This is my friend!

Diddy has been known to do some over-the-top stunts and great viral videos. I've always felt a kindred spirit with Diddy, we have the same birthday and I got to interview him once. Which of course makes us besties. Well now one of my real life good friends has randomly made his way into Diddy's viral hall of fame by literally being in the right place at the right time. Check out my friend Chris being accosted by Diddy around the 2 minute mark.



And buy Last Train To Paris by Diddy Dirty Money in stores December 14. (You're welcome for the free promotion)

Speed chaos

I don't know how much actual dating went on at last night's "World's Largest Singles Dating Event", but there was a lot of flirting, awkward rejection, and not-so-organized chaos.

SingleAndTheCity.com and Groupon held an event at Slate in an attempt to break the record for the World's Largest Dating Event. I think the number of "daters" for the record was determined by those participating in one of 12 themed speed dating sessions, but like many things at this event that was unclear. Participants bought admission to the party at Slate on Groupon, and then had access to a multitude of activities and freebies throughout the night: a margarita cocktail hour, appetizers, light desserts, "speed gaming" (match-ups in pool and ping pong), free advice from a flirting coach, love tarot card readings, photo booths, free condoms scattered throughout the venue, and the main events of the speed date sessions. Daters were encouraged to sign up for a particular session ahead of time, but this system became irrelevant as the speed dating sessions (especially the later ones as people enjoyed more and more free margs) became more of a free-for-all. Usually speed dating is highly organized and scheduled to a T, but at last night's event daters were coming and going from their "assigned" seats as they pleased. Which unfortunately made the flow of speed dating all but impossible.

I suppose drunk twenty, thirty, and (unfortunately) forty-somethings don't appreciate organization as much as I do, because everyone seemed to be having a really good time. The general mixing areas were crowded, lively, and at times contained more sexual tension than an episode of Gossip Girl. Unfortunately there were probably almost twice as many women as men, so the few really attractive guys had a small harem surrounding them. I did spot several budding one-on-one connections developing deep into the night, and one couple leaving hand in hand after canoodling in the corner for quite some time.

Myself? I was approached a few times by 4's and 5's (along with numerous event photographers), but couldn't snag the attention of any of the guys I really had my eye on. But I got some free drinks, some yummy chicken skewers, and learned that I need to work on my approach anxiety. I suppose when free apps, good people watching, and self-discovery are involved, the night can never be a total loss.

Restaurant Week: Part 1

New York Restaurant Week is a two week event that occurs twice a year during which over 250 of the city's top restaurants offer 3 course prix-fixe meals at a highly discounted rate. This is obvi an amazing way for people who may not have otherwise been able to afford these restaurants to experience some of the city's amazing upscale culinary cuisine. Perfect for broke-ass wannabe-cultured entertainment professionals like myself. Prices for the prix-fixe meals are $24.07 for lunch and $35 for dinner.

Megan's personal Restaurant Week tip: Many restaurants have identical menus for lunch and dinner, so go for lunch to get an even better value.

I took my own advice to heart and took myself on a lunch date to Smith & Wollensky (49th Street and 3rd Avenue). I've been wanting to eat here ever since Andi threw Miranda Priestly's unwanted steak from S&W in the sink in The Devil Wears Prada movie. It looked so delicious, what a waste. I would have kept it for myself and savored every bite of that magnificent steak that I special ordered and picked up at 10:30am before the restaurant even opened, silently telling my job and my boss to go eff themselves... But oh yah, the real life food.

I opted to upgrade my lunch to include Smith & Wollensky's own Restaurant Week wine offering: $30 for the regular prix-fixe plus a glass of wine from a limited list. My chosen meal consisted of a glass of cabernet sauvignon, a caesar salad, filet mignon, and a slice of cheesecake. The wine portion was generous and with the Restaurant Week price significantly cheaper than normal at $6 (compared to S&W's cheapest wine by the glass at $11). The salad was refreshing with a delicious caesar dressing, and the bread basket included a variety of different breads and a flavorful whipped butter. The filet mignon was just as perfect as the steak in my daydreams. The 10 oz fillet was tender and cooked to a perfect medium-rare. I don't typically use steak sauce, but Smith & Wollensky's own sauce was a perfect compliment to the filet providing a subtle smokiness and great flavor. I'm also not much of a dessert person but do love a good cheesecake, and S&W's delivered with it's almost mousse-like creaminess. The waitstaff was extremely attentive and conversational without being overwhelming, and I left Smith & Wollensky feeling relaxed and gluttonously happy, the perfect sophisticated break from the workday.

