Christmas commercial of the year

Adorable...yet totes gangsta.

It's "Top Chef", not "Top SexPot"

On Wednesday Michael Voltaggio was crowned the winner of Top Chef: Las Vegas, season 6 of the popular Bravo series. Though Mike had a good showing throughout the competition, the winner of Top Chef has historically been decided almost solely by the dishes made in the final challenge and has not been cumulative by any means. Looking at the judges' comments shown during the finale, it certainly didn't seem like Michael's food was their favorite that night. I thought it looked like almost certainly they were going to choose Brian Voltaggio (brotherly rivalries are obvi great for ratings), especially since he banged out a great dessert and Michael pretty much blew it.

Speaking of banging and blowing, how hot is Michael Voltaggio? He's such a badass and can be a total douche bag, but it totally works. Michael is sexy and was one of the only standout personalities during this season, which to some extent may have accounted for his win in what was by far the closest matchup in Top Chef history between the brothers V and Kevin Gillespie. No randos snuck into the finale (Lisa in season 4, Carla in season 5), so the choice of a winner had to come down to tiny mistakes in the cooking...or who's win could make for the best story line. Sorry Kevin, but even if you didn't make some crucial mistakes I saw a plot with it coming down to the two brothers a mile away.

Top Chef is also probably the hardest reality show for a viewer to truly judge accurately through the televizzle, and thus the easiest for the producers to have say in the outcome. Compared to a purely visual art like fashion (Project Runway) or auditory art like music (American Idol), the culinary world is roughly only 20% visual and largely 80% taste, a sense which cannot be experienced by a viewer. We have the judges' comments to help us, but there is mucho editing which will never allow the viewer to receive the full story. We can follow Top Chef and know who we want to win, but it's pretty much impossible for anyone (even a culinary expert viewer) but Tom and Padma to really know who deserves to win.

Was Michael a strong contender for the title? Surely. Was his food the best during the finale? We'll never know. Would I hit it? Obvi.

Androgyny at its finest

Caught red handed shopping in the women's department...tisk tisk, Adam Lambert. Okay, so I don't think it's the exact same item, but if you ladies want to incorporate some Glambert into your wardrobe try this grey studded jacket from Zara. It's retailing for I think $99 and is almost identical to the one Adam wore to the premiere for 2012. Studs are so hot right now, and I'm also loving the braided headband that Zara paired with the jacket for their lookbook. Forever 21 has a similar one right now for only $3.80.

"Memphis" absolutely lives in me

I hate to drop the phrase "Tony prediction" because my track record isn't great (I think I was one of one person who truly believed in Brooklyn: The Musical circa 2004), but I need to when it comes to Broadway's newest hit Memphis. Having officially opened only a month and a half ago, this rock and roll musical is already developing a strong following despite less than stellar ticket sales.

Two things convinced me that I absolutely needed to see Memphis: 1) Chad Kimball's spectacular raw performance at this year's Broadway on Broadway, and 2) The overwhelmingly powerful and passionate bursts of music that could be heard through the wall that Memphis shares with Hamlet's theatre while I viewed that performance in the back of the theatre in standing room (btw, just don't).

Memphis takes place in Charleston (kidding) and tells the semi-true story of a white DJ who is among the first in the nation to broadcast "race music" on a popular radio station. He becomes immersed in the culture and stirs much controversy, especially after he (shocker) falls in love with a young talented black singer. There are obvious similarities to former Broadway hit Hairspray in plot and certain musical selections, but don't expect bubblegum and swooning teenage girls (though there is something irresistible and untraditionally sexy about Kimball). Memphis has a definite dark side which saves it from slipping into obscurity as just another 50's/60's musical. The score is both danceable and soulful, and the music strikes the right balance between cheesy Broadway predictability and elitist inaccessibility.

Memphis is a feel-good musical that still creates an emotional connection and will tug on your heartstrings, unlike some of the crap that's unfortunately currently running on the Great White Way. I'm talking to you, Shrek.

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.

When happens when Adam Lambert designs a mother-of-the-bride dress?

You get Kelly Clarkson's AMA performance outfit...

Other rando thoughts about last night's American Music Awards:

-People should not be allowed to be nominated for the same award in multiple genres (ex: Taylor Swift in Favorite Female Pop-Rock and Favorite Female Country). Creates too much of a monopoly, and then really who ARE you as a musician?

-On that note, Taylor Swift just shouldn't be allowed to win any more awards in general. Especially if that means beating Lady Gaga or Michael Jackson.

-Yet I don't agree with Michael Jackson being nominated at all in a year when he didn't release any new music. But I'll keep my mouth shut for fear of angry mobs coming after me.

-I'm a country fan and I don't even know who the eff Gloriana are (winners of the T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist Award). And again, anyone who beats Gaga for an award is not okay in my book. They good-naturedly acknowledged their obscurity in their acceptance speech though, so I appreciate the humor.

-Pretty sure SoShy and Nelly Furtado are the same person. Couldn't really tell them apart during Timbaland's performance.

-Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert killed it with their performances...obvi. I also really enjoyed JayZ/Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston and Carrie Underwood. Rihanna: totally overdid it.

-Apparently "bondage sex club" is an acceptable theme for an AMA performance these days. I'm okay with that, it was pretty hot. Honestly though, kinda surprised this one made it to television, ADAM LAMBERT.

Crave-of-the-Mo: Black and gold doorknockers

Not ACTUALLY doorknockers, I think you're supposed to have a house for that...or something. Since Monday I've been lusting these large gold and black onyx hoop earrings seen on Hilary Duff as Olivia on Gossip Girl. The gold part of the earring is a lion's head or some other similarly classy object, and whatever it is it's FIERCE! (Pun intended) However, I have tried my hardest and cannot find out who they're by, or even any reasonable knockoffs. If anyone has a lead on huntin these lions, I would love you more than Chuck Bass loves Asian hookers.

