Wine With Wanda

My New York: The Black Dress Guide to the Big Apple

When I'm not traveling, I love exploring my hometown. Here are a few events happening in the Big Apple where you might run into me wearing a little black dress! Many of these events are free or very affordable, so get out and have some fun!




Wine & Cheese 101
Wednesday, March 31. 6:30 pm. $50.
City Winery invites you to learn more about the art of wine and cheese pairing at this event featuring delicious wines and Murray’s Cheese.


Hamlet, Prince of Denmark 
at the World Financial Center
Thursday, April 1-3, 6-11 and 13-18.
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Free!
New York Classical Theatre creates a new experience for theater enthusiasts with their production of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark designed to carry the audience from one end of the World Financial Center to the other. Audience members will enter the world of the play as they follow the actors from place to place.

Live Louisiana Zydeco: Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners
Friday, April 2. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Complimentary dance lesson 7:00 pm. Music 8:00 pm – midnight. $22
Dance the night away to the authentic sounds of Louisiana Zydeco right in the Big Apple. Mix a little blues with a dash of funk and a healthy heaping of Cajun soul and you get the addictive musical gumbo known as Zydeco. Hear for yourself why Leroy Thomas is known as “The Jewel of the Bayou.”

Free First Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum
Saturday, April 3. 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm.
The Brooklyn Museum is free on the first Saturday of every month. Enjoy art, music, films, and hands-on activities that tie in with the current exhibition To Live Forever: Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt.

Save the Date: New York Weddings
Wednesday, April 7. 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Single admission is $38.11. $54.44 for double admission.
Perfectly timed for the upcoming wedding season, the New York Weddings Event offers smart, upscale brides- and grooms-to-be a one-stop resource for their big day. Sip cocktails, stroll through the Metropolitan Pavilion, and encounter all the people and resources you need to plan your special celebration: the city’s top jewelers, caterers, photographers, bridal fashion designers, venue liaisons, planners, tabletop brands and much more.

A Thousand Words: Images of Cancun

A luxury resort, a traditional market, nature & wildlife, and wonderful people - all of these images are included in this short & sweet 93 second slide show of my trip to Cancun and stay at the Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand all-inclusive resort.

Enough words, I'll let the pictures (set to the beautiful voice of Luis Miguel) tell the story!

Retail Therapy, Cancun Style

 I really have been spoiled rotten during my stay here at the Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand. This all-inclusive resort has me all aflutter. From the beach views to the bountiful buffets, Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand gets it right. My time here has reminded me of the importance of having a comfortable home base when you travel. A good resort makes you feel like you never want to leave and puts a smile on your face when you return.

After a sweet day of noshing and lounging on the beach, the evening seemed like the perfect time for a shopping expedition. Cancun has plenty of high end shopping near the resort, everything from Louis Vuitton to an Apple store, but I wanted to find a more traditional type of market with small mom & pop stores.  I was guided to Mercado 28.  A short 20 minute cab ride to downtown Cancun, Mercado 28 sells jewelry, souvenirs, clothing and more. My plan was to buy one cute little cotton dress.  I left  with 3 flirty frocks, a pair of silver earrings, and a few bracelets. However, I did get all of these goodies for under $75 so I don't feel too guilty.

While many of the vendors are males who flirted shamelessly to make the sale (I can't remember the last time I received so many over-the-top compliments), the handmade bracelets were sold to me by a lovely 11 year old girl. Her smile won me over and before I knew it I had purchased 5 woven fabric bracelets with bead accents. Of course, I wanted to ask her a million questions about her life but it did not seem right to impose. I love my new dresses but this photo is priceless.

Content in Cancun

Last night I arrived in Cancun long after the sun had set. Greeted by the flashing lights of chain restaurants, I felt a bit frustrated that Cancun's natural charms were hidden from me. Until now. I woke up this morning in my sunlit room at the Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand and was greeted with a breathtaking view of the beach outside my balcony and the relaxing sounds of the ocean. Life is good!

