There are certain philosophical questions that seem as unanswerable as they are profound. Often, they come to us via ancient philosophical texts. Or maybe they're passed down in the form of a schoolyard riddle.
What is the sound of one hand clapping? If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? What would a selfie of one high-fiving oneself look like?
We walk around, not thinking about these questions. They're just too much to bear. But then a hero comes along and flips everything on its head.
Seth Schneider is one such hero. The Twitter user posted a video that is changing the face of what we think is possible. Witness.
Today is the proudest day of my life. I successfully took a picture of me high fiving myself pic.twitter.com/tCZ53T5JSx
This is remarkable. One user posits that Schneider could have used a self-timer. That's beside the point. This is a landmark human achievement. This is a selfie-self-high-five.
The only thing even remotely comparable is when user Rob Whisman successfully lip synched to "The Next Episode."
holy shit. i did it. it took 15 years but i finally did it. i'm the first person to ever do this pic.twitter.com/xAN7rw96jG
In a shocking and unprecedented move, Donald Trump appeared at a press conference alongside women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct, just 90 minutes before his second debate with Hillary Clinton.
The GOP nominee was accompanied by Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick, and Paula Jones. Each woman made a short statement supporting Trump and repeated the accusations they have made against the former president.
"Mr. Trump may have said some bad words, but Bill Clinton raped me and Hillary Clinton threatened me. I don’t think there’s any comparison," Broaddrick told the reporters during the press conference, which was also broadcast by the Trump campaign on Facebook Live.
Broaddrick says that Bill Clinton raped her in 1978. Clinton has denied the allegations; criminal charges were never filed.
The women were joined by Kathy Shelton, who has criticized Hillary Clinton for serving as the attorney for a man charged with raping her when she was 12 years old. The man, who was 41, eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. Shelton has said that the now-Democratic nominee "ruined" her life.
The press conference comes as Trump continues to deal with the fallout from the revelation of a 2005 recording that captured him making incredibly lewd comments about women and bragging about making unwanted sexual advances. A growing number of Republican lawmakers have pulled their support from the nominee in response to the tape.
The businessman said the press conference was part of his "debate prep." The women will also be present at the debate hall, The New York Times reported.
The Clinton campaign called the appearance an "act of desperation" and said in a statement that the candidate is prepared to handle whatever Trump "throws her way."
Refinery29 has partnered with more than 50 of the country's biggest women's media brands and political nonprofit Rock The Vote to register 100,000 women to vote. Become a voter today by signing up with #OurVoteCounts below.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Westworld hasn't been officially renewed for its second season, but husband-and-wife showrunning team Jonathan and Lisa Joy Nolan are already hard at work cracking the code, Deadline reports. Jonathan revealed as much while speaking at a New York Comic-Con panel about the show.
"Praising the advantage of TV over movies to find room for a wide variety of storylines and knocking his habit of writing too long, Nolan said as almost an aside that he and Joy are 'breaking Season 2' right now," Deadline writes.
"Breaking" is television jargon meaning that they're figuring out which stories should be told, and how they should tell them.
One thing we know won't happen is that they won't be drawing on the original movie's other parks for inspiration. The 1973 film Westworld included Roman World and Medieval World, leading some to suspect that the show would explore those worlds in the future.
“Roman and medieval?” Nolan said in response to an audience question. “No!”
Of course that doesn't mean that we won't see those in the future. HBO must be pleased that it has two fairly obvious spinoff concepts tucked firmly into their back pocket.
That settles that. Read the rest of the report about the panel here.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Elon Musk has a trick up his sleeve. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO sent ripples of excitement throughout the tech community when he said that Tesla would unveil a product "unexpected by most" at an event taking place on October 17.
Here's the tweet.
Tesla product unveiling on the 17th (unexpected by most), followed by Tesla/SolarCity on the 28th
We know he'll probably unveil a solar rooftop at the upcoming Solar City event on October 28.
So what could he unveil other than? Let's speculate!
Musk has tweeted in the past about advances that could help join man and machine, something called neural lace. Tesla has been at the forefront of the push towards the self-driving car. It seems impossible that Musk would announce some kind of car-brain neural linkage, but he's known for announcing pie-in-the-sky concepts and then following through. That being said, he said it would be "unexpected by most."
Whatever happens, it's going to be wild.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
If Westworld'spremiere focused mainly on the hosts and their relationship with the world around them, then this episode gave us a glimpse into the guests' motivations. First-timer guests, Will (Jimmi Simpson) and his douchey friend Logan (Ben Barnes) — who has visited the park before — arrive at Westworld. Will, like us, is discovering what this place is all about. And through his gaze, we get to experience what it's like to enter Westworld as a guest.
New Arrival
Will and Logan arrive at what looks like a very modern train station via shuttle. They disembark, and are greeted by the most good-looking people I have ever seen. Will asks if there will be an orientation — he's like that kid who asked about extra credit at the end of class.
"The only limit here is your imagination," explains Angela, his very blonde tour guide. "You start in the center of the park, where it's safe. The further out you venture, the more intense your experience gets. How far you want to go, is entirely up to you."
Will (Jimmi Simpson) is greeted by Angela (Talulah Riley) upon arrival at Westworld. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO.
Let's talk about Angela. She only appears briefly, but her presence is significant. She shows Will to the prop and costume room, where everything is bespoke and made to his exact measurements. Here, she says, is where he chooses what he wants to be. Here is also where he gets to ask the question we've all wanted to ask: is this perfect woman real? Her answer: "Well if you can't tell, does it matter?" And therein lies the crux of Westworld: Does it matter that these human-like androids are being used and abused for human enjoyment? Does it matter that Will's sleazy friend is here for thrills, no matter the cost? Does it matter that the hosts seem to be internalizing this trauma?
Eventually, Will picks a lewk, which leaves on final choice: white hat or black hat? (subtle.) Will, unsurprisingly, chooses white. His douchey friend settles on black.
Now, for the logistics: It seems guests enter the park through a door that takes them from the modern facility into a kind of limbo space that looks like a retro bar. They're dressed for the west, but not quite in that world yet. Suddenly though, the compartment reveals itself to be part of a moving train, the same one we saw in the first episode. (This makes me wonder if the reason we see Teddy arrive by train is because he's being repaired and sent back with the guests.)
We also learn that the park is far larger than just the town of Sweetwater. Logan for instance, has never reached the end. Will is all for taking it easy, but Logan has other plans. He's here to live his best life, not to buy into whatever pre-packaged adventure the hosts have to offer.
This, of course, involves violence, hookers, and a threesome. Not for Will, though — he turns down Clementine's advances, stating he has someone real back home. Although, that nod he gives Dolores towards the end of the episode seems to suggest he might be convinced to have a lapse of memory where his girlfriend is concerned.
The Maze
Armed with a bloody scalp map, the Man in Black continues his quest for the deeper meaning of the game. He interrupts a hanging and kills a posse in order to get the information he needs from Lawrence, a host who we must assume was a partner in crime on one of his many visits. Lawrence, of course, has absolutely no memory of this.
(Side note: How is it that none of these hosts have qualms trying to shoot the Man in Black? Aren't they programmed not to harm humans? Sure, they can't kill him with bullets, but the intent is clearly there. There could be something to the theory that he's a host who has been self-aware for a while now.)
Believing that Lawrence has the key to "the maze" (so, THAT'S what was imprinted on the bloody scalp), the Man in Black leads him back to a village — Lawrence's home. Clearly , Westworld is huge. Turns out Lawrence has a secret family, otherwise known as leverage.
Because the Man in Black really wants to find this maze. In fact, he's willing to kill everyone in the town to do it. And he does, going as far as to shoot Lawrence's wife right in front of him. This doesn't go unnoticed by the control center, where someone asks Stubbs if they should "slow him down."
"That gentleman gets whatever he wants," Stubbs answer. So clearly, whoever runs Westworld is aware of the Man in Black. But do they know he's out to game the system?
It's been pretty clear thus far that the Man in Black's main motivation — aside from the maze — has been to inflict as much death and destruction as possible. But it hasn't been so obvious why, until now. Right before killing Lawrence's wife, he marvels at how real she looks when she's experiencing "base emotions." Humanity is as it's most obvious "when you're suffering," he says. If that's the case, could the real reason he's been on such a rampage just be that he's trying to make the hosts self-aware by making them feel emotional pain?
Eventually, violence wins out and the Man in Black gets his answer. Lawrence's little girl, somewhat reminiscent of a Matrix kid, speaks up, telling him the maze isn't meant for him. When he shrugs, explaining that he's "never going back" where he comes from, she gives him these cryptic instructions: "Follow the blood Aroyo, to the place where the snake lays its eggs."
Cool, I'll just enter that into Google Maps, thanks.
Maeve's Dreams
Maeve has a problem: No one wants to fuck her anymore.
This could have something to do with the Narrative programmers making her uber aggressive — not an attractive trait in a Madam. Or you know, it could be all those flashbacks she's been having about her former life. In any case, Maeve needs to get her shit together, or she'll be decommissioned.
She's not the only one having weird visions, though — Clementine has been having nightmares. "Sometimes they're real bad," she tells Maeve, who answers: "Do what I do — you find yourself in a bad dream, close your eyes, count backwards from 3, wake yourself right up."
Maeve (Thandie Newton), with her daughter in her past life. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO.
This is truly horrifying, a fact Elsie points out as she's working on Maeve later in the episode. "Dreams are mainly memories. Can you imagine how fucked we'd be if these poor assholes remembered what the guests do to them?"
We do learn however, that the hosts have the concept of dreams, specifically nightmares. This is a contingency plan on the off-chance maintenance forgets to wipe their memories after a particularly violent interaction with a guest.
In her past life, Maeve has a daughter. They live in a pretty cottage out in the fields. They braid each other's hair. Until one dark day, their settlement gets raided by a group of Native American warriors. Maeve almost gets scalped, but manages to escape with her daughter and seek refuge in their house. She watches as one of the warriors circles the place, and enters — only it's not him. It's the Man in Black.
"3, 2, 1..."
She wakes up. Only she's not in her bed. She's being operated on by the maintenance crew, who has found MRSA in her abdomen. (Yuck.)
Understandably alarmed, Maeve escapes, wandering through the facility. She comes across a room full of what seems like random bodies — until she recognizes one. It's Teddy, who was shot earlier by a guest looking for an adrenaline boost. Eventually, the maintenance crew catches up to her and injects her with a tranquilizer, but something tells me Maeve won't be forgetting this little trip anytime soon.
