..since my last entry ! I was caught up by New York and a crazy month of september where I didn't stop for a minute. Two new babies (not mine), fashion week which I covered for Grazia, a weekly French fashion/society magazine. It's been really great to start writing again. It's been very busy too on the cultural front: exhibitions, theater, dance, concerts, and movies.
Plays
War horse : just spectacular, so creative.
We live here : a play by the very talented actress Zoe Kazan. Very entertaining and a good story, I really enjoyed it.
The montain top : angela basset is trully amazing and Samuel L jackson gives an ok performance as Martin Luther king jr on the night he was assassinated. The play is a bit light and you want to learn more about him.
Venus in fur : I had seen the play off-broadway and was blown away by Nina Ariana performance so I went to see it again tonight on broadway with her and Hugh Dancy. Really smart, witty. A must-see !
Relatively speaking : directed by John Turturro : 3 one-act comedies by three directors : ethan Cohen, Elaine May and Woody Allen. Elaine May is the best of the three and I had never seen Marlo Thomas, she is a real deal !
Dance
Rachid ouramdane : Ordinary witnesses : part of Crossing the line, a festival organized by the Frech institute, it was the first time that I saw a show choreographed by Ouramdane.The theme was genocide, torure, prison with videos of people who witnessed/endured all the above. Not a fun theme but there was one magical moment where a female dancer spun for 10 minutes and it was so beautiful and powerful.
movies
Week-end : my favorite love story this year. two men fell in love over the course of a wek-end. it's simple story, the two actors are very good and i was in tears at the end.
Drive : I rushed to see it as i love Ryan Gosling and carey Mulligan plus it won best director at cannes but it was disapointing : no story, very little dialogue (Gosling hardly utters 5 sentences.
Restless : a small movie with henry hooper (son of dennis and a discovery and Mia wasikowska who I love. A sad story (she's deadly sick) and yet it's filled with humor and romaticism.
The ides of march : Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and paul Giamatti are uber talented actors but the story is plain.
Take shelter : a very powerful movie with a very strong performance by Michael Shannon who deserves an oscar nomination for his role of a man losing his mind.
Exhibitions
Nick Cave at Mary Boone gallery in Chelsea. This artist from Chicago sold out his show of weird oversized creatures, the soundsuits, made with different material (beads, sequins, human hair, buttons, sisal) my favorites ones where made of small pieces of wood and make very strange and beautiful figures.
Amelie Chabannes made an installation (also part of Crossing the line festival) on orchard street : a big piece made of different layers of ply wood and platic filled with small treasures (pictures, broken pieces of ceramic, tiny objects) and for 4 days she worked on putting apart this huge piece.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Biarritz forever!
We spent an evening in San Sebastian, Spain, to watch fireworks,eat tapas and drink sangria. I definitely want to go back in the day time and discover this very cool town so close to France.
My favorite restaurant for the past 2 summers, le Madrid, is located in the center of one of the cutest village of the coast, Guethary, food is simple and good, from the terrace you can watch the "scene",it's definitely the place to be and to be seen ! After le Madrid, you can walk to Heteroclito, a local bar with good music and a nice view.
Les halles de Biarritz is the covered and coveted food market, you'd better get there early otherwise it's a parking nightmare. You find the best selection of "fromage de brebis" (sheep's milk cheese), black cherry jam, gateau basque and great fish.
A friend took us for a beautiful hike in the mountains near Itxassou, we were completely unprepared (we almost lost part of the group due to dehydration and exhaustion !) for it but it was a unforgettable experience : first of all, the beauty of the landscape was magical, the wild horses, the eagles....
A little shopping never hurts so I went to Laffargue (26 rue Gambetta, www.laffargue-maroquinerie.fr) in the beautiful town of Saint Jean de Luz and got a very simple & chic purple clutch. They have a great choice of colors and it's local !
Can't wait to come back next year !
a messy street filled with tapas bars
a beautiful old plaza in San Sebastian
My favorite restaurant !
inside Le madrid
my favorite bar : Heteroclito !
outside the heteroclito
les halles de Biarritz !
leather goods in Laffargue
rue Gambetta in St Jean de Luz
La Madrague, my beach for 25 years...
Monday, August 8, 2011
ile de Ré
After Porquerolles, I spent a couple of days in L'Ile de Ré on the Atlantic Coast. The easiest way to get there is to take a TGV (high-speed train) to La Rochelle, it's about 3 hours from Paris. Then 45 minutes of driving and you are there !
The biggest asset of this island is THE FOOD !! In Les Portes, the village where I stayed, there's a 6 day food market (and cute jewelry and clothing too) and for a New Yorker, it's just heaven.
