announcing...affordable art fair 2009

Greetings from the Affordable Art Fair New York City 2009! The 2009 Fair has been announced to be in a neighboring building of the iconic Empire State Building. Studio TOTA will be collaborating with the folks at AAF again to design/create the concept and materials for the fair that will take place on May 7th to May 10th of 2009. Above is a promotional postcard that will be distributed to inform visitors of the new dates and new location. Plans are to take full advantage of the building's architectural elements and to be inspired by the art-deco style of when the building went up. More to come from this project...stay tuned!

complexions {joyce theater}

During the brr~ of the weekend, I went to the Joyce Theater in Chelsea and saw the dynamic modern ballet art of the Complexions dance company. With super cutting edge choreography and costumes, plus brilliant performers {so graceful yet so physically strong!}, I felt that I was getting a chance to see something really new and refreshing. The program of dances were done to music ranging from abstract sounds, to classical Bach, to Ave Maria {this duet performance was short, but my favorite} and to even a medley of U2 songs. The coming of a NYC winter is definitely a bitter adjustment, but it welcomes the diverse and unique arts - and so I'm willing to take up that exchange.
*FYI...Complexions is on stage at the Joyce until the end of the month!

dogmatic dogs

Due to my recent projects, I find myself oftentimes in the 18th-22th St blocks on 5th Ave. Jumping between meetings I "need" to find quick grab-a-bite places and one of those moments brought me to Dogmatic Gourmet Sausage System. Apparently they were a street-food cart in the West Village...and due to their popularity, they opened up a mini-flagship location.
The food = a choice of a beef, pork, turkey, lamb sausages or asparagus + one sauce + a hollowed out toasted baguette = a nice little gourmet hot dog package {I had pork + truffle gruyere cheese = mmm}.
The space = approximately 500 sq ft (???...not very big} with a massive communal butcher block counter in the middle with ingeniously space-saving stools that pull out of the counter piece at an as-needed-basis.
The decor = fun illustrations of NYC drawn on subway tiles {same artist as their website} and hot dog "sculptures" set into the wall.
You can sense that the entire experience of the store was thoroughly designed - from the architecture/interior design down to the packaging/presentation of the hot dogs - which is something that I love to appreciate as a designer. And the food was great too, as it was made-to-order and had just as much of a thoughtful feeling to it. Thumbs up from me.

Dogmatic Gourmet Sausage System: E 17th St bet 5th & Union Sq West

taxi in the cold? np...

So despite the fact that I keep complaining about the coming winter {and all the way-too-early holiday shopping reminders everywhere}, there are some cute winter-y items that are catching my eye. Above is one of them - bright yellow mittens by kate spade that make it really easy to flag down a cab {might be really handy - pun not totally intended - when you need to escape out of those bitter wind tunnels...} and go to those places you need to go to.
Yes, slowly opening myself up to the winter spirit. Work in progress...

fall harvest menu

With our bodies still adjusting to daylights savings {it gets so dark by 5pm!!!}, one way to embrace the coming of winter is FOOD. This weekend, I took a cooking class at the Institute of Culinary Education called Fall Harvest Feast taught by Chef Melanie Underwood. The amazing full menu consisted of: Butternut Squash Risotto; Roasted Garlic Soup {roasted garlics in the upper right}; Root Vegetable Soup; Mushroom-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin; Seared Duck Breast With Honey and Ginger Glaze {searing in action in lower left}; Beet Chutney; Brussels Sprouts With Bacon; Pumpkin Puree {fresh-out-of-the-oven roasted sugar pumpkins in upper left}; Cranberry Upside-Down Cake {sugar glaze and cranberries in lower right}; Roasted Spiced Pears; and Caramel Ice Cream. In a huge kitchen facility, we learned knife skills, prep tips, how we shouldn't measure or use a thermometer, and more...and resulted in a sit-down dinner together with our classmates. Between the pumpkin orange to the fuchsia beets to the golden garlics to the soft orange butternut squash to the red-brown meats - it was not only a feast to our bellies but the fall color palette was also a feast to the eye. I had true food coma at the end...but it was oh, so worth it.

