NYC Archives - Glamamom®

Orly Genger in Madison Square Park {Guest Post}

May 14, 2013 in NYC

Hi, all! I’m Monica from Ciao, Chessa! and I’m so thrilled to be a contributing editor here on Glamamom.

It doesn’t happen often as a mom of a toddler but I always feel like a new person whenever I have some time alone. I don’t always get the chance to do it but when I do I want to make it count so last week, for no particular reason, I visited Madison Square Park – one of my favorite places in the city.

I had read about the new art installation by Orly Genger and I was so intrigued. The project, titled simply Red, Yellow and Blue, features 1.4 million feet of layered, painted, and knotted rope – enough to span the length of Manhattan nearly 20 times! The rope, collected from up and down the Eastern seaboard, is covered in over 3,000 gallons of paint, and weighs more 100,000 pounds. The park, a really beautiful and small oasis in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in New York, seems completely transformed with this unique project making its way around the cityscape. I love how it seamlessly winds its way around the periphery of the park and how they planted the flowers to almost hug the edges of the rope.

The work is up through September 8th and if you’re in the city it’s not to be missed. Madison Square Park also has a fantastic playground so take your kiddos to see this and then take a ride on the swings. When we lived in the area I took my daughter to this park all the time and I can’t wait to show her this unique project (followed by a trip to Eataly for gelato of course).

Monica Shulman is a photographer and she writes Ciao, Chessa! – a photography and lifestyle blog. She lives in New York City with her husband and toddler daughter.

{ 2 Comments }

Having a Ball at Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella On Broadway

March 12, 2013 in NYC

Before the popularity of Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, and Manolo Blahnik, there was a Fairy Godmother and a shiny pair of glass slippers, arguably every little princess’ first introduction to the transformative power of beautiful pair of shoes.

My memories of Cinderella are that of the 1950s Disney animated version and while there is no Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo in the new Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway, I appreciated it just the same.

For the princess averse, the new musical is a modern retelling and Cinderella comes across charmingly confident and in control despite her circumstances. Instead of losing her glass slipper racing to beat the clock to midnight, she takes it off and hands it the prince, as if she already knows the outcome of the story and is just playing along. The ending of course is the same. It is a Cinderella story after all.

Set in the forest, the scenery is lush and dreamy, and the costumes are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Cinderella’s transformations occur seamlessly, almost magically, much to the audience’s delight. There were audible gasps followed by loud applause each time the Fairy Godmother waved her wand.

The show is one of the most child-friendly I have seen as of late, more so than Elf and even Annie, despite how they’re marketed. The minimum age allowed in the theater is 4 years old but I kept imaging how much Sebastian would enjoy it. The singing and dancing had me in a happy trance and the evil stepsisters aren’t all that evil. Not to mention the central theme is as relevant now as ever: stand up for what you believe in and let your heart love who it chooses.

My fabulous date for the evening, Kristan, is friends with the gorgeous and talented Laura Osnes who plays Cinderella, so we too snagged an invite to the ball, I mean backstage, to meet Cinderella and her prince and marvel at the cool props.

K and I were ravenous after the happy ending and trudged through the rain to 5 Napkin Burger for late night buffalo chicken sandwiches and girl talk. We chatted about leaving the city and went back and forth listing all the reasons why life would be calmer and more manageable in another place. Not 5 minutes later we were scheduling our next Broadway date (Kinky Boots!).

{Thanks to The MOMS for including us in the press preview. I was not compensated for my attendance or this post. I received complimentary tickets for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are my own.}

{ 6 Comments }

HowAboutWe.com for Couples

February 14, 2013 in NYC

I just discovered really cool site that makes it remarkably simple to add a little oomph to your relationship and it just happens to have the perfect last minute Valentine’s Day gifts.

HowAboutWe for Couples provides a monthly curated catalog of great dates in New York City, ranging from a boozy art class in Brooklyn to a five-course tasting menu in Midtown. It’s a great way to break out of your routine and try something you normally wouldn’t.

It’s free to sign up and browse the DateBook. Here’s an example of the current offerings to give you a flavor for the dates:

Membership costs $22/month and gives you access to free HowAboutWe Dates, members-only experiences, sold-out tickets, Couples Rewards (buy one, get one free, and discounts at local establishments), early booking on new dates, and up to 75% off every HowAboutWe date in its collection. Membership requires no commitment and you can pause or cancel at any time.

Dates can also be purchased as a non-Member, without the Member discount and other perks.

I already booked one– we’re having a chef come to our home and cook us an Italian dinner. No babysitter, no stress getting out the door. Just a nice meal, at home after the babies go to bed, taken care of by someone else! I’ll let you know how it goes but that sounds pretty romantic to me.