New hair TOOLS

Why is there an Ed Hardy flat iron and blow dryer? And more importantly why are they over $100? Ed Hardy now has a line of styling tools and hair accessories sold exclusively through Ulta beauty stores. I mean, Christian Audigier is bald, it's not exactly like I'm going to trust him as a go-to authority on haircare. So please stop me before I buy the rose-tattoo headband.

Who knew the CW was all abstract artsy?

I'm ashamed to admit, I'm addicted to the new 90210 on the CW. (Not as much as I am to the new Melrose Place though. See, MP is totes more respectable considering the characters are my own age, so watching that doesn't make me a loser.) But even after shamefully watching at least a dozen episodes of 90210, I just this week realized that the images in the opening credits abstractly spell out 9-0-2-1-0...the name of the show. Very creative, art directors, but they still just look like rando rich people beach scenes.

NY's Shittiest Shitters

Pending review...

My fists are ready to pump

Jersey Shore - MTV Shows

Back off bitch, I started the frickin poof!

Pretty much everyone I know was obsessed with MTV's True Life docs about the Jersey Shore, and apparently the network also knows a good (exploitable) thing when they see it. Get out your Cascada CD and your best muscle tank, because in December they will launch a new full reality series creatively titled Jersey Shore. I think they missed the memo that it's really only referred to as "The Shore" or "down the shore" because really, what other shore is there? I honestly don't think I have ever been this excited for a reality show, this is sure to make Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock look like a nunnery.

Dear CMAs...

Dear CMAs (or Country Music Association Awards if we're being formal),

I thought you were more respectable than to give sympathy awards. I'm not buying that Taylor Swift deserved to be named Entertainer Of The Year, and breaking all odds to do so. She was the youngest recipient ever, first female winner in almost ten years, and broke Kenny Chesney's almost 5-year monopoly (2008, 2007, 2006, and 2004). All this only months after she was victimized in one of the most talked about pop culture moments of the year by having her thunder stolen by Kanye West at the VMAs. Consider my eyebrows raised.

Also, Darius Rucker winning New Artist Of The Year? Have you never heard of Hootie and the Blowfish, one of the biggest bands of the 90's? Darius Rucker winning this award is the equivalent to if Stevn Tyler were to have really left Aerosmith, started a solo career, and won the Best New Artist Grammy. Ludacris. Plus, apparently Darius was the first African-American to be nominated in like 40 years. I've never been a fan of affirmative action.

Disappointed (except in Carrie Underwood's prettiness),

Megan

Not to make a cliche of myself, but...

Mason Dixon
Lower East Side
133 Essex Street (at Rivington Street)
New York, NY 10002
212-260-4100
www.masondixonnyc.com

As regular readers know, I love me anything with a lil country flavor. While Mason Dixon may not be the most authentic, it certainly tries to bring this flavor with a southern style food menu, horns, and wood everywhere that can be seen. Pun intended. A large portion of Mason Dixon's patrons are male, and quite attractive if not a bit fratty. As for the females, they're mostly pretty drunk and letting loose gyrating against either the men or Mason Dixon's main attraction, the mechanical bull! One of I believe only two mechanical bulls in NYC, riders pay $5 for their chance at being thrown around by el toro, but only after waiting in line for twenty minutes or more. The music isn't what I wanted or what you'd expect at a country bar in Manhattan (or maybe it is...) with way more classic rock and hip hop than honky tonk. But I suppose honky tonk doesn't necessarily please the masses, and to stay in business in the over-saturated LES the masses must be pleased.
Rating: 3.5 stars

Biblioteca discoteca

Awesomeness from the new (hit?) Joel McHale show Community. They had to write a conversation en Español using 5 key phrases. This is what happened...



http://www.hulu.com/watch/97892/community-la-biblioteca#s-p5-sr-i1

Do, Dump, or Marry: The Glee boys

The rules: You have three choices of men of debatable equal caliber. Pick one to "do", one to "dump" and one to "marry". Must pick one and only one for each category, no cop-outs.

The hottie pool: The incredibly hot cast of Glee. (l-r) Cory Monteith as Finn, Matthew Morrison as Mr. Schuester, and Mark Salling as Puck. They're all sexy, they can all sing, it's a tough battle which may possibly only be able to be settled with a dance-off.


Do: Mark Salling. This picture does not do the abs justice. They are rock hard and there is at least a 6-pack going on. Plus he totally has the bad boy thing going on, and his character likes to bed cougars. Homeboy is probably dynamite in the sack.

Dump: Cory Monteith, though it kills me to have to "dump" any of the Glee boys. Sure Finn is hot and all, but if we're being honest with ourselves he's a little boring and doesn't do "I have so many emotions and can't decide between sports and singing" quite as well as Zac Efron. Plus, a 27-year-old playing a 17-year-old is not so sexy.

Marry: Matthew Morrison. Handsome, great smile, sexy body, and wholesome family man all rolled into one. He's the guy you can take home to mom, yet still can't wait to rip his clothes off. I'm also a total sucker for curly hair. Matthew definitely has the best singing voice and let's be honest, that's what really matters in a husband, right?


Leave your choices in the comments!

War is over

Just wanted to set the record straight, some people actually have heard of customer service. After my bitchy email, Costume Mates by Peter Alan sent me a new bodysuit which is proportioned much better. Thank you! So I'll just blame the assholes at Halloween Adventure for all these shenanigans, because I am still mad at them as a store.

Why does Halloween have to be so damn stressful?!?

He's so pretty

The cover art for Adam Lambert's upcoming debut album For Your Entertainment has been released, and quite frankly I hate it. I love me some Glambert, but this cover is some horrible concoction of Scissor Sisters meets Xanadu gone wrong. It also feels a little too airbrushed and not quite raw enough to capture the essence of Adam. Everything is just so glossy and perfect. I like a man who knows his way around a stick of eyeliner, but when a guy does his makeup better than I do that's a problem.

