McMullan Posters: Gesture as Design @ Vincent Astor Gallery




James McMullan's art work is being celebrated at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts through June 11th. For years, this New York artists work has graced the city's bus shelters, subways, buses, and magazines, advertising the newest play at the Lincoln Center Theater. His process often involves reading the play script, discussing with the director, coming up with a metaphor and gesture between characters, followed by a lot of gesture sketching and hand lettering. His work exudes a beautiful dream like quality. Be sure to take a chic peek at www.nypl.org/lpa and http://jamesmcmullan.com/

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Virginia Johnson




Canadian designer Virginia Johnson studied textile design here in New York at Parsons, before working with Helmut Lang. Ten years ago she launched her own line of unique hand-painted scarves. In addition to textile and clothing design, she works as an illustrator (clients have included Vogue, Kate Spade and Holt Renfrew.) Today her work is carried in stores such as Barneys, Holt Renfrew, Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, and many more. Each original print begins as a watercolor painting which is then silk screened onto fabric, and then cut and sewn. Her main influences are drawn from nature and travel, particularly birds, flowers, trees and water. Her designs add a chic, eclectic dimension to your look. Take a chic peek at www.virginiajohnson.com

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New York Diet

Image of La Esquina via www.guillaumegaudet.photoshelter.com
As I have learned, many restaurants here only allow you to book reservations 21 days in advance. Not later, and certainly not earlier (unless you want to eat at 6pm or 11:30pm). Our dining schedule is certainly much later now that we live here, but eating after 11pm is a bit tricky for me. My case in point is La Esquina, a tiny little taqueria and cafe. Last Friday at 10 am their phone lines were open for reservations for 21 days from then. Do you think I got through after a zillion times of hitting my redial button? Nope. In any case, we continue in our quest to eat our way through the greatest spots in this gastronomic capital - including La Esquina.

Dying to try/top of mind:
  • Osteria Morini
  • Babbo
  • Sushi Yasuda
  • Tartine
  • Balaboosta
  • Market Table
  • BLT Fish Shack
  • Pearl Oyster Bar
  • Angelica Kitchen
  • Momofuku Noodle Bar
  • Bar Pitti
  • Scarpetta
  • La Ripaille
  • Philip Marie
  • Blue Hill
  • Locanda Verde
  • Waverly Inn
  • Basta Pasta
  • Otto Enoteca Pizzeria
  • Torrisi Italian Specialties
  • Lotus of Siam
  • Del Posto
  • Cipriani
  • The Little Owl
  • Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare
  • Blue Ribbon Sushi
  • Fig + Olive
  • Cafe Habana
  • Maialino
  • ... impossible to make this list there must be hundreds!
Especially loved:
  • ABC Kitchen
  • Recette
  • Lupa
  • Cookshop
  • Cafe Gitane 
  • Peels
  • Il Buco
  • Cafe Cluny
  • The Red Cat
  • Balthazar
  • Chinatown Brasserie
  • Pastis
  • The Standard Grill
  • Minetta Tavern
  • Pulino's
  • The Breslin Bar + Dining Room
  • Craft
  • A Voce
  • Le Verdure at Eataly
  • Tamarind
  • Kenmare
  • Momofuku Ssam Bar
  • Westville
  • Salt
  • Eleven Madison Park 
  • .... so many more, will keep adding as I recall them!
Do you have other spots that should not be missed?

