Holy Tinder: My adventures in technology I openly admit that I’m not tech savvy, but I know what I like. I proudly have two applications on my iPhone: Facebook and Tinder.  If you have Facebook, then Tinder should absolutely be your next step. 4 Easy Steps to expanding your social circle via Tinder: Step 1. Download the app (it’s FREE!) Step 2. Connect to Facebook (No, it won’t tell your friends. I repeat, it will not make an announcement via social media). Step 3. Set your location preferences (If you are into men or women from the ‘burbs’, you might want to consider adding a few more miles). Step 4. TIME TO TINDER. Once you are up and running, you can immediately begin to “LIKE” or “DISLIKE” each person within your given location. If you like them AND they like you back – It’s a MATCH. #Win If it’s a MATCH, you’ve opened the floodgates to witty banter and flirting galore. The TEN reasons you should join Tinder (NOW): Mutual Friends. It’s the only online dating site where you can do due diligence - one of Tinder’s best qualities is that you can find out mutchies (Mutual friends) with your potential date. Instead of your standard stalker-esque Google search, you can ask your friend Joe Schmo for the inside scoop. #localizedknowledge NO stigma. I’m on it, and so are my friends. I cannot tell you how many people have contacted me to say “I liked you on Tinder, like me back.” I also think it’s acceptable to say “I am going on a Tinder date.” I don’t know any other online dating website or app where this is true. Time to tap untapped gems. New York is a small incestual little world, but Tinder helps you embrace it – your friends are friends with a lot of A+ dudes (or dudettes) that you may not be aware of. It’s a fun way to kill time. Are you sitting in your Doctor’s office? En route to work? Or eating lunch in your cube? Time to Tinder. It’s kind of addicting. It’s like snood for adults. You can be a flirtasaurus on your couch. See bullet #3. Saying “Tindering” is fun. I know, it sounds a little like what you do by yourself on a rainy day, but it’s a verb I’ve truly embraced. Produces Results (aka: You can procure dates). Not raining men? Tinder is a quick way to make it happen stat!  Confidence Boost. It’s a great feeling when it says “It’s a match”. It’s like Christmas or winning a small lottery. Because I said so. I’m only looking out for your best interest. #TinderistheonlyreasontoowntheiPhone Edited by: Amanda Zalka Photo credit: RYOT

Holy Tinder: My adventures in technology

I openly admit that I’m not tech savvy, but I know what I like. I proudly have two applications on my iPhone: Facebook and Tinder. 

If you have Facebook, then Tinder should absolutely be your next step.

4 Easy Steps to expanding your social circle via Tinder:

  • Step 1. Download the app (it’s FREE!)
  • Step 2. Connect to Facebook (No, it won’t tell your friends. I repeat, it will not make an announcement via social media).
  • Step 3. Set your location preferences (If you are into men or women from the ‘burbs’, you might want to consider adding a few more miles).
  • Step 4. TIME TO TINDER.
  • Once you are up and running, you can immediately begin to “LIKE” or “DISLIKE” each person within your given location.
  • If you like them AND they like you back – It’s a MATCH. #Win
  • If it’s a MATCH, you’ve opened the floodgates to witty banter and flirting galore.

The TEN reasons you should join Tinder (NOW):

  1. Mutual Friends. It’s the only online dating site where you can do due diligence - one of Tinder’s best qualities is that you can find out mutchies (Mutual friends) with your potential date. Instead of your standard stalker-esque Google search, you can ask your friend Joe Schmo for the inside scoop. #localizedknowledge
  2. NO stigma. I’m on it, and so are my friends. I cannot tell you how many people have contacted me to say “I liked you on Tinder, like me back.” I also think it’s acceptable to say “I am going on a Tinder date.” I don’t know any other online dating website or app where this is true.
  3. Time to tap untapped gems. New York is a small incestual little world, but Tinder helps you embrace it – your friends are friends with a lot of A+ dudes (or dudettes) that you may not be aware of.
  4. It’s a fun way to kill time. Are you sitting in your Doctor’s office? En route to work? Or eating lunch in your cube? Time to Tinder.
  5. It’s kind of addicting. It’s like snood for adults.
  6. You can be a flirtasaurus on your couch. See bullet #3.
  7. Saying “Tindering” is fun. I know, it sounds a little like what you do by yourself on a rainy day, but it’s a verb I’ve truly embraced.
  8. Produces Results (aka: You can procure dates). Not raining men? Tinder is a quick way to make it happen stat! 
  9. Confidence Boost. It’s a great feeling when it says “It’s a match”. It’s like Christmas or winning a small lottery.
  10. Because I said so. I’m only looking out for your best interest.

