When Tara Met Blog: March 2006

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006

When Tara Met Blog is featured on Delight.com today, in regards to my post about CityMitts on March 14. They call me "a sassy-savvy New York gal." I'm pretty excited since I've been checking delight.com often for online shopping bargains and coupons. I wanted a bath mat that they featured recently but the color was no longer available, whatcha gonna do? Apparently the site is going to be retooled and redesigned this spring too.

Also been meaning to mention this for a few weeks now...I was added to the 'B list' at Blogebrity, which is also pretty cool.

PS: I'm going to be MIA the rest of the week. I'm heading for a 3 day trip to Nassau with my friend Karen. We're flying JetBlue and staying at one of those all inclusive places (Breezes) where the food, drinks and room are included in the package. So we're looking at a fun and relatively cheap weekend. I need some sun, I think this is the whitest I've been yet, none of my olive Italian coloring can be found. I'm bringing my video camera so who knows what fun stuff (blackmail) I'll come back with ;)

New York Rangers

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

It's easy to forget that the team even exists in the city sometimes due to all the fuss over our baseball teams (well deserved though) and even the attention we give the crappy ass Knicks, which is why I never think of getting tickets to see them play. I can't claim to be a hockey guru but I do like hockey inspired films like Miracle and Mighty Ducks and catch the Olympic games, but I hardly follow the NHL--not that having a strike made it any easier. I went to the game last night though and had a great time. I've only been twice before, both times they were Rangers matches.

I'm always amazed how Madison Square Garden can go from the spacious basketball arena to the oblong hockey rink. I especially like that even way up in the cheap seats, where I was, you can feel the chill of the ice. The seats were so high up they made the tix that I had for U2, which was also at MSG, look like I was sitting on the stage. Despite the many many steps we had to climb to reach our seats, they were actually pretty good. It was easier to see all the action and to track the puck, even when it was slapped into the stands and hit a Playboy Playmate of the Year. I saw it too, although I didn't know that she was a Playboy bunny at the time not until I read the news today. I just saw security guards hurrying over to the blonde below. Oh and NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon was in attendence as well, the jumbo-tron pointed him out.

Besides that, the game itself was really action packed too. The Rangers were down by two in the second period, the score was 2 to 4 Buffalo Sabers (who I didn't even know existed) then the Rangers scored two goals to tie the game. The crowd went from yelling things like "It's not like you're on ice skates" and "do something!" to cheering like mad. I love that about NY fans, how easily we jeer our own team and then cheer them on minutes later. So the tied score brought us into overtime and then to an exciting shootout, where the Rangers finally declared victory.

I also got to see the Ranger player Jagr (not to be confused with the shot) tie two of the team's records for the most goals (52) and points (109) scored during one season. Not sure what the difference between points and goals are though. Too bad he didn't beat the record instead of tieing it so I could witnessed that. Ah well.

Another fun feature of the Rangers' games is the song that they play when ever they score a goal. Everyone gets up and chants GOAL! But it's dragged out like GO-O-EL. It's hard to write and not sing. In fact i'm singing it in my head right now. Oh and on another side note, I'm not a big fan of the new Ranger uniforms with the liberty figure on it and miss the classic symbol they had before.

Jagr, Rangers slash Sabres
NY Daily News
In an awesome display of talent and will, Jaromir Jagr erased a two-goal deficit, tied the club's two most prestigious single-season records and got the Rangers into position to win a shootout in a 5-4 triumph last night. FULL STORY

More news: Historic night ends with 5-4 comeback victory

It's in the bag

Thursday, March 23, 2006

When it comes to contests these last two years, I've been on a roll. My dad must be pulling some strings up there for me, that's the only way I can explain it. I never used to win anything and then I got a free GenArt membership last year and a trip to Marco Island when I went to The Tony Danza Show. Now, I just received an email saying "Congratulations!!! You have won the February BagTrends Giveaway."

I don't remember entering any contests, but have visited their site before.

