S: Is for Setting the Trend

New York is about to get the chance to show the world that we care about the world. By logging onto www.newwindenergy.com you can switch to WIND Power. It is one of the easiest ways for New Yorkers to reduce the environmental impact of their energy consumption. WIND Power contains 100% NewWind Energy, a product of Community Energy, Inc. By choosing to purchase renewable energy, you are doing something positive for our air, health and environment. The cost for WIND Power is two and a half (2.5) cents more per kilowatt-hour than standard power. For the average New York City residential customer, this adds up to about $10 per month more than ConEdison Solutions' standard offer (may vary depending on your usage). By switching to WIND Power, you can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of planting about 418 trees or not driving about 5,325 miles each year.* You can help cut America's dependence on fossil fuels, including foreign oil, by purchasing WIND Power. And ConEdison Solutions makes switching to WIND Power easy. Please sign up below or call 1.866.WIND.123 if you have any questions.

Another great website is www.green-e.org. Green-e's mission is bolster customer confidence in the reliability of retail electricity products reflecting renewable energy generation. It is their hope to expand the retail market for electricity products incorporating renewable energy, including expanding the demand for new renewable energy generation. In providing customers consise information about retail "green" electricity products it enable them to make informed purchasing decisions. By doing so encourage the deployment of electricity products that minimize air pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Times are a-changing and we need to forge new ground if we hope to pass on something, anything on to the next generation and that is a F.A.C.T.

T: Is for Valentine's Day Tips

Today is Valentines Day and that means we share our hearts with those we love, be it friends, parents, lovers, partners or those we just love unconditionally for no reason other than they exist. If you haven't already made plans here are some to keep your loved one smiling.

Valentine's Day at Tre: offering a one hour all you can drink champagne pour for all couples dining on Valentine's Day. Owner and sommelier Guido Vennitucci will also be pairing a specialty drink menu featuring Prosecco and Champenoise mixed drinks matched with caviar and appetizers. TRE is located at 173 Ludlow St between Houston and Stanton Sts Lower East Side.

White Tea Spa is the perfect way to pamper your Valentine or celebrate the day together in their romantic couples room. Check these out: "On The Rocks" For Two: Heat things up together with our Hot Stone side-by-side massage. Afterwards we cool things down by refreshing your hands and feet with a 15 minute White Tea sugar scrub ... Mmmm

It's A Scandal ! Your side-by-side massage will truly be a "Scandal." We melt the candle wax into the warm oil that we use for your massage. We give each scandalous couple their own "Scandal" candle with suggestions on how to use it at home.

Chocolate Dip For Two: This side-by-side massage will be a memorable experience. After your 1 hour massage we cover you in a rich, skin-hydrating chocolate body mask. We then scrub your skin and dry you off. Then join us in our cafe for chocolate covered strawberries and our champagne cocktails. All packages include a White Tea Spa gift bag to take home.

For total decadence in chocolate try: MarieBelle's famous chocolates, so artful its difficult to bite into them -- but they are just as delicious as they are beautiful. They also offer an array of imported chocolates and have a cafe serving chocolate drinks and treats. Address: 484 Broome Street

The Chocolate Bar brings together some of New York City's best chocolate offerings under one roof. In addition to their signature line of hand poured chocolate bars, you can stock up on favorites from Jacques Torres and other local chocolatiers. They also have an array of beverages and baked goods to satisfy your cravings. Address: 48 Eighth Avenue(Jane/Horatio)

Vosges Chocolates is based out of Chicago, but their SoHo boutique offers visitors a chance to sample these creative confections without the cost of shipping. These chocolates reflect owner Katrina Markoff's exotic tastes, featuring curry, paprika, and wasabi in some chocolates. Address: 132 Spring Street (Greene & Wooster)

Just remember Valentine's Day does not have to cost a fortune. Personally I think roses are over done and I would rather have chocolate drizzled on my lover than get a box full. It's just so much more enjoyable and that is a tasty F.A.C.T.

C: Is for the Merging of Clothes and Clubs

The effervescent Cassie Kogler and her New York Couture label have done it again. Stepping and strutting their way down the runway, tulle, lace, sparkles and six inch heels, had east village glam coming alive. There were more of the school girl gone punk in panda's and owl's suspender minis. Boleros in very crazy, bright colors, neons, which made it look as if the punk rock pixies came out to play. Cassie makes the kinda stuff that she would wear. Some of the pieces are really crazy in this collection, but most of the pieces are very wearable, no matter who you are. It is urban. It is magnificent. It is disheveled. It is like what the hell, but damn, it looks hot. Cassie's use of mens underwear as waistbands and her combination of teddies and bustiers with that same concept is totally AC-DC and seems so right in a world gone mad. If you wanted to know what Wonderland felt like after a visitation with the caterpillar this most certainly is it. Cassie has you wanting to eat the cookie because it feels so good.