#TinderistheonlyreasontoowntheiPhone

Edited by: Amanda Zalka

Photo credit: RYOT

Interview with Scott Britton: Startup enthusiast, Biz Dev rockstar and Writer Scott Britton is an early riser. Each day, he wakes up at the crack of dawn (okay 6:00AM) to get a jump start on life. His typical morning consists of catching up on e-mails, writing, an iced coffee and a little meditation.  Filled with energy, Scott brings enthusiasm, zest and a touch of nerdiness (in a good way) to everything. I can’t imagine him spending his life in a cube, and fortunately, he never did either. Born in Pennsylvania, Scott played sports in high school and was eventually captain of the football team at Princeton University (Yes ladies, he’s on the market). After graduation, he landed the job all men want, working in sports at SFX baseball, an agency that represented the likes of Mariano Rivera and David Ortiz. After four months, he realized playing Jerry Maguire wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  Lacking intellectual stimulation and creativity he had an epiphany: he wanted to become an entrepreneur. After a little hustling, CollegeOnly, the tech startup, gave him a chance. He commuted two hours each way, was paid very little, but learned a heck of a lot. Soon after, he left to start his own thing, but eventually decided to jump aboard SinglePlatform’s team, where he has spent the past year and change. Side note: It was recently acquired for a cool 100 million by Constant Contact. Oh, and there is more! He is the curator of the business development newsletter, Life-LongLearner.com, which is all about biz dev, life hacks and personal development. Read Scott’s interview below to learn more about his two ventures, his advice on breaking into the startup world, and his favorite place in NYC. Tell me more about SinglePlatform. Why is it awesome? SinglePlatform is the best place for a local business to distribute and update their information like menus, photos, and location information everywhere consumers are making purchasing decisions online. It’s an amazing tool for local businesses and I’m blessed to work with awesome people! Tell me more about Life-long learner. What motivated you to start it? Life-longlearner.com is my personal blog. Truth be told, I started it because I thought I wanted to be in VC back in the day - when I applied to an analyst job they asked me to type in my blog URL. Yikes! I then started a blog and discovered my love for writing and digital marketing. Now I spend a lot of time on it in order to share stuff I think can help other people, build thought leadership, and sharpen my marketing spear. Why is working for a startup awesome? I like the creativity and resourcefulness available within a startup. I also think it’s pretty cool to be building something that changes how people interact with our world. Any advice to others hoping to break into the startup world? Ohh I got plenty. The best thing you can do is build out a robust network of people by making their lives better. I actually am coming out with a new online class on “How to Get A Startup Business Development Job” that shares all my tips, strategies, and scripts over 6+ hours of video content. A favorite trick related to this I can share is how to find email addresses of pretty much anyone. Any career advice in general? The faster you find what you love and what you’re put on this earth to do, the faster you can achieve mastery of it. With this in mind, I tried a lot of stuff early on which resulted in many sacrifices, but ultimately, I feel like I’m in a much better place than a lot of my peers who “played it safe” in the long run. What is your long term goal? To create something that drives positive impact on the world. To create a business that provides my family a nice life and gives me autonomy to travel zee world in the near term. What is your favorite place in NYC? Gregory’s Coffee Shop on 25th and Park on an early Saturday afternoon. I like going there, getting a big iced coffee and nerding out. If you’re reading this, come say hi, I’m there most Saturday mornings.

