Christmas at Bergdorf Goodman

As the last colored leaves flutter to the ground and the nights grow darker and longer, summer begins to feel further and further away. And yet, every year, Christmas feels like it sneaks up on us. Or, at least I know it's that way for me. 

Once Halloween is over, stores and businesses begin ramping up for Christmas. Decorations appear, carols are heard over the sound systems, and Starbucks switches to holiday cups. 

One place I love visiting at this time of year is Bergdorf Goodman. The old-world department store dedicates a large portion of the 7th floor to a "Christmas room" as I like to call it.

I just love this antler chair with plaid - perfect for cozying up on a cold winter's night. 

This polar bear moved his paws! 

Visiting yesterday evening, I felt the excitement that small children feel at this time of year. The space was magical, filled with the most beautiful Father Christmas figures, stunning Christmas trees displaying hand-painted ornaments, and classical music carols softly playing in the background. 

Fourth Celebrations

After deciding to ditch hot, smelly New York for a summer on Nantucket, I realized that I would be spending the Fourth of July on this tiny island off the Cape. 

What I didn't realize, was that the Fourth in Nantucket is one of the most patriotic locations to celebrate Independence Day. In town, American flags and red, white and blue banners decorated store fronts and homes alike. People flew flags from the backs of Jeeps and pick-up trucks, atop masts and jury-rigged out of fishing pole holes in boats (one boat I saw had a grand total of six flags!)

People were dressed in varying levels of patriotism; I saw flag shirts, flag shorts, flag bandanas; block colors of red, white and blue, temporary flag tattoos, red, white and blue glitter, red, white, and blue necklaces. 

As a Canadian transplant, it was exciting to be a part of the most important American holiday and to have celebrated it in such a patriotic place, filled with hundreds of years of history provided the finishing touches. 

A Summer on the Med (In a Bottle)

Image courtesy of scform.com 

As soon as spring rolls around, I can't wait to start using my Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Eau de Parfum. The turquoise bottle immediately transports me to happy summer places even before I've applied the scent. With notes of Tunisian Neroli, Sicilian Lemon, Italian Bergamot, Winter Yellow Mandarin, Orange Flower and Lavender, the scent is a perfectly light, citrus summer infusion. Amber undertones help keep the fragrance grounded, preventing the citrus from becoming too fruity. The Neroli Portofino collection includes the eau de parfum, a shower gel, body moisturizer, body splash, body oil and bath soap.

A perfect summer scent, whether you make it to the Med or stay around home!

South American Vision - Faena Comes to Miami Beach

"The idea that you could wake up in the morning, and walk outside along the veranda to the kitchen to get your coffee and grab the paper and sit outside by the kitchen..." Brandon Haw of Foster + Partners says in the promotional video for Faena House, opening in 2014 on Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

One time designer and now real estate developer, Alan Faena of the Faena Hotel + Universe in Buenos Aires is bringing his vision to Miami Beach. The man behind the reinvention of the Puerto Madero neighborhood in his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is working with a "collaboratory," (a "laboratory of collaborations," as he told WSJ Magazine), to bring, for the first time, a voice from South America to North America. This voice will arrive in the form of a residential condominium, an arts center, a retail center and a hotel. And Miami, with its already prevalent latino vibe should be a comfortable first location for the Faena District.

Faena's collaboratory consists of a superior team of partners. Among them, he counts investment partner, Russian billionaire Leonard Blavatnik, Foster + Partners for the design of the condominium residences and Rem Koolhaas & OMA for the Faena Arts Center, Faena Bazar and Faena Park. Included in the four block area on Collins is the Saxony Hotel, which will be redone and transformed by designers Roman + Williams.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the new development is the flavor from Faena's part of the world that he wishes to bring to Miami. As Haw says in the promotional video, it's the concept of harmoniously blending the indoor-outdoor living spaces; having a veranda space that rivals the interior living space, being able to hold a dinner party comfortably on the balcony. Faena District will interweave the condominium, the hotel, the art center, the retail center and even the parking area to become a "new paradigm in the fine art of living."

"We believe we can have different cities of the world enjoy our way of doing things - this new way of development that blurs art, culture and music," Faena told WSJ Magazine.

9/11/11 - Remembering 10 Years Later

This morning dawned sunny and crisp with a touch of fall in the air. The threat of thunderstorms could be seen beginning to roll in from the bottom of the island, slowly moving North to cover Ground Zero and continue up the length of the island. The contrast of the dark against the blue sky makes the air look thick and gray toward the South - bringing back images of the ashy smoke that went past 14th Street on this day 10 years ago. Walking to the Christopher Street Pier, the streets were quiet. New York was still asleep from the night before. At 8:46am and 9:03am, church bells could be heard chiming, providing a chilling remembrance of the lives lost. At the West Side Highway, a group of activists stood between the North and South bound lanes, waving signs of "We Will Never Forget," American flags, and pictures of the towers. "Heroes Highway" was written on a sign and implanted into the ground. Drivers honked their horns and emergency vehicles sounded their sirens as they passed. 

 Activists on the West Side Hwy.

From the end of the Pier there was a visual of the Freedom Tower, the Statue of Liberty and in between the two, a huge combat ship with a Coast Guard rescue boat spraying huge streams of water in all directions. Runners and walkers on the pier all paused to have a moment of silence. After the streams of water stopped, a sailboat with a main and jib imprinted with the American flag sailed in front of Ground Zero. Shortly afterward, four cigarette boats raced down the Hudson toward the memorial in sync, one behind the other with large flags blowing behind. 

 Boats going to Ground Zero 

As I walked through the streets, I looked around at the the places that have become so familiar to me and I imagined what it would have looked like a decade ago. Many of the shops and restaurants would have been different in the ever transforming city; fashion and technology have completely changed - and yet the horrific images and stories people recount have remained the same: moments frozen in time, etched so deeply into the memories of those who experienced that day. 

Particularly in light of the potential terrorism threats, the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers has once again created a feeling of unification in the city and perhaps even around the country. I think New Yorkers feel defiant; ready to protect our city and preserve that of which we are so proud and love so dearly. 

For Adam, a fine friend who will be sorely missed.

October 3, 2010

May my soul's love

Make its way unto thee

May my love's inmost sense

Make its way unto thee

That they sustain thee

That they enfold thee

In realms of love. 

- Rudolf Steiner

Little Havana

The main justification of my weekend in Miami this past February was really to visit and explore the area of Little Havana, a neighborhood filled with Cuban restaurants, cheap knick-knack shops and voodoo boutiques.

After attempting to get information on the area from our hotel and miserably failing, (the concierge unhelpfully told us that the area was unsafe and that we would be much better to take a tour on a bus offered by the hotel), we decided to go it alone, hopping a cab and telling him to take us to the neighborhood and drop us off on the street.

A $30 cab ride later, we found ourselves on a large, busy street with no real idea of where to go. So we started walking.

Little Havana turned out to be a fascinating cultural experience. Sure, the wide streets, cars and architecture were all very American, but the people, the shops, and overall experience were not. Signs in English were few and far between, and a real highlight soon into the adventure turned out to be a Cuban pastry shop where two delicious sweets cost a mere $1.

I could describe in detail all of the adventures, but I feel the pictures speak better for themselves.

Who would want to pay $5 for shoes when you can pay... $3?