From 9 am to 1 pm, from tuesday to sunday, the village goes a little crazy and the two rivals café on Place de la Liberté, La Case à vent et le Bazenne, are packed. If you are a parisian (or used to be one), you are guaranty to bump into many people you know. Because of the quality of the food, you have tendency to cook at home but there are three places that I highly recommend : for lunch on the Trousse-chemise beach : Chez bernadette (officially called La cabane des trois hiboux) a little shack with plastic chairs and simple food : avocado terrine with crab, mussels. On a rainy day (Ré has a micro-climate and it tends to rain more that in the south.., we rode our bikes 15 miles to La cabane du Feneau on the road de Loix : also very simple, you are surrounded by salt marshes and you eat the best sea food nicely presented in a box (see picture below), we had a mix of sea food followed by grilled gambas. Everything in your plate comes from the restaurant's farming sea food so it couldn't be fresher !Try the caramel rice pudding it's a killer..
For dinner, one of the nicest restaurant is Le Chasse-marée, the owners are Daniel and Pam (an American transplan) Fauquenot. it's located on the place de Liberté and has a nice terrace so so you are in the middle of the village action.
The biggest asset of this island is THE FOOD !! In Les Portes, the village where I stayed, there's a 6 day food market (and cute jewelry and clothing too) and for a New Yorker, it's just heaven.
From 9 am to 1 pm, from tuesday to sunday, the village goes a little crazy and the two rivals café on Place de la Liberté, La Case à vent et le Bazenne, are packed. If you are a parisian (or used to be one), you are guaranty to bump into many people you know. Because of the quality of the food, you have tendency to cook at home but there are three places that I highly recommend : for lunch on the Trousse-chemise beach : Chez bernadette (officially called La cabane des trois hiboux) a little shack with plastic chairs and simple food : avocado terrine with crab, mussels. On a rainy day (Ré has a micro-climate and it tends to rain more that in the south.., we rode our bikes 15 miles to La cabane du Feneau on the road de Loix : also very simple, you are surrounded by salt marshes and you eat the best sea food nicely presented in a box (see picture below), we had a mix of sea food followed by grilled gambas. Everything in your plate comes from the restaurant's farming sea food so it couldn't be fresher !Try the caramel rice pudding it's a killer..
For dinner, one of the nicest restaurant is Le Chasse-marée, the owners are Daniel and Pam (an American transplan) Fauquenot. it's located on the place de Liberté and has a nice terrace so so you are in the middle of the village action.
spreads selection
fresh flowers from the market
the mixed sea-food basket
my room !
walk on the beach with paci & paciana
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Porquerolles
Last summer, I discovered this magnificient island in France. I went back this year.
Porquerolles is off Hyères, south of France, you fly or take a train to Toulon. A navette (20 minutes water ride) takes you to the tiny port that can be scary at first as flows of beach goers (mostly French) show up early morning and leave with the last navette at the end of the day. So first you try to avoid the "tourists", then you rent a bike (the island is almost car-free) and you can enjoy a truly amazing place. Go early to Notre Dame, a far-away beach, water is turquoise, tons of fish to look at and occasional jellyfishes..
Restaurants are pretty good but I recommend "La plage d'argent", the only restaurant on the beach, it opens for lunch everyday but for dinner only tuesdays and thursdays. Simple food and killer sunset.
Unfortunately you can't buy fish on the island unless you are willing to wait for hours for the poor fisherman who usually shows up with a couple of sad-looking fishes..There's only one tiny supermarket. A couple of fruits/Vegetables stands and only one organic one where you can find Pourprier, a kind of salad that's succulent, super tasty tomatoes, peaches that are grown on the island.
In Porquerolles, you bike and you bike a lot, it's a real paradise and at night, children meet up on the "place" to sell jewelry they have made, stones they have painted and with the sales go to Cocofrio for a ice cream (violette.fig, speculos, white peach and yogurt are amongst my top 5).
A drink at 7pm at the exclusive "Mas du langoustier" is a must but be prepared for the bike serious work-out to get there..but you can also rent a pointu (see picture below) and go there by boat !
Porquerolles is off Hyères, south of France, you fly or take a train to Toulon. A navette (20 minutes water ride) takes you to the tiny port that can be scary at first as flows of beach goers (mostly French) show up early morning and leave with the last navette at the end of the day. So first you try to avoid the "tourists", then you rent a bike (the island is almost car-free) and you can enjoy a truly amazing place. Go early to Notre Dame, a far-away beach, water is turquoise, tons of fish to look at and occasional jellyfishes..
Restaurants are pretty good but I recommend "La plage d'argent", the only restaurant on the beach, it opens for lunch everyday but for dinner only tuesdays and thursdays. Simple food and killer sunset.
Unfortunately you can't buy fish on the island unless you are willing to wait for hours for the poor fisherman who usually shows up with a couple of sad-looking fishes..There's only one tiny supermarket. A couple of fruits/Vegetables stands and only one organic one where you can find Pourprier, a kind of salad that's succulent, super tasty tomatoes, peaches that are grown on the island.