Interview with Scott Britton: Startup enthusiast, Biz Dev rockstar and Writer

Scott Britton is an early riser. Each day, he wakes up at the crack of dawn (okay 6:00AM) to get a jump start on life. His typical morning consists of catching up on e-mails, writing, an iced coffee and a little meditation.  Filled with energy, Scott brings enthusiasm, zest and a touch of nerdiness (in a good way) to everything. I can’t imagine him spending his life in a cube, and fortunately, he never did either.

Born in Pennsylvania, Scott played sports in high school and was eventually captain of the football team at Princeton University (Yes ladies, he’s on the market). After graduation, he landed the job all men want, working in sports at SFX baseball, an agency that represented the likes of Mariano Rivera and David Ortiz. After four months, he realized playing Jerry Maguire wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.  Lacking intellectual stimulation and creativity he had an epiphany: he wanted to become an entrepreneur. After a little hustling, CollegeOnly, the tech startup, gave him a chance. He commuted two hours each way, was paid very little, but learned a heck of a lot. Soon after, he left to start his own thing, but eventually decided to jump aboard SinglePlatform’s team, where he has spent the past year and change. Side note: It was recently acquired for a cool 100 million by Constant Contact. Oh, and there is more! He is the curator of the business development newsletter, Life-LongLearner.com, which is all about biz dev, life hacks and personal development. Read Scott’s interview below to learn more about his two ventures, his advice on breaking into the startup world, and his favorite place in NYC.

Tell me more about SinglePlatform. Why is it awesome?

SinglePlatform is the best place for a local business to distribute and update their information like menus, photos, and location information everywhere consumers are making purchasing decisions online. It’s an amazing tool for local businesses and I’m blessed to work with awesome people!

Tell me more about Life-long learner. What motivated you to start it?

Life-longlearner.com is my personal blog. Truth be told, I started it because I thought I wanted to be in VC back in the day - when I applied to an analyst job they asked me to type in my blog URL. Yikes! I then started a blog and discovered my love for writing and digital marketing. Now I spend a lot of time on it in order to share stuff I think can help other people, build thought leadership, and sharpen my marketing spear.

Why is working for a startup awesome?

I like the creativity and resourcefulness available within a startup. I also think it’s pretty cool to be building something that changes how people interact with our world.

Any advice to others hoping to break into the startup world?

Ohh I got plenty. The best thing you can do is build out a robust network of people by making their lives better. I actually am coming out with a new online class on “How to Get A Startup Business Development Job” that shares all my tips, strategies, and scripts over 6+ hours of video content. A favorite trick related to this I can share is how to find email addresses of pretty much anyone.

Any career advice in general?

The faster you find what you love and what you’re put on this earth to do, the faster you can achieve mastery of it. With this in mind, I tried a lot of stuff early on which resulted in many sacrifices, but ultimately, I feel like I’m in a much better place than a lot of my peers who “played it safe” in the long run.

What is your long term goal?

To create something that drives positive impact on the world.

To create a business that provides my family a nice life and gives me autonomy to travel zee world in the near term.

What is your favorite place in NYC?

Gregory’s Coffee Shop on 25th and Park on an early Saturday afternoon. I like going there, getting a big iced coffee and nerding out. If you’re reading this, come say hi, I’m there most Saturday mornings.

Countdown to Memorial Day…. Photo taken in Amagansett.  #11daysuntilbliss

Countdown to Memorial Day….

Photo taken in Amagansett. 

#11daysuntilbliss

Hakkasan: The Buddakan of Midtown

About Hakkasan: With locations all over the world, Hakkasan opened up its first New York post in April 2012. Serving modern Cantonese fare, it is similar to downtown’s hotspot Buddakan in terms of menu, cocktails and ambiance. However, IMO it’s better (Michelin agrees and just awarded this gem a star).

Where: Hakkasan (311 West 43rd Street at 8th Avenue, Hells Kitchen/Theater District) – Kids: It’s worth the trip up North.  

