C: is for getting your wish!

If you were to magically find Aladdin's lamp and get those 3 precious wishes, most of us would wish for the fountain of youth. Ponce de Leon searched for it but the Tessa Corporation, the company behind Genie Beauty Products found it. I am so excited after trying and using these products for over a week now, that I am ready to rave and believe me you will too if you are over 30. From erasing fine lines and wrinkles to removing dark circles, Genie's products truly deliver. There are 6 in all and each one is effective if not down right essential.

GENIE Instant Line Smoother ($30), combines powerful ingredients like Aloe, collagen, peptides, antioxidants and an exclusive T-One complex to help reduce the signs of aging and restore one's natural beauty. My skin has this tendency to eat make-up. I swear it thinks it's a food. This product made my skin feel smooth and kept make-up on my face all day, which is remarkable. I had a lot of events to attend. I started my day at 9am and when I finally had a chance to get ready for bed I found I actually had to take it off. Now that is magic!

GENIE Line Smoothing Foundation ($40), contains light-refracting particles that help deflect light away from fine lines and wrinkles, which adds to a noticeably younger appearance. I really like this foundation, as it felt like it was barely there. It provided coverage without my noticing it. I kept getting, "Wow, you look great! I wish I had skin like yours." compliment all week. I found that Genie's Beauty products represent natural beauty at its best.

GENIE Vibrant Eyes Concealer Pen($30) reduces dark circles by 28%! I have a few friends who could seriously benefit from this particular miracle.Treating and Concealing dark circles with one product in three colors neutral, light and medium makes it easy. I found it helped my eye shadow seem crease proof and made fine lines seem barely there.

Make Me Blush ($20), only comes in one color, so I gave it to my friend Tyler who is a celebrity make-up artist, thinking it was too dark for me. She immediately was intrigued when she applied it to her face. She called me over and started applying it to my face and then held up a mirror. Low and behold it enhanced my coloring and looked as great on me as it did her. We applied it to our lips thinking hey, double the pleasure and yep sure enough it was great. The mineral-based formula does not contain shimmer, glitter or gloss so it really is a multi-purpose make-up great for your purse for this emergency touch-ups.

TLC mascara ($20), is a dual-ended mascara designed to add volume, thickness and length to your top lashes with a smaller brush to give color and definition to the lower lashes. Though I am a big fan of the new fiber enhanced mascara's having the skimpiest eyelashes around I found this to be natural, smooth, non-clumping and easy to apply. I did notice as difference on my bottom lashes as they caught more volume.

I have saved GENIE's Cashmere Powder ($38) for last, as it is my favorite product. This radiant powder goes on silky and feels sooooo good on. With a slight shimmer it adds a subtle luminescent, that has you looking radiant. I had several people ask me this week if I was in love. The answer is NO! but if people are asking I know this product is working.

They say beauty is skin deep which is true, but isn't it nice to know it can also be up-front and a F.A.C.T. and with Genie it is.

A: Is for art that is found everywhere!

I know that Jeff Koons is considered a highly respected artist, but to me it looks like he went shopping at "Toys are Us." Like Jack, he found those magic pellets that blow-up into toys when you add water and viola famous artist. Art is suggestive and right now for the public to decide at the MET is an installation of sculptures featuring three of the artist’s works that have never before been seen. The works are set in the most dramatic outdoor space for sculpture in New York City: The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, which offers a spectacular view of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. Beverage and sandwich service is available from 10:00 a.m. until closing. So enjoy a cappuccino as the sunsets and enjoy. Also at the MET opening tomorrow is the Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from the Victoria and Albert Museum. The institution is currently undergoing extensive renovations, providing a rare opportunity for the museum to lend some of its precious medieval and Renaissance works. On display at the Metropolitan are 35 treasures from the collection that are seldom lent, and most have not been seen previously in New York. Included is an ivory statuette of the crucified Christ by Giovanni Pisano, Donatello’s bronze Winged Putto with Fantastic Fish, , and the Codex Forster 1, one of Leonardo da Vinci's treasured notebooks.

This week at the Javits is the furniture design show but on-line from Japan I found this Rocket Table. Talk about clever!



Advertising also offers some great art offerings. Tell me those don't get the point across.





Art is found every where and that is a F.A.C.T.

F: Is for Food that leaves change!

Food prices are soaring and we all need solace from a trend that doesn't seem to be stopping. Here are some idea's in a multitude of ways.

1st from the Vudu LoungeThursday’s happy hour, aka the “Latin After-work Party”—2-for-1 drinks, a buffet, and the only time admission is free. Brave the thumping salsa, merengue and reggae beats at this UES dance club in exchange for free Caribbean and American eats. The buffet includes rice and beans, roasted pork, salad and baked ziti, among other rotating options, and drinks are two for one (soda from $3, beer from $6, wine from $7, well drinks $8). Thu 5–7pm and located at 1487 First Ave between 77th and 78th Sts.

