Nichelle Newsletter

The Glamorous Life

Birthday salutations: To fellow Sag and Southern Girl, Tayari Jones.

Do a night in Chelsea for under $15:  Go to a few openings on a Thursday night (I went to Rebeca Raney's opening at Monya Rowe), have a margarita at Trailer Park ($7.50 with tip)and get a Hot Diggity dog from F&B ($4.00).

Fabulous is as Fabulous does: After watching about four episodes of Kimora Lee Simmons' "Life in the Fab Lane", I  have my new mentor, my glamour compass, my true north. I must have Fabulosity, the book.

Golden Lady

Grow a unibrow: Frida Kahlo-inspired New Year's Eve dinner at Crema (via NewYorkology).

Mas Frida:  The family of Frida Kahlo  recently launched a Frida Kahlo Skin Care line and there's a store in Staten Island.

On Beauty:  I got a copy of The Week  there's a list of the best beauty sites, Beautysak, Beautyhabit, Perfumebay and Threecustom.

I'm Every Woman

Before the Birthday Partying, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

Birthdays are exhausting for old skool chicks like me. Plus I am going out every night until next Wednesday.  Oh, the insanity!

Free:  The New Museum is opening December 1 and Target is sponsoring 30 Free Hours.  I just ordered a few free tickets and I am going at midnight.

Divalicious:  Neal Medlyn is debuting his new show, NEAL MEDLYN'S POCKET WHITNEY this Sunday at Ruby Streak.  Whitney Houston songs performed by Neal is like Santa giving me crack with Similac.

I'm Saving Myself For Nichelle Nichols

So I figured that I would do another googlism poem on my in honor of my birthday.  Some of this stuff is eerily true...

nichelle is like michelle only with an 'n'
nichelle is from new york city
nichelle is great
nichelle is a contributing writer for several publications
nichelle is stereotyped by her natural hairstyle
nichelle is still active today
nichelle is one of those people who has taken on a "spokeperson" role in subjects that interest her
nichelle is in the back seat primping
nichelle is a great storyteller and you will be absorbed by the writing as much as by the mystery
nichelle is now framed
nichelle is a teen model who's always in vogue
nichelle is 19
nichelle is in the background trying to choose between a muffin and a croissant
nichelle is a pleased bitch; she is
nichelle is a lovely ebony flavored sex doll

Notorious B.I.G.

Thought: What if there was a hip-hop-centric social bookmarking tool named no.torio.us.?

Yesterday:  I had a pre-birthday brunch, and then walked over to Papa Bubble  on Broome which is not  your grandma's hard candy.  The passion fruit candy is delicious!

Now: Today, I got word that I am featured in an article in the latest issue of Shattered Magazine. (I will scan it in as soon  as I get it) The interview was nearly a year ago, so I have no idea what I said.

Next:  This Next is featured in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Tomorrow:  My birthday. Carolyn's birthday.  Chicks and Giggles show/party. 

Tourist Trap

Black Friday:  Hold up! Wait a minute!  I thought we African Americans had a whole month in February, and now this.  Oh, I  see...  My bad. Black Friday is all about shopping and retailers are hoping to be" in the black".  I have no cash to spend, but I will raise a black leather-gloved fist to anyone I pass by today waiting on line to spend their payday loan on a video game. Keep Hope Alive!

Kaput:  Hipsters (and the like), stop wearing Kefiyyehs!

Game Is My Middle Name

Art: I have an artists postcard that I got at AGAST last month. that I had been using as a bookmark, and I really like the artist's work.  Check out artist and poet Joanne McFarland.

Vote: For Matthew W. Caldecutt for Alley Insider People's Choice.  See this is how works, if he becomes famous, then I will get rich and/or famous and then he can die.   It's win-win!

Show: Tonight's Chicks and Giggles is a special one with ukeleles, characters and a surprise guest.

Gift:  A perfect shirt from Locher's for my friend who is not a fan of les enfants.

Artichoke

Sell:  I am trying eCrater (the cheaper, Web 2.0  alternative to eBay) and selling a pair of cowboy boots.

[Artistic]Help Wanted: Read the performer posting for the December 1st art party, and let me know if you're interested.

Eat yourself drunk: Rum Cake is a great dessert for the holiday dinner with your family. Plus, you could card the kids at kid's table and they won't get a slice.

Thanks: Since I wrote this about "Orphan Thanksgiving" a few years ago, I will trot it every year because I can. 

Thank Heaven For Little Girls

me @4 or 5, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

Or just pictures of them...

Last year, I went to a Ladies Who Launch meeting where we were encouraged to recap highlights from each month over the past year. So here goes:

January 2007-organized my first clothing swap, performed at a Heeb show and started crocheting again.

February 2007-organized two Valentine's Day parties, had the first Cupcake Meetup, and took a trip to Philly just to see a play.

March 2007-volunteered at the first ever PSFK conference, had my photo shoot with Matthew Powell and taped a segment for Be Happy Dammit on Lime.com

April 2007-read at Stripped Stories, went to Neal Medlyn's Phil Collins show twice, and had a fun visit from an Italian.

