My Life As A Princess: 03.07

East Coast Trip - New York

Destination number two was NYC. This wasn't my first time to New York, I lived there when I was a little girl and visited as a tourist some years ago. This time, I didn't do the touristy things, instead, I did more adult oriented fun things. I had a blast!

First and Foremost

I have to say that New Yorkers have an impeccable sense of fashion. At least most of the people I saw walking up and down the streets. I couldn't take my eyes off these people! It was so stimulating, so fashionably fantastic!

I Said A Prayer

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is the largest gothic-style Catholic Cathedral in the United States. It's so beautiful! Breathtaking! I stayed for mass regardless of the fact that I'm not even sure if I'm a catholic any more. It was a special day. Well worth my time!

My Taste Buds In Heaven

Possibly the best Italian food I've had in my life. Bella Napoli is a little hole in the wall. It came strongly recommended by a business man who we bumped into on our way to Broadway. We asked for instructions, inquired about a local, non-chain food place and we were directed to this heavenly trattoria. Amazing! If ever in NY, you have to eat there!

Oh Mother!

We watched Mama Mia on Broadway. It was a very exciting experience. The show was amazing! I love ABBA and I loved the way they fit their music into the play's story line. Mama Mia made me want to sing and dance! So much fun!

Sex on Display

I heard about this place and was drawn to it out of a great sense of curiosity. As stated on their website, The Museum of Sex is dedicated to the exploration of the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality. There's no censorship and everything sexual is presented in an unbiased manner, open to your own interpretation. All too educational to be deemed pornographic, or not...

Food + Rock & Roll = Happiness

As much as I hate chain food places, wherever there's a Hard Rock Cafe, I have to visit. My sweet friend Claudia and I had lunch at NYC's locale where we caught up, had a couple of drinks (souvenir glass included) and indulged in a memorabilia filled afternoon.

Art Me Modern

This was one of my favorite stops! The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)was the first museum devoted to the modern era from the 1800s to the present day. It is home to Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, Henri Matisse's Dance and Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans, plus much, much more. On their current exhibits, they had Jeff Wall's photography, he's a sack of talent, his work so meaningful and touching. Amazing!

Another Beautiful Brunch Moment

Imagine sitting inside a place that resembles a garden (smack in the middle of the city) while sipping on a Bellini and biting into a burger topped with spinach and an egg... Gorgeous, delicious, fabulous! That's just how great the Noho Star is! Located in Noho (next to Soho, Duh), this place delivers outstanding food in a casual atmosphere at reasonable prices.

Side Note: Other places I visited in NY were The Sony Wonder Technology Lab, nirvana for the geek within us, great place to learn about technology; The One Nightclub, famous for Britney's wardrobe change in the public eye (located in the Meatpacking District); Central Park's Zoo, an adorable little place full of charm and easy to cover, The Rainbow Room, established in 1934 by John D. Rockefeller Sr., perched on a 65th floor, this place has amazing views, a strict dress code and 'okay' drinks; Millenium Hilton, we spent a night there, located next to Ground Zero, everything in it is brand new; Ground Zero/WTC, moving, makes you hurt, sad.

East Coast Trip - Boston

Boston was my first stop. Amazing City. I know I'm usually falling in love all over the place but Boston left me breathless. I stayed at R's place with her adorable Hubby and her new baby (the cutest dog in the east-coast). I wish she would adopt me so I can move in with them!

Here we go:

Can You Hear Me? This is Yum!

Loud, busy and boozing with fun. At Whiskey's Smokehouse the food is cheap, the drinks were good and the crowd was a mix of college students and young adults (after-work people) looking for a good evening munch & drink.

'Good Shit'

Happily Snowed In - Cocktails & A First Time

On my second day in Boston, I got to experience a snowstorm from the comfort of R's couch. She made her world famous sandwiches (they're totally fantastic, she should cater) and killer cocktails. We watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I was a Rocky Horror virgin... Not anymore! (I loved it).

Boston Cream Pie...

The Omni Parker House is home to the original Boston Cream Pie, this charming restaurant is located inside the Omni Parker Hotel. One of Boston's oldest restaurants. It's divine!

St. Patty's Day Partying

The East Coast takes St. Patrick’s Day really seriously. For obvious reasons of course, plus Boston is a college town so the Irish and non-Irish all wanted to party. We ended up at a place called The Bar Room. Not the most exciting place in the world, but considering that most places had lines that ran down entire blocks, it was perfect! After dancing, drinking and scouting hot party-goers, we ended up at Mickey D's where a very drunk blonde beauty decided to share her peeing experience with us (she peed right on McD's floor, in front of everyone).

Brunch Me Happy

One of my favorite eateries was American Joe's , their brunch was just fabulous. We had Eggs Benedict, Mimosas and fabulously fluffy pancakes. It was better than good!

Shopping Pretty

Newbury Street is sort of like a 3rd Street Promenade replacing the bums with architecture dating from the 1800's. It consists of 8 pretty blocks filled with shops, boutiques, chain stores, salons, spas, restaurants and coffee shops. Perfect for an afternoon of shopping fun!

Historic Walk, Good Exercise Too!

Like a good tourist, I couldn't leave Boston without doing the Freedom Trail self-guided tour. Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile path that leads to 16 of the country's most significant landmarks. The sites are not adaptations or re-creations; they're the real thing and that made it unique, fabulous and amazing!

Side Note: Other places I visited were China Pearl Restaurant, best Dim Sum in town, McCormick & Schmicks, good seafood and amazing shrimp wraps, Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market, food heaven, everything you might want to eat in Boston, fast-food style, cheap, delicious, The Bell in Hand, the oldest Tavern in the US (established in 1720), The North End, kind of like a Little Italy, very charming, gorgeous, Harvard Square, home to Harvard University, majestic, impressive!

