Embarrassment of Riches

Life's Little Delights

2012-01-27T10:21:00.007-05:00

Julie recently wrote about staving off the winter doldrums by jotting down a list of things that made her happy. It struck me as such a lovely, simple thing to do, so I followed suit.Yesterday I took the GRE. Since it's a computerized test, you receive your scores right away, and I'm happy to report that I kicked ass! It's odd not to have it looming over my head any more. I almost miss the sense of dread I'd been feeling in the weeks leading up to it. I'm sure I'll find something productive to do with my time now that it has been freed up from studying.
New bedding was a luxury we felt guilty spending money on, so we asked for sheets for Christmas. Our bedroom is finally shaping up (I'll post a tour soon, I promise!) thanks to this gift, which ties everything together.
Shawn occasionally surprises me with fresh flowers. What I get a kick out of almost as much as the blooms themselves is the fact that I never notice them right away, no matter how prominently he displays them. I think he'd secretly be disappointed if I spotted them without him prompting me ("Notice anything...ahem...different...in your dressing room?")
At the end of each run, I delight in reviewing my split times on my Garmin GPS watch. I'll read them off to Shawn while we're cooling down: 8:28, 8:19, 8:32, and on and on...I love to speculate why a certain mile was a bit faster or slower than my usual pace, but what thrills me most is when our final miles are as speedy as our first ones.
'Wichcraft makes a mean tomato soup (pictured), but yesterday I took Shoko's advice and tried Brooklyn Larder's spicy interpretation. It was astoundingly good, and I'm ecstatic that I can pop around the corner to buy a quart of it any time I fancy. I've mastered homemade soup, too, adding a garlic one from 101 Cookbooks and a butternut squash bisque to my repertoire.

Blogger Brunch at ABC Kitchen

2012-01-23T06:38:00.005-05:00

January has been a banner month for dining out: Franny's, Frankies, Maialino, Henry Public, Buvette, the revamped Acme, and Roberta's. This weekend's brunch may have taken the cake, though. Everything about ABC Kitchen was spot-on. Usha, Amanda, and I braved the snowstorm to split a smattering of the restaurant's best dishes (sadly, Sonia, the organizer, came down with a bad cold on Saturday).

From top to bottom: cava, light-as-air doughnuts, squash toast with ricotta and apple cider vinegar (while unphotogenic, it took the prize for favorite dish), whole wheat pizza, housemade ricotta ravioli, roasted beets with housemade yogurt, and their famous salted caramel sundae.

We gabbed and gabbed (in between mouthfuls of food) about blogging, fashion, restaurants, and travel. Judging by the uproar at the table next to ours (and the simultaneous appearance of four picture-snapping iPhones), there may have been a celebrity in our midst, but we were having too much fun to notice. It was so much fun, in fact, that another brunch date is already on the books for February.

Cheese Reviews: Part 2

2012-01-20T11:13:00.003-05:00

We picked three very different types of cow's milk cheeses for my second installment of tasting notes (the first is here). Unfortunately, I suspect our local cheese shop mislabeled the first selection - so much for my methodical cataloguing. Andante Dairy in Sonoma, CA does not offer a product named Alto (and none match up in appearance, either); other cheeses by that name are definitely not of the washed-rind, raw-milk variety. No matter: it's not one we would (knowingly) buy again, as it didn't meet the bar set by my gold standard of washed-rind raw-milk cheese (Hudson Red).

NYC Diary: Becca of The Daily Muse

2012-01-18T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'm lucky to have occasional dinners with the subject of this week's NYC Diary. In between our in-person catch-up sessions, Becca keeps me entertained with the latest blogger gossip via email. Check out The Daily Muse for her trademark sarcasm, delivered while documenting her day-to-day life in Manhattan.Thanks for participating, Becca!

Museum of the Moving Image

2012-01-17T06:36:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, we trekked to Queens to visit the Museum of the Moving Image. Jim Henson's Fantastic World was the main draw, but we were pleasantly surprised by the rest of the exhibits as well. My favorites were wardrobe and makeup; Shawn enjoyed the merchandising section and the wall of classic video arcade games (all playable). There were also interactive technical opportunities involving film editing and sound effects.

The popular Jim Henson exhibit has been extended to March 4. I've always been a fan, especially of the Muppets, but I didn't realize just how much of a genius he was.

Macaron-making at DessertTruck Works

2012-01-13T09:11:00.001-05:00

In need of a refresher on making macarons, last night I took a class at DessertTruck Works. The recipe we learned was different than the one I was taught at One Girl Cookies, so I'm eager to try it out at home and see if I can replicate the results. (Because the directions specify to let the macarons dry out for several hours before baking, the shells we filled and we took home were baked in advance and swapped in for the ones we piped onto Silpat.)

I was reminded of how adorable DessertTruck Works is; we rarely get to the rather inaccessible Lower East Side any more.

A Running Update

2012-01-09T09:38:00.005-05:00

Because Embarrassment of Riches has come to be my protracted love letter to New York City, I'd be remiss to leave out mention of the times I'm most head-over-heels for it: while running. I post more infrequently about running than I used to, but that doesn't mean I've hung up my sneakers. Far from it - I'm pounding the pavement six days a week.

It's difficult for me to blog about running. I'm actually a private person for having so public an online presence, and running is probably the closest to practicing religion I'll ever come. It's my outlet when I'm upset or anxious, and because I've stopped listening to music during my runs, I have nothing but my own thoughts to occupy my time. A lot of problems get worked out in those 50 minutes. It's also the only time during my waking hours that the cruel inner voice is silenced and I am at peace with my body. During every run I am struck by a profound sense of gratitude that my legs can easily carry me for miles. Weight, stretch marks, and pant size seem inconsequential by comparison.

There are also practical considerations that have kept me from blogging about running. I can't capture the pre-dawn majesty of the Manhattan skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge without lugging my giant DSLR along with me. Words can't convey the comfort of repetition I've come to know: passing the same jovial old man on his way to work, the vendor unloading palettes of fruit, the woman with the chihuahua. How can I explain the gut-flipping terror at seeing a shadowy figure standing a few feet off the running trail in Prospect Park at 4:45 in the morning? Or the rage at nearly being hit by a careless driver on nearly every single run (hence the morbid, but hopefully not necessary, new Road ID pictured above)?

Two summers ago, I logged so many miles that my pelvis snapped in two places, without warning. Like someone deceived by the person they love most, I've looked at running with suspicious sidelong glances ever since. It has taken me a long time to trust again: the damage to my psyche lingered far longer than the impact on my bones. Now I can finally run without that niggling fear that my bones will betray me. Thankfully, with running, the capacity for improvement is astonishing. On Saturday, we completed our first of many weekly long runs leading up to our spring marathon. The miles seemed to tick by easily, a suspicion confirmed afterward by my Garmin GPS watch: all ten were equally swift. As I ate my post-run pretzel croissant in the only-just-opened City Bakery, I felt a sense of accomplishment that carried me through the rest of the day. Make no mistake about it: in running, much like in life, there are tough spells too. It's not all rainbows and unicorns. But those good times make the ride worth it.

A Cheesy 2012

2012-01-03T14:45:00.017-05:00

I eat like a (vegetarian) bird, run at least 6 miles a day, sock money away into retirement savings, overtip at restaurants, and smile at strangers, so I allow myself to make rather frivlous resolutions come January 1. Last year's was to always have polish on my fingernails. (Society-bettering my resolutions are not.) This year's is to develop and implement a cheese review process.

From top to bottom: Roomano, Roncal, Saintalin, and Casatica di Bufala on a Crate and Barrel slate accompanied by walnuts and Mitica sunflower honey

It just so happens that we stayed in on New Year's Eve with a plate of selections from Murray's, so while technically these varieties were consumed in 2011 (I was in bed well before midnight), I'm getting a jump on this year's resolution:
Because I only shop at stores that allow customers to sample cheese before buying it, it's a rare day that I end up taking home a cheese I dislike. (You won't see any tasting notes on Truffle Tremor from this girl. Goat cheese won't grace my cheese slate often, either.) Therefore, my rating scale is meant to distinguish the cheeses I merely liked from the ones I absolutely adored.

Resolutions are made to be broken, but it's safe to say that I'll stick to my plan of consuming and reviewing many, many types of cheese in 2012.

2011 Wrap-Up

2011-12-28T12:37:00.005-05:00

Because of the recency effect, I can't help but think mostly of our fall haunts when naming favorites. It's hard to believe that two vegetarians would choose a restaurant called Prime Meats as the year's most beloved spot, but there's plenty on the menu to keep us happy. Also gratifying is the same warm, laid-back vibe we love so much from older sibling Frankies Spuntino. Our top bar of 2011 is a no-brainer. Henry Public is sun-filled and sleepy during weekend brunch but dim and packed on any given night. No matter what time we visit, we walk out proclaiming it our favorite bar. I love the ancient cash register, the knowledgeable bartenders, and the old-timey decor. Wonderful meals were also had at the following new restaurants: Tertulia (tapas, West Village), Barboncino (pizza, Crown Heights), Danji (Korean, Hells Kitchen), Chuko (ramen, Prospect Heights), Edi & the Wolf (Austrian, East Village), and Buvette (French, West Village).I expanded my culinary horizons first with ketchup (to think I missed out on 31 years of fries without this condiment!) and then the wild world of beets. They aren't the slimy, stinky vegetable I had imagined them to be. I probably would have tried them earlier had it not been for restaurants' penchant to pair them with goat cheese, which I find vile.My tastes in liquor have evolved quite a bit: in college you would find Bartles and James wine coolers in my fridge if you peeked inside. I graduated to cosmopolitans and chocolate martinis, then shaken gin cocktails. This past year I developed a strong preference for spirit-forward drinks. No fruit juice. No sweet liqueurs. Preferably with rye whiskey.Bill Cunningham New York was one of the few movies we saw on the big screen (we're theater-averse), and well worth it. It's available on Netflix instant and hulu for free (for US residents) - now you have no excuse not to watch it. I've finally come around to Wilco after years of indifference; I still can't stop listening to The Whole Love. (Admittedly, I haven't kept up on new albums.) And Michael Crummey's epic novel Galore, set in Newfoundland and spanning decades, kicked off my whale obsession. Personal highlights of 2011 included a trip to Paris, a promotion, our move from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and the incredible real-life bonds I began to form with several gals thanks to blogging. (That striped dress is apparently my warm-weather staple. How embarrassing.) In 2012 I hope to make a triumphant return to marathoning and start graduate school (I'm registered for entrance exams in January, eeek).

