101 Simple Appetizers in 20 Minutes or Less

This is a great list to post near the fridge or wherever you keep your grocery list. A lot of these can be been done ahead of time too, which is always a good idea.

clipped from www.nytimes.com Here is a collection of party foods that are as easy to eat as they are to make. Each can be produced in 20 minutes or less. Many can be served at room temperature. And none require a plate. Most of these recipes are beyond minimalist: they never do in two steps what can be done in one, and they need no embellishment. As you scan these recipes for ideas, mostly think this: The ones you find most appealing are the ones your guests will like. Choose a few, spend an hour or two in the kitchen, and you’ll be in great shape.

Grand Opening of Over Da Edge Dinner Club & Lounge, 11/7

That's my nephew, Ray!

 

 

Sent to you by Naima via Google Reader:

 

 

PICS: Grand Opening of Over Da Edge Dinner Club & Lounge, 11/7

via Sandra Rose by Sandra Rose on 11/9/07

Call him "Sugar Ray" - Ray Hamilton is one of the young urban professionals bringing money and life into a once blighted area north of downtown Atlanta. Earlier this year, Ray bought an abandoned two-story building at the corner of Edgewood and Boulevard, and turned it into a thriving business. He named his new establishment the Over Da Edge Dinner Club & Lounge. With nothing but word of mouth, Ray opened his club to the public on Wednesday night. You would think it had been there on Edgewood all along as patrons filed through the door all night.

Over Da Edge also sports a soul food restaurant on the second floor. The club is intimate and cozy with exposed brick, wood floors, columns and beams throughout the large space. There's a DJ and live bands playing several long sets per night. The music doesn't overpower the space so you can hear your date without having to shout.

The club compliments the area which is one block south of the historic King Center. There are 4 more clubs and lounges set to open on Edgewood in the next few months. Ray, who bought a loft across the street as office space for his finance and accounting offices, says he plans to stay put on Edgewood for at least the next 15 to 20 years. "I was the first one here and now everyone else is discovering Edgewood," said Ray.

 

 

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Perfect Holiday Centerpieces

These would make gorgeous wedding arrangements or gala decor. I see these lined down a long formal dinner table or hung from overhangs at a twilight garden party. So cute!

clipped from charlesandmarie.com The perfect setting for Tord Boontje’s ‘Thinking Of You’ covers. They are fragile little covers in silver satin super thin metal that can be placed over a glass and used as a vase, or you can place a votive candle inside and see it throw amazing shadows, or you can simply use it as a decorative piece the way it is, or cover a candle holder you don’t like anymore – the options are countless. They are about 8 inches high (20 cm) and Now (the rounder one) is 5.5 inches wide (14 cm) whereas Here (the longer narrower one) is 4 inches wide (10 cm). Both come packed flat, so all you need to do is unwrap them and snap them together. Voilá, that’s it. And no need to worry that anything will happen to your fragile containers in the shipping process! Price: $44

First Class Seats at Coach Prices

clipped from www.10news.com Airline Secrets Could Land Flyers In First Class So, how would you like to sit in the front but pay less than someone way in the back? What's the travel trick? While booking a flight, ask the agent about a special type of fare. It's most commonly called a YUPP. But some airlines also use codes like QUPP and Z. The leading airlines all confirmed they offer this kind of fare, describing it as either a coach seat with an automatic upgrade or deeply discounted first class. In addition to sitting in the front of the plane, the YUPP seats offer even more benefits. Experts said they're generally fully refundable seats, and you may get extra frequent flier miles for being in first.

