There’s something incredibly special about not only liking your job, but also liking your colleagues.  When these two things exist in tandem, the result is utopia.  An added bonus? Having a fearless leader who’s unwavering enthusiasm and empowerment molds a group to be the best it possibly can.

Last week, said leader took the company’s beauty practice out for an evening of heart-warming food, wine, and out of the office team bonding.  We fed our hungry bellies with plate after plate at Gemma, the uber-cozy Italian restaurant on Bowery in the East Village.  

The rustic interior features thick candles, farm-style dark wood tables and antique chandeliers.  Gemma proved to be the perfect spot for good food and more importantly, a comforting ambiance which I desperately long for as we head into the colder months.

CaseyCulture Rating: 8 out of 10

*Images courtesy of boss lady/vocabulary enthusiast, Felicia Sullivan

Prosciutto di Parma

Buffalo Ricotta and Pesto Crostini

Buffalo Mozzarella and Prosciutto di Parma Salad

Truffled Polenta Fries

Truffle Scented Mushroom Crostini

Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe

Branzino al Forno

Spicy Italian Sausage Pizza

October 28, 2010

The most beautiful Fall Day: Sunshine, blue sky, 68 degrees.

Comfy dress, comfy sweater, belted up. 

Ensemble Breakdown:

• Dress: Urban Outfitters
• Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
• Earrings: Forever 21
• Belt: J.Crew
• Necklace and Bracelet: Sisters, i.e. no idea

Growing up, I played several sports and took the idea of winning vs. losing very seriously.  Although I chose to forgo sports in college (minus sorority football…), the competitiveness continued and still does to this day, particularly during a close game of Catch Phrase.

Yesterday, my coworkers were finally witness to my crazy competitive nature, but guess what - IT PAID OFF! 

In honor of the scariest holiday, my company threw a Halloween party and hosted a costume contest.  The winning group prize? A DAY OFF! You better believe that as soon as I saw that email come through, I was determined to win! Yes, I love my job, but an unexpected weekday off to do whatever I want is like music to my ears.  

Sleep in? Check. Boozy lunch? Check. Perhaps a hike upstate? Check.

Three other coworkers and I quickly formed our group, and thanks to our think-tank, Heather, we decided to dress up as the Social Media Super Hero Power Posse. 

I quickly went into competitive-mode and brainstormed all the intricacies of our costumes.  We work at a social media marketing company, so clearly others would dress up as social networks.  Perhaps you saw the consumer/lifestyle team’s Foursquare Badges? Our point of differentiation would be the super hero angle and I made sure my “team” went all out.

The final result?

• Captain Facebook: Where everyone knows your name/what you wore/where you are at 2 AM/where you lived last summer with your ex-girlfriend. Complete with “Like” hands and “Boo” belt.
• Twitter Woman: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Twitter Woman! Complete with Tweet bird crown and pet Fail Whale.
• Super Foursquare: Do you know when your ex-boyfriend is? She does. Complete with Mayor crown and “Check-In” sign.
• The YouTube Avenger: Who needs an actual TV when you have the YouTube Avenger?  Complete with “Related Videos” cape and Playlist headband. 

Sure, we dove into the details, but guess what?  WE WON! 

Day off for the Social Media Super Hero Power Posse!

Afternoon break from work to pick up some fresh snacks from the fruit cart.

Pictures courtesy of Ruth Chic Thrills.

Ensemble Breakdown:

Wrap: Zara

Fleece-lined leggings: Anthropologie

T-shirt: Forever 21

My OOTD’s (Outfits of the Day) have all been during the day for the sole reason that my coworker’s fancy camera works best in daylight. However, I like to test the limits and shake things up, so yesterday we took to the street in the dark evening sky to capture the daily ensemble.  

A dark outfit for a dark night.

Followed by a tremendous Italian dinner in the Village at Otto.

Ensemble Breakdown:

Shirt: Forever 21

Skirt: United Colors of Benneton

Shoes: Max Studio

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff 

There are times when I feel like a real New Yorker.  Then there are times when I’m having a conversation with my mom’s boyfriend, a born-and-bred New Yorker, that I realize I need to take my head out of the clouds and get back to learning the tricks of the New Yorker trade. 

