manhattan digest

Del Frisco’s Grille Flavors Up Rockefeller Center

With how cold the weather has gotten in New York City this Winter, many Manhattanites are spending their weekends inside cozying up and avoiding the impending doom of cold that will hit them upon leaving their apartment. However there are many that are willing to face the freezing weather and enjoy their time out with friends and loved ones, especially at a really good restaurant. One that I would highly recommend going to is Del Frisco’s Grille, located right in the heart of Rockefeller Center on 51st Street between 6th and 5th Avenue. This couldn’t be in a more savvy and convenient location for in and out of towners as it is by the theater district as well as being right next to the world famous Radio City Music Hall. I had heard about Del Frisco’s from many of my friends who came back with rave reviews about the beautiful location and food that was prepared, so last night I took a friend of mine to see what all the fuss was about.

Del Frisco’s itself is quite a beautiful sight to see. It is dimly lit which is perfect for this time of year and incredibly spacious unlike other restaurants near the area that seem to get claustrophobic and tight from the moment of arrival. The wait staff and management was incredibly friendly and took care of us very well throughout the night. Known for taking the classic bar and grill to new heights, Del Frisco’s Grille draws inspiration from bold flavors and market-fresh ingredients with shareable plates that encourage guests to “meet up, drink up.” Having that information handy made the selections for what we were eating that much easier for us, and the overall experience with food was pretty much perfect in my opinion.

For the food choices, should you ever be in the area and want to have a great culinary experience, might I suggest the following to you for a delicious meal that will leave you satisfied and happy upon your exit-

Manhattan Digest, Del Frisco's — Credit to: Quinn PR

Cheesesteak Eggrolls with a Sweet & Spicy Chili Sauce & Honey Mustard (Pictured Above)- I was told over and over again last night that this was what people raved about when they went to Del Frisco’s and boy were they right. The taste of the eggroll itself was quite delicious however when you add the chili sauce and honey mustard it really elevates the flavor of the eggroll itself. Perfect way to start your meal off.

Lollipop Chicken Wings with an Avacado Ranch Dressing- These are served buffalo style and pack quite a flavor in such a small bite. The buffalo flavor was not too spicy and it paired very well with the avacado ranch dressing.

Jumbo Crabcake with Cajun Lobster Sauce- Was able to cut into the cake very easily and just like the chicken wings and eggrolls the sauce that came along with it really took the cake to a whole other level. The sauces in all three of these dishes were great compliments to the appetizers themselves.

Del Frisco's, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Quinn PR

Pepperoni & Sausage Flatbread & Roasted Tomato Flatbread- Not being the biggest fan of flatbreads I was a bit apprehensive, however the quality of the meat and the fresh mozzarella was spot on and really rounded out the starting dishes for me and my friend at Del Frisco’s.

Filet Mignon 8 OZ with Truffle Mac N Cheese- This is a dish that we both tried and really enjoyed. The charred aspect on it was a bit much to be honest, however the Filet was cooked to perfection (medium rare) and came with a really tasty Port-Foie Gras Butter. The Truffle Mac N Cheese had some great taste elements as well.

Nutella Bread Pudding- The name speaks for itself. Topped with Coffee Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce this dessert hits home for the season and the taste really explodes in your mouth when you pair all three of it together.

Overall I would rate this experience a 9 out of 10. I would highly recommend anyone stopping by and trying out the vast options that Del Frisco’s has. I had a great time and I am looking forward to my next visit.

For more information about Del Frisco’s, check out their official site.

Get To Know Producer & Songwriter Paul Andrews

by Ryan Shea

In my many years of doing interviews with people in and out of the music community, one division that I never really focused on are the producers, songwriters and remixers that can bring certain songs to life. Historic people in the industry from Diane Warren (Unbreak My Heart, How Do I Live) to Ryan Tedder (Halo, Bleeding Love) have all shaped music in one way or another. There have also been times where remixing a song turns out to be better than the original, most recently with hits like “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line which was remixed to feature hip-hop icon Nelly and historically songs like “I’m Real” remixed with Jennifer Lopez and Ja Rule and pretty much every Lana Del Rey Song.

Cue in Paul Andrews, who is a quadruple threat all wrapped in one cute and handsome frame! Paul has been in the industry for many years now, and has credits to his name from being a producer, songwriter, remixer & arranger. Even though Paul and I both reside on Long Island, I didn’t meet him until this past summer at Provincetown’s epic Bear Week with his equally as awesome partner Tom. I later saw Paul post a ton of songs he was remixing and I didn’t want to miss out on a chance to interview him and get to know him better. A walking Billboard Magazine of musical influence, Paul Andrews is the real deal when it comes to his knowledge and experience in the industry. Did I mention cute already? Just look at the pics. I sat down with Paul recently to discuss his history in the industry, some of his favorite songs he has worked on and remixed, and plans for the future. Take a look!

Hi Paul! So tell me what got you into producing, remixing & writing in the first place?

Hi Ryan! Without a doubt, I would have to credit my mom for getting me into music. She offered my brother and me piano lessons when we were very young and then kept on encouraging me in all my musical pursuits. She also played a lot of music while we were growing up, from classical to R&B to pop. My mom has great taste in music and I developed an ear for good songs and full musical arrangements because of her.