fall weekend in williamsburg

The temperatures have gone down in NYC but it was still quite a beautiful weekend here...and I found myself in Williamsburg Brooklyn for both days! On Saturday night, I was at the Music Hall of Williamsburg to check out the Hotel Cafe Tour for this year. Just FYI, The Hotel Cafe is a music venue in LA where the most talented {in my little tiny humble opinion} indie singer/songwriters perform. They have been going on tour for a few years now - and if/when they come to NYC, I really try to make it out - and I get to hear some of the emerging talent. This year, I got to see headliner Rachel Yamagata {who just released a new album just a few days ago}, as well as HC regulars, Meiko and Thao Nguyen {thanks for the signed CD and being so nice!}, and new-to-me, Samantha Crain and Emily Wells...all with amazing voices and original sounds.
Sunday Williamsburg was for the NYC marathon! I've been watching the race here for a few years now and I LOVE it {this year, a much growing crowd of supporters!}. Bedford has a incline that lets you see all the racers coming from the south end of Williamsburg {photo below - look at that crowd of runners!}, heading their way up to Queens. My heart goes out to all the runners as I see them give so much to do these 26+ miles - I stand there not being able to help myself but to scream and cheer for everyone. Every year I am moved by the runners {including some close friends}, the cheer-ers, the volunteers, and the energy this event brings about...congrats to all the runners who ran the 5 boroughs!!!

ballerina who loves b-boy

A few weeks ago, my friend invited me to see Knucklehead Zoo, a b-boy hip-hop dance group...and I was so impressed by their energy, athleticism and talent! So being intrigued by all this, last night I went to see Ballerina Who Loves B-Boy - a production of dancers originating in Korea and making it across here to NYC at 37 Arts. Set around an innocent love story of a classic ballerina falling for a b-boy dancer, the highlight is the really talented dancers and performers spinning on their head, doing jumping acrobatic moves across the stage, bouncing around in handstand mode, and popping/locking like robotic machines - all with a smile on their faces. Having been super popular in Seoul, Korea and then being a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this high-energy, young co-ed group demonstrates their technical skill while dabbling into the cross-cultural aspects of not only classical ballet/street dancing, but also, a foreign group bringing a hip-hop performance back to where this all originated. Ballerina Who Loves B-Boy is just ending previews and is opening this week, so good luck to the cast and show!

lykke li

Headed out to my old neighborhood in Williamsburg and caught Lykke Li - a Swedish indie singer - at the new Music Hall of Williamsburg. With her kooky dance moves and original sound and voice, she was quite a charmer of a performer. Singing most of her recent album, Youth Novels, my favorite part of the concert was when she pulled out a megaphone and sang into it as part of her song - and as funny (or annoyingly shrilly) as it may seem, it sounded REALLY good. She's back in NYC in February - I recommend! - but in the mean time, download her tune on her website {under "Secret Chapter"}...

stairway to heaven {OMA}

Office for Metropolitan Architecture {better known as Rem Koolhaas's OMA} presented their 1st NYC building design for a new luxury residential high-rise, 23 East 22nd Street, just a few weeks ago. I saw the renderings {thanks Dezeen} and I have to say, I'm quite intrigued. As I walk around the city {despite the economy downer} you can see that the skyline is changing here. This building will surely impact the skyline AND streetscape - as this vertical structure seems to challenge gravity and make people wonder if there is waste of real-estate {every sq ft counts = $}. But apparently, this building cantilevers 30 feet over its neighboring building to make up for the lost space. “The form provides a number of unexpected moments that appear at each step – balconies at the upper part of the building and floor windows at the lower part—providing a variety of unit types and features throughout the building”, says OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu. The building is scheduled for completion in 2010 - should be interesting to see the final outcome...

idlewild books

My sister and her husband are traveling to East Africa to climb Kilimanjaro and explore the safari out there. How amazing is that? So over the weekend we went to a new bookstore called Idlewild Books, close to Union Square. My eyes were opened up to this bright, beautiful space specializing in travel books, international literature, and maps. The fully-shelved walls are organized by country/region {above, you see the very appropriate East Africa section} and then you can thumb through their guidebooks {lonely planet, blue guide, michelin, time out, etc.} as well as a carefully curated collection of literature {fiction and non-fiction} that takes place in that region. So, while you research what sites to check out in Cuba, you can also read about Che Guevara's socialist revolution...or while you look up where to stay in Tokyo, you can also pick up Snow Country, a novel by the Nobel Prize-winning Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata or read traditional Japanese ghost stories...or while you look up where to explore in NYC, you can also do a comparative read on the history of The Five Points by Tyler Anbinder and The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury. The concept of this store makes so much sense and I love the idea that you can go here anticipating a real travel trip or an imaginary literary one.