About the Space: It’s 11,000 square feet of luxury and can seat up to 200 New Yorkers at a time. The ambiance? Magnificent. When you open the heavy door, you will proceed down a long, dimly lit hallway (it reminds me of the Bowery club, Finale) that opens to a sprawling, modern space. The bar is super sexy and covered in glowing lights. As for the the main dining room, it is decorated with dark brown wood, plush seating and a phoenix or two for effect.

About the food: Get your chopsticks ready! Hakkasan is known for their dim sum, but I dare you to explore the entire menu. Everything tastes expensive (in a good way) and is beautifully presented. Side note: For those who eat plants exclusively, there are plenty of vegetarian options.  

About the Cocktails:  Food aside, this place really crushes the booze. With three pages of creative cocktails, a lack of options isn’t the issue here. Try their signature:  The Smokey Negroni (with a grand marnier smoke infusion).

Perfect for: Post work, before/after a Broadway show, a hot date, when you are craving dim sum, and when you feel like pretending you are on Sex and The City.

What to order:

  • Hakka Steamed Dim Sum Platter (Scallop shumai, har gau, prawn and chinese chive dumpling, black pepper duck dumpling) for $24.00 – Legendary. It comes with two of each and was the best thing I ate. My personal favorites were the prawn and duck.
  • Hakka Noodle (with mushrooms and chinese chive) for $15.00 – It’s essentially fancy pad thai. IMO, it’s a great side dish.
  • Sanpei Chicken Claypot (with thai sweet basil) for $24.00 – My favorite main which actually comes in a clay pot. Spicy, but not too spicy. Youknowwhatimeanbean?
  • Grilled Chilean Seabass (with Chinese Honey fried shimeji mushrooms and gai lan) for $37.00 – You can certainly taste the honey, but it’s not overpowering. It was unlike any other seabass I have tried.
  • Exotic Fruit Platter (fresh and seasonal fruits) for $20.00 – This beautiful plate comes with everything from gooseberries to dragon fruit; even the flowers are edible. I loved this, absolutely loved it. It was tasty, healthy and gorgeous to look at.
  • Apple Mille Feuille (Caramelized apple, granny smith puree, smoked caramel ice cream) for $15.00 – For someone who reads my blog on the reg, you know that ice cream is my favorite food. This smoked caramel ice cream was so good, it was stupid.

Cool fact: Don’t feel like dropping bank to come here? Good news: You can get it on sale (well, kind of) They have Prix-Fixe lunch menu for $29 and Prix-Fixe brunch on the weekend for $39 (comes with bev).

#Fancyshmancychineseisso2013.

Happy Spring. #Iheartcentralpark Photo credit: Madeleine Walsh 

Happy Spring.

#Iheartcentralpark

Photo credit: Madeleine Walsh 

Be a guinea pig: I have an interesting opportunity for you with NYC’s hottest new#startup, Moven. Click here to try out their beta test product here. On another note, see the post I wrote for Moven on how to survive financially in the most expensive city in the US “Holy Eff I’m Poor”.  

Be a guinea pig: I have an interesting opportunity for you with NYC’s hottest new#startup, Moven. Click here to try out their beta test product here.

On another note, see the post I wrote for Moven on how to survive financially in the most expensive city in the US “Holy Eff I’m Poor”.

 

RAMP up your SPRING with this refreshing (and limited edition) cocktail What is it: The “Proserpina” (named after Persephone, the Greek Goddess of Spring). Where: Caffè Storico in the New York Historical Society (170 Central Park West at 76th Street, Upper West Side). What is it so awesome? The star ingredient is the RAMP – the trendiest veggie of 2013. Oh, and it’s topped with prosecco. No explanation needed there. What the eff is a ramp? It is similar to onions, scallions, or leeks - wild and garlic flavored. How many pesos? $12. When can I get it: NOW until end of May (when Ramp season is over). What’s in this sucker? (I don’t live in NYC!) 1 pickled ramp bulb, lightly muddled 1.5 oz Bombay Saphire East Gin 0.5 oz simple syrup 0.5 oz fresh lime juice Shake and strain over fresh ice top with 0.5 oz of prosecco Garnished with two lime wheels and a picked ramp          To learn more about Caffè Storico, read my post: “Great Meal Deal: Sunday Supper at Caffè Storico” 

RAMP up your SPRING with this refreshing (and limited edition) cocktail

What is it: The “Proserpina” (named after Persephone, the Greek Goddess of Spring).

Where: Caffè Storico in the New York Historical Society (170 Central Park West at 76th Street, Upper West Side).

What is it so awesome? The star ingredient is the RAMP – the trendiest veggie of 2013. Oh, and it’s topped with prosecco. No explanation needed there.

What the eff is a ramp? It is similar to onions, scallions, or leeks - wild and garlic flavored.

How many pesos? $12.

When can I get it: NOW until end of May (when Ramp season is over).

What’s in this sucker? (I don’t live in NYC!)

  • 1 pickled ramp bulb, lightly muddled
  • 1.5 oz Bombay Saphire East Gin
  • 0.5 oz simple syrup
  • 0.5 oz fresh lime juice
  • Shake and strain over fresh ice
  • top with 0.5 oz of prosecco
  • Garnished with two lime wheels and a picked ramp         

To learn more about Caffè Storico, read my post: “Great Meal Deal: Sunday Supper at Caffè Storico” 

Happy Monday…Spring flowers in Gramercy Park.

#Itsalmostsummerholycrap.

Food Porn Friday: Where to get the best mac & cheese? Where: Beecher’s Handmade Cheese (900 Broadway at 19th Street, Flatiron). What: The “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese (That’s actually the title) How many pesos? $14. Tell me about the Mac & Cheese: Made with penne pasta (the most JV carb out there, but it doesn’t matter with this dish), 2 types of cheese (Beecher’s flagship and Just Jack) and a smidgen of chili powder. I’m not going to lie, it’s totally worth going up a pant size. About Beecher’s: Opened in 2011, this two story cheese mecca houses a cheese shop, grab and go café, sit down restaurant, and cheese lab where they make their flagship cheese. Hours: Store & Café: Monday to Saturday – 8:00AM-8:00PM Sunday –  11:00AM-8:00PM The Cellar (the sit down restaurant) Lunch: Monday to Friday –  11:30AM-3:00PM Bar: 11:30 AM – Close Dinner: Sunday to Wednesday – 5:00PM to 11:00PM (Kitchen closes at 10:30PM) Thursday to Saturday 5:00PM to Midnight (Kitchen closes at 11:00PM)

Food Porn Friday: Where to get the best mac & cheese?

Where: Beecher’s Handmade Cheese (900 Broadway at 19th Street, Flatiron).

What: The “World’s Best” Mac & Cheese (That’s actually the title)

How many pesos? $14.

Tell me about the Mac & Cheese: Made with penne pasta (the most JV carb out there, but it doesn’t matter with this dish), 2 types of cheese (Beecher’s flagship and Just Jack) and a smidgen of chili powder. I’m not going to lie, it’s totally worth going up a pant size.

About Beecher’s: Opened in 2011, this two story cheese mecca houses a cheese shop, grab and go café, sit down restaurant, and cheese lab where they make their flagship cheese.

Hours:

Store & Café:

  • Monday to Saturday – 8:00AM-8:00PM
  • Sunday –  11:00AM-8:00PM

The Cellar (the sit down restaurant)

  • Lunch: Monday to Friday –  11:30AM-3:00PM

Bar:

  • 11:30 AM – Close

Dinner:

  • Sunday to Wednesday – 5:00PM to 11:00PM (Kitchen closes at 10:30PM)
  • Thursday to Saturday 5:00PM to Midnight (Kitchen closes at 11:00PM)