In Porquerolles, you bike and you bike a lot, it's a real paradise and at night, children meet up on the "place" to sell jewelry they have made, stones they have painted and with the sales go to Cocofrio for a ice cream (violette.fig, speculos, white peach and yogurt are amongst my top 5).
A drink at 7pm at the exclusive "Mas du langoustier" is a must but be prepared for the bike serious work-out to get there..but you can also rent a pointu (see picture below) and go there by boat !
a pointu, a local boat
Notre Dame
Monday, July 18, 2011
After a night in the plane, I crashed the White fairy tale Love Ball hosted by Russian super-beauty Natalia Vodianova andValentino at his Chateau de Wideville outside Parigi. That evening, once again he fashion world and jet-set mingled, they were a lot of princess dresses but only two real princesses (Mette-Marit of Norway and Clothide de Savoie), The MC was the fun Anne Hathaway. While guests were eating their potatoes with cream & caviar, I was backstage as the models were getting ready for the fashion show : NV had asked 45 designers to design a dress to be auctioned for Natalia's charity, Naked Heart,that provides playgrounds in Russia. The evening was produced by The inevitable and super-talented Alex de Betak, music by Michel Gaubert.
the set
the show rehearsal
Odile Gilbert at work
Backstage
natalia's back & patrick demarchelier
the line-up
at last cigarette before the show
natalia's finale
Michel Gaubert's Jill Sander's shoes
Monday, July 4, 2011
A day at rockaway beach
First came the surfers, now the hispters.
On saturday, I drove to Rockaway beach with 3 girlfriends. I had been hearing and reading about that beach in Queens for some time. My friend David Selig, owner of Rice and N, opened his Rockaway taco in 2008 at 95th street and for the past 3 years it was basically the only place where you could find decent food (and the best fish taco!).
Summer 2011 : David won a bid from the city's Department of Parks and Recreations to transform the three concessions stands on the boardwalk into a cool and healthy mini food-empire. The biggest concession is on 97th street and includes Rockaway taco, Baby cupcakes (a vegan bakery from LES), Veggie Island (vegetarian sandwiches and juices, a Thai, a beer bar. On the 86th st concession, Ripper's opened his grass-fed burger spot and attracts Brooklynites missing their favorite restaurant in Bushwick, Roberta's, a partner.
The surfers used to ride on 90th but it's getting a little too crowded so they moved their spot to 67th street.
I'm coming back in september. This is a real New York treasure !
On saturday, I drove to Rockaway beach with 3 girlfriends. I had been hearing and reading about that beach in Queens for some time. My friend David Selig, owner of Rice and N, opened his Rockaway taco in 2008 at 95th street and for the past 3 years it was basically the only place where you could find decent food (and the best fish taco!).
Summer 2011 : David won a bid from the city's Department of Parks and Recreations to transform the three concessions stands on the boardwalk into a cool and healthy mini food-empire. The biggest concession is on 97th street and includes Rockaway taco, Baby cupcakes (a vegan bakery from LES), Veggie Island (vegetarian sandwiches and juices, a Thai, a beer bar. On the 86th st concession, Ripper's opened his grass-fed burger spot and attracts Brooklynites missing their favorite restaurant in Bushwick, Roberta's, a partner.
The surfers used to ride on 90th but it's getting a little too crowded so they moved their spot to 67th street.
I'm coming back in september. This is a real New York treasure !
the boardwalk
the line for the original Rockaway taco
at 95th, around the corner for Rockaway taco, Veggie island
the 86th street concession stand
stakeboarders on the beach
hipster from Queens !
David Selig, the culinary revolutionary of Rockaway beach
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Meet the Bumbys !
At the Krug House party this week, I received " a fair and honest appraisal of my appearance" by Jill Bumby, the female half of The Bumbys. Self-proclaimed performance artists Gill & Jill operate next to each other, wearing glasses and masks, hats or wigs (red this time). In front of them, an old fashioned typewriter. They glance at you, write, glance again, write again. The "assessment" last maybe 1 or 2 minutes (and I had to wait a good 20 minutes in line) and they are pretty good at what they do ! Here's what I got : "There's something very rock n roll about you. You're a secret weed smoker or something, you konw a few of the Stones. Your smile is like an atomic bomb of cute. You're not one of those women who never get a husband. In fact you've probs been married a long time. You're what's know as a catch. In not time if you play your cards right you could be hanging with Michelle Obama."
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Edge atlantic film festival
Lucky I am, I spent yesterday afternoon doing of my favorites activities : watching movies ! It was the second edition of the Edge Atlantic Film Festival, a 4-day event taking place in NYC for the first time (last year was in Paris). They screen professional and non-professional (aka film student) movies. During three hours, I watched four shorts films from Tisch School of the Arts and four from La Fémis, the most prestigious film school in France.
