Week of December 13 - December 19, 2010

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Week of November 16 - November 22, 2010

NYC is always full of surprises! New stores and restaurants open every week. Sometimes stores just pop-up for a limited time. This week GEM has the best of what puts the new in New York.

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DINING

Manhattan’s sleek new contemporary steakhouse, cityhouse, located at 870 Seventh Avenue at the corner of 56th Street, recently opened its doors at the Park Central Hotel, offering a diverse menu of modern American classics and the best cuts of USDA prime beef. Executive Chef, Fabio Capparelli, a budding culinary talent, formerly of the acclaimed BLT Steak at the Ritz-Carlton in Westchester, has crafted innovative signature plates for his latest venture. Dishes include a sublime lobstertini, succulent slow braised tomahawk short ribs and enchanting pistachio crusted diver scallops. Flawlessly prepared steak entrees from the cowboy rib-eye to the filet mignon are accompanied by a vast choice of outstanding sides from Capparelli’s divine mac n’ 5 cheeses and truffle fries to the hen of the woods mushrooms.

Conveniently located near Central Park and just steps away from Carnegie Hall, cityhouse is the ideal spot not only for power business lunches and chic dinners but also pre-theater dining with generous prix fixe menus for both lunch and dinner. With the debut of outdoor seating in Spring, cityhouse will be the perfect place to enjoy weekend brunches and signature cocktails such as the refreshing bellatini, made from a unique blend of premium tropical juices, fine French cognac and a touch of ultra premium vodka shaken to a chill and garnished with fresh squeezed key limes.

This Thanksgiving cityhouse will offer a prix fixe Thanksgiving menu which is available on Thanksgiving Day only from 12PM to 8PM. Please visit opentable.com/cityhouse-new-york for reservations or call 212.707.5500.



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GIFTING

To celebrate their 75th anniversary, Harry & David, the leading lifestyle gourmet gifts company, will bring a taste of their home in Oregon’s Rouge River Valley to the big city this holiday season. The two NYC locations, one in Gramercy on 22nd Street and Fifth Avenue and the other at the Columbus Circle holiday market, provide one-stop holiday shopping showcasing the brand’s farm-to-table expertise and new holiday gifts including exclusive wines, award-wining artisanal cheeses, luscious fresh fruits, delectable homemade baked goods and custom handcrafted confections. The pop-ups also offer free delivery service in NYC. For more info visit www.harryanddavid.com

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FASHION

Levi’s has just opened a brand new concept store in NYC. Inspired by its location, the Levi’s Meatpacking 4,500 square-foot store will be the ultimate expression of the Levi’s® brand, complete with an in-store concierge and tailor shop. Levi’s Meatpacking offers an array of unique products including: Levi’s Vintage Collection (LVC) of archival reissues, including replicas of 501s that date as far back as 1890 and limited-edition products, including: Billykirk wallets, hand-dyed silk bandanas and scarves from Upstate, Levi’s Workwear by Filson Oiled Tin-Cloth trucker jackets and the new Workwear byPendleton line, a finely-crafted capsule collection featuring the style and denim of Levi’s® and the authentic wool jacquard fabrics and craftsmanship of Pendleton’s iconic woolens.
Here are a list of prices and just SOME of the services on the menu at the Tailor Shop:

• Misc. Hem options on jeans: starting at $20

• Jacket Sleeve Hem: $30

• Pocket Bag repairs: starting at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

• Jacket Repairs: start at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

• Knee Repairs: start at $20, depending on the nature of the repair

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SPA

Spa Merge celebrated its grand opening in March 2010, merging science and nature into one organic spa experience. The spa, located at 102-108 West 57th Street, offers clinical, effective treatments, coupled with naturally invigorating (often vegan and/or edible) products in a peaceful environment. The treatments are not only relaxing and luxurious, but provide amazing results!

Skincare is their specialty and it’s a great time to get a facial to brighten up your complexion for the holiday season. GEM recommends their signature treatment, The Ultimate Merge Facial. The Ultimate Machine by Ageless Esthetics, one of only four units in the entire United States, for the ultimate luxury in facial rejuvenation. The four step process embraces Spa Merge’s concept of merging science and organic nature, combining cutting-edge technology with invigorating product. As the very first treatment system to combine crystal-free microdermabrasion, microcurrent toning, LED light therapy and high frequency stimulation, The Ultimate Machine provides the most versatile and effective facial therapy available. To book your appointment visit www.SpaMerge.com.

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BEAUTY

In celebration of their fall and holiday makeup and skincare collections, Shiseido Cosmetics America opened the Shiseido NYC Limited Edition Beauty Boutique - its first-ever pop-up beauty boutique on Friday, November 12th in NYC. The boutique located at 989 Third Avenue at 59th Street, is open to the public for one week only - from November 12th - 19th from 11AM to 7PM daily. Guests are invited to sample the collections and receive signature Shiseido services during the event.

