august in new york

Hi there —

Spending August in Brooklyn has heightened my appreciation for the hustle and bustle of city living. It’s a contrast from Maine, where we were tucked down a long dirt road and could go days without seeing anyone. Here, you step outside and you are immediately swept into the mix -- dodging cars, bikes, and runners, squeezing onto the subway, and walking for miles. It’s constant movement, overstimulation and energy. It peaks curiosity and pulls you in. 

We spent the month eating yummy food, mostly off of a list our very own Emma (a restaurant and tour guide QUEEN) put together. Highlights included:

• Upland - Italian (Midtown)

• Shoo Shoo - Mediterranean (Soho)

• Douska - Sushi (Lower East Side)

• Sisters - New American (Prospect Heights)

• Miss Ada - Mediterranean (Fort Greene)

• Mao Mao - Thai (Bushwick)

• Kellogg's Diner - Classic all night diner (Williamsburg)

• Coffee:

  • Conwell Coffee Hall (Wall Street)

  • Sey Coffee (Bushwick)

  • Purslane (Prospect Park)

  • Loveless Coffee (Buskwick)

Other than eating, one of my favorite activities was going to Happy Medium Art Cafe in Manhattan. The concept is so clever - it’s like a restaurant, but instead of ordering a meal, you order a craft. Here’s the description from their website:  

“Just like in a restaurant, every person orders their own menu item when they arrive, we serve you tableside, and clean up the mess when you're done. It's the perfect place to create with friends or simply get lost in your own creativity. We also have hundreds of art books, art objects, and fresh flowers to keep you inspired. Art cafe experiences are fully self-guided.”

If you are in Manhattan anytime soon, I would HIGHLY recommend. We did the terracotta air dry clay and I made mini-clay bells that I'll finish when we are back home in October. 

Walking, chatting, eating and then walking some more – that’s New York for ya! And all of that walking meant I could notice the little things, especially the exteriors of buildings. 

There were stretches of concrete and brick, often with intricate designs (flowers, faces, patterns). And just when it started to feel too industrial, nature pops in - trees, plants, and wood softening the edges.

What am I taking home from here? 

• If a room feels like it’s missing something - add a plant

• You don’t need a large space to have an impactful design moment

• Instead of trying to copy someone else’s style, use it to help you find your own

New York was busy, loud, and alive — everything Maine is not, and that contrast made me have more appreciation for both places. 

I’m heading back to Oceanside with new ideas for Nora, a few clay bells in my bag (hopefully not broken at this point??), and a deeper curiosity for how spaces can shape the way we feel.

Xoxo,

Anna