Jessica Simpson Travels the World to Learn the Price of Beauty

On paper, I really like the concept of Jessica Simpson's new VH1 show The Price of Beauty: Jessica travels around the world learning about how women in different cultures define and pursue beauty. I'm just not entirely convinced that pop singer/actress Jessica and her entourage (hair stylist Ken Paves and assistant CaCee Cobb) are the right hosts for this show.

Their first stop was Thailand where Jessica retched when trying some local cuisine (ok, they were fried bugs) and laughed uncontrollably during her meditation lesson with a Buddhist monk. Sure, travel can be very unnerving and uncomfortable but I was really dismayed by her immaturity and lack of respect.  And, Jessica honey, 4 inch heels are not the most practical choice of footwear for walking around when traveling.

However, by the end of the episode Jessica seemed to have learned something and said,"tradition is a beautiful thing in Thailand. I'm lucky to have experienced this." On another positive note, Jessica is using her show as a platform to raise money for Operation Smile, a charity that transforms the lives of children born with cleft palates.

The Price of Beauty is Jessica's response to the very ugly treatment she received by the media for gaining a little bit of weight last summer and wearing some unflattering jeans. (Really, who hasn't?) Jessica seems like a sweet soul so I am keeping my fingers crossed that her journey not only takes her around the world but within herself and that she will remember the words of the monk who told her that "Buddhists believe that true beauty comes from within." Amen to that!

My New York: The Black Dress Guide to the Big Apple

When I'm not traveling, I love exploring my hometown. Here are a few events happening in the Big Apple where you might run into me wearing a little black dress! Many of these events are free or very affordable, so get out and have some fun!



Pier 1/ Brooklyn Bridge Park Opens Today!
New Yorkers go crazy (in a good way) when a new piece of nature becomes available in the concrete jungle. Pier 1 adds 6 new acres of park, including 1,300 feet of promenade along the East River and 2.5 acres of lawn with sweeping views of the NY Harbor, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.



Asia Week
Through Sunday, March 28.
Asia Week New York is the City’s largest and most diverse series of cultural events focusing on art from India, China, Japan, Korea, the Himalayas and Southeast Asia. A wide variety of programs will take place at museums, galleries, specialty dealers, and auction houses.


Carnegie Hall presents: Sameer Gupta at Hudson Guild
Tuesday, March 23. 7:00 pm. Free!
Sameer Gupta is a global artist who improvises with jazz, fusion, and world music. Equally at home on tabla and drumset, he has performed at Lincoln Center, the Birla Auditorium in India, and Asagiri Jam in Japan.




Baroque Cabaret: The Tempest
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Wednesday, March 24. 9:00 pm. $20
Enjoy a cabaret-style version of the English Baroque—complete with food and drink—in The Tempest, a dressed-down evening of Purcell, staged in the intimacy of BAMcafé.

Fall in Love with French Wine
Thursday, March 25. 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. $39.
Come taste the classic wines of the Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne regions while listening to live music performed by the West Village Jazz Trio.

The Great Cupcake Challenge: Taste & Rate Tour
Friday, March 26. 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. $35.
Taste and rate your way through the best cupcakes in the West Village and SoHo. With scoring sheet in hand, visit such sweet-tooth institutions as Amy’s Bread and Magnolia Bakery, as well as several rising stars.

Angelique Kidjo at The Town Hall
Friday, March 26. 8:00 pm. $45 & $50.
African-born songstress Angélique Kidjo has spread her rhythmic Afro-funk fusion to the four corners of the globe. Her work cross-pollinates the West African traditions of her childhood in Benin with elements of American R&B, funk and jazz, as well as influences from Europe and Latin America. Djin Djin, her 10th CD, garnered her a fourth Grammy nomination and her first win.





