I’m going to give you the detailed press release, but also wanted to note this was also mentioned:

“In addition to the Black & White themed activities listed below, Bloomingdale’s White Plains has partnered with local vendors like Diana Gould LTD, Chocolations in Mamaroneck, The Cupcake Kitchen in Irvington and
Provisions Cafe & Bake Shop in Pelham to bring the iconic Black & White theme to life!”

Here you go:

********************************************************************

Bloomingdale’s to Support amfAR with
“Fashionable Fundraiser in Black & White”
Seasonal Shopping Event To Benefit The Foundation for AIDS Research

August 2009, New York, NY . . . For the seventh year in a row,
Bloomingdale’s will host a charity shopping night in each of its stores—the
Fashionable Fundraiser in Black and White. Held each February and August,
the Fashionable Fundraiser helps raise awareness and funds for national and
local charities. This August, Bloomingdale’s will partner with amfAR, The
Foundation for AIDS Research, for the four-day event, running from
Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30.

Fashionable Fundraiser in Black and White invites shoppers to support
Bloomingdale’s and its involvement in its communities. Customers will have
the opportunity to shop for a cause, enjoy special offers, and learn more
about amfAR and how to get involved in their own communities.
Bloomingdale’s pledges to make a donation of $75,000 to amfAR, which the
organization will use in support of its global programmatic efforts in the
fight against AIDS.

“Bloomingdale’s has a long-standing history of supporting AIDS research,
and we are proud to continue to aid the fight with this season’s
Fashionable Fundraiser in Black and White,” says Michael Gould, chairman
and CEO of Bloomingdale’s. “What better partner could we ask for than
amfAR, an organization that has helped to advance AIDS research in leaps
and bounds since its inception, and gotten this world ever closer to a
cure.”

Designer Kenneth Cole, chairman of the board of amfAR, has designed a
t-shirt exclusively for Bloomingdale’s for the Fashionable Fundraiser in
Black and White. The black tee proclaims in red and white writing, “Make
the Most of Wearing Times,” in classic Kenneth Cole style. 75% of the $35
retail price of the tee will go directly to amfAR.

“amfAR is grateful to Bloomingdale’s for its generosity and its
forward-thinking philanthropic leadership,” said Cole. “We applaud them for
recognizing the importance of supporting cutting-edge research and for
keeping AIDS in the public eye.”

The tee will be showcased on the Good Deeds wall—a new addition to stores
this fall. The Good Deeds wall will highlight products that support
charities and other various causes. Beginning with Fashionable Fundraiser,
the wall will be seen in all stores, with a rotating selection of products,
through the Holiday season.

The black and white theme, which is a Bloomingdale’s signature, will play
out in surprising and delightful ways throughout the stores. A Turner
Classic Movies (TCM) trivia game will be placed randomly throughout each
store, leading shoppers to the Good Deeds wall. Once there, they can select
a mystery envelope and win a prize. A $1 donation will be made to amfAR for
each person who completes and turns in the quiz to the Good Deeds wall, in
addition to the $75,000 pledge.

TCM has provided fantastic prizes for the movie trivia game. One grand
prizewinner will be chosen from each region to receive a TCM Movie Library,
complete with 80 of cinema’s greatest films. A second prizewinner in each
store will receive a TCM gift basket. Additional winners will take home a
TCM crossword puzzle book.

Throughout the Fashionable Fundraiser weekend, customers can have their
photos snapped in black and white photo booths or drawn by sketch artists,
and black and white cookies will satiate hungry shoppers—activities will
vary by store. Shoppers can even watch classic black and white movies in
special viewing lounges.

Turner Classic Movies plays a vital role in Bloomingdale’s fall film
campaign, and has curated the selection of black and white movies screening
in stores. And, the network, which is the authority in classic films, has
loaned Bloomingdale’s its extensive collection of photographs. The
“Hollywood’s Leading Ladies” and “Hollywood’s Leading Men” black and white
photograph exhibits will be on display in each store throughout the fall
season.

Bloomingdale’s is America’s only nationwide, full-line, upscale department
store; and a division of Macy’s, Inc.  It was founded in 1872 and currently
operates 40 stores in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and
California.  For more information, or to shop any time, visit
www.bloomingdales.com.

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading
nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV
prevention, treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related
public policy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested nearly $290 million in its
programs and has awarded grants to more than 2,000 research teams
worldwide.

###

It’s one of my favorite antiques shows, just over the Rockland border in Westwood, N.J.

And this Sunday is the date for the 2009 edition.

Here’s the information, as featured on Pat Tita’s Web site — she runs the show (and now, some of the Nyack street fairs) through P.J.’s Promotions:

“Antiques in the Park is held at Veterans Park, Broadway in picturesque Westwood, N.J. (Near Paramus) on Sunday, Aug. 30, 10 to 5 rain or shine.

The show is located off the Garden State Parkway exit 168 North, bear right, straight to show.

Over 70 dealers will be participating at this diversifed show with lots of furniture, silver, estate and costume jewelry, pottery, vintage linens, buttons and clothing, framed prints, Americana, glassware, fine porcelains, trunks, toys, paper items, Primitives, civil war items, Hummels and much more.

Appraisls will be available from 11 to 3.

This is a free admission show.”

I’ve always found it to be a really interesting show, with some lovely booths and some really affordable antiques and collectibles — well worth a trip.

I am looking forward to it. Have you ever been?

If you have any questions, contact Tita through  the site above or call 201-666-1340.

You might want to check out how the Ritz-Carlton Spa has expanded its spa boutique.

Here’s a news release I’ve received:

“The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Westchester Expands Merchandise
Selection at its Spa Boutique

White Plains, NY (August 2009) The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Westchester, the
county’s largest spa in the premier hotel in downtown White Plains, has
recently expanded its merchandise offerings at its Spa Boutique.

In addition to skin and body care products, soaps, perfumes, clothing
and books, the Spa Boutique now includes a unique array of selections

for personal use or for gifts.

Topping the new products are the Voluspa
line of diffusers, blend bar candles and scented room sprays, as well as
the Seda France line of candles and diffusers.

Beyond offers organic
granola, and Dreamtime products include heated aroma therapy neck rolls
and foot cozies.

“Our goal was to create a total sense of well-being for our spa guests,
which is why we decided to add these aromatherapy and organic products
to our Spa Boutique,” said Christian Davies, Spa Director.  “We will
also be offering new seasonal selections throughout the year.”

With 10,000 square feet, the Ritz-Carlton Spa, Westchester features 11
treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness center, rooftop indoor
swimming pool and nail salon.  Both the men’s and women’s lounges
feature a steam room and sauna.  Guests can choose from a wealth of
services including massages, facials, body treatments and hydrotherapy
treatments. A spacious Spa Suite is available for private parties, and a
private couple’s suite allows couples to experience their spa treatments
together.

Guests can book their treatments by calling The Ritz-Carlton Spa,
Westchester at (914) 467-5888.

(Photos courtesy The Ritz-Carlton Spa).

It was filled with all kinds of stories on how to get kids ready to (groan) go back to school…

Today, I got an e-mail from Au Ciel Design Studio, which is based in Irvington.

It’s also full of great tips, and I wanted to share it:

“Is your children’s idea of a study area involve draping their legs over the back of the sofa and reading upside down with a bag of potato chips on their stomach? Do they study on the floor with the TV blasting and the cell phone to one ear? Do they spend hours staring at their textbooks with very little studying? It may be time to create a kid-friendly study area for your Einsteins!

Minoo Hersini, Creative Director at Au Ciel Design Studio, shares these easy tips to ensure the study area meets your children’s needs:

Make a list of things you need and don’t need.

Give away the items that you and your teenagers no longer use such as toys, books and clothing and donate them to younger unprivileged children or any other organization.

Go through the list of “must haves” and categorize them by subject.

Once you have identified a list of wardrobe and paper goods that your teenagers will need, it’s time to start shopping!

Don’t shop for clothing and school supplies on the same day.

Mount a notice board so you and your children can pin up reminders, invitations, social events, practices, etc.