Food Porn Friday: What to order at Rosemary’s? What: A surprisingly good dessert. Where: Rosemary’s Enoteca & Trattoria (18 Greenwich Avenue at 10th Street, West Village). What: Olive Oil Cake (Who knew that Olive Oil & Cake would be an A+ combo?). This fluffy treat is served with blueberries on top and a smidgen of whipped cream.   How much will it run me? $8. About Rosemary’s: Opened in September 2012, Rosemary’s Enoteca & Trattoria (a fancy way of saying restaurant) is named for the owner’s mother. Like its sister restaurant Bobo, Rosemary’s serves seasonal fare but is Italian versus French. So what makes their food so fab? It’s delicious and Überfresh. In the warmer months, they pull their veggies from their (beautiful) rooftop garden. Even better, the menu has a great price point (Apps from $10 to $13, Pastas from $12 to $14 and mains from $16 to $24 sans sharing plates). They also have 40 bottles of wine for $40, wines by the glass for $10 and prosecco on tap! The bad news? No reservations for parties under 8. So annoying.com Read my full review on the most popular kid in school (Rosemary’s).

Food Porn Friday: What to order at Rosemary’s?

What: A surprisingly good dessert.

Where: Rosemary’s Enoteca & Trattoria (18 Greenwich Avenue at 10th Street, West Village).

What: Olive Oil Cake (Who knew that Olive Oil & Cake would be an A+ combo?). This fluffy treat is served with blueberries on top and a smidgen of whipped cream.  

How much will it run me? $8.

About Rosemary’s: Opened in September 2012, Rosemary’s Enoteca & Trattoria (a fancy way of saying restaurant) is named for the owner’s mother. Like its sister restaurant Bobo, Rosemary’s serves seasonal fare but is Italian versus French. So what makes their food so fab? It’s delicious and Überfresh. In the warmer months, they pull their veggies from their (beautiful) rooftop garden. Even better, the menu has a great price point (Apps from $10 to $13, Pastas from $12 to $14 and mains from $16 to $24 sans sharing plates). They also have 40 bottles of wine for $40, wines by the glass for $10 and prosecco on tap! The bad news? No reservations for parties under 8. So annoying.com

Read my full review on the most popular kid in school (Rosemary’s).

The W looking fab.

The W looking fab.

Interview with CEO and Founder of TopShelf, Katie Nadler A born and raised New Yorker, Katie was meant to be a fashionista since before she could walk.  Upon graduation from Colgate in 2006, she dove into the world of Finance working at both Merrill Lynch and BlackRock. In 2010, she enrolled at Harvard Business School and got involved in “all things start-up”. With one entrepreneurial parent and the other with a previous career in fashion, branching out on her own to start TopShelf wasn’t completely out of left field. TopShelf started out as part of a student business plan competition, but after Katie was accepted to DreamIt Ventures (an accelerator program), she decided to go for it. TopShelf is a fashion e-commerce website with a goal of providing insightful online purchase suggestions to the time-starved woman. Currently it is a closed members-only site (requiring an invite code to join), with an expected public launch date in late Spring 2013.  Read the interview below to learn more about TopShelf, the code for Crushers to use TopShelf and the positives and negatives of being a founder. Why TopShelf? I hate shopping online and TopShelf is your very own personal shopper; it helps you find the perfect outfit without demanding your time. I am definitely the end user of my product which is targeted toward busy professional women. With over 3,000 dress options on Saks Fifth Avenue online, it’s overwhelming to sort through.  Before you know it, you have spent three hours on a shopping site, and even then you might not find what you want. TopShelf will bring you the items that match your style and budget.  We understand you based on your past online clothing purchases, a short survey you fill out in the beginning on your personal style, and your interaction with our site (works like Pandora).  We use this information to guide shoppers to new clothes that complement their existing wardrobe Why should people check it out? It’s a whole new way for people to think about online shopping. It’s not about curation, but about personalization. If you have an event or something that is time sensitive and want to buy something, it’s frustrating to dedicate two hours to finding what you want. We want online shopping to not be a frustrating experience. Everything on our site is in the form of outfits and has a personal description from a stylist. We even allow you to interact directly with a professional stylist from our network for specific shopping needs and are providing this premium service currently at a very affordable $25 introductory price. Our members are loving this service because stylists often help them rediscover clothes they forgot they had.   We also have A LOT of great content on our blog. We post original content daily and I’m very lucky to have my great social media coordinator, Anne Cody, on the job. She’s wonderful at resourcing stylists in our network for their latest advice on trends and other styling tips Why does TopShelf rule? There is a ton of automation from beginning to end. From start to finish, we don’t require someone to commit their own time in order to have a fantastic experience. You are able to see all your past online clothing purchases without having to photograph them on your own. Time is value, and our site doesn’t require you to put in much time while we provide something of value to you. It is helpful to anyone who gets overwhelmed or needs help with online shopping. What are the positives of working for yourself? Being able to act on my vision is exciting. I also like having the opportunity to be involved in everything it takes to build a business, from dealing with lawyers, selling, business development, financing to hiring/firing. It can be stressful for some people, but it is exciting for me. It is definitely challenging (and sometimes frustrating!), but never monotonous. What are the negatives? They are the same as the positives. You have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. You don’t want to ignore the risk for working for yourself, but do not want to get defeated by the challenges. Even when things are tough, you not only have to inspire yourself, but the team around you.   What do you think being an entrepreneur taught you? You have to learn to be resourceful as you are making something out of nothing. You have to figure it out because no one is going to figure it out for you. It’s a valuable life lesson. As a result, I have a lot more confidence in myself. Why were you attracted to the start-up space? It’s an itch. I have entrepreneurial parents and they have both been supportive of me taking an entrepreneurial path. For me, building something from nothing sounds exciting but for others, it can be pretty scary. What is your favorite spot in New York City? I am a total restaurant junkie so it’s hard to give just one. Because I was born and raised on the Upper East Side I have A LOT of longtime favorites up there - pasta at Girasole, pizza at Serafina, burgers at J.G. Melon and pretty much anything from Atlantic Grill. But now I spend a lot of time discovering restaurants downtown. Recently I went to Torrisi and loved it. I also adore Rosemary’s in the west village (especially their fresh pulled mozzarella). Want to become a member? Click here: http://topshelfclothes.com/?invite=yes Invite code: topshelfcrush (it’s only valid for 1 week!)

