Mondays with Bebel

Two Mondays ago-the beginning of the blistering cold run in NYC- I had a press day with the delightful and incredibly witty singer Bebel Gilberto. Luckily for us, one of her best friends owns the charming Casa restaurant in the West Village (Bedford and Commerce)-the best place in New York for "pan de queso" (yummy Brazilian cheese bread) and we held our interviews in the warm, friendly and private environs of this quaint spot. Rafer Guzman of Newsday came by and spoke with Bebel over cafe con leche and other Brazilian treats.

We then took a jaunt up to In Style Magazine, where music editor James Herman-a huge fan of Bebel's-kindly spent 45 minutes with us in the office chatting about Fashion Week, fashion designers, music, good food, the best things about Rio, the history behind the "Girl from Ipanema"and Bebel's new CD coming out April 24.

We then headed back downtown to her good friend Jusarra Lee's design studio/store in the Meatpacking District for a quick wardrobe change-gorgeous custom-made cashmere coats and suits galore-and then completed the day back at Casa with an interview and photo shoot with Elisa Lipsky-Karasz of WWD/Scoop. When work was done, Bebel insisted we have a hearty meal and a glass of port to celebrate a successful day-good food, good company and a great artist-Mondays with Bebel should be a weekly thing!

Aliza 2/15/07