One of my most beloved shops in NYC is Plaza Too. Their West Village location is on a cool stretch of Hudson Street, dangerously close to all my favorite Meatpacking District eateries and my special hiding place — no, I’ll never tell!

The store has branches in some of the poshest areas of New York state and Connecticut and mostly sells shoes and accessories, to which I say “What else does a woman need?!?” Anyway, I am gladly getting an early start on Nora Ephron’s suggestion that women should walk around in a bathing suit all through their forties! But do accessorize girls! Scarves, great bags and fabulous shoes are a must when all you’ve got on is a bikini!

Below is the invite to tomorrow evening’s event at Plaza Too in Greenwich Village. I’ll certainly be there, as I can’t resist Elizabeth Gillett scarves and I might even need to wander off into the shoe department. Follow the champagne droplets and cupcake crumbs on the sidewalk and see you there!

Elizabeth Gillett Scarf Show and Tell and Sell Party

Date: Wednesday June 24^th

Time: 5pm to 8pm

Location: Plaza Too - 571 Hudson Street - See MAP

Join us Wednesday eve for some good old fashioned fun with Designer Elizabeth Gillett of scarves, wraps fame, from scarf wearing ideas, to never seen before goodies….

The bubbly will be pouring, divine sweets will be served and I mean divine….

So stop by post work, gym or pre dinner it will be truly a guilty pleasure free zone!

Fashionably Yours,

Tom

All scarves, purchased, ordered will receive a 20% friend of the family price reduction…

Image courtesy of Plaza Too

If the idea of watching six teenagers go through a variety of facial expressions, while shopping, eating out and going to clubs sounds like as much fun as trimming your toe nails with hair thinning shears, then perhaps ‘NYC Prep’ — the new reality show on Bravo TV, debuting Tuesday June 23rd — is not for you.

In fact, it’s not my cup of tea either, having never even warmed up to its scripted counterpart and inspiration ‘Gossip Girl’. I mean, I liked being a teenager in private school in NYC as much as anyone, but OMG, I am so over that now! And while ‘Gossip Girl’ at least has fantastic clothes, worn by glamorous actresses and the over-the-top appeal of a TV serial, ‘NYC Prep’ possesses all of the squalor and pathos that watching a bunch of misdirected and misinformed kids on the loose, with way too much money for their own good, could offer.

From the same franchise that brought us such timeless classics — NOT! — as ‘The Real Housewives of…’ (fill in any city or state in the US these days), ‘NYC Prep’ follows four girls and two boys around town, getting into a series of mishaps, bitching fights while generally misinterpreting the news, culture and real life. One of the girls doesn’t from the same posh background as everyone else, she even attends — GASP! — public school and that produces, like, OMG, many conflicts and apparently insurmountable issues.

If you read a bit of condescension between the lines, you are absolutely right. I personally would not waste my priced TV viewing moments on such a senseless show. But that doesn’t mean I won’t graze by it on my way to another channel or watch a few minutes of it once during my lunchtime, while I enjoy a tasty sandwich or a rocking tuna salad. I can eavesdrop on this type of senseless banter at any time, on the CO-OP floor at Barneys’, inside the Upper East Side Dylan’s Candy Bar, or while having my nails done at Jin Soon on East 73rd… I don’t enjoy it there and I definitely have not enjoyed what I have seen of the show so far. The previews and videos look sad and the NY Times has given it a dismal review.

Anyway, I am not a fan of reality shows, while I am a huge fan of documentaries. It is the insight into foreign cultures and faraway lands that I love in documentaries. Seriously, give me ‘Afghan Star’ - the upcoming movie by Havana Marking on the ‘American Idol’ type of talent show filmed in Kabul - over ‘Tori and Dean’ madness any day!! Perhaps it’s about seeing cultures that still appreciate the true essence of life which I find inspiring, while watching spoiled teenagers with more than their share of consumeristic obsessions does not… Call me crazy. No wait, like OMG, like, call me an adult!

Image courtesy of Bravo TV

“Of Film Critics - A Dying Breed, THANKFULLY!”

That’s what the title of this post should have been. Yesterday, I sat in a dark screening room off Times Square in Manhattan and had a lightbulb moment which finally helped me to understand one of the reasons the world is such a mess. OK, so maybe it’s not going to help find the cause for the evils caused by rotten, power-hungry leaders, and it might not solve the current economic crisis, but it does give some personal insight into the strange discrepancies that create such a disconnect between the films that are made and those that actually make it: AGE. Before my septuagenarian readers - if I have any? - get their feathers ruffled and begin shaking their heads with the unexpressed stress of the, well… aged, let me explain.