Being thrown in less that 40 minutes each time in a director's world 8 times back to back is a pretty interesting experience. After the (long but rich)screening, there was an intimate Q & A with the students. Jay Anania,the professor at Tisch, was next to me and listening to the students and their professor, I felt I was 25 again!
My favorite US short was "Little horses" by Levi Abrino : a bittersweet comedy about a divorced small town postal worker who tires to win his family back by getting a blind and deaf pony for his son's birthday.
My favorite French was "Coucou les nuages" by Vincent Cardona, a 38 minute film about the last days of Hans Muller, the first amateur astonaut in the history. Vincent plays the main character and I was mesmerized by the female lead, Mathilde Bisson.
Being thrown in less that 40 minutes each time in a director's world 8 times back to back is a pretty interesting experience. After the (long but rich)screening, there was an intimate Q & A with the students. Jay Anania,the professor at Tisch, was next to me and listening to the students and their professor, I felt I was 25 again!
My favorite US short was "Little horses" by Levi Abrino : a bittersweet comedy about a divorced small town postal worker who tires to win his family back by getting a blind and deaf pony for his son's birthday.
My favorite French was "Coucou les nuages" by Vincent Cardona, a 38 minute film about the last days of Hans Muller, the first amateur astonaut in the history. Vincent plays the main character and I was mesmerized by the female lead, Mathilde Bisson.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sandy Hook + The fat Radish = a perfect sunday !
My girlfriend E was going on Sunday to the beach at Sandy Hook, New Jersey and I decided to go with her. Boarding the ferry @ 10:30 @ 35th street and the East River, I was behind a super cute couple and Victoria Secret's model Alessandra Ambrosio and her family. Wow cool New Yorkers go to New Jersey, I told myself.
E boarded the ferry @ Pier 11, we sat down on the upper deck of the ferry and I couldn't resist taking the picture of guy from the cute couple pretending I was taking a photo of the Verrazano bridge (on the ferry back he took he tee-shirt off to offer it to his girlfriend..). Once we got to Sandy Hook, we walked to the sea and lost track of cute couple, the top model and others cool New Yorkers : it was Tony Soprano and his family at the beach !! A tattoed older woman in a one piece couldn't let go of her cigarette (it's legal in NJ to smoke on the beach not in NY state), she was talking like a truck driver with the thick accent of Carmella Soprano, to her slim daughter in a matching colored bikini. I must say, it was packed but the sand was white, the sea fresh and pretty clean and the fact that you are swimiming and at the horizon you see the Manhattan skyline is pretty awesome !
We made plans with E to have dinner @ The Fat radish, I keep hearing from this place and thought a sunday night early dinner there would be really nice and it was ! The place is very simple with white-washed brick walls, dimmed lighting and delicious food : I had a artic char ceviche with avocado and a light tomato sauce followed by a grilled stripped bass with glazed turning and a side a brocoli rabe with chilies. B tried an amazing cocktail with vodka, grapefruit juice and chilies, so spicy !
The Fat Radish : 17 Orchard street near Canal street.
Tel : 212-300-4053
E boarded the ferry @ Pier 11, we sat down on the upper deck of the ferry and I couldn't resist taking the picture of guy from the cute couple pretending I was taking a photo of the Verrazano bridge (on the ferry back he took he tee-shirt off to offer it to his girlfriend..). Once we got to Sandy Hook, we walked to the sea and lost track of cute couple, the top model and others cool New Yorkers : it was Tony Soprano and his family at the beach !! A tattoed older woman in a one piece couldn't let go of her cigarette (it's legal in NJ to smoke on the beach not in NY state), she was talking like a truck driver with the thick accent of Carmella Soprano, to her slim daughter in a matching colored bikini. I must say, it was packed but the sand was white, the sea fresh and pretty clean and the fact that you are swimiming and at the horizon you see the Manhattan skyline is pretty awesome !
We made plans with E to have dinner @ The Fat radish, I keep hearing from this place and thought a sunday night early dinner there would be really nice and it was ! The place is very simple with white-washed brick walls, dimmed lighting and delicious food : I had a artic char ceviche with avocado and a light tomato sauce followed by a grilled stripped bass with glazed turning and a side a brocoli rabe with chilies. B tried an amazing cocktail with vodka, grapefruit juice and chilies, so spicy !
The Fat Radish : 17 Orchard street near Canal street.