New Forever 21 - grab your hardhats, ladies! (no seriously...)

Tomorrow, June 25, at 10am the massive new Forever 21 will open in Times Square. This will probably cause the second earthquake in the tri-state area this week. The new 4 floor, 90,000+ square foot store will (sadly) occupy the former Virgin Megastore retail space. Despite the slap in the face to history in regards to the location, I'm giddy with excitement about the new Forever 21. It's larger than I can possibly imagine or comprehend, only 4 blocks from my office, and is scheduled to have normal store hours until 2am. Those hours are absolutely insane, but perfect for buying a new outfit last minute before clubbing. (I apologize to retail workers in advance for my upcoming drunk visits at 1:30am.)

Of course the grand opening has some fun and freebies to celebrate the further demise of Times Square. The first 1000 shoppers in line will receive complimentary gift cards valued at anywhere from $10-$210, and there have been additional 10% coupons for opening day floating around the internets to VIPs (like me). Other festivities include a Minx Nails manicure station, makeovers featuring F21's cosmetics line Love & Beauty, a "red carpet" photo booth, and sheer pandemonium.

Seriously, Forever 21s in NYC are a war-zone on a normal shopping day, so I'm just a little scared for this 4 floor monster on opening day. Is fear going to stop me? Absolutely not. I'll do just about anything for freebies and discount trendy clothing.

Last call...for cookies

This is a very important announcement. You only have about two hours left to get Girl Scout Cookies until spring 2011. This is serious.

I grew up either selling Girl Scout Cookies myself or buying them from the lil tots in my neighborhood, but since the children of NYC are clearly too corrupt to join the Girl Scouts other measures had to be taken. The Girl Scouts of New York City have set up four Cookie Cupboards throughout the boroughs so New Yorkers can still get our fill of minty and shortbread and coconut goodness. Cookies are sold at these locations in any quantity with no need for advance order...and for only $3.50 per box! In Manhattan that's seriously cheaper than you can get a small box of Oreos. I visited the Cookie Cupboard on 23rd Street today and stocked up on Thin Mints for the next year, so now I can stuff my face on lonely nights while supporting a good cause. Thank goodness I did because today is the LAST DAY the Cookie Cupboards are open, and in Manhattan only until 4:30pm. So get there you gluttons!

Stand clear of the opening doors please

According to service change notices posted this morning, the Uptown Cortlandt Street subway station on the R and W lines will re-open service tomorrow, November 25th, at 3pm. (The Uptown N will also stop at Cortlandt during overnights). This station was closed briefly after 9/11, re-opened, but has now currently been closed and mostly barren since 2005. I ride this line every day and had noticed significant changes at Cortlandt in the past month, but am still somewhat suprised that they're ready to open so soon. I'll be out of town and am kinda sad I won't be able to ride during one of the inagural stops at Cortlandt, it'll be nice to hear the computerized voice announce that the next stop is Cortlandt Street and actually mean it! One thing is for sure, the re-opening of Cortlandt Street is sure to make Century 21 shoppers very happy.

To think I call myself a Theatre Person...

...when amidst the excitement of Fashion Week I almost forgot that tomorrow is Broadway on Broadway! Oh the shame, oh the horror! Broadway on Broadway is an annual concert in Times Square showcasing songs from Broadway's current hits and previews of the upcoming season's openings. This year's Broadway on Broadway takes place Sunday, September 13 at 11:30am, and the city shuts down the TSQ streets as over 50,000 theatre lovers gather to celebrate Broadway during this FREE event.