Next up is The buffet at Tiffin Wallah. For $6 A fresh lunch buffet, offered from 11:30am to 3pm on weekdays, overflows with well-executed South Indian standards like a creamy saag paneer and Gobi masala (cauliflower and peas). To make it even better it's all-you-can-eat. Located at 127 E 28th St at Lexington Ave

Even desserts have gotten hand and it was nice to find Molten chocolate cake at Beard Papa’s for $1.85. A single serving of chocolate cake made with the finest Belgian chocolate, oozing chocolate center, be sure to warm it up before serving! If your not into chocolate they have a selection of creme puffs with favors like green tea, pumpkin and earl grey tea among others. located between 76 and 77th on Broadway.

For those wondering how to combat the supermarket prices try www.bulkfoods.com. Dried fruits, beans, grains can all be bought here in bulk for a fraction of the cost. If it is too much form a co-op and buy together. It is going to get harder but it is a F.A.C.T. that we can make it if we stick together.

S: Is for Bountiful Sharing!

With those looming prices and the quality of fruits and vegetables lowering, here is a way to support the farming industry, help others and feed yourself delicious homegrown treats. Farm Share Ltd. works with local family owned farms to bring fresh organic crops to your table. The bounty is then driven to your doorstep. Talk about convenient with an assurance of organic and naturally grown produce you can trust. As you become a "member" of the farm for the season and you receive a delivery of your portion of the farm’s weekly harvest. As the season progresses, the harvest changes so you continue to taste and discover new food throughout. Farm Share also provide easy-to-follow recipes and a place for members to exchange recipes on their website. CSA brings a unique approach to bringing farms and families together for great food and support to small local farms and sustainable agriculture. Pledging in advance to cover the anticipated costs of the farm operation. Members also share in the risks of farming, including unfavorable weather or pests. By selling directly to a community of members who have provided the farmer with working capital in advance, farmers gain some financial security in an uncertain time and are relieved of much of the burden of marketing. For the farmer, it means having the resources to buy seed and equipment and the time to do what they love to do – farm! For you, a whole season of great food and a direct connection to its source. Shares are designed for 1-2 adults who love vegetables or a family with small children. Vegetarian or larger families often purchase two shares. While quantity depends on what is being harvested on the farm each week, each weekly vegetable share generally includes 6-8 varieties and up to a half bushel of fresh vegetables, with many different delicious varieties including outstanding heirloom types not available in stores. Fruit shares contain 2-3 items each week. Vegetable Shares A weekly supply of freshly hand-harvested organic vegetables. Crops planned include heirloom tomatoes, arugula, beets, middle eastern cucumbers, summer squash, yellow fingerling potatoes, onions, garlic, purple carrots, snap peas, brussel sprouts on the stalk, leaf lettuce, eggplant and much more. Fruit Shares include sweet cherries, peaches, small and large plums, concord grapes, several varieties of crisp apples, juicy pears and more. The cost is $400 for 20 weeks and $550 for 22 weeks including all delivery charges. When you break it down that's $20 a week. To learn more log onto www.myfarmshare.com

With people losing their homes and their land here is a way to help others. Without farmers there is no fresh food and that would be a crime and a F.A.C.T. that would be hard to digest.

T: Is for Trees, Trees and more Trees!

A Forest Grows on a Brooklyn Landfill Planting a tree requires an act of faith. They take years, sometimes decades to reach their prime, but a tree can become a forest. Using plants native to the area, drought-resistant grasses, wildflowers and even cactus someday two Brooklyn landfills will become q place of life, not death. This is the brain child of John McLaughlin the DEP’s Director of Ecological Services. Once a landfill is capped, and covered with soil, methane gas and toxic ooze become harmful not only to the earth but to humans. If you put at least three feet of soil over a landfill’s plastic or clay cap, you can avoid decades of lawn care. You can restore a native landscape that will take care of itself. And you can even start planting…..trees! There is concern rainwater will get into the garbage and cause pollution problems in our waterways. The cost is also not cheep. Try $20 million for this ecological restoration of the Pennsylvania and Fountain Avenue landfills.

What makes global warming so dangerous with the cutting down of the rainforest the carbon from plants and animals, in the form of coal and oil, that has been buried for millions of years. Two German scientists have a solution: Fritz Scholz and Ulrich Hasse from the University of Greifswald idea: Planting forests, which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by landfilling them. For the first time, humankind will give something back to nature that we have taken away. Environmental problems in principle, can be resolved in time. Disturbing soil, releases carbon, the scientists suggest using old mines for their forest landfills. The world would have to plant 3.8 million square miles of forest every year to counteract current global carbon dioxide emissions. That's bigger than the size of the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). And the scientists themselves point out that it's equivalent to all virgin forests lost in the 20th century.

