One of the questions I’m asked most frequently about NYC’s theater district is, “Where in God’s name can I get a good glass of wine?”- well, maybe not exactly in those words, but the point being, it’s tough to surf through the tourist muck and saddle up to a really good glass of vino around the Great White Way.

I used to work on the B-Way. It was my turf for years, and I did my fair share of bad-wine imbibing alongside my fellow hoofers who were more than happy downing their well made martinis. There are lots of  joints serving up a great cocktail, but finding a good wine list in these parts, doesn’t come as easy. Midtown’s got its fair share of blue-hairs and buses, but not a whole lot of Barberas.

Here’s what I know- my five go-to spots to thrill any oenophile.
Drum Roll please…. and Curtain Up:

1. Ardesia: hands down the best and most interesting wine list in midtown Manhattan. These guys are true winos and know of what they serve. Mandy Oser hails from Le Bernadin so she packs a foodie punch and serves up some serious vino cred. I like this place so much I got a job here (I didn’t end up pouring here as we abruptly moved to Virginia- sigh). I always pop in whenever I find myself in the ‘hood. The list is always interesting with a great group of grower champagnes.

2. Caselulla Cheese & Wine Cafe: the cheese and the wine share the stage here- true co-stars, if you will. Stinky, soft, sharp- whatever your fancy, you’ll get your cheese on here with a perfectly-paired pour. Ask the somm here to pair you up so that you get the most out of your flavors. Try a Tokaji or a Madeira with your cheese flight- you won’t be disappointed by this list.

3, Marseilles: this spot has been a favorite of mine since the early aughts. The bar is cozy, boisterous and fun. The wine list is stellar (I used to sell wine to them in fact, by way of my former life as a rep for a small French importer). The wine director has a great nose and manages to sniff out some really rogue and unique picks here. Their sister restaurant, Nizza, next door is also always a good idea. It’s a smaller place and you can grab a yummy pizza with your vino, or better yet- try their Chicken Milanese with a bottle of the very reasonably priced Rosso di Montalcino- double win.

4. Kashkaval Cheese Market and Wine Bar: I adore this colorful little place, it has a special place in my wino heart. I used to live around the corner, and it was the closest thing I ever had to a Cheers. It’s casual, very local and completely unassuming but make no mistake, their wine list is a varied and thoughtful one. At the back of this cheese and Mediterranean market/deli, you’ll find a few tables. No reservations accepted, just hope you can find a spot because the word on this deli/wine bar is definitely out. Enjoy some fresh cheeses, dips and spreads with your glass of Alsatian or Greek white. It’s likely you’ll end up sharing your personal space with a Paulie look-alike from The Sopranos and a woman that resembles an extra from the set of Fiddler on the Roof- babushka and all. Kashkaval feels like real New York.

5. Bar Centrale: the wine list here is good. Not blow your socks off good, but it’s good enough and not really why you’re here anyway. I know this post is about where to get a good glass of wine (and you will get one of those here), but I have to include Bar Centrale as it’s likely that the star of the play you just saw will be sitting right next to you enjoying the very same glass of wine. It’s a little surreal and it’s a lot awesome. It’s small, it’s cozy and it’s for the Broadway babies in the know. Make a reservation if you’re popping in post-show and try to go mid-week, that’s when the show folk go out- not in the middle of their 5 show weekend.

*Another show folk spot not to miss if you like to saddle up next to the stars- Joe Allen‘s- always a good time old school-style- the walls are hung with the posters of Broadway’s most spectacular flops. A Tony-winning choreographer will inevitably be seated next to you- they have to eat too. Joe Allen’s is the real deal, one of my happy places.

Newcomer: Aldo Sohm: the top somm in the world opens his own place. A former Rockette runs the joint. Need I say more? This is a must. Eric Ripert’s right-hand wino curates a meticulously edited wine list that will make your mouth water just reading it. The place is both comfy and buttoned-up, the perfect summation of Sohm’s personality and palate. You feel very taken care of here, and you can kick back on the cozy (but tailored) sofa while sipping your Gruner. You’ll find lots of yummy Austrian picks representing Sohm’s homeland on the list. You cannot go wrong here. Period. Put it on your list.

