Eat.Travel.Read.

"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different."

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:45:11 -0400

“In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”

- Gabrielle ”Coco” Chanel, Artist & Visionary

"… there’s no better time than these waning days of summer to redefine travel by pausing,..."

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 23:26:40 -0400

““… there’s no better time than these waning days of summer to redefine travel by pausing, reflecting, and looking around our homes and hometowns with fresh eyes before we gear up with our next big travel plan taking us to a faraway land… Part of the benefit of a vacation comes from breaking routine, getting out of habits, and experiencing the world around us in a new way. The essence of travel is not found in the number of stamps in our passports — to really travel is to better understand a place through exploration and effort.””

- Arianna Huffington

Union Station Where: Union Station (Washington, DC) Why: I took...

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:33:59 -0400

Union Station

Where: Union Station (Washington, DC)

Why: I took the train down to DC to met up with a few close friends from high school. It was from here we started the best road trip of ~~my life~~ our lives. Where did we go? We drove out to Indiana to attend the Alles Family Barn Dance. Epic. More pictures to follow…

Savage Beauty Where: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York,...

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:46:25 -0400

Savage Beauty

Where: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)

Why: Better late than never! I waited in line for 4.5 hours today to see this landmark Alexander McQueen exhibit on its last day. It was an incredible experience and worth the wait.

"It is important to look at death because it is a part of life. It is a sad thing, melancholic but..."

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:46:19 -0400

““It is important to look at death because it is a part of life. It is a sad thing, melancholic but romantic at the same time. It is the end of a cycle — everything has to end. The cycle of life is positive because it gives room for new things.””

- Alexander McQueen, Artist

to be or not to be… Where: Shakespeare in the Parking Lot...

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 01:10:04 -0400

to be or not to be…

Where: Shakespeare in the Parking Lot (Municipal Parking Lot - Broome and Ludlow)

Why: Park or Parking Lot? Maybe I prefer Parking Lot because I’m more of a downtown girl, but I was really impressed by this summer’s production of Hamlet. (Sssh. Don’t tell anyone - this is one of NYC’s best kept secrets!)

Shadow and Cathedral Where: City Hall Park (New York, NY) Why:...

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:46:17 -0400

Shadow and Cathedral

Where: City Hall Park (New York, NY)

Why: Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge at dusk is probably one of the beautiful walks you can do in all of NYC. Also, I love the late afternoon sun casting the shadow on the building on the left.

Reflection Where: Washington Square Park (New York, NY) Why: Not...

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:16:46 -0400

Reflection

Where: Washington Square Park (New York, NY)

Why: Not one of my better pictures, but I wanted to remember this night. Enjoying a perfect summer night in WSP with music playing softly in the background … very romantic :) I am very blessed.

Travel: Yoga to the People in NYC

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:12:48 -0400

Yoga. The passion with which New Yorkers practice yoga is amazing. There is a studio for every different style and variation of yoga! If you are visiting and want to have a unique NYC experience, I would encourage you to try taking a yoga class.

Yoga classes can be expensive and studios can be intimidating if you’ve never done it or not in decent physcial shape. But, this isn’t the case at Yoga to the People. The East Village yoga institution (which has now spead to other parts of the city and country) pioneered the idea that “yoga is for everyone.” It is a donation-based studio (i.e. pay, if anything, what you can afford) and as a result this studio attracts yoga students at all levels and experience. Because of its donation-based pay structure the studio gets very full, so make sure you arrive early to grab a spot on the floor.

What I love about the studio for beginners is that the vibe is both laid-back, and provides a challenging yoga experience. You get an intense workout (Power Vinyasa flow) in about 60 mintues. Finally, there is a meditation/relaxation element at the end of each class. Honestly, the magic in yoga lies in finishing poses, and corpse pose is critical to take at the end of class to allow your body to absorb all the benefits of yoga!

I wish I could tell you all the aspects of my life that have literally transformed since I started a regular yoga practice. I urge you to try it and see for yourself. It’s definitely not for everyone, but I do think it’s worth trying once. This studio creates a safe enviornment to try something new and have a unqiue experience.

Yoga to the People
12 St. Marks Place, 2R
New York NY 10003

Light Where: City Hall Park (New York, NY) Why: I was reading a...

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:37:36 -0400

Light

Where: City Hall Park (New York, NY)

Why: I was reading a story on Tablet Talk by photographer Rebecca Adler Rotenberg and she said that the incredible light in Tuscany “profoundly altered [her] worldview as a young artist.” While I agree that the light in Tuscany is indeed very special, I think most people overlook the beautiful light right here in New York City. The evening sun glistening against the old brick has a beautiful, almost magical quality to it.

Read: Just Kids by Patti Smith

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:51:26 -0400

There are 3 books that I’ve read in my life so far that have made me cry. The first was in seventh grade when I read Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. I think the singular experience of reading that book allowed me to grasp the power of literature and storytelling. The second book was in tenth grade when I read Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. It was only after reading Hemingway for the first time that I realized the power of language and it’s ability to make me feel and experience something fully without necessarily having to experience it first hand (if that makes any sense). And, the third book that made me cry was Patti Smith’s exquisite memoir, Just Kids.

If you don’t know who Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe are, I don’t want to disclose how their story unfolds. I would encourage you to resist the urge to Wikipedia their names and learn about their contribution as artists until after you have finished reading this book. Very simply, this memoir tells the story of their relationship with one another and their development as artists. Smith was a muse for Mapplethorpe, and Mapplethorpe a muse for Smith. Without one another, their lives and legacies may have turned out very differently.