Tel : 212-300-4053
Friday, June 17, 2011
Pierre Hardy @972
Yesterday, I hosted with my friend Timothée Verrecchia my second Breakfast @972, a serie at the cultural services of the French Embassy. Located at their beautiful mansion at 972 5th Avenue and 79th street, our guest was the amazing fashion designer Pierre Hardy. Preparing for the discussion, I learned that Pierre Hardy has a very unusual background, he is probably the only person in the fashion world with the most diplomas in his pocket ! He started dancing and drawing, his 2 passions, at age 13 (mom was a dance teacher), graduated from the prestigious school Normale Supérieure with a Fine Arts degree, has been teaching since 1995 in an Art school in Paris.
He has been designing the shoe collection for Hermès since 1990, launched his namesake brand in 1999 and in 2001 started his collaboration with Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga as well as being the creative director of Hermès Fine Jewellery.
He is modest, funny and happy !
I'm a newly converted hardy girl now !
He has been designing the shoe collection for Hermès since 1990, launched his namesake brand in 1999 and in 2001 started his collaboration with Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga as well as being the creative director of Hermès Fine Jewellery.
He is modest, funny and happy !
I'm a newly converted hardy girl now !
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday night in harlem !
I was invited by friends to attend the Apollo theather Hall of fame induction of Stevie Wonder. Several artists paid tribute to "little Stevie" (who performed at the Apollo at age 13!)and he treated us with some great songs. The Apollo was packed of people and enthusiasm. The comedian Sinbad was the MC. It was a really great moment !
After that, we decided to try "Red Rooster", I had read great reviews about that restaurant and we were not disappointed ! The place is beautiful with a very cool bar area where we had a delicious dinner. Here are some of the dishes prepared by renowed chef Marc Samuelsson (who used to be at the 3 starred Aquavit) :
cold spinach and crab soup in coconut milk, crab cakes with avocado and spicy mayo, Mac and greens, lobster and watercress salad with asian pears and a pistacchio vinaigrette... we were too full to try the desserts but I am definitely going back to this amazing Harlem treasure !
Red Rooster is at 310 Lenox Avenue & 126th street, phone : 212-792-9001. www.redroosterharlem.com.
After that, we decided to try "Red Rooster", I had read great reviews about that restaurant and we were not disappointed ! The place is beautiful with a very cool bar area where we had a delicious dinner. Here are some of the dishes prepared by renowed chef Marc Samuelsson (who used to be at the 3 starred Aquavit) :
cold spinach and crab soup in coconut milk, crab cakes with avocado and spicy mayo, Mac and greens, lobster and watercress salad with asian pears and a pistacchio vinaigrette... we were too full to try the desserts but I am definitely going back to this amazing Harlem treasure !
Red Rooster is at 310 Lenox Avenue & 126th street, phone : 212-792-9001. www.redroosterharlem.com.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Submarine
I love English movies, I've had crushes for almost every single british actor for the past 20 years : Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Jeremy Northam, Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Clive Owen.
On sunday afternoon, after a fun party the night before, I went to see "Submarine", it's about the tribulations of a young teenage boy who falls in love for the first time while his parents are going through a crisis. The actors are great, unkown except for the fabulous Sally Hawkins (who won a Golden globes in 2008 for "Happy-go-lucky". It's good but I didn't liked it as much as I liked "Beginners", I'm ready for seconds !
On sunday afternoon, after a fun party the night before, I went to see "Submarine", it's about the tribulations of a young teenage boy who falls in love for the first time while his parents are going through a crisis. The actors are great, unkown except for the fabulous Sally Hawkins (who won a Golden globes in 2008 for "Happy-go-lucky". It's good but I didn't liked it as much as I liked "Beginners", I'm ready for seconds !
Missed connections
At the Krug/Gazette dinner on Wednesday (entry # june 9th), I sat opposite the super friendly Mickey Sumner (actress-daughter of Sting)who talked about her first movie shot in Brooklyn + Manhattan, it's called "Missed connections", it's a romantic comedy whose title is based on the Craig's list page and I've been a little obssessed with it since... People post their search for someone they've seen and liked and would love to meet again ! Some of the posts are really witty. You just have to google Missed connections and it will take you there.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The BLK DNM gazette launch party
Last night was the opening of the BLK DNM store (237 Lafayette street and Spring street) and the launch of their gazette edited by fashion stylist Aleksandra Woroniecka.Amongst the collaborators for the first issue, there is Wes Anderson, Waris Ahluwalia, Peter Lindbergh, Christophe Rihet and Eve Therond. There are beautiful pictures in this oversized gazette that you can find in the store !
You can check the line by Swedish fashion designer Johan Lindeberg @ www.blkdnm.com.
The after-dinner party was a Krug dinner @ Indochine, I've always loved that restaurant since I moved here in 1997. It doesn't change, food is always delicious and the decor magical.
A Sam Shepard with a missing tooth (not so sexy) and a bit haggard showed up by mistake so we took him in and he seemed very happy to be with us !