Harlem in the Himalayas: Luis Bonilla Quintet
Friday, March 26. 7:00 pm. $18 in advance. $20 day of event.
The Rubin Museum of Art joins forces with the National Jazz Museum in Harlem to present acoustic jazz in a great setting. Tonight, the tremendously talented trombonist Luis Bonilla takes the stage with his quintet. After the concert, be sure to explore the Rubin – gallery admission on Fridays is free until 10:00 pm. Located in the old site of Barney’s department store, the Rubin is an architectural gem that is home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions.


Makeup & Wine with Lancome
Friday, March 26. $15 plus tax. Reservations available at 5:30 – 6:20 and 6:30 – 7:20.
Sample Lancome’s new mineral foundation while sipping on delicious wines from Bacchus. Each participant will receive a Riedel crystal stem from which to taste and take home at the end of the night.

Save the Date: New York Weddings
Wednesday, April 7. 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Single admission is $38.11. $54.44 for double admission.
Perfectly timed for the upcoming wedding season, the New York Weddings Event offers smart, upscale brides- and grooms-to-be a one-stop resource for their big day. Sip cocktails, stroll through the Metropolitan Pavilion, and encounter all the people and resources you need to plan your special celebration: the city’s top jewelers, caterers, photographers, bridal fashion designers, venue liaisons, planners, tabletop brands and much more.

Special Discount to see Valerie Harper (4 time Emmy Award Winner) as Tallulah Bankhead in LOOPED.

Limited Time Offer: $66.50. (Regular price $111.50- Save over 40%!)
Balcony Seats: $25

To get the discount:

CLICK HERE or visit BroadwayOffers.com and mention code LPGNA210
Or call 212.947.8844 and mention code LPGNA210
Based on a real event, LOOPED takes place in the summer of 1965, when an inebriated Tallulah Bankhead stumbles into a sound studio to rerecord (or ‘loop’) one line of dialogue for her last movie --Die, Die, My Darling. Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild partying and convention-defying exploits that surpassed even today’s celebrity bad girls.

Looking for Love in All the New Places

Have you ever taken a trip with the specific task of meeting someone special because the pickings where you live are pretty slim? The NY Post reports in "That's It, I'm Leaving New York" that New York City women are packing their bags and leaving town in search of fulfilling romantic relationships. I suspect this scenario isn't unique to New York. Shoot, I bet some ladies actually move to New York in search of Mr. Big or some other twisted version of Mr. Right.

The article states, "New York isn’t the city that never sleeps. It’s the city that sleeps with you . . . then hits on your best friend the next day. With only four single men for every five single ladies in the metro area (according to the US Census Bureau’s 2008 Community Survey), some poor girl is always losing her date in this game of musical pairs." Ouch!

Some of the ladies profiled in the article have given the Big Apple the big heave-ho with the hope that Cupid will find them in Seattle or Los Angeles. Blogger Melissa Braverman (Single Gal in the City) has even embarked on an 8 week cross-country dating tour in search of her Mr. Right. How far would you travel for love?

My New York: The Black Dress Guide to the Big Apple

When I'm not traveling, I love exploring my hometown. Here are a few events happening in the Big Apple where you might run into me wearing a little black dress! Many of these events are free or very affordable, so get out and have some fun!



Special Discount to see Valerie Harper (4 time Emmy Award Winner) as Tallulah Bankhead in LOOPED.

Limited Time Offer: $66.50. (Regular price $111.50- Save over 40%!)
Balcony Seats: $25

To get the discount:

CLICK HERE or visit BroadwayOffers.com and mention code LPGNA210
Or call 212.947.8844 and mention code LPGNA210
Based on a real event, LOOPED takes place in the summer of 1965, when an inebriated Tallulah Bankhead stumbles into a sound studio to rerecord (or ‘loop’) one line of dialogue for her last movie --Die, Die, My Darling. Ms. Bankhead was known for her wild partying and convention-defying exploits that surpassed even today’s celebrity bad girls.

