Urban Comfort

Back to School: Getting Organized with Blue Sky

School starts again in three weeks, which feels like both a blessing and a curse since the new school year brings on a slew of additional tasks and things to remember. The only way for me to manage day-to-day life is to get supremely organized - and for that, I'm totally old school. I love technology and I'm happy to use my smart phone and iPad, but they simply can't replace paper and pen in some areas of my life. 

Blue Sky to the rescue! The Susy Jack* Contemporary Paper line offers smart organizers designed for real moms at a reasonable price. There's the magnetic grocery checklist conveniently divided into categories (which saves me time at the grocery), the door hanger notes (LOVE!) that will replace my many post-its on the door, multi-task notebooks divided into sections (Do, Call, and Buy) with handy storage pockets, and the weekly/monthly planner that covers the school year (July 2011 to June 2012) instead of the calendar year.

Fresh, colorful, and useful.  Sold in Target stores and from the Blue Sky website - but only through September, so get them while they last! 

 

H2O Cocktails

I am, unabashedly, a brown liquor lover. So this year, at New Orleans annual Tales of the Cocktail, I decided to take a seminar that was out of my comfort zone. H2O cocktails, led by Kathy Casey, author of Sips and Apps, focused on mixing different brands of vodka (we started with a tasting of the spirits alone so that we could discover the nuances of each) with waters that were infused with fruit, spices, and herbs. No sugar, no extra mixers, just vodka and water.  Each cocktail contained 1 ounce of vodka, bringing it in at 80 calories. For the vodka lover, light drinker, or weight conscious it's a nice alternative to all of the sugary cocktails that abound. 

Beyond that, I enjoyed the infused waters by themselves. I haven't starting experimenting yet (it generally takes me a day or two to recover from my annual 24 hours of Cocktail festivites), but I can't wait to get started. I learned how to infuse the slow way, as noted in the recipes below, and how to make rapid infusions by using an iSi whipper and two N2O cartridges. After creating an infusion (slow or rapid), you could take it a step further and carbonate it using a device like the Twist 'n Sparkle.   

It's a different way to think about water and a different way to think about cocktails. Maybe I'll always be a bourbon lover, but now I have a something new in my bag of tricks. 

Here are the recipes from Kathy's seminar (also found on her website). Click on the images below to get a full-size version:

 

All photos from Kathy Casey.com

Etsy Finds: B&W Photos

I've pored over thousands of black-and-white photos on Etsy in the last few days (a great way to procrastinate when you can't find your groove). Here are a few standouts that I want to add to my collection:

 

Anemone 3 from Au fil de

 

 

 

Softness of a Dandelion by Amelia Kay Photography

 

 

 

Sea Jewels No. 3 by Tracey Capone Photography

NY: Eating, Drinking, and Carrying On

As much as I love shopping in New York, I really come alive there during the evening hours (though I've come to realize that New Orleans actually stays up later than "the city that never sleeps"). The following is a list of the more memorable places I visited while there (click underlined links for websites):

Mayahuel:  We originally went for the extensive list of tequila and mezcal based cocktails, but I walked away remembering the food most of all (and returning for a follow-up visit).  I had the best fish tacos I've ever eaten, croquetas with chorizo, cheese, and smoked tomato, wonderful tamales...if I lived in New York, I'd be back there every week. Which is not to take away from the cocktails - Of the four we tried, I was only disappointed in one, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. It would take months to explore their cocktail list properly.

304 E. 6th Street, New York, NY    tel: 212-253-5888

PDT:  There were two things I took away from my experience at PDT, the speakeasy hidden within Crif Dogs in the East Village. The first, that a Bacon-Infused Old Fashioned can be a beautifully balanced, almost delicate cocktail (despite its ingredients) and that Wylie Dufresne (of WD-50) crafted one hell of a hot dog (the Wylie Dog is a deep-fried Crif Dog served with deep-fried mayo, tomato molasses, freeze-dried onions, and shredded romaine). It may sound gross on paper, but I assure you, it was life changing. I love Wylie!

113 St. Marks Place, New York, NY    tel for reservations:  212-614-0386

Fedora:  I fell in love with this tiny little restaurant in the West Village. The cocktails were excellent and while we only had appetizers at the bar, they were so well-executed that I can't wait to go back for an entire meal. Chicken liver toast might not sound like much, but it was divine. As were the hushpuppies (and I can get pretty snobby about those). It was packed the night we went, but this would be my go-to for a late dinner with someone special.

239 West 4th Street, New York, NY    tel: 646-449-9336

 

Maison Premiere:  I spent my birthday in Brooklyn and this is where I ended my night.  Described as an "oyster bar and cocktail den reflective of the staple establishments of New York, Paris, and New Orleans," this wonderful establishment manages to pull off every atmospheric detail (right down to the pull-chain toilets) without becoming a caricature of itself. The mostly absinthe-based cocktails were excellent and gave me a new appreciation for a spirit I tend to drink by itself, and if you're an oyster lover, you'll be thrilled by the regional selection that's available. Add to that a beautiful back patio and you have the perfect place for a night out with friends or lovers. I'll definitely be back.

298 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY    tel: 347-335-0446

Dram:  I started my birthday evening here, at this cocktail and tiki bar in Brooklyn. Laid back and casual, yet polished and professional, Dram offers a well-crafted array of cocktails and very good bar food. It helped that we were seated on comfortable benches next to shutters that opened out directly onto the street and encountered barely a hiccup in our experience. The only stumbling block - there was no Sazerac Rye on hand when I ordered a Sazerac.  But I tried it with Bulleit Rye instead and had a completely new interpretation of a Sazerac, which I thoroughly enjoyed (and can't wait to try again). So in the end, not a stumbling block at all!