You can check the line by Swedish fashion designer Johan Lindeberg @ www.blkdnm.com.
The after-dinner party was a Krug dinner @ Indochine, I've always loved that restaurant since I moved here in 1997. It doesn't change, food is always delicious and the decor magical.
A Sam Shepard with a missing tooth (not so sexy) and a bit haggard showed up by mistake so we took him in and he seemed very happy to be with us !
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The shut-up banana
Late last night, I was at friend's house talking and drinking champagne on their terrace when something fell from the sky a feet from me.. Startled, I approached the unidentified object and realised it was a banana ! Wrapped in a piece of paper held by a rubber band, I bent over to pick it up and it said : SHUT UP ! Everyone one cracked up and yelled at the angry neighbor !
Only in New York !
Only in New York !
Friday, June 3, 2011
Beginners
I couldn't wait any longer ! I went to the first showing of Beginners, 10:40am right after spinning. The theater was half-packed, rare for a matinee. I saw the trailer a couple of weeks ago and I knew right away that I would love the movie and I did. I fell in love again with Ewan Mc Gregor, he's cute, low-key, with a nice-but-not-too-strong scottish accent and he wears stripped sweaters, my favorites. He's the main character, he falls in love with Anna, a french actress played by Melanie Laurent, three months after his father died. There are many flashbacks, funny moments with his eccentric mom, tenderness with his father towards the end of his life. It's simple and right and ROMANTIC and I miss that in the movies !
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Bakeries in the city
I've been off sugar since I've done the Clean Program but I have children and I like to find new places !
So this week, I discovered two bakeries : one uptown, one downtown.
Two Little Red Hens is an american bakery located @ 1652 2nd avenue between 86th & 85th street, it's tiny, cosy with a couple of tables. They have great cheesecakes and cupcakes and a nice range of custom-made cakes.
Millefeuille, just opened and had a nice review in th NY times yesterday, is @ 552 Laguardia Place between Bleeker and West 3rd street. The French pastry chef used to work with the famous Pierre Hermé so I bought some macarons and a brownie with a praline filling that looked really dangerous. Their croissants and pains au chocolat looked really good too. The place is simple, the kitchen is open so you can practice your French with the chef if you want !
So this week, I discovered two bakeries : one uptown, one downtown.
Two Little Red Hens is an american bakery located @ 1652 2nd avenue between 86th & 85th street, it's tiny, cosy with a couple of tables. They have great cheesecakes and cupcakes and a nice range of custom-made cakes.
Millefeuille, just opened and had a nice review in th NY times yesterday, is @ 552 Laguardia Place between Bleeker and West 3rd street. The French pastry chef used to work with the famous Pierre Hermé so I bought some macarons and a brownie with a praline filling that looked really dangerous. Their croissants and pains au chocolat looked really good too. The place is simple, the kitchen is open so you can practice your French with the chef if you want !
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
My 5 Rhythms dance experience
Last night with C, we had a very special and unique experience called The 5 rhythms.It involves dancing but it's not really a dance class and I'm still figuring out the best way to describe it! This movement was invented by Gabrielle Roth in California in the 60's and basically you experience, in 2 hours, dancing following 5 musical rhythms : flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness.
At first, you wonder what the hell you are doing in this dance studio, in the west village and surrounded by a weird mix of people, mostly hippies,a Joe Pesci-look-a-like with a wig was wandering, a couple of shirtless ederly man, some hot guys in long skirts and many attractive youg women. When it begun, people were just walking around, some were streching on the floor and I tried not to burst into laughter as I was observing and trying to throw myself into it ! Then the rhythm accelerated and people started dancing so did I. At some point, it's techno music, you could be in a rave party but with no alcohol, no drugs (even in some of the "dancers" appeared to be under the influence)and I decided just to let go. You don't care about the others, you just go with your body and dance with people when they come to you. Everybody is happy, smiling, some are loud,others grunt, some weep, a girl took off her skirt and was in her stripped panties with a bandana around her neck !
The teacher, Jonathan Horan, is well trained as he's the son of Gabrielle Roth. He doesn't do and say much, sometimes he mingles with the dancers (we were about a 100)and guides you in your experience.
www.gabrielleroth.com
$20/ class.
At first, you wonder what the hell you are doing in this dance studio, in the west village and surrounded by a weird mix of people, mostly hippies,a Joe Pesci-look-a-like with a wig was wandering, a couple of shirtless ederly man, some hot guys in long skirts and many attractive youg women. When it begun, people were just walking around, some were streching on the floor and I tried not to burst into laughter as I was observing and trying to throw myself into it ! Then the rhythm accelerated and people started dancing so did I. At some point, it's techno music, you could be in a rave party but with no alcohol, no drugs (even in some of the "dancers" appeared to be under the influence)and I decided just to let go. You don't care about the others, you just go with your body and dance with people when they come to you. Everybody is happy, smiling, some are loud,others grunt, some weep, a girl took off her skirt and was in her stripped panties with a bandana around her neck !
