NYC (Winter 2011): Day 2, White Castle

Shawn and I were on a mission on this trip: to eat burgers from White Castle. And we found them, at 8th Ave. and 36th St. We each ordered a combo which consists of four classic burgers (we got ours with cheese), fries, and a drink. Okay, let me note here that these burgers are really small, before you think, "Holy shit, four burgers?!" One is about the size of my palm, and I have pretty small hands. You could probably eat one burger in about two or three bites. Inside the two soft buns, you'll find a little steamed square beef patty with onions grilled into them, a bit of ketchup, and a pickle or two (and a slice of cheese, if you so choose). At first bite, I was like, "Eh, it's okay, nothing crazy phenomenal. Certainly not worth missioning over state lines for, even if I'm high as a kite." But, by that second burger, you're like, "Okay, now I get why their slogan is 'What You Crave'." They're just so moist and soft and melt-in-your-mouth. There's something about them that makes you want to eat more of them. Seriously, Shawn and I each ended up eating six of them before we were too full to walk. So, yes, definitely worth trying... but maybe not pulling a Harold and Kumar.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 2, Phantom of the Opera

Shawn and I walked over to Majestic Theatre to watch the Broadway performance of Phantom of the Opera. It currently holds the record of longest-running show on Broadway, and with good reason. The music is phenomenal, the singing is mesmerizing, all of the set designs are amazing, and the overall theatricality is just epic. And it has, by far, the most dramatic and most memorable entrance, ever. But, and some might throw rocks at me for saying this, I thought the story could've been told better. Watching it on Broadway makes it slightly harder to follow, especially for those who don't know the basis of the story. There's very, very little speech in the show; it's all singing, which makes it harder to convey a message. And some scenes were unnecessarily long, and made it a little bit boring, especially the "office" and "graveyard" scenes. But the scenes in the theatre and in the Phantom's lair were amazing and, thankfully, take up most of the show. Overall, definitely worth going. Even if you don't like the story or it doesn't make sense to you, the music and the stage sets are spectacular.

And because we aren't allowed to take photos of the actual performance, here are a few of the inside of the theatre:

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 2, Vendor Hot Dogs

I don't get why people think New York hot dogs are so great. Shawn and I each grabbed one, and I have to say: they aren't worth it. It's not so much the taste, 'cause it's pretty hard to fuck up the taste of a hot dog. But I mean, the ones in New York are overpriced ($4 for a sausage, $3 for a hot dog) and are way smaller than the ones in Toronto, so you need at least two to get remotely full. And they don't even toast the buns. Moreover, they only offer ketchup and mustard as condiments (that the vendor puts on for you). In Toronto, you can grab a foot-long sausage on a nicely warmed bun with a whole plethora of condiments (relish, mayonnaise, different mustards, onions, pickles, hot peppers!) for $3. And they only grill the sausages; the regular hot dogs (which, by the way, are smaller than the typical wieners you get at the supermarket) are boiled. I could buy a whole pack of wieners for less than $4 and just go home and microwave them in a bowl of water for the same quality, and at least I'd be full! The only good thing about New York vendor hot dogs is the fact that there's one on every block. The flaw here is that you're better off walking to the grocery store.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 2, Guggenheim

We took the subway uptown and spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the Guggenheim. Definitely a must-see if you've never visited before. The building itself, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is a New York landmark. I think the architecture is actually what makes it more distinctive than the actual art, at least in New York; the viewing gallery forms a spiral from the main level to the top. It was my second time visiting the museum, the first time during a senior year art trip in high school; it has since undergone a major exterior restoration. They're currently featuring an exhibition called The Great Upheaval, featuring modern art from 1910 to 1918 by artists such as Kandinsky, Picasso, and Delauney (my personal favourite from this exhibition). It's always worth taking the free audio set that accompanies the artwork, too, because it does provide a lot of insight and history to the pieces. I find this especially important in modern art, since a lot of it is meant for interpretation.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 2, Tiffany & Co.