Dine in Brooklyn
Through Thursday, March 25.
Cross the Bridge and explore Brooklyn’s culinary scene. Over 175 restaurants are participating in Dine in Brooklyn. Only $20.10 for a three course lunch and $25.00 for a three course dinner.

Lady Got Chops: Women’s Month Jazz Festival
Through March 31.
The Zinc Bar celebrates women’s history month’s with a roster of fabulous female jazz artists. Click here for cover charge info.

Wine & Cheese 101 at City Winery with Murray’s Cheesemongers
Tuesday, March 16. $50
Sit and relax over a plate of some of Murray’s best cheeses and City Winery's best wines and learn more about cheese & wine pairing. Yummy!

Beers of the World: Belgium
Tuesday, March 16. 6:30 pm. $50.
Brooklyn Brewery's Chris Basso will head over to the Brooklyn Kitchen to discuss the history of brewing in Belgium and go over some of the great styles of beer that have emerged throughout Belgium's history. There will be a tasting of the various styles.

 St. Patrick’s Day 
Wednesday, March 17. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. $25
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a back-stairs tour of the Merchant’s House Museum. You’ll see the fourth-floor servants’ quarters (usually off limits to visitors), and hear the untold stories of the Irish women who lived and worked in the house during the 1850s. Sample ‘green’ tea punch (an Old New York recipe), nibble on St. Patty’s cookies, and tap your feet to traditional harp and bagpipe music. 
 For more St. Patty’s Day events, visit MurphGuide and New York Magazine.

French Conversation Rendez-Vous
Wednesday, March 17. $12
Mix and mingle with other French speakers at the Alliance Francaise. Speakers of all levels are invited to engage in conversation while enjoying snacks and cocktails. Native French speakers moderate the event to keep the conversation flowing.

Charity Wine Tasting & Mixer to Benefit Haiti
Thursday, March 18. 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm. $35 (plus tax)
Bacchus Wine Store is hosting a wine tasting to support Partners in Health’s earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Red, white, and sparkling wines from around the world will be served along with cheese and crudités. Each guest will also receive a beautiful Riedel crystal stem from which to taste and take home at the end of the night.

The Benefit for Haiti Comedy Show at Symphony Space
Friday, March 19. 8:30 pm. $20
Nikki Carr, Jay the Comedian, Kenny Williams, and Mike Britt will get the crowd laughing for a good cause. All proceeds will be donated to the relief efforts in Haiti.

Pretty Powerful: Same Sky Bracelets Made By Rwandan Women

Pretty baubles are a dime a dozen but Same Sky bracelets have the power to change lives. A fair-trade organization that employs HIV+ women in Rwanda that survived the 1994 genocide, Same Sky's mission is to lift women out of poverty by providing them with the tools to become entrepreneurs. In fact, Same Sky artisans earn a wage that is 10 times the average of other women in Sub-Saharan Africa. Pretty powerful.

Made of handblown glass beads and crocheted by women artisans, each Same Sky bracelet carries the signature of the woman who made it.  Celebs like Halle Berry, Meryl Streep, Donna Karan and Queen Latifah all wear their Same Sky bracelets with pride.

To buy your own beautiful Same Sky bracelet and to "become a part of the movement empowering women everywhere under the Same Sky," visit www.samesky.com.

Student Travel Rates Available for the Young at Heart

Check out this very interesting article in the Travel section of the NY Times about student travel agencies extending their discounts to those of us who have not seen the inside of a classroom in many years. Some of the agencies are more liberal than others with allowing travelers of all ages to participate in their travel deals but it is still a great resource to consider. Who doesn't want to save a little money?

