First Impressions: Astoria

The big news in my corner these days is that I recently moved to a new apartment in a neighborhood that is totally new to me: Astoria! Having spent three years living in Harlem I was ready for a change and was drawn to Astoria for it's affordability, laid back residential feel, and plentiful tasty restaurants. While I've been pretty busy with getting myself moved in and settled into the new space, I have found a little time to explore the neighborhood as well and check out some of the local restaurants. I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite discoveries so far for anyone curious about the neighborhood! 

Right down the street from my new place is a cute restaurant and bar with outdoor seating called The Bonnie. Since it is close to where I live this was one of the first places in the neighborhood that I tried, and since their menu all looked so good I've been back for more! The first time I went in I ordered the Burrata BLT sandwich, and it was phenomenal. Served on thick cut bread with crisp bacon and soft burrata, this was a total win. They also had a cocktail special that night which involved gin and blackberries that was a total hit too. The next time I went back (only a short time later!) was to try out some of the salads I had seen other people enjoying on my first visit. I got the strawberry poppyseed salad and loved every bite. Not only was this salad pretty to look at with all the bright colors from the strawberries, greens and soft white cheese, but every bite had something tasty in it, including almonds, and cucumbers and feta. I also have my eye on their fried chicken sandwich.... the next time I'm there I'll be sure to tell you how it is.

Exploring along Ditmars Ave one evening landed me at the Pomeroy which was blasting all the best '90s rock songs out the open front windows. So many of the drinks on their menu looked tempting but I settled for the Down by the Bay, a watermelon and cucumber cocktail that was so tasty and summery. Made with fresh watermelon juice this drink was perfect for a hot summer night sitting in the open air seats by the window. 

The Ditmars area of Astoria is known for its Greek restaurants and plentiful bakeries. So far I have only tried the Lefkos Pyrgos bakery, but I know that I'll be hitting up all the rest soon! At Lefkos Pyrgos I ordered the baklava cheesecake to share... and OMG was it delicious! A bottom layer of some of the best cheesecake I think I've ever had, with a top layer of flaky Greek baklava combined for an amazing sweet treat. So many of the cakes and sweets in their case looked to-die-for so I know I'll be back here before long! 

One of the most exciting discoveries I have made though, is that I live right down the street from some of the best bagels I've ever had -- and that's saying a LOT. I am very picky about bagels, and have so far been largely unimpressed with most of the bagels I've tried in New York. I knew the good ones had to be out there somewhere but I had yet to discover them. I like my bagels to be dense and flavorful - I can't stand when they are fluffy and chewy (think Dunkin or anything similar). Up until my move to Astoria the best I'd found were Tomkins Square Bagels and Blackseed Bagels, both of which are very good, but somehow weren't quite perfect. But moving to an apartment right near the Astoria location New York City Bagel and Coffee House has changed everything!! Their bagels are hugeeeeee and so tasty, and definitely my favorites in New York! On my first visit I got an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a sesame bagel and it was so so so good. I had to save half of it for later though because the bagels are so big! On my second visit I had a toasted bagel with bacon scallion cream cheese which I gobbled right up! And just to top things off, they also serve Dough doughnuts in the cafe - so yeah that's dangerous to walk by every day! Phenomenal bagels AND phenomenal doughnuts all in one place?! Almost too good to be true.

xoxo, CC

Midnight Gingham

Last weekend was warm and beautiful and I wore this fun gingham dress for a full day of activities in the city. Starting with a breakfast run where I discovered this fun wing mural, then on to running errands, a street fair with tons of yummy food, followed by an impressive apartment rooftop party and then dinner out with my girls. I was comfy all through this fun-packed day in an off the shoulder dress and ankle strap flats. I had been on the hunt for a cute piece in a gingham print, and this adorable off the shoulder dress was exactly what I needed.

Gingham is a perfectly summery print that is casual yet chic, and I love the texture to this cotton & linen fabric and the girly ruffle along the neckline. To compliment the simple black and white pattern I added denim blue flats and a blue stone bracelet. Since the print is so bold I kept to a simple chunky bracelet and subdued color scheme. The loose shift fit was comfy to wear all day long on a hot humid day, and the shoulders stayed exactly in place the entire time. Plus, this dress has pockets. Enough said.

On our walk back from dinner we had fun snapping a few photos in the moody lighting of New York City at midnight.

Dress: Anthropologie. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Shoes: Aldo. Sunglasses: AJ Morgan. Bracelet: J. Crew (love this one).

xoxo, CC

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Happy April! Who else is pumped that it's finally officially spring!

After the teasingly warm weather we had back in February, it finally warmed up above 55º again this past weekend. I took the opportunity to wear this flowy peasant dress that I added to my spring wardrobe recently. I love the drop waist and peasant style tiers that make this dress ideal for early spring. The loose oversized fit is counterbalanced by the sheer fabric allowing your shape to show through despite the voluminous draping. I paired it with over the knee boots for a transitional look (and to hide my pale legs!), and added a faux leather jacket that was only barely necessary in the sunshine. Altogether the look is a little bit edgy yet still soft and romantic.

