Say It With Legos- I Love New York

NYC Tourism Ads

My New York is the kind I see in the movies. It's clean, romanticized, busy, full of lights and filled with lots and lots of cheer. Magical things happen throughout the day and treats abound. I love the adventure and rewards that happen if you give the city a chance.

If I take a walk after work, I stroll down Fifth Avenue and pass by Rockefeller Center. Rock Center is a madhouse, especially during the holidays. A lot flock to see the tree but others could care less and want to avoid it at all costs year round. There's really only one thing I care about in Rock Center and that's The Lego Store.

The Lego Store is filled with dioramas depicting famous NY icons, landmarks, and scenes. Here are my favorite which I feel represents my NY.

Ice Skating at Rock Center

The Statue of Prometheus by sculptor Paul Manship is quintessential Rock Center, as is the skating rink. I have taken so many photos in front of this statue from when I was a toddler all the way to last year. I've never skated at Rock Center. It never interested me, is so expensive, and most spectators laugh at and ridicule the people skating. I do, however, love ice skating. I highly recommend Wollman Rink in Central Park for a classic New York City ice skating experience.

Central Park Horse and Carriage Ride

I have been brainwashed by the movies to believe that being pulled by a horse through Central Park is exciting and romantic. In reality, it's expensive and smells like horse poop. Look at the Lego horse. It looks sad, much like the horses in real life. Okay, I'm not going to lie. I still want to experience this just to say I've done it.

concert

NY is a wonderful city that supports live music. The shows at parks and such attract big crowds. The energy is great and for sure I'd be part of that scene.

Subway

Awww, this is my daily commute on the subway (of course with about 200 more Lego folk). I love how the guy is leaning forward to see if the train is coming.

NY Street Smarts

So here we are, fresh off the subway and on the streets of New York. People move fast and if you don't keep up, you will be pushed aside. Look at the mean guys in the front and back. What I like is that there are four smiling Legos in this scene. Happy people win.

The Lego Store
620 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10020

Neighbors and Friends at The Queens Kickshaw

Jen and Ben holding down the fort.

The Queens Kickshaw is a neighborhood coffee shop in Astoria, Queens. It's a small business that I have been following over the past year and one that has quickly become one of my favorites to support. The owners Ben and Jen are adorable, sweet, kind, and friendly. Every time my friends and I stop by for a drink and bite, they come over for some conversation. It is this kind of hospitality that keeps customers coming back. They're genuine and the relaxing atmosphere designed by Ecosystems Brand is just as inviting.

One pitfall of small businesses is growing too fast too soon. It's dangerous to grow a business you can't support with the manpower you have or the limited resources available. The Queens Kickshaw is taking it slow and easy. In the beginning they had a simple coffee menu, grilled cheeses, and limited hours.

The owners keep their full time jobs and pitch in hours when they can. When you own your own business, you breathe life into it even if it means being on your feet all day, using extra brain power, pouring in your life savings, and working 80 hours plus every week. You do what you can to keep it alive.

The Queens Kickshaw is now open in the evenings until 1 AM. They take pride in the craft beers and wine they now serve and are experimenting with adding new vegetarian friendly items to the menu. I tried the three cheese macaroni and cheese last night. It was a dreamy concoction of pasta with smoked mozzarella, gruyere, and cheddar. Also on the menu is chestnut stuffing. I'm really excited about that. It's the same variation my grandma used to cook during Thanksgiving. Most of all, I like that The Queens Kickshaw added in the element of live music on Friday nights. The acts are locals showcasing their own style of folk, acoustic guitar, klezmer, blues, and all sorts. Last night I grooved while dj Ab*Soul* played some soulful R&B. It was a nice way to relax and end our Thanksgiving festivities. Yes, The Queens Kickshaw was open during Thanksgiving. For that, I thank them. In a city where so many are transplants and family is so far away, New Yorkers are rich with alternatives to the traditional.  Dinner in Flushing Chinatown followed by late night snacks, dessert, drink, and music at The Queens Kickshaw. Yup, sounds just like the New York life I never imagined I'd be living. And perfect at the same time.

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 26 is the second annual Small Business Saturday. It was a day created by American Express to support small businesses. Stop by The Queens Kickshaw. It's like a home away from home. They serve killer coffee to get you going, amazing grilled cheeses, and Balthazar sticky buns. Save yourself the trip to SoHo and stick to Queens.

Owner Jen Lim and Barista Alisha

Gouda w/black bean hummus, guava jam, pickled jalapenos

Inside shot of Gouda sandwich

Green Salad w/pickled golden raisins

Balthazar Sticky Bun

Cold Brewed Iced Coffee

My favorite way to enjoy The Queens Kickshaw:
1. Go with 3 other friends
2. Order 4 grilled cheeses
3. Make a Franken-cheese sandwich!
Pictured: (clockwise from top) Gouda, Fontina Val d'Aosta, Gruyere, Manchego & Ricotta

The Queens Kickshaw
40-17 Broadway
Astoria, NY 11103    

Small Business Saturday

Halloween- Happy NYC Anniversary

When I decided to move back to New York, my goal was to be in NYC by Halloween. I wanted to feel alive in the streets with all the energy of the people. I always thought Halloween was festive and believed it was the perfect time to celebrate the big change in my life. I booked a one way red-eye ticket on October 30th and landed in NYC on October 31st, Halloween.

