Friday, September 25, 2009

Pocket something good


One of my favorite things about New York is the huge variety of cuisines that are just around the corner in my neighborhood. Polish, Vietnamese, Egyptian and Australian Outback restaurants sit side by side just outside my door.

The other night, I went down the street to Caracas Arepa Bar, a Venezualan restaurant with a cozy atmosphere, limited seating and a delicious variety of arepas. Arepas are best described as a corn tortilla/pita pocket filled with a variety of delicious fresh ingredients including plantains, avocados, chicken, beef and chorizo. Crisp on the outside and melty, warm inside, they are the perfect meal and just the right size to have you full without overflowing.

If you're in New York, you have to check out one of the Caracas locations in Manhattan on 7th and 1st Avenue or in Brooklyn at Grand and Havemeyer.

Or be adventurous and try to make your own with a recipe here. Either way the outcome will be delicious.

Image from CaracasArepaBar.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The dark side of the light




Since I’ve started my new life in New York City, I’ve found it increasingly difficult to pull myself away from actually experiencing all the fun, fashion and beauty to write about it! I’m sorry for my time away and I've learned my lesson that in the city that never sleeps, a good blogger can’t lay down her head until she’s laid her thoughts out online.

I’ve got so much to share from my first month in the Big Apple, but tonight , the impending fall air has my head filling with … hair.






For as long as I can remember I’ve been a blonde. First, naturally, and later with the help of a chemical or two. Lately, the change in seasons (as well as the skyrocketing price for platinum highlights) has me rethinking my hair color. My natural shade is somewhere between blonde and brown, so why can't I walk the line in the other direction? How would I look as a brunette?

This isn’t the first time I’ve considered heading to the dark side. A few years ago I did a non-permanent dye job to a light-brown shade for a day, immediately felt like an imposter and went back as quickly as the blonde dye could set-in. But maybe now that I’m officially in the adult world, I could handle a more grown-up color ... maybe not.

For inspiration, I’ve turned to photos of a few beautiful celebs who slide seamlessly between shades, looking beautiful in tones from golden to auburn. Granted, I don’t have a celebrity hairstylist on hand, but if they can be brave enough to make the change, maybe I can to.