it’s been a while since i’ve fallen in love, or fallen in love with a designer that is, so i was greatly surprised when that happened on a recent expedition to the lower east side. i was trying to check out alfie rivington club, and when they required more emailing and supervisor contacting to take photos, i had more time to roam down the block and i discovered this little gem of a shop with the most talented 25-year old, szeki chan.  this small shop is bursting full of great, detailed, unexpected designs and all at reasonable prices.  szeki designs the gorgeous dresses and blouses herself, and her spring line is all about taupes, light pinks, some purples, some black, and just a little bit of mixing.  szeki’s very careful tailoring and attention to detail — each blouse or dress seemed to have a little flare like a deep black blouse with a neckline trimmed in a tiny row of fur, or pleats combined with a fancier collar — made for a really smart, sexy style that could easily go from work to play.  

szeki also has a jewelry collection where she mixes vintage pieces like the watch above with her own chain, as well as a fairly simple line of various charms made into bracelets or long gold chains.   szeki also features her mom’s line of fashion which is called 7115 and these pieces are great too (and i bought a really great button down navy cotton short sleeve shirt, with the cutest grey cuffs and buttons on the side for a whopping $58).  in addition to clothes, her mom also designs leather bags as well as some jewelry too. quite the talented family i must say.

szeki’s prices are definitely affordable (dresses in the the $200 range and blouses in the $100s or less), and for the quality, incredibly reasonable.   szeki’s starting to get some great press so i’m sure she won’t be a secret for long. plus, szeki herself is a charmer (so sweet), and so i cannot wait to return when i am really in a spring clothing buying mood for some real upgrades to the wardrobe.  szeki, 157 rivington street between suffolk and clinton streets, manhattan, new york, 646.243.1789.

as the weather warmed up the past few days, cottons, linens and things seemed all that more appealing (and in fact i need to go dig through my closet as i’m off to miami on thursday for three blissful conference days without kids or dogs).  while fending for myself last weekend while k. was at pratt’s saturday art school, i discovered barking brown. while i have no idea where this name comes from — there’s no dog connection– the shop had some pretty cute accessories. i especially liked the hats, and there were lots of them.   the casquette style hats with green and rose floral patterns were especially tempting spring wear.  barking brown even had some snazzy looking mens’ straw hats and caps, some by the goorin brothers, which were pretty cute too though it might be hard to pull off that stylized look.  i can barely get j. to wear a baseball cap though so maybe i’m not the best judge of male style!

i also liked a lot of barking brown’s bags especially the lightweight linen ones pictured above (nice and big, but excellent prints with nice leather detailing) as well as the great big big buddha number in turquoise below.  i feel like i read somewhere that turquoise is the color this season but somehow it feels like we just did that.   for the most part, the barking brown’s clothes were not as exciting though i did find a few winners including some great short, crisp cotton dresses in blacks and khakis by ryo, and i might really need to go back to get these excellent in-between-weather cardigans in kelly green and greys by wooden ships. 

barking brown also had a bunch of easy-to-wear and easy on the wallet accessories including big bangles, bold colored rings, huge sunglasses, fanciful colorful scarves, dangling earrings, and jewelry by erica weiner among others.  the website’s a little awkward so i suggest visiting in person if you’re hanging around fort greene one of these almost spring days.  barking brown, 468 myrtle avenue between hall street and washington avenue, brooklyn, new york, 718.638.3757.

unfortunately for me, chelsea market is so no longer a secret and in fact was unpleasantly mobbed when i stopped by last week in the middle of the day.  i’m glad for the place, but sad for me. it’s definitely more enjoyable when there are not hordes of people roaming those halls and they desperately need to improve the bathroom situation (the one public bathroom always has a huge line so i always sneak into 202’s bathroom, not so clean either but at least it’s usually free). 

one of the benefits of all this business though is that the market is getting better and better tenants.  in addition to mainstays like fat witch, the future perfect has moved in, jacques torres has a spot, and now there’s this super high quality, locally-sourced meat market dickson’s farmstand meats.   recently, dickson’s started serving basic but very tasty sandwiches for $8 to $10. i got myself a pulled pork with coleslaw.  the tangy sauce was poured over the meat resulting in a very sloppy and filling sandwich.  though the bottom bun disintegrated from the sauce, the ultimate flavors combined with at least a nice top part of the bun that was firm and soft together with the very crisp and crunch coleslaw were satisfying.    other dickson lunch picks (they rotate) have included upstate beef chili, chicken salad, a beef and bacon sausage sandwich on a roll and a house-smoked ham and cheese sandwich.   right now, there are no drinks or accompaniments, so the price is not exactly a bargain but it was quick and delicious.