{I was not compensated for this post. I received a discount to book a date for review purposes.}

{ 3 Comments }

22nd Annual Bunny Hop at FAO Schwarz 3/5

February 13, 2013 in NYC

Join me next month at the 22nd Annual Bunny Hop at FAO Schwarz Fifth Avenue, a family event with activities for kids such as face painting, magicians, costume dress-up and even live musical performances, hosted by the Associates Committee of the Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Tiffany & Co.

All funds raised are going towards the Pediatric Family Housing Endowment, which assists families with the cost of overnight stays associated with their cancer treatment at MSKCC’s Pediatric Department.

This year’s event is co-chaired by Alexandra D. Edwards, Nina Garcia Conrad, Melissa Meister and Marcie Pantzer, with Debra Messing serving as Honorary Chairman.

Who: The Associates Committee of The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
What: 22nd Annual Bunny Hop
When: Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: FAO Schwarz (767 Fifth Avenue, at 58th Street)
Honorary Chairman: Debra Messing
Sponsor: Tiffany & Co.
Tickets: $200 Adults, $80 Children
More Information: Charlotte Reardon | The Society of MSKCC | 212-639-2103 | reardonc@mskcc.org | www.thesocietyofmskcc.org

{I was not compensated for this post. I was invited to the event for media coverage.}

{ 1 Comment }

Beauty 311 | Miss Jessie’s Curl Bar {Guest Post}

February 10, 2013 in NYC

Valerie Aranov is a lawyer and lover of all things fashion and beauty. She loves to keep up with the latest trends, try the newest beauty products, and write all about it! You can follow her on Twitter at @LegalValerie.

As a naturally curly girl, I am almost embarrassed to admit that I was a somewhat late bloomer when it came to discovering the professional blow-out. I was out of college already and into my second semester of law school when my best friend took me on what I think was probably the most transformational experience of my adult life (shout out, you know who you are!). Since that day, I’ve been hooked.

My hair is not easy to straighten. It would typically take an experienced stylist at least an hour to tame my thick, frizzy, and unruly hair. After keratin-treating my hair, the process became somewhat easier – my blow outs are now 45 minutes long – but still time consuming.

Enter Miss Jessie’s Curl Bar.

When the offer was extended to review a salon that would style my hair curly, I jumped at the chance. Frankly at this point I’ve given up. If I don’t have my hair professionally blown out, I just let it do its thing. Which is usually something pretty scary looking. Seriously.

Upon entering Miss Jessie’s Curl Bar, the first thing I noticed was how beautiful the salon is. Bright and happy, with marble tabletops abounding, I already had a good feeling. Then I met Rejane, my hair stylist. She was gentle with my hair and knowledgeable about the products she recommended. She washed my hair with the Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo, Creme De La Creme conditioner and styled with the Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue product (she noted though, that if I don’t diffuse my hair at home and let it air dry I should use Pillow Soft Curls instead).

After my hair was washed, she separated it into sections and worked the product through section by section. Once this was done, she had me flip my hair over and dried it by cupping it into the diffuser. This was a lot more gentle than the tugging I’m used to when I get blow outs, and the products smell aaaahhhh–maaazing, someone even asked me what perfume I was wearing! There was something very freeing about wearing my hair so naturally curly, and it definitely went noticed outside the salon.

Among some of the comments I got were, “Wow, why is your hair so sensual and sexy?” and “Oh wow, this is an amazing look for you.” (it’s not a look, it’s my hair, just better). I was also compared to Carrie Bradshaw in her curly hair days and Andrea on the original 90210.

The best part is how easy this process is to do at home with the right products. I recreated the look later that week and still ended up with frizz free-and what I like to think are sexy tendrils, that required nothing more than properly applying the Pillow Soft Curl creme and air drying.

Now armed with the right products, I have been going curly a lot more often. What can I say? I like big hair. I’m a Jersey girl at heart, after all!

Miss Jessie’s Curl Bar | 441 Broadway, Suite 2 (Between Grand & Howard) | New York, NY 10013 | (212) 966-5600

{No compensation was received for this post. I received complimentary products and services for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are my own. Post contains affiliate links.}

{ 2 Comments }

The Heiress

January 12, 2013 in NYC

Kat and I saw a performance of The Heiress on Broadway earlier this week and enjoyed it tremendously.

Based on Henry James’ novel, “Washington Square,” the play is a limited engagement boasting a buzz-worthy cast including this year’s Academy Award Best Actress Nominee Jessica Chastain and Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens.

When we arrived at the Walter Kerr Theater, we were greeted with the news that Ms. Chastain was tending to her awards season and Zero Dark Thirty promo obligations and would not be performing that evening. Of course we were disappointed but once the curtain ascended, Jessica Chastain was the furthest thing from my mind.