In school, I played in band, jazz band and orchestra and I sang in the choir. I ended up getting a degree in music theory and composition. It just seemed natural for me to write and produce music since music has always been a part of me.

Did you have any huge inspirations growing up that led you to doing this?

I wish I could list everyone since I was constantly being influenced and kept in awe by so many great musicians. There are different aspects of record making, so I drew different inspiration from each part. My biggest classical influence was and still is Claude Debussy. His use of harmony was ear-opening for me. It has stayed with me my entire life. I drew inspiration from incredible songwriters like Carly Simon, Brenda Russell, Burt Bacharach, Rod Temperton, John Farrar and Antonio Carlos Jobim who wrote great melodies with interesting harmonies.

Producers and arrangers like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Trevor Horn, Arif Mardin, David Foster, Narada Michael Walden and Walter Afanasieff got me into the production aspect of music. And artist like Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Basia, Swing Out Sister Out Sister, Sade, Tears For Fears, Oleta Adams, Everything But The Girl and ABBA knew how to deliver the entire package.

You have done a ton of great remixes, one of my favorites being Mary J. Blige’s song “Just Fine”. What is your process when remixing a song that is already exceptional at the level it is at?

Thanks! Part of the process is just finding the vocals to work with! Sometimes I am afraid of touching songs that are considered “classic”, but then I think that I’m offering something unique to the listener. I had to let go of the fact that some people just won’t like what I do, and that freed me up. Why give people what you think they want when the best you can offer is what you uniquely have to offer?!

The term “remix” might confuse some people in regards to my work since I’m not necessarily making a club version of a song. When I remix (or rearrange), I try to take the song in an entirely different direction. I challenge myself to see if I can capture the style or the sound of other periods. I tend to keep the tempo of the original song and not alter the speed of the vocals too much. Harmony is really important to me, so I usually start my ideas by getting a new chord progression down (and seeing how far out of the key I can go!) It can totally change the feel of the melody.

I like creating moments in songs where things just open up or quiet down. I know I’m onto something when I get that “chill” factor. Surprisingly, a lot of my arranging is done in my head when I’m away from the studio. I constantly have music going in my head. Sometimes I’ll start singing to myself and not even realize it. I have had sleep issues when I can’t turn off the music in my head.

Do you have a favorite remix that you have done so far and why is it that one?

One?! But they’re all like children to me! I can’t say that I have a favorite, but I do have some favorite aspect of certain mixes:

Seal “Crazy” – I felt like I got a classic sound of it. I wanted it to have that grand sound and feeling.

Kylie “Slow” – This was the first mix where I just let go of expectation and did what I wanted to do. I love samba and apparently, a lot of other people do to.

Donna Summer “I’m A Fire” – Right after her passing, I did this mix out of my love for her (I was devastated). I really felt my sincerity came through.

Adele “Rumor Has it” – Pure orgasm when I got that bridge to work!

Adele “Set Fire To The Rain” – First mix where I didn’t go for a club tempo or feel and where I went to an older 80’s style.

Adele “Someone Like You” – I really like how I completely changed this song and got that 60’s orchestral feel.

Madonna “Lucky Star” – I imagined what this song would have sounded like had Madonna recorded it a few years prior with the same producer.

Hall & Oates “I Can’t Go For That” – I like that I created a funky thumper, changing up a lot of the chords while making it feel familiar.

Pet Shop Boys w/ Dusty Springfield “What Have I Done To Deserve This” – This was pure 60’s fun!

You get some pretty big artists retweeting the remixes you do, Kylie Minogue was recent. Have you ever had the ability to meet any of these people and work with them?

Yes, Kylie liked my mix and tweeted it out. I got a bunch of plays from that tweet! She actually called our house once, but that’s another story…

I love the internet and social media because I’ve been able to connect with people who I’ve admired for so long. I feel very fortunate and humbled to have received compliments from some of my idols like Brenda Russell, Jimmy Jam, Steve Anderson, Nile Rodgers, Danny White (Basia), Mike Stock (S.A.W.), Andy Connell (Swing Out Sister), Lisa Coleman (Wendy & Lisa), Jody Watley… And then I felt beyond ecstatic when some of them actually posted my work. I was lucky to have met some of them, but haven’t worked with any of them… yet!

One of the most memorable compliments came from Sebastian Morton who cowrote and produced “I’m A Fire” with Donna Summer. He heard my mix and wrote to me saying that the way I arranged it captured the essence of what they were going for when they wrote the song. He also said that he knew Donna would have loved it.

When I first moved to New York, I was fortunate enough to become friends with Toni C. (Whitney Houston, Deborah Harry). We wrote and produced a few things together. We had such a blast!

Do you have a dream artist that you are dying to work with on a remix?

I really felt that I connected with Adele’s voice on the 4 mixes I did. Or maybe it’s just that her voice has so much character, it sounds great on anything! I would definitely love to work with her. I wish that could have worked with Donna Summer. I guess the next best thing would have been to work on her posthumous remix album. I’d still love to get my hands on some vocals to give it a try. I definitely have this thing for female voices.

You have been in the industry for quite some time now. What are your thoughts on how the industry is today compared to how it was when you got into it?

It’s changed a lot. But it’s not just a change in the industry: the way we make music and the way we listen to it has changed too.

