A Taste Of Hawaii

I think I could probably write hundreds of blogs, articles and books about eating and cooking in Hawaii and I would probably leave something out... so I will simply offer my most savory suggestions. One of my favorite things in the world is cooking for friends and another is sitting down with them and enjoying a wonderful meal.  Hawaii has such a rich culinary world because the islands have been the destination  for many people who have immigrated from Asia, Polynesia, Europe and the mainland bringing many tastes, ideas and traditions resulting in the very exciting and diverse foods you find in Hawaii. I can't ever recall a bad meal in Hawaii... I equally enjoy the shrimp off the trucks on the North Shore to the destination restaurants in Ala Moana and Wikkiki.

 No matter where I go in the world I'm not very likely to go to a fast-food or a franchised restaurant as I would rather enjoy the local flavors offered by a family business. The shrimp trucks are one of my favorite ways to enjoy lunch or a snack... most are located on the North Shore near Kahuku... you can enjoy fresh shrimp with rice (sometimes macaroni salad if you are lucky)and a slice of pineapple and a beverage and get change back from $20... but the best thing is you get to enjoy a wonderful and delicious plate of food al fresco.

OK let's talk about Spam... not the computer kind... but the canned meat kind... Hawaii has the nations highest per capita consumption of Spam or loco mocco (roughly 7 million cans a year)... OK hear me out on this... if you have not tried Spam in Hawaii stop rolling your eyes and open your mind to trying something new. There are more varieties available in Hawaii than anywhere else (eleven flavors). The whole thing started during WWII with meat and other foods being rationed... and it continued to be popular(ish) being a food item that was relatively inexpensive that did not require refrigeration and had a relatively long shelf life.... it was not until the swinging 70's that someone created Spam Musubi... essentially teriyaki fried Spam combined with rice and wrapped in nori seaweed. (It's divine trust me) You can go to almost any local restaurant and get Spam and eggs  for breakfast (including Mc Donald's) Sam Choy even serves Spam Kabobs in his restaurants.

There are a lot of little places that are sometimes off the beaten path that offer simply mouth watering food and by Hawaii standards relatively inexpensively... The thing that you need to keep in mind when you are shopping in a grocery store  or dining out is that the majority of food consumed is shipped in and typically will cost about 30% more than the mainland as a result.

Every year at the Hawaii State Fair there is a contest for the " Best Local Pie" using ingredients indigenous to  Hawaii... the winner for 2015 made a pie using pineapple. apple, banana and liliko'i with a crumb topping (I can't  wait to get my hands on that recipe and the local ingredients) You can find it on line.

One of my all time favorite snacks and comfort food is a manapua... it's a steamed roll filled wth BBQ pork or chicken... I have been known to make a meal out of them by eating five or six. I was first introduced to them in the 60's going to Libby Manapua  but you can get them in many places including the Manoa Marketplace. I can remember being sent to bring them home and eating almost an entire box in the car  by myself.

Nothing tops off a snack of eating a few manapua quite like stopping for Shave Ice or Ice Shave as it's called on the Big Island... but whatever you do don't call it a snow cone. Shave ice originated in Japan and is known as Kakigori... essentially it's shaved ice flavored with syrup and served in a cup with a straw... There are many flavors and I intend to try them all in my lifetime but currently my favorite is guava, pineapple and coconut.

Hawaii regional cuisine is a movement that spotlights the diverse flavors  and products of Hawaii including but not limited to beef raised on the Big Island, sweet potatoes from Moloka'I, onions from Maui, Kona coffee and island grown vanilla and chocolate. Some of the pioneering chefs include Alan Wong, Peter Merriman, Roy Yamaguchi and Sam Choy who all have namesake restaurants on the islands.

Without a doubt my favorite special occasion restaurant in the entire world is La Mer at The Halekulani... I have celebrated some of  the best  birthday's and weddings and anniversaries and life's special moments at La Mer; the food, service and ambience have earned it a five star rating. If you decide to indulge yourself they have a dress code so make sure you understand that when you make a reservation... and you will need a reservation; the last time I went I made it two months in advance... not always necessary but I wanted to make sure I got a specific date and time. 

Another favorite is going to the food court at Shirokiya at the Ala Moana Center...  

