PS 1- Warm Up

We trekked out to Long Island City on Saturday for Katy's going away party at PS1. It's been several years since I've been to PS1, and my first to the Warm Up parties... I had avoided them due to the rumors of the hour long lines outside to get in, but Katy informed me that they weren't like that anymore. But wow- what a scene! The courtyard was full of giant rubber balls that people were either sitting on or they were being bounced around on top of the nets, from one part of the courtyard to another, in the true PS1 interactive courtyard installation manner. The steps up to the museum were jammed with people, and the music was pumping. We could barely hear each other talk- it was basically like going to an outdoor club during the afternoon.

P and I headed inside to rest our throats but we were equally impressed and disappointed with the artwork, but perhaps it was just way too crowded to enjoy. Everybody seemed to be in their most "effortlessly" hip outfit, strutting around and checking each other out, which was actually kind of like an exhibition in itself!

This highly anticipated outdoor series celebrates its twelfth year of exposing audiences to the best in experimental music and live bands, performances, and DJs. Coinciding with the annual Young Architects Program, this year's Warm Up will merge with a new courtyard installation, Pole Dance, created by the architectural firm Solid Objectives - Idenburg Liu (SO - IL).

This year for the first time, Warm Up will feature interdisciplinary collaborations between musicians and artists. On our particular visit, Body & Pole, a series of performances created by choreographer Kyra Johannesen was performed in the courtyard, further expanding the interactive qualities presented in the architectural installation Pole Dance.

Lincoln Center Green Roof

 Wow, what a great space! Was able to stroll around Diller and Scofidio's new contoured grass-covered roof at Lincoln Center today after watching a complimentary open rehearsal of tonight's Mostly Mozart rehearsal at Avery Fisher Hall, courtesy of a temporary partnership between Lincoln Center and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

From the Lincoln Center website:
Joining landscape and architecture, the gently contoured Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Lawn is an elevated, 7,203 square foot expanse of public green that slopes gracefully toward Paul Milstein Pool and Terrace. Technically described as a hyperbolic paraboloid, Illumination Lawn brings another dimension of visual interest to Hearst Plaza—its texture contrasting with the surrounding materials, and its unexpected shape setting off the linear quality of the buildings around it. Designed to provide a tranquil, verdant oasis for students, artists, and visitors, the green serves as a dynamic gathering space, as well as the roof of a pavilion housing a new destination restaurant, a film center, and offices. 

The geometry of the roof is derived using straight structural elements that are slightly rotated relative to one another. The result is an undulating rectangular surface with two high corners diagonally opposed from one another and two low corners on the opposite diagonal corners. The slopes range from flat to 18 degrees.

The grass... is held in place by a combination of geoweb and grass roots. The geoweb is a perforated polyethylene cellular mat that is stretched across the roof surface and attached to the building perimeter with stainless steel tendons. The geoweb cells are filled with growing media and then planted with sod. The roots from the sod will, over time, grow to interlock with the geoweb. The growing media varies across the surface of the roof but averages about 9" across the entire roof. It was selected for its resiliency to foot traffic and the fact that it is greener than other varieties during its dormant season.

Groovy. Too bad it was too hot and muggy to stand outside for more than 3 minutes. 
I'll have to come back when it's a bit cooler. Of course, that would mean I'm going to have to go north of 14th Street, ha ha.

Brooklyn day with Katy

Katy's in town from Sweden, and we finally got a whole day to hang out! We met up at the Brooklyn Museum off Eastern Parkway and wandered around the Mummy Chamber, the Dresses, Andy Warhol, and Kiki Smith exhibits. When the museum closed, we raced through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden before they closed.

Katy and Alexander Calder's Le Guichet in the Osborne Garden

Earlier this year, Lincoln Center paid tribute to Mayor Bloomberg at its annual spring gala by offering to move the work by Calder to any place in New York City of his choosing for 90 days. After a Citywide location search, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which is celebrating its centennial year, was selected!  Le Guichet was created by Alexander Calder—one of the mayor's favorite sculptors—in 1963 and was presented to the people of New York in 1965. It has been on view at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts until now. This is the first time it has been offered on loan.  Lucky us!

We also walked through the recently opened Herb Garden- hooray for urban agriculture! I was too excited I forgot to take any photos. It was the perfect time to visit since almost everything was in bloom/season.

Finally, stopped off at my house for a break on the patio, then picked up some sandwiches and drinks, and walked along the Brooklyn Promenade to Brooklyn Bridge Park! I was so happy to finally make it to one of the free Thursday night Movies with a View!

It was amazingly refreshing to have a break in the weather. We watched the sunset over the Hudson and the temperatures hovered around the mid-70s as Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window came on. It was perfectly comfortable compared to the hot mugginess of the last few weeks!

Like anything else free in the city, it was completely mobbed. You could barely see a few inches of grassy patches between all the picnic blankets! But things like this make me love New York.

california style tacos in the 11201

FINALLY! good Mexican food on the East Coast!

