Beauty Road-Test: Facial Acupuncture
Following in Gwyneth’s Footsteps to Find a Remedy for Skin In Crisis
I’ve Googled Juvéderm once or twice after contemplating¬ my reflection for an amount of time better left for teenage girls. But the thought of a dermatologist jamming my cheeks until they’re plump with hyaluronic acid dermal filler produces an anxiety that far outweighs the desire to erase smile lines. Of course there’s Botox, which promises to vaporize my frown lines, but unfortunately I have a healthy fear of clostridium botulinum. And anyway, isn’t it at all disturbing that I’d want to erase all evidence of emotion on my face?In the spirit of holistic medicine (and vanity), I contact Mark Moshchinsky at Tree of Life Acupuncture, and schedule a facial acupuncture appointment, clinging to the hope that this problem can be tackled from the inside out. If Gwyneth and Madonna are fans, there’s a good chance I’ll walk out of the acupuncturist looking younger and prettier.
I arrive at Tree of Life and complete the standard intake forms. Then I meet Mark for our consultation, but first ask him a few questions before volunteering my face as a pincushion.
On the inevitable Botox comparison: Well, I’m not a Botox expert… let’s start with the advantages. It’s quick and the results could be more dramatic than acupuncture. That’s probably it. The disadvantage is that when it wears off, you look a lot older. And there are no health benefits. Disadvantages of acupuncture: I’ll start with the disadvantages. It’s not as dramatic– that’s basically it. The advantage is, it works on your health. Even if I focus on your face, a lot of organs map out on the face. The liver has to do with eyes, mouth has to do with digestion, and the nose has to do with the lungs.
On visible results: Unless you do some surgical procedure, if you don’t feel well, it always shows on your face. Even if you get Botox, there’s an energy around you. A woman may not be that beautiful, but she’s happy and people cling to her. A lot of the time it has to do with internal energy. You might not always see it, but people feel it. Another advantage is that it’s natural, it’s not as dramatic, but over time you can see that it will help you with stress and all your health issues. A lot of people carry stress on the their face.
How to achieve optimal results: Lines aren’t going to disappear after one visit. A good rule of thumb is 10 to 12 weeks for any course of treatment. Acupuncture can give you a glow–it can happen with even one treatment. It gives you more blood supply and more energy.Cost comparison: Average acupuncture sessions range from $80 - $120 (generally 10-12 treatments, one every week or two, are necessary). A standard Botox treatment costs anywhere from $350 - $800, and lasts up to 4 months. Restylane lasts a little longer than Botox and there are claims that after a second course of treatment, results can last up to 18 months. (But Botox is still the most popular, with over 5 million injections last year, up from 4.6 million in 2007). (Also of note: Reloxin, a possible Botox rival expected to be approved by the FDA later this year, is currently used in two dozen countries. It will have a lower price tag than Botox, and boasts reportedly similar results to Botox.)
So after noting that I’d like to focus on the area around my mouth (and he doesn’t disagree), we head over to the table. He checks my pulse and looks at my tongue–- standard acupuncture intake. He says I look a little off-balance.
He feels around my abdomen. At the point right below the diaphragm there is some discomfort. A-ha! The stomach affects the area around the mouth. Mark puts a needle two inches below and to the right of the knee and a pulsing sensation begins. He puts his hand back on my stomach and the discomfort is completely gone. He adds a few more needles–- one to the left hand, right foot and the crown of the head.Now for the face: He gently places a needle on either side of my mouth and then two more a little further from the center of the face. All is good. But when two more go in closer to the ears, I get that woozy beads-of-sweat-all-over-the-body sensation. Did I mention my fear of needles? He removes the last two. A little deep breathing and I’m back to normal. He leaves me alone for the best part of acupuncture– a trip to that special place somewhere between sleep and consciousness.
Twenty or so minutes later I float back to Planet Earth feeling remarkably calm. On my way out I stop at the mirror to check out the reflection. No longing for Restylane. No signs of stress. I had a certain glow. It’s simple to see that a full course of treatment would produce significant effects.
That evening I sleep better than in weeks. And there’s no better way to get a luminescent complexion than a good night’s rest. Sign me up for round two.
~Lisa Germinsky
Tree of Life Acupuncture
32 Union Square East #804
212.533.1192
The 29-year-old neo-folkie was propelled to national attention after becoming a high-profile victim of 
GREETINGS FROM NEW JERSEYS
BLOWIN’ SMOKE
FEELING CORNERED
You may recall a recent 
Which is where Ritch Viola comes in. Viola launched 
SIGNATURE MINT 2-IN-1 DAILY SHAMPOO ($8)
Most Unexpected Ingredient: Besides the namesake spiced pepper? Well how about sliding some citric acid across your skin in lieu of your morning glass of O.J.
Most Unexpected Ingredient: Rosemary oils.
Rising from Allen Street is the newest cool downtown NYC hotel – Thompson Lower East Side. It’s a jarring yet undoubtedly strong structure: blocky, boxy and gray. Inside it’s the hospitality equivalent of black on black on black, with shiny mod surfaces and ambient music. And it’s Thompson’s raison d’etre (as we showed in an earlier review of The Libertine, at their Gild Hall hotel in the financial district) to put a star chef in a cool restaurant.
Wish the entrees had been as good. The slow-cooked pork belly I had was very disappointing … the pig is already dead, so there was no reason to kill it again. It may have been slow-cooked, but it was over-cooked well past the point of tenderness. The apple puree on the side was nice, but that didn’t save it. My friend called his sablefish – admittedly not an easy one to prepare -- “just bland – disappointing. Not bad but not memorable.” 
And now a note on service. Thompson people: get it improved, quick. Our waiter came to the table, and said, “Hello and welcome…” then apparently he received a signal from another staff member, and immediately said: “I’m sorry – please excuse me,” and did not come back for approximately three minutes. This is the time when I should point out that the bill, with one drink each, was around $150. This is a very bad bill total to combine with being abandoned by a waiter for several minutes. After the initial abandonment, service was relatively rushed, with the waiter doing that annoying thing where he said “excellent choice!” after every choice.
