Around the Girl in 80 Ways

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Brewshot Redux

Brewshot, Jersey City

One of my all time favorite coffee houses in Jersey City. I covered it in an earlier post here. I stopped by the other day and was once again taken in by the loft-like open space, with its wood-paneled ”nouveau rustic” walls. Saturday mornings can be quite peaceful there. For me it is the perfect working space and great for group meetings, too. If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello. 

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Sleepless in Seattle

Hello Seattle, Pleased to meet you!

I recently spent two days in Seattle. With a jam-packed schedule and only a few hours to explore, I was limited to the downtown district which was within walking distance from my hotel. I started at the Pike Place Market, stopped by the historic first Starbucks—but couldn't grab a cuppa because the line was too long—and ended at Pier 57, which had an old-timey appeal. Seattle is a city surronded by natural beauty, and those who have deep-rooted appreciation for the outdoors would love it here. I definitely want to come back some time soon and get to know the city better.

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Elysian Cafe

Perched on the corner of Washington and 10th lies the oldest continually run bar/restaurant in Hoboken, New Jersey: The Elysian Café, a French bistro with a lot of ambience and character. The main dining room has a hearty, laid back feel with a welcoming oval bar and a pastoral mural that spans the entire bar area. The antique ceiling is elaborate, with its filigree design and cherubs playing harps. I especially love the vintage lamp which cast a warm glow across the room.

The main dining room opens to an inner room, another dining area which is bright, with white, ornamented ceiling and walls and blue-and-silver flocked wallpaper. The menu is simple and the portions are, well, American. The food was satisfying and the price modest. Seyi took me here for my birthday, and unlike the first time we visited, the place was nearly empty because we went at that odd time between lunch and dinner, which turned out to be perfect: we missed the afternoon crowd. I had the grilled chicken sandwich with pomme frites and Seyi had the fish and chips with tartar sauce and malt vinegar. The next time you are in this neck of the woods be sure to stop by, and bring along a healthy appetite.

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A Denim Affair

The jumpsuit is fundamentally a utilitarian garment. In seeking to elevate it to couture one might pair it with lighthearted nearly frivolous accessories. The juxtaposition of workman like substructure and impractical garnish creates the tension that makes the outfit. I have always loved the dungarees but I never really thought about the jumpsuit until I came across this denim example, last fall. I love the idea of the jumpsuit because it makes getting dressed so effortless. This particular jumpsuit has a funtional aesthetic; to take the look from casual to dressy I paired it with booties and a bold necklace, and since I didn’t have the right belt to break up the look I decided to tie a scarf around my waist instead.  I have a feeling this item is going to be part of my wardrobe for a long time. 

Zara jumpsuit, coat, and wool scarf//| H&M Booties // GALiAN New York handbag // Bauble bar Rolo Chain Collar necklace//

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Bigger in Texas

During our last visit to San Antonio, Texas. We stopped by Two Brothers Barbecue Market for some good ‘ol Texas barbecue. We chose this particular joint because it boasted classic Texas pit barbecue. The restaurant is family friendly, and miles away from mainstream San Antonio. We wanted to avoid the tourist traps and find authentic local food, and we managed to do just that. The diner has a rustic feel with live oak trees indoors and out. Once inside ordering was easy, with so much to choose from we finally settled on beef brisket, chopped beef, sausage, creamed corn, and peachy beans. The food was moist, and tender, smokey and delicious. My verdict, Perfecto!

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Cure for the Winter Blahs…

New York City is one of the most populous industrial cities in the world, and, to be quite honest, it is not the prettiest. It doesn’t have the romance of Venice or Paris—no canals or afternoon strolls along the Seine. But when it snows, New York is beautiful. A blanket of white covers the city and what you get is a wintery tapestry.

The day after however, is something else: salt, melting ice, muddy streets and cars churning up black slush make getting around quite messy. On drab winter days I often feel the urge to stay indoors. When I finally throw away the covers, I brew myself a cup of coffee and add a pop of color to beat the blues. I especially love Mac’s Ruby Woo, and this yellow sweater is a ray of sunshine cutting through the gray.

These days any outfit casual enough to run around with Tiger (without the boots, of course) yet stylish enough for date night or girls night out is a keeper. Thanks, Seyi, for the outfit shots!

Zara sweater, jacket, scarf and jeans//| ,DMSX Donald  J Pliner, Boots //  Juice Couture,Bracelet // Watch, Modify Watch, , Forever 21, clutch} Thank you DMSX Donald  J Pliner| for the beautiful boots!

[aroundthegirl]

Palacio Del Rio

Last Thanksgiving we were invited to Houston, TX. Since we would be spending time in Texas anyway, we decided to visit San Antonio, a place we’d never been. Excitedly we booked the Hilton Palacio del Rio because of it’s prime location, including a dining room patio that opened right onto the River Walk.

What I expected during our stay was fairly warm weather and long, lazy strolls along the riverside walkways. What we got was quite the opposite. Autumn breeze as cold as the one we left in New York. A peek through the tall glass windows of the hotel during breakfast was all it took to brave the cold weather outside.

San Antonio — what a beautiful city! Arched stone bridges, colorful rows of umbrellas, waterside tables, idyllic waterfall, nearly empty colorful tour boats. This city is so rich in art and architectural history: LaVillita to the King William Historic district. Before I knew it was all over. Despite the cold, I had a great time and look forward to visiting again hopefully in better weather.

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Rustic New York

An iconic bridge in the North Woods

New York City is a city of landmarks, each of them a monument to engineering and daring. The Empire State Building. The Statue of Liberty. The Brooklyn Bridge. The George Washingtion Bridge. Even Central Park. Many people may not realize that New York's garden jewel is a wholly artificial ecosystem, a meticulously drained and erigated swampland turned picturesque park. Despite it's man made nature, it remaines deeply evocative of nature and naturalism and a New York City highlight attraction. A while back I was in one of my favorite parts of Central Park, the North Woods, a fugacious forest of oak, maple, and ash that encourages exploration. Spend sometime wandering, the rewards are plenty, and you will come upon beautiful rustic structures: benches, oak bridges, and gazebos all built from trees that have been pruned or removed from the park, none is wasted. 

Wisteria arbor near 72nd street and Central Park West

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2014

Adieu 2013! Hello 2014

As I reflected over the past year, I was drawn to  Psalm 139. For me, knowing that I am part of a Maker's plan gives me great comfort. I'm so excited to see what 2014 brings! I didn't write any New Year's resolutions this year, but I do have goals I would like to check off my list. As for this blog, the plan is to share more beautiful pictures and life in the Big Apple. Wishing you all a wonderful and prosperous New Year!

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Sunday Brunch

Moroccan couscous with red peppers, potatoes, raisins, toasted pine nuts, hummus and egg plant with organic chicken. Superb! I rarely venture into Nolita these days—well, not since my college days, when I worked at Victoria’s Secret in SoHo. So I was glad when Adri suggested Café Gitane, a charming French Moroccan restaurant in Nolita for brunch. I walked in famished, since I refused to eat in order not to ruin my appetite, and walked out satiated and imbued with energy. So when Allie recommended we walk through the crowded streets of SoHo, filled with last-minute shoppers, I was down. Good food, banter with friends, and walking around Manhattan in 70-degree weather in the middle of winter! All the makings of a great weekend, don't you think? Thanks, Josephina, for organizing brunch.

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Autumn in New York

The week before Thanksgiving I went on an autumnal photography walk through Inwood Park on the "Upper, Upper West Side." I love this park because it is an oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of New York City. Here the constant noise of the city fades away, and I am surrounded by silence and beauty. Nature reigns supreme, and I love it.

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Chocolate Tasting with Neuhaus

One of the great things about living in New York is the serendipitous discovery of new things. A little while ago I stumbled upon Neuhaus, the luxury Belgian chocolatier at Grand Central Station. I have walked past the store many times but never went in; on this particular day, I decided to step inside and take a look. Many pictures and a chocolate later, I was delighted I did. I returned a week later to take more pictures for the blog; it turned out that Neuhaus was hosting an event that evening for food bloggers and reporters! An hour later I found myself at the Neuhaus flagship store on Madison Avenue for what would be my most delicious assignment just yet—sample fancy pralinés by nine internationally reowned pastry chefs.