My mom’s beau recently asked if I have ever visited the Central Park Conservatory Garden.

My answer? What is that?

Turns out, I’m not alone.  I asked several friends and colleagues if they were familiar with the secret garden and it turns out, it very well is a secret.  One, however, that I’m eager to share.

Situated behind the prestigious Vanderbilt Gate on Fifth Avenue and 105th Street, the six-acre Central Park Conservatory is a lush oasis garden with manicured flowers, trees and lawns, punctuated with elegant copper statues and flowing fountains.  As Central Park’s only formal garden, it holds similarities to the Luxembourg Garden in Paris, yet it features a stunning variety of three distinct styles - French, Italian and English.

It is as calming as it is beautiful.  And although it seems superbly pristine, there’s a relaxed feeling to the garden’s ambiance, perfect for reading a book or perhaps even a picnic.

Here’s a peak inside this New York secret garden.

I chose Telepan to celebrate my belated birthday brunch with family because it is ranked by many as the hands down best brunch in the city.  After devouring course after course of their locavore dinner, I had no doubt that their brunch would live up to reputation.

As someone who appreciates fine dining, this is difficult for me to say, but…

Although I love a multi-course haute cuisine meal, I found Telepan’s brunch a bit too orchestrated.  When I saddle up to chow down on Saturday or Sunday morning, I prefer something a bit more low key. Relaxed.

But although the brunch was top-notch (to say the least), the stuffy service and lovely plated dishes were a smidge too uptight for the early hours of the day. 

CaseyCulture Rating: 8 out of 10

Some of the table’s dishes from Telepan’s brunch:

SEMOLINA CREAM CREPES
sautéed butternut squash & brown sugar sauce

SHEEP’S MILK RICOTTA BLINTZES
dried fruit & honey compote

BISCUITS AND GRAVY
house-made breakfast sausage & poached eggs

PEAR FRENCH TOAST
brown sugar caramel

PAN-ROASTED TROUT
baby spinach salad, bacon & pine nuts

If you read this blog, you understand that I adore Autumn.   Beyond the season, I love the seasonal food. 

With fresh fruits, cheese, meat and flowers from the local farmer’s market, I was all set to serve up a four course Autumn-inspired meal from the comfort of my own home.

First Course: Prosciutto Wrapped Figs

Cheese and Crackers (forgot the name…)

Second Course: Butternut Squash Soup topped with Creme Fraiche, drizzled with Honey

Third Course: Roasted Duck and Granny Smith Apples (apologies for the horrible photo)

Fourth Course: Individual Caramelized Pear Cheesecake Pots

When one thinks of a trench coat, its typically black or khaki.  

Snooze.

While I admit I love classic pieces, sometimes it’s necessary to throw caution to the wind and jazz up a look with stylish surprises.

This dainty coat belonged to my sister for a couple weeks until she visited me in Paris, where I fell in love with the jacket’s style and charm.  Thank goodness I have an obliging sister who, after witnessing me fall in love at first site, handed over ownership.

Five years later, it still receives regular attention and affection and reserves the #1 spot in my coat closet.

Ensemble Breakdown:

Coat: White House Black Market (circa 2005)

Jeans: James

In my humble opinion, Fall foliage makes Autumn the best season of the year.  No question.

On Saturday, October 23, 2010, I hopped on my bike to snap Autumn scenes in Central Park.

I could sit down and look at the pictures all day long.

Yellows, reds, oranges, artists, lakes - heaven.

Enjoy.

*I do wear a helmet, just chose to take it off for the photo. Helmet + camera = meh picture.

Truth be told, I hate hotels. I understand that this is a general term, but I’ve spent my life kicking and screaming with my own pillowcase in hand as I’ve stayed at a variety of hotels. It’s only been the last year that my OCD tendancies have somewhat subsided and I’ve been able to enjoy and appreciate certain hotels.  

With that said, I still prefer smaller hotels that make you feel at home, like you are the star guest and your every wish is their command.

While in Los Angeles last week did I find such a hotel? Yes, yes I did. My haven? The Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.  