I’d not seen the play before nor the critically acclaimed film, which allowed me to watch this latest staging without the expectations that many (critics) obviously have, especially for the title role.

The Heiress takes place in mid-19th Century Manhattan in the drawing room of a townhouse in Washington Square. I’m fascinated by the city’s history and that alone drew me in. The richness of the set and heaviness of the costumes transported me back instantly. It’s a simple, relatable story:

The Heiress is the story of Catherine Sloper, the shy and sheltered daughter of a prominent New Yorker. Caught between the demands of an emotionally distant father and the attentions of a passionate young suitor, Catherine must navigate the terrain of love and regret, desire and duty, a chance for happiness and the burden of fortune…as only an heiress can.

Catherine, played that night by Chastain’s understudy Mairin Lee, won me over from the start with her vulnerability and naivete. I silently cheered her transformation as she discovers the power in confidence and self acceptance.

When the final line was spoken, Kat and I gave each other a, “Good for her” nod. If only all women could be so steadfast in their decision to end toxic relationships!

The Heiress’ last performance is February 10th so if you’re interested in tickets, better act now. Visit theheiressonbroadway.com for more information.

{I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets for review purposes. Thank you to MamaDrama for including us in this lovely evening. All opinions expressed herein are my own.}

{ 6 Comments }

Beauty 311 | Winter and the City {Sponsored}

January 11, 2013 in NYC

Vaseline challenged us to brave the cold Manhattan winter with an afternoon at Citi Pond, Bryant Park as part of its new campaign for Vaseline Intensive Rescue® Repairing Moisture and of course we accepted. A little chill never held us down!

I told Sebastian about our plans well in advance to get him pumped up since he didn’t remember our last visit. I’m not sure what he expected but he was stunned into silence when we entered the park and he caught a glimpse of the winter wonderland.

Perhaps it was the brisk air or the eager crowds of skaters. OR the enormous grinding ZAMBONI:

How cool for a 3 year old obsessed with moving vehicles? There are so many spectacular aspects of living in the city that I’ve become immune to until I see them again through Sebastian’s innocent eyes. And while, ice resurfacing vehicles are not a typical part of the cityscape, it reminded me of exactly why I can’t quit this place: that beneath the towering skyscrapers, amongst the harried hustle and bustle, are these magical little respites that breathe new life into each season.

We started our date with lunch at Celsius overlooking the rink then laced up and joined the pond of skaters. While I had to prop Sebastian up the entire time, he was grinning ear to ear.

In total, we spent over 3 hours at Bryant Park and I’m pleased to say you’d never know it looking at our hands and lips, which stayed moisturized the entire time thanks to Vaseline Intensive Rescue® Repairing Moisture Lotion and Petroleum Jelly. The lotion relieves my dry skin after just one use which is great because my skin is particularly dry during the winter months, and hours outdoors for a winter activity could have been disastrous. These products definitely top my list of winter must-have accessories!

We also perused the outdoor shops, where Sebastian found his own must-have winter accessories, macaroons and a new Curious George hat:

All and all, it was a chilly but perfect winter bonding experience with my little monkey.

WIN IT! I have five (5) Vaseline prize packages to give away, each including one (1) 10 oz. bottle of Vaseline Intensive Rescue and one (1) 7.5 oz. jar of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly for all of your activities this winter.

TO ENTER: You must follow Glamamom at least one of the following ways: confirmed email subscription, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. Just leave a comment below telling me your favorite winter activity.

An extra entry if you Tweet the following: #Win 1 of 5 @VaselineBrand winter prize packs from @Glamamom: bit.ly/UW2O1K #Vaseline

Two entries total. Please leave a separate comment for each. US only and you must be 18 years old. I’ll choose a winner in one week via random.org. Good luck!

UPDATE: The winners are Nilsa K. , Jennifer Lane, Brandi Price, Beth, and Becca. Congrats!

{This is a sponsored post.}

{ 44 Comments }

Bloggers Love Sewing Event | The Sewing Studio NYC

December 5, 2012 in NYC

If you’ve been following the adventures of Cousin Kat and Glamamom, you’ll notice we’re keeping busy. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t learn of something new and exciting popping up around the city or something that’s been here for quite some time that I wasn’t tuned into. My latest discovery (in my ‘hood, no less) is The Sewing Studio and of course I had to do some reconnaissance.

When I think of sewing, I inevitably think of Project Runway. Not all the money I’ve spent paying for someone else to rettach a little button or take up a hem that I should be able to do myself but meeting Heidi Klum, Mood Designer Fabrics, and Michael Kors’ need for a professional spay tan. I’m still glued after all these seasons and enjoying every minute. I even watched Project Accessory. Shush.