Interview with CEO and Founder of TopShelf, Katie Nadler

A born and raised New Yorker, Katie was meant to be a fashionista since before she could walk.  Upon graduation from Colgate in 2006, she dove into the world of Finance working at both Merrill Lynch and BlackRock. In 2010, she enrolled at Harvard Business School and got involved in “all things start-up”. With one entrepreneurial parent and the other with a previous career in fashion, branching out on her own to start TopShelf wasn’t completely out of left field. TopShelf started out as part of a student business plan competition, but after Katie was accepted to DreamIt Ventures (an accelerator program), she decided to go for it. TopShelf is a fashion e-commerce website with a goal of providing insightful online purchase suggestions to the time-starved woman. Currently it is a closed members-only site (requiring an invite code to join), with an expected public launch date in late Spring 2013.  Read the interview below to learn more about TopShelf, the code for Crushers to use TopShelf and the positives and negatives of being a founder.

Why TopShelf?

I hate shopping online and TopShelf is your very own personal shopper; it helps you find the perfect outfit without demanding your time. I am definitely the end user of my product which is targeted toward busy professional women. With over 3,000 dress options on Saks Fifth Avenue online, it’s overwhelming to sort through.  Before you know it, you have spent three hours on a shopping site, and even then you might not find what you want. TopShelf will bring you the items that match your style and budget.  We understand you based on your past online clothing purchases, a short survey you fill out in the beginning on your personal style, and your interaction with our site (works like Pandora).  We use this information to guide shoppers to new clothes that complement their existing wardrobe

Why should people check it out?

It’s a whole new way for people to think about online shopping. It’s not about curation, but about personalization. If you have an event or something that is time sensitive and want to buy something, it’s frustrating to dedicate two hours to finding what you want. We want online shopping to not be a frustrating experience. Everything on our site is in the form of outfits and has a personal description from a stylist. We even allow you to interact directly with a professional stylist from our network for specific shopping needs and are providing this premium service currently at a very affordable $25 introductory price. Our members are loving this service because stylists often help them rediscover clothes they forgot they had.  

