Shopping for wine can be an arduous task, especially when you’re looking for something affordable.  The supplies of good wine that also happens to be cheap wine seems to be a diminishing pile – but can be found if you know where to look.  New world regions like Chile and Washington State, not to mention lesser-known areas in Europe like the Languedoc and Loire Valley are making cases upon cases of great wine that won’t stress your wallet or taste like a bargain bottle.   [Read more...]

Although small spaces foster “cozy relations and better communication,” says the feng shui master; sometimes you just might want to spread out – even if the square footage says otherwise. If you want to make your space appears larger than life, try some of these super-sizing tips:

1. De-clutter – Clutter falls into the “too many things to look at” category and must go – especially items that appear to have no home – as in, stuff that sits on the floor. Collections are usually working against you in a room like this, but if you can cluster them so the eye views it as “one thing” as opposed to 10,000 little items, it can work. For example, if you have a bunch of objects on a group of shelves hanging on the wall, try painting a big “frame” on the wall around the whole group of shelves, so they appear to be one three-dimensional item. Electronics can be bunched together with this same idea if they can’t be totally hidden in cabinets, etc.

2. Arrange art and furnishings so that you are drawn into the room with your eyes. This can be a large piece of art (yes, large items go quite well in small spaces as long as there is no clutter around them) or a brilliantly colored piece of furniture. Stick to larger solids or bold patterns rather then smaller patterns and multiple colors. Your overall goal is to dazzle the eyes on one or two dramatic items in the space rather than giving too many choices to check out. Believe it or not, fewer larger pieces of art and furnishings work better than many small pieces.

3. Double the space with a mirror. If it is a hanging mirror, locate it so it reflects from your chest to about 6-8inches above your head. For more drama and space if you have a very narrow room- opt for a door-sized mirror to “poke a hole” in the wall and make it feel like the space flows into another room.

4. Add reflective surfaces – a clear shower door or curtain will open up a bathroom. Plexiglas, glass block, chrome, glass and other reflective or translucent materials can give the illusion of more space. Glass tabletops work great for this (although I would not recommend a glass top for dining – it’s a feng shui thing.)

5. Try keeping as much floor space visible as possible. Mix in “see-through” furniture such as a mesh chairs or furniture on legs rather than skirted or other solid-to-the-ground upholstery.

6. Simplify color choices. Two or three contrasting and bold colors are all that a small space can display without seeming fractured. Make wall colors light or pale, or go with something that matches the furnishings.

We went to the streets of New York to interview young, sexy women about what they want from their men in bed.  After many slaps (and a few phone numbers) we compiled the best nine tips to help our fellow mankind in the sack.  Just remember guys, with great knowledge comes great responsibility.

A Little Kinky

Think all women want it nice and slow?  Think again.  These women want it hot and heavy on the kitchen table, the bedroom floor, or just about anywhere else you can send them over the edge.  They like moves that show a guy’s strong, masculine side, just look at the advice below:

Kendra, Marketing Manager in Soho, 24 years old – “I love it when a guy tosses me around a little.  I mean, nothing crazy, but it’s a huge turn-on to know he’s strong and likes being the boss.”

Nicci, Fashion Designer in Hell’s Kitchen, 29 years old – “I’m a sucker for biting.  Oh, and sucking is good too!  (Laughs)  A gentle bite me on the neck and I’m yours.  I like it when a guy rolls with my reactions too, the anticipation makes my heart race when he makes his way to my ears, nipples, toes and anything else he finds appetizing!”

Kim, Investment Banker in the Financial District, 32 years old – “Think you’re busy?  I eat sissy analysts for lunch and I don’t have time for your trial and error in bed.  Want to know how to please me? Here it is – the difference between a boy and a man is a man knows how to make me come.  If you want this to last more than tonight I orgasm first, then you – or together. Got it?”

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An honest coincidence…It has been brought to our attention that BestWeekEver.tv first published a near identical article on August 28th – you can see it here.

Whether you think Dov Charney is a pervert or a genius…

Whether you find sex infused advertising sexy or sexist…

Whether or not you like tee shirts…you`re still going to look at half-naked twentysomethings.

American Apparel is known for its sometimes sexy, always controversial advertisements. We’ve uncovered the top 24 AA ads most likely to turn heads. Please note that some images contained within this slideshow are NSFW.

24.

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You are confronted with an array of bottles in your neighborhood wine shop. Some of the words are written in a foreign language, from a place you couldn’t locate on a map. You quickly thumb through your mental recollection of wine advertisements, finally narrowing it down to the label with either the cute French bunny or yellow kangaroo. Surprisingly, even in this choose-your-own-adventure, the price of the wine alone can’t truly determine the quality of the nectar that hides behind all those strange labels. Here is a guide to making an educated guess to avoid the ornately packaged swill.

1) Read. Read. Read. A wine hobby has an incredible ability to get better with the more you find out about it. Read Wine Style and Wine for Dummies, both by Mary Ewing-Mulligan, one of the best wine sources for beginners. When you get more advanced, move to Wines, Grapes and Vines and the Oxford Companion to Wine, both by Jancis Robinson. These books will tell you the names of reputable or prestigious wine producers.

