It’s finally Memorial Day weekend — the official kick-off to summer. It certainly took its time getting here, but now that it’s here, I’m so ready for that summer haze to settle over me and impart a relaxed, easygoing sheen to everything.

The makeup gets a little lighter. Freckles show through. Suddenly a tank and shorts constitute a complete outfit. And you let your hair take on its natural form, freeing it from its usual pin-straight perfection.

That’s when you rely on a pretty, easy headband to hold those strays back. Your hair could be a frizz ball and this Emily Elizabeth headband, with its six perfectly perched, 14-kt gold plated butterflies, instantly conveys coif couture.

Emily Elizabeth "Wishes" Headband.

We attended Audrey Magazine and KoreAm Journal‘s free screening of Sex and the City 2 at the Americana in Glendale, Calif., last night. With a theater full of enthusiastic SATC fans — many of whom were dressed very Carrie-appropriate — needless to say, it was a fabulous time.

Lunching in the middle of the desert.

And the long-awaited sequel didn’t disappoint. Sure, plot points weren’t exactly razor sharp, but with that much eye candy (the eye-popping clothes, the stunning locales, Carrie’s mesmerizingly smoky eye, and all the wealth and excess one can conjure up in the Middle East), frankly you don’t have much time to ponder over it.

Carrie and friends get a first glimpse at their hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Indian-British actor Raza Jaffrey.

Adding to the glut of eye candy is Raza Jaffrey, who plays Carrie’s personal hotel butler Guarau. Critics who were otherwise lukewarm about the movie are hailing him and his storyline (Guarau works in Abu Dhabi to make enough money to visit his wife back in India every three months) as the one bright spot in the film.

Of Indian-British descent, Jaffrey is an English actor best known for his roles in the BBC series Spooks and Mistresses. He’s also starred in the BBC mini-series Sharpe’s Peril with Sean Bean, and was in the film Eastern Promises (Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts).

The 35-year-old, who once aspired to be a pilot, started his acting career in theater, most notably as the original star of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of A.R. Rahman’s (of Slumdog Millionaire fame) musical Bombay Dreams. Jaffrey is also the creator of the dance-musical spectacular, Red, which performs around the world. The show incorporates dozens of styles of dance from flamenco to hip-hop, from Indian kathakali to ballet, all backed by the music and spectacle of Bollywood.

The girls and their butlers in Abu Dhabi. (That's Jaffrey next to Samantha.)

Other Asian faces you’ll see in SATC2 include Charlotte’s adorable daughter Lily (played by twins Alexandra and Parker Fong), and Minglie Chen, who plays the Bergdorf’s saleswoman. For tickets and showtimes, check out the official website.

Charlotte and her daughter Lily, played by the twins Alexandra and Parker Fong.

Well, it’s official. The new Bollywood film Kites (we blogged about its release last weekend), is a record breaker. Hrithik Roshan’s new action-romance adventure is the first Bollywood film to debut in the North American top 10 on opening weekend. And it’s not just the U.S. In India, the Rakesh Roshan-produced film soared to the second biggest opening day gross in history, and in the UK, the film opened at number five.

Hrithik Roshan in Kites.

Released by Reliance Big Pictures, Kites has received praise and the most number of mainstream reviews ever for a Bollywood film on opening day. And this Friday, May 28, a new version of the film presented by director Brett Ratner, Kites – The Remix, will open in select theaters. Kites – The Remix ups the ante on the action and runs 90 minutes in length.

Mexican actress Barbara Mori of Japanese-Uruguayan descent.

If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss this romp of a film, starring Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan and Japanese-Uruguayan-Mexican actress Barbara Mori. To find a theater near you, click here.

Roshan and Mori in Kites, an action adventure flick that takes you from the deserts of the southwestern U.S. to Las Vegas.

Mori in Kites.

How cute is this bag? I mean seriously, it is daaaaaarling! I can go on and on about what makes it so great, but really, just look at it. It is sooo cute!

Chocolate Handbags turn lock satchel in bone.

I can totally picture it accompanying me to a business meeting, but it’s still fashionable enough for drinks afterwards. The ruching, the goldtone accents, the must-have neutral hue. I think I’m in love.

But what I can’t get over is the price. I mean, it looks so much more expensive than it is. And now, we have it for you at an even bigger discount! If this isn’t a steal, I don’t know what is.