You can get the most amazing food for lunch, dinner or just a snack on the second floor and sometimes I walk over to Ala Moana Beach Park and enjoy and savor the meal and the moment.

There is so much more that I wanted to include in this like the luau for a child's first birthday and the unique foods and preparations  and traditions as well as some of my favorite things to eat like Kalua Pork, Lomi Salmon, Shoyu Chicken, Laulau, Char Sui and Okinawan Sweet Potato and Haupia Pie; perhaps I need to devote an entire segment to these or maybe  I'll try to incorporate a few things into the Hawaiian traditions and cultural influences I have planned in a couple weeks. 

I'll close with this... Poi is considered one of the sacred aspects of "Old Hawaii' and is thought of and treated with reverence. It is made in an ancient tradition of grinding taro root and making a sticky paste often served with fresh fish... I actually like poi but for many it's an acquired taste that most visitors to the islands find a bit too exotic... but you never know until you try it... However  if it's not to your liking please don't refer to it as tasting like wallpaper paste and move on to something else whether you are noshing on the North Shore or eating ala carte at Ala Moana you will always find something Onolicious! 

Aloha, a hui hou. (Good-bye, Until we meet again.)

Surfs Up!

For the next few weeks I'm going to be writing about Hawaii... There is so much history, legend, and rich cultural heritage in Hawaii I have been reluctant to tread where scholars and native Hawaiians have written the definitive view and history of the islands and it's people. I will simply offer my viewpoint and experiences.  Although not a true kama'aina in that I was not born in the islands to generations of others who have contributed to Hawaii and helped shape it's culture and growth;  I have the kama'aina spirit in a sense of belonging and acceptance of Hawaii and it's people. I came to Hawaii for the first time when I was four years old and my heart has been there ever since. For me Hawaii is always a physical and spiritual rebirth every time I return; as no where else on earth do I feel more at home. "Komo ma'i! Nou ka hale!" Come in! The house is yours!  Such is Aloha the spirit of caring and sharing.

I took my first surfing lesson when I was about nine years old in California

My first board was one of Dewey Weber's

but I did not really even begin to learn how to surf until I started to surf in Hawaii as a teenager in search like many others for the perfect wave. To be perfectly honest with you I am not and never have been a great surfer; at my best I was a good surfer because being great was always impeded by a tango danced between my skill and vast insecurities riding waves... but the bottom line for me like so many others is... it's a rush and I have always had fun doing it.

The history of surfing in Hawaii can be traced as far back to the Polynesian's who settled in Hawaii and was considered a sacred activity; the first boards were heavy slabs of wood. The  ocean and waves are and always have been a huge part of Hawaiian culture and there are as many names for types of waves as Inuit cultures have for types of snow.

Captain Cook and his crew searching for the Northwest Passage became the first Westerners to make contact with Hawaii; it's difficult to imagine  two more culturally different  groups of people than the Hawaiians and Westerners that is  sadly sometime still evident today. Captain Cook is credited with  writing about wave-riding in his journals... Hawaiians referred to it as papa he'e nalu meaning "board for wave sliding".

After centuries of isolation in the mid-pacific the contact with Westerners imported sickness, disease and death as venereal disease covered the length and breadth of the Hawaiian islands. In the decades that followed  further contact with outsiders introduced most of the deadly diseases the world knows including cholera, tuberculosis, bubonic plague and leprosy and interestingly the common cold and cut the indigenous population of 400,000 at Cook's arrival to 40,000; as historically written but subsequently disputed by Hawaiian scholars and now the accepted numbers of the initial population is one million people that dwindled to a mere 50,000. It was not just the disease that  devastated the locals but native customs and culture and the economic, religious and social practices were decimated  by the arrival of the American Christian missionaries  in the early 19th century. This period marked the beginning of the Dark Ages  for surfing which was banned as a pagan ritual. The missionaries clothed the locals and converted them to Christianity and forbade any activities that interfered with religion. Fortunately a small coterie of resisters  started to grow on the beaches of Oahu and became known as "beach boys" and kept the tradition of surfing alive and became something of a destination to the number of tourists  arriving on the island. 

Duke Kahanamoku

Among the most famous beach boys in Waikiki and the man who is regarded as "The Father Of Modern Surfing" is  Duke Paoa Kahina Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku.