Back when I first starting remixing, record companies really worked an artist. They developed them, found the right songs, built a name for the artist… Now it seems that these companies want a finished product, complete with a fan base, all wrapped up nicely and ready to sell with a bazillion remixes (all done on spec) on the side. There’s no development. Basically, the A&R man has gone away.

Because of technology and the internet, so many people are now making music and sharing it. It’s great to have so many options, but sometimes things get lost. Some computer programs are basically writing and producing songs with a few clicks of a mouse. The craft is missing. The public is eating all of it up, but they want it NOW and they want it for free. Meanwhile, so much of what they’re listening to is all frosting and no cake. They get bored quickly and move onto the next flavor. One friend told me that her daughter was playing song in the car through her iPhone. She would listen to each song until the end of the first chorus, and then skip to the next song. Finally, my friend asked her daughter to “please let one song finish!”

On the other side of this, the internet has allowed older artists, or artists that don’t necessarily do popular music, to release material on their own without a recording contract. They have an outlet and can do the kind of music they like without any input from the record companies. I love supporting the artist directly.

Paul Andrews, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: PaulAndrews.org

What are your plans for 2015 and beyond for Paul Andrews?

Well, I’ll continue to do the mixes, but I want to start collaborating with other musicians, get involved in some projects… I definitely need to concentrate on original material. I tend to like so many different styles, I’m just going to see what comes out of my head!

Want to know more about Paul Andrews? Check out his official site’s below!

The Royal Guard’s Epic Return From Europe To NYC

by Ryan Shea

With the mainstream culture in music being so heavily favored in pop, hip-hop and EDM it is hard for any type of real bands to find their place in the maze that is the music industry. Some may have to travel beyond their norm to discover appreciation and respect for the type of music they put out. The Royal Guard did exactly that, when they uprooted themselves from NYC in 2009 to Eastern Europe when they released their debut album “Showdown”. After it being well received in Estonia, where they resided, they spent the years after that dealing with personal turmoil that halted the band from moving forward in their efforts. Now that the dust has settled, the band has forged ahead and is ready for the next chapter in their lives.

The Royal Guard consists of Todd Davidson on Lead Vocals & Guitars, Andy Ascolese on guitar and vocals and Fred Scragg on Drums. They are releasing their second effort called “Hail The King” in which two singles have already been put out for the masses to enjoy- “I Wanna Know” and “Why Can’t We Be Together”. I was fortunate enough to sit down with The Royal Guard about their budding success, getting back together and what is next for this trio. Take a look.

Hey guys! So tell me the back story on how all of you came together?

We all grew up on Staten Island. I knew Andy since we were kids and I met Fred at a concert in NJ while he was playing drums for another band. I told Fred that band he was playing with was terrible and that he needed to come play for me. That’s how Fred and I started working together. Turns out, Andy and Fred already knew each other from High School. So it was only natural to approach Andy, the most talented person I know.

What was the original sound of the band and has that changed since inception?

I’d say it wasn’t drastically different. Maybe we were a bit more punk than now. To me, the music still has the punk edge but has become a little more mature and complex yet still simple and to the point.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Some of our musical influences include: My Chemical Romance, 30 Seconds to Mars. Green day, Foo Fighters, and Muse. And of course, as guitarists, we dig some of the great hair bands of the 80’s when you’d hear a guitar solo in every song. haha

What ultimately sparked the move back to New York?

There were some musical opportunities I wanted to explore and sadly as it turned out, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and we wanted to be close to her and the rest of my family.

What is the major difference in the music scene between NYC and Eastern Europe?

It seemed like people in Eastern Europe get out more to hear live music. Even on the local levels, there appeared to be more interest and excitement. It also seemed that rock music was still in high demand.

Tell me about the two new singles you guys have released.

Why Can’t We Be Together

We refer to this song “The Ultimate Anthem of Rejection”. In words of Emily Dickinson “The Heart wants what it wants – or else it does not care”, this is a story of simple unrequited love, something that everybody experiences at least once in a lifetime. Boy meets girl, their eyes meet, his heart leaps, she doesn’t give a damn.

I Wanna Know

The underlying theme in this new album is love and war, struggle to keep on believing in your dreams and putting up a fight to not let the life destroy that dream. “I wanna know” is a song about holding on when you are in over your head and trusting that in the end of the road it all will make sense.

What are your plans for 2015 and beyond?

Our new CD “Hail The King” is currently being printed. We plan on releasing that CD at the start of the new year and then touring to support the album. Beyond that, we want to continue to share our story of holding on and never giving up to our fans and to our future fans. We also hope that we can help bring rock music back to the forefront of the music industry… one guitar solo at a time.

Check out The Royal Guard’s official site & EPK here!

The Loft Sound Studio- Finding The Next Big Thing In Music

by Ryan Shea

In the past decade or so, reality television has giving audiences a first hand look into what it takes to develop the next music superstar. Shows like “American Idol”, “The X Factor” and “The Voice” have all played pivotal roles in taking a regular person and turning them into a chart topping, Grammy winning performer who becomes a legend in the industry they simply once aspired to be apart of. But what happens when you take someone who has already been through the ringer of this type of program and take their experience into their own hands and utilize it on other up and coming performers? That’s where you will find Donnie Klang and Matthew LaPorte, who have developed The Loft Sound Studio.