That being said, I wouldn't kick him out of bed. And I'm definitely looking forward to the musics!

It's WAR bitches!

The following is an actual email...the people and events you are about to read about are real.


Attn: Costume Mates, Inc. by Peter Alan

To whom it may concern:

I am deeply disappointed in my purchase of your "adult sized" longsleeve bodysuit (http://www.peter-alan.com/catalog.php?item=1700&catid=Bodywear). I recently purchased this item in black in a size Large for $15 at Halloween Adventure in Manhattan, though somewhat reluctantly after not being allowed to try it on or even view an out-of-package model. I chose your product because it was the only costume bodysuit I could find with a solid, non-snapping crotch, but when I returned home to try on the bodysuit I found that it was made so poorly that I could not even get it on! The overall size seemed sufficient (though certainly not a women's 12-14 as it claims on the package). But as I tried to step into the bodysuit the legholes were so small that they cut off circulation, and I could not get my hips through the neckhole (the only possible means of getting it on because of no zipper or other fastening enclosure). I am a size 6 with skinny legs!! According to your sizing chart I should fit into a Small, two sizes below what I purchased and could not even get onto my body. I expected the product to run small, but never did I expect it to be completely unwearable and a waste of $15. The Halloween Adventure store does not allow returns or exchanges of any kind, so I am now stuck with an unusable piece of fabric and still must spend additional money on a replacement. In the future please take your sizing and shaping practices into consideration, as I know I will be taking this experience (negatively) into consideration before even thinking about purchasing any of your products or allowing any of my friends to do so.

Disappointed,
Megan K

I like shiny

Sequins are shaping up to be a huge trend for this fall, and I welcome it with open arms! In honor of last week's Cosmo Challenge to take a flashy fashion risk and wear sequins, I decided to embrace my (possibly unhealthy) love of all things shiny and inventory the sequined items in my wardrobe. The results show that perhaps I've gone a bit overboard, especially since many of the items were purchased before the current heyday of sequins. I stand by the fact that all of the below are fabulous on their own...but mixing too many could be literally blinding.

1. Black cardigan with sequined stripes. Actually very practical!

2. Gold wife-beater tank top fully covered in sequins. Wore to a Spice Girls concert during last year's reunion tour...perhaps the only place it's appropriate.

3. Three sequined headbands (black, silver, and gold). Purchased recently after losing a previous black sequined headband awhile back while traveling.

4. Headband with ginormous black sequined bow. Purchased for upcoming TBA Halloween costume and will never be worn again. (that's a lie)

5. Gold scarf/headband with tightly concentrated sequins on the ends which gradually become sporadic towards the middle.

6. Silver/black sequined breast place necklace

7. Grey sweater-dress with scattered silver sequins at top and bottom. Wore on my b-day 2008/the night Barack Obama won the Presidential election. Proving it's a good thing. (pictured at right)

8. Magenta tank top with sequined straps, neckline, and empire waist trim. Legitimately looks like something you wore as a dance costume in 3rd grade. Was worn once 5 years ago during a cast party and will probably never be worn again. *sniff sniff*

9. Magenta tank top with vertical silver sequin stripe down the middle. Completely different from #9.

10. Teal tank top with gold sequins at the top and bottom, plus hints of gold glitter. Wore on my 21st bday, 2005. Very Jersey-Shore-tastic. (pictured at left, vintage 2006 shot)

11. Green tank top with gold sequins at the neckline. Completely different from #11...

12. Teal dress almost completely covered in sequins. Was the ish back in 2005 but now kinda reminds me of a mermaid.

13. Brown velor tracksuit with gold sequin trim on the zipper and down the leg. This is where it starts to get tragic (or did it already?)

14. Sea-green tank top with butterflies made out of silver sequins, circa 2004. Officially vom-ing in my mouth. Possibly time for a closet clean-out.

And two recent purchases that I justified after learning of the trend (but now may be re-thinking...):

15. Purple draped tunic-top with sequins on the shoulder (Forever 21, $19.80)

16. Navy blue one-shoulder top with cascading gold and blue sequins (F21, $22.80)

The debatable shame of this experiment has made me very glad I'd previously parted with a gold sequined slouchy purse (purchased at the Jersey Shore, obvi) and a gold sequined stretchy belt. My name is Megan, and I'm a sequin-a-holic.

Hi, Megan...

What ever happened to...customer service?

Headline brought to you by She By Sheree.

Made the dreaded trip to the Halloween Adventure store (11th and Broadway) today to pick up the last piece for my Halloween costume, a black bodysuit. The store was out of control packed with peepz, but that was to be expected. What endued between an employee and I, however, was not pretty:

Me: (holds up the one bodysuit that was out of the package to gauge the size)
Employee: (swoops in out of nowhere) "You can't open that!"
Me: "This one was already open."
Employee: "Doesn't matter, give it to me."
Me: "But I was just..."
Employee: (grabs the bodysuit from my hand) "Can't do that."
Me: "I can't look at at bodysuit for 2 seconds that was laying here ALREADY OPEN to see the size?"
Employee: "No." (storms off with bodysuit)

Um, it wasn't like I was trying on the bodysuit in the middle of the store or rubbing lady juices all over the crotch. Heaven forbid my fingers touch the shoulder of their cheap merchandise. I would have left right then and there, but of course Halloween Adventure is the only Halloween store in the city that carries adult-sized bodysuits without snaps on the crotch (trust me, I've checked). Happy Halloween, ASSHOLES!

I seeeeee you...