My prize is the Kooba Sienna Bag in Cream - a limited edition color. The retail value is $595.00! I've never owned a bag that expensive before. In comparison my red winter Coach purse that I love cost $250 on sale at the outlets, which was my most extravagant bag purchase. However I do own a lot of $100 range purses, so I guess I've spent that much before when adding them together. This one is free though. I also needed a bigger summer purse, since my summer bags are more clutches and flimsy things. Yay! Sorry to brag.

The purse is leather and as smooth as butter. The inside lining is a very soft suede in lavender coloring, which feels like a delicate baby blanket. The outside looked whiter under the florescent lights at my office since I was carrying it/modeling it around the halls but when I brought it home it looked more cream like. I was already told by a co-worker that it's "trendy" and I saw an article online with Sienna Miller (thus the design's name) wearing it in the same color.

The attached tag reads "this Kooba bag has been crafted from the finest Italian Cowhide. The difference of grain and slight discolorations are evidence of the naturalness and authenticity of true quality leather."

Now here's a question, is it too early to start wearing it? I think I'd at least have to wait to April when it's more spring time.

Here are some photos of my new bag, oh and the necklace that I mentioned buying here.

Thursday Confession

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

(I haven't done these in awhile, sorry)

I'm terrible distinguishing between my left and my right. I'm that annoying person in the car that is in charge of giving directions and will point to where you have to turn or say left when I mean right, causing you to have to turn around at a gas station and double back. I'm getting better at it, its just when put on the spot that I sputter and say "left, no right." When I'm writing directions, I'm better. Oh and don't get me started with North, South, East and West. Unless I'm in the grid area of Manhattan, I don't know my compass directions to save my life.
---

Yesterday on my way to work I saw a small filming crew in the park that I cut through in the mornings on my way to work. When I say small I mean like 40 people, unlike the Law & Order filming's that take place near me, which have trailers and all this crap blocking the streets. Anyway, they were filming near the basketball courts and dodgy public bathrooms and I saw Michael Imperioli from The Sopranos. I'm not sure if they were filming a shot for the TV show or if he was doing a movie on his own. He was walking and talking covertly with another man near the bathrooms for the scene so it looked like something that could be for Sopranos. I didn't want to be a tourist and stare, so I kept walking to the subway, plus it was cold out.

News: Elusive Coyote Is Captured in Central Park. A crazy story, thanks to Population Statistic.

You'll never see them again

Monday, March 20, 2006

There are certain restaurants and hoods in Manhattan that can remind you of a bad date or old flame and there’s that certain concern that you might run into them again, since you may still frequent the same places or have the same subway route, etc. Well, let me put your mind at ease, you will never see them again! Yet, you’ll still run into old school chums on the subway and every day friends, it’s one of the miracle’s that is New York City!

I was speaking with a girl friend of mine who says she is so surprised that she never runs into her ex, considering she has similar friends and goes to the same places, but two years later no run-in.

I’ve also had my fair share of dates, yet have never run into any of them again, phew. I’ve done the looking over the shoulder too. Meanwhile last week I unintentionally ran into my friend Stacy on 50th Street and a girl I had went to college with on the E train. How is this possible? I don’t know but so far it has rung true.

Link: Spank the Monkey I can do 327 mph! lol.

PS: My Film School Rejects DVD reviews are now getting picked up by Blog Critics. My latest are on the films Prime and North Country

Keep your mitts on

Monday, March 13, 2006

New Yorkers have to continually maneuver around some icky situations in the city, from dog poop left on the street, throw up outside bars, pee puddles in the subway stations, never mind the general germs from the millions of people that pass on a daily basis. I carry anti-bacterial gel in my purse to use after hanging onto the poles on the subway trains during my commute. I often leave my gloves on to avoid the sharing of germs, but then my nice gloves get just as icky. I'm far from being a germ-a-phobe but it just makes sense to be a bit cautious as to what you touch while on public transit.

I'm obviously not the only commuter to be concerned, just last week City Mitts debuted, the "germ-free solution to city and subway grime." Granted you can wear any gloves during your ride to protect from touching germs directly, but the nice thing about these is that they have grips on them to avoid slipping and falling on riders around you and they are also light weight and thin for warmer weather use.