I spent the afternoon browsing the Affordable Art Fair in NYC and strolling in the sunshine along the highline in the sun. The wind just about blew me away when we were up on the highline getting the breeze straight off the Hudson, but in the sunshine the weather was impeccable. Perfect dress weather! The all black and white vibes of this ensemble are very city chic, but the tiered flounce and loose fit keep the look feminine and casual. The simplicity of a monotone look and comfy dress is just what I've been waiting to wear now that it's beginning to warm up! 

Dress: Scotch and Soda (similar). Jacket: Zara. Boots: Sam Edelman. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Lip: MAC. Bracelet: similar.

xoxo, CC

Finding Mexico in NYC

Over the weekend I discovered the cutest taco restaurant... the decor and natural lighting make you feel like you're truly on vacation and not in the middle of chilly New York. Anyone who knows me knows I love Mexican food more than just about anything else (with Thai being a close second) and Tacombi served up delicious fresh tacos out of a VW minibus parked in the middle of the restaurant space, along with delectable guacamole and strong margaritas. When you first walk in, the VW bus is the first thing you notice --it's not every restaurant that has a vehicle parked in the middle of their space, retrofitted as a kitchen none the less. Then the casual bright decor sinks in, the metal tables, cement floor, painted walls and white tiled bar lined with bright juice dispensers and real pineapples... I fell in love instantly. 

The decor and the natural light streaming in through several skylights make the space feel truly authentic as though you have been transported somewhere tropical. Everything about it feels bright and fresh with vintage undertones and a laid back vibe. Notice the checkers and backgammon game boards printed of several of the table tops! And the strings on lights! I felt right at home and have to say I certainly plan on heading back soon! They have three locations throughout NYC so I plan on visiting the others as well -- as long as they have bright colorful decor along with the delicious food I'm sure I'll love them just as much!

I've been wanting to share more blog posts like this on places I've tried and liked in NYC, what do you think, should I add a blog series on restaurants and places to try? Let me know if that's something you'd like to see more of! 

Tacombi, 267 Elizabeth St. New York, NY 10012.

xoxo, CC

Strolling Soho

Earlier this week I had a chance to get downtown and stroll around Soho for a bit. I love the Soho neighborhood, which is filled with beautiful architecture, high end shopping, and fascinating people-watching. Everyone in the area seems so stylish, and I love being inspired by everyday street style. It is also fun to do a little window shopping at the designer stores to catch up on the latest trends. 

Since I was on a casual excursion and planning to do a bit of walking I layered up in casual pieces like this sassy graphic tee and drapey jacket. I am living in these 7FAM "feminine boyfriend" jeans lately, they are just so comfortable and easy. I love that with a rolled up hem they pair so well with flats, sandals, and booties alike. Since it was still a pretty warm day I opted for sandals that color coordinate perfectly with the jacket! And just to continue with the matching theme, I wore sunglasses and a soft red lip, just like the glamorous Marie Antoinette on my teeshirt.

Tee: Zara (similar 1/2). Jacket: Jack by BB Dakota (similar 1/2). Jeans: 7 for All Mankind. Shoes: J. Crew. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Sunglasses: Anthropologie. Earrings: Gorjana. Lip: Bare Minerals "cherries on top."

xoxo, CC

Pier 1

I always love seeing the skyline of NYC; it is dreamy and imposing all at the same time. This view is from a quiet pier on the upper west side, reflecting all the blue of the Hudson River onto the towering buildings.

The air has a distinct fall chill lately, which means I'm wearing more long sleeves. I still want to keep my looks summery (because unlike most of the world I hate having to shift into fall... long live summer!) so white jeans and a playful top are the perfect combo for these 75 degree days. I fell in love with this whimsical print a while ago and was so excited to find it again on this top! The scattered print includes cacti, owls, flamingos, pineapple, tea kettles, bicycles and more in a darling sketch style. 

The top and jeans together create a pulled together yet casual vibe, that I dressed up with wedges, jewelry, and soft curls. I think this outfit would be perfect for weekend brunch, or even a casual work day, but here I wore it to run some errands and stroll in Riverside park. And did I mention that Ruche is back?? My favorite online boutique closed down a few months ago, but I am so delighted that they are finally back up and running under new ownership! I couldn't contain my excitement, and I purchased this top and a cute sweater dress you will surely see me wearing pretty soon.

Anyone else with me on stretching summer into fall? 