Out - No Return

I've been wanting to blog. This is my baby. Unfortunately, when I've had time, I haven't had a good net connection and when I had good connection, I didn't have time... All is well, I have many stories to share so check in next week and be ready for some juicy stuff.

Hit The Road Jack ♪

The Princess (me, of course) will be leaving Los Angeles tomorrow. The following posts will take place from the East Coast, where I plan to load up on the good and the bad, just to tell you all about it!

*Side Note: If there’s anything you think I shouldn’t miss in Boston or NYC please DO let me know!

300... Ugh!

I'm trying to think of something nice to say... Give me a second... I'm reaching in... Nothing! Okay, I take it back, there is something good I can say: The picture was a piece of art! Taken it's Frank Miller, slightly dark with fantastic visuals in a comic-book-esque way, it was to be expected.

On the other hand, there's no story line. 300 is a shallow film. Just a bunch of pretty all around. Hot men, gorgeous women, great graphics and pretty picture. That's all.

Hot & Sweaty: Yoga Time!

I heard the buzz about Bikram Yoga and had to check it out. I haven’t been able to decide if I’m crazy about it yet but 2 classes into it I can definitely say I like it. It’s a different approach to working out, and I like the fact that it focuses on wellness of body and mind as a whole. I’m a cardio kinda girl but I can see how this works.

Bikram Yoga is a class that goes over several yoga positions to stretch and strengthen specific muscles, it takes places in a heated room, conditioning your muscles and stimulating your organs, glands and nerves.

I visited the Yoga studio in Silverlake, where they’re running an awesome introductory offer for first-timers (pay $20 and get 7 consecutive days of unlimited Yoga sessions). The staff was very helpful in guiding me towards a great first-time experience and I will definitely be completing my first-timer series and possibly making it a part of my health, mind & body rituals.

Crepes On A Sidewalk

I had been eyeing this little café for a couple of months already and I kept telling myself to stop and check it out but never had the time. So on Tuesday I told my boyfriend that we should have dinner there and I finally got the chance to venture into its eating delights.

Solar de Cahuenga is a delightful little surprise for your taste buds, pocket and comfort zone. It’s a no-frills eatery that serves up savory crepes at a moderate price in a café style setting. You walk up to the counter, place your order, choose a table and 15 minutes later, a happy-faced employee delivers your meal to you for your great enjoyment.

Outdoor seating is provided on the sidewalk covered by a tent that makes you feel like you’re still inside.

Monday Bar Hopping – Mission Failed!

One of my BFF’s friends is visiting from out of town and she’ll only be here for a couple of days so in an attempt to show her the Los Angeles night life we decided to take her bar hopping.

Our first stop was Spaceland in Silver Lake. On Mondays, they showcase up-and-coming alternative/Indie bands with no cover charge. It's a mellow yet loud place, I was expecting it to feel like I was in outer space and although its decoration is fairly extraterrestrial, the vibe was mostly rockabilly mixed with emo. Cool Bonus: There was tons of writing on the bathroom stalls and one inconspicuous message read “Sex will save you from death”… Totally ingenious!

Our second stop was supposed to be Micky’s in WeHo where on Mondays they feature “Showgirls”. We never made it pass the door. Their $5 cover charge for a Monday night didn’t feel appealing to us girls.

After driving around forever we ended up at La Velvet Margarita in Hollywood. Described by LA.com as “A Quentin Tarantino-esque restaurant that is colorful and dimly lit with a mix of American Pop and Mexican underground cultures”, this place screams weird and fun. I loved it! Unfortunately, it was getting late already so we only stayed for a little bit.

So last night's partying wasn't as successful as other nights but at least we discovered a place for Margaritas with an edge and for rock bands that may someday be on the radio!

Saturday Booty Shakin'

I had been waiting to go to Bootie LA since the moment I heard about it. Bootie LA is the only mashup/bootleg party in Los Angeles and it takes place at The Echo the first Saturday of every month.

The venue isn't great and the location is not the most prime part of town but the vibe was electric, the music awesome and DJs were geniuses. Bootie LA is for music enthusiasts with an open mind, for the non-homophobic and for people who want to dance all night.

$10 will get you through the door, entering an unreal musical experience that will shake your senses and loosen up your nerves.

Moving Those Legs!

One of my fabulous birthday presents this year was a cruiser bike. It's fantasitic! I feel completely invigorated when I'm riding my bike and the wind is hitting my face. I can't wait for it to be a little warmer so I can take longer strolls. My boyfriend bought a bike of his own last night so if you see a sexy couple cruising in their bikes, that might be us!

Still Doing The Wednesday Thing...

I told myself to slow down a bit and try to only go out on weekends but it's been so hard to follow through with it... Yesterday I had dinner at Chadaka Thai with two beauties: Lore & Silvana. We then had post-dinner drinks at The Chalet, a hidden, comfy, speak-easy spot in Eagle Rock that resembles a Swiss countryside home.

This place offers the basics: Affordable drinks and background jams… It’s such a chill spot that going here on a weekday doesn’t feel like ‘going out’ at all.

I'm In Love - Shoe Craze!

I love shoes! They are the one thing that you can ALWAYS count on. They will always fit, they make or break your outfit and they can dress up or dress down anything you pair them with. My favorite season for shoe shopping is Spring because you can get away with wearing close-toe shoes or sandals, high or low heals, pretty much everything goes!

Here's my immediate wish list:

BCBG Girls "Ileney" Wedge - $98