Friday Footnotes

Here are some things that I am loving on this (final) Friday in the month of July:
La Grainne Cafe: For those of you who read Matchbook Magazine (if you don't...you should!) I fell in love with this New York City cafe that I have not been to because of their instagram photo of lunch there...It is now on my to do list when I return from Vancouver.

From Matchbook Instagram 

Iceland Air: Did you know that if you fly Iceland Air you can stopover in Iceland FOR FREE en route to your destination???? Love! I am definitely planning to take advantage of this at some point this year as I have friends in Sweden I am dying to visit! 

Via

This Couple--who I find so inspiring...They got married and have been traveling the world for a year and are documenting their journey on their blog: Mr and Mrs Globe Trot. They are both photographers, which makes their blog even more awesome. 

They Draw and Travel: How cool is this concept? Artists from all over the world illustrate maps of places they have traveled. Love! 

This one of The Netherlands is by Susanna Redeker

Happy Friday!

A Very Vancouver Vacation

After a friend's wedding in CT on Saturday, I am off to explore Vancouver, BC and I can't wait! I still have some reading to catch up on since I didn't read as much as I thought I might in Thailand. I am currently loving The Paris Wife and can't wait to finish it in Vancouver--preferably in a outdoor cafe in the 70 degree weather that the Canadians are experiencing right now.  Getting out of this 90 plus degree weather will be such a treat!
Some of the musts on my Vancouver "to do" list (aside from reading in cafes with some amazing coffee in hand!):
Vij's: One reviewer described waiting to get into this Indian restaurant as an amazing cocktail party hosted by a vibrant, worldly host...umm..yeah, I think I want to go there! Everywhere from the New York Times to Food and Wine magazine says that this is some of the best Indian food that they have ever had.  Seeing as one of the best meals that I had in Thailand was actually Indian food --served as we sat barefoot on cushions on a bamboo plank oceanside-- this place has much to live up to and I hope that it delivers!
Celebration of Light: We are staying right by Stanley Park and will, apparently, be able to see this from our balcony. I have seen many a fireworks display in my life, but I am told this is more than just hype...so excited!
Raw Canvas: Their tagline? "Eat. Drink. Make Art." I'm sold. Apparently, in addition to great live music, an amazing wine list, and delicious and inventive food, this place has canvases and paint where you sit and make a masterpiece while drinking...sounds frighteningly amazing, no?! I can't wait to see what I come up with after some in vino veritas.

via

MacLeod's Books: This looks a lot like my favorite New York City bookstore: The Strand, therefore, I am guessing I will love this place!
Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar: Winning best restaurant in Vancouver, this place has a menu that sounds divine...I was in Thailand for the boyfriend's birthday and can't wait to take him here to celebrate!! All I can say is that their scallops are made with candied ginger and citrus sauce...Can. Not. Wait. To. Sample.

Via 

In addition, I have a two page, typed list of things I am hoping to cover while there...think I can do it all??! Hmmm...maybe reading there will be too ambitious as well. The Paris Wife may just have to wait until I return...

Apartment Hunting: A New York Nightmare!

Anyone who has ever lived in New York City knows the grueling difficulty of the apartment-hunting process.  I remember when we first moved here, we knew very little about the city. We searched everywhere for apartments.  And, oh the horror stories that came with that search process. There was one apartment that we saw in which the owner was the son of a family that clearly had some sort of mob connections.  After elucidating all of the apartment's selling points, he pointed out that, rest-assured, the doorframe to the hallway would soon be fixed and told us, "There are some people with a vendetta against my parents who tried to burn the place down last month. Don't worry. It's taken care of." Needless to say, we didn't take that apartment.  From apartments with clogged toilets to closet sized bedrooms, I can't say that we enjoyed the hunt.  When we finally found the place that we eventually moved into it was such a relief, even given that the we were unsure of what pronoun to use when discussing our realtor.   I'm still not entirely clear if he/she wanted to be viewed as male or female. Sigh.
So...eight years later, our building is undergoing a Cinderella style transformation to luxury apartments and I am dreading the inevitable apartment search.  Maybe if I put my dream list out here in blogland, the universe will send the perfect apartment my way--preferably minus any burned doorframes.
Dream Apartment Attributes:
Let there be light!
Our current apartment is filled with sunshine...sunshine that dances on my cheeks to wake me up in the morning, provides the perfect napping atmosphere for my dog, and, overall, makes the apartment far more cheery. This is a must for any new habitat.
Let there be (the New York City version of) space!
While I know that this is not the suburbs, and space is always at a premium, I can't help but hope that an apartment comes along that accommodates Me + Boy + Dog + Furniture. Fingers crossed.
Commutable: I have been super spoiled this year with an amazing commute. I walk home through Central Park each and every day. No matter what kind of day I have had, my serene walk home always rights any wrongs of the day and makes me a happier person by the time I arrive home.

