately 14,000 acres of grapes, Pennsylvania ranks 8th nationally in the production of wine. There are several wine trails you can visit, including the Groundhog Wine Trail, Brandywine Wine Trail, and the UnCork York Wine Trail.

2. Beer - Not only is Pennsylvania home to Yuengling,the oldest brewery in the United States but it also has six breweries that pre-date prohibition - more than any other state. Today there are more than 50 brew pubs and small breweries in Pennsylvania.

3. Art - The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh is the largest museum in the world dedicated to the work of one artist. Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece, is located in the Laurel Highlands just an hour away from downtown Pittsburgh.

4. Snacks- Being the home of iconic brands like Hershey's, Heinz, Frito-Lay, Herr's and UTZ have secured Pennsylvania's position as the "Snack Food Capital of the World." Klondike Bars, Whoopie Pies and Shoofly Pie were all invented in Pennsylvania.

  5. Scenery - Pennsylvania has 17 million acres of forest and 83,000 miles of rivers and streams. National Geographic named Route 6 as one of the top 10 scenic drives in the country.

To learn more about Pennsylvania, visit www.VisitPA.com.

Selve Swept Me Off of My Feet!

The Black Dress Traveler was absolutely delighted to be the guest of honor at an elegant champagne reception at selve shoes in Red Bank, New Jersey. The perfect little black dress deserves a perfect pair of shoes and selve specializes in made-to-measure bespoke footwear. Headquartered in Munich with a second store in London, the Red Bank store is selve's first location in the U.S. 

I had such a great time oohing and aaahing over the gorgeous selve footwear and meeting so many of the dynamic and gracious Red Bank businesswomen. Even Mrs. Red Bank attended! Thank you selve for an unforgettable and special evening!

DonnaLyn Giegerich (Mrs. Red Bank), The Black Dress Traveler, and Karin Lund (Owner, selve)

Tastebud Travels: My Perfect Provencal Lunch at Allegretti

I've never been to Provence but my taste buds are convinced that we traveled to the South of France after my perfect lunch at Allegretti. Located at 46 West 22nd Street in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood, Chef Alain Allegretti's namesake restaurant showcases the vibrant and fresh flavors of his native Provence. The flavors are big but not convoluted and I am not embarrassed to say that I cleaned my plate on every course. Perfectly seasoned and elegantly presented, each dish was richly flavored without being too heavy and overwhelming my palate. Drop by for a drink and an upscale nibble at the inviting bar or allow Chef Allegretti to whisk you away on a complete culinary journey to Provence in the main dining room.  In addition to the a la carte menu, Allegretti is currently offering prix fixe menus at lunch ($28. Monday-Friday) and dinner ($42. Monday - Saturday.) Here are a few photos from my lunch. Alas, I did not save room for dessert but I plan on remedying that situation in the near future. Bon appetit!

Sardines 'In Saor'

tian of roasted tomato, avocado, fingerling potato, hearts of palm, tomato coulis

Provencale Fish Soup

garlic crouton, gruyere cheese, classic rouille

 

 

This is how the soup looks after you spread the rouille and gruyere on the croutons and let them abosrb all of the spicy goodness of the broth.

 

Nicoise Ravioli

stuffed with braised oxtail and swiss chard, parmesan, orange beef jus

 

Win a Box of Roni-Sue's Chocolate Truffles!

Take your tastebuds on a journey with this delectable selection of Roni-Sue's Chocolates. Made by hand in New York City, Roni-Sue's chocolate truffles are edible indulgences that artfully combine rich chocolate with spices, fruits, and fine spirits. One lucky reader will win an assortment of 15 chocolate truffles (retail value $22); including Manhattan, Dark & Stormy, Zydeco and others. The New York Times calls Roni-Sue's Chocolates "a winner" and The New York Daily News says "Roni-Sue's Chocolates really rock!" Zagat raves, "Ohhhh...those truffles!"

Pack with Style: Luggage Trends and Deals

Are you packing your favorite frocks in a beat up old suitcase? Doesn’t your dream vacation or weekend getaway deserve luggage as stylish as you are? Some of the biggest names in fashion, including Diane von Furstenberg and Nicole Miller, have luggage lines that are colorful and stylish. Best of all, if you do your research, you can get these bags at a fraction of the price at discount retailers. This great DVF Marlene 21” Rolling City Bag is currently available at E-Bags for $89.99 and I found the same bag at Marshalls for $65. Considering that the suggested retail price is $200, both of these are great deals.