The Hills - MTV Shows

The new season of The Hills: Heidi and Spencer + Kristin - LC has been underway for about a month with predictably not much real dramz to report. So thankfully we had a reality tv crasher in last night's episode! Go to about the 6:50 mark in the video above to the moment where we get a lovely shot and title caption of Brent Bolthouse and his nose (they forgot to give his nose its own caption). Stealing the thunder in the left of Bolthouse's moment is none other than TOM GREEN! Who let him in? Didn't they get the memo that he's so dunzo? I kid, I actually adore Tom Green, and let it be known that he was robbed on The Celebrity Apprentice. Robbed I tell you!

Almost outshining Tom Green in this episode was Holly Montag and her "alcohol problem". Looks to me like homegirl was just having a good time woooo! It must suck to get a supporting role in a scripted reality show, and then be scripted as the token alcoholic. And then get called out on it by Stephanie "DUI" Pratt. Pot meet kettle. At least this may open an opportunity for Holly to do Celebrity Rehab and add a third reality show to her resume, which would make her a hell of a lot more accomplished than these other biotches.

I enjoy my vampires tongue-in-cheek

I am a huge baby when it comes to horror movies, haunted houses, spooky noise cassettes, people saying "boo" and basically anything else that could be considered remotely scary. Which made me wonder if I was in my right mind to sit through the upcoming movie Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (released October 23). One can clearly tell from previews that this movie is effin weird, and it lives up to that expectation while also being really effin funny and thankfully not all that effin scary. The lighthearted tone and campy humor make this movie refreshing and bearable for total self-proclaimed wimps like myself. Finally I think I'm catching onto this whole vampire craze!

The "plot" of the movie centers around a high school boy played by Robert-Pattinson-in-training Chris Massoglia (he's only 17 so I'll withhold my smutty thoughts) who makes a deal with an aging vampire/freak show performer (John C. Reilly) to become half-vampire and serve as his personal assistant in exchange for saving his miscreant best friend from a deadly mythical spider bite. Kinda Twilight meets The Devil Wears Prada. There's also something about a war and destiny and falling in puppy-love with Monkey-Girl (complete with highly inappropriate and disturbing tail popping up metaphors). Confused? It really doesn't matter. This movie is written for pre-Twilight fans and aging sci-fi perverts so the intellectual level is pretty low, you'll catch on.

What the movie lacks in compelling or intelligible plot, it makes up for in characters, humor, and overall coolness. Standouts include Evra The Snake Boy who's so over this freak show thing and just wants to be an angsty emo singer, and Salma Hayek as the sexy bearded lady (hey, she has amazing eye makeup and bags John C. Reilly, that has to count for something). One of the "Little People" has a Dobby The House Elf-like endearing quality that makes me melt, but from what I've read on Cirque du Freak message boards this is a gross misrepresentation of the Little People (this was originally a book series yo!).

But now that I've been to Cirque du Freak message boards I may as well just get some D&D cards and a hooded snuggie and forget about any chance of a normal social life.

Nice shtick...now cut the crap

Arlo & Esme
East Village
42 East 1st Street (b/w 1st and 2nd Avenues)
New York, NY 10003
212-777-5617
www.arloandesme.com

Allegedly there has been good buzz surrounding Arlo & Esme lately, but after visiting I have no idea why. Their shtick is that this coffee shop by day turns into a club/lounge by night, which is clearly the most original concept ever...*sarcasm*. They even have a game room with a pool table and video games to remind guests that Arlo & Esme is quirky and oh so original. Though this place is overcrowded with boring people, somewhere along the line Arlo & Esme got the impression that they're a big deal and justified making patrons wait in line and pay a cover charge. Trust me, I don't even love paying cover at a hot club which this place is not. Though the downstairs portion plays decent music and has an interesting basement/dungeon decor, no dancing occurs (except for a few awkward drunken tools) due to the lack of space and magnitude of egos. Look around Arlo & Esme, in case you didn't notice this is the East Village where there are no sticks in asses.
Rating: 1.5 stars

Get the blues

I get bored easily with traditional nail colors (as showcased by spending most of the summer with neon yellow nails). Well, I've found my new obsession for fall in the form of blue nails, more specifically a very dark navy, or "Indigo" as is the official name of my current shade. Forever 21 has recently been stepping up their beauty game, and I came across this amazing nailpolish there from LA Girl Flare (only $2.80!). Photos do not do this color justice. I rocked it during Fashion Week and got tons of compliments from fashionistas and guys alike...no easy feat for a nail color (or anything) to be both guy-hot and girl-hot. This shade could go really wrong really fast so a few tips for blue nails:

• Pick a dark shade with just enough blue so that it doesn't look black.
• Find a shade you like and take it to your manicurist, non-traditional colors need a perfect manicure to work. In other words: don't try this at home, kids.
• Use a glossy top coat and a matte polish. NO METALLICS OR GLITTER!
• Keep the nails medium length. Too short looks childish, too long looks vampy.
• At the first sign of chipping...abort mission. Time to get out the polish remover.

Dear Miley Cyrus...

Dear Miley Cyrus,

If you sing songs about feeling better while listening to OTHER people's music, your music probably doesn't count as real. Yes, I also like to nod my head and move my hips like yea when a Britney or Jay-Z song comes on. But if one is a legitimate musician, shouldn't your own songs have the same effect, or more? Contrary to the fact that it's #1 on iTunes right now, this proves that "Party in the U.S.A." is a sucky song if even you don't want to listen to it when you're out.

Plus everyone knows that you don't wear kicks to The Club, you can learn that just from watching The Hills.

Please go away,

Megan

Loves it! How could anyone not? Haters...