2) Find a trustworthy source (some of my favorite establishments). The best wine stores will have great service, dish out some insider information about its products, and store the bottles by laying them horizontally. This prevents the cork from drying out, a vital technique). Wine is extremely sensitive to light and heat, so also make sure the store keeps its wine out of the sun and in a cool environment.

3) Look at the importer. Every imported bottle of wine is required by law to print its shipping information on the back of each bottle. Knowing the quality importers can help; better importers focus on better wines. Some of my favorites are Neal Rosenthal, Robert Chadderdon, Leonardo Locasio, Terry Theise, Vinifera Imports, Montecastelli, Marc de Grazia, Kermit Lynch and Louis/Dressner.###

4) Go to free tastings. Your local store might host sessions on the weekends or some weekday evenings. Sign up for their e-newsletters (I generally don’t give my email address away, but if its for free wine, sign me up), and check out some tastings. You can expand your horizons by learning about different types, and you can get a free buzz, if you’re into that kind of thing.

5) Try organic or biodynamic wines. Although this hardly assures great quality, chances are they trump their conventional counterparts. In some places, it is easier to make and care for these organic wines because of environmental conditions, so don’t shun conventional wines altogether.

6) Get to know your wine shop clerk. Your seller might give you some personalized suggestions if you establish a wine rapport.

7) Ignore wines that heavily advertise, and stay away from gimmicks such as animals and gold medal awards on the labels. If you see a big billboard on Broadway, remember: the cost of a 10-foot mermaid with a yellow tail is factored into the price.
You don’t need to spend $100 on a wine, but don’t buy anything less than $7. Although there is plenty of crap wine at $20 or $50, there is absolutely nothing worth the grapes for under $7 per bottle in a New York wine store.

9) Drink frequently. I know, I’m twisting your arm with this request. Not only is a half-bottle of wine per day shown to be healthy in some studies, but the more you drink, the more you’ll know about wine and the more fun you’ll have with it.

Throwing a party with your friends anytime soon? Then you need this list of what women want to hear on the dance floor and frankly, it doesn`t matter if there`s going to be dancing or not! After working as a DJ in New York for almost a decade everywhere from Bar Mitzvahs to the nightclub, Marquee, I can tell you with certainty that it doesn`t matter if you spent millions to build the hottest club downtown or if you`re stuck in a catering hall with a bunch of teenagers, the party doesn`t get started until you throw on some fun music. Everyone starts to smile and laugh, people get up and chat, and it sends a surge of positive energy over the room that everyone should try to bring to their event.

So what should you actually play? Not necessarily what you think – across all these different audiences the girls, with rare exception don`t want to hear a techno beat imported from Ibizia. They want fun and familiar. Think of the stuff you sing at the top of your lungs in the car and all the guilty pleasures you`re afraid to admit you love. And check out my list of the 25 Songs All Women Love below.

Sing-A-Longs

These are the songs that everyone knows – as a DJ, it requires almost no work because as soon as you start the track everyone starts to belt out the lyrics. It`s the same reason people love karaoke – it`s helps break the awkward moments and gets them into a comfortable place with friends. Plus, with everyone singing, no one can tell if you have a crappy voice or not!
Bon Jovi – Livin’ On a Prayer

Journey – Don’t Stop Believing

Rick Springfield – Jessie’s Girl

Madonna – Like A Virgin

Whitney Houston – How Will I Know

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Dance Party

A pounding, up –tempo beat and lots of energy that make your body want to move. When I start the track I can see it coming, people start bopping their heads, then it starts to creep into their whole body. Before you know it, you`ve got twice as many people running out to dance with the ladies leading the charge.

Bob Sinclair – Love Generation

Digital Underground – The Humpty Dance

Sophie Ellis Bextor – Murder On The Dance Floor

Aly-Us – Follow Me

ABBA – Dancing Queen

Daft Punk – One More Time

DJ Sammy – Heaven

Tiffany – I Think We’re Alone Now

Michael Jackson – Billy Jean

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Bump & Grind

If you were still in high school the principal would be pulling you apart by now. You know what I`m talking about, the kind of song that pushes people together into a sweaty mass of arms, lips and hair and builds sexual tension like a static charge. Put on one of these tracks and the mood shifts, so save them for later in the night.

Salt n’ Pepa – None of Your Business

Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing

Britney Spears – I’m a Slave To You

LL Cool J – Doin’ It

Bell Biv DeVoe – Poison

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Feel Good

Cheesy? Yes – but necessary. These are the songs that are more for groups of girls to jump around to and giggle with each other. Oh sure, you`re laughing now, but just wait until you`re trying to get the party started early in the night. You`ll run to these guilty pleasures just as fast as you dismissed them.

Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes

Dion – Run Around Sue

Alicia Keys – No One

Gwen Stefani feat. Akon – The Sweet Escape

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