Newtown Creek Nature Walk

My Aunty Niff always gives the best advice on the coolest most interesting places to visit in New York. Twenty-plus years of living here has given her an edge up on the competition. Now that she lives in Urbana-Champaign I don't get to visit them with her as frequently, but enjoying and sharing her favorite places in the city still feels very special to me.

It was in that spirit that I took Mark to find the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. The path is sandwiched between Newtown Creek, perhaps the most polluted waterway in all of the US, and a treatment plant. It wraps around a section of the creek, with planted native plants and plaques explaining the history of the land from Indian origins. Late fall probably wasn't the best time to visit as the greenery wasn't exactly green, but it was completely serene, leading me to believe we had found our very own secret garden (with city views). I'll definitely be back with a picnic in spring.

If you're interested, the entrance is at the far eastern end of Paidge Avenue in Greenpoint. Look for the giant cement fence.

Pics by Mark Iantosca!

Need: H&M SPring 2011 Canvas Leather Tote

I am obsessed with this tote from H&M's Spring 2011 collection. The simplicity, the modernity, the faux-Celine wannabe glamour.

Via Carolines Mode via @EvaChen212

I Could Make That: Jasmin Shokrian Draft No. 17 Terry Circle Tunic

This is the first in what could be a series of posts chronicling things that I find, like, and think I could make, but never will. This tunic top by Jasmin Shokrian is the perfect kind of simple chic for a DIY. If only.

Jasmin Shokrian Draft No. 17 Terry Circle Tunic, $253, anicaboutique.com

DIY: Watch Band Bracelet Inspiration

Nordic Design via Park & Cube
Maison Martin Margiela via Net-a-Porter

Prada Fall/Winter 2010 Fantasy Lookbook

Prada's Fall/Winter 2010 Fantasy Lookbook shows once again how varied and creative Miuccia Prada can be not only in her designs, but the ways that she presents them as well. Bonus points for Lindsay Wixson and Lara Stone sightings. And that the Dead End shot looks like the Williamsburg waterfront.

View the entire archive of Prada lookbooks, still and video, at Prada.com

Apple Picking, Upstate NY

 

As full fall monsters (New Yorkers who become frantic with the turning of leaves and the prospect of freshly made apple cider), Mark and I made the exodus upstate. After a full day of exploring Storm King and not enough time to explore quaint antique stores as we had planned, we headed towards the best pick-your-own orchard we could find. The apples were a little past their peak, but it was still the perfect fall day, sunset included.

The apples have since become tasty afternoon snacks, apple turnovers, and an apple cake courtesy of Maddie (Headline Foods).

All photos taken by Mark, see more on Flickr.

Hats Off

1. High: Stine Goya Legend Hat, $180.82, stinegoya.com

2. Medium: Rag & Bone Floppy Brim Fedora, $140, rag-bone.com

3. Low: Pendleton Indy Hat, $58, pendleton.com

I'm feeling a dark wool fedora for winter. I know I love Pendleton's Indy Hat (I bought a tan one last year on eBay) and although the extra ounce of style is nice in Stine Goya and Rag & Bone's versions, I'm not sure they're worth three times the price.

I have been coveting the Stine Goya Legend Hat for a while though...

P.S. My girl Man Repeller looks good rocking the Pendleton Indy Hat as well

Move! at MoMA PS1

This past Sunday before heading over to Move! at MoMA PS1, we stopped for brunch at M.Wells Diner in Long Island City. We thought some fellow diners were getting into the Halloween spirit with Ziggy Stardust-esque face paint and glitter. As we soon learned, they had joined in on American Apparel's contribution to Move!, a two-day-long installation that paired artists and designers, taking over all of PS1. Not all of the offerings were very compelling, but a few definitely were. Cynthia Rowley and Olaf Breuning poured paint over models wearing simple denim designs, photographing the paint process and saving the paint-splattered pieces to sell later. We were lucky to see Cecilia Dean undergo the special treatment. Mark has great time-lapse photos of the splash zone on his blog. The other pics are from Brody Condon and Rodarte, Terence Koh and Italo Zucchelli for Calvin Klein Collection, and Marc Jacobs and Rob Pruitt's spin on virtual reality. David Blaine's personal card tricks as part of Adam Kimmel's project were a little bit creepy and thus were omitted.

FYI, at M. Wells I had yogurt and a milkshake, Mark had pickled pork tongue, and I got really into Foodspotting. Check it out!