joie de vivre-- a cheerful enjoyment of life & an exultation of spirit.
Showing posts with label Brooklyn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brooklyn. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

(Long) Weekend Snapshots.

To say that our miniature army packed in a whole heck of a lot this weekend would be a grave underestimation. I swear, it's truly hard for me to conjure up more than a few brief moments when we weren't on the move, off to yet another destination, exploring another neighborhood, and sweating our tushes off the whole way there. (Thank you OCD tendencies for fueling me with the unnecessary urge to plan out every second of every day with a suggested schedule of activities. Yikes. Major kudos to you nine crazy fools for dealing with me for that.) But it's funny you know, despite all of the wonderful things we were able to do and see-- all of the things I successfully checked off my cerebral "to-do" list-- looking back through these photos, it's really those moments of unplanned and unscheduled occurrence that stick out as the most memorable.

It was that early evening spent soaking up the last of the city's summer sunlight from a perch by Central Park's boat basin, listening to the string duet across the way and just enjoying each other's company while speculatively people watching the city's passerby. And the afternoon spent deciding not to trek to that baseball game out in Queens and instead spent headed back to that local Mexican joint down the street for another pitcher of sangria for a second night in a row. And the decision to get the heck out of the sun despite the incredible food market we were leaving behind in order to stumble into the nearest coffee shop and just spend the next few hours talking over the most delicious cup of cold brew while praying for the rain to come. And that late night spent lounging around my living room, washing down cold beer with wedges of squeezed lime and dying with laughter over yet another successful achievement of scaring the living bejesus out of me with a ginormous rubber spider hidden under my pillow. 


It's funny how that all happens, isn't it? The way the most meaningful moments often can't be planned, or scheduled, or booked in advance; the way sometimes simply being in the presence of good, dear friends is all you need.


So with that, a (not so) quick peek into some of our crew's adventures from this past weekend, with a heck of a lot of good fun left out thanks to my negligence in properly documenting our treks--



Monday, June 18, 2012

Weekend Snapshots.

Holy moly. What a beautiful weekend we had here in the city-- bright blue, cloudless skies and endless amounts of strong, warm light to bask in. It was was one of those incredible, sunshine-filled weekends that reminds you of all the many reasons you've anxiously awaited summer's arrival. And boy did it feel good to soak up every last drop.

While a good portion of Sunday was spent lounging on my patio-- fresh squeezed lemonade in hand and a book I've been itching to get into draped across my lap-- Saturday proved to be its own unexpected adventure. After finishing an errand all the way up on 96th St. circa 11am, I realized with a free afternoon ahead of me there was no reason not to enjoy the sunshine and take a long walk home. So, walk I did. Well, 11 1/2 miles, 3 local farmer's markets, 8 playlist shuffles on the iPod, a (not so) quick tour through Chelsea Market, and a highly unfortunate (but not so surprising) sunburn later, I crossed back into Brooklyn already craving another free afternoon to do it all over again. Well, perhaps minus the sunburn next time.

God, I love this city.



How about you, friends? Hoping you had just as much luck with the weather as we did over in these parts. Here's to a wonderful week ahead.
xo

Monday, June 11, 2012

Weekend Snapshots.

Happy Monday, friends! Boy has it been a long and busy day around here; sorry for not being able to pop on by until so late. After a hectic day at work, I came home from the grocery store tonight feeling inspired to throw on the rubber gloves, put iTunes on shuffle in the corner, and just get life in order a bit. Two loads of laundry, a sink clear of dishes, a freshly bleached bathtub & an apartment of scrubbed floors later, the clock had gone on ahead and struck 11PM. Shew. Let's see how long I can make this productive streak last this week, shall we? :)

In any case, before today gets away from me, I wanted to quickly stop by and be sure to share a few quick snapshots from what was a truly wonderful weekend around these parts:


1&2 -- A Saturday spent taking in the sights and smells of my all-time favorite food market. While there wasn't a stitch of room in my belly for any of those delicious pies, I can certainly attest to every single bit of deliciousness cooked into that Mexican Cemita. (One of these days I swear I'll go to Smorgasburg and actually find it in me try something other than that delicious sandwich... well, maybe.)
3&4 -- A few shots from our stroll through the first series of Williamsburg Walks. Nothing like a giant, street-size scrabble board and a few patches of sod laid out before a bluegrass band to kick off the summer street fair season, eh?
5 -- The first of many summer "AK Cakes", as a dear friend family has dubbed this delicious dessert. (In short, a giant baked sugar cookie spread thin across a baking sheet and topped with some whipped cream & lots of fresh fruit.) It's a no fail, summer go-to that will leave you all nibbling 'till the very last crumbs are gone. But really.
6 -- A simple, yet fresh & totally scrumptious brunch from Goat Town, a fairly new discovery that is slowly, but surely making its way to the top of my list of regular stops.
7 -- My newest possession (read: obsession)! Oh summer sales, how I love you so. (But really, can you blame me?)
8 -- A peek at the reason my apartment was left smelling like a little slice of heaven on Sunday night. As my good friend kindly reminded me on Sunday, while poking around my freezer for some ice, "Umm, Liz? You are aware that you've got an absurdly large bunch of super over-ripe bananas just chillin' in here, right?" Yes. Yes, I was. And a big thank you to Pinch of Yum for helping me do something about that right quick. (Three bananas down, three to go. Who wants my next loaf?)

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!
xo

Thursday, May 10, 2012

A Gift.