They come in black and silver or black and pink and are made from a new antimicrobial microfiber, embedded with silver ions, inside and out, which prevent growth of bacteria. I first saw the gloves at the Shecky's event last week and have since spoken with the Founder, Emily Beck.

She said, "I was always that person on the subway trying to balance themselves on one finger so I wouldn't have to grab the slimy pole. City Mitts kills germs inside and out, looks cool and sleek, and gives you one less thing to worry about--just grab the pole!"

Still not sold on the idea? The New York Daily News found on the subways: Feces and skin infection at the Penn Station ticket machines, e.coli on the R train, urinary infection on the C train, diarrhea on the 7 train and influenza & cold virus on the #4 train. ewww!

Besides City Mitts there is also the TranStrap, which could be used as a more of a manly alternative to protecting against germs while on public transportation.

DVD Review: Yours, Mine and Ours

Seems Like Old Times

Saturday, March 11, 2006

My college friend Jacquie is in from Boston and staying with me this weekend. She had business in the city on Thursday and extended her trip so she can hang a bit in the city.

When taking a taxi to my office, she hailed the same driver that she had from the day before and he remembered her and where he dropped her off even. In all my years here I can't recall ever riding in the same taxi, what are the chances even?

We spent the very warm Saturday in Central Park without jackets trying to find the Bethesda Fountain. Eventually we did after going from the east side to the west side and then having to phone a friend to look up the exact location on the Internet. Here's a photo of Jacquie before the fountain and one of me in it (it's empty this time of year).

That night we headed to Canal Room to see Debbie Gibson perform at their I Want My 80s Party. She started off with a bunch of jazzy Broadway hits, which we actually enjoyed a lot, especially the Cabaret song "Maybe this Time." Then she moved onto the pop stuff after a 10 min break. She looked great, very skinny, rocking different wigs & weaves for the different sets and full of energy. We were right next to the stage near a VIP seating area, which during intermission Olympic skater Sarah Hughes came in to sit down at with a group of other girls, apparently it was one of their birthday's. The crowd otherwise consisted of some sketchy people and some Gibson stalkers.

Guest Blogging: I took notes during my office's annual networking event and typed up a recap on their corporate blog, Toasting Digital Defrost: A New York State of Mind

NY News: Littlejohn's blood was found on plastic ties that bound Imette St. Guillen I say we cut off his "little John." The graduate student's murder was horrible and has many of my friends in the city concerned. My mother called me to remind me to not walk home by myself late at night and Jacquie said she was nervous about it this weekend while visiting too.

Shopping at Sheckys Girls Night

Thursday, March 9, 2006

Two of my girlfriends and I went to Shecky's Girl's Night last evening at the Puck Building (the same building they use to house Grace's office in Will & Grace). It's this big shopping event where jewelry, handbag and clothing designers/vendors come to display their wares, plus free cocktails and a goody bag when you leave. We had to pay $30 in advance, otherwise it's $45 at the door.

As soon as I walked in, the first booth that I stopped at, I bought something. I have no willpower! It's a beautiful necklace with a gold plated leaf and pink stone that hangs low on my chest and only cost $25. The rest of the night everyone kept complimenting me on it, so I guess I made the right choice. It was designed by Jennifer Young, whose website is unfortunately not up yet, but I'll post it when it is. My friend K bought a really cute handcuff charm and Angela got a nice green purse to use as a portfolio holder for her head shots. All three of bought these $3 no slide slim headbands from Scuni, because apparently headbands are coming back. The ones we got have little rhinestones on them too.

After those purchases we signed up for raffles, got some free samples, sipped from little bottles of Virgin vines (The Shiraz wasn't bad at all) and rummaged through our goodie bags, which included a full bottle of Skin Milk face scrub, which is really light and moisturizes. I'm going to buy their regular hand lotion as well, I had tried it on there and it was very smooth and had a fresh scent.