230 Fifth
Flatiron District
230 Fifth Avenue (b/w 26th and 27th Streets)
New York, NY 10001
212-725-4300
www.230-fifth.com

230 Fifth is honestly one of my favorite bars in New York, the only reason I can't give it a perfect score is because of the slightly overpriced drinks (trust me, I've seen much worse). But now onto the great parts, most notably the view. 230 Fifth is an upscale bi-level lounge inhabiting the enclosed 20th floor and beautiful open-air rooftop garden of the address. Being mere blocks from the Empire State Building, this amounts to 230 Fifth offering by far the best view of any rooftop bar that I've come across in Manhattan. The music and decor are sexy and trendy, and despite some contradictory reports I've never seen anyone have a problem making it past the door (for the most part, the line is simply waiting for an elevator). The crowd at 230 Fifth is varied in personal style, age AND ethnicity, and for the most part very charismatic and social. Worried that it's officially fall and you're going to freeze your ass off in the name of trendy rooftop socializing? 230 Fifth makes very stylish red fleece hooded robes available to patrons, at which I am shocked at how many New Yorkers actually willingly wear. Well, I guess it beats a Snuggie.
Rating: 4.5 stars

Working girls

Kate Gosselin is working on a talk show featuring and aimed at working moms. Other hosts include celebrity chef and Food Network host Paula Deen, and several other notable media journalists. And Kate qualifies because....? I'm sorryyyyyy, I didn't realize that being a fame-whore is a full time job.

Team Jon!

Nothing sketcky going on here

I really like that there's absolutely no preferential treatment or not-so-hidden agendas in the music selections for the new season of Gossip Girl. It simply must be a coincidence that Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Go Bad" (featuring vocals by Leighton Meester) was played during not one but TWO crucial Blair moments in tonight's episode. Come on, Gossip Girl, I expected better of you...

In several ways perhaps. Two episodes in, the jury's still out on season 3 of Gossip Girl in my opinion. The show used to be ridiculous and unpredictable in a way that you felt like you were witnessing an exaggerated truth about a specific subculture of the world that is the NYC prep school scene. However now that most of the characters are in college, and college is something that an overwhelming portion or 20-somethings have experienced, we all can feel that the events are a little more than a tad unrealistic. Unless your school allowed sushi and sake martini parties in the freshman dorm common room, or advertised keg parties on the roof complete with a DJ and PA system. Then by all means, correct my cynicism. And then send me an application.

Fashion Week Diaries: Day 6

My fashion week activities wrapped last night with the G-Star Raw spring 2010 runway show at the Hammerstein Ballroom. G-Star are known for their fresh take on denim and unique silhouettes, and this season's collection lived up to their innovative reputation with several harem pant-esque jeans with low crotches, baggy thighs, and tapered bottoms. I'd be hesitant to wear them myself, but if you have the right body they're such a hip and eye-catching piece. The bold prints on the men's and women's collections (especially the fishies!) were also quirky and such a fun touch. The look I'm completely obsessed with is the underlying 1940's pinup feel of the many blue and white shirt dresses, and especially the bathing suit cut, leg bearing one-pieces. If I could get away with wearing this on a daily basis I so would because it's just plain fun, sexy and "cheeky".

One thing I love about G-Star's live presentations is that they're not just fashion shows, they're complete theatrical presentations. And if the dazzling lights, music and creative runway layout aren't enough to impress then the star-power in the front row certainly will. Lindsay Lohan, Christian Siriano, Miss J, Tyson Beckford, Kat von D, Kara DioGuardi, Jared Leto, Corbin Bleu, Damien Fahey, Matthew Settle, and Taylor Momsen were all in attendance. However, I must say that if Taylor M thought she was being "inconspicuous" or whatever entering in her full-length trench coat and big, dark sunglasses, homegirl seriously needs a reality check. xoxo, Little J.

The Devil Wears Prada...minus the devil

It's a shame that the new documentary feature film The September Issue is only out in limited release because after America thought they were getting a look into the fashion industry in The Devil Wears Prada, this movie has surprising educational value and shows the real deal. Come see the softer side of Anna Wintour!

The September Issue chronicles the creation of Vogue magazine's 2007 mammoth September volume, but really is a documentary showcasing the hidden world of the world's most revered fashion magazine. Yes, I will acknowledge the fact that the biggest blowups were either carefully avoided when the cameras were around or respectfully edited out. But when one is constantly being followed by cameras you inevitably eventually forget that they're present and can't help but act natural (as any good reality star will tell you). This leaves me to believe that The September issue must give as close to an accurate portrayal of Vogue life as possible. Seeing this movie made me respect Anna Wintour even more than I already did and really come to like her. Sure she is firm, but from what is shown she always gives criticism in a constructive way which is refreshing to me since I think too many people have pathetically come to expect nothing less than positive reinforcement and sugar coating even in the workplace.

The film contains some genuinely funny moments that couldn't have been scripted by the best writers. Andre Leon Talley is a larger than life caricature of himself and is not apologizing for it. I only wish I could pull off wearing a Louis Vuitton blanket on my shoulders while playing tennis, complimented by a matching racket case, messenger bag, and trunk...obvi.

Grace Coddington, Vogue's Creative Director, is effortlessly comical in her many witty quips and subtle facial expressions upon learning Anna's opinions of the various fashion spreads. The standout scene in the movie comes near the end as Grace creates a photo shoot in which the documentary's cameraman appears as an accessory. Anna decides that his beer gut needs to be retouched, a decision which Grace promptly reverses. Scenes like this showcase their (playful?) tension. During these exchanges, the two women rarely speak to or learn the information directly from each other, but rather the employees break the barrier and rely on said cameraman to relay their colleagues' opinions. It all comes together in delightful comedic sequences. Through occasions such as this and the entire documentary, Grace comes across as extremely genuine and likable, the angel of Vogue if one does choose to buy into Anna as the devil.