In 1911 Kahanamoku founded the Hui Nalu Surf Club (Club Of The Waves), in 1912 he won the Olympic gold medal swimming in Stockholm and through his style, presence and skill became a world sensation and subsequently won medals in the 1920 and 1924 games.  In 1914 he introduced surfing  to Australia and New Zealand and subsequently  on the United States mainland. While traveling on the mainland Duke met a man named Tom Blake who was fascinated with surfing  and ultimately dedicating his life to it and eventually inventing the first  hollow boards becoming an instant success and paving the road to mass production making them more accessible.

Living briefly in Southern California he leveraged his olympic fame into a film career...

Duke Kahanamoku in the movies:
"Surfari"
"Free and Easy"
"This Is Your Life"
"Mister Roberts"
"Wake of the Red Witch"
"The Black Camel"
"Around the World with Douglas Fairbanks"
"Isle of Escape"
"Girl of the Port"
"The Rescue"
"Isle of Sunken Gold"
"Lord Jim"
"No Father to Guide Him"
"The Pony Express"
"Adventure"

He worked tirelessly for Hawaii to join  the Union as as 50th state. "He became the Ambassador of Aloha" he taught Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother to hula dance and promoted  Don Ho's career and surfed well into his 70's ( I hope to be doing the same) The nine foot bronze statue of "The Duke" in Waikiki  welcomes the world with true aloha spirit.

Here are few things you ought to know...

closeout – a wave or a large section of a wave that breaks at the same time, making it impossible to continue surfing the open face of the wave

down the line – along the face of the wave duck dive – a technique used to paddle out past a breaking wave.  Arms push the nose of the surfboard down while the knee or foot pushes down on the tail as the surfer dips below the passing wave. face – the open, unbroken part of a wave green wave – an open wave allowing the surfer to surf along the face of the wave, going either left or right parallel with the beach instead of straight towards the beach inside – when paddling for a wave, “inside” refers to the person closest to the peak of the wave.  “Inside” also refers to the shallower part of the water closest to shore. kick out – to surf out of the wave, ending your ride (also called flicking out) deep – the steepest part of the shoulder closest to the peak of the wave is considered the deepest part of the wave.  Often when a surfer is “too deep” they are unable to drop in to a wave without falling off of their board lineup – the area where the waves normally begin breaking.  Surfers sit on their boards in the lineup and wait for waves to break. longboard – a longer, wider, thicker surfboard.  Longboards catch waves much easier than shortboards but are much harder to control and turn. outside – when paddling for a wave, “outside” refers to the person further away from the peak of the wave.  “Outside” also refers to the deeper part of the water, where the biggest waves break, further from shore. left – a left is a wave that is breaking to the left.  The direction “Left” is used by the surfer when describing the direction of the wave while facing shore.  Therefore, from the beach, a “left” is described as a wave that breaks from left to right. peak – the immediately breaking part of the wave. right – a right is a wave that is breaking to the right.  The direction “right” is used by the surfer when describing the direction of the wave while facing shore.  Therefore, from the beach, a “right” is described as a wave that breaks from right to left. section – a part of a wave.  When a surfer “makes a section” a surfer is staying in front of a breaking section of the wave. set wave – a larger wave (the largest waves usually break in sets of 2,3, or 4) shortboard – a shorter, narrower, thinner surfboard.  It is more difficult to catch a wave on a shortboard than it is on a longboard, but a shortboard can be controlled/turned much easier. shoulder – the unbroken section of the wave directly next to the peak turtle roll – a technique used to paddle a longboard out past a breaking wave.  Longboards are generally too big to duck dive.  With the turtle roll technique the surfer turns upside-down and propels the surfboard (also upside down) through the breaking wave. whitewash – the broken white water of a wave moving straight towards shore

Oh... and about naked surfing ... you need to go to a sanctioned nude beach and if the water is fit for surfing there is usually and invitational event but...

It sounds a little more exciting and adventurous until you have been pummeled against the

rocks or pounded into the surf with nothing protecting your most vulnerable parts not to mention getting sand up your okole... I've only done it once at Black's Beach in San Diego.