Idlewild Books {12 W 19th St. bet 5th and 6th Aves}

down times

Above is a comic illustration from the New Yorker {more here}. Everywhere you turn, it's about the financial chaos. There is a looming vibe of stress - as we are all affected personally and professionally and are enveloped by uncertainty. I too have a sense of concern and "what's going to happen???" but at the same time remind myself of all the important things I am lucky to have - family, friends, health, and happiness. Perhaps a bit cliche and idealistic but I have to believe that with a good head on your shoulders and making thoughtful decisions, things will work out {eventually}. I always keep a fortune cookie message on me that reads: "You will be showered with good luck tomorrow." I like to think that there is always the next day that can bring a better day. So......we'll see what "tomorrow" brings...

fall for dance

For 10 days, the City Center hosts Fall For Dance, a way for everyday New Yorkers to be exposed to ALL kinds of dance {traditional, contemporary, ethnic, interpretive, solo, group, local, international...}. For $10 tickets {can we say, less than a movie ticket??!}, each day there is a different program - and for each program there are about 6 performances by vastly different dance companies. I went last night and got a sampling of many new undiscovered talent.
The night opened with a Chinese dance company, Beijingdance/LDTX, and their intricately choreographed work where their dancers athletically perform as chess pieces {clad in black and white, of course}. This was followed by the Houston Ballet, who showed us the beauty of classical ballet to the music of Tchaikovsky. The 3rd act was my favorite of the night - Richard Siegal/The Bakery performing "The New 45", a suite of quirky dances to jazz tunes of Oscar Peterson, Clark Terry, and Benny Goodman, as well as calypso tunes of Harry Belafonte. Featuring 2 of their dancers, Ayman Harper and Mario Zambrano, these two moved on the stage with a feeling of spontaeity but with completely precise control - but most importantly seemed to genuinely enjoy the music with a light sense of humor that was entertaining the whole audience. After a break, the last 2 performances were a solo dance by a Taiwanese woman dancing in silouette against a white light wall, and The Gentlemen of Hulau Na Kamalei, a traditional Hawaiian dance group.
Perhaps a mish-mosh of performances, but I see it as a great show of variety that reminds us of the joy of dance - there are a few more nights of this so give it a go~

requiem for a tenor

Last night, the Met Opera had a special late afternoon in honor of the 1st anniversary of the loss of Luciano Pavarotti by hosting a concert of Verdi's Requiem. With the stage filled with a double chorus (100+ people) and a solo quartet (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and bass), it was quite a powerful performance. And when the Met stage is usually filled with lavish set design and costumes, this performance was minimalist with everyone in dark gray - allowing the audience to really feel the dark to light contrast of the music and the strength of the singers' voices. What a beautiful way to not only commemorate Pavarotti - who devoted his life to music - as well as to anticipate the beginning of the upcoming opera season (starting next week!)...

7 years

Photo by nycGRAEME

papabubble

Found this cute, charming, welcoming candyshop called papabubble on the brink of Chinatown and Little Italy where sugar, water and glucose come together to form the most amazing little candy pieces of art. Based in Barcelona, Spain and spreading its sugary wings to NYC, papabubble whips up mounds of colorful AND flavorful treats daily. This artisinal shop creates candy of all colors of the rainbow, then twists and shapes them together to create patterns and motifs {fruits, words, bicycles, hearts, you name it...}, and then stretches it into a 1/2 inch-ish diameter rod, and then snip snip snips them into bite-size candies! Even the packaging is so perfect...what a great little gift. My favorite was an assorted mix of candies with the names of all 5 boroughs of NYC...oh my, papabubble, you have a new #1 fan.

flowers & ribbons & buttons, oh my...

I spent a nice late morning walking around flower market and garment district. It's a "not so nice" area in terms of street ambiance, but it's a great area for perusing the source of flowers and textiles in the city.

