New York City Affordable Places

So maybe it’s the oldest stereotype ever that Jewish people eat Chinese food on Christmas, but when we asked our friends, the stereotype held true about 50% of the time. A quarter didn’t eat Chinese food, and the last quarter celebrated with gentile friends. Where’s the best place? we wondered. Apparently for a cultural experience, you head to Peking Duck House in Chinatown and for a more posh version, eat at Tao on 58th Street.

At Peking Duck House, a cozy elegant haven tucked away on the grungy part of Mott Street south of Canal, you have to order peking duck. Um, duh. The house made pancakes and eggplant in  garlic sauce are amazing. But take it from the website, it’s all about the duck. They slice it at your table, and it just might be the best peking duck in Manhattan. There is actually a midtown Peking Duck House too, but for some reason it doesn’t taste as good sans Chinatown excursion.

Peking Duck House 28 Mott Street  212.227.1810

At TAO, the Peking duck is also delicious. The vast former theater houses a coy fish pond, a third level private room and hands-down my favorite dessert in the city. But for the main course, the sea bass, lobster dumplings and short ribs are crowd pleasers. Keeping with Christmas tradition, the Peking duck rivals Peking Duck House. And afterward, enjoy the dessert tray (you only need the small) of mouse filled fortune cookies, Mochi, chocolates and sorbet. A small dessert tray feeds up to five. If it’s the weekend, go later because TAO has live roaming musicians on the weekend nights starting around ten.

TAO Asian Bistro  58th Street between Park and Madison  212.888.2288

And toast to a Merry, Merry Christmas.

Emma Dinzebach

Every once in a while we need a friendly reminder that our beauty products might be nearing past their expiration date. So you’re picturing tiny bacteria growing all over your shimmery Chanel eye shadow from last holiday season and now terrified that your face will break out in a puffy, bubbly rash. Relax.

There is a common misconception that expired cosmetic products will harm you in the form of allergies, rashes, etc. however, product expiration actually exists because beauty companies cannot guarantee that post-expiration date the product will perform to it’s fullest capability. That is actually why the expiration date exists. So don’t think that your face will burn off if you use a product past its expiration date. It won’t.

What will happen? Products past their expiration date can (and eventually will) change in consistency. You eye shadows, blushes and bronzers will likely lose their pigment, spread unevenly or slightly alter their color. Moisturizers and foundations will be less effective and unlike eye shadow and blush that you can just pile on more, won’t serve their original purpose.

Make-up’s general shelf life:

• Concealer/Foundation: Up to 12 months
• Mascara: 4-6 months
• Eye shadow: 3 years
• Powder: 2 years
• Eye liner: 3 years (if sharpened regularly)
• Nail polish: Up to 12 months
• Lipstick: 3 years
• Brushes: Clean every 2-3 months with mild detergent or brush cleaner
• Sponges: Wash weekly and discard monthly

Emma Dinzebach

Retail season is in high gear, and we for one are happy for a reason to spend. In November, retail added 7,500 jobs and prepared promotion plans to keep customers shopping right through to twenty-ten. Where to shop? If you aim to save suffering retailers, the red list includes old favorites like Phoenix Footwear (not recommended), Zale, Cache, Bluefly and New York & Co. If you prefer to stick with the winners, Saks, Aeropostale, Movado, Syms, and Liz Claiborne in the black.

Louis Vuitton opened a sig store in Sin City. Talbots announced their plan to merge with BPW Acquisition Group in part to pay for their acquisition of Aeon. Talbots plans to use $300 million of their new money (eh, hem BPW’s money) to pay for the Japanese retailer. Fit experts, Intimacy, are capitalizing on “the Oprah effect” and announced their plan to expand from it’s Upper East Side location to a second store in Midtown East.

On the lowbrow, the ever-expanding Victoria Beckham will debut her new eyewear and denim collection on Net-a-Porter today.

But on the higbrow… or Highline rather. Target pop-up returns to Manhattan Friday through Sunday at Gansevoort and Washington at the entrance of High Line Park. Downtown their rejoicing that this year they won’t be forced to trek to Times Square for a taste of Alexander McQueen. Target-To-Go will offer consumers fifty gifts including limited edition Rodarte for Target a week before they hit Target stores nationwide. Only in New York do we get a first shot at a store we don’t even have. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Oops, I meant Ho. Ho. Ho. And Happy Hanukkah!

Emma Dinzebach

Your friend has the straightest, shiniest, healthiest hair. She attributes her commercial-worthy locks to $250 Brazilian Keratin mastermind Faisal at Laicale salon in Soho. For the past year you’ve been spending a pretty penny on your locks, but it’s almost Hanukkah. You need to reorganize your budget to accommodate gift purchases, but you still want to look lovely for your holiday parties.
Ever-popular keratin hair treatments use the hair’s natural proteins (er, keratin) at the same pH level as your normal hair to strengthen, nourish and provide UV protection for your hair. Brazilian Keratin Treatment (BKT) leaves hair frizz free, soft and shiny for up to four months. Kertatin treatments can be performed on chemically treated hair, previously relaxed hair, permed and virgin hair.  (Note: It is super important to make sure Keratin treatments are received from reputable salons as treatments that have sulfide, chloride or formaldehyde can permanently damage hair and lead to hair loss.)

This is your lucky season. Empire Beauty School, with locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, is offering the famed treatment from now until New Year’s Eve for $48. No, srsly. No, for real. Advanced students performing treatments are strictly supervised by salon professionals. Empire’s BKT is safe for all hair types (see also: won’t make your hair fall out) and produces shampoo commercial-worthy locks for the holiday season.

Call to schedule an appointment – Manhattan 646.213.0875, Brooklyn 718.373.2400, Queens 718.726.8383

Emma Dinzebach