I don’t have any designing aspirations myself but I always thought it would be cool to learn to sew. My mom and her sisters used to make some groovy duds in high school and when she graduated, she worked as a fit model in the Garment District. That is, until all the groping got the best of her and she walked off the job with the boss running after her yelling, “You fucking bitch! No one quits on me!” Sounds like good times but I digress.

Tucked away on the 8th floor of a nondescript building in the Flower District, just a stones throw from F.I.T., is the warm, inviting, and totally glam Sewing Studio NY, offering private sewing lessons, camps, and parties for all skill levels. The original opened in Toronto in 2004 and the NYC location followed in early 2010.

Kat and I attended a two-hour, beginner workshop to discover the basics of sewing. We learned to thread our machines and take pretty fabric and transform it into little envelope clutches. Oh, and we were even taught how to sew on a button (applause)!

True, we were learning the very basics, working on beginner machines, and receiving detailed instruction from a genuinely kind and patient teacher but it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I can imagine with practice sewing could become second nature. Not that I have that kind of time right now but I liked everything about the studio and our experience and highly recommend it, especially for intimate events and parties. The space is just gorgeous:

If you’re interested in checking out The Sewing Studio for yourself, I have a promo code for 50% off any class, as well as $25 off coupons. Just email me! They also have gift certificates, which make fabulous holiday gifts for fashionistas and crafters.

{I was not compensated for this post. Our class was complimentary for review purposes and we received a gift bag with some sewing supplies so that we can reattach our own buttons going forward. Opinions expressed herein are my own.}

{ 5 Comments }

Holiday Train Show | New York Botanical Garden

November 30, 2012 in NYC

For the little boy who loves steamies and diesels, it doesn’t get much better than strolling the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden and marveling at the large-scale model trains and New York landmark replicas at the Holiday Train Show.

We attended last year for the first time and knew before the first train even chugged by that it would become a yearly tradition. The exhibit is spectacular, the Conservatory bright and intimate, and the gardens beautifully maintained and easy to lose yourself in.

Visitor Tips:

December weekends are obviously peak but the show runs until January 13th.
January 1st to the 13th is the Holiday Train Show with All Aboard with Thomas & Friends (we’ll probably head back).
Avoid lines at the gate by purchasing tickets online and printing them yourself at home.
Strollers are prohibited in the Conservatory so bring a carrier if you have a wee one.
There’s a cafe catered by Abigail Kirsch or you can pack a picnic.
Parking costs $12-$15 depending on the lot.
There’s a bit of walking involved to get from some of the parking lots to the grounds, then around the grounds themselves so plan accordingly and bundle up!

{I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions expressed herein are my own.}

{ 1 Comment }

ELF | The Musical

November 14, 2012 in NYC

Buddy The Elf is back on Broadway just in time for the holidays!

Would you believe I never saw the movie? I know, I know! Cousin Kat chastised me but I think I’ll enjoy it even more watching it with Sebastian. Plus, I got to to experience ELF The Musical last night at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre without any expectations whatsoever, as opposed to other shows I’ve taken in recently (Annie & Ghost).

With everything going on in NYC, the holidays snuck up on me. ELF was the perfect way to get into the spirit. It’s funny, fast-paced, and family-friendly. The audience was filled with theater-goers of all ages enjoying the colorful set of familiar, nostalgic holiday images. The song and dance numbers put a smile on my face and the 2-hour showtime (with a 15-minute intermission) is just about as long as I can sit comfortably.

“ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and his step-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.”

I think everyone can relate to the two main themes of the story: the desire to know yourself and your place in the world and the hope that if you believe/want it enough, happiness will be yours.

Cousins Kat and Tom accompanied me to the show and we all left with a smile. If it were a matinee I would have brought Sebastian too but delaying bedtime is risky. Hopefully ELF will be back again next year!

For tickets to ELF, visit Telecharge or call 212-239-6200 (outside the NY metro area 800-432-7250). Save up to $230 on Family Four Packs until November 22nd.

{I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are my own.}

{ 2 Comments }

Orly Genger in Madison Square Park {Guest Post}

Having a Ball at Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella On Broadway

HowAboutWe.com for Couples

22nd Annual Bunny Hop at FAO Schwarz 3/5

Beauty 311 | Miss Jessie’s Curl Bar {Guest Post}

The Heiress

Beauty 311 | Winter and the City {Sponsored}

Bloggers Love Sewing Event | The Sewing Studio NYC

{I was not compensated for this post. Our class was complimentary for review purposes and we received a gift bag with some sewing supplies so that we can reattach our own buttons going forward. Opinions expressed herein are my own.}

Holiday Train Show | New York Botanical Garden

ELF | The Musical

advertisements

latest videos

instaglam