177 South 4th Street, Brooklyn, NY    tel:  718-486-3726

 

Ward III:  The big draw here are the Bespoke Cocktails, custom cocktails created for the customer who specifies their preferences from five different categories - Spirit, Texture, Spice, Flavor, and Fruit.  There were three of us and the cocktails were wildly different across the table, but all very good. My friend had an amazing custom rum cocktail that I'm still thinking about (and wished that we'd asked the bartender about). The cheese plate and pulled duck sliders made us happy as well.  Even better - they stay open until 4 a.m.

111 Reade Street, New York, NY    tel:  212-240-9194

 

Title photo by Lee Gonzalez

Off the Map

I think we've established that I could never make a living as a travel blogger. But I had a wonderful six weeks in New York, with a lot of coming and going. I wasn't even sure if I'd been inspired until I returned home last week, when I had a moment to sit down and start processing. Now I find myself with pages of things I want to do, so I guess I found my inspiration somewhere!

I don't want to spend too much time on this subject, but I thought I'd pass on some great shopping resources today (this is by no means an exhaustive list, just a few places I made it to on this trip), and then I'll cover the eating, drinking portion of things.  After that, it's time to start tackling projects on my to-do list. It's good to be back!

Shopping in Manhattan:  

John Derian:  Mention John Derian and one tends to think of decoupage, but I fell in love with both his dry goods and furniture shops, located steps from each other.  I ordered beautiful glassware from his shop, discovered quirky art and gift items, and fell in love with a pricey line of French porcelain. Whether you make a purchase or not, his stores offer up plenty of inspiration!

Aero: Thomas O'Brien is one of my favorite home designers and I always enjoy his store, a mix of his designs and other great finds. I never fail to find something I feel I have to have here.

Ochre:  I'd like to just live in this store with its soothing palette and mix of textures. Tableware, linens, furniture, pottery...all around beautiful.  (And just across the street from...)

Purl Soho:  It was my first time visiting Purl in its new location and it's a wonderfully inspiring space. It was nice to see some of their blog projects up close and have a hands-on experience with their felts and fabrics. Their sales staff is warm, friendly, and helpful. I look forward to going back. 

Tinsel Trading:  Long one of my favorite shops, this was my first time visiting in its new location as well. I loved their old shop, so I felt a little pang, but the new shop is larger and airier, which makes it easier to sift through their treasure trove of beautiful goods. I purchased vintage ribbon rosettes for the 4th of July and a length of gorgeous silk ribbon and left very happy.

Evolution:  Another of my old favorites, I visit this store every time I'm in New York. It's a tiny little store packed with wonders of natural history - shells, fossils, ostrich eggs, and plenty of bugs. I'm a little obsessed right now with their moths and butterflies and feel the stirrings of a need to start collecting them.

Global Table: A tiny shop packed with wonderful tabletop finds. I always leave with something, usually another piece of glassware to add to my ever-expanding collection.

ABC Home:  I don't know if I've ever made a purchase from ABC Home, but it's easy to spend hours there just looking. The tabletop section left me longing for pottery classes, the jewelry department itching for stones to play with, the furniture section with vintage industrial dreams...always a must when in NY. (And across the street from...)

Fishs Eddy:  There's a ton of tableware crammed into this small, perpetually busy shop, and I never miss a chance to shop for props here. Always a lot of quirky, fun items, too.

New York Cake & Baking:  A no-frills shop packed to the rafters with every kind of baking need conceivable. I buy all of my aluminum baking pans here, and they have them in all shapes and sizes. This time I found a heavy duty pastry cutter (a godsend!) and stocked up on parchment circles to line my pans.

 

Shopping in Brooklyn:

Brooklyn Flea:  I had my first visit to the Brooklyn Flea Market this summer. It was well worth the trip and I discovered a number of great artists and crafts people, good food, and nice vintage finds. 

Moon River Chattel:  This shop has been around for awhile and I can't believe this was my first time visiting. It was, hands down, my favorite Brooklyn find! With the feel of a well-edited general store, there's something for everyone. Even my son found a few must-haves. I found more than a few...

Darr: Moody, well-edited shop vignettes with the feel of a fantastic, intimate museum. Lots of vintage and industrial and creative ways to put it all together. Another of my favorites. 

Brook Farm General Store:  A small general store with a nicely edited selection of luxurious basics and things you didn't realize you needed until you discovered them. 

Sprout Home:  I'm always inspired by garden decor and this little shop is brimming with wonderful garden and home ideas. Great terrariums (and all the supplies you need), nature inspired home products, a wide array of containers, and whimsical gift items. 

Greenhouse: Gorgeous, eco-friendly finds for the home. Their linens are particularly gorgeous and highlight my need for a trust fund. 

 

Addresses (and links to websites):

John Derian - 6 East Second Street & 10 East Second Street, NYC

Aero - 419 Broome Street, NYC 

Ochre - 462 Broome Street, NYC 

Purl Soho - 459 Broome Street, NYC

Tinsel Trading - 1 West 37th Street, NYC

Evolution - 120 Spring Street, NYC

Global Table - 109 Sullivan Street, NYC

ABC Home - 888 & 881 Broadway, NYC

Fishs Eddy - 889 Broadway, NYC

NY Cake & Baking - 56 West 22nd Street, NYC

Brooklyn Flea - 176 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn

Moon River Chattel - 62 Grand Street, Brooklyn

Darr - 369 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

Brook Farm General Store - 75 South 6th Street, Brooklyn

Sprout Home - 44 Grand Street, Brooklyn

Greenhouse - 387 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn

 

Title Photo Info:  I couldn't resist this boat sculpture made from vintage maps. Found from Cotton Bird Designs on Etsy.