NYC

I went to New York for the first time. It was amazing. There was snow on the ground when we arrived at 6AM on a Friday morning, and the sun glinted off icy roof tops as we rode from the JFK into Manhattan.

I went to the Strand bookstore, which has been on my list to-do since forever. And I asked the guy behind the counter to recommend the best coffee, which led us to Paradis which was tiny and warm and full of amazing baked goods, homemade jam and tiny tables and chairs occupied by happy New Yorkers eating breakfast.

I saw my favorite Brooklyn girl, and we dug around a tiny shop filled with stamps looking for that perfect image... and then I met this boy Keat, who makes stamps and draws zines and I bought his book.

And I saw amazing displays and bought beautiful objects.

I rode on the Subway.

I walked the streets of New York from morning til night and saw many, many things.

I saw beautiful art.

I saw miniature art.

 
I saw cool art.

I ate good food in good company.

and I took many, many pictures. Thanks, New York. I hope to see you again soon.

A Night Out

After a long couple of days at work, I treated myself to a night out with a friend. I started with a trip to Freshly Cut, a beautiful floral shop in Berkeley that creates the most unique and gorgeous arrangements. After a cup of tea, some good conversation and a much needed refill of inspiration, we headed to Adesso on Piedmont for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. My mojito was delicious and our appetizer was pretty tasty.

I ended the night at one of my favorite neighborhood cafes, the Elmwood on College. Tonight the Elmwood celebrated its first donation to one of its charity recipients (50% of Elmwood's profits go to a customer selected charity), Bread Works. The atmosphere was friendly as always and the food was delicious! Homemade strawberry sodas passed in fluted glasses on trays and crostini topped with local goat cheese and peach mint chutney circulated on pretty white plates.

I love that the food is sourced from local farms and everything down to the fresh fruit syrups in the sodas are made in house. I'm looking forward to weekend morning where I can enjoy a pot of loose leaf earl grey! (A pot, not a cup, served in a red tea pot! How perfect is that???)