New York State of Mind

I must admit this post is a bit daunting to write. What is there to say (that hasn't already been said) of NYC, the Big Apple, Zoo York, Gotham, The City That Doesn't Sleep??? I went for an extra-long weekend trip to New York to shop, eat, & best of all, spend a few days (kid-free) with my littlest sister, Leah. She is great at details & her posts on our trip can be read by clicking HERE.

{ Leah on her cell phone on Park Ave }

So, deep breath, here goes... my highlights of New York (in no particular order):

*Visiting the massive interior design showrooms (DD Building and AD Building) & discovering the eclectic mix that is Andrew Martin (friendly & warm, Linet Martin who runs the NYC show room is an added bonus. Thanks for the sushi recommendation, Linet!).

*Wandering the various neighbourhoods... Soho, Nolita, West Village, Upper East Side & our "own" stomping grounds of Brooklyn.

{ I'd love to live in this Upper East Side building }

{ me in the streets of Soho }

{ The Bloomies that is featured in The Godfather }

{ rows upon rows of buildings in Soho }

{ me & a knight outside jewellery shops }

*Taking the tube everywhere. Subway travel is awesome.

{ Leah at the Grand Central subway stop }

*Ballato's Restaurant for post-dinner Venetian spritzes (& a non-alcoholic version for me). This place looks unassuming from the front but is wonderful once inside. Plus, if it was good enough for Andy Warhol & his posse it's good enough for me:

{ check out the rusticated lathe & plaster walls }

{ warm & inviting }

We visited Ballato's after a great dinner at...

*Oficina Latina:

We had intended to go into Cafe Habana for dinner but there was a 45 minute wait. So we opted out & stumbled (HAPPILY!) upon newly opened Oficina. Their website is under construction but there are photos & a review here. I had fresh lime-y ceviche & a salad plus these amazing plantain chips & a dipping sauce similar to Argentinian chimichurri.

{ Leah outside Oficina }

*The Brooklyn Flea Market

{ US Flag at Brooklyn Flea }

We loved this place with it's ever changing list of vendors. We wandered for at least a few hours here on Leah's birthday finding a wonderful assortment of odds & sods...

{ the Gifted Putterer's booth }

{ Leah trying on gogs at the Flea }

Kings Country Salvage had a set of tub armchairs in warm leather that were so comfy we overheard one man threatening his wife that he would get rid of their current fashionable couch & replace it with the armchairs. The chairs were still there when we left but he sat in them for a long, LOOOONG time.

There was one booth with some amazing jewellery (earrings, cuff links & pendants) made from scrabble letters & old typewriter keys. Brilliant!

{ typewriter keys made into pendants }

{ Scrabble letters as cuff links }

* Oysters on the half shell & Manhattan clam chowder in the Grand Central Oyster Bar.

{ Happy Birthday, Tinz!! }

{ check out all the Canadian oysters listed! }

* Rue 29, Julie Anne Mann's installation at the Ise Cultural Foundation on Broadway. Leah & I stumbled upon "Another Roadside Attraction (The Exploration of the Neo-Grotesque)" while shopping. We were kindly invited to the opening reception but had to decline due to growling tummies. The project is an eerie peek into a dollhouse inhabited by delicate skeleton creatures. Slightly macabre but incredibly fascinating.

{ skeletons at home }

{ bones in bed }

{ curiouser & curiouser }

* ABC Carpet & Home was floor upon floor of fantastic. I was in heaven.

{ main floor of ABC Carpet }

And more great finds:

{ John Derian plates }

{ sweet little deer ornaments for Christmas }

{ darling organza tutus }

All in all a wonderful trip but I was very glad to return home to my two sweet children & my handsome husband. Our reunion was a happy one & I enjoyed returning to the green of Vancouver. The concrete jungle is wonderful to visit but I do love Vancouver. Until next time, New York...