Out And About

The social life certainly is perking up this autumn. Between Junior League parties and the New Yorker festival, this past weekend was quite a scene.

These are a few from the Junior League party this weekend, one of my favorites of the year. It's rare that you get a chance to get dressed up, have some drinks and just chop it up with your friends, all just a few feet from a dance floor. Logic would dictate that a cab or an Uber would bring me home after, but I'm always fascinated by how crowded subways are in the middle of the night. When I first came to Manhattan, I had a few friends who refused to take the subway after 8:00 p.m. because they felt it was unsafe. This was on the advice of their parents, who hadn't lived in New York City since the 1980s. It was outdated and silly, and, quite frankly, made them seem like little princessas (Notable: all have since defected to the suburbs, never to be heard from again.)

Unless it's freezing or I'm carrying a lot of bags, I rarely hop in cabs. Trains and buses have always been my thing. Fast, efficient, and far from the nuisance of traffic. (If you ever want to see me truly lose my mind, stick me in a cab in the middle of Midtown traffic.)



Also seen: Lego flowers in Madison Square Park.

Margs + Wine

A perfect summer night + margs at Tortilla Flats + Bordeaux at Quarter on Hudson Street = a fantastic birthday.

A Birthday

So, it's my birthday, the Day of Days. The older one gets the stranger birthdays are to deal with. Are you supposed to tell people? Is that fishing for compliments or being a princess? Then again, if there's one day out of the year that you want to be treated nicely, it's your birthday.

Here are a few things that I think every birthday should include:

The best version of Happy Birthday, ever, by the Tings Tings, on Yo Gabba Gabba. (I put it on everyone's Facebook page on their birthday.)


Baubles from Baccarat

Great wine

All your peeps. (From the Dirty 30 weekend a few years back.)

First Mister Softee Of The Season

At 79th Street and Fifth Avenue. A fancee softee!

This Is How We Spend Our Time

At the New York Junior League Bags n' Bubbles Auction. Photo courtesy of Guest of a Guest.

You Better Work.

I had so much fun at the Dr. Oz show today. They run a great show and the staff is amazing.

I will have lots of photos to post soon, but this one is my favorite, taken in a random mirror backstage.

And my outfit, of course. It's a dress I've had in my closet for over a year. I decided to show it a good time. I'm channeling Joan from Mad Men.

Sometimes You Just Have A Great Night

Last night was the New York Junior League's Fall Fete. It's my favorite party of the year since it is both party and auction. This year it was at The Union Club, which from a decor perspective could not get any better with its soaring ceilings and marble floors.

I counted at least five women wearing this Diane von Furstenburg dress. Lace was having quite a moment last night. The dress looked great on all of them, which I suppose is DVF's whole ethos.

See more official Guest of a Guest photos here.

With two of my favorite Junior League people, Suzanne and Colleen. Despite being in Manhattan for 13 years, this is my first appearance on Guest of a Guest. You'd think I never leave the house.

I Learn About New Music At The Burlington Coat Factory

Tonight I was in the Burlington Coat Factory in Union Square (this is how I spend my Friday nights) when the song below came on over the intercom. It's by Mat Kearney, who I was really into in 2007 when he first came out, thanks in large part to some publicists at Sony who always kept me on their distribution lists.

Then for some reason I stopped following him and his music, which is a shame because is he awesome and apparently has been on tour incessantly for the past few years. How do I miss these things?

'Here We Go' came out three years ago but it will worm its way into your ear. You've been warned.


Apparently he recently played the Red Rocks in Colorado. I seriously need to get back on the music PR lists.

Ready For The Party!

Off to Old Greenwich for my brother Andrew's pre-wedding party. It's a gorgeous day. See ya later, Manhattan!

The dress is from the Venus catalog. For serious. They have some great stuff.

NYC Half Marathon Finisher! 2:16!

Afterward, I had lunch with my oldest friends -- the Crupis!


Jen et moi. We date back to 1983

A Few Of Andre

While I was running a loop of Central Park. Tom and Andre hit the East River Park.

This kid is such a New Yorker.


A is for Andre.


Other letters are cool, too.

Could Everyone Get Around The Tree?

Another Saturday night, another holiday party. This one found Erin C. and I in Tribeca, in a room lit by an enormous white Christmas tree -- on a table.

Life is all about experimenting with available light.


Arty or just blurry? Hipster album cover?


Erin with the hostess, Roseanne. She put together a great spread -- with tons of Prosecco. Bonus points.


I tried some new things, hair wise. This one is actually inspired by Rhoda on the Mary Tyler Moore show, in an episode where she wins a local beauty pagaent. Long story.


Future versions will be more curly and romantic, and less Jersey prom.

Off To The Races

Documenting the good hair for this evening's Christmas party.

Good times were had.

'Tis The Season...

For Mariah Carey's Christmas album!!

