“Today poker isn’t just a game; it’s a metaphor for life,” says Ellen Leikind, author of the new book, PokerWoman: How to Win at Love, Life, and Business using the Principles of POKER. PokerWoman teaches women that thinking like a “poker player” will make them smarter, sexier, more confident and more successful. Says Leikind, “Lessons learned in poker can transform anyone into a more powerful person.”
Poker is now a global phenomenon, and Leikind’s advice is: “Find your seat at the table…and stop betting like a girl.” Any woman can use the ‘poker principles’ to get what she wants in business or romance. “Inside every woman is a ‘poker woman’ waiting to be unleashed,” says the author, who encourages women to overcome their fears and doubts, figure out what they want, and go all in.
After 15 years as a successful Fortune 500 marketing executive, Ellen Leikind decided to take a year off and re-discover poker, which she had learned as a teenager. During that year, she realized that the strategies she was using in poker had direct applications to the real-world scenarios now revealed in PokerWoman. Her “poker year” also led her to create POKERprimaDIVAS®, a company that offers corporate programs and entertainment to teach women how to play poker and apply the game’s principles to enhance all aspects of their lives.
PokerWoman contains compelling real-life anecdotes from women who have taken Leikind’s courses and applied the author’s winning poker strategies to get a promotion, a raise, or a rewarding relationship.
PRAVDA ABBIGLIAMENTO
In 1908 Philip Pravda’s great-grandfather opened the family’s first men’s clothing store with inventory acquired from dead guys!
"My great-grandfather would scan the obituaries every day, then arrive at the widows’ homes and yell from the street, ‘I cash,’ and everyone knew what that meant," says Philip. "Some people would actually throw clothing out the window to the street below."
The original store opened by Philip Pravda (the elder), a Ukrainian immigrant, stood on the corner of Seventh Avenue at 14th street from 1908-1958. Known as “Phil’s,” it remained exclusively a second-hand store for the first 20 years (remember those dead guys?), selling suits with two pairs of pants and a vest for $7-$17.
Of great-grandfather Philip’s four sons, only one, Alfred (young Philip’s grandfather), stayed in the menswear business. In 1941 Alfred (known to customers as “Mr. A”) opened his own shop just east of his father’s place. Called “Alfred’s,” it remained at 51 West 14th Street from 1941 to 1962, selling three-piece suits for $46.
In 1958 Alfred opened “The Stag Shop” on Eighth Street and Fifth Avenue, which remained a popular Greenwich Village men’s store through 1985, appealing to post-“Saturday Night Fever” tastes.
In 1962, Alfred expanded the Pravda haberdashery empire by opening “House of Cromwell,” the family’s first “uptown” store at Lexington Avenue at 55th Street. It was the first Pravda store to carry men’s “international designer” names, including Yves St. Laurent, Lubiam, San Remo and Pierre Cardin.
It was at this store, too that the family hired its first “outsider”…a 17-year-old boy named Ahmed LeBlanc, who, 35 years later, still works with the family.
“The Village Shop,” was the Pravda family store with the shortest history. It opened in 1965 on Eighth Avenue and 42nd Street, long before the re-birth of Times Square, and Philip’s father Paul got his start here. As legend has it, customers had to fight their way past the hookers, the pimps and the pushers to enter the store. It closed in 1971.
Paul Pravda left the seedy side of town to work at his dad’s “House of Cromwell” before launching “British American House” at 488 Madison Avenue in 1979. The store at that time sold many British labels, including Burberry, Aquascutum and Daks, but with the insane popularity of the 1980 movie “American Gigolo,” British American House added its first Italian name…Armani…to its roster. Then came Valentino and Zegna…and others. Ironically, British American House carries Italian labels almost exclusively.
Now British American House is changing hands from father to son and, after 30 years, is changing its name as well…becoming “Pravda Abbigliamento” (e Calzature dal 1908). The store caters to a clientele that includes international heads-of-state, celebrities, corporate titans, real estate magnates and sports stars, among them: Mike Tyson, Stephen Sondheim, Stanley Tucci, Emeril Lagasse, Gen. Tommy Franks, Good Day New York TV host Greg Kelly (son of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly), Saudi princes and the late Paul Newman and Charles Bronson. Handmade Italian suits can run as high as $10,000.
"With the father-son transition, we felt it was important to give the store a new name...OUR name," says Philip, reflecting on the family's 101-year history. Thinking that Pravda sounded "too Russian," they added "Abbigliamento," which means 'apparel' in Italian, in keeping with the labels they carry...and because they think it's fun to have a name most people can't pronounce!
