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 BY ANISHA LAKHANI | | | | December in New York is a warm embrace for the senses and my love affair with the city continues. A veritable mistletoe hangs over Manhattan, from Payard’s hot chocolate kiss to the lovers on Wollman Rink, skating well into the Central Park night. A hot toddy at the Rose Club ignites a fire of cloved whisky, apple spiced tea, and citrus organic clover honey while outside, carriage buggies await with mammoth velvet blankets to snuggle under on a midnight ride through my winter wonderland. |  | | | | PinkMemo’s Fashion Dish luncheon featuring designer Adam Lippes was indeed a succulent feast for the senses. Park Avenue South is one of my favorite strips in Manhattan, and I didn’t even mind the midday traffic - made slower by the Veteran’s Day parade on Fifth - because the city was lit with patriotism and uniformed men spilling onto Madison and Park. The venue was celebrated chef Todd English’s Olives Restaurant, in the private wine tasting room on the second floor of the hotel. Fresh off a plane from Vegas, Todd dashed to the restaurant and personally greeted guests as we sampled his dreamy December-inspired menu consisting of butternut squash soup with toasted chestnuts, a delicate ravioli, and the most divine Tuscan carrot cake I have eaten to date. The dashing Cornell grad and style guru Adam Lippes was equally taken with the feast, stealing Editor In Chief Katrina Szish’s dessert and playfully moaning, “Do I have to talk about the clothes?” as statuesque models wandered the room in head-to-toe looks from his Spring 2010 line. | |  Katrina Szish, Adam Lippes, Chef Todd English and Maxine Trowbridge | | | | | | | | “Yes” was the overwhelming cry, and with a dramatic sigh Adam rose to his feet and then gave us detailed descriptions of the looks, including suggestions of how to wear each piece as well as the inspirations behind the designs. “If it’s a fabulous, feathered skirt,” Adam shared, pointing to an outrageous black skirt in a frenzy of feathers and beading at the waist, “I might even pair it with something simple. Like a T-shirt. J. Lo just wore this in cream.” | | | | | | | 
Adam Lippes and Hayley Bloomingdale | | The skirt will not be available till February, but we were invited to an exclusive opportunity to pre-order any item we desired – “Try it on!” Adam generously urged - as well as VIP cards for discounts at his expansive Meatpacking District store. A $500 raffle was announced midway through the luncheon, and winner Keren Eldad of the L.A. Times threw back her head and sighed, “Yes!” Hosted by Founder and CEO Maxine Trowbridge and Editor In Chief Katrina Szish, our debut New York Fashion Dish luncheon was an overwhelming success -- guests Hayley Bloomingdale, Annabel Vartanian, Laura Rubin, Melissa Foss, Georgiana Bland, Lara Glaister, Karen Klopp, Sana Rizvi, Michelle Franzen and other well-heeled ladies joined PinkMemo, Adam Lippes and Todd English in the spirit of fun, fashion, and charity. Gift bags included a variety of soft Adam tops, cupcakes, VIP discounts, gift cards to Completely Bare salon, and treats from the W Hotel. Proceeds of sales from the luncheon were donated to Dress For Success. | | | | | | | | At The Pierre, a dash of spice and a nod to Indian summer continued to keep our embers burning. In collaboration with Assouline, Waris Ahluwalia, Mortimer Singer, and Tina Bhojwani created a scrapbook of personal photos, stories, and anecdotes from people who visited and loved India entitled simply: To India With Love: From NY to Mumbai Contributors include Adrien Brody, Cynthia Rowley, Matthew Williamson, Rachel Roy, Tory Burch, Padma Lakshmi, Billy Farrell, Natalie Portman, and a host of other notables enamored by India’s exotic charm, and proceeds go toward victims of the attacks in Mumbai in 2008. Eclectic finger foods and an endless flow of champagne heated up the night, which was also Waris’ birthday! The book is a visual masterpiece and a love letter to India, and was lavishly celebrated by enthusiastic New Yorkers while smoking hot DJ Donna De Cruz spun an eclectic set of tunes at the magical Pierre Hotel. | | 
Waris Ahluwalia | | | | | | | | 
Maggie Katz, Ivanka Trump,
Lauren Santo Domingo | | Blocks away a candle burned and Manhattan was aflame once again in a toasty ode to the senses. Make-up artist Alexa Rodulfo’s collection of wood-based scented candles that come in Bois Sauvage, Bois Blanc, and Bois D’Amour - the eponymous Bois D’Alexa launched earlier this year - were fêted at Ivanka Trump’s glittering Madison Avenue jewel box boutique. The newly married Ivanka was joined by husband Jared Kushner, and friends Maggie Katz, Lauren Santo Domingo, Amanda Hearst, Cornelia Erklentz, Glenda Bailey, Stephanie LaCava, Roopal Patel, Bonnie Morrison, and Zani Gugelmann. “Bois Blanc is my favorite,” the radiant bride declared, and the heavenly scent immediately intoxicates when entering into her world of jewels as the new Mrs. Jared Kushner always has the candle burning.
With all my senses inspired this holiday season, I look forward to spending my free time beside a warm fire, snuggled in an Adam cardigan and luxuriously pouring over the various anecdotes in the glossy pages of To India With Love. . . in a room scented by Bois Blanc, of course! If only the Rose Club would deliver that divine hot toddy. . . | | | | | | |
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