Your ultimate goal is to get a clean ride on the shoulder of the wave--- to do this you have to steer the board by standing up and using your feet to turn the board away from the break and ride the wave at an angle... Does this sound like Greek to you? Then you need to go to surfing school--- almost every hotel and surf shop on Oahu has someone they can recommend to you... The Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea are the magic names to the brotherhood of Oahu surfers... but I recommend trying the gentler sets of waves in Waikiki if you are a beginner. Always pick the best surfing spots for your ability. For the most up to the minute weather and surf reports on Oahu call 808 973-4380.

Oh... and last but certainly not least---

1. First surfer up closest to the curl has the right of way.
2. Paddle around the break to get out.
3. Hang on to your board and look out for other surfers.
4. Help other surfers in trouble.
5. Respect the beach and the ocean.

See you next time--- I'll be talking about island food... from Spam to Luau recipes to Shrimp Trucks and everything in between. Me ke aloha!

Kiss Me Goodbye

I've crossed a certain intersection on PCHwy1 close to where I used to live about a zillion times but once stuck in a traffic jam listening to Billy Joel sing "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" on the radio I first started to understand that life is a series of hellos and goodbyes and moving on is the chance that you sometimes have to take... sadly near this same intersection I had to say one of the most heartbreaking and life changing goodbyes of my entire life.

It took me a long time to really appreciate that endings are just new beginnings in disguise... and if we don't take a leap of faith that is sometimes terrifying we are likely to stagnate and never realize our true potential or find our best place in life. One of my favorite inspirations is "If you want to catch the wave that is going to change your life you can't be afraid to swim outside of your comfort zone." this is especially scary as many of the waters we have to tread in life are filled with sharks both real and metaphorically. One only needs to imagine that if Meryl Streep did not have faith in herself and her talent she might have stayed in Summit New Jersey and would now be a High School drama teacher performing in community theatre (not that there is anything wrong with either choice as I've done both)... but you understand what I mean by taking a leap of faith into the unknown?

We all have moved on from bad relationships or horrible employers and these are the easy decisions (well sometimes not so easy) to make a plan to walk away from and find a new   or improved or just an updated life. Some decisions and goodbyes are made for us by the design and/or fate of others and we have to do our best to swim safely to the shore and find something or someone to buoy our spirit or simply  tread water while we devise a new plan--- but remember if you want to reach distant lands you sometimes have to have courage to loose site of the shore and sometimes you have to do it alone. (OK I promise no more platitudes this week) Some relationships and situations have clear timelines and expiration dates others don't and you have to be fairly savvy to read and interpret the signs and signals that you need to move forward.

You may need to get away to look at something different for a while to get a better perspective of what is already in front of you... one of the places that I've always liked to go to clear my thoughts is Palm Springs California... it's one of the places on earth I always wake up before the sun rises and feel refreshed and ready to face the day... there is something in the air there that stimulates me (one of those things is night blooming jasmine it's one of my favorite scents in nature)... in addition to looking at a different landscape it's wonderfully regenerating to wake up someplace different to face a new day.

But I feel the same way in Santa Fe New Mexico and in Mykonos.

I usually find that packing a bag and heading someplace with nice sunsets and/or sunrises helps to sort out the loose ends and untie the knots life sometimes throws at us... However I once spent two years living on an island in the Caribbean on what started as short holiday... I felt a bit like Shirley Valentine (If you have not seen that movie you probably should it will lift your spirits and might give you another perspective on taking a chance on yourself)... but my life was really complicated  on a personal and professional level at the time and it simply took a couple of years to sort everything out. I made wonderful new friends and memories and the experiences and insights have made me who I am today.

I've made a lot of wrong and bad decisions along the way but I always made the best decision available at the time and by alchemy chanced and/or alchemy planned the resolutions from initial or the ensuing problems led me to the place or people I eventually needed. Some decisions are easier than others to make but it all depends on the circumstances surrounding the big issue and if other people are involved etc etc etc... but one thing is always true... you can never go wrong by doing the right thing, whether it's standing up for yourself to a bully or providing your employees with good health insurance... I've said it before because I've seen it happen too many times... "When you make the worst possible decisions and choices you are likely to end up with the worst possible conclusion." and those are the  ones that are the most difficult to dig yourself out of...Sometimes you can't and you just have to pull yourself out of whatever hole you wound up in and brush yourself off and start all over again and search for the things in life that are important to you and the people who you find some common ground with and start rebuilding from the foundation up.

