JOSE ANDRES
» Book: "Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for an American Kitchen" by Jose Andres ($35, Clarkson Potter)
» Local Hero:
Co-author Richard Wolffe, Newsweek's White House reporter and a close friend of the chef, keeps this endeavor at home in D.C.
» The Scoop: In a companion to his PBS series, Andres emphasizes regional classics (100 recipes) but OKs New World substitutions. Phew!
» We'll Be Fixing: Olive oil pancakes; beef tenderloin with Picon cheese; cherries cured as olives. Consume it with a shot of sherry.
» Most Daunting Dish: Squid fried with its ink turns calamari the off-putting color of a crow.
» Author Over-share: Andres claims to mix "the best gin and tonics in America."
» Great Gift For: Home cooks dreaming of trading backyard burger spatulas for paella pans or foodies hungry for a taste of new Europe
» Food Porn Rating: R for Reservations. Make one for Cafe Atlantico or the six-seat Minibar for an immediate taste of Andres' vittles. Jaleo, his casual trio of tapas bars, are walk-in only. A few recipes are conceptually challenging (making foams, reviving salt cod), so how-to photos would be great, but that's why he made the TV show.

» EXPRESS:Is there a quintessential holiday dish for those who don't eat meat?
» ROMERO:A beautiful, savory pot pie decorated with pastry leaves will knock your socks off and be a beautiful centerpiece.
» MOSKOWITZ:The stuffing. I start with my own corn bread and make my own vegan sausages. You could do apples, pears, toasted pecans or walnuts and fresh herbs.

» EXPRESS:Any dish you miss at the holidays?
» MOSCOWITZ: I never miss meat. It's funny when people think that vegans are deprived. I don't like the look of a big bird on a table, and I wouldn't think of adding cream to my potatoes. I make mashed potatoes with olive oil and roasted garlic.

And while Dorothy's sparkly pair might fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, you can often score a pair of slouchy 1980s boots, 1960s mod flats or another piece of wearable history for less than it would cost to buy a DVD of the yellow brick road-walking classic.

"Shoes are an untapped part of the resale market, so they can often be quite cheap to buy," says Caroline Cox, professor of cultural history at the University of the Arts London and author of the new "Vintage Shoes: Collecting and Wearing 20th-Century Designer Footwear" ($40, Collins Design).

"Buying vintage shoes is a way of standing out and getting something that's better quality than you could find at the mall," says Katerina Herodotou, whose Listopad pop-up store at Mercedes Bien (2423 18th St. NW) traffics in 1960s saddle pumps, disco-era knee boots and the occasional pair of 1980s high tops. "There's a demand for the stuff, boots in particular."

» EXPRESS: How did you get so into shoes?
» REMPEL: I'm a CPA by trade, so in my former professional career, I was surrounded by a lot of black, gray and navy suits. My interest in fashion really came from my inability to express myself. In the accounting field, even color was a little risque. It became a running joke over how many pairs of black shoes I owned.

» EXPRESS: How many did you own?
» REMPEL: At least 25 pairs. It was a little ridiculous, but it helped develop this incredible passion/obsession with shoes.

» EXPRESS: How did you make the move from major shopper to store owner?
» REMPEL: In 2003, I started thinking about opening a shoe boutique but decided I'd prefer to do it online and in a catalog, because that's how I shopped. I was still working, and I just didn't have the time to get in my car, fight traffic and figure out parking to go shopping. I knew I didn't want to create something that I didn't want to shop from.

They've been together since they were freshmen at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va. After meeting in a public speaking class, they realized that they had grown up in Northern Virginia, attended rival high schools and even had mutual friends.

For their honeymoon, the newlyweds went on a cruise through Italy, Greece and Turkey. Justin is a business analyst for Mobile Satellite Ventures, and Aliya is a producer for the Discovery Channel. They live in Arlington.

Written by Express' Tamar Hallerman

» The Main Event: A formal ceremony on Nov. 22 at Anthony's home church in D.C.
» How They Met: As undergrads at Elon University in North Carolina. Shannon helped Anthony find his way when he was lost in the student center.

» First Date: As struggling college students, they went to McDonald's and even paid Dutch.

» How He Proposed: Anthony discussed his plan with Shannon's dad a few days before his proposal. Then, on Christmas Day, her dad captured the whole proposal on video after they opened presents.

» Most Hated Clothing Item: Anthony's "small butt jeans."

» Honeymoon: A cruise in the Eastern Caribbean, with stops in the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.

» Mmm, Cake: A four-tier yellow cake with butter-rum pineapple filling and buttercream frosting.