on the basic provisions front, dickson’s farmstand meats had lots of outstanding sustainable options all sourced from small farms near new york city.   the meat case updates frequently, and on my visit included rosemary pork belly, sausages with either lamb and sichuan peppercorns smoked paprika and pork.   there were terrines — smoked duck or lamb with garlic pickle, a muscovy duck and a selection of whole chickens.  dickson’s has also started selling roasted chickens as well available after 5 p.m. but call to reserve.   if you really want to stock up, you can get a whole cow complete with the round, sirloin, short loin, rib, chuck, plate brisket and shank for $150, or an entire pig for $100. not sure we’re ready to take that plunge as that might necessitate yet another freezer in our bedroom which j. might not be willing to tolerate — it’s bad enough in there now with a small freezer, the kids huge hospital set and marble thing, scooters, small bikes and of course the huge dog crate.   so i’ll have to make do with smaller purchases that we can eat as we buy which shouldn’t be too bad.   dickson’s farmstand meats, at chelsea market, 9th avenue and 16th street, manhattan, new york, 212.242.2630.

it looks like i am getting off to a very slow start and it’s not helping that the weather is making me really want to play hookie!  but if i could take the day off, i know that would be more than happy to go hang out at marlow & sons for the day out in williamsburg.  this place kind of defines williamsburg in a way, and i’m sure for people who go out that way or live there, this is old news. but for those of you not familiar marlow & sons, i highly recommend it as a high quality neighborhood spot.

marlow & sons has a cute little cafe-like area in the front where they sell pastries  including coconut bread and lemon olive oil bread though i was drawn to and totally loved the substantial orange fraîche chocolate chip cookies.  now that i am writing this i might need to go by just to stock up on those goodies.  the front area also has coffee of course, and other brit-oriented essentials. 

marlow & son’s main seating area is quite dark with lots of wood paneling, low lighting and pub-like charm (maybe not so good on a beautiful day like today) but really great when the weather is grotty and cold like when we visited.   i was a little wary of eating here as the last place we visited with a lot of williamsburg hype (walter foods) was completely oversold and did not deliver.   that was not the case with our brunch at marlow & sons.  we were lucky in that we had no wait (i think it gets quite crowded at time), and our food was definitely tasty.  i had the rich, silky new england chowder with mussels and haddock served with luxuriously toast smeared with bagna cauda. j. had the delicious, but not exactly go-out-of-your-way-for, bacon and egg cheese biscuit while the kids enjoyed a basic grilled cheese.  the waiter helped us convert the fancier, and i’m sure tastier version which came with three cheeses including goat served on cranberry bread with onions.  so this report is just based on one very satisfying visit to marlow & sons, but we’ll be back to check things out again on another rainy day.   marlow & sons, 81 broadway at berry street, brooklyn, new york, 718.384.1441.

if i had an unlimited budget, i would shop at space kiddets all the time for my kids, and that is especially true now that k. is 6 when the little kid stores just don’t carry her stuff, and there are just so very few shops that cater to her age range.  space kiddets, which has been in business for an amazing 29 years, looks as trendy as if it just opened last week.  this shop has the most interesting, fun inventory of clothes, and while they do serve all ages of kids (plenty of gorgeous things for the under 5 set), i am now appreciating all the great tween clothes they have. 

space kiddets is definitely more of a  “downtown,” with lots of rock n’ roll themes with ramone t-shirts, black silk button-downs with psychedelic themes and a current obsession with alice and wonderland since tim burton’s movie is coming out tomorrow.  space kiddets has tons of adorable separates that can be mixed together into a funky outfit, perfect for girls just finding their way with clothes, and especially helpful for my daughter who is such a tomboy that she can easily be convinced to wear a t-shirt, but anything with buttons or frills forget it.  fortunately, space kiddets has jackets, sweater tops and cute but not to fussy skirts to dress it up if necessary. and don’t worry, if you’re looking for girly, and even super girly and dressy, space kiddets has that too.

on my latest visit, i was particularly obsessed with all the unique japanese-wear on offer. the owner cynthia radocy visits japan frequently, and brings back with her unique silk jackets like the one pictured above (not cheap at around $220, but boy would i like one of those for spring), the very collectible momiji dolls, flipflops, slip-on canvas printed sneakers.  and cynthia doesn’t just travel east, but west too with a recent stop in greece where she got some great sandals and jewelry.

