New York was hit by Hurricane Sandy and I was here to witness it. Though where I live in Midtown Manhattan, had virtually no damage, my heart goes out to those in Lower Manhattan and other areas along the eastern seaboard who have suffered permanent damage from the storm. After nearly three days of being confined to my apartment for fear of winds, rain, and flooding, I was happy to get out for a walk earlier today. Thanks to a tip from Refinery29, I finally satisfied my Starbucks craving when I found out that the Starbucks at Marriott Marquis in Times Square had remained open through the hurricane. As I see business, bridges, and hopefully the subways reopen, I couldn’t be prouder to live in the most resilient city in the world.
Exploring new parts of Manhattan is always a satisfying experience, especially if it’s under the summer sun. In spite of the fact that New York it is city of unlimited options, it’s not uncommon to find yourself with no idea where to go. So you end up going to the same neighborhood spots again and again. Over the weekend, I ventured to the South Street Seaport, a historical fishing area adjacent to the Financial District with a breathtaking view of the Brooklyn Bridge. My $3 beer on the boardwalk was probably the best deal in New York.
As one of New York’s many Aspiring Socialites climbing Manhattan’s often heartless social ladder, I often wonder if the high life is really all it seems to be. Erica Negi‘s novel, My Life in Loubies, explores the question those aspiring ask ourselves everyday: Is having everything really worth sacrificing your own identity? The novel tells the story of Vanessa, a thirty-something New Yorker who seems to have what all Manhattan women dream of, a successful career, a super awesome boyfriend, and of course a closet full of Loubies and other designer treasures.
When she unexpectedly finds herself single, Vanessa ends up with a wealthy man and moves to Palm Beach to marry him. But, this is no typical Cinderella story. When this Louboutin Girl finds herself at a crossroads upon discovering the true source of her new suitor’s wealth, she must make a life defining choice.
Thanks to the magic of Twitter, I scored an exclusive interview with Erica. She’s so fun and insightful:
What was your inspiration for the main character, Vanessa?
I wanted to create a main character that readers could relate with. At the same time, I yearned to keep Vanessa real–with her flaws and feelings–even though she is completely fictional. Throughout the novel, we follow Vanessa on her journey to ‘have it all.”
What advice do you have for girls looking to climb Manhattan’s social ladder?
It is so easy to get swept away in trying to keep up, but it’s important to never forget who you are. It’s these innate values that often help us make the best decisions. Also, regarding fashion, never sacrifice. But, pay those credit cards in full every month!! You will have a much easier climb!
What are your favorite pair of Loubies?
This is such a hard question. It’s like you’re asking me to pick a favorite child!! But, if I had to choose, I would pick the Very Prive 120mm. However, at the moment, as I prance around mommy-hood, I have been wearing the Black Patent Loubie Flats.
I’d love to write a book of my own someday. What advice do you have on becoming an author?
My one piece of advice is to never give up. Set aside a piece of your day and devote it to your craft. One day, you will be surprised at the outcome!
Who is your favorite fashion designer besides Christian Louboutin?
I love so many designers for different products. But, right now I am loving Rebecca Minkoff. Her handbags and “sunnies” are so cute and fun! She’s also a great follow on Twitter.
What are Vanessa’s best & worst qualities?
I think Vanessa’s best quality is that she is a young, successful businesswoman who knows what she wants and isn’t scared to take the plunge. As for her worst quality, she tends to be a bit materialistic.
What’s in store for you in the future?
I am working on book #2, which has a working title: What Matters Most. It is not a sequel to My Life in Loubies, but we might see some familiar characters. I am in the midst of working on that and hope to complete in 2013.
Enter to win a copy of My Life in Loubies for your Amazon Kindle in three easy steps:
This Memorial Day weekend, I was quite the NYC homebody. I ventured close to home to Central Park, Queens, and Brooklyn. Here are some of the highlights from my 2012 Memorial Day weekend.
I went to Central Park and to lunch with Cocktail Chic and her adorable dog Roscoe. It was Roscoe’s first trip to Central Park and I’ve never seen him so happy. At lunch, he needed a whole seat for himself because he won’t sit on the floor. It was a total Hilton sister moment.
A cloudy and humid day in Columbus Circle. This explains why there are no actual pictures of me in this weekend photo series. The intense humidity of the weekend was unflattering to my hair and skin. It’s going to be one hot and humid summer.
My mom, sister, stepdad, and cousin came into town Sunday on a whim. We celebrated our Venezuelan heritage at an Arepa Cafe in Queens. I’d love to return to the beaches on Venezuela someday. But, for now, I’ll have to stick to NYC’s Venezuelan restaurants.
An authentic Venezuelan brunch
This box that sits on a bookshelf in my cousin’s apartment in Queens, basically describes my life an Aspiring Socialite. I guess this city is full of dreamers. I need to get a dream box of my own.
Saturday was one of those spring days that make you happy to be alive. In celebration of this glorious day, I headed to the Hudson River to enjoy an afternoon of day drinking along the water at the Chelsea Piers Brewery.
The views of the Hudson and the city from the most western edge of the island of Manhattan were inspiring. So inspiring that my friends and I took a spontaneous ferry ride to the other side of the river to drink sangria in Hoboken. Thanks to this past Saturday, I’m looking forward to an awesome summer filled with sun-drenched weekend excursions.
It’s a beautiful Saturday in Manhattan! I’ll drink to that!
Hello Hoboken! What a glorious day to dine on the Hudson River at Chelsea Piers.