The teacher, Jonathan Horan, is well trained as he's the son of Gabrielle Roth. He doesn't do and say much, sometimes he mingles with the dancers (we were about a 100)and guides you in your experience.
www.gabrielleroth.com
$20/ class.
Carey Mulligan is...
...one of the most talented actresses of her generation.
She was unforgettable in "An education" but also in "Never let me go"and "Pride and prejudice". I saw her on stage last week in "Through a glass darkly" at the Atlantic theater company adapted from Ingmar Bergman's movie and she is phenomenal. You just can't take your eyes out of her.
The play is dramatic, depressive as you can expect from a Bergman adaptation, but the set is beautiful in its simplicity and well Carey carries the whole play on her frail shoulders as a young married woman just out from a psychiatric hospital on vacation with her husband, her brother and her brother : she returns to it after a very dark and disturbing scene...
I can't wait to see her next year in "The Great Gatsby" opposite Leonardo Di Caprio and directed by the brilliant Baz Luhrmann.
She was unforgettable in "An education" but also in "Never let me go"and "Pride and prejudice". I saw her on stage last week in "Through a glass darkly" at the Atlantic theater company adapted from Ingmar Bergman's movie and she is phenomenal. You just can't take your eyes out of her.
The play is dramatic, depressive as you can expect from a Bergman adaptation, but the set is beautiful in its simplicity and well Carey carries the whole play on her frail shoulders as a young married woman just out from a psychiatric hospital on vacation with her husband, her brother and her brother : she returns to it after a very dark and disturbing scene...
I can't wait to see her next year in "The Great Gatsby" opposite Leonardo Di Caprio and directed by the brilliant Baz Luhrmann.
Monday, May 30, 2011
MD in the city
My friend B was in town for the week-end and I decided to take her to see "Sleep no more". I had seen it 3 weeks ago (may 17th blog) and was eager to see it again as it's impossible to see all the scenes in one time ! I loved it more this time as I was lucky to witness some sexy-intense drama scenes I had missed before.
Afterwards, we went to Peels( Bowery and 2nd street) for a quick and delicious dinner, the new venture of the owners of Freeman's. I like the place very much, it has a cool vibe, nice crowd at the bar area on the second floor.
On saturday morning, we were at the opening (9:30 am !) of the MET to see the Alexander Mc Queen show at the Costume Institute.It was already getting very crowded (they had 43 000 visitor the first week !) so we started by the end ! It is beyond beautiful, the scenography was done by Sam Gainsbury who was Mc Queen's show producer and very close collaborator for many years. It's so magnificent that I'm going back again. Then a bike ride in Central Park with a stop at Le Pain quotidien near Ship Meadow, the coolest place to bake in the sun.
Shopping on Bleecker street, there's a new Marc Jacobs store and it's a bookstore : Bookmarc (bleecker and west 11th st) : great selection of art books and MJ accessories. Perfect lunch on the terrace of San Ambroeus (west 4th and Charles street)where I had a good mushroom/mozzarella omelette and shared a yummy lentil salad. We went to The Monocle Shop (Hudson and Charles street) to find the exclusive perfume they made with Comme des garçons, Hinoki. The store is an offshoot of the magazine Monocle, created by the brilliant Tyler Brulé (I read his Financial Times column every week-end).
In Soho, we went to the new James Perse store (Broome and Mercer street), I love their basics and the store is more spacious that the ones on Bleecker street.
At Agas and Tamar (250 Mott street between Houston and Prince, my friend bought some very cute and simple gold earrings with a double hoop. I discovered this store recently and really like their jewelry collection.
At night, we tried the new Imperial no 9 restaurant of the Mondrian hotel (9 crosby street or 150 Lafayette), I made a reservation there after a very good article in the New York magazine and everyone loved the food (mostly seafood). They encourage you to share which we did ! Our favorites : King crab à la plancha, fluke sashimi, a cold asparagus soup, spicy cucumber keemchee. Ask to be seated in the big room, the greenhouse. After dinner, we went for drinks at Miss Lily's and because of the long week-end, it wasn't crowded and we had the best time ! Music was great, people were relaxed, dancing and drinking red stripes !
Sunday, we went for another bike ride in the Park and the Whitney to see the Glenn Ligon and Cory Arcangel shows, both a bit disappointing.. and at night, I went to the movies to see "The Tree of Life" : the nature shots were much too long but the story of this family and their three boys over a 20 years period really touched me, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain (who hardly says a word) were great. I didn't really see the point of the contemporary segments with Sean Penn (one of the 3 boys as a lost adult) but overall I would recommend it !
I ended my long week-end with spinning with Rique and writing my blog !