Granted, it's California style (which is why I like it) so maybe it's just my preference. It also helps that it's in a cool raw space- an actual taco truck is permanently mounted/installed on a former garment factory’s loading dock- hence the name- with a hip art gallery, outdoor "garden", and supposedly they even have a roof garden!).


The space has been winterized with wood-burning stoves and canvas flaps but for now, the outdoor area with all of its succulents and seating is the place to be. Looking up you are surrounded by the towering buildings of downtown Brooklyn, and right outside those metal gates is the awful and gritty frenzy of traffic coming on/off the BQE.
Forrest Cole (originally from California) started selling fish tacos at the Brooklyn Flea (under the name Choncho’s Tacos) and this spot serves a small selection of fish, carnitas, carne asada, and vegetarian tacos, burritos, and tamales. Unfortunately, it's a bit more expensive than I'd like, but I suppose these guys know that they are a rarity and can charge a premium for authentic Mexican food.

This is what they call themselves on their website:
Art Gallery Taco Truck Cultural Center of the West

I call them delicioso!

The Sanitarium

I first heard about The Sanitarium from Raylene a few years ago, and was reminded of it again recently by hip cats Tom and Whitney. It has been extensively and lovingly restored to a bed and breakfast, but its colorful history began in the 1880s (as a boarding house, sanitarium, fraternity and sorority house, and private residence). Some of these photos are taken from their website but seriously, the pictures do not do this place justice! Come and stay here!


It was insanely (yes, pun intended) relaxing... the fresh, airy palette was at once cool and calming, while the antique furnishings and (original) colorful artwork, stained glass, crockery, and effects were warm and inviting- it was pretty much like being in a giant Anthropologie store without all the clothing. Call me crazy, but I could most definitely live there!

Most rooms are furnished with large metal Moroccan soaking tubs, wood burning fireplaces, and private balconies. Unfortunately it was too chilly to take a nap on the hammock or sit outside for too long! But I did get to enjoy a hot soak in the giant tub!

The rooms are aptly named to induce a state of Euphoriasm or Tranquilibrium or Epiphenization... we were in the Epiphinezation(?) Room. Our mental state may have been altered from our lack of sleep in the last 24 hours or perhaps the overstimulation of being at the Sanitarium!












The Euphoriasm Room had an exotic, romantic Moroccan sleigh bed with colorful quilts, pillows, and poufs!





Our generous bathroom had vintage fixtures, antique mirrors, handcut marble tile floors and walls, and was complete with an old enamel trashcan and little cups of shampoo and shower gel in the spacious shower. Unfortunately I don't have pics of our bathroom, but here are some equally inspiring bathrooms in the other rooms:



















P and I were so inspired by the gorgeous mixture of colors, styles, textures, and carefully thought out details (tasseled keys! little tray of Epsom bath salts! salt and pepper shakers!) and especially loved the friendly, easygoing California vibe.

In the open communal lounge/kitchen downstairs, guests are welcome to read, paint in the studio, play music, grab a glass or mug from the open shelves for some wine or tea, or chat with the laid-back staff or other guests.Tall glass French doors beside the massive farmhouse table framed a thriving garden with a trickling fountain and koi pond while enormous antique tin framed mirrors reflected the beautifully decorated house. We recognized the little touches here and there of the "medical" influences, but appreciated that they were not too over the top.
This was my first stay at a B&B, but I have a feeling that this is unlike what I imagine as a typical B&B experience- dark, conservative, Victorian, and stuffy.

I'd love to come back again, or imagine that someday I'll have a place just like this!

I HEART NYC!

Happy Valentine's Day!



After the fashion show, Wendy and I stumbled upon the Ice Heart sculpture in Times Square.

We basically had a lovefest with New York- about how proud we were to live in the city, how much we loved stumbling upon cool things in the city, and how happy and in love we were (me with P, her with S)! OK, vomit, but it's Valentine's. We have an excuse to be giddy and all smiles and in love and wearing all red on the all red TKTS stairs.


Also I heart the NYC heart subway map!
Buy it here!

Fashion Week

I haven't been to a Fashion Week event in years, but Wendy invited me to see her friend's show. Ivy is also from Hawaii, and super petite. She danced fluidly around the room, posing for photographers and speaking with friends and writers. She was charming, gorgeous and sophisticated, just like her designs.

the breakfast nook

details


recycled newspaper baskets

Finally... some artwork on the walls

We finally put up some of the artwork that has been sitting in a big box in the corner of our kitchen.

Putting up art on freshly painted walls is like starting a brand new sketchbook... there are millions of possibilities- colors, textures, frames- you can fill it up with but it's just so hard to start....

Being married to the artist of many of these pieces also makes it pretty cool... :)

Orange Walls and the 1st year's transformation

I can't believe we've been in our home for more than a year now! Since we're done with wedding planning, we finally had some time to do some light remodeling and painting... first up, orange walls!

Paint: Ivy Coatings (zero-VOC) from Green Depot Based on Benjamin Moore's "Pumpkin Cream" 2168-20

Before:



After: