Always a Blogsmaid

A Broadway Star!

I went to a HUGE public school here in Brooklyn, and we are sort of a rabidly proud alumni group.  Despite it's size (4,000 + students), Edward R. Murrow HS had a very awesome theater program.  Whether it was big on talent, or I just remembered it that way, I'm not sure; I only know that we took it VERY seriously.  I caught a lot of heat for missing my cousin's graduation b/c I was in the ensemble of Sweeney Todd (yes, my HS did Sweeney Todd AND we recreated the original set design...) 

So you can only imagine how my chest burst with pride when I went to see the wonderful, marvelous, ground-breaking show "In the Heights" and my friend (our Sweeney Todd) was in the ensemble.  Now, the news gets even better- he was just cast as the LEAD role in the Tony Award winning show!  So, I can now say that once upon a time, I shared the stage with a Broadway star.  

If you have the opportunity, go see Javier Munoz starring in In the Heights! He's adorable, talented, and living his dream!

Stay Sweet Martha....

OMG, I'm sure you've seen this... it's been making the rounds, but as a Martha Obsessive, I HAD to share...... Snoop on Martha.

Andre J. and The Girls' Club

Rosario Dawson hugged me yesterday.  Seriously.   I was greeting guests at the door of the Lower East Side Girls' Club annual Willow Awards and she was our Hostess.

I was on the Host Committee for the event, which was as interesting, fun and diverse as the Lower East Side itself.  The highlight of the night, was not Rosario Dawson, or the wonderful girls who are part of the Girls' Club or even the other amazing women who were on the Committee.  The highlight FOR ME was, simply put, Andre J.  I'm obsessed with him and when he walked through the door (and kissed me on both cheeks- of course) I nearly fainted.  It was better than when I saw Beyonce at The Hotel On Rivington.   I told him how much I loved him on the cover of Vogue and, thanked him for supporting The Girls' Club.  In short, I was star struck.  If you're in New York, it's an amazing organization to become involved with. Actually, I ended up meeting Archana from Sweet Melissa who is involved with the club's elaborate Sweet Things bake shop.

And for Dessert.....

A few months ago I posted on Engagement Chicken after one of our readers let me know about the phenomenon.  Well, lately, and maybe it's the holidays approaching, I've noticed an INSANE amount of traffic coming to the blog through google searching Engagement Chicken.

It got us thinking, what about more preliminary steps?  Perhaps not for you bride to be readers out there, but I know I could certainly afford to spend some time honing my cooking craft. 

Please pass along to your single girlfriends, Hook Him Apple Pie.  Make a meal out of it!

Swirl for Fall

Swirl Events is having an awesome organic wine tasting this Thursday!  Here is the description I was sent.  What a fun night this would make with the girls, or with your fiance while you start thinking of the wine you might want to serve on the big day.

Uncork Organic Wine Class and Tasting
Thursday, October 16th

Join Swirl Events on Thursday, October 16th, for a lively interactive class as you learn about and taste through a flight of seven incredible organic and biodynamic wines from around the world. Swirl wine expert, Amanda Crawford, will discuss organic and biodynamic winemaking practices and the key differences between these wines and conventional wines. She'll confirm or bust any organic wine myths you may have: Will a bottle of organically produced wine cost more than its non-organic counterpart? I'm allergic to sulfites, is it true that I'm safe drinking organic wines? Will the bottle label show that the wine is organic or biodynamic? What do lunar cycles have to do with why this wine tastes so delicious? And we'll do it in the signature Swirl style - fun and interactive, never stuffy or dry.

Thursday, October 16th from 7:00PM to 9:00PM
16 W. 23rd St. 4th Floor @ 5th Ave NYC NY 10010 917.463.3994   
www.swirlevents.com

Price: $50, RSVP required. Tickets limited.




Buy a Ticket

The Slice

If you don't read it yet, I wanted to call your attention to a VERY helpful feature on the Washingtonian website called The Slice.  I get caught up during the day and sometimes miss cool posts on some of the wedding blogs.  The slice (as in cake) posts a cross section of great posts from around the blogsphere.  Not as good as trolling through the sites for all the great stuff out there, but AWESOMELY helpful when you're pressed for time!

Smart Offer from Smart Workouts

As some of you might remember, a couple of months ago I hopped on the pole for my very first pole dancing class over at Smart Workouts, here in NYC.  Well, I guess a few of you readers headed over to check out their unique gym where visitors can go and have semi-private training sessions and classics in things like pilates, weights, pole dancing and more. The ladies at Smart Workouts would like to encourage more of the same and they are extending a special offer to Always a Blogsmaid readers.   If you buy a one day pass and mention the blog, you'll get a 2nd day free.  If you buy a 6 day pass (to be used any 6 days), they'll throw in a 7th day and if you buy a year they will throw in a month for free.  You just need to mention Always a Blogsmaid.
For more about smartworkouts (in a GREAT location if you take the Metro North), check out their site and schedule.  They even have a bridal program!

Birthday Post

Took the day off for some birthday celebration! We rented a little drop top mini cooper and drove around visiting friends and family. A wonderful way to soften the blow of the 30 + 1 year (yikes!) More wedding words tomorrow, but I hope you all had a great weekend!

Can I brag for a second?

To make it less obnoxious, I'm not bragging about myself.   One of brides, an astronomer at Yale, discovered a Galaxy.  As she politely corrected me, she didn't discover it today, they'd been working on it since January, but still.   I'm pretty impressed.  Kudos to Marla for her MAJOR accomplishment.