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Rue Mag




        
Photos via www.ruemag.com

Every month I am excited to receive my glossies in my tiny mailbox. There is nothing like the romance of flipping through a physical printed magazine. In fact, I used to hoard them. Now that we live in New York, where every nook and cranny has a purpose, I find myself ditching them sooner than I ever imagined. I have started an inspiration file, and this blog! To this end, online magazines are a fantastic way to have but not to hold magazines. A slick and stylish new discovery is Rue Magazine. It is Chicago based, and with only three issues published thus far has already had over 32 million page views. With the warmer weather drawing near, I can't wait to park myself on a bench outdoors and read my favorite online pubs and blogs (hopefully on an iPad)! Take a chic peek www.ruemag.com 

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happy weekend

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Creative Inspiration, My Vibe





How adorable are Kelly Wearstler's darling boys? I love it when she posts the stuff they like to do together on her splendid blog, My Vibe My Life www.myvibemylife.com ... Today's post is called Get Stoned - it features the most luxurious stones for walls, jewelry, furniture, etc. Photos via KWID's blog. Do take a chic peek! www.myvibemylife.com  

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Greek Yogurt

The view from our Villa in Santorini, Greece

Chobani Greek Yogurt Honey Non-Fat

Every morning of our Honeymoon in Greece, I looked forward to a big bowl of delicious, rich Greek yogurt. It's high in protein, calcium and probiotics. Throw in a handful of fresh berries to make it a small luxury in the morning. After trying a multitude of different yogurts, I have recently discovered the best traditional Greek non-fat natural yogurt made here in New York called Chobani. Any other yogurt now tastes artificial to me, and I love supporting a local business. It prevents osteoporosis, is gluten free and includes three active probiotics. The honey flavor is sublime. Take a chic peek at www.chobani.com

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Pop Art Punch Lines




I just can't get enough of stripes. I love how each of the designers above have translated their own take on the classic and ever chic stripe pattern.  Stripes offer a playful yet regal touch in fashion.  They are a definite hot trend this Spring. I particularly enjoy them when used in a pop art manner. I love Hailee Steinfeld's Prada dress so much (top image) - imagine a tiny powder room wallpapered in that! 

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Adele 21.


Adele's new cd, 21, is completely infectious. I cannot stop listening to it. Set Fire to the Rain is insanely beautiful. Take a chic peek at this gem http://www.adele.tv/21/

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Sunshine on a Grey Day


There is nothing better than fresh flowers to brighten a space. Particularly on a day like today, rainy and wait - snowing!? Flowers at small grocery stores here in New York are oh so cheap. For $5, we can enjoy them for at least a week or 10 days!

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Best Ever Banana Muffins


My girlfriend gave me this gorgeous recipe last Summer for "Best Ever Banana Muffins". Trust me, they really are. Simple and delicious! I baked a dozen of them last night and just had to share.
Her recipe calls for:
  • 3 large, ripe bananas
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup melted butter

Mash bananas in a large bowl. Add sugar and egg, then add melted butter and stir. Sift together dry ingredients and add to banana mixture. Spoon batter into baking cups. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. 

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Highlights from the Architectural Digest Home Design Show (March 17-20th)

















Photographs Shot by Me
And what a great show it was! The two most outstanding aspects of the show were The Artist Project - which showcased contemporary fine art by unrepresented international artists, and DIFFA - Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids. This section was truly a spectacle of creative dining environments designed by Ralph Lauren Home, Echo, DVF Home, Artek, Scandia, FLOR, Scalamadre, Donna Karan Home, and many more. To find out more, take a chic peek at www.theartistprojectny.com and www.diffa.org

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Parlor





Finding a great salon in a new city can be tough! Luckily I have found one with the magic touch. Parlor is an adorable full service Aveda salon in the East Village. The decor is beautiful, the owner has an adorable Frenchie named Tuesday, and the staff are beyond lovely. I highly recommend them! Take a chic peek at www.parlorhairsalon.com
Happy Spring Everyone!
xo
K

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Meat Free Mondays

Having been a vegan for a year, then vegetarian for eight years ... when I heard about Meat Free Mondays I was intrigued. Below is Paul McCartney's scoop on the Meat Free Monday philosophy, via www.goop.com