My fondest memories from 2011 include seeing myself On The Street and in print, ferrying out to Governors Island for the Jazz Age Lawn Party and the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, visiting the Rockaways for the first time, burning myself out on macarons, and leaving my heart in San Francisco.

Thank you for your readership this past year. You have no idea how much it means to me.

Photo credits: Prime Meats, Henry Public, Tertulia, Barboncino, Danji, Chuko, Edi & the Wolf, Buvette, beets, whiskey, Bill Cunningham.

Christmas lights in Dyker Heights

2011-12-24T13:08:00.003-05:00

Day 17 of the advent calendar had us visiting the southernmost part of Brooklyn to view Dyker Heights' famed Christmas lights. Shawn was absolutely enthralled by the neighborhood's most over-the-top houses; I found them to be garish displays of wastefulness and excess (bah humbug!).

Many more wonderful pictures of the Dyker Heights lights can be found over on one of my favorite blogs, We Heart New York.

Some of the other advent calendar gifts in the past few days included a donation to one of our favorite charities, Furever Dachshund Rescue, and tickets to see the American Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker (my favorite rendition of it yet) at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. And with that, I'm wrapping up my Christmas-themed posts (I don't know about you, but I am exhausted by the subject).

Have a safe and happy holiday - I'll be back early next week.

NYC Diary: Amanda of Slow Like Honey

2011-12-22T16:19:00.004-05:00

Although I love sharing my favorite NYC places, my friends are also a wealth of knowledge, which is why I'm starting a new feature on Embarrassment of Riches: NYC Diary. Each week one of my favorite people will spill their city secrets. First up is Amanda of the lifestyle and baking blog Slow Like Honey. We became friends a while back on Twitter, and I'm happy to say we now meet up regularly in real life for coffee, cocktails, sample sales, and dinners.

Thanks for playing, Amanda!

Eat It: Mille-feuille's croissants

2011-12-21T12:11:00.003-05:00

I discarded a lot of sub-par pastries in Paris last April. Parisian patisseries should really be ashamed of themselves.
While Paris's croissants are on a downslide, New York's offerings are looking up. While the specimens in the city's generic grab-and-go spots taste like defrosted, day-old Sara Lee, the croissants at Ceci-Cela and La Maison du Macaron are pretty good. Almondine and Balthazar Bakery's are a tier down, but will do in a pinch.

The very best croissants I've had in New York (or anywhere, for that matter, because Paris's were so disappointing) are at a newish bakery called Mille-feuille in Greenwich Village. They are fresh and crisp and soft and buttery. I normally don't like almond croissants because they are traditionally made with day-old pastries. But Shawn's croissant aux amandes (pictured above) at Mille-feuille was a revelation. If I hadn't had my own marvelous pain au chocolate, I would have been jealous.

They take credit cards (no minimum!), sell delicious macarons, and have soy milk. Plus, the owner is incredibly nice. Once it's nice again, I foresee many croissant breakfasts in nearby Washington Square Park.

Deck The Halls

2011-12-19T14:41:00.007-05:00

Until Friday, I had yet to visit a holiday market in this city that impressed me. The majority of the merchandise strikes me as either too precious (put a bird on it!) or too crunchy. I am just not a fan of crafty things.

Deck the Halls, a collection of merchants housed in a former public school on the corner of Prince and Mott Streets, was mercifully free of twee. It's definitely worth a visit.

City Grit was selling all sorts of delicious food, including this hot buttered rum mix that I'm dying to try. They were also serving up $7 cups of mulled wine.

BKLYN Dry Goods had the raddest brass bookends, plus Pendleton blankets and all sorts of clothes perfect for my urban woodsman.The American Vernacular sold the sweetest vintage pieces, including a little navy number with rope trim (so nautical!) that I knew I'd kick myself for not buying.

My only quibble? After being greeted by the third shop-tender to breathlessly announce "everything is made in Brooklyn," I stopped feigning interest and instead tried desperately not to roll my eyes. I mean, COME ON.

Deck the Halls is open daily from 12 - 8 through December 22.

Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows: Part 3

2011-12-18T09:07:00.006-05:00

What the windows on the 58th Street side of Bergdorf Goodman lacked in glitz or humor, they made up for in sentimenality: I knew Shawn would love the photography theme. He has recently taken a shine to large-format photography, so this display really resonated with him.

Shawn, ever the glutton for punishment, took his Hasselblad medium-format film camera when we visited Bergdorf Goodman last Wednesday night. He has the patience of a saint (after all, it's why he is able to be married to me) because he somehow managed several beautiful shots of these windows, despite the fact that we were in Midtown during rush hour. I looked nervously on as there were almost fisticuffs with the iPhone "photographer" he gently tapped on the shoulder to move out of his frame.

Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows: Part 2

2011-12-16T14:13:00.008-05:00

Bergdorf Goodman's men's store, across Fifth Avenue from their flagship, has some pretty phenomenal holiday windows of their own: masculine, sometimes creepy, always clever.

P.S. It's hard to believe two years have passed since I blogged about their Fantastic Mr. Fox windows.

How the Grinch Warmed Up to Christmas

2011-12-14T09:51:00.006-05:00

My fondest holiday memory as a child was placing the tiny plastic lights in my mother's ceramic Christmas tree, which was handed down to her from her grandmother. I loved making sure the colors alternated - that no one color repeated itself too soon. I have talked about that tree ad nauseum, but haven't seen it in years - it's in storage at my parent's house in northern Michigan.

And...cue the tears. This is where I get misty. Shawn had been scouring ebay, with help from my Mom via email and texts, to find me my very own ceramic tree. I had no idea what he was up to til I came home yesterday to it sitting on our mantel. I'm shocked that he was able to keep it a secret. It's a Christmas miracle!

The timing was pretty incredible: just yesterday I had posted about the advent calendar I made for Shawn. This December, I've sat out the sample sales and resisted the enticements of e-tailers because I've enjoyed delighting Shawn instead. Besides, I have everything I could ever want anyway - including, now, a ceramic Christmas tree.

The 24 Days of Christmas

2011-12-13T13:33:00.006-05:00

While I like the lead-up to Christmas about as much as your average American (with occasional forays into Grinch-dom), my husband downright adores the holiday season. This year was the first that I had gotten my act together in time to make an advent calendar for him. (The apparent absence of a biological clock doesn't mean I can't funnel that spare maternal energy toward Shawn and our dog.)

Let me tell you, making 24 various-sized paper trees for our mantle was (and continues to be) a labor of love. I used a cone template, PaperSource's gold and silver glitter wrapping paper, and their recommended Super Tacky Tape. (Each tree has a number, fashioned from a pipe cleaner, sticking out of the point at the top.) Every morning, "Santa" wakes up and painstakingly re-tapes half of the trees, because PaperSource lies.

2011 also happened to be the first time we bought a full-sized, freshly-cut tree. Our old ornaments were misplaced in the move, and because they always trimmed a small table-top fake, they were probably too diminutive for this year's tree anyway. Conveniently, the advent calendar has been a good way to populate our bare fir. I've loved picking out meaningful ornaments:

The advent gifts aren't necessarily ornaments, though. Sometimes, the present of the day is a few sea-salt caramels or macarons (counterproductive to our supposed diet). Once, it was a batch of Shawn's favorite homemade sugar cookies. As Christmas approaches, I have a few experiences up my sleeve: yesterday, it was a note saying we'd be meeting after work for a hot cocktail. Not wanting to scoop myself, I won't mention what I have in store for the remaining 11 days, but as you can imagine, Christmas in NYC affords us plenty of options!

Warby Parker Holiday Spectacle Bazaar

2011-12-12T06:26:00.006-05:00

Shawn and I have a running joke - nearly every time I put on my scratched-beyond-repair $5 sidewalk aviators, I vow that "today will be the day I buy a new pair of sunglasses." Shawn, convinced I enjoy this refrain too much to actually make good on my assertion, grumbles "I'll believe it when I see it."

Goodness knows I've tried on enough pairs - none of them have been quite right (I'm like the Goldilocks of sunglasses). When I visited the Warby Parker Holiday Spectacle Bazaar in Soho on Saturday, I didn't expect to walk away with sunglasses, but that's exactly what I did. While they're certainly more expensive than the ones for sale on folding tables in Soho, they're still cheaper than Ray Bans (and a pair goes to someone in need when you buy yours). Prescription glasses and non-prescription sunglasses are $95; prescription sunglasses are a bit more expensive - around $150, as I recall. I bought the Everett (non-prescription) sunglasses in the gimlet tortoise color (also seen here). Shawn is going back for the Spencers.

Since last March, I've worn my prescription Miles glasses quite a bit. They've stood the test of time - after trying on frames Saturday for fun, I decided on my favorite pair then glanced at their style name - still the Miles!

If you can visit the pop-up before it closes on January 9th, I highly recommend you do. Try on frames to your heart's content, enjoy free wi-fi, grab a La Columbe coffee, and take advantage of the events going on daily. It's located on Grand Street between West Broadway and Thompson.

Spotted first over on one of my favorite blogs, Hither & Thither.

First (film) photo by my husband Shawn; the rest are by me.

Swinging in Central Park

2011-12-11T20:05:00.001-05:00

It had been a long time since I'd set foot in Central Park (last March), and even longer since I'd enjoyed a swing set (2006, to be exact). The former is pretty fabulous once you get past the tourists and hotdog carts and tacky souvenir stands. The latter is also wonderful - exhilarating, even - after you stop thinking about how many hundreds of dirty hands have also gripped those chains. (Did you know I'm a germaphobe?)

I'll be singing a different tune in January, but right now I love the chill that has settled in New York this past week. It means morning runs free of sweat, hot alcoholic beverages, and pulling my winter jacket (similar here) out of storage.

Shawn's New Exhibit

2011-12-09T15:51:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, during a run on one of our lesser-traveled routes, I noticed that the marquee of the Brooklyn Heights Cinema didn't just advertise the movie show times: the name of the artist holding a photography exhibit was also prominently displayed. I thought "huh, how cool" and kept running. Shawn must have noticed it too, because a week or so later he revealed that he had secured a show there! (How's that for initiative?)

Last Friday he hung sixteen 12x12 Hasselblad prints (many of the ones used for his Habana Outpost exhibit, with a few new images) and his name promptly went up on the marquee.

The Brooklyn Heights Cinema is steps from the Clark Street subway stop (on the 2 and 3 lines). You'd pass it on your way to Jane's Carousel, Brooklyn Bridge Park, or Grimaldi's, so if you're in the neighborhood, keep your eyes peeled! It runs through December.

Post-prosecco Trader Joe's run

2011-12-09T09:42:00.003-05:00

Fueled by prosecco from the grand opening of the Flatiron L'Occitane flagship and clutching the adorable tote thrust at me on the way out the door, I made an unplanned detour to Trader Joe's on my way to the sub home.It was blissfully uncrowded at the late, late hour of 9 PM, so I wandered up and down each aisle, cooing over all of the new products (I hadn't been in months). I was buzzed and hungry, so I ended up with these impulse purchases:

The speculoos spread has the texture of peanut butter, but the taste is 100% graham cracker. Fleur de sel caramel sauce was a gamble that paid off: it's delicious. And the chocolate-covered potato chips were really for Shawn, who always hopes (but never expects) I'll bring a sweet treat home after a night out with Usha.

A day in the West Village

2011-12-08T11:56:00.005-05:00

After a self-imposed, sporadically-enforced Manhattan boycott (in October and November, closed subway lines made getting to the city, particularly the west side, a trying experience), we spent a day strolling around the West Village this past weekend. It has everything: quaint streets, beautiful townhomes to gawk at, lots of shops and restaurants, an occasional celebrity sighting, and proximity to the High Line and Chelsea Market. The West Village is where I urge NYC visitors to make sure they don't miss.

My Current West Village Favorites

Street to window-shop on: Bleeker between Hudson and 7th Avenue

To nip into for a drink (nearly any time!): Spasso or Joseph Leonard

Specialty store: Sockerbit (Scandinavian candy), The Meadow (salt, bitters, chocolate)

Meal: Frankies 570 or The Spotted Pig

The Standard's Ice Rink

2011-12-06T12:23:00.002-05:00

The Meatpacking District's Standard Hotel has reopened their ice-skating rink, and I'm tickled it is getting more play than it did last year, when the ice was desolate every time I passed it.

I, however, was not tempted to hit the ice myself. All it takes is a little thing like a broken hip to swear off high-risk sporting activities (running nonwithstanding). Instead, I tried not to look creepy as I took pictures from the sidelines and mentally calculated whether there was any room left in my stomach for a crepe (or at least a bourbon-spiked hot chocolate).

After the fact: Sol LeWitt's Structures

2011-12-05T09:13:00.002-05:00

How's this for bad blogging? For months, Brooklyn Bridge Park was filled with art by Sol LeWitt. I dragged my feet and went on the exhibit's last day, and frantically took pictures as darkness descended. Now I'm finally sharing these shots with you, but if they pique your interest, you're out of luck - show's over. (Actually, on my run across the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday morning, I spied several of the structures intact still.)

Brooklyn Bridge Park occupies a special place in my heart, because it's where Shawn and I ate cupcakes and took pictures after our City Hall wedding in 2005. At the time, the grounds were filled with art by Julian Opie. In the 2+ years we've lived here, we've enjoyed seeing the sculptures that that shuffled through, and found Sol LeWitt's work to be particularly beautiful.

Fall cocktails at Spasso

2011-11-29T08:54:00.002-05:00

On weekend afternoons and the rare early release day from work (like last Friday, when this shot was taken), it can be difficult to find a restaurant willing to let patrons sit outside - prime real estate on an unseasonably warm day - and just have a drink or two. Spasso has never let us down in this regard - there are always available sidewalk tables and they don't mind our liquid diet.

I've been leaning towards whiskey-based cocktails of late; my favorite fall drink there, the Tucci, contains rye, Nocino, and bitters. Shawn's choice, the Sinatra, was made with gin, Campari, and dry vermouth.

If hunger strikes and their kitchen is open, Spasso's house-made stracciatella cheese (above) is divine, as is their buttery, mascarpone-laced polenta.

Home Improvements

2011-11-22T09:08:00.005-05:00

Since our move this summer, I've been steadily accumulating items from my wishlist:

I thought I had missed the boat on this mirrored West Elm stool, but lo and behold it popped back up on their website during their side table sale. Currently it serves as my night stand.

Sometimes I'll take the scenic route to work so that I can pop in to Jamali Floral & Garden Supplies. I've been looking for a cloche to sit atop my dressing room island, and Jamali had the perfect one for under $30.

It only took a few hours (and several burns) to iron trim (purchased from another favorite shop, Manhattan Wardrobe Supply) onto the plain white Ikea drapes in our bedroom.

We're trying to build our liquor collection back up by repurchasing some of our favorites. (The decanter, filled with Old Overholt rye, was a find from our trip to Hudson, NY).

This inexpensive Target sunburst mirror is a work in progress (I've yet to glue circular mirrored tiles over the capiz shells), but overall I'm happy with its spot above our living room fireplace.

We have more work ahead: switching out light fixtures, choosing and framing art, perhaps even painting (with landlord approval, of course!). With so much inspiration out there and endless directions we could take the place in, I often get overwhelmed - am I alone in feeling this way?

Targets of My Ire

2011-11-18T10:40:00.005-05:00

Surprise! This isn't my semi-regular Recent Loves feature. I have so much to be thankful for, and there are plenty of things I'm happy to gush about. Alas, sometimes life's little aggravations get under my skin more than they should. Here are three of them:

1. The Marriage Plot was probably the most pretentious, tedious novel I have ever slogged all the way through. I don't know if I'm more disappointed in Jeffrey Eugenides or myself (for foolishly holding out hope that my efforts would ultimately be rewarded).
2. The going rate for a tall soy gingerbread latte here in NYC is over five dollars, but I have yet to have a barista make it correctly. I've decided to end this exercise in frustration and stop patronizing Starbucks.
3. It is generally understood that macarons are colorful, delicate French cookies and macaroons are rather unattractive lumps of coconut and egg whites. One could argue that the two names are interchangeable, but why be difficult? Especially in writing, leave out the extra "o" if you're referring to the former.

Photos: 1, 2, 3a, 3b

Beecher's Handmade Cheese

2011-11-16T08:40:00.001-05:00

There's enough room in this town for more than one cheese shop (though my heart will always belong to Murray's). Beecher's recently expanded beyond their Pike Place Market location in Seattle and opened a massive branch in the Flatiron District.

They are generous with samples and their recommendations have been spot on (plus, you can watch them make their signature cheeses!). Recently we walked out with Consider Bardwell Farm's Dorset (similar to my beloved Hudson Red, which they also carry), Hot Bread Kitchen lavash, and Liddabits salted caramels.

Saturday at the Union Square Greenmarket

2011-11-15T16:05:00.000-05:00

The Union Square Greenmarket never disappoints...it's one of my favorite things to do in NYC.

Hudson, New York

2011-11-14T10:17:00.001-05:00

While kicking around ideas for a day trip (using Hither & Thither as inspiration), it was surprisingly easy to settle on Hudson, New York. The draw? Not the town's world-class antique shops or buzzed-about new restaurants. Turns out, all a place has to do is slap some whales on their street signs and we're there. We've had a longstanding obsession with all things nautical, but thanks to Galore and Moby Dick, we're now particularly enamored of these giant mammals.

Hudson was as quaint and lovely as we had hoped it would be. We wandered up and down Warren Street, popping in and out of shops and breaking to eat (pizza at Baba Louie's and sweets at Cafe la Perche). On the shopping front, I scored my dream cut-glass decanter for our bar cart and picked up the most delicious salted rosemary shortbread cookies.

In a case of great minds thinking alike, Natalie (who I met last week) and I just missed each other!

Recipe for the perfect Saturday

2011-11-12T22:13:00.002-05:00

One of our favorite places to nip into for a drink is the Gramercy Tavern. The strength of this restaurant is their handsome bar area, which manages to feel grand but welcoming at the same time.

My cocktail of choice this winter is the Old Pal: essentially a negroni with rye instead of gin. After an early-morning run and errands (including a trip to the Union Square Greenmaket), it hit the spot.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Forcella on the Bowery

2011-11-10T09:36:00.002-05:00

When our dinner plans in Nolita fell through last night, I had to think fast to come up with an alternate spot that was both new to us and would be open at the odd hour of 5:30. Forcella fit the bill. It's a gorgeous (and huge) space near our oft-visited favorites (Peels and Hecho) on the Bowery.

Fancying ourselves disciplined, we skipped their buzzed-about fried pizza and split the more virtuous margherita pie. (Later, one cocktail in at PDT, we ordered tater tots. Whoops.) We agreed the pizza ranks right up there near Paulie Gee's, Keste, and Roberta's. Once their liquor license comes through, it'll really be killer there.

Revisiting the Brooklyn Flea

2011-11-08T09:53:00.001-05:00

Early Saturday morning, we found ourselves awake, showered, and rarin' to go, with no engagements on our social calendar until the afternoon. We settled on breakfast at Roman's, a gorgeous little restaurant in Fort Greene I've been wanting to try. From there, we wandered over to the Brooklyn Flea, where vendors were setting up their booths.

The early bird got the worm: when I spotted the very bar cart from my wish list, I made a beeline toward it and held on for dear life. As an afterthought, I looked at the price tag. Ninety dollars for the bar cart of my dreams, the likes of which were selling for ten times that on 1st Dibs. I wanted to hug the merchant, who not only set the price at such a reasonable number when he knew he could ask for much more, but who put up with a crazed lady standing in his booth, laying claim to a bar cart, all the while looking frantically for her husband. I will be visiting Regan & Smith in Hudson New York, and I just may bring a batch of cookies with me.

Don't think I didn't relish the envious sidelong glances my cart received as I wheeled that bad boy all nine-tenths of a mile home.

Now we just need to restock our liquor supply, which we dumped down the drain in a fit of abstinence about a year ago.

Marathon Sunday 2011

2011-11-07T09:54:00.001-05:00

I was giddy with anticipation when I woke up yesterday morning. New York City's ING marathon is BIG. All marathons are 26.2 miles, but this one somehow seems longer (it snakes through all five boroughs!). It's certainly more crowded than the two marathons I've run, and it starts much later - many NYC runners don't even begin the race until lunchtime.

On my dinky six mile run yesterday morning, the tears started welling. I spent all of Marathon Sunday fighting them back. The feeling of conquering 26.2 miles is indescribable, and yesterday I remembered it more vividly than usual. Unlike last year, I wasn't feeling sorry for myself. I was, however, feeling a strong pull toward running another marathon - the first time I've really had the desire to since I cracked my pelvis.

So, for the third year in a row, Starbucks in hand, we staked out our usual marathon spectating spot. Our home is now only a block away from the route and a quick walk to Mile 8, where we've always watched from.

At Mile 8, the majority of runners look good, but they still have a long journey ahead of them. (I like to look up results using bib numbers of the participants I took pictures of and see their finishing times.) I know I have more marathons in me, but I don't think New York City is one of them: I like spectating for it too much.

Mia Chef Gelateria

2011-11-04T09:55:00.001-04:00

After moving offices, I found myself in dangerously close proximity to Mia Chef Gelateria, a recently-opened cafe in Murray Hill. Sometimes I'll stop in for one of their killer soy chai lattes on my way in to work, but usually I find myself walking down Third Ave after lunch (Shawn has even come into Manhattan just to meet me there).

{Almond Joy and Ferraro Rocher}

{Cap'n Crunch and Reese's Peanut Butter Cup}

There are usually about a dozen flavors available, and if you so much as glance at any of them, the next thing you know, a generous sample will have materialized before you. I love that you can get two flavors with even their smallest cup, and most days there is a deal on LivingSocial or Groupon to offset the (admittedly high) cost a bit. In addition to the usual suspects (pistachio, stracciatella), Mia Chef has exotic flavors like Cap'n Crunch, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Nutella, Snickers, and Nilla Wafer. There is no shortage of good gelato in this city (il laboratorio del gelato, Eataly, Stellina, and Brooklyn Larder are my other favorites), but there's always room for more.

People-Watching on Halloween

2011-11-02T06:13:00.001-04:00

Last year, after nearly being crushed to death during the Halloween Parade, we swore we'd stick to the outskirts in the future. On Monday, we committed to staying east of 7th Avenue. MacDougal Street, normally one of Manhattan's rowdiest anyway, made for some great people-watching.

Halloween: The Royal Tenenbaums

2011-11-01T12:57:00.000-04:00

Shawn, er, Richie and I met after work last night at Shake Shack before heading down to Greenwich Village. On my own, I was virtually unrecognizable as Margot. Once together as the Tenenbaum siblings, fans of the Wes Anderson movie "got" it and we heard many appreciative murmurs.

Halloween parade pictures to follow...

Scenes from my weekend

2011-10-31T08:40:00.002-04:00

My folks were in town Friday and Saturday, and we managed to pack a lot in despite the dreadful snow storm. We dined at Otto, Frankies 570, Eataly's Birreria, and Craftbar; they bounced back and forth between their midtown hotel, Park Slope (us), Astoria (my brother), and several neighborhoods in between.Black-bottom oatmeal pie from Four & Twenty Blackbirds, a gruesome window on Bleeker Street, a score from my local Target (on sale!), seen on Court Street yesterday, and prosecco from Eataly's Birreria.

(Not So) Recent Loves - Makeup Edition

2011-10-27T16:35:00.002-04:00

Inspired by Jill's post, I got to thinking about the beauty products of my youth. One of my earliest memories was painting "eyeshadow" (actually nailpolish) onto my brother's lids and watching the ensuing freak-out by the grown-ups present. My obsession with makeup began in earnest when I was 8 or 9; many a summer vacation was spent gawking at the magical array of cosmetics in Lake City, Michigan's little drug store.

Sadly, I only have my photographic memory to rely upon, as these were the late 80s and the internet wasn't around yet to document every lovely color and packaging innovation (remember the Cover Girl nail polish bottle that tipped on its edge?). Here are a few blasts from the past that I could find images of:

1. I loved my Caboodles makeup case (mine was pale pink and lilac), but the true novelty was the company's soap dish - a large, colorful cube that opened up to reveal a perforated tray. A globe-shaped scrubber brush rested in the top.
2. Remember Maybelline Shine Free cosmetics? I had one of those little eye shadow compacts (the color was a hideous metallic denim blue).
3. Buf Puf's marketing totally did the trick - I was a sucker for their advertising.
4. Perfume was discouraged in my household, but I coveted Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth from afar and tried to get my hands on every ex-cla'ma-tion magazine scent strip I could.
5. You'd better believe I owned a tube of Pepto-Bismol pink Zinka.
6. I far preferred Maybelline's Kissing Koolers to their cousin, Kissing Potion.

Honorable mention goes to Max Factor's blue facial mask (it dried from dark blue to light) and Clarion's state-of-the-art touch-screen computer system.

Cheeses of France Pop-Up Shop

2011-10-25T10:57:00.004-04:00

For one day only, the space on Mulberry Street that hosted Park Here (remember that? fun times) was home to a cheese pop-up shop (be still my heart!). The Cheeses of France Marketing Council took over Openhouse Gallery this past Saturday, and our visit happened to coincide perfectly with lunch. (There were so many free samples that I walked out stuffed.)

The prices were astounding: we ended up with five large chunks of fromage (including Comte, a favorite of mine, and Mimolette,a favorite of the cheese mites) for only $26.

Scenes from my weekend

2011-10-24T10:10:00.002-04:00

This weekend I found a new contender for city's best French toast (at Northern Spy Food Co.), wandered around in Nolita and Soho, met up with a fellow blogger for coffee, shoe-shopped, tended to my still-sick husband, had the namesake cocktail at Goat Town, and ran. How was your weekend?

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

2011-10-21T14:41:00.002-04:00

1. Nothing says fall like a chilly run with leaves crunching beneath my feet. (Such a welcome change from sweltering summer runs.)

2. My favorite autumnal tradition is the first Starbucks gingerbread latte of the season (in a holiday cup no less)!
3. My favorite fall treat is anything involving pumpkin (last year's recipe roundup can be found here).

4. Fall makes me think of my years as a teacher because autumn was synonymous with dread back then!

5. Autumn free-form word association, go! Leaves, apple picking (below), pumpkins, politics, boots, marathons.
6. My go-to outfit in the fall is skinny pants, boots, leather jacket, and a scarf. (The is also my go-to outfit in the spring.)

7. My favorite fall holiday is Halloween. Thanksgiving stresses me out: the travel, the gluttony, the incessant yammering about turkey.Two years ago I dressed as the Morton's Salt Girl. My props came in handy: the "salt" (a repurposed Quaker Oats cylinder) was my purse; my umbrella protected me from rain that night!

Find the fill-in-the-blank Friday questions every week on the little things we do and play along why don't you?

Sephora's Sensorium

2011-10-21T11:02:00.002-04:00

Usha and I meet regularly after work on Thursdays for dinner, but last night, we mixed it up. We rendezvoused at Crispo (because I happened to remember they have splits of prosecco there for $10 a bottle) and then headed to Sephora's "Sensorium" on 14th Street (right around the corner from their new Meatpacking store). After walking through a small exhibit, we bellied up to the "fragrance bar" to experience scents without the influence of advertising or bottle design.

We smelled dozens of fragrances and I was somewhat horrified to learn that my favorite of the bunch was Jennifer Aniston's new perfume. While I like the idea of blindly sampling scents, I'm no fool: I know that the bulk of their pricetag comes from marketing. If the fragrance industry is going to funnel so much money into endorsement deals, packaging design, and PR, out of spite for these practices I'm not going to buy a new perfume on smell alone.

One of the conversations the Sensorium prompted between Usha and me was about the transportative power of scent. Petite Cherie reminds me of college; Kiehls Coriander is what I wore my first year of teaching middle school. Calypso St. Barth Mimosa conjures up memories of visiting New York City, because I bought it during a trip here back in 2002. When Shawn and I separated and I moved out, I only had room to take one fragrance - a tiny Juicy Couture roll-on - and I rarely wear it now because it reminds me of sad times. Do certain fragrances take you back to a specific time or place in your life?

Store Front Walking Tour

2011-10-19T21:49:00.001-04:00

One of my first memories of living in Manhattan: when browsing books at St. Marks Bookshop, Shawn pointed to a massive tome entitled Store Front: the Disappearing Face of New York and exclaimed “THIS is the book I was telling you about. I want it so badly!” We stood there, flipping through the unwrapped display copy, taking in the photographs of businesses we hadn’t yet encountered because we were so new to the city.

For a while, every time we were in a bookstore, Shawn would visit Store Front in the same way that I always spray the tester of Chloe fragrance at Sephora. Store Front no doubt piqued Shawn's interest in photography (something he picked up only after moving to New York) and influenced his aesthetic: he is drawn to the same facades James and Karla Murray documented in their book, including Block Pharmacy, Moishe's, and Mars Bar. The first time James and Karla commented on one of Shawn’s pictures on Flickr, he was beside himself with excitement.