May 2007- read at Ruined Music Anniversary, organized fun book party for John Blesso's "Sharehouse Confidential" and featured in an article in the New York Times' Shifting Careers column.

June 2007-organized Cupcake Picnic in Central Park, attended Mermaid Parade and went to Book Expo.

July 2007-Met Melvin Van Peebles, got my picture taken by Bill Wadman for 365portraits, and organized Cupcakes Arts and Crafts Day at Etsy Labs.

August 2007-Read at Mortified,  saw the B52s, and went to Philly to visit family.

September 2007-stood outside the tents to blog Fashion Week, appeared on The Food Network talking about Hostess cupcakes and had a bacon chocolate bar.

October 2007-interviewed in a Japanese/NYC newspaper about cupcakes, moved Chicks and Giggles to a  new comedy venue, and celebrated my 4th anniversary of blogging.

November 2007-co-hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time, celebrating another year of living, and the rest is TK.

December 2007-Details TK.

King of Discount Ho's

My old friend Don McCloskey's video for his song, King of Discount Ho's.  He's playing at Piano's on the 27th, but  he may swing by my birthday celebration at Ochi's after his gig.

Heart of Glass

Killer:  My friends and I went to Lederhosen for dinner last night and ordered a round of Killepitsch shots. Then all of sudden, the Killepitsch girls from Niche Import came to our table with goodie bags with t-shirts and tiny bottles of liquor. Score!

Bikini: I know it is cold, but I got a Facebook message from Dani Kates telling me about her HOT dessert-inspired bikini line, Kandi Swim. Check out the sprinkles!

Glass:  Ok, three makes it worth mentioning. Monday night I saw Ira Glass at the Half King, and at a woman at my table jumped out of her seat to meet him. Then Gawker tells that he is on some "sexy man living" list, and now there's a picture of Ira Glass with author Tayari Jones at the National Book Awards.

Hurry On Now

jonathanshorr bathroom, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

Meat: After Thanksgiving, don't have leftovers. Come to the Meat and Potatoes show on November 26 with fresh stories about growing up middle class.  It's funny enough for the richies and the poors.

Fete: I am planning a wondrous holiday party at the Jonathan Shorr Gallery on Saturday, December 1. It is a party where we celebrate many of the December holidays including Monkey Day.  I need performers, so email me if interested. No pay, but how often do you get your party on drinking vodka in an art gallery in Soho?!

Treat: Cupcakes Take The Cake Third Anniversary Party is December 6 at Beauty Bar.  It's gonna be a cupcake lover's dream!

Fit But You Know It

Electric:  Michael Mione's designs are truly glamorous!  I went to the opening of his studio last night in Soho, and it was fun.  There were models wearing Mione Designs dresses which are great for celebrations--weddings, parties, and red carpet.  I even spotted Nole Marin from Elle and America's Next Top Model at the party.

Thunder:  RKB gave me a copy of I Got Thunder: Black Women Songwriters On Their Craft.  It's a collection of interviews that editor LaShonda Katrice Barnett did artists including Abbey Lincoln, Chaka Khan, Nona Hendryx and others.  I just read about Abbey Lincoln, and now I want to hear some of her music.  All of the women are fascinating!

Armor:  Ok,  I am so enamored of  arm warmers.  Maybe it's because they would seem work with short sleeved shirts that I love to wear, and then there's no need for a cardigan to keep me warm.  However, there's a chance that a "rag doll" look may happen, but I'm willing to risk it for a pair of cashmere arm warmers at Uniqlo.

Potholes In My Lawn

Tacos:  The New York Times spills the beans about the cheap and delicious tacos in my hood --Sunset Park.

Toast: My birthday is less than two weeks.  Carolyn and I have the same birthday. The party/comedy show will be Tuesday November 27 at Chicks and Giggles.   If you are stuck for an idea for a gift, think Sephora gift card.  It takes a lot of beauty products to keep up  with this rock star lifestyle.

Toeless:  Last year, I bought into the footless tights craze which I kinda knew were the same as leggings, but I know that "toeless socks" are just anorexic legwarmers.  I saw Negin last night at Chicks and she made her own by cutting the "toes" off a pair of black socks.  There's some Prada ones on sale at eBay, if you must.

Pushin' On

Fashiony: Check out The Budget Fashionista's newly redesigned site, and read about a really cool recycled fashion line, William Good.

Funny: Chicks and Giggles every Tuesday at 8PM, and read 236.com, the new humor site.

Funky: Listen to Brit Alice Russell sing vocals on Quantic Soul Orchestra's "Pushin' On"  and Natural Self's "I Don't Need Trouble". I can't find free MP3s, so buy them off iTunes or download from eMusic.

Gettin Wise

Diana Schoenbrun's plushies, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

Suspension: I roamed about lower Manhattan looking for suspenders and I found them at Ted's Formal Wear. I will wear them with a long skirt I bought at the Salvation Army.

Surprise: Flipped through the latest issue of Essence and found a jewelry designer who stuff I adore. Check out Subversive Jewelry.

