A Few of My Favorite (NYC) Things...

Nuts 4 Nuts

Probably the most delicious thing I ate in NYC... And I'm not kidding.  Nuts 4 Nuts street carts were all over the city... And you could find them easily because they gave off the most mouth-watering aroma in at least a mile radius.  As soon as I smelled the warm, cinnamon, sweet, slightly salty, nutmeg scent I had to start convincing myself I didn't have cash in my wallet so I couldn't buy any more roasted almonds!! 

Confession:  I once was craving Nuts 4 Nuts so badly I actually found an ATM just to get cash out to buy these stupid almonds!!!  Ugh... Embarrassing.  

I don't care if they were bad for me or if the hot liquid mixture they're roasted in looks like something from a sewer... They were delicious.  And there was no better treat for a twenty or thirty minute walk back to my hotel.  Sun shining, Pandora station playing in my headphones, and bag of Nuts 4 Nuts in my hand  :) 

Comfy, Light, Boho-Chic Outfits

I have to be honest, I was a little surprised at the intense humidity during the NYC Summer.  I had only been to NYC during the colder months, so I had never experienced the humidity and I guess nobody ever really mentioned it to me.  So... When NYC was 100 degrees outside with 86% humidity I felt like I was right back home in the Midwest.  And not in a good way.  

I have a really weird body temperature.  Without getting much into it, I had a mild case of hypothermia once, and it seems that my internal temperature has never really been the same after that.  I am always either really cold or really hot.  The lovely heat/humidity duo, combined with walking... And walking... And walking... Made every day a challenge as to how I could dress to beat the heat and stay as cool as possible.

My most successful solution was a flowy skirt I bought from the Calypso for Target collection earlier this summer.  I have two colors - white and navy - and they are the lightest, most comfortable skirts I've ever worn.  I had several light eyelet, cotton, or lace tops by Free People that I paired with the Calypso skirts... And voilà!!  Instant boho-chic.  

Photo Above: Tiffany & Co. gold-rimmed aviators, Free People top, Calypso for Target skirt, ancient Abercrombie & Fitch leather belt from high school, Louis Vuitton Odeon GM bag, and Steve Madden leather gladiator sandals (which you can't see). 

The New York Public Library

Tucked in between skyscrapers and tall office buildings, there's this shorter, light marble structure that looks completely out of place.  Probably best known for that infamous almost-wedding between Big and Carrie... The New York Public Library is absolutely stunning.  The bright green trees and majestic-looking lions flanking the front entrance create a peaceful atmosphere... I just wanted to sit on those steps and get lost in a book.  

From the time the decision was made that two major NYC libraries would combine to create the New York Public Library, it took sixteen years to plan, prepare, and build the building that now stands on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street.  In 1911, the library's doors opened with more than one million books on its shelves. 

I love being surrounded by books, and I thoroughly enjoy spending an afternoon in a big bookstore or a nice library.  One of the best parts in one of my favorite movies, Beauty and the Beast, is when the Beast gives the castle's library to Belle.  Something I have always wanted in my "grown-up house" is a big, beautiful library where I can escape when life is getting a little crazy.  But, until then... I could definitely imagine myself reading a novel or studying my fashion books in the New York Public Library  :)

Happy Thursday!!

Xoxo B.

Fall TV Show Lineup!! Holla, DVR!!!

Have you guys noticed the insane amount of promising TV shows in the Fall lineup?!  I don't know how I'm going to watch them all... My DVR will be on overdrive!!  Here's some of the shows that sound interesting to me:




"Pan Am" on ABC
Starts Sunday, September 25th




"G.C.B" on ABC
T.V. Guide calls this "Good Christian Belles" but ABC refers to it as "G.C.B."  It is based on the book titled "Good Christian Bitches".  Either way, it looks good!!  I wasn't able to find out when it airs though  :(




"The Secret Circle" on The CW
Starts Thursday, September 15th

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO ON BRAVO'S WEBSITE

"Fashion Hunters" on Bravo
Starts Tuesday, October 4th 



"The Playboy Club" on NBC
Starts Monday, September 19th




"Suburgatory" on ABC
Starts Wednesday, September 28th



"Once Upon a Time" on ABC
Starts Sunday, October 23rd



"Revenge" on ABC
Starts Wednesday, September 21st





"Two Broke Girls" on CBS
Starts Monday, September 19th 

And of course, some of my favorites are returning this Fall... 