If you want to get close to the stage (located at Broadway and 43rd) you have to arrive at the ass-crack of dawn, but the performances are also projected on the jumbo screens all over Times Square so the action is impossible to miss even if you are secluded to the rear part of the audience. I believe the event is even televised later in the day, but if you are a true Theatre Person you will be there in person rain or shine (and luckily we're scheduled to have shine!). If you've never been, I highly recommend going to B-Way on B-Way at least once in your life as a New Yorker, even if you're not so much into the theatre. Broadway on Broadway is simply an amazing event that is sure to put a smile on your face, and one of the things that can lift even the most cynical New Yorker out of the dumps and make you truly feel lucky to live here and be able to experience such unique opportunities.

Fashion Week Dairies: Day 1

Headed to SoHo for Fashion's Night Out. I was definitely surprised to see soooo many people out shopping on a semi-rainy Thursday night. What I loved was that everyone was in good spirits and dressed fabulously, it almost made me forget that we're in a recession (except for my empty wallet). Guess that means their intentions with this event totes worked. Some high points of the evening for me were wine and cider cocktails at Nine West, finding a $5 dress at Top Shop, and getting to meet and interview mega-big-deal hairdresser Oscar Blandi at Sephora. Bad news is that we're one day into fashion week and my feet are already DUNZO.

Up bright and early tomorrow for a 9am show...ugh! It is not easy to achieve fierceness at that hour. Until then, I'm ready for some football!

When fashion meets football

Okay, whose idea of a sick joke is this? This year, New York Fashion Week and the NFL (that's football y'all) regular season start on the same night, tomorrow. I don't think I could come up with two less similar events if I tried. Normally I could care less about this whole NFL kickoff thingey, although they do make a huge show to open the season including performances by the Black Eyed Peas and Tim McGraw. However, this year my beloved Pittsburgh Stillers (that's Steelers to you) are playing against the Tennessee Titans in tomorrow night's all important first game. To me, that would normally involve cheering fervently for the Steelers either from my couch or a dive bar, indulging in many beers, and donning the appropriate apparel to show my team spirit (a pink Steelers jersey, obvi). Instead, tomorrow I have scheduled events to attend for Fashion's Night Out, will probably be sipping champagne, will be wearing some very chic Budget Couture, and may make it home to watch the very end of the game (if I'm lucky). Just look at what happens when you try to make two worlds collide!

Although, this may be a very welcome chain of events for couples. The men can watch their pigskin in peace while the women are too distracted by the fashionable festivities to notice or care. I'm just hoping my boyfriend Big Ben Roethlisberger will understand that unfortunately I have other obligations and won't be able to paint his number on my face and cheer him on from the stands.

Tomorrow's big event, Fashion's Night Out, was jump started by Anna Wintour and Diane Von Furstenberg and brings hundreds of fashion and beauty related businesses across NYC and the world together to simultaneously host events in hopes of creating excitement in the fashion world and stimulating the economy. Events include special promotions and shopping incentives, celebrity appearances, in-store classes and presentations, etc. Honestly, I don't know how much one night is really going to change the economy, or how many people are actually planning on dropping the big bucks during Fashion's Night Out and not just enjoying the spectacle. However, buzz for this event is huge. This weekend I wasn't able to walk more than fifty feet without seeing a storefront grandly advertising their festivities, so they sure got the excitement part down. Many retailers will also be selling the official Fashion's Night Out t-shirt with proceeds benefiting charity, because we're not complete shallow biotches in the fashion industry.

So to sum up tomorrow night: Here we go Stillers, you better WORK!

Carry on, Sad Panda

I felt it due time that I checked in with news about my good friend, Sad Panda. Since I last wrote about SP, I've had the pleasure of finally seeing him in person! It was a truly great moment in my life. It seems that Sad Panda has taken up a regular Sunday morning post at the corner of Broadway and Wall Street. He's usually seated in a corner by the stock exchange gate and looking quite forlorn. I've encountered him several times now on my way to mass but unfortunately haven't been able to stop and chat because it's early on a Sunday morning so obvi I am running late and hungover.