Deceptively Delicious: Jessica "Mrs. Jerry" Seinfeld

[I LOVE the writers at Jezebel, their style amuses me.] I am quite the happy carnivore, but I have friends who are vegetarian. Whenever they start preaching to me about the virtues of vegetables, I look them in the eye an say: TOFURKEY.

clipped from jezebel.com Jessica Seinfeld's "Deceptively Delicious": Kinda Deceptive, Not So Delicious We were wary when we first saw Jessica "Mrs. Jerry" Seinfeld on Oprah last week, heralding the benefits of steaming and pureeing the shit out of vegetables and then "hiding" them in kid-friendly foods so that kids will stop throwing temper tantrums at the dinner table and actually eat their vegetables. Apparently, one man's bullshit is another's inspiration: Jessica Seinfeld has anchored her new cookbook Deceptively Delicious in precisely this school of culinary trickery: Broccoli puree and flaxmeal-coated chicken nuggets. Beet puree enriches chocolate cake. Spinach and chocolate get it on. Gross.

Traveling with Wine

I have had (knock on wood) great success when I wrap wine bottles in straw beach mats, bubble wrap or several cotton sarongs. I always put the bottles in the middle of my largest suitcase and surround them with my shoes (especially great if you are a Crocs fan), and surround that tidy cocoon with clothes and other goodies. Works great!

clipped from www.gadling.com Tips for Bringing Wine back from Abroad Whether you're bringing back a bottle of wine from the Bordeaux region of France or a bottle of Kahlua from Mexico, alcohol is not only a souvenir from your travels but also a story to share around the dinner/card/pool table. if you want to bring more than two bottles of wine back with you, go to a specialty wine store and tell them you'll be traveling with the the wine. They'll either package up the wine for you really well or sell you a crate. If you have to package it yourself, use many layers of material and lots of padding -- a hard shell with soft padding in and outside is a good start.

Flying Hooks

In the walk-in closet that I am building in the back of my mind, these suspension hangars are everywhere, in various colors (coordinated to distinguish pants from skirts, of course), at varying levels.

Yes, it's a very big closet.

clipped from charlesandmarie.com Flying Hooks suspension hangers, designed by Ariëtte Bos and Tom Couvée for Goods in the Netherlands that are attached to your ceiling and then just hang down, making your fly clothes appear as if they are flying in mid air. the stainless steel cable is about 8.2′ long (250 cm) and the black polypropylene hanger is 3.5″ wide (9 cm), the rest you should know…

Free Helicopter Transfer Service

I'll have to do some follow up research on this. How cool would that be, to make arrangements for a client to transfer via helicopter--make sure that client isn't afraid of heights!

clipped from www.aluxurytravelblog.com International BusinessElite® passengers with Delta Air Lines can now benefit from a free helicopter transfer to New York’s JFK International Airport from the city’s midtown heliports. The service is being provided by US Helicopter to premium passengers holding non-stop tickets for flights between JFK and destinations in Africa, Brazil, India or Europe, where BusinessElite is the premium cabin. Estimated travel time is eight minutes. The offer is valid until the end of the year for tickets bought after 1st July 2007.

World's Most Expensive Cocktails

Suddenly, I am quite thirsty...

clipped from www.forbestraveler.com Ambitious bartenders are developing premium repertoires that combine some of the world's finest and rarest alcohols with equally esoteric mixers. Imagine what happens to the bar tab when these combinations are embellished with tiny gold swords for skewering olives, or rubies instead of maraschino cherries. Three of the list's most spectacular drinks are the Ritz Side Car from Paris, the Diamond Cocktail from London, and the Platinum Passion from Duvet in New York. Topping our list is the holder of the Guinness Record for the world's most expensive cocktail, and perhaps the most elegant mixed drink to be found anywhere: the Ritz Side Car served at Bar Hemingway in the Paris Ritz. But the magic lies in the hotel's astonishing store of cognac, the 1830 Ritz Reserve.

Video Bloggers love TubeMogul

TubeMogul is a new service that allows you to upload your videos to multiple online video services at the same time, and track how often those videos are being viewed.

clipped from www.tubemogul.com What is TubeMogul? TubeMogul is a free service that provides a single point for deploying uploads to the top video sharing sites, and powerful analytics on who, what, and how videos are being viewed.

How Killer Is Your Elevator Pitch?