Located ten minutes away from me in Plainview on Long Island, Donnie & Matthew have built Long Island’s premiere music artist development factory. If you are unfamiliar with Donnie he rose to fame on MTV’s hit show “Making The Band” a couple of years ago, most notably being signed by Diddy as a solo artist as opposed to the rest of the men there who were being groomed to be the next big group in R&B and hip-hop. When your mentor is none other than Sean Combs you pretty much have the rundown as to what it takes to find that next X factor of a person or persons. Since their opening, they have developed some big new talent including MarissaAnn who was a finalist on season 3 of “The Voice” and Madison Beer, who landed a deal with the biggest artist in the game- Justin Bieber. I sat down with Donnie & Matthew to discuss more.

Hey guys! So tell me a little more about how the process of The Loft Sound Studio started?

We opened The Loft Sound Studio in 2011 with the intention of giving young aspiring singers a place where they can come develop not only their vocals in a fun innovative way- but also help train and create recording artists that are industry ready.

Donnie, do you think your experience on Making The Band helped in the process of developing the studio itself?

My experience on Making The Band was one in a million. It was really the last of true artist development that labels used to put into their artist. It’s been amazing being able to take everything I learned and the network I made and help new artists pursue their careers.

What was the biggest takeaway that Diddy taught you during the MTB experience?

The biggest thing I learned from working with Puff was that this is truly a business. I learned the ins and outs of every aspect of developing, growing, marketing, and exploding a brand.

What made you want to transition out of music and focus solely on producing at this point in your career?

When things slowed down for me- I realized from a business aspect I wanted to have something in place that can help sustain my life moving forward so that when I’m ready to work on my music again I won’t have to worry about the financial side of it. I’ll be able to just whole heartedly put my focus on creating.

Can you please let our readers know who both you and Matt have been developing and any success stories with the brand?

We helped to develop Madison Beer who secured a deal with Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun and she eventually signed to Island / Def Jam. We’ve gotten multiple teenagers onto reality music competition shows including X Factor and The Voice. Most recently we assembled a 5 member pop / R&B girl group that we are currently marketing and developing and will be showcasing to record labels in 2015. They are called The Janes. We also have been working with 17 year old soulful powerhouse vocalist MarissaAnn from season 3 of The Voice.

Seeing as we are all Long Islanders here, do you think LI gets the musical respect that it deserves?

I think Long Island is a hidden gem. We are of course in the shadow of the greatest city in the world- but it also gives us amazing opportunities less than an hour drive away. A ton of clients from Long Island that come to us used to have to travel all the way into NYC to get the type of training and services we offer- so we pride ourselves in being a little slice of the big city in Long Island.

Now that 2014 is ending, what are your ultimate hopes for The Loft Sound Studio as we enter into 2015?

Everything seems to have been culminating to this upcoming year. Everything I learned while being an artist in the industry- along with how much our business and network has grown- there will be multiple label deals signed this upcoming year for a bunch of our artists!

Learn more about Loft Sound Studio by logging on to their official site

SELECT – The Black Card for the Next Generation

by Ryan Shea

With the ever present view of celebrity lifestyle in the forefront, whether it is on television, radio or in the magazines, we get somewhat of an insiders look on their spending habits and boy are they big. Many of them have the AMEX Black Card, which loosely translates to that you are ballin and probably in the top 0.1% But what happens when you are a hard working young professional but still want to be a part of that lifestyle? Let me introduce you to SELECT. [Read more…] about SELECT – The Black Card for the Next Generation

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals on Manhattan Digest!

by Ryan Shea

Hope all of our readers had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their family and friends! For all you shopping people out there I am sure you have already hit up some of the biggest retailers to see what steep discounts they have going on. Well now that Black Friday is officially half over, why not take a peek and see what everyone else is missing with these super hot deals from some of your favorite places! Not only are some of these deals good for today, many of them have great specials for the upcoming Cyber Monday! From stylish shopping at Old Navy & Boden, to wedding dress hunting at Nicole Miller to specialty places like Sugarfina and Dannijo, Manhattan Digest has got you covered! Take a look at what these fabulous places have to offer and keep coming back to Manhattan Digest for more!

THE MAIDSTONE

c/o The Maidstone Hotel and The Living Room Restaurant In East Hampton, NY is celebrating CYBER MONDAY with 30% on all future reservations for the hotel or restaurant.

The deal is good during business hours on Monday, December 1^st by calling the hotel at + 1 631.324.5006

ROBERT SIEGEL STUDIO

Cyber Monday Deal: Head over to www.robertsiegelstudio.com on Monday, December 1^st for 40% off all serveware and tableware from 8AM to 8PM.

At Robert Siegel Studio, a combination of traditional and new throwing techniques are employed. Each piece is made of the highest quality porcelain and created one at a time in limited-editions, hand detailed and hand glazed. As a result, all of Robert Siegel pottery has its own distinct character and beauty. All offerings include handmade wheel thrown porcelain pieces that are glazed with colorful exteriors and finished with either dipped or hand painted banded patterns. Available pieces include platters, vases, planters, dinnerware and more. All items are made in the U.S.A. in limited-editions seasonally.