Finally, a short note about her speech. She repeats it throughout the episode, and while it can be applied to the guests and their "what happens in Vegas" attitude, it's also significant when thought of in the context of the hosts becoming more and more self-aware. Here it is in full:
You can hear it can't you? That little voice. The one that says 'Don't stare too long. Don't touch. Don't do anything you might regret.' I used to be the same. Whenever I wanted something, I could hear that voice telling me to stop. To be careful. To leave most of my life un-lived. You know the only place that voice left me alone? In my dreams. I was free. I could be as good, or as bad, as I felt like being. And if I wanted something, I could just reach out and take it. But then I would wake up, and the voice would start all over again. So I ran away, crossed the shining sea. And when I finally set foot back on solid ground, the first thing I heard was that goddamn voice. Do you know what it said? It said 'This is the new world, and in this world, you can be whoever the fuck you want."
What's Up With Dolores?
A voice is calling to Dolores in the night, asking her to "remember." That voice sounds an awful lot like Bernie's voiceover from the premiere.
Walking in the streets of Sweetwater, it happens again: the voice says "Remember," (it's unclear if it's in her head, or actually being projected into the park) and Dolores sees dead bodies on the ground, much like the saloon robbery scene which should have been erased from her memory.
Her little daydream is interrupted by Maeve's delightful snarkiness, but things get weird when Dolores repeats the fateful words her father whispered in her ear: "These violent delights have violent ends."
Maybe Elsie is right to want to examine her further. As she tells Bernie, "if this is not a dissonant episode, then whatever Abernathy had could be contagious."
But the policy at Westworld, it seems, is to let it lie. Perhaps Bernie's reluctance to investigate has something to do with the little private chats he's been having with Dolores.
Their latest meeting starts out rather benignly. Bernie asks how many interactions she's had since they last spoke ("138 encounters including this one."), and if anyone has altered her core heuristics in that time. That last one is interesting. Core heuristics refer to someone's ability to make expedient decisions. It seems like Bernie is aware that the hosts are learning to think for themselves, and is trying to track it.
Dolores is worried she's done something wrong. Bernie reassures her: "No. But there's something different about you. About the way you think. I find it fascinating but others may not think that way."
"Have you done something wrong?" she asks. It's a question that requires a certain amount of free thinking, and Bernie knows that. Class dismissed. He tells Dolores to erase their interaction and get back to her world.
Dolores' last scene bodes well for fans waiting for all hell to break loose. Once again, she wakes up in the middle of the night and wanders out in to the yard. This time however, she starts digging — much in the same way Peter Abernathy did when he found the Times Square photo — and unearths a gun. Was it left behind by a guest? Is it defective? Does this spell death for one of the guests?
Occam's Razor
Bernie's got other problems. Despite what he told Elsie, he knows that the Abernathy problem might be more serious than he originally thought. In a conversation with Ford, he explains that the photograph alone wouldn't have made Abernathy react like that — he actually took the time to go home and reflect, rather than lose it on the spot. The simplest explanation Bernie can come up with is that someone has been interfering with the hosts.
"Occam's Razor," Ford responds, referring to the theory that the simplest explanation is always the best. Bernie doesn't buy it.
"The problem with what you and I do is that it's so complicated. We practice witchcraft, we speak the right words, and we create life itself, out of chaos. William of Occam was a 13th century monk, he can't help us now, Bernard. He would have us burned at the stake."
Ford's cavalier attitude towards these glitches makes me think he knows more about them than he's letting on. It's almost as if he's waiting for Bernie to figure out for himself.
Dr. Ford Has Bigger Plans
Narrative guru Lee Sizemore has a new storyline in mind, which is why hosts like Maeve are being assessed for recall. He wants 50 new hosts to play with.
When he finally unveils his epic plan, snoozingly called "Oddyssey on Red River," Sizemore gets taken down a peg by Ford. Thanks but no thanks.
"What is the point of it?"Ford asks. "It's not about giving the guests what you think they want. That's simple."
Guests come back for the "subtleties, the details," he explains. Not the big, obvious things. (Read: your vulgar fantasies.) Unlike Sizemore, who believes guests come to Westworld looking for themselves, Ford believes they already know who they are. Rather, "they're here because they want a glimpse of who they could be."
Ford has another reason to turn down Sizemore's narrative. He has his own in mind. One, he tells Bernie he has been "working on for some time."
"Something quite original."
I, for one, cannot wait to experience it.
Additional Thoughts:
— Bernie and Theresa's fun sexy time: Until Bernie decides he wants to talk. After likening him to hosts who want to practice their humanity, Theresa bolts out of there faster than you can say "singularity."
— Theresa's lady boss attitude when Bernie calls her formidable: "You can just say 'bitch.' I hear it enough."
— When Ford takes a trip into Westworld (an elevator brings him to the surface, suggesting the control center is underground), he meets a kid who seems suspiciously similar to him in both personality and appearance. Could the "demons" that Sizemore hinted at literally be shadows of Ford, living in the park?
— What's with the abandoned church steeple that Ford keeps coming back to look at?
— The Man in Black has repeated that he's been coming to Westworld for 30 years so many times I hear it in my dreams. But speaking to Lawrence, he added a little something extra:"I've been coming here for 30 years. In a sense, I was born here." (Let's hear it for the robot theory! I didn't believe it after last week's premiere, but this episode has me pretty convinced.)
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The offensive remarks about women by Donald Trump that have been dominating the headlines this weekend sparked major clashes just minutes into the second presidential debate.
The GOP nominee responded by saying he was embarrassed by and sorry for his remarks, but repeated that he felt it was "just words" and "locker-room talk." When asked repeatedly by Cooper about whether he had ever groped or forced himself sexually on women, Trump said, “I have not."
“I have great respect for women,” he said.
Clinton, meanwhile, said the controversy reinforces her view that Trump is "not fit" for president.
“What we all saw and heard on Friday was Donald talking about women. What he thinks about women, what he does to women, and he has said that the video doesn't represent who he is. But I think it’s clear to anyone who heard it that it represents exactly what he is," she said. "We have seen him insult women, we’ve seen him rate women on their appearance, ranking them from one to ten. We’ve seen him embarrass women on TV and on Twitter. We saw him after the first debate spend nearly a week denigrating a former Miss Universe in the harshest, most personal terms.”
The former Secretary of State continued by calling out Trump's past comments about African-Americans, Latinos, people with disabilities, Muslims, veterans, "and so many more."
"This is who Donald Trump is...this is not who we are," she said.
"Mine are words, his were actions," Trump said. "There’s never been anybody in the history of politics in this nation that’s been so abusive to women." He said Hillary Clinton should be "ashamed of herself" for bringing up his words.
Clinton dismissed Trump's comments as untrue.
“When I hear something about that, I am reminded of what my friend Michelle Obama advised us all: When they go low, you go high," she said.
Watch the full exchange below:
Refinery29 has partnered with more than 50 of the country's biggest women's media brands and political nonprofit Rock The Vote to register 100,000 women to vote. Become a voter today by signing up with #OurVoteCounts below.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
So here we are. 12 years after the finale of Sex and the City, we finally have a new television show starring Sarah Jessica Parker. It's been a long time coming, but happily, Divorce i s worth the wait. Each week, I'll be recapping the show for you, navigating the world of SJP's Frances, her rocky marriage to Robert (Thomas Haden Church), her friendships with Diane (Molly Shannon) and Dallas (Talia Balsam), and her struggles as a mom to kids Lila and Charlie.
In the pilot, we meet Frances looking at herself in the mirror, pulling her skin every which way as if to envision what she'd look like at various ages. Then, France's husband, Robert, enters the scene and we're immediately tipped off that this is not a happy marriage: When Robert laments that Frances took so long in the bathroom that he was forced to relieve himself downstairs in a...um, coffee can, France doesn't so much as flinch.
(As your Divorce recapper, I feel it's my duty to you to mention that I am, in fact, not married and that this show basically encapsulates every single thing that terrifies me about marriage. So please excuse me if I write as though this show makes me want to run away, join a convent, and skip the whole marriage thing altogether.)
Okay, so continuing on. As Frances and Robert drive to their friend Diane's birthday party, Robert hums along to Coldplay's "Paradise" (perfectly ironic song choice) completely off-key until an irritated Frances turns off the radio. I don't blame her; there should be a national ban on humming along to "Paradise," because it's essentially impossible to sound good humming to that tune.
The couple arrives at the party, where we're introduced to yet another unhappy marriage. Diane complains about her husband's weight gain and the death of their dog. Her husband, Nick, gives her a snark-filled happy birthday speech before bringing in a new dog as a birthday gift. Oof. A wee bit insensitive, Nick, don't cha think?
Diane storms into the bedroom — to pull out a gun. Chaos ensues before she accidentally shoots, narrowly missing Robert's head; no one is hurt, but all of the turmoil is enough to give Nick a heart attack. He's rushed to the hospital and Diane is rushed to a police station in handcuffs, leaving a stunned Frances and Robert behind.
Frances is clearly shaken-up. "How do you go from eight years of a happy marriage to wanting to blow someone's head off?" she asks. She then grabs Robert's hand and, for a moment, I think this crisis is going to bring them closer together; perhaps the near-death experience was enough to make her forget about Robert's horrendous humming. Instead, she turns to him, realization in her eyes.
"I want to save my life while I still care about it. I don't love you anymore," she says. "I want a divorce."
Robert is so shocked that he pukes. He's still in disbelief the following morning, when Frances wakes to him sitting in a chair across from their bed. He desperately pleads with her, even offering to give her an orgasm because it would "be good" for them both, but Frances doesn't crack. She leaves to drop the kids off and then gets on the train into the city for work, where she tells her friend Dallas about the divorce — and casually mentions that she won't be alone, because of...JULIAN?!
AHA! I knew there had to be more to the story. Turns out, Ms. Frances has been gettin' hers with a side piece named Julian. When Frances declares she loves him, Dallas responds, "You don't love him. You love his dick." (How many times have we all thought that to ourselves, but never actually said it out loud to our friends?) Still, Frances swoons over her "sweet, fun" lover and we expect that he'll be super-sexy and hot — until we find that he's actually a pretty dowdy, granola-making professor who reacts to Frances's news that she's leaving her husband in the worst way possible. Basically, he wants to keep their affair just that: An affair, nothing more. Nice move, a-hole.
Julian's less-than-enthusiastic reaction pushes Frances back to her husband. They have an open conversation about where things went wrong; my favorite moment in the episode is when Robert asks, "When did it start to go off the tracks in your mind?"
Frances responds, "Perhaps when you grew the mustache?" Thank goodness, because that creeper 'stache has been bothering me the entire pilot. Anyway, they make up and decide to move forward. After they have sex, Robert sees that Frances is receiving a call from J, a.k.a. Julian, but she brushes it off as a work thing.
