Week of December 20 - December 26, 2010

Fellow GEM NYC blog followers, thank you for all your support in 2010! We look forward to bringing you many more GEMS to come in 2011!

Happy Holidays y Feliz Navidad

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NEW YEARS EVE PARTIES

OPAL

New Years Eve 2011 Ball Drop Countdown with music by NYC's Hottest DJs, hosted by MTV Tres own L-Boogs. Complimentary passed hors d'oeuvres from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., complimentary party favors, one hour open bar, video of ball dropping, and champagne toast at midnight. Doors open at 9 p.m. Must be 21 and over. $25 advance tickets. For more information or table reservations please email info@soulatino.com or call (718) 796-7979. You can purchase tickets online at http://opal.eventbrite.com. Opal, 251 East 52nd Street and Second Avenue, NYC.

VIBRATIONS LOUNGE

Welcome the new decade, come celebrate New Years Eve with all your friends at Vibrations Lounge. Doors open at 9 p.m. Open all night until 6 a.m. Must be 21 and over. Guest DJ's Spinning all night. VIP Treatment: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., $50 and includes; open bar and hors d' oeuvres (9 p.m. to 12 a.m.), and complimentary party favors. General admission 12:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., $25 and includes; drink and bottle specials. For RSVPs and table reservations, please call (917) 657-3373 or visit UrbanLatino.com. Vibrations Lounge, 116 Avenue C., between 7th and 8th streets, NYC.

SOB's 2011 TROPICAL PARADISE

This New Year's Eve, S.O.B.'s invites you to step into a Tropical Paradise, where the sultry sounds fill the air and the champagne and mojitos flow until sunrise. The sensational flavors of S.O.B.'s Nuevo-Latino pre-fixe menu will have your taste buds soaring and the midnight champagne toast is the perfect way to bring in the New Year. Come Celebrate the end of 2010 & the potential of 2011 at S.O.B's! Doors 8 p.m.,10:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. Admission $160.00, $60.00 & $30.00. For more information and reservations call (212) 243-4940 or www.sobs.com.

3 Packages Available
Platinum $160 p/p
8 P.M. ENTRANCE , LIVE PERFORMANCES, STAGE SIDE SEATING

Sangria Cocktail, FIVE COURSE DINNER

PARTY FAVORS, CHAMPAGNE TOAST, BREAKFAST AT DAWN

Gold $60 p/p
10:30 P.M. ENTRANCE (NON-SEATED)
LIVE PERFORMANCES, PASSED HORS D'OEUVRES
PARTY FAVORS, CHAMPAGNE TOAST, BREAKFAST AT DAWN

Silver $30 p/p
12:30 A.M. ENTRANCE (NON-SEATED)
LIVE PERFORMANCES, DJ SPINNING THE LATEST & GREATEST OF 2010, BREAKFAST AT DAWN

Featuring Live Music All Night Long:
The Sweet Sounds of Bossa Nova
The Sizzling Salsa of Bio Ritmo & Carimi's Haitian Heat
Plus NYC's Hottest Latin DJs: DJ Spike spinning House, World, Soul & Best Of '10

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LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY SHOPPING IDEAS

TECHNOLOGY

With the Samsung Galaxy Tab™, Sprint's first tablet powered by Android™, you are guaranteed to light up any room you walk into. Weighing in at less than a pound, this all-in-one 7-inch touch screen device takes multitasking to the extreme. Read a book, listen to hot tracks, take a picture, video conference, watch a movie, email, text, post in your favorite social media networks or surf the Web, you can do it all - no desk required. All for just $399.99 after a 2-year Agreement and a Tablet plan and $50 instant rebate. Visit www.sprint.com for more info.

BOOK

MAMBO DIABLO: MY JOURNEY WITH TITO PUENTE by JOE CONZO SR. with DAVID A. PEREZ

Joe Conzo Sr. and David A. Perez luminously recreate the life of widely acclaimed Afro-Cuban and Jazz musician Tito Puente in the biography "Mambo Diablo - My Journey with Tito Puente." The authors chronicle the life of the popular and combative New York Puerto Rican multi-talented musician and entertainer who climbed from his poor environment in East Harlem (El Barrio), New York to international fame and recognition.

Countless stories have been written about Tito Puente's percussive musical abilities, but rarely has the talent, intuition, mishaps and controversies been presented in a vivid and personal biography. Joe Conzo was Tito's close friend, confidant and chronicler for nearly 40 years - no one was closer to Tito or knew him better. Joe tells the story of a man and his music the way it has never been told. David A. Perez sets down Joe's personal recollections and fits them into the context of the social milieu and revolving world. Purchase hardcover, paperback or kindle on amazon.com, borders.com and barnesandnoble.com.

MEN'S FASHION

503 Lab presents New York-based VGB making their debut this holiday with their Holiday 2010 Gentleman of Leisure collection. Inspired by the globetrotting and gentlemanly lifestyle of the likes of fictional character James Bond, the style hopes to create something that will undoubtedly stand out on its own with the bustling market for menswear. Available now via Karmaloop.com.

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TELEVISION

NYC's SAZON RESTAURANT CHEF FRANK VS BOBBY FLAY

Chef Frank will be hosting a viewing party of Throwdown with Bobby Flay. Chef Frank appeared on the Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay, challenged by celebrity Chef Bobby Flay to an Empanada dual. Three of the nation's top experts in Latin cuisine will judge the tasty turnovers and select who had the best recipe for this traditional Latino dish. Who will be crowned the King of the Empanada? Tune in on Wednesday, 12/22 at 9 p.m. to find out. Channel 97-Cablevision and channel 50- Time Warner. Private viewing begins at Sazon Restaurant at 7 p.m. Sazon, 105 Reade Street, NYC.Please RSVP for the private viewing with Svargas@ulmedia.net.

TAVIS SMILEY REPORTS DUDAMEL:CONDUCTING A LIFE

For his fourth TAVIS SMILEY REPORTS "Dudamel: Conducting a Life," Tavis Smiley gives viewers an extraordinary look into the life and artistry of the LA Phil's charismatic conductor. At 29, Dudamel is not only the youngest conductor of any major orchestra in the world, but is also being hailed by critics as the most exciting. Dudamel is instrumental in inspiring the launch of the LA Phil's Youth Orchestra Los Angeles initiative, which provides Los Angeles school children with music education. A student of an internationally acclaimed music program in his native Venezuela, Dudamel is committed to expanding music education in America. Tavis profiles some of the remarkable kids whose lives are being transformed by Dudamel's commitment to free music education for all. Tune in on Wednesday, 12/29 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. E.T. on PBS.

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Check us out on

www.urbanlatino.com

Week of December 13 - December 19, 2010

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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."