The newly minted Pravda Abbigliamento store features an eponymous collection designed by Philip Pravda and manufactured in Italy, with suits ranging from $995 to $1,295. Shirts, all made in Italy, are $165 to $245. Fine silk ties are $165. A classic black Pravda tuxedo made from Super 150 wool costs $1,295. The collection also includes what Philip calls “the world’s ‘guaranteed’ most comfortable pair of men’s jeans.” The new store has also added shoes to its offerings, making it a head-to-toe destination, with prices ranging from $795 to $1,150 per pair.
The store features impeccable service, with a full-time in-house tailor and personalized “style files” on key customers, including many from across the nation and around the world.
THE DANIEL JORDAN FIDDLE FOUNDATION
The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation (DJF) was established to develop and award grants to programs that enrich the lives of adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The goal of The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation’s grant-giving endeavors is to honor the individuality of every person with Autism so that each may participate throughout their lifetime in vocational, recreational, educational and residential opportunities that allow for maximum integration into the community. An integral part of the DJF mission is to support community outreach and education regarding the life span issues associated with Autism. This is accomplished through involvement in community-based events, development of educational materials that enhance awareness, and advocacy efforts on the state and national levels.
FAVIANA
Faviana is one of the world’s leading designers of elegant, sophisticated special occasion dresses, formal gowns and prom gowns. For over 20 years, Faviana has produced evening wear on the cutting edge of fashion. The company is legendary for its “red carpet-lookalike” gowns, often interpreting…overnight…the gowns worn by Hollywood stars at the Oscars, the Emmys and the Golden Globes. Faviana styles are inspired by celebrity and couture fashions from all over the world, and are made with pride and sewn in the USA! Faviana styles can be found at 2,000 specialty boutiques and bridal shops worldwide, including the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Australia.
FRED FLARE
Keith Carollo and Chris Bick, founders of Fred Flare, have turned “cute” into a business philosophy and “fun” into an essential component of shopping. Their unique e-store, www.fredflare.com, attracts a devoted following of teens, ‘tweens and 20-somethings (and up!)…who LOVE their quirky mix of fashion, accessories, home décor, contests…and more!
Their mantra is “NICE…is the new black”…and their company is like “CandyLand” meets Pee Wee's Playhouse. “We feel like we’re still in junior high,” says Keith, 34, “and we never want to grow up.”
Keith and Chris both hail from the suburbs of Chicago. Keith’s dad ran a balloon business and Chris’s dad ran a small carnival. “We both grew up surrounded by clowns, party favors, noisemakers, balloons, moonwalks and games…a lot of celebration,” says Chris, 37. “We definitely see ourselves as entertainers as much as retailers, and we just want to show people a good time.”Back in Chicago, Chris worked as an architect and Keith was a frustrated would-be dancer who worked in the advertising department of Bloomingdale’s. They arrived in New York in 1997 and launched their “retail career” by selling homemade disposable coasters from the back of their bicycles (which they parked in front of the Miu Miu store in SoHo). After that they developed their own line of stationery products and got orders from Urban Outfitters, Colette in Paris, Paperchase in the UK and other boutiques around the world.
Today, Fred Flare sells a unique mix of trendy apparel, jewelry, handbags, tee-shirts, swimwear, underwear, home décor and stationery…everything a girl needs to stay cute and current.
Fred Flare (the name reflects Keith’s love of Fred Astaire!!) is more than an online retailer…it’s a universe of fashion, fun, blogs, contests and gossip. The Flare’s are your new besties…and customers keep coming back for more because the website changes every day (sometimes HOURLY depending on blog activity!!) The site generates more than 10,000 hits per day..!!
boho
boho magazine is the first-ever green fashion/lifestyle publication to be printed entirely on recycled paper with natural soy inks and no glossy finishes. The publication targets creative, free-spirited, independent women who love fashion and beauty, but who also want to make the world a prettier place by giving back and going green. boho inspires readers to incorporate greener living and social consciousness into their lives while offering them the newest fashion, beauty, travel and lifestyle features. Regular sections will spotlight “Dreams” (come true!) and “Earth Angels” (people making a difference). Ongoing themes will tap into the psyche of the “modern bohemian” woman who is full of energy and ideas, real-life goals and romantic spirit.boho is the brainchild of Editor-in-chief Gina La Morte, founder of fashion website TheStyleDoctor.com and one of the country’s most sought-after style gurus. She is the first U.S. stylist to create her own American magazine. La Morte’s expertise on fashion and style has been seen by millions on her award-winning website as well as on national television shows, including ABC’s The View, CBS This Morning, Bravo/NBC, MTV and more. La Morte was also a celebrity stylist for clients such as O, The Oprah Magazine, People and People StyleWatch, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and more. As a fashion expert, she has been featured in hundreds of media outlets, including Associated Press, America Online, Life & Style Weekly, OK!, Fitness and Women’s World. A graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology, Gina also has served as national spokesperson for Shoemall.com
“I started boho to celebrate the freedom and passion associated with bohemians (‘bohos’) throughout history,” reports La Morte. “To me, ‘bohos’ have always been about intriguing contradictions and living life a little outside the box. I wanted to create a magazine for modern bohemians…women who are complex, confident and stylish; those who want to go green and give back while still wearing the latest fashion trends.”