Honorable Mention: Pigalle: this one may surprise some of you, as it sits on the ground floor of a Days Inn, and seems to cater to the theater-going masses, but this French brasserie is brought to you by the same folks at Marseilles and Nizza, and they know what’s up. While their wine list may not be the most innovative and skews a bit more to the middle, their selection is always good and the food very good and reliable. A plate of French fries dipped in their roast chicken au jus, paired with a Cotes du Rhone, is one of the greatest things on 8th Avenue.

Runner Up: Bocca di Bacco- a good little Italian restaurant on 9th Avenue with a more than good Italian wine list. If you’re into Italian wines, this is your place.

Cin Cin and Enjoy!

Photos: Ardesia top photo: Johnny Simon, Bar Centrale: Jessica Lin, Kashkaval: Robyn Lee

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One of my favorite chefs and our hometown foodie hero, Cathal Armstrong just released his debut cookbook. So of course, I hightailed it to his high end food market/restaurant, Society Fair, to pick up my copy. Hot off the press, this cookbook delivers some hearty yet refined Irish cooking inspired by the sustainable farm-to-table cuisine he has perfected at his flagship Restaurant Eve.

Armstrong is an Irish transplant to the DC area who has single handedly put Alexandria on the A-list foodie map. His local dynasty of destination eateries includes the top notch Eve, Society Fair, The Majestic, Eamonn’s Dublin Chipper and PX. If Alexandria is on your list, you must make it in to one of Armstrong’s spots. He has a great way of capturing the old world while celebrating the new. Each of his restaurants embodies the old school spirit of this Colonial town while churning out inventive and inspired food and drink.

I cooked up an Irish-inspired feast last night in celebration of St. Paddy’s Day and tried my hand at Armstrong’s Hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise you say? Not exactly an Irish invention but so delicious drizzled over some hearty Emerald Isle-inspired dishes. I’ve always been a little afraid of Hollandaise what with all the whisking and clarifying and (potential) curdling, but this approach was rather easy and dare I say- fun. I was whisking and carrying on like a master chef with my oversized stainless steel bowl, wiry tool in hand and butter and yolks running aplenty. I rather enjoyed the whole experience and served the Hollandaise over a crusted seared salmon, roasted parmesan-topped asparagus and roasted fingerlings- all riffs on recipes from My Irish Table. Crazy deliciousness ensued. (see my yellow creation pictured above) We finished the night off with a Salty Caramel Ice Cream Guinness Float. Rather indulgent, but hey- it was a holiday and instead of whooping it up at the local pub like I used to do, with the bebes tucked in their beds, we indulgently dined on some savory eats. Hey man, any excuse. Happy St. Paddy’s Day indeed.

My Irish Table is chock full of hearty and homemade Irish recipes, all elevated to highlight the flavors and the food of Armstrong’s culinary repertoire. Sláinte Chef Armstrong! I heartily recommend.

My Irish Table, $26 Hardcover

*Listen: this interview with Chef Armstrong via Washington DC’s NPR is worth a listen if you dig this type of food.

And… A Few More Irish Fantasies in the Spirit of St. Paddy’s:

On My List:
The Galway Oyster Festival. What could be better than an Irish seaside town, boatloads of fresh oysters, Champagne, Stout and music?

Ballymaloe Cooking School. Armstrong credits this County Cork farm/school as the official pioneer of the farm-to-table modern Irish cooking movement. Heralding Ballymaloe as one of the greatest culinary experiences of his life, I’m sold- it is officially a must-do.

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Here it is folks, my top 5 picks to clink your glasses of vino in Old Town Alexandria. This was a toughie as there are a slew of terrific bars in Old Town, but these 5 are the tops for this vinophile. Tried and true, each spot in this quintet boasts a homegrown feel, a bar you’ll really want to sit at, and most importantly- great juice.