Since 1997 I have owned three copies of this album, and just bought my fourth on iTunes (only $7.99!)

It's Mariah Carey doing her finest vocal gymnastics, and, production wise, it honestly could be one of the best albums ever made. For serious. You can't listen to her version of "Joy To The World" and not be happy.

In case it isn't obvious already, I love Christmas and all the schlock that comes with it -- Christmas albums, Rockefeller Center and especially Christmas cards. This weekend I sent out my first batch of them. If you're on the A-list, yours is en route. ;-)

Dispatches From Last Night: The NYJL Fall Fete

Last night was the New York Junior League's Fall Fete. It was at the Hudson Terrace and it was fantastic. I was on the committee from 2009-2010, so have a real attachment to the event.

First, the dress! Because you can't wear just any old thing to a New York Junior League event.


Second, Erin C., my plus-one. She had never been to a League event before and said she, "Fell into cocktail dress heaven."


The room. It was incredibly well attended. The Hudson Terrace is two levels and a fantastic space for any occasion.


Unphotographed: The dive bar across the street that we ended up at afterwards.
11th Avenue and 46th Street is not the hottest neighborhood in town. At 12:30 a.m. we knew it was time to go when some dockworker guys tried to send us over some drinks.

Girl Around Town Party

It's been a busy week here on Planet Pauline. Here are a few shots from a party last Friday for Girl Around Town. It's a blog written by two bon vivants about their lives in New York and Houston.

The photos were taken by Will Star of Shootings Star Photography. He's awesome -- hire him for your next event.

Erin C. and Mary, one of the Girls About Town.


Good things come in threes.


Looking a little demonic.

This Is How We Roll: Skating At The Highline!

Just when I thought New York City couldn't be more fun, The Highline installs a roller rink. Erin C. and I checked it out today and not only is there is a rink, it's flanked by a Biergarten. Hallelujah, urban development.

It was free this weekend but $12 per person from now on. Totally worth it.

The rink and The Highline


Portrait of a serious skater.


Special rollerskating socks. $2 at The Highline.

Sunday Funday

It's been yet another great week over here on Planet Pauline -- Wednesday drinks at The Standard Biergarten and yesterday's Playground Improvement Project with the New York Junior League. We worked on the Sara D. Roosevelt park on the Lower East Side. It may look today as if my arms are smeared with blood, but it's really just the oil based paint that will take a while to wash off. I swear I didn't kill a man.

Anastascia's been quite the partner in crime lately. With any luck I'll be on her boat in the harbor next weekend -- when it isn't raining cats and trees.

Allison And Jason's Wedding = Best Time Ever

Saturday afternoon found me on a random bus into Middle of Nowhere, New Jersey, but it was well worth braving the Port Authority to get to Allison and Jason's wedding. Congrats, you crazy kids!

Allison, a friend from college, married Jason, who is 6'7. (His two brothers and father are just as tall.) Their nuptials were glam and the food was plentiful. Full set is here.

I also must offer accolades to the Woodcliff Lake Hilton, where I stayed. Since I came earlier than the other guests they sent the shuttle to pick me up literally on the side of the road where the bus from New York City left me. Free of charge! I felt like such a rock star coming out of that conversion van once we got to the hotel.

First things first: pre-game shots. I had literally an hour and a half to pull myself into black tie mode before the bus left for the wedding venue, the Rockleigh Country Club.

Not too shabby with the hot rollers.


In front of the Christmas tree in the lobby. So festive.


Sydney et moi. I need to stop slouching in photos.


With Kate. Keep it klassy, Sydney.


The Rockleigh Country Club is one of the loveliest places I've ever been for a wedding. This was just the reception area.


Allison's wedding was genius because they had the cocktail hour right when we arrived. I thought this meant a few passed hors d'oeurves. Oh, no. There was an entire room full of amazing food and drink. There was also a trio of a piano, saxophone and a violin, playing jazz standards and traditional Hebrew music. Unreal. They also used this time to sign the ketubah, the Jewish marriage contract.

Let's sign a ketubah!


How gorgeous is Allison?


I got into the Kir Royales, as is my way at such events.


The Chuppah. I should add that this wedding was one of the most audibly pleasing events I've ever been to. I don't know who arranged their music, but where ever we went there was beautiful, live music. The music aficionado in me appreciated this.


Horah time! Note the special Horah chairs with extra bars for lifting. TR totally would have been recruited to lift a chair. For this reason alone, he is glad he missed the wedding. TR isn't into lifting heavy objects.


I admire (feel for?) the guys who got enormous Jason up.


Jason and Allison's mother. I'm not sure why, but I love this shot.


Father of the bride. I love Allison's expression.


OK, enough Horah, although is was a quality Horah. The cake!


Fleurs!


First dance.


Cake cutting. They played "When I'm 64" during this part, which is the sweetest little love song ever written.


The very happy couple et moi. I'm 5'6 and Jason is clearly a foot taller than me.