Yes you read that right. There are not too many places in the city where you can get flavorful Mexican food while enjoying the surround sound from large screen TV’s. [Read more…] about Campeon in Flatiron- Tasty Mexican Food, 80 Inch HD TV’s & More
union square
Spend Your Summer in The City at The Dream Downtown
Even though Summer doesn’t officially start for another couple of weeks, Mother Nature seems to be thinking two steps ahead of everyone else as we are already feeling the heat across Manhattan! This leaves some great options as Manhattanites to get out there on those Summer Fridays and weekends to enjoy what this city has to offer. Well, one amazing hotel has so much to offer under one location, that you might just find yourself there each and every weekend! This hotel is The Dream Downtown, located on W. 16th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. [Read more…] about Spend Your Summer in The City at The Dream Downtown
Biz Markie & Kinky Boots Cast Take Over Union Square Tomorrow
How bold can you be to go up against Tony award winners and Hip Hop Legends? To kick-off the BRING OUT THE BOLD™ campaign, LISTERINE® Brand is inviting New Yorkers to showcase their boldness at the Study of Bold Live in Union Square. Why? Because New Yorkers are tough, daring — in a word, BOLD. The LISTERINE® Brand conducted a study which found that LISTERINE®-lovers were more likely to do bold things. The study findings ranged from doing a yoga headstand to learning to speak a new language to breakdancing. Are New Yorkers as bold as LISTERINE® users? Let’s find out! [Read more…] about Biz Markie & Kinky Boots Cast Take Over Union Square Tomorrow
A Manhattanite in San Francisco: Where to Stay?
In the first edition of our four part series in San Francisco, we are showing you what we think are the best places to stay and enjoy yourself while you are in one of the most magical cities in our country. Now granted, with this time of year, and the fantastic weather that they had last weekend, it is hard to actually stay inside when SF has so much to offer, but then again each of these amazing hotels has just as much to offer if not more. So sit back, put your feet up, relax, and take a look at what we think you should check into the next time you are heading west to San Francisco.
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Burger & Brews With Captain Lawrence At 5 Napkin Burger Tonight
One of my favorite burger joints in New York City is pairing up with an amazing craft beer company to celebrate the best of two worlds all under one roof. Tonight, the 5 Napkin Burger location in Union Square, right off the L train, will be hosting a Captain Lawrence Beer Dinner tonight at 7pm. The event will pair some of the best seasonal craft beers with 5 Napkin Burger’s signature dishes that have made them one of the best burger places to go to in the best city for food in the world.
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Bethenny Frankel Unveils Skinnygirl Candy at Dylan’s Candy Bar
As someone who is trying to grow their own brand, I am always amazed and quite humbled to be in the presence of a person who started with a simple idea and turned it into something that even they couldn’t imagine. That was exactly what happened yesterday when I went to a fabulous event for Bethenny Frankel and her Skinnygirl Candy Line, which was unveiled at Dylan’s Candy Bar in Union Square.
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Lea Black On Her “Red Carpets & White Lies”… And More
When one thinks of words like fabulous, outgoing, exuberance and fashionable. you would tend to believe that the person having those attributes are ones desired to be inspired by. All of those and so much more can be attained to the fantastic star of “Real Housewives Of Miami” and now author Lea Black. As a fan of the Housewives, especially Miami, I was always captivated by Lea’s beauty, upfront honesty, humor and so much more which made her time on the show positively radiant in so many different ways. I have a huge amount of respect for her as she truly is a workhorse is many facets of her life- as a businesswoman, a mother, a wife, humanitarian, etc. You name it she’s done it, and just recently she was able to add onto her already plentiful resume- author.
Lea wrote an amazing book called “Red Carpets & White Lies”, a fictional novel about a Miami Socialite named Leigh Anatole White who goes through the ringer when planning her 10th and final year at the Annual Charity Ball, which is a star-studded event for troubled teens. Sounds kind of familiar right? (if you watched RHOM) The book is getting a ton of amazing reviews from New York Times Bestselling authors, readers on Amazon and yours truly. It is a fun, whimsical look on Miami’s social life and has a lot of characters, fun and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat. Definitely a fab summer reading if I must say so myself.
I was lucky enough to meet and interview Miss Lea Black last week when she did a book signing at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Union Square. Poised, politeful and perky in the best way possible, Lea talked more about her book at hand, her experience with the Real Housewives, and more. Take a look.
Thanks for sitting down with me Lea! You have so many facets of your career so far and now you are adding author. What made you want to go this route?