in general, the price range at space kiddets is on the higher (but not usually crazy) end  of things.  however, one of the best things about space kiddets are their sales — they have fantastic usually twice-yearly sales where prices are often cut in half or more.   i have made it a priority to be sure to visit each sale, and i usually buy a year ahead (the sales are often at the end of a season) and then when winter rolls around next year it is such a nice surprise to see such great things in the kids’ closets.    space kiddets, 26 east 22nd street, manhattan, new york, 212.420.9878.

my sustainable post today was supposed to be about  3rliving until i noticed last weekend that they were packing up. sad, yet another small independent shop closing down (though they will have an online presence).  fortunately, i was sitting on some photos from another really great green-oriented spot in boerum hill, greenhouse.   more high-end and more design-focused than 3rliving (which was more about the practical), greenhouse has an excellent collection of beautiful things.

As a plus, everything in greenhouse is from companies that use sustainable, organic, renewable, recycled, locally manufactured or non-toxic materials.  no need to feel guilty when shopping here.  the focus is on recycled glassware in greens, yellows and browns,  gorgeous ceramic dishes, hefty wood bowls and chunky serving pieces.  greenhouse also branches out to linens, dishtowels, throws and even have a few sofas available made by cisco brothers furniture.   they also have a small collection of soaps and candles too for the quick, more affordable, house gift.

if the price point were a bit lower, some of greenhouse’s goods (i love this blanket) would be perfect for my friend in baltimore who still desperately deserves a wedding present that is more than 1 year past due.  yes, that is way too late, i know.   she has a much more “muted” aesthetic than mine, and her home is full of calm, cool greys, taupes and off-whites. for someone like that, greenhouse is perfect.  greenhouse, 375 atlantic avenue between hoyt and bond streets, brooklyn, new york, 718.422.8631.

while i feel like i know my sushi and maybe even a little about the ramen arena, when it comes to other kinds of japanese cuisine i am pretty much a novice (that’s why that trip to japan is so very high on my list).   looking to branch out, some friends and i recently visited robataya, a newish japanese spot with a focus on grilling which had opened in the late fall, and is owned by the same people who run one of my favorite noodle bars sobaya.    fortunately, my friends have a lot more japanese food behind them, so i let them lead the way and do most of the ordering.   robataya has a pretty huge menu, but if i were to make any general recommendations it would be to try out a lot of the tofu dishes (all excellent), get lots of grilled vegetables, and then you might want to be more careful on the grilled meats which seemed a little more run-of-the-mill in quality.

in terms of highlights, the goma tofu agedashi (pictured above), was a bowl of soy-flavored broth filled with ethereally light and silky tofu chunks, like the best miso soup ever.   another huge hit were the yuba gyoza which were lightly fried tofu dumplings stuffed with chicken and shiso.  on the veggie front, robataya’s okra was my favorite thing.  so fresh and crisp, it didn’t have the kind of mooshiness (is that even a word) that i typically associate with okra, and which i don’t really like, but this stuff, i could eat all day long. the mushroom dishes we got (including the enoki and eryngi) were also good.   

less successful dishes included the nagaimo (yam with seaweed) and the shishitsu.  neither were thrilling though the the chawan mushi, the steamed egg custard was smooth andcreamy with chunks of chicken andshrimp.  on the meat front, i’m not going to recommend anything. the new zealand lamb was perfectly fine as was the duck, but we could go elsewhere for that.  on a return visit, i would try out some of their grilled fish which seem to be more of a specialty. 

we ended our luxuriously long, and well served (a waiter was always graciously nearby) with a green tea pudding like dessert which had this amazing glistening red fruit (maybe a mini plum — see above) but the flavor, for me at least was an acquired taste i have yet to find.  robataya was not that busy when we went (though it was the middle of a brutally cold week).  it is a big space, and in future, i would definitely sit up front at the counter and near the grill area which seemed a bit more lively and fun though apparently loud.  our visit also reminded me that i need to check out some competitors especially sakagura so i can be ready for that japanese visit someday.    robataya, 231 east 9th street between 2nd and 3rd avenues, manhattan, new york, 212.979.9674.

welcome back march!  very happy to see you. well, not really that happy, but i’ll be really happy when march is over and spring can begin in earnest. our weekend went by in a flash as usual, and with the new dog and other craziness we didn’t get out to queens which was high on my list, but given our schedule i think everyone is grateful i postponed that trip.  our packed weekend instead consisted of  a puppy play date, seeing the first 10 minutes of the beautiful movie kirikou and the sorceress (too scary for my 6-year old), baking for haiti, a swimming class for the 3-year old, an art class for the older one and fortunately some good food (ippudo and fonda).  

