Alma Z.'s Profile

Funky little offbeat shop filled with unnecessary but fun trinkets and toys. Kinda pricey but if you're looking for unique gifts for the holiday season, you c an't beat Alphabets.

Some of my personal faves were the hippo piggy bank and the teeny tiny ladybug magnets.

They also had some trendy clothes in the back. I had my eye on this black and white shirt with stragetic cutouts in geometric shapes.

Run by the friendly Carmen, Let's Have An Affair (LHAA) is a cozy yet eclectic local event planning business that hosts showers, birthdays and themed parties such as Murder Mysteries dinners or Red Hatters Tea Parties hosted by the Red Hat Ladies.

LHAA is also home to belly dancing classes taught  by Victoria (Wednesday nights) and Tribal Belly Dance classes taught by Naja (Saturdays at 10:30am)

*Naja is the only dance instructor in Staten Island to teach Tribal Belly Dancing and is a member of the Manhattan Tribal Troupe. Visit http://www.meetup.com/... for more information on Tribal Belly Dancing classes and events in the Tri-State area.

**Carmen is a member of the Red Hat Society and Staten Island Grandmothers Club, which are looking for new members. If you know anyone who might be interested, pass Carmen's info along.

Cozy little bookstore located conveniently next to NYU. I loved how spacious and well stocked the store was and even more that comfy chairs were situated around the store just like Barnes & Nobles!

They even have a basement level floor with discount books (which I wasn't too pleased honestly since the discounts weren't that much) but again, awesome book selection, lots of chairs and seeing this big ole cat lounging in one of the chairs is a site worth seeing.

A nice place to grab a well cooked bite for lunch or supper (does anyone even say supper anymore? Besides me?) The atmosphere was relaxing but you have to speak up a bit to be heard. The food was delicious but I would avoid the french fries. They make them a little too thin for my taste. The staff was attentive, refilling drinks and dropping by periodically to make sure everything was copacetic.

I can't say anything about the balloons except that they were floating on the ceiling and they were huge. Like Macy's Day Parade huge.

What I can say is that they have an amazing array of toys and novelties that you probably wouldn't find in a regular toy store.

My favorite what the sound effect keychains based on movies The Goonies and the Wizard of Oz. I kept pressing the button that had the Wicked Witch wailing "I'm melting! I'm melting!" It gives me a giggle.

Great place to stock up on unique party favors or a gag gift.

If I was a robber, I would forgo the banks and head straight to the bakeries. Renato's especially. They have the most scrumptious cakes ever to be baked in the history of baking and their cannoli's Are. Just. Awesome.

They're having this special right now where you can get 6 cannoli's for $6.99 which is the best fricking deal ever.

I often come here after spending the day at the nearby Barnes & Nobles. They make the best chicken parmigian (I hope I spelled that right!) and baked ziti.

I'm also loving there decor in the back. It feels a little bit like I imagine Old Italy would look.

Truthfully, I was never a big pedicure getting person. Something about a stranger rubbing lotion on your feet gave me the heebie jeebies. But with summer weather holding, my puppies needed some serious damage control.

After hearing rave reviews from my abuela (which if you knew her, is no small thing) I dediced to stop by after getting my hair done at Isabella's (she's half a block away and offers $15 blow dry's if anyone's interested on Tuesdays!)

I was seated right away and spent the next 45 minutes having my feet spoiled. I was cleaned, buffed, lotioned, exfoliated and painted up from a very nice guy manicurist (Seriously, I'm awful with names).

While I tried not to pass out from the pleasure(okay that sounds a little dirty) of having my feet pampered, I played around with my massaging chair. A massaging chair! It had 4 different vibration settings and it worked my lower, bottom and entire back. Yippee! A massage and a pedicure for $15.

To top off the cherry that was my really moisturized sundae, they had TV screens on the walls that was playing a movie I wanted to see starring Milla Jovovich and Steve Zahn.

LOL

Studio: Tiny
Staff: Sort of friendly
Girl only gym: Yes
Equipment: Treadmills, Eliiptical machines, Weights
Classes: Lame
Open on weekends: Nope
Price you pay per month: So-so
Keep getting charged even after your contract is up: Oh, yeah!
Any help from 800 number they have: Excuse me while I curl up with laughter...

*If you want to cancel your subscription, your best bet is sending a mailing a letter via certified mail with your gym membership info. They ignore emails and no one ever answers the hotline.

Not the best ice cream I've ever had but there is definite yumness factored in. The chocolate is my personal fave and even if the ice cream sucked infinity, the locale more than makes up for it. Also, the whole no preservatives, totally natural ingredients: Total positive!