Give Love!

My beautiful sister Robin told me about an interview that she saw with Patricia Arquette on the View where she spoke of her venture with the Give Love organization to raise funds for Haiti.  Patricia is part of the Give Love team which is rebuilding communities in Haiti by providing low-cost sustainable housing, clean-water and sanitation systems.  As a fundraiser to support their efforts, Patricia has come up with this lovely necklace created by Satya designs for $38.00 and 100% of the proceeds will go to Give Love.  

Both my sister and I bought one - don't you agree that it's a lovely necklace for a good cause - great Mother's Day gift by the way!    

Drum roll please...

One day while walking down 7th Avenue I spotted this vibrant tripod floor lamp with a huge red drum lampshade and knew that I had to have it. I ran into Gracious Homes to purchase it and was immediately stopped in my tracks when I discovered the "vibrant" price tag - $1,120.00 - YIKES!  So, thus began my mission to create or find a similar one.  

I went online and found this one at Target for $99.00 - pretty darn close - but, it's a yellow lampshade.  

I then found this gorgeous one at Pottery Barn for $140.00 and look at the other scripted items to go with it - did anyone else hear "overkill?"  

But ultimately I LOVE this one - it's huge and has a swing arm so that it can comfortably provide great reading light over my sofa and I know, it's not a red lampshade but, I went to Just Shades and they will re-fabric a shade for an additional $25.00 - so worth it!  It too is from Pottery Barn for $299.00.

Now, all I need is one of these rooms designed by The Brooklyn Home Company - seriously, how great would that be?  Have a Happy Weekend!!  

Gone walking!

One of my favorite things to do in the city is walk.  I walk everywhere and when I am not in "boots that are made for walking," I'm in these - my recent acquisition - Tretorns.  

McDreamy!

On a recent walk up the West Side Highway I anxiously looked for a building that I had stumbled upon last Fall.  It was a gorgeous Autumn day and my friend Annie and I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, through Battery Park and up the West Side Highway, when we first discovered - not this building, but a drop dead gorgeous man :) (all the single ladies).  He was running in front of us - our view was suddenly much improved - too bad Annie is married - ha!   As we stalked this man - oops, I meant to say, continued our journey, we were both stopped in our tracks when we saw this magnificent building.  Gleaming pink fresco (actually called "Pompeii Red") with terraces and beautiful carved archways - it was my dream building!  Towering high above the other buildings in the West Village just calling out for a visit - so Annie and I obliged!  We first knocked on these very impressive castle-like doors and was greeted by a gentlemen who told us that these were private residences - of course they are!  He did however let us into the unbelievably gorgeous lobby - a bit dark, but lovely nonetheless.  

We left the building feeling über satisfied and returned to our walk when the unspeakable happened - dreamy "McJogger" was heading our way.  Being the consummate flirt, I smiled and so did he - I believe Annie did too but I chose not to focus on that:).  Our eyes followed him as he ran towards our new building - we both thought, what could make this more perfect is him running into our dream building - ah!  He ran right by it and we kept walking - sigh.  

So, last week while out with my friend Cameo - who knows everything by the way, I showed her my dream building and she of course knew all about it - "Oh, that's the Palazzo Chupi created by Julian Schnabel."  She went on to tell me how much it cost and the blogger who wrote all about it.  I thought Julian did the art for the film Great Expectations - WRONG!  Francesco Clemente did - although Julian, an artist himself did direct one of my favorite films - Basquiat.  

 I can picture myself on this terrace, tossing flowers down to my fellow New Yorkers!  

Love this video and song...

McQueen is dead, long live McQueen!

In the meat-packing district on Friday, we walked by Alexander McQueen's storefront and I could not help but wonder what will happen to the house of McQueen and who his successor might be.  Love his creation that Naomi wore.

Happy Weekend!

I have always wanted a treehouse where I could nest high above the ground with the birds and any other species brave enough to scale such heights.  In Seattle(of course), there is a Treehouse Workshop where they will either build one for you or teach you how to make your own.  In Costa Rica there is a treehouse hotel - now wouldn't that be adventurous!  You could zip-line into your hotel room!  

I could however settle for this wonderful home and find myself comfortably perched on this gorgeous daybed in my garden - I am still surrounded by nature yes?  

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy B-Earth day Matteo!

It is so befitting that my brother Matt's birthday should fall on Earth day!  As a child, Matt collected butterflies, fireflies, built an ant farm in a shoebox, had snakes in his bedroom (that one morning ended up in my sister Robin's closet and shoe), fish, was always kind and good with animals.  He is a loving and gentle soul and of course, in my unbiased opinion - one of the greatest artist alive!  A series of trees that Matt painted for one of his children's books, left us breathless.  

So, in my attempt to honor his day, I have painted a tree - just what a real artist wants, a sloppy painting from a non-artist:).  It was however, painted with love and fond memories of him and our childhood.  

Painting is in the mail Matteo!  Happy Earth Day everyone!

Earthly Delights

Tomorrow is Earth Day - I might wear this...

Mighty Women!