In the age of the all-powerful pocket-phone, another little black box just for making videos could seem superfluous. After all, as well as being able to essentially run our lives, sing us to sleep and perhaps morph into crime-fightin’, tough-talkin’ super-robots, phones are now capable of capturing perfectly acceptable moving pictures.
It also has an awesome little flip-out USB key, which snaps upright with the nudge of a button at the side. I totally freaked out a friend of mine with it, asking him if it were a defect, then almost poking him in the eye with the USB key when he got close to check.
One of the advantages of its size is that it does have a flat bottom, which meant I could balance it on a book whilst I filmed a guy I’d just met in the pub reading a letter by James Joyce about farting. The film is surprisingly high-quality, even picking up smoke in fairly dark lighting conditions. The sound, too, was unexpectedly clear and could even pick up the groovy subtleties of a reggae gig I went to later that night.
The urban gastro-pub is a very tricky tightrope act to achieve. It has to be down-to-earth but not grubby; homey but not kitschy; and the food has to be two steps above standard pub-grub, but not so highfalutin as to be inaccessible.
The food on that menu is squarely in the gastro-pub safety zone mentioned above – better than standard pub food, for sure, but not annoyingly Top Chef-like. And dieters beware: it is very, very fattening. The only greens here are the pilsner logos on the bar tap. The big beer selection is designed to soak up the greasy food – and my friend and I came hungry. Luckily, much of it is not just greasy, but flavorful – when you’re eating so unhealthy, you want payoff. That comes in dishes like the Berkshire pork sliders ($9) – delicious crumbled pork on buttery little rolls, with McClure’s pickles and grain mustard. Completely smile-inducing, as is the corned beef grilled cheese with onions ($10) – it all comes together with a perfect crunch on the outside and meltiness on the inside – this type of sandwich can easily fall into sogginess and blandness, and not so here. Delicious.
Service was average to good – we were served by a fellow who was relatively expressionless and seemed somewhat depressed, yet was quick and efficient. It’s not a welcome-you-with-open-arms place, but certainly there is no velvet-rope chill.
While I tend to be anti-soap-- as the act of rubbing a soap bar against my body seems masculine and conjures gritty images of Brad Pitt mixing tubs of lye in Fight Club-- I wanted to diversify my regimen and give soap a shot. So, I opened the first bar, 
After easing in with the mild aroma of Shrapnel, I opted to tackle a more incendiary scent, 
In its inception three years ago, 
JS: The name of this place stood out for us. The best Lebanese comfort food with brown rice and everything organic. We try to eat really healthy. We live above an organic supermarket.
A plate of eggplant layered with onions, tomatoes and peppers is brought out. 
JS: Our experience here has been anything but shallow. We came here to work for a meaningful network with a meaningful mission behind it. I feel like everywhere I turn there’s something to see. The other day I went to the Getty Museum. I was like, are you kidding me? No line, no wait. I can come here and have a glass a wine. In many ways this is the birthplace of the culture of the world, and I like that. You can go to Morocco to see posters of the movies that were made and conceived here.
Ultra-healthy haute cuisine is a very difficult combo to find on the Upper East Side. If your New Year’s resolutions specify no butter, cream and cheese, that would generally mean the end of fine dining above 59th St.-- don’t bother leaving the penthouse. ‘Til now… a New York outpost of the Brussels restaurant 
My friend and I tested it out for lunch, and came hungry. We went to the upstairs café – no reservations required and a little more affordable than the downstairs café. Upstairs is a better way to dip your toe in. One of our starters was a beet flatbread ($12), a special that day, with chopped red and yellow beets, fresh crumbled feta, fennel and parsley-- altogether, it made for a flavorful starter – fresh and vibrant. Another starter we had was the baby carrot terrine ($15) with peekytoe crab tabouleh, almond vinaigrette and mango. It was also a thumbs-up… the four disparate flavors danced very nicely together.
My entrée was a cauliflower risotto ($19)-- it’s usually a very heavy dish, and quite fattening; here, it comes with roasted garlic, and lemon confit. I asked the waiter what the secret to its healthfulness was – normally risotto has more butter and cheese than almost any other dish. He said it’s fennel stock and fennel puree that “keeps it all together.” That is admirable and interesting. But I was yearning a bit for the butter and cheese, as this dish, while pleasant (the lemon was a particularly nice twist), had an un-creamy quality that was, well, un-Italian. It was just OK. My friend chose a pasta dish-– angiolotti with delicate squash, watercress, warm mushroom vinaigrette, and an egg on top ($16). This was another flavor foursome, but none of the flavors in this one rose above bland. It sure tasted fresh – just not exciting. 
I still like to hit the pipe, yet my love now is powder, powder and more power. Steep and deep mountains, preferably in Jackson Hole Wyoming, Lake Tahoe or Canada. 
What I found is the Malolo is brilliant for powder days and good for non-powder days. I learned, for my style of riding, I’d prefer another Burton board, a 
In order to understand The Libertine – the stuffily-named new restaurant at the new Gild Hall hotel on Wall St. – you need a little backgrounder on the hotel itself. It’s owned by Thompson Hotels, a company whose first venture, 
The restaurant lies within this style, with a tony-pub feel – though, as it’s Thompson’s wont to attract celebs, they got about as big a food star as you can to run the place: chef 
While he’s extremely attractive and TV-photogenic, and a brilliant businessperson, English is not known for taking huge culinary risk in his menus, and this place is not an exception. But what’s there is fun: cheeky, high-rent takes on hangover food, courtesy of executive chef Eben Leonard. Two really tasty examples of that are caviar sliders ($20) with quail eggs and crème fraiche, and a Kobe hot dog ($18) – both of which were expertly rendered. These smaller bar-style plates are the draw. 
South London photographer 
What have you been up to lately on the photography front?
What’s the worst experience you’ve had on a shoot, or trying to get a shoot with someone?
How much did you spend on it?
Does it take better shots than other cameras?