Films are typically made by thirty-something filmmakers. Some may be older, some may be younger, but from experience the average film director is typically in his/her mid-thirties. Even those who are older possess incredibly young souls and sensitivities. This is no way an ageist opinion. The audiences that most filmmakers speak to, the ones that go to movies, fill up the halls and then buy into the trends that are created by the films and the hoopla that surrounds them, are typically no older than 25. Catch any commercial film, either in the US, UK or India, at any particular showing and 90% of the audience are under 30, 40% under 20. 

But then, to this hip mix, we add the film critics. Truthfully, 95% of them are over 65. And the remainder are wannabe filmmakers who would hate anything of value put in front of them, simply because they themselves never managed to find their deeply hidden talent inside. So what do we expect the film critic to bring to the table? His or her taste and knowledge. But this sensitivity is bound to be age-conscious and talent-biased. I watched a wonderful documentary yesterday, something truly inspiring, which you’ll definitely get to read about next week on my column at Chic Today. I exited the cinema with a special light in my eyes and a fresh spring in my step, while my fellow reviewers were more worried about being to walk out of the screening room without falling over each other and getting to the bathroom first… You see my point here. I might not sound kind, but I write what I observe. I respect my elders, but there is something to be said for this particular bunch, with no manners and a sense of self-entitlement. Why? Because their readers have given it to them, that’s why!

Of course, there are sites such as Passion For Cinema which have finally given film commentary back to the audience. You’ll hardly ever find someone over 30 writing on PFC, other than that rogue fantastic filmmaker beloved by yours truly - who shall remain nameless to those who don’t get the hint herein hidden and is hardly himself a couple of years over 30 anyway! But even some of the guys - and the occasional women fans - on PFC suffer from a syndrome that affects too many of today’s film critics: criticizing.

I am a firm believer that the correct derivative of the word ‘critic’ should be ‘critiquing’, not ‘criticizing’. In critiquing, one brings to the future viewers’ attention the attributes of the film, while avoiding to give the plot away and encouraging the audience to make up their own mind in regards to the quality of the film at hand. Criticizing instead simply imposes one’s views on the readers and manages to infuse each and every film commented upon with an overly technical and sterile opinion. To me, it all about that old adage “If you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all” which is the motto I try to live my life by. Bas.

Each and every work of art has a value, simply because there was one person at the very beginning of it, with nothing more than a dream, perhaps surrounded by a few others who believed in that same dream. If we are to accept the obvious, that even a journey of a thousand miles begins with one single step, those filmmakers out there who have managed to turn that dream into a reality - or more importantly, a film - have made magic by taking that first, impossibly hard step. They are to be applauded for their efforts, though some harder and louder than others, of course. I am not in any way implying that all art should exist simply by being called art, but especially the magic we call “The Movies” needs to be accepted as a wonderful creation and not be pulled apart by some two-bit wannabe filmmaker with a half minute reel to his/her name, and definitely not by the ancient powers that be who think dying institutions such as the NY Times are the bible of truth.

Lastly, a little disclaimer. I do not, nor have ever claimed to be a journalist. I am quite happy with the term writer and proud of my lineage. I also don’t mind something that was hurled at me as an insult, that I am a promoter, not a critic. Indeed. Promoting all things great by converting one person at a time. Thank you for the compliment!!

This Sunday only, renowned handbag designer Lulu Guinness celebrates 20 years in the business with a divine little get-together at her store in NYC. Boyish women, tomboys and accessories naysayers need not apply. Ms. Guinness designs for the pretty girlie girl in all of us and accessorize is her middle name.

Those lucky enough to find themselves in the Big Apple this coming Sunday, June 14th, will be able to mingle with Ms. Guinness, while enjoying some delicious cupcakes, champagne and get their purchases signed by the divine designer. And lets not forget that all who respond will get a special discount on their purchases too!

The store is near the Meatpacking District, so why not make it a day with a visit to Chelsea Market for some of your own Eleni cupcakes to take home - or even some Father’s Day cookies for dad’s day next Sunday - and a bit of tasty coffee at Ninth Street Espresso. Hey, you could even make it an afternoon into evening thing and have dinner at trendy Buddakan later. It may look a bit theatrical but the food is fragrantly fabulous - and light! - Chinese all the way.

To attend the Lulu Guinness event, simply RSVP at bleeckerst@luluguinness.com or call 212 367 2120 and put your name on the list. Then, simply go to 394 Bleecker Street (between Perry and 11th) from 2 to 4 pm to enjoy this bonanza of shopping and fun! See you where the good times are!!

Image courtesy of Lulu Guinness

Once summer rolls around, there is just sooo much to do in NYC. Without boring you with some lengthy introduction, let me just get right to the point and share some upcoming festivals, events and a sample sale by a beloved designer of mine.

