UPDATE NYC Hunt: Lofty Dreams | NYC Fashion Blogger Samantha Angelo

Just as we signed our names to the lease...the sun burst through the clouds.

Yesterday we signed a lease!!!!!!!

This wouldn't be apartment hunting in NY if it didn't come along with a slightly nail biting and dramatic vignette...

We first discovered this gorgeous soho apartment a few weeks ago, and immediately we fell in love. When Ben contacted the listing agent we were crushed to find out that there was already a strong application in for the place. Peter was so convinced from the very beginning that this apartment was "the one" just from the pictures, location, and description alone. It didn't help that after Ben got a look at the place, he regretted to inform us that it was perfect and the best place that we had seen so far in our hunt that had started back in November.

Burrrrrrn.  

The following day we found out that the pending application was accepted and the apartment was lost, yet Peter refused to give up hope that by a divine miracle we could still have a chance at this lovely soho oasis. Ben, trying to manage our expectations and fragile emotions, assured us that it was gone and there was little to no chance that we would have a shot at it...

  At this point we were a little beaten down by NYC, which had put us in a weakened state, yet Peter refused to give up hope, which I really respect. It pays to always stay positive, which he ALWAYS does. I told Peter that we needed to move on, regardless of how difficult it was... but we couldn't... it was too perfect and it was right in front of us, just slipping through our fingers. We were bordering on an unhealthy level of hope. But it was too late for us, as we realized that the intersection of Mott & Prince was exactly where we wanted to live, it just seemed right.

Then...out of the blue I received a phone call from Peter, "You're not going to believe this," he said, "What?...WHAT!...What happened? did it fall through?!?" I exclaimed. Divine intervention. And just like that our frowns turned upside down in a NY minute! "There's a catch," muttered Peter, "It's not available until May 1st." ::silence::

House hunting in NY has brought to light new combinations of emotions that we've never felt before, excitement laced with fear and a twinkle of despair, all wrapped in a blanket of shock and happiness. So now all we have to do is find another apartment to live in for 2 months. The key is that we got the place that we love!!! And we couldn't be more thrilled!!! The NY apartment Gods have been good to us and we couldn't be more thankful.

Allow me a moment to brag. (These amenities will not impress or mean anything to those of you living outside of Manhattan) For all you New Yorker's, your mind will be blown when I tell you that this glorious 1850 square foot unit has central ac/heat...yes, you heard me. No window units. Then we have a laundry room in the unit with a huge front load washer and dryer. All of which is just icing on a cake in the form of a massive open kitchen complete with viking stove, grill, and griddle, which appears to have never been used. Exposed brick, original exposed beams, and (10-11) custom built in book shelves with lighting,  3 Juliet balconies that wrap around the entire unit, and 2 idiosyncratic water closets. Let me explain, one bathroom is completely blue, blue toilet, blue sink, blue tile and there's a drain in the middle of the floor... because the entire bathroom is a shower, literally a water closet. The other is completely grey, jacuzzi tub, and shower with built in mirrors and two shower heads. Far out! Did I mention this place is on the corner of Mott & Prince?































Now all we have to do is:

1) Find a second temporary apartment.

2) Sign a lease on this second apartment, complete with broker fees, first and last months rent (... only living there two months) and one months security deposit. 

3) Rent a Uhaul and move all clothing, computers, clarinets, and cats into the truck, then drive 7 hours with two anxiety riddled cats on my lap. 

4) Following weekend return to DC and divide up our furniture into stuff we're going to take to NYC and stuff we're going to leave for Peter's brother, Arthur and his girlfriend Marie. Drive this stuff to our DC storage unit and take some stuff out for NYC and add some stuff for A & M. Pack the stuff we want to take, plus all of our current furniture into a truck (with movers). Drive the moving truck to New Jersey (or someplace like that) and rent another HUGE storage unit, move everything from the truck into the storage unit. 

5) During this same weekend sell/gift our cars.

6) Live in temporary apartment in NY for 6 weeks while starting to look for a place to live in London.

7) 6 weeks later fly to London and stay there for 2 weeks.

