Brooklyn

brooklyn blossoms

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For the past couple of years, I've shied away from Brooklyn Botanic Gardens' Sakura Matsuri (cherry blossom festival) due to my usually debilitating spring time allergies. This year, the allergies are shockingly under control. So when I heard that the cherry blossoms were peaking last weekend, I had to come by. It was an explosion of gorgeous color. I played around with the macro setting on my camera. I'm pretty happy with the result. Close-up photos look so much more interesting – especially since the gardens were packed with people taking obligatory photos standing in front of cherry trees. I wish I could convey the scents in the air that day. I highly recommend going. The late afternoon sun was perfect for photos. I felt lucky to live only steps away from so much beauty.










View my Flickr site to see more from Brooklyn Botanic Gardens


inspired space for art and food : loading dock

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My friend Dave Pinter clued me into the existence of the coolest new Brooklyn spot: Loading Dock. The restaurant features Baja-style Mexican food formerly of Brooklyn Flea fame. It's very casual and inexpensive. I love the fact that the restaurant is built into a former garment factory and that the space is also an art gallery. Everything in the space is retains a warehouse feel, rough-hewn and spare. As my friend Dave referred to it: "60-grit" feel (as in sandpaper). The charm is it's unpolished restraint. They also didn't fill the dining area/gallery with too many pieces of furniture. They've mixed mid-century chairs with work tables. I adore the fake fireplace flanked by old Adirondak chairs and fur pelts. Staying true to it's taco truck roots is the kitchen – an actual taco truck built right onto the front of the building. We got in there JUST before people started streaming in and managed to get a couple of quick photos literally seconds before everyone sat down. I can't fail to mention that the food did not disappoint, we loved our dishes! The second this place gets a liquor license, it will quickly become the newest, hottest new bar in Brooklyn. It would make a great event space too. It's another Brooklyn favourite. I will definitely be back – and soon!

 

 

the brooklyn flea at one hanson place

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I finally made it to the One Hanson Place location of the Brooklyn Flea last weekend. I was accompanied by my friend Sparrow Hall (seen shopping for vintage shirts below) following the great brunch In Fort Greene. I went into it with the thought of not spending money (I can't afford to at the moment) but more so to finally check out the space. Well, it was even more captivating than I expected. I loved the appropriation of an old bank into a place for local commerce. And it was packed with excellent goods (old and new) and loaded with good stuff to eat. Almost very inch of the space was utilized. My visit ended up on the weekend my good friends at Whimsy & Spice were away. The ceilings are very dramatic, catherdral-like and gorgeous. I never run out of reasons to love Brooklyn, and this just got added to the list.












at home in ditmas park : purple yam restaurant

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I had the rare treat of dining out on Filipino food this weekend. Unlike Korean or Malaysian food, for instance, Filipino food hasn't become mainstream (though it's only a matter of time). So when I have it, it's usually at home or with family.
I've been dying to try Purple Yam, a reincarnation of the now closed Cendrillion restaurant in SoHo. They opened in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn — out of the way, but I knew it would be worth it. I read about their tocino sliders a couple of weeks ago and could not get it out of my head. So our menu for the evening was as follows:
1) Tocino sliders (sugar-achuete cured pork) in purple yam pan de sal bread, served with pickled persimmon
2) The special dumplings – with shrimp and water chestnuts
3) Pomelo, green mango and jicama salad
4) Chicken adobo (braised in vinegar, garlic, soy sauce and coconut milk)
5) Pancit bihon (Philippine rice noodles with chicken, pork and veggies)
Dessert:
1) Halo halo (Philippine iced dessert with sweet beans, palm seed, cocogel, coconut sport [macapuno], jackfruit, topped with flan and purple yam ice cream)
2) Champorrado with coffee ice cream (sweet rice in chocolate and cream)
My friends and I LOVED it – even more than the original. It was such a treat for me and the best meal I've had in a while. It's as tasty as home cooked meals but with an occasional innovative twist utilizing all the authentic ingredients. The staff was sweet, as was the owner and gracious host, Amy Besa. My favourites had to be the sliders (we had three orders of it), the adobo and the desserts. Their house made ice cream is to die for, especially the coffee one. Purple Yam is so worth the trip out. Think of it as a mini-field trip, it's only a few stops past Park Slope on the Q train. Their back patio area surrounded by bamboo looks really lovely too. I'll definitely be back.
Loved the lighting sculpture at the front of the restaurant
adobo.jpg

 

fort greene blooms

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This weekend, I spent a good part of Saturday afternoon in Fort Greene, one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Brooklyn. The gorgeous weather called for a very lovely outdoor brunch at Madiba. My brunch mate and good friend, Sparrow Hall was donning his dapper Brooklyn spring duds and hat. I was dressed hoping to get some sun on my face and shoulders.

A stroll through the area and the Brooklyn Flea (photos to come) and a dachshund meetup at Fort Greene Park was a perfect way to spend the day. It was great to see the first spring blooms — and the neighbourhood come alive. I loved this (Easter) egg garden installation (bottom photo) in front of a brownstone building. I figured it must belong to someone who has access to stage/movie props. Each giant egg was sitting in it's own nest. Funny!







all photos by myturtleneck

once upon a time in brooklyn

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I recently stumbled upon this old photo of me (circa 1999-2000) that was taken by my sister Caroline using her medium format FILM Hasselblad camera. Among her endless list of talents, she is also a trained photographer.

Remember the days when we still used film?