Above are some snapshots of the floral market on 28th St between 6th and 7th Aves. Surrounded by floral designers, event planners and their clients, and commercial space owners, I got a chance to see the blooms and trends for the autumn. I definitely sensed a strong emphasis on natural materials {wood and bamboo containers} {large berry/peppers/fruit branches and greenery} which I think goes in line with the overall trend of eco-green-ness. The fall colors of deep purples, crimson, and orange mixed with natural greens were really beautiful...

Walking a few blocks up to the mid-30s area, amongst the various beads and textile stores, I stopped by my favorite trimmings shop, M+J. As you walk into this large space that is filled from floor to ceiling with buttons, ribbons, fringe, feathers, lace, sequins of ALL shapes and colors...it's almost like walking through a candy store. I loved the above wall of white lace and beading trims - ranging from antiquated to modern. I spent quite some time in the store pulling out various boxes and spools of trimmings, while imagining what kinds of crafts could come out of it. It was a great little mini-inspiration day for me...

us open 2008

Feeling Olympics' withdrawal syndrome, like me? Well, luckily now, it's one of my favorite times of the year...2 weeks when NYC gets taken over by the tennis bug and I can't help but be immersed in it. It's the US Open. And this year's event started with a beautiful day and some amazing tennis. I attended the day session watching headliners such as Rafael Nadal and getting acquainted with up-and-comers such as Li Na (who had a great run at the Olympics), Feliciano Lopez, Gael Monfils, and others. Every year, when Flushing Meadows gets filled with the top tennis players, NYers, and the guys/gals who run the waffle fries stands...there is this dynamic atmosphere called the US Open where winners dominate the courts, some players have heartbreaking losses, underdogs come through to win a career-high match, spectators chat play-by-play commentary, visitors absorb the energy of the venue grounds...things that can only happen here in NYC take place. I'll be attending a few more sessions this week, and I can't wait!

true nyc fashion

Not quite sure why I have so many fashion entries recently - perhaps fall fashion is catching up to me. {Don't go yet summer!} Anyways, came across these great images of a fashion shoot by New York Mag taken in the streets and sites of NYC and couldn't resist to share. Apparently going on location at 5AM, these models wearing classic style gowns and formal wear allow Coney Island, NYC cabs, Times Square, etc. to become one of the other supermodels of the photo shoot. How great is the top image of all those yellow cabs lined up, especially because you know there is no Photoshop action going on there. And how could you not appreciate a classy shot of the favorite Cyclone ride. I love the mix of real NY with the stylized fashion...
Check out all photos here and in the most recent issue of NY Magazine.

soledad barrio and noche flamenca

Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca are in town and I had front-row seats. And wow, are they a dynamic, passionate, and artistic group of dancers, singers, and musicians. Flamenco is an art form with such mystery, but this company has the experience, essence, and spirit for anyone to appreciate. As the stage shook with their feet powerfully stomping on the ground, I saw the dancers' sweat whisk off their face as they did a quick turn and singers belt out a beautiful voice from their soul. They are here in NYC for all to see - do go and enjoy the powerful performance that just makes you feel the passion of flamenco.
Olé~...and have a wonderful weekend all!

gather around the table

Last night I had dinner at Oriental Garden in Chinatown and had an absolute feast. I went with some regulars of this establishment, who have created their own custom menu of their favorite dishes. The double-digit course menu included the above pictured scallop with garlic, chicken feet and conch, massive oyster in the shell, and abalone + fish soup. As we sat around the large round table with a varying age group of people present, one older gentleman had interesting words to share: "I have one mouth and it is meant to talk and eat!" And that's just what we did. Sharing stories of travel, family, work, health, and more - we savored one of the best meals that our Chinatown has to offer. Cheers to enjoying good food with good people~

music in the park

Summer in NYC is amazing. Especially when you take advantage of all the outdoor activities hosted around town. During this past week, I was able to go to 2 concerts (did I mention FREE?) on the Great Lawn in Central Park - Bon Jovi and the NY Philharmonic - how vastly different can we get?
Bon Jovi's appearance was to celebrate Major League Baseball's All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, that is getting retired at the end of this season. Over 60,000 people filled the Lawn to bring out the Jersey girl/boy out of them and scream all the words of "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Runaway".
Last night was another packed Lawn for a concert where the NY Philharmonic annually treats us to their orchestral sounds. People kicked back on the lawn chairs, sipped some wine, picnic-ed under the stars to a backdrop of Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and more. The concert's encore finale was a fireworks show at the south end of the park!
The 2 concerts were so different in music but were so similar in that they both brought together the otherwise disjointed NYC-ers to share their love for food, culture, fun, and social gatherings. Topped by perfect weather, I soaked in the positive energy flowing through the notes of the music into the veins of everyone there.