There are so many friends and faces in and out of our lives as we move through the different passages of  living  and dreaming our dreams and planning our plans and some are important only for the moment and won't stand the test of time that real friendship needs to thrive and grow; but if we learn the important lessons that these people are here to teach us in their brief tenure or what we have given them or if touched and tended to their spirit in some way than none are wasted moments, thoughts or gestures.

I'm going to give you a few travel and packing tips if you need to get away for a brief fling with yourself... If you stay longer than two weeks you are on your own.

I have a vintage Louis Vuitton carry on bag that if packed properly will see me through about any trip...  (Just keep in mind I tend to stay in places that are clothing optional so I don't need numerous wardrobe changes)... but you need some clothes to see the sights and get to and from the airport.

1. Go someplace warm and tropical you don't need to pack heavy and/or bulky clothing and accessories.
2. Wear your best outfit on the plane and try to pick something comfortable that will still look fresh(ish) if by fate it takes you 24 hours before you have a chance to change clothes again.
3. Pack a pair of light weight trousers that  will work with the jacket you wore on the plane (I forgot to tell you to make sure you wear a jacket + a cotton jumper (sweater) or cardigan on the plane... the blankets they hand out now are crap for trying to stay warm) a pair of jeans, a clean white and sky blue cotton long sleeved shirt, a couple pair of short pants 2-3 tank tops a couple tee-shirts one white and one in a fun color. (I'm partial to pink or turquoise) an extra cotton pull over jumper or cardigan and a short sleeved polo style shirt I'm partial to Paul & Shark (The trick is that everything should able to be worn with everything else ( I always take a pareo sarong too but that's just me; it can be optional if you wish)... a pair of sneakers and a pair of rubber slippers (most people on the mainland of the US refer to them as flip-flops) Pack whatever beauty or grooming items in the airline size regulation zip lock bag (If you need more than sample sizes of anything mail it to your destination before you leave. I don't wear undergarments as a rule but if you need them roll them up and put them in your shoes. Take an extra pair of dress socks for your return flight or if someone invites you someplace fancy ... almost done... a bathing frock of your choice a hat to protect  your face and hair from the sun and a notebook and pen for jotting down ideas and for making plans... and don't forget your camera. Leave your laptop at home... you are unplugged from everything you left behind to contemplate. If you need to wear glasses pack an extra pair just in case... and a small bottle of Forever New fabric wash (ideal for hand washing in hotel sinks) If you need anything else buy it when you get there or ship it ahead with your grooming articles.
4. Make sure you pack Purell and use it on the armrests and tray table... aircraft are filthy... don't even think about using the seat pocket in front of you... I've seen people leave dirty disposable diapers in there... ditto with the blankets and pillows unless you are on the first flight of the day and it's in a plastic bag.
5. Be friendly to everyone but try to keep a nice cool pleasant distance (think Greta Garbo) as you are there to sort your life out... not get laid or play a supporting role in some new drama... (I've broken this rule more times than I can count) and sometimes it has actually helped (the getting laid business not the vacation drama part)  instead of becoming a stress and decision add-on.
6. Don't be afraid to take a chance on yourself and try some of the new things life and this destination has to offer you... if you buy something you might want to consider mailing it home as your bag is already pretty full. (I sometimes buy local news papers and magazines and ship everything plus any pre-shipped oversize grooming and beauty items home at book rate).
7. If something tells you to leave early or extend your stay listen to youe inner-voice! It's usually always right!
   

The beauty of traveling lightly in life and on short trips is that it sets you free to enjoy yourself and not worry about excess baggage... literally or metaphorically. Have fun and make sure to  mail me a postcard!

Pride And Groom

Lets face it... everyone wants to look good and be admired...  but it's a lot of work looking great once you pass 30-something. Some of the most blindingly beautiful men and woman I know have one thing in common... they are happy. They are happy with themselves, their life and embrace their flaws with their assets... I remember a few years ago I saw a man and woman and they looked stunning with their skiing tan lines and the gleam in their eyes of a life lived and enjoyed ( I did notice that they did not have the tell-tell signs of cosmetic surgery or botox... I'll discuss that a little bit later) I thought to myself when I grow up I want to be like them... and I am.

