AUSTRALIA COMES TO NYC!

It feels like we tapped our heels together and said “there is no place like home” because the last month has had a distinctly Aussie feel.

Outback Steakhouse
Remember Lonestar Steakhouse?  It featured American style food, boot scootin’ staff and stuffed animal heads on the walls.  Outback Steakhouse is kind of the Aussie doppelganger in the United States.  It’s basically American food with hilarious Aussie names.  Would anyone care to try the "Walkabout Soup of the Day", or perhaps the "Alice Springs Quesadillas"?   Quesadillas may be a staple in Mexico but not in the Northern Territory.  Stand out funniest menu item was "Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie".  How many Australians refer to prawns as shrimp? Outback Steakhouses are not common in New York City but I have been assured that they can be found on the side of most highways across the United States. http://www.outback.com

Gimmicks aside, my first Outback Steakhouse experience was extremely fun.  Accompanied by my Outback aficionados, we braved the faux outback and for the bargain basement price of $14 I got a 6 ounce steak and 4 crabs legs.   Highlight was the "Bloomin Onion", which is deep fried onion cut into the shape of a blossom.  It was absolutely delicious and totally worth the 1966 calories.

The way the onion is cut looks like a blossom.  Get it?

The flag on the right was instantly recognizable.
The one on the left had me stumped so I assumed
that is was bullshit.  A quick google search revealed
it is actually the national flag for Christmas Island. 
Weird choice, right?

Birthday Cakes
On July 13th, Tim celebrated his 35th birthday.  He naively thought that his birthday would pass under the radar at work.  This was not the case and his co-worker Pat, organized a birthday cake for him with a very special message. 

Check out the inscription "mate".

Tim took me to Parm for my birthday where I enjoyed a s'mores inspired 3-layer ice-cream cake.  Bottom layer was coconut, middle was chocolate and the top was marshmallow.  Each flavor was separated by a thin layer of chocolate biscuit and the base was sprinkled with graham cracker crumbs.  Delish!!!! http://parmnyc.com/

S'more meaning "some more" is the traditional American
campfire treat made by sandwiching a roasted marshmallow
and chocolate between two graham crackers.

Surprise Wallabirthday Party
Under the guise of saying goodbye to our dear friend Claire, who has gone home to Florida for six weeks, we went to Eight Mile Creek, our local Aussie bar.  We were totally blown away by the surprise Aussie Birthday party that our amazing New York friends had organized.  We were treated to kangaroo pictures, digger hats, boomerangs and mechanical kangaroo toys, which sound much more like dolphins than kangaroos. 

Big thanks to Carly, Claire, Les and Yosie for
organizing such a special afternoon.

FASHION WEEK AT LINCOLN CENTER

Ladies, what is the most glamorous thing one could do on a Tuesday morning in New York City? 

 

The Badgley Mischka Fall 2012 show, that's what!

Fashion Week is certainly a sight to be seen.  My mental calculator couldn't even fathom the sort of money that was needed to create such a grand event.  So what ingredients went into making this incredible cake couture? 


1.  THE VENUE



 





2. THE SPONSORS

Mercedes Benz, the namesake

DHL, the official transport provider for Fashion Week

TRESemme, for all your haircare needs.
They even had a salon upstairs.

Maybelline.  I am already plotting my own
interpretation of these bird inspired eyes.

 

3.  THE CLOTHES AND MODELS

4.  THE DESIGNERS

Mark Badgley and James Mischka

Les S, the man behind the beautiful beading
(and the only reason I got to see the show or go back stage)

5.  THE CELEBRITIES


A very blurry shot of the celebs in the front row

Kelly Osbourne backstage

Joan Rivers backstage

Journalist Erin Andrews, reality star turned style
guru Kelly Osbourne and actress Shay Mitchell

6.  FASHION GROUPIES

Wildest dressed ladies of the morning

HAPPY NEW YEARS 2012!

Picture courtesy of the New York Post

BIG DECISIONS IN A BIG CITY
Deciding what to do on New Years is quite the conundrum!  One needs to balance the pros and cons of the many options available.  This year we were spoilt for choice: fundraising event for international survivors of sex-trafficking, loft party with our landlord in Long Island, house party in Brooklyn, or a live concert featuring local pop stars, Matt and Kim.  After much deliberation we settled on the latter.

Truthfully, we didn't even consider going to Times Square because of the crowds.  They estimate that one million people attend the huge party each year and with limited access to food and toilets, it didn't seem like a very fun option.

Here is our how to guide for a great New Years in New York:

Step 1: Surround yourself with as many friends as possible

The lovely ladies of NYC

 

The not so lovely lads


Step 2: Identify something fun to do

"Matt and Kim" played a super energetic and fun set.
I don't think either of them ever stopped smiling.