We spent a portion of the afternoon walking around midtown, and ended up in Tiffany. I wasn't really planning on buying anything, but what's more classic than going into Tiffany in New York City, right? I ended up coming out of there 20 minutes later with a new pair of sterling silver Elsa Peretti Starfish earrings. They were $275, but I figure I can justify it because the American retail prices and New York sales tax rate are significantly lower, and the Canadian dollar is strong right now. So I'm actually saving money by buying them there. Oh, man, look at me sounding like Becky Bloomwood.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 2, Menchanko-Tei

Shawn and I met up with my brother for lunch at Menchanko-Tei. My brother always picks this place because quick and super-close to his workplace so he can walk straight back to the office afterward. For whatever reason, this place is always packed at lunch with suits, with even more waiting in line to be seated. I guess businessmen love their ramen (and there's something really funny about businessmen slurping noodles). Luckily, we didn't have to wait to be seated; it was packed shortly after we ordered. I myself ordered the same thing as last time: two rice balls (salmon roe and salmon), and a bowl of ramen with roast pork, bamboo shoots, seaweed, fishcake slices, and a boiled egg. I've got to say, the food there isn't amazing; I've definitely had better ramen in Toronto. But it is fast, cheap, and satisfying, especially on a cold day.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 1, Bobby Van's

Shawn and I met up with my brother and a few of his friends for a late dinner at Bobby Van's Steakhouse, where we shared the porterhouse steak (cooked medium rare), along with sides of creamed spinach, sautéed mushrooms, and asparagus. It was, dare I say, the best steak I have ever eaten. Better than any of the steakhouses in Toronto, that's for sure, and even better than the steak I had at Smith & Wollensky last October (which was, up until this point, the best steak I had ever had). I don't know where they get their cows, but they produce some deliciously epic meat.

And I don't know how we managed it because we were so damn full (the type of full where you have not just one food baby, but triplets), but we also had coffee and shared three of their desserts: crème brûlée, layered crêpe cake, and berries with cream. The highlight of the desserts was definitely the layered crêpe cake, which wasn't too sweet, had a nice texture, and a good cream-to-crêpe ratio. Still, their specialty is steak, and they do it damn well. So if you don't eat red meat (gasp!), you should probably head elsewhere, 'cause any other entrée just wouldn't compare with the steaks.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 1, M&M's World

Since we were walking around Times Square, anyway, we decided to drop into M&M's World. Rampant consumerism at its most chocolate-y. Seriously, they've branded pretty much everything with the M&M's logo or characters, from golf balls to kitchenware to clothing. And they filled three floors of expensive Times Square real estate with the stuff.

And like the rampant consumer and tourist I am, I bought an awesome green coffee mug and a massive bag of mix-and-match peanut M&M's (my favourite colour is the aquamarine). Hey, at least I didn't buy something useless, like a snow globe.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 1, MAC Times Square

I wanted to take advantage of my MAC Pro discount, the lower American prices, and the higher Canadian dollar, so I went to the MAC Store in Times Square (conveniently located two blocks away from our hotel). It also happens to be the largest MAC Store I've ever seen in my life. I guess when you're in Times Square, it's go big or go home. It was ridiculously busy – like a typical MAC Store in Toronto during the week before Christmas. Or Boxing Day. But I managed to grab some new and classic permanent products I'd been meaning to buy (or re-buy):

Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser, Active Softening Lotion, Charged Essence, and Deep Ultramoisture Creme

Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15 in Medium Plus and Studio Careblend Pressed Powder in Medium Dark

Lip Pencil in Subculture, Cherry, Soar, and Beet; Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Fuchsia Fix and Classic

Lipstick in Plumful, Fanfare, and Capricious

More proof that I need my MAC – no matter what country I'm in.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 1, Times Square

Obligatory Times Square photos.

NYC (Winter 2011): Day 1, Shake Shack

I had to take Shawn to Shake Shack for our first meal in New York, because their burgers are too epic to miss. I have been craving their burgers since I went there last October. Shawn ordered the classic ShackBurger. His response, in between bites, "Oh. My. God. So. Good. Can't. Stop. Eating." And I ordered the Shack Stack, which is their cheeseburger and their 'Shroom Burger combined: beef patty with American cheese, topped with a crisp-fried portobello mushroom filled with muenster and cheddar cheese, and then topped with lettuce, tomato, and Shack Sauce. Seriously. Tastebud orgasm, maximized and multiplied. I can't even tell you. Those burger juices just seep out... Why don't they have this in Canada yet?!

NYC (Winter 2011): Room-Mate Grace

Shawn and I arrived in New York on Monday (February 21), and checked into Room-Mate Grace. We picked this hotel after reading tons of reviews online, because it had a consistently good rating while maintaining a relatively low price (we got it for about $150 a night on Expedia). We also liked the fact that it was a boutique hotel, 'cause it has more character than your typical Holiday Inn. Plus, the location is literally a block away from Times Square, which was a huge selling point for us.