The ingredients to looking your best are pretty basic... good health, a great attitude and living in moderation--- I'm a firm believer in not denying yourself all of the things life has to offer including seared foie gras and Champagne and and candied violets topping a chocolate mousse... but you can't have that all the time or you would probably be as big as a house and your cholesterol would be staggeringly high.; not to mention when you have these treats irregularly I think you appreciate them a bit more and the festive times they represent in your life. Another key part in all this is living a fabulous life... I'm one of those people who truly advocate a good nights sleep as part of any beauty regime but don't miss the chance to go dancing until dawn or go skinny dipping in the fountain in front of The Plaza Hotel (they take a dim view of people doing this for some reason but it was on a friends bucket list) I'm a firm believer that life's adventures keep a smile on your face and your skin glowing.

What we are going to be dealing with now is the daily maintenance of facing the world with your game face and your best foot forward. Nora Ephron said it best "I think that not having  to worry about your hair anymore is the secret upside of death." She is one of my favorite writers and I'm sad that her life was cut short but her wit and wisdom live in my heart.

Hair Apparent ---

I mentioned last week that I have spent a small fortune on my hair and it's true but I don't   regret a single dollar or the hours invested. One of the things about my hair is it enters the room and is always noticed and appraised or scorned a nano second before I am part of the whole picture so I always have to take that into consideration.

Finding the right person to do your hair is like finding the right person to have a life long love affair with and it's not easy... Some of the men who have run their hands through my hair include...

Mr. Kenneth

Yusuke Suga

Jon Peters

Vidal Sassoon

Jose Eber

Philip Kingsley

I have had some of the greatest hair  care available in the free world and I leaned something about life and myself and my hair from each and every one of them but some were not the best fit for me and my lifestyle... so though choice or fate I have finally found the person who understands me and my hair best and that is half the battle of healthy beautiful hair... the ultimate prize is I get my hair done in the privacy of my own home... but don't get me wrong I still like to go to a salon once and a while for a shampoo and blow dry; not only do the professionals know how to give a better blow out but you get to read all the magazines you would never be caught dead buying.

My hair left to it's own devises looks like a bad home perm... so in an effort to control it I've had it relaxed, permed. I've had it colored, highlighted, lowlighted... and the thing I'll tell you is the longer you avoid chemically processing your hair the better for you and your hair--- because once you start it's likely you will never have virgin hair again. Now I have my hair highlighted a few time a year and colored as needed. I finally stopped fighting with my hair and accepted it as a messy, slightly curly with some straight  strands and deal with it the best I can. (some days you just have to put a baseball cap on and not worry about it). Much like getting the best cut using the optimal shampoos and conditioners for your hair is critical. I use a variety of products specifically for blonde and treated hair but one of the best things to come along in a long time are the Chaz Dean Wen products... I can't recommend them highly enough... my advice is unless you have extremely oily hair you should not wash it every day... do it as necessary. If you want to make a great conditioner for your hair it's pretty easy (most of the ingredients are available from a good chemist or drug store) 

1 cup Cetostearyl  alcohol

1/2 teaspoon almond oil

1/4 teaspoon lanolin

1/4 teaspoon Benzalkonium chloride

3 pints distilled water

Heat all ingredients on low heat until melted and and combined remove from heat and continue to stir until cool.

Finally make sure you have a balanced healthy diet and your hair, body and finger nails will thank you but be mindful of the effects of sun, sea and chlorinated water... also take into account any specific problems you might have could be a side effect from stress, prescription or recreational drugs or alcohol use; in which case you should consult a physician or dermatologist.

 Blemished Reputation---

The beginning and end of good skin care is keeping your face clean and balanced... 

1. Wash
2. Tone
3. Moisturize

Sounds simple but you have to know your skin type and use the products and treatments suited to your skin and it's specific issues.

• Normal Skin
• Oily Skin
• Dry Skin
• Combination Skin
• Sensitive Skin

You should know your skin type by now but if you don't there are a bevy of beauties waiting to help you in the cosmetic department of most major stores... but please remember to keep it as simple as possible or you will just waste money on a lot of things you don't need or are never going to use.