As luck would have it, a few days before James and Karla’s first-ever walking tour, I happened to notice mention of it in Time Out New York. There was still space available when I called the Lower East Side History Project, so our plans for Sunday afternoon were set. Shawn packed his Hasselblad; I took the D90.
For almost three hours, we learned the most fascinating things about the East Village. We had no idea, for example, that neon signs were so temperamental and expensive to maintain, or that that the recent prohibition of hanging meats in windows drove at least one butcher out of business. James and Karla got to know many of store owners whose shops they were documenting; they relayed the tales of their struggles with landlords, crime, and asinine Department of Health regulations to us on Sunday. More than half of the stores they shot have since closed.

Also remarkable to hear about was the process of photographing each storefront (James and Karla shot film, not digital, and the images are composites – amazing when you consider that Photoshop was in its infancy at the time and therefore not something they utilized).

For a few hours on Sunday, listening to these esteemed photographers, we might as well have been those starry-eyed kids in St. Marks Bookshop. We were experiencing an only-in-New-York moment, walking around East Village with the artists who, as Shawn asserts, produced the most important book about NYC in the last quarter-century.

Touring Murray's Cheese Caves

2011-10-18T09:31:00.002-04:00

We've always wanted to take a class at our favorite cheese shop, so when Murray's announced discounted tours of their cheese caves, I wasted no time in signing us up. After reading the controversial Times piece on affinage (the practice of ripening cheese), I was more curious than ever to see what all of the fuss was about.

Little did I know when I registered us that our $15-a-person fee would include a glass of cava and a tasting of several cave-aged cheeses in Murray's classroom. Forget the caves: we were thrilled to finally be in the windowed space overlooking the entire store, with curious shoppers gazing up at us as we enjoyed our cheese and wine. How many times had we been to Murray's and jealously noted what fun the "students" in the classroom were having? I now know: it truly is as much fun as it looks from below.

The caves themselves were a series of walk-in refrigerators, each kept at a different temperature and humidity level for the types of cheese they contained. It was fascinating to hear about the interns who brush off the cheese mites and brine the washed-rind cheeses with a foot-shaped scrubber. Because we weren't allowed to bring any belongings with us into the caves (in fact, we had to don hairnets, shoe covers, and lab coats), I don't have any shots from that part of class. You'll just have to take a tour yourself!As for the cheese we tasted, I have two new favorites: Little Big Apple, a bloomy, triple cream cheese wrapped in apple tree leaves from Brooklyn, and Epoisses, a washed-rind cheese that wasn't nearly as stinky as I had feared (I think that has a lot to do with how Murray's cares for it).

Scenes from my weekend

2011-10-17T21:08:00.001-04:00

We did our fair share of eating (at Dirt Candy, Barboncino, and Peels) and drinking (at Angel's Share and Spasso) this weekend, not to mention running (twice on Saturday! we're badass) and napping. These shots aren't of any of those pursuits.

And of course there was our tour of the cheese caves at Murray's and our walk through the East Village with the astonishingly talented and kind James and Karla Murray. Posts about both of those activities later this week...

How was your weekend?

Brides White Hot Style Shop

2011-10-16T08:52:00.002-04:00

As I was walking down Broome Street in Soho yesterday on my way to meet Shawn in Greenwich Village, I passed the Brides White Hot Style Shop pop-up. The sweet event volunteers out front convinced me to check it out despite the fact that I'm already married. There were mini cupcakes being passed on trays, hair and makeup trials, dress try-ons, and goody bags. As you can see, I spent the bulk of my time there near the cakes.

Today is the last day of the event, so if you happen to be in Soho and have a hankering for mini cupcakes, scoot on over to 477 Broome. (Admission is free.)

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

2011-10-14T17:22:00.003-04:00

1. The most selfless thing I've ever done was teach middle school.

2. When it comes to working out I am very focused on running, to the exclusion of weights, biking, yoga, pilates, and aerobics classes. I don't want a lecture about the benefits of cross-training; I found an exercise I love and I'm sticking with it.

You never see me doing jazzercise...unless it's Halloween

3. A woman should always buy her own drinks at a bar.

4. I wish I could speak French and then I'd be able to demand a fresh croissant at Parisian patisseries.

We had several stale croissants in France.

5. A best friend is someone who you can pick right back up with after life gets in the way and you fall out of touch for a bit.

6. I can't get enough of ice cream. It's still my dessert of choice, even as the temperatures cool down.

Steve's is about to open near our home. Dangerous.

7. This weekend I am going on a date with Shawn, touring the cheese caves at Murray's, and walking around the Lower East Side with the authors of Store Front: the Disappearing Face of New York.

Play along! Original questions can be found here.

Lard.

2011-10-14T10:43:00.005-04:00

(Lambs Quarters, despite sounding like meat, is actually a green. The filling of these tacos isn't the problem: their encasement is.)

Actually, vegetarians, don't get too excited: there's lard (the rendered fat of pigs) in Empellon's tortilla dough, which my server sheepishly admitted last night when I asked. That means that their chanterelle and spinach tacos, their plantain sopas, even their chips and guac are not vegetarian-safe. If you are a vegetarian (or Jewish, or Muslim), here is a handy guide to what you can eat with confidence (and hopefully a reduced appetite) at Empellon:

I don't think Empellon should modify their tortilla-making practices. Why would they? They clearly have their reasons (taste, authenticity) for using lard. Lesson learned if you're a diner: caveat emptor. Ask. Even if the menu includes some seemingly very vegetarian-friendly dishes. Even if, during your pre-meal research (I told you I'm a planner), you unearth a downright untrue tweet (which Empellon also posted to their facebook wall). In advance of dinner, I inquired (via twitter) about Empellon's use of lard and got radio silence (despite their account being quite active yesterday.) So I asked again, in person.

And fortunately, despite the poor choice of restaurant (my fault!), I enjoyed the company immensely. In this chef-worshipping, food-obsessed era we live in, the simple act of breaking bread (or, in my case last night, overpriced arugula) with friends often gets overlooked.

Recent Loves

2011-10-13T16:52:00.003-04:00

1. Burgundy Bass Wayfarer Loafers They're essential for my Halloween costume, but I need a boyish pair of fall flats anyway. Because of my germ aversion, I may skip the usually-requisite penny.

2. The Art of Fielding I hesitated to download this novel to my Kindle, because it's about baseball (a topic I don't find terribly compelling). Now that I've started, I can't put it down. (I'm even contemplating seeing Moneyball at the theater!)

3. The Brooklyn Salsa Company "Brooklyn" salsa This company makes salsa named after each of the five boroughs. I'm hard-pressed to pick a favorite, but the fiery, smooth "Brooklyn" edges out the cumin-y green "Staten Island" variety.

4. The Chicago Marathon Longtime readers may recall this was the marathon I was eagerly awaiting last year (and then my pelvis broke). Last weekend my best friend ran it, and I was anxiously checking her progress throughout. The excitement of it all made me think I may be ready to return to my marathoning ways.

5. Nars Schiap lipstick When I hit the town last week, my black boots-black jeans-black leather jacket uniform needed a punch of color, and this did the trick. It's a far cry from my usual nude gloss, so I felt conspicuous - in a good way.

6. ACF latte cups and saucers My favorite restaurants all use this brown ceramic dishware. I've been on the hunt for my own set, but the saucers with the white lips are surprisingly tough to track down.

Brooklyn's Habana Outpost

2011-10-12T10:56:00.005-04:00

Last night we visited Habana Outpost under the guise of checking in on Shawn's photography exhibit there. (In actuality, I just had a hankering for elote and plantains). As much as I like Nolita's tiny Cafe Habana (perpetual celebrity hangout* though it is), I've come to prefer the Brooklyn location (and not just because my husband's art adorns the walls). It's spacious (there's lots of outdoor seating), laid back, and insanely cheap.

We had a feast - including Kelso beer on draught - for under twenty bucks. As you can see, the restaurant is very ecologically conscious, with solar panels and a composting station.

Shawn and Joel's exhibit runs through the end of October. Visit Habana Outpost daily from noon to midnight.

*Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Matthew McConaughey, Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis...the list of famous Cafe Habana patrons goes on and on.

I'm guest-posting at explore.dream.discover!

2011-10-12T09:46:00.003-04:00

Do you read explore.dream.discover? You should! I've followed Liz, her husband, and their adorable pup Henry while they explored their home of Portland, Oregon (as documented on her blog From Portland to Peonies). Recently they took the leap and moved to Amsterdam (hence the renaming of her blog). Truly a girl after my own heart.While Liz is visiting friends and family during her first return trip to the States, I am honored to be one of her guest posters. My contribution is about the ten events I look forward to in New York City every fall.Head over there to check it out!

Scenes from my weekend

2011-10-10T09:44:00.001-04:00

Shawn was down for the count this weekend, but you'd never know it judging by these pictures. In addition to my daily 6 mile (solo) runs, I tallied up the amount of walking we did: over 7 miles each day.

We capitalized on the good weather: dinner Friday night and brunch Sunday with Lauren (at Saxon + Parole and Cafe Cluny, respectively), a picnic in Prospect Park, a visit to Four & Twenty Blackbirds for pie, shopping on Atlantic Avenue, wandering from Union Square down to Nolita, and cocktails in Cobble Hill.

How was your weekend?

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

2011-10-07T16:31:00.003-04:00

Play along, why don't you?

1. Something popular that I just don't "get" is Instagram. I find most Instagram photos to be too dark and blurry. *ducks*

2. Something unpopular that I secretly love is Toto, the band.from Hold the Line

3. When I've had a bad day I have dinner and a glass of wine waiting. If it's been truly atrocious, Shawn also buys me a cheesy gossip magazine to remind me that at least I'm not Jessica Simpson.