But, at the heart of this book is a very pure love story. Theirs was an unconventional relationship by society’s standards (especially at the time); but Smith does a great job of describing from her perspective what she felt and relaying what Mapplethorpe told her. It also reminded me of the very simple idea that no one ever gets anywhere (in life) alone. Love isn’t perfect. It may not manifest itself in ideal ways - but, it is necessary and should be cherished because we need it. We need it not only to sustain us, but to help move us forward.

This book and story is certainly not for everyone. Not everyone will agree with how Smith and Mapplethorpe lived their lives or the art they created. Regardless of how you feel about it, books and stories like this are good to read (especially if they make you uncomfortable) because it allows you to learn to see things from a different perspective. And, isn’t that at the end of the day is what learning and growing is about? Being able to see and think about things in new ways? Read this book, get a glimpse into a different way of living and experiencing. You make just surprise yourself and walk away from the experience with a new view on love, relationships, and art.

"In my low periods, I wondered what was the point of creating art. For whom? Are we animating God? ..."

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:34:00 -0400

““In my low periods, I wondered what was the point of creating art. For whom? Are we animating God? Are we talking to ourselves? And what was the ultimate goal? To have one’s work caged in art’s great zoos-the Modern, the Met, the Louvre?””

- Patti Smith, Just Kids

Hello, Borgata! Where: Borgata Hotel and Casino (Atlantic City,...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:19:49 -0400

Hello, Borgata!

Where: Borgata Hotel and Casino (Atlantic City, NJ)

Why: I love the entrance to this lovely hotel - where I was fortunate enough to spend Memorial Day Weekend. It’s been a while since I posted anything…life got very busy! I definitely missed being on Tumblr and haven’t stopped going out and discovering new tastes, places, and ideas. I hope all is well and I look forward to sharing a few stories and adventures that I’ve had over the last few months :)

Waterfall Where: Kuang Si Falls (Luang Prabang, Laos) Why: While...

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:47:00 -0500

Waterfall

Where: Kuang Si Falls (Luang Prabang, Laos)

Why: While it’s not on the same scale as Niagra, Victoria, or Iguazu Falls, the Kuang Si Falls is very pretty and a great place to visit. And, it’s also the first waterfall I’ve ever climbed (trust me, it’s steep). What I love about this shot is the sense of movement. It’s a great spot to hike, swim and eat food prepared by local street vendors. I definitely suggest coming out for at least 1/2 a day if you are staying in Luang Prabang.

Eat: Perry St

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 23:53:17 -0500

Perry St is a restaurant that I’ve wanted to dine at since it opened in 2005. Tonight I had that opportunity and I’m happy to say that it lived up to all my expectations!

I’ve been a fan of Jean-Georges Vongerichten since I dined at Spice Market. His food is thoughtful and creative. The textures and flavors are unexpected, but always in a good way. I would call this restaurant “accessible” because the food was just plain tasty. The textures, flavors, sensations, presentation, service were executed to perfection. I liked that it was a slightly less formal atmosphere than one would expect for a restaurant at this price point.

I also really liked the space. It’s on the ground floor of the Richard Meier buildings on the West Side Highway. Clean and sleek, there are beautiful views of the Hudson River. But, the best part about the interior is because it is done in a minimalist style, you get to focus on the food and the person (or people) you are dining with. That’s always a great thing in my opinion!

Dining here is an experience that one should savor. Go to Perry St and walk out feeling satisfied.

Recommended Dishes: The standouts were Peekytoe Crab Toast with Miso Mustard and Shiso as an appetizer and Valrhona Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert (from the Prix Fixe Winter Menu)

Food: New American, French
Atmosphere: Trendy, Sleek and Modern (But, slightly less formal)
Presentation: Formal & Arty
Price: Appetizers are $10-$20, Mains $25-$30, wine by the glass $9-$15

Perry St
176 Perry Street
New York NY 10014
212.352.1900

The Path Not Taken Where: Kuang Si Falls (Luang Prabang,...

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:52:31 -0500

The Path ~~Not~~ Taken

Where: Kuang Si Falls (Luang Prabang, Laos)

Why: I feel like I’m a better version of myself when travelling. I’m absolutely fearless. Normally, I avoid the areas that have a “Danger” sign posted in English with an outline of skull and bones. But, I was in Laos and thought to myself “I wonder why someone took the time to build this walkway here? And, then why did they abandon maintaining it and put a ‘danger’ sign up (not pictured)?” I felt like I would always wonder if I didn’t walk down it to see where the trail led. So, I took a deep breath, took this out of focus picture, and off I went to find my answer…

Snow Where: Lower Manhattan/Financial District (New York,...

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:30:58 -0500

Snow

Where: Lower Manhattan/Financial District (New York, NY)

Why: A break during yesterday’s snowstorm. It doesn’t look so bad from up here…

Co-pa…Copacabana Where: Copacabana Beach (Rio de Janeiro,...

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:10:29 -0500

Co-pa…Copacabana

Where: Copacabana Beach (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Why: It was 6 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius) this morning when I woke up in NY. Just needed a reminder it’s not this cold in other parts of the world! It’s summertime in the Southern Hemisphere. The beaches in Rio are amazing - especially for a city of 6 million people!

Union Square West Where: Union Square (New York, NY) Why:...

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:50:38 -0500

Union Square West

Where: Union Square (New York, NY)

Why: I’m a very lucky girl - this was my first New York address! This place is always changing, and it’s one of the many reasons I continue to come back again and again…

Yoga Sutras Where: Yoga Sutra NYC studio Why: I love how the...

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:22:38 -0500

Yoga Sutras

Where: Yoga Sutra NYC studio

Why: I love how the yoga sutras have created this fresh & contemporary piece of art.