My Run for Damon Runyon

This past Sunday I woke up earlier than normal for a really good cause. The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation held its first 5K race at Yankee Stadium to raise money for the disease. When I initially got the e-mail about the event from my dorm I immediately signed up. My father, an Oncologist and researcher, has been working with the organization for years and I jumped at the chance to have my own victory run at Yankee Stadium.

Randy Lesko, an RA and graduate assistant at Marymount Manhattan College, who is also the coordinator for the Intramural Sports and Recreation program, coordinated the Broome Street dorm involvement through NYU. “I decided to open this event up to Broome Street because I thought it was an incredible opportunity and a great way to get the residents involved in community service,” explains Randy. “The people who participated seemed to really enjoy themselves, so I'm really happy everyone had the chance to come out and run/walk/support and raise money for cancer research!”

The impressive turnout topped 2,500 people who joined together to walk and run around the stadium. It was truly inspiring to see patients and survivors with big groups of family and friends able to run around the field where so many dreams have come true. There was an electric energy that could be felt throughout the whole stadium of the 2009 World Series Champions. People were cheering and encouraging the runners the entire time, and I hope this successful endeavor continues in years to come. The first event raised over $250,000. More details about the event and how to donate to this worthwhile foundation can be found at the website:

Farewell, Gemma

I'm so sad. My favorite model is done. Her name is Gemma Ward. She was known for her alien-like appearance. I remember seeing her for the first time in Teen Vogue when I was in high school and being captivated by that face. As I became more and more fascinated by fashion editorials and the modeling industry, she transformed from a shy, angelic teenager, to the covergirl of high fashion campaigns, photo shoots, runway shows, and celebrity appearances, including a role in the John Mayer music video for “Daughters.” Two days ago when I turned on my Mac and began my daily blog checking routine, I gasped at the news that Gemma is walking off the runway and stepping away from the camera.

Her lankiness echoed that of fellow models Stam, Tiu, and Miranda Kerr. According to Bryan Boy, fashion blogger extraordinaire, Gemma has quit her gig as a model due to recent weight gain. It may or may not also have something to do with the loss of Heath Ledger, who she was rumored to be romantically involved with until his untimely death in 2008. Whatever the reason, I hope that Gemma remains healthy and leaves modeling on a positive note. She will always be my favorite face in the industry, and I cherish my collection of British and French Vogues that feature her on the cover and in multi-page editorial photo shoots. I am attaching a link to an amazing interview with the young model at the height of her career from Australia’s 60 Minutes. In this documentary of her fast-paced life, she comes off as motivated, hopeful, and thankful for her whirlwind success. I wish you all the best Gemma!

Australian 60 Minutes: Gemma Ward- Part One
Australian 60 Minutes: Gemma Ward- Part Two

Cupcake Craze

Hooray! Today is National Vanilla Cupcake Day! Okay, so it’s really just a dumb promotional gimmick cooked up by the baking industry. After all, in New York City, every day is cupcake day. But not all cupcakes are alike. My favorite is a very special little $1 treat. And I do mean little.

When I walk through SoHo on my way to class, there is always a cluster of people outside of a tiny storefront window. They’re even there when it’s pouring rain. I can totally relate. Melissa Bushell’s small cupcake haven, Baked by Melissa, has been a deliciously popular destination for a little over a year and a half.

Although the Manhattan cupcake craze is not a recent phenomenon, the goodies at Baked by Melissa are a new concept with their tiny size- slightly bigger than a quarter- and big flavors. Cupcakes got their name in 19^th century America because their ingredients were measured by the cup rather than weighed. The past few years have witnessed a revolution in the cupcake world that borders on obsession. Media pundits have theorized that there is an uptrend in cupcakes because people want comfort food, especially during the recession.

Melissa has even jumped on the technology bandwagon. The bakery has a Facebook fan page, a Twitter account (bakedbymelissa,) and a website: www.bakedbymelissa.com.

Current Location: Get your cupcake fix at 529 Broadway (pick-up window on Spring between Broadway & Mercer.) The store is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. The phone number is 212.842.0220.

The owners: Melissa Bushell, 25, always enjoyed baking as a hobby. But when she was fired from her advertising job, this New Jersey girl decided to open her own bakery. Her brother and his best friend became her partners.

The size: Melissa opened the storefront window in collaboration with the adjoining restaurant, Café Bari. She bakes the small confections in the restaurant and sells them out of a window. The small space is perfect for such tiny treats! The bite-sized goodies are not only much cheaper than most New York desserts; they also leave people feeling a lot less guilty than normal sugary snacks.

