The American Museum of Natural History has officially reopened its Butterfly Exhibit. With winter temps still dipping extremely low, spend a couple hours in the warm confines of this enchanting exhibit.

The exhibit, located in the museum’s Rose Center, features more than 500 live, free-flying butterflies. Open now thru May 26th, 10:00am - 5:45pm daily (last timed entry to the exhibit is 5:00pm). Other noteworthy exhibits include the Fossil Halls (Dinosaurs!) and Ocean Life (boasting a 94 foot long blue whale replica). Suggested admission is $22, advance tickets are available online for a $4 surcharge.

http://www.amnh.org/

Among this big city are many petite Betties- Betties with size 5 feet who search everywhere for shoes. Their feet look dainty in any style but unfortunately the pickings are slim. They sometimes opt for the bigger size, leaving that dowdy gap in the back of their heels, while they slip and slide through the city. Luckily, Betty has taken notice and found Giordano’s Shoes.

This Upper East Side boutique is devoted exclusively to sizes 4-5.5 and carries designers like Stuart Weitzman, Via Spiga, Christian Lacroix, and Taryn Rose. They currently have some Pucci espadrille wedges- fabulous for spring! A small store that matches their clientele, don’t expect the Saks shoe floor. But if you are a Betty with small feet, Giordano’s will make you feel like Cinderella, slipping on a shoe that’s the perfect fit.

1150 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10021 212.688.7195

Just when you thought the area around Bleecker and West Charles St. could not possibly get more annoying or overrated, the story of the “stoop” sitters is uncovered by New York Magazine… Apparently these two girls just sit there, all day everyday, and don’t do much else. It isn’t even their own stoop they sit on. Granted, Betty sometimes wishes she had less on her plate, but if she did she certainly would have better things to do than sit on someone else’s stoop.

“Rebecca (one of the two girls) basically does nothing, nor does she know what she wants to do. They share an apartment a few blocks west; their parents paid months of rent in advance.” It can make a work-hard-play-hard kind of girl a little sick to hear such a quote.

So NYMag, Betty loves you, but she has to keep it real. Stop glorifying the New York City girls who do nothing, the trashy millionaire teenagers in your lookbook, the socialites on your party pages, and honor the down to earth, talented, hard working, and deserving twenty somethings who matter.

Get the full story here…

http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/44495/

Betty divulged the top 5 reasons to ride the subway (think green!).  If she has convinced you to catch a train and reduce your impact on the environment make sure to follow her subway commandments.

City Etiquette Part Two: Subway Commandments 

Let people exit before you enter. 

Don’t put your stuff on the seats.  Given the never ending need for various pairs of shoes (especially in the winter) you’re no doubt bogged down with multiple bags.  But be sure not to put them on the seats if your train is full (have a little compassion for your fellow riders wearing those cute shoes that pinch their toes). 

Never lean on the poles.  There is nothing more annoying than running to catch the train, squeezing into a full car and finding nothing to hold on to.

Betty hates trying on clothes in store during the winter…too much stuff to take on and off and the heat is blasting. You would think that a store would go out of its way to make returns easier for the customer. However, the trendy store, Searle, does the opposite. They do not allow returns after 7 days. Once the seven days pass, you can only exchange for store credit. In addition, they will not accept returns of items purchased at other Searle stores.

So, when Betty purchased a $22 Hanky Panky thong at the Searle store on 84th and Mad and tried to return them at the 20th and 5th store (why pay $22 when she can get them at the sample sale for $10 each!), they refused to take it. The excuse: it would disrupt their inventory! Bogus!

Betty’s mental note: when purchasing over priced items at Searle, you better love it because it will be a major pain to return.

8 Searle locations throughout the city

http://www.searlenyc.com/

After multiple requests, the recurring post, Betty’s Escape Playlist, is back. To commemorate its return, she has chosen some of her favorite tunes in honor of her favorite city!

1. New York, New York: Frank Sinatra
2. New York State of Mind: Billy Joel
3. Boy From New York City: Ad Libs
4. Central Park West: John Coltrane
5. City of Blinding Lights: U2 (Despite the homage to Paris in The Devil Wears Prada, Bono said that this song is set in NYC looking towards Brooklyn)
6. No Sleep Till Brooklyn: The Beastie Boys
7. New York City Serenade: Bruce Springsteen
8. Hello Dolly: Louis Armstrong (Don’t let the New Orleans native, Armstrong fool you, the song and musical are both base in Gotham)
9. Spanish Harlem Incident: Bob Dylan
10. Lullaby of Broadway: From the Musical 42nd Street

*The artists are not necessarily the writers, but the recommended performers of the songs.

Check out the view over Bryant Park today…we finally scored a winter wonderland.

Remember when you used to get mail? Not the kind that pops up in your inbox, but carefully chosen invitations, handwritten Thank You cards, and the sweet note, “Thinking of You.” Although evites and emails are easy and efficient, you lose a kind of personalized sophistication that comes from the tangible letter. Whether you’re sending a birthday card, interview follow-up, or holiday wishes, Betty has some options for you:

Expressionary

Jack and Lulu

Whimsy Press

Smythson

The Oscars are a go! Live February 24th at 8:00 EST on ABC! Betty has begun preparations for her fab Oscars party.

Create an Oscars Pool: Get all your guests in on the action with this Oscars ballot. Guests predict winners in each category. Gift ideas for the winner: Netflix membership, Blockbuster gift certificates or a set of DVDs of previous Best Picture winners.

Plan out your Party Space: Given the space limitations of most New York apartments, check out “How to Plan for Entertaining in a Tight Space”

Create a Menu: Check out Wolfgang Puck’s Oscar Party Menu for ideas. The Mini Kobe Cheeseburgers, Black Truffle Macaroni and Cheese, Sushi and Ceviche stations sound amazingly delicious.

Get in on the fun: Invite all your A-List friends, pop open the bubbly and enjoy the show!

Betty’s home is so cluttered that it could compete with Mel Gibson’s apartment in Conspiracy Theory. She recently looked into donating some of her furniture and appliances to a good cause. When she discovered that her old stuff could help an artist get on his or her feet, through the Materials for the Arts organization, the opportunity to help was just too great to pass up. Materials for the Arts is always looking for the following items:

http://www.mfta.org/donors_most_wanted_items.html

• Chairs, especially office chairs
• Computers (no more than 4 years old)
• Computer related items like scanners, printers, and fax machines
• Household items like irons, dishes, silverware, vases, and lamps
• Frames
• Office supplies
• Paper, and posterboard
• Projectors and screens
• Video equipment
• Wallpaper and home decorating supplies
• Miscellaneous - ladders, telephones, answering machines, etc.

Check them out at http://www.mfta.org/ and begin donating today!