Eva Mendes: All About The Place Beyond The Pines

By: Anne M. Raso

Eva Mendes was looking gorgeous in a polka dotted dress and platform pumps at the press day for The Place Beyond The Pines, co-starring real life love interest Ryan Gosling (headed to theaters nationwide this Friday). Mendes says that like many other actors, she finds on-screen bedroom scenes to be awkward and that she likes to “keep it classy” in this area of thespianism. She wouldn't comment if it was harder or easier to do love scenes with her real life BF or not!

Spoons (and Forks) Up at the 2013 Spoonful of Ginger Gala Boston

By: Jessica Cickay

They say that “practice makes perfect,” and it’s pretty obvious that in its 9th year, the Spoonful of Ginger gala to benefit the Joslin Asian American Diabetes Initiative has something good cooking…literally. Hundreds of hungry guests mingled in the Museum of Fine Arts’ Art of the Americas Wing to raise funding and increase awareness of the growing incidence of diabetes among Asian Americans, but in the tastiest of ways.

Ming at Work

Desmond’s Steakhouse And Grill: A Classic Midtown Steakhouse With A Modern Flavor

By: Anne M. Raso

I’m always happy to check out new steakhouses and Desmond’s in midtown was one I was especially eager to check out as fellow food writers told me they had a great time there, not only raving abut the steaks but also saying that they loved the fabulous trays of mixed raw and cooked seafood that have become diner’s favorite appetizers (although it is a meal in itself). I am a bonafide landlubber, so I stuck with the steak and traditional sides and sampled the eatery’s two most popular desserts.

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Tina Fey's Candid Admissions On Admission

By: Anne M. Raso

Tina Fey is in peak form in Admission, a social satire on the Ivy League admissions process that undoubtedly hits close to home for a lot of parents helping their smart kids fill out those complex forms right around this time of year! Fey plays Princeton Admissions Officer Portia Nathan, a conservative woman raised by a Susannah, a radical feminist mother (played by Lily Tomlin, sporting a large Bella Abzug tattoo). Paul Rudd plays the handsome and charming John Pressman, head of an alternative high school who has a wild card Princeton candidate for Portia--a kid named Jeremiah Balakian (played by Nat Wolff) with high SAT scores and crappy everything else who just may or may not be the son she gave up for adoption while in college. It's a clever plot and all we can say without giving away spoilers is that Portia's determined to get Jeremiah into Princeton come hell or high water.

Tina Fey and Paul Rudd at The Waldorf Towers, NYC

Getting Pretty with Olay Fresh Effects Beauty Products

By Finance Foodie

Treating yourself to an at home micro-facial has never been easier, now with the introduction of a new line of Olay Fresh Effects products. Between deep-down-to-the-pores shine cleansers, exfoliating micro beads, cleansing cloths that remove dirt and makeup, and moisturizers that provide 24-hour hydration, a "DIY Spa Day", has never felt so good (or been so close to my bathroom vanity cabinet!). I had a chance to test out this new line - and I must say, my skin looks quite fresh and rejuvenated after a few uses. Here are some of the products I used.

Vroom Vroom - Gotham Magazine & Infiniti Culinary Showcase NYC

By: Finance Foodie

A few evenings ago, Gotham Magazine & Infiniti threw a culinary fete at the super massive and trendy events spot Espace. Executive chefs from the city’s hippest eateries were on hand sampling their signature bites along with recommended custom cocktail pairings. It was a bitter cold and snowy night - but this party sounded too hot to pass up. Here are a few of my favorite morsels from the night.

Finance Foodie sampling a Pepper-Pepper cocktail 

Prandial New York: Modern American at a Pinnacle

By: Anne M. Raso

At first glance, Prandial looks like just another trendy, modern space in forever-chic Chelsea. But upon closer inspection, you can see that the integrity of the original turn of the century factory-like decor is intact, and that the lighting is dark, romantic and warm--much unlike the lighting in Justin’s, which was housed in the same space for many years. The food is delicious and served in generous portions, unlike a lot of eateries in this fashionable nabe!

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A Sweeter Easter with Sucré Macaroons and Chocolates

By: Finance Foodie

During the recent Mardi Gras holiday (yes, us Southern folk think of Mardi Gras as a holiday), I was recently introduced to Sucré, a New Orleans based dessert shop that IMHO serves up the best sweets and treats in the South. Literally one bite of their famous king cake and I was hooked! Not only is the cake one of the most gorgeous king cakes I'd ever seen (complete with shimmery purple, green and gold frosting on the outside), the taste is also out of this world delicious - especially when served warmed in the microwave after a long night of celebrating. Style and substance - now that's a winning combination.

The Famous King Cake

Pera Soho: A Crowd Pleaser With Something Extra!

By Anne M. Raso

Pera Soho is a light, airy, Mediterranean fusion eatery that is perfect for Sunday brunch, especially when you have some members of your dining party wanting authentic Mediterranean fare and some wanting a simple pancake. They have got everyone covered here, even steak lovers and people who just want a healthy piece of chicken breast on a baby arugula salad with a light zesty lemon and olive oil dressing. They also specialize in “mezes” (small plates) and many folks head to the eatery to share a few along with their much-heralded specialty cocktails.

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Hayari Paris' Goldy Fragrance Launch and Vera Bradley's Baby Line Preview

By: Anne M. Raso

Two last parties rounded out my all out fantastic week. First, the "scent"sational  Hayari Paris took out a private room in Bar Boulud for an editor's breakfast filled with gorgeous white flowers and couturier designs on mannequins. They had the early morning fete to celebrate their newest fragrance Goldy, which is for sale exclusively at C.O. Bigelow & Company pharmacy in the West Village and on their site bigelowchemists.com.

Goldy

Oz: The Great And Powerful Collection from HSN Preview Party

By: Anne M. Raso 

I continued my week around town by attending the HSN Preview for the Oz: The Great And Powerful official collection -- which was something not to be missed. For those of you who are unaware (or living under a rock without a TV), Oz: The Great And Powerful  is a new movie that will be released this Friday based loosely on L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and is the prequel to the legendary old school film The Wizard of Oz.  As The Wizard of Oz is still one of my favorite films from yesteryear to this day, I absolutely had to attend! Held in the HSN offices in midtown, the collection includes over of 50 of HSN's most popular brands and over 400 products doing their "Oz thing."

Courtesy: Disney Films

Singer Carnie Wilson Celebrates the Grand Opening of Lane Bryant in NYC

By: Anne M. Raso

Three remarkable parties and one preview stick out in my head from last week, the most highly-publicized and unique one being the grand reopening of the Lane Bryant store on West 34th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues. Because they had a store on 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues for so many years (I went there with my grandmother in the 60s and 70s), I automatically went there instead of the address on the invitation -- OOPS! The store is gigantic and luminaries such as singer/entrepreneur Carnie Wilson and Jay Manuel were on board to greet guests and even suggest some ensembles that would look good on them. Several plus models featured in the Lane Bryant catalog and on store displays were on hand, looking even better than their photographs if that is possible.

Singer Carnie Wilson and Lane Bryant Model