Afterwards, we went to Peels( Bowery and 2nd street) for a quick and delicious dinner, the new venture of the owners of Freeman's. I like the place very much, it has a cool vibe, nice crowd at the bar area on the second floor.
On saturday morning, we were at the opening (9:30 am !) of the MET to see the Alexander Mc Queen show at the Costume Institute.It was already getting very crowded (they had 43 000 visitor the first week !) so we started by the end ! It is beyond beautiful, the scenography was done by Sam Gainsbury who was Mc Queen's show producer and very close collaborator for many years. It's so magnificent that I'm going back again. Then a bike ride in Central Park with a stop at Le Pain quotidien near Ship Meadow, the coolest place to bake in the sun.
Shopping on Bleecker street, there's a new Marc Jacobs store and it's a bookstore : Bookmarc (bleecker and west 11th st) : great selection of art books and MJ accessories. Perfect lunch on the terrace of San Ambroeus (west 4th and Charles street)where I had a good mushroom/mozzarella omelette and shared a yummy lentil salad. We went to The Monocle Shop (Hudson and Charles street) to find the exclusive perfume they made with Comme des garçons, Hinoki. The store is an offshoot of the magazine Monocle, created by the brilliant Tyler Brulé (I read his Financial Times column every week-end).
In Soho, we went to the new James Perse store (Broome and Mercer street), I love their basics and the store is more spacious that the ones on Bleecker street.
At Agas and Tamar (250 Mott street between Houston and Prince, my friend bought some very cute and simple gold earrings with a double hoop. I discovered this store recently and really like their jewelry collection.
At night, we tried the new Imperial no 9 restaurant of the Mondrian hotel (9 crosby street or 150 Lafayette), I made a reservation there after a very good article in the New York magazine and everyone loved the food (mostly seafood). They encourage you to share which we did ! Our favorites : King crab à la plancha, fluke sashimi, a cold asparagus soup, spicy cucumber keemchee. Ask to be seated in the big room, the greenhouse. After dinner, we went for drinks at Miss Lily's and because of the long week-end, it wasn't crowded and we had the best time ! Music was great, people were relaxed, dancing and drinking red stripes !
Sunday, we went for another bike ride in the Park and the Whitney to see the Glenn Ligon and Cory Arcangel shows, both a bit disappointing.. and at night, I went to the movies to see "The Tree of Life" : the nature shots were much too long but the story of this family and their three boys over a 20 years period really touched me, Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain (who hardly says a word) were great. I didn't really see the point of the contemporary segments with Sean Penn (one of the 3 boys as a lost adult) but overall I would recommend it !
I ended my long week-end with spinning with Rique and writing my blog !
one day in may
On thursday morning after yoga, I started my little gallery tour with the Robert Mapplethorpe "50 Americans" show at Sean Kelly Gallery (until June 18th @ 528 West 29th street) : 50 Americans, one from each state, was asked to look at a RM portfolio and pick up a picture and tell us why they did so. It's a beautiful show and after reading and loving "Just kids" this winter, I was really happy to see it.
Next stop was @ the inevitable Gagosian Gallery (555 west 24th) were John Chamberlain shows until July 8th his monumental metal sculptures. I liked Louise Lawler new work at Metro Pictures (519 West 24th street until June 11th) but was a bit disappointed by Donald Judd show at David Swirner (525 west 19th street until June 25th).
I met a friend for lunch at THE ONLY (almost) place for lunch in the area, Cookshop (corner of 19th street and 10th avenue) : I love the food (I had a grilled halibut and sautéed spinach) plus there are always some people watching (Ethan Hawke was there).
That evening, I met some friends at Felice (corner of 64th street and 1st avenue, an excellent Italian wine bar where I always get the (best) carciofi/parmigiano salad and salmon/avocado tartare. We then met more friends for a viewing of Hangover 2 : it's exactly the same synopsis as the first one but I still laughed like crazy.
Next stop was @ the inevitable Gagosian Gallery (555 west 24th) were John Chamberlain shows until July 8th his monumental metal sculptures. I liked Louise Lawler new work at Metro Pictures (519 West 24th street until June 11th) but was a bit disappointed by Donald Judd show at David Swirner (525 west 19th street until June 25th).
I met a friend for lunch at THE ONLY (almost) place for lunch in the area, Cookshop (corner of 19th street and 10th avenue) : I love the food (I had a grilled halibut and sautéed spinach) plus there are always some people watching (Ethan Hawke was there).
That evening, I met some friends at Felice (corner of 64th street and 1st avenue, an excellent Italian wine bar where I always get the (best) carciofi/parmigiano salad and salmon/avocado tartare. We then met more friends for a viewing of Hangover 2 : it's exactly the same synopsis as the first one but I still laughed like crazy.
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