As the well-known aphorism goes— two heads are better than one. And pixie-haired proprietors, Wendy and LaRae Kangas, of the new downtown boutique 
Where did you get the name Duo?
Any other unique apparel brands?
All of her hats are high quality wool and handmade at her in-home studio. We love her floppy wool berets, which are super soft.
L: We’re green friendly— with recycled and vintage garments— so we wanted to carry at least one organic line. It works, because it’s what we wear. And we didn’t want to have to stick to an era.
The glow of summer sun is long gone. Winter skin has officially emerged -- and with it, this year, a mask of stress has been etched on the face. Sun exposure is greatly diminished, giving way to seasonal blues: weight gain, carbo craving, lethargy and sleep problems. There is a proposed cure, though: Light therapy, also known as Photo Therapy, is thought to alter the circadian rhythms and suppress the body’s natural release of melatonin. Together these cause biochemical changes in the brain that help reduce or control symptoms of seasonal mood disorders. LED light wavelengths have also been effective in treating acne, eczema, and psoriasis. 
In the past I’ve had success with prescription creams that reduce rosacea and stop the occasional outbreak of eczema -- which I tend to get after a few months in a dry overheated apartment -- but am a skeptic when it comes to over-the-counter creams or devices that promise to erase the signs of aging. The advice of my dermatologist, Dr Grace Pac, stay with me -- “use 
With the red rays pressed against my face (I realized after a few days it doesn’t work any better with my face actually touching the plastic head), I began once a day. The system comes with a cleanser designed to enhance the light treatment and an anti-aging serum. The cleanser made my skin feel dry. Not a good sign, so I reverted back to my velvety winter milk cleanser by Suki. Once a day, as suggested after cleansing, I shined the Tanda on my face. The light is emitted in concentrated rays. Like an electric toothbrush, the device beeps to let you know how much time to stay on a particular area. 
Brick Lane -- most fondly known for its large Bangladeshi community and vast selection of restaurants specializing in some of the finest Anglo-Indian cuisine anywhere -- is fast becoming known for its large retro community and huge array of fine vintage boutiques. Unfortunately, the street once celebrated for its East-meets-West diversity is now becoming engulfed by the Western love of alcoholic over-indulgence, and dresses from the 1950s. It was somewhat inevitable, then, that one day a company specializing in catering to both lovers of alcohol and retro-chic would take the opportunity to cash in on the Western end of Brick Lane.
Marriage, it seems, is not the harmonious union it used to be. As we all know, 10-pin bowling rose to fame in the 1950s, and for some has never really shaken its fey ‘50s charm, one which All-Star lanes has taken and halfheartedly run away with. We are greeted by well-turned-out staff -- all ‘50s dresses, red lips and Happy Days hair dos -- but upon further inspection, it soon becomes clear this uniform resembles that of a fashion-conscious TGI Fridays. Funnily enough the menu isn’t that far off Fridays either, featuring wings, ribs, burgers -- all including the word ‘American’ in their description. First impressions are important, and sadly for All-Star Lanes, the first thing you see as you walk in is the restaurant area, which can be best described as ‘Ikea does Grease.’
Beyond the obvious hilarity and enjoyment a good game of bowling can bring, the lanes were a little disappointing -- a lot more could have been done with the space. It’s stylish, yes, but there’s so much more potential here than a whole wall of black-painted breezeblocks and some funky lighting. If you are going to go for the ‘50s theme you really need to go for it -- otherwise you have to go for the other end of the spectrum, and that’s the super bowling complex with arcades, flashing lights, loud music, the whole shebang. All-Star Lanes lies somewhere flaccidly in the middle.
With the fantastical claim of having the “highest concentration of artists in the world,” Hackney, East London still remains the advertising agencies’ main port of call to head-hunt graphic designers, illustrators, filmmakers and many other creatives to push their wares. This geographical focus of artists developed itself in the ‘80s, when cheap rent and large amounts of empty warehouse spaces made Hoxton Square, Curtain Road, and Charlotte Road in Shoreditch the adopted home of British artists.
The yuppies flooded into this quirky newly-discovered area, rents went up, and artists were forced to move to a cheaper and (back then) more unattractive area. Most of them only managed to budge less than a mile further east, and the key result of that is the rise -- and rise -- of Vyner Street. 
Time Out magazine, in conjunction with the 
1: Get started
3: Art
4: Drink (again)
6: The after party (drink again, again)
The West Village has gone through a radical transformation in just 40 short years. In the ‘60s it was filled with hippies, war protestors, and gay and lesbian couples happy to live their lives relatively free from street-side discrimination. Today it still has all of those groups – but it also contains Cosmo-sipping Sex and the City girls, celebrity residents, baby carriages a plenty, about 1,000 Marc Jacobs stores, and designer cupcakes.
Design-wise, this place is about longevity rather than flash-in-the-pan: multi-toned wood planks, black and white photography, brown leather banquettes and a panoply of masculine earth tones give off a vibe that’s unexciting yet also unpretentious and somewhat elegant. It’s not really the best for a hot date or business dinner where you want to impress ten over-the-top clients, but for a quiet upscale dinner with someone you like, it fits the bill.
We started with an escargot appetizer, which was good but not quite as garlicky and slap-your-butt-with-your-tongue good as in the best French places. A special soup of chicken stock, delicate sweet sausage and leeks was much more successful – a real autumnal joy. The menu touts its “cherrywood-grilled” items as an entrée option – my friend had a medium-rare rib-eye steak, and I had the trout. My fish was really well done, oily enough to have a lot of flavor, but not too much; the steak, said my friend (and I agreed), was just average. That wood-burning oven just made it taste too -- woody. Finally, a foie gras torchon was a well-oiled machine from this former Brasserie alum, and would do great in any good French restaurant in the city. The flavor here – vibrant American with a tinge of French – is well-executed – but, to be honest, it has been done before.
For the last decade, New Yorkers have witnessed the gentrified waistband of Williamsburg nightlife bust its gut. Spilling over into the Greenpoint, Bushwick and Bed-Stuy areas, everyone has unfortunately seen the rise of the term "hipster" in vernacular. With so much in flux, one time-honored question remains: Does anyone know where a girl can get a decent drink around here?" The best advice: Go west-- southwest, to be exact. 
