Putti in Paterson

This morning found me in the completely surreal world of one of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, the Brownstone in Paterson.  Brunch was actually quite good: fluffy scrambled eggs, small crunchy/soft squares of cinnamon French Toast with strawberries, as well as fresh fruit, pastries, biscuits and a darn decent cup of coffee.  I don't know that I was awake enough for the decor, which is decidedly over-the-top -- when did you look at putti dancing over your head before 10am unless you were in Italy?  I had to snap a shot of the view:

The occasion?  The West Essex Board of Realtors annual Circle of Excellence award breakfast (before inflation took hold in the 21st century, this used to be the Million Dollar Club). So now when my out-of-state friends want to know what it's really like to live in New Jersey, I can tell them -- "even without all the eye make-up and high heels (I wore my Balenciaga oxfords, actually) rather yummy!

Everyone needs a great tailor (for now, forget the tinker, soldier or spy)

I was on a favorite online forum tonight sharing fashion finds with others similarly obsessed when one of them mentioned that the coat she'd just scored at 70% off turned out to be a bit on the long side, and she was nervous about finding a good tailor to adjust it.  Now, this gal is in NYC so no doubt she could sort that out without a train ride to Montclair, but I immediately thought how lucky I am to have found Anna several years ago, after having some very expensive pants butchered by the "tailoring" at a local dry cleaners.
Anna (of Dino and Anna Tailors, 544 Valley Road, Upper Montclair) is a godsend of major proportions. She's gotten me (and my Prada and Elie Tahari trousers) through several size changes, and her considerable skills have allowed me to shop sample sales secure in the knowledge that her magical needle can resculpt a size or two off anything I find: pants, a fitted blouse and skirt, she's even rewoven snags in one of my sweaters and found soft suede patches for the elbows of my husband's favorite cashmere pullover.  And all for very reasonable prices.

Remembering a Balinese Feast

I could rant a bit about the lousy customer service at Alain Mikli at the Short Hills Mall, or the retina specialist whose staff is so inept they took 4 days to respond to my request for more information, or ... oh bite me!  I may have missed last night's Taste of Montclair (which a colleague tells me was very tasty indeed), but that does not mean I have to miss Montclair Restaurant Week while kvetching about things ocular.
However, in my woulda, coulda, shoulda list of new restaurants I wish would open in Montclair, #1 would be something Balinese.  Probably the best two meals I've had in many a moon were served up on the island this past January (yes, that's why I had guest bloggers!).
The first, a homemade traditional meal made and cooked by my amazing guide's mother in a bale overlooking the Ayung River Gorge.  Those are rice baskets we wove (well, ok, the mom wove) that day.

The second, at French chef gone native's amazing Mozaic, a gourmand foodie destination located a stone's throw from where Eat Pray Love was filmed outside Ubud.

Bad Blogger Repents with Great Find

What can I say, it's a crazy spring market.  And the weather ... what is with this wonderful warm March?  Makes me want to sing, dance, go to the beach ....
Something else that makes me want to sing is a serendipitous find on Facebook, The Tutu Project.  Little girls at ballet class, you ask?  Renoir on a rampage?  No, it's a man.  In a tutu.  In the world. A wonderful, poignant photographic fundraiser for breast cancer non-profits, inspired by photographer Bob Carey's wife's battle with breast cancer.  You need to see these pictures -- they're stunning.  I won't spoil the surprise any more than that.
Ok, so ... here's a taste:

Green Ideas

It's daylight savings time again -- one very green idea, as it extends those delightful "before you turn the lights on" evening hours.  But generally speaking, when you think March and Green together, you're thinking of St. Patrick's Day.
It's been unseasonably warm, which means this year even Mother Nature is putting on the Green.  It all got me thinking, what other things can one do to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, other than the obvious parade and pub crawl?

A few ideas:
The Montclair Animal Shelter is hosting a special reduced-price adoption afternoon on Saturday from 2-4pm at 77 North Willow -- Erin-Go-Bark/St. Catrick's Adoption Event.  (Ok, so it's a little heavy on the word play, but everyone's heart is in the right place).
Or as the temps are still dipping in the evening, how about an Irish fisherman's knit sweater from Irish & More, a local shopping institution for all things from the Faire Isle, at 16 Church Street.  Follow that with a stop at Raymond's for some of Joanne's limited edition Irish Cream Marshmallows and green sugar-edged cookies if tippling isn't on your menu.

Spring means it's time to be nice to those feet again ...

One of the things I truly like about my job is that, in the course of going to realtor open houses several mornings a week, I tend to drive by new businesses I might not have noticed otherwise. The bad thing? There is never enough time to do everything I'd like to do.  One that I'll have to make time for, however, is to try out the intriguingly named Foot Spa and Tea Bar that I noticed in Verona on my way down Bloomfield Avenue.  A quick trip to the googlesphere (what *would* we do without Google?) yielded quite a few reviews of this year-old business where the focus is on traditional foot reflexology. 

1/2 hour and hour sessions available, all for a lot less $$ than you would think.

Jane's Addiction brings Dave Navarro's Pecs to NJ

I think I stepped into a time warp tonight at the Wellmont.  Jane's Addiction rolled into town with their 10 foot tall statues of well-endowed buxom lasses, their real-life buxom lasses (at one point on trapezes with microphones and 15 foot long hoop skirts, at another in, imagine, bondage-style outfits and gasp, riding crops).  Dave Navarro brought his perfectly sculpted pecs and Perry Farrell wore Rick Owens.  Film clips showed stripping 50's pin-up girls.  Wow, large bosoms before implants.  Imagine.

Some things don't really improve with age.  Or maybe, some things just seem dated, regardless.  If there was any tongue-in-cheek to the retro misogynist vibe, I guess it was lost on me.  The band did sound tight, Farrell's voice had presence and his dancing some intriguing moves, but this was not a night at the Wellmont I'll need to remember.  Strike the pose, anyone?  Rock Vogue.

The Business of Extraordinary Living ...

... is the name of the micro-site Sotheby's International Realty has placed in the Wall Street Journal's online edition.  We were talking about the site today, which has all kinds of wonderful eye candy, from auction calendars and results (so you wanted to know what that fine bottle of wine might go for at auction?) to videos of recent preview installations, to articles on unique houses around the world.  It's like a mini magazine -- and updated every six weeks or so.  You can even browse upcoming auction catalogues on line, and register to bid.  SIR also just released the newest version of their iPad app, which let's you search live for houses in whatever neighborhood you'd like while it  maps local shopping, restaurants and more to keep you, well, living extraordinarily!

Tasting Montclair

What could be better than restaurant week in Montclair?  What if the restaurants involved held a tasting night where you could sample their wares without having to worry about making a reservation -- where you can take your culinary palate on a journey from pizza to penne, toffee to coffee, salad to sandwiches, fish to fowl and everything in-between, a mix of high-low food styles so varied that whatever your mood come March 19th, you're sure to find something yummy to eat?  If this sounds inviting, you'll want to get your tickets to Taste of Montclair, sponsored by the Rotary Club and many other fine area businesses to raise funds for food charities.  One $40 ticket (through March 14th, $50 after that) gives you entrance to the inaugural non-profit event -- with a growing list of Montclair area eateries participating. You can buy your tickets online, or at a variety of local venues.
After that comes restaurant week, where you can satisfy your new found cravings in depth.  Some of my favorite Montclair restaurants and food vendors participating include: Ah' Pizz, CulinAriane, Ruthie's BBQ and Pizza and Miss Nicky's Gourmet Toffee.