Why Did You Wear That: MTV VMA’s (Very Much a Mess)

By Kirsten|August 26th, 2013|Celebrity Style, Red Carpet Recap, Why Did You Wear That?|

Katy Perry in Emanual Ungaro, Ellie Goulding, Becky G, Holland Roden in Naeem Khan

So, pretty much the VMA’s were the equivalent to the hangover I had from this weekend. And as a matter of fact, they actually made me want to drink more (Don’t worry, mom, I didn’t). For starters, when MTV hosts the Video Music Awards in Brooklyn, you know Brooklyn has lost all its “edge”- kind of like teen pregnancy and Lady Gaga. Guess it’s time to move back to the East Village, kids.

Speaking of Lady Gaga, who is apparently still making music, she started things off by impersonating her favorite internet meme: cat breading.

Don’t worry, she didn’t stay clothed for long. And not to be outdone, Miley Cyrus followed suit by also wearing some type of prosthetic panties for her performance with Robin Thicke, so I watched the rest of the show naked. We get it, Miley. You’re a bad girl. Side note: if Paula Patton knocked Miley upside her head for nuzzling her husband’s neck and teenage twerking, would that be considered child abuse?

No Pants, No Problem:

Lady Gaga in Prabal Gurung and in her panties

Miley Cyrus in Dolce & Gabbana and in her birthday suit

Things didn’t get much better from there or on the red carpet. I really have nothing good to report regarding the fashion from the evening… I mean, Rihanna skipped the red carpet altogether. There were, however, lots of leather clad children running amok. Perhaps this is where I show my age, because I had no idea who half of the individuals interviewed by Sway were (I don’t think he did either). I was actually shamed by two tweens the other night for not knowing who One Direction is. Noted, ladies. I wonder which 1D member stands to be the Justin Timberlake of ‘NSYNC. You see what happens to the others, guys… Dance harder.

From feathers and sequins, lots of leather, and more crop tops, stars left very little to the imagination. Even good girl, Selena Gomez, had an intentional wardrobe malfunction in her Atelier Versace. And what’s worse? Showing up for your big night wearing the same thing as someone else much like 2Chainz and Grimes did. I honestly, don’t know what could be more awkward than that …. oh, right… Taylor Swift’s dance moves.

Besties in Blue:

Taylor Swift in Herve Leger, Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace

Still Cropping Up:

Shailene Woodley in Pucci, Jordin Sparks, Alicia Quarles

Songbirds…literally:

Ciara in Givenchy, Rita Ora in Alexandre Vauthier Couture

2Twinz:

2 Chainz in Versace, Grimes in Versace

Wonder What?

Sarah Hyland, Wonder Woman

Still More Modest than Miley:

Iggy Azalea in Emilio Pucci, Erin Wasson

If I decide not to reproduce, you can thank this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.

xx,

WhyDid

Setting the Mood: What a Treat

By Kirsten|June 3rd, 2013|Setting the Mood|

Ah, at long last, summer weather has arrived (it would seem we just skipped over spring). Wait, what? It’s raining today?

Well, in any case, it was (insert expletive) hot this past weekend, which had me fiending for something cold other than rosé… although I had some of that too. I couldn’t help literally treating myself to something sweet in the frozen form. And apparently I wasn’t alone seeing as the line for Big Gay Ice Cream in the East Village was all the way down the block on Sunday. I didn’t feel the least bit guilty indulging because I probably just sweat it off anyhow, right? If the ice cream man hasn’t cometh, I found this pretty amazing recipe for Sangria Rosé Popsicles from Wine Kitz Pickering that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth:

Ingredients:

2 cups rosé wine (choose one with flavours that complement the fruit you use in the rest of the recipe – ours was a blend of Pinot, Gamay, Merlot and Shiraz, with flavours of red berries and licorice, and aromas of sour cherry, watermelon and strawberry, so we opted for a raspberry-rhubarb pairing, with grapefruit to offset the sweetness)
1/2 grapefruit (or 1 lemon, if you’d prefer)
1 pint raspberries (reserve some to add to popsicles whole)
1/2 to 1 cup simple syrup
1 stalk rhubarb, chopped

Directions:

Chop rhubarb and make simple syrup: Wash and chop your stalk of rhubarb. In a pot over medium heat, bring 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of sugar to a boil – just to dissolve sugar. Once sugar is dissolved, add rhubarb and bring to a simmer. Cook until rhubarb is soft, then remove from heat.
Purée rhubarb simple syrup and raspberries, add grapefruit and wine: Pour your rhubarb simple syrup and 3/4 of the raspberries into your blender and purée. Then juice your grapefruit and add the juice, along with your rosé wine, to the blender and pulse to combine.
Pour into molds: Add a few whole raspberries to each mould, if possible, then pour in your wine-simple syrup mix. Freeze until solid, then enjoy!

Happy slurping.

xx,

WhyDid

Why Did You Eat That?: Roll Along Lil Doggies

By Kirsten|January 10th, 2011|New York, Why Did You Eat That?|

While in the midst of packing up the few final boxes of my New York apartment last week, my packing companion informed me he was craving a New York hot dog. Seems reasonable. So, of course, the first place I thought of was Crif Dogs in the East Village. They claim to be the number one weiner in the city, and I would tend to agree.

Now, it’s hard to go wrong when it comes to hot dogs, but Crif Dogs really outdid themselves in order to make sure they would not disappoint. The chihuahua (bacon wrapped dog with avocado and sour cream) is my personal fave. Couple that with some tater tots and cheese dipping sauce and you’ve got a meal made in heaven. So, let’s say you’re ready to kick it up a notch… Well, you’re in luck. It just so happens that Crif Dogs houses a “secret” bar. That way if your hot dog has you ready for a little more excitement, you can enter through the phonebooth located on the left wall to a little place called PDT (Please Don’t Tell). Now, while this is probably not news to most of you, I’m going to go ahead and spell it out for those of you who aren’t familiar:

So, you go into said “phonebooth,” pick up the receiver to get the hostess on the line and ask to be seated. If you have reservations, this shouldn’t be a problem. Otherwise, the hostess will give you the once over and decide whether or not there is any room for you inside.

Once inside, you will have a few rules to follow, but they are totally worth it when it comes to the delicious concoctions from the bartenders (mixologists?). Don’t bother ordering something average. You will be snubbed. If you’d like to just cut to the chase or you get a little snacky at the bar, you can order the same hot dogs from Crif Dogs.

Crif Dogs/PDT

113 St. Marks Place

New York, NY 10009

While munching on hot dogs sounds like a pretty casual outing, you may want to spruce up a little if you want to stand a chance of getting in next door. Try a little bit of casual, elegance with a touch of East Village hipster. (Fellas, don’t even bother coming in your suits- We saw more than a handful of rejects).

Forever 21 Trad Plaid Flannel Shirt, $12.50

Diane von Furstenberg Sequin Dax Shorts, $113

Hue Ribbed Sweater Tights, $22

Dolce Vita Hawk Lace Up Clog Booties, $265

Where my dogs at?

xx,

WhyDid

Why Don’t You Eat Me: Pitza! Pitza!

By Kirsten|April 19th, 2010|Guest Blogger, Why Don't You Eat Me?|

balade 2

This week I’ve got yet another East Village newcomer that’s definitely worth checking out. Balade serves traditional Lebanese cuisine in a traditional Lebanese atmosphere. I got my first taste of Lebanese food back in Memphis from a family who made amazing meat pies. I instantly fell in love and have been in search for meat pies that rival them ever since. So, when I heard about Balade, of course I had to go and check it out.

Balade

I’ve been twice for lunch and both times the place was pretty empty (I’m hoping they are busier for dinner or that my rave review will amp up their business). My first trip, I ordered the Sambousik (those meat pies I keep talking about) and the vegetarian mazmeez (hummus, tabouleh, baba ganouj, and labneh with toum) for appetizers. Raise your hands if you don’t know what half those words mean. Yup, thought so. Feel free to Google. The meat pies were good. Unfortunately, not as good as the homemade ones from childhood, but definitely worth going back for. I loved the mazmeez platter. I’m typically not a fan of tabouleh, but theirs was perfect with the lemon juice on top. The hummus and baba ganouj were both good and the labneh was great.

For the mains I ordered the Greek pitza (yes, they spell it like that and it makes me love it even more) and meat shawarma. The pitza is just a pita that they pop in the oven and remove once crispy. The Greek pitza had, as I’m sure you could guess, feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, lebanese zaatar, kalamata olives, and basil. The meat shawarma had slices of beef and lamb with tomatoes, pickles, parsley, sumac and tahini sauces. The pickles on there make it even better. I know, I know. There I go again with the pickle talk.

My second trip we decided to try the kebbeh which is a mixture of beef and cracked wheat shaped into shells and filled with a combination of seasoned ground beef and diced onions. Not my fave, but the odds were stacked against it from the beginning since my boyfriend’s mom makes the same thing and they’re absolutely out of this world good.

I give Balade 4 out of 5 mouths for being the kind of place that makes me keep wanting to go back. I swear it’s not just because they have Lebanese pitza!

5-mouths-300x65_2

See you next Munchin’ Monday!

xx,

WhyDon’tYouEatMe

WhyDid Wisdom: What “City” Are YOU Living In??

By Kirsten|February 4th, 2009|WhyDid Wisdom|

thecity1

Okay, so I just finished watching this Monday’s DVR’ed episode of The City (yes, lame, I know) and I have a few things to get off my chest.

Other than the fact that The City is basically just very well packaged air, I am a little disheartened by their depiction of what it is like to live in New York City.

First of all, the girls’ apartments in this show are ridiculous. I believe that Olivia lives where she does (except they keep calling her an “Upper East Sider” and her apartment is actually in Tribeca) because she is clearly living on daddy’s dime. Now, as most people who actually live in Manhattan know, there is no way on Earth, Whitney is able to afford her “Gramercy” apartment on her DVF fashion salary without either the help of her parental units or a sugar daddy. I have friends who have worked at DVF and trust me, they do not live in massive luxury buildings in Gramercy. Try more like a 5th floor walk up in the East Village.

And Erin? I’m not sure what exactly she does (except that she now has some title-less job at One Management), but again… girls with entry level jobs in New York City are NOT living in apartments like hers without financial assistance.

So to people in Manhattan, we are very well aware that this show is basically B.S., but for little girls in Iowa who dream of moving to the “Big City” and pursuing a career in fashion I feel sad. They are getting an idea of something that is just not even close to accurate. I get it, who the heck wants to watch Whitney squash cockroaches or ride the subway? But that’s reality. And isn’t The City supposed to be a “reality show”?

**Note: There was one highlight in Monday’s episode. When model Allie asked Kelly Cutrone if she liked her outfit, Kelly replied that she hated the leggings. Thank you, Kelly. Your support in the “leggings are not pants” campaign is invaluable.

xx,

WhyDid

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