Beside my bed lies a long, white windowsill. A windowsill which for ten months laid bare and empty, just begging to be filled. A windowsill which, for those same ten months, served as a constant reminder of just how far I still had yet to go in truly making this space of mine exactly that-- mine. But these things take time, and I knew that a home was not created simply by one's living in it. But as of last week, I got one step closer. For through a serendipitous turn of events, that long, lonely windowsill became home to an incredibly beautiful collection of books-- a gift bestowed upon me through the thoughtfulness of dear, dear friend. A gift that was given simply because.


And while I could go on for pages pouring over the details of those beautiful covers and bindings laced with gold thread, what I love most about this gift is the significance embedded within-- that special reminder of a dear friend who, despite having roots all the way in St. Louis, has woven a piece of her heart into my life here in Brooklyn and found a way onto that windowsill in a way that a simple picture or card couldn't possibly compare.

And so, with that-- many thanks to you, Miss Cait! Beyond this sweet gift, your kind heart means more than you'll ever know.
xo

Monday, April 30, 2012

Weekend Snapshots.

We were gifted an absolutely beautiful weekend here in the city. While the unexpected crisp air and strong rays of sun were strangely reminiscent to the early days of Fall, I have to admit my heart skipped a beat when I suddenly realized that reaching into the back of my closet to pull out those cowboy boots of mine was actually fair game. Love when this crazy weather pattern seems to fall in my favor!

While the majority of my day was unfortunately swallowed whole with errands, somewhere between the purchase of a 10-pack of mini toothpaste tubes and a stop at the market to replenish my stock of granola on Saturday (Game on, travel schedule. Game on.) I found myself near the Promenade with a bit of time to spare. A stop by my favorite neighborhood cafe, an avocado sandwich & a tall, cold glass of cider later, it really started to feel like a Saturday. Here are a few snapshots from my little detour--


Thank goodness for those moments of easy calm & quiet.
Oh weekends, how I love you so.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Happy Weekend.


If there's one thing I'm looking forward to this weekend, friends, it's being here. Being home. April came and went in a whirlwind fury and just one quick look at my schedule for the month of May shows much of the same crazed amount of travel. It's going to be a hectic couple of weeks ahead-- jam-packed with a whole host of wonderful things, no doubt-- but knowing that I have two days ahead of me to spend amidst the familiar, indulging in some favorites, and enjoying the little creature comforts of my world here in Brooklyn warms my heart to no end.

Wishing you & yours a wonderful weekend ahead.
xox

Monday, April 23, 2012

Scenes from the Weekend.

Just a few photos from my wonderful weekend spent at home here in New York. It's been far too long since I've found myself with a full weekend to get out & explore, and Saturday's endless sunshine & cloudless skies provided just the opportunity to do so. Gosh, I've missed this city.

 

1 & 2 -- A stop off at Smorgasburg in the morning with a dear friend led to some 3's Company Triple Berry Jam from Anarchy In A Jar and a mouth-watering, taste bud bursting Cemita from Cemita's Mexican Sandwiches and Tacos
3 -- A look over the East River.
4 -- A quick trip to Fish's Eddy.
5 & 6 -- Some greenery and blooms at the Union Square Market.

P.S. If you couldn't tell, I finally bit the bullet and jumped on the Instagram bandwagon. I hate to admit it, but I feel a strong addiction coming on. Feel free to follow me, here!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Girl Walk // All Day.

Holy. Moly. Hello, Friday! Is anyone else as excited as I am for the weekend to finally be here? I'm not sure what combination of factors resulted in this past week feeling like it lasted a lifetime, but I do know how good it feels to have this wonderful weekend ahead to catch up on sleep, get outdoors to enjoy this unseasonably warm weather, and just re--lax. Two. Thumbs. Up.

In an effort to get this weekend off on a good note, I wanted to share this incredible dance project that I found through a friend of mine. Set to the soundtrack of Girl Talk's mash-up album, All Day, Girl Walk//All Day is a feature-length dance music video that follows three dancers through the streets and boroughs of New York as they use the architecture, landscape, and people around them to shape and inspire their collective, day-long mission to spread the joy of movement and dance.

 
The true magic in a public art project of this nature stems from the ways in which the spectators and environment react to and interact with the piece and, as you can imagine, in a city like New York, you just never know what you're going to find.

Take a peek at the trailer below and if you find yourself with some time, swing on over here where you can find all 12 chapters and watch the film in its entirety. (My suggestions? Check out Chapters 3, 4, 8, and definitely 10)

Happy Weekend, everyone!



Official Trailer: Girl Walk // All Day from Girl Walk // All Day

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Before I Die...

Initially installed as a giant chalkboard on the side of an abandoned house in a New Orleans neighborhood, the Before I Die project was created by artist Candy Chang as a way for her neighbors to take a moment out of their daily lives to remember what matters most-- Before I Die is an interactive public art project that transforms neglected spaces into a constructive place where we can discover the hopes and dreams of the people around us. It is a reminder to ourselves of what is most important to us.

Not surprisingly, this incredible project quickly garnered worldwide acclaim as it began to take root in cities and communities around the world, challenging individuals as it went to join together in documenting a global bucket list of sorts.

Just last month, on a small little street corner only a few blocks from my apartment, native Brooklynites joined the movement. While the project was unfortunately taken down before I could venture over, I came across some photos and wanted to share. Enjoy exploring the dreams and wishes of the many individuals who I have the good fortune of sharing these city streets with--

Right all my wrongs-- Hike the Appalachian Trail-- Fall in love-- Donate over 1 Million Dollars-- Start a family-- Let Fate Decide-- Win the lottery-- Leave a Legacy-- Experience true love-- Win an Oscar-- Be Happy. 

 
 


So how about it, friends? Let's give it a whirl. Before I die I want to _______________________.