Perched on the timberline between Park Slope's classic brownstones and the industrial Red Hook warehouses, this location feels tucked away yet is actually located conveniently only two blocks from the 4th Avenue F train. Once crowds hang a left onto 7th Street, residences peel away on the walk downhill. After crossing 3rd Avenue, the reaction may be a nervous "Do I have this address right?" but continuing west leads right to the doorstep. If anything, the deserted atmosphere makes the actual entry into the Bell House more dramatic. 
After a second round of drinks, patrons can head toward the second part of the venue: a true one-two-punch to the incredible setting. Pass the ticket booth, obtain the magic hand stamp, and enter the true heart of Bell House: 25-foot-high, arched wooden ceilings preside over a grandiose stage set off by the Twin Peaks-influenced red drapes. The stage right holds yet another bar-- this one slightly elevated, appropriate for vertically-challenged spectators to perch on the steps for a better view. Unlike many venues, there are no columns to obstruct the view and a sweeping vista is lit by giant chandeliers. And the sound system is state of the art, serving 350 concert-goers (or 200 seated for mellow events). 
With room for everyone now that Union Hall's 
Porchetta is what you get when you take a whole pig, roast it, gut it, stuff it back with its innards, and impart plenty of special seasoning. Might sound disgusting on paper to a steak-eatin’ Texan, but it’s about as integral to Italian culture as Vespas and Valentino. It’s true Euro comfort food.
And Jenkins has the experience for it: She has worked in Manhattan Italian restaurants like 
Of special note: the low prices. There’s great timing here, with this place opening during one of our greatest financial downturns ever, with even moderately wealthy folks trying to return their Birkin bags for a refund. At only $9, that porchetta sandwich is not only delicious, but it’s quite a value. Another value, at $4, is the side of roasted potatoes – also a little too salty, but peppered with porchetta “crispy ends,” excellent autumn comfort food. My friend and I got full here for well under $40 – same price as Harry’s Burritos nearby, but ten times more sophisticated in taste. (PS – no alcohol yet – a beer and wine license is pending.)
While the last few years have seen cultural legacies like 
Without the aid of a visual narrative, cinematic editing, and talking-head testimony, The Gonzo Tapes can become arduous listening. There is plenty of requisite madness, particularly as the chronologically structured set meanders into its halfway stretches. But Disc 1, recorded during Thompson’s year on the road with the 
Like an undercover agent infiltrating the mafia or a drug ring, Thompson engenders the Angels’ trust by effortlessly empathizing with their dilemma (modern outlaw in search of the American Dream through radical means). And Thompson’s ability to communicate the complexity of their mission was a product of his non-judgmental thoughtfulness. After interviewing Angels chapter leaders like Terry The Tramp about everything from the law to non-violent intake of peyote (while listening to 
Including a lot of hotel-room and road-trip antics, Thompson excoriates Acosta, saying, “You’ve put that fuckin Chivaz Regal in the coke. What have you done? You asshole... That’s a crime against nature,” or Acosta doing a faux-politicized, glorified 
There are also moments of priceless, unplanned irony. When Neil Diamond’s “I Am, I Said” can be made out beneath Thompson’s diction while he urinates and declares, “Anybody that is in search of the American dream needs a lawyer, a doctor and a bodyguard, because there’s no other way to look for it without that sort of guidance and counseling,” you can’t help but smile at the kismet collision.
Disc 4, then, could have arguably been The Gonzo Tapes’ cutoff. At this point, burned out following the 1972 presidential campaign and generally drug-addled, Thompson regressed into his most tangential thought comas. In the midst of putting together a Rolling Stone piece titled "Cocaine Papers By Sigmund Freud," Thompson, having been abusing the drug quite liberally, makes feral animal noises for seconds on end, and responds to visitors with paranoid threats. That is, when not musing on a never-completed masterwork dubbed Guts Ball, about which he concluded he “may as well just make a Broadway play out of it too. Screen, live drama, novel, the whole thing. Guts Ball: The Great American Novel. Use flashbacks and dialogue. [People] mumbling back and forth to each other about lost dreams and memories, nightmares that come back on them, so nobody knows who’s crazy after a while.”
Picture the scene: You’re at a club; you’ve had a few too many beers, and you’re dancing like John Travolta from 
What have you been up to lately on the photography front?
What's something about yourself you want the public to know that they might not know already?
What is your dream bike?
On a different note, how did you get into an obsession with fake Chanel?
Gentrification in the east end of London is spreading faster than Lyme disease on a tick-infested nudist camp. By 2010 the massive concrete monstrosity that is the new Shoreditch Station will be finished, just as the currently palpitating financial square-mile of London engulfs everything in its wake, stopping only to top up on overpriced sushi and glance at itself in the ever-multiplying, amply-mirrored bars and clubs.
With this in mind, a traditional East End "boozer," The Victoria, has been revamped by a group of musicians, artists, and other various young types. Situated in an area drenched in local history-- 
Despite the addition of a stage and impressive DJ booth, the pub has remained faithful to its previous incarnation in setup. The Victoria bursts with surprises, from the intriguing taxidermy and beautifully decorated toilets to the tasteful artwork on the walls. It’s clear that proprietor Smith and his partner Hannah Margaret Stewart have gone all out in making this public house strikingly individual, yet with its odes to the past, it remains warmly familiar. It’s a pub tourists only dream of: with all its quirky paraphernalia and English charm, it should equally suit both the young scene-stealers and the thirsty elderly. 
Bonus points go to Smith for roping his mum in to make the majority of the pub’s food, a touching ode to home cooking. The menu, still in its infancy (only carrot and coriander soup was available on our visit), has the potential to garner its own influx of visitors, especially if the delicious soup is anything to go by.
Which single cosmetic product do you use every day?
What do you always carry in your purse for emergencies or touch-ups?
