Three Things New York...

This month I'm taking some time to refuel and gather inspiration from the city of New York.  I'm making some new artwork on my new BERNINA, and to do so, I've been out gathering ideas and images around town. 

Yesterday, I took a tram ride out to Roosevelt Island.  What a treat! It was approximately 15 degrees cooler there, and practically desolate, but not in the creepy way exepcted, since it is home to an abandoned smallpox hospital.  It's beautiful!  I sat and ate my trail mix and looked out at barges and tug boats going by and really enjoyed myself.  And the trams that take you there? They feel like a fun amusement park ride, and you can use your metro card!  Loved it.

I can't believe it could possibly be true that I haven't mentioned Zabar's by now.  This place!  I love it so much.  Katy and I go to Zabar's quite often to get picnic food for an afternoon in Central Park, and every New Year's Eve we make a trek up to Zabar's to get our holiday spread of smoked fish and babka.  I wandered in last week when I was up in that neighborhood to see the Bill Cunningham Exhibit at the New York Historical Society.  It was my first time visiting that museum, and while I thought the Bill Cunningham exhibit was ok, their permanent collections are amazing, and I can't wait to go back!  Anyway, the upper west side never seems to disappoint, and as soon as I make it big in New York, I really look forward to buying a brownstone up that way and becoming a regular shopper at Zabar's.   

Finally, Roses! They are in bloom in every shape and color in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  Big bright showy bursts of color on every block.  This bright collection was next to the tram station on Roosevelt Island yesterday.  Delightful!

Three Things New York

Well, it's been awhile since I've uploaded three things.  In that time, New York has blossomed into summer.  It's that time of year that I wish I could bottle and clone.  It's not too hot, and it's not very cold.  It's warm, with a cool breeze.  It's not yet muggy and oppressive.  We're sleeping with the windows open!  The lilacs have come and gone, but, miracle of miracles, there were some at the farmer's market this weekend, having been driven in from the north.  There were Lily of the Valley too, and even though they were ten dollars and lasted only a few days, they were worth it.  I stopped and smelled them every single time I walked past them, sitting in a little mason jar in my bedroom.  They reminded me of Michigan.....

One of the most challenging things about living in New York is of course the lack of space.  It has made me think differently about what I purchase, knowing that anything that comes in is going to take up space and likely mean that something else has to go out.  Getting rid of things is a real pain in the ass sometimes, because you can only take out the trash and recycling on certain days.  Of course, this leads to some beautiful collections, as I've mentioned before.   I passed these sticks last week on my way home from work, all tied up with red strings and they made my heart skip a beat.  How beautiful!  I've seen lots of these stick bundles here, and brooms too, can you imagine?  Bundles of brooms, worn out to the point that there's no bristles left, tied up in collections on the street.

 Finally, on a totally unrelated note; pastries.  One night a few weeks ago I was out on a little solo adventure in the east village.  I got fries and mayonnaise for dinner at  Pommes Frites, and sat on the steps of the Ukrainian Church and ate them.  I went to the movies and saw something so bad it was good, and finally, late at night before I took the train back, I stopped and bought a tiny box full of pastries for Katy at Veniero's.  Have you been there?  I don't even eat most of the stuff in there, but it makes me so happy to look at it, and to take photographs, and to buy a few, which they tie up with bakers twine & white boxes.   Twenty varieties of miniature cream filled pastries to choose from on a Thursday night? That's pretty cool. All right, New York, I get it.

Three Things New York...Rooftop Edition!

Quickly before I get serious about putting everything in my suitcase to go the Makerie, I wanted to give you three things I'm loving about New York right now.  I haven't done it in a few weeks, and to be honest, I was looking and not finding anything. My winter jacket gave up the fight last week when a snap just plain fell off.  I was sick of wearing it, and I think it was sick of being worn (I'm off to Steinlauf and Stoller's next week to get that snap replaced...).

And then, the season changed.  The daffodils bloomed!  I got to wear my spring jacket!  Everyone started smiling again!

So, three things.

1.) Rooftops!  I don't always love how close together everyone is here, but up on the rooftops, I love the way I am always reminded of the dancing chimney sweep scene in Mary Poppins.  Katy and I go up on top of ours at midnight on New Year's eve to watch the fireworks in Prospect Park and scream and shout and listen to everyone else making a racket with their noisemakers and shouting good wishes into the ether.  For one night, and for one moment, we don't mind the noise!  It always feels so romantic and old fashioned.    I just came down from the roof where I took this panoramic snap shot this afternoon.  Can you believe that sky?  It's beautiful today!

2.) Watertowers.  They have become the symbol of Brooklyn.  You can see them from every rooftop.

3.) Finally, on an unrelated note: Aire!  I spent the earlier part of today at this spa, blissed out in the salt pool, floating motionless and feeling like I was in outer space.  I used a gift card that I got for my birthday (in July, I sure stretched that party out!).  It's so sunny and beautiful outside, so I had the place mostly to myself.  If you're in town visiting I highly recommend this splurge worthy experience.  If you're a New Yorker, you gotta go.  This place is quiet, posh, and super chill.  A tonic for the crazy of NYC.

I'll see you next week!  Meanwhile, I'll be instagraming in Colorado at the Makerie.  Follow along @dropcloth.




P.S. A big THANK YOU to everyone who ordered Color Burst subscriptions.  I'll be packing them up and shipping them out on Tuesday.  There's still time to join this month.  

Five Things New York...

1.) Chinatown sidewalk markets, with hot pink fruits (vegetables?)

2.) Year round farmer's markets, but especially SPRING farmers markets, that bring pansies, and hyacinths, and tulips and daffodils to us by the great big tables full.  The hyacinth I bought last weekend can be smelled from all the way outside our apartment.  The essence of Spring. I love it.

3.) Events like the one I attended last night for Bibliocraft, where I saw so many friends and got to meet some new ones.

4.) The promise of Cherry Blossoms, soon....

5.) My favorite egg salad sandwich at the Brooklyn Larder.  

The Return of Five Things New York

When I first moved to New York a little over three years ago (three years?!) I started a little blog theme called Five Things New York, it was a way to focus on what I was discovering and loving about this city.  While the city seems intent on staying frozen a few more weeks, I thought it would be a good time to bring it back.  I've been trying my hardest to stay positive these days; I've got a lot to be thankful for.  In my sketchbook I've been writing down three things that I notice everyday, inspired by one of my favorite writers, Naomi Shihab Nye.  I'm picking the best of the week to share with you here.  Five things to melt the cold hearts of winter.

1.) These two, doing a couples skate  to Gene Kelly in Bryant Park last week during my lunch break from writing at the library.  I smiled the rest of the afternoon.  It was so cold that day!

2.)  The man on a six foot tall unicycle who bikes up and down Flatbush avenue with his Border Collie on Sunday mornings.

3.)  Doo wop bands that play on the subway.

4.)  Ramen Noodles at Naruto.

5.) My new to-go thermos that is perpetually with me,  full of hot water with lemon and ginger.


What about you?  What's keeping you going through this last stretch of the winter doldrums?

Five Things I'm Loving about NYC Right Now....

1.) The guy who plays piano in Washington Square Park every weekend, and who, in Saturday's brilliant spring sun made my day with a full hour of beautiful music; reminding me that in a busy city, it feels so good to sit still. 

 

2.) Walking in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

3.) Looking out my studio window and seeing spring unfolding, a little more each day.

4.) The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, which are free on Saturday mornings.  I intend to eat as many Saturday morning bacon and egg bagels there as possible and watch the famous cherry blossoms unfold.  

 

5.) Plotting the best place in New York to get a really good donut.  I think donuts are the new cupcake and if so, I must know where to get the best one.  This is where you come in.  Where is it? 

Five Things New York

Five things I am loving right now about New York:

1.) The turquoise (!!!!!!) Tribeca Taco Truck, and specifically, the El Pastor Taco with Grilled Pineapple.  Oh my gosh is it good.  I woke up thinking about it this morning.

2.) The Brooklyn Farmer's market, where you can get an apple cider doughnut every Saturday, even in January.

3.) The Bright Orange color of the Staten Island Ferry.

4.) The way that everyone puts out their paper recycling in neat, tied up string packages.  It's so civilized.

5.) My new studio, with one entire 12 X 8' wall newly covered (Thanks, Dad and Katy!) in flannel wrapped homasote.  I've been in there pinning stuff up and staring at it all afternoon, and it feels like the studio of my dreams.  Pictures to follow tomorrow, I promise!