Cooper Hewitt: Set in Style

Jerome and I had the opportunity to attend the opening reception to the Cooper-Hewitt Van Cleef & Aprels jewelry exhibit which opened February 18.  Museum receptions offer members a sneak peak at the opening exhibit, while offering a themed evening to remember - a token of its appreciation for its members. 

The Van Cleef & Aprels exhibit, which is on display through June 5, showcases more than 300 timeless jewelry pieces that were worn by the likes of Grace Kelly and Liz Taylor.  The exhibit explores the historical significance of the firm's contribution to design in the 20th century - which is vast to say the least.  With that many individual pieces laid out in dome glass cases, I expected to see a pattern or repetition in the work.  Luckily I was wrong.  The design and craftsmanship behind each necklace, brooch, ring, compact, purse, and ring was stunning.  Of course the dime sized jewels, including blood red rubies and flawless diamonds, certainly made an impression it really was the settings, detail and unique personality of each piece that made an impact. My favorite piece was a heavy, emerald necklace that would make a stunning centerpiece on my neck.

But, enough about the exhibit. On to the party.

Many of Van Cleef & Aprels' pieces utilized nature as inspiration, particularly butterflies.  The event production team carried that theme into the reception space, creating an outdoor wonderland of trees, swirling butterflies and  fake grass.  The event space, which was a long white tent erected in patio space behind the museum, was lite in dark blues and blacks.  The ceiling of the tent featured a projection of dark, ominous sky.  All together it set the scene for the city's best people watching.  A DJ bumped beats from pop to jazz artists while New Yorker's between the ages of 90-20 swaggered into the room.  Women were primarily dressed to showcase their style, from an all-white 3-piece long skirt suit trimmed in white fur at the collar and sleeve cuffs to a tight black halter dress, 5 inch platform heels and a shaved head.  The sights outside in the reception tent were almost as eye-catching as the jewelry inside the museum. 

Harlem Photo of the Day

The Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church stands tall, proud and beautifully on the corner of 124 Street and Lenox Blvd.  It's just one of the many beautiful churches I walk by en route to the gym in the morning and inspired my photo of the day today.  One day, I may even go inside....

Heart Day

Jerome and I don't technically "celebrate" Valentines Day but we do use it as an excuse to try out new foods. I've just never been into a holiday that celebrates love with pinks and reds.  Why not celebrate all kinds of love, everyday, in technicolor? 

So what do we do on national heart day?  We both love to cook, albeit in very different ways, so of course we cook a Hearts Day meal for ourselves and enjoy it together.  It's not a night all that different than a Sunday night or a random weeknight when we're both of early, but it is a lot of fun.  Last year we tried our hand at Indian food, the year before it was Filipino food, then there was pizza making and the one that started it all off....sushi.  This year we decided to try out some of our favorite Greek recipes.

Spanakopita in the front and Moussaka
in the rear....our perfect Greek meal

The menu included an appetizer of spanakopita, or feta and spinach pie, which utilized all of the spices in my pantry and most of the goodies in my cheese drawer but somehow came out tasting light and airy with just a touch of spice.  It must have been all that phyllo dough and butter.....alas, the recipe was phenomenal and made me look like a star (recipe from Cook's Illustrated here).  I can't say enough good things about Cook's Illustrated.  Their magazine content is straighforward, their product tests are honest and their recipies are all based on brining out the best flavors, without any of the commen flaws, in each dish.  I don't know any other recipie webstie or magazine that accomplishes these feats time and time again.  So, let's add this to my list of obsessions.

Our main course, also from a Cook's Illustrated recipe, was moussaka which is a thick Greek style lasagna layed with roasted eggplant, lamb sauce and topped with a bechamel sauce.  As it cooks the lamb sauce, which has a tomato base with sauteed onions and red wine combines with the smokiness of the roasted eggplant and the richness of the bechamel sauce.  It's Divine.

For desert, Jerome made baklava which also uses countless layers of phyllo dough and butter, but incorporates an almond nut mixture and is covered in a heavy syrup just before serving.  It gave me the biggest sugar rush I've had in weeks but it was absolutely phenomenal.  Big surprise....we used a Cook's Illustrated recipie for this one too.