To those who don’t know designer Rebecca Taylor - I think I spotted some of you under a rock last week! - she is the fashion maven behind some of the prettiest clothes around. If you noticed a woman wearing the cutest dress at a party last week, that was a Rebecca Taylor creation. If you find yourself inexplicably following a girl on the street, wearing a romantic-looking white top, that is also most certainly a Taylor piece. And that flowery blouse? Yup, you got it, Rebecca’s work too. So, it’s the luckiest time of year for women of all ages and sizes in NYC, since Rebecca Taylor is holding a fabulous sample sale on the 10th and 11th of June! Join the ranks of celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Witherspoon and Miley Cyrus by owning a prettily perfect Rebecca Taylor dress, at a fraction of the cost. Nothing will be higher than a third of the original price, and some things are marked way, way down… I mean in the double digits! So, check out the Rebecca Taylor website, by clicking on the highlighted link, and join the cute revolution.

The Rebecca Taylor sale will be at 145 West 18th Street, between 6th and 7th Aves, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. Amex, Visa, Mastercard and cash will be the accepted. 

If you have noticed a special spring in everyone’s step and marigolds are popping up in your dreams, it’s because ‘The New India’ film festival is beginning at MoMA this Friday, and runs for the next two weeks. It is chuck full of great modern Indian movies, the ones that definitely DO NOT feature any wet sari scenes or bashful lovers running around a tree. What this festival does boast is some of the greatest new films to come out of India in the last year, but also a couple of great documentaries about Indian personalities and traditions that go above and beyond the typical subjects. After the success of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ whether we liked that film or not, it’s undeniable that all eyes are now turned to South Asia for the next crossover hit. See if you manage to spot it before everyone else. The tickets are available only at the information desk at MoMA, and only a week before each screening. How do I know this? Trial by error, that’s how! Anyway, personal favorites include Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Luck By Chance’, Megan Doneman’s ‘Yes Madam, Sir’ about Kiran Bedi, the first woman officer in the Indian Police Service and Rajesh Jala’s ‘Children of the Pyre’, a daunting look at Varanasi’s answer to Bombay’s slumdog children.

Basking in the pride I feel for our President Obama and his speech from Cairo, there is now hope in the bridge that can be built between the US and countries in the Middle East. Of course, artistically that bridge has always been there, as typically artist and intellectuals are more open minded and ready for change. So, this year it’s already time for the second prestigious festival on the arts and culture of the Islamic world. The first was at the Kennedy Center in Washington in March, while now it’s the Big Apple’s turn to host a festival featuring everything from visual art, to theater, to dance and even a little light shopping thrown in by way of a live Souk set up in front of the Brooklyn Academy of Music - BAM. Check out what it’s all about at the ‘Muslim Voices: Arts & Ideas’ website, by clicking on the highlighted link.

So, enjoy the sunshine and see you out and about in NYC!

When I reserved my tickets for a special members’ screening of the documentary ‘Unmistaken Child’ at the Rubin Museum of Art in NYC, I knew I would be privy to a beautiful film about the spiritual and antique traditions of Buddhism, complete with the uplifting experience such a film typically leaves the viewer with. What I didn’t know was that the film would touch me deeply and emotionally, with a sense of love, longing and tenderness.

Tenderness for the chosen golden child in the film, as well as the devoted disciple Tenzin Zopa, a young, charming and well-spoken monk who spent most of his developing years in the kind shadow of his ‘charge’, an elderly Lama with a penchant for flowers. When Lama Konchog dies, Tenzin finds himself not only without his Dharma - life’s duty - but also deeply saddened by the death of his beloved spiritual guide and mentor. 

This temporary loss of bearing is soon overshadowed by his need to find the Lama’s latest incarnation, in a child that the Buddhist sages foresee as born of a certain father with a specific initial, possessing very special qualities and unmistakable taste. And the child must, of course, have been born after the death of the revered Rimpoche. So Tenzin embarks on a journey of discovery and while he finds the heir to this spiritual dynasty, he also unearths within himself the parental devotion he felt in the elder Rimpoche.

The film officially opens this Wednesday at Film Forum in NYC, before slowly but surely taking over the whole of the US, one city at a time. For a special treat, check out the film this Wednesday, June 3rd or Thursday, June 4th. The director Nati Baratz will be present both days for the 8 p.m. screening and a Q & A session will follow the film. You can ask him all about the breathtaking cinematography, as well as the fascinating subject Tenzin - who BTW magically speaks perfect English! - and the “happy and fatty fatty” golden child who is guaranteed to take over your heart forever.

As a bit of inside info, the US distributor of the film is Oscilloscope Laboratories, though Fortissimo Films is also introducing this beautiful film. For those who have been following the latest and greatest of the undeniably on fire Indian cinema, they are the proud new distribution parent of such wonderful films as Dev Benegal’s upcoming ‘Road, Movie’ – as well as Rajesh Jala’s documentary ‘Children of the Pyre’ which will be showing later this month at MoMA’s “The New India”.

Images courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories