BUST Craftacular's PRIMPED NYC Beauty Event, April 19, 2015

If you're in New York City on Sunday, April 19, check out a fun afternoon of free beauty treatments, DIY workshops, indie fashion and shopping for handmade beauty products at BUST's Craftacular's second annual Primped event. The first 300 attendees will score a free goodie bag filled with indie beauty products, accessories and treats.

Entry into Primped is just $5 and attendees will get to shop from 65 indie beauty, fashion, and vintage vendors from across the country (local sellers, too) including TheQuixoticEye, Wild Seed Apothecary, Una Biologicals, Objects with Purpose, Herban Lifestyle and Elixery Cosmetic House. 

The event is also full of freebie tutorials and salon services. Visitors can put themselves on the cover of BUST magazine at the car2go Photo Booth, learn to do nail art with Floss Gloss non-toxic nail polish, make jewelry with Brooklyn Charm and unwind with a hand massage featuring Dr. Bronner’s organic lotions. 

In addition to shopping and pampering, fair-goers can sip cocktails and munch on snacks from local food vendors like Kimchi Smoke, Skinny Buddha, Samosa Shack, Tipsy Scoop, Goody’s Granola, An Artistic Taste and Jessy’s Pastries.

BUST Craftacular's Primped will take place Sunday, April 19, 2015 from 11a.m.-6 p.m. at Brooklyn Bazaar (165 Banker Street) in Greenpoint.

Vintage Shaun + Dee Lioness Pop Up Shop March 1 - 7, 2014

Shop for choice vintage finds with Vintage Shaun and Dee Lioness from 12-7 p.m. in Greenpoint, Brooklyn March 1-7, 2014.

For more info check out VintageShaun.com and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest @VintageShaun

Phillip Lim for Target Still Available in Brooklyn!

As of last week, we still saw some of the coveted items from the Phillip Lim for Target collection at the Target store at Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal Mall.  This store is also a good place to stalk for when all the hoarders who scooped up multiple items return them after they don't sell on eBay.

But if you ordered online and weren't able to get your order due to lack of inventory, Target has generously awarded customers $100 gift cards for unfulfilled orders. This happened to my lucky friend Liliam. She ordered two Phillip Lim for Target handbags--she received one, which she paid about $45 for, and then the other bag went out of stock.  So it's like Target paid her for the bag she purchased and gave her an extra $50!

How's that for customer service?

Phillip Lim for Target items still available at Atlantic Center in Brooklyn.

Photos courtesy of Tracy's Pop & Shop

H&M Opens in Downtown Brooklyn Fulton Mall July 3rd!

New H&M in Brooklyn's Fulton Mall.

My how the retail landscape in downtown Brooklyn is changing.  The Fulton Mall has already received a merchandising makeover with the addition of Brooklyn Industries, Aeropostale, Express and Armani Exchange.

And adding to the mall's reputation as a one-stop shopping destination...drumroll, please...H&M is opening at Fulton and Bridge Streets on Wednesday, July 3rd.

Doors open at noon and H&M t-shirts and Access to Fashion Passes valued from $10 to $300 will be given to the first 250 shoppers in line.  Plus, there's a grand opening block party from 12-5 with games, prizes, music and munchies. Be there, or be Albee Square!

Regular store hours will be Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

DeKalb Market Set to Close Before October

DeKalb Market, Brooklyn’s newest marketplace, is fashioned from salvaged shipping containers. The hipster- and-family friendly destination features more than 30 food, clothing and gift vendors with freight container stores, and a weekend market with more choice jewelry sellers and pop-up eateries.

The cool outdoor setting doubles as a community gathering space with an incubator farm, roller skating nights,  DJ sets and live performances. The market is open seven days a week.  Admission is free. Although it was scheduled to run through the end of December, this week it was announced "the trendy souk" must close before October so that the delayed City Point retail and residential project that will include a Century 21 can get underway. A new location hasn't been disclosed, so be sure to check out DeKalb Market before it's gone.

Photos by John Carluccio

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day at Kaight

Every day is Earth Day at Kaight, a pioneering eco-fashion retailer with outposts in Manhattan and Brooklyn.  If you're in Brooklyn, pop in the Atlantic Avenue store to browse the thoughtfully curated racks of conscience clothing and neatly stacked tables of jewelry and accessories.  If you're lucky, you'll get to chat with friendly shop gal and Texas transplant, Katrina; I haven't been by in a while, so hopefully she's still there. 

On Fridays, the store hosts a happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with free bubbly and a 20% off discount on all merchandise.

Photos by Tracy E. Hopkins

New Brooklyn Vegan Restaurant, Maimonide of Brooklyn

Gourmet vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free restaurants are scarce, even in New York City where healthy cuisine is often relegated to crunchy cafes and take-out buffets.  So Maimonide of Brooklyn (525 Atlantic Avenue), is a welcome addition to downtown Brooklyn's food scene.

