In My City is a series of posts about shopping and fashion in different cities. I have asked blogger friends from around the world to share their favorite local shopping spot(s) in their city along with a picture showcasing their street style.

Today we have Ashwini from The Zing of My Life talking about her favorite shopping locales in two of her favorite cities - her hometown of Mumbai and her current hometown of Washington DC. Ashwini is one of our favorite blogger buddies - sweet in nature with a sense of style that we'd describe as "easy chic". She always looks stylish and put together. Without further ado...take it away, Ashy!

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When Richa & Shruti invited me to write about the 'In My City ' feature, I got down to thinking about my shopping patterns and style...where do I shop really? Lot of stuff is from here in the US, which makes sense since that is where I live currently. But then, quite a lot of stuff is from my shopping expeditions in Mumbai. So well, I am going to take some liberty here by taking you through my fave shopping jaunts in two cities - Mumbai and Washington, DC.

Anyone who has lived or visited Mumbai, a cosmopolitan city in India on the western coastline of India, will tell you that street-shopping is an activity you have to add to your must-do activities list. There are many street-shopping nooks in the city but my fave two are Colaba Causeway, which is right in the heart of the city, and Linking Road/ Hill Road in Bandra, a hip and posh suburb.

Colaba Causeway is a historic neighborhood right beside the famous landmark of Gateway of India. It's a long winding alley with small shops set up on the footpaths selling exotic jewelry, tops, skirts, bags, watches and what not. My fave part is scoring ethnic, statement jewelry pieces for an amazing price...bang for your buck kinda deal! A lot many pieces that I feature on the blog have come from this old, rustic shopping place. Don' forget to duck in and sip on a cold beer and some urban snacks at the Leopold Cafe which is right in the center of the buzzing area.

Linking Road is another street-shopping destination in the city and unlike Colaba Causeway, which is sorta cozied away into an alley, this place is located on a high-traffic road in Bandra with a mix of brand shops and street-shopping shacks. You have shops and shacks lined up on one side of the road and little alleys joining it. On the other side of the road, you have this high-end stores. A typical irony, something for which Mumbai is famous for and you will experience it in every corner of the city you visit! Linking Road offers a variety ranging from cute tops, dresses, leggings, accessories but my fave part is the shoe-shopping. Amazing collection at an even amazing price, given that you do know how to bargain! If you want to take a break and put up your feet for some time, you have street side carts and restaurants serving delicious snacks and beverages.

Hill road, Bandra is another shopping area I recently discovered which is not too far from Linking Road. A plus point of Hill road is the Elco chat corner serving spicy Indian savory snacks.

And now moving on to hip destinations in the US, specifically near Washington DC where I live now. Most of the shopping I do here is from malls and Tysons Corner is a magnificent shopping hub in the DC suburb area. It has all the stores and brands you can imagine, both regular and high brands including clothes, jewelry, beauty, home stores and what not. It houses some of my fave brand stores - Banana Republic, H&M, Aldo, Nordstrom, The Limited.

Another upcoming neighborhood is the newly built Mosaic District in Fairfax with an array of boutiques and more specifically my most recent discovery - Langford Market. With its well curated assortment of clothes, and accessories, it is fast becoming my preferred shopping destination.

I am not a big fan of online shopping for clothes mainly 'cause I absolutely need to try out an outfit before I buy it. I do indulge in shopping for accessories on the jewelry-and-fashion-deals website Groopdealz. I have been known to receive some gorgeous statement pieces in my mail for amazing deals! And then of course, I am guilty of taking the occasional detour while grocery shopping at Target! Now haven't we all been there done that :)

Well, that was my absolute favorite shopping destinations...Thank you Richa and Shruti for inviting me to write for this fab feature. Like they say, retail therapy is a mood elevator and if you are in Mumbai or DC make sure you check out these places to get a flavor of the city!

Picture 1: Neon necklace from Colaba Causeway, Mumbai; Picture 2: Fringe necklace from Hill Road, Bandra; Picture 3: Gold-tone ring from Langford Market, Mosaic District; Picture 4: Statement necklace from Groopdealz | Print-dress from Target

The weekend is coming and one of the plans we always make with friends is to meet for brunch. Brunch is the best meal one can have - it is at that in-between time of day that you can have sweet or savory, eggs or sandwich, mimosa or coffee, and no one can judge you. Nothing spells the weekend more than enjoying french toast with a side of gossip with your best friends.