What happens when Neuhaus partners with notable pastry chefs from around the world? A union of chocolate with unique local ingredients to create Haute Pâtisserie, a limited edition box containing a total of 27 pralinés. The event was hosted by Dominique Ansel, a French expatriate in New York known for his creation of the cronut. Ansel told us his creation was inspired by a childhood memory: “I remember tasting peanut butter for the first time at the age of six. It was an exciting flavor! I never tasted it again until I moved back to the States.” My favorite chocolate from this collection is by the Belgian, Raphaël Giot. He created a "slightly salted caramel ‘à l’ancienne’ on a layer of velvety praliné enriched with pieces of hazelnuts, enrobed with dark chocolate.” Trust me, it is delicious. If you can't drop by the store you can order online here. Enjoy!

"I remember tasting peanut butter for the first time. It was an exciting flavor!"

—Dominique Ansel

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On Instagram

My ID badge from the Lucky FABB conference; a yummy raspberry tart from Financier (you can read more about it here); Tiger in his Spider-man outfit on Halloween; some fresh roses from Dahlia at Grand Central Station; a walk through Bryant Park on my commute home; delicious petit four from Financier; dinner at Boi na Brasa Churrascaria with friends, and Tiger who slept through it; showing off my baubles and ESQ Movado watch; a gift from Neuhaus; lunch with NYC bloggers; sampling Neuhaus limited edition chocolate; and, lastly, myself in Venice wearing a beautiful dress by Club Monaco

    A peek behind the scenes of Around the Girl in 80 Ways.

Around the Girl is a collection of narratives, formed of my experiences over time, mostly related to fashion, food and lifestyle. The posts presented here are the result of a fair bit of work; over on Instagram I have a more fluid, continuous chronicle. What ends up on these pages is often drawn from my feed, as well as other photos I haven't shared anywhere.

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Financier

"It is the pairing of the coffee with a delightful pastry that keeps me coming back"

One of my favorite spots for coffee in NYC is Financier patisserie, a charming shop that specializes in signature French pastries. Each serving of coffee comes with their signature pastry, The Financier, a gold bar-shaped almond cake. Their coffee is good, but it is the pairing of the coffee with a delightful pastry that keeps me coming back. I love it!

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The Haunted Pumpkin Garden

This year I wasn’t quite sure how to celebrate Halloween with my 22-month old, so I was delighted when a friend told me about The Haunted Pumpkin Garden at the New York Botanical Gardens. The display featured over 500 carved pumpkins, bats, bugs and slimy creatures, a "gourd-geous" pumpkin house where children could play, a pumpkin puppet theater, and a Halloween parade where kids can show off their beautiful costumes. Tiger and I had a great time exploring the garden and we even saw a slippery slimy snake! 

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Croissant de Triomphe

The other day we sat down as a family to watch some Mickey shorts with Tiger. As a self-proclaimed lover of all things French and someone who enjoys Disney animation, I love this video! The French accent, the architecture, la Tour Eiffel, l’Arc de Triomphe and the crazy traffic around it, les gendarmes… the list goes on. The cameo of Cinderella and Prince charming, the voice of the scooter (like someone making engine noises with their mouth). The short is full of caricatures of “Frenchness” Enjoy!

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BREWSHOT

A few months ago I discovered Brewshot, a gourmet coffee and tea house in Jersey City. Designed by architect Joshua Cummings and graphic designer Ross Clugston, the space is bright and airy with exposed rafters and predominantly wood construction. Researching Brewshot online I discovered the owner Arun's intent to have it serve as a creative space. Propped up againt the windows and walls, a collection of books and magazine from different eras on different subjects from Flaubert and Joyce to an English-Hungarian dictionary even the knick-knacks reflect this vision. So stop by. Grab a cup. Pull up a chair. Luxuriate