LYVE HOME

Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deal: From Friday, November 28^th – Monday, December 1^st, anyone who purchases a Lyve Home (www.mylyve.com) will receive a $100 voucher for scanning services to be redeemed through ScanCafe. This equates to over 220 scans of your favorite photos. Through the power of ScanCafe’s print to electronic scanning, these precious photos can be securely scanned and preserved in digital format for easy import into your Lyve account. All scanning services will be fulfilled via Scan Cafe’s ‘USA Express’ service, ensuring the process is secure, fast, and high quality, and handled by skilled technicians with a trained eye. This added value is ideal for those Lyve customers who are seeking a comprehensive solution to collecting and protecting all of their life memories. Tax and shipping (roughly $15) not included.

A strategic partnership between Lyve and ScanCafe offers Lyve Home customers the ability to not only collect, protect, and rediscover their memories captured on their digital devices, but to also bring their physical photos into their Lyve collection.

SUGARFINA

Black Friday Deals:

In-store on Black Friday only, customers will receive 1 free cube of Champagne Bears on orders of $50 and up
During Black Friday weekend (Friday through Sunday) on Sugarfina.com, free shipping on orders of $75 and up

Cyber Monday Deal:

On Cyber Monday, Sugarfina.com will offer 1 free cube of Champagne Bears on orders of $50 and up and free shipping on orders of $75 and up

Luxury candy boutique, Sugarfina (www.sugarfina.com), will be offering several sweet promotions this year on Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Store Locations: 9495 S. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA & The Americana at Brand: 779 Americana Way, Glendale, CA

DANNIJO

Black Friday Deal & Cyber Monday Deals: Sign up on www.dannijo.com for “Have A 5 Day Weekend” deals. A new surprise offer will be in your inbox Wednesday, November 26^th through Sunday, November 30^th.

Wednesday, November 26^th: 30% off all iPhone cases
Thursday, November 27^th: 30% off all bracelets/cuffs/rings
Friday, November 28^th: 30% off all handbags
Saturday, November 29^th: 30% off all necklaces
Sunday, November 30^th: 30% off all earrings
Monday, December 1^st: 30% off site-wide PLUS spend $500 and receive $100 off your purchase

BODEN

Cyber Monday Deal: Head over to www.bodenusa.com from Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday for 30% off everything. On Cyber Monday there will be an extra group of gifts with a 50% off discount.

EDITORIALIST

Black Friday Deal & Cyber Monday Deals: Sign-up on www.editorialist.com for the mailing list and receive a one-time 40% discount to VIP Insiders. Additionally, if readers elect to follow Editorialist on Instagram, you will gain access to the one-time 40% discount VIP code, applicable across the site on Cyber Monday. Receive the 40% discount code in your inbox Monday, November 3^rd through Sunday, November 30^th. Select restrictions on fine jewelry will apply.

NICOLE MILLER

“White Friday” Deal: Visit the Nicole Miller store in Soho on Friday, November 28^th from 10am to 7pm for the “White Friday Bridal Sale.” Bridal gowns will be starting at $250 and prices will be approximately 50% off. All available sizes will be in store and all sales are final.

OLD NAVY

Starting at 4pm on Thanksgiving Day, more than 800 Old Navy stores will open their doors for an unprecedented 31 hours of shopping with the whole store at 50% off. Even more exciting, Old Navy is bringing back its second annual “Overnight Millionaire” giveaway! The first 100 customers to line up will receive a game card for a chance to win the $1 million jackpot, and another 1000 lucky customers will be treated to a $200 shopping spree.

Beauty Steals & Deals For Black Friday & Cyber Monday!

by Ryan Shea

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner! And seeing as so many of us are trying to keep our skin in tip top shape from the horrible winter weather, Manhattan Digest is providing its readers with some awesome Black Friday & Cyber Monday deals for you to divulge in! See what each amazing brand has to offer and Happy Shopping everyone!

ANTHONY

Black Friday (11/28) – Cyber Monday (12/1)

30% off site-wide at http://anthony.com/

AHAVA

35% off any order using code BFRIDAY14
On Cyber Monday only, receive 35% off and a free Triple Mineral Body Lotion using codeCYBRMON35

WHEN: Friday, 11/27 through Monday, 12/1

WHERE: http://www.ahavaus.com/

BLISS SPA

Black Friday Deal: 11/28 – 11/30

Amazing savings and loads of free gifts at blissworld.com!

Luxe Holiday beauty bag (a $150 value) yours free with $100+ purchase
20% off product purchases on blissworld.com including bliss holiday gift sets

(20% offer excludes: La Mer, SK-II, Sisley, NuFace, Wellbox, Malin + Goetz, Clarisonic, bliss multi-‘face’-eted mask, gift cards, e-cards)

Free stocking stuffers all weekend: choose 4 free deluxe samples with $100+ purchase

Cyber Monday: 12/1:

Today only: Save an additional 40% on already value-priced pro-sized (32oz) pump bottles of our best-selling formulas:

fatgirlslim firming cream, lemon + sage body butter, lemon + sage supershine shampoo, lemon + sage conditioning rinse, naked body butter and high intensity hand cream

ELEMIS

Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals: Receive 50% off of select top-sellers listed on TimetoSpa.com

WHEN: Friday, November 28^th and Monday, December 3^rd
WHERE: TimetoSpa.com/BlackFriday

Erno Laszio, Manhattan Digest, Cyber Monday, Black Friday — Credit to: Alison Brod PR

ERNO LASZLO

On Cyber Monday, Erno Laszlo will be offering a Winter Wonders 6-Piece Gift Set as a Gift With Purchase for those who spend a minimum of $200 on ErnoLaszlo.com. The set includes a full size Luminous Intensive Hand Treatment SPF 25 along with sample sizes of the cult favorite Timeless Skin Serum, Hyra-Therapy Treatment & Revitalizer, Phormula 3-9 Balm & Cream (a retail value of $395).

