Postcard: New York City August 2011--McQueen Exhibit, Dream Downtown Hotel

A Pool in a Manhattan, a balcony in a NYC Hotel, a 2 1/2 hr Wait for McQueen and DELICIOUS Pizza? Read on...

Nick Verreos, Dream Downtown Hotel Pool NYC

A couple of weeks ago--between my crazy schedule of co-running my NIKOLAKI design company, designing, draping and making patterns for the next collection, filming TV Show Pilots, and trying to AVOID answering questions of "Why Are You Not on Project Runway All Stars?"--I had to fly to NYC with my design-and-business partner David Paul for an important business meeting. Well, let's just begin with how much I love NY. Love. I have many friends there so I can't wait to arrive. But I was a little bit scared since, well, for the last few weeks, it had been like 10,000 DEGREES HOT. I don't do HOT HUMID WEATHER very well! My T-zone doesn't "likey". But--thank goodness--the weather had "cooled" down--to a respectable 80-something degrees. I really didn't have an option, since this was the only time we could have this business meeting.

Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty Exhibition, Metropolitan Museum NYC

Also, I remembered that the FAB Metropolitan Museum Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibition was going to close soon and my partner, David, had not gone...so, this would be the PERFECT opportunity!



David and I booked ourselves into the newly-opened Dream Downtown Hotel, which is located near the "Meatpacking District"/Chelsea area. It had a pool. Enough said. Done and done. Upon arrival, we went to our Deluxe Room and I just about SCREAMED...



We had a balcony! (above photo) Who has a balcony in a NYC Hotel? Well, we never had. It even had a little chair as well. Yes, it was a vertiginous balcony about 18" wide but still, it was a balcony. The room was spacious--for NYC standards.



The room also had a interesting "Girl Scout" painting which I was obsessed with. But the "piece de resistance" (besides the balcony, pool, painting), was that there were ETRO bath and grooming products in the bathroom:



I LOVE me some Etro! After our business meetings, we returned to our hotel and enjoyed a day in the Pool:

Dream Downtown Hotel Pool

Dream Downtown Hotel Pool Beach area

The next day we headed off to the Metropolitan Museum to see the Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibit. I had been to it when it first opened but David had never been. And it was THE LAST WEEK!!!! So, No Should've, Would've, Could've...Just Do It!!!

Metropolitan Museum Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibition, Final Week lines

Metropolitan Museum NYC

We braved a 2 1/2 hrs wait (when I first went, I barely waited in line!) hanging out in the Met's immense entrance upstairs balcony area (in line of course!). Finally, we made it in. It was PACKED and not so comfortable of an experience (for both David and I) to be 10 people-deep from the actual clothes and trying to read what they were.

Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibit, Metropolitan Museum NYC

Since I had already "been there, done that", I really didn't care. But, yes, I felt bad for David. He even rented the Audio Equipment (my suggestion) which well, if you can't even see the displays, what's the point?

Alexander McQueen "Savage Beauty" Exhibit, Metropolitan Museum NYC

After it was all said and done, we did it, and more importantly, David got to see (kind of) the

Exhibition: The dresses, gowns, shoes, videos...were AMAZING!!! (the accompanying book is A MUST BTW!) We will really be PISSED if it comes to Los Angeles and the almost-three hour wait and barely-seeing-anything (for David) was for nothing!!

David Paul and Taylor Schultz, Maritime Hotel La Bottega NYC

After our trip Uptown to the Exhibition, we capped off our time in NYC with drinks and dinner with our very good friend Taylor--first at the Maritime Hotel's "La Bottega" for cocktails and then Artichoke Pizza: Yum and Yummier...





PS: I LOVE NY!

Hello New Jersey: Nick Verreos Warms Up Snowy Brookdale College!!