For more tips on finding the hottest new luggage, I reached out to Pamela Pekerman, BagTrends.com founder and handbag expert. Pamela says, “For playful designs, vegan style and beyond affordable prices I'm hooked on Jane Marvel. I can't live without her Puddle Jumper bag in stars/sky print.”  (Retail:$118)

Pamela also has rave reviews for Kipling. “Kipling's Madison 22 Wheeled Duffel in Georgia Peach is such a fresh color to see at the airport. The best part is that it collapses flat - perfect for storage in a 300 sq ft Manhattan apartment!” (Retail: $235)

For more handbag and luggage scoop, check out www.BagTrends.com.

Four Tips for Traveling with Jewelry

Diamond in the Rough Solitaire Stack Rings

Just because you are going on vacation, doesn’t mean that you have to leave your fine jewelry locked in a safe at home and jet-set with fakes. 

Anjanette Clisura, President and Co-Creative Director of Diamond in the Rough says, “Jewelry is given to be worn. I’ve heard so many women say they travel with “fakes” – why? If you’re careful and traveling somewhere safe bring some of your beautiful baubles with you on vacation, especially if you have plans to go out.  Unless you’re going somewhere on a peace mission or yoga retreat - then it might be best left at home!” 

Their innovative use of natural, uncut and unpolished diamonds has made Diamond in the Rough a favorite of celebrities, socialites, and fashionistas so they understand that women want to wear their treasures, not leave them behind. Ms. Clisura offers these helpful tips for traveling with jewelry. 

1. Decide on the pieces you’re taking and take inventory. A simple way to do this is to make copies on the photocopy machine so that you remember exactly what you took. Keep a copy at home and a copy somewhere in your luggage. Check the photocopy to make sure that you return home with all of your treasures.

2. Travel with a jewelry roll which will separate your jewelry into sections – earrings, rings, etc. and rolls up for compact, safe packing. 

3. Don’t pack your jewelry in your checked luggage -  keep it in your purse, or carry on. 

4. To keep your jewelry clean, carry a little polishing cloth with you. You can use also use regular old toothpaste, yes ladies, its better than soap. Use Windex if you have it handy. It has ammonia in it – dab on an old toothbrush and clean away! 

Black Dress Beauty: Natalie Portman

One could have easily confused the red carpet at this year's White House Correspondents' Association Dinner for a major Hollywood awards show extravaganza. (Hmm, maybe Joan and Melissa Rivers can do commentary next year?) Mingling with the politicos and beltway regulars were many of the biggest names in film, television and music. However, one black dress beauty stole the show: actress Natalie Portman was elegance personified in this long and sexy Balenciaga halter dress. If fashion were a political party, Ms. Portman would win the nomination in a silky landslide!

 

Free Zen with Check-In at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Toronto

How often have you arrived at your hotel exhausted and stressed-out after a long flight? Instead of immediately reaching for a mini-bar libation, guests at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Toronto can unwind with tea at check-in and complimentary meditation classes.

Offered every evening at 8:30 pm in the Cosmopolitan’s Solarium, the classes are taught by an expert meditation instructor with the goal of helping guests to reduce stress and increase relaxation. “We, at the Cosmopolitan, know the stresses of business and leisure travel and believe that everyone should take some time out of each day to unwind and reflect,” said David Zaltzman, CEO of Skyline Boutique Hotels and Resorts. “Our guests have come to appreciate the Hotel’s focus on wellness and we’re excited to take this to another level by offering free meditation classes to end their day on a peaceful note,” he added.

The Cosmopolitan Hotel’s focus on serenity and tranquility doesn’t stop with the meditation classes. Surrounded by design concepts taken from the ancient art of Feng Shui, Cosmopolitan guests slumber on 400 threat-count Egyptian cotton linens and can get pampered at the on-site Shizen Spa (Toronto’s only five star spa). In 2006, Conde Nast Traveller selected the Cosmopolitan as one of the world’s hottest new hotels. Hot and zen - the Black Dress Traveler is intrigued!

 

For more information, visit www.cosmotoronto.com.