Julianne Moore Retrospective

Academy Award nominee and Golden  Globe winner for "Still Alice"   Julianne Moore was feted by the Museum of the Moving Image for Lifetime Achievement. Luminaries from theater, television and film Candice Bergen , Ellen Barkin, Rebecca Miller and husband director Bart Freudlich paid homage to her career at a gala in New York City last night. Moore has starred in films by such esteemed directors as Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, Safe, I’m Not There), the Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski), Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia), Neil Jordan (The End of an Affair), Lisa Cholodenko (The Kids Are Alright), Alfonso Cuaron (Children of Men), Steven Spielberg (The Lost World: Jurassic Park), Ridley Scott (Hannibal), and Robert Altman (Cookie’s Fortune, Short Cuts).

 She is a five-time Academy Award nominee and is the ninth person in Academy history to receive two acting Oscar nominations in the same year for her performances in Far From Heaven (Best Actress nomination) and The Hours (Best Supporting Actress nomination), after receiving many critic’s awards and SAG and Golden Globe nominations for both. For her acclaimed performance as Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in the HBO original movie Game Change, Moore received Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy Awards. The museum will honor her work with a retrospective that continues through January 25th featuring her films, Boogie Nights, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Safe, The End of the Affair, and Far From Heaven. This is the year of Julianne Moore.

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The Kacy Duke Diaries

While I sip my Berry Blender Breakfast let me turn you on to Kacy Duke. Kacy Duke’s mantra is to embrace a new attitude and accept your self and your body where you   are and have a year round approach to fitness. By loving yourself in the body you have now and building on the positive changes you want to make her program motivates me.  Fitness maven Kacy Duke  launched her YouTube web series, Kacy Duke Diaries to get all of us on track to health and  fitness. Kacy juggles a packed calendar of private clients (that have included Iman, Julianne Moore, Lenny Kravitz), television and press appearances (Redbook, Essence, Good Morning America), empowerment workshops and fitness events.  In her book, ”Show It Love Workout”, Kacy’s approach focuses on self-love and acceptance. Now via webisodes she shares recipes, motivation and workout routines because, “Why webisodes, why now? Well, for starters, every day I share healthy lifestyle information with my clients, and I wanted to find a way to reach a larger audience to spread my personal gospel of fitness, food, fashion and of course, fun! By creating the Kacy Duke Diaries webisode series, I’m looking to connect with potentially millions of people — and offer healthy, simple, sensible solutions to the challenges of modern life, with style, humor and a “can-do” attitude.”  Kacy Duke Fitness launched the webisodes and is in production on the next group. Now we can  stay inspired to blast through to a healthy self  for the New Year.

My Fav Biz Books

I admit I have an eclectic list of my favorite business books but I learned something monumental from each one. From "Mob Rules" I learned true business etiquette and networking. 50 Cent shows you the difference from being a wanksta and a gangsta. In visionary Barbara Corcoran's book she describes a moment were she buys flowers from a bodega and hits the ATM and her receipt balance is in the millions. From Kawasaki's book I learned to share information and be sincere in social media. Before Arianna founded the uber successful Huffington Post she ran and lost a runoff to be governor of California. She rolled with it because failure is a part of success. I learned to embrace failure and success. My favorite business quote comes from legend Shirley MacLaine, " Success and failure are the same to me. I am always working hard." True that.

Beauty and the Beat : Brette Taylor

 Brette Taylor has packed her blue jeans, cowboy boots and guitar and moved to "Nashville".  The curvaceous blonde actress and singer has joined the all ABC hit show as Pam York, a back up singer  with a complicated past. Brette is excited, "I’m honored to be working with such talented veteran actors & muscians! " Music is in her blood, Brette's dad worked with music legends John Lennon, Buddy Miles and Phillip Glass. Her mom actress Chris nurtured the acting bug early with training at     New York's High School of Performing Arts.  Her big break came in a role on "All My Children". A Ford model  she has appeared in over a dozen national commercials. Brette has penned her own country music compositions in her album, "Breaking News".  Her interest in challenging roles lead her to tackle episodic Televsion ( "Rescue Me", " The Beast", Gotham ) , theater ("Chicago", "Burning Blue")and film (Return to Paradise, Laws of Attraction).  When Brette sashays those long legs on to the set. Drama never looked so beautiful.

The Ponytail

Lately I have found the best hoop and chandelier earrings. What is more perfect then wearing a ponytail to showcase them. I love how models in the big fashion shows wear them.

I am also a big fan of the look on Lucy Liu , JLo and Sade. I adore them as well! Inspiration to be chic.

Late Night Session @ Dizzy’s Club

The quintessetial late night pleasure in Manhattan is listening to cool jazz in an elegant space with a spectacular view of the city preferably with a lethal drink and tasty nibbles. What may be the city best kept secret is the Late Night Session at Dizzy's Club at the top of Time Warner Center. Not only because the spot is bumping with the hottest jazz acts around town but after 11:30 PM from Thursday till Saturday nights the cover, New Orleans influenced menu bites  and cocktails are a song. Dizzy’s Club is named after famed trumpeter and jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. Curated by the Sierra Leone born English bred jazz impresario and singer Michael Mswenso the room swings till he shuts it down with his signature, “That’s all folks”.  Michael was lured from London where he established the late night jazz set at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club. Multitasking his performing career with host and curator Michael modestly says," It can be difficult at times but life is all about balance. My job as curator is to remain selfless and bring forth those who I believe love the music and understand it holistically and are able to play it an engaging  manner. As a performer the only difference is that you must ask yourself those questions." He's adapted to the Big Apple, "Differences are of course you are in the Mecca of Jazz. You have the opportunity to surround yourself with the masters of the music and those who believe in it. In London there are many great musicians but the support  system to be able to play it is hard." Simply put by  Jason Olaine, Director of Programming and Touring for Jazz at Lincoln Center, "Michael has 'big ears' -- he knows when guys and gals can really PLAY. He can speak to them as equals, since he can relate to what it takes to be a working musician. He's incredibly knowledgeable about jazz history and has a love and passion for teaching as well as for discovering and nurturing younger, developing artists that are truly into swinging. He's also the most positive, energetic spirit I know, so he's a lift in the office and on the bandstand."  One Saturday a month the chairs and tables are pushed back for a dance party.  That's all folks.

Crazy Sexy Cool

Tis the season to scoop up sales!  My first shop stops are H&M and Forever 21. There is where I get sexy tops, darling  statement necklaces and  chic earrings for under $5.

H&M

Forever 21

My good girlfriends were already into thrift shop chic but it took me awhile to get in to thrift shops. But after a nasty  period of credit card debt I decided to give it  a try and now I can't imagine what kept me away. I get the buzz of shopping as well as discovering some treasures. I even sold a red Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche silk dress I wore once and got as much as I paid for it twenty years ago from VIP Consignments.  I keep my eyes open for the  LBD, vintage Diane Von Furstenberg wraps, Pucci prints, leather anything and designer jeans that usually retail for $200 or more.  I love it when I can get something under $20 bucks that in a retail store would easily be a hundred times that price. Many designers donate samples and end of the season designs. My latest find was Carlos Miele dresses and shoes  at Housing Works.  

Check out this fun stack of  Cara bangles on sale at  Angel Street Thrift shop.

With all the savings I splurged on sexy stiletto shooties from Barney's. Forever Fabulous.