One of my favourite things about this hotel is that each floor has a different look. We were on the 13th floor, which features a black-and-white wavy wallpaper design (the 9th floor featured a crazy red-pink-purple mod wallpaper, the 12th floor had a metallic gold wavy one). And each door has a room number printed on it in the biggest font possible, so you could be clinically blind and still find your room. Had I been high, I might have never left our floor.

We got into our room, and based on what I've seen online, this is what all their standard rooms look like. It's a very small room, but it's New York, so we came to expect it. But the small space didn't really bother us, 'cause they utilized the room fairly well. The bed (which is surrounded by seating "benches" covered in cream-coloured faux ostrich skin) was pushed all the way to the wall, leaving more space in the centre. I personally loved the mod wallpaper and the lamp above the bed, though some people may find it gaudy. And even though it didn't fit in the picture, there's a flat screen TV on the opposite wall from the lamp, so you can lie in bed and watch TV comfortably. The bed itself was phenomenal, so plush and comfy and warm. Our room also came with a seating nook by the window, a table, and a mod-looking chair. And a DVD player and iHome system! Had there been a kitchen in the room, we might never have left the hotel.

The bathroom is always the most important part of a hotel room for me. I can sleep on the damn floor, if need be, but a good bathroom is non-negotiable. And our bathroom was awesome. Clean, spacious (given the overall space of the room), simple, and modern. There's no bathtub, only a shower with a rainfall shower head, but it suited our needs just fine. And their mini toiletries come in the cutest containers I've ever seen in my life.

They also have a swimming pool beside the lobby. We didn't utilize it, but I had to take a picture because it's the coolest pool I've ever seen. There's a video of a waterfall always playing on one wall, and it's in a dark room so you can see the effect of the pool lights, which I thought was pretty epic. And on the other side, which I didn't get in the picture, are tons of cushy seating so you can just hang out and look at this awesome pool. Overall, a great hotel experience. And the staff is super nice, efficient, and accommodating. I would definitely go back to this hotel next time I'm in New York.

Uncle Joe's Family Restaurant

My mom and I went to Uncle Joe's for dinner tonight. It was my first time there, and upon walking in, you really do feel like you're in a family restaurant. There's nothing trendy or "chain" about this place. It's small, warm, casual, and cozy. Their most popular items are steaks, so I ordered a 10-ounce New York striploin with Caesar salad, garlic bread, roasted veggies, and mashed potatoes. And for only $16.99! The steak was tender, juicy, flavourful, and cooked just the way I wanted it (medium rare), and my sides complimented the steak perfectly. I would definitely order it again. I always try to avoid Main St. Markham because I hate the street itself (one-lane on each side, parallel parking only), but after going to Uncle Joe's, I've realized there are a lot of really quaint restaurants there, and some of them might just be gems. I need to investigate further.

On another note, Shawn and I are leaving for New York City tomorrow, and will be back on the 25th. Have a great week!

Happy Sunday

Five things that currently make me happy:

Essie Nail Lacquers in Chinchilly, Sew Psyched, and Coat Azure. Chinchilly (mid-tone taupe-grey) was released for Fall 2009 and Sew Psyched (muted sage green with silver-grey micro-shimmer) was released for Fall 2010 and they were the only shades I liked from their respective collections. Naturally, they were the first shades to be completely sold out when I looked for them. So imagine how happy I was when I found out they made both of them permanent! I snatched those babies right up, and also got Coat Azure, which is the only shade I liked from Essie's Spring 2011 Collection, A French Affair. It's a lovely mid-tone dusty blue with silver-grey micro-shimmer. Shoppers Drug Mart currently has a huge new Essie display on floors, so you can get over 40 different shades now, as opposed to the measly 20 they carried before. Love!

Shawn bought me Monsters, Inc. on Blu-ray + DVD for Valentine's. As much as I love Pixar films, I actually hadn't watched Monsters, Inc., which is kind of unbelievable because it's so fucking adorable. (Kitty + Boo = Die from cuteness!) That makes if official, really: There's not a single Pixar film that I don't absolutely love.