The next day, Frances goes to visit Diane, who updates her that Nick is alive, but in critical condition. She asks Frances to watch her new dog, Hannah, who Frances reluctantly drags home in the snow. But when she reaches her door, she's not able to get in the house. So she calls Robert — and here comes the twist:
Robert, it turns out, isn't so naive, after all. He walks up to the screen door to inform Frances that he returned the call to J and "it became apparent within 30 seconds that the two of you have been fucking for quite awhile." Uh-oh. Robert turns into King Petty: Not only has he locked Frances out, but he tells her that she can forget all about her "sneaky, easy, friendly" divorce, because he wants to make her life miserable. In fact, "You're Jesse James, and I get to be Sandra Bullock," is the way he put it. Messy, messy. After he mic drops his cell phone and walks away, we end on a shot of Frances standing alone in the snow — outside of her own house, a drop of sea blue in an ocean of snow white.
So friends, it looks like our bad guy here is Frances. She's portrayed as narcissistic and even a little mean — and yet, is it just me, or does she still comes off as likable? Is it because she's portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker, whom it's impossible not to like? Or because despite France's wrongdoing, it's easy to see how one could end up in a miserable marriage with no freakin' clue how to get out without hurting anyone? I'm not sure, but I'll be interested to see if Frances remains likable until the end of the season — or even until next episode. Guess we'll see next week.
Until then, readers: Please allow your significant others or loved ones access to the bathroom so they can avoid any encounters with coffee cans. Thank you kindly! — Management.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
It's safe to say that the second presidential debate got ugly fast. Here are some of the most talked-about moments from the night of insults, interruptions, and tense exchanges.
The night began with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton avoiding shaking hands, eschewing a debate tradition.
At another point, Clinton commented that Trump shouldn't be in charge of the law in the U.S. The GOP nominee replied by saying that if he was, Clinton would be in jail.
The GOP candidate also defended the fact he avoided paying personal federal income taxes, while also claiming that he has paid "tremendous" amounts of taxes over the year.
Trump seemed to walk back his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, saying instead that his proposal is now called "extreme vetting."
Trump also lashed out at Clinton saying, "she has tremendous hate in her heart."
Refinery29 has partnered with more than 50 of the country's biggest women's media brands and political nonprofit Rock The Vote to register 100,000 women to vote. Become a voter today by signing up with #OurVoteCounts below.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
There are two distinct possibilities to explain Melania's outfit. First, her stylist has a sense of humor and she didn't catch it. That seems unlikely given that her business background is in fashion as a model. But different people call different styles different things (and, the pussy-bow blouse has its own powerful history of helping professional women rise in the workplace, and has recently become a massive trend, thanks to Gucci).
The second, amazing, option is that she wanted to put a shot across her husband's bow after he talked about grabbing women by their genital region. We hope that that's the case, if for no reason other than using Gucci to send a coded message during a presidential debate is an all-time move. If she is in fact trying to distance herself from her husband, she'll have plenty of company among Republicans, who are diving off the Trump Train like rats from the Titanic.
Twitter, naturally, was like a dog with a bone on this one.
After such a contentious election season, would Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump be able to say nice things about each other?
An audience member at the second presidential debate seemed to think so.
"Would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another?" the man asked in the final question of the raucous 90-minute showdown.
After initial gasps and laughter from the audience died down, Hillary Clinton went first.
"I respect his children. His children are incredibly able and devoted, and I think that says a lot about Donald. I don’t agree with nearly anything else he says or does, but I do respect that," she said. "I think that is something, as a mother and grandmother, that is very important to me."
The GOP candidate thanked his opponent for her compliment and offered one of his own.
"She doesn’t quit, she doesn’t give up. I respect that. I tell it like it is. She’s a fighter," Trump said. "She does fight hard and she doesn’t quit and she doesn’t give up, and I consider that to be a very good trait.”
Watch the full exchange below:
Refinery29 has partnered with more than 50 of the country's biggest women's media brands and political nonprofit Rock The Vote to register 100,000 women to vote. Become a voter today by signing up with #OurVoteCounts below.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The West Village may get all the attention as the fancy foodie haven of New York City, but that’s just fine for the East Village. All that means is that restaurants across the island can be more fun, more inventive, and (yes!) much kinder to your wallet. Plus, many eastside haunts also feature some outstanding bars, so consider this list not just dinner inspiration, but the start of one epic pub crawl.
Oiji
The management at Oiji aims to invent a new category of food: “refined authentic Korean.” What does that mean? The space is elegant, the menu is succinct, and the plating is gorgeous. Who knew smoked mackerel could resemble art?
Oiji, 119 First Avenue (at 7th Street); 646-767-9050
Make your tongue come alive. The highly spirited Indian hot spot has fun with the traditional fare, dividing its menu into street, tandoor, and curries. The descriptions — dried green mango and ginger, or cinnamon pineapple chutney — can make it impossible to choose, which is why the owners provide guidance for some items: Next to the duck dish, the menu promises “This curry is legit.”
Babu Ji, 175 Avenue B (at 11th Street); 212-951-1082.
Meet the Moroccan mayor of St. Marks Place. The beloved hangout has a gigantic backyard housed like a greenhouse and filled with red pillows. Chill out and share platters of hummus, babaganoush, and falafel, or get more serious with its varieties of tagines.
Cafe Mogador, 101 St. Marks Place (between First Avenue and Avenue A); 212-677-2226.
This restaurant is about more than food. It’s a philosophy: of vegan food, peace, love, and understanding. Amid the many raw and gluten-free options, you will find dishes that will definitely fill you up, like the heavier pastas, burritos, and quesadillas.
Caravan of Dreams, 405 East 6th Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A); 212-254-1613.
If there could be such a thing as old-school vegan, this restaurant might be it. The friendly restaurant, with its warm woods and golden light, has been serving up plants-only goodness since the 1970s. The dishes are very mix and match — with bowls, sandwiches, platters of your favorite flora — so the daily specials are a great place to start.
Angelica Kitchen, 300 East 12th Street (between Second and First Avenues); 212-228-2909.
This one’s got everything you could possibly be looking for in a date spot. The space is sexy; the wine list is long, informative, and surprisingly affordable, with a focus on South America; and the menu is just ceviche, of the traditional and nontraditional variety. Feel free to judge your date by his sense of adventure when it comes to the latter.
Desnuda, 122 East 7th Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A); 212-254-3515.
This is not your average taco joint. Black Ant is an elevated Mexican eatery that puts an inventive flair on traditional dishes. Think cactus fries, guacamole with pomegranate and mangos, and grasshopper tacos, to name a few. The space itself is dark, festive, and inviting — the perfect spot for date night or an evening out with friends.
Black Ant, 60 2nd Ave (between E. 3rd and E. 4th streets); 212-598-0300.
Haters to the left. There is now a high-end vegan restaurant in New York City, and the dishes are actually delicious. The menu is divided into three categories—toast, hot, and cold—with plenty of carbs throughout to make sure you’re actually full when you leave. Full, and oh so healthy to boot!
Avant Garden, 130 East 7th Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A) 646-922-7948.
Photo: Courtesy of Avant Garden.
Root & Bone
Chefs are welcome to keep reinventing the wheel, as long as the wheel is fried chicken. The crown jewel of this Southern restaurant isn’t Grandma Daisy’s angel biscuits or the cheese grits, though they are excellent. It’s the fried bird, which is brined in sweet tea and accompanied by Tabasco honey.
Root and Bone, 200 East 3rd Street (at Avenue B); 646-682-7080.
Photo: Courtesy of Root & Bone.
Ippudo
There are no promises that the lines at Ippudo will be any shorter than their neighbor ramen shop, Momofuku’s Noodle Bar, but at least Ippudo’s space is large enough to let you breathe in all that salty air. Any of their ramen will fill you with porky goodness, but try the Akamaru for a special hit of garlic.
Ippudo, 65 Fourth Avenue (between 9th and 10th streets); 212-388-0088.
Photo: Courtesy of Ippudo.
Narcissa
A girls’ night out restaurant that all the girls in your group can agree on. The farm-to-table menu features plenty of greens, for the vegetarians in the gang—or greens hiding under lacquered duck breast, for the rest of us.
Narcissa, 25 Cooper Square (between 5th and 6th streets); 212-228-3344.
Photo: Courtesy of Narcissa.
Bruno
Pizza is pizza, right? Not when it’s made by Roberta’s ex-pats. This sleek gray spot features imaginative pizza combos that change with the season but boast toppers like fermented tomatoes or ricotta from Narragansett.
Bruno, 204 East 13th Street (between Second and Third avenues); no phone.
Beer and seafood. What’s not to like? The crowd-pleasing Upstate, a warm little gem of a place, keeps it simple and fresh. There’s a selection of oysters and clams that changes every day, along with dishes du jour of fish and scallops. The craft beer options also rotate, so it’s a great place to find something new.
Upstate, 95 First Avenue (at 6th Street); 917-408-3395.
Photo: Courtesy of Upstate.
Zabb Elee
What is “real” Thai food? It’s a matter of culinary debate, but when describing Zabb Elee, the word that most pops up is “authentic.” The menu is far from what you’d recognize on Seamless, but food—cooked in the northern Thai “Isan” style — is so delicious that the original branch of the restaurant, in Queens, earned a Michelin star.
Zaab Elee, 75 Second Avenue (between 4th and 5th Streets); 212-505-9533.
Photo: Courtesy of Zabb Elee.
Great Jones Cafe
If you’re missing Mardi Gras this year, get your Nola fix at Great Jones Cafe, which serves Southern, Cajun specialities like jambalaya, gumbo, and fried catfish. The small space is as rowdy and fun as anything inspired by the Crescent City should be, so prepare for some noise (and a line, if you’re coming for brunch).
Great Jones Cafe, 54 Great Jones Street (at Cooper Square); 212-674-9304.
Photo: Courtesy of Great Jones Cafe.
Lavagna
If you’re looking for the kind of Italian joint that Billy Joel might have written a song about, look no further than Lavagna. You’ll get brick walls, candlelight, a wood-burning oven — and most importantly, comfortingly delicious dishes like pappardelle with braised rabbit and rack of lamb.
Lavagna, 545 East 5th Street (at Avenue B); 212-979-1005.
Photo: Courtesy of Lavagna.
Jeepney
If you’ve never tried Filipino food, you have no more excuses. This deliriously fun gastropub has Ginuwine on the soundtrack and richly-flavored pork shoulder on your table. Visit on Wednesdays and Thursdays, in particular, when those tables are covered with banana leaves and the silverware is stored away for traditional kamayan nights.