Jersey Boy!Bundled Up: Nick Verreos lands at the Pier Village, Long Branch New Jersey

If you've been keeping up with my blog, you know I get around--two weeks ago, I embarked on a 5-city stop in a period of seven days! Yes, kiddies, I've been racking up the frequent flyer miles--and "schooling about fashion" one student fashionista at a time! This time it is all about the JERSEY SHORE--well almost! I was invited to speak to New Jersey's Brookdale Community College located in Lincroft.
But first: NYC:Old School: The Eero Saarinen-designed TWA Terminal, JFK

I flew from my Suffolk University Boston appearance into NYC and landed at JFK, where the first sight greeting me outside was the iconic TWA terminal designed by architect Eero Saarinen. I had an "overnighter" in NYC where I spent a fab evening with my very good friends Taylor and Louie. We had drinks at the ULTRA EXCLUSIVE Andre Balazs-designed The Boom Boom Room located on the 18Th floor of the new Standard Hotel. The view up there was INSANE (and so were the prices at over $20 A DRINK!!!!). If you go, YOU MUST check out the bathrooms: They also come with a floor-to-ceiling view of the Manhattan skyline (see above), that's the Empire State Building on the right! Incredible.

But the best part for me were the fabulous cocktail waitresses and hostess. They are simply the MOST STYLISH ones on this planet, dressed in their Rubin Chapelle-designed "uniforms", if you could even call them Uniforms. Cadillac Margarita Anyone? The Boom Room Room Cocktail Waitresses

I asked our cocktail girl if she was happy with her sexy ivory cascade back-pleated angel-winged mini-dress, and before I could finish, she remarked "Heck Yeah!!!". This is not the bar at your local Marriott Suites kids! BTW: The Boom Boom Room shuts down to the "regular working folk" after 8:30pm and becomes "private". So unless you're Madonna and Marc Jacobs (or a multi-millionaire Goldman Sachs broker) don't even think about showing up after that time!
Afterward, we window shopped the Meatpacking District, where I spotted this gorgeous Victorian-inspired gown at the Charles Nolan Boutique, so of course, I had to get a photo (see above). Dinner and a good-night's rest followed for my next day's New Jersey appearance.
The View From My Room: Beach view from the Ocean Place Resort and Spa, Long Branch New Jersey

About an hour-and-a-half's drive from Manhattan, I arrived in the Jersey Shore. Well, Long Branch to be exact, where I checked into the sumptuous beachfront Ocean Place Resort and Spa (thank you Brookdale College!). It was very cold (about 30 degrees) and there was still snow on the ground so the thought of donning my Speedo and Havaianas were far from my mind! I may have to return during the Summer; I hear it's AMAZING.Well-stocked: Inside the Jenna & Molly Boutique, Pier Village, Long Branch NJ

I did walk around the nearby Pier Village--in my very warm Marc Jacobs fur-lined Parka--where I checked out the shops. My favorite being Jenna & Molly. I don't know who Jenna and Molly are but they have a great eye for buying fashion for their store! Loved EVERY SINGLE PIECE in there! It's Forever 21, H & M and Intermix all rolled up into one.
Stage Fright: Nick Verreos on stage, Brookdale College Appearance

Now it was time to get ready and go to my Brookdale Community College appearance. After driving through some of the most BEAUTIFUL and stately mansions I have ever seen passing through Tinton Falls and Colts Neck (who knew New Jersey was this UPPER CLASS? Well, now I do!), I finally arrived. The Real Jersey Shore Kids: Nick Verreos is greeted by Brookdale College Fashion Society students

After a very warm greeting from the Brookdale Fashion Society, I entertained, lectured and gave some "Fashion Insider Tips" to the Brookdale College audience--and from the reaction afterward, I think they enjoyed it! Say Snooki: Brookdale College Group Shot with Nick Verreos

I, of course, had a fun time speaking with all the students and telling them dish about Project Runway and how I fell in love with fashion! I was also happy to see some instructors in the audience as well.
Barbie Fan: Nick Verreos poses with "his" Project Runway Barbie

One of my evening's highlights was seeing a guest who had arrived "armed": With the Barbie Doll I designed when I won the "My Scene Barbie Challenge" back in my season. Of course, I just about pushed everyone to get to her! I couldn't believe it! Naturally, I signed it and gave it's owner a big hug and a kiss! Did I tell you how much I love New Jersey and Brookdale Community College???