All the recipes were very easy and could be made in stages, so we made most of the sauces on Sunday night.  The phyllo dough layering process took about an half an hour and uses more butter than I'm usually comfortable consuming in a night but it was worth the taste and flavor.  And, we have enough leftovers to feed an army of miniature baseball players (a.k.a. little league).  So, I'll be enjoying our meal all week long.

Best Restaurants and Food Retailers in NYC's Union Square



Aerial Shot of NYC's Union Square



Union Square NYC has proved to be a difficult neighborhood for me over the years.  For starters, 6+ years ago when I migrated to NYC I couldn't hear "Union Square" without conjuring up visuals of San Francisco's Union Square and all it represented for my city and my childhood.  SF's Union Square is beautiful, iconic, historic, showcased as the center of the city, and well touristed.  And, over the last 5-6 years, the restored SF Union Square has inspired a face lift for the entire shopping and dining district in downtown.  Obviously, I love it.

NYC's Union Square carries its own great tales but all of them were initially lost on me when I saw it.  The square itself is more of a maze of dog runs, statures and fenced in grass areas than a park - but it does provide some much needed outdoor space in the area.  It also provides a venue, outside of it's maze of long, low fences for stalls and vendors which is also great for an area surrounded by primarily brand name stores.  Most famously, the Union Square Greenmarket which hosts 140 farmers, fishermen, and bakers each week calls this square home.  The best produce I've had in NYC has come from farmers at this market and it holds a very special place in my heart.  If you've never visited the market, which is best early in the morning and particularly good on Saturday and Wednesday mornings before all the top chefs in the area pick through the goods for their restaurant menus that night.



The Union Squre Greenmarket



Now I've grown to love NYC's Union Square for what IT represents and have spent many a warm evening sprawled out on it's steps watching the skateboarders and BMXers pull tricks on the plaza.

And, I utilize the area for a wider variety of things than I used SF's Union Square for.   It's conveniently located between Harlem and Williamsburg (where several of my friends live), and within spitting distance of most of my friends workplaces.  And, during the warmer months you can walk to the East Village, Lower East Side, West Village, SOHO, and Flatiron neighborhoods from here. 

But, the one thing I think the area lacks is winter meeting spots.  Finding a good bar close to the train that isn't overcrowded with students, sterile and uptight, a "scene" bar, or charging $15 for drinks is a tough task.  Also finding restaurants that fit this criteria has proven tough, but not impossible.  Which is why I'm excited to share a couple of my recent finds in the area that will help me on my quest to expand my resources in the area.  If you have a favorite spot in the hood, be it a bar, restaurant, or shop in the area I'd love to hear about it.  In the meantime:

Num Pang Sandwich shop (21 E. 12th Street) - I discovered this little gem through Blackboard Eats.  The entryway is easy to miss, right next to a parking garage and across the street from a large, sleek burger shop.  But, the search is well worth it.  You enter on the ground floor which offers a 4' counter, standing space for 5 and a spiral staircase.  Once you review the menu, or obtain a recommendation from the amazing staff you can take yourself up  the spiral staircase, one person at a time, to find a seat.  The upstairs loft space offers counter seating for about 10 people and 4 child sized stools next to the windowsill for smaller people.  I visited with my friend Bonnie who is quite comfortable in small seats, so we selected the mini seats by the window.

Upstiars Seating at Num Pang

The sandwich menu offers several top-notch choices, all priced between $7 and $9.  Since it's labeled as a Cambodian sandwich shop, Bonnie and I decided to try out two of the classic sandwiches including the pulled duroc pork with spiced hone sauce and grilled skirt steak with crushed coriander and peppercorn, alongside a plate of white pickles and a bottle of root beer.  Vegetarian options such as roasted cauliflower and yam sandwiches also looked alluring but didn't get out vote this time.  I'll surely be back to try them out.  The skirt steak sandwich offered fresh, beautifully seasoned and marinated cuts of rare steak.  The juices from the steak married together with the peppercorn sauce, carrots, cilantro and cucumbers.  It was the best steak I've had this year.  And, tied for first place in the taste test competition for the evening was the pork sandwich which featured succulent (yes, I actually used the word succulent in my review) pork mixed with a veggies, sauce and spices piled high of a crispy roll - also with chili mayo sauce, carrots, cucumbers and cilantro.  We couldn't decide which one we liked better but we instantly choose this as our new favorite spot in the area.  I even picked up a sandwich for Jerome on my way out since I couldn't imagine explaining how good it was without him tasting it.

East Village Cheese Shop (40 3rd Ave) - My friend Stephanie took me here for the first time, which is certainly saying something since Steph seems to uncover some of the best, most interesting spots in NYC.  The street facing windows of the small shop are covered with butcher paper signs shouting out the specials of the day (or week, or year....I'm not sure how long the signs had been up).  You enter the small shop at the front of two lines, one for the register and one for the cheese counter.  Once you guide your way through the lines and take your place in the back of the cheese counter line you realize just how NY this store is.  The mix and match items on the shelves leading up the the counters feature a selection of items you'd find in your local bodega as well as several items you'd pair with your cheeses, like honey and delicate jams. 

As you approach the cheese counter you are faced with the rules of ordering your cheese.  Several cheeses can only be selected in 1 pound or 1/2 pound qualities while others are available for sample and can be purchased in slivers.  The counter, separated from the customers by a glass wall is piled high with more cheeses than you can count, from Miso Cheddar to Soy Swiss.  The prices are all very reasonable, particularly for my regular purchases like ricotta and Parmesan.  But, the ordering process is rapid fire and direct.

So, I choose some Greek Feta, grated Parmesan, and low-fat Ricotta and moved along to the counter.  The price of the 3 cheeses shocked me, coming in under $10, and I realized that it had been way to long since something shocked me with it's cheapness. 

And a few of my staples include:

• Ippodo - The house made ramen noodles are incurable, and the decor is intriguing but the appetizers steal the show everytime.  Sit down restaurant with a fancy feel.
• Momofuku Ssam Bar -Another David Chang creation with a refined space and some of the city's best pork.
• Repulic - A relaxed restaurant with an Asian flare that has wonderful appetizers and healthy, relatively cheap entrees.  It can get pretty loud, but is usually worth the noise.
• Chat 'n' Chew - Comfort food, chilled out wait staff and cake....seriously, if you're in the mood for it, it's a perfect fit.
• Dos Toro Taqueria- The only San Francisco Mexican food that qualifies as "good" in my book.  Authentic, tasty tacos and burritos wrapped in freshly made flour and corn tortillas.  Worth the wait. 
• Irving Plaza - A divey venue that brings some of the best punk, rock and ska bands to NYC. 
• Trader Joe's and Whole Foods - A perfect combination for a healthy dinner and some cheap wine.

What am I missing?

What to do with 36" of Snow

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Sheep Meadow

                                                               
 New York City received 36 inches of snow last month. It's the most on record for any January, beating out the 30 inches we received in 1925. Not that I was around to enjoy that January, but I'd imagine it was even tougher to get around then. Now, with snow plows, subways and snow eroding salt there's no reason to stay at home and stare at the fluffy white stuff falling past your window. Of course, it's only fluffy and white for a few hours, before it turns into a black and white iced over milkshake snow piled up on the side of the roads. But, Central Park is another story. I went for a stroll through our beautiful city park following the blizzard last week and discovered a winter wonderland. Of course, I started my stroll at the Harlem Meer, my favorite spot in the Park. Here's some photos of my walk.
 

Adam Clayton Powell Blvd and 120 Street

 

   

Central Park near Harlem Meer





  



Sledding...Weeeeeee



Sledding and snowball fights



The Reservoir



 

The Reservoir

 

 

Sking Around the Reservoir





Snowmen on The Great Lawn

   

The Reservoir





The Foutain and The Lake



Central Park's Lake (it's under there, I swear)



Sheep Meadow

 


 

By Far...The Stragest Snowman I've ever seen

  

Top Sledding Hill: Central Park West and 64 St.



Sneak Peak...

A sneak peak at tomorrow's blog post from an awesome little "word cloud" website called Wordel that creates a beautiful visual from text. It's a great tool for PR and Marketing firms working with clients that need a little help understanding their work.