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To gear you up for the weekend, here is a list of what we think are the best brunch spots we've been to in DC and NYC. Boasting of a strong brunch culture, both NYC and DC are a mecca for brunch spots for all types of budgets and tastes. We easily have a list of 6-8 brunch spots that we'd consider our favorites, and the list seems to keep growing the more places we try. But since this is meant to be a comprehensive post and not a Zagat report, here is our abbreviated list!


DC

1) Scion
Scion became famous in DC after President Obama lunched there with his supporters and signed the menu. A lovely neighborhood brunch spot in Dupont, this is my go-to place when I want to indulge in a scrumptious meal but am unwilling to walk more than 5 blocks. I enjoy the cute outdoor patio and the modern décor, but more importantly, the food is of high quality. The menu offers a range of a la carte egg options. My favorite, though admittedly calorie-laden, is the huevos rancheros.

2) Bombay Club
If you’re looking for delicious and high-quality Indian food in DC, Bombay Club is the place to go. Add unlimited champagne on Sundays and you’ve got the perfect brunch! They offer buffet style Indian food, with vegetarian and meat options alongside sweet Indian deserts. Whenever my friends go, we definitely take advantage of the unlimited food and drinks, and probably overstay our welcome. But how can you not with this place?

3) Tabaq
Tabaq does its brunch basics well, offering delicious crab cake benedicts (my favorite brunch dish), omelettes, waffles, French toast, and $3 mimosas. I also love the floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a great view of U street and rest of DC.

NYC

1) Crema
A relatively unknown gem in Chelsea, I'm almost hesitant to share it with the world! Crema has an amazing Mexican style brunch, complete with breakfast style Mexican omlette, chicken chilaquiles, quesadillas, and chile relleno. Everything on the menu is just superb and delicious. The unlimited mimosa brunch offering doesn't hurt either! Crema is also one of those rare places that doesn't need reservations - you almost always get a table right away. That's a big bonus for a brunch spot in the city!

2) Friend of a Farmer
Located in the posh Gramercy area, Friend of aFarmer offers a contrasting rustic style setting. Made to look like an English countryside home that serves up hearty breakfasts, this place reminds you of what a wholesome meal is all about. I love the French press coffee here, and I literally die after their assorted bread and muffin basket. This place serves up several different types of omelette preparations as well, so there is something for everyone's omelette-seeking tastes.

3) Beauty & Essex
Nestled in the Lower East side, Beauty & Essex is almost missed if you walk by it. The exterior of the restaurant is a pawn shop that sells vintage jewelery and other eclectic items. Walk further inside and you'll be surprised by the swanky restaurant interiors and even the bathrooms. One might think it's all a gimmick. But the food is quite exceptional. I just love their soft, fresh-out-of-the-oven pumpkin and blueberry scones, their refreshing kale and apple salad, and brunch pizzettas. Be sure to make reservations well in advance for B&E! We've written about this place in a previous post here.

Now that you know our top selections, we'd love to hear what YOUR favorite brunch spots are in your respective cities. What are your top spots and what places do you suggest we try?  

Today was Inauguration Day for President Obama in Washington DC. While many of my friends in other cities did not get MLK Day off today, all of DC was literally shut down in observance of the holiday and more importantly, the presidential inauguration! The city has been gearing up for this event for the last several days, with dozens of inauguration-themed parties, politically-inspired celebrities descending into the city (Mario Lopez was at my favorite club y’all!), and bleachers and fences set up along the National Mall. I spent the last few days debating whether I should face the bitter cold and head to the National Mall to watch the inauguration unfold live, or watch it in the comfort and warmth of my own home. In the end, my friends and I decided to brave the cold weather to experience the momentous occasion live, and we’re so glad we did! As a DC resident who lives just a short walk away from where the event was held, I suppose it would have been blasphemous to not have taken advantage of this opportunity.

While the event was not as highly attended as four years ago when Obama was elected for his first term presidency, there was still an electric energy in the air. It seemed that, for the time being, everyone pushed aside whatever doubts they may have had about the country’s political and economic future to just enjoy the momentous occasion. The hope for change and new beginnings that was so palpable four years ago was revived once more.   Along with a million other people today, I got to watch Obama and Biden take their oaths and make history. As the crowd burst into cheer and applause when President Obama and Vice-President Biden appeared on stage, I could not help but feel a sense of excitement and hope as well! 

Vendors selling souvenirs and ridiculous inauguration favors kept things amusing! 

As you all know, the presidential elections were this past Tuesday and Barack Obama was re-elected! For the last several months, we have all been bombarded with campaign posters, ads where both sides attack the other and say “I approve this message”, and volunteers canvassing for your vote.

Living in DC, however, the build-up to the elections was probably like no other city. As a predominantly Democrat city and the center of where it all happens, the stakes were high. The office was abuzz with political conversations and analysis of who will win and why. Every other person I know has a friend working for the Obama campaign or knows a political analyst with predictions of how votes would tally. So even though I’m not a citizen and can’t vote, I couldn’t help but become excited by the buzz of it all.

My friends and I made plans to watch the election results on Tuesday night at a local bar and I’m so glad I went! The excitement and electric energy was contagious, and I soon found myself cheering whenever Obama won a state and booing when Romney did. We became friends with the group next to us because everyone was playing for the same team that night. And when CNN announced that President Obama was re-elected, the entire bar exploded into applause, cheering, and celebrating! People were hugging total strangers, taking pictures to remember the momentous occasion, and raising their glasses.

As we walked outside, we found that U street was packed with revelers who were chanting Obama’s name, cheering, and some even popping bottles of champagne!

This will definitely be one of my most memorable DC experiences. How was your election night?

New York Fashion Week is in full swing, with the city literally buzzing with stylish people wearing trendy clothes and killer shoes. It’s an exciting time of year when designers, bloggers, fashionistas, and the press all come together under one common ground – FASHION! Earlier this week was Fashion Night Out (FNO), the event that kicks off fashion week. The Urban Mantra sisters sound off on their FNO experience…

FNO in New York: I had gone for FNO in the SoHo neighborhood last year and made it a fun night out with the girls. However, I had found the event to be an utter disaster in terms of crowds and lines. Determined not to make the same mistake this year, I decided to visit the department stores instead (ie, Lord & Taylor, Bergdorf, Saks). It was the smartest move I ever made.  It was much more pleasant to roam around from one floor to another within a department store, view the displays, and try stuff on. And it's always a bonus when you don't have to wait forever to get complementary drinks and other goodies. The crowds were also much less aggressive. Finally, I had the pleasure of meeting Anh from 9to5Chic, who was having pictures taken at the Manoukian store at Lord & Taylor. She was wonderfully sweet and friendly!

Sights and sounds from FNO New York at Lord & Taylor

FNO in DC: This Urban Mantra sister found that FNO may have been marketed a little too much for her liking. I have attended FNO in years past in Georgetown when the event was not as popular. Now, all of a sudden, the event has taken on a massive life of its own and I find myself battling long lines to get anything – whether it’s to enter a store or receive a complementary beverage. Indeed,  the lines this year stretched down several blocks, and some stores even ran out of freebies and giveaways within a half hour! Now I'm not trying to sound like a mooch, but what's FNO without the freebies?! (Haha, I kid!...NOT). Regardless it was still a fun night and I'm glad I went!

Left: Trinkets from Cusp; Right: Delicious cupcakes on display

How was your FNO experience?

When you live in the country’s capital, there’s no shortage of family, friends, and acquaintances passing through. While it’s always great to have them visit me in DC, of late it’s become quite tiresome to take them around sightseeing. Honestly, there are only so many times a girl can take people around the National Mall, point out the White House, and shepherd people through the “usual suspects” Smithsonian museums. As pretentious as this may sound, I had become quite immune to DC’s sights and the self-made tour I give to my friends.
 

Hi everyone! It’s Monday and we know you don’t feel like working. Especially after such a beautiful weekend, right? Our weekend was pretty action-packed. With the promise of good weather and great company, I started my Saturday with Embassy Day in DC! For those unfamiliar with Embassy Day, this is an annual celebration of different cultures, where embassies across Washington, DC host an open house and organize activities that present their traditions. These open houses range from offering the country’s traditional food and drink to showcasing dances, skits, and national products from the country. My friends and I visited the British Embassy, where we toured the luxurious gardens, posed next to Bentleys, and indulged in some whiskey! After that, we visited the Italian Embassy, where I promptly made a bee-line to the food court to get some pasta and tiramisu! Embassy Day is an immensely popular event that can easily get crowded, but it is a great way to learn about different cultures.