Other offerings include:

• Gift cards for complimentary facial massage treatments at the Bloomingdales Shiseido counter on 59th Street

• Deluxe samples of signature Shiseido skincare and makeup products

• Information about Shiseido collections including the:

• New Fall 2010 Shiseido Makeup and Limited Edition Holiday Palette

• New Shiseido Future Solution LX Eye and Lip Contour Regenerating Cream

• Best-selling Shiseido Bio Performance Super Corrective Serum

For more info visit: www.shiseido.com

Week of June 14 - 20, 2010

FASHION

Badichi, the new atelier and retail spot offers fashion-conscious men and women the opportunity to design their own belts and tailor them to perfect fit in less than two minutes. “Our new belt boutique offers a fashion concept that New York City is currently lacking, the chance to design their own belts and fit them to perfect size in less than two minutes,” says Yinon Badichi, Managing Director of Badichi.

Housed in a quaint boutique located in the heart of Soho, the walls are lined with a vast variety of handcrafted, unique and edgy buckles and immense amount of fine leathers from Italy, India and South America. With the opportunity to put their design skills to the test, men & women can both create their own belts to fit their unique style. From skulls and handcuffs to painted florals and encrusted crystals, the intricately detailed buckles add variation to the many options of leather waist bands.

Badichi Customized Belts is located at 159 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012; 212.533.2107; www.badichibelts.com

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HEALTH

Our skin is our largest organ. It protects us from injury, infections, and regulates our body’s temperature. It stores water, fat, and Vitamin D. But for the one in five Americans who will be diagnosed with skin cancer within the next year, skin is a painful reminder of past sun damage.

More than 90 percent of skin cancer is caused by sun exposure, when sun damage may be the easiest to prevent. Robert Miller, M.D. of Wellspring Oncology weighs in, “Most people are surprised to learn that even UV exposure over short periods of time can still dramatically increase the risk for cancer.”

Due to the amount of sun damage that can accumulate earlier in life, children and teens need to be protected. “Many cases of cancer are connected to severe burns from the adolescent stage in life,” says Miller. “Men are also twice as likely to develop skin cancer as women. It is the most common form of cancer in men over 50.” Miller still advises, “There is no such thing as a safe tan that involves any form of UV exposure. Darker pigmentation is the skin’s way of protecting itself- it signifies damage. The only safe tan is a sunless tan.”

Try one of the new spray formulas like the Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Clear Spray Sunscreen. The can sprays at any angle offering quick and even coverage formula is very water resistant and is available in SPFs 30, 50 and 80 available at www.amazon.com/beauty.

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EVENTS

This June 17th is Eyebrow Intervention Day at NYC Duane Reade LOOK Boutique Ramy Brow Bars. Celebrity makeup artist and New York City “Brow King”, Ramy Gafni and his team of brow specialist will be at each location providing brow services from 11am – 7pm at the following locations:

Eigth Avenue Between 16th & 17th Streets Phone: 212-929-0650
1350 Broadway at 35th Street Phone (212) 695-6346
51 West 51st Street at 6th avenue Phone (212) 582-8525

In anticipation of the event, we asked Ramy some of our burning brow questions:

*What 'trends' if any are you seeing for brows this summer and into fall? The trend is for classic brows which are full but with an obvious, but soft, arch.

*What's the single most important tip for women when getting their brows shaped? Express your desire to your brow expert, then let him or her work their magic without interupting. The person who gets the best result is the one who says, "You're the expert, do your thing!"

*Do you recommend tweezing, waxing, threading, etc? What are the benefits/disadvantages for each method? Waxing is for cars. Threading is for flossing your teeth. You get the most precision with tweezing and trimming. It offers the most control and is the gentlest method on the delicate skin around the eye area.

*What products do you recommend for filling in, definition, etc? What are the benefits? My bestselling brow product is the Perfect Brow Wand. It's a double ended pen that has a universally flattering brow filler on one end and a highlighter on the other. I also have the Miracle Brow Compact, which is more of a pomade and it comes with a double ended brush for filling and blending. The benefit of filling your brows is that it can make even a perfect eyebrow look more dramatic and finished. It's also key if you are filling in a gap or covering strays as you grow in a skimpy eyebrow.

For more on Ramy and the Ramy Spa visit www.ramy.com

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TECHNOLOGY

As gift for dads or grads, what makes FLO TV Personal Television cool is that you can enjoy TV wherever you go. Whether it’s a 2-hour delay at the airport, time on the treadmill at the gym or with your kids in the grocery store, a handheld TV comes in, well, handy. But you don’t always have to be out to tune in. With integrated speakers and a built-in adjustable stand, the FLO TV Personal Television is at home wherever you are. Put it on the counter while you’re making dinner, on the vanity while you’re getting ready or at your desk while you’re working.

The FLO TV Personal Television is about freedom. It’s about fun. It’s mobile TV, there is no waiting and no downloading. With the FLO TV Personal Television and a subscription to the FLO TV service, you can watch the shows you love on the channels you know at the touch of a button. For a limited-time, you can buy a FLO TV Personal Television (PTV) for only $199 with 12 months of the Essentials package included, featuring four great channels: ABC Mobile, CBS Mobile, FOX Mobile and NBC 2Go. Upgrade at any time to the Ultimate package for a full programming line-up for just $14.99 per month. Visit www.flotv.com for details on where to buy.