"Student travel agencies are beginning to actively court nonstudents and older travelers, extending their low prices to the not-so-youthful set. Though it has quietly offered discounts to nonstudents for years, STA Travel began actively promoting “flights for everyone” on its home page late last year, highlighting sales and negotiated discounts available to travelers of any age, like round-trip flights from Los Angeles to Sydney from $798 or New York to London from $476."
via travel.nytimes.com

Image: Isabel Klett

Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes

Find me a woman on the planet who has not craved seduction by Paris's timeless trifecta of beauty, romance, and food - really, it is the perfect ménage à trois. Many of us may fantasize about  living and loving in the City of Lights but American journalist and art historian Elizabeth Bard's first lunch date at a Parisian cafe with a handsome French man was the catalyst for a romantic and culinary adventure.

In her memoir, Lunch in Paris: A Love Story with Recipes, Elizabeth shares the joys and challenges of falling in love with someone from another culture and making the momentous decision to build a life in their country. A lively read (I cuddled up with the book for an entire weekend), Lunch in Paris details Elizabeth's relationship with the charming Gwendal and her adjustment to the Parisian way of life.  I had the pleasure of corresponding with Elizabeth via e-mail and she said, "there's a lot I've discovered in France - not just about effortless chic, but about how we as women can make better choices - pleasure and ambition, love and self."

Peppered with delicious recipes that are easy to execute, Lunch in Paris will leave you hungry for your own romantic adventure and a great meal!

Ten in My Town: Amy Reimer's New Orleans

Amy Reimer
General Manager, International House

New Orleans is perhaps America's most magical city. Known for great jazz, mouthwatering cuisine, stunning architecture and spirited people who live life to the fullest and bounce back in the face of adversity, New Orleans magically melds diverse cultures into a unique and seductive social gumbo.

If anyone knows New Orleans, Amy Reimer does! A New Orleans native, Amy is general manager of the acclaimed boutique hotel, International House, and its sister property, Loft 523. She is a past Chairman of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau and was selected by New Orleans CityBusiness Magazine as one of fifty New Orleans area women who have made notable contributions in business and the community. Currently President of the Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association, Amy also sits on the Boards of Directors of the Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, and on the Executive Committee of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. 

Amy is an avid runner and loves to travel to see what other places have to offer. If you are heading to New Orleans, check out Amy's picks on the best places in the Big Easy to let the good times roll!

1. To Buy the Perfect Little Black Dress: The place that I can always find that perfect dress is a shop on Metairie Road called Elizabeth’s. The 2 men that own it always have a great eye for the dress that is just perfect.

2. For a Night Out with the Girls: We always start at Loa, the bar in International House, the hotel that I am the General Manager of. It is the perfect place to start and finish a night of fun!

3. For a Romantic Dinner: Café Degas on Esplanade is a great French bistro. The food and the setting are always great.

4. To Take Out of Town Guests: There is so much to do in New Orleans but a night out must always include Frenchmen Street. There are 8 or so live music venues that allow you to see and hear great music from 6pm until 3am so you never feel like you are missing anything.

5. For Something Sweet: My favorite picks for dessert are Emeril’s banana cream pie, the flan at Rambla and, of course, the Bread Pudding Soufflé at Commander’s Palace.

6. For Cocktails: Loa in International House is not to be missed, the bar at Arnaud’s is a perfect setting and has great drinks and, of course, a Pimm’s Cup at the Napoleon House.

 7. To Connect with Nature: The parks in New Orleans are great. City Park has a great lake that has a jogging path around it that you can take to wind down after jogging through the majestic oaks. There is also a bike path that starts downtown and takes you all of the way to Lake Ponchartrain.

8. To Connect with the Past: The French Quarter offers so much history as does the Garden District. You can walk through the French Quarter and then take a Streetcar to the Garden District to see the magnificent homes.

9. Where I Go to Unwind: The best place to unwind is with a group of friends at one of the many outdoor restaurants and bars in NOLA. There are so many to select from: Martinique, The Columns, Lucy’s, Nona Mia and the courtyard at Commander’s Palace.

10. To Learn Something New: Don’t miss the New Orleans Museum of Art. There is always something to learn as you take in all of the exhibits.

