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New York Pet Fashion Show | thepupdiary.com

8 Feb

Happy 10th anniversary to the New York Pet Fashion Show! One of the hardest working doggy moms, Ada Nieves, started a small fashion show 10 years ago and it has blossomed into an annual event with over 1,000 attendees. That is an admirable accomplishment!

Our gown designed by Dawn Deisler

Our gown designed by Dawn Deisler

Each year the event raises money for a different animal rescue — this year it was the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. We loved the extra focus on doggy adoption and rescue this year! Adoptable pups walked the runway and over 400 rescued pups sent in rescue stories to win “rescue of the year” – a new contest for the 10th anniversary. We had our money on Beau Loevner, NYC therapy dog extraordinaire, but another deserving pup won. Shotsi the terrier alerted his family when their 16-month old baby was choking. Congrats to Shotsi on her win as rescue of the year! Kudos to all of the folks who adopt dogs and help them find forever homes!

Gems of Rescue Runway Show – one of several throughout the evening. This show features adoptable dogs!:

Held at the Hotel Pennsylvania in Midtown Manhattan, the event draws a crowd from around the globe. It’s not every day we are able to attend a dog-friendly event in a hotel ballroom in NYC for $40. We saw friends from Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, Canada, Maryland, Louisiana . . . This is THE event on the dog fashion scene. Ada Nieves is one of the pioneers in doggy fashion and I bet she is proud to see where it has gone!

A benefit for the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals

A benefit for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals

We wanted to hang out at the Frenchie’s Kitchen table all night! YUM!! Mom does not like crowds (BOL – we live in NYC) and it was way too crowded (and hot) for us. But we had to walk the runway to show some new designs.

A large part of the event was a designer runway show with a themed contest and “designer of the year” award. There were very strict rules: only certain designers could enter, the theme “crown jewels” would be judged, and NO props (strollers, carts, etc.) were allowed on stage. Sadly, the rules were not followed. We felt really bad for our designer and fashionista friends who followed the rules and did not win. We love Bella Mia, a fellow therapy dog, and she looked beautiful wearing a multi-layered gown by designer Anthony Rubio. But rules are rules . . . Really a shame because many people made gorgeous “crown jewel” outfits and they were overlooked. Hopefully this is a learning experience for the organizers. Congrats to Anthony Rubio who is the new designer of the year! And congrats to the New York Pet Fashion Show!

Our family!

Our family!

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7 Westminster week moments not to miss | thepupdiary.com

4 Feb

This year the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show combines with the Masters Agility Championship to bring more than three thousand dogs to compete in New York City on February 8, 10 and 11. Spectators from around the world come to meet the breeds, tour the city, and party with pups when the city goes to the dogs!

Pawty time!

Pawty time!

WELCOME TO NYC EVENT: Hosted by Puccini and Leslie Riddle, this dog-friendly Welcome to NYC event on Thursday, February 6 will raise money for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals. The $25 entrance fee will get you food, drinks, and lots of fun. Enjoy a fashion show and bid on great silent auction items! Held from 7 to 10 pm at Honda of Manhattan, 627 11th Avenue.

NEW YORK PET FASHION SHOW: The Hotel Pennsylvania once again plays host to the New York Pet Fashion Show on Friday, February 7 from 6 to 11 pm. Over 1,000 people and pups will gather in the ballroom for fashion shows, vendors, hors d’oeuvres, dancing, goody bags, award ceremonies and more! Well-behaved pups are welcome to attend. Tickets are $40 in advance ($50 at the door if available) and proceeds will benefit the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.

DOGGIES AND TIARAS: The 2nd annual Doggies and Tiaras pageant will be held on Saturday, February 8 from 2 to 6 pm at Tette Club, 154 Post Avenue. Come to see 20 canines compete in glamour, active-wear, and talent. One lucky pup will be crowned king or queen for the year! Advance tickets are $30 and proceeds benefit Inky Blue Sea Rescue. Yes, pups are welcome to attend.

CELEBRITY CATWALK: Many of the events and activities during Westminster benefit animal rescues and charities. Come to Celebrity Catwalk’s brunch event on Sunday, February 9 from 11 am to 1 pm at SPOT, 145 West 20th Street. Meet other dog lovers while you enjoy tasty treats and drinks. Advance tickets are $45. Well-behaved pups are welcome to attend.

THE ART: Bonhams will host their annual Barkfest charity brunch on Sunday, February 9 from 10 am to noon benefiting the AKC Humane Fund. Advance tickets are $50. Bring your pooch and come to mingle with other art and dog lovers while you view beautiful items that will be featured in The Dogs in Show & Field fine art sale on February 12. William Secord Gallery will host a reception to celebrate the opening of John Emms on Saturday, February 8 from 2 to 6 pm.

THE SPECIALTY SHOWS AND AGILITY: There are several specialty dog shows that take place the weekend before Westminster. The Yorkies take over the Crowne Plaza Times Square with vendors, a dog show, and a fashion show. Many other breeds will be at the Hotel Pennsylvania and other area hotels. The Masters Agility Championship takes place Saturday, February 8 from 11 am to 10 pm at Pier 94 in New York City.

THE BENCHING AREA: See the competing dogs up close and personal in the benching area behind the scenes. All Westminster Dog Show attendees are welcome to tour the area and watch grooming, dog walking, and vendors. Meet dog groomers and handlers. Arrive early because this area gets very crowded. Leave your own pup at home for this.

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10 NYC holiday traditions perfect for dogs | thepupdiary.com

21 Nov

We love this time of year! And we especially love spending time in New York City in December. There are beautiful decorations on every corner, pop-up food festivals, craft fairs, and of course, Santa Claus!

Below are 10 dog-friendly activities and events we will check out this holiday season. Let us know if you have some doggy traditions not to miss!

Grand Central Terminal
We absolutely love Grand Central Terminal! There is dog-friendly shopping, dining (Shake Shack!) and this time of year they unleash the Holiday Fair in Vanderbilt Hall with gift ideas pawfect for everyone in your family!  The Life of Ryley had some really cute and unique doggy gifts, too! Also, don’t miss the Holiday Light Show each evening.

The Life of Ryley at Grand Central holiday shops

The Life of Ryley at Grand Central holiday shops

Shops at Columbus Circle
Another great place to get out of the cold and enjoy shopping and a pretty holiday light show! Yes, the Shops at Columbus Circle welcome dogs. Their light show “Holiday Under the Stars” runs every evening and is set to beautiful music. The Winter’s Eve party on December 2 is very crowded, but lots of fun, too.

Volunteer/Give Back
So we can’t volunteer in a soup kitchen, but there are lots of ways we can give back this holiday season. We especially like Amazon wish lists because they are easy to use and we like to shop! Ask your favorite charity if they have a wish list where you can purchase items they need. Clean your closet and donate your old towels and sheets to the local animal shelter. Check out lots of ideas here.

Lord & Taylor
Sure there are lots of department stores to visit (many are dog friendly), but Lord & Taylor is our favorite! They are very friendly to the pups and they even carry a special doggy line this season with cute toys, bowls, and sweaters from Hudson’s Bay Company and Harry Barker. Their beautiful holiday windows and interactive photo shoot are great this year!

Hudson's Bay collection at Lord & Taylor

Hudson’s Bay Company collection at Lord & Taylor

Santa Claus
In the past, the Bloomingdale’s Santa Claus has been dog friendly. He comes down from the North Pole to meet kids and pups and listen to their wishes.  Check your local pet boutique for special Santa visits, too!

Bryant Park
Love Bryant Park in every season! Especially love the Winter Village with dog-friendly shopping and dining. The shops are open through January 5. We hope they show outdoor winter movies again this year, too! Not too crowded and fun to snuggle with a pup and popcorn!

Window Shopping
Stores are slowly unveiling their holiday windows this season and we have not been disappointed! We are really excited to see the Saks windows with the Yeti! We are assuming that will be our fave this year!! Most of the NYC department stores are very dog friendly with the exception of Macy’s . . .  Racked has good holiday window information.

Lord & Taylor window

Lord & Taylor window

Holiday Markets
We love holiday markets because they often feature local shops and products. In general, the outdoor markets are dog friendly, and Racked has a list of 15 best holiday pop-up shops this season. The indoor Grand Central market is dog friendly. We’ll try to update this with other dog-friendly indoor options!

Head to Church
Once again, Christ Church will host a Blessing for the Animals on December 8 at 2 pm. The event is hosted by Cindy Adams and the New York Post. Expect a very beautiful church and a huge crowd.

Photo Opps
Kimpton Hotels usually will host a Santa Paws photo day in December, so we will watch for that information. There are beautiful photo opps at every turn this time of year. Have your camera ready! Also check your local pet boutique and shelter for Santa photo shoots.

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Top Hat and Cocktails at the Ritz | thepupdiary.com

22 Oct

“You are a really happy dog.” That’s what the animal communicator said to me the other night at the SPCA of Westchester gala at the Ritz Carlton in White Plains. “You are grounded and you are confident. You are happy.” Well I was in a room at the Ritz surrounded by food and doggy pals. What more could a doggy dream of? I was HAPPY!

Posing with mom at the SPCA Gala

Posing with mom at the SPCA Gala

My mom brought me to the event to help raise funds for the animals at the SPCA of Westchester. This was our third time attending this event and it gets better every year! I didn’t even mind the dress mom made me wear . . . it was actually quite comfortable and kept me warm. We stalked the silent auction and won two trips for next year! We’ll be heading back to Inn by the Sea in Maine – one of our most favorite places! We also won a trip to Cape Cod at Lamb and Lion Inn – “1 of the top 12 pet-friendliest places in the world” per CNN.com!

Our friend and role model, Maria Milito, was honored at the event for all of her work helping animals.

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Ghost towns, cemeteries, and haunted houses, oh my! | thepupdiary.com

17 Oct

It’s the season for spooky and scary FUN! Over the summer we visited two ghost towns out west. Find a ghost town near you!

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery

Pups are also welcome at many cemeteries, which can be great places for walks and history lessons. Earlier this year we toured Arlington National Cemetery in the Washington, DC area. Leashed dogs are welcome to tour the cemetery and see the famous sites. We have also visited many beautiful cemeteries in Vermont and recently on Block Island. Permanently New Yorkers was a recommended book to find burials of the famous and infamous in New York state. The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery is on our list!

So we aren’t actually going to visit any creepy haunted houses! But we will attend some fun upcoming doggy parties with haunted house decorations! Etsch Farms will welcome pups at their corn maze on November 2. Pups on the Runway will feature spooky decor at their October 25 event. And we’ll also check out the Central Park Pumpkin Fest on October 26.

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