I’m Back!

Hello, dear readers. You may have noticed that there has been a whole lot less traffic on my blog over the past week or so. Rest assured, I haven’t grown bored of fashion and shopping (the horror!), but have in fact begun a whirlwind tour of the U.S. – one which will continue into August – viewing the upcoming Spring/Summer 2009 shoe collections. So, over the next few weeks, I’ll be highlighting the major trends I’m noticing at the shows.

Still, all work and no play makes Tess a dull girl, so lest you think I was simply toiling away into the wee hours of the night, I’ll share a few non shoe-related discoveries from the New York leg of my travels.

 Crocodile Lounge – A favorite among my downtown amigas, this place offers a free personal pizza with every drink. More importantly, they have Skee Ball AND – a true rarity among NYC bars – Erotic Photo Hunt, a.k.a the most horrendous yet addictive bar game of all-time. (If you don’t know, don’t ask – but if you’re from Baltimore like I am, you DO know.)

16 Handles – I’ve nicknamed the East Village the “frozen yogurt” district, because there are literally no fewer than six Pinkberry knock-offs (plus one of the real deal) within five blocks of my friend’s apartment. Most of them are located on St. Mark’s, but the real gem is this 2nd Avenue outlet (located between 9th and 10th streets), where a sweaty gal can serve herself from 16 daily flavors and over 30 toppings – think fruit, cereal, and yummy gummies. And yes, they provide tasting cups so you can sample the wares before you commit.

American Teen – I’ve come to take post-Sundance buzz with a grain of salt, because sometimes the hyped films disappoint in a major way. Not so with American Teen, the documentary brainchild of Nanette Burstein (The Kids Stays in the Picture) which plays like a real-life John Hughes movie, invading an Indiana high school and finding its stars in the prototypes of “prom queen,” “jock,” “rebel,” etc. It’s sweet, funny, sometimes devastating, and miles more complex than any television series or film chronicling teenagers made in the last decade. I challenge you to watch it and NOT leave the theater with a little bit of a crush on Mitch, the “heartthrob.” (Currently screening only in New York and L.A., but set to open in more theaters nationwide.)

Sunshine & Shadow silk scarves – First I saw them in Barneys. By the end of the weekend, I’d spotted chic city gals in virtually every Manhattan neighborhood sporting these supersoft tie-dyed wraps with everything from crisp sundresses to black skinny jeans. Available in many beautiful color combinations, these will take you into fall and, judging from the rampant incorporation of tie-dye into next spring’s shoes (more on that later), way beyond.

 

Gaining a competitive edge at the Crocodile Lounge