The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! How was your week? A four-day week always flies by, right? I am excited for a productive weekend ahead. I'm actually taking a writing class! I write every day for work, but this is my chance to write for me. :) I hope you have something wonderful planned. Here, to get the weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Storytelling on Snapchat.

Thoughts on giving men the red carpet treatment.

Salad for breakfast.

Love this shirt.

Curious about this movie!

The perfect 2016 planner.

Love this Brooklyn apartment!

Why it's hard to stay caught up on TV.

Daydreaming about spring coats.

Made me laugh. And think of Matt.

Another good (but completely unsubstantiated) Serial theory.

(Image via Damsel in Dior)

Brunch Page: Prune

For Christmas this year, I gave Matt the newest cookbook by Gabrielle Hamiton, the celebrated chef behind one of NYC's hottest restaurants: Prune. All fall, he talked extensively about wanting to read it—or so I thought. He was actually hoping for a different book—a copy of Gabrielle's 2012 memoir, called Blood, Bones & Butter. I'll admit: I half listened! (Oops.) But it worked out: He was so excited to read Gabrielle's cookbook that it inspired a trip to Prune for brunch.

We've fallen off the wagon a bit with our regular NYC brunch dates, but winter is the best time to get back on track. We coordinated with our friends, outlined a strategy for managing the long wait for a table (Prune doesn't take reservations for brunch), and began salivating over the menu in anticipation of the meal. 

The wait was worth it; the food was delicious (I had the Eggs Benedict); and we had a great time.

A tip: Plot out a nearby bar (or coffee shop) so that you can stop by Prune, put your name down, and have an equally desirable spot to wait. We went to the Library—a total dive with delicious hot toddies and mimosas, too. Our total wait time for brunch? About an hour and a half.

Have you checked out any new brunch spots in New York recently?

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The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days? One of my nearest and dearest friends is coming to town so that we can holiday shop, eat good food, party hop, and more! Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

I tried to lose a guy in 10 days.

Cute crackers.

Kate and William at the Barclays! (I was there, too!)

One more: A Royal recap. :)

French coasters.

The perfect New Year's Eve dress.

Pretty calendar round-up for 2015.

Are you ready for more Girls?!

10-minute apps. Yum.

In the midst of the holiday craziness, remember this.

(Image via Jess Hunter Photography)

New documentary 'Gasper & Son'

Over the weekend, I popped by the Greenpointers Holiday Market (always worth it for the awesome, crafty finds!) and had the chance to catch an early screening of the trailer for a new documentary called Gasper & Son. It's about the dying art of neon sign making, told through the story of Gasper and his son Robbie, owners of Artistic Neon, based in Queens. 

The trailer is under two minutes, but I was immediately captivated by neon sign making as a business. The hands-on art is something that can't be replaced by a machine, yet Artistic Neon is struggling as one of only a handful of neon sign makers left in the US. The doc is in post-production now and will hopefully be ready to watch in its entirety very soon.

Check out the trailer and let me know what you think!

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

Last night, I had the chance to check out The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, based on the bestselling book by author Mark Haddon. The New York Times gave it a rave review, so Matt and I jumped at getting tickets. Two words: Go now. Here, my top three reasons to see the show.

1. The acting. The lead character, Christopher Boone, is played by Alex Sharp, a recent Juilliard grad who is making his Broadway debut. I wouldn't be surprised if he receives a Best Actor Tony Award for his role. He's brilliant. I had a hard time taking my eyes off of him during the almost 2 1/2 hour play, he's so captivating. The role also requires an impressive amount of physicality (for example, any touch by another human being sends him into hysterics). Alex handles this seamlessly.

2. The set design. It's simplistic, but remarkable—and a little bit of sensory overload, which perfectly reflects how the lead character feels a lot of the time. The stage is a sort of black box version of graph paper that also doubles as a touch screen. The actors' moves are so perfectly choreographed that a single step lights up the stage, creates a map, or an explosion of digital numbers. At one point it becomes a subway platform—the next an escalator that Christopher can walk down. I loved it.

3. The story. Truth be told, I never read the book. Matt did, and he said the show reflects it well—he's comfortable with the adaptation. Since I didn't know the back story (and wouldn't let Matt give me any spoilers before sitting down!), it was magical and full of surprises. Like I said, I had a hard time taking my eyes off the stage from start to finish.

OK, so tell me: Will you see this play?

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The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the weekend? The next couple of days are busy for me—I'm co-chairing New York Women in Communications' Student Career Conference and I'm also going to see Emma Stone in Cabaret. Big weekend! :) Wishing you a wonderful and relaxing couple of days off. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Such a cool (multi) million-dollar idea!

For anyone who loves Salt 'n Pepa.

73 new reasons to adore Amy Adams.

Hang this to get into the holiday spirit.

An ode to old-school Brooklyn.

The gals behind the Everygirl.

Pretty polka dots. 

Cool project.