 

"Gossip Girl" on The CW
 Starts Monday, September 26th



"The Vampire Diaries" on The CW
Starts Thursday, September 15th

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO ON BRAVO'S WEBSITE

"The Rachel Zoe Project" on Bravo
Starts Tuesday, September 6th




What do you guys think of these shows??  Are you planning on watching any of them??  Any other new TV shows I've missed??


Xoxo B.

And WHERE Was Chuck Bass?!

My mom had me watching An Affair To Remember by the age of ten.  I loved the movie Sleepless in Seattle.  And I wanted to cry with everyone else when Blair couldn't meet Chuck at the top of the Empire State Building in Gossip Girl. 

So naturally, when I was in NYC, the Empire State Building was on my top ten list.  I went on a random Wednesday afternoon, thinking the line would be a bit shorter.  In theory, it was a good idea.  But... It was still July, and still New York City.  Translation: the Empire State Building in the summer will be crowded any day of the week. 

There was a line through security... Then a line to purchase my ticket... And a line to get my ticket scanned.  It had been about 30 minutes and I assumed that this would be the last line as we snaked around past a gift shop and through an area where you could get your photo taken in front of a green screen as a souvenir.  Wrong.  That was actually the short part. 

When we got out of the elevators on the 80th floor, an endless line snaked through a large, open room. After about fifteen minutes, an ESB employee informed my section that the remaining wait for the elevators would take an additional twenty minutes and we could take the stairs up the six flights if we wanted.  I nearly ran, I was so glad to get out of that claustrophobic line.  Calves burning a little, I arrived at the 86th floor. 

We were blessed with a beautiful, sunny NYC day... Perfect for taking some photos.  Unfortunately, there was no Chuck Bass waiting for me with a bouquet of lilies and an 8-carat Harry Winston.  :(

It was amazing to see so far... To look out and see all the skyscrapers and the expanse of the city. 

The view up above... The top portion of the ESB makes me think of a space shuttle or something... That little pointy portion at the top seemed so fragile-looking in comparison with how huge the rest of the building is

American flags along the outside of the observatory windows... Loved seeing this  :)

If you look closely, you can see the Statue of Liberty out in the harbor!!  She looked relatively small compared to all the enormous buildings around her!! 

I also purchased an extra ticket to go up to the 102nd floor.  Of course, there was another twenty-minute line to go up the elevator (they wouldn't let anyone take the stairs this time).  The 102nd floor is a tiny, circular room and it was very difficult to take photos because the glass windows were fairly thick and pretty smudged.  I ended up deleted the few I had tried to take.  If you ever go to the ESB, I would not suggest shelling out for the extra sixteen floors.  In my opinion, it's just not worth it. 

By the time I walked out the street-level doors of the Empire State Building, I had used up about three hours of my day.  I was frustrated that I had spent so much time in line, but glad that I got to see a spot where so much romance had taken place in my favorite movies and TV shows. 

Overall, I have to admit... I was expecting so much and was kind of disappointed.  The ESB looks so amazing in the movies... All art deco elegance, no crowds, and old-fashioned romance.  If you love the movies you've seen the ESB in and just want to be there to say you've been... I would definitely go.  But if it's not a "must-see" for you I would save your time and money and just Google the views.  :)

Now... If anyone ever guarantees Chuck Bass would be on the 86th floor when I got there??  That would definitely change my opinion... :)


Xoxo B.


P.S.  Apparently there's something called "ESB After Dark" from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Thursday through Saturday.  There's a live jazz saxophone player strolling around the observation deck and taking song requests if you want.  I think there might be less people and it would be super romantic!!

Beauty & Essex - Round 2!!

Can you tell SH and I loved this place?!  (Read about our first Beauty & Essex encounter HERE.)  Since SH was leaving for a wedding, and I only had a couple more days left in NYC, we met up for one last dinner together.

We went all out.  We started with wine, of course... Then picked a variety of small plates to share.  This is the perfect way to sample some of the great food B & E has to offer, without getting too full on one plate!!

These were the Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Dumplings... They were to die for!!!  Crisp and toasted to perfection on the outside, with melty warm cheese and just a touch of fresh tomato flavor on the inside.  The sauce is like a warm, thick tomato soup... It makes my mouth water just to think of it!!

SH enjoying our farewell dinner... Behind her is a frame of vintage jewelry.  One of my favorite things about B & E is the vintage jewelry shop theme!!  I loved how they incorporated it into their decor, with frames and displays of vintage jewelry.

This was the Lobster & Grilled Asparagus Pizzetta... "with truffle mascarpone and crispy tarragon".  It was absolutely delicious as well... And had a great combination of tastes between the lobster, asparagus, and truffle.

We also ordered the Oven Braised Chicken Meatballs... "with sheep's milk ricotta, wild mushroom, and truffle."  Literally, they were gone so fast we didn't even have a chance to take a photo.  All of a sudden, we looked at each other and started laughing... No photo for that one!!

Last, but not least, we had the Spaghettini... "with zucchini, lemon, parsley pesto, parmigiano, and sunny-side-up egg."  This was our least favorite because the parsley taste was a little strong, and it cooled off quickly.  That may sound silly, but we didn't want to eat any once it had cooled off... It just didn't taste as good.

We didn't leave room for dessert... We were stuffed!!

We decided B & E would be our little celebratory place... As soon as I get back to NYC, I know exactly where we're going to go!!!  :)


Xoxo B.

Beauty & Essex website: HERE.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

I had heard so many mixed reviews on the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I had to check it out myself.  So one day after class in NYC I walked to the Upper East Side, home to Gossip Girl and most of NYC's best museums.  :)

I have to say, I agree with both sides of the argument.  Here's why...

The people who didn't like the exhibit came from a business background and perceived Mr. McQueen's designs as unrealistic for the average consumer.  They were right... Alexander McQueen reveled in the haute-est of haute couture.  His designs were outrageous, creative in a mind-blowing way, and darkly sexual.  Translated to dollars and cents, his designs were astronomical... Aside from his skull scarves and brass knuckle bags that saturated his ready-to-wear market, very few people worldwide would buy his runway creations.  This is not unusual in the fashion industry... It is for this very reason that many of the biggest designers are struggling.  And for a business person, this seems like a completely idiotic way to run a business or company.  So they have difficulty grasping the fascination with Alexander McQueen's designs.

The people who did like the exhibit came from an artistic background.  They perceived McQueen's creations as astounding pieces of art that oozed emotion and raw sexuality from every fiber of their composition.  They, too, were right... Alexander McQueen had a talent like no other.  Seeing his work up close and listening to the tracks of my audio tour, I realized that his mind must have worked in a way completely different than the average human.  I have noticed this with many creative people... Past art teachers, a professor at FIT, my mother, even myself.  Sometimes your brain just processes things in a completely different way than others and it can be frustrating at times.  But McQueen was on a different planet, in a whole different universe, with his creative mind.  The things he thought of were so incomprehensible... Nobody thought of creations the way he did.  Nobody transposed their inner emotions and deepest feelings into works of art like he did.  The appreciation of such an artist, such an inventor, can only come from other artists or creative persons.  A creative person doesn't care that the whole idea of an artist making art for no other reason than to make art might be the worst business plan ever.  A creative person doesn't care if a single person purchases one of McQueen's designs... They just want to stare at them, maybe close their eyes, and feel a miniscule part of what he was feeling when he created that particular design. 

One of the things that is immediately apparent from McQueen's designs is that he was greatly moved by death and sexuality.  In a way, many of his designs almost sexualized the life cycle itself... Creating this dark romanticism around birth, life, and death.

One of my favorite designs... The bodice is made of medical slides painted red.  McQueen was inspired by the blood in between medical slides.  

McQueen loved creating these Victorian jackets.

It was said that he didn't need to measure his subject... He could cut from sight alone.

The photo below is the description for the jacket above.

McQueen also loved the Victorian era and many of their customs, including the stages of mourning they observed.  The black skirt on the left has an overlay of tiny jet beads.  So, so beautiful.  My iPhone photo doesn't do it justice.  

Lavender was one of the colors worn during mourning. 

This dress was inspired by Tim Burton.

LOVE this one... Reminds me of an angel. 

Metal "spine" and leather corset. 

Huge helmet... Dad and I think this looks like something we'd see worn at Sturgis.

Made of metal paillettes intermixed with tiny peacock feathers. 

The Joan of Arc dress.

What a fantastic quote. 

One of McQueen's more bondage/S&M pieces. 

Drool, drool, drool... My favorite pieces begin here.

This was the "Romantic Nationalism" part of the exhibit...

Another great McQueen quote. 

He made many comments expressing his fascination with exaggerating and accentuating the female form during his lifetime. 

So. Beautiful. 

I love how traditional and pristine the design is up top, in contrast with the slightly ragged, uneven skirt at the bottom. 

Interesting quote... Especially with the recent London riots.  

The bodice on this dress gave me goosebumps... Absolutely gorgeous. 

I'm sorry the photo is so blurry  :(

Like an empress or something... Exquisite. 

Interesting quote about one of McQueen's collections that caused him so much drama and gossip in the media.  Perfect example of how his mind was so different than others... He didn't even anticipate the reaction so many people would have.

Inspired by the first Harry Potter movie, McQueen's runway show was like a chess game with designs intermixed with American and Japanese influences.  

The dress on the R was splattered with African mud along the bottom.  The skirt on the dress on the L is made from horse hair. 

This dress looked exactly like an oyster shell... All the beautiful layers...

This was my favorite dress, hands down.  It is supposed to make you think of the ghost/spirit of a shipwrecked woman.  The layers were just so light and delicately torn... You could picture a ghost emerging from the water in this. 

I was obsessed with the whole idea of this... It reminded me of My Fair Lady during the scene at the races  <3

Last collection :( 

So many gorgeous, insect-inspired designs...

As I walked out of the exhibit, the sun had disappeared and it was beginning to rain.  It was odd because it mirrored my mood... Going in to the exhibit I had been excited to see McQueen's designs up close and so happy to see the exhibit before it closed.  But when I left I had realized just how talented McQueen was and how horrible that he was so miserable he chose to take his own life.  I think suicide is tragic in any instance, but especially when the person was so incredibly talented.  

The McQueen exhibit is no longer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but there have been rumors of it becoming a traveling exhibit on tour in U.S. cities.  If it is, and you are even mildly interested in art or fashion, you must see it.  These photos are nothing compared to seeing the complete exhibit in person, especially when enhanced by all the information in the audio tour.  

You can visit the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty website HERE. 

Also, just in case the exhibit doesn't continue on to major U.S. cities, there is a fantastic book I purchased at the museum shop.  It has beautiful photos of McQueen's designs and runway shows, as well as detailed information about McQueen and his journey.  Since it was so huge and detailed, I thought it was a steal at $45... But you can get it through Amazon for a little over $27!!  

Hope you guys enjoyed this... It was honestly one of the best things I did while in New York City this summer.  Did any of you (or your friends) see the exhibit??  What did they/you think??


Xoxo B.