Grape + Bean
The most perfect little family-run local wine shop/wine bar/restaurant/coffee bar, this is the place I want to open one day. I’ve always dreamed of opening a cozy little spot that served up la dolce vita. These guys are big proponents of honest made, natural and terroir-driven wines- my kind of peeps and my kind of bar. I’m a big fan of their classes and winemaker evenings as well. There’s nothing like drinking wine with the guy or gal who made it. The Old Town location fills up quickly, so go early to grab a spot at the tiny bar or an outside table if the weather’s nice. Situated on the magical Royal Street- my favorite street in town- it’s next door to the locally owned cupcake shop, Lavender Moon, across the street from the greatest little creperie, Fontaine, and down the street from a very cool industrial design shop, Carbon. You can’t go wrong on this block. Pop in for a glass of really good vino and a strong cup of coffee. Does it get better?
Grape + Bean  118 S. Royal St.  703-664-0214

Restaurant Eve
Yep. Eve. Not Society Fair, The Majestic or PX- though I would be sorely remiss not to mention these 3 bars/restaurants that complete Chef Cathal Armstrong’s Alexandria dynasty- they are all fabulous, each with its own kind of perfect bar and innovative wine list (they would be my 6th, 7th and 8th pick), but the little bar in the front room of Restaurant Eve is tops for me and my vino. Thanks to master mixologist Todd Thrasher, Eve boasts a great cocktail list too but I’ve never gone wrong with a glass of wine here. The Restaurant is most famous for hosting Presidents, politicos and Washington’s finest in its terrific tasting room, an experience not to be missed, but the bar feels like a little secret, an in-the-know local spot. It’s just a good old-fashioned bar, the kind of room that you want to hang out in and catch up with good friends or spend some quality time solo.
Restaurant Eve  110 S. Pitt St.  703-706-0450

Hank’s Oyster Bar
The Alexandria offshoot of this locally owned seafood restaurant has recently added a gorgeous rowhouse-length marble-topped bar. The better to saddle up to and eat your dollar oysters on, my dears. Hank’s offers up a great wine list serving up salty Muscadets, luscious Italian rosés and zippy sparkling wines- all perfectly paired with those bicoastal bivalves. This is one of my favorite spots in Old Town in general. I’m a “regular” there, it feels a little like Cheers and who doesn’t want that in a bar? Don’t miss the fried oysters with that Muscadet and make sure to show up early. No longer a secret (it never really was but used to be much easier to get into), that long marble top is lately summoning the masses. Even with its recent addition and subsequent boom, Hank’s still feels small and quaint. You’ll count yourself lucky to nab a barstool here.
Happy Hour Dollar Oysters Monday-Thursday from 5-7pm and Fridays from 3-7pm
Hank’s Oyster Bar  1026 King St.  703-739-4265

Brabo Tasting Room
Sitting on the opposite end of King Street, Brabo Tasting Room is the dressed-down little sister to its adjacent and swanky big sis, Brabo Restaurant. I’m more comfortable in the tasting room where they don’t take reservations and I can get a great wood-fired tart with my 3 and 5-ounce pours. A taste or a glass offering of any wine makes it easy for the indecisive, taste a few- that’s the point here, I think. There’s plenty of good juice to go around and any joint that lists a good Loire Valley Savennieres is aces on my list.
Brabo Tasting Room  1600 King Street  703-894-3440

Bilbo Baggins
Ok, so it’s not on this list for the vino, but a glass full of delicious microbrew beer is a worthy clink afterall. Baggins offers up over 150 microbrew vintages with over 32 by bottle and 10 on tap. Mostly, this is a great local joint just off of King Street where you can grab a good glass of suds with some pals. It’s not fancy but it sure is fun and it’s named after a Hobbit. Need I say more?
Bilbo Baggins Global Restaurant  208 King Street  703-683-0300

Images: Hank’s- Andrew Collins, Brabo- Urban Spoon, Baggins- Matthew Culbertson

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Happy Weekend dear readers. Two things: it’s Oscar weekend and February is OUTTA HERE! Hoo-to-the-Ray! Will you all watch the Oscars? I am religious about watching- it’s one of my favorite nights of the year. I used to throw an Oscar party every year, but I could never really hear anything and didn’t ended up really watching, so now we just watch it sans party. I make a little toast to realized dreams each year as I danced on the Oscars in 2000 realizing a dream I’d had since I was a wee lass. Good times. I love these vintage photos of chic ladies and the fabulous Warren Beatty from the 60s. What style. Natalie, Audrey, Grace, Liz… does it get better? Maybe. I can’t wait to see what Lupita wears.