Jeepney, 201 First Avenue (between 12th and 13th streets); 212-533-4121.
Photo: Courtesy of Jeepney.
Jewel Bako
This small sushi restaurant resembles a golden train car inside, and the romantic ambiance contrasts with the surprisingly affordable food. You can try all eight “special” makimono rolls for only $42, so give your standard Japanese take-out a break and impress a date at this shimmering spot.
Jewel Bako, 239 East 5th Street (near Second Avenue); 212-979-1012.
Photo: Courtesy of Jewel Bako.
The Eddy
The simple, streamlined gray interior offsets the unique, colorful food preparations at The Eddy. There are delicious meat options on the seasonal menu, but go for the fish: cuttlefish, scallops, and seared squid get special sweet or salty pairings. The real rarity? Its tasting menu costs an un-NewYorkish $75.
The Eddy, 342 East 6th Street (between First and Second avenues); 646-895-9884.
Photo: Courtesy of the Eddy.
Frank
Do you miss your grandma? Or the little Italian nonna you never had? If so, try Frank, which resembles the home of a little old lady, down to the picket fence and flower boxes out front. Inside, there’s quaint, eclectic furniture and hearty fare, like spiced meatloaf and homemade gnocchi.
Frank, 88 Second Avenue (at 5th Street); 212-420-0202.
Photo: Courtesy of Frank.
Prune
New Yorkers love themselves a brunch. And if Prune’s eleven different varieties of Blood Marys don’t tempt you, the scent of its Dutch pancakes and creative egg dishes just might. Oh, and it’s very pretty inside, too.
Prune, 54 East 1st Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-677-6221.
Photo: Courtesy of Prune.
The Momofuku Restaurants
David Chang’s Asian fusion food empire is centered in the East Village. Momofuku Noodle Bar mixes worldy flavors with hearty Japanese ramen; Momofuku Ssam Bar has the best pork buns you’ll ever have; Fuku has finger-licking fried chicken sandwiches; and Momofuku Ko has a delicious, fancy tasting menu hiding behind an impossible reservation system. When is Chang getting coronated as king of the East Village, again?
Momofuku Noodle Bar, 171 First Avenue (between 10th and 11th streets); 212-777-7773.
Momofuku Ssam Bar, 207 Second Avenue (at 13th Street); 212-254-3500.
Momofuku Ko, 8 Extra Place (off 1st Street, between Bowery and Second Avenue); 212-203-8095.
Momofuku Fuku, 163 First Avenue (at 10th Street); no phone.
Photo: Courtesy of Momofuku.
The Redhead
Anyone who has discovered this Southern soul-food joint has at least one unique item they rave about. Is it the bacon peanut brittle snack? The homemade pretzels and beer cheese? The requisite buttermilk fried chicken? If you can beat the crowd, try them all and choose for yourself.
The Redhead, 349 East 13th Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-533-6212.
Photo: Courtesy of The Redhead.
Cherche Midi
Restaurateur Keith McNally, who The New York Times once claimed "invented downtown," opened his eleventh restaurant in 2014, a gorgeous French space à la Balthazar and Minetta Tavern. The buzziest dish is the Prime Rib Burger, which is topped with bacon marmalade, roasted mushrooms, and gruyère.
Cherche Midi, 282 Bowery (at East Houston Street); 212-226-3055.
Photo: Courtesy of Cherche Midi.
Graffiti
When your group can’t agree on a type of cuisine, head to Graffiti. Its small plates-focused menu contains mind-bending global combinations like cumin eggplant buns and zucchini hummus pizza. Forewarning: The space is super small, so you want to pick only your very favorite friends to share these dishes with.
Graffiti, 224 East Tenth Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-677-0695.
Photo: Courtesy of Graffiti.
Caracas Arepa Bar
You may know the humble arepa as a carb pocket stuffed with meat and cheese, but as this restaurant puts it, "our arepas resist definition." While the place is normally packed, there's a take-out location just two doors down where you can grab a few to go. Good luck choosing among fillings like pork shoulder, sweet plantains, grilled leeks, chorizo, and so much more.
Caracas Arepa Bar, 93 1/2 East Seventh Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A); 212-228-5062.
Photo: Courtesy of Caracas Arepa Bar.
Han Dynasty
If you don’t like the heat, then stay out of Han Dynasty. The famous Chinese eatery opened a New York outpost in 2013, and patrons have been lining up to burn off their tongues ever since. While the Dan Dan noodles are a must, you should also try endless combinations of protein, noodle, and spiciness. Don’t worry too much, though: The kind waitstaff will walk you through the one-to-ten heat-level system.
Han Dynasty, 90 Third Avenue (between 12th and 13th streets); 212-390-8685.
Photo: Courtesy of Han Dynesty.
Edi & The Wolf
There are moments when you find yourself saying, "Oh, this is why I moved to New York." One of them is when you step into Edi & the Wolf, an Austrian restaurant that more or less resembles an old wooden shack — and that's a very good thing. The rustic walls, ceiling, and tables offset the sturdy (and delicious) spatzle and schnitzel with sides of black kale and pommes frites.
Edi & The Wolf, 102 Avenue C (at East Seventh Street); 212-598-1040.
Photo: Courtesy of Edi and The Wolf.
Supper
Running out of places to hold a birthday dinner? Look no further than Supper, a warm, bustling joint serving crowd-pleasing Italian specials like lemon spaghetti and a daily risotto special. Aside from the communal tables, there's a private room hidden among the wine racks that is the perfect spot to blow out the candles on your big night.
Supper, 156 East Second Street (between Avenue A and Avenue B); 212-477-7600.
Photo: Courtesy of Supper.
Ducks Eatery
Ducks Eatery is a barbecue spot that tries to be more inventive than the typical sticky-sweet wings with a hunk of cornbread. Have we got your attention yet? There's the smoked whole goat neck, which is accented with bing cherries and yellow curry, and smoked, fried duck confit on a waffle. Fancy, yes. But more importantly, delicious.
Ducks Eatery, 351 East 12th Street (between First and Second avenues); 212-432-3825.
Photo: Courtesy of Ducks Eatery.
Gruppo
Trying to declare the best pizza in New York isn't just difficult, it's insane. So it's better to pick your favorite type of pie and go from there. Gruppo has some of the crunchiest, flakiest thin-crust pizza in the city, and its toppings are pretty cool too – we recommend the Shroomtown or the Big Pineapple.
Gruppo, 98 Avenue B (between East Sixth and East Seventh streets); 212-995-2100.
Photo: Courtesy of Gruppo.
Huertas
Pick your poison at Huertas, the Spanish restaurant with a tantalizing mix of Basque-inspired small plates ( pintxos) and entreé options. Pinxtos are a few bucks each, or all six for $20, and inventive — ham croquettes and squid skewers won't disappoint. While you sample, peruse the wine list touted by all East Villagers for its affordability.
Huertas, 107 First Avenue (between East Sixth and East Seventh streets); 212-228-4490.
Photo: Courtesy of Huertas.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Joe Jonas used to be the dude sporting a purity ring. Now he throws out phrases like "half-chubbing."
The DNCE frontman got pretty frank about his sex life during his AMA on Reddit yesterday. If you'd prefer to maintain a little mystery surrounding the singer's first time, the size of his penis, and the status of his boners, stop reading now.
One of Jonas' revelations involved this story about losing his virginity to actress Ashley Greene. She's no doubt writing him a thank you card right now.
“I lost my virginity to this girl named Ashley," Jonas shared. "You can probably just Google it. It's pretty easy to figure out. I dated a girl named Ashley, so just Google it to figure out which Ashley that is. It's quite the great story because I didn't have any condoms, so I went to our drummer Jack's room, who was my roommate at the time, and I demolished his room looking for them. Found them underneath his underwear drawer. When he came home, he thought somebody broke into his room because his whole room was demolished because I was in dire need. Needed to happen then and now. Safety first, kids.”
The pop star, who has also dated Gigi Hadid and Taylor Swift, added that he'd "like to think" that he is the Jonas Brother with the largest penis. Said penis tends to get even larger when he's shooting a music video with a gorgeous woman, by the way.
"There was definitely some half-chubbing going on during the ["Body Moves"] video," he told fans. "I wouldn't say a full-blown boner, but I would say a haflie. I mean it's kind of hard not to in that situation especially when you're trying to be intimate, and also they put us in an elevator, me and Charlotte McKinney."
We'll leave you with that lovely image. Thanks for sharing, Joe!
In a city of never-ending menus and food trends, it can be hard to figure out the next best brunch spot, lunchtime haunt, or recipe to master. However, all those hours you spend sifting through the world of Instagram can actually result in more than just ogling of some serious #foodporn. In fact, it may be the best way to uncover new foodie finds.
There's no doubt we're always looking to expand our palette and our ideas. And sometimes, the most interesting part of discovering the next best food shots are the stories behind the 'gram: While some folks dedicate their entire lives to the culinary craft, others simply have a passion for anything involving a kitchen, or put their focus into a photo project to move past a breakup. So, among upscale brunch bites and savory street food, these professional queens (and two kings) of Instagram are making your mouths water — all while telling a personal story.
Ahead, we're rounded up 17 of New York's top foodies to follow for a daily dose of all things delicious — believe us when we say they've got everything covered, from pop-culture Rice Krispies treats to gourmet grilled cheese and, yes, even yolk porn.
Diana Dee is a graphic designer and illustrator that's made her way from abstract art in Michigan to edible art in Manhattan. To Dee, documenting daily snapshots of her NYC food adventures “is another form of creative expression.”
And we couldn't agree more — from her shots of Mochi ice cream to green tea soba noodles, Dee's Instagrams are delectably artistic. Not to mention her punny captions are so good, you may just laugh yourself hungry.
Ben Hon has been growing his food appreciation and support since long before he began his dreamy Insta account. He was brought up in a restaurant family and had hopes of using his social platform as a way to bring positivity and growth to small, family-owned businesses everywhere: “I put a lot of effort into taking a picture that represents the food and establishment in the best way possible.”
His Instagram feed is a melting pot of New York cuisines, showcasing everything from linguine scampignola to Spam fries dipped in banana ketchup and pickled mango sauce. “When my photos inspire interest and a visit to the establishments, I'm inspired to do more,” Ben says. We definitely agree that he's giving us foodies something to taco-bout.
Alexandra Romanoff considers herself "one of the biggest foodies," so it's no surprise that her Instagram account is filled with salacious shots of bagels, pasta, pizza, and so much more. With over 40,000 followers, Alexandra works to keep herself and her audience up to date on the newest and most delicious trends that NYC cuisine has to offer.