This is a great exercise!

clipped from www.dumblittleman.com How to Craft a Killer Elevator Pitch That Will Land You Big Business This is the 30-60 second business description of what you do and why someone should work with you. It's called an "Elevator Pitch" because it describes the challenge: "How would you explain your business and make a sale if fate placed you in an elevator with your dream prospect and you only had the time it takes to get from the top of the building to the bottom?" This article will explain the elements of a powerful elevator pitch and then walk you through how to craft yours.

14 Numbers to put in your cell phone NOW!

This is one of the few "things you should do" that I actually agree with; enough to Clip and pass on!

clipped from blog.crankingwidgets.com 14 Numbers Your Cell Phone Can’t Live Without Local Fire Department Local Police Department or Law Enforcement Nearby Hospital(s) ICE (In Case of Emergency) Taxi Company Dispatch Water and Power Department Doctor and/or Pediatrician Poison Control Animal Control Coworker or Boss Your Next-Door Neighbor Tow Truck Company Car Insurance Carrier/Broker Pizza/Chinese/All-Night Take-out Food

10 Sexiest Beaches [Conde Nast]

I'll add these to my "Places to Go Before I Die" list. Who doesn't want to say they've been to one (all?) of the world's sexiest beaches?

clipped from www.aluxurytravelblog.com Concierge.com, the online home for inspired travel from Conde Nast has posted its picks for the third annual World’s Sexiest Beaches list.  Beaches are both on and off the beaten path and are chosen for their beauty, buzz factor and overall steamy appeal.  Here’s their top ten: Caprera Island, Sardinia, Italy Salvador, Bahia, Brazil  Cousine Island, Seychelles  Playa de los Lances, Tarifa, Spain Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas  Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia South Beach, Miami, Florida  Pigeon Point Beach, Antigua  Bodrum, Turkey  Santa Maria Beach, Ilha do Sal, Cape Verde

HDTV on Your Laptop!

Now I can justify taking my laptop on vacation!

clipped from www.signonsandiego.com Turn your laptop into HDTV player Plextor (www.plextor.com) has come out with its Mini Digital HDTV Receiver, which connects to a laptop's USB port. The $99 receiver has an external antenna and software that scans for over-the-air HD signals. Plextor's receiver only works with computers running Windows XP or Vista. The more computing horsepower you have – both memory and graphics – the better your viewing experience. Underpowered systems can produce a picture that occasionally stutters.

Test post from phone

Gaidi is quoted in the paper today!

As part of his passion for art and commitment to the Port of San Diego's Public Art Committee, Gaidi has been working on a signature public art project for a LONG time, and today the concept went public. I woke up this morning to a gorgeous picture on the front page of the UT, and an even larger spread inside.

Check out the front page article by Janine Zuniga in today's San Diego Union-Tribune.
It's online too, there's a link on the front page, today only: http://www.signonsandiego.com
Or here's the article: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20070622-9999-1n22bridge.html

We are extremely excited about this project, and the kids and I are personally very proud of Gaidi!
Feel like offering some encouragement? You can email him at gaidif@yahoo.com

Happy Friday indeed,
--Naima

Your Lifestyle Concierge
BEFITTING SERVICE
www.befittingservice.com

My blogging philosophy...

...is very much like my philosophy on speaking: if you have something to say, then do so. If not, what's your point?

I wish I were an "every day" blogger, one of the many writers who post their thoughts and findings for people like me to devour ravenously in feed format.

I wish were...but I'm not.

Instead, I claw through an endless stream of information (online and off) to find something valid to write or comment about. Honestly, how many shells do you have to shuck to find a pearl? Exactly.

I felt guilty this morning, thinking, "I don't post to my blogs nearly as much as other people do." I was instantly redeemed by an offline note from a reader: "I love your posts! You always give me the right measure of 'something cool' to talk about at work or parties. And it's not the stuff that everyone is talking about. Thanks for helping me stay original!"

Well, someone's gotta do it!
--N.

