Restaurant Week

Mmm, hope you’re hungry: it’s time for Restaurant Week!  Restaurant Week is that magical time of year when you can enjoy some of the city’s hottest restaurants without breaking the bank.  Three courses might usually run you, what, $50?  More?  Not during Restaurant Week!  All dinners are $35 (and lunch is even cheaper, at $20), which is good, because once you start looking at menus you won’t want to stop.

Take Jamonera: start with some Spanish olives, then dig into smoked bacon-wrapped medjool dates, roasted pork shoulder and crispy pork belly with an orange-sherry glaze, and hazelnut bread pudding:

Classy, warm, sophisticated: just like the beautiful red and brown interior of Jamonera.  The Justine by Boutique 9 has a pointed toe, a killer 4.5-inch heel, and a metallic faux croc upper that just glows.  Also available in black or blue; your choice from Macy’s for $98.

Feeling more Caribbean?  Head over to Cuba Libre for guava BBQ ribs, arroz con pollo, and some tres leches de caramel:

Tropic-tastic!  The Koula by Michael Antonio has a bright abstract floral print upper, 5.25-inch heel, one-inch platform, peep toe, and yellow faux suede ties around the ankle.  They’re a DSW online exclusive, and are on sale!  $30 instead of $65!

How about Zahav?  They’ve got hummus, haloumi, kofte, and pistachio cake:

The Got the Hump by Dan Sullivan has a camel on it!  A legit camel, with two humps and a green and pink…saddle?... and a pink tassel at the head.  There’s a six-inch cork wedge behind the camel, by the way, and a two-inch platform under the peep-toe pump-style upper.  Also available in a green print, as well as sort of a metallic snake bootie that just happens to have a camel on it—the pumps will run you $350 at Irregular Choice.

Maybe a spring roll, Chilean sea bass, and cheesecake at Bleu Martini? 

The Sammy by Gabriella Rocha is a blue suede shoe (sing it, Elvis baby) with a pointed toe and small silver spikes across the heel.  Also available in taupe (with gunmetal), red (with gold), and black (with gold); all $39 from Zappos.

Restaurant Week runs through February 1.  Some restaurants offer their special menus on Saturdays and some don’t, but you’ve got the other nights too.  Go!  Dine!  Enjoy!

Super Bowl XLVI!

Yay Super Bowl!  I always loved the Super Bowl.  When I was little, it’s because we got together as a family and ate hors d’oeurves for dinner in the den, watching the game.  Not to say that still isn’t part of the allure, but there’s also the commercials, the halftime show, Super Bowl pools, some celebrity screwing up the national anthem... and the football, of course!

So while the Eagles may not have made it this year, we do have two regional teams going head-to-head in a football battle royale.  In this corner, the New England Patriots!  In this corner, the New York Giants!  Let’s get ready to rumble!!


Slight problem with doing a post about the Giants vs. the Patriots, though: their team colors are exactly the same.  Red, blue, white, and gray!  Both have all four!  So, er, pick your team, and here are some shoes I picked just for them:

The Leggy is a classic peep-toe slingback with a five-inch cork wedge and one-inch platform.  I do love that little red buckle!  Available in fourteen (count’em: fourteen!) other options for $99; check them all out at Nine West.

The Linya by Boutique 9 have got it all: blue, red, awesome geometric four-inch wedges... they’re really a visually striking shoe!  Also available in all black, all tan, and all silver (which they’re calling brown for some reason)—find them at Zappos for $140.

The Makeascene by Nine West is so lovely: you have your blue and red, rose feature at the toe, heel and platform—this is feminine Giants or Patriots, for sure!  Also available in black or a snakeskin taupe; find them on Amazon for about $80.

And the sporty pièce de résistance:

While I wouldn’t recommend running for the touchdown in these, they certainly fit the bill for the Super Bowl!  The Air Jordan VIII Women’s High Heel Boots mix like an ‘80s high top with a high heel.  They are endlessly interesting to look at, with weaving, straps, color patterns... you know, they’d look kinda cute with a jersey and capris or something!  If you agree, you can pick up a pair for $86 from All2JordanShoes.

(Go Giants!)



Sales this weekend:
Aldo: 30% off all clearance; 30% off all sale boots
Call it Spring: 50% off all clearance; 50% off all reduced boots
Lord & Taylor: 50% off a selection of boots, plus an extra 15% off; 25% off clearance with code FINAL
Macy’s: Extra 20% off and free shipping using code RED
Nine West: 25% off select styles
Payless: BOGO!  Buy one, get one half off
Steve Madden: Free shipping on orders over $75 with code SMFREESHIP

Father's Day

Dads give us so much: their shirts for art smocks in kindergarten, the keys to the car when we’re learning to drive, unlimited patience, helpful advice, and probably more than a few corny jokes, if your dad’s anything like mine. (Hi Dad!) These are just a few of the reasons why dads are awesome. Their sense of style may not always make that list (socks and sandals? don’t you dare, mister!), but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a style tip or two from Dad this summer. Like... boat shoes: The Montauk by Sperry Top-Sider is hand-sewn leather with a removable insole. It has a non-marking sole and something called “Wave-Siping” to give you good traction whether you’re on land or sea. Be sure to get a half-size smaller—they run big. They’re also available in a navy and white combo and in platinum, and you can find them at Nordstrom for about $90.

Or... penny loafers:
The Night by Boutique 9 is not your daddy’s penny loafer, that’s for sure! It has a stacked four-inch heel and a three-quarter-inch hidden platform, a leather upper and cushioned leather insole—but I just love all the zigzag work on the leather. And they would be pretty cute if you stuck some shiny pennies in the front. Available in dark brown (shown), cognac, and green from Zappo's for $180.

Or... oxfords: The Jazzibel by Not Rated has an upper of faux leather (look at the punch outs! the stitching! I’m swooning a bit here) and fabric (white with tiny black polka dots), with a rubber sole, ruffle-cut tongue, and wide ribbon-esque laces. They also come in brown faux leather, but instead of polka dots on the fabric it’s a red and yellow rose floral print. Awesome. Yours for $35 from Endless.

Or... kilties:
Love, love, love! The Avra by Samanta is made of leather with a leather sole, metallic heel, and look at the kiltie/gold chain feature on the toe! Oh, and it’s fuchsia reptile print. (Don’t like the pink? It also comes in black, caramel, off-white, and nude.) You can find them on Amazon for $175 ($70 for the nude).

Sure, dad may ask you, “Do you really need another pair of shoes?” but he might take it as a compliment if you brought home one of these pairs and said you were inspired by him!

Sales this weekend: 
Macy’s: The Great Sandal Sale: 15% off one pair, 20% off two, 30% off three or more (code NEWSHOES)
Payless: Buy one, get one half off now through 6/27
Lord & Taylor: 20% off regular, sale, and clearance using code SUMMER