Rainy Saturday

The forecast for the weekend is nothing but rain, but I didn't let that stop me from going on a little adventure! I headed to Williamsburg to check out the Renegade Craft Fair and say hello to a few of my friends in the NewNew. I also bought a truly unique necklace that I cannot wait to wear all summer long. It's perfect for every day! What did you do today?

Rainy streets of Greenpoint.

Don't let a little rain make you frown! Such a cute little bike bell.

Beautiful brick wall on Manhattan Avenue in Williamsburg. Also available in my shop.

Beautiful Sunday

Blooming Magnolias

Today was one of those days you are just happy to be alive. The weather was gorgeous. It was sunny and 65. I ate a sinfully delicious plate of pancakes from Cheryl's Global Soul. I walked through the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens with Laura. I planted my window garden of herbs. And finally, I stocked up on groceries at Trader Joe's. The best part was I ran all of these errands on my new bike. How did you spend your Sunday?

daffodils and tulips

snakeskin tulip. I can't remember the actual name.

CHECK ME OUT

Oh would you look at that?! I've made it onto Apartment Therapy! Please please please please take the time to favorite me. You have to log in, but really it only takes a minute to do. I'd love you forever and always if you did!

Come say HI!

As I continue my journey as a photographer, I've been lucky enough to be able to participate in a few upcoming street and craft fairs where I'm going to be selling my items! All items sold can also be bought in my Etsy shop, but with no added shipping costs! What a bargain :) If you are around, come out to support me. Jason will also be selling his Merrimack & Monitor items as well. They truly are beautiful "lighting, furniture and accoutrements made from reclaimed pieces." We're doing a photo shoot soon of his items, so stay tuned for that!

Here are the fairs you can find us at!

April 30th - Go Green! Greenpoint Earth Day Festival at McCarren Park

May 1st - Lexington Craft Fair in Jackson Heights.

May 7th - Festival of Ideas in the Lower East Side

Throw a Tantrum!

So, I'm a little late in posting this, but have you heard of Fitz and the Tantrums? They are pretty awesome. A couple weeks ago my coworker was in town from San Fran and a bunch of us went to Williamsburg to see them. Such an energetic group and they put on a fantastic show. Look them up now, and load your ipods my friends. Not only was it a fun night, I now have new music to run to. Double win.

Lesson learned: When it comes to music, Lo knows what he's talking about.

Snow Day

New York City got another 19 inches of snow last night. Much more than the 6 inches expected. Kids, I'm not kidding when I say we get a snow storm a week here. However, my snow boot purchase has DEFINITELY paid off. I wear those suckers every day.

(all photos were taken on my way to the subway this morning that was surprisingly running. I was really hoping for a work from home day today. No such luck.)

Waiting

Will this G Train ever come?

It snowed. Again.

I am so over this whole snow thing. We got another 3 - 5 inches last night while I was fast asleep. I was told the Farmer's Almanac predicted a very cold winter with hardly any snow. I think it's safe to say they were wrong given we've had a snow storm every week since Christmas!

My Florida friends may think "Oh, but it's so pretty!" And, I agree. Snow is pretty, the first 30 minutes - an hour after it has fallen. After that, fluffy white snow turns to slushy mud mixed with yellow ice. You try walking through that to get to the subway that may or may not be running depending if the switches were froze from all the ice. Is it summer yet?

On a side note, I ordered a new snow jacket and goggles this week! Take me to the slopes!

On another side note, tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY. Very excited for a bloody mary filled brunch with some of my closest friends :)

Snowpocalypse of 2010

In case you were not aware, we've had a tiny bit of snow up here in New York over the last 36 hours. I've been snowed in and couldn't leave my neighborhood all day! (Those F trains BEST be running tomorrow!) So I completely took advantage of all this snow and built my first snowman! He may be little, but a lot of love (and a little photoshop) went in to him!

Side note: I heard on the news today that for every inch of snow New York City gets, it costs $1 million in clean up! Given we got about 20 inches of snow, this little storm really isn't going to do much good for the city budget.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

In Carroll Gardens! This past Saturday I walked through the neighborhood to meet a friend for dinner. Want to know what the best part of walking through the cold in December is? People leave their blinds open because they want to show off their Christmas trees! This means Kelley gets to see how some of these breathtaking brownstones are decorated. WIN.

On a side note, so excited to head to Florida for a few days and thaw out. It's been absolutely frigid in Brooklyn.

The Carroll Gardens Christmas Tree. Isn't she pretty?

The Wise Men.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus. And the reindeer.

What I believe is the most decorated house in Brooklyn.

The misfit toys!

Get low, get low.