JUNE JACOBS

Black Friday Promo – November 24^th – 28^th

25% Off Site Wide at http://www.junejacobs.com/ + FREE Shipping on all orders

Cyber Monday Promo – December 1^st

25% Off Site Wide at http://www.junejacobs.com/ + FREE Super-Size Intensive Age Defying Hydrating Hand and Foot Cream on orders over $50 and FREE Shipping on orders over $50

Based on highly effective concentrations of carefully selected botanical and plant extracts, recognized for their soothing and restorative powers, the June Jacobs Spa Collection marries age defying science and luxury. All formulas include cutting-edge, pure and effective ingredients along with a powerful patent pending anti-oxidant blend of white, red and green tea extracts combined with goji berry, pomegranate and grapeseed extracts to help neutralize free radicals, protect skin from environmental toxins and combat the visible signs of premature aging.

LAURA GELLAR

Black Friday Sale – November 26^th – 30^th

25% OFF (no order minimum threshold) CHECKOUT CODE: FRIDAY25
30% OFF orders over $100 (threshold is pre-discount) CHECKOUT CODE: FRIDAY30

Cyber Monday Sale – December 1^st

FREE 3 Piece Laura Geller Beauty Essentials gift with purchase, valued at $39 and includes a Travel Size Blush-n-Brighten in Boysenberry, Mini Champagne Spackle and Mini Blush Brush for orders over $40 CHECKOUT CODE: CYBERGWP

o Set includes

“Holiday Hues” EXCLUSIVE Eye Spackle Hues Collection which includes 7 shades of the Waterproof Eye Spackle Hues and a travel size GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara. The set will be sold at $40 (valued at $191) , while supplies last NO CODE

25 Days Of Color – December 1^st – December 25^th

Each day during this time period, LauraGeller.com will offer one single “hot item” at a generously discounted price for 24 hours only. CHECKOUT CODES REQUIRED. EACH DAY HAS A DIFFERENT CODE. SEE SITE FOR DETAILS.
During this time period, a special, exclusive GWP will be available. CHECKOUT CODE: COLORGWP

All Holiday Offers for LauraGeller.com will include FREE Standard Shipping on all orders over $50

STRIVECTIN

Black Friday Deal: StriVectin, the leader in clinically proven treatments for healthy, ageless skin, kicks off the holiday shopping season by extending 20% off all products purchased on StriVectin.com. From 12 a.m. on November 26th, through11:59 p.m. on November 30th, customers are invited to enjoy the discount via offer code FFNOV14.

Urban Decay, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Alison Brod PR

URBAN DECAY COSMETICS

Black Friday Deal: On Black Friday, prepare to have your eye arsenal fully loaded. For one day only, you can pick up the combination of Ammo Palette, Smoked Palette, AND get a deluxe sample of Perversion Mascara, for only $30. This killer combination is so edgy and intense, your eyeshadow brushes might need a safe word. Not enough for you? They’re also offering free shipping on all orders, plus the UD Ultimate Hookup Contest. Each unique order placed on ud.com will receive 1 card that contains a random prize ranging from $10 off their next purchase, to a grand prize trip to Orange County.

Price: $30, Available 11/28 on UrbanDecay.com

Black Friday And Cyber Monday Deals- A Must See!

by Ryan Shea

Three of the biggest shopping days of the year is rapidly approaching this coming weekend. I am of course talking about Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday! Many of us are waiting with anticipation to see what some of our favorite retailers will be marking on deep discounted sales for the masses to enjoy. Lucky for all of you, the staff at Manhattan Digest has found some pretty great deals for both Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Hopefully you will see the below deals and find some that pique your interest! Happy Shopping everyone!

JINsoon

Cyber Monday – Get Polished! Event: 11/28/14 – 12/1/14

With the code GETPOLISHED, JINsoon is offering 15% off JINsoon products on jinsoon.com from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. The code is only valid for nail polish, toppings, nail care and nail tools. Spa services and gift certificates are excluded from the promotion.

Darphin

Black Friday – Great Hydration Event

Receive a 6 piece Intral and Hydraskin GWP + Free 2^nd Day Shipping with your $125 purchase at Darphin.com. A $78 value! Enter code HOLIDAY at checkout. Offer valid 11/28/14 while supplies last.

Cyber Monday – Choose your Full Size Cleanser + Step Up Event

Choose from the Cleansing Foam Gel with Water Lily or Intral Cleansing Milk, plus Free 2^nd Day Shipping with your $75 purchase on Darphin.com. Enter code FOAM for the Cleansing Foam Gel or MILK for the Intral Cleansing Milk.

Step up to a 4 piece gift with your $125 purchase. Choose your cleanser, plus receive Travel Sizes of Ideal Resource Smoothing Retexturizing Radiance Cream (15ml) and Tangerine Aromatic Care (1.4ml) along with a gray zippered cosmetics bag with your $125 purchase at Darphin.com Enter code FOAM2 or MILK2 at checkout. Offer valid 12/1/14.

