Great NY restaurant- Romantic With An Old-World Feel

If you are looking for an excellent and unique place in what is usually staid- midtown, try Bill's Food & Drink.

I do not know what I was expecting, but I certainly wasn't expecting this gem. The restaurant is housed in an elegant town-home. The bar. with just the right amount of lighting, is on the main floor, right as you first walk in. You head upstairs for the main dining- a modern room but with a cozy feel.  And then there is a parlour room on the floor above for private dinner or to have an intimate drink on a comfy couch in front of another bar. We had the Halibut which was superb as as a yummy heirloom tomato salad and a tasty Kale salad. This place is a great date place. I highly recommend it.

Great Restaurant... Laurel Hardware in West Hollywood, LA

One of my favorite dining spots in West Hollywood is Laurel Hardware. If you haven't been yet, I recommend that you check it out... stat!

The menu is inventive, seasonal and eclectic. I'm a big fan of the kale salad with nigella, hazelnuts, and crispy carrots and the green barley salad with cara cara orange, French feta and shiso vinaigrette. Be sure to say hi to their lovely hostesses, Tash and Reesh.

Spring Colors

Have you heard that because of our (ridiculously) long winter, the spring colors are expected to be especially intense this year?

This month, I'm definitely going to be checking out the Cherry Tree Blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. (The first bloom is supposed to be this week! I'm keeping track on the BBG Status Map).

Wherever you are located, make sure to head over to your local park or garden to see what is sure to be a spectacular exhibit of spring flowers.

Spring Is In The Air!

It’s hard to believe that we’re already two weeks into SPRING! I'm feeling pretty excited to finally get to do some fun springtime activities. Here are some of my favorite things to do in NYC now that the weather has warmed up:

Sheep's Meadow in Central Park

• Citibike-ing down the Hudson River Park Bikeway at sunset
• Drinking chilled wine al fresco on the patio of a Soho cafe
• Picnic-ing at Sheep’s Meadow in Central Park (don’t forget to pack a frisbee!)
• Window shopping in the West Village
  and picking up a gelato at Grom

And, the best part about spring may be that all of these activities make for awesome dates! 

Loving Love Songs

I don't know about you, but I am a big lover of love songs.

This article from Nerve.com really got me thinking about my favorite love songs from the past 100 years. From the Beach Boys “All You Need is Love” to Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You”, there are more amazing love songs than we could ever count.

One of my ultimate favorite love songs is Barry Manilow’s “Can’t Smile Without You”:

Why Hasn't Jennifer Aniston Tied The Knot Yet?

Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux have been engaged going on 18 months… so, why haven’t they tied the knot yet?

The rumor mill says that the impasse is due to the amount of time they’ve spent apart since their engagement and also due to stressful wedding planning. The media reports that they are on the verge of breaking up… until they are spotted on a date looking as in love as ever.

They are on again, off again, on again and meanwhile, no wedding bells.

Jen claims she wants to get married again, even have kids so why the hesitation? Time is ticking by.

Here are some things I wonder...

• Does she still compare every guy to Brad Pitt, and Justin doesn’t measure up?
• Maybe she doesn’t really want to get married and just says that.
• Maybe she doesn’t really want to be with Justin, but doesn’t want to deal with the negative press of begin single all over again?
• Maybe she secretly is into someone else?

WHO could that be?

Regardless, don’t you agree that it’s odd that she is still technically single after all this time?

Samantha's Oscars Couple Pick: Matthew and Camila

Did you tune into The Oscars last night? As per usual, the red carpet was filled with glamorous red carpet couples, from Brad and Angelina to Will and Jada and Goldie and Kurt. However, in my mind, one couple especially stood out – Matthew McConaughey and his wife, Camila Alves.

McConaughey was quite the dapper gentleman in a black and white tuxedo by Dolce and Gabbana and his wife stunned in a pale pink Gabriela Cadena gown. 

Eight years into their relationship and with three kids, this couple seems to be more in love than ever. (How cute is this picture, taken just after the Texan's big win for Best Actor?) 

In the actor's touching acceptance speech, he thanked his beautiful wife and family: 

"To my wife, Camila, and my kids, Levi, Vida, and Mr. Stone, the courage and significance you give me every day when I go out the door is unparalleled. You are the four people in my life that I want to make the most proud of me. Thank you."