The Subway Is So Beautiful

I really do wish we had a subway system where I live. I think people would be much happier if we did.

Here in Texas, we drive around in our SUV's getting from A to B quickly and comfortably (thank goodness for air conditioning!). Sometimes we tailgate because the freak in front of us just isn't quick enough for our schedule. Or we yell obscenities at the jacka** that just cut us off who thinks his time (or life) is more important than ours. We listen to our music, talk on the phone, eat fast food from the drive through, all in our little capsules, separated from other people. Its sad, really.

On the subway, your life can't be bigger than everyone else's. It puts you right where you are - one among many. A human being. I just love that. Even when I was squished up against people that smelled funny. Even when the guy yelled at us because we didn't have any change to give him. Even when I was stared down by a young girl covered in tattoos who looked like she wanted to hit me. I love the subway.

(Spring Street Station wall tile)

(Spring Street Station wall tile)

Blue Moon Hotel NYC

When we decided to go to New York City for our anniversary earlier this month, we were a little worried that we'd end up staying in some giant hotel with ten million rooms, listening to endless sirens and horns all night, and coming home stressed out and tired. We're just not big giant hotel kind of people, no matter how "fancy". So after an exhausting search online and countless suggestions from friends and family, we finally settled on the Blue Moon Hotel located on Orchard Street between Broome and Delancy Streets in the oh-so-lovely Lower East Side. I found this little gem on Trip Advisor (they have never let me down) - it was listed as Number 38 of 418 hotels reviewed - not bad!

Intimate, cozy, quiet and well located - it was the perfect place for us. The hotel only has 22 rooms and was formerly a tenement building lovingly refurbished by a couple of artists who now run the place.

(view of the Williamsburg Bridge from our window)

As far as location, we couldn't have asked to be better situated. There are lots of interesting shops close by, like Wendy Mink Jewelry (love!) and Earnest Sewn (beautiful store), and yummy places to eat, like Katz's Deli ("I'll have what she's having") and Tre (delish and romantic). We also explored some vintage stores in the neighborhood that were ALL amazing and had a couple of slices of pizza (you can't go wrong no matter which pizza place you stop into). The Blue Moon is close to the Delancy Street Station and the Spring Street Station, where we took either the F train or the 6 train to get Uptown to the museums and Central Park. Also, from the hotel you can easily walk to China Town, Little Italy, and Soho.

I think we may have to spend a few vacations exploring New York City together now that we found the perfect place to stay!

Feelin' Kinda Spooky Today

And this is what happened......

Are you ready for Halloween, yet?

Miracles

There are only two ways to live your life.

One is as though nothing is a miracle.

The other is as though everything is a miracle.

-Albert Einstein

NYC ♥'s Vegans

(Babycakes' lovely vintage sign)

(inside)


(aren't they cute? and isn't that true?)

(i love this.)

Who knew? California, sure, but I just don't think "Vegan" when I think of New York City. Boy, were we doing the happy dance when we found an amazing vegan bakery right around the corner from our hotel (more about our hotel later). You know how "alternative" baked goods turn out kind of tasteless and dry? Not here.

The little slice of heaven we found is called Babycakes, located in the Lower East Side on Broome Steet between Orchard and Ludlow. There you'll find several different types of cupcakes, sweet bread loaves, cookies and muffins, ALL vegan. And ALL delicious. I really meant to take a photo of my cupcake, but it disappeared before I could get my camera out. We tried lemon (uh, several times) and red velvet cupcakes. Yum City. We didn't try anything other than cupcakes, but people were streaming in ordering banana bread and muffins late into the evening. I hear sometimes there's even a line. This stuff is THAT good.

Click here to read their blog, written by the genius behind this wonderful place, Erin McKenna. And click here to check out her Babycakes cookbook. I brought one home and I can't wait to recreate those heavenly cupcakes! The recipes look pretty easy.

Another fantastic vegan place we visited was just a few blocks away from the Whitney on 3rd Avenue between 74th and 75th called Candle Cafe. I had a GIANT serving of lasagna served on top of some greens that would have made my mother cry (no kidding, she loved her some greens). I wish we would have gone back to this place because I would have love to have made my way around their intriguing menu. Candle also has a cookbook (yes, we brought one of those home too!). Check it out here.

Gosh, I'm really hungry now!

On Inspiration

If the Angel deigns to come

it will be because you

have convinced

her, not by tears but by your

humble

resolve to be always beginning;

to be a beginner.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

Kandinsky at the Guggenheim NYC

Have you ever been driven to tears by art? That moment came for me while viewing the Kandinsky retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum last week. The show runs through January 13, 2010 and is a MUST SEE.

Sketch for "Composition II" 1909-10

I studied this painting ages ago in an Art History class at community college. Seeing this painting reminded me of how deeply I was affected by Kandinsky's ideas about apocalypse, renewal, and utopia and how he believed in the transformational powers of art. The retrospective begins with paintings from his horse and rider themes and continues through to his last paintings, most of which I've never seen.

Now seeing this show at a "regular museum" would be one thing, but making my way up the spiral of the Guggenheim (during its 50th anniversary) was almost too much. I can't express how beautiful the Guggenheim is. Every spot a person could stand holds a beautiful view of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece.

Go here to see my pathetic attempt to shoot pictures of this wonderful building (without a flash) and other photos I took while in New York City. An architectural photographer, I am not. But I did enjoy every second of this show.

I ♥ NY

Yes, I do! I've been absent for the past week because I have been wandering around New York City with my husband. We spent five days exploring, eating and falling in love with this amazing city. It rained almost the whole time we were there and the temperature stayed firmly planted in the 40's, but that only added to the romance. During the next few days I will be posting photos of one of the best vacations I've had in a very long time. New York City, I love you.

And Now For Something Completely Different.....

Big Man Japan

Something my husband found on Netflix.
It. Is. So. FUNNY!

Inner Voice

If you want the truth,

I'll tell you the truth;

Listen to the secret sound, the real sound,

which is inside you.

KABIR

Farmer's Market

Well, it's about time! Arlington has its own Farmer's Market - atleast for now. Located at 215 E. Front Street in Downtown Arlington, the Downtown Farmer's Market is held every Friday from 9am till noon. Right now, its pretty small but the selection is diverse and interesting. There were several growers there, a couple bakeries, a dairy (Lucky Layla - yum city) and a sweet salsa maker (Dread Head Chef), among others. They also had a small collection of tractors (old and new) parked along the side! Too bad my kiddo was in school - he would have loved that!

I'm hoping Downtown Farmer's Market grows into an all weekend affair so I can take my family. Until that time, I'll be there every Friday. See you there.

More Vintage Horse Love

Another vintage Breyer model horse I found at the Cattle Barns Flea Market in Fort Worth. Isn't he beautiful? Of course, right after I took this photo, I dropped him off a balcony and broke off one of his back legs. HA!

If you happen to go to the Cattle Barns, stop by Valerie Arnett's booth. She's at the south end of the building. In her booth you'll find vintage clothes, photographs, books and tons of jewelry. If you can't get there, check out her website. She has some pretty cool stuff listed and she also holds Estate Sales. Fun!