The flavors: The bakery offers nine varieties daily: Mint Chocolate Chip, Tie-Dye, Cookies & Cream, Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Cup, Cinnamon, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Red Velvet, and S’mores. The most recent addition is Cinnamon, but they plan to keep expanding and introducing more flavors. Red Velvet has been the most popular.

The reaction: Melissa’s homemade delights have caused quite the stir around the city. The cupcakes have been featured in The New York Times, Us Weekly, Daily Candy, and many more publications. The most exciting press opportunity was Melissa’s appearance on the Today Show with Kathy Lee and Hoda in March. And, of course, the best reaction is from the customers who clamor for these cupcakes every day!

What’s next? Right now, Melissa is focusing on opening her next permanent location in Union Square on Dec. 14. The new store is located on 14th St. between Union Square West and 5th Ave on the north side of the street.

Catch up with me at Teen Vogue!

I have the coolest internship at Teen Vogue! Every Thursday and Friday you can find me in the Beauty Department researching health issues, reviewing beauty products, and best of all, writing for their awesome, interactive website! Here are some links to my posts that have appeared on their blogs:

Meet me!

INPHENOM hair treatment

Backstage at Alexandre Herchcovitch

Backstage at Yigal Azrouel

Backstage at Richard Chai

Backstage at Band of Outsiders

Backstage at DKNY

Backstage at Cynthia Rowley

Fashion's Night Out!

Revolution Organics Beauty Balm Review

FusionBeauty Charity Opportunity

Grace Coddington Book Signing

I was walking home from class the other day when I happened to glance in the window of the Clic Bookstore and Gallery on Broome and Centre Streets, located right in the middle of my SoHo neighborhood. A little poster with sketches of cute cats caught my eye, and I read the flyer that announced a book signing with Grace Coddington, creative director of Vogue Magazine, on Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. I have been a huge fan of Coddington’s visual perspective in the aesthetically dynamic Vogue editorials for years. I did not know that she lived with Didier Malige, the famed fashion hairstylist, and their collection of cats. Together, they wrote the book Catwalk Cats from the viewpoints of their own beloved pets. Although it is not surprising, Catwalk Cats is an absolutely visually stunning book. It is a mix between photography and drawings of Coddington and Malige’s furry friends.

The best part about Coddington’s appearance at the Clic Gallery is that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her book goes to the Animal Rescue Fund, ARF. I have my own cat obsession, and I miss my baby kitten, Bella, who is currently at home with my family in Indiana. We adopted Bella from a local shelter, and I try to support animal causes whenever I can. When I walked into the intimate space, it was easy to spot Coddington immediately with her vibrant cascading signature red hair. She was bubbly and charming to the guests who stood in line to get her autograph. It was a breath of fresh air to see that Coddington was actually as entertaining as she seems in the behind-the-scenes Vogue documentary, The September Issue. She brought so much life and energy to the film that I was skeptical about whether or not she really embodied such an amusing persona. All of my doubts were put to rest when I finally introduced myself. As an intern at Teen Vogue with my own kitty craze, I see this icon as one of the most successful role models in the industry. I was also able to meet Malige at a photoshoot for the February 2009 issue of Teen Vogue last year, and it is easy to see why the two of them get along so well. It was so exciting to meet one of my fashion idols in person and walk away with a signed copy of her lovely storybook. Add to that the knowledge that my favorite charitable outlet benefits, and all-in-all an amazing evening unfolded just two blocks away from my dorm!

The xx Concert

The xx is by far my new favorite music group. The band comes from South London and is comprised of four 20-year-olds who have created a very interesting style based on emotionally charged duets and computerized instrumental beats. I was ecstatic to hear that the group was giving a free concert at the Apple store on Prince Street in SoHo on October 22, 2009, as part of the CMJ Music Festival that swept Manhattan at the end of October. I was not sure if I would be able to get in the store to see the band that is literally sweeping the world with their quiet, but powerful tunes that keep me wanting more. The xx sold out their concerts in the city during their brief New York trip, and I thought a free concert would be too good to be true. However, when I got to the store an hour before the group went on, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I would be able to catch them live! Even though there was a large crowd for the awkward venue that took place on the top floor of the popular retail establishment, it was not overwhelming, and I was able to get a pretty good view of the fierce foursome performing their debut CD.