If you use a soft, oily pencil, it will run. I paint them, powder them, brush them a little bit, then paint them again. Then I use a shadow that’s a same color as the eyebrows so it looks natural. I buy it from the beauty supply, 2 for a dollar, and they work really well for me.
Lipstick?
Makeup remover?
Soba’s a big thing in New York, and one of the best places out there to get it, is 
The chefs here are Japan’s Matsushita brothers, entrepreneurs there, which Vongerichten has brought here to oversee the menu. And they’ve brought plenty in their suitcases from Japan, both ingredients and ideas. The menu’s huge, divided into more than a few sections – sushi, tempura, cold soba, hot soba, kamameshi (rice cooked in an earthenware pot), and grilled meat entrees from pork belly to wagyu beef. We selected two pieces of sushi - a red snapper ($8), and sea urchin ($10), a toro scallion roll ($12), the homemade tofu appetizer ($9), and chilled asparagus with sesame sauce ($15). The sushi was just fine – not near Nobu, but certainly good. Same with the toro roll. The tofu was delicious though – fresh, milky, creamy and decadent. Unfortunately, the chilled asparagus was flat and uninspired, with a peanut-buttery taste that was unsophisticated and one-dimensional.
For the main course, we chose two soba entrees – one cold (called “rin”, a delicate, no-husk version, $15), one hot (hot noodles with ebi prawn tempura, $26), along with a simple black cod with miso ($22). The cod was good, if a bit bland, but certainly a quality piece of fish, without too much fishiness. The hot soba was very good, if also a little bland, but the cold one was extremely disappointing. One word: mush. We understand it was listed as a ‘delicate” soba but it was so mushy that the noodles were virtually indistinguishable from each other and it was sort of a salty clump. It was presented in lovely plates – and the service was generally professional, polished and unobtrusive, if a little aloof – but that soba mistake is extremely upsetting, and a glaring error considering how much good soba there is in New York. 
Considering that disappointment, we’re feeling a little taken, especially remembering the restaurant that previously occupied this spot – “66,” Jean-Georges’ failed effort at a five-star Chinese restaurant, where the food was OK but about five times too expensive for what it was. That one burnt out, and this one emulates its raison d’etre – Asian cuisine with the high style and high price (ordering conservatively, we still hit $135 not counting drinks) loudly usurping the power of the food. That’s not a great combo – especially given the fact that we are currently in a recession – so perhaps fewer folks will, quite literally, buy it. While it had its bright spots, Matsugen didn’t rise above pretty good overall. We’ll head back to un-fabulous yet delicious Soba-ya.
New York City-based designer 
What did you listen to while preparing for your Spring/Summer collection?
Top five in your iPod?
What music did you choose for your showcase this season? 
At Cafeteria owners' new Soho restaurant Delicatessen, 
Harley arrives fresh off a just-for-fun stint of bartending at Lit. She’s been learning to make mixed drinks from improbable combos of ingredients, such as “the chocolate cake shot and the peanut butter and jelly shot.” The shot connoisseur was just named the official DJ of Dior, and there’s talk of a makeup line. Courtesy of the Dior arrangement, Harley says she has “like 400 kinds of makeup in the bathroom at home.” 
All really hungry by this point, we order appetizers. Josh is keen on the reuben fritters, plus the halibut tacos, fritto misto, and the cheeseburger spring rolls, recommended by the waiter. The appetizers make their appearance just before Lissy, who arrives wearing a white V-neck, a cardigan, denim cutoffs and her favorite Chanel hat. At Eben’s urging, Lissy orders a dirty vodka martini, which takes forever to arrive. She is selective with the appetizers because she’s allergic to everything. Josh seconds that: “We’re a very allergic band,” he says.
Eben scopes out the bathroom, reporting that it’s “plastered with UNIQLO ads.” Lissy and Josh have worked with Terry Richardson as models, but remain unimpressed by the facilities: “Retarded,” Lissy says succinctly. Josh is more concerned about a “design flaw” in the placement of the toilet paper, which is stacked vertically toilet-side. “It’s unsanitary. People are gonna sprinkle all over that,” he shudders. 
Around the time our entrees arrive, the glass garage-door outer walls of Delicatessen come down and the music pumps up, beginning with some alarming techno, or, as the band put it, “bad Eurotrash.” But the band remains good-natured and when confronted with an ominous-looking fish and chips, Harley is a good sport, claiming that she’s full from the appetizers. The “fish” in question is a large fried monkfish, “an unorthodox choice for fish-and-chips,” according to Eben, the band’s connoisseur, who grew up doing tastings at his father’s bevy of restaurants. But when Josh gets a whiff of the monkfish, the truth emerges: “The breading is mushy!” to which Harley concedes, “I’ve had a lot of fish and chips in my day, and this is not one of the best.” And regarding his Cantonese-style Atlantic salmon, Eben adds,“Like everything else here, half-baked!” 
The fried chicken in a bucket with jalapeno corn bread gets a thumbs-up by the band, who agree that Delicatessen does best when keeping things simple. “They’d do well to stick to drinks and traditional bar food. When they try to get creative, they fall flat on their faces,” Eben elaborates. 
Damian Abraham is possibly the most instantly recognizable figure in hardcore punk music today. The image of his full frame-- drenched in sweat, blood, saliva, beer and (more than likely) even more blood-- has a tendency to remain seared upon the retinas and subconscious of the musically aware and casual observers alike. 
As far as they stray from the confines of perceived notions of punk “normality,” the band’s stringent adherence to the 7” record is perhaps their only concession to hardcore conventionality. 
How old were you when you realized that you were a “record collector,” as opposed to someone who just bought and listened to records?
What is your favorite ‘punk record?
Have you ever had to sell chunks of your collection in hard times?
With a sharp bob haircut and pencil skirt, London-based gallery owner Suzanne Schurgers certainly looks the part of a successful gallerist. Originally from the south of Holland, Schurgers flew the comfort of her Dutch nest and settled in the heart of London’s grimy yet artist riddled East End-- and, although still only 25 runs her own successful gallery.
