A FOR COMPANIES

Perhaps this dates me, but as a child I remember watching the 1994 re-make of The Little Rascals (you know — the kids movie with Alfafa, Spanky, Buckwheat and Darla). In this movie, there was a great divide between the neighborhood boys and girls. So much so, in fact, that the school-aged boys belonged to an exclusive society dubbed the “He-Man Woman Haters Club.”

That club is the first thing I thought of when I heard about the various single-sex restaurants, clubs and societies popping up across the world. Only instead of guys nailing a “boys only” sign on doors, it’s the women who are saying ex-nay on the xy chromosome combo and creating their own female-exclusive venues.

Take the “Ladies of the Rise” organization, located in London, which hosts women-only soirees throughout the city. It’s one of several blossoming social groups that plans and hosts single-sex community events. Others are taking their cue from these new groups, as well. For example, central London’s Kate Percival launched a ladies-only members club called “Grace Belgravia” and KC Gates, a Canadian rugby player, has plans to turn her Soho bar Sofakingcool into a restaurant where only chicks are allowed to dine.

Women-Only Clubs/Organizations in New York City

NYC’s Colony Club (Park Avenue and 62nd Street) was ahead of the curve on this one. This private social club was founded in 1903 in response to the various gentlemen-only clubs popping up in the city. It was modeled after said mens clubs and to this day only admits men as guests.

The Cosmopolitan Club (122 East 66th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues) is another ladies-only social club that hosts classes, lectures and special events for members or member-guests. Since its establishment in 1909, it’s served as an oasis for accomplished NYC women to rub elbows, exchange ideas and embark on new friendships.

Also in New York City is The Junior League (130 East 80th Street), an “organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” This by-women/for-women charitable organization was founded in 1901 and its 2,500 volunteers donate over 250,000 hours of their time annually.

While the Big Apple does provide some organizations and clubs for women, the sort of modern-day, single-sex restaurant/venue trend that’s sweeping through the UK hasn’t really come to fruition in the United States. If it does, though, how would you respond? Would you be the first to attend one of these events? Or would you observe from a distance? Or maybe you’d cry out in revolt against the division of the sexes?

We’d love to hear your opinion on the matter, so share it in the comment section below or share your thoughts on our Facebook page.

By Wendy Rose Gould

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays, everyone! Did that greeting warmed up your heart, or brought up tears to your eyes? Depending where I was in life I felt joy or sadness myself at the arrival of the holiday season. What do you feel this year? While we usually talk about shopping, and this is definitely the happiest time of the year for retail, let’s pause for a moment and make sure we are doing it right. Are you ready? Have you planned ahead? Do you have a list and a budget? I have few words of advice worth lots more than all the money I’ve saved you with our sample sale listings. Money and mountains of gifts don’t buy love and happiness. Before you go gift shopping, figure out how much money you can really afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Try this instead: be ridiculously generous in a non-materialistic way and make sure you create amazing memories. You’ll thank me years from now.

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“Derek! Wait! OH MY GOSH IT’S DEREK JETER!”

I shouted these words five years ago as I saw the star Yankee shortstop walking from his Upper East Side Manhattan apartment to a stretch limo. To my surprise, my friends and I were the only ones excited to see him.

“Why is everyone walking around like seeing a celebrity is just an average occurrence?” I thought. Well, it turns out — for the residents of the Upper East Side — seeing a celebrity such as Derek Jeter was as normal as seeing your next door neighbor.

Celebrities, business moguls, high-end fashion models, political figures — they’re all here. If you’re fortunate enough to live in this neighborhood, you don’t need to be a celebrity to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous. While celebrity sightings sound appealing to most, the Upper East Side was not, in recent years, considered hip downtown’s humdrum cousin. Over the past year and half, however, the once stereotyped “sleepy and snooty” Upper East Side has become a destination thanks to an abundance of cool and attractive boutiques, restaurants and hotspots for a fun night out.

In the recent past, many younger generation people, including myself, wouldn’t think twice about where they would go to have a fun time in Manhattan. The easy answer? Hop on the subway and head straight downtown. Let’s be real: is there anywhere as fun as Soho or Tribeca, which offer trendy boutiques, luxurious lofts and fine restaurants? While this question may have been a no brainer in the past, many now reluctantly embrace the Upper East Side.

As mentioned in an article by WWD, “Madison Avenue has certainly come back in the past 18 months or so.”

In the past, Upper East Side stores catered to a more neighborhood-based clientele than trendy Downtown boutiques did. This is no longer the case, as these once stereotyped ritzy blocks are opening new doors to a more diverse group of people. These new stores include a plethora of younger labels which have attracted a crowd that, say two years ago, would default to shopping on the streets of Soho. Some of these new, trendy and long overdue hot spots on the Upper East Side include Joie, Vince, Rebecca Taylor. Others are expected to open soon, including Proenza Schouler and Ippolita.

Ryan Korban designed UES Joie store

In addition to the Upper East Side’s change in the retail climate, new restaurants and other hotspots have attracted crowds looking to get out and have fun. Many downtown regulars have found themselves migrating from popular downtown destinations to come to Uptown  workout facilities, including SoulCycle East and Brownings Fitness. (Who isn’t hungry after a great workout? I know I always am!)  You will be delighted to hear that less expensive uptown restaurants are popping up to offer good grub for less dinero. The Village Voice says that Toloache and Hospoda restaurants, in particular, are ideal for the young  generation to dine and hang.

Spending time on Manhattan’s Upper East Side is not only a chance to try out some of the city’s best restaurants and shopping, but also allows New Yorkers and tourists the ability to experience a popular neighborhood undergoing a revolutionary turning point — where old and new are still at each other’s foils.

By Candice Ibarra

In a recent series by Business Insider, behavior scientist Dr. Susan Weinschenk highlighted 100 psychological facts (presented in two parts) that every human should understand about themselves and others.

Weinschenk, who penned the books, “Neuro Web Design: What Makes Them Click?” and “100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People,” postulates that humans have three types of brains. Those three include the new brain, “the conscious, reasoning logical brain;” the mid-brain, “the part of the brain that processes emotions;” and the old brain, “the part of the brain that is most interested in your survival.”

Based on the series, we’ve singled out 5 psychological facts that will come in hand in the real world.

	– High levels of stress are poor for your health, but did you know that it can also negatively affect your ability to perform? If you’re stressed about something, your best bet is to fix the problem before tackling your work. This lets your new brain “the conscious, reasoning logical brain;” process information better without the mid-brain “the part of the brain that processes emotions;” getting in the way.
	– People look to others for advice and stories when they’re uncertain. Always utilize the power of anecdotal stories and expert advice, both of which “talk” to our mid/emotional brain.
	– We’re hardwired to imitate and empathize with those around us. Want to get your kiddos to eat their greens? Showing them photographs or videos of other children doing the same thing may positively influence them.
	The two emotional states in which you’re most susceptible to ads and/or branding is when you’re sad or afraid. So, if you’re trying to stick to that diet and are having a blue day, steer clear of magazine, web and TV adverts touting delicious, calorie-laden goods.

– Multi-tasking is actually a myth. According to Weinschenk, there’s only one occasion in which we actually multi-task, and that’s when we’ve performed a physical task so many times in the past that we can do it without using our brain.

By Wendy Rose Gould