Ferrari shopping in Italy!

If you ride the subway at all, chances are that you’ve come across someone singing, playing a musical instrument, dancing, or doing acrobatic stunts in the subway. Let’s face it, we don’t usually bother to look or listen. After all, in most cases it’s a street bum croaking away to a song that has been sung to death or making a sad attempt of playing the guitar. But sometimes, there are people who seem truly talented. Do you stop to appreciate them? 

A few months ago, I saw a group of young, athletic boys take a moving subway train by storm, doing crazy somersaults and back flips with such control and finesse that they could have been in a Cirque du Soleil show. Last month, it was a little boy playing such a beautiful piece on his cello that he could have been the next Yo-Yo Ma. Recently, it was two women singing the opera with such great vocal strength that I could still hear them as the train pulled out of the station (see the video recording I took below). I’m no judge for America’s Got Talent but honestly, some of these people knew how to put on a show!

There’s a famous story about a social experiment conducted in a Washington DC station where a world famous violinist played his best work for 3 straight hours. While his shows would normally sell out with people paying $100 a ticket in the art world, no one stopped to listen to him in the subway station. Maybe it’s the abundance of starving artists around us, or maybe we don’t have the time to stop and watch “street acts” in the busy, grungy setting of a subway station…but it brings up the question, have we become desensitized to art and beauty around us? Can we only appreciate it when it’s in a formalized setting of a hall or theatre? I suspect there is still more hidden talent in the city subways. The question is whether we will bother to stop and appreciate it when we see it. 

A subway act gone ignored

Opera singers in the Herald Square stop

A starving artist playing the guitar at Penn Station (he's there every day!)

What about you, readers? Have you seen any subway acts that have wow-ed you?

Hi Northeasterners! With temperatures spiking to 80 degrees in the last few days and with our clocks turned ahead with daylight savings, I think we can safely say that spring is upon us! This is one of my favorite times of the year – flowers are blooming, the temperature is rising, and colorful pastels start making an appearance in our wardrobes!

As a DC resident, my favorite thing about spring by far is the Cherry Blossom Festival! For those who don’t know, the Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates the gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees given to the US by Japan as a gesture of peace and goodwill. Every year, these trees bloom for exactly 2 weeks and transform the Tidal Basin area of DC into a beautiful landscape reminiscent of a Monet painting. When my friends and I went to check them out a few days ago, we couldn’t help but exclaim over the beauty and feel a sense of pride in living in such a beautiful city.

This year marks the Centennial anniversary of the Cherry Blossoms, and the city has planned a 5-week celebration that includes parades, cultural events, concerts, and more. Local businesses and restaurants are also offering Cherry Blossom Deals, such as cherry blossom flavored cupcakes, cocktails, and spa packages. Check them out here: http://www.giltcity.com/dc

While this can be a magical time of year, the cherry blossoms also bring with them some annoyances. For those who suffer from allergies like me, springtime and cherry blossoms are the equivalent of rolling around in a mound of pollen. As fun as it was to take pictures of cherry blossoms, I paid a high price the next day by suffering from swollen eyes, a scratchy throat, and a throbbing headache. Yikes! What’s more, all the tourists decide to visit DC at exactly this time of the year to take advantage of the weather and free events, only to crowd the metro and restaurants. For those weary of large crowds and lines, checking out the Tidal Basin may be preferable over the weekdays. Otherwise, don’t be surprised if you find yourself squeezed in a crowded subway, pushed over by moms with strollers, or have people walk into the frame just as you take a picture! ;)

Regardless of whether you’re taken away by the electric energy of this time or grumpy from the tourists and allergies, spring is here and I hope you all will be able to take advantage of the events and deals! Happy Spring!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! In the spirit of the day of all things sweet, I thought I’d share my thoughts on the latest food fad: cupcakes! As a self-proclaimed cupcake connoisseur who has lived in cupcake-crazed cities like NYC and DC, I’ve been around the so-called cupcake block a few times! And while all cupcakes may seem cute and enticing, I’m sad to say that not all cupcakes are made equal.