One of the highlights of my career at the Today Show was meeting Dr. Dorothy Height.  Thanks to my dear friend and colleague Chemene (picture here with Maya Angelou), we interviewed her at the Schomburg Center in Harlem.  Dr. Height had the presence of an angel - strong and yet soft spoken and wisely centered.  Born in 1912, Dr. Height survived racism, the great migration of blacks from the South to the North, health issues ( a Dr. predicted that she would die by the age of 16), the Great Depression and went on to become one of the pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement.
  
In a private conversation, Dr. Height shared one story with me that although it is including in her book, "OpenWide the Freedom Gates",  hearing her account of it, really tore at my heart.  She had overcome several setbacks in her childhood and yet, maintained great grades in school and wanted to go to college. With no funding for college, Dr. Height entered an Oratorical contest and won a scholarship. Her choice of schools, because of a recommendation from her brother William, was Barnard college in New York because they had a strong science program and her goal was to become a Doctor.
    
She applied and was accepted to Barnard and received a telegram from the school inviting her to an interview the next day.  She caught a late night train to New York for her 9am interview.  She then told me with a weakened voice that when she got there and upon seeing her, they told her that she could not attend because she was a Negro.  I could see that although she had accomplished great things in her life, that this still hurt her.  She could not fathom the idea of calling home and telling her family that she would not be going to college.  Her sister Jessie lived in Harlem and she went to her house, called their brother William and he suggested with a positive tone, that she try NYU.  That very same day, she ran down to NYU and met with a Dean Ruth Schaeffer with the letter of acceptance from Barnard and used it as leverage to get accepted to NYU.  Dean Schaeffer looked up at her and said, "a girl who makes these kinds of grades doesn't need an application to enroll at NYU."  She filled out a form and was matriculated at NYU.  She then said with a sheepish smile, "Barnard later gave me an honorary degree."  


This lesson about never giving up has never left me - like my mother, I will cherish this woman with every breath of my life.  Another great woman, Maya Angelou wrote the forward in Dr. Height's book and included Mari Evans' poem "I Am A Black Woman:"

I 

am a black woman

tall as a cypress

strong

beyond all definition still 

defying place

and time

and circumstance

assailed

impervious

indestructible

Look

on me and be

renewed

The All Saints are coming, the All Saints are coming!

Typically, I am not into what I call "urban armor" style clothing.  However, on a recent visit with a friend to Bloomingdales, I found myself soldiering through the All Saints shop.  The clothing has a certain romantic warrior (if there is such a thing) feel to it that was surprisingly both stylish and comfortable.  So, the British Invasion continues, with Top Shop (or shall we say, "chop shop") right down the street, All Saints will be opening their new Soho store on May 20th.  Oh, did I mention that I picked this little item up at Bloomies?  

Oh Happy Day!

Have a wonderful weekend!  

Image from Toast

True Beauty

How could I not love Trace?

A sunny day in Soho

The best days to me are the ones that are unplanned and unfold in deliciously unexpected ways.  Yesterday my friend Cameo and I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous day and meet for lunch in Soho.  Along the way, we made a few fun discoveries.  One thing is that she collects subway map art, which I had never heard of.  She spotted the vendor like I would spot a Prada bag on sale!  The prints are created by an artist named Santo, not pictured here (this was one of Santo's little helpers:) - actually, he too is an artist - Gavin Weir).  I bought this one - love the vibrant colors! 

We ran into this man - how cool is he?  He was perched right outside of the Puma store that to our surprise, featured one of our favorite artist, Kehinde Wiley. His most noted art features beautiful portraits of black men and women with colorful graphic wallpaper backgrounds.  

We did finally eat at one of my favorite places in the city - Despana.  Great Spanish cuisine and an awesome environment. The only thing missing was my friend Tony - with a smile, he once suggested my now favorite manchego cheese and spicy chorizo.   He then slipped me his number on a card - hmm, smooth, like manchego - I liked it!

Going into Despana, Cameo realized how close we were to Central Market Street and suggested that we go after lunch.  I of course got excited because all I heard was market and thought that we were going to shop.  Over lunch I mentioned a show that I saw on Bravo called 9 by Design.  Cami's face lit up as she explained that Central Market Street is where their house is located.  Apparently the fabulous Novogratz duo designed most of the block - I LOVE this couple!   To live life with unbridled creativity and take smart risks is such a rush -  whether it works or not, you tried.  In their case, it is definitely working!

This place was right across the street - must go back for drinks with friends! I took this photo because of the of the Police station building that is reflected in the shot.  The dome was mimicked in the rooftop dome on the Novogratz's building. Splendid architecture and it was converted into condo's years ago.  

I did get my shopping in and so did Cami ... 

The day ended at Trader Joe's on 14th street - it was insanely crowded!  I love the store though and where else could you find red sunflowers!

Je' t'aime Bryant Park

Bryant Park always reminds me of Paris.  The park chairs and tables, the iron work, urns filled with beautiful flowers, the curved trees that shelter a path, the food kiosks, and my favorite - the carousel.  I was asked today while taking these photos, if I wanted to ride on the carousel - for $2.00 how could I say no?