This past Friday was a busy night for me. I stopped by Collette Blanchard Gallery for a reception and ended up getting kidnapped by Malcolm Harris and at a dinner party with a bunch of cool people I'd never met before. In between those two events I stopped by Ristorante Bonfides where I used to host my legendary Bon-a-Fide parties. There was a bartender who used to work our parties who everyone loved, her name is Irena and she is from Serbia/Montenegro. She left the restaurant to open her own business. It's a great little boutique that sells handmade knit items like hats, scarves, dresses and wraps. She also sells hats for men and other apparel for women. The store is called Amon Ra Showroom and it is very cool.

On February 14th she is doing a fashion show at St. Marks church on the corner 10th Street and 2nd Avenue. The event will benefit the Institute for Education and Professional Rehabilitation of Children with disabilities. This is the only institution in her native Montenegro that provides care for children and teens with disabilities.

Irena is a very engaging, talented, passionate and cool person, not to mention a Leo like me. Please stop in to visit her and support her efforts. Stylists, models and fashionistas should stop in to get some great handmade items at good prices and be among the first to use her garments and accesories in your shoots before this store becomes the next big thing (which trust me it will).

You can see the store online at http://www.wunderbloc.com/boutique/index.php?locationId=5481

Amon Ra Showroom from Ricky Day on Vimeo.