Just when I thought I had made it clear with just those two purchases, I also snagged a black long sleeved shirt from Candid Couture that has a pink heart and says "If you break it, you buy it." ($15)

News: A friend of mine from J-School, Dana Lerner, wrote about Sheckys Girls Night back in November, to read it check out Fashionistas Flock to Shecky's Girls Night Out

The Superstar Pastry Princess

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

I wrote the following article for my food writing master's class last year at NYU and am honored to say the pastry chef that I profiled is also my friend. She has asked me though to not to use last names or restaurant names on my blog though, because she says the business is cut throat and the head chef just fired someone for speaking to a local paper without permission, and especially since, and I quote her "your blog gets more hits than a French whore *grin*." Bon appetite!

By Tara Renee Settembre

When you are the pastry chef at a five star restaurant in Maine, which is frequented by elite guests such as the Bushes, the pressure is on. There is even more to prove when you are the only female cook in that kitchen too. But when the Boston Globe reviewed the establishment last summer and found the cuisine just average, except for the pastries and desserts that is, which were rated as excellent, well then victory is sweet, literally.

While the other chefs read the review out loud to a chorus of groans, the six foot, 26-year-old, Jeanie, who trained at the Baltimore International Culinary, finally felt vindicated after years of harassment and abuse in the male dominated kitchens.

“I felt sort of like the evil step child when the review came in. It separated me from my team a.k.a. the guys in the kitchen. I was back to being the pastry princess and not one of them anymore. So in that aspect it sucked. However, behind closed doors I was doing some serious praising of myself for coming so far and not getting slammed. It was a sense of real accomplishment,” admits Jeanie.

On her initial interview at the restaurant, the chef told her she had three strikes against her. “He said, ‘You are a woman, an American, and on top of that a New Yorker,’ not something they liked, but then he opened the door and introduced me to the rest of the staff,” says Jeanie with a laugh of recollection about her 12 hour interview, where she joined the cooking team for a day and had to come up with new recipes on the spot based on different regions of the globe. (read more)

How to Win an Oscar

Saturday, March 4, 2006

For Best Director:

Make a LOT of films and the Academy will eventually award you for your contributions to the arts, especially if you suddenly change genres or film something out of your usual norm. IE: Spielberg for Saving Private Ryan.

Be an actor turned director like- Mel Gibson, Clint Eastwood, Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Kevin Costner who have all won.

Be the hot new director making one of your first directorial debuts, a.k.a Sam Mendes for American Beauty.

Hope that your film wins Best Picture, and you're more than likely to receive an award as well.

Be a Man - As of yet a woman has never won Best Director :(

For Best Actor:

Transform you're features. Robert DeNiro gained over 50 pounds to play boxer Jake LaMotta in his award winning role Raging Bull.

Play a nut or someone who's mentally handicapped / unstable. (Jack Nicholson did this for both of his Best Actor awards for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and As Good as It Gets. Tom Hanks as Forest Gump, Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man", Geoffrey Rush Shine and Laurence Olivier in Hamlet)

Or play someone with a physical disability like Daniel Day-Lewis in My Left Foot, and Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman. Think the hunchback Richard the II, a physical impairment can give an actor great leverage.

Star in biography and play a real person. Ben Kingsley Gandhi, Charlton Heston, Ben-Hur, Robert DeNiro Raging Bull, F. Murray Abraham Amadeus and Charles Laughton The Private Life of Henry VIII.

Do two good films in a row or somewhat consistently and you'll eventually get handed an award to make up for not getting one for a previous role. It's the only way to explain Russel Crowe winning for Gladiator.

For Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress:

If you're pretty then play someone less attractive. Lose the makeup, and show the lines. (Sally Field "Places In The Heart", Nicole Kidman "The Hours")

Take on an accent! Meryl Streep did and won for "Out of Africa" and "Sophies Choice", so did Francis McDormand for "Fargo".

Be Katharine Hepburn, after all she's won four of these!