Anyway, it was kind of amazing to realize that this would be the only photo I have of the towers with me in the frame. There's something timeless about this photo – it's more than the fact that it's in black and white. It's not the most flattering photos of my face, but it's a classic photo of me. It was taken on a rooftop in Park Slope. So much has happened since this photo was taken. I've been here in New York a long time and I still love it.

me in Park Slope, pre 9/11


building on bond

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Last weekend, I took a break from a photo shoot to have a late brunch with a friend at Building on Bond. There was something about this place that I just really loved. It had the look and feel of the wood shop classroom I took drawing classes in back in high school. It had the kind of laid-back neighbourhood charm only Brooklyn (former bodega space) can offer. They have everything from the flat file drawers, wood shop tools, salvaged fixtures and school chairs. The space is founded by design and construction company, Hecho, Inc. – the restaurant/bar space also houses their offices and workshop. Apparently, the place became so popular, they had to dedicate more space to the restaurant area than originally planned. My favourite part of the space were the tables that had the rolls of paper built in and held in place (as place mats, of course) by metal clamps. This place made me wish I lived on this same little corner of Brooklyn too.

 

inspired room for cocktails : weather up

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Saturday night was all about a couple of my neighborhood favorite spots: No.7 restaurant and Weather Up bar. They never disappoint. Weather Up truly offers artfully prepared cocktails. They really take their cocktails very seriously. Having a drink made by one of their dapper bartenders could be considered a production. They move carefully, deliberately and prepare your cocktail with love – similar to they way a chef would a treasured dish. I've always loved the interior design of this tiny space. The white ceiling tiles highlight the length and shape of the room – giving it an old subway station feel. The lighting design compliments all of this and gives the space a beautiful warm glow. In addition to all this, I like that the bar attracts a variety of people which always makes things more interesting. I'm looking forward to summer months when they have their lovely back patio space open.
This bartender laughed at the photo I took because I caught him taking a quick break. I liked the contrast of the warmth of the space to the blue light glowing from his iPhone.


all photos by myturtleneck

 

brooklyn snowmageddon by night

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I ventured to Prospect Park with a friend last night mid-snowstorm around 8pm. It was amazing. I spotted snowboarders and cross-country skiers, grown-ups, kids and canines alike having fun. It was unbelievably bright (keep in mind, I have tweaked these images to appear slightly brighter than reality). I didn't grow up around snow, but I must admit, it was fun to play in it ;) By the way, pardon the slight blurriness in the photos – it was night and I was sans tripod.









all photos by myturtleneck

a gem in cobble hill : henry public

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Henry Public in Cobble Hill was where I spent my Saturday night this past weekend. I had been wanting to try it since they opened in the fall. Great little bar and the staff was incredibly sweet. It felt very much like an authentic nineteenth century speakeasy – which is what they were going for. Nothing about this place was pretentious. A friend in the film world tells me the producer of Fantastic Mr. Fox, Jeremy Dawson, is part owner. I can actually see this place as Wes Anderson set. Interior design aside, I also loved their well-considered (and very small) menu of comfort food. The grilled cheese sandwich with apples was so worth braving the cold for!

 

 

 



 

the martha stewart show : the brooklyn episode

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I must admit I don't watch Martha Stewart's show regularly. When I work from home, the television is rarely on during the day because I find the chatter and noise distracting when I'm working. When I was invited by my friend Jenna from Whimsy & Spice to watch the taping of the Brooklyn episode, however, I was thrilled. Nearly everyone in the audience was from Brooklyn. I had no idea it was airing live! It was great to see all the local Brooklyn business owners and Brooklyn Flea vendors featured on the show. If there was going to be one episode I would be happy to have seen, it would be this one. Go Brooklyn!

Watch all the videos from the Brooklyn episode here. Below are behind-the-scenes and set photos I took last week before and after the show.

(If you watch closely, you will spot us in the audience. I'm wearing a green dress with a black cardigan, tights and ankle boots sitting be the aisle next to Jenna and her husband, Mark ;)

If you haven't already tried the yummy goodies by Whimsy & Spice, you need to check them out now.







for the love of brooklyn : happy labor day weekend

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I'm a lover of Brooklyn. I love getting a real break from Manhattan in the evenings and weekends. My dog, Lexie, agrees. Living here makes the pace and occasional brutality of life in the big city much more bearable. It truly is more "neighborhoody" than Manhattan. Staying local on the weekends and avoiding the mayhem of city's weekend warriors always proves to be very satisfying. There is a vibe here that can't be found in Manhattan (or even in self-conscious and annoyingly hipper-than-thou, Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Generally speaking, people here are more laid-back – it's safe to take the urban armor off and relax.

In addition to savoring a bit of down time in my part of Brooklyn this long weekend, I plan to see some art upstate and in Queens. I hope to share some more beautiful photos next week. More gorgeous weather is in the forecast and I can't wait.

Fellow Brooklynites, what are you doing in Brooklyn this weekend?

Here are some iPhone photos I've taken around the neighborhood this summer... enjoy!





raining purple in brooklyn

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Tonight's screening of Prince's Purple Rain at Prospect Park as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn summer series of concerts was amazing. The best way I can describe it: like watching a movie, singing along and dancing (and laughing) with 3,ooo of your friends outdoors. It felt like a concert except the performance was on a massive screen and the song lyrics were projected beneath the film. We brought a picnic blanket, dinner and some wine. This is one of the best things summer in Brooklyn has to offer. All for the price of $3. I love it.

Not that I need to be inspired to listen to Prince, ever. However, this does make me want to listen to all of the Prince tracks on my iTunes. Here's a an iPhone photo I took as the film began...