This past Sunday Jason and I grabbed our flashlights and headed underground into the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. The tunnel is officially the world's oldest subway tunnel and was dug in 1844 to eliminate traffic and pedestrian delays on the LIRR. It was a really cool tour, and I learned a lot about New York's history (did you know that Manhattan used to be a mountainous range? On the old mountain bases we now have the skyscrapers, in the valleys there are the shorter buildings. Think Financial district vs SOHO.) For those of you who have read Mole People, and are fascinated with all underground things NY has to offer, go on this tour. National Geographic is filming a feature on the tunnel starting next month. I can't wait to see it!

Jason climbing down and through the small opening to the tunnel.

Our guide (the big guy on the left) actually rediscovered this tunnel in 1980! Look at how little he used to be! Also, check out all the orbs... kind of spooky.

The tunnel roofs were painted white, but all the train soot turned it a much darker color over the years. These holes were how the smoke escaped.

A bunch of old things I saw in the tunnel.

Coney Island!

Over the long Labor Day weekend, I headed out to Coney Island to see what all the hype was about. While we did not encounter any freaks, we did visit the NY Aquarium, ride the Cyclone and ate a funnel cake. My neck still hurts from the wrath of the wooden roller coaster and the memory of the children we encountered at the aquarium is still proving to be quite effective birth control. The Cyclone was so much fun, and I feel I have now become a part of Brooklyn history!

Unfortunately, we didn't get to ride the Wonder Wheel because someone had to go for a training run. The NERVE!

I am pathetic

You can almost see my bicep bulging from lifting this monstrosity.

Last night I was Ms. Popular. Who triple books their Wednesday night? Seriously, who do I think I am?!

I ended my night at Radegast Hall & Biergarten in Williamsburg. This place is pretty awesome. You can order all these fancy beers in 0.5L, 1L or 1.5L sizes! THAT my friends is a lot of beer. I ordered a 1L of the daily special (which came with a free bratwurst!). I kid you not, my right arm seriously hurts today from lifting that giant mug. Sad.

Whipping up some Deliciousness!

So the time has arrived that I grow up a little bit. It was time to stop messing around with printed recipes I find on the web and get a real cookbook. When I found out one of my favorite restaurants (which also happens to be less than a block from my apartment) released a cookbook I immediately thought of all the amazing things I could now cook and ordered myself a copy. Last night my copy of The Frankies Spuntino Kitchen Companion & Cooking Manual arrived. The idea behind the cookbook is simple, delicious Italian. I seriously have no idea how I am going to pick my first recipe. Will it be their SICK french toast? Or maybe their homemade gnocchi? I do love me some gnocchi.

Do yourself a favor and buy it.

A lovely little Sunday

A beautiful sunflower in the tacky Italian Mens Society Garden on my block.

This weekend I have been boring. I drank wine and slept. That is it.

Ok, ok, that might be a tad of an exaggeration, but I did catch up on sleep and life in general. It's been beautiful in the BK this weekend and this afternoon I met up with some really splendid ladies for brunch. It honestly was some of the most delicious food I have had in a really long time. We went to this restaurant I've wanted to go to for a while now. I constantly pass Bocca Lupo during my runs and I always forget about it when picking a place to eat. I will never forget about this place again. IT. WAS. AMAZING. Do yourself a favor and try it if you are in the hood. Actually, make it a point to come to the hood and try it. You won't be disappointed.

Oh, I also ran. 9 miles. Only 17.2 more to go until the marathon. Why do I do this to myself?

3D Movie with a View

You really cannot beat watching Monsters vs Aliens in 3D with views of downtown Manhattan in the background. A few days back Laura and I headed to the new Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park (along with a bunch of other cute kids and families), slipped on a pair of 3D glasses and enjoyed the show. It was easily one of the best 3D displays I've seen. AND, the new pier has a Calexico cart! I love New York in the summer time.

Seriously, I can't wait to go back to my next Movies with a View. Who wants to come with me?

Confetti and Breadcrumb

Last week Jon and I ventured on the G train so we could see our first live performance of Confetti and Breadcrumb! It was amazing. You can check out some of their classy music videos here. I WILL someday make it in one of their videos. I made them promise me. Don't think I forgot boys.

Check out a partial video of Bees - not the best quality, but still entertaining.

Let it Snow!

The first snow storm of the season came through yesterday and it was beautiful! Glad I got to see this before I head to the 80 degree Florida weather for the holidays. Nothing says Christmas like hanging out poolside, sweating and wearing flip flops.

Icicles in the park.

I seriously have a soft spot for little kids all bundled up in their puffy jackets. How adorable is this kid?

So peaceful. Fresh blanket of snow.

In front of my apartment

Berries!

I'll always be by your side

See the rest of my pics from the Brooklyn Botanical Garden here.

Cartwheels

Enjoying a beautiful Fall afternoon at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens