Hu Kitchen

Warning: This may get long and rambly so feel free to skip to the pictures if you don't feel like reading today.

I don't really talk about it too much here but I'm on an annoyingly restricted diet for the most part and it's rare that I can eat out {this explains my habit of pinning millions of food recipes, many of which I can't or shouldn't eat}. I actually envy those who are gluten or lactose free since the ingredients they can't eat are labeled. One of the things about travel is that it's hard to find a place that I can find food to eat that won't make me feel cruddy the next day.

On my last trip to Manhattan, I took a couple of boring food bars with me {the Pure Organic ones that are really just meh tasting but I will eat in a pinch} but since I was sick I really wanted something healthy. Leaving at 4 am meant that I hadn't planned a bit for food other than the two food bars {I kind of figured I could just drink more coffee if I was hungry, please tell me I'm not the only one who does this}.

I was walking from Haven's Kitchen, where the girl at the counter was so hung over she never gave me the coffee I asked for, when I stumbled upon this hippie restaurant called Hu Kitchen, and figured I'd stop in.  I was ready for lunch, or at least that lost coffee.  I didn't actually get food, but I found what might be the cutest bottle of freshly-squeezed orange juice, coffee, and a nice looking interior mixes birch logs and rustic stumps with stainless steel, marble and modern lighting.  It's part fancy and part hippie. 
 

These side tables were pretty much everywhere, as was the marble.  I like how the bright stainless is paired with the slab of wood.

I also got to try 3 kinds of milk since they were all almost empty and I was too lazy to ask for more.  Luckily I'm not weirded out by non-homogenized things.

Takashimaya

I found this old picture taken in the Flower Shop at the 5th Avenue Takashimaya.  I loved the wrought iron railing with the butterflies but I'm pretty sure it is gone since Forever 21 moved in.

I was sitting on the bench like a sad, drowned rat {we had gotten caught in a downpour with no umbrella} and literally lifted my camera from my lap and took the picture without looking and it was my best photo of the day considering.  My favorite part is how the cove lighting glows such a surreal bright yellow.

Crosby Street Hotel

I've had this hotel photo in a desktop folder for a while since I wasn't sure where I got it.  Then I found out how to find an image's source {I have a tutorial for how to do this scheduled for tomorrow}.

via Firmdale Hotels

The Crosby Street Hotel is related to the Soho Hotel that I posted about back in August.  I really love the black and white color palette of this room and the sort of relaxed glamorous feel it has to it.

I'm not really sold on the dressmaker's mannequin though.  It just looks like one more thing to squeeze around in a very tight room.  If I every stayed here, I'd probably haul it into the closet {assuming there is one} to get it out of the way.

The Nolitan Hotel

I really like this new little {kind of} hotel in Nolita, the part of Manhattan I usually wind up in every trip to Manhattan - sometimes on purpose and sometimes accidentally.  I have seen the Nolitan Hotel described as luxurious and maybe it is in person, from the it photos seems to be more comfy and a bit spartan which is a good combination in a hotel.

The bath tub is in the bedroom but at least there is a curtain surrounding it if you prefer.

{photos: Nolitan Hotel}

What Happens When

Perhaps it's my love of floor plans {to me they are equivalent to shiny objects to a crow} that draws me to this now closed restaurant.  It is a pretty simple concept, basic, monochromatic and all built on the floor plans drawn right on the floors, walls and ceiling.

The ceiling display changed monthly with each new concept and menu.  I believe this is February.

For more information on the concept you can read this article or this one.  

Funny thing is, without even realizing it, I was taking pictures of the building it was in back in May.  My great grandmother and great uncle lived on that block back in the 1940s and '50s and I was taking pictures for my father to look at to see if he could identify the buildings still.  Had I only known, I would have tried to visit the restaurant in person.

{photos: Interior Design}

Kips Bay Showhouse - The Porches

I think one of the best parts of the Kips Bay Showhouse this year is the porches.  In particular, the fourth floor porches, which were designed by Robert Stilin & Gunn Landscape Architecture.  I spent a good amount of time in one of the covered areas {it rained lightly for a second and I made myself at home} and it was one of the nicest parts of my day.  At four floors up and facing a small outdoor garden it seemed quiet and relaxing. 

Just look at the giant comfy bench on the side.

And the view if you look up.

The street-side porch was a bit narrower and didn't have the nice covered areas the larger porch did, but it had plenty of greenery and seating so you can people-watch.

I think if I had a few million dollars burning a hole in my pocket I would seriously consider buying this place for the porches alone.