subway art {christoph niemann}

Found this charming blog piece - The Boys and the Subway - part of the NYTimes.com Abstract City section by illustrator, Christoph Niemann. This visual story is about his young children who grow up in New York City and LOVE the subway. When you get so jaded about the main mode of transportation for all of us here, it's stories like this and the innocence of children that reminds you about the fun in something that is so habitual.
Niemann's illustrations have appeared on the covers of various publications {New Yorker, NY Times Magazine, etc} and he is the author a few children's books.

reasons to be pretty

Have you ever experienced the whirlwind of emotions of a Neil LaBute play? This week at the MCC Theater is Reasons to be Pretty, the final ferocious cap on a trilogy of plays that began with The Shape of Things and Fat Pig. Revolving around the sensitive topic of physical beauty, the play is about how it can create and destroy relationships. The story is developed and richened by LaBute's amazing writing and character development - his trademark blunt honesty and shock value was also present, of course. This play is punctuated by monologues by each of the 4 characters, which allows us to see a little deeper into the different points of views of the characters. I loved being immersed in LaBute's dramatic but real/relatable world - and recommend this show to anyone up for a little jolt to their week.

sunday at the moma

This weekend kept us on our toes with schizo weather - sunny mornings followed by sudden torrential rain followed by sun showers. While it was gray outside, I was in the particularly colorful MoMA, thanks to Olafur Eliasson's exhibit Take Your Time. Piecing together a few technical gadgets, he creates makeshift devices that are the source of his installations that showcase the ideas of color, time, and reality vs. perception. In one room, he has "frozen" drops of water - via falling water illuminated by a strobe light. In a circular structure, he has visitors basking in the color spectrum - via the surrounding walls constantly changing color. In another room (above), he has people walking through a color prism - via rotating color glass panels that are lit by a bright light. As commentary describes how he is influenced by the landscape of his native Scandinavia, for me, each room felt like a walk through a visualization of one of his many dreams.
FYI: Olafur Eliasson is the artist responsible for the NYC Waterfalls massive installation along the East River.

On the top floor, I also enjoyed Dali: Painting and Film, where we got to see the relationship between his art and films, as well as how they all impacted the Surrealist movement. I particularly enjoyed the animated film "Destino" that was a collaboration between Dali and Disney - who would have ever thought...

sunday in the park with george

I was able to catch the Broadway musical "Sunday in the Park with George" before it closes this upcoming weekend. This show is a dramatized story of Georges Seurat, his life, and the creation of his painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte". With animated projections on a blank back wall, the painting that we are so familiar with - with its dotted perfection of vibrant colors - comes to life and we are able to see what might have happened on various Sunday afternoons that would have inspired Seurat to do this piece. The first act is amazing as we learn of the various people in the painting and get a peek into the frustrations Seurat faced (ie. people criticized that his method was too rigid and perhaps almost too scientific to be called art). The music and set are almost like his style of painting - executed in a way that is a bit unconventional - but it works. With actors superimposed on the painting image, the art literally comes to life - and creates a very memorable show.