Step 3: Ensure the venue is suitable

The Hammerstein Ballroom is perfect for live music and big crowds

Step 4: Have an exit strategy

Taxis are few and far between on New Years,
so being near a train station is a must.

OUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
They say the key to keeping your New Years resolutions is to keep it simple.  Don't make grandiose plans to "loose 20kg" or vague statements about "travelling more".  Instead, pick achievable, specific resolutions that you know you can stick to.  This year, Tim's resolution is to not use his credit card (except in emergencies).  And I am going to take the stairs, instead of the escalator where ever possible.

Thanks for the inspiration Anne!  Goodbye stairs and
hello to being embarrassingly out of breath more often.

MOST TALKED ABOUT KISS
I don't know how much publicity this got in Australia, but the kiss on everyone's lips here was between Mayor Bloomberg and Lady Gaga in Times Square.

For once, it wasn't Gaga's outfit that was the most shocking. What was Mayor Bloomberg thinking?

JUST BECAUSE...
Spotted at Astor Place on New Years Day: a street performer dressed in a ladies once piece and bras (plural).  It was unseasonably warm for this time of year, but it certainly wasn't swimsuit weather.

What did he need the helmet for?

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK...

TO BE CONTINUED...

We may not have seen snow in Manhattan, but we did vicariously experience a white Christmas thanks to a workmate who took this little piece of Oz home with her to Vermont. 

Thanks Anne V!

CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK

I'M DREAMING OF A WHIIIIIITE CHRISTMAS
Alas we didn't see any snow and being away from family was hard, but rest easy everyone because we still had a great Christmas!

CHRISTMAS ABODES

Although we didn't leave the city, we did enjoy a mini-vacation from Chinatown.

This tree on the roof was the only sign of Christmas on our
street.  Apart from that it was business (and smells) as usual.

 
Thanks to Ma & Pa Pak we lived the high life for exactly 2.5 days in the Mariott Marquis.  When Mum mentioned the hotel was centrally located, she wasn't kidding! The entrance to the hotel was smack bam in the middle of Times Square on the corner of Broadway and 46th Streets.  



Times Square feels like the centre of the universe.

The space-shuttle like elevators whisk you
from floor to floor at stomach jumping speeds.

Greatest shower ever!  Look at the size of the shower head!
You could wash an elephant with this thing.

CHRISTMAS TREES
Before Tim went home for a pre-Christmas trip to Oz, he left me a little surprise.  My own mini Christmas tree.  This is actually the first real Christmas tree I have ever owned.  FYI.... real trees smell delicious!

Handmade owl ornament courtesy of
Anne, my crafty workmate

From the tiniest Christmas Tree in New York, to the grandest.  Meet the 2011 Rockefeller evergreen. 

This 74-foot, 75-year-old Norway Spruce was cut down

in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.



Then was transported to the Rockefeller Center, where it was
decorated with 30,000 multi-colored, energy-efficient LED
Christmas lights strung over five miles of wire and topped with
a star containing 25,000 Swarovski crystals.

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Whoever said Christmas isn't about giving is straight up crazy!  Never fear, Santa has a fantastic GPS system and never fails to locate us, despite our ever changing locations.  This year we were showered in clothes, jewellery, video games and concert tickets.

Look at all our prezzies!

 Gotye tickets from Mel and Jeff.

Ahhh, a sheepskin hat.  What else could a girl ask for?
Some eye cream me thinks.  Check out those dark circles!

 

Most terrifying zombie game on the market -
Dead Island, courtesy of Tim's secret santa, Julie.



Gorgeous silver cuff & new wallet from my secret santa, Miriam




I may not have gotten a White Christmas, but I did get a white dress. 

PS - What was the stylist thinking by pairing this dress
with riding boots?  I like me some boot action with a short
skirt but this looks like a barn yard mess.



CHRISTMAS DINNER
Temperature plays a big part in the type of meal you eat at Christmas.  We kissed the cold seafood and chilled ham goodbye this year and enjoyed a hot dinner at Brasserie, a delicious french restaurant at the base of the Seagram Building (Canadian distillers) on East 53rd Street.

Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Seagram Building

stands 516 feet tall with 38 stories, and was completed in 1958. 

It is considered one of the finest examples of the functionalist

aesthetic and a masterpiece of corporate modernism.



Appetizer: We both had the scallops and brussel sprouts

Entrees: Tim enjoyed the duck and I devoured the lamb. 
Sadly my New York existence is highly lacking in lamb. 

Desserts: They changed the menu last minute. 
Tim had carrot cake (not listed) and I had the chocolate tart.


Big hugs and kisses to everyone for their Christmas messages, cards, presents and cheer!