I've been using Erno Laszlo since I was 15 and had a short fling with Ilona Of Hungary and Georgette Klinger;  but I'm back to Sea Mud Soap and Normalizer Shake It... I use Clinique soap and toner  during the summer and La Mer is the best moisturizer I have ever used--- I've also found a few special treatment products from Peter Thomas Roth. The best way to find the best products and what works best for your skin and lifestyle is by experimentation (but don't spend a fortune in the process start by using the samples) One of the biggest issues in skin treatment is once you find the perfect product  for your skin it's discontinued... don't get me started on this.  I also like to go and get a professional facial once or twice a year--- They really do help your skin and morale. Oh and one more thing that I was late to embrace as part of my daily ritual is to get a good sun screen that works with your other treatments and drinking a lot of water to keep myself hydrated (especially on long aircraft trips)... but better late than never.

Clip Joint--- 

So now that your hair and skin are looking better it's time to do something about those hands and feet of yours. You don't think you need to bother... think again. People judge and assess you every single day from head to toe... if you don't believe me you are living in a fools paradise. The finishing touch and the thing that most men overlook is a good manicure and pedicure. Think about how many times you have extended your hand to shake hands with someone (what did your nails and hands look and feel like?) Remember back to when you had to take off your shoes and your feet looked like Kaiser Rolls with toes that resembled dirty  fingerling potatoes?

Learning how to properly take care of your feet and your hands yourself is probably one of the best investments you can make in your appearance --- all you need are curved nail scissors, nail clippers, emery board, a bowl of warm soapy water (Yes it's Palmolive dishwashing liquid Madge), orange sticks, q-tips, cuticle remover, a pumice stone, hand cream and a nail buffer... but it's such a treat to go to a salon once and a while to have it done professionally ( I once sat next to Elliott Gould and had one of the most fun hours of my life). Again I keep it as simple as possible--- clean short nails, cuticles trimmed and I skip the clear polish and get buffed if I'm putting on a tuxedo... but this is a personal choice for you to make. In terms of overall foot happiness make sure your shoes fit and are comfortable and if you get athletes foot Dial Gold soap is the best and least expensive treatment.

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow--- 

In terms of hair removal there are a wide variety of options available--- I'm pretty much finished after facial shaving and  bit of manscaping but if you have hair issues that require consideration of waxing, electrolysis or lasers I strongly suggest you go to a professional who comes highly recommended; there are just things you should not do yourself or have your room mate help you with... ever. Would you  perform your own appendectomy or have your best friend help you?

The First Cut Is The Deepest---   

The only thing I have experience with is necessary reconstructive surgery after an accident and some dermabrasion, mole removal and a vanity botox treatment before appearing live on Japanese television... If and when the time comes that I want to try to fight the hands of time with cosmetic surgery I'm going to really do some serious research and seek out referrals... doing it successfully is when you don't look like "The Joker" in the old Batman series or constantly appearing surprised or amused.

Happy Endings---

I think one of the best kept beauty secrets is loving someone (especially yourself) and avoid at all costs avarice, malice and envy; horrible people age hideously... and don't read beauty magazines they don't have a clue who you really are and what suits you best.  And  last but not least the treatment that is worth it's weight in gold is a good massage therapy treatment; the choice is yours whether it's more sensual or physically therapeutic but a good massage will  reduce muscle tension and increase blood circulation that will bring out a healthier tone to your skin and  help your body best utilize it's nutrients... it helps you maintain good muscle tone and  you feel like a million dollars when the session is complete.

So put your best face and your best foot forward and have a great week.  Thank you!

Clothes Encounters

Someone once called me a fashion victim (It was a person who did not know how to pronounce Ralph Lauren's last name--- it's the same as the way you pronounce Lauren Bacall's first name not Sophia Loren's last name) I smiled and said "you can call me a clothes horse but I have never been a fashion victim!"  For those of you who are not sure ... 

fash·ion vic·tim    

noun a person who follows popular trends in dress and behavior slavishly. (think of anyone with the last name Kardashian or Hilton)

I have never been that kind of person and never will be... but I have had a few monumental lapses in judgement mostly in the 70's and a couple of times when I was visiting far off romantic places while I was dancing the tango under star lit skies and cavorting in fountains and drinking Champagne out of a shoe (I've actually done all these things and for a magic moment thought I was someone else)

The 70's---- I have no one to blame but myself but I did not fall into as many fashion mine fields as most... I bought the Famolare Wave shoe (they were really really comfortable) A jumpsuit (I don't know what was going through my head ( to add insult to injury I wore it going commando) and a suede fringe vest ( another travel decision mishap.... I was in San Francisco and sparked a doob for the first time in my life)... but probably the worst mistake was the polyester Nik Nik shirt--- I would like to chalk this one up to  peer pressure or maybe temporary insanity.