Vichy's new NutriExtra Fluid Replenishing Nourishing Body Care. They had a tester display unit at Shoppers, and I fell in love with it instantly. My hands are super, super dry because I'm always out in the cold (usually smoking with no gloves) and I constantly sanitize or wash my hands. And then I put this stuff on, and my hands were instantly soft and smooth, without being greasy. And it stayed the same way a few hours later, which is usually not the case for me. I was like, "Whoa, imagine how awesome my skin will be if I use it all over!" I've used it for a couple nights, and seriously: Soft, moisturized skin, and relieved any itchiness that I usually get from dry skin. The lotion absorbed right in and didn't leave a greasy residue at all, which is usually the case for "dry skin" moisturizers (e.g. Aveeno). And bonus: It smells like mangoes, peaches, and papayas. This part is not advertised, but yeah, the smell is awesome.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Probably the most ridiculous show, ever. Definite must-see.

Toast with butter and honey. It's not much to look at and it's so simple, but so damn good.

What makes you happy right now?

Inside Look: Make-Up Bag (Part II)

My second make-up bag contains only lip products. Yes, seriously. It's because my go-to looks are liquid eye liner and a bright/dark lip, or smoky eyes and nude lips. Also, I just like to have variety and it makes me feel uneasy if I don't have whatever lip combination I want at any given moment. I'm weird like that. I had too many lip products to fit into one picture, so it's actually split into MAC products and non-MAC products. Of course, I will change my lip bag on a monthly basis depending on new collections, but this is what is currently in the bag:

• MAC Viva Glam I Lipstick
• MAC Viva Glam V Lipstick
• MAC Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick
• MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick
• MAC Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass
• MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass
• MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass
• MAC Lipstick in Up the Amp
• MAC Lipstick in Rebel
• MAC Venomous Villains Lipstick in Heartless
• MAC Style Warriors Lipstick in Brave New Bronze
• MAC Give Me Liberty of London Lipstick in Peachstock
• MAC Wonder Woman Lipstick in Russian Red
• MAC Wonder Woman Lipstick in Spitfire
• MAC Wonder Woman Lipstick in Marquise D'
• MAC Wonder Woman Lipglass in Athena's Kiss
• MAC Wonder Woman Lipglass in Wonder Woman
• MAC Hello Kitty Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in
• MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Calm Mode
• MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 in Plum Perfect
• MAC Cremesheen Glass in Right Image
• MAC Cremesheen Glass in Double Dare
• MAC Cremesheen Glass in Richer, Lusher
• MAC Cremesheen Glass in On the Scene
• MAC Kissable Lipcolour in Scandelicious
• MAC Kissable Lipcolour in Exxxhibitionist

• YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #2 Sensual Silk
• YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #4 Sweet Honey
• YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #10 Provocative Pink
• YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #18 Red Taboo
• Illamasqua Lipstick in Climax
• Illamasqua Lipstick in Corrupt
• Illamasqua Lipstick in Resist
• Lancôme French Coquettes Lipstick in 304 Cherry Sarah
• Lancôme L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in 176 L'Wren Scott
• Nars Lip Gloss in Super Orgasm
• Nars Lip Gloss in Angelika
• Nars Lip Gloss in Easy Lover
• Nars Lip Gloss in Bougainville
• Nars Lip Gloss in Strawberry Fields
• Nars Lipstick in Niagara
• Fresh Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15
• Burberry Lipstick in #09 Blush
• Tom Ford Private Blend Lip Color in Moroccan Rouge

Yep, I'm out of control.

Inside Look: Make-Up Bag (Part I)

I was inspired by Mary's post on what's inside her make-up bag, so here is mine. I technically carry around two large make-up bags, one of which consists of only lip products, and a brush roll. I'm splitting this into two parts because I just carry too much make-up around. It's kind of disgusting, actually, how much make-up I have. The first bag is what I use on a daily basis, besides the blushes, which I revolve depending on my mood (these are my go-to blushes; I have shades that I will only wear for certain looks and different seasons, or from new collections). So, here's what's in the first bag and my brush roll.

• MAC Studio Fix+ Powder Foundation in C35
• MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark (transferred into a MAC & Dame Edna compact)
• MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Enriched Bronze
• MAC Wonder Woman Blush Duo in Mighty Aphrodite
• MAC To The Beach Marine Life High Light Powder
• Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel Tweed Powder Blush in Tweed Fuchsia
• Nars Powder Blush in Angelika
• Benefit Bella Bamba Boxed Blush Powder
• MAC Paint Pot in Soft Ochre
• MAC 4-Pan Eyeshadow Pro Palette (I change the pans by look)
• MAC Eyebrows in Lingering
• MAC Liquid Liner in Boot Black
• Lancôme Artliner Precision Point Eyeliner in Noir
• Fresh Supernova Mascara in Black
• Dior DiorShow Extase Mascara in Black