{photos: jeanine}

Nine West Sophie Theallet Window

I love the quilling I spotted in the window of the Soho Nine West store for their Sophie Theallet collection.

If you enlarge this photo, you can see how they used the paper as "shelf brackets" below.

I have no idea how they attached it to the glass but it looks amazing.  I would love to learn how to do this on my own.

{photos: jeanine}

ICFF & Kips Bay

Yesterday I went down to Manhattan for a visit to the ICFF and Kip's Bay Showroom.

I returned with a ton of pictures and a couple of broken feet.  After March's trip, I swore I wouldn't walk so much this time.  Somehow I still managed to walk over 10 miles on Saturday {not including inside the Javits Center}.  While my feet are recovering, I plan to spend some time sorting through all the photos I took and scheduling a bunch of posts to share the best of what I found. 

{photo: jeanine}

Anthropologie Window Display - All About Sewing

Or mostly about sewing....I recently stopped by the Rockefeller Center Anthropologie to check out the displays.  This season seemed to be all about parts and pieces, table and chair pieces and clothing materials composed most of the displays.

 

Coat hangers make up the bones of this dress and a few others.

To the side of this display is a nail head trim trunk.

  
The requisite piled furniture display was found but this time with tables.

I liked this bed a lot, too bad there was so much glare on this side of the building.

{photos: jeanine}

Ella's Doors

I took a quick trip to Manhattan last weekend.  I have been trying to get there since last October so it was a long time coming.  I was overdue for a visit here, checked out a {disappointing} new fabric store , unknowingly walked by my great-grandmother's and great uncle's old apartments, and found these great doors in Alphabet City.

I have some other photos - I'll get those up soon.

{photos: jeanine}

Marni Boutique

The Marni boutique is one of those boutiques that I think about every now and again.  I love the curving clothes rack and, especially the stools - you can see them to the left on the photo above.

One of my favorite details is the metal shelf that transitions into the clothes rack.

{image: harpers bazaar}

The Wright Restaurant

I love the design of The Wright Restaurant at the Guggenheim in NYC.  The sculpture on the wall reminds me of the lights from traffic you will find zooming by on the street.  It was meant to mimic the horizon as it's title is actually, The horizon produced by a factory once it had stopped producing views (2009).

Whatever the intent, it is a great space. 

{photo: click on photo to go to Flickr source}

Pattern of the Day

Found on a walk through Soho.  I'm not sure what street, but it ran north/south.

{photo: jeanine}

Whittemore House

My new favorite place to get my hair cut is Whittemore House in the West Village.  I booked an appointment here on a whim {after some research to make sure I wasn't just being impulsive} and left for Manhattan with a promise to a friend that I would be open to something a bit different.  I left the salon with the best haircut I've ever had.

I'd like to think I selected this particular place mostly because everyone on the website had great hair, but part of me knows that some portion of my decision was made because of the interiors.  The salon is in a historic 1830s mansion that was part of the underground railroad.

The best way I can think to describe the interiors is a mix of glamour and rock and roll. The more glamorous details like the venetian mirrors and nail head trimmed wainscoting in the bathroom are offset by the slightly grungy {in a good way} faux finished walls, exposed brick and the chairs spilling stuffing out their sides in the waiting area.

And, yes, I did take a picture in the bathroom.  I couldn't help myself. 

{photos: #1 - Time Out New York; #2 - Daily Candy; #3 - jeanine}

Winter Windows at Barneys

I would never think to put any winter holiday and the 35th anniversary of Saturday Night Live together, but that's just what Barneys did this winter.

 

 

I suppose the only way these are holiday windows is due to the saying around the edge.  It reads, "have a witty holiday".   Though I haven't regularly watched it in years, I did love SNL back in the day and it was interesting to see which characters were selected for the windows.  The slightly surreal and misshapen faces do creep me out a bit though.

{photos: jeanine}

Winter At Anthropologie

Anthropologie, once again, has creative and interesting winter windows.  They vary in theme from snowy exterior scenes to snowy interior scenes to one with a white Christmas tree {I'm assuming this is what it is since it has a star on top}.

My favorite window was the most simple one with a birdhouse and tree covered in snow.

The snow scene below was constructed with stacked boxes made out of what looks like paper.

I think this car scene was one of the most creative.  If you look at the details, you can see that the car, deer crossing sign and part of the stop sign are actually upholstered.  Piles of fabric make up the snow.

 

Another of the windows had a house and trees made of small layered pieces of paper.  The shutters and scene in the window add a touch of realism.

 

Stacked chairs seem to be a popular window display concept this year.  This time, they've added a bit of snow.

{photos: jeanine}