Fashion Week Diaries: Day 5

I went to the library today! It doesn't say much for my intellectual prowess that my first trip to the gorg New York Public Library after living in Manhattan for over two years was for a fashion show where there was nary a book in sight. Jill Stuart showed her spring 2010 collection today at the lobby at the Bryant Park location. Jill Stuart always draws an impressive crop of celebrities and today was no different as Kim Kardashian, Kelly Rowland, Rachel Bilson, Amanda Bynes, Nicky Hilton, more "Real Housewives" than I have ever seen in one place (NY: Jill, Bethenny, Kelly, The Countess; NJ: Caroline and Dina; ATL: Sheree), Gail Simmons from Top Chef, Tinsley Mortimer, and the unofficial high priestess of Fashion Week Fern Mallis herself were all sitting front row.

The collection carried a heavy inspiration of 80's fashion with structured shoulders, puffy sleeves, geometric shapes, ruched metallics, studs, cutouts, and lace. The color pallet was almost exclusively black, white, grey and silver, with hints of blue and magenta thrown in (because what 80's wardrobe would be complete without a pink metallic pseudo-prom dress?). And the hemlines were beyond mini status, making some of the more slinky metallic dresses appear a little less South Hampton, a little more South Amboy, New Jersey if ya know what I'm sayin. A weird but interesting accessory choice was a huge, dangling, flexible sheet metal earring that popped up in different variations in several of the looks. Notice my use of the singular "earring" as in one lonely earring in only one of the model's ears. I was almost surprised the weight of these bad boys didn't make the models' heads tilt to one side.

In the evening I attended the first ever NYFW runway show for Avril Lavigne's clothing line, Abbey Dawn, which will hit your local Kohl's soon. The looks were pretty much what you'd expect with hoodies, shredding, checkered leggings, and various other faux-punk pieces. However, there were a few "50's schoolgirl gone wrong" dresses and puffy skirts that caught my eye and could be made quite chic with the right accessories and beauty look. Though Avril's husband Deryck Whibley of Sum 41 was nowhere to be seen, a rather interesting celebrity turnout included Avril (obvi), Nicky Hilton, Olympic gymnast Nastia Lukin, and Ron Jeremy. Because clearly this is the right mix of people to keep the tweeners happy.

Fashion Week Diaries: Day 3

Yesterday I set out to two spring 2010 presentations: Poleci and Alice + Olivia. The one thing that feels a little awkward to me about "presentations" compared to traditional fashion shows is that during a presentation, you're staring at the models as if they're in a zoo. Whether they're standing on a platform in the middle of the room or part of a staged tableau, I feel like there almost should be a sign in front of them that reads "Don't feed or talk to the models". Yet they're standing three feet away and often looking you directly in the eye. Very confusing as to whether you're allowed to break the 4th Wall, or even whether the 4th Wall is intended or not.

The Poleci presentation was held at their store in the Meatpacking District, and I was very pleased to once again see sequins and rompers! I loved the pieces done in navy blue sequins, and other standouts for me included a pair of purple satin shorts and a yellow leather-esque shift dress.

The Alice + Olivia presentation was really half fabulous party, half gritty rock concert. Oh yah, and there were clothes too. Alice + Olivia are known for an energetic vibe and girly yet edgy fashions, and this year it was taken to a whole new level as the presentation moved from their store to a large semi-open-air raw space in the Meatpacking. One wall was completely open which allowed for fresh air and for passers-by to witness the fabulosity in which they could not partake. Guests were treated to an extensive open bar, a performance by French all-girl rock band the Plastiscines (who were great, Google them bitches!), and more celeb cameos than I thought possible. I spotted Nicky Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Jill Zarin and Kelly Killoren Bensimon from The Real Housewives, Kelly Rutherford, Shenae Grimes from the new 90210 (who's demeanor lived up to her "jittery" reputation...just sayin), Ashley Greene from Twilight (who I must confess I would never have known had someone not pointed her out to me), Mena Suvari, and Kristin Cavallari among others. The clothes (displayed by models in Parisian tableaus) were feminine and almost fairy-like with muted colors, lace, satin, and more sequins!

After last night I totally feel validated in my love of the shiny and will totally be resurrecting all of my supposedly "tacky" sequin pieces, and yinz better like it!

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 Diaries: Day 2

Cynthia Steffe show at The Tents. I must confess that I'm actually not as fabulous as I sometimes try to make myself out to be, and today I was reminded of that as I got my seat assignment for standing room. Blah to the ego, plus it's even more torture on the feet. I managed to get an upgrade to fourth row eventually, but it still hurt. Sitting front row were singer Ciara and Jillian Harris from The Bachelorette. No Ed in sight, but I'm happy to report that she was wearing her butt ugly engagement ring. I'm also happy to report that she is pretty! So some people need to stop the hating, Joel McHale, maybe sometimes homegirl just doesn't photograph well.

The clothes at Cynthia Steffe were amazing, very fun, flirty, and feminine. Lots of rompers which I love, and a decent portion of the looks were in pastel colors or featured this pastel abstract floral print that matched the paper that the invitations were printed on...loves it! The collection also included a section of glittery metallic looks including a to die for silver glittery fringed mini-skirt that would probably be TMTH for most people but I'm completely obsessed with.

I try not to focus too much on sad things, but I'd like to take a moment to say how breathtaking last night's WTC symbolic light beam display was. I live literally a block away from where the light beams originate (which is actually 3 blocks from Ground Zero) and had to stop in my tracks on my way home to appreciate their beauty. Yes I felt slightly awkward standing in the middle of the street staring, but I think too often New Yorkers don't take the time to stop and smell the roses.

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!

The internet is for...blogging about Avenue Q

On the night of the first and only time I saw Avenue Q, over three years ago in the summer of 2006, I looked down at the floor during my train ride home to Jersey and found a penny from the year I was born. I thought it was a sign that I was going to find my purpose, so naturally I burst into song because everything was of course going to be okay.

