America's Next Top Design Star?
Is this the face of America’s new Design Star? I have no idea because even though Kim is my friend and neighbor, her lips are sealed. She’s also my hairdresser, by the way—and I think she must be the only hairdresser on the planet who refuses to gossip. So I guess we’ll all have to tune into the new season of Design Star (which airs this Sunday on HGTV) in order to find out. I’ve resorted to some sneaky tricks for getting Kim to reveal who wins (like bringing over a bottle of Patron) and even that didn’t do the trick. Damn, this gal is good! If that design stuff doesn’t pan out, she should consider working for the FBI.
Kim
Photo courtesy of HGTV
One thing Kim would reveal? “I go naked on the first episode,” she told me as she was cutting my hair the other day. My jaw dropped. “Kidding!” she added. “But a couple of the guys take their shirts off.” Clearly HGTV producers realize what makes for compelling reality television. I think they should’ve thrown in a hot tub for the cast, too (hey, it worked for The Real World).
Kim and her husband Scott became local celebrities before the buzz about the new season of Design Star began. I’d like to believe that this is because I wrote about them on my blog last year but actually it’s because they both somehow find the time to run a boutique ice cream company called 5 Boroughs. They’re sort of like the new Ben & Jerry, only cooler (and much cuter). One of their most popular flavors was inspired by Staten Island—it’s called Landfill!—but some residents of that borough didn’t get the joke and they raised quite a stink, er, fuss. The next thing I knew there were TV news camera crews outside our apartment building. Now I know what Victoria Beckham’s neighbors must feel like!
Anyway, if you want to treat yourself this summer, try some 5 Boroughs ice cream. I highly recommend the baklava-filled flavor that was inspired by our neighborhood (Astoria), which has traditionally been the home of Greek immigrants, though now it’s largely overrun with boozy hipsters stumbling out of the Beer Garden. And, of course, I’d recommend rooting for Kim on Design Star!
-- James Patrick Herman
Kim & Scott at one of our fave hangouts: L.I.C.'s faux beach bar
Photo by Mark A. Neston