To learn more about New Orleans, visit the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

My New York: The Black Dress Guide to the Big Apple

When I'm not traveling, I love exploring my hometown. Here are a few events happening in the Big Apple where you might run into me wearing a little black dress! Many of these events are free or very affordable, so get out and have some fun!

The Orchid Show: Cuba in Flower
Through April 11. $20 for All Garden Pass.
Experience the tropical beauty of Old Havana in the Bronx. The New York Botanical Garden’s exotic floral displays transports visitors to the romantic intrigue of Cuba.

California Dreaming Wine Tasting at Bacchus
Tuesday, March 9. 7:30pm – 9:30 pm. $39 (plus tax)
Experience the California flair for yourself on a California Wine Tasting Tour right here in NYC. Taste through a diversified selection of varietals and appellations from California. Pinots, Cabs and Merlots! Each participant will receive a beautiful Riedel Crystal Vinum Extreme stem from which to drink and to take home at the end of the evening.

Opera in Harlem at Gospel Uptown
Thursday, March 11. 7:30 pm. $35 food and beverage minimum.
Leopoldo Mucci, the owner of the world famous  Caffe Taci, brings the operatic sounds of bella Italia to Harlem. If you can’t make it to the MET or La Scala, hop the subway to Harlem for for an enjoyable evening of  opera and fine dining at Gospel Uptown.  

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Thursday, March 11. 8:30 pm. Free!
Unwind with a free concert in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. Artists of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center will give an encore performance of Niels Gade's String Sextet.

Eat. Drink. Be Married.
Thursday, March 11. 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. $15
Astor Center presents the ultimate food-focused wedding expo. Enjoy tasty treats from Momofuku Milk Bar, The Cleaver Company, Landmarc Catering, Roni-Sue’s Chocolates, Love Street Cakes, Thomas Preti Caterers, How Sweet It Is, Tumbador Chocolates, LiddAbit Sweets, Cake Alchemy and more. Attend a guided Champagne tasting or just take your time enjoying the wide array of beverages provided by Astor Wines & Spirits and Sixpoint Craft Ales.

EAT: World Financial Center Restaurant Showcase
Friday, March 12. 11:00 am – 2:30 pm.
Beat the winter blues at EAT: World Financial Center Restaurant Showcase. Sweet and savory treats for $1-5 include Au Mandarin’s famous pork dumplings, PJ Clarke’s mini-cheeseburgers, Starbuck’s Hot Chocolate, and Financier’s Blueberry Panna Cotta. All Night Cookin’, a popular blue grass band, delivers a delicious live performance!

Paquito D’Rivera: Reflections of a Man Facing South
Friday, March 12. 8:00 pm. $35.
Don’t miss this magical night of classical and jazz interpretations of Spanish, South American, Afro-Cuban, and Afro-Caribbean music with legendary jazz clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera.

Meet the Actor and Director Yvan Attal
Saturday, March 13. 7:30 pm $12.
Acclaimed French actor and director Yvan Attal will introduce screenings of I Got a Woman and New York, I Love You, and participate in a Q&A session with the audience at the French Institute.

Home to Grace Kelly & Sylvia Plath: Vanity Fair Remembers the Barbizon Hotel for Women

One of the most interesting articles in the April 2010 issue of Vanity Fair is Sorority on East 63rd Street - a lively chronicle of the legendary Barbizon Hotel for Women on New York City's Upper East Side. 

Now a luxury condo building, during it's heyday the Barbizon housed young women with big dreams, including Grace Kelly, Joan Crawford, Ali McGraw, Liza Minelli, Joan Didion, Cybill Shepard, and Sylvia Plath. During her stay, Ms. Kelly was known for "performing exotic dances in the hallways, while scantily attired, and for her facility in in arranging covert romantic assignations in the darker corners of the hotel lounges." Way to go Grace!  

Although fellas, including famous ones like Ricky Gervais, now live at the Barbizon, surprisingly the Big Apple still has women's only residences where gentlemen are only allowed in the lobby. Read the November 2009 New York Times article Where the Boy's Aren't for more information about the Webster Apartments, the Brandon Residence for Women, and the Jeanne D'Arc Residence.