Called M.O.B. for short, the hip eatery with a live DJ, communal tables, vintage light fixtures, wall art featuring fruits and vegetables used in the menu and poetry by local scribes is the brainchild of Cyril Aouizerate.  The cuisine --  affectionately known as avant-garde vegetarian food for carnivores -- is an inviting and as eclectic as the light-filled space.  Dishes include hearty veggie burgers with kickass homemade ketchup, dried fruit saucissons, vegan chicken nuggets, and open-faced sandwiches that are topped with wholesome ingredients called MOBs.

Scenes from the opening party at Maimonide of Brooklyn./Photos by John Carluccio

M.O.B. founder, Cyril.

Aouizerate, the co-founder of Urbantech and Mama Shelter in France, has combined his love for urban planning, architecture and philosophy in the creative process behind M.O.B. Legendary French chef, Alain Senderens, contributed to the menu with Executive Chef Neal Harden, formerly of Pure Food & Wine.

M.O.B’s design is an homage to '90s hip-hop culture (Afrika Bambaataa was a special guest at the opening party and t-shirts for sale feature the Notorious B.I.G. and She's Gotta Have It-era Spike Lee), Brooklyn and the healthy-living beliefs of the famous Jewish philosopher Maimonides. The arches of the Brooklyn Bridge lend their shape to the doorways and the MOB sandwiches.

Soon the restaurant will expand to include poetry readings, live music and dancing. 

Vintage Shaun Fall Sip n' Shop this Saturday in Brooklyn!

Vintage Shaun Fall Sip n’ Shop

Saturday September 24, 2011

12 noon- 5 pm

The Nu Hotel Brooklyn

85 Smith Street Brooklyn, NY

Rsvp   vintageshaun@gmail.com

Doomsday Blues Got You Down? Go Sip 'n Shop with Vintage Shaun

If the impending end of the world prophecy has got you down in the dumps, cheer up and mark tomorrow's calendar as the day you'll sip and shop with fellow Brooklyn vintage clothing lovers at Vintage Shaun's Sip 'n Shop.

Hey, if it's the end of the world as we know it, you might as well be shopping and sipping sangria!

And don't forget to check out Everything She Wants.net for the latest fashion, style and beauty trends that will make you look and feel good.

Beyonce Brings the Heat to CVS

It's sad to say, but the highlight of my day was popping in my local CVS.

Correction, make that my notoriously disorganized local CVS.  But to my surprise there was a new addition to the poorly stocked store -- a display for Beyonce's Heat fragrance.  

The drug store is offering the fragrance (0.5-1.7 oz.) and an exclusive two-piece gift set starting at $19.99.  Meanwhile, Heat is still priced at $49-$75 on Macys.com. So this is one time the recession is working to our advantage.  

I gave the perfume a sniff test and it's a decidedly sexy, girly scent. The floral and fruity notes of magnolia, almond macaroon, honeysuckle nectar, blush peach, and amber blend nicely.

As an added incentive, if you use your ExtraCare card you get $5 extra CVS bucks for any Heat purchase.   I'm not sure how long the deal will last, so I suggest picking up your bottle or gift set ASAP. 

And I'm not the only one who loves CVS (love the chain, loathe my neighborhood store).  For more deals, check out the cool site "I Heart CVS."

Everything is 50% Off at Conway in Brooklyn's Fulton Mall!

Attention all Brooklyn/NYC bargain shoppers: The Conway department store in the Fulton Mall is closing and moving a few blocks closer to Court Street.  Until mid-next week everything is 50% off!

The 505 Fulton Street store is a complete mess, but if you enjoy digging for half-price treasure like I do, you will find something.  I scored five items for $12, and there is plenty of merchandise left including trendy tees for men and women; plus-size dresses; casual tops; pajama sets; and summer sandals.


Me and Conway go way back.  I've been following the store's trademark pink bags since I visited New York City on shopping trips.  Since I've lived here, my love affair with the mini-chain has continued (we took a break after a security guard at the Fulton Mall store decided he needed to search each female customer's purse).


Conway's new space was formerly occupied by ABC Discount store and is a sign of things to come.  Plans are underway to make the Fulton Mall a more upscale shopping destination. The local Macy's sure could use a makeover and some restocking, so hopefully things will improve there.  And I sure hope the rumors of an H&M in 2012 are true.


But until then, I'll happily continue bargain hunting.  To get you in the budget fashionista mood, I'm offering $5 off coupons for Conway's new store to the first five local readers.


Here's how to win:


1) Respond to this post with your first name and type, "I want my Conway coupon."


2) Subscribe to Tracy's Pop & Shop.  


The coupon is good for $5 off any purchase of $20 or more during Conway's Grand Opening at 427 Fulton Street btwn Jay Street and Pearl Street.  It's valid through September 15, 2010.  


So don't delay.  Respond to this post ("I want my Conway coupon") and subscribe to Tracy's Pop & Shop.