Her posts may walk the line with being "food porn," but that makes for a majorly appetizing scroll.
Greg Remmey and Rebecca West are the dynamic duo behind this NYC foodie Instagram. Their shared account was started just over two years ago and has already amassed a following of 205,000 (and counting). The pair has a “passion for drool-worthy food and restaurants” and prides themselves on their “ability to discover restaurants and chefs that many people may not know about” — hitting up the best “hole-in-the-walls,” pizzerias, and sandwich shops around town.
And we can be confident that, with a name like “DevourPower,” Remmey and West will be showing us only the most delicious and desirable spots that this city has to offer.
Natalie, Emily, and Gillian are the New York women behind this treasure trove of NYC fare. Starting out as high school pals with a taste for photography and good eats, these three musketeers expanded their passion into a social following of over 650,000 (in just three years). They've traveled the city with friends and families, eating and documenting its most amazing foodie finds.
They currently run the account from their separate college campuses, so these ladies can't wait to travel back and taste what's next in NYC!
Born and bred in the Big Apple, Alexa Mehraban knows a thing or two about eating her way through NYC. Want in on this delicious journey? Follow her Instagram for some serious foodie fandom.
Alexa keeps her account fresh and engaging with a mix of tantalizing food shots and clever captions. In just two years since her start, she has amassed nearly 200,000 followers. The proof is definitely in the pudding.
From churro ice cream sundaes and Nutella-filled brioche, to everything bagel doughnuts and kimchi topped oysters — Alexa covers all the trending food spots that the big city has to offer.
Coffee 'N Clothes began after founder Ryan Glick moved to New York City. A couple of his favorite city-life pastimes ended up translating to the popular Instagram account. "When I first moved to NY I would explore the city by walking to different coffee shops. I would grab a coffee and then go shopping. It was as simple as that."
Almost 200,000 followers later, Glick is still showcasing his love for fashion and delicious-looking caffeinated beverages. Except now he receives submissions from all over the world!
Jessica Siskin, a.k.a food artist @mister_krisp, was working at clothing label Elizabeth & James when she spontaneously came up with the idea to make a Rice Krispies treat cheeseburger. She posted it to her personal Instagram, and naturally, all of her friends freaked out. After experimenting for about a year, she decided that her Rice Krispies treat creations — which range from Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair cover to Kanye West — deserved their own home. The result? Dessert sculptures almost too pretty to eat (but we will, of course, because they're too good not to).
In the fall of 2013, Jackie Gebel's apartment lease was ending and she had just broken up with her boyfriend. She decided she needed a new adventure in her life, so she quit her job and booked a solo flight to Tel Aviv. She came back a changed person, with a new budding career at Dash, a startup. And working from her apartment meant lots of home-cooked creations, lots of eating out, and plenty of food pictures.
With a roster of FourSquare food lists growing out of control, Gebel sought to create a place where New Yorkers could go to find trusted recommendations, as well as the best under-the-radar eats. So she established @noleftovers, its premise being “taste-tested, friend-approved dining discovery done right" — and that couldn't be more true.
Run by MacKenzie Smith — a professional chef, food stylist, and founder of the food blog by the same name (which happens to be the world's largest collection of original grilled cheese sandwich recipes, by the way) — @grilledcheesesocial was created not only to share her own concoctions but also to document inspirational dishes, share new food discoveries and trends, and showcase the most exciting restaurants she could find during her travels.
Cheese lovers, this is the Insta-destination for you (Smith is, after all, a spokesperson for Wisconsin Cheese). Her creations are all super-gooey, super-oozy, and super...well...cheesy. Should you not be a fan of the grilled cheese sandwich (gasp!), @grilledcheesesocial is also filled with other totally delicious dishes that will leave you feeling hungry. Warning: Do not browse this account on an empty stomach.
Diana Arizpe — founder of @onceuponabite — is a 20-something food obsessive with a long culinary-career history (she's a home chef turned line cook turned sous-chef turned personal chef and cooking instructor). Through her Instagram account, she opens the doors of her kitchen to share her cooking journey (most of the food pictures posted are of recipes she has made).
But the most rewarding part of lending her craft to social media is the connections she's made along the way. "I've met tons of people through my account and have had many an awesome conversation over meals with them — I never want to lose that familial feeling. Food brings us all together; we're just a tap, like, and follow away."
Gillie Houston's Instagram is one to seriously salivate over. By day, the recent Hofstra grad manages social media at Yahoo! Food while balancing other freelance editorial projects. In her downtime, she posts photos of delicious "old-fashioned avocado/yolk porn," bright-colored food displays, and too-funny captions. And though her account wasn't originally dedicated solely to the culinary arts, it quickly evolved into a destination for 'grammers in search of some bold and authentic #foodporn.
While some Instagram accounts may seem impersonal, Houston lets her personality shine through. "I like that people know who I am and what I'm about from my account," she explains. "While there are many gorgeous accounts with a very stark and monochromatic theme, I like to keep things colorful, lively, and fun as a contrast to the more minimalist style that I think tends to dominate a lot of feeds."
BFFs and food-tographers Olivia McCurdy-McGee and Jennie Snyder are representative of thousands of girls nationwide who are excited by food and aren't afraid to admit it. While @hungrygrls started out on Twitter as @hungrygirlprobs, the duo quickly realized that Instagram was a more powerful outlet for sharing their food stories (and pics). As a result, the girls "moved to big cities and set out to conquer the food scene one meal (and Instagram post) at a time."
"We hope people recognize @hungrygrls as thought-leaders in the Foodstagram community," the duo says of their 'gram. "We are realistic with our food choices and conscious about what we're eating. We go out of our way to incorporate our personalities and style into photos as well, so that people feel that [they] can relate to us, and ultimately be inspired by us!"
New Yorker Emily Sundberg grew up with healthy eating as her focus; since her dad and grandmother were both celiacs, she wanted to make desserts that they could eat. She began photographing her creations for her personal account, but as she went from snapping food for fun to landing an internship at Yahoo! Health (where she currently works), she realized it was time to give her crafts the platform they deserved.
"My whole mantra is that I want to make people feel good, however that may be," says Sundberg of @shelovesfoodnyc. "Whether it's a Paleo version of Christmas cookies or a story about how I approach eating mindfully, I just want to be someone who's relatable as a young woman in New York, whose life revolves around being creative and showing that you can always learn more and connect with cool people through social media."
Like most New Yorkers, advertising writer and home cook David Ma realized that he was spending way too much money on Seamless and decided he would learn how to cook with more than his "George Foreman grill." Soon, Ma's personal Instagram account grew into a “foodtorium” of recipes, plating techniques, and tips. "The only downside is I can't even post a selfie anymore — unless I’m holding a plate of bacon," he jokes. In other words, things have worked out pretty well for him on the social-media-fame front. Note: We recommend digging through his feed to find the silver-dollar pancake shish kabobs he created; they received around 2,500 likes, of course, because who doesn't love brunch and mini things?
Engaged (and forever hungry) couple Breann Chiero and Christian Medice began @hungryhipsters for the sheer reason that food has always been a major facet of their lives. So naturally, creating an outlet to share their obsession with all things delicious (and to, in their own words, "streamline favorite date spots to dollar pizza") seemed like the appropriate next step.
We can't decide what we love more: the colors and styling of their images, the unreal spots they eat at in the city, or the fact that, while in the midst of planning their wedding, they're still on the hunt for the next best brunch eatery. Now that's what we call dedication.
Up-and-coming Instagram sensation Marisel Salazar knows how to take the perfect food photo. Considering her professional career in digital branding for creative agencies, it's no surprise her work has (literally) fed into her feed. Her shots are light and bright, her styling is on point, and her collection of images clearly derives from her love of all things savory. She even admits on her blog, "Sometimes, I can’t wait to go to sleep, because I know when I wake up, I get to eat all over again." We couldn't understand that feeling more.
Vegetarian restaurants need not only apply to actual vegetarians. In fact, NYC boasts some veggie-centric spots that are so delectable that they keep even the most die-hard meat-lovers coming back for more. These eateries are damn good at whipping up flavorful, inventive grub — AND are affordable, too.
We've got all the best veggie spots in the city right here. Scroll on through to get at your greens.
Seasoned Vegan
This beloved, family-owned, vegan spot is situated in Harlem and offers up a wide variety of savory "soul food" type fare. The Seasoned Vegan is a neighborhood favorite for their delectable dishes and homey atmosphere — not to mention the lemon pepper "chicken" nuggets with BBQ and spicy mayo are seriously next-level.
Seasoned Vegan, 55 St. Nicholas Avenue (at W. 113th Street); 212-222-0092.
This vegan restaurant group boasts locations within three prime Manhattan neighborhoods (i.e. Chelsea, Columbus Circle, and the West Village) . Whether you're in search of an upscale dinner destination, a more casual lunch spot, or even just a quick café bite, Blossom's multiple restaurants have you covered. The food is sourced locally and cooked creatively.
A vegetarian café and bakery snuggled in the heart of Soho — making it just about the chicest place to grab a meat-free bite — this spot isn't just vegetarian, it's vegan. But based on the flavors alone, you'd never know. It's all delicious.
Dirt Candy is a classic NYC vegetarian restaurant offering up plant-based fare with seriously creative twists. Try its Korean fried broccoli or the Brussels spout tacos, just to name a few. And if you haven't yet heard of the infamous broccoli dog, you better look into it — we never thought a meatless hot dog could be so good.
Dirt Candy, 86 Allen Street (at Broome); 212-228-7732.
This colorful Brooklyn restaurant lets you enjoy top-notch vegetarian fare in a funky environment. Some fan favorites include the jungle burrito and the tempeh ruben. Jungle Cafe also serves up a large variety of smoothies, juices, and "mylk" (a.k.a. nut milks).
This no-fuss vegetarian café in Williamsburg does not mess around with what it's serving up. Try the grilled cheese with vegan Daiya cheese or the tofu scramble with a side of gluten-free toast. The scene is hip and the food is savory.
This veggie-friendly Soho café rivals By Chloe in chic-factor and delicious eats. Stop by for one of its eclectic juice flavors to go. Or just grab a table and people watch while munching on some mashed avocado toast and a spicy kale Caesar.
A vegan breakfast doesn't have to be boring — just in case that's what you were thinking ( okay, that's what I was thinking). Many breakfast favorites like oatmeal and açai bowls are already vegan-friendly, while others like flapjacks and scrambles can be made with delicious ingredient alternatives.
We've rounded up some top pinned vegan breakfasts below, so you can check them out for yourself. These eats will satisfy any set of tastebuds — vegan or not.