Yes, we admit it. We’re excited about Sex and the City 2. As a matter of fact, we’re going to a free screening tonight at the Americana in Glendale, Calif. (For those Audrey readers who managed to get tickets in our free giveaway — they went fast! — we’ll see you there tonight!)

And while I realize that much of what happens in the show is pure fantasy (Manolos on a writer’s salary? A shoe closet that size in the middle of Manhattan? A never-ending stream of fabulously wealthy boy toys?), it’s still fun to watch. Besides, the relationships among Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda are what’s so real and so relatable.

Or are they?

It’s a topic I expect Indian American actor and producer Reena Dutt will broach, along with her castmates on the popular web series The Real Girl’s Guide to Everything Else, when they chat with Tony Cox, guest host on National Public Radio‘s “Tell Me More,” tomorrow May 27.

The Real Girl's Guide to Everything Else.

The Real Girl’s Guide features a multi-ethnic cast of four close but different girlfriends. Conceived as an alternative to the Sex and the City world of wealthy, white, straight fashionistas — the opening track is a jazzier version of the famous SATC melody, the first episode has plenty of references to the movie, and there’s even a reference to “Sex and the City for brown girls” — The Real Girl’s Guide follows Rasha (played by award-winning actress Robin Dalea), a lesbian political journalist of Lebanese descent, who is convinced by her friends to go “undercover” as a Cosmo-drinking, glitter-wearing, straight “girlie-girl” in order to finance her dream project.

Vanna (Nikki Brown), right, helps Rasha (Robin Dalea) get sexed up.

A scene from The Real Girl's Guide.

Reena Dutt as Sydney in The Real Girl's Guide to Everything Else.

Indian American actress and producer Dutt stars as the brash, in-your-face Sydney in the series. Raised in North Carolina and Arizona, Dutt caught the acting bug in high school when she joined the speech and debate team. She trained in New York City with Terry Knickerbocker at William Esper Studio (Meisner Technique). She has worked on several stage, film, television and web projects in Los Angeles, New York City and Arizona. She co-founded Off-Chance Productions in 2007, with the goal of “creating work that breaks the bones of stereotypes, and creates a sense of normalized diversity in media and theatre-based storytelling, through universal ideas,” according to her website.

Dutt recently wrapped on the feature film, Troublemaker, written and directed by Geeta Malik, and has appeared on Criminal Minds (CBS), Medium (CBS) and Out of Practice (ABC). She is currently in the LAWeekly and Ovation recommended theatre production, Holy Ghost by John Tuttle.

Listen to Dutt and the other “Real Girls” talking about their series as a reaction to the genre of chick-lit and chick flicks, and the need for alternative narratives for female audiences. It’s on tomorrow on NPR. Check for local broadcast times or listen in at “Tell Me More” at NPR.org.

Watch the first season of The Real Girl’s Guide to Everything Else here.

Think about your go-to absolute favorite, instantly hot-tifying piece in your wardrobe. Picturing it?

Perhaps it’s that LBD. Maybe it’s that statement shoe you’ve been saving up for. Or the always-make-me-look-skinny jeans that go with everything.

Now, think about the one or two pieces you actually wear, like, all the time.

If you’re anything like me, they’re two totally different things. Yes, I love my jacket with the super structured shoulder, my floral mini with the angular pockets, my skinny-fying jodhpur cargos.

But I live in these cheap men’s tank tops my mom brings by the dozen from Asia every year. They’re a wardrobe essential.

This Transparent Systems tee is destined to become a wardrobe essential. The perfect length for leggings, an easy slouch, and a just-interesting-enough graphic to be a little rock n’ roll, a little retro. Throw on a jacket and you’re ready for dinner. Pair it cut-offs and flat boots for an I’m-with-the-band vibe. At this price, you might as well get two … or three.

Transparent Systems "Marilyn Monroe" v-neck tee.

Nicole Scherzinger and her partner Derek Hough win DWTS. Photo by Adam Larkey/ABC.

I am telling you. There is something going on with Asian Americans and dancing.

Everywhere we turn, there is an Asian American making a name for him- or herself in dance.

Need further proof? Filipina-Hawaiian-Russian American Nicole Scherzinger just won the 10th season of Dancing With the Stars.