Wordle - Central Park Stroll

My Current Obsessions

I obsesses.  I drag others into my obsessions.  I do my best to convince everyone to tell their friends about my recent finds, discoveries, or realization and start my own personal marketing campaign for each individual obsession.  It's a little sick, I realize.  But, as a social creature I'm happier when I have company in my madness.  Please let me know if you'd like to join me on my wild ride following, using or creating any of the topics below and I'll stop harassing you all about them.  Even better…tell me about your latest obsessions and I’ll add them to my ever-growing list.
My top 6 obsessions of the month include:

• Podcasts (in order of preference)
• Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me - Seriously funny, oddly educational.
• This American Life - Proves there's nothing more interesting than our own personal life stories.
• Culturetopia and Ted Talks (solid tie, depending on my mood that day and the podcast topic)
• Brussel Sprouts
• I'm a big fan of roasted brussels but had a brussel sprout epiphany when I tasted the sauteed sprouts at 10 Downing which included anchovies, garlic, and olive oil - topped with a wobbly poached egg,  No, seriously, it was defining moment for me and the little lettuce balls after years of hatred and bitter fights.
• Crafting
• I call myself an abstract artist, but not in the well-trained, multi-talented kind of way.  I simply can't paint or draw a solid depiction of...well anything.  So, I craft things like photo frames, body scrub and wallets.  My latest crafts have come out of my new craft book, The Big Ass Book of Crafts.  Thanks to my friend Bonnie for such a perfect birthday gift.

• Dining Out on Coupons
• See my Scoutmob and Blackboard Eats post for details.  I expect this obsession to last for a long time.
• Board Games
• Thanks to my friend Jen's latest twist on Apples to Apples, board games are back in my life and part of my weekend nights again.  Perhaps this is a sign that I'm getting old.  Perhaps it's a sign I'm feeling young again.  Regardless, I love it.
• Top Websites of the Month
• Mint.com, which tracks all your finances for you and offers tips and advise for saving money, investing money and being smarter about your financial choices.  So what if everyone caught on to this website years ago.  It's already saved me 200 bucks this month and my love for it will only continue to grow.
• Qwiki which acts as a search engine but relays the information to you in a storytelling manner.  For example when I typed in "Brussel Sprouts" an automated voice came on and told me the average size of a sprout, the top exporters of the sprout and the nutritional benefits of the sprout.  What more could you want?  Thanks to Davina for opening my eyes to this one.

The Evolution of the Coupon Girl

If you've been out to dinner with me in the past 3 months, chances are you didn't get much of a chance to pick the restaurant. My addiction to trying new places, and saving cash have combined together to become the one, the only, Coupon Girl. In the past, I was wary about presenting coupons to a waiter or waitress who may not offer me the same experience if I was planning on paying full price for my meal. But, with the recession came new ways to save money and I'm quite sure some of my latest finds are leading the revolution of dinning out on the cheap.

My two favorite pioneers in this space are Scoutmob and Blackboard Eats which both offer patrons a percentage off of their meal at a "hand selected" restaurant or bar. If you decide to stop reading here, you must at least check out their websites and try one of their deals.

So, here's the new lay of the land from an avid user's perspective. I find a good foodie or lifestyle blog or website that fits my demographic and offers interesting reviews on some of my favorite spots. The reviews are written as half intelligent restaurateur deconstructing the menu and atmosphere and half humor columnist for The Onion Newspaper. I find these reviews to be the highlight in my day and want to build on my relationship with these blogs and sites.

They take the first step and send me an email about how they are pioneering relationships with some of their favorite restaurants and bars and will give me the opportunity to save 30-50% off my meals at these destinations in the future. I squeal and accept their offer to build on our relationship.

 Blackboard Eats catches my attention first, and sends me offers for 20-30% off at some of the city's best restaurants. They don't charge me for these coupons, they just require me to purchase at least one entree or two appetizers when I use their coupons. I do, and fall hard for some fantastic new finds that I never would have experimented on without the gentle push from a dear friend. Most of their finds are $$ to $$$$ restaurants and elegant bars and suit my mood for a Saturday night or an occasion (I must omit the word "special" before occasion since every day is a special occasion in some way).

Just last week, Blackboard Eats upped their price per coupon from $0 to $1 or $20 for a full year of deals. I'm sure you'll be shocked to hear Jerome and I went for the full year of deals.