Cassie has always thrown her shows at new and innovative clubs. This year was no different. Held at Rebel located at 251 West 30th Street (btn 7th and 8th Ave). This newest venue from Webster Hall-owner Steve Ballinger is enormous. With three stories and over 11,000 square feet of pulsing energy this is one terrific club. Offering a spacious dance floor there is actually room to dance. Its five distinct areas each have moods of their own. Rock-lovers can mosh to major bands and Rebel books some impressive acts and lands some of the city's biggest parties, while DJs seduce crowds on the sparking Brazilian-walnut dance floors. Pristine sound & lighting, beautiful custom-made birch bars, and an extensive wine, liquor, and beer selection make it easy to talk and to scope out the scene. Up-and-comers in the red-and-black performance hall; a disco-ball dance floor, draws the let-loose-and-groove group; the upstairs lounge lures singles with velvet ropes and toned-down tunes; and those who'd rather watch it all go down can lounge on the mezzanine level. This venue has something for everybody and that is a F.A.C.T,

A: Is for Art of a Frozen Kind!

As our temperatures have us bundled and wishing for the warmth of spring, the temperature in Harbin, Russia reaches forty below zero, both Fahrenheit and centigrade, and stay below freezing nearly half the year. Every winter they hold an outdoor festival and celebrate with an annual festival of snow and ice sculptures and competitions. Their are two festivals, one for snow and another for ice. The ice festival is colorful and brightly lit. . Crowds flock to the entrance and are greeted by dance music booming in the distance, as if they were attending an outdoor pop concert. Bright neon colors shine everywhere, buried within huge blocks of ice forming structures as high as thirty meters. The Great Wall doubles as a long ice slide; just sit and go. You can pick up some serious speed and wipe out spectacularly at the bottom if you're wearing a slick coat, but you won't go anywhere if you're wearing corduroy pants. Making it to the top of this structure is an accomplishment in itself - imagine walking up a stairway of solid ice for two floors with no handrails. Most have no internal support structure - just lights. Like a Disney theme park, multiple attractions, food hawker, kids running around and people lined up for bathrooms, are all regular occurrences. The only differences are that the temperature is about a hundred degrees colder than the typical Disney park, and all the structures are made out of ice rather than plastic - and slipping and falling here doesn't result in tremendous lawsuits.

An entire ship constructed of ice. Though it might not be seaworthy, this ship would certainly float - after all, it's made of ice. Hundreds of years ago during the Manchu days of ice lantern art, the sculptures were lit only by candles.

The annual Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival has been held since 1985. Although the official start date is January 5th each year, in practice, many of the sculptures can be seen before. While there are ice sculptures throughout the city, there are two main exhibition areas: Enormous snow sculptures at Sun Island (a recreational area on the opposite side of the Songhua River from the city) and the separate "Ice and Snow World" that operates each night. Ice and Snow World features illuminated full size buildings made from blocks of ice. Winter activities in the festival include Yabuli Alpine Skiing, winter-swimming in Songhua River, and the ice-lantern exhibition in Zhaolin Garden. Snow carving and ice and snow recreations are world famous. The "Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival" is one of the world's four largest ice and snow festivals, along with Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival, Canada's Quebec City Winter Carnival, and Norway's Ski Festival. Every November, the city of Harbin sends teams of ice artisans to the United States to promote their unique art form and that is a chilly F.A.C.T.

F: is for Fashion that takes your breath away

Just when I thought I had OD'd from fashion I attended Couture Fashion Week held at the Weston Hotel. Producer, promoter and designer Andres Aquino put on a show that was exquisite. Beginning Friday February 8th at 4, 7 and 9:30 designers from around the world showed their wares. I attended six of the nine shows.

First up was Michael Mione from the US and of all the designers he was the least impressive. Jeweled tones were again the rage and in a couture line it is breath-taking. Mione missed the latest trend and opted for Prom dresses in peaches that looked like they stepped out of the 50's. He mated them with satin slips and cocktail dresses that were poorly fitted. It is not impressive when your 1st piece is your best and it all slides down from there.

From that collection the most romantic, feminine, elegant designs flowed down the runway capturing the yearning of every female in attendance. Lebanese designer Jean Fares wowed us and made us wish for every piece of this ambitious collection. From his elegant color combinations to his innate sense of style these are the clothes we want to see at every award show. Suddenly I was in love with glamor and yearned for the places where it resides. Jean Fares knows a women's body. He knows our fantasies and has personified them to the hilt. Maria Antoinette, Nefertiti and Aphrodite were his muses and became embodied in luxurious fabric. There was also a bridal collection that seemed as if Mr. Fares knew our childhood dreams and like Svegalli made them come to life. This show had us all in rapture and made me grateful I had attended. To thrill you all the photo's that I have included are Jean Fares.

The last designer of the day was Sushma Patel from India. Bollywood fashion royalty spicy blend of Indian high fashion coupled with western trends in haute couture. "Timelessness" her collection also inspired thoughts of romance and treasured moments.
Vibrant colors and rich textures made their way down the fashion ramp but it was the cigarette cocktail pants paired with the naru jackets that won me over as the newest fashion trend. Her collection also included men in sheer Indian tops with ornate crystal designs paired with jeans and pointed toes shoes. Men in sheer tops is hot and that is a F.A.C.T.