Fun and a guilty pleasure. I’ve always written poetry or lifestyle pieces for magazines, my leablackink.com blog, training manuals for sales teams, the Huffington Post political pieces, etc. So it is something I love to do, it’s an escape and it comes natural to me.
The book is fiction based, however most of the Real Housewives that have done books before have been memoirs, not fictional novels. What made you want to switch things up and stick with fiction?
It’s more fun. My first book was about about Inner and Outer Beauty, beauty from within. I decided this one would just be a fantasy, fun, easy read, scandalous novel.
Would you ever consider writing a memoir?
No. Because my life is pretty much an open book but the people I interact with for the most part prefer to be private. I know it’s hard to believe, lol, but not everyone wants to be on Facebook!
How did you come up with the title for “Red Carpets & White Lies”?
I went through different types of titles: “Shameless in Miami” types, then the glamour types, and then realized that “Red Carpets and White Lies” paints a backdrop and leaves the picture to the imagination. It is inviting, don’t you think?
Is the character loosely based on your life? This all seems familiar based off what I saw on Real Housewives.
Parts of it are – maybe the underlying backdrop of experiences and personality traits but the storyline is completely fiction. The driven, self motivated, get things done part, I can certainly identify with. And of course, the betrayals are familiar territory too! Lol.
Could you see the character of Leigh on a TV series, or even better a movie?
Yes, both. And several people in the industry have mentioned it to me. Someone even mentioned a Broadway Play. For me it was so much fun, if it just turns out it was a hobby – I laughed so much writing it that I can’t ask for more. It’s quite sarcastic too.
Any plans on a sequel for the novel?
Yes – I have a spin-off character already in the works. A very strong character who gets what she asks for but what she had in mind – is quite a different outcome. This one is gonna hit a lot of people close to home and have a lot of raw meat for fodder in it. Can’t wait to see who people “guess or think” the characters are! I’m having a ball just thinking about squeezing the juice out of some of these lemons! Lol.
A lot of people know you from Real Housewives of course. What was your overall experience on that show? Would you ever consider joining the cast in another city?
I have fun when I do it and I do not miss it when I don’t. And I would be open minded about another city if I had a real connection to the girls. But you know Bravo doesn’t really do the cross-over thing much. Not sure some of those cities are ready for a hurricane from Miami to hit!
Outside of the show and novel, what else do you have going on that would be of interest to fans and readers alike?
The charity for 20 plus years. Omg! Really? I can’t believe it. Whew! My LeaBlackBeauty.com line of jewelry and skin care products (over 400 products). SuddenYouth.com an amazing non-surgical face lift lit in a box that shows results in twenty minutes. I created Sudden Youth in the mid ’80’s and I’ve never demonstrated it on a customer that didn’t see immediate results. LeaBlackHandbags.com, an exquisite line of after five handbags starting at about $100 that will rock any outfit with classic chic pieces. And of course my blog LeaBlackInk.com, that’s a little bit of everything to pop culture to lifestlyle, beauty tips, personal growth, entertainment – it has it all. And because I spend about half my time in Los Angeles in our West Hollywood Hills home – i have a full life of fabulousness there! I love my life. I created it so I don’t get to complain. I pinch myself and give thanks everyday!
Anything you want to add?
Yes, I am loving my book tour, next stop, Book Soup, West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, Thursday, June 4th at 7 pm for more information email [email protected]. This is going to be a star studded packed house of fun and fabulous LA guests, and many of my West coast friends. Then it will be party time as summer begins, no school for my son and our schedule will be foot loose and fancy free! Did I mention how much I love my life?
Celebrate Mother’s Day At These Fab Locations
The day where the world celebrates the mother’s in their life- whether it is their own mother, wife or otherwise- is coming up this Sunday! If you want to take that special woman or women in your life out in style, look no further than Manhattan Digest to guide you on the best restaurants to go to. Ranging in locations from Manhattan to Jersey City, these places are going above and beyond to give everyone in your party, especially the mom’s out there, a really great time and something that will hopefully be quite memorable. Take a look at what these places have to offer.
Give mom an iconic NYC getaway at the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria New York with limited spring rates from $359. An extra touch, the Towers staff is accustomed to fulfilling lavish requests – like covering every inch of a suite with floral arrangements, floating water lilies in the tub and even positioning flowering vines down the walls. Then, let mom indulge in luxury pampering at the 19th floor Guerlain Spa with 20% off gift cards of $300 or more, as well as an individual rose take-home gift to all moms who visit. Finish the momcation with Sunday Brunch (arguable the country’s best!) in Peacock Alley, the gem of the hotel’s lobby.