I must admit that whenever I walk by the Barbizon, the theme song from the 1980's sitcom Bosom Buddies pops into my head. Starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari as two men in drag who move into an all women's hotel in NYC when their apartment is demolished, Bosom Buddies showed that people will do just about anything for cheap rent in Manhattan.

Tips from Catey Hill on How To "Travel Like a Queen on a Pauper's Budget"

Catey Hill, the author of Shoo, Jimmy Choo: The Modern Girl's Guide to Spending Less and Saving More, is a stylish expert on living fabulously without going broke! Her lively and informative book is a must-read for any fiscally-challenged diva looking for solid financial advice. I heard Catey speak tonight and she shared great information about travel websites that help adventure loving ladies "travel like a queen on a pauper's budget." Check out Catey's picks!

TabletHotels.com offers significant discounts, up to 40% off, on luxury hotels around the world. The site also showcases the favorite hotels of celebrity travelers like Sir Ben Kingsley, Richard Meier, and Selita Ebanks. Jetsetter.com, from the creators of the fashion website Gilt Group, e-mails big travel deals to their members.  

Save even more money by skipping the hotel and doing a house swap with HomeExchangeVacation.com or rent an apartment or vacation home with HomeAway.com. Airbnb.com, known as the"Ebay for space," is an online marketplace for traditional and non-traditional accommodations that offers everything from private rooms to treehouses!  

My New York: The Black Dress Guide to the Big Apple

When I'm not traveling, I love exploring my hometown. Here are a few events happening in the Big Apple where you might run into me wearing a little black dress! Many of these events are free or very affordable, so get out and have some fun!


Greg Lauren: Counter Couture
Through Saturday, March 6. Free!
Artist Greg Lauren presents a site-specific installation of striking sculptures of clothing made from paper. A nephew of fashion designer Ralph Lauren, the artist will investigate both the artistic process of creating fashion by hand-sewing each piece, as well as the intriguing concept of clothing as a component of self-image.

Chopin 200: A Bicentennial Celebration of the Composer and His Music
Monday, March 1 – Friday, March 5.  Performances on five pianos, 9:00 am–7:00 pm daily. Free!
CHOPIN 200 is a weeklong series of performances celebrating the 200th birthday of Romantic classical composer Frederic Chopin. The festival features 200 hours of the composer’s works performed on four pianos by an eclectic line-up of pianists.

Classic Cocktails, Classic Film at Astor Center
Friday, March 5. 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. $45
Some of the greatest films of Hollywood’s Golden Age feature cocktails in unforgettable supporting roles. Sip on a series of delicious drinks while the Astor Center rolls a collection of clips from some of American cinema’s best-loved classics-as well as from few lesser-known celluloid gems. Learn the colorful stories behind the cocktails, and get practical tips on how to mix up a perfect batch for yourself at home.

Chita Rivera at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Saturday, March 6. 8:30 pm (limited availability) and 10:30 pm. $45-$95.
An icon of American musical theater, Chita Rivera offers a lively evening of songs from her illustrious career. Rivera has given definitive performances in such classics as West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and countless others. 

Live Louisiana Zydeco
Saturday, March 6. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Dance lesson at 7:00 pm. Music 8:00 pm – midnight. $22.
Get your bayou boogie on in the Big Apple! The Grammy nominated Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys will rock the house with their progressive Cajun sounds.

Academy Awards Party at City Winery
Sunday, March 7.  7:00 pm. $6 admission, includes a glass of wine.
Enjoy great food and wine specials while watching the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. They claim to have the biggest screens in Soho and there will be prizes! 

Oscars Viewing Party at Comix
Sunday, March 7. 6:00 pm. Free admission and drink specials. RSVP required.
Watch all of the glitz and glamour of the Oscars with food & drink specials, trivia and prize packages!