my post today is brief and focused — these incredibly delicious molasses ginger cookies from the littly buddy biscuit companyout in south park slope.  i’ve been to this cute, newish shop a number of times, and every time, i cannot get myself to order anything other than this cookie. it is pretty big, it is moist, it has some spiciness from the ginger, and it is super satisfying.  i’m sure there are other things worth getting at little buddy biscuit company, but so far, nothing else can match the appeal of this treat.   if i still worked down that way (we’re now in the food dessert called gowanus), i might be tempted by some of their savory items like the cheddar and black pepper biscuit or the chicken curry salad sandwich.  for now, all i can recommend is this fantastic cookie.  little buddy biscuit company, 635 5th avenue between 17th and 18th streets, brooklyn, new york, 718.369.6355.

for christmas, j. gave me a great present  — a class with sesame letterpress.    sesame letterpress specializes in gorgeous letterpress stationery, wedding and baby announcements and other paper miscellany.    the super nice husband and wife team breck hostetter and matt heindl design the printed goods themselves, and then letterpress them by hand, one-by-one, with one of their victorian machines.  

in the class, coordinated by make workshop, we got to create 50 monogrammed note cards with lined envelopes.  the first class was lots of talk: a little history about the letterpress, a tour of the machines and review of our instructions (stick with a simple design, and only one color for us beginners).  once we finished our design, we emailed it to sesame letterpress, and they sent it off to have our plate made.  the next weekend, under the guidance of matt, we got our designs done beautifully in about an hour after mixing colors just so, and getting to the perfect setting on the cast iron machines. so satisfying to hand pull each one.  here are some photos that sesame has taken of other classes to get you inspired.  now i really want to make some business cards, and they say they might have such a class in may, so stay tuned.   the classes are held at sesame letterpress’s studio in dumbo, so i put together a mini guide with some good shops and treats as a reward for a job well done.

we love, love, love hanging out in dumbo, especially in the warmer months along the waterfront at empire-fulton ferry state park.  i’m sure the place will be an even bigger draw once the epic brooklyn bridge park is complete.   a typical day might start with brunch at 5 front (not spectacular but usually reliable), go play at the best pirate ship playground and then end the afternoon at the brooklyn ice cream factory on the pier.  if we really want to extend our, day maybe pizza at grimaldis (not always worth the wait but pretty tasty) to end the night.   and even though it is definitely not warm, there’s still plenty to lure us down to that part of brooklyn.

my one small complaint about dumbo is that so far we haven’t really found any great restaurants (though there are few good treat spots), certainly nothing worth travelling for, but a few new ones have opened up that we haven’t tried, and we do love vinegar hillwhich is only 1/2 mile away.   there are lots of interesting shops, and i’m especially interested in checking out the maybe already open shop@greendesk which is a space that plans to host about 20 smaller vendors including jewelry designer andrea lucille shin, ogata, a japanese furniture crafstman and an organic crepe shop called golden pan.  if you want to check out the snow this weekend, there’s also a pop-up art sale being held at the dumbo arts center which sounds like it’s worth a visit.

food:

jacques torres:  pretty great chocolates here, i’m a fan of the boxes, and they really go crazy at easter time, and the ice cream is pretty sweet too.  62 water street at main street, 718.875.1269

dewey’s candy:  recently opened, an excellent, all-the-basics, candy shop now in brooklyn with the new stuff and plenty of the old favorites.  141 front street between pearl and jay streets,  718.422.1333.

ñ/bk: the popular tapas restaurant from soho that i remember enjoying ages ago — but it has been too long for me to recommend — has just opened up in dumbo so somewhere new to try for food.  could be a good addition.  81 washington street between york and front streets, 718.222.9880.

shops:

spring: a little bit of art and a little bit of retail are all mixed in at the high and low price point at this cute boutique which is always worth checking out.  126 front street between adams and jay streets, 718.222.1054.

baxter & liebchen: incredible selection of mid-century pieces from couches, to desks to lighting and high chairs.  10 jay street at plymouth street, 718.797.0630.

didi’s dog boutique: now that we have a dog, i seem to have acquired an incessant need to find the best dog stuff.  don’t know if this shop will do the trick but i will definitely go by on our next visit down under. 160 water street between jay and pearl streets, 718.237.2353.

powerhouse books: an independent bookstore with a huge photography focus, and the large space also hosts performances, and events, and even film screenings.  27 main street at water street, 718.666.3049.

egg baby:  high end, stylish clothes for little ones packed into this small space. and it seems they often have sample sales.  72 jay street at front street, 718.422.7811.