Let’s start out with the fact that I was able to stay at the luxurious sanctuarty because of work, so work - thank you!

Although it is a larger hotel, the Four Seasons’ personal attention made me feel like the Queen of the castle.  The atmosphere was old-world refinement meets coastal casual, with sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills.  And in the world of pure luxury, I channelled my inner royalty and indulged.  

• Complimentary Rolls Royce chauffeur within a couple mile radius? Yes.
• Afternoon Tea? Yes. 
• Checking emails on my corner suite terrace? Yes.
• Fresh pasta from their top-tier Italian restaurant, Culina? Yes.
• Bulgari shower products? Yes.

*Several hotel images via 

Scenes from my brief walk around Beverly Hills on a very cold, very gray, very un-LA kind of day.

Yesterday was a tough day.

After an extremely fun, yet extremely hectic Tuesday in LA (more exciting details on this to come….), I caught a restless red-eye flight back to JFK and landed at 5:20 AM.  I arrived at my apartment around 6:30 and caught an hour cat-nap before I crawled out of bed for a full day of work.  If it wasn’t for endless cups of coffee, I’m not sure I would’ve made it.

With the ten minutes I allotted myself to get ready (seriously - I was that tired and prefer sleep to prep time), I figured it was the perfect time to debut my new Autumn checked cape, thrown together with simple black and a few after-thought accessories.

Surprisingly, this is one of my favorite Fall outfits to date, yet it took the least amount of time and thought to create. 

What do you think?

Ensemble Breakdown:

Cape: Zara

Leggings: American Apparel

Shirt: Splendid

Boots: Steven

Hoop Earrings: Street vendor

Bangles: Forever 21

Photos courtesy of Chic Thrills

In my humble opinion, Celebrity Chefs (whose restaurants live up to the hype) are pure genius.  I love me some Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, Mario Batali, and now, I can add Wolfgang Puck to my esteemed list.

While in Los Angeles for work, I found myself with only one opportunity to eat a meal outside of the Four Seasons Hotel (poor me, I know) and chose Wolfgang Puck’s Spago as my restaurant of choice.  Why?  Well, beyond the fact that it comes highly regarded, it also received the prestigious 2010 Wine Spectator Grand Award, the publications highest honors.

My company for the evening? Fellow blogger, Love Life Lace, whose site includes all things beautiful and lovely.  She is even more wonderful in person and surpassed my expectations. Definitely give her site a look.

A couple things to note about dining at Spago:

1.  Wolfgang knows his food. He loves to mix color and the result is artwork on each dish.
2. We shut the restaurant down…..at 10:30. I assumed LA would be similar to New York in its late-night dining habits, but I was wrong. After asking several other LA peeps, this is de rigeur.

CaseyCulture Rating: 9 out of 10

Ricotta wrapped in Prosciutto and Figs.

Roasted Lamb over Sweet Potato Puree

Dear Job, 

Over the past 13 months, you have enchanted me in ways I never knew a job could.  Sometimes you can be tough, but I’d like to thank you for the countless ways you make me infinitely happy.

1. Thank you for not only allowing, but encouraging me to bring Lady to the office and making her a pseudo company mascot.     

   

2. Thank you for having a President that takes a couple employees to the Yankees game during company hours for beers and hot dogs…..just because.

   

3. Thank you for pushing me and molding me into a better worker.  
4. Thank you for welcoming my ideas on how to evolve and rock out.  I care what you think and you care what I think - reciprocation is the way to play!
5. Thank you for company outings, such as the recent booze cruise around Manhattan. Bonding with coworkers while reenacting the “Single Ladies” dance is always a strong move.

   

6. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with some incredible celebrities, including Diane Kruger, Gwen Stefani and Sarah Jessica Parker.

   

7. Thank you for not just telling me you value you, but showing me, too.
8. Thank you for encouraging me to take OOTD’s (Outfits of the Day).  My daily appearance has improved as a result.

   

9. Thank you for hiring tremendous employees. I wake up actually looking forward to work because of these sharp, hilarious folks.

   

10. Thank you for wanting me to be great and giving me the tools and assets to do so.