Celebrate your mom on one of New York’s most sophisticated, all-glass, European inspired boat cruise, Bateaux New York with brunch or dinner cruises. Starting at $79.90 per adult and $47.95 per child, all moms will receive a complimentary mimosa or glass of champagne as they listen to live entertainment and spend time with their loved ones as they enjoy views of the Manhattan skyline. Those looking to celebrate during a dinner cruise (starting at $132.90) will enjoy menu items such as crispy zucchini cakes, stuffed pork roulade, miso glazed cod and many more, plus a delicious dessert menu with s’mores bread pudding, New York style cheesecake and mountain berry shortcake.
Spirit of New York and Spirit of New Jersey are offering endless options for brunch and dinner, providing an experience filled with dancing, great food and entertainment. The climate-controlled interior decks have panoramic windows for breathtaking views of Manhattan, spacious dance floors and full service bars. Menu items include roast salmon & tilapia, chicken parmesan meatball, baked ziti and more. Departing from Lincoln Harbor and Chelsea Piers, brunch cruises start at 61.90 per adult and $37.95 per child while dinner cruisers start at $94.90 per person. Purchase tickets here.
Guests can treat mom to decadence this Mother’s Day at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House New York. Be it the mouth-watering, prime cuts of steak, the 2,000+ bottle wine program led by four female sommeliers or the off-the-menu ‘secret items’ like the Del’s Delight or Thick Cut Bacon – moms will be wowed by the food and ambiance, and even more so by the friendly service. For reservations, visit OpenTable or call 212.575.5129
New Yorkers celebrating Mother’s Day can take advantage of New York Hilton Midtown’s grab-and-go market, Herb N’ Kitchen. Located five blocks from Central Park, packing a family picnic basket and heading to the park has never been easier. This month, Herb N’ Kitchen began serving Oprah’s favorite bagel, Bantam Bagels, which was invested in on season six of Shark Tank, as well as expanded upon its robust gluten-free menu with a gluten removed pilsner, Estrella Damm. Featuring locally-sourced dishes such as Pat LaFreida Burgers and Greenwich Village-based Murray’s Cheese Plate, New York Hilton Midtown gives locals a taste of the city without the hassle of a reservation.
Battello, a waterfront restaurant in the Newport section of Jersey City, is hosting a Jazz Buffet Brunch to celebrate mom on Mother’s Day this year. Celebrity chef, Ryan DePersio, invites guests to enjoy carving and buffet stations, a raw bar, a dessert and a choice of a Bloody Mary or Mimosa as well as a coffee or tea for just $49 per adult and $20 for children. During brunch, relax and listen to two live jazz bands, with one playing in the main dining area and the other in the lounge. To make sure every mom has the perfect experience, Battello will have three seatings, one at 11AM, 1PM and 3PM. For reservations please call: 201-798-1798
Fire & Oak, located in the Westin Jersey City in the Newport area of Jersey City, is honoring mothers everywhere with a celebratory Champagne Brunch on Sunday, May 10th from 11AM to 3PM. Toast mom with a complimentary glass of Champagne, or if you prefer, a Mimosa, Bellini or Bloody Mary. The special brunch menu includes dishes like Peppered Bacon Sausage and Country Style Home Fries, Bananas Foster French Toast, Hand Carved Prime NY Strip Steak and a Raw Bar featuring Shrimp, Clams and Blue Point Oysters. For reservations please call: 201-610-9610.
Corkbuzz’s Union Square location is celebrating Mother’s Day with a brunch buffet featuring an Egg Station, Cornflake Crusted French Toast, Smoked Salmon, and Grilled Cheese. A few of the restaurant’s regular brunch offerings such as the Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes (apple chutney) and Granola (nuts, yogurt, berries) will also be available. Aside from Corkbuzz’s signature Champagne Campaign of half-off bottles of all champagne, guests can enjoy a fully dressed Bloody Mary Bar.
Cost: $50
Includes: Buffet, Bloody Mary Bar
Time: noon – 3:00pm
Lemon-Butter Chicken
herbed peas and carrots
Egg Station
peppers, cheese, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, ham, bacon, sausage, duck confit
Smoked Salmon
rye roast, mustard cream
Cornflake Crusted French Toast
seasonal jam, whipped cream
Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes
apple chutney
Grilled Cheese
caramelized onion and gruyere
Spring Greens Salad
cider vinaigrette
Granola
nuts, yogurt, berries
Potato Hash, Oatmeal, Sausage, Bacon, Cheese & Charcuterie, Wheat/Brioche/White Toast
Fully Dressed Bloody Mary Bar
And, of course, #ChampagneCampaign– half off bottles of all Champagne!
Happy Mother’s Day Everyone!