Just around the corner of Vegas Gallery is the swanky cocktail bar/restaurant/gallery 
How did a young Dutch girl end up running such a successful London gallery?
although he knew there was going to be a Devil in the music video, he really freaked out when he saw it. But later he said he thought our devil was 'pretty cool!' I asked Daniel that day if he wanted to show some of his drawings at Vegas Gallery. A few months later the exhibition was on, and we had an incredible amount of visitors every day and received so much press. The show was nearly sold out.
What do you think of the Art Deco style at Beach Blanket Babylon?
The Sports Business Journal claims that the sports field is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States. Billions are spent each year on everything and anything athletic; from high-profile endorsements to the basic running shoes you buy at your local store. It is therefore easy to conclude that more than a few people are interested in this “sports caper” -- including the unlikely figure of Japanese-American artist Kenzo Minami.
Did you play a lot of sports when you were younger?
When I was really young, I did Kendo, which is basically Japanese sword fighting. Then when I went to high school I joined the Equestrian Team. I don't think I would ever want to get back into it again, since I had seen some scary things when I was on the team. I remember someone died together with her horse right before I joined the team -- they both fell into the river and broke their necks. I only discovered that, however, after I had joined.
Do you play sports now?
Your work is very graphic and mathematical. What do you think is in your style that could be applied to sportswear, or can represent sports culture?
How do you see sports design in its current state?
Are there any items of sporting equipment you would like to re-design?
Just the fact that you’re a “rock-star-in-residence” at the Bowery Hotel means that you’re at the top 0.01% of cool. Currently inhabiting this position is singer Diego Garcia. Born in Detroit (to parents from Argentina), educated at Brown, and living in New York almost a decade now, the singer, heretofore part of a band named Elefant, is branching out to release his first solo album. 
Tell me more about the album…
secret for one of the best things to do in New York in the summer? Go to P.J. Clarke’s in Battery Park around 8.30-9pm, again when the tourists leave – then go to the big movie theater at Battery Park after. Another good evening plan is to have dinner at Bar Pitti – but don’t order dessert there. Head to Blue Ribbon Bakery and get the bread pudding. It’s the best dessert in the city.
Any stores you like?
When you have to look good for either an outing or an album cover – what are your health and beauty regimens?
Marisela Cruz has just finished a round of castings for the day when she heads into 
The Pump’s new look was inspired by a Soho loft kitchen, and Marisela takes note of the design gazing at a wall of mirrors framed by rescued steel and copper, and pointing out things she’d like to incorporate into the new West Village apartment she has just moved into with her longtime boyfriend. In 2006, the now 27-year-old Adam Eskin, a fanatic himself, saw the company’s potential to grow and shed its hole-in-the-wall image. He gathered investors to buy the chain. The new location is the company’s first attempt to re-brand while keeping the food that gamered them such big initial success.
You would think age wouldn’t matter, especially if you still look super young, but somehow it does. I know so many girls who are already lying about their age." Marisela may not have reason to worry- she has been a model for 
Less than two years ago, 
What was the experience working with Peaches on her latest video?
Do you eventually want to get away from what you normally do?
What brand of socks are your favorite?
A typical night out in present-day East London for the lager-swilling, girl-harassing city boy will probably start at a bar on Spitalfields Market, proceed to a club in Shoreditch, then end with a kebab on Brick Lane. This journey’s often littered with obstacles, including ‘birds’ to chase and ‘wankers’ to fight amongst the many winding Whitechapel alleyways. Send them back to the same place 120 years ago and these ill-suited fellows wouldn’t stand a chance. The only ‘birds’ close enough to want to sleep with them would be charging, and the only folk left roaming the streets after dark were the crazy or criminals, making it perfect hunting time for the infamous 
What are your views on the revelations and near-celebration of a serial killer?
Do you feel the exhibition demonstrates the deprivation of the area at the time?
Flight attendants have been an iconic cultural image since the 1960s, with the stylish crews of 
How did you develop the concept for the book?
I realized a lot of flight attendants make it fit their own lifestyle. One of the attendants I photographed in Iceland has a family and kids, and she just goes to work like anybody else—flies to Europe then flies back home. I realized they make it fit whatever lifestyle or point of life they’re in.
Which airlines have the most attractive or glamorous stewardesses?
Best service or most helpful?
Have you witnessed any emergencies while flying?
Stewart Home is a writer for good reason. He has a brilliant memory, having recalled succinct details of life since he was two years old. On occasion, this can be more of an annoyance than a blessing. But he has put it to good use, linking inane facts and insane lives in his varied published works.
What are your earliest memories of Berwick Street?
Which record shop did you frequent most?
I want my music in the cheapest possible format. I understand people being precious about their vinyl. On some dub tracks, you just don’t get the bass tone out of an MP3 or CD, or if you copy very minimal techno, like Plasticman, it sounds really shitty, because you are losing vital frequencies. But with most stuff, you can never tell the difference. With old Motown and punk songs, they are supposed to sound shitty and tinny. Mind you, on The Slits' track Vindictive, the tom sounded so rubbish on CD but fine on the vinyl. 
Having evolved from the ashes of lo-fi distorted garage noise acts like 
Maybe it was the move to San Francisco from Providence, but this was an altogether quieter Dwyer. However, like a kid pretending to be grown up for a week and failing OCS (Orange County Sound) swiftly mutated into Thee Oh Sees, and started getting loose all over again. Their album 
How does Dalston compare to San Francisco?
How were the venues as opposed to on the mainland?
Did you know that "oto" means "sound" in Japanese?
How about the space itself?
Relaxation is synonymous with 
What was your first thought when heading out to Royal Plantation?
What was the experience waking up the first morning at the resort?
Very formal, but very gracious. They even had a pillow menu! There’s a selection of different pillows to choose from. It was amazing.
Having experience with bars yourself, how did the cocktails measure up?
What was your most memorable experience?
In an attempt to clean up Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District, their city council has purchased a number of area brothels as part of its 
What’s it going to be?
for it. The red light district has always been an interesting talking point, but since the project launched, I’ve had so much more attention from the media.
Hmm nice. [Bas, squeals like an excited child at the arrival of his cake] But as I said, everyone has a different opinion about the project.