What I’m Drinking: 

Bubbly. Of course. Please, even if I am watching the Oscars in my tiny condo in Virginia, you better believe I’ll be bubbling it up Hollywood style. My wallet can’t handle a bottle of Champers this weekend so it’ll be a Burgundy Cremant Rosé Brut please: Bailly-Lapierre. At $18, how can I go wrong? (Well, I can but I’ll let you know how it all shakes out.) Tasting Note to follow. Good times indeed.

A Few Things: 

If you haven’t already printed this out and made your bets, here’s your Oscar ballot.

The Ice Age Cometh?

This makes me happy. My beat-up old grey Converse are getting a stud-ly makeover just as soon as I have a free hour (which will be never).

A DIY Moroccan Wedding Blanket pendant? So chic.

Oprah auctions off nearly all of her material possessions.

How to get a glimmery smokey eye.

Zagat’s Hottest Coffee Shops in the U.S.

Cin Cin!

Oscar Photos: Alan Grant- Time/Life

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Happy Weekend dear readers! I like to think this lounge chair is waiting for me, it’s a nice thought anyway. What are you all up to this fine February weekend? The temperatures are finally warming up over here so we’re going to try to spend some quality time with outdoors. I’ll be soaking up every last bit of city livin’ that I can while we still live smack dab in the middle of Old Town Alexandria. I love walking to the Saturday Farmers Market, strolling King Street and its fabulous local shops and restaurants (Oh Hank’s, how I’ll miss you and your dollar oysters!)- I’m  so sad to leave this darling town. Granted, we are only moving 15 minutes away but I know how these things go- it’s never quite as easy as you think to get back. I have vowed to make the tiny trek to the Old Town Farmer’s Market every Saturday morning- weather permitting. It has become such a happy place of mine and I’d love the bebes to continue to enjoy the fresh flowers, colorful produce and live music every weekend. I think it’s one of the country’s best small markets. Sigh… I am clearly preparing to say Sayonara to my beloved town and hit the mean streets of the ‘burbs.

But let’s change the subject and get to the vino…
What I’m Drinking:

Let’s talk Tempranillo. A beautiful and versatile Spanish grape, this is the grape of the famed Rioja region. It’s also used all throughout Spain in single varietal bottles as well as blends. The traditional Rioja winemaking method uses American oak. If not well-balanced, I can’t get away from the intensity of the dill that comes through on the nose and I’m not the biggest fan. I’m trying a budget-friendly bottle(because that’s the way we roll around here as Miss V.’s reno slowly steamrolls out of control- Ahhhhh!), Val de los Frailes Tempranillo from Spain’s up and coming Castilla y Leon wine region (hence the lower price tag than a Rioja or Ribera del Duero). I’ll let you know what I think of this one. Tasting note to follow.

A Few Things:

1. This house! Those windows, those trees, all of it. (La Dolce Vita)

2. This girl- that skirt kills me. (The Sartorialist)

3. This leather and pipe DIY wine rack. (Design*Sponge)

4. This cute little scalloped mirror (is $28).

5. This bike with a bucket.

6. This Garden to Table Harvest Party! A garden between the sidewalk and the street- now that is genius. (The Yellow Table)

And Another Thing(s):

The James Beard semi-finalists are out. Any in your neck of the woods? I’ve already made a date with my friend Maddie to get to Rose’s Luxury here in DC.

Bucket list hotels.

Sucks to be this guy.

Beck- the Silver Lake Springsteen? I don’t know. What say you?

Charlie and Meryl, how we love thee, but boy do I love their moms even more!

I’m not quite sure what to think about this. Now with the Op-Eds? Franco, you’re pushing it.

It’s almost spring, time to break out the leopard flats. I found these at Target for $14. Stick an orthotics insert in there and you’re good to go. (I sound like I’m 80, but let’s be honest- a $14 shoe is not going to be big on arch support).

Top 10 Spring Break Destinations via The Glitter Guide.

Great clutches- not exactly budget-friendly, but fun to look at.

An oversized navy cable knit pullover with a couple of zippers for fun at $38? Ok.

And lastly… Yuna Kim was robbed, I’m just saying.

Cin Cin ya’ll and Enjoy the weekend!

Image

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Happy Valentines Day dear readers. Are you all celebrating this lovey dovey holiday? I have to admit, I have always loved this syrupy-sweet day. But let’s get down to brass tacks on this one already, its origins are not as sweet-hearted as you may think. While I admit, I don’t love this lover’s day for the doilies and bon bons as much as I do for the excuse to celebrate, I had no idea the possible origins of St. Valentine’s Day were so dark.