Well, it wasn't. But that's not to discredit the sheer awesomeness of Avenue Q. This musical will sadly be closing this Sunday, September 13, after running for over six years. Though unconventional in its staging and style of music, Avenue Q taught us all some valuable life lessons like coping with wanting to go back to college, being as loud as the hell we want when we're having sex, and learning to not be prejudice against monsters. Okay, there's also several life lessons that actually are important, and I believe that we've each experienced and internalized different versions of these in our own way. It's just that kind of show.

A few things I'd like to share in memorandum: My dad found it fascinating that there was a Broadway show that starred puppets and had been claiming that he wants to see Avenue Q for years. Of course he had no clue what the show is actually about. Capitalizing on his enthusiasm, I burned him a CD of the songs from Q that didn't contain references to sex, porn, racism, homosexuality, or drugs...which of course left about three songs, one of which sadly being the 30-second "I'm Not Wearing Underwear Today". Finally my mom broke down and told him that his beloved puppets have sex on stage. That put an end to my hopes of that family outing.

In terms of my own sex life, Princeton and Kate's duet and the melody of "Fantasies Come True" became my own internal soundtrack for one particular college hookup. Isn't it the greatest feeling when you've totally been crushing on someone for awhile, and then one night after eight or so drinks the things in your head are really happening in your bed? Then you wake up beside the person the next morning and there's music playing and it's this magical moment and then...yah it pretty much ends there for everyone but Princeton and Kate.

In case you need further proof that Avenue Q truly is a credible Broadway sensation, I must bring up a fact which many people tend to forget. In 2004, Avenue Q beat Wicked for the Best Musical Tony Award. Something actually beat Wicked! Avenue Q kicked their ass! Now tell me that's not legit. Oh, and that penny? Resting safely in a corner of my jewelry box. Hey, I haven't totally given up hope.

RIP, El Chupa

Unfortunately Michael K at dlisted beat me to the Rachel Zoe joke, but I wouldn't have made one anyway because I LOVES her.

The Chupacabra is fondly known as the "Mexican Goat Sucker" and believed to be a mythical creature who preys on farm animals. Well mythical no more, bitches, I always knew homeboy was real! The Chupa(s) are described in real-life sightings as large dog-rodents with fangs, leathery skin, and sometimes spikes on their backs. I was first introduced to the Chupa in 12th grade AP Physics class, and it has since become a running joke amongst many groups of my friends. In junior year of college (circa 2006) I spent a glorious afternoon with an ex-friend watching el Chupa star in a great movie on the Sci-Fi Channel, Chupacabra: Dark Seas. In this MASTERPIECE, our goat-sucking friend (who is portrayed in a much larger, more monstrous form) somehow gets aboard a cruise ship and starts attacking all the passengers. We nicknamed it Chupacabra: Semester at Sea. Finally during a 2008 camping trip in P-Town, my friend Kelly and I were pretty sure it was going to attack us even though we were thousands of miles away from its home.

So this week el Chupa made a dumb move and decided to get himself poisoned, but this does not mean the end of him. Clearly there are more than one of these lil guys running around Texas and Mexico and probably even your backyard. It's 11am, do you know where your goats are?

Video from cnn.com

I love college, and I love drinking...

Off The Wagon
West Village
109 MacDougal Street (b/w 3rd and Bleecker Streets)
New York, NY 10012
212-533-4487
www.nycbestbar.com (with its brother and sister bars)

If this is what a "college bar" is, then I don't think I ever want to grow up. On a recent trip here, I had one of my most fun nights in awhile and encountered some fun and interesting people. Off The Wagon draws a huge crowd of NYU students, so at 24 I very well may have been one of the oldest people on either of their two floors. But to be honest I'm sick of having to act my age, so I let loose and had the best time singing Fall Out Boy at the top of my lungs and dominating at beer pong! Well, my girlfriends dominated, I flirted with the opponents or "played defense" as I like to call it. The main appeal of Off The Wagon is the cheap drink specials and big screen TVs broadcasting all the sports you can handle (and the pong!)...but if for some reason you're not into getting drunk on the cheap from multiple pitchers of beer there's also fun music and a DJ who actually takes requests, and I'm sure you'll be able to find a cute (but barely-legal) frat boy to dance with. You don't need to know (or care about) his age, and by all means forget about your own age for one night and enjoy Off The Wagon for its pure simplistic debauchery!
Rating: 4 stars

Megan Wants a...Murderer?

Not me, sillies, Megan Hauserman! (though my co-workers say I look like her...which is a compliment, I think? I'll take it) Allegedly, Ryan Jenkins who was a contestant and alleged finalist on Megan Wants a Millionaire brutally murdered his model ex-wife, stuffed her body in a suitcase, and then hung himself in a Canadian hotel room. Allegedly. Ryan's ex-wife Jasmine Fiore, who unfathomably looks more plastic than Megan, married Ryan in Las Vegas very shortly after meeting him. They divorced 2 months later but were allegedly dating again at the time of the murder. This all took place in the 6 months that have passed since Millionaire wrapped.

When this story started to break about a week ago, I couldn't decide if it was getting so much press because it was legitimately newsworthy, or if it was newsworthy because it involved a "reality star" and a "model". If it was the latter, I feel sad that as a nation we actually consider these people notable celebrities. Is it morbid of me to say that I feel like murders like this happen all the time in local news and it's a bit silly to make such a big deal of this one?

Aside from the whole murder thing, there are so many sad things that this scandal has caused:

-No more Megan Wants a Millionaire. Cancelled. Dunzo. We will never know who won, though rumors say it was TJ (who? idk).

-The completed but unseen third season of I Love Money will remain...unseen. Allegedly (word of the day) Ryan won this hot mess. It also makes me sad to think about all the tools from Millionaire and Daisy of Love who would have been participating in this freak show and all the great footage that must have been filmed that we will never get to rot our minds by watching. VH1 must be scratching their heads in frustration and anger over this loss of programming. Total waste of...well, money.

