Sean's Golden Birthday at Buttermilk Channel

I decided last minute to forgo steak at Peter Luger's for something more casual and "golden" for Sean's 27th birthday yesterday and picked Buttermilk Channel in Carroll Gardens for fried chicken and waffles! Everything was delicious, our server was super nice and our table large, smack-dab in the middle of the restaurant. I'm already craving/thinking about the next time I'd go back for chicken and waffles.

Food in order shown:

1. Warm popovers glazed with honey (complimentary)

2. The best house-made pickles

3. Slow-roasted pork spare ribs with fingerling potato salad

4. Buttermilk fried chicken and cheddar waffles with savoy cabbage slaw

5. Parsley crusted new england hake

6. Roasted bobo farms white feather chicken

7. Caputo's fresh linguini

Let's Have a #PizzaParty

 Yep, it's a cornishon stuffed crust pizza.

Is American Flag Fashion Fad or For Real?

We can thank LA-based brands American Apparel and Jeffrey Campbell for putting the 'American Flag Print' trend on BuzzFeed's 11 Tired Hipster Fashion Trends That Are All Over Instagram, but as much as people love to hate on hipsters, the trend of sporting stars and stripes among young people around the world is actually good for American brands. Beyond patriotism (genuine or not), the flag in commercial terms has represented quality, authenticity and aspiration. Bringing credibility and 'cool' back to the American flag print helps bring relevancy and value back to the "Made in the USA" tag inside of t-shirts, backpacks and even food.

There was a period when the Union Jack took over fashion and culture with influencers like the Sex Pistols and Spice Girls, now global superstars Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Katy Perry and Lana Del Rey are doing their part in spreading the stars and stripes craze. With Memorial Day, July 4th and the Olympics coming up, there's isn't a better time for the American flag to make its way into closets and onto Forever 21 racks across America. Flag fashion is nothing new, but broadcasting the bright stars and bold stripes through facebook, twitter and instagram is something we'll all be getting used to this summer.

Here are examples of the American flag trend starting with this USA dress I designed and made last year for the USMNT Game vs. Argentina (thanks Hannah for modeling!):

Jeffrey Campbell Lita Platform Boots in USA Print

True Religion's Recent Ad Campaign

Lady Gaga & Beyonce killing it in the Telephone Music Video

Lana Del Rey looking cute with her pouty face

One of my favorite movies

Nothing like a Bud Heavy on a hot summer day

Charlotte Free for Adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott

Two Student Shows You Need To Check Out in NYC This Week

Need a dose of inspiration? Check out these end of the year student shows from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). Both are free and are only open this week.

ITP Spring Show 

May 14 (5-9pm) and May 15 (4-8pm)

NYU Tisch School of the Arts

721 Broadway, 4th Floor South 

GSAPP 2012 End of Year Show

May 14-18 (10am - 5pm)

Columbia University Avery Hall

1172 Amsterdam Avenue

I went to the GSAPP reception this Saturday to support some friends who completed their first year in the program.

Dear Beer Brands, No Bollocks Please

I've been noticing a lot of innovation coming from the light beer category recently, such as Miller Lite's pop top can, Coors Light's 16 oz. silver bullet aluminum re-sealable can and of course Bud Light Platinum--all of which makes me want to smack myself on the forehead and lay on the ground crying because again, it's light beer. I guess silly beer innovations is nothing new. Remember Miller Lite's "vortex" bottleneck which supposedly makes the beer taste better. Oh, what about MGD64, the 64 calorie beer? Wait how about adding a cold-detecting device on the can in case people couldn't pick up the beer and tell if it was cold or not.

It's not just light beers, premium beers are also differentiating itself with gimmicky features like Stella Artois' fancy chalice (interesting attempt to stray away the "wifebeater" beer label), and now, the "chalice can". Newcastle's recent "No Bollocks" campaign, created by Droga5, is a refreshing take on beer marketing, understanding that people don't care about chalices, resealable beer bottles or an easier way to punch a hole in the can for easier shotgunning (okay, maybe I do actually care about the last one), people just want beer that tastes good or is easy to chug. Dos Equis' "most interesting man in the world" is also proof that great branding and storytelling behind a beer brand can help drive recognition and preference, which is difficult to do in a category so vast and varied as beer.

Coors Light's resealable 16 oz. spaceship bottle - Really? Are you going to save that Coors Light for later?

Miller Lite's Pop Top Can - I still prefer to shotgun my beers from the side for dramatic effect

Stella Artois' Chalice Can - I don't get it.

Newcastle. NO BOLLOCKS.

I Love It Here.

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