The editor-in-chief adds, “A boho reader is a woman who supports earth-friendly causes and is also a beauty brat. She has a social-conscience but doesn’t apologize for wanting a new pair of pumps (perhaps they’re recyclable!). boho is for women of all ages who are ‘eco-conscious’ without being eco-militant.’ Our aim is to provide readers with important yet convenient ways to care for the earth, while not ignoring their need to look great and have fun, too.”
boho is available for a subscription price of $30 for 12 issues, a savings of 50% off the cover price. Ten percent of the net proceeds of boho will go to environmental and humanitarian charities. Newsstand price is $4.99. Visit the website for more information or to order a subscription. www.bohomag.com
BLUE Q
BLUE Q was started in 1988 by brothers Seth and Mitch Nash with a single product...an easel-backed cardboard cat cutout...their famous "flat cat." They have sold several million of these...and counting..!! Today, the company produces a mind-boggling range of products, including all-natural body care products (Dirty Girl, Miso Pretty, Cute As Hell), retro-chic home objects, artful shoulder bags, eco-friendly reusable shopping bags featuring brilliant artwork and graphics, conversational fridge magnets, zany car fresheners...even chewing gum with names like “Supermodel Meal,” “Boys Are Stupid,” “Evil Twin” and “Really Gay Gum.” They also publish an irresistible collection of the world’s smallest coffee table books, including the extraordinary The Monster That Ate Stars by California artist Souther Salazar.
However, the key ingredient to the success of Blue Q....is that they're really NICE people. Their office/warehouse is in the bucolic Berkshires in a 100-year-old former piano factory. The company has a wonderful relationship with Berkshire County’s Advantage Employee Network, employing 12 disabled individuals who are a fully-integrated part of the Blue Q work force. Office decor evolves daily...like a movie soundstage or a set from Saturday Night Live (the good years!). A key focal point is a giant barbed wire ball, and there's a computer entirely covered in Wheat Thins.
Blue Q has always produced "unique items with soul," according to Mitch. Projected for Summer '08 is a new collection of fair trade/green products for the home, including out-there ceramics, very cool shaped pillows, dish towels and lots of "small cute things." The collection is tentatively entitled Q-Topia.
Blue Q products are sold in hundreds of boutiques throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as online at www.blueq.com
LOEHMANN’S
If it’s in vogue, you’ll find it at Loehmann’s…the foremost national upscale off-price retail chain…now with 61 stores in 17 states nationwide. “The biggest deal in designer fashion” is the best way to describe Loehmann’s, which carries the most famous American and European designer labels at 35%-65% below department store prices. Loehmann’s legendary “Back Room” offers customers current, in-season designer names at low discount prices.
BIGGS & FEATHERBELLE
Biggs & Featherbelle produces health-conscious body-care products, including hand-made soaps, bath soaks, belly balm, body butter bars and lip balms…using all natural ingredients, including botanical essential oils, vegetable and nut oils, vitamins, sea salt, plant and flower extracts and spices.
Created by sisters Kasey and Kelly Evick, Biggs & Featherbelle products are packaged in recyclable brown kraft paper festooned with colorful soap-bubble dots and a whimsical logo. (“Biggs” is inspired by pet cat Diesel, and “Featherbelle” is an adorable combination of tomboy and girly-girl…like the sisters themselves!!)
Biggs & Featherbelle products contain no synthetic fragrances, dyes or additives. The intoxicating scents are just as nature intended them. All products are lovingly prepared in the girls’ “lather lab,” and formulated to cleanse, soothe, tone, exfoliate, balance and moisturize the skin…while relaxing the body and mind. Ahhhhh…!!!!
BODY CENTRAL
Have you overdone it on the tennis court? Are you allergic to your lush green lawn? Is the cocktail circuit giving you a headache? Then Body Central is the place for you.
An integrated health center located in Greenwich Village, services include complete chiropractic care, massage therapy, reflexology and nutritional balancing.
Dr. JoAnn Weinrib, founder of Body Central is often called the “wellness guru of New York.” Noted for her expertise as a chiropractor, she is a “feel better genius,” specializing in sports medicine, therapeutic massage, pre-natal care and sinus/allergy relief. She even has an amazing treatment she calls “Cocktail Cure,” which employs lymphatic drainage massage to rid the body of toxins and bloat. Dr. Weinrib’s shoulder, back, foot, jaw, neck and sinus treatments are legendary.
