Can you Shop for Charity?

YES, YOU CAN!!!

If luxury shopping is your bag and you are a New York or Tri-State resident or even a tourist then Americana Manhasset is your place of choice.  Skip Fifth Avenue, skip Soho, and get yourself to the Manhasset/Munsey Park area of Long Island, New York.  It's here you'll find among the neighborhoods filled with residents such as LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez, and countless other celebrities, an oasis of shopping which is literally a mimic of any high street in the world, but it's better!  Basically, its an intensely elegant strip mall with ample parking and staff in every store that's helpful, friendly, and very well educated on the products they offer.  Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Oscar de la Renta and Hermes are just a few of the well named brands you'll find here along with flagship locations such as Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, and even lululemon and a seriously enormous Apple Shop.

When shopping at Americana Manhasset one is privileged to be treated like a real client instead of just a tourist passing through on Fifth Avenue, New Bond Street,  or say the Champs-Elysee. Americana Manhasset  keeps attracting designer's on a daily basis.  While there make sure to check out the new Tory Burch shop.

Not only does Americana Manhasset provide an exceptional shopping experience away from the tourist insanity of Fifth Avenue, but also it provides charity events and gives back to the community in which it prospers from, the citizens of long island who are in need or state parks and wetlands.  There are several of these events throughout the year, but at Christmas they have an event called Champions for Charity.  I was privileged enough to attend this event about two years ago when in town for my cousin's wedding in early December giving me ample time to "Shop for Charity" while getting my much needed gift list moving along.  Remember folks, shopping is a feeling and when you have the opportunity to shop and give back to the community at the same time, it must be said, it's a great feeling.  They make it easy too.  

How it works from Champions for Charity 

Participating tenants of Americana Manhasset and Wheatley Plaza donate a percentage of designated pre-tax purchases to the participating organization of the customer's choice. Simply register for a CHAMPION CARD which is the quick and efficient way to participate in Champions for Charity^® and designate 25% of your purchases to the charity of your choice.   

Americana Manhasset is located at 2060 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, NY , you won't drive away disappointed.

Photo Credits:  Americana Manhasset

Is your dog going to Brown or Dartmouth?

Available at www.petflys.com

If you're like me or even remotely like me about your dog then of course you want him or her pampered like someone who ends up at Brown or Dartmouth and since those aren't ever going to become realities for your pooch, then you've got expendable cash that doesn't have to be thrown into the University bin.  We treat our dog like our child. Some may find that strange, but he's the closest thing we have ever had to a child and we spoil him rotten.  However, when it comes to choosing a dog carrier for transatlantic flights it becomes almost difficult to spoil, be unique, and meet the requirements of the FAA or IATA!

Louis, our 18 month old Prague Ratter has been all over the world, dresses well, and has a demeanor like that of a stable and aristocratic Prince.

Louis. Collar by Coach,

Sweater by Juicy Couture,

Bag by Gucci.

Sometimes I think we should have even named him Prince or some god foresaken name like Paris Hilton would have dished him out like, "Prince Baby Louis Alexander Pumpkin Shizzle."  This year, after a flight to Paris, we noticed that the airlines were starting to crack down on requirements for carrying your pet on with you.  They are actually making you keep the dog in the bag the whole time you fly.  Well okay, recently I've tried to, as much as I can become part of the "If you can't beat them, join them" crew and therefore, I decided I would set out on a shopping journey for a pet carrier that was airline approved, stylish for the one carrying, yet at the same time comfortable for Louis!  I've shopped at dog boutiques in Paris, New York, Houston, London, Brussels, Bratislava, Prague, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, and Dubai and although all of these stores are great and carry a wide variety of items, a carrier is something special that can't be chosen from say  5 styles in a shop.  The internet comes in big time here and not only for variety, but also so you don't have to carry the thing around with you after you've made you're purchase.