via pinterest 

Please, oh please, no sixth floor walk-ups...while I am sure there is nothing like a required daily workout, I would prefer to get mine on a daily run or in yoga class...
If you want to send me an apartment with a fireplace or outdoor space, I won't turn it down! I have always dreamed of decorating a fireplace like Joanna Goddard's (as seen on her blog A Cup of Jo): Love...

Wish me luck!

Summer Schedule

Sometimes I think I have attention deficit disorder. I have literally been home for four days this entire summer and, the second I am home, I am searching for things to do... To quell my current bout of ADD I have devised a plan for the day tomorrow that I am quite excited about.
First, there is a new cafe that has opened in my neighborhood: It is French and sells all sorts of adorable goods imported from France in addition to the most amazing pastries and coffee drinks. I will begin there with a warm almond croissant and a chilled caffeinated beverage.
Next, since I am lucky enough to live in walking distance to the Met, I will head over there for an exhibit that I am incredibly excited about. I am told that one must arrive early to beat the lines for this limited exhibition.  Alexander McQueen's: Savage Beauty, which runs through the 7th of August looks pure cool. I am hoping that it will inspire my limited fashion sense.

While I don't think I will ever have a need to wear a tail such as this one, the imagination necessary to create this is pretty awe-inspiring.
From here I will definitely make a stop on the roof to visit the Anthony Caro sculptural exhibit (and perhaps grab a cool beverage to combat the heat). As I have mentioned before, the roof garden at the Met is one of my favorite New York "secrets."
After a quick stroll through the park, I will be on my way to meet a friend (and her adorable little baby!) for some ice cream before heading home.
All in all, the perfect antidote to ADD!

Friday Footnotes (A Little Early!)

Since I have a busy weekend ahead, Friday Footnotes are coming to you a little early this week!
Here are some of my favorites on this sweltering July day:
Nancy Chandler (The American artist in Thailand who I fell in love with while over there!)

Restaurants that serve champagne (and veuve, at that!) in the woman's bathroom like this one on the lower east side of NYC: Beauty and Essex

Open air rollar skating rinks that harken back to those carefree childhood days... like this new one that has just opened by the High Line in NYC:

Vintage looking shoes, like these by Anthropologie's BHLDN:

Summer Cocktails similar to ones from a friend's favorite San Diego joint, Cafe Chloe:

Happy Summer (early) Friday!

Babies, Weddings, Birthdays

July is always a busy month (for me at least) in the world of festivities.  As a kid, I remember July as being filled with birthdays. A glorious month consumed by cake: ice cream cakes, chocolate cakes, carrot cakes, and 80s character cakes.  Not only does my birthday fall in this month, but many other friends and family share this birthday month.  As I have gotten older, and close friends began to marry, another layer of festivities has been enfolded in my July repertoire.  I now share my birthday with at least three friend's wedding anniversaries.  As time has further passed, another life milestone and cause for celebration has entered the world of July fun: the birth of babies.  Just mere hours prevented me from sharing a birthday with one of my closest friend's little ones, who was born on July 17th.  While I may soon need a personal assistant to keep all these dates straight, I must say that I love July for all of the joy that it holds.

This weekend, I look forward to celebrating one of my dearest friend's bachelorette parties.  Can't wait to send her off into married life with a festivity-filled weekend of dancing, feather boas, and, of course, cake!
Happy July!

