Green-Wood Cemetery Visit

Green-Wood Cemetery Entrance

Green-Wood is a famous cemetery in Brooklyn. For me, it is the Pere Lachaise of the United States. It's filled with famous people, historical figures, and beautiful tombstones. Even if you don't know someone buried there, there are reasons to visit. It's a tourist attraction complete with bus tours and trolleys. It is large enough where if you are on foot you may be caught out of breath. If you have your own car, I highly recommend bringing it so you can drive through the cemetery and just park whenever you feel like walking around.

Green-Wood Chapel

Trolley

Since Green-Wood is a cemetery, first and foremost, be respectful. I have visited the mausoleum and it is well maintained and very clean. There is plenty of room and seating to take a moment to pay respects. There is an area outside where you can burn incense or set up offerings to your ancestors. Funeral services are kept in line with culture and religion.

Upon entering, you will receive a map. Visit the graves of the Morse family, Jean-Michael Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein, the Tiffany family, and more.

One of the many elaborate tombstones.

If you are into letterboxing, Green-Wood is a great location to scavenger hunt.

Look for a letterbox in a tree.

Leave your mark!

Climb the highest natural elevation point in Brooklyn: Battle Hill.

Set aside a good three hours to view the cemetery. It is subway accessible. There is a small bakery deli across the street. Have a picnic. There are a few benches scattered and a nice lake. Watch out for the birds and wild parrots and hold on to your map so you don't get lost.

Green-Wood Cemetery
500 25th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11232

Kara Walker's Marvelous Sugar Baby

Domino Sugar Factory

If anyone told me there was a giant duck sphinx looking thing made out of sugar in Brooklyn, I probably wouldn't believe them. It sounds ridiculous. Then again, this is Brooklyn and there is a huge buzz about it. The famed Kara Walker did an art installation at the Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg and sadly, it is closing today. I hope you got a chance to see it.

The exhibit brought out droves of Brooklynites, arts enthusiasts, families, and even power couple Jay Z and Beyonce complete with baby Blue Ivy.

The line to get in was long but went quickly for there was a vast amount of space inside the factory and the line traffic was due to everyone signing mandatory release forms (just in case sugar were to fall on your head).

If These Walls Could Talk

Sugar Machines

Brown Sugar

Brown Sugar and Broken Bones

Front View

Side View

White Sugar

Back Side

The Back

Sphinx

Marvelous Sugar Baby

I stepped in the sugar factory and immediately took a whiff of the the sweet sugary air. It was thick! The building was old, airy, and decrepit. The walls were full of peeled paint and the equipment was stale and retired. The whole building was full of history and tales of a different time and life. And then I was greeted by a great many melting sculptures of brown sugar boys and the one and only Marvelous Sugar Baby which was larger than life. You have to see it to believe it.

A Subtlety
Domino Sugar Factory
South 1st Street @ Kent Avenue
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Stella & Dot Fall Trunk Show

Ivie Drops earrings top left. Kimberly Necklace bottom left.

Baubles, shiny semi-precious stones, bracelets, dangly earrings, and lariats. I had a grown woman’s jewelry box and more at my fingertips. It was like being in a jewelry store and being able to touch the merchandise without a retail clerk telling you no or looking at you in a condescending manner. I was amongst friends and we were all playing dress up. This was the Stella & Dot experience.

Stella & Dot is like a modern Tupperware party. The jewelry is sold through word of mouth, usually hosted at someone’s home or catering to a New Yorker’s schedule and at a bar. Guests pick out what they want, pay on the spot, and within a week get their orders delivered. Each piece of jewelry comes in a cute box wrapped with tissue and a fortune mantra. The feeling is uplifting and happy.

I am by no means a girly girl. I rarely ever wear jewelry. I don’t get excited by the color pink or having to dress up for a fancy party but I felt at home with Stella & Dot. The pieces were versatile and understated. They are what you make of them and can become more of a statement piece depending on how you wear them or understated for the simple amount of flair that you need just to call a little attention to your outfit and personality.  