The garments in these photos are exactly the ones I once owned (except the Wave shoe was navy blue) actually when you consider the big picture of a 10 year span the 70's were not a complete train wreck for me.  But luckily for me most photographic evidence of this period had been lost to time. 

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It was also during the same period that I bent the gender boundaries for the first time  and bought a silver lame paper shirt from Biba in London in the big store on Kensington High Street... now that was a store... the only place that ever came close was the Fiorucci in Beverly Hills (I filmed a scene of a movie there once--- with Gene Kelly and I dancing to ELO you can find it on youtube if you want to watch it)... OK I'm getting off track the silver paper shirt was a dream and I wore it to one of the most fun parties of the 70's!--- I wish I had another just like it!

The 80's were a real mixed bag  emotionally and the biggest lapses in judgement for me involved shoulder pads and fur... I'm not someone who should ever wear shoulder pads as I have very broad shoulders but I had some Norma Kamali tee shirts I wore with the jackets I had by Willie Smith (he was such a nice man) my favorite was hot pink number; Boz Scaggs wore the same one on an album cover) I wore mine with an interlocking quilted Chanel brooch. 

The fur coat was an act of rebellion... I bought it to piss off the PETA people who were stepping over homeless people and snarling at them to get out of the way so they could picket their cause about the cruelty of inhumanity... I found it quite ironic and I did enjoy the coat apres ski for many years.

Lucky for me the travel virus only lingered for one more ill fated purchase in Rome...  (I love Rome I can always find some fun and interesting errands to run while I'm there) I was with a friend and we ran into some of his large extended  Italian family... and were invited to a wedding... a small dilemma not having appropriate wedding attire in my luggage but easily remedied being in Rome and able to buy something fetching by paying in lire before the euro was introduced... what can I say except drinking in the middle of the day can really cloud your judgement and I embraced a Versace summer suit that made me look like I was in clown college.

For most of my life I've been drawn to updated classics that I can mix and match and wear for years and years... I was once quoted as saying " I'm never out of style because I'm never on the cutting edge of being of the moment." Part of the art in pulling this off is I know what colors suit me, what lines and fabrics work best and I know how to mix things up to work together to make my own statement... Another wonderful compliment I once got from someone was " you are the only person I know who can look smashing in athletic clothes." 

Now in my travels when I find something a little off the charts I try to work it into my life or just enjoy it for the moment... I've made a pareo sarong and tank top one of my signature looks but it works better for me in Hawaii than it does on the street in NYC.

Every once and a while I'll add something a little askew to my look just to keep things interesting and to update something that needs a little boost in morale (I have few articles of clothing that have been around the world and the block several times... but they are still pretty fresh because I've taken excellent care of them)... I have this thing that I call the "Cost Per Wear" or CPW factor. If something is $100.00 and you wear it one hundred times it has a $1.00 CPW if you wear it one time it's $100.00 CPW--- I always take that into account on big ticket items... but you have to factor in upkeep and fabric longevity. One of the best pieces of advice I ever got was always look at yourself in a three way mirror before you leave the house... if something screams "notice me"  you need to take it off or change into something else... you are trying too hard... it's OK to have a focal point but it should work with the whole story you are telling the world about yourself. Oh and one more thing--- really crazy flamboyant avant garde eyewear does not make you look more interesting--- it makes you look desperate for attention. 

We all make mistakes but if we learn by them and don't keep repeating them then the payoff is worth the pain... I see some of the ghosts or reincarnations of  clothing past pop up in the store or magazines now and then and once in a blue moon I'll take that road again but If I passed the first time for a good reason there is no need to subject myself or the world to a fashion mistake redeux.

Next week I'm gong to be talking about the upkeep and maintenance and cost it takes to face the world... and as I was mulling it over  I think I might have spent close the cost of buying a penthouse in Olympic Tower on 5th Avenue... just on my hair... speaking of  hair --- the 70's were quite a tidal wave of choices and misbegotten decisions as well. See you next week.