Top: Ruche (similar 1/2). Jeans: J Brand. Bag: Rebecca Minkoff. Shoes: H&M. Bracelet: J. Crew (similar color). Choker: similar 1/2/3. Sunglasses: AJ Morgan.

xoxo, CC

Manus X Machina

As I mentioned in last week's post, I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see the Manus X Machina exhibit at the Costume Institute. The show opens with a stunning Chanel wedding gown as you walk into the gallery. The dress, featuring a long embroidered train, has become the face of this exhibit and exemplifies the balance of hand and machine made fashion. The dress is made of scuba knit, a synthetic material, which was hand molded and machine sewn. The baroque inspired embroidery on the train was hand drawn by Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld and then digitally randomized to create the final effect before being hand embroidered onto the fabric with thousands of beads. It is incredible how much detail goes into a piece like this and how the machine made and hand made elements come together so seamlessly to create a stunning dress. 

One of my favorite displays is this pink and blue collection of floral dresses. I love the front-to-back contrast of the Dior dress on the left with intricate embroidered sequin details. The Louis Vuitton on the right side combines hand sewn details with laser cut plastic flowers for a delightful confection of a dress. 

This fascinating piece by Hussein Chalayan is a remote controlled creation with incredible mechanized features. Created from fiberglass, it has a sort of door at the back that opens on hinges to let the model step into the dress. It rests on wheels that are driven by a remote control, and, most excitingly, the attached floral "pollens" can detach from the shell and float in the air around the dress creating an entire show described by Chalayan as a "poetic gesture" meant to "symbolize new beginnings."

This green and yellow display was another eye catching corner in which I found one of my favorite ensembles from the show, this Christopher Kane skirt and sweater combo. I find the motif fascinating and the design totally wearable. The image was taken from a text book diagram of a flower's anatomy and blown up into laser cut flowers hand embroidered onto the skirt and sweater. Inspired by the process of photosynthesis, this set literally embraces the science in nature and in technology.

I was so intrigued by the close up details of the multi dimensional fabrics used on a Dior dress. I love the three dimensional effect of the cut outs and miniature flower details. The flowers and beads were all hand embroidered, while the garment was machine sewn and the hand-cut outer layer machine finished.

These two 1949 Dior dresses with their shimmery scalloped trains remind me of mermaids. They were machine sewn and hand finished with sequins, beads, and horse hair details. 

   

Another one of my favorites for its incredible detail and otherworldly design is this Alexander McQueen dress encrusted with coral and shells. The amount of detail is almost too much to take in, and I can't even begin to imagine how many hours went into hand sewing all of those tiny pieces onto the dress in such density. The design of the dress is unique as well, with the plunging neckline and high collar followed by a hi-low hemline with a pearl-bedecked train. 

This futuristic piece by Gareth Pugh is made with layers of clear drinking straws hand attached to a wool base. Each straw was cut and attached by hand.

I love the crisp white theme of this display, found on the lower level of the exhibit. The ensemble in the foreground was made using 3D printing technology to create the intricate ribbed swirls of the bodice. This is the fascinating type of creativity that makes it's way into runway fashion but rarely onto the streets. A piece like this does more to show the capabilities of fashion when it is combined with technology than to actually inspire wearability. This particular piece was inspired by "the way limestone deposits form shells" according to the designer, Iris van Herpen.
By contrast, the two dresses in the back are from 1968 and 1950 respectively from designer Madame Gres and were both machine stitched and hand gathered.

I always am drawn to fun colorful pieces like this Dior ensemble and its billowing skirt of multi-colored ribbons. This 2015 set was made with a combination of hand and machine sewing. Something like this, as opposed to the Iris van Herpen creation above, is actually fairly wearable given an occasion. I love how boldly girly it is, and how this piece fit into a set of matching ensembles in different colors, also displayed in the exhibit.

At first glance these Chanel suits look pretty typical of the design house's traditional style. But up close you can see that the three to the right are not made of soft fabrics, but rather are made of 3D printed polyamide. The second suit was hand painted to imitate the look of tweed, while the two to the far right have a quilted effect that is actually made of printed plastic layered over a sequined base so that the sparkle of the sequins peeks through the 3D printed layer. Up close the dimensionality of this contrast is really stunning.

 This eye-catching ensemble on the left, by Threeasfour, is 3D printed and hand-appliquéd onto neoprene and mesh. The spirals remind me of vertebrae with their sharp, bone-like structure.
Just behind it, the Proenza Schouler gown reflects the delicate intricacy of lace, but was created using a ceramic "stone" lace, made from a yarn that has the same properties as ceramic. The exhibit's label describes the process as it began by drawing patterns digitally then machine embroidering them onto tulle fabric which is then dipped in acid so that the tulle begins to dissolve. Then the material is bonded to the base fabric with ultrasonic welding. What a process!! The result is a modernized take on lace that give the same elegant look with a positively updated feel.

Lastly, another stunning 3D printed set, these Noa Raviv pieces are meant to create an optical illusion representative of the way 2D lines on a screen clearly depict 3D shapes. Both pieces, although dominated by the machine-created shapes, involve hand sewn or hand finished elements.

The exhibit is open until September 5th if you have the chance to go and see it for yourself! It really is worth your time, and there is so much more to see than what I was able to include here!

xoxo, CC