Top right Wanderlust Triple Wrap. Bottom right Hudson Leather Wrap.

In between trying on jewelry and getting opinions from each other we noshed on cupcakes, fruit, and crudite while sipping on wine and soda. It was a relaxing environment and laid back. We had an abundance of natural light being in a high rise apartment and had a photographer present. At first I felt it was a little odd that someone was snapping pictures of us in our jewelry but then I got into it. I didn’t ask what the pictures would be used for or if I would get to see the final pictures. All of a sudden I felt like a model, beautiful, and glamorous. My friends and I posed for the camera, held our wrists out to showcase our leather bracelets, and slung bags over our shoulders.   

Union Square Scarf (left). Madison Tech Bag (right).

I never felt pressured to buy anything or even participate but if you lingered long enough at the trunk show inevitably you’d try on something. I found myself gravitating towards colorful stones and chunky necklaces. Our stylist Jennifer Sutton went around the room showing us how to wear pieces and encouraged us to try things on by draping pieces on our wrists and necklines. I only had to tell her a firm, “No.” once to stop. We all have our own personal tastes and comfort levels.

Stella & Dot display

I will admit I did not know how to maneuver some of the pieces of jewelry and wondered how I could even pull off wearing certain things. The nice thing was that it was a very supportive environment and our stylist really pointed us in the right direction using herself as an example and showing us Stella & Dot tutorials on how to wear scarves, how to jazz up a little black dress, or how to dress up from day to night. The videos were short and fun. I left with the feeling that I had gained a little more style over the past three hours. Overall, my first Stella & Dot trunk show back in August “Fall into Effortless Chic” was a great experience. I got to catch up with friends and do a little shopping. It was a treat for me.

Modeling jewelry with Agnes.

Stella & Dot trunk shows are exclusive and if you’d like to attend one get in touch with your local stylist by locating them on the Stella & Dot website. You can even host your own show and earn a complimentary hostess gift of your choice.   

Stella & Dot

NYC/NJ Stylist Jennifer Sutton
stylistjennifersutton@gmail.com
SHOP/HOST/JOIN! (917) 257-5455

Animated Gif Time!- Man Vs. Frozen S'more

How City Folk Go Camping

Location:
Dominique Ansel Bakery
189 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012

Summer Streets 2013

There is only one Saturday left for Summer Streets!

Runners, Rollerbladers, Cyclists

Summer Streets is a three weekend event in NYC where more than six miles in Manhattan is closed down and open only for pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders, paddle skateboarders, etc. Basically, no cars!

At every few blocks are exercise stations, yoga, entertainment, raffles, and free food sponsored by various businesses. It is great fun for families and everyone who wants to come out and play.

Rock Climbing sponsored by REI and GoPro

REI Visa Photo Booth

For the first time in history, the Park Avenue Tunnel was closed down and turned into an interactive light show. They allowed people to come up to a microphone and say anything they want for 15 seconds of airtime. People sang, chanted, told jokes, and made spooky sounds. The tunnel flashed lights and alternated with darkness. It was an interesting perspective of a tunnel we usually only get to pass through in a car.

Leave the bikes at the valet!

Waiting for the light show.

Psychedelic!

Say anything or serenade the tunnel.

Make your way out towards the Met Life building.

Some helpful hints for those attending the last Summer Streets on Saturday, August 17.

*Get there early. Summer Streets begins at 7 AM. There are less people in the morning. This means parking spaces (if you must bring a car), short lines, and less chances bumping into other cyclists and pedestrians.

*If you want a bike helmet go straight to the Midtown rest stop at East 25th Street and Park Avenue. The Department of Transportation offers free bike helmet fittings and a free bike helmet to all adults and children. All sizes are available and the styles now are much for stylish than the ol' bright green florescent helmets they used to give out.

