Getting It Done

Just a few words: Run to see Gypsy starring the legendary Patti Lupone. Truth be told, she’s an awkward-looking woman, but she wears this part like a custom-made suit and owns the stage as only she can. I just had the odd pleasure of seeing the movie starring Bette Midler AFTER already seeing the broadway show, and I’m still not sure which one was better. But there are enough rave reviews out there of Miss Lupone’s stunning performance confirming this opinion, so I’ll move on for now…

Last Tuesday I found myself at a soiree highlighting Soho’s “24 Prince” restaurant in all its glam. Even walking to the damn event I noticed my posture shift as everyone passing me was more gorgeous than the last. Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo absolutely smother the streets down there, and I love it. Though I’ve always said the Upper West Side is for me, I had to rethink my position that night and consider the possibility of finding a home someday in the fab-glam streets of Soho.

Anyway, the event was to promote the restaurant’s 2 year anniversary and their chef’s stint on Bravo’s “Top Chef” by passing around tray after tray of increasingly delicious nibbles while serving tasty house wines. My favorite was the white truffle popcorn, surpassing only the gorgonzola-dolloped filet mignon on toast points out of the numerous scrumptious offerings. Having found a nook near the kitchen door (a trusty trick o’ the trade at these events supposed to replace a heavy dinner) I casually attacked the servers with every new tray they procured, trying desperately to act like I hadn’t just devoured the previous server’s tray of the exact same thing. There are events you go to and think “well that was nice, but I’ll never go there again” and then there are the events where you go to and they’re so full of people, yet the space is so inviting and food so wonderful that you wish you could clear it out for a private party right then and there. This was that kind of place. Free wine, delicacies, and jaw-dropping eye candy lured me back to actually pay for dinner and drinks, as there’s no doubt in my mind that their sumptuous menu is worth every penny.

A little while passed before we had to bow out to attend National Jean Company’s fashion show, where I smooth-talked my way in front of a 300-person line into a max-capacity Slate Plus lounge in the Flatiron district. Again, grabbing a few (free) cocktails at the bar, I once again smooth-talked my way into the lesser of the two VIP areas (you take what you can get with a press pass and no name on any list) but without foregoing a fabulous view from the end of the runway. The show was resplendent, despite not having any male models (a big downer in my book) and on the way out I snickered quietly at those hoards of unfortunate souls just then gaining admittance into the event, inconveniently when the free vodka ran dry and the show ended, while bemoaning their obvious D-list status.

On another note, to continue my trend of cutting and pasting overheardinny.com quips, I had one of my own today when, upon looking outside and realizing it was one of the nicer days we’ve had lately, I decided to break out my dusty crocs from the back of my shoe closet. It was daring, but I threw caution to the wind and slipped into last year’s craze, my feet thanking me for the breath of fresh air. As I walked down Broadway to return some movies at Blockbuster, however, I strutted comfortably in my forgotten kicks past a homeless man who yelled mockingly from his perch on the sidewalk: “Hey, you! We’re gonna have to sit down sometime and discuss those shoes, man.”

What could I say? I’ve always lived by the principle that you sacrifice comfort for beauty, and the one day I didn’t, a toothless bum on the street reminded me of it. The crocs go back where they belong…at home in Woodstock.

Until next time (and in the spirit of Soho) -

Overheard on Spring St & 6th Ave:

Yuppie girl #1: So he said he couldn’t date me.
Yuppie girl #2: Why?
Yuppie girl #1: He said he likes to date normal girls.
Yuppie girl #2: What?!
Yuppie girl #1: Yeah, like who likes normal girls?