Here’s one way to get into the Ramadan spirit (and for a good cause too!): South Asian webzine, Divanee, has partnered up with NYC-bakery, Butter Lane Cupcakes, to create these Ramadan-inspired treats (available from now until August 29th). They cost $4 each of which $1 will go straight to benefiting Save A Mother, a nonprofit dedicated to maternal health.

Hope you consider ordering some for those iftar (fast breaking) dinners you may be hosting — or for your favorite fasting friend (pick me!). Trust me, after a 16-hour fast, it’d be considered one exceptionally sweet gesture.

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MAC Pro brilliantly showcased what their makeup is capable of by hosting a block party under NYC’s Highline last week with their “Hit the Pavement” event. Blink and you might accidentally bump into one of the many body-painted living statues:

I was kinda in awe at how the makeup didn’t even seem to melt away with the sun.

(Last two photos by PHILIP ROBERTSON. See more on his website HERE)

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I’m feeling particularly lucky today. For one, the grill special at my work cafeteria is quesadillas with mushrooms, avocado and goat cheese. Everytime they have quesadillas downstairs, I always manage to get there right when they run out. And no amount of eyelash fluttering, pouting, and cute “but whyyyy’s” will bring them back (I have, indeed, tried). But today folks, I got the very last one. When the chef told me that, I even let out a little ‘YES!’ like you do in grade school (I had a teacher in 4th grade that didn’t allow us to say that when we were happy about something for some reason…random memory tangent). I leaned over to the girl standing in line next to me and said, “This is the first time I’m actually getting my quesadilla!” She didn’t know me, totally didn’t care (or even reply). But her apathy won’t bring me down. Because right before THAT, I came across a stand in front of the Hearst cafeteria serving cupcakes from SPRINKLES!

Ever since Summar did her post on Sprinkles’ cupcakes in Chicago, I’ve been dying to try them. I kept thinking, “MAN why doesn’t New York have an outpost here? I thought we had this cupcake thing on lock!” (yes, that’s also exactly how thoughts sound in my head). Well, the lady behind the stand just told me they literally JUST opened a Sprinkles store last Friday on Lexington Ave., between 60th and 61st. That’s right NY, represent! I tried a sample of their strawberry, and it was moist almost to a flaw (my friends are going to make fun of me for using that word…I generally don’t like to use it to describe food because I think it sounds gross…but I don’t know how else to describe this one!). I then bought a red velvet. I’m sitting at my desk right now and could just smell the sugary goodness…Ok and now I took a bite and I’m pretty sure I’m going to encounter a ridiculous sugar high. I know I really shouldn’t be having one, after an extended dessert session at the Little Cupcake Bakeshop last night. But you know, I can always make an exception.

Bakery Info:
Sprinkles Cupcakes
780 Lexington Ave.
between 60th and 61st streets
New York, NY 10065
212-207-8375
Midtown East

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Shy

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The Hester Street Fair (founded by none other than MTV News’ SuChin Pak) came back to the LES last weekend, and will be going on every Saturday this month! While last year, it was a combination of food and flea-market type stalls, Pak said she noticed that bloggers and writers are not only obsessed with food, but particularly obsess over the novelty of food stands (I don’t know what she’s talking about *shifty eyes*). So, this year the festival is particularly food-focused. Returning vendors include Luke’s Lobster, Roni-Sue’s Chocolates, and new additions like Brooklyn Taco Company, and Bruce Cost will be on the roster. And of course, you have to stop by Adirondack Creamery’s stand this Saturday for some of the most delicious ice cream (seriously). Be the first to sample some of their new, experimental flavors like carrot-spice, which, following the lead of its successful Indian-inspired Kulfi Pistachio Cardamom, is inspired by “gajar halva” (made out of carrots and a blend of exotic spices).

The Hester Street Fair takes place every Saturday in May, from 10am – 6pm.

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Shy

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Whenever I’m in the Union Square vicinity craving something sweet, I feel like my choices are either Max Brenner or…Max Brenner. A few days ago after dinner in the area, my friends and I were trying to figure our game plan for dessert and we just as easily gave up and began heading for some chocolate by the bald man. We stopped in our tracks though when we caught a glimpse of Viva La Crêpe!

The original outpost of Viva actually did start in Paris and grew to work its way stateside. They have a full savory and sweet menu, but the savory one might as well have not existed for us at that moment. We were busy trying to decide between dark chocolate, nutella, white chocolate, vanilla or chocolate ice cream, berries or almonds, etc. etc. We settled on a nutella/banana/almond/walnut/vanilla ice cream combo and a heavenly dark chocolate/berries/banana/vanilla ice cream one.

The crepes are served in a little pocket you can hold while you munch. Just a word of advise if you’re getting it with ice cream, ask for it on the side . It makes devouring it a LOT easier.

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It’s an odd pairing of sorts: famed Chanel and Fendi designer, Karl Lagerfeld makes Rachel Bilson his muse for the first of his “original short films inspired by Magnum Ice Cream.” Fashion and fatty foods seem a bit of an anomaly. The video itself was not that provoking, but Bilson (who plays a model named Olivia in the Zoolander-esque sequence) looks gorgeous as usual with her bouncy ombre hair. Probably the best part about the video. What do you think?


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Shy