Written by Express' Tamar Hallerman

» The Main Event: A Nov. 22 semi-formal ceremony in the planetarium at the Franklin Institute Museum in Philadelphia. The reception will be held in Franklin Hall, where guests will be free to walk through the giant human heart biology exhibit during cocktail hour, and dance next to a large marble statue of Benjamin Franklin after dinner.
» How They Met: Via mutual friends during happy hour at Capitol Lounge.

» First Date: Dinner at Sweetwater Tavern in Merrifield, Va.

» How He Proposed: During a weekend getaway at an inn in Maryland, Steve coordinated an unforgettable evening. After a sunset boat cruise and romantic dinner, Steve took Kristin to a gazebo decorated with torches and containing champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries. Kristin recalls, "We admired the lovely full moon over the water. As we were laughing about one of our memories, Steve got on one knee and asked me if I was ready to be with him forever. … I, of course, said yes!"

» Celebrating Heritage: Gift bags will include Philly treats such as Tastykakes and Bucks County Coffee Co. samples. At the reception, the waiters will be serving mini-Philly cheesesteaks.

Written by Express' Tamar Hallerman

I've taken a job as a waitress to help me through the tough economy. I've been searching for some good, inexpensive shoes for work. I was hoping to find platforms that would keep my peds comfy and still give me two or three inches of height. — Denise

MANOLO SAYS, it is no secret that the times are tougher than they were the mere months ago, back in the early to mid-late 2000s, when the designer water flowed like wine and we were consumed with the trivial travails of such emblematic frivolities as Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell. Then, just like that, the New Age of Seriousness, and the second jobs that accompany it, were thrust upon us by doleful economic circumstances.

Naturally, the Manolo sympathizes with the newly impoverished, for he knows what it is like to be so poor that you must fashion your own Depression-era, Brother-Can-You-Spare-the-Dime work boots out of potato peelings, chicken bones, and cigarette butts you have spirited home from your job as the dishwasher, dried in your closet and then woven into shape. Look, here is the Drew Mary Jane from Dr. Martens ($95, Zappos.com) — comfortable, tough and cute, all for under $100.

Each week, Manolo the shoeblogger answers your pressing shoe questions. Ask the Manolo a question at manolo@shoeblogs.com. Visit the Manolo at shoeblogs.com.

Photo courtesy Zappos.com

» Knit Wit
The mitten-shaped pockets on Ruth Cross' soft wool scarf add a playful touch. ($235, Ginger, 7114 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda; 301-664-9242)
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» Arm Candy
Kate Spade's new line of shiny baubles — like this disco ball charm bracelet — will help bling in the New Year. ($255, Kate Spade, 3061 M St.; 202-333-8306)
Pictured above.

» Notable Tote-ables
Saltbox's eye-popping collection of patch-front bags lend a downplayed cool to a heavy-duty carry-all. ($45, Popdeluxe.net)
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» Undercover
Irish textile designer Orla Kiely has decked out a new notebook line in her signature designs. ($10-$25, Jasperandblack.com)
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» Ringleaders
The sparkly stones in Daphne Olive's
stunning sterling rings come in eight colors and are perfect for stacking up or wearing solo. ($84 each, Tabletop, 1608 20th St. NW; 202-387-7117)
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» Sweet Dreams
The fun sleepwear from the Cat's Pajamas blends utterly scrumptious patterns with super-soft flannel. ($88, Thecatspjs.com)
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»Monkeying Around
No, this isn't the material for the world's biggest sock monkey; it's actually an inventive winter scarf from Brit brand YMC. ($65, For the Greater Good, 1781 Florida Ave. NW; 202-387-0177)
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»Block and Load
This Lego-inspired iPod dock might look like kid's stuff, but there's a high-quality sound system hidden inside. ($69, Paper Source, 3019 M St. NW; 202-298-5545)
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»Lens Crafters
Photos always look artsy when snapped with this wide-angle lomography camera, which uses standard 35mm film. ($70, Urban Outfitters, 3111 M St. NW; 202-342-1012)
Pictured above.

»Heard Mentality
These Japanese striped headphones have been a design favorite for years but only recently became available in the United States. ($40, Audiocubes.com)
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»Make Some Noise
The sleek shape and wooden knobs of this Magno radio have a refreshingly retro appeal. ($255, Rckndy)
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»Mixed Bag
Leave the plain, tiresome tote behind. This sleek option has a cool design and gadget-protecting pockets. ($95, Crumplerbags.com)
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