ScoutMob was my second friend in this new, crafty, money saving world. They snuck up much faster than my last friend, but offered a significant amount of humor with their reviews and recommendations which won me over immediately. Once they decided to strengthen their relationship with me, by offering me 50% off coupons to some of the city’s best local finds we became best friends. Even better, their demographic and finds tend to fall into the lower price range ($-$$$) and offer great options for regular weeknight dinners or Sunday brunches. Their coupons also have a cap which range from $15-$35, which isn't hard to hit if you decide to have any booze with your meal. But, it's a great friendship, and awesome deals. Best part: Their iPhone App gives me 1/2 off offers on the go.

I have immense love for my new friends and will share my restaurant adventures with you soon.

eat.sleep.lounge.work.play

Jovoto.com hosted a design competition called Life Edited on their website this month and drew the interest of several amazing designers, namely Jerome Burgos.  In short the competition asked designers and architects to, "design a jewel box of an ultra-low-footprint apartment in 420sf ."

Now, I'd hate to be considered biased towards my boyfriend and his colleague who worked on this project but I'll risk it by saying - Jerome and Emily posted the most creative, intelligent project possible.  I was personally amazed by their ability to broaden the tiny space so much that some of the space set-ups look expansive.  They also crafted new furniture for the space which allow for the potential owner to quickly and easily change the space for eating, working. lounging, sleeping or cooking.   The unique furniture, which in it's raw format looks almost link a cube, are such beautiful puzzle pieces when displayed, and art pieces when stacked and stored away.  Their concept, titled eat.sleep.lounge.work.play is available for viewing here.

Sadly, I was not quick enough with this post and the competition is already closed for public vote.  But, I'm sure he'd appreciate it if you took a look at the work and left a comment.  To understand the variations in lay-outs, I included the design requirements below.  Once you've read them consider this question.....Where else would you need to use such a tiny space for such a wide variety of activities than in NYC?

The design needs to support the life of a real person in the apartment - someone who works, eats, lives, and entertains. We’re looking for apartment designs that allow for:


•a sit-down dinner for 12 people
•a comfortable lounging option for 8 people
•space for 2 guests with some visual and ideally auditory privacy
•a home office
•a work area with space for a rolling tool chest
•a hideable kitchen


As the room function is changed, it should not feel like you are sleeping in your office or eating in your bedroom. At the same time, it should be easy and quick enough to change the room function that one would actually do it.

Winner!

In 2010, Harlem's Frederick Douglass Boulevard got a boutique hotel, a beer garden, a supermarket, a luxury condo surge and, most importantly, a Curbed Cup championship! The south/central Harlem microhood, referred to by some as Harlem's new "Gold Coast," easily defeated defending champion Williamsburg (Northside, specifically) in the tournament finals, claiming 56.6% of the 2,362 total votes. Will this stunning victory go to Harlem's head?  Only time will tell, but for now, this gentle golf clap goes out to all of us.

Metrodome Roof Collapse Video From the Inside Metrodome

I'm continually amazed by this video (which appears to have been edited by James Cameron), and the collapse of this roof. It's pretty amazing that this happened while no one was in the stadium, which is the only reason it's so enticing to watch. The power of Mother Nature simply can't be underestimated. Check it out!

Day Trip: Hudson River Loop

For the amount of time I've lived in NYC, I know surprisingly little about the surrounding region. Avid explorers should know all the best spots, locally and regionally. So, we took advantage of the long weekend by embarking on a day trip up Bergen County, through Harriman State Park, down the Hudson River, past Westchester and over a bridge....to the island borough. Although it was more time in the car than outside, it was a great formula for the perfect winter day trip. Taking on the challenge of taking in sights that are best in the light of day we kicked our trip off early and didn't make it back home till 11 pm. Here's some of the places we explored:

Sugarloaf, NY (1.2 hours from Harlem) - In our research for a small town, high on charm with a thriving arts community, we came across Sugarloaf. The drive from NYC takes you through beautiful Harriman State Park, which is a bit barren this time of year but still offers great natural views. The town itself is a sweet little mountain village full of craftsmen and women. We started our stroll at the intersection of Pine Hill Rd. and King's Hwy and took in some of the shops, including: Luft Gardens, which was our personal favorite and sold vintage and homemade items such as delicious jams, antique movie marquee letters, and old design books; Mountain Herbs; My Sister's Closet which had some warm, wonderful soft hand-knitted clothing; The Candle Shop where we discovered the owner ran track in high school; and The Barnsider Restaurant with awesome spiked apple cider.