Golden elephants!

My new favorite Christmas song.

(Image via Pinterest)

Taylor Swift is on my morning playlist

What music do you listen to on your morning commute? I'll admit it: Right now, I have "Shake it Off" from Taylor Swift's new album, 1989, on repeat. That song is so infectious!

Truth: Sometimes, even if I have a seat on the subway, I'll give it up just because it's way too tough to sit down while listening to this song. I know this is crazy talk since seats on the A train can be very difficult to come by! ;)

Do you have a song that wakes you up during rush hour?

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Brunch Page: The Butcher's Daughter

I first heard about this sunny brunch spot from Bri over at Design Love Fest—she recommended The Butcher's Daughter as one of her favorite New York spots when she was in town to teach Blogshop last year. 

This past Saturday, I finally made it over there for a solo brunch, iPad in hand. I nabbed a window seat (those vintage-looking stools swivel out) and ordered the smashed avocado toast and a cup of green tea. Delicious! But my favorite part truly is the interior design. The whole place is so airy and bright. I especially love the pops of yellow against all the white. With the sun shining in, it was a lovely spot to sit, read, eat and write.

What's your favorite spot for a cozy winter brunch? Do you have a go-to place?

More New York brunches here, here, here, and here.

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Everything By My Side

Over the weekend, Matt "surprised" me and his sister and brother-in-law with an only-in-New York experience: Performance art. The installation is called "Everything By My Side"—or as the New York Times' referred to it, pillow-talk theater, courtesy of acclaimed Buenes Aires artist Fernando Rubio. 

Here's how it works: You arrive over at Pier 45 on the Hudson River at your ticketed time slot, walk past all the New Yorkers sunbathing on the pier and then climb into bed with an actress spouting dream-like sequences for 15 minutes or less. To be honest, it was rather calming. You check your bag and phone with the "host," take your shoes off and kick back. After I got over the initial awkwardness, it was easy to let my mind wander.

The part that threw me was remembering the instructions for when you're supposed to exit the bed (the dream whisperer will let you know with a few soft-spoken words). I began to feel nervous I missed it when I suddenly heard my cue: "I'll see you soon."

As I mentioned before, only in New York!

Jeff Goldblum + Pink Martini

Last week, I got my fill of arts and culture in New York, first with a chance to see Jeff Goldblum and his band, the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, at the Carlyle Hotel, and then later in the week, with Pink Martini at the Beacon Theatre on the Upper West Side. 

For Goldblum, this show marked his New York debut (he plays fairly regularly in LA at Rockwell Table & Stage)—and what a performance. The night I was there, he arrived 30 minutes early on stage to joke and banter with the crowd, quizzing his audience on the best Woody Allen films and laughing while teaching the art of heckling. But his talent for piano and singing caused the whole audience to stop their laughter and listen: His voice is dreamy and he has perfect pitch. I fell in love with this tune, called Stella by Starlight.

Two days later, I was at the Beacon, enjoying the world-class sounds of Pink Martini, a group I've followed since being introduced to them at a dinner party in Boston, nearly a decade ago. The host told me Pink Martini albums were his go-to dinner party tunes. I was hooked! Their show in New York was, as always, a treat, made even better by special guests like the Von Trapp grandchildren, who now tour with the band. My favorite song is still Sympathique, a hit from their debut CD back in 1997.

Are you hearing any good music this fall in New York?

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The weekend is here!

What are your weekend plans, my dear readers? I am so excited to kick back and relax. I'm also hoping to do a bit of reading. I just picked up this book—have you read it? I need to see it before the movie comes out this fall! Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

My favorite poem.

The large print.

Pop culture weddings you've actually attended yourself. (#1 might be my favorite.)

Crinkle fries are back!!

The prettiest yellow bra.

The best Broadway news.

A sun shade for people who burn easy (like me!).

In a word: Breathtaking.

Birthday cake crumbles.

Garlic-roasted tomato sandwiches. Um, yes, please.

(Image via Design Love Fest)

Governors Island escape

Over the weekend, Matt and I took the ferry over to Governors Island for the first time this summer. I can't believe it's taken us this long to get out there this year—especially given all the new things to do! On Saturday, the weather was perfect. The ferry was crowded. :) But we had a blast. Here are my top three favorites of everything that's new:

1) Hammock Grove. This place is awesome. All hammocks. The crazy part—we found a free hammock right away! I wished I had brought a book with me. I could have lounged in my hammock reading all day. 

2) Food trucks. There used to be ZERO food on Governors Island. Trust me. We went out there about four years ago for the Jazz Fest and failed to eat before boarding the boat. We were starving! And hangry! Now there are so many choices for lunch. You can even get Blue Marble out there. Yum!

3) More bike paths. A major plus is that bikers are the first to board the ferry. Better yet, with all the new green spaces that are open, having a bike on Governors Island makes it easy to whip around and see it all. Like the furthest point past Hammock Grove: The view of Lady Liberty from there is incredible. And costs nothing to see!