Appetizers are nice and entrées are essential, but we adore dessert. For real — we feel about ice cream and cookies and brownies the way Liz Lemon feels about her night cheese. A day without something sweet is like a day without joy.
Ahead, find New York City's most jaw-dropping, happiness-inducing desserts — from legendary chocolate babka to a classic banana split. These treats aren't just memorable; they are worth every single delicious calorie. Fair warning: We're not sharing!
Salty Pimp At Big Gay Ice Cream
Big Gay Ice Cream is a downtown NYC dessert institution. Beginning as a colorful truck doling out frosty treats, BGIC expanded into two rooted locations within the East and West Village. It's a must visit for the Salty Pimp cone, one of their classic funky flavors: chocolate-dipped vanilla with dulce de leche and sea salt.
If you haven't had a doughnut from NYC's Doughnut Plant, you haven't been living. This lower east side originator has been churning out sweet baked dough since 1994 (with family business roots all the way back to the early 1900s). The Brooklyn Blackout is a classic: chocolate filled with chocolate, dipped in chocolate, and sprinkled with more chocolate.
Doughnut Plant, Multiple locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Taiyaki is the trendy Japanese ice cream parlor that's set up shop in Manhattan's Little Italy (and our Instagram feeds). The delectable soft serve is swirled atop a traditional Taiyaki cone (i.e. a crispy fish shaped cake filled with red bean paste). If you plan on stopping by, be prepared to wait in line — these cool fish are in high demand.
Taiyaki NYC, 119 Baxter Street (between Hester and Canal Street); 212-966-2882.
This ice cream sandwich combines two of the Big Apple's ultimate flavor classics: everything bagels and black-and-white cookies. The mastermind behind the melty mashup is Kossar's Bagels & Bialys — they've teamed up with Ice & Vice for this salty sweet NYC mega treat.
Ice & Vice, 221 East Broadway (at Clinton Street); 646-678-3687.
This ain't no ordinary milkshake. Black Tap is whipping up the mega milkshakes of your wildest dreams, ranging from $7 to $12 a pop. Think layers of frozen cream, fudge, doughnuts, sprinkles, candy, slices of cake, and so much more. You'll definitely want to bring a friend (or two) to share one of these milky monsters.
Black Tap, 529 Broome Street (between Sullivan and Thompson streets); 917-639-3089.
Photo: Via @blacktapnyc.
Ooey Gooey Butter Cake at Ample Hills Creamery
If you have yet to taste the ice cream brilliance that is Ample Hills Creamery, go immediately. The inventive flavors range from Snap Mallow Pop (marshmallow flavored ice cream with rice crispy treat chunks) to Baby I Was Churned This Way! (salted hazelnut flavored ice cream with rainbow-chocolate covered sunflower seeds). But, the creamiest and dreamiest of all is the famous Ooey Gooey Butter Cake (it's all in the name).
Ample Hills Creamery, 305 Nevins Street (at the corner of Union Street), Gowanus; 347-725-4061
Photo: Courtesy of Ample Hills Creamery.
Cookie Shots At Dominique Ansel Bakery
The cronut is a household name at this point, but there are still lots of reasons to drop by Dominique Ansel's Soho bakery. His cookie shots, which are served starting at 3 p.m., are meant to be a twist on an after-school snack. The ooey-gooey cookie cup is coated in chocolate to make it water-tight, then filled with a shot of vanilla-infused milk. And, unlike its more famous sibling, you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get one.
Dominique Ansel Bakery, 189 Spring Street (Between Sullivan and Thompson Streets); 212-219-2773.
Banana Pudding At Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery might be better known for its cupcakes, but the real treat is the banana pudding. Rich, creamy, and full of fresh fruit, it's the perfect decadent sweet. It comes in classic banana or chocolate-banana, and we suggest trying them both!
This simple but delectable dessert will have your mouth watering for days. The seasonal dish has fresh watermelon and cucumber fruit jewels topped with three small scoops of olive oil ice cream. Seconds, anyone?
Betony, 41 West 57th Street (between 5th and 6th avenues); 212- 465-2400.
Photo: Courtesy of Signe Birck.
Tarte Tatin For 2 At Gotham Bar and Grill
Available at one of New York's best restaurants, this Tarte Tatin is beautiful and delicious. This puffy apple pastry is brought out whole first for the lucky diners to glimpse at before being taken back and cut in the kitchen. While it's a bit pricey at $28, it's totally worth the cash.
Gotham Bar and Grill, 12 East 12th Street (between Fifth Avenue and University Place); 212-620-4020.
Photo: Courtesy of Gotham Bar and Grill.
Coconut Cake At Miss Lily's
This Jamaican hot spot offers a selection of especially delicious sweets, but their coconut cake is the standout of the dessert tray. It's a moist white slide topped with frosting and toasted coconut bits — a.k.a. a must try.
Miss Lily's, 132 West Houston Street (at Sullivan Street); 212-812-1482.
Photo: Courtesy of Miss Lily's.
S'mores At Marc Forgione
Urban campfires aren't easy to come by. The s'mores by pastry chef Veronica Rivera at Tribeca's Marc Forgione is a wonderful replacement. It's a gorgeous dish, but doesn't sacrifice authenticity: Crunchy graham cracker, gooey toasted marshmallows, and melty-chocolate are all represented. More proof that the dessert doesn't branch out too much: It's plated with a twig.
Marc Forgione, 134 Reade Street (between Hudson and Greenwich streets); 212-941-9401.
Photo: Courtesy of Marc Forgione.
Local Apple Pie At Bubby's
The Big Apple has a lot of specialties. Funnily enough, apple pie is not one of them (you'll have more luck with cheesecake). The pie at Bubby's is an unforgettable exception to this rule. It's spiced with cinnamon, cloves, lemon zest, and is double-crusted, because it's the real, down-home deal.
Green tea ganache and molten chocolate get super cozy in this decadent East-meets-West dessert. Spot operates on a 'Dessert Tapas' concept, which is a glorious excuse to treat sugar like Lilly Pulitzer for Target — take everything and don't look back. The cake comes with a delicate scoop of green tea ice cream to cool down your taste buds after they erupt.
Brown Sugar Panna Cotta At The Dessert Club by ChikaLicious
This brand new West Village dessert club operates on the concept that appealing to your sweet tooth can be a full-service affair. Here, bakery items are available to-go, while a menu of haute creations are served plated with wine pairings. Prepped with house-made sorbet and fruit from the farmer's market, the panna cotta (which is also gluten-free!) is so fresh and airy, that eating it could only be more heavenly on a cloud. Flavors change seasonally, too, so you'll never, ever tire of its goodness.
The Dessert Club, 27 Bedford Street (at Downing Street); 212-691-2426.
Photo: Courtesy of The Dessert Club by ChikaLicious.
Chocolate Babka At Breads Bakery
It's easy to have a love affair with the delectable goodness at this Union Square bakery, with its flaky top, soft, doughy brioche insides, and chocolate (mixed with Nutella) that oozes richness and happiness with every single bite. It's Eastern European comfort food at its finest (and sweetest), and it might just be the best babka in New York City (or dare we say, the world?).
Breads Bakery, 18 East 16th Street (between Union Square West and Fifth Avenue); 212-633-2253.
Photo: Courtesy of Breads Bakery.
Oversized Cookies At Levain Bakery
You don't need to be a cookie connoisseur to recognize the award-worthy quality goods here. First things first, they're huge. Massive. And, they come in flavors like chocolate chip walnut and dark chocolate peanut butter chip. So, it's no surprise that there's typically a line going out the door. We promise they're worth the wait.
Levain Bakery, 167 West 74th Street (at Amsterdam Avenue); 212-874-6080.
Photo: Courtesy of Levain Bakery.
Gelato On A Stick at Popbar
This pint-size West Village shop may have Italian gelato rival Grom situated on a nearby corner, but there's just something so fresh and delicious and satisfying about these fancy-pants ice pops. Maybe it's the all-natural ingredients; maybe it's the crazy mix of customizable flavors and toppings. All we know is that even when it's subzero degrees outside, they're still so damn good.
Popbar, 5 Carmine Street (at Sixth Avenue); 212-255-4874.
Photo: Courtesy of Popbar.
Banana Split At Empire Diner
This scrumptious sundae is not your typical banana split. A caramelized banana cradles three over-the-top scoops of ice cream, topped with walnuts, chocolate fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Even better? The newly reopened diner will soon be open 24 hours a day, so you can enjoy this classic dessert anytime of the day or night. (After all, calories don't count after midnight, right?)
Empire Diner, 210 10th Avenue (at W. 22nd Street); no phone.
Photo: Courtesy of Empire Diner.
Taiwanese Shaved Ice At TAO Downtown
Diving into this delicacy is just like splurging on a Rick Owens jacket — once you've tried it, there's no going back. That's why we haven't been able to stop thinking about TAO Downtown’s sweet bowl of heaven since we first tried it (and had to restrain ourselves from licking the dish clean). The towering serving of pineapple-lime ice is sweet, airy, and creamy. Topped with house-made mochi, roasted soba, and fresh strawberries and pineapple, it tastes like a one-way ticket to a tropical vacation, without the pesky security lines.
TAO Downtown, 92 9th Avenue (at W. 16th Street); 212-888-2724.
Photo: Courtesy of TAO Downtown.
Mocha Affogato At Thistle Hill Tavern
Thistle Hill Tavern’s Mocha Affogato is a coffee-and-chocolate lover's dream. A heaping glass of Caramello Italian Gelato — a.k.a Brooklyn’s best ice cream — is served alongside a cup of strong espresso, made to be poured over and enjoyed as a chocolaty, caffeinated delicacy that melts together in perfect harmony. It’s ideal treat to enjoy before heading to that warehouse party in Bushwick you thought you couldn’t stay up for. This dessert will have you dancing 'til dawn.
For decades, dressing up as Wonder Woman has meant mixing up your sexiest self with a hefty portion of '70s camp. Sure, you'd have a skintight outfit and knee-high boots. But those giant, high-waisted, star-spangled briefs didn't do Lynda Carter any favors. Perhaps her costume was meant to deceive bad guys into thinking she was vulnerable, but anyone dressing up as her is at risk of feeling far more silly than badass.