A Night of Shakes

Tonight I am off to see All's Well That Ends Well at Shakespeare in the Park, which will be preceded by a shake at Shake Shack...ahhh yes...a night of "Shakes!" I can't wait! While it is still sweltering hot here, I am optimistic that there will be a cool breeze and a glimpse of a clear starry sky at Central Park's Delacorte Theater tonight.

If ever in New York City during the summer, I recommend Shakespeare in the Park...if not for the Shakespeare then for the perfect New York summer ambiance.  Yes, you have to wait in line for tickets (or win them in a drawing), but it is worth it.  If you have the resources you can also hire a "linesitter." Only in New York!

My ingredients for a perfect Shakespeare in the Park evening? First, the perfect weather. This one is hard to arrange, but is a magical ingredient.  Second, the perfect wine. One of the great beauties of Shakespeare in the Park is that you can bring wine in (technically, as long as it is not in glass bottle, though I have never seen anyone policing this too much). I recommend a summery rose or a crisp sauvignon blanc!  Third, the perfect picnic. A little brie, a French baguette, and some red grapes would do nicely. Lastly, great company.

Tasty Travel Lit

Summer travel inspires trashy literature--well, for me at least.  At the top of my enjoyed summer travel books was Emma Donoghue's Room.  While the premise is utterly disturbing, the book is a page turner.  The confinement of the main character is maddening and you fight for her escape with each word read. The very essence of the story is also about motherhood and sacrifice and this deepens what might be an entirely superficial plot. A great poolside read!

And as long as we're on the subject of indulgent literature, one of my favorite beverage indulgences is the classic mojito that, incidentally, would be the perfect complement to this read.  Fresh mint is key in this drink, so grab your mortar and pestle, some fresh squeezed limes, and read Room!  

Happy Summer!   

Tuk Tuk to Temple: Thailand Travel

Well, after some much-needed travel I am back, back in the New York groove...
and it is nearly as hot here as it was in Bangkok! More on some new book recommendations to follow, but for now some quick travel tips should you ever find yourself in Thailand.
First, I must say that of all of the SE Asian countries in which I have travelled, Thailand is the easiest. So, for those looking for a stress-free vacation, this just may be your country of choice! With the stress-free transit comes the throngs of tourists, however, so be prepared to share your space with others in the more popular areas.
Chiang Mai was one of my personal favorites. The city itself is beautiful, the food of northern Thailand is delicious, and Elephant Nature Park is a crowning jewel. I have always wanted to get up close and personal with the elephants and this particular place proved to be the perfect venue for fulfilling that dream! We also took a cooking class through the Thai Farm Cooking School. Not only do they support organic farming, but our instructor was awesome--and catered to those who can't even tell you what "dicing" means.

Moving on south...a favorite island was Railay.  Known for its world class rock climbing, I appreciated the picturesque views, warm, gentle ocean waves and relaxed vibe.  In addition, you have to take a longboat to get there which adds to the island's charm and appeal.  I would highly recommend kayaking in the south and one of my favorite boat trips involved a stop at the beach made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio's eponymous film...The Beach.  Bring your strongest scissor kick and a sense of invisibility however as this beach can only be reached by a death defying swim in strong currents to a rope that repeatedly slams you against the large rocks that it scales.  Once you have climbed over the rocks and through the woods you reach a view worth the toil.  That said, my friends and I have decided that Thailand definitely has different safety regulations than the United States so if you are not a strong swimmer...don't risk it!

Lastly, I can see why Bangkok has been named one of the world's best urban destinations.  In terms of affordability, the (even weakened) dollar goes a long way and the city is vibrant, offering delicious dining opportunities, and great sight-seeing. I personally loved jumping on the water taxis along the river and making stops at the famous temples, the immense and "scent"sational flower market , followed by the posh Mandarin Oriental Hotel.  All in all, if you are looking for a trip that is easy, affordable, and fun I would definitely recommend Thailand.  We were there for 2 1/2 weeks and felt that was sufficient time to explore three distinct regions of the country.