8) May 1st, return from London and go directly to the storage unit in New Jersey, then stop at the temporary apartment and pick up clothes, computers, clarinets and cats. Move into dream apartment. 

What a breeze!

Signing the lease in our new home!! You can still see a bit of fear and weariness in my smile, as if I was waiting for someone to jump out of the closet and say, "SIKE!!! The apartment is not for rent."

"And tell me what street, compares to Mott Street in July?" 

- Lorenz Hart, Manhattan

Lifestyle Medicine: Cutting Edge Wellness

Most of us think that IV therapy is only used in hospitals for patients with severe dehydration and serious injuries, but this Miami doctor will have you rethinking all previous notions of what preventative healthcare and wellness truly means...

Welcome to Club Essentia Wellness Retreat, a private rooftop oasis at the penthouse of Delano South Beach. This place is much more than a spa, it's a designer medicine paradise, co-founded by 2 time Mr. USA, Dr. Ivan Rusilko, who I had the pleasure of meeting during my first visit to Club Essentia. I was able to see Dr. Rusilko's vision first hand, of creating a new niche in the medical community which he equates to lifestyle medicine.

I first heard about Club Essentia about a year ago, when Peter and I were poolside at the Delano. Our friend Julianne, who works at Delano and is also an artist, told us about the new spa menu which includes tailor made IV's and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I was immediately intrigued and made an appointment. (Ironically i've always been frightened of needles, yet through the years I've figured out that if you can conquer your greatest fears, than you can do anything.)

Extreme Example:

I used to hate to fly, I would get awful motion sickness, and being an Angelo I was raised to fear the miracle of human flight. Air travel was/is always the last resort in my family. So a few years ago I decided to go skydiving, and I jumped out of a plane. There's a special kind of frisson that comes along with conquering ones fears. The act can be a wonderfully advantageous exercise to strengthen the mind, and test ones willpower.

 I went up to the spa and met with Dr. Rusilko, and right off the bat I could tell he was a lover of life and truly a happy person, after all his motto is, "The best cosmetic procedure is a smile!" Amen. His passion for this unique style of medicine, and his desire to help people  look and feel their best was palpable.  After our short consultation, he concocted  a nutritious arm beverage that would be injected directly into my bloodstream. The feeling of cool liquid going into my veins was somehow refreshing, and within a few minutes I began to taste the nutrients in the IV. I immediately felt hydrated and rejuvenated.

This past weekend I went in for a second visit and met with Dr. Rusilko's assistant, Alex, who created a hydrating, energizing (B-12), and beautifying IV. Again I felt fantastic, my skin was radiant and moist, I simply felt good and full of energy...naturally I counteracted this by heading back to the pool for some champagne!  

Topped with a berry colored gauze bow, now that's lifeSTYLE medicine. 

"You are your most important asset, invest in yourself." 

- Club Essentia

Times Square Timeline | NYC Fashion Blogger Samantha Angelo

Growing up in the world's crossroads...

September 1997 - My first visit to Times Square, at age 13.

1998 - Mom, that's quite a look you have going with those white stockings, and I'm not sure why I'm wearing a white button down shirt as a jacket over a dress...

2004 - On that particular night we went to the basement of Blue Water Grill and listened to some live jazz. I also recall Amy and I ordering a pot of chocolate fondue and feeding it to each other, silly girls. Evan coined this time in my life as my Britney/Malibu Barbie phase...   

January 2010 - Cold, very cold.

August 2013 - My niece Alyssa's first trip to NYC at age 15, this picture was taken right after we left Phantom of The Opera, where we had a backstage tour, thanks to my friend Chuck Willett.

My moment as Christine Daae...Yes, I went to the front of stage and sang 'Think of Me'. For those of you who don't know, I've had an odd fascination/obsession with Phantom since I was a child. This includes the sequel Love Never Dies. I felt much better about this after Rafael Nadal came forward a few years back and admitted that he listens to Phantom as part of his tennis ritual.

I even got to touch Phantom's wig, I'll keep that facial expression to myself.