As a designer who is involved, I would say that I think it has a positive impact on Amsterdam as a city. It’s good for people to see that the area is not just about trashiness, but it’s areas like these that are actually the places where creativity is born.
Are you enjoying the carrot cake?
Brazilian-born Eli Mejorado and Bruno Verner make up 
I’ve always loved hair since I was a child. Then I got into wigs, moustaches, and beards when I was about fifteen.
How often do you change your hair?
Is a good hairstyle ever an adequate substitute for not having a personality?
Tell me a bit about your blog, 
What kind of stuff are you looking for when you sit around browsing the Internet everyday, or are you just flailing around in the dark?
Are you sure this isn't all an elaborate front for solo cranking sessions?
That seems to border on a conspiracy theory. Are you into those too?
posture wasn't that hard, but mentally it was. Your mind wants you to stop. So I got to push myself, which is great."
A milky white appetizer of burotta arrives and Bryant elegantly–- especially for a famished woman who's just been holding yoga postures on an empty stomach–- slices herself a bite. "Delicious. Tastes exactly how it's supposed to taste. Melts in your mouth. I hate it when you go to a place and order burotta and it's mozzarella."
three round juicy grilled scallops on a bed of chopped grilled corn and red pepper. There are a few minutes of silence while she eats, until the waiter comes over and asks how everything is. "Terrible," she says, then flashes an ear-to-ear, killer smile. "This should really be on the permanent menu. So yummy." 
There is no concierge and room service stops after lunch. "But this is New York. Everyone delivers. I love how it's quiet and home. The rooms have fireplaces and the staff is really sweet. It feels like you’re in someone's cozy townhouse apartment." 
Mixing necessity with trendiness, going “green” is now a certified cultural phenomenon. However, few take it as literally as the Hungarian-born “green graffiti” artist 
A vegetarian with a taste for the greener side, Tokodi made a fitting subject to sample the East Village’s hip and healthy hot spot, 
What are some of the restaurant’s current sustainable practices?
What do you think of the “green” and “organic” movements?
What was the process to install the moss pieces?
The waiter brings us bread with tofu-garlic dipping sauce as we ponder over the extensive wine list before deciding on glasses of biodynamic Beaujolais.
Tell me more about the concept behind your street “graffiti.”
After polishing our plates, we review the dessert menu. Following the waiter’s recommendations, we choose: a crème brulee— vanilla custard with candied orange peel & drizzled with kiwi-berry sauce, and chocolate fondue— valhrona & callebaut chocolate served with fresh fruit and coffee-walnut cake.
At one point, the London party scene was a depressingly divided place. The punks would be in one club listening to 
When did you first get into comics?
Favorite character and why?
The worst is easily the recent 
What character do you think is the biggest pussy?
Just a couple of years ago, nobody cared much about frozen yogurt. In New York, as frozen yogurt chains disappeared in the '90s, 
We started in Brooklyn, the Earth Mother's answer to Pinkberry lies on northern Fifth Avenue in 
On to Williamsburg, where /eks/ (pronounced "X") sits in a humble, spacious basement-level space that serves several flavors of fro-yo. Upon a recent visit, a mother and daughter looking as if they'd just arrived from Long Island, spent an ample amount of time deciding whether or not to go with original or coconut. The original flavor at /eks/ is the least sweet of all we sampled, which makes it a great snack after an intense softball game at nearby 
Yogo Monster steps up the game with ... cones! As expected, their frozen yogurt retains a delightfully tougher, shell-like texture that keeps it from slithering out of your sugar cone. They also have blueberry yogurt, which maintains the especially tarty tang of their original flavor with the added bonus of berry goodness. All of these qualities made Yogo Monster– which stepped into the FroYo game relatively late– a strong contender.
Larry Forgione's Signature Café and 40 Carrots at 
Aussie electronic-rockers, 
Originally a solo effort by lead singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Dan Whitford, Cut Copy later branched out to include Mitchell Scott and bassist Tim Hoey to round out their bridging synth-pop-electronic-disco soundscape. 
studio where they always work in is really cool– right in his own environment. Some of the psychedelic direction he gave us, and generally the way DFA records have gone into lately, was interesting–- the take on the noisy guitar elements, like that shoe-gaze-y My Bloody Valentine elements . The direction given to us in the studio was an unexpected surprise for us, but it was brilliant.
How do they fit?
kids are going out. I see kids wearing $1000 leather jackets. And I’m thinking to myself, I could have never bought that kind of clothing when I was at the university! There’s this new phenomenon in Australia where boys are overtaking the girls; trying to push the fashion scene I guess.
When a band this exciting comes around, most people obsess over the immediate now’s, how’s, and why’s— but with Ipso Facto, one can’t help but imagine them in ten years— playing with a full orchestra, with their own film, comic book, cartoon show, and faces splattered on lunch boxes. 
RC: The black beret, because you can hide behind that. It pushes your fringe down so people can’t see that you have no eye make up on, you can go out with no makeup and shit clothes on, but as long as you have that black beret, you can survive.
Are you quite anal about what instruments you use, then?
Doesn’t the fact everyone could look like you in a year scare you?
RC: We will develop, but perhaps not image-wise— definitely musically. The other day, I turned up to a gig in brown and white and got in a bit of trouble.
Whether or not they’d recognize it, 
In true bohemian fashion, psychoPEDIA joined the band to savor absinthe on the floor of Corradetti’s apartment and ponder over the historically mystical potion:
Kaia prepares the drinks by putting sugar cubes in a tea strainer and pouring shots of absinthe over the cubes. Next, she pours cold water over the cube, which creates a “loosh” effect making a cloudy liquid that releases an anise-fused perfume into the air.
Why do you think absinthe is such a cult-classic beverage with artists?
But we’re more spiritual than we maybe come across. It’s OK, because in pop culture, you have two seconds to impress a person. Someone will scan through songs, and critics won’t even listen to your album. So, I like that we almost project this hyper-media, hyper-reality— and drugs is one of those things.
How did you get into making lip balms?
