fashion window bunnies

Passed by this live window display of rabbits recently at Alexander Berardi’s clothing boutique in Soho on Prince Street near 6th Ave. Cute couple.

(image by: vivien chin)

a graceful gate

 

Passed by this beautiful gate in Soho.  I think it leads to a metal shop.  The graffiti adds texture to this composition.  Love it.

 

(image by: vivien chin)

the spring stair

My favorite stair vestibule as I walk down Spring Street, SoHo

(image by: vivien chin)

rainbow sandals

Success!  There is FINALLY a Rainbow Brand sandal shop here in NYC. Stumbled upon it the other day.  I didn’t know where I would get them except in CA or online…lol…too bad they last soo long that you never really have to buy new one’s often.  I’ve had mine for atleast 7 years and they look like they could last 7 more.  Just so durable and comfy.

245 Elizabeth Street
New York, NY 10012-3546
(212) 966-8858

(image by: vivien chin)

kidrobot view: gigantic dunnys

From the soho store. Where can I find room on my mantle for a gigantic dunny ? Hahaha

(image by: vivien chin)

cookie towers @ birdbath

Yummiest cookie towers ever.  Was out and about today and had a white chocolate chip chocolate cookie today at Birdbath, a green bakery, in Soho that just opened.  It was delicious!  You can see a tower of it in the far back there next to the Statue of Liberty figure.  Definitely recommend the cookies there.

Birdbath
160 Prince Street (Soho)
New York, NY

(image by: vivien chin)

today’s giant dunny

Pretty cool dunny I saw at the Kidrobot store today.

(image by: vivien chin)

snowww!!

Drawings I found in the snow today…

Today’s snow is sticking. Fun to finally have snow. It been freezing lately but no snow till now. Will it be enough for a snowball fight tomorrow?

(images by: vivien chin)

save trees, use your sleeves

best napkin ever

(image by: vivien chin)

cafe habana

Cafe Habana is one of my favorite lunch spots on the edge of SoHo.  Really delicious Cuban-Mexican food.  A must-have is the grilled corn (shown above) which is topped with cheese, a little chilli powder, and a side of lime.  It is the best thing ever.  The fried plantains are also one of my top picks.  My favorite entrees are the fish tacos (shown above) and the sincronizada which is similar to a quesadilla in form, having 2 tortillas with cheese and avocado in the middle.  The meat version, sincronizada toluca, has chorizo added to it and is also very delicious.  Brunch is excellent there as well.  They have some of the best french toast with scrumptious fresh fruit and syrup. 

It’s a small place so you can expect a wait if you go during busy times, but I think it’s well worth it if you have the time.  I’ve waited almost an hour for brunch one during winter because I really wanted some of their french toast.  (i’m a french toast lover!).  If you can’t wait, just around the corner there is the Cafe Habana to-go shop which serves the same food, but you can grab it to go and eat elseware or try and grab on of the few seats they have in there.  Highly recommend eating here!

 

17 Prince St
(between Elizabeth St & Mott St)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 625-2002

PUBLIC

dining area and bar

reception desk

old post office boxes (images from http://www.public-nyc.com/)

Had an amazing and delicious birthday dinner last night at PUBLIC located near the New Museum (I included the address below).  The restaurant is designed and operated by design firm AvroKO whose office is located right above the restaurant.  AvroKO designed and operates a few other pretty cool restaurants that I want to check out someday.

The space at PUBLIC has very industrial yet elegant feel through their use of materials, fixtures, and lighting.  It was a really beautiful space to be in and the lighting is much darker than it appears in the pictures so it sets a great mood for dinner at night.  The restaurant and bar filled up fast so it seems like a pretty popular place.  The food is a mix of Austrailian, Asian, and Mid-Eastern cuisine. 

The items off the menu I tried were all delicious and I would highly recommend: 

[Starters] Grilled scallops with sweet chili sauce, crème fraiche and green plantain crisps (the scallops were sooo tenderly cooked and go really well with the sweet chili sauce); Artichoke salad with mixed Spring greens and vinaigrette

[Main] Snail and oxtail ravioli with pickled shiitake mushrooms, oven dried tomatoes, peashoots and smoked paprika oil (this is very very delicious if you are willing to give it a try); Crispy skinned barramundi with a wild mushroom broth, fingerling potatoes, pickled ginger and pea leaf salad

[Dessert] Cheesecake flan, blood orange caramel, citrus salad and pistachio brittle (highly recommend! This was sooo good and I want to learn to make my own); the dessert wine paired with it was – Lilly Pilly “Noble Blend”, 2002 (Riverina, Australia) – (Loved the name Lilly Pilly and it had a great taste as well)

PUBLIC
210 Elizabeth St. (Between Prince St. & Spring St.)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 343-7011

house for sale…

Found this on Curbed on last Friday and I couldn’t stop busting up laughing.  I have know idea why I think it’s so funny, but I’m determined to find him.  My friends say they’ve seen this set up in Soho in different places.  This picture was taken by some one who saw him on Prince St.  I guess he’s selling house music.  I’m gonna find this little plot of land for myself and see what it’s about!