for those with a sweet tooth

Having a strong sweet tooth, I seem to have an inner radar that goes off when there is sugar nearby. And that radar is going strong lately, as I seem to stumble upon mobile trucks that offer sugary treats everywhere I walk. And these trucks are not about mass-produced black and white cookies, but rather, each truck has a little specialty market. First off (top row of photos) is Wafels & Dinges, that makes warm original Belgium waffles to order - I regularly find them in front of Trader Joe's on 14th St. Second (middle row) is The Treats Truck, where a Brooklyn baker/driver makes cookies, brownies, squares, etc and throw them onto her truck, named "Sugar" and "Dot," to sell to people like me. I've spotted them on 6th ave and 20th but here is their posted schedule. Third up (bottom row) is Dessert Truck, that has more "fancy"-esque desserts - such as molten chocolate cake, goat cheese cake, creme brulee (one of the owners was a sous-chef at Le Cirque...ooh lala) - for spontaneous pick-me-up consumption. Their regular spot is in Cooper Square on 4th Ave and 8th St/St Marks right outside of the Astor subway stop.
Each truck has a unique and distinguishable look to them that fits the products they sell. With NY real estate being so $$, I love the idea of these mobile trucks bringing their specialties to different neighborhoods. And nothing beats the feeling of destined "oh, look what I happened to find" when strolling around. Happy eating NYers~!

zoo york new york

East Coast skater company, Zoo York, asked Mark Owens and Matt Owens to develop a line of skateboards for their artist series. The six boards represent the socio-cultural realms of Literature, Architecture, The Arts, Transit, Food and Tourism - together the series encompasses New York’s "Urbane Jungle". To me, they capture NYC in a happy colorful way, while creating something clever fun (check out the details - love "delirious zoo york" + the subway rat!) to look at...

summer lights

One night of this weekend, I found myself in the midst of a summer fair on a boardwalk. As I walked through the maze-like circulation surrounded on both sides with extra large lightbulbs of all colors of the rainbow, loud music, and game booth MCs calling for me to join a race to win "a prize....ANY prize"...I could not help but smile and remember the excitement I had as a kid when I used to stare at the big lights flashing for rides, as well as sugary and salty treats readily available. I took some pictures (not the greatest quality as they are from my cell phone) of the mix of pastel and primary colors that filled my eyes and reminded me of the carefree nature of the summer season that has started.

affordable art fair nyc kick off

Last night, the Affordable Art Fair in NYC opened its doors with the Private Preview Reception! And wow, there was a full house with all in great spirits. People walked around and even purchased first dibs of art. There is amazing variety of artwork to see from galleries around the world - some samples below:

So go check it out and see for yourself...

The Affordable Art Fair New York
135 W 18th Street {between 6th and 7th Aves} New York City

Thu June 12 / 12-9pm
Fri June 13 / 12-8pm
Sat June 14 / 12-8pm
Sun June 15 / 12-5pm

*On Father's Day, June 15, children 12 and under get their fathers in for FREE!

Here's some press of the Fair >>

jewels { nyc ballet }

A ballet performance that has been on my wishlist is Jewels - a three part performance representing the luxurious jewels of emeralds, rubies, and diamonds. The idea of beautiful dancers embodying beautiful gems was something that seemed so romantic and perfect. Here in NY, The New York City Ballet performs it and I was finally able to see it. George Balanchine chooses 3 pieces of music from 3 different composers and with stage design, costume design, and choreography, reveals a plotless but interesting concoction of a performance. Emeralds is new but traditional, Rubies is quirky and curious and Diamonds is super imperial and gorgeous. Above are some shots of the performances - very obvious which is which. Perhaps you will get to see it sometime too.

the affordable art fair { nyc }

The Affordable Art Fair NYC is taking place next week - from June 12 (Thu) to June 15 (Sun). This art fair is for everyone - from first-time buyers to seasoned collectors to people just wanting to check out new contemporary artists. There are over 70 galleries from all over the world featuring their art from $100-$10,000.
Studio TOTA has had the pleasure of creating the look and executing all design materials for the 2008 Fair. The design concept is "art to go" - since it's all about accessible art - and since it's taking place in NYC, we took imagery of to-go coffeecups and takeout boxes and incorporated it in a clean and bold look. We gave "art to go" a neon light look reminiscent of the "fast delivery" type signs adorning our favorite takeout shops. There are ads in TimeOut, subway stations (!!!), various art publications + websites, and more...so keep your eyes peeled. And come by the Fair with a $5 discount to general admission!
Hope to see you there...