Stories of NY

On my first trip to NYC (1997) my parents and I spent the night on the Grey Hound bus from Buffalo NY, they always loved making traveling to a place more of an adventure than the actual place itself.  (Why take a 45 min flight from Buffalo to DC when you can drive 8 1/2 hours, hit rush hour on the beltway, and get lost no fewer than 5 times? That always makes for a pleasurable start to any visit.) We even made a pit stop half way through the trip to pick up 10 more passengers. I remember laying down in the fetal position over two bus seats and around 6:30am I lifted my head from the seat to see the Manhattan skyline off in the distance. The sight of Manhattan never gets old, but there's something truly special about the first time a person lays eyes on that majestic cityscape, you can see and feel the energy radiating from that island.  My heart started to flutter and I got butterflies of excitement in my stomach, and all of a sudden my sleepless night was irrelevant.  As we walked out of the Port Authority with our luggage I vividly remember seeing a plethora of adult video stores... that was an eye opener.We proceeded to walk to the Howard Johnson on 8th & 51st, our home for the weekend. After we had a delicious Howard Johnson continental breakfast, where do you think we went first? Ding Ding, The Empire State Building, followed by tix tix to snatch some seats to Forever Tango. 

 On the very same street as the Howard Johnson there was a pawn shop where we found an exceptional Buffet R-13 clarinet, sitting in the window, just waiting for me. My dad played it cool though, he was like, "this piece of crap, no one's going to want this old clarinet, and what kind of brand is Buffet? Never heard of it, we'll take it for $700 and not a penny more." Deal! Well played, dad. I would go on to do many wonderful things with that instrument. 

 My mom referred back to her diary and told me that the next day they left me at Macy's. Yes, back in the day when cellphones didn't exist and I was 13 years old, they left me in one of the largest department stores in the world, which is exactly what I wanted. I always wanted to be alone in NY, It made me feel so adult, and shopping in the city for the first time needed my undivided attention. I was a kid in a candy store. My mom on the other hand loathes shopping/browsing with a passion, so you can just imagine how difficult that was, I just needed to find a way to get her to leave me there, and apparently it didn't take much convincing. 

 I remember traveling back to Buffalo on the Amtrak, and during that 8 hour ride I fantasized about NY, a trip that would leave a permanent impression...  

 The following year we took another trip back to NY and this trip was no less eventful. This time we flew on an airplane! Crazy. When we arrived at Hotel Pennsylvania they had over booked us and given our room away, so naturally they put us up at Plaza Hotel...!! When we walked into our room at the Plaza I remember thinking, "Wow, a crystal chandelier in our room!!" 

From the very beginning, NY showed me that anything was possible, between strolling down a street and finding your dream instrument in an old pawn shop to accidentally staying at the Plaza Hotel, the possibilities seemed limitless to me at that age and continues to surprise me to this day. That's the magic of New York.

The Supper Club

"The city seen from the Queensboro bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

NYC Hunt: Lofty Dreams | NYC Fashion Blogger Samantha Angelo

Bowery Hotel, View from Room 809

They say that making a joke of or laughing at a stressful situation can be very therapeutic. That is the point of this post. I hope you enjoy this comedic breakdown of the realities of apartment hunting in Manhattan. 

When looking for an apartment in Lower Manhattan always remember the following:

You're paying for the lifestyle, not the space that you're living in. The coolest people in the world live in Soho & The West Village, and the rent you pay to live in these areas is like the membership fee for being cool. It's the prestige and accomplishment that comes with that location. You could basically put it on your resume as one of your greatest accomplishments. It's impressive. Ironically, it has less to do with the outrageous amounts of cash you must fork over and more to do with the perseverance that it takes to get exactly what you want. THAT is the true resume builder.  

Our very simple and realistic parameters:

- Nothing above 14th Street.

- Nothing on or below Canal Street, unless it's on a non-desolate street in TriBeCa.              

  I take that back, nothing below Broome Street.

- Nothing that is actually in Washington Square.

- Nothing on the eastern side of the Bowery.  

- Nothing on Broadway.

- In a perfect world, anything between Houston & Broome St. on the following streets:

   Wooster, Greene, Mercer, Spring, Prince, Mott, Elizabeth, Lafayette, Mulberry.

- Chinatown and Little Italy, you're out!

           

The Rules 

Rule #1 Never look up what you could afford in another city for the amount that you plan on spending on rent in Manhattan. Just don't do it. 

Rule #2 Whatever the top of your budget is for rent, add about $2,000 to that amount and then you'll find the place that you thought you deserved for the original amount that you wanted to pay.


Rule #3 Prepare yourself: almost every apartment in lower Manhattan will require first and last months rent, plus security deposit. Oh, and a broker fee equal to 10% of the first year's rent. (upwards of 40K just to move in!)

Rule #4 Whenever you feel like you're spending a mil and should at least be able to get a washer/dryer in your unit... Think again! I guess they think if you can blow this much cash on an apartment than you can pay someone to fluff and fold... or you can buy a new pair of Thom Browne boxers everyday....or you can just go commando, cuz you're that cool.

Rule #5 If something seems like it's a good deal, you should be very skeptical. There's no such thing as a good deal. Renting in Lower Manhattan is like gambling in Vegas, the house always wins. If you feel like something is a good deal: 

1) There will most likely be construction on every side of the building, about 4 feet from the window of the apartment, they start at 8am every morning, sound good? 

 2) If there happens to be no construction than there will probably be no light, the windows if any will be on the interior of the building. Time to get a sun lamp! 

  3) If the light is not a problem than it will probably be a Canal Street walk-up, you're view         being the flashing red 'check cashing' lights, and when you exit the apartment building    you'll have to swim through piles of knock off Louie's, Rolex's and cheetah print crop tops with matching mini skirts (I'm literally describing what I saw). BUT just one block north and you're in Soho...right?...

Rule #6 Don't give up! Again, this takes perseverance. Why do you think Lower Manhattanites wear so much camo and black, you have to be tough to make it here folks. Finding a place to rest your head is the first test, if you pass that, then you're half way to be coming a true New Yorker. 

Rule #7 Hire Ben Scheck as your broker, because he's awesome at his job and a pleasure to be around, not to mention he's dealing with us..so he must have the patience of a saint. We love you, Ben!!

Rule #8 If you're not refreshing Street Easy at least 100 times a day, you're not trying hard enough. Refresh more!

Tales From Our Apartment Hunting Journey...

Just when you think you've found the perfect place (two bed, two bath, light filled, gorgeously renovated corner unit, over sized wrought iron windows, Italian marble fireplace, chef's kitchen) and above a Soul Cycle to boot!! Ok, ok , so with all of these positives you're willing to forgo a washer/dryer in the unit. Fine. In the excitement of the moment you put in an application, only to realize when you return later to measure the place for your furniture that there are actually no closets...

Then you'll find an older spacious corner unit (Lafayette St.) in the heart of Soho, and it will have bizarre built in platform beds made out of plywood that the owner will refuse to remove...

Or the place that's a half block from the highline with a private patio that's larger than the apartment itself, which by the way is the most modern design I've ever seen, with black and white striped walls. The bedrooms are on the basement level, but they do have skylight windows, so that all the surround apartments can look down and see everything  you're doing...

What about the lovely Greene Street apartment, currently being used as a pied-a-terre by a couple from LA? Of course, the place gets little to no light and the kitchen is 5x5 feet... better used as a coat closet...

Then FINALLY you think after all of this searching, we've found it!! 99 Spring Street: the holy grail of Soho lofts. Complete with a large and open loft floor-plan, exposed brick, several skylights, 2 fireplaces AND the kicker: the top floor of the building is your very own private roof deck!!! The size of the entire apartment. Ahhh!! And just as you're ready to touch your pen to your check book and stroke a check for the first and last months rent, security despot and broker fee. You ask if a 24 month lease would be possible because you love the place so much, at which time you're told that the building is being torn down in 12 months to build a Niketown. A part of you dies...

In your weakened state you decide to look at a fairly priced apartment in the heart of Little Italy: vaulted ceilings, exposed brick, keyed elevator into the unit, view of the freedom tower, waterfall showers, and a positively delightful 1800 square feet. But don't forget!! Every time you walk out of the apartment a man wearing a faux goat hair coat will be standing there heckling people into trying his ravioli, lasagna, linguine and clams, or maybe a little margarita pizza pie, at his fine Italian dining establishment...deal breaker...