Most kids have their own individual rooms so insert a partition in a small corner of the room to create a study area.  It’s an interesting way of separating work from leisure.

Buy platform beds for your teens.  The ones with drawers are best since you can store clothing such as underwear and socks.

Avoid little items and artifacts since they are usually the cause of clutter.
—
Any you’d like to add? Feel free to comment below.

Check it out:

Oh… I guess that’s too small to really read, so a few highlights:

Save up to 90 percent off retail on home decor, giftware and accessories.

End of summer sale- Enjoy 50 percent off on all summer merchandise.

New merchandise added daily including jewelry, tabletop, candles, wall art, home decor, baby gifts, bags and more.

The shop is open from noon to 3 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays at 500 Saw Miill River Road.

For more details, visit Two’s Company online.

Shop online at Pam Older Designs through Sept. 1 and receive 25 percent off any item that is in stock.

(*Note: Does not apply to custom orders or items that are already on sale).

Just write “25% off” in comment box- we’ll manually adjust your credit card to reflect the discount.

Here’s an example of one of Older’s creations:

Go online to see plenty more.

(Photo courtesy Pam Older Designs).

You may remember her from my feature story last year — she’s the West Nyack native who now lives in California where she heads up a greeting-card line, She’s SO Creative, and is also a graphic designer.

Well, she’s also designed the cover of a book published this month — for San Francisco-based author
Sam Barry (whose brother is humorist Dave Barry).

It’s called “How to Play the Harmonica and Other Life Lessons” (Gibbs Smith) and as Orma says, available at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide “including the one at the Palisades mall.”

Good for her.

Well, the timeframe is now set — as this latest e-mail shows:

“Strawtown Jewelry

Yes, the time has finally come to move to our new location.
Our last day open in West Nyack will be this Wednesday
August 19. We will start packing mid afternoon, but will keep the doors open for business until 6pm

Take advantage of last minute savings by taking
25% off your entire purchase
Closeouts, special orders, and repairs excluded
Bring in or mention this email.

It will take a couple of weeks to get up and running but our new address will be
40 South Main St.
New City, NY 10956
tel 845-358-4911
One block south of the courthouse on the corner with Demerest.
We will email you when we are reopening.”

AprilMarin, as you likely know from many postings here, is the White Plains-based design duo that also features April Bukofser.

The two women are known for their affordable custom clothing sold primarily online and through special events.

Now, I hear AprilMarin is teaming up with Tanya Scott from The Powderoom (another blog regular) for an AprilMarin runway show Sept. 4 at Scott’s Pelham shop.

Proceeds will benefit breast-cancer awareness.

Stay tuned for more details, which I’ll post closer to the event.

The notice was from Ilana Perles, a decorator and antiques dealer who owns Transformation By Design in Suffern with her husband. Lenny.

They’re a great couple — charming, fun and they really know their stuff.

Last time I saw them was up in Brimfield, Mass., in May when they had taken a booth to participate in the famed flea market.

Well, this latest note was to give details about a sale that begins tomorrow in the shop.

Here’s what Ilana says:

” Lenny & I decided that the economy needs a boost so we are having a storewide blowout sale from Monday, August 17th through Thursday August 20th in our shop at 14 Lafayette Avenue in Suffern, N.Y.

I just spent the last few days slashing prices on most items in the store.

There are discounts form 20% – 70% and you cant believe the deals.

A set of 4 French chairs were $300 now 50% off, We are selling antiques , furniture , mirrors, lighting, fine art, collectibles, decorative items all at steep discounts.

This is a great chance to get something special at an amazing deal. We just have to make room for more stuff.

I would love if you would stop by and check it out, and tell your friends too.

I had an old customer stop by today to -pick up something and I couldnt get her out of the shop.

She found so many things she wants that she told me she would be the first one on line on Monday morning, that is what I like to hear.

I know times are tough but we still want to sell and we like giving our customers a good buy, that is one thing we always have, customers who are happy with their purchases and come back for more.”
—
If you’ve not been, go — the shop is great.

Call 845-357-5543.