Have you been to Governors Island this summer?

The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for this weekend? I'm taking a calligraphy class! My grandmother always used to practice this art form, making beautiful prints that still hang on my parents walls today. I'm excited to give it a try. :) Wishing you a lovely and relaxing weekend ahead. Here, to get it started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Saturday-inspired nails.

Revisiting the South of France.

Pretty Kate Spade swimsuits. With bows!

How to properly pack your toiletries. (Bonus: What to bring for two weeks of travel!)

A DIY project I can't wait to try. (Thanks, Joy!)

Before the website re-launch, a few New Yorker favorites like this one and this one and this one.

Origami picnic boxes.

Summer hair.

Royal families on vacation.

Kristen Bell as Mary Poppins. Love.

(Image via The Daily Muse)

A view from the ferry

Any time I've visited my friend Barb in New Jersey, I've traveled by train. This time, she recommended that I take the ferry. Brilliance! Seeing the Manhattan skyline from the water is breathtaking, and something everyone in New York should do at least once. 

Bonus: It's surreal to pass the Statue of Liberty on a "commuter" boat. I've lived here six years, but seeing that sight still gets me every time. 

PS: Another view from the water.

Beat the NYC heat

This week, as I waited for the A train in the sweltering underground heat, I glanced over at another woman on the platform. She was dry as a daisy, fanning herself with one of these—a portable, battery-operated fan. I immediately thought of all the things that I carry in my purse to be prepared (a sewing kit, a mini-flashlight, Advil, Shout wipes) but it never crossed my mind to carry something as brilliant as that.

Now, I'm totally rethinking my summertime essentials and the things I carry to get through a hot day in New York. PureWow suggests Evian mist, Shine Control sheets, and this awesome cure for ponytail hair.

One thing is for sure: I'm definitely getting that fan!

PS: An ode to summer in the city.

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July Page: A Toast!

Happy July 1st, my darling readers! I always look at this weekend as the official kick-off to summer. The 4th of July weekend happens to be my favorite holiday, too. There's nothing better than leisurely BBQs, sunshine, and enjoying it all with family and friends. Here are a few things I'm excited about this month:

• Picnics in the park, and dining al fresco
• Beach days—and sunscreen
• Sipping rosé
• Fireworks (so pumped that they're moving back to the East River this year!)
• Prince George turning 1!

How about you? What do you love about July?

PS: Another reason to celebrate summer!

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The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, dear readers! What do you have planned for the next couple of days? I'm so excited because my friend Shalah is coming to town. Remember: She's the one who gave me cooking lessons and got married in Ireland, too? :) Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web:

Reading Rainbow redo (donate now!).

Such a pretty beach towel.

Amy Poehler's favorite rom-com.

Live vicariously.

Smoked s'mores in a jar. Yum.

Love this pretty maxi dress.

Summer alfresco dining ideas.

DIY confetti poppers.

A rosé hibiscus spritzer.

Looking forward to seeing this film.

A sweet look at summer so far.

(Image via I Dream Of...)

Flower arrangements 101

Whenever I pass a flower shop or bodega in New York with tons of buckets of fresh and colorful stems, I feel a sudden rush to make an impulse buy. But I always stop at the number of options. I never know what to pair with what! Of course, I know which types of flowers I like, but I'd love to be able to skillfully construct a well-balanced arrangement for my bedside table, my bathroom, or anywhere else in my home. 

So, I've been researching floral design classes in NYC, and I'm delighted to report that there are quite a few options to choose from. I was about to click "purchase" on a Williamsburg DIY class, when I found out that my favorite neighborhood floral shop offers classes, too! I can't wait to sign up.

How about you: Do you know your way around your local flower market? Any tips for someone just getting started in floral design?

(Image 2 via Design Love Fest)

Take a dip

Now that it's officially summer, I keep daydreaming about escaping the city heat and spending as much time as I can by the ocean—or poolside. For the days when I can't get out of town, this water series by Max Wanger seems like the perfect alternative. Just looking at these photos, I instantly feel cooled off and refreshed. 

It's the best antidote to New York City heat waves, don't you think?

PS: More wall art.
PPS: More Max Wanger.

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The weekend is here!

Happy Friday, my darling readers! What do you have planned for the weekend? It's Matt's birthday next week, so we're celebrating a few days early and thinking of trying this Brooklyn spot. Looks yummy, right? Here, to get your weekend started right, a few happy posts from around the web: 

The perfect patio wishlist.

Gift idea for rosé lovers.

How to enjoy soccer.

Tie your scarf like a French girl.

The scariest roller coaster ride ever.

Loving this necklace.

Hey, summer!

Since we've been discussing Paris, a macaron how-to.

Camp Kate Spade.

Mango and zucchini lettuce wraps. Yum.

The pros of long weekends (July 4th is coming up!).

(Image via Neighbor Food)