How “green” of you. Speaking of which, what do you think of the bottle?
Like absinthe has been previously, what would you want to ban in the US if you had the power?
How do you think they could bring this back in fashion?
Outside the restaurant, a publicist for 
The restaurant seems more then double the size of its downtown sisters. There’s not an empty seat in the windowless, wood-paneled room, which is packed with Midtown tourists in business casual. Switches’ table is the only one with five young men all donning some variation of a shag. I assume this must be the reason our waitress, Sunanta, appoints me in charge of relaying all orders. That, or the amber light makes them look like a group foreign teenagers who don't speak the language.
Just not today. Are they going to bring forks and knives?" the drummer Steve Godfrey, aka "Beans," states, smelling of too much cheep cologne. "Tommy Hilfiger. I'm always running out," he offers, ordering another beer. "I like Asahi. Write that. Beans likes Asahi. And the waitress– she's cute."
Beans goes on, "Haven't met the right one. But I figure if I just stick to the drums. I like Japanese girls." I tell him he may want to start eating sushi.
We'd feel dirty if we didn't do that." Kirkpatrick pulls himself away from conversation with their publicist and his venison stew to report: "It's cooked in wine. A bit alcoholic, with these big semicircle things with holes in them. It's tasty, mate." Sunanta comes to my side, and I order green tea ice cream for the table. "And a cognac," Bishop adds. 
But I do see them play the next night when they open up for The Bravery at 
As a comedian on the downtown circuit, Joe Mande's name is quickly garnering buzz. Along with 
So, you're a huge Wii fan?
Instead, you've stuck with stand-up?
It would be cool if they implemented playing the Wii as an Olympic event.
What's that?
How does this compare to your other local drinking establishments?
Does the name Crystal Vision have anything to do with magic?
Would you classify yourselves as sandwich artists, then? Better than 
What was the premise behind your current show?
[They ordered: a Ford Cosmo-Tina (citrus vodka, cointreau, orange bitters, lime, cranberry) Bristol 401 (gin/lemon juice/gomme/crème de mures), Hackney Carriage (dark rum, lime juice, ginger beer), and a Magic Bus (tequila/cointreau, orange and cranberry)]
‘Tis rainy-wet-cold in New York, the sort of weather that is tolerable if you are in London– where that sort of behavior, on the part of the climate, is romantic. Where there are enough matronly ladies to say, "Oh dear, not the gym, Love." Of course, they will laugh at the silly idea of anyone huffing away on a pretend staircase when there are crumpets to be had. "You need a spot of tea, Love." I really do. I need that spot. And no, not the kind spraying out of spigots, served in cardboard. I want proper tea, like Alice had. I want a Wonderland too.
I want warmth. I want the UK, but not Sweeney Todd. I want to dress up, but not feel like I need a bumper sticker that reads: “My other outfit is Armani.” I want to be sedated and sated. I want it to be a G-spot kind of tea.
The sandwiches may be small, but we are ladies, not Augustus Gloop. The cakes and scones are just the right size to be able to go the gym after, and not pass out in a sugar-clotted crème-hysterical haze about what just was swallowed. Oh, and the servers are so attentive. And tres attractive. They will even feed me with their tongs – testing how close they can get and not lose fingers, perhaps? ‘Tis safe?
For a band dubbed “Toronto’s evil supergroup,” 
Were they a lot of fun to tour with?
Out of all of your instruments, what’s your favorite?
Is it true that you “find [instruments] in the trash and plug it in?”
In New York, the tried-and-true formula of restaurants setting up shop in Manhattan, then expanding to include an outer-borough outpost, has proven popular. (Think 
What do you think of the place?
Do you have any favorites?
[The chef sends out a plate of fried Zucchini.] Those are good chips. [Next comes the Bruschette.] That's delicious. Like desert.
So what are you working on right now?
Skateboard-industry pioneer Rodney Smith, has come full circle. From starting Shut Skates in 1986, to spearheading 
Considering Smith’s ever-present need to stay organized throughout 20-years of sweat and labor for skateboarding’s sake, it’s little surprise that he credits his 
When you sold Zoo York you made a killing from Marc Ecko and could’ve said, “I’m done.” Why didn’t you?
So, throughout the years, what’s an item that’s been tried and true to help you stay organized?
Where did you find it?
One part electro to two parts disco, 
How are you?
Why red?
Does that relate to your personality as well?
What do you think about Marc Jacobs’ latest campaign featuring Posh Spice [
Any idea of what kind of wallet Marc carries?
It is at this exact point in the lunar calendar—one is fresh off New Year’s Eve indulgences and has most likely spent weeks overeating and boozing—when the body is in its most extreme state of disrepair. Most are far from looking their freshest, and, as always, the reigning-number-one New Years resolution is to hit the gym more. So, what to do?
Tell me about Reparer…
How often do you recommend using the Reparer?
What about the day directly following a lot of indulgence—i.e. a greasy-food alternative?
But, it definitely helps pull toxins. I’ll have my kids use it if they seem to be coming down with something. It’s great for release. The 
Less than a month ago, controversy erupted after Canadian rock band 
The storm soon settled (the cease and desist claim was revealed to be a joke), but, needless to say, it caught a number of people’s attention. Ours included. But, more interesting than the non-existent letter, was the two aforementioned male musicians’ shared love for eyeliner (or, as Wentz has been known to refer to it, guyliner).
We sat down with Darr and bandmate, Jacen Ekstrom, in NYC the day before the duo was slated to fly home to talk gel versus pencil, style icons and the biggest drama queen of all. In their own words:
And it’s a gel?
So you wouldn’t name Alice as a style icon?
What would you call your image?
I know you’re big on the black [Onyx], but, do you use any other color eyeliner?
From Hansel and Gretel’s candy house to Willy Wonka’s sweet-filled factory, candy has long been part of our childhood fantasies and fairy tales. Luckily, 
Do you have a sweet tooth?
We try some of the hard candies from the sample jars.
Fiona pours out the hot sugar, swirls in the color and passion-fruit flavor, stretches the sugar mixture, then moves to crafting the l