• Stila #21 Flathead Powder Brush
• Nars Blush Brush
• MAC #136 Large Powder/Blush Brush
• MAC #187 Duo Fibre Brush
• MAC #168 Large Angled Contour Brush
• MAC #227 Large Fluff Brush
• MAC #224 Tapered Blending Brush
• MAC #217 Blending Brush
• MAC #272 Medium Angled Shading Brush
• MAC #239 Eye Shader Brush
• MAC #219 Pencil Brush
• MAC #242 Shader Brush
• MAC #228 Mini Shader Brush
• Duo Lash/Eyebrow Brush from IMATS
• Lash Separator/Eyebrow Brush from IMATS
• Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
• Tweezerman Slant Tweezers
• Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers

Braised Ribs & Rice

Dinner at home: Braised ribs with carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes on rice. Crock Pots, for the win.

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five:

1. Nowadays, just about everyone knows a couple who first met online. Among couples you know, who has the best story? My friend, Laura, met her first boyfriend online. They ended up going out for five years before breaking up last year. But I think that's the only couple I ever knew in real life that met online. I mean, I know plenty of people that have done the online dating thing, maybe went on a few dates, but it never ended up in a relationship.
2. Who among your real-life acquaintances might you never have been friends with if you hadn't gotten to know each other online first? Sydney!
3. Of people you know online only, who would you most like to meet in real life? Mary, Heather, Ambrosia, and Christine. Realistically, Mary is probably the only one I would actually ever meet, since we live in the same city!
4. In the past 365 days, what's the longest you’ve gone without connecting in any way to the Internet, including email? Um... maybe five hours? Even when I'm not at my laptop or my Internet is down at home, I have my iPhone with me at all times, so I always have access to e-mail or the Web in general.
5. Who is the least-connected person you know in real life? My grandparents.

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2

MAC's Viva Glam Gaga 2 collection was released today, so I picked up both the lipstick and the Lipglass while I was at work. When worn separately, they are significantly different shades. The lipstick is light beige nude in an Amplified finish. It goes on smooth and creamy with good coverage, though it does have a semi-matte finish and will emphasize dry lips, so I recommend putting on a moisturizing lip balm first (I love MAC's Lip Conditioner SPF 15 because it's emollient but not greasy). This does go on rather pale, and may seem unwearable to some; I would say this shade looks best on fair to medium skintones. I prefer to wear it with a lip liner (my choice is MAC's Subculture) to make it a little deeper. Comparatively, the Viva Glam Gaga 2 lipstick looks like a slightly deeper, less pink version of Creme d'Nude, or a lighter, less peach version of Peachstock.

I find the Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass to be more wearable in general. It's a semi-opaque light neutral beige with micro-shimmer. It's rather creamy, so there is some settling into lip lines, and the formula is slightly thicker as well, so it's more prone to streaking on the lips. That being said, it does look beautiful on the lips on its own, whereas the lipstick can wash out many complexions. It's definitely less pale than the lipstick, and it's very neutral as far as nude shades go, so both cool- and warm-toned complexions can wear it. I can't really find a shade within the permanent MAC range that is very similar to this, so if you're looking for a good neutral nude gloss, Viva Glam Gaga 2 is worth checking out.

With the release of Viva Glam Gaga 2, however, that means the original Viva Glam Gaga is now discontinued. Any remaining stock at counters and online will be sold, and that'll be it. Most counters, as far as I know, are sold out of both the lipstick and the gloss. But the counter I was working at today still had a few tubes of the Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass left, so I snatched one up. It's a semi-opaque, blue-based light pink with subtle micro-shimmer. It almost looks like a light bubblegum pink in the tube. On its own, it can be a little too cool or milky. Ironically, when layered on top of Viva Glam Gaga 2 lipstick, it looks really quite nice as it adds a nice pink tone to the beige nude, and the beige nude warms up the blue base of the pink. I can see this combination being a great go-to nude for many light to light-medium complexions. For those with medium to medium-dark complexions, I would start with a deeper lip liner underneath (like MAC's Soar or Spice).

I know I've mentioned it before, but keep in mind that every cent of what you pay for any Viva Glam lip product goes to the MAC AIDS Fund. Not the proceeds or profit, but the entire selling price. You pay $17.50, and that $17.50 goes straight to the fund to help men, women, and children infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. So, when you're deciding on a new lip colour, keep in mind that the Viva Glam lipsticks and glosses are always worth getting.