Baby, It's Cold Outside

First snow of the...Fall?  October 29, 2011. 

Unseasonal you say?  Eagerly anticipating the first frost, I can now gleefully whip out a oh-so-coveted recent present from Bones - Laundry by Shelli Segal's Faux Fur Anorak.  Coupled with my Khombu Patent Carma Snow Boots from last year - yeah, I think I can deal.  An early Christmas, indeed!

Coat, nordstrom.com
Boots, endless.com, 2010

Doggy Style

An event tailor made for me, the 21st annual Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade had it all - puppies, fashion, a dose of pageantry, and a whole bunch of tomfoolery.

New Yorkers always take it to the limit, and this event was no exception; dog owners flocked to the park in droves, with each beloved pet decked out more creatively than the next.

Some a little more extreme than others.



And those more literal minded.

The more fantastical the adornments, the more crowd love flowed.

And you knew it had to get political.



Ever the anthropology nut, I was a bit partial to the dinosaur showings.

And who doesn't love a good drink?

While it may not exactly be canine couture, it sure was a fun spectacle.

And just another little reason to get swept up by New York.

Additional photos by dailymail.co.uk & thevine.com

Weekend Pieces - 10.15.11 & 10.16.11

'Twas a weekend all about nesting and laziness to the nth degree.  In between some 'Mr. Show' and 'Fall Out: New Vegas,' I got the urge to take the pup for a walk - and pick up a necklace haunting me since last weekend's explorations.

I love the delicate gold chain, and the way the colored stones change with the light.  And, best of all - $20.  I did a little reading up on Owl & Thistle General Store this week, and am really into the store's philosophy.  Striving to be a one-stop mart of yore featuring all kinds of sustainable goods, they also showcase items made by neighborhood folk.  The vibe is relaxing and inviting, like you're popping into a crafty friend's living room for a chat.  Necklace secured (and an $11 Tyvek paper wallet for Bones acquired), I feel certain in finding lots of hidden gems there in the future.

                                        

With festive hearts, we took to the streets Sunday to find pumpkins!  And a crazy bounty was quickly located at Natty Garden on Washington Avenue.

Pumpkins secured, we took two beauties home for some carving-while-watching-scary-movies action.

Inquisitive dog  included.

And, of course, just the right accompanying beverages.

Our living room table was transformed into Pumpkin Central, under the watchful eye of 'Apollo 18'

With roasted pumpkin seeds in our future, our little creatures came out smashing.

                                           

Well, one of ours.  Pumpkin beer does not, apparently, lend itself to artistic competency.

So begins our first of (hopefully) many ghoulish undertakings this Fall.  Muahahaha.

Concrete Monsters

Stumbled across this stunning photo.  As a lover of gothic architecture, it instantly hit me with that similar punch to the gut - that sweeping, hulking grandness.  Surprisingly, it's actually the Hotel Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia - the world's first atrium hotel constructed in the late 60's (and to attain the very height of modernity at the time, no less).  Love!

Photo by Frederic-JG Blanque

Weekend Pieces - 10.8.11 & 10.9.11

A weekend full of unexpected adventures with friends, we started off our journey at Hop Devil, one of our favorite East Village pubs. Boasting 20+ taps, and a half-off everything happy hour, I got a little carried away with the holiday-themed varieties. But does a pumpkin beer ever really satisfy? Always the flavored-anything optimist I, of course, had to try, but the Chelsea Black Hole XXX Stout fared far better in palate pleasing.

Post beer sampling, we headed uptown to Szechuan Gourmet, an amazing, spicy dream on a little side street near the library.  Mouth-numbing dan dan noodles minus the pork, a garlic-soaked eggplant dish, veggie chow fun, and a fresh, buttery three mushroom platter later, and we all left completely fat and happy.



Saturday was a group celebration for our dear friend Will, so we headed out to Noorman's Kil, a spot in Williamsburg combining his favorites - whiskey and grilled cheese.

The space just opened six or so weeks ago, and showcases a ridiculously comprehensive assortment of whiskeys, scotches and bourbons from all over the world.  Somewhat new to the spirits game, I jumped in headfirst, sampling Laphroaig 10 yr, Amrut Fusion (Indian whiskey!), and some Hudson single malt, all the while sipping under a darling grape arbor. 

I also had to tackle the sandwich list - my lady friend and I shared a delicate selection combining nutella, ricotta, and fruit preserves on sourdough bread (and, of course, I got to snatch some bites of the groups' more savory choices).  The food was beyond tasty, and at prices less than $6, I suspect this will soon be a neighborhood staple.

Whiskey, of course, brought with it the fine idea of making shadow bunnies.

 

   

Maybe a little too carried away with the bunnies.

 

Sunday is usually my lazy day, so in between trying to find a previously-not-seen-but-still-awesome horror movie (denied!) and some errands, we decided to explore our area with Betty.

I kind of fell in love with Franklin Avenue.  Colorful buildings, organic markets, vintage street sellers, and the cutest local, fair-trade shop called Owl & Thistle General Store (Christmas list - complete).  I am pretty smitten with the idea of moving over a neighborhood once the lease is up, and I have a feeling we can find a spectacular 2 bedroom since it's even further away from the ever-looming stadium.



Another weekend draws to a close, and so begins another week in love with Brooklyn, friends, food and life.