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BEAUTY

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! So it makes sense that the new Smooth ‘N Shine Diamond Luster Poof Eraser, $4.99 available at Drugstores nationwide, is not only inspired by diamonds, its formulated with quartz crystal to give hair prismatic shine while offering heat protection up to 425 degrees.

Now how do we use it on our hair? We asked Larry Sims, Celebrity Hairstylist for Smooth 'N Shine. Sims has worked on the tresses of many Latinas including: Dayanara Torres, Christina Milian, Eva Longoria, and Jennifer Lopez.

Sims offered us the following taming tips: "As we move into the summer heat, it's essential to be on top of your hair game. To give that everlasting beautiful first impression, I suggest using Smooth 'N Shine Diamond Luster Poof Eraser. This product is amazing because it works on both wet and dry hair. It's 425 degree heat protector agent protects your hair from daily thermal styling procedures. It also provides nourishment and is infused with wheat protein and vitamin E agents. Lastly, your hair will look its best with benefits of anti-frizz and quartz crystals that are infused in this product as well. The end results are beautiful, healthy, shiny, hair."

Week of April 27 - May 3, 2010

BEAUTY: Instant Nails

For those that want to shine in the sun, Broadway have just launched some nail kits that change when exposed to direct sunlight. Fashion Diva Color Changing Nails come in four designs and adjust in seconds. At night and indoors nails are a classic French style with a white or black tip and simple design. But when on the beach, by the pool or driving around with the top down, nails will transform instantly with a neon tip or extra design, such as shooting stars or a simple floral pattern.

Each nail kit comes complete with 24 nails in 12 different sizes and lasts for up to 7 days. Self-Tabs are on each nail to make application easier and pink nail glue and manicure sticks are also included. Available for $5.99 at www.walgreens.com


EVENTS: TARGET Free Thursdays Presents: Essentially Ellington Alumni All Stars in the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
Coming up on April 29th the all-star ensemble of Essentially Ellington alumni plays the music of Duke Ellington and celebrates the 15th anniversary of the annual Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) education event that invites select high school jazz bands from across North America to spend three days immersed in workshops, rehearsals, jam sessions, and performances at JALC. Alumni of the Essentially Ellington(High School Jazz Band Program) include Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra bassist Carlos Henriquez, saxophonist Erika von Kleist, and bassist David Wong. Join us for this special performance that leads up to the final concert of the annual competition and festival at Avery Fisher Hall on May 10th. More information about Essentially Ellington is available at: www.jalc.org/essentiallyellington.


BEAUTY, BODY: The Spirit of the Amazon

Bring the benefits of Amazonian fruits to your life this season. Already wildly popular at ABC Home, Wembe's Citric, Mango, Avocado, Passion Fruit and Coconut varieties are chock-full of raw ingredients that nourish, exfoliate and turn your shower in a rainforest. Wembe retails nationally for $7-12 at www.abchome.com

Here are some skin tips for using Wembé soaps:

Citrus fruit
For your health: Provides a good source of Vitamin C which boosts immunity.

For the skin: Vitamin C smoothes the texture of the skin. Vitamin C aids in the production and formation of collagen in the skin. Try: Wembé’s Citric Cleansing Bar

Mango
For your health: Provides the body with antioxidants and vitamins A and E which help to protect the body from heart disease and other diseases.

For the skin: Vitamins A and E aid in softening the skin and the antioxidants that mangoes provide helps to fight free radical damage. Try: Wembé’s Mango Cleansing Blend

Avocado
For your health: Avocado provides a large amount of potassium which can reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke as well as vitamins A, B, D and E.

For the skin: The vitamins and potassium found in Avocados helps to keep skin smooth and moisturized. Try: Wembé’s Avocado Cleansing Blend


Fashion: Bold Baubles

Right on trend with strong pieces and an even stronger celebrity fan base including America Ferrera. Lia Sophia’s Red Carpet Celebrity Collection offers up options in bold statement pieces like the Wave Cuff Bracelet with Black Diamond Crystals in Matte Gold, $450. All Lia Sophia jewelry comes with a Lifetime Replacement Guarantee so that you can shop with complete confidence.For pieces under $100 Lia Sophia also has the classic line available at www.LiaSophia.com



Beauty, Fitness: Dare to Bare

Sleeveless season is almost in full effect. “So You Think You Can Dance” star Ellenore Scott, www.EllenoreScott.com, shares her tops tips for baring your arms this season.

1.Tone: Using lighter weights and more repetition get your muscles looking long and lean. Ellenore loves doing port de bras (it means carriage of the arms) with 5lbs weights.

2.Scent: As a dancer staying dry is important while moving. Ellenore uses Secret Clinical Strength Sport to keep her dry. To see which Secret formula is right for you visit www.secret.com

3.Shape: Ellenore says you can work out while you watch tv. One of her favorites is the tricep firming reverse push up.

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