A change that must be noted about SP's choice in accessories is that the Duane Reade bag is no more, and lately Sad Panda has been seen carrying a small floral patterned purse (seen pictured, from Gothamist). This makes me wonder: perhaps we always wrongly assumed that Sad Panda is a "he"? I'm fine with murses, but no self-respecting male panda would carry a floral bag. Or maybe...Sad Panda is actually a tranny? On SP's Facebook page, he/she chooses not to identify as either gender or state a sexual preference. I like the mystery, but hmmmmm...

But I don't judge. I've come to quite enjoy seeing Sad Panda on a lonely Sunday. As I pass, I've taken to giving a little nod or a slight smile and wave as if to say, "I salute you, Sad Panda, for all that you bring to our fair city. Keep doing what you do."

Attempt at Foodie-ism

Now let it be known that I'm not a foodie. I love food...a lot...but my pallet is very unrefined as I consider street-meat and Wendy's Baconators to be delicacies. But a co-worker jokingly suggested I write about this and I have nothing better to write about today, so I figured I'd try to expand my horizons and become a food blogger for a day:

Gristedes boxes "Macaroni and Cheese Dinner" is far superior to Kraft. Where else can you get an entire "dinner" (their words, not mine) for 79 cents? Nothing is priced in cents anymore, there's not even a key for it on my computer keyboard! The Kraft version of the exact same product sells for almost $2. All you gots ta do is boil the macaronis, and mix in powdered cheese, butter, and milk. Though admittedly, finding the perfect amounts of ingredients is tricky and if you use the measurements on the box you will become a fatass. Find the right balance and you have a damn good meal, way better than Kraft. Let's be real though, we're comparing to the basic Kraft blue box. Nothing can hold a candle to Kraft spirals or the Blues Clues shaped ones.

Hope that helped to fight your recession-orexia.

TOP Shop? Not so much...

I'm probably going to get slammed for this fashionably blasphemous statement, but dare I say that Top Shop is overrated? I felt it my duty as a fashionista to fight the crowds and attend opening weekend of the first ever American location in SoHo, but I was left wondering "for what"?

I waited in line outside the store for exactly twenty two minutes which I didn't think was too unreasonable, especially since they were passing out complimentary water bottles to patient customers-to-be. Nice touch, but when I was admitted to the store (with a semi-sarcastic "Are you ready for this?" from the security guard) I quickly realized that the line was strictly for show as the store itself was not all that crowded, especially compared to several other stores in the area such as You-Know-What 21. The store has a vibrant and upbeat atmosphere with great music (thanks to guest DJs), but I was underwhelmed with the clothing selection, especially because the prices were not as cheap as Top Shop's reputation would lead one to believe. I did manage to score an appointment for a free in-store manicure courtesy of Valley spa as part of Top Shop's opening weekend beauty freebies, but from what I gathered these appointments fill very quickly. After waiting in line for the fitting room for over FORTY minutes and trying on my few selections, nothing struck my fancy enough to make a purchase. I left the store empty handed (though pretty-nailed) over TWO HOURS after initially getting in line.

Except for a few highly overpriced purses, the only lust-worthy item I found was a grey fitted jersey dress with pink and purple ruffled tiers (not listed on the website), but at $80 for a casual dress I couldn't justify the purchase. Though reflecting on its cuteness and perfect fit I may be regretting this decision. Will I break down and subject myself to the line and this foolishness again tomorrow? Stand by...

Let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

People have been buzzing about the coolest new resident of New York, Sad Panda. He's been spotted a lot recently on the downtown streets and subways carrying his Duane Reade bag and being pretty much the coolest guy ever! He even won Dlisted's Hot Slut of the Day! I totes wanna be BFFs with Sad Panda. He already hangs out in my hood in the FiDi and just seems like an all around stand up guy. He rides the subway so you know he isn't stuck up like those Polar Bitches. I think we'd have many enjoyable afternoons walking around Battery Park, haggling for fake Coach bags, maybe hit up Century 21. *Harry Nilsson singing in the background* Then we can go back to my apartment, listen to a lil Dashboard Confessional, paint each other's nails black, drink some Andre, and then if our emotions can still handle it pop in my Garden State DVD. But c'mon, he's Sad Panda, of course his emotions can handle it! So, SP, if you're reading this and looking for a friend, txt me.