That's not a Chrylser 300!

clipped from www.luxist.com Rolls Royce Celebrates its 100th With a Special Edition Phantom Rolls Royce is celebrating its 100th birthday with the Phantom Silver, a special edition model commemmorating the automaker's best-known vehicle, the Silver Ghost. Only 25 vehicles will be built, making this Silver Ghost nearly as valuable as the first ones to hit the path.

Did you see Befitting Service in Ranch & Coast?

We're pretty excited about Befitting Service appearing in the April issue of Ranch & Coast Magazine (attached, in case you missed it). Copies are still on newsstands--why not grab one on your way home today?

Please don't keep our business a secret! Share this email and our website with your family, friends and associates: www.befittingservice.com

Oh, and let me know what you think of the ad!

Your Lifestyle Concierge,
--Naima
_______________________
BEFITTING SERVICE  |  It's what you deserve.
www.befittingservice.com

Cafe Cubano Recipe

Ever on the hunt for a great cup of coffee, this will be on the table this Sunday for brunch!

clipped from www.tasteofcuba.com Cuban Coffee Recipe - Cafe Cubano There are two methods to making coffee the Cuban way: the traditional method using a metal stovetop espresso pot, or with an electric espresso machine. Coffee was brought to Cuba in the mid 18th century but it would take 40 years before it became a big part of the economy, by the early 1800's it became a bigger import than sugar.  So far, I've come across only one website that sells real coffee beans from Cuba.  The brand is "La Estrella del Norte", its 100% Cuban Tortino Extra (Turquino) whole beans grown in the shady jungles of the Sierra Maestra Mountains of Eastern Cuba.

You know you're an alcoholic when...

...you need flask flip flops.

Introducing Reef Dam sandals, which hold 3 ounces of liquid in heel.

Hello, AA?

Powered by ScribeFire.

Versace Designs Helicopters!

I'm not sure how Versace made the leap from fashion house to 'copter hangar, but ME LIKEY! The only thing missing is a bit of bling...

clipped from www.verticalmag.com

AgustaWestland and Versace, one of the leading Italian fashion design houses, announce their collaboration to offer AgustaWestland’s customers a range of exclusively designed cabin interiors for its helicopters. Versace is synonymous with quality and luxury and is the first Italian fashion design house to express its sophisticated, glamorous and exclusive style to helicopter cabin interiors.

Versace Designs Helicopters!

I'm not sure how Versace made the leap from fashion house to 'copter hangar, but ME LIKEY! The only thing missing is a bit of bling...

clipped from www.verticalmag.com

AgustaWestland and Versace, one of the leading Italian fashion design houses, announce their collaboration to offer AgustaWestland’s customers a range of exclusively designed cabin interiors for its helicopters. Versace is synonymous with quality and luxury and is the first Italian fashion design house to express its sophisticated, glamorous and exclusive style to helicopter cabin interiors.

In A Word? FANTASTIC! [Google Browser Sync]

Hey Gina [and Lifehacker crew],

Check out what I stumbled across today in Google's Labs: http://www.google.com/tools/firefox/browsersync/index.html
I am a 'fox user, and I thought Foxmarks was phenom (I work between my desktop, laptop and Treo), but the ability to have the EXACT same browser settings without having to remember to install add-ons twice is such a handy bonus, I thought I would share. I searched the site first to see if I was the lame duck, but nope! Looks like I actually have a contribution this time!

I just installed GBS this morning, and so far...Google continues to speak to the technology user in me, as opposed to the net surfer I was when I was wrapped up in Yahoo and MS.

I love your site by the way--please keep helping me make my life easier!
 
All the very best,
--Naima

Testing Windows Live Writer.

 Testing Windows Live Writer.

I want one! ( USB Heating Blanket )

My office at my "day job" is sometimes SO cold--I do have a little heater under my desk, but even now and then I want to put it on TOP of my desk so I can warm more than just my feet. Well, here's my solution! A heated pad that plugs into your USB port! (Yes I know, I want one too!) Imagine how great one of these would be on an airplane...



Maybe I need TWO.