Hopefully not to be continued...

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."           - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

New York Kinda Town | NYC Fashion Blogger Samantha Angelo

S+P - Summer 2013 - Photo by Alyssa Lina

A few months ago, when Peter and I found out that we were moving to NY, my father decided to make us a NYC soundtrack of all of his favorite songs about the big apple. We all know that there's no lack of music and songs based on the empire state,  just another accolade to the city that never sleeps, no place in the world like it. It's not just the music that's written about NY, it's the plays, TV shows, movies, and art that are all centered around life in the big city, there's no two ways around it, NYC is the greatest city in the world.

I'm trying to take advantage of these next couple of weeks and obsess over New York as a outsider, while I still can. New York has always been such a big part of who I am, and now I must say goodbye to that chapter of my life as a Non-New Yorker and step into the comfortable walking shoes of a NY resident/city dweller, which means I can't listen to songs about NY anymore, and I have to sell my huge canvas print of Lower Manhattan...I'm not complaining!

Track 1:

My first visit to NYC with the parents in 1997. Yes, I'm wearing a pleather jacket, don't judge!

  
My very favorite New York song has always been Sunday In New York by Bobby Darin, my dad got me hooked on this tune years ago and I always think of him when I hear it.

     "If you've got troubles,

Just take them out for a walk.

They'll burst like bubbles

In the fun of a Sunday In New York!

You can spend time without spending a dime,

Watching people watch people pass!"

 The thing that I love about NY is that you  have absolutely no clue what you might see, who you might meet, an interaction you might have, or what crazy things could be happening right outside your door. Everyday that you're there is a day that could change your life or influence you in a way you never knew possible. NY is like jazz in that way, it's totally improvised and never the same, because it's a city of people, and people are constantly changing and evolving.

 I love just staring out the window and trying to comprehend all of things that are going on at that exact moment, it's just like being back in Tanzania looking up at the Serengeti ceiling trying to understand the universe, with all of its flickering lights and wondrous complexities. 

Track 2:

Then we have the classic tune Manhattan by Dinah Washington, how can you not love this song! 

"The great big city's a wondrous toy

Just made for a girl and boy --

We'll turn Manhattan

Into an isle of joy."

  I'll never forget my friends telling me, years ago, about how different I am when I step foot on Manhattan, like a light switch, I start walking faster and standing taller. I always laughed and thought it was cute, and so true! The energy in NY infects me.

  Track 3:

Top of The Standard, ladies night!! Summer 2011(Lily, Sam, Amy)

Just last week I fell in love with this tune: New York City Blues by Peggy Lee. If you only listen to one of these songs, let it be this one!!!

"They say it's a great place to visit, but my heart tells me it's a better place to live."

"I love the people, yes the people, and how they make that big town swing. In the autumn, in the winter, in the summer, in the spring... yeah the people are everything."
    
For most people, NY is an inspirational environment, even with millions of us crammed onto this tiny island, it never feels crowded (unless you're in a stampede at the NY marathon or in Times Squares for NYE...) because it's the millions of people of NY that make it what it is: the ultimate melting pot of people from all over the world (approximately 800 spoken languages!!), of ALL walks of life, doing entirely different things. It boggles the mind to think of the countless reasons why any individual would move to Manhattan, it's beautiful and compelling. And most definitely fascinating. Entire careers have been built off of revealing these individuals out of the millions, if you haven't already, check out Humans of NY. Along with several 'street style' photographers that also make a living off of the people of NY, just this past summer I was stopped and photographed by Mr. Newton, while perusing the Brooklyn flea.  

Track 4:

The Boathouse, Summer 2012, NY afternoon/night that went down in history as one of the best.

I'm not too embarrassed to admit that I've been driving around DC blasting this next tune, New York Afternoon by Rare Silk. I've been cranking it as loud as my speakers can handle, trying to get it in before I have to part ways with my car. This song sounds so 80's and dated that it's actually current, or at least in my world it is. Right around 1:45 min is when it really starts to get hot, your welcome in advance! Christmas came early this year, thank you dad, this is my new favorite song in the whole world. I love how happy and goofy it is, and then you're like, "holy crap they're KILLING IT on the vocals!" Simply amazing. I plan on making my own music video to this tune...