Memebox

Black Friday Sale: 11/27/14 – 11/30/14

Promotions:

20% off TODAY and for the next year (on everything shipped from the US store)! Every person that makes a qualifying purchase from the Memebox US store during the Black Fridaysale will get a permanent Friends & Family discount for a year!
20% off site wide and up to 50% off select items. Starts Nov. 27th and ends Nov. 30th.
FREE gift samples with purchase (select merchandise)

Aldo

EARLY BIRD PROMO (Regular Stores, outlets, accessories stores + online)

Start time: Thursday, November 27th 8 PM (store hours may vary from one another depending on location)

End time: Friday, November 28th 10 AM

Discount: 20% off regular price merchandise

What: Footwear, handbags and accessories

LEAD PROMOTION (Regular stores, outlets + online)

Start time: Friday, November 28th 10 AM

End time: Monday, December 1st 9 PM (closing time for stores) and 11:59 PM (online)

Discount: 50% off the original price on all reduced styles

What: Footwear, handbags and accessories

ACCESSORIES STORE PROMOTION (accessories stores only)

Start time: Friday, November 28th 10 AM

End time: Friday, November 28th 9 PM (closing time)

Discounts: 50% off the original price on all reduced styles + gift with purchase (while supplies last)

What: Handbags and accessories

BPCM, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Manhattan Digest, Cambridge Satchel Company — Credit to: BPCM

The Cambridge Satchel Company Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

When – Friday, November 28^th – Monday, December 1^st

What – 40% of Select Styles

Where – https://www.cambridgesatchel.com/us/

Haru Sushi Yummifies Taste Buds, Times Square & More

by Ryan Shea

Haru Sushi Breathes New Life Into Times Square

When you are a native New Yorker and have been around so many areas of New York City, you start to become familiar with what each area has to offer, one in particular being food. Seeing as Times Square has turned itself into the number one tourist hot spot with national chains taking over what used to be a really cool and hip area back in the day, it is hard to find anything unique and tasty in a sea of Red Lobster & Olive Garden type establishments. That point was proven to be false when I took myself and my friend to Haru Sushi’s flagship location in the heart of Times Square, located on West 43rd Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. Times Square itself doesn’t have many locations devoted to all things sushi, so when I got word that this brand new location was opening up, my taste buds and general excitement took itself there on Thursday night to see if the food, decor and service was worth the walk through the battlegrounds of TS.

I have to say that overall I was quite impressed by what Haru Sushi had to offer. Even though it was in the midst of Times Square appropriate, it wasn’t overwhelmingly crowded to the point where you felt claustrophobic while you were downing your third piece of California Roll. Matter of fact, it was quite roomy and spacious allowing it to be a great place to go after work or if you are visiting a nice place to bring your friends and family. Located right when you walk into Haru Sushi you will find a large bar, serving top of the line alcohol and mixed drinks which bodes well for the bar type person who just wants the delectable after work cocktail. I absolutely loved the way the unique blend of greys, yellows and blues really adorn itself throughout the establishment and give Haru Sushi a quite warm environment upon entry. This is quite inviting especially with the cold weather that we have been having lately.

Haru Sushi, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Myself

Now onto the food of course! Haru Sushi is known for its sushi of course, but there are other options that I would definitely recommend anyone trying. So let’s hypothetically say that you are going with a friend and want to do the following- two appetizers, two sushi rolls and one dessert per. This is what I would recommend. For appetizers, I would go with the Beef Negimaki, which is grilled slice beef with a scallion roll. The other that I would recommend is their Lobster Gyoza with a side of soy sauce. Both have great flavor and texture and are the perfect bite to start your meal off perfectly. Now onto the rolls. If there were two I would severely recommend in the Special Roll option of Haru Sushi’s menu it would be the Perfect Fantasy Roll, which is Avocado-Wrapped Shrimp Tempura and Asparagus with Spicy Mayo. The other would be their Rainbow Roll, consisting of Shrimp, Striped Bass, Yellowtail, Tuna and Salmon wrapped around Kani & Avocado (Both are pictured in this article). Spectacularly delicious in many different ways for both and have a great price point for what they are serving you (Under $20 for each. Pretty good deal). If I were to recommend a third it would be on their specials menu and called the Shogatsu. The Shogatsu features Tuna, salmon and albacore tuna-wrapped spicy snow crab and asparagus roll, topped with cilantro, mango, strawberry, tobiko and wasabi tobiko sauce. Complex flavors but they blend really together into one really delicious bite. To end things, why not try their Mochi Green Tea Ice Cream, adorned in whipped cream and chocolate sauce? A great way to end a perfect meal.

Overall I would give Haru Sushi a high rating for sophistication, taste and overall appeal of the location itself. Even if you are a Times Square hater, I would highly recommend trying this place during the winter season and beyond as you will leave feeling full and happy. For more information about the Times Square location as well as the others they have plastered throughout the New York City area, log on to their official website.

Haru Sushi: Times Square

229 West 43rd Street

212-398-9810

Why Magnolia Bakery Is Worth The Hype & Deliciousness

by Ryan Shea

The cupcake to the New Yorker is quintessential to a whiny woman in a Woody Allen film. It just makes everything that much better. Seeing as there is a bevy of locations in New York City where you can divulge in your favorite type of cupcake, there is one place that many locals and visitors deem as the creme de la creme of the cupcake shops here. This of course, is Magnolia Bakery which has several different locations throughout the New York City area.