West Point, NY (40 minutes east from Sugarloaf) - In my mind West Point has pristine, manicured lawns, stunning, historic buildings overlooking the Hudson River, soldiers training for physical challenges and lovely little plaques placed strategically around the grounds explaining the significance of the sights.  And why not?  All the photos I've seen of the military academy appear to be taken in some sort of magical place with castles looming in the backround and organized chaos in the manner of a football game or training exercise taking place in the foreground.  But alas, we were not allowed to take a self guided tour and could only view the regulated sights including the museum and visitor's center.  A bit of a disappointment but it was en route to our next stop, so we only lost a few minutes of sunlight.



Finding our next stop at Stone Barns



Stone Barns Farm Center for Food and Agriculture (35 minutes from West Point, NY along a scenic curvy road above the Hudson River) - Stone Barns Farm is a non-profit farm and education center which operates an 80-acres of lush, beautiful land. It's open year-round and functions as a working farm, promoting the creation of a healthy and sustainable food system.



Holding our noses in front of the Sheep
Livestock Shelter


The Farm is laid out with both farmers and explorers in mind.  They offer guided tours or suggested self guided "walkabouts," complete with a map and information about how each of the barns, houses, gardens and pastures tie into the overall goal of the sustainable farm.  Their primary education mission, to build connections between the food we eat and farm land, certainly was not lost on me. 

From gorgeously manicured rows of veggies in the Greenhouse, to the open chicken coops the life and vibrancy of the farm took the city out of the girl.  I loved the livestock shelters, full of sheep, turkeys and pigs and wish we had more time to check out the larger pastures and wetlands.   

We only spared a few minutes to sip some coffee at their Blue Hill Cafe and take in the sunset from Chicken Hill before heading off.   

*If the farm sounds too cold or full of animals for your taste, there's also the Rockafeller State Park close by that you can explore by car or foot.  Its said to be some of the best hiking trails in the Hudson Valley and still holds a place on our must see list for our next trip

Mt. Kisco, NY (20 minutes from Stone Barns Farm) - Once our feet thawed and the sun set, we decided to check out another small town on our way home.  After reading about Mt. Kisco's quaint Main Street and relaxed wine bars, we figured it was the perfect place to start our evening.  This north Westchester town is an interesting mix of modern, cookie cutter shops and classic Victorian homes.  I'd read that most of the housing was build during the turn of the century, and included colonials and Tudors as well.  But, the downtown area primarily featured a modern mix of glassy storefronts and A-line rooftops.  There's a sweet charm to the modern village and we decided to settle in for a drink.

Jerome did some reading and found  a popular wine bar, Pour Cafe, which occupies the bottom floor of a two story Victorian downtown.  The interiors were spacious yet cozy and included a lot of dark wood deep red velvet.  It felt like being in a good friends very refined living room.  The huge glasses of wine and well priced munches kept us happy for a while but the heat never quite kicked in and we got tired of shivering at a bar.  So, we decided to make one more stop before landing home.

Denino's Pizzeria Tavern, Staten Island, NY (1.5 hours with several wrong turns, from Mt. Kisco) - Since we don't own a car and usually head out of town when we decide to rent one, we rarely go off the beaten path in NYC.  Off the beaten path means over a 40 minute walk from a subway station.  If there's a bus, I'll take it, if there's a goal at the end of my journey, I'll work for it.  But, I don't usually go out just to wander (which I used to do my first couple of years here....how sad).  So, the borough we've explored the least is Staten Island due to it's lack of transportation. 

I've read about Denino's world famous pizzeria on SI, but never thought I'd get the chance to go there....till now.  We had a little bit of trouble finding the place, or more accurately, finding the bridge that would take us to the island but it was all worth it.  $10 pitchers of beer and thin crust pizza with the perfect sauce and fresh cheese was a great way to end the night.