*If you are curious about the Park Avenue Tunnel, get in line before 11 AM. The line snakes around the block but the line moves. Anticipate standing in line for about half an hour. You must fill out a waiver. After 11 AM, they close the line due to the crowds.

*For safety reasons, cyclists stay on the left half side of the street and pedestrians stay on the right half. Do not cross over or stop for no reason. This can cause a collision. Always pay attention and slow down when you get close to other bikers and pedestrians.

*Bring a backpack to carry around all the free stuff you will be aquiring. Also make sure you bring your own water bottle. Stay hydrated. There are water fountains along the way for you to refill your bottle.

Enjoy!

Summer Streets

Animated Gif Time! - Mitsuwa Food Court Ramblings

Size explained by Rox and Madoka

Photography Credits: Desmond Chow

Location:
Mitsuwa Marketplace
595 River Road
Edgewater, NJ 07020

International Restaurant & Foodservice Show 2013

Jacob Javits Center

The first day of the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show took place last Sunday, March 3, at the Jacob Javits Center. This was my second year attending the show and I had a plan: skip all the restaurant equipment and just try out all food and drink samples while checking out what’s new in the market. The show was just as big but somehow I felt this year’s show was more organized and spacious. There was also no shortage of vendors.

I was greeted with fresh gelato made by the Cattabriga EFFE. It was smooth and creamy. Very good gelato upon first impressions and taste. The machine itself was quite impressive as the gelato maker held out a giant mixing spoon with gelato on it for us to taste.

Cattabriga EFFE

Fresh Gelato!

After that, I made a beeline to the Japan section on the right. This was where there would be a lot of hot food and ramen samples. I was right. I tried a variety of ramen and soba. Myojo's ramen noodles were cooked al dente. They had a bite to them and were not overcooked and soggy. Restaurant Nippon was present to demo their famous soba noodles created by Nippon Owner Nobuaki Kuraoka. The noodles come frozen but can be cooked in just eight seconds. Talk about a meal done in a blink of an eye. They paired their cold noodles with a salad. It was very refreshing.

Myojo

Myojo noodles 

Myojo Shio Ramen

Soba ingredients

Restaurant Nippon Cold Soba with Salad

These savory dishes left me thirsty. Off to find the beverage vendors, I stumbled upon P&H Soda Co., Dr. Smoothie, and spindrift. I was already familiar with P&H Soda Co. since they have a stand at Smorgasburg in Williamsburg and are Brooklyn based. This time I got to sample all of their sodas from sarsaparilla and lovage to lime and hibiscus. I learned that sarsaparilla and lovage are roots. Of all the choices, I liked the grapefruit flavor the most. Dr. Smoothie focused on fruit and veggie smoothies (carrot apple and  mango squash). They were a big hit with the crowd and very healthy. Spindrift was similar to San Pellegrino drinks in taste. They were good on their own but the reps highly suggested to use the beverages as mixers. Prosecco anyone?

P&H Soda Co.

Dr. Smoothie

spindrift Seltzer

There was no shortage of meat and poultry. I tasted duck, steak, and breakfast meats. Esposito and Karl Ehmer were on hand serving slices of sweet and savory sausages. One that particularly stood out was the chicken apple of Esposito. Master Purveyors had a whole collection of cuts to showcase but it was the steak slices Two Rivers Certified Tender that really stole the show. I have never tasted a juicier and flavorful steak before served rare. They offer three cuts: ribeye, striploin, and tenderloin.

Esposito Chicken Apple Sausage

Master Purveyors Inc. Meat

Karl Ehmer Sausages

Two Rivers Certified Tender juicy steak

And now for the fun things at the show. From a Jelly Belly frozen yogurt machine to mascot outfits, amuse and entertainment was in every corner. 

Jelly Belly flavored Frozen Yogurt

Mascot Costumes

Can’t wait for next year’s show!

International Restaurant & Foodservice Show

Jacob Javits Center New York

Advanced Gourmet

Restaurant Nippon

P&H Soda Co.

Spindrift

Dr. Smoothie

Esposito Sausage