4. I'd prefer meeting up over cocktails to grabbing coffee any day.
It just so happened that I had drinks with a friend last night!

5. Something that makes me nervous is walking our pup. What if she slips out of her harness? Gets clipped by a turning car while we're crossing the street? Is attacked by a roving dog?

6. Something worth fighting for is marriage (gotta go with marriage here). Shawn and I guard ours very carefully.

photo by the lovely Jayna

7. When people think of me, I hope they think "aw, Kate. I just loooove her!"

Get the scoop on fill-in-the-blank Friday questions by checking out The Little Things We Do.

Visitors - My Advice to You

2011-10-07T13:22:00.004-04:00

New York City can be an overwhelming place to visit - in addition to figuring out where to eat and what to do, tourists often fret about getting lost, being mugged, and fitting in. Below are the top suggestions I've given friends and family, many gleaned only after learning some tough lessons to my wallet, my eyes, and my feet.Photo by Shawn

{click here for larger version}

NYC-dwellers and past visitors: do you agree? Would you add anything?

Madison Square Eats, fall edition

2011-10-06T09:28:00.003-04:00

The Madison Square Eats outdoor food court is fleeting, as is this nice weather, so don't miss it before both are gone. This little median filled with vendors is my idea of the perfect post-work dinner and drink spot. (It looks like it may be a bi-yearly event.)

As Shawn noted last night, this season the decor was provided by Marimekko. (This observation was met by slack-mouthed, wide-eyed incredulity. Who is this man I'm married to?)

Madison Square Eats runs through October 21 from 11 - 9 daily in Worth Square (just west of the park, to the north and eat of Eataly).

Recent Loves

2011-10-05T12:04:00.004-04:00

1. Wilco The Whole Love Album Somehow over the course of the past few years my feelings toward Wilco have shifted from mild dislike (too twangy!) to adoration. After I streamed their new album off NPR (no longer available) at work several days in a row, it seeped into my consciousness.

2. J Crew Minnie Pants True, one of my pairs split straight from the front waistband to the back waistband. (Luckily, I was in the privacy of my own home.) Temporarily swearing off J Crew, I sought other skinny professional work pants: they were all baggy in the wrong places, with unfortunate pockets. Now that I know what else is out there, I have returned to the Minnie.

3. Bobbi Brown Beach Body Oil I first tried this in shower gel form when I visited Lauren. After promptly rushing out to buy it, I've worn this clean, fresh scent nearly every day since and show no signs of growing tired of it. Beach smells primarily of classic Coppertone, with just a hint of saltwater.

4. Honeycrisp Apples The appearance of these crunchy, tart apples at the farmer's market almost make impending gloom of winter bearable. They cost a small fortune, but they're worth every penny.

5. Inslee by Design Commissions I love how this artist will make you "as skinny or as stylish or as sassy in your pose as you might imagine yourself to be." I'd want all of the above, plus a cameo by my little dachshund (who could use a virtual slimming as well).

6. Last Night on Netflix I watched it Sunday, but find myself still thinking about this film. It captured the overreactions, miscommunications, jealousies, temptations, and hardships of a marriage so much better than Blue Valentine did. There are no heroes, but I surprisingly found myself rooting for a particular resolution.

Scenes from my weekend

2011-10-03T10:21:00.004-04:00

Shawn and his friend Joel have an exhibit at Fort Greene's Habana Outpost through the end of October. Swing through the Brooklyn location of this Ryan Gosling favorite to check out their work (and grab some cheesey grilled corn-on-a-stick).
Henry Public is our hands-down favorite place right now. While working on an upcoming series based on my most beloved streets to stroll down, we popped in for a cocktail (they make a mean negroni).
I dusted off my faithful combat boots and wore my new grandpa cardigan for the first of what I'm sure will be many times. With the cooler weather comes a slightly darker haircolor as well.
Jorelemon: one of the loveliest streets to walk down, but my most dreaded to run up. It's almost San Francisco-steep. I conquered it both days this weekend.
I was captivated by the darkened Diptyque store last night. We bought the new Wilco on vinyl, stocked up on candy at Sockerbit, then had drinks at Employees Only. On our way to the sub, we took the scenic route past all of the stores on Bleeker Street.
Shawn scored zucchini squash blossoms again at our local farmer's market. Just $4 for all of these! Last time, I stuffed them with ricotta then fried them (something I never do). The house smelled like grease for days and my stomach felt like it was filled with lead.
This time, I stuffed them with ricotta again, but baked them instead (after a dredging in flour, then egg whites, then breadcrumbs). 400 degrees for 10 minutes on one side and 5 on the other did the trick. I was stunned that they turned out so well!

How was your weekend?

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

2011-09-30T11:29:00.009-04:00

Since Film Friday is on hiatus but I'm fond of structure and routine, we're playing Fill-in-the-Blank Friday today. You can find each week's questions posted on The Little Things We Do.

1. My current obsession is the task of sprucing up my work wardrobe. It's more of an anxiety than an obsession, actually, because slacks fall pretty far down on the list of Things I Like Spending Money On.

2. Friends are coming to visit next weekend! I'm so excited to see Lauren again.

(About to be) reunited and it feels so good.

3. My greatest strength is my zest for research and planning.

4. Conversely, inability to go with the flow and be spontaneous is my greatest weakness.

This is where spontaniety got me. See how ill at ease I look?

5. My life is exactly how I want it to be. I think about the paths I didn't take and feel a tremendous sense of gratitude that things turned out the way they did.

6. In high school I was preternaturally mature, which explained my bond with teachers, exasperation at most of my classmates, and my much-older boyfriend (now husband).

I'm in the middle.

7. When I'm super tired I talk gibberish and get upset when Shawn doesn't understand what seems like perfectly comprehensible speech to me.

Randomness

2011-09-30T08:47:00.004-04:00

Some shots I've taken recently...Later today: the return of Fill-in-the-Blank Friday! Play along, why don't you?

Meatpacking's new tenant

2011-09-29T09:52:00.001-04:00

The Meatpacking District's new Sephora (at 9th Avenue and 13th Street) is small as far as Sephoras go, but it's packed with delightful gimmicks (a lash bar, obscure imported cult favorites, and handheld checkout). It's also darker, glossier, and more streamlined than other Manhattan locations:I managed to snap a few pictures (after obtaining permission) before the staff realized I shouldn't be taking photos after all. I didn't mind putting my camera away and playing with the full like of Giorgio Armani cosmetics instead.

Revisiting the High Line

2011-09-28T08:41:00.000-04:00

The novelty of this elevated park hasn't worn off for me. If we're even remotely in its vicinity, I can't help but want to walk along it (crowds be damned).

Scenes from my weekend

2011-09-27T09:21:00.001-04:00

{Bocce at the San Gennaro Festival}

{Nautical touches in Red Hook}

{art on Mulberry Street}

{one of my favorite cupcakeries}

{fall flowers: marigolds}

{Madison Square Eats is back!}

{a boy and his dog}

The Lot's Final Weekend

2011-09-26T08:44:00.002-04:00

This past weekend marked the end of The Lot as we know it - as you'd imagine, empty lots don't stay that way for long when there's a market for luxury condos. The bartender assured us Colicchio & crew are scouting new locations for next summer. Shawn and I went back one final time (I documented our first of many visits here) and had the place to ourselves:

Arthur & Zoe

2011-09-23T10:35:00.003-04:00

There's nothing we don't absolutely love about our new Brooklyn digs. The landlords are as sweet as can be, the space is incredible, and we adore the neighborhood. We have never regretted our move for even a second.

However, I can't help but wonder about our old apartment. How are Tom, Terry, and Nick - the family at the end of the hall - doing? What's new with Karl and Hal, the doormen? What about John, the maintenance man who "took care of our problem" (he somehow disposed of our giant, unwanted couch)? Do the sweet Starbucks baristas downstairs miss us the way we miss them?

My favorite tenants in the complex were these two West Highland Terriors:Seeing Arthur and Zoe's smiling faces on my way to the bus stop always cheered me up. As luck would have it, they moved (to the Upper East Side) around the same time we moved to Brooklyn, so I don't feel like we "abandoned" them.

It's not just our first place in New York that I have a hard time letting go of. I still get phone updates from my successor about the Indianapolis research study I left in the middle of (almost three years ago). I wonder about my former students, now college graduates instead of the 7th graders I knew. And just who is living in my childhood homes, the addresses of which I was recently recalling?

Tell me, do you have a hard time making a "clean break" too?

Jane's Carousel

2011-09-20T10:13:00.001-04:00

To much fanfare, the National Register of Historic Places' first carousel listing recently opened to the public in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Situated on the East River between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, Jane's Carousel is stunning.
In fact, the entire Pavilion is a sight to behold. Grab some pastries at Almondine and snag a bench beyond the carousel, so you can alternate between watching the carousel riders and appreciating the view of the city.

PS Shawn's breathtaking film shot of Jane's Carousel at night puts my pictures to shame.

Scenes from my weekend

2011-09-19T08:40:00.000-04:00

How was YOUR weekend? What did you do?

Film Friday: Summer Retrospective

2011-09-16T09:25:00.001-04:00

Shawn here - Kate and I have remarked more than once to each other that the summer of '11 was our best ever. Today's post is fitting, because there's a chill in the air in NYC. We didn't have to stand in front of the A/C unit when we came home from our run this morning. I dug out my flannel shirts and lumberjack boots to wear today. Here, as a tribute to summer, are some Hasselblad shots from the past few months.With the end of summer also comes the end of this regular installment of guest posts. I'll still surprise you with Film Fridays from time to time, but it will no longer be a weekly feature - until next summer.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Reflecting the Stars

2011-09-15T13:31:00.002-04:00

After spotting this post on Hither & Thither, Shawn and I spent Tuesday evening watching the sun set on the Hudson River while eating falafel sandwiches from nearby Taim. As the sky darkened, lights atop posts at Pier 49 began blinking sporadically.

{click to enlarge}

{Looking south to Freedom Tower}

Jon Morris, the artist behind the installation, came over while we were taking pictures and introduced himself (so cool!).

P.S. One of Shawn's black and white shots as he waits development of his color slide film...

San Francisco Eats

2011-09-14T07:12:00.002-04:00

From top to bottom: Allstar Donuts, Cowgirl Creamery, Zuni Cafe, Citizen Cake, Bun Mee, Pizzeria Delfina, Bi-Rite Creamery. Not pictured (but still enjoyed): Mamacita, Cafe Des Amis, Betelnut.

We never had a bad meal in San Francisco, thanks to a friend who steered me toward the city's gems. I owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. The only place on my must-visit list was apparently on everyone else's too: Tartine bakery had a slow-moving line down the block. Queuing up for a loaf of bread, Soviet-style, didn't appeal. Maybe next time...

Scenes from San Francisco

2011-09-13T10:16:00.000-04:00

I'm back with lots of pictures to share from my wonderful visit with Lauren. We covered a lot of ground: the Marina district (where she lives temporarily), the Mission, the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Heights, the Exploratorium, Fillmore and Union Streets...I also was able to check some sights off my list during runs (my Asics took up so much valuable luggage space that I'd be damned if I didn't make use of them).
Some general impressions of San Francisco:
1) Nothing can prepare you for those hills. I tried to capture the steep inclines with my camera, but pictures just don't do them justice. 2) The rental market is fiercely competitive. I went with Lauren to an open house, and although we arrived early, dozens of people were waiting out front, pay stubs and credit scores in hand. 3) You CAN get a good, cheap mani/pedi in places outside of NYC. 4) The best thing about the place is that Lauren is there. It's San Francisco's one big advantage over NYC! (Oh, I liked the mild weather too.)

Tomorrow's post is devoted solely to the food of San Francisco. I definitely overindulged, judging by my puffy face and protruding belly.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

2011-09-09T04:00:00.005-04:00

For the second year in a row (last September's post here), we've been watching the US Open from the comfort of Madison Square Park, an activity that makes me positively giddy.American Express has once again set up a jumbo screen and bleachers; several restaurants have pitched temporary tents to sell food and booze.A welcome improvement this year? Alcohol can be brought "courtside" instead of staying in the area out of view of the screen.On Monday and again last night, we made an evening of it, arriving at 5 and staying long past sunset. By contrast, many folks simply happen upon the viewing party, decide to sit for a few minutes, then continue along on their way.The dog-watching is almost as fun as the tennis-spectating.With Shake Shack and carry-out pizza nearby, there's no shortage of food to nosh on.Because of inclement weather, the Open has been extended, meaning I won't miss the finals while in San Francisco. Now you know where to find me Monday night.
We don't take this set-up for granted; we checked months ago to see if it was planned again for the fall (the hap-happiest season of all).

Laduree in NYC: a false start

2011-09-08T11:35:00.002-04:00

I accomplished the unthinkable in Paris: I burned myself out on macarons. I haven't had the urge to eat even one since the Shawn and I consumed more than sixty of the meringue sandwich cookies over a 72-hour span in May.The first American outpost of Laduree opened last Tuesday, so I decided it was high time to get back in the macaron-eating saddle. Vanessa and I planned a pilgrimage to Manhattan's Upper East Side on Sunday.

{Less "open this door goddamnit" and more "come hither" than I would have liked}

Per their website, Laduree is open on Sundays. In theory. We arrived to dark windows, locked doors, and a crowd of disappointed visitors.
I mentally calculated the nearest decent macaron purveyor (Macaron Cafe does not count), leading us to Bouchon Bakery in Columbus Circle's Time Warner Center.
Bouchon's oversize macarons weren't as fresh as they should have been, but beggers can't be choosers.
Pictures of macarons are the perfect showcase for freshly-manicured nails (open salons are also difficult to come by in the UES on a Sunday).

Chelsea's Antiques Garage

2011-09-07T05:44:00.001-04:00

Every Saturday and Sunday, a parking garage on 25th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues converts into a giant flea market. Because of frequent rumors that it's closing down for good, we revisited it before it was too late.I've been looking for three things: an ornate, vintage hand mirror, a cloche to display a pair of Louboutins in, and toast stands. As you can see, the latter were found, though not exactly perfect, so I passed. The hunt continues.

Scenes from my weekend

2011-09-06T06:45:00.003-04:00

{fresh flowers for our mantel}

{Eating pizza from Eataly in nearby Madison Square Park}

{Playing at Sephora with Vanessa}

{Walks with Chloe}

{After tennis spectating, waiting for the subway}

{Ample Hills salted crack caramel ice cream}

{on our street}

{Mr. Softee - my favorite part of summer}

So long, summer

2011-09-05T14:15:00.003-04:00

Today we snuck in one last trip to the Rockaways before the beaches closed for the season.I know summer isn't officially over yet, but it might as well be. I'd venture to say it was our best ever, so I'm sad to see it go.

California here I come

2011-09-03T06:39:00.003-04:00

You may remember Lauren, whose departure left quite a void in New York City. After a recent phone call, I couldn't help but book a ticket to San Francisco to catch up with her in person.

{click to enlarge}

Armed with a long list of recommendations from quite possibly the only other person who enjoys travel planning as much as I do, I feel prepared to visit a new city (I've never been!). Here's what I'm packing in my weekender for my trip.

As excited as I am to see San Francisco, I'm most looking forward to doing the things Lauren and I used to do together - girl talk over glasses of wine, shopping, trying new restaurants, and maybe throwing a manicure in there as well.

Film Friday: Michigan in the 1950s

2011-09-02T09:56:00.003-04:00

Shawn has been remiss in posting on his own blog, so I'm giving him the week off. Have no fear: Film Friday will still go on without him. Today's film shots were taken by my father's grandfather. I wish I knew the camera he used; the film was Kodachrome slide. (Perhaps, if you're old enough, you remember your parents holding slideshow viewing parties, with that ring of rectangular cardboard-edged negatives projecting onto a screen in your rec room.) Tucked away in the attic, my dad has boxes and boxes of negatives from his childhood that Shawn recently offered to scan. Every time we visit them in Maryland, we try to bring more negatives back to New York with us to work on.

My dad grew up in suburban Detroit; his family spent summers at their house in Lake City, Michigan (the subject of my recent guest post at Hither & Thither). These are some of the first negatives Shawn has worked on scanning and restoring. I gather they're from a family trip up north to Mackinac Island, known for its fudge, the Christopher Reeve movie Somewhere in Time, and its prohibition of cars.

{Look closely! (Click to enlarge.) The Mackinac Bridge under construction - this would have been taken between 1954 and 1957}

{Waiting to board the ferry}

{This ferry connected the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan before the bridge construction was finished}

{Pulling away}

{My grandmother and my dad on the ferry to the Upper Peninsula}

{My dad at the end of a roll}

{The Mackinac Bridge, apparently completed - though this could have been from the same trip, just a different section of the bridge.}

I hope you enjoyed these film photos, which are more than a half-century old. (Crazy!) I also have memories of the ferry ride to Mackinac Island, albeit in the 80s, not the 50s. It's so funny to see my dad as a child; it makes me realize that as toddlers both my brother and I looked an awful lot like he did.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

108 Wyckoff

2011-08-31T10:41:00.001-04:00

The other morning, because we uncharacteristically set out for our run a bit later than usual, we weren't enshrouded in darkness. Near daylight, combined with a different route, meant we noticed a facade we otherwise would have missed.
When we returned later that day to admire it, we struck up a conversation with a man sweeping the sidewalk in front.We were thrilled to find out he was the artist's husband. He told us his wife, Susan Gardner, started the project almost ten years ago, soon after September 11th. She plans to keep adding to it.I wish my shots did her work justice; you can certainly get a sense of the color but not the sparkle (from many tiny mirrored tiles).Apparently this art installation, located at 108 Wyckoff (just east of the Bergen Street F and G stops in Cobble Hill), is not just known amongst neighbors; it's a bit of a tourist destination as well.

After Irene

2011-08-28T13:48:00.007-04:00

We scrambled to find our flashlights, stock up on water, and amass reading materials in the event Hurricane Irene incapacitated us. By 11 AM today, the storm had passed. Stir-crazy, we went for a walk. (We weren't the only ones.) Lots of businesses are re-opening and I'm looking forward to an honest-to-goodness night out later.

{our street}

{5th Avenue, Brooklyn}

{no worse than a typical storm}

{Gorilla Coffee - open for business on Sunday at noon}

{a precarious situation}

{Shawn helped a neighbor with their downed branch}

We thanked our lucky stars that we moved out of a high-rise in the Financial District; had we still lived on the very tip of Manhattan we would have had to evacuate. As it was, I was anxious enough in the heart of Brooklyn. I had just finished a book that chronicled the history of riots in New York City, and my over-active imagination was getting the best of me.

For those in Irene's wake, I wish you speedy recovery. Everyone else in her path - stay safe.

East Village Eats

2011-08-28T11:34:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since I've extolled the virtues of quite possibly my favorite dinner-then-dessert combination in New York City. We recently revisited both Caracas Arepa Bar and Dessert Club Chikalicious.

Caracas Arepa Bar is the top restaurant I think savvy visitors to New York City should add to their itinerary. (Garden-variety tourists, on the other hand, can continue frequenting Olive Garden and Applebee's. Close your browser, there's nothing to see here.)

When friends or family are in town, Caracas is my go-to spot. Most folks haven't ever eaten an arepa: a grilled corn flour bun (crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside) about the size of a compact disc. Even the ones familiar with the Colombian specialty have probably never had one split and stuffed with the delicious combinations of fillings Caracas has devised.

{La Silvestre salad: arugula, oranges, radishes, roasted corn, sunflower seeds, and a lemon/olive oil dressing}

Caracas is cheap, and the arepas are deceptively filling. Two arepas are just a tad too much food for me to handle, but one isn't quite enough. (We always plan on dessert elsewhere afterward [more on that in a moment], but if you aren't a dessert person, by all means, order two arepas!) Sometimes we'll order a salad to round out our meal. (It's nothing special compared to the main attraction.)

{The De Pabellon arepa: shredded beef or tofu (I chose the latter, obvs), black beans, white shredded cheese, fried sweet plantains}

{The La Mulata arepa: a slab of white cheese, japalenos, sauteed red peppers, fried sweet plantains, and black beans}

The orange sauce in the squeeze bottle is out of this world. We drown each bite of arepa in it; usually we go through about half a bottle.

Part of the charm of Caracas is its size (tiny) and decor (colorful). It also is located in the East Village, amidst some of the best dessert spots in New York City. Nearby is Momofuku Milk Bar, Butter Lane cupcakes, Lula's Sweet Apothecary, Van Leeuwen ice cream, and the soon-to-open Big Gay Ice Cream brick and mortar shop. My favorite post-Caracas haunt is Dessert Club Chikalicious, sister to the fancier Chikalicious Dessert Bar.

{The Hot Fudge, Vanilla Bean Sundae with chocolate pearls, kataifi, and toasted pistachio}

Chikalicious also has bread pudding, cheesecake, eclairs, macarons, cupcakes, cookies, and shaved ice - you can't go wrong with any of it, but we always order two Hot Fudge, Vanilla Bean sundaes.

Film Friday: Park Slope

2011-08-26T10:12:00.002-04:00

Shawn here with this week's installment of Film Friday. Today's pictures are from our new neighborhood, Park Slope (with the exception of the fourth one, which was taken in nearby Fort Greene). All were taken with my Nikon FM2n using Kodak Portra 160 film.

I've bookended these shots with pictures from my new favorite place: Prospect Park. On nice evenings, I'd rather have cheese and wine on our picnic blanket there than be dining at a restaurant. We're also there five mornings a week, because the loop through the park is my favorite place to run.Have a great weekend, everyone!

Calgon take me away...

2011-08-25T15:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I braced myself for a rough day. Little things (both personal and professional) were starting to irk me, so I decided to combat my annoyance by bringing my favorite coffee mug to work and buying myself flowers for my desk.By the end of my work day, I was positively on edge. I called one of my favorite salons to see if they could fit me in for a much-needed pedicure (it's been two months since my feet have been tended to by a professional - I know, ew).A cup of citrus tea, some grapefruit essential oil, a few coats of Chanel Sunshine, and the most blatantly disgusting display of vanity and excess (ie the new People magazine with Kim Kardashian on the cover) later, and I was not in embolism territory anymore.

Book Nooks

2011-08-25T10:24:00.004-04:00

Here's another peek at how our place is shaping up...

Shawn still mourns the Great Book Purge of 2009. As an unsentimental minimalist, I wasn't terribly sad to see our collection halved and then halved again. (There's such a thing as libraries. And Kindles.) However, we also sold one of the two Ikea Lack bookcases that had housed our tomes, and upon recently learning they had been discontinued, I did feel a twinge of regret over that.
The remaining bookshelf resides in our living room. It misses its twin. (Shawn bought the fire-engine red Geneva during his short-lived bachelorhood and I've grudgingly come to appreciate it - even the color.)In a past life, Shawn was a comic nerd; in his present life (as you know) he is quite the photography buff. "His" books have been relegated to boxes until now; he recently picked out a bookshelf for his office. It suits him, and the room (still very much a work in progress for now), perfectly.

Let's talk hair

2011-08-24T09:51:00.006-04:00

Hair products have been on my mind recently, as I seem to be running out of my staples all at the exact same time (how does that happen?). Here are my tried-and-tested favorites that I've been repurchasing these past few weeks:

{click to enlarge}

1. Fresh Soy Shampoo - A short-lived Fresh boycott due to their discontinuation of my beloved Soda shampoo was only hurting myself: their Soy shampoo really is just as great.

2. Redken All Soft Conditioner - Sometimes I stray to shake it up a bit, but I always return to this conditioner, if only for the smell alone.

3. Natural Instincts Rich Color Creme #7.5 - I've stopped highlighting my hair in an effort to return to my natural color. When the contrast between old hair and new growth gets to be too much, this does the trick.

4. Moroccanoil - My fine hair can't handle this every day, but a little drop on wet hair a few times a week does the trick.

5. Hot Tools 1" Curling Iron - The same one used in this tutorial - I now swear by both the appliance and the technique.

6. Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray- I thought I would outgrow greasy hair. I was wrong. This is the only dry shampoo I've ever tried that actually smells good. (Like Fruit Loops!) Thanks Leslie!

7. Living Proof Straight Making No Frizz Styling Spray for Fine to Medium Hair - The original (and best) of a now-expansive range of products. Spraying this on copiously before blowdrying makes my hair so much silkier without weighing it down.

So tell me - what hair products are YOU loving right now?

Sunday in Park Slope

2011-08-23T09:14:00.002-04:00

After our usual breakfast, here's how we spent this past Sunday morning:

Between April and December, Park Slope Farmers' Market sets up every Sunday on 5th Avenue at 4th Street from 11 AM - 5 PM. Many vendors were open for business before 10 AM, when we visited.

{Squash blossoms for $4 a carton! Insane. So was this preparation.}

{Yellow watermelon seems sacrilegious, but it tasted good.}

{Farmers' Markets are such a gimme for photographers. This is too easy.}

{We both coo at teeny-tiny fruit. Most babies, on the other hand...}

Every third Sunday from June to October, the Prospect Park Food Truck Rally takes over Grand Army Plaza. We strolled over to scope it out but didn't end up eating anything, deeming most offerings overpriced (Coolhaus, at $6 per ice cream sandwich), uninspired (Souvlaki, with their cucumber/lettuce/tomato pita sandwich), or vegetarian-unfriendly (Gorilla Cheese, Mexicue). Props to Taim, Rickshaw Dumpling, and Eddie's Pizza, who serve delicious food we partake in quite often enough already.

{Grand Army Plaza}

{Kelvin had lots of fans on such a hot day.}

{If you're missing the falafel in your lettuce pita from Souvlaki...}

{...you can get some at the Kimchi Taco Truck (or Taim, not pictured).}

Scenes from my weekend

2011-08-22T05:56:00.001-04:00

{Summer Streets}

{Chloe Dog}

{as if I need a reminder about the US Open}

{Red Hook Ball Field tacos}

{a touching tribute}

{Park Slope Farmers Market}

{Superhero supplies for a good cause}

{a lovely Brooklyn stoop}

{the best hummus}

{leaving Ditmas Park}

Dressing Room Update

2011-08-20T08:40:00.001-04:00

Progress has been made on my dressing room, but it was no easy feat.
My B-list clothes, because our cats have claws and they're not afraid to use them.
I decided to buy a garment rack at The Container Store and take it home on the train. By myself. Despite the fact that the box was almost as big as me:I can smile now, but at the time it wasn't so funny.
Not only was it heavy, it was unwieldy, making for a difficult walk to the nearest stop and perilous trip down the stairwell into the station. When I passed through the subway turnstile, the box didn't come out on the other side with me. It had somehow gotten impaled on one of the turnstile's metal arms and was being held hostage at the 18th Street 1 stop.That hole was definitely not there when I walked out the store.
Panicked and embarrassed, I wondered if I'd have to wait eighteen minutes (the length of time my unlimited-use metrocard requires before using it again) to swipe my garment rack through.

A kind bystander took pity on me and extricated my box by reversing the turnstile slightly to maneuver it off the arm, a trick I'll no doubt employ the next time I find myself in a similar predicament.

Embarrassment of Riches

Life's Little Delights

Blogger Brunch at ABC Kitchen

Cheese Reviews: Part 2

NYC Diary: Becca of The Daily Muse

Museum of the Moving Image

Macaron-making at DessertTruck Works

A Running Update

A Cheesy 2012

2011 Wrap-Up

Christmas lights in Dyker Heights

NYC Diary: Amanda of Slow Like Honey

Eat It: Mille-feuille's croissants

Deck The Halls

Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows: Part 3

Bergdorf Goodman's Holiday Windows: Part 2

How the Grinch Warmed Up to Christmas

The 24 Days of Christmas

Warby Parker Holiday Spectacle Bazaar

Swinging in Central Park

Shawn's New Exhibit

Post-prosecco Trader Joe's run

A day in the West Village

The Standard's Ice Rink

After the fact: Sol LeWitt's Structures

Fall cocktails at Spasso

Home Improvements

Targets of My Ire

Beecher's Handmade Cheese

Saturday at the Union Square Greenmarket

Hudson, New York

Recipe for the perfect Saturday

Forcella on the Bowery

Revisiting the Brooklyn Flea

Marathon Sunday 2011

Mia Chef Gelateria

People-Watching on Halloween

Halloween: The Royal Tenenbaums

Scenes from my weekend

(Not So) Recent Loves - Makeup Edition

Cheeses of France Pop-Up Shop

Scenes from my weekend

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

Sephora's Sensorium

Store Front Walking Tour

Touring Murray's Cheese Caves

Scenes from my weekend

Brides White Hot Style Shop

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

Lard.

Recent Loves

Brooklyn's Habana Outpost

I'm guest-posting at explore.dream.discover!

Scenes from my weekend

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

Visitors - My Advice to You

Madison Square Eats, fall edition

Recent Loves

Scenes from my weekend

Fill-in-the-blank Friday

Randomness

Meatpacking's new tenant

Revisiting the High Line

Scenes from my weekend

The Lot's Final Weekend

Arthur & Zoe

Suggested Readings: New York City

Jane's Carousel

Scenes from my weekend

Film Friday: Summer Retrospective

Reflecting the Stars

San Francisco Eats

Scenes from San Francisco

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Laduree in NYC: a false start

Chelsea's Antiques Garage

Scenes from my weekend

So long, summer

California here I come

Film Friday: Michigan in the 1950s