Ok, here’s the story on Meat Free Monday. In 2006, the United Nations issued a report which stated that the livestock industry as a whole was responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the whole of the transport sector put together.
I found this interesting particularly because people at the UN are not a vegetarian society and therefore, could not be accused of bias. They pointed out the following facts:
  • The Livestock industry produces gases that are extremely dangerous for the future of our environment.
  • The two main gases, methane and nitrous oxide, are considered to be more harmful than CO2 (methane is 21 times more powerful than CO2 and nitrous oxide is 310 times more powerful than CO2) so the data suggests that this is causing a highly dangerous situation for ourselves and, more importantly, for future generations.
  • Methane also remains in the atmosphere for 9 to 15 years; nitrous oxide remains in the atmosphere for 114 years, on average, and is 296 times more potent than CO2 - the gases released today will continue to be active in degrading the climate decades from now.
  • Livestock production is land intensive: a recent report by Greenpeace on land use in the largest meat producing state in Brazil found that livestock (cattle) production was responsible for vastly more deforestation than soya.
  • A third of all cereal crops, and well over 90% of soya, goes into animal feed, not food for humans. Eating less meat will free up a lot of agricultural land which can revert to growing trees and other vegetation, which, in turn, will absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Livestock production is water intensive: it accounts for around 8% of global human water use. The estimated 634 gallons of fresh water required to produce one 5.2 ounce (150g) beef burger would be enough for a four-hour shower. For comparison, the same quantity of tofu requires 143 gallons of water to produce.
  • Livestock production is the largest source of water pollutants, principally animal wastes, antibiotics, hormones, chemicals from tanneries, fertilizers and pesticides used for feed crops, and sediments from eroded pastures.
  • The meat industry is set to double its production by 2050 so even if they manage to lower emissions by 50%, as they have promised to, we will still be in the same position.
With this in mind, my family and I launched Meat Free Monday in the UK, an idea which has been gaining support from people like Tom Parker-Bowles who, after a lifetime of denigrating vegetarians, recently wrote in his Daily Mail column, “I wince at the memory of my boorish antics” and who pronounced himself “intrigued” by MFM: “There’s no doubting the plain common sense of the message…Meat Free Monday is something to really savour”. Another supporter is Al Gore who stated that initiatives like Meat Free Monday “represent a responsible and welcome component of a comprehensive strategy for reducing global warming pollution and simultaneously improving human health."
Even a number of schools have already done this in the UK with great success. The town of Ghent in Belgium has a meat free day and, amazingly, Sao Paulo has one even though Brazil is a large exporter of meat. In Sweden, the government is now labeling food to give the consumer the opportunity to understand the dangers of indiscriminate food consumption and there are many more examples appearing online.
The point is that so many people these days are looking for ways to “do their bit” for the environment. We recycle - something we never would have dreamt of doing in the past. Many people now drive hybrid cars but most people understand that we cannot leave this important issue to the politicians of the world. Recently, at the Copenhagen Conference for Climate Change, this issue was not even on the agenda and so I believe it is once again left to us, the people, to do it ourselves.
It’s amazingly easy to take one day in your week, Monday or any other day, and not eat meat. When you think about it, there are so many great alternatives, for instance, in Italian cooking, so many of the dishes are vegetarian already and Thai and Chinese cuisine are the same. All it means is that you have to think a bit about what you’ll eat that day but, in actual fact, far from being a chore, it’s a fun challenge.
Having been a vegetarian for over 30 years, I find it very simple and in fact, tasty and most enjoyable.
So there it is! Next Monday - don’t eat meat and do your bit to save this beautiful planet of ours. For more information, ideas and lots of meat free recipes, go to the official Meat Free Monday website.
For readers in the United States, the US based Meatless Monday campaign also has a website full of helpful hints and recipes to get you on your way.

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Top o' the mornin' to ya! Green Inspiration.




3 Above Images: Boats on the Shore, A Field  + A Castle in County Kerry, Ireland (my photos)


Image: Chloe Sevigny's Home via www.decorpad.com
Image: via www.realsimple.com
Image: via www.lonnymag.com 

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here are some green inspirations for this beautiful day. Be sure to wear your green to inspire the luck of the Irish. The Irish countryside is absolutely breath taking, I can't wait to go back again.

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