Louis with shopintheknow author Jason Cahill

Searching high and low on the internet I came up with precious few options even still.  I'm not against the Louis Vuitton sac chien 40 or 50, or the traditional Gucci hard case carrier...but sometimes you just want to be different. We have the Gucci Basket Bag as I like to call it pictured on the left and available at www.gucci.com or in their stores if called in advance. It has many great features like the double zip front with leather tie down and brass button, the padded flooring for the dogs comfort, and an elegantly short Gucci signature webbing leash attached inside that keeps Louis restrained yet comfortable.  Its great on a day out in the city and can double as a shopping carrier even if L's in the bag.  However, the airlines are now tooting their horns about hard case only and so this bag doesn't cut it anymore for travel.  So, after shopping online for days we purchased the Sailor Bleu hard case bag as seen in above left corner available online at www.petflys.com  Petflys offers great service and they shipped from California to Prague, NO PROBLEM.  I give Tammy props at Petflys for her amazing customer service and also to Jamie who is keen on making sure all customer's and their dogs are happy.  We love our new dog carrier and so does Louis.

After countless hours of research I've made some recommendations below.  Some are traditional and oddly enough I only recommend anything from petflys or these these picks below:

Goochie Poochie Pet Bag
Available at www.yourdogsuppliesstore.com

Christian Audigier Safari Dog Carrier

Available at www.yourdogsuppliesstore.com

Christian Audigier Safari Dog Carrier

Louis Vuitton Sac du Chien
available at Louis Vuitton

Gucci Flight bag available at
Gucci

Not Airline Approved Sketch Bag by Louis Dog
available at Modern Tails

En Route to Prada!

Yesterday, Marjan and I decided to take a walk in our home city of Prague, Czech Republic. Of course there was a very meek destination plan of hitting the sale at Prada, Pařížská 16. We each had our invitation sent to members of the mailing list in beautiful heavy count embossed envelopes in our pockets enclosed with a lack-luster invitation to the Prada Seasonal Sale. Nonetheless, it communicated on the "invitation" that they were having a sale starting on the 19th of June and we thought, what the hell? We'll go see what's on offer at Prada...who wouldn't? Louis, our Pražský Krysařík, came with us as we made our way down to the centre, a brief ten minute walk from our apartment. We walked along Wenceslas Square and stopped in for a coffee on the go at Starbucks. Now with my venti non-fat chai tea latte I could continue passing Ben and Jerry's, Benetton, Mango, and some other, I'm sure, very historical landmarks along Na Příkopě, not that we ever do anything remotely historical or cultural...EVAH! I'll plug one of them because it's fantastic and totally up my alley in terms of design, location, and feeling, The Grand Cafe Orient. It is located at The House of the Black Madonna, Ovocný trh 19. This impeccably designed cubist cafe is located on the first floor of the building created by the renowned architecht Josef Gočár. I recommend the place highly if you want to enjoy a cup of tea or a coffee engulfed by Czech Cubist Design.  At any rate, this blog is so not about things of interest to normal tourists and so We stopped in at Zara and made a few purchases before making our way over to our original destination...Prada. High Streets don't get much prettier than that of Pařížská in Prague. The tree lined street begins just off of the old town square and opens up with none other than "THE" jewlery retailer, Cartier followed by Dior, Boss, Hermes, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Gucci. Before reaching Prada, Marjan was distracted by Gucci and we made a Bee Line for the door, opened by a monstrous man dressed in all black as usual. WELCOME TO GUCCI! I have had my eye on the Gucci Cruiser for quite a long time and noticed they had it in the window towards the new collection of women's wear. I checked it out for its sleek and unbelievably "cool" appeal. Having curtailed my expendable allowances lately, I refrained and was just happy to observe the bicycle for it's design excellence. Marjan continued looking at belts and shoes and chose a chic black belt with a black leather buckle and the designer's insignia offset to the right in silver. Later, a customer asked us if we could recommend a gift item for a friend of their's who was having a birthday. I said, "Sure. Does he have everything?" They nodded and I told the sales gentleman to open the case containing the new version of their blackberry holder. They bought one and so did I...even when I'm selling, I'm shopping...it's a transformation that overcomes me. After our purchases were wrapped at the counter in the new eco- packaging introduced last week by Frida Giannini, their chief designer, we headed across the street to Prada. It was black and boring as usual and they didn't have the shoes Marjan wanted in his size so we left and went to Simple. At Simple they carry everything from Wallpaper Magazine to Balenciaga. I had bought the newest Wallpaper magazine when in on Friday at lunchtime, and Marjan left on this visit with the Hotel Costes' home line's candle simply called "costes."Don't miss Simple at Pařížská 20 when in Prague