My suggestion is to implement these changes but lets all do our part. Buy plants and water them. They will give back to you so much more. Burn your paper and try and use less. Create art or other containers from your plastic, cans and other debre. Become and example and it is a F.A.C.T. others will look up to you.

C: Is for Clubs in the Sky!

Summer is coming and so is the heat. Below is a list of the new oasis that offer a place to get away even when your still stuck in the city. Have an affaire to throw, that needs to be chic and at the newest hottest place? Want to hand with the elite and be part of the beautiful people? Here are suggestions that not only do they offer rooms with a view but a cool way too pass away the night or day.

Opening Thursday, an oasis will sparkle at the top of the Empire Hotel, with an exclusive Vegas-style pool with cabanas and cocktail service. The Pooldeck is the only Upper West Side pool scene. The roof is split into two levels: the upper level for sunning and swimming, the lower for cabanas and cocktailing and both are for guests only. But don't let that intimidate you. Cash always speaks volumes. Those cabanas come stocked with a flat screen, wireless internet and a day bed. Or, take in the services of the newly opened Jeunesse Spa which offers massages on the rooftop, sun and a view along with your Swedish deep tissue rubdown. Views of Central Park, Lincoln Center, and the Hudson River from its exclusive perch will have you feeling suspended above some of the most beautiful and prime real estate NY has to offer. The restaurant below the Pooldeck by Jeffery Chodorow's is the next big splash, with a bar, bistro fare and some outdoor space of its own for a few drinks under the stars.

Next The Peninsula Hotel had gotten a makeover and will reopen in mid-May. Moroccan lanterns, and Venetian mirrors—inspired by a Shanghainese socialite are set to lure you to Salon de Ning. Housed on the 23rd floor of the 55th and Park establishment, this bar and lounge will feature a mix of decor, like Chinese daybeds and an indoor/ outdoor space. Salon de Ning will be open year-round and is sure to please.

Strolling over to Times Square and the Atelier building, Espace offers its uppermost floor and terrace. The Atelier Sky Lounge has a wraparound outdoor deck that offers views of the city and the Hudson River. The space comes with furniture and a small kitchen, service-elevator access, and audio and video capabilities. The Sky Lounge is available year-round, and is perfect for a summer wedding or that party that will have the social pages talking about for at least a week.

Last but not least is the Highbar, the indoor-outdoor lounge from Greg Brier (owner of Aspen and Amalia). Set to open in a couple of weeks Designed specifically for events, this rooftop space in Times Square will have an advanced sound system, a DJ booth, and technology that will allow companies to brand the space with logos and video. Highbar will hold 200 outside, with room for 75 in the adjacent indoor lounge. Look for several sponsored events to be taking place here.

In a city where real estate is "sky high" it is nice to know there are places that make those words seem soothing and that is a F.A.C.T. with a view.

A: Is for Art that Transcends the Page!

Art this week is the stuff of childhood memories. Starting on May 7th until September 1st Superman, Iron Man, Cat Women and others come to life in "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The symbolic and metaphorical associations between fashion and the superhero are explored in this compelling exhibition. Featuring movie costumes, avant-garde haute couture, and high-performance sportswear, it reveals how the superhero serves as the ultimate metaphor for fashion and its ability to empower and transform the human body. Who can forget Michele Pfeiffer in that unforgettable black latex suit and mask created by Syren and based on acclaimed costume designer Bob Ringwood's design, fit Ms. Pfeiffer like a second skin and gave her part woman/part cat character a strong, feline appeal. As Catwoman, she was able to kick box, jump, spin and perform astonishing acrobatics, always framed by the silhouette of her costume with its distinctive molded rubber stitches that accentuated her femininity and sophistication. Syren is one of the companies represented and is the leading latex high fashion house, whose been supplying custom latex and leather designs to the entertainment industry for over 15 years. Leading names in fashion such as Balenciaga, Pierre Cardin, Dolce & Gabbana, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, Versace and many others show their creative side. Mugler, whose fashions often play off superheroine models takes center stage in "The Postmodern Body," with his frilled 1992 biker girl with built-in rearview mirrors and a thigh strap for a can of Bud. Mythology is also represented by Hercules who became Superman and the huntress Diana who became Wonder Woman. Approximately 70 ensembles will be featured, spanning the decades. Giorgio Armani embraces the world of the dominator and dominatrix.The concept of dual identity is so intrinsic to comic book stories.Though it is Superman's 70th birthday the caped crusader of 1938 looks vibrant and ageless in the portrait by Andy Warhol that opens the show and in the fashion versions of his blue unitard and enviably recognizable logo, as subverted by Moschino and Bernhard Willhelm. But it is the quintessentially American flag the costume of Captain America and Wonder Woman in the 1940s, that has most inspired. Dynamic and energetic this exhibition is imaginative and original and seeing the caped crusaders land in the Met is fantastical and that is a magical F.A.C.T.