-I actually thought Ryan was a good catch and predicted him to win Megan Wants a Millionaire. This means I lost the pool, and makes me seriously question my ability to pick the right men. But I guess that's not new news.

Size 6 my ass...

OK magazine is reporting at Sherri Shepherd is down 41 pounds and now fitting into a size 6. Seriously, I don't like blatant lies. I'm a size 6 and I look hella better than that. If Sherri really is a 6 it's time for me to go anno because I refuse to be lumped into a category with that. If she were here right now I'd pull a Janice Dickinson in a classic scene from her crappy/awesome reality show, take off my skirt, and make Sherri put it on and zip up to prove that she fits into the size that she claims she does. It's news stories like this that tamper with America's body image and eff with women's poor impressionable brains (no offence to women, we all know this is true). Sherri, call it what it is, you're a size 10 girlfriend and there ain't nothin wrong with dat.

Fall accessory roundup!

I've been pretty damn broke with this whole recession thing goin on so I've had to severely cut back on my shopping *cue the violins*. I can't really afford clothes anymore, but somehow I justified the purchase of a slew of cheap, gaudy, over the top accessories to fill my emotional void. Plus I found that the accessories out there (particularly at Forever) are having a really creative moment and I'm loving it:

Satin bow bobbie pins ($1.50 for a set of 2). I haven't quite figured out how to wear these yet, but they were too cute and cheap to pass up so I went with the most neutral color in the navy. They're kinda channeling Blair Waldorf, though I suspect they're going to shake up her fashion this season.

Rhinestone bow ring ($3.80). So cute it's totes sold out on the website. Just looking at the bling on this one makes me smile and almost forget we're in a recession. Or maybe I'm just having a moment with bows?

Sequin breast plate necklace ($6.80). I really think these are going to be a huge trend this fall, plus who can resist the shiny? Wear it over a plain black tee and keep everything simple. Unfortunately does need constantly adjusted throughout the day.

Plaid cats-eye sunglasses ($5.80). These are so impractical because they're pretty tack-a-rific and clash with 90% of outfits...but I couldn't resist, they made me smile. I feel like a faux hipster when I wear them (which admittedly has been once, the day I bought them), and they totally remind me of Katy Perry who I'm actually liking at the moment.

Worst pickup line EVER

Experienced Saturday night at Off The Wagon:

"You have nice wrists." (and then proceeds to grab it)

Totes not creepy at all....

Gettin my culture on (while boozing, obvi)

Gallery Bar
Lower East Side
120 Orchard Street (b/w Delancey and Rivington Streets)
New York, NY 10002
347-767-2045
www.gallerybarnyc.com

Combining two staples of the Lower East Side, art and bars, seems like a way to rock the nightlife scene in a creative and innovative way, right? Maybe not so much considering that the true LES "artsy" types aren't the ones flocking to Gallery Bar, but rather just typical trendy mid-twenty-something New Yorkers. As the name suggests, Gallery Bar displays a large amount of artwork from local up and coming artists and functions as a true gallery by day. By night this place tries to become a club with hip hop music, dark curtains to almost black out the venue, and a faux strict door policy, but unfortunately misses the mark due to the lack of actual space for dancing (despite two levels). The reasonably attractive crowd barely notices and definitely does not care about the art, and people are packed so tightly that I lost track of my friends within minutes and was left to fend for myself in what turned out to be a sea of sketchy men. Gallery Bar tends to be a popular place for birthday parties (I've been to two already this year) and seems hospitable to planning ahead for groups, but without an occasion I probably won't be returning on my own.
Rating: 2.5 stars

Did Bravo not get the memo?

Last night during the Real Housewives of Atlanta season premiere, Bravo played a shortened version of this commercial for the new season of Project Runway. Premiering August 20th. On LIFETIME.

After all the legal dramz that went down over the network switch for ProRun, why the hell would Bravo run a commercial for their competitor? Do they even realize how D-list that makes them look? It's like, "Look at one of the most popular and credible shows on reality tv that we lost and had to create a rip-off show to replace. It's great, change the channel and go watch this!" Seriously, Bravo, I thought you were better than that.

Yet, as much as I wanted to hate on Lifetime's version of ProRun, it looks just as great as in the good ole days and so does Models of the Runway. I'm hanging my head and changing into my mom jeans in shame because I will be watching.

Movie review on PMS

Warning: Do not go to see Funny People when you're PMSing. This movie is already confused enough (in a good way) if it wants to be a comedy or a drama or a romance, so you really don't need to put your own emotions which are changing by the minute through that roller coaster.

That being said, do go see it! Despite creative editing in certain promos to make it look purely comical, this film is vastly different than Apatow's previous efforts. The sadness/death element is real and very present in the film which provides an interesting, and at times haunting, twist to the movie's running theme of what and who is "funny".

I laughed, I cried, I felt my lady hormones raging...all of which I'm sure were the desired reactions to Funny People.

Guten Tag, Herr Hot-Stuff!

Zum Schneider
East Village
107 Avenue C (at 7th Street)
New York, NY 10009
212-598-1098
www.zumschneider.com

The equation to what makes Zum Schneider a great bar for the single girl in Manhattan is quite simple. Boys like beer. Zum has a wide menu of German beers that come in huge glasses. Thus boys go here in droves, so you should too to meet said boys. Zum also creates the perfect social atmosphere to meet new people with their traditional beer-garden style community tables. It's almost like they knew exactly what they were doing all along! I'm not the biggest fan of international beers but I can recognize a good beer list when I see it, especially by the looks of joy on the male clientele's faces as they clink their liter sized glasses together in cheer. So I shall grab my own (half) liter glass and join in the festive fun, indulging in as many Wieners as I can handle. I may come for the boys, but you should probably come for the Bavarian tradition and the beer, which are far more noble reasons.
Rating: 3.5 stars