matilda & alphabet city

This weekend I had a re-discovery of alphabet city! Firstly, I went to a cute Italian/Mexican restaurant called Matilda on E 11th St. between Ave B and C. The owners are a couple (wife is Tuscan and husband is Mexican) and they named their restaurant after their half and half daughter. The food is an interesting mix of both cuisines - quesadilla with prosciutto and mozarella...guacamole with chips and focaccia...mojito of prosecco and tequila and fresh fruits...and such. And the decor is this spunky little space with Italian and Spanish words written across the space in tiles. A definite recommendation.
As I walked to and from the restaurant, all I can notice are these adorable brownstones mixed with new modern buildings. And the ground level is filled with little bars and shops and boutiques that each have their own unique look - that creates a great neighborhood feel all together. As someone who misses living in Brooklyn (but still visits!), the revamped and developing alphabet city is a a great sister neighborhood. So take that L train or F train and walk your way around and discover some new favorites for yourself =)....

swan lake { abt }

Photos: Courtesy of ABT

Swan Lake is one of the most classic ballet performances one can watch. The Tchaikovsky music is so familiar, as is the tragic storyline of Odette, the princess who has been put under a curse to be a swan - and only at night can she come out as a human. What never becomes familiar is the beauty of dancers as they perform on stage. Last night, the dancers of the American Ballet Theater transformed into beautiful swans with their fluttering arms and delicate movements. And after I thought that was amazing, Irina Dvorovenko, as Odette, powered the stage as the prima. Her complex body of astounding flexibility paired with strength allowed her to float across the beautiful stage sets. It also helps when artistic director, Kevin McKenzie, creates scenes like the bottom photo where the ballerinas lay in a mist to mimic a group of swans in a lake and creates a mood of mystery. ABT's spring season has started and I urge you to see them on stage.

manhattanhenge

Image source: July 2001 Natural History magazine

Someone shared this interesting tidbit of knowledge with me - it's called Manhattanhenge, when the sun sets in alignment with Manhattan's street grid. From a message from an office of the American Museum of Natural History:

For Manhattan, a place where evening matters more than morning, that special day comes on Thursday, May 29h this year, one of only two occasions when the Sun sets in exact alignment with the Manhattan grid, fully illuminating every single cross-street for the last fifteen minutes of daylight. The other day is Saturday, July 12th. These two days give you a photogenic view with half the Sun above and half the Sun below the horizon -- on the grid.

As you may know, had Manhattan's grid been perfectly aligned with the geographic north-south line, then the days of Manhattanhenge would be the spring and autumn equinoxes, the only two days on the calendar when the Sun rises due-east and sets due-west. But Manhattan's street grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, shifting the days of alignment elsewhere into the calendar.

Arrive a half-hour earlier than the times given below.
Half Sun on grid: Thursday, May 29 -- 8:17 p.m. EDT
Full Sun on grid: Friday, May 30 -- 8:16 p.m. EDT

happy {125th} birthday brooklyn bridge

So, I thought I was getting older but this Memorial Day Weekend, our beloved Brooklyn Bridge will be celebrating its 125th birthday! Happy Birthday to you~ The Brooklyn Bridge is the prettiest of the NYC bridges - with its intricately-woven cables and solid stone monuments. It's amazing how something so heavyset and sturdy can look so delicate and beautiful. It also embodies so much history and architecture - bridging the East River, it was the beginning of modern NYC and is still living its legacy in its golden years as the popularity of Brooklyn (as a residential, cultural, commercial hub) going on for the last few years will only go upwards, I'm sure. So, why not peruse through some photos of the grandad of bridges or check out the festivities (most are free!) going on this upcoming weekend.

tokyo bar {by kashiwa sato}

I tried out Tokyo Bar, a little restaurant that specializes in Japanese-style Western food (which means, having things like omu-rice, karaage, taroko pasta, etc on their menu). I went because I am a big fan of Kashiwa Sato - the man who led the concept design of UNIQLO Soho, among other things. This guy has unstoppable vision in creating a look for a brand. [ Check out his website and you'll see what I mean... ] As if a groupie, I went to Tokyo Bar, where he was responsible with the identity. An actual visit led to discovering that this shop is an entire collaboration of various artists, including Sato, and is quite interesting. As you walk in, the walls and ceiling are covered in manga illustrations magnified in scale. Add a little neon lights, a DJ with disco ball, art installations, bedazzled bathroom signs, a full bar, a~nd we have Tokyo Bar. If you're in the Tribeca area, it's a fun visit.