I became aware of Magnolia Bakery years ago due to my love of the HBO hit show and two time movie “Sex And The City” in which Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie visits the original Bleecker Street location in one of the episodes. I didn’t visit, however, until a friend of mine surprised me on my birthday five or six years back and took me to their location in the Upper West Side. The bakery itself had a warm and friendly vibe as well on top of the lovely people working there. Then of course, there was the taste of what they were preparing for everyone. All of it was delicious, from the decadent red velvet cupcakes to the world famous and insanely delicious Banana Pudding, Magnolia Bakery stepped up to the plate when it came to delicious treats designed for the masses.

Magnolia Bakery, Manhattan Digest — Credit to: Magnolia Bakery

I recently sat down with one of their fantastic and fabulous PR & Marketing Manager Riana Zimmerman to talk about Magnolia Bakery’s rise in the food world in general, from its one location to now internationally known brand. Take a look.

So how did the world famous Magnolia Bakery start?

So we started in 1996 at the Bleecker Street location in the West Village. It was a local bakery known for cupcakes and a bunch of other yummy desserts. And then “Sex And The City” mentioned it on one of their episodes and Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) ate one of our vanilla cupcakes with pink frosting. After that happened, it brought an insane amount of crazy lines to the Bleecker Street location and started the whole “cupcake craze”. Steve Abrams, who is our current CEO, bought the brand in 2007 and expanded it further in New York City while opening up locations in Chicago & Los Angeles and now we are franchising internationally. So the supposed “Cupcake Craze” that Magnolia Bakery started is taking over the world.

I, just like a lot of people, became knowledgeable of Magnolia Bakery through “Sex And The City”. What was the process in getting a huge show and star like Sarah Jessica Parker to visit and film at the original location?

I’m not entirely sure! This was just a local bakery that may have been on the show’s radar, or maybe it was on someone’s recommendation list. I just know that it completely changed the Magnolia Bakery brand once the episode aired.

To the people that live in the New York City area, they view Magnolia Bakery as licorice. Meaning you either love it or hate it, but the haters don’t hate the actual products but see it more as a tourist trap. What would you say to those people in order for them to overlook the droves of people and just enjoy what Magnolia has to offer?

Everybody has their own personal taste of course, but I don’t think it is a tourist trap. We are at the Upper West Side location right now, very local to the neighborhood and as you can tell it has a pretty normal crowd as does the Bleecker street location. I think the one that they are referring to is the one in Rockefeller Center, however I don’t think it’s a tourist trap. The fuss is for a reason, and I think we have great cupcakes and a full menu of 100 other desserts and customizable cakes and whatnot.

Now I have my personal favorite at Magnolia Bakery (Red Velvet Of Course!), but what would some of yours be?

I personally love our Banana cupcake with chocolate frosting. The icing is so rich and delicious that it really works well with the cupcake itself.

There was a lot of hoopla over the summer about the supposed “Cupcake Craze” being over as a big cupcake chain filed for bankruptcy. What are your thoughts on the craze in general?

I think there are places that do specialize in one off products like cupcakes. Luckily for us we are known for our cupcakes but we also have a ton of other desserts. Our Magnolia Bakery customers do buy a lot of cupcakes however they do also purchase a ton of our other products so it really is the best of both world when you come here. A cupcake is a perfect size portion for a snack during lunch or after you finish your dinner with friends, as opposed to a large slice of cake. It really has shown by how well all of our stores are doing with all of our products, so I don’t agree with it being a craze.

What big celebrities have you seen come into any of your locations?

So I actually saw Donatella Versace at our Bleecker Street location which was very exciting. Zoe Saldana was at our Los Angeles store which has been all over the news as she is pregnant and has visited us a couple of times due to her craving of cupcakes. Michelle Obama actually sent some of her secret service agents for our cupcakes while she was visiting in New York even!

The location size of Magnolia Bakery is growing each year, however do you think you’ll open up anymore in its hometown of New York City?

We aren’t focused on expanding domestically right now as we are focused on expanding internationally however down the line we are looking into opening up other locations.

What would you recommend for a first timer at Magnolia Bakery in trying?

Maybe you are going to think I have a love affair with chocolate but it’s OK if you do because it’s true and it’s real. A chocolate piece of cake with chocolate icing is so good. Of course, the world famous banana pudding. To top it off I would recommend our pumpkin cheesecake & pumpkin spice whoopie pies is essential to now as it is available throughout the fall.

Does Magnolia Bakery do deliveries?

We do! We have an online store which delivers all throughout the United States with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii. You can order anything from cupcakes, cookies and bars so I definitely recommend if you aren’t local to a Magnolia Bakery you check out the online store to try something out!

What are you ultimately hopeful for the Magnolia Bakery brand and beyond?

We would love to see our international franchises succeed of course! We are excited about our growth, in fact we had a meeting recently to discuss 2015 and see what new items we can bring to you, your readers and the masses! Stay tuned!

Want to know more about Magnolia Bakery? Log on to their official website for locations, product information and more!

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Haru Sushi Breathes New Life Into Times Square

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