The Future Perfect

NoHo, alas, I was only able to make the tail end of your parties. However I did manage to duck into the Future Perfect at their new location on Great Jones for a short moment, and I noticed a particular and peculiar theme going on.
At first it seemed to be very animal/taxidermy heavy. But then, upon reflection I realized it may just be my tendency to lean towards the animal motif. Does that make me particular and peculiar? I can't imagine why I like it, as I'm a vegetarian, but I guess that doesn't extend to compel my interior aesthetic choices.Plus, HELLO! a Golden Elephant Head!? Thanks, I 'll take it!These lighting fixtures repulsed everyone but me. There's a small chance that I kinda totally wanted them, both, in my apartment, stat.
Kooky!

The Javits

I spent three consecutive days in the bizzare-o glass building that somehow lets no natural light in called the Jacob Javits center, hollering at ICFF. Its safe to say I spent time with furniture. Here are my highly coveted picks, my what were you thinking critiques, and the "I can appreciate what they were going for"s.
I'm in love with the tie dyed wooden chair- and its oh so comfortable.
But this dream of a couch is the epitome of comfort. I could sit in in all day, lounge, take long luxurious naps, wear silk komono pj's, you know, the usual. I basically want this right now, its singing my song.
Its rumored that furniture made out of wood just makes me swoon. And truth be told there is no tub I would rather have than this wooden tub. Its just so cool, a tub made of wood! And look what happens when we diverge from wood-
weird ugly tables. Although I do kinda like the idea of the Theory of Relativity in a table, its not something that appeals to me aesthetically.
And there are still stranger things made of wood.
Bangin' on this bed would be an experience, no doubt, but I'm not sure I'd like to be the owner of this contraption.
I totally loved this shelving unit. Although its styled for a children's room I feel it would fit nicely in my room, or the living room. I bet it could even work in the bathroom, holding towels.
Pratt had a booth where presumably students had drawn on these plastic chairs. This one was one of my favorites.
Though I really liked the mouth chair too.
And my love for lucite meets my love for wood. And here are some lucite lamps that charmed me, and they are NOT made by Kartell, who wudda thunk it?

New Years Ever

Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven.. no WAIT! All night false alarms rang out as fools started the countdown early, at least twice an hour, even after actual New Years happened. My favorite fools. The fools of the century.
Despite the rain, and two of my favorite friends being out and about with dudes they like, this new years was one of the best ever, really.
New Years, generally a high pressure night, is almost always over rated unless, of course, you're partying with me. Then you know your night will turn out swimmingly. The key is not too many people, and never thinking about taking a subway or cab. Oh- and champagne and good jamz don't hurt either.
Three of my most favorite Chicago buddies came out to count down with me, and one of their lil sisters. Plus two New Jersey folk (I know, I know...), my brother and his pal, TOM! spent the night. Throw in my roommate and her boyfriend and New Years brought a record 11 people crashing that night in the Color Me Cannon APT!
Usually for the count down we head over to Grand Army Plaza and watch the fire works and drunk park slope moms get their game on, but due to the inclement weather, my apartment worked just fine.How did you ring in the New Year? Did you have a blast or was it a bust?
And most importantly, what did you wear?

How many times have you said "It's cold?"

I'm a big fan of winter. HUGE.
(Did you just call me fat?)

I love winter time sports- like sledding, snowman building, snowball fights, putting on enough layers to comfortably ride the bike, huddling together and skiing.

There is a certain pleasure of pulling out ye olde winter time wardrobe and having the opportunity to wear a favorite sweater. Tights in general. And this season I've been wearing my uh-maze-ing work-boot-heels that go with any and every ensemble ever.

Let us not forget the cold weather comradeship. There is nothing like exiting a restaurant together only to be greeted with the extreme cold (and ladies and gents, its been a cooolllddd winter) and through chattering teeth shiver out "Iittttsssssoooooocoococcooocoooooollllldd," while scurrying to the nearest subway, or convincing someone to pay for a cab.

Or quite possibly the best of them all, staying at home, watching hours of bad television, drinking wine, keeping warm by snuggling with my cat. Can we just say snuggling in general?

But now comes the hard part. We've had our first snowstorm, which was really fun. By the third one of those, unfortunately people usually get sick of it (not I!). The holidays are over, and so begins our longest stretch without any vacation. And while we really think that March brings warm weather, truly it is April the shepherds in the light spring jackets. My summer time dresses are singing to me from my closet already- and this is the earliest they've ever done that.
How am I going to battle the cold weather blues?

This weekend I'm going skiing for the first time of the season. I'm going to ride my bike as much as possible, making getting there a quicker journey with the added bonus of generating lots of heat. I'll just pretend that my winter wardrobe still excites me, and continue the quest for the perfect (and affordable) pair of over the knee/thigh high boots which still elude me. Oh! And I just re-ignited my love for rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders. I'm trying to go a couple times a week. Oh- and drinking wine. Lots of Cabernet pour moi. Merci beaucoup!

I'm going to keep telling myself that I love winter, even when it is no longer true. We shall see how long I can trick myself...


Having server woes, pictures should be back up right quick!

Blu Sky

Last week I ran around the city doing work for a client. It was totally hands on and I loved it. We snuck on rooftop in Chinatown to do some surveillance photography for the project (more on that in a month). While the crew was setting up I took this photo- I just loved the way he centered himself along the building, totally unawares of his genius composition.

Tonight! Family game night chez moi, plus some Carlo Rossi- I'm amped!

What day is this!?

I ran out of my apt to run a few errands before my birthday partay was to start. You know- getting some snacks, picking up the washcloths from the laundromat, getting halloween decorations... It was one of those amazing October days, the air was crisp, the temperature was perfect, just-a-sweater-weather, the sun was shining. I was happy to be alive! I ran into Russel, my neighbor and overall mayor of the block. He's an incredibly gregarious guy always having something nice to say. This day he said:
"Hey Nora! Did you check out the Polynesian Day stuff going on down the block? They've got their drummers out there."
And as he said it I could hear the drums. I ran back to my apartment, abandoning all errands for the moment, and grabbed my camera. The show was fantastic, if not super duper crowded.

These guys did the craziest dance routine complete with baton twirling, always catching the thick wooden stick right at the very last moment. It was so impressive how skilled they were.
The music was so so loud, but it was a really nice jam to listen to, or rather to get down to. The band was not only talented but tenacious. They kept going long after I left and long before I arrived. That takes perseverance, especially if one is in the cadence or blowing a horn, measure after to measure.

The only thing I was left to ponder was what it was actually celebrating, because I may have misheard Russel-or made it up in my head. Obviously it was regional celebration, but for where, I don't really know. But yay! for mystery day!

Birthday Extravganza!

Aren't my friends insanely attractive?

Yes it was that time again. That time where I get a whole year older and high five the world about it. This birthday was really fantastic. I felt loved and surrounded by really fabulous people who care about me and are always happy to be where they are. They embody the spirit of "I make my own party!" In short, I am incredibly lucky to have such a group, a troupe, a gaggle of fantastic friends.

Plus Phillip made a baller mix of old 50's and 60's rock and roll. Doesn't get much better!
And then my pal Josh brought a coat he made-and let me wear it for the party-it was an uncompareable experience. I was elated. Can't you tell?
Anton, who is giving me a panther hug, rides a motorcycle and declared that I would be more than safe hanging on to the back of his cycle in this coat. I would just bounce off the road a few times should I fell off. All I needed was a matching helmet.

And I killed everyone who said I was Lady Gaga.

Our apt was aptly spooky- Halloween decorations ahoy. I live for this holiday.

This is my darling roommate the next morning. She ran into my room (how do you know its my room? All the shoes on the shelves.) and put the coat on. Cannon looks just as happy to be awake as Laura does. This is what hung over people do.

Outta townahs!

I love love love having friends come to visit. I've said it before and I'll say it again- I could be a tour guide for the unorthodox visit. This city's cup over floweth with good things to eat, fun things to do, and interesting people to spend time with. What more could you want!?
So when Emily and Evan came to make a NY visit- I was very excited to show them my home 'hood, the BK! Emily is totes in love with the city, but Evan is on the fence, so my job was to help him fall head over heels with the place.
Since our time together was short, we did a small tour of the park and then over to a very cool 7th ave bar that I never stop inside but have always wanted too. Of course, dear readers, I already don't know the name.
They got a taste of my apt, Prospect Heights, the Park, Park Slope, and the long wait for the F train. We were waiting so long, and since they were en route to meet a friend, they called using-get this- the phone in the subway station! A NY First! Even I've never done that!
This weekend our mutual friend is coming to the city. This kid loves adventure. Not necessarily "posh bars New York nightlife adventure," more like "climbing mountains in Montreal in inappropriate footwear adventure!" I'm going to take him bike riding and to Governor's Island for sure. I can't wait!
TONIGHT- Fashion Week's last night... can I make it? We shall seeee...

I'm a bohemian princess

Beacon's Closet is one of my favorite places to shop and I would say easily over half my entire wardrobe is from there, including shoes, dresses, jeans, tops, skirts and purses. When my Chi-city ladies come, we always go there, its kinda a mecca. So that was the first place Kirsten wanted to go when she got here, well the first place after an Uncle Louie's pumpkin pie milkshake.
She bought- ahem- the most amazing dress/kaftan/mumu/thing ever. Generally reserved for ladies of larger proportions... And we went to the park and were in love. Kirsten kept calling herself a bohemian princess, and I do believe she was.Do we even like each other?
Of course we do! (Don't look up my skirt)
Also check out the ROCKIN! jellies Lisa got for me! Holler!
Lisa joined us at the park and by tying her belt around her head I made her look hip, which is great because she normally doesn't and then she got real sassy. REAL HIP.
What's Kirsten lookin' at?
Only in Brooklyn, my friends...
Does he have his father's eyes?
And the lovely lady wanted some glamour shots in front of the best Brooklyn Library ever!
Then we went home and got girled up, but that's for another post...

Narcissism at its best

Agathe has left! And I am crying big old tears. And drinking tig old beers...
Anyways before she left we had a brooklyn centric photo shoot for a variety of reasons.
-She loves Brooklyn really alot.
-She is attempting to further her styling career and thought they would be good for her portfolio.
-We're total girls.