Track 5:

New York Stock Exchange, November 2013

What better way to end the soundtrack than with the most famous and stereo typical NY tribute, New York, New York by legendary swoon-er Frank Sinatra.

 "I want to be a part of it, New York, New York"

"These DC blues, are melting away. I'll make a brand new start of it, in ol' New York!"

New York is unique in that so many people come to this city on a dream, a dream often based on doing something creative and unique, something extraordinary, or simply to make a better life for themselves and their families.  

My grandfather, Sam Angelo, and my new family, The Ostrega's (Anka, Zbig, and Koralia) are in this category. They are my inspiration in so many ways, after leaving everything they know and love for the dream of giving themselves and their children a brighter future. It takes a lot of courage to do this. From the moment I met Peter and his family I had a completely fresh take on the place where I was born and raised. I learned to never take this life, and the opportunities that come with it for granted. 

 My father in-law told me one of his favorite stories of their arrival to NYC from Poland:

"Peter and his mother flew into JFK airport and we stayed in NYC for a couple of days to see my sister and friends as well as to do some sightseeing. One of the first things we did, was to go to the NYSE. We went to the gallery of the stock exchange and I told Peter to watch how money is being made so that he would know how to do it :-) He must have retained the lesson well, given his age (4 yrs, 7 months). We're very proud of the success he has had and that little story always makes me laugh, particularly since he is now in charge of business development for his firm's Wall Street office."

- Zbig 

Young P

 New York City is the heart and soul of the land of opportunity, dreams are made here and they do come true, like good old blue eyes said,"If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere."  The bar is as high as it gets, because the most talented and hard working people in the world live in this city, you either keep up with that NY pace/work ethic or wither.

Bonus Wild Card Track:

(Robert, Sam, Evan) Lombardi Hotel, December 2012

You may need to mentally prepare yourself for this one, many years ago Evan Hart turned me on to this crazy German opera singer, Nina Hagen, who had her hay day on VHI in the 80's, and is best known for her theatrical and outlandish vocals. In more recent times her music has focused on civil rights, anti-establishment, anti-war, and anti-nuclear power icons and movement, mixed in with punk gospel, needless to say she is very unique. Dad, you're going to hate this, but at least get a good laugh out of it! Enjoy this disco/punk/opera song, New York New York by Nina Hagen.

"New York City is the hottest place for a honeymoon in a hotel room."

"New York City is my favorite place cuz I know so many people with a gold face...AHaaa!"  

What's your favorite New York tune?

 "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life."- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Around The Web

Tierney Sutton at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

My festive Stella McCartney clutch, perfect for a Valentine's date :-)

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's night with your loves, we went to Dizzy's to see jazz singer, Tierney Sutton, she did her own unique take on the tune Fever, that got everyone hot!

Have a great weekend and stay warm! Here are some links from around the web...

 Air Balloon by Lily Allen is one of those songs that you hear once and can't get out of your head, whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is up to you! Plus, it just so happens to be filmed in South Africa. I love when she throws the camera into space.

The worlds first subterranean park in New York's LES. Now THAT is innovation.

Design driven and glamorous online stationary, along with elegant digital wedding invitations for the modern bride and groom.

One of coolest and most exciting things about the District of Columbia: House Of Cards

Dreaming of summer: A handful of high end shoe designers are copying Chanel this season with their own unique take on the classic and comfortable espadrille flat. I find this pair by Tabitha Simmons to be particularly cute. 

Don't worry guys I have something for you too.  Looking for the perfect gift for the man in your life, during this treacherous winter season? Try these stylish galoshes, that are sure to his feet dry and fashion forward. I also love these rubber loafers below, by Gucci, so cute! The perfect all weather shoe for the NY business man.

A little backlash to Sheryl Sandburg's Lean In, debating the age old question that women around the globe struggle with, this journalist asks, is it time to lean out?   The comments on this article are feisty...yikes!