Archive for December, 2011

christmas: the most wonderful time of the year

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

image courtesy of 39thandbroadway.com

“it’s the most wonderful time of the year
with the kids jingle belling
and everyone telling you “be of good cheer”
it’s the most wonderful time of the year
it’s  the hap-happiest season of all”
~andy williams

christmas is definitely one of my favorite holidays. just something about it is completely magical, and everyone around you is in good cheer. it’s as if fairies stopped by and sprinkled enchanted pixie dust across the town, making all things seem a little rosier, cozier, and simply just delightful.  even in new york, when things are bustling and hustling most of the time, things seem to slow down. people stroll the streets enjoying the city’s night skyline or slowly peruse through outdoor farmer’s markets in union square, stopping to, literally, smell the roses, lovely inspiring scented-candles, and perhaps the occasional whiff of hot chocolate brewing in a nearby stand.

one of the things i love to do during the holiday season is to go to a nearby cafe or bakery and sit by the window with a toasty latte in my hands and people watch. the perfect place to do this? bryant park. located between 40th and 42nd streets & fifth and sixth avenues, bryant park is an amazing place to catch up with friends over a cup of coffee, do some last minute holiday shopping at one of over 100 cute boutiques and gift shops, or even ice skate (for free!). there’s also plenty of benches and places to sit and take in the oasis-like winter wonderland curiously situated in the middle of a large and busy city. where will you be enjoying the holidays?

~irin

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my latest obsession: the next iron chef

Thursday, December 8th, 2011

image courtesy of foodnetwork.com

i absolutely adore food and love watching the food network. i could watch the food network all day and not get bored. ace of cakes, throwdown with bobby flay, the next iron chef – there’s so much to see, watch, experience, and learn about. what i love the most about these shows is that they take cooking to the next level, and make it just as enjoyable and exciting as watching a competitive game of football or hockey. there’s excitement, mystery, and anticipation, and the food network producers definitely know how to keep their viewers constantly on their toes.

one of the shows i’ve been obsessed with lately is the next iron chef. in a nutshell, the next iron chef is a competition where 10 amazingly talented chefs battle each other every week until only one remains standing. each episode, the chefs are presented with a challenge and a few obstacles thrown in along the way such as mystery ingredients and game-changing rules. the latest episode i watched was one called “new york on a plate” – an episode that highlighted each chef’s ability to take an iconic new york city site and not only cook up a kitchen stadium-worthy dish but also tell an engaging and interesting tale of how the site inspired the chef’s thinking and creativity. watch the episode to see for yourself who won this battle here.

my favorite chef? chef elizabeth falkner, hands down. because of her background as a pastry chef and confectionary hero, chef falkner is a master of accomplishing dishes that are both savory and sweet. also, she is incredibly creative and is always finding ways to re-invent and remodel classic dishes in unique ways. however, i also think the other chefs are extremely talented so chef geoffrey zakarian and chef michael chiarello deserve an honorable mention as well. who do you want to see win the title of the next iron chef?

~irin

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celebrating christmas, the sinterklaas way!

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

courtesy of hveus.com

everyone in the united states knows all about christmas and santa claus, the jolly elderly man who “ho ho ho’s”, arrives via reindeer and sleigh, and gives gifts to well-behaved children every 25th of december.  but how do people outside of the states celebrate christmas?  while working with one of our amazing clients hester van eeghen, a talented dutch designer of colorful leather goods and accessories, i had the opportunity to learn about a dutch holiday called sinterklaas.

what is sinterklaas?  sinterklaas is a dutch celebration that commences when st. nicholas (also known as sinterklauss) arrives by sea on a white horse to celebrate good spirits and holiday cheer.  in amsterdam, sinterklaas is known as the patron saint of not only children, but also of seamen, merchants, and even pharmacists!  during his stay in amsterdam, the whole town celebrates with parades, public appearances, and televised programs as the children eagerly await the 5th of december, the day when sinterklaas will go around knocking door to door to leave sacks of exciting presents for all children.  however, what i find really cool about this holiday is that adults and children alike can participate in the festivities through a secret gift-exchanging activity, similar to what we know as secret santa, that includes creative poems loaded with hints as to who the secret gift-giver is.

in honor of sinterklaas and the holiday season, hester is offering specials discounts and promotions on some of her most popular items.  enter code sinterklaasmen15 for 15% off on men’s accessories including tastefully-designed messenger bags, architectural office bags, and trendy wallets, all of which are bursting with bright colors and shades.  sign up here today to be in the know for all the upcoming promotions!   how will you and your friends and family be celebrating this holiday season?

~irin

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