The band mates looked very different than I had expected. The songs are somewhat sweet and Romy Madley Croft, the lead singer and guitarist, was harsher looking than I had visualized. The back and forth singing conversations between Madley Croft and her counterpart Oliver Sim, the bassist and other singer, are intriguing and relatable. It seems as if these young adults have gone through a volatile relationship with one another, and if not, they have created a dynamic reaction to romance at such a young age. The simplistic lyrics are accompanied by the instrumentals of Jamie Smith who puts together the beats and Baria Qureshi on the synthesizer.

The concert lived up to my expectations, because all I wanted was to hear these beautiful, short tunes live, without any big spectacle, and that is just what I got. The band stood up in front of everyone and simply sang pure, honest feelings. I especially loved the songs “Crystalised” and “Islands.” I have always been a big fan of successful duets and the xx have mastered this often tricky art. This is the perfect music to turn up and allow to take over your mind. I love listening to the entire cd on repeat while walking around the sometimes overwhelming streets of Manhattan, because it casts spells of relaxation and reflection that are welcome in times of high traffic and high stress.

World Trade Center Trip

Last Wednesday, October 28, 2009, a cold and rainy fall day in Manhattan, my journalism class made its way to ground zero to visit the site of the World Trade Center. This field trip was an emotionally draining experience, but I came out of it with a new perspective on the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. I remember that on that day as a seventh grader in Dallas, Texas, I was not able to fully grasp the horror of the attacks occurring in far away New York City. During my freshman year of college at NYU, I went for a run down West Side Highway and I passed the site for the first time. I had no idea that it was so close to where I was studying, and that was a very chilling realization of the scope of that day. Flash-forward to our visit last week and I now have a newfound comprehension of how much of a lasting impact the disaster had on not only this beautiful city, but the entire world.

The most heart-wrenching and inspiring aspect of this trip was meeting Tracy Gazzani, a 67-year-old retired first grade teacher and current docent at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, who shared her story of the loss of her only child on that morning eight years ago. Tracy’s son, Terrence D. Gazzani, who was only 24 years old, had worked at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 94th floor of the North Tower. Tracy gracefully told the story of Terry’s life and death, and she moved our class in ways that I do not even think she realized. For me, seeing someone who has endured such heartache be able to stand in front of a group of twentysomethings who have opportunities that her son never got to carry out, was extremely motivating. Also, putting a face and a connection to that horrendous day was something that I had not yet experienced.

It was difficult to hear that Tracy thought Terry was going to come home on Sept. 11th, and had even received word from one of his friends that they had spoken, and Terry was sure he would, in fact, survive. Unfortunately, Terry was cut off from any exits when the plane crashed into the North Tower, and he never made it out of the building. Tracy exuded a sense of optimism and hope that I was able to feel immediately when she reflected on such an unfair, brutal aspect of her life. She explained that once she overcame the disillusion that Terry might show up back at home in Brooklyn, she was able to move on and even conduct a celebration of his life the following Saturday night. Her strength is infectious and hearing that she went back to work the Monday after she lost her only child was astonishing.

As she explained, she sees the world through “rose colored glasses,” and she still “considers herself fortunate.” It is fascinating that someone who has been through such hardship can still find the beauty in life, but that is a lesson that I think everybody should learn. It was also clear from hearing Tracy’s story that she is realistic. Her husband Marty, 64, took the loss of their son much harder than Tracy. He was unable to go back to his jewelry business for 7 years after Terry’s death.

Tracy giggled as she noted, “woman are so resilient.” She has been able to give back to the community that was there for her when Terry’s life was taken, but she still understands that “it gets different, it does not get better.” Terry believes that God has a plan for everyone, and we will never know why so many people lost lives on that day. As she told stories about Terry’s antics at their summer home in the Hamptons and recalled his favorite morning cereal choices, I realized that no matter how trivial a daily activity seems, it is necessary to cherish seemingly insignificant moments, because you never know when and if they might be taken away. Tracy’s voice became shaky and her eyes watered as she recalled the last words she exchanged with her beloved son. “Mom, have a good day. I love you and I will see you later.” I walked out of that experience with the confirmation that at the very least, life should be lived with the glass half full.

You can visit the Tribute WTC Visitor Center at:

120 Liberty Street
NY, NY 10006
(between Greenwich and Church Streets, on the south side of Ground Zero, next to FDNY Firehouse Engine 10 Ladder 10)