It all started in Rome as much in our Western history has- those Romans really had a way with making some serious history. Apparently, young women would line up at the chance to have Rome’s men hit on them and by that, I do mean quite literally hit them. What seems nuts to us, was ceremonial for them- part of the annual feast of Lupercalia. The women of the time thought that these whippings and lashes would make them fertile. A (potential) mother’s love knows no boundaries. Not exactly the Hallmark holiday we’ve come to know and love, filled with cut-out hearts and tangy candy, is it?

In any case, we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Well, I do anyway. My hubby does by default. If it weren’t for me pointing out this day on a yearly basis sometime around say January 15th, it would come and go without him batting an eye. I don’t blame him, it is sort of silly. Why celebrate love on this one specific day? Why not show it in small ways throughout the year? But then again… why not? For me, any excuse to take time and celebrate is aces in my book. I’ve officially put C on Valentine duty. He has obliged and apparently planned something fun and wacky (which is one of my specifications) for us this evening.

Valentine Cocktails and a Few More Thoughts on Love and Some Other Random Things:

What I’m Drinking: 

This lovely little Valentine rosé champagne cocktail cut to be a bit less sweet (nothing worse than a super sweet cocktail- blech!) to start St. Valentines evening off the right way- a classic cocktail and it’s pink. And… maybe this Prickly Pear Fizz too.

A Few Things: 

1. 10 Best Love Stories. Says who? Says Jennifer Rose Smith at Camille Styles. Ok, I was a bit dubious when I clicked on this article but it had me at Paul and Joanne- pretty much my personal all-time favorite couple in the history of coupledom- so much so that one of the dinner tables at our wedding was named after them (we had a favorite couple theme for our long family style tables). Paul and Joanne- it just doesn’t get any better than you two.

2. What a great little hot pink heart print- this would be super smart on a gallery wall.

3. I love these Valentines from Indigo Bunting.

4. This not-too-sweet rosé champagne cocktail is what I’m drinking tonight.

5. Is this custom heart stamp cute or what? What a great engagement or Valentines Day gift, if you go in for that sort of thing.

6. Rome. The obvious choice for a destination Valentine getaway. I mean come on, as far as we know this whole holiday originated there, a couple of people by the name of Valentine were executed there and above all else, the eternal city is absolutely dripping with amor and gigantesco Italian passion. Paris- nah, it’s Rome all the way. At the very least, we should go and pay homage to all of those poor souls who endured those ridiculous whippings in the name of love- read the full story here.

And A Few More Things: 

When in Rome… check out American food and travel writer/sommelier/art historian/travel guide Katie Parla’s Rome Restaurant Guide and App. She’s an expat whose been there for years and knows the eternal city like the back of her hand. An insider’s guide to eating well in Rome, to be sure. Do as the Romans do, right?

And while we’re still talking about Roma, this recipe for the classic Roman pasta dish, Bucatini all’Amatriciana looks divine. This dish was my dad’s favorite so I’ve always had an affinity for it (mine senza guanciale)- a great dish for a cold winter’s eve and a good bet if you’re staying in tonight and want to make something molto bene.

A fun look at a day in the life of designer Clare Vivier.

Want to make some cute heart-shaped cookies for your cupid but no cookie cutter in sight? Fear not, here’s a great little DIY heart-shaped cookie cutter.

The dinner party plates of my dreams- vintage Fornasetti Malachite- Come. On.  If only I could find a full set. Pricey but totally worth saving up for.

Ha ha. I would love to be sitting next to this guy.

And totally randomly, don’t you wish you were here right about now?

Cin Cin and Happy Valentines Day!

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Happy Weekend dear readers. I don’t want to come off crass, but I have been known to use colorful language from time to time so when I saw this quote floating around on Pinterest, well- I kind of had to bite. The author of this illustrious quote is sadly unknown- pretty funny.