Play a prostitute or a woman of the night. It worked for Kim Basinger in "LA Confidential" and Mira Sorvino in Mighty Aphrodite. Also Jane Fonda turned her hooker role into a Best Actress performance in Klute.

Be an older actress or a has been making a comeback after a couple of decades. Geraldine Page finally got her award in the 80's for A Trip to Bountiful. The same happened with Ingrid Bergman who came back to Hollywood after a prolonged absence to win for Murder on the Orient Express. At the very least this will be sure to get you a nomination like it did for Gloria Stuart in Titanic.

Don a costume like Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love.

Play a cross dresser like Hilary Swank in Boys Don't Cry and Linda Hunt in The Year of Living Dangerously. (And now maybe Felicity Huffman?)

More: Check out my Oscar analysis on Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for this year's awards at Film School Rejects

Tonight: Having an Oscar viewing party at my place. I'm making hot chocolate spiked with Kahlua & Malibu rum and trying out the fondue set that my landlords gave me for the holidays.

My First Opera

Friday, March 3, 2006

I’d love to say that I wrote my first opera but no, I just attended my first opera. I've read Puccini's La Boheme and Turandot and seen TV versions but last night was the first time I went to the MET Lincoln Center to see an opera live. My friend had an extra ticket so we went together to see Samson et Dalila a French opera by Camille Sainte-Saens. The biblical story about betrayal and seduction, which paints of course the woman (Dalila) as the evil temptress and destroyer of faith and man, so not an upper really.

First of all, being in the Metropolitan Opera Theater is amazing, incredibly high ceilings and four rows of balconies over looking the stage. We had orchestra seats right in the center. I was afraid I’d have no idea what the actors were going to be singing about, but in each seat are little screens that provide the lyrics in English. The size of the cast was also amazing; at one point there were 82 people on the stage belting out in operetta, which was very powerful. The set was sparse but had modern art screens in the background that were very evocative. However, yes not being the great Puccini, this opera was a little boring and has three acts and two intermissions. My friend even nodded off for a little bit as did a man in front of us and a woman next to us. I don't blame them because although beautiful the show was long and dragged on a bit, plus the beautiful singing was very relaxing, especially with the glass of champagne we drank.
I thought more people would be dressed up and many were, but not like Cher in Moonstruck and some attendees wore jeans even. I guess it's the same with any theater shows now-a-days.

Overall it was a great experience and I'm glad I had the opportunity to go.

X-Rated

Wednesday, March 1, 2006

Last night I went to the popular China Club for an X-Rated party--literally! It was for the launch of a new vodka from X-Rated that's distributed through Southern Wine & Spirits. Easy to have fun with such a sexy name. Anyway, the brand already has an X-Rated Fusion Liquor, a passion fruit vodka drink that comes in a bright pink color and frosted clear bottle and of course is popular with the young female crowd. Their website has the cute domain of www.drinkpinkvodka.com. Their marketing tag line even makes it clear that they are targeting their drink towards women: "The first vodka created to delight women."

Yet, despite their aims to attract women my age to their brand, the party consisted of a show from The Femme Fatals, which bordered towards burlesque and although fun, it excited mainly the males in the audience and their own sales guys and not the women. The 45 min show though included a great tango number from a husband and wife dance team, and it felt like I was watching "Dancing With The Stars" live. I would have enjoyed it more if the show highlighted some of the awesome dancing and less the continuous segments of just women doing stripper like moves, because although impressive it got boring after the first two skits. A woman next to me joked when a dancer dressed as Eve came on stage, saying that she almost wore the same outfit tonight.

If you plan to try X-Rated go with mixing their regular vodka and their passion fruit infused vodka with some pineapple juice. Very yum and colorful. At the very least I plan on buying a bottle because I know it will look good on my bar and in cocktails (and when I write bar, I mean the liquor and shakers that I store on top of my fridge, since my apt can only house a half size fridge, never mind a wet bar).

E-mail Response from X-Rated: Read your blog. We didn't want the show to be burlesque..will make some changes.

Film Review: Transamerica. My latest Film School Rejects write up.

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