Schoenbrun: My friend Diana's plushies are on display at MF Gallery through December 23.

The Morning Papers

Funny: Karl Hampe's hilarious web comic, The Regulars, will also be syndicated in The Blade.

Juicy: Stopped by Jewcy's office party and met a blogger from Manolo Men.

Yummy: Save the Date! Cupcakes Take the Cake will have a party celebrating our third anniversary on December 6 in the evening at Beauty Bar. There will a raffle! Champagne goes so well with cupcakes!

Rock This Town

Chips at Paladar, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

On my way to get some grub last night at Paladar, I run into Kathia Jane. She was on her way to the Slipper Room to see Rocky Velvet and Marti Brom.  Rocky  Velvet is a great rockabilly band from a town I never heard of until last night--Crospeyville, New York. Marti Brom is a great singer who sounds like a  devilish mix  of Patsy Cline and Ruth Brown.

Anyway I joined her at The Slipper Room and really enjoyed the show.  A burlesque show popped up when the band went on break and favorites Gal Friday and Miss Saturn performed.

Show: If you are hankering for some rockabilly, then go to Kathia Jane Band's show Saturday at Laila Lounge.

Listen:  Billy Stewart's soulful cover of Summertime.

Gett Off

Getting Off, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

New books from three authors whose names start with the letter "J".

Jamye Waxman: Her new book is Getting Off: A Woman's Guide To Masturbation.  Molly Crabapple did wonderful illustrations, and I went to the book party  tonight at Bluestocking and ran into several friends and met the lovely Candida Royalle.

Jeffery Yamaguchi: He of 52 Projects fame. His new book is Working for the Man: Inspiring and Subversive Projects for Residents of Cubicle Land. I met Jeffrey tonight at the crowded Media Bistro party where french fries were passed around on a tray.

Jami Attenberg: Her first novel is The Kept Man, and she's reading this Sunday at a place where I can eat BBQ. Well done!

What Cool Breezes Do

What's cooking:  The Professor (of WFMU fame) just launched two blogs, The Audio Kitchen and The Radio Kitchen.

What's keeping: Me. Check out my new header/logo on Keeping Nickels, designed by Shawn Hollenbach.

What's happening: My birthday is in exactly three weeks away. Whoa!  This pretty necklace is what I will probably buy for myself.  (via TechYum)

What's doing: Since I am not above asking, you can help me celebrate by coming to Chicks and Giggles on November 27 or donate to my beauty fund with a gift certificate to Sephora.  Since reading Beauty Confidential, I need a ton of products to keep me looking young.  [Black does crack...eventually]

Stars and Boulevards

chelseaschool1, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

Book: Ed Hamilton of the Hotel Chelsea blog has a new book, LEGENDS OF THE CHELSEA HOTEL: Living with the Artists and Outlaws of New York's Rebel Mecca. He is having a reading this Thursday at 192 Books.

Laugh: You know that Chicks and Giggles is every Tuesday at Ochi's Lounge. Come tomorrow and bust a gut!

Thanks:  ThisNext sent me a wallet from Portland-based DB Clay.

Dirty Mind

BrianLeo2, originally uploaded by candiedyams.

Saturday evening was a visit to a few art galleries.  Starting in Chelsea,
I stopped by the Cueto Project and saw the Marko Velk exhibit. Then I went across the street and saw this exhibit of 25,000 laser cut paper moths.  I am not sure who the artist is, but it was amazing.

Later, I went down to Soho for a private party (me and three friends) at the Jonathan Shorr Gallery.  The picture above is artwork from Brian Leo.

BTW, the New Museum on Bowery opens December 1st.

Teach Me Tonight

Groove: To the music of Sy Smith and Alice Russell. I got a compilation CD months ago, and it included songs from both of these ladies who can sing.

Learn: Want to know what RSS means? Commoncraft is the site that explains it for your friends and family.

Lars and Lagerfeld: This week I have been to the movies to see Lars and The Real Girl and Lagerfield Confidential.  Lars made me cry, and Lagerfeld made me want to wear more rings on my fingers.

Core:  I would love to go this but it's too expensive for me.

She's A Beauty

Californification:  We miss her here in New York City but Nadine Haobsh was in town from LA last night for a  party for her book, Beauty Confidential.

Competition:  Dessert Truck just opened up.  Will it be as good as Treats Truck?

Celebration: The Brooklyn Kitchen is celebrating its first anniversary with a Bodega Challenge next Wednesday (November 7) at Union Pool. 7
PM
U

November Rain

People: Last night I met a lot of cool people including  Solana from Global Voices, and Author Nancy Weber who gave me a sample of the lip balm she created, Truffle Lips, which is made from the essence of Italian truffle.

Cos: In case you are not like me who has received an email almost everyday about this---Bill Cosby will be at Hue-Man Bookstore this Monday, November 5.

Style:  Here's a book called It's So You where women talk about expressing themselves via their personal style. It's an essay collection edited by Michelle Tea. By the way, anthologies are like the literary version of a sample CD, so check it out.