We also have A LOT of great content on our blog. We post original content daily and I’m very lucky to have my great social media coordinator, Anne Cody, on the job. She’s wonderful at resourcing stylists in our network for their latest advice on trends and other styling tips

Why does TopShelf rule?

There is a ton of automation from beginning to end. From start to finish, we don’t require someone to commit their own time in order to have a fantastic experience. You are able to see all your past online clothing purchases without having to photograph them on your own. Time is value, and our site doesn’t require you to put in much time while we provide something of value to you. It is helpful to anyone who gets overwhelmed or needs help with online shopping.

What are the positives of working for yourself?

Being able to act on my vision is exciting. I also like having the opportunity to be involved in everything it takes to build a business, from dealing with lawyers, selling, business development, financing to hiring/firing. It can be stressful for some people, but it is exciting for me. It is definitely challenging (and sometimes frustrating!), but never monotonous.

What are the negatives?

They are the same as the positives. You have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. You don’t want to ignore the risk for working for yourself, but do not want to get defeated by the challenges. Even when things are tough, you not only have to inspire yourself, but the team around you.  

What do you think being an entrepreneur taught you?

You have to learn to be resourceful as you are making something out of nothing. You have to figure it out because no one is going to figure it out for you. It’s a valuable life lesson. As a result, I have a lot more confidence in myself.

Why were you attracted to the start-up space?

It’s an itch. I have entrepreneurial parents and they have both been supportive of me taking an entrepreneurial path. For me, building something from nothing sounds exciting but for others, it can be pretty scary.

What is your favorite spot in New York City?

I am a total restaurant junkie so it’s hard to give just one. Because I was born and raised on the Upper East Side I have A LOT of longtime favorites up there - pasta at Girasole, pizza at Serafina, burgers at J.G. Melon and pretty much anything from Atlantic Grill. But now I spend a lot of time discovering restaurants downtown. Recently I went to Torrisi and loved it. I also adore Rosemary’s in the west village (especially their fresh pulled mozzarella).

Want to become a member?

Click here: http://topshelfclothes.com/?invite=yes

Invite code: topshelfcrush (it’s only valid for 1 week!)

It’s funny because it’s true. Pick one of these bad boys up at Max Brenner (841 Broadway at 13th Street, Union Square).

It’s funny because it’s true.

Pick one of these bad boys up at Max Brenner (841 Broadway at 13th Street, Union Square).

Where to brunch like a trendasaurus…

Where: The Lion (62 West 9th Street at 6th Avenue, West Village).

About the Lion: The Lion features a classic American menu with a hint of Italian created by Chef John DeLucie (previously of The Waverly Inn). Overall, the food is a tad pricey, but at the Lion, you are paying for ambiance.

About the Space: The Lion is located in a two story ivy-covered townhouse built in the 1800’s. When you walk into this impressive space, it feels like you have been transported to a Vanderbilt’s downtown domain. In the first room, you will find a dimly lit (and totally sexy) bar with even sexier people sitting atop the bar stools. Beyond this is the main dining room which is one of the most elegant in the city. This bi-level space has rich dark wood, floor to ceiling electric artwork (a hybrid of old school + modern) and a massive fireplace. The best part? It is lit by a massive dome skylight.

The Crowd: Holy good looking. The Lion is a place to see and be seen.

What to nosh on:

  • Sausage, Egg and Cheese Sandwich (With Roasted potato hash, Spicy pepperoncini relish) for $15 – Comfort food goes gourmet.
  • Fried Chicken & Wild Rice Waffles (With small batch bourbon maple syrup) for $19 – Carbs + Sugar + Fried stuff = win.
  • Lion Burger ‘Special Blend (With tomato, caramelized onion, pork belly, provolone, smoked cheddar) for $19 – For those who want to do lunch, this is one of the best and juiciest burgers in the city.
  • Soul Glo (Freshly squeezed grapefruit, orange,  lemon, fresh ginger) for $9– AKA “Hangover Juice”

#livelikeaceleb

Photo Credit: The Lion

View from the High Line. #Springpleasegethereiloveyou.

View from the High Line.

#Springpleasegethereiloveyou.