LYRA MAG.

Late year holidays might be for large gatherings...but early year weeks are for escaping  to travel destinations without the vacationing crowds. Telluride PART One:  Winter Wonderland : COLORADO  Now it's easier than ever to arrive hassle free- to some of the best snowy terrains-blessed with great powdery fluff, abundant sunshine,  no chairlift lines AND  Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) member resorts   DISCOUNTS :-) .  BONUS-In season flights to Colorado's big name-and smaller mountain resort towns abound-all shuttle connected (and an express train connecting Denver-Winter Park) - so no car rental - driving needed either.   Planning ahead?  T he  Gems Card , which provides either two buy-one-get-one or two 30 percent off adult lift tickets at 11 ski areas in Colorado for just $25, provides families a great chance to visit multiple ski areas across the state. New to winter's vertical challenges...no worries!...

Step On It Flashy + Fun colors/trims in footwear ... Wedding wear maestro Antonia Riva 's feminine decorative sneakers aren't just for brides...  Summit by White Mountain-red pops in a walk ez Victorian lace up block heel MADDISON Black Leather boot onside now $69.99 NINA- foot soothers- cork footbeds in comfy slides-new collection  delivering for Spring WHAT ELSE:  via GIPHY customize Nike your  kicks-splashy Abstract Expressionist style-or perked up w/ embroidery, dip dyes, patches etc... online- or insta  gratification at new SNEAKER BARs- including new awesome  flagship Fifth Avenue - Midtown/NYC, on the Left Coast-Melrose/LA store- or our hidden treasure- Spring St/Broadway (529 Broadway)

Bold colors...bring '80s splashiness forward- three decades later. HAIR ON via GIPHY Break out of that urban black with the psychedelic hair tones-made with the newer formulas-that will actually leave tresses intact while imparting the colors(s) of dreams. Keratin Complex ' collections- KeraBrillance and GraffitiGlam Demi-Permanent deliver possibilities ranging from what you're born with to what can match any vibrant outfit (or mood) Diary Sketches  IN MANIC PANIC WE TRUST-new wash out temporary AMPLIFIED® hair color spray is ideal for changing it up whenever-and is perfect for kids/teens/team spirit...without the procedural worry of  more permanent hair color. FUN...the Pink Flamingo +Electric Lizard (neon green) shines on and shows up under black light.  Other hair color collections in Manic Panic's range of vegan cruelty free hair colors-include semi-permanent  Classic High Voltage  options in trendy shades of gray to rich ea...

    The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation 's annual Collaborating For a Cure Benefit/Auction -NYC-recently raised over $2.5 million to support collaborative efforts to eradicate cancer The SWCRF has seen great momentum since officially launching the Partnerships for Aging and Cancer Research program...a collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute On Aging which is spearheading the research to uncover the links between cancers-exploring environmental and genetic factors that increase the the risk of cancer as people age. To help contribute to this admirable cause and other ground breaking research programs and treatment protocols.... leading RTW designer  Tadashi Shoji  is proud to announce his partnership with  Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation   for the fifth year in a row .  Starting on January 15 th ,  20% of proceeds  from an exclusive and limited-edition unisex credit card holder w...

Colombian-American Artist Vianey customizes bicycles- limited edition=The Cool Bike MDRN-a Italian home decor/furniture emporium in NYC's Flaitron district (936 Broadway)-hosted a holiday festive kind of celebration-heralding a movable feast of module pieces -multi-tasking as home functional spaces...and Classiques Moderne Winter edition magazine featuring event maestro Larry Scott ( Lawrence Scott Events) . The Launch: Intelligent Living is a capsule collection by leading futurist/interior designer  Warren Kay  .  M ade for today's lifestyles... urban clean uncluttered spaces ...homes with less square footage...and  system control via an app! WHAT: Motorized wall units-morph-descending into Murphy beds while much needed closets spaces appear behind wall unit...as it moves along a discreet rail. Below: The video-a sofa moves slowly forward...while a wall descends -revealing the chicest Murphy Bed set-up we have ever seen. Customizable options too....

DRINK UP! j ust do it better The marketing pitches for WELLNESS SELF CARE SEASON TO TREAT YOURSELF gifts...noticeably increased this year, Makes sense -'me' gifting is BIG-as is eating healthier (US NEWS alert- Mediterranean and DASH topping the best diets list). Even the recognizable tv chefs are dialing up the health. Gordon Ramsay's cookbook-lifestyle how tos  plus his collab with Royal Doulton -an everyday table top Maze Grill  collection, SALUT glass of wine -(daily or weekly) is in the mix of those winners...and as big bold (and pricey) California Cabernet popularity wanes - there are other more food centric red wines that match up, sip-wise-better with the healthier ethnic cuisines and savory palate pleasers-people prefer. PORTUGAL's red wines are native grapes blends that have just the right amount of spice tones-dark berry lushness+ integrated tannins that balances out foods from around the world. Vinha Dis Deuses Reserva has the elegance of a ...

Shopping....wrapping...traffic...and oh yeah...daily employment...holiday times can exhaust. No wonder ready to eat treats are more welcome as worthy subs for what would formerly be slaved over. For allergy leaning sufferers-or guests who maybe are...new Brooklyn Bites Cookie Brittles are absolutely addictive crispy hybrids cookie/brownie crust brittle tops...that deliver the sweet texture and taste indulgence WITHOUT gluten, dairy, soy, eggs or preservatives. Mom-daughter founded Brooklyn Bites are REALLY made in Brooklyn...of real deal ingredients like gluten-free oats instead of white flour, coconut oil, low glycemic coconut sugar and almond milk=a healthier snack without sacrificing on the indulgence part one bit.  Note: certified gluten free, vegan and kosher. Inside the retro style packaging-are two stacks of yumminess. Taste wise...the homemade goodness comes through- rich  authentic deep dark chocolate piece of deliciousness. ..a slight ...

It's doubtful most holiday time purchases of apparel/footwear set off brain cells on just how 'dirty' that industry is.  Still-companies themselves are getting schooled and acting on environmentally friendly initiatives to clean out some of the toxicity from sourcing-manufacturing-delivery chains. On the home front brick/mortar retailers...are selectively editing their offerings -with greener merchandise getting stocked.  In lower Manhattan... Bishop Collective  's (143 Ludlow Street) careful picks include multiple indie designers making (in the USA) modern clothing/jewelry-all  ethically designed and sourced. In town???- The  Designer Series Sessions  this month  feature meet/greets with seven designers-for not only in person style help- but also highlighting exclusive one-off items-which is pretty remarkable for the 99.9% of us who can't 'touch' price-wise , couture handmade anything. Voyager Sleek Parley w/ Boost and Stealth out...

With all the festive foods available seasonal celebrations can be sweet indeed! a challenging winter hike earns rewards BUT after an allergic response to something eaten on a far flung Southeast Asia jaunt-a few years back, we gained respectful first-hand knowledge of food allergies that can triggered by daily encountered substances.

Maybe it was the perfect night (freezing damp cold) to embrace the buzzy charms and delicious BISTRO MODERNE cuisine of UES (NYC) restaurant staple Demarchelier -for the first time... But afterwards...we wondered why this ideally located gem- a few blocks from Manhattan's 'Museum Mile' (and mass transit) wasn't  a regular dining destination...as it clearly was for the patrons partaking the recent Tuesday evening we went.