Have a Happy Weekend!

Images from Etro Home

Take me to the River!

Years ago, I was whisked away by my then boyfriend to The River Cafe for a New Year's Eve celebration and I thought immediately, this is love and it was - for the restaurant!:)   My love affair for this restaurant has lasted for years but on a recent walk, I surprised myself when a friend said that this was one of her favorite restaurants and I dismissed it as yesterday's news.  Is it too late to say that I was wrong?  After walking around the restaurant and the grounds, I realized how truly magical it still is!  The setting alone is enough to leave you gobsmacked!   I say gobsmacked as I suspect that the River Cafe in London which opened in 1987 was a direct, shall we say, "homage" to this one  - it also rests near a river - the River Thames but, let's not waste time on that.  This one opened in June of 1977 by a gentleman named Michael O'Keefe.  Like most pioneers, Mr. O'Keefe bravely set out to build a restaurant on land that was desolate and decimated to say the least.  His vision of having a restaurant that celebrated the Brooklyn Bridge and the overwhelmingly gorgeous view of Manhattan was what must have kept him fighting to build his dream establishment.  Even though the banks and the city all opposed him, he still managed to prevail.  To call him victorious is an understatement - he is yet another example of never giving up!  

So, on a sunny day I went back to the grounds to enjoy their lovely garden.  There were flowers everywhere and it was one of the most romantic settings that I've ever sat in, I immediately felt joyous and relaxed all at once.  Even though on this day I was not patronizing the restaurant, I was still treated with unlimited kindness.  The staff was gracious and lovely and when I extended a compliment to them for their beautiful gardens - they pointed to a woman who I now know is Maureen.  Let's see, how do I describe Maureen - sheer bliss in her face, she is the type of woman who you would want as your best girlfriend - talented, gracious, kind and completely free and open - my kind of person!  She greeted me with a smile and said graciously, no, it's not me who you should thank, it's Buzzy  over there.  Buzzy, was a tall, distinguished man walking in the garden, clearly checking on things.  I walked up to him and said, thanks, I understand that you are responsible for this lovely place.  He never mentioned once that he was the owner, he simply invited me in, proudly showed me pictures of what the land looked like before and walked me around the restaurant.  The passion that both he and Maureen had for the cafe was quite evident.  My gauge for a happy work environment is when you see a happy staff - they all were!  He told me about a bird that Maureen had recently saved and how she restored it to health and released it, but it still comes back to the restaurant.  Just like the bird, so will I.  

Absolut-Lee!

Absolut Vodka has teamed up with Spike Lee on a limited edition Vodka called Absolut Brooklyn.  It's part a series of Vodka's commemorating various cities in the US.  At first I wasn't sure about this partnership - it felt somewhat like a sell-out for Lee.  However, Absolut has historically teamed up with numerous artists, Warhol, Franceso Clemenete, Kenny Scharf,  Ellen Von Unwerth, Spike Jonze and designers - Cynthia Rowley, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, Tom Ford and Stella McCartney  to name a few.  In addition, the cities have included Rome, LA, Boston, Tokyo and Stockholm.  So, both Brooklyn and Spike are in good company and all for a good cause - 50k is being donated to Habitat for Humanity specifically for the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn.  Although, I do however wish that they would "spike" up the amount being donated  - not that we Brooklynites are ungrateful but, $50k will not rebuild one house, more or less a community in Brooklyn.  Perhaps during these difficult economic times, the most logical new campaign should be Absolute Greed - I'm just saying!  

Spike Lee Pictures

A Park Grows in Brooklyn

Brooklyn drew me in when I was a teenager in high school and attended a summer architecture program at Pratt Institute.  We would often walk or catch the bus over to Brooklyn Heights and stroll along the Promenade - who knew then that years later, I would live here.  After living in Manhattan for a few years, I moved to Brooklyn and never looked back.  Over the years, Brooklyn just continues to get better - it is truly the better borough:)!  The latest thing to get excited over is the development of the Brooklyn Bridge Park.   The 20 years spent by community advocates to get the piers along the waterfront developed into a beautiful waterfront park, is finally paying off.  The unbelievably lush green open lawns, baby trees and plants, modern wooden benches everywhere and paths all overlooking one of the most celebrated views of lower Manhattan, is truly the best spot for families, lovers, friends, and anyone who just wants to enjoy the great outdoors!  As if the landscaping was not romantic enough, throw in the River and views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.  DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass - the name by the way, was developed by artists who lived in the area in an effort to detract real estate developers - so much for that), will undoubtedly be one of the hippest locations in NY.  The park is slated to be completed by 2013. Pier one however is open now and is just to the left of 2 of my favorite places - The River Cafe and Ignazio's Pizza.  Most people - out-of-towners no doubt, line up at Grimaldi's for their infamous pizza.  Last summer however with a friend, I discovered Ignazio's - right around the corner, no lines and a much better view - oh, did I mention better pizza?   I will have more on the River Cafe which was frankly, one of the first and longest lasting restaurants to bravely develop in the area in the early 70's despite the many naysayers and banks that turned  Michael O'Keefe down when he found the location.    Last night, my friend Chris and I walked his dog Max and I took these shots - went back this morning and captured more - I think it's safe to say that night or day, this park is terrific!  

Also, take a look at this cool construction worker - while all of his colleagues donned construction hats, he sported his cool cowboy hat with reflective sunglasses - stylish man, working on a stylish park.  

I'm Blushing...

Etro's Spring 2010 collection is one that most certainly speaks to my love of a sophisticated Boho style.  Veronica Etro designed a beautiful collection that reflects Etro's long history of blending sumptuous  textiles and materials. The Etro family started the textile company in 1968 and has thankfully progressed into making gorgeous items for women, men and the home. They have always been one of my favorite design houses. The blush tones in this collection are fresh and feminine.  I think you'll agree - enjoy!  

Iron Man Too

Iron Man 2 is on my list of films to see - in spite of the luke warm reviews - I happen to love Robert Downey Jr., after all he is Iron Man!  So is this guy - Josh Hadar, a metal sculptor.  While walking down Broome Street in Soho, Josh pulled out of his shop on this - how incredibly cool yes?  It's a motorized bike that he built and sculpted by hand.  Josh is not only an Iron man, but he's also a man of steel - he uses reclaimed building materials and broken bicycles found around the city.  

Here's an interview with Josh...

Other men of steel have built some of my favorites structures in NYC. The Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world and is the first steel wire suspension bridge - it was designed by John Augustus Roebling and completed in 1883.  I will of course cover this bridge in greater detail in other blog entries -  I did warn that it's my favorite yes?  

And then there's the Chrysler Building - designed by William Van Alen - it is still the world's tallest steel-supported brick building.  

In case you're wondering, I found these amazing moss structures at Anthropologie in the Chelsea Market.   The Brooklyn Bridge was created by an in-house designer named Tim Harris and the Chrysler building was also Tim with his design team.  These brilliant structures included the High Line and a NYC Big Apple. Just think, you could take one of Josh's bike's across the Brooklyn Bridge and marvel at the brilliant architecture around the city - true bliss!