More 80s Tales: Allan & Suzi / NaNa Shoes

So I'm feeling another little 80s retrospective coming on (scene: foggy dream sequence) - New York City Style.

Back in the days when Father Guerilla used to take me to buy prim and proper dresses at Betsey Johnson on the Upper West Side, we would sometimes meander around the hood, back when Columbus Avenue was all the rage, and not yet Westchester Suburbia South. Those journeys would sometimes bring us to Allan & Suzi at 416 Amsterdam Avenue, where I'd try on latex dresses and such. I never quite understood why we got such strange and puzzling looks by the salespeople, but in retrospect I'm pretty sure it was because I was NOT A TRANSVESTITE.

Next door was Na Na where you could find some cheap, but stylish, punk rock shoes. I bought some wicked, extremely pointy patent leather boots for $15. They finally gave out on me, but I have since replaced them with a similar (in look, not price) pair from Donald J. Pliner (see pic).

Anyway, stay tuned for future 80s postings. I have a couple more good ones up my sleeves. Oh, and I'll tell you where I got those on the cheap too.

Dunkin' Donuts Smoothies

I'm not thrilled with the unaesthetically pleasing Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin Robbins that very recently opened up on the ground floor of my apartment building. In fact, if they tried to install one more fluorescent light in that joint, the thing could take off like some kind of nuclear rocket ship. HOWEVER! I do quite enjoy the small mango/passion fruit smoothie that costs way too much at $4.32. Yummy.

An Ren: Falling Down the Charts

Remember when I sang the praises of An Ren, the women's clothing boutique located at 315 East 9th St., a couple of months ago? Where I found the "coat that saved me" for an acceptable price?

WELL.

As you can see from the pictured button, I need some help...for the giant, unique button on coatie cracked during dry cleaning and is no longer functional. It is not a button that is easily replaced.

So I went in personally with the button, the coat, my card, AND a print out of the blog page on which I was so very complimentary towards the store and the great coats and other designs and explained my problem to the saleswoman.

A week passed and I didn't hear from them. So I called. The same saleswoman assured me that the owner herself was coming in and would be dealing with all customer issues in the next day or two. I checked to make sure that she still had my contact information, which she did.

I have NEVER heard back.

So I have taken it upon myself for the time being to move a less utilized button to the place where this much needed button used to live. But I am not particularly happy about or impressed with the service.

Remember: SERVICE COUNTS FOR A LOT!

Astor Wines & Spirits: Office Gifts

Every year I seem to grapple with the issue of office gifts...Should I? Shouldn't I? If yes, for whom? Sometimes you get pulled into the "Secret Santa" scenario...and, well, what the hell do you buy someone who you really hardly know (or like)?

I found my answer this year in Astor Wines & Spirits. I hadn't visited since it moved a couple blocks down Lafayette to the corner of 4th St. If you haven't been there yet - GO. It's much MUCH bigger and nicer and easier to manuever than in its former location on Lafayette and Astor Pl. (except now maybe they have to change their name to "4th St." ha, ha.)

Also, they have really good deals on wines and liquors. I called ahead to make sure that they had what I was looking for to be sure, and then I went in and was assisted by some very nice, efficient salespeople and was on my way. Of course, lugging 6 giant bottles to the subway and then to my apartment was a challenge in weight-lifting, but had I taken a cab, I would have rendered my money-saving trip downtown pointless! Now I'm trying to work on getting those bottles into the office without pulling my arms out of their sockets.

I can't tell you just yet what I bought, in the unlikely event that the 5 people I work with read this blog. But let's just say I lassoed some big bottles of liquid at a low price. AND...and they gave me enough free gift bags to make each one look snazzy.

Union Square Christmas Market

I've already written a bit about the Union Square Christmas Market, but I have to revisit...especially because they have hired "Evil Angels" to stand outside the 14th Street entrance (see pic., left). Or perhaps the evil angels have taken it upon themselves to stand there and glare at the holiday shoppers in an effort to point out the evilness of consumerism during this, the most wonderful time of the year. EVIL!!

The other notable additions are the throngs of artists displaying and selling their works around the outer edge of the Square (see pic., right). It was SO crowded over there yesterday that I could barely see it all, but I was impressed with much of it, and recommend that you go check it out. Especially if you happen to work for Goldman Sachs - why don't you go over there and support the entire independent New York art scene with your Christmas bonus and buy it all?

Time Out New York: Shoe Repair

I'm just reading in this week's Time Out New York magazine about an amazing shoe repair shop on 8th Ave. and 23rd St. called Arty's Shoe Repair. I don't usually write about stores I haven't been to, but this article was too funny and now I feel like I have to go check it out. My favorite line is:

"...a customer who was into S&M asked Arty to modify a white-leather straightjacket by creating flaps that would expose his chest, 'He wanted to be whipped while he struggled in the jacket...'"

This guy must be good.

See page 13 of the December 14-27 issue for the whole story.