Instead of going out and wreaking havoc with ghouls and goblins, I decided to stay in. I was tired from my plane ride and the realist in me began to take over. I couldn't party when I had a job to look for!

Four years later, I finally celebrated properly by going to Coney Island's Nights of Horror to get spooked out and walking the streets of Greenwich Village to check out all the costumes. If you are ever in New York for Halloween, I highly recommend checking out the Village. It's free entertainment all the way.

-BOO!-

Thor and Captain America

Dr. Who

Avatar

Jambi

Shake it Peep Show!

Robot

Day of the Dead 

Futurama

Pan Am 

Lion? 

Chucky

Happy 4 Years New York! Thanks for the memories.

Shiny Happy Decorating: The Jonathan Adler Warehouse Sale

I moved back to NYC seven years after college. I hopped on Craigslist and for the very first time I went to check out apartments where I would be living with strangers. At the time, having my own place was just not an option. I ended up in a 3 bedroom apartment just across the Hudson River in Jersey City, NJ with 2 roommates. They seemed normal and we actually became very good friends. The key was that we all respected each other's space and we were rarely in the apartment at the same time. Even though my living situation was prime in regards to NYC scenarios, I couldn't help but feel as if I had regressed back to dormitory style living.

king & queen vase $42

One day while walking through Soho, I browsed through Jonathan Adler and bought a little king & queen vase. They wrapped it in a brown box and tied it with a ribbon. It wasn't a gift for someone else but it was a gift for me. I told myself I would open it up when I got my own place and then start from there to build my dream apartment. The box sat in my closet for a little over two years.

Six roommates later, I couldn't take instability any longer and decided to set out on my own. I got a wonderful prewar one bedroom apartment in Queens and had more than enough room to house and fit all of my existing furniture and future tchotchkes.

I love Jonathan Adler. His design philosophy of having everything to invoke happiness and whimsy into a home is totally me. I love prints, bright colors, retro, and clean lines. Every year Jonathan Adler has a huge warehouse sale in Brooklyn. I first learned about the sale through email and was bummed when more important things came up and I could not attend. This year, I scheduled it into my calendar and made it a point to check it out. I brought along my sister and a friend. The three of us outfitted our apartments for less than $150 combined. We bought bowls, picture frames, end tables, vases, etc. Many items were on sale for $8 and less! Next year I am bringing a car.

New Yorkers with their SUVs and station wagons!

Furniture up to 50% off

X Bench 

Alpaca Rug

Pillow Cases

Warehouse/Sample Sales are an excellent way to shop. Many of the items are closeout items, floor samples, production samples, and overstock. Brands just want to get rid of stuff to make room for the upcoming season and stock. I've shopped many a sale for designer jeans, housewares, furniture, and purses. The good stuff usually goes on the first day but the last day has the best deals. Good bye second hand/college style living and hello high style.

Jonathan Adler

You've Got Snail Mail

Compulsive Mail Checker

Do you remember when stamps used to be 25 cents? I was 9 years old and I found mail to be so exciting. I knew what time the mail arrived and as soon as the mailman drove away I would run to the mailbox and bring the stack of bills and junk mail in. I never got any mail addressed to me but I settled for anything addressed to Resident. Publishers Clearing House was my best friend. It's a shame only old people won. I really thought I had a chance.

As I grew older and gained friends in school, I would occasionally get a postcard in the mail. In high school, we traded notes folded into origami during passing period. In college, distance became a challenge and we resulted to dropping letters in the mail. There were only so many calling cards we could go through in a week. Long distance phone calls were expensive, cell phone plans were just getting introduced, and e-mail hadn't quite caught on yet. I loved the letters that came through the mail. My friends were so creative. They'd draw, make collages, use sticky notes, stickers, pretty much anything to jazz up a piece of paper. Did I mention they were wonderful writers too? In three hand written pages, they had somehow painted a picture of their daily lives filled with gossip, cute boys, weird boys, new developments, and milestones I fondly remember only by re-reading the stacks I've piled away in keepsake boxes.

These days, communication with friends is done over Facebook, Twitter, one sentence e-mails, and texts. Not many people want or find the time to chat on the phone anymore. And snail mail? Snail mail is a lost art.

Greenwich Letterpress

I recently received this "Mad Props" card from a friend after I took care of her dogs while she was away. I find it brilliant. It's a shade of green that I love and it keeps it old school and traditional by using letterpress while staying with the times. Urban Dictionary defines mad props as an alternative to thank you. Mad props to my friend for picking out this card.

Night Owl Paper Goods

I gave this card to my sister for her birthday. It's an inside joke of how we hail taxis. It's genius how you can walk into a card shop and find the perfect card for someone. It's as if the card was made for you, or him, or her, or them.

Fomato

This is a card one of my friends from California mailed to me just because. We're big fans of Fomato cards. They are pretty random and humorous. I was perusing their site and came across this one birthday card . Sick and I couldn't stop laughing.

I used to write beautiful poetic letters. I went through stationary as if it were college ruled paper and I was taking notes. I loved sending mail and getting letters. I don't write letters anymore and my e-mails are looking more like instant messages these days.

I think it's time to go back to handwritten letters and postage stamps. Call me sentimental or old fashioned but some things are worth preserving.

Greenwich Letterpress

39 Christopher St.

New York, NY 10014

Paper Source

102 Smith St.

Brooklyn, NY 11201