She follows in the footsteps of fellow DWTS winners Kristi Yamaguchi and Apolo Anton Ohno. And of course who can forget the Jabbawockeez, Kaba Modern and all the other Asian American winners and finalists in MTV’s hit America’s Best Dance Crew.

Hear what some of the top Asian American dancers have to say about this growing phenomenon in our feature story “The New Rhythm Nation” by Teena Apeles in our upcoming Summer issue, out next week!

Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough. Photo courtesy of ABC.

Congratulations to Audrey reader Sasha, who won Tina Tang’s sterling silver “Crescent” necklace from our Thank Goodness It’s Free Friday Giveaway! Isn’t she adorable?

Audrey reader Sasha and her Tina Tang "Crescent" necklace.

Writes Sasha:

“I have just received the Tina Tang ‘Crescent’ necklace in the mail today! Somehow, I love it even more in person. It happens to be just the right length on me as well! It is, in a word, stellar. Wow, really didn’t mean to end on a pun like that . . .”

Thanks Sasha for being a loyal reader! And if you haven’t won anything yet, don’t lose heart. We have a lot more goodies to give away every Friday, so keep checking back!

By the way, are you a part of The Audrey Community? If you’re a loyal reader, or even a newcomer, let us know! We wanna see your faces, hear your thoughts, have you join in the conversation! Let us know what you want to see in Audrey — the print magazine or online. Or just tell us about yourself — you may find yourself profiled in a future post!

Just comment below or email me at anna@audreymagazine.com!

There are certain colors one associates with the different seasons. For me, deep purples and burgundies always remind me of autumn. While as a child I associated — of course — red and green with winter/Christmas, now I think of winter in terms of glittering silvers and golds. And spring will always be a brilliantly happy peony.

Ah, summer. Those lazy, hazy, halcyon days of summer. In my mind’s eye, if halcyon had a color, it’d be the culmination of the different hues in a serene, tropical bay — blinding aquamarine waters, creamy golden sand, translucent and yet milky, crisp and yet warm.

Marcia Moran gold set of 2 blue agate rings.

Summer would be the color of blue agate, like the ones in Marcia Moran’s double set of geometric rings. Two gorgeously hued stones set in 18k gold plated angular rings. Modern and yet so easy. A little touch of summer whatever you’re wearing, wherever you are.

Malea McGuinness’s star has been steadily rising, ever since her second single “Sweet Light” off her debut album True Believer hit number three on the adult contemporary top 40 music charts in 2007. We first featured the Korean-Irish-Scottish American in Audrey‘s Aug/Sep 2008 “Indie Music” issue. And now the singer-songwriter is out with her second CD, Close As Air.

Since then, she’s completely revamped her look as you can see below.

Malea McGuinness.

And it’s not just her look. Her sound’s been amped up as well. It’s a lot more rock, but there’s still that intimacy that makes Malea so addicting. Like in her song “Stars.” You see, Malea was born in Fort Hood, Texas, to a Irish Green Beret father and a Korean mother. After living two years in Seoul, Korea, Malea, then 5, and her younger sister were sent to live with her paternal grandfather and step-grandmother on Long Island. She says she wasn’t allowed to listen to much music or watch TV growing up.

You can hear that aching loneliness and isolation in the song: “There’s a wild and lonely child in the airport/Standing there with tears in her eyes.”

“That was me at 5,” says Malea, “waiting to be picked up my grandparents.”

Or like the title track which pays tribute to one of her close friends and personal musical mentors. “It’s about having faith in something you can’t necessarily see or touch — a higher calling, a higher being,” she says.

You’d never guess that Malea got her start studying opera at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, before landing a featured role in the Broadway revival of The King and I. Her warm, sensual vocals has a hint of country twang, a nod to her inspirations ranging from Linda Ronstadt, Crystal Gayle, Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow to more R&B-flavored singers like Roberta Flack and Elton John. Here’s a taste:

And now we’re giving away five autographed copies of Malea’s new CD Close As Air. All you have to do is comment below by Friday, May 28, 11:59 pm, and we’ll pick five lucky winners!

Wanna hear more? Check out Malea at these hot spots in June:

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Breast Cancer Fund Raiser at Dakota Music Lounge, Santa Monica, CA, (310) 393-8200

8:00 PM

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Brixton, Redondo Beach, CA, (310) 406-1931 (She’s opening for Crash Test Dummies)

8:00 PM

Find out more at Malea’s official website.