Well, at the risk of crying wolf, I regretfully did not get Miss Virginie’s (our new house) photos up here along with inspiration images and reno updates, as promised. We just brought down the demo hammer this week. Woohoo! Still, no time to post due to the freezing tundra that is currently Northern Virginia (I’m officially over winter) and the unbelievable amount of time it takes to get the kiddos in and out of the house (they look just like the kids all bundled up in A Christmas Story) and this insane preschool application process that I am currently enduring. Oh, and I started teaching at George Mason this week- I’m officially an academic. Pretty fun. I’m an Adjunct Professor and teaching the dance majors advanced ballet. I’m thrilled to be there, the program is run like a conservatory and the talent, faculty and studio spaces are outstanding- good times.

What are you all up to this weekend? We will start packing up our tiny apartment and start the epic move into Miss Virginie. We don’t anticipate actually moving in for another few weeks because of the reno, but we’ll get a headstart so that we can try to make this place look half way attractive to potential buyers (it’s current state is pretty much a toy explosion).

What I’m Drinking: 
An old standby, this Morellino di Scansano. I crave an Italian red when it’s cold out and when I don’t want to splurge on my favorite region (Brunello!), I go in for this little beauty. It’s $15, rustic but not too rustic, tastes and smells of dirt, cherries and wild herbs, and is a trusty and excellent partner to pizza, pasta and my fancy homemade grilled cheese (mozzarella, pesto, tomatoes, and olive bread pressed with a grill iron- yum and eat your heart out panini!) .

A Few Things of Note: 

A Somm who actually tries to sell his wine as cheap as he can? This is a guy after my own heart. I know I don’t live there anymore, but I can’t help following my NYC Eater feed and reading about the city’s latest and greatest eateries. Pearl & Ash has been on the list since it opened last year. Admission: I have their wine list bookmarked and sometimes… I just click to read and reread, dreaming up what I’ll order when I finally pony up to the bar. Patrick Cappiello has done a killer job with the wine list. Here it is, read it and weep.

How a working class couple amassed a priceless art collection- this is so cool.

How delicious does this little citrus honey yogurt tart look! I want to make this for a Sunday brunch party.

This brass hood kills me. I’d love to have it in my kitchen, they are really tough to find affordably, let me know if you come across one.

Ralph & Russo channels Grace Kelly- I wish I had somewhere to wear this.

Wow! Go DC! 44 DC theatre companies to showcase works written by women.

These are some seriously inspired Ikea hacks. After pricing out dining chairs (sigh), I think I might just go Ikea and arm myself with a Sharpie to replicate the coveted Les Touche pattern on the seat covers like this clever gal did here. Inspired!

Cin Cin ya’ll and enjoy the weekend!

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Portrait of Francoise With A Bow In Her Hair, Picasso 1946.

I love the drawings of Francoise, Picasso’s second to last wife, and this one with the little bow is my favorite. His interpretation of her is so lovely. It’s interesting to compare his artistic representation of Francoise to the other women in his life, especially Dora Maar- whoa.

Well hello dear readers. Please excuse the radio silence as of late. We closed on our house, my hubby’s still in Istanbul, I’m trying as hard as I can to wrangle 2 spots for the kiddos in a great preschool (which translates to tons of time spent at open houses) and my mom and I were busy playing with the bebes and enjoying long lunches out- it was a momentous week. I promised some photos and inspiration boards for Miss Virginie (our new abode) but clearly did not muster up the time to do so. Next week… there’s always next week.

I hope you all are off to some swell adventures this weekend. We have no big plans and I don’t even know what I’m drinking, though I may try this. I’m in the mood for something big, bold, a bit funky and cheap- our reno budget is loomly large over my brain.

A few things here and there that caught my eye: 

52 Places to Go in 2014, c/o the New York Times. What’s on your list?

Eat like it’s summer using winter seasonal veggies- a great salad to cure the winter blues.

Girl Scout wine pairings anyone? ‘Tis the season for the Thin Mint and… Syrah? A little scary maybe, but fun for an over-indulgent girls night in. My sister-in-law Lauren sent me this- fun.

This very well might blow your mind. If you need to save 30 seconds in a given day, here’s a nifty way to separate your egg yolks.

Now this is the kind of hostel I’m talking about. I did my time in the blech hostels of Europe during my student roaming days and vowed I would never do so again, but the new wave in luxe hostels might change my mind. If anyone’s headed to Venice and low on cash (an oxymoron of sorts, right) check this joint out.

These black and gold metal barstools are rocking my world.

While we’re talking about furniture, my heart skips a beat when I find something like this on craigslist. I would need to have it reupholstered and maybe even repainted a high gloss black or white, but it’s pretty fabulous.

The 10 Best Golden Globe Dresses? What do you think?

I’m jonesing for a Moroccan wedding blanket. Anyone know where I can score one that won’t break the bank?

Cin Cin all and enjoy the weekend!

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I love this hand drawn map, from Mapping Manhattan: A Love (and Sometimes Hate) Story in Maps by 75 New Yorkers. What a cool idea. I lived in the artsy, busy and bookish neighborhoods of NYC during my tenure there, never the “stylish” according to this New Yorker, but I may beg to differ.

Happy Weekend dear readers.  I hope you all are off to some exciting adventures. My mom is heading into town as my hubby heads to Istanbul. He’s working on a ballet there so he’ll be gone for over a week, thankfully CiCi (aka my mom) is hightailing it east. What would we do without our moms!

We are closing on our house next week (fingers crossed) and then we’re going to … Release the Kraken. We’re tearing down walls, repainting, staining and refinishing the floors and completely gutting and creating an entirely new kitchen (yay!). There are a million things I want to do this house. Every room is just so wrong right now and desperately cries out to be fixed but budget dictates that I must exercise some serious patience with her (my house, that is). I am the type of person that likes to tackle everything all at once, I can’t stand to leave things undone, but I don’t much have a choice here and will have to channel my inner Zen-ness.

In the meantime, I can’t wait to start scouring flea markets, vintage stores and craigslist to round out my decor. Stay tuned next week as I’ll be posting BEFORE pictures of Miss Virginie (after our dear newfound home state of course) along with some mood boards with a slew of ideas for design. I’m trying really hard to curb my enthusiasm for a California late-mid century house and respect the fact that Miss Virginie is of course a Virginia native with an unfortunate Colonial-ish vibe. Now, I pretty much hate anything Colonial, so you can bet that those ridiculous faux columns embracing the front door will be first to go. Inside, she’s a blank slate so I can really do anything but feel like I need to keep reminding myself that I’m in Virginia and not Laurel Canyon.

I would love your thoughts! We haven’t done a big reno project since our New York apartment and I’ve never done a kitchen, I’m pretty psyched.

What are you all up to this weekend? I’m going to hang with the kiddos and CiCi and watch Tina and Amy light it up on the Globes- my favorite awards show of the year, no one really takes it that seriously and everyone’s just drunk and happy, really the best kind of awards- and those two ladies kill me, they can get away with anything.

What I’m Drinking This Weekend:

I’m sticking with Southern France. My post this week about the Languedoc made me nostalgic for that part of the world, so I think I’ll try this inexpensive bottle from the Cotes du Rhone. Tasting note to follow. I once heard a Somm say that you really could never go too wrong with a bottle of Cotes du Rhone, but I would have to disagree with that as I have gone very wrong indeed. Let’s hope this one is promising, especially since it’s $12.

And maybe this ode to Maggie Smith: the Dowager Countess Cocktail for my Downton Abbey viewing.

A Few Things:

The Northern Lights- I have got to get to Iceland to see this fantastical sight. Anna Watson Carl’s posts about her recent trip to see the galactic display, are so inspiring. And this hotel blows my mind.

15 30-Minute Meals from the gals at A Beautiful Mess.

Crafty Winter Activities for the kiddos from Handmade Charlotte.

A True Artist- this is so sweet.

This looks amazing. Big Thornbirds fan- totally looking forward to this.

CBK, “the Original Gwyneth?”, I don’t know what do you think? I know that I love me some CBK, looking through these photos is kind of fabulous and makes me so nostalgic for the late 90s.

Cin Cin ya’ll! Have a great weekend.

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City sidewalks, busy sidewalks… well, you know how it goes. I gave myself 20 minutes to soak up the holiday cheer on NYC’s 5th Avenue yesterday. Midtown is a bit bonkers this time of year so I don’t like to spend lots of time on that part of the island, but I always have to at least step foot on the Avenue with all that holiday glow.

Just a few snaps of the holiday spirit- the Cartier building (my favorite- that bow!), the snowflake on 57th, the rink at Rockefeller, the windows at Saks, the toy soldier on guard outside the St. Regis, and a spiky gold ornament at Gucci. Good clean Christmas-y fun.

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