November 14, 2011 Inspired by Guerlain's legendary Vol de Nuit perfume, their Belle de Nuit holiday 2011 makeup collection is an homage to bold, fearless women everywhere. Evoking the changing hues of the night sky, dramatic shades of deep blue and green dominate the color palette.
November 11, 2011 Local cinephiles, this is your last change to experience great foreign films for the rest of the year. The SF Film Society is presenting their 15th annual New Italian Cinema this Sunday, and it's packed with great screenings. The eight-day series will pay tribute to acclaimed director Daniele Luchetti, as well as offer new works from up-and-coming filmmakers.
"Our Life," with Elio Germano. Courtesy of San Francisco Film Society.
November 9, 2011 I've been thinking about holiday menus for several weeks, especially my dessert options. As I was flipping across the pages of Carol Field's The Italian Baker, Revised, the Baci d'Alassio cookie recipe caught my eye.
Originally published in 1985, Field's award-winning collection of Italian baking techniques have been updated with color photography, an equipment section and source guides. If you've been curious about Italian pastries and bread, this is the definitive go-to book. Meanwhile, enjoy the recipe below!
November 8, 2011 As usual, Dior has a few awesome palettes from their holiday 2011 collection. Packed with tons of user-friendly colors, the Deluxe Holiday Face Palette is the ultimate weapon for planning all your party makeup needs.
November 3, 2011 I could never resist any cuisine with Mediterranean elements. San Francisco's very own Kokkari Estiatorio just released their new cookbook, Kokkari: Contemporary Greek Flavors, and I was intrigued by a lot of their classic dishes, such as the Grilled Sardines with Garlic & Cumin, Braised Lamb Shanks or Baklava Ice Cream.
November 2, 2011 As someone who loves vintage-inspired fashion, I was bummed that milliner Behida Dolic has departed the Bay Area. Lucky for us, she's now based in New York and I'm relieved to see that she has an online store on Etsy. She also makes custom hats for weddings and other special occasions.
November 1, 2011 Pink Martini, one of my all-time favorite groups, just released two new albums today. The first one, 1969, is a special collaboration with legendary Japanese singer Saori Yuki. If you own their third album Hey Eugene!, you'll also know that Yuki sang the original version of "Taya Tan."
Entertainment, Music November 1, 2011 Fashionholics, prepare to celebrate. Very, the trendy online U.K. fashion retailer, is now available stateside. Get your British fashion fix by perusing their latest designs at affordable prices. They even have clothes for petite and plus-size gals.
If you're looking for a retro frock, the Lipsy Peter Pan Shift Dress ($94) is great for upcoming holiday parties. The Peter Pan collar adds a playful elegance and the keyhole cutout in the back gives a sexy touch.
October 31, 2011 If you're all about intense smoky eyes, then you'll embrace the NARS 2011 holiday collection with reckless abandon. The new collection has enough arsenal to make your eyes as fierce as possible.
October 26, 2011 One of my favorite film events of the year, the fourth annual French Cinema Now, is starting tomorrow. Venerable actresses like Emmanuelle Devos, Audrey Tautou and Cecile de France are all starring in new works so I'm excited. To add more fun actor Mathieu Amalric also directed a modern adaption of a 17th century play.
Audrey Tautou in "Beautiful Lies."