Wrap it Up...I'll Take it

I am feeling somewhat guilty that I haven't been spending as much time on bloggy as I would like to...my day job has been incredibly hectic, thereby reducing my time available to both shop and write. OK, now that I've gotten that out of my system, onto business...

I am hoping today or tomorrow will be my last day of Christmas shopping - I am in the final stages of buying Mother Guerilla some key gifts. And without her there'd have been no baby Guerilla, so she deserves careful consideration, i.e. "I have to get my momma some good sh*t." But that is all I will say for now, lest I eliminate any element of surprise.

But remember, purchasing a gift is not the final step! You must package and market said gift appropriately...you don't have to spend a lot of money to do this, most wrapping supplies can be bought at the local 99-cent store. But better, and I wish I had remembered this myself, is Old Navy. They have some of the coolest, high quality wrapping paper at a very reasonable price. It's like Christmas pop culture on paper! [Thanks to my day-job co-worker for reminding me of this little Old Navy secret].

I know, I know, many of you (especially the boys) don't want to get involved in wrapping paper, ribbons, cards, etc. But just think - if you've spent the time thinking about what to buy, shopping for it, paying for it...don't you think that you and your gift deserve to be presented (no pun intended) in the best possible way? It really adds to the whole gifting experience overall. Trust me and the Ms. Manners who sometimes dwells within my soul.

And check out my gift display! Makes for festive Xmas decor to boot.

Save Money by Making Strategic Friends

I don't have a photo of the kinds of friends or goods I'm about to discuss, but that's merely to protect the innocent...I think that to truly live the life of a Guerilla Shopper, one needs to seek friends who have influence over or jobs at places that will enhance YOUR material needs. This includes clothes, shoes, food, drink, jewelry, furniture...anything that might help you to get free or cheap stuff. I have managed to do this and I have oft been rewarded with goods that made my day and helped me hold on to a few dollars for a couple of days longer than I would have otherwise.

Now, as any savvy person knows, to get you have to give give give. So figure out what you have to offer others (try to keep it legal) and GIVE. Teach them how to swing dance, how to cook, help people get jobs or boy/girlfriends. Provide them with ideas they would have never considered before. Invite them to parties...whatever it is, do it and the rewards will befall you 10-fold!

However, don't do something stupid and say, "hey, I showed you how to make borscht last weekend, the least you could do for me is get me front row tickets to see the Earth Wind and Fire reunion show - you work at Radio City, WTF?!"

Be patient! Give out of a real feeling of enthusiasm and wanting to share. Only then will abundance flow your way.

Xmas Dinner: John's of 12th St. Fun, but kind of sucks

As we sometimes do, my friends and I from the motherland, also known lovingly as New Jersey, New Jerusalem or Neu Jeru went out for dinner to celebrate the holidays at John's of 12th St. (near 2nd Ave.). We often seem to end up at this Italian "joint," mainly because it's easier than thinking of somewhere else to go. Well, that, and it does cater (especially on weekends) to random groups of loud kinfolk - sort of a free-for-all, which is pretty much what we require.

This year there was a giant table of gay men with moustaches wearing leather seated behind us. While next to us, was a quiet couple who spoke no more than 4 words to each other. So it's sort of an intergalactic meeting place for anyone who needs a home.

I think that we originally started going to John's many years ago because it was cheap and the food was really good. Well, it's no longer that cheap, and the food is probably on par with "Italian Night" in the Army. We got a couple of orders of garlic bread, I had 2 glasses of wine, lemon chicken (an entree of steamed chicken swimming in warm lemon soup) and tiramisu. That cost me $50. Not an exorbitant fee, but I've had much better for less.

I think we need some new ideas!

Housing Works - At Auction

I love the display windows at Housing Works on E. 23rd St. I think because they convey the message of demented domesticity, which is really the truth of the matter when it comes right down to it. Incidentally, they also often have some really great stuff - clothing and furniture - that is not available for sale, but is available for silent auction.

While I have never partaken (partook?) in said silent auction activity, I did look into it briefly one time...and have considered doing so again. You need to go into the store and put your name on a list with the amount of money you are willing to spend on the particular item(s) that you are interested in. Then, after the auction closes, I believe they determine the "winner" by looking to see who was willing to pay the most.

I know that this may not be exactly accurate and some of you may be thinking to yourselves, "this is common knowledge, what is this ditz talking about?" but humor me as I am just finding my way through life and this big scary town one day at a time. That, and I suppose I should have done a bit more reasearch on this before I decided to write about it.

Anyway, I think I decided to not pursue the silent auction approach with much fervor as people are willing to spend absurd amounts of money on other people's trash in this town. Go to Michigan with a van and get some real deals on antique furniture - prices that would make even the Salvation Army in NYC laugh.

But when all is said and done, remember Housing Works mission: "to ensure that adequate housing, food, social services, harm reduction and other drug treatment services, medical and mental health care, and employment opportunities are available to homeless persons living with AIDS and HIV and to their families as they define them."

So it is most certainly money well-spent.