Enter the modern comic-book movie and — swoon! — Gal Gadot. Batman v Superman was a rather dreary flick, but the screen magically came to life with every (too brief) glimpse of her Diana Prince. Whether in elegant civilian attire or in battle gear, she actually looks like she can take on the baddies and rescue those squabbling superheroes. She's got armor that speaks of her ancient origins, weapons that actually look deadly, and a hooded cloak for extra mystery. As we all look forward to the release of Wonder Woman in 2017, we can also enjoy this as a new era in Wonder Woman Halloween costumes (and Comic-Con cosplay, of course). Here are all the elements you'll need to transform yourself into the fierce Amazonian, with options for buying, minor DIY-ing, and highly skilled crafting, from head to toe.
Need more costume ideas for Halloween? Looking for spooky (and amazing) makeup inspiration? Chat with us on Facebook Messenger!
Boots
Buy It:This option looks quite like the real thing, but we imagine sizing is going to be difficult, so buy it enough in advance to be able to return.
DIY: Buy a pair of burgundy, over-the-knee boots that you can wear when you're not Wonder Woman, and apply gold duct tape at the knee and up the front. You may want to read up on "how to remove duct tape residue from leather" afterwards.
Skilled DIY: Modern Wonder Woman does not actually wear boots, but shoes and a protective armor called greaves. This is how you can make those like a medieval role-playing boss.
Buy It: Gal Gadot's voluminous, dark hair is the one element that looks quite similar to classic Wonder Woman, so you can totally purchase one of these standard wigs from a Halloween store.
DIY: If you happen to be blessed with long, dark, wavy locks, congrats. Just wear it down.
Skilled DIY: If your hair has length but not enough volume, watch this very clear, very pleasant tutorial.
Photo: Courtesy of DC Entertainment.
The Tiara
Buy It: For a really obsessive re-creation of the new Wonder Woman armor, Etsy is the place to go. VivaWW's items aren't cheap, but they look damn good.
DIY: You can also use a paper template and craft foam and paint it gold to make a headpiece that looks quite like VivaWW's.
Skilled DIY: Though Golden Lasso Girl is making an old-school WW tiara out of a metal kickplate in this video, you can use her technique and just draw in your own design instead. It might be dangerously sharp, which makes it so much more badass.
DIY: For a more comfortable evening, start with a faux-leather top like this one from Amazon. In this tutorial, the cosplayer prints out a Wonder Woman insignia to make the pattern (she uses old-school WW, so alter with contemporary images), cuts it out of craft foam, paints it, and then attaches it to her corset with velcro.
Skilled DIY: Make the entire corset out of foam and the moldable plastic called Worbla, shown in this video, and someone might suspect you of raiding the Warner Bros. wardrobe department.
Cuffs & Arm Band
Buy It:These leather cuffs may not be bulletproof, but they look quite comfortable. There's also this seller on Bonanza who offers a tiara, gauntlets, and arm bands for a suspiciously low price.
DIY:This woman's clever use of aluminum foil really appeals to our lazy, cheap side.
Skilled DIY: Then again, when you see how good this craft-foam armor looks, you might want to invest the time.
The Cloak
Buy It: Everyone who's ever either A) shivered uncomfortably all Halloween night to show off her skimpy costume or, B) covered up her costume entirely for the sake of warmth should be thrilled about this element. If you're going to buy a cloak/cape for your costume, why not buy one you can wear later, too?
Skilled and Unskilled DIY:This video includes one pattern you sew, and one you don't. It's almost like they know us.
Photo: Courtesy of DC Entertainment.
The Skirt
Buy It: Let's stop kidding ourselves. At this point, you should stop buying things one by one and just get the whole thing on eBay, where authentic-looking getups are running at around $200 as of this posting.
DIY: We haven't seen anyone try this method yet, but you could buy a blue pleated skirt like this, and then cut it strategically to look like Gadot's leather flappy thing.
Skilled DIY: If you feel inclined to sew your own leather skirt, here's a step-by-step guide that also includes a downloadable template.
Photo: Instagram/methyl_ethyl_cosplay.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Halloween is basically the perfect time for #TBT. You can post your weird childhood costumes and reflect on nights you may or may not regret or even remember.
And celebrities can too. Throwback Thursday offers a moment of closeness to celebs because they, presumably, have not always been celebs. (Unless they’re North West, who’s been slaying since before birth, in which case they just breathe fame.)
A celebrity #TBT exemplifies the celebs they're just like us tabloid feature. Here are some famous folks who shared exactly what we’re all sharing — Halloween memories. From the spooky to the sexy, this is the best stuff we’ve seen so far. (Except the stuff we’ve shared already. But check those out too.)
Need more costume ideas for Halloween? Looking for spooky (and amazing) makeup inspiration? Chat with us onFacebook Messenger!
Chloe Grace Moretz appears to be Catwoman in this truly ancient-looking photo dug up by her brother Trevor Duke-Moretz. Their other brother Ethan looks like a giant but very friendly gorilla. D'aww.
Miley got in front of the camera with her dad before she was even Hannah Montana, and she's a natural. Her brother's also adorable, though their dad's gone with the dressing-as-yourself approach.
Khloé also channeled a fairy princess at one point, and she's still got those same red cheeks. Her big sister Kim looks ready to protect her from anything spooky that comes along. OK, moving on from the Kardashians.
Mariah Carey channels her Disney princess as a Little Mermaid. Watch out, Ursula’s behind you! Oh never mind, that’s just a fan thirsting for an autograph.
A secretary? Leave it to Lena Dunham to make up a totally untraditional Halloween costume. She's been known to wear her grandma's clothes, and we wouldn't be surprised if this getup were also borrowed from a previous generation.
But the award for creepiest costume goes to James Van Der Beek, who dressed as serial killer Freddy Krueger. He also may win for most resourceful: He threw together that costume with some basic household items.
As you well know, welovedrugstore products here at R29. Which isn't to say that prestige products are overrated. But finding a balance between high and low is the key to a smart routine — and wallet.
While most beauty pros can wax poetic about their favorite cheap mascaras and bargain hairsprays, they give the world of affordable shampoos and conditioners considerably less love. Don't take these products lightly, though — especially if you're on a budget. Besides cleaning and conditioning, this duo can keep your color true, your scalp healthy, and your miscellaneous woes (frizz, split ends, and so on) in check.
Ahead, we've pulled out all the stops to correct this discussion deficit: Members of our own beauty team and a few A-list Hollywood hairstylists share the drugstore hair products they love — all of which clock in at under $15.
The Expert: Samantha Sasso, beauty editorial assistant
Best For: Heat-damaged hair
"I bought this shampoo on a whim and it blew my mind. I've never experienced such a transformation with such an inexpensive product. My ends had never been softer and my shine levels are through the roof — even after air-drying."
L'Oréal Paris Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo, $4.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
The Expert: Maria Del Russo, R29 beauty editor
Best For: Itchy scalp
"I recently went platinum, so I'm doing everything I can to keep my entire head of hair heathy. Yes To Naturals' new Tea Tree & Sage Oil shampoo and conditioner helps to calm and exfoliate your scalp, so no more flakes."
Yes To Naturals Tea Tree & Sage Oil, $7.99, available at Target.
The Expert:Scotty Cunha, hairstylist to Kylie Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and Lucy Hale
Best For: Any hair type
"It's natural, paraben-free, blah blah, but it really works! And it's great for all hair types because it's really conditioning, but not too heavy, so it won't weigh down straight hair. It's great for conditioning color-treated hair, and it will also help control frizz on curly hair."
"For my fine hair, I find many conditioners tend to weigh it down due to heavy moisturizers. This conditioner is lighter and allows for a more textured, beachy finish (hence the name), but still gives me the moisture my bleached-into-oblivion strands need."
"I grabbed this from my roommate's shelf the other day ( shh, don't tell!) when I ran out of my own $28 conditioner. Whoa, you guys, this stuff is legit. While I didn't love the smell (a bit too honey-sweet for my taste), I air-dried my hair and put it in a bun and when I took it out it was so smooth and shiny it looked like I had gotten a blowout. I'm seriously impressed."
Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Conditioner, $5.59, available at Drugstore.com.
The Expert:Riawna Capri, hairstylist to Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev
Best For: Any hair type
"I love Clear because it focuses on your scalp, instead of just the hair. Without a healthy scalp, how can you have healthy hair? They have different formulas for all different hair types, but the Intense Hydration is good for all types and textures."
Clear Scalp & Hair, $5.59, available at Drugstore.com
"I tend to solely use brands that cater to textured or natural hair, but this tiny tube is the one, and maybe only, exception. I use it on days when I don't feel like deep-conditioning my hair for 20 minutes, and it works just as well as when I do take the time to do so. It turns my normally coarse hair super-soft, and is one of the best detangling products — that's not technically a detangling product — out there."
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioning Crème Treatment, $2.50, available at Target.
The Expert:Derek Yuen, hairstylist to Laverne Cox, Maggie Q, and Jaime King
Best For: Curly hair
"This conditioner really helps curls to fight frizz. Plus, it has olive oil in it to help keep your curls manageable and add shine."
"Ever since going blonde, I've had a constant struggle against brassiness and color-stripping. Nothing is more devastating to bottle blonde than orange tints and faded hues. That's why I like this color-enhancing shampoo from John Frieda. It doesn't add color (something I'm a bit skeptical of in the first place), but rather fully removes the styling-product residue that can lead to your color looking flat or dull. It makes your blonde look, well, blonder, and helps add shine to your strands."
The Expert:Lexy Lebsack, R29 West Coast beauty editor
Best For: Fine to thick hair
"I was surprised how much I took to this conditioner after trying it a few months ago because I'm very critical of drugstore hair products, but it's actually become a staple in my shower. It's incredibly lightweight — I cannot stand buildup of any kind — and once rinsed, this formula feels like nothing at all. After air-drying my hair is soft, shiny, and healthy-looking. That's a win in my book."
Nexxus Humectress Ultimate Moisturizing Conditioner, $18.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
The Expert:Derek Yuen, hairstylist to Laverne Cox, Maggie Q, and Jaime King
Best For: Fine hair
"This is a lightweight formula that gently cleanses — but won't weigh fine hair down."
"I don't actually use shampoo to cleanse my hair; instead, I reach for a co-washing product, which helps do the job without stripping my hair of its necessary oils. As I Am's coconut formula has been my go-to since doing my big chop back in April. It's a no-suds moisturizing wash that's not too heavy, and it helps detangle while cleansing."
The Expert:Mi-Anne Chan, R29 beauty editorial assistant
Best For: Any hair type
"As a beauty writer, I've had plenty of opportunities to try pricey shampoos, but I always go back to this one. Seriously, I rave about this shampoo to anyone who will listen. The scent is super-refreshing, and [it's] really pleasant to use. I wash my hair every day, which I know some people will scold me for, but this one has such a gentle-but-clarifying sulfate-free formula that it doesn't cause me any problems at all."
Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo, $3.99, available in-store at Trader Joe 's.
The Expert:Lexy Lebsack, R29 West Coast beauty editor
Best For: Fine to thick hair
"This clarifying shampoo is super - strong, so don't even think about using it every day. However, if you use it a few times per month it will cleanse every bit of buildup out of your hair. I have highlighted (and therefore, more fragile) hair, so I only use it once a month, but even so, I can immediately tell the biggest difference. It's strong, but when used correctly, it will make your hair bouncier and respond better to all your other products."
"I love L'Oréal Color Vibrancy Nourishing Conditioner. It makes my hair really sleek and shiny, but not weighed down. And it's awesome for shaving your legs, too."
"I just picked up this product recently, and it's been a heavenly addition to my usual rotation. (Side note: All of SheaMoisture's products from its Jamaican Black Castor Oil line are pretty stellar.) I use it as the 'L' portion in my LOC method (leave-in, oil, and curl cream for those not in the know), and not only does it smell lovely, but it doesn't weigh down my coils. Plus, it's a total steal price-wise for the copious amount of product they give you."
The Expert:Lexy Lebsack, R29 West Coast beauty editor
Best For: Damaged hair
"This mask is incredibly thick, smells great, and you notice a difference in your locks after one use, which, for under $10, is pretty impressive. It makes my hair feel softer — even right after I get it bleached!"
L'Oréal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Extreme Emergency Recovery Mask, $6.99, available at L'Oréal.
The Expert: Samantha Sasso, R29 beauty editorial assistant
Best For: Damaged hair
"I'm constantly looking for shampoos that will give me instant result and this one does the trick! I step out of the shower with hair I thought I would never feel again after so much styling, and heat, damage. The best part is it leaves my normally split ends super smooth and silky."
Pantene Pro-V Repair and Protect Shampoo, $8.99, available at Target.
The Expert: Alix Tunell, R29 senior beauty editor
Best For: Dry hair
"I love the Clear Hydration Fix Shampoo and Conditioner. I’m lucky enough to get tons of amazing, high-end hair products sent to me, so no one believes me when I say my shower is always stocked with a $5 shampoo — but it’s true. It makes my hair feel softer than anything else out there, the scent is really clean, and it’s one of a few brands that doesn’t weigh my flat hair down."
Clear Hydration Fix Shampoo, $5.49, available at Walgreens.
The Expert:Lexy Lebsack, R29 West Coast beauty editor
Best For: Dry hair
"This rich conditioner has long been my drugstore stand-in when my hair feels parched, or just after bleaching, and I don't want to splurge on something more expensive. It makes my locks feel smooth and soft without weighing them down."
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner, $4.96, available at Walmart.
The Expert: Jenna Rosenstein, Senior Beauty Editor, Brand Experiences
Best For: Frizzy hair
"I've been using this shampoo on and off since high school. I always go back to it — there's something about the candy apple scent that just makes me feel like a teenager again. The smoothing formula definitely helps control frizz but doesn't weigh down my waves, so I'm able to use a little less styling cream or oil when I wash my hair with it, which is a win in my book."
Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo, $3.99, available at Garnier USA.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Perhaps more than any other holiday, Halloween is a beauty lover's dream. Not only is it the one time of the year we can dress up like our favorite internet meme or Snapchat filter without explanation, but it also gives us the chance to play with all the out-there makeup we've been stockpiling. Instead of subtly sweeping on subdued lipstick and mascara, All Hallows' Eve allows us to go all out.
In the spirit of skewing more spectacular than spooky, we tapped makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci to whip up five makeup-centric costumes that are anything but generic. Whether you're looking to nod at pop culture or indulge in some #TBT, we've got a getup (and the steps to pull it off) for you.
Click through to find your costume for this year. These looks are so cool, you can almost skip clothes altogether.
The Snapchat Dog
Move over, rainbow puke filter. There's a new favorite filter in town — and it's a puppy with an adorable brown snout. Luckily, this costume is ridiculously easy to create — it just takes a couple of paint pigments and pigtails.
Drome Hooded Shearling and Suede Poncho, $1,625, available at Selfridges.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Ciucci started by painting on the muzzle with the brow pigment in Make Up For Ever's Flash palette. "It's like a rounded rectangle with a bend in the center," she says. To keep it from sliding around, she set the brown with a similarly pigmented loose powder. Next, she sketched on the nose with a darker brown pigment, then set it with powder, too.
Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case, $99, available at Make Up For Ever; MAC Eye Shadow in Saddle, $16, available at MAC; Make Up For Ever Wet Makeup in FS38 Neutral Flesh, $29, available at Make Up For Ever; MAC Eyeshadow in Brun, $16, available at MAC.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Next, Ciucci painted on the details. She outlined the entire muzzle and nose with Make Up For Ever's black wet makeup before dotting on the whisker spots with a pointed cotton bud. Finally, she popped on two dots to represent the nostrils and drew a line down the center of the nose.
Make Up For Ever Wet Makeup in 71 Black, $29, available at Make Up For Ever.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Now all you have to do is stick your candy-colored tongue out all night. Whom you decide to lick is your business.
Photographed by Ruby June.
#InstaBeauty
It's kind of impossible to pick one Instagram beauty trend to adopt as a Halloween costume. So why not do a whole mash-up? We're talking drippy lips, rainbow highlighter, major contouring, and brows with a capital B.
ASOS Pleated Velvet High Neck Column Dress, $73, available at ASOS.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Be warned before you attempt this: There is a ton of makeup involved. Ciucci started with a full-coverage foundation, followed by some intense contouring and highlighting. Next, she applied NARS Rigel all over the eyelid, working the lighter side of Cordura Duo into the crease. Ciucci then sketched on a full cat-eye using a cream liner.
For the brows, she reached for Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Duo and filled them in heavily. "Make sure the brows are square by the nose and then thick and tapered toward the end," Ciucci said. To add that Insta highlight, she traced around the brows using Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil.
To really over-exaggerate the rainbow on the cheeks, Ciucci applied each line of color one at a time. She dipped a tapered blending brush into the palette, slid it across the pink, and then striped the pink along the cheekbone. She then repeated the steps with each color in the palette, finishing with the blue hue on the bottom.
NARS Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Rigel, $29, available at NARS; NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Cordura, $35, available at NARS; ELF Cream Eyeliner in Black, $3, available at ELF; Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo, $23, available at Sephora; Anastasia Beverly Hills Pro Pencil, $18, available at Ulta Beauty; Wet n Wild Color Icon Rainbow Highlighter, $4.99, available at Wet n Wild.
Photographed by Ruby June.
To create the drippy lips, Ciucci came up with a genius idea: hot glue drops. She took a hot glue gun and released a few drops onto a paper plate in a drip shape. Once they were dry, she popped them off and adhered two to the lips using makeup adhesive. "That way, you can get the look without actually applying a ton of lip gloss," she said. To finish, she painted the lips and the drips with a liquid lipstick and added a clear gloss on top.
Too Faced Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick in Velvet, $21, available at Ulta Beauty; Maybelline LipStudio Shine Shot Lip Topcoat in Clear Vinyl, $5.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Selfie time! Facetune optional.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Internet Troll
Ah, the internet troll — the bane of our digital existence. Snarky, sassy, and more than a little rude, this is one Halloween costume that's more pleasant IRL than on the web.
First, Ciucci and our hairstylist, Mirna, coordinated colors for the wig and makeup — in this case, orange and blue. After Mirna affixed the wig, Ciucci got to work on troll-ifying our model. She started by filling in her brows with blue, then worked a blue shadow into the inner corners of the lower lashlines and on the outside corners of the eyes. Ciucci then pressed a blue cream shadow into the center of the lid using her finger and tapped loose glitter on top. Finally, she swept the blue shade from Make Up For Ever's Flash palette across our troll's lips.
ColourPop Eye Pigment in Too Shy, $5, available at ColourPop; Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case, $99, available at Make Up For Ever; Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in Intense Blue, $23, available at Sephora; Urban Decay Heavy Metal Loose Glitter in Reverb, $6, available at Urban Decay.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Next comes the troll contour for that carved-out, plastic look. Ciucci ran a blue powder pigment across our model's cheekbones to make them pop. Then she took a blue liner and drew it under the cheekbones, down one side of the nose, and around the nostrils.
Sephora Collection Colorful Eyeshadow in Blue Lagoon, $10, available at Sephora; Sonia Kashuk Knock Out Beauty Eyeliner in Split Decision, $8.99, available at Target.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Pop a cut-out cursor in your hair, put on your best resting bitch face, and tell everyone who crosses your path exactly what you think of them. You'll probably get blocked from all future parties, but that's the price of committing to a role.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Lisa Frank
What's better than a little nostalgia in your Halloween costume? This neon kitten is the purrrrr-fect costume for '90s gals and makeup lovers alike.
Ciucci started by laying down a base of white with a sponge in a Phantom of the Opera -esque shape. "It will help the rest of the colors pop more," she said. She layered a yellow cream pigment all over the white, which she set with a yellow powder. Next, Ciucci dabbed an orange shadow from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics on about half of the face before tapping a pink hue on a quarter of the "mask."
Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case, $99, available at Make Up For Ever; NYX Cosmetics Hot Singles Eyeshadow in STFU, $4.99, available at Ulta Beauty; Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Loose Colour Concentrates in Mimosa, $15, available at Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics; MAC Pigment in Red Electric, $22, available at MAC.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Ciucci dusted purple pigment along the hairline before moving on to the details. She brushed the same pink pigment on the eyebrows to make them pop, then sketched out a white mouth with some wet makeup.
Using a black shade of wet makeup, Ciucci outlined the mask, painted in the nose, and dotted the white lip. Then she moved on to sketching leopard spots. "The shapes themselves are an assortment of half-circles, curly q's, and question marks without the dots," Ciucci said.
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Loose Colour Concentrate in Static, $15, available at Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics; Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case, $99, available at Make Up For Ever.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Meow! This kitty is a total throwback.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Aura Photo
You've probably seen those aura photos, which claim to read your energies with color, floating all over your Instagram feed. Just so happens they're also one of the easiest Halloween costumes on the planet.
J. Papa Winona Slip Dress, $280, available at J. Papa.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Ciucci grabbed her Flash palette and started tapping on colors with a Beautyblender. "The colors tend to be more basic, like reds and greens and purples," she said. She blended the hues over our model's face and neck.
Make Up For Ever 12 Flash Color Case, $99, available at Make Up For Ever.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Next, she went in with white and black shades around the forehead to add depth and dimension.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Hey, girl, your aura is showing.
Photographed by Ruby June.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Photographed by Ruby June.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
