Merry and Bright
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Lady Gaga at Barney’s Uptown
Saturdays Surf NYC, Soho
Ginger Bread people and the home at Mulberry, NYC
Fresh off the mail from Philadelphia. Home baked cookies just arrived from Emi’s client Fina. So Fab. Thank You Fina!
A pre Christmas surprise for me from Emi and Gael. A little yet Sexy and Mega Mighty IPod Nano. And Extra Love.
And the favorite, Beanfield for my run and plus 1000 artists. Emi, You ROCK!
December 17 SNL hosted by Jimmy Fallon and a musical guest, Michael Buble
Gael Holiday shopping in a matching hat and a warm sweater.
Best Holiday Cheap and Cheerful eat at Christina’s Restaurant, Green Point, Brooklyn
Feeling cosy watching Emi and Gael… And those sweaters…!
At home!
Be Merry, Bright and Happy!
LOvE NYC!
Dekalb Market, Brooklyn
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Entrance at Dekalb Market, Downtown Brooklyn
Salvaged and stacked up colorful shipping containers make walls, shops and a small semi open urban market in downtown Brooklyn. It’s a great and beautiful concept to promote small entrepreneurs in a small cultural community setting using 20 foot shipping containers with electricity, water, stove tops and even AC installation.
It was our first time visiting and it was late afternoon on Saturday. It felt bit empty but I see a great potential. But then, would this really work? It’s located by Flatbush Avenue near the Dekalb avenue where now all these luxury high-rise condos are getting built. There are good amount of commercial and office spaces around the market, so Lunch time, it may get bit crowded but not sure how much foot traffic this market gets in general. Despite it’s charming vibe, the market is not so substantial enough to go for either food or shopping. I see coffee, donuts, sandwiches, tacos. All those usual suspects. Then there are these small shops. The containers are great looking. Thy are itsy bitsy super cute but are they too small? Most of food vendors occupy the full spaced containers then there are many other containers divided in half, and that’s when it gets bit too small for me. Once there 2 people in, there’s no more room for any other. It’s a great concept but I see much room to be improved.
The market needs better P.R and more vendors in general for customers to feel it’s worth the trip. There should be a lot more food vendors to bring greater foot traffic daily then need bigger space occupying non food vendors like vintage, books, magazine stands, Arts, maybe even flower shops, graphic tees and so on to sustain as a daily market. It totally got this cool vibe going but it feels like the whole thing is a bit of temporary set up. Kind of one night stand like. There were concerts, DJ gig and even a night Bazar. They all sound great and heard it was successful but it is missing this Core strength to sustain this market to be not just a cool gig but as a real community’s daily market. Hope for a good boost for Christmas shopping time and wish for better improvement with stronger vendors and entrepreneurs bringing more fresh creative product to the market.
For more detail, Click here.
Brooklyn: New Heaven for Fleaing!
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A new handsome home for “Artists & Fleas” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. North 7 between Whythe and Kent.
So I’ll say the real golden time for the Flea markets in NYC was then about 10-15 years ago when Manhattan was still managing some low rises and a few empty lots including outdoor parking lots near Chelsea. Remember the big parking lot with $1.00 admission? It was real chilled and cool same time with ton of vendors bragging awesome mint condition vintage clothing’s picked out from some old ladies’ closets from the upstate NY or kicking mid century Danish numbers or Art deco pieces under the beautiful summer sky of sexy Manhattan Island. We always spotted John Galiano in his acid wash disco jean or Anna Sui in her blacker than black bangs and her whimsical yet dark outfits. I learned how petite the designer Alaia was then while I was trying on this big 70’s Miami floral floor length caftan over my shorts and a tank top. Every Saturday was me, Jaehee day spending pretty much an entire day browsing, trying on and bargaining on pair of little heels or cutest sun dresses. Ahhhh I loved it sooo Much!!! Also then vintages were that much younger so they were in better condition. My impressive collection of vintage clothing had really started then. I just loved it all.
When Millennium arrived, things started changing. NYC went crazy riding on so called ” Luxury Condo” business buying up all the empty lots including my beloved weekend flea lots. Ahhh… So disappointing and heart breaking. Ugliness of Home Depot tasted not so luxury buildings were coming in pushing away charming and fun filled such NY things away. There’s still one left inside of parking place called ” The Garage” on 25th street on Sundays in Chelsea area still keeping the tradition in authentic styles and vibe. Then Hell’s Kitchen and all others started but they are just not the same at all. But today is bit different. Manhattan being over developped in general forces to find alaternatives outside of the city. The answer? It’s Brooklyn. Housing, Restaurants, Art, Music and Flea Markets. Young, talented and broke handsome people of city started flowing into down town Brooklyn like Fort Greene and Williamsberg from lower east side and east village. Bettern rent and less compettition brought in new kind of mainds and brains for new food culture in Brooklyn. There are so much more undergournd scenes in Brookly now especialy for fashion and music which goes side by side. Things are ineterstin ghere in Brooklyn. And that includes also Flea markets and vinatage shops!
Artists & Fleas houses many independent designers and numerous excellent vintage vendors. This one above I love! It’s very Janis Joplin from the 70’s. Hippie, Rock and Roll and bit of Voo-doo all mixed in. This booth is located right by the entrace to your right hand side.
Then there is a New home for Sunday portion of famous and beloved ” Brooklyn FLea” also in Williamsberg right by the “Artist & Fleas”. North 6 between Kent and East river. Below, one of over 300 vendors at the Brooklyn Flea. You will also find him on Saturday Brooklyn Flea at Fort Greene, Layfayette between Flermont and Venderbuilt.
Yummmm! The Porchetta Sandwich guys at Saturday Brooklyn Flea. And here check out the vendor list.
Then there are Vintage shops in Brooklyn. Many. There are many especially in Park Slope now! Check out “ Guvnor’s” on 5th avenue between Lincoln and Berkeley, Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Love the shop. It’s small L.A in Brooklyn! Two vintage motos welcome you at the entrance.
Here at Govnor’s, you will find equal amount of boys and girls vintages complete down to accessories.
Just about a block away from the Govnor’s, there is ” Odd Twins” more of feminine version with bit flea market vibe. Check it out!
Hey there will be a party at Odd Twin on April 15th celebrating their 2 year anniversary. Free beer and a live band!
By the way, nice floor at the Odd Twin.
While Emi picking out a few vintage records, I picked up a set 5 very cute grid printed glasses. I think they are awesome! $4.00 each any vinyl and $35.00 for the glass set.
There they are where I spotted. The shop has small objects everywhere up for sale.
And here’s my own shop and showroom, Lacasapark! 542 Washington Ave between Fulton and Atlantic.
I carry ton of awesome jeweleries, high end designer vintages to rare find collectibles!
And here are a few of my favorite vintage places in Brooklyn!
Restaurant 1OR8, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
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Restaurant 1OR8, 66 south 2nd Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Our friend Tobias recommended it, so we went, we ate and we loved it! Spacious layout with cool high ceiling. White and lots of white. Modern yet cozy. Comfy. Great service at right price. It was a very pleasant experience. Bit of Fusion. Japanese with a french twist. But not too tricked up. Just right amount of twist. Hearty and clean. Beautiful sushi with perfectly cooked rice. Fluffy and light. Not too hard or sticky. And most of all, just right amount of it. I hate when sushi has stupid amount of rice. Or rice overpowers the sushi in any form. It fails. Interesting small dishes with hefty amount of daily specials.
You walk by the front Bar area then it quickly leads you to the main dining room. Loving the white painted white and white branches. The hostess will lead you to the table then a friendly waiter will come and totally take care of you from A to Z.
99% Japanese Staff. Which I like to give a credit for. 3 sushi men, waiters, hostess, kitchen staffs.. Almost everyone of them at 1or8.
This is the view of Sushi bar from where we were seated. I am liking it. A lot!
A quick peek at the Menu. The first page.
2 of each 3 kinds including the Kumamoto. Oyster sampler, one of the specials of the day. Served with Yuzu Soy sauce and lemon.
Tuna Tartar with Wasabi Guacamole on top, dried lemon, dried tomato and dried zucchini as a garnish and they are actually quite lovely themselves to taste.
Sukiyaki Terrine with a poached egg. It’s a lovely dish but it was bit too cold to our palette. But an interesting dish with layers of slices of rib eye, spinach, shitake mushroom, onions soaked in Sukiyaki broth sort of. And Gael breaks it all.
The most delicious dumpling I ever had. Crystal thinnest and finest skin with plump and freshest shrimps with chives filling. Heartly made and heartly cooked. Deeelishous! And an interesting match with Gael’s top and the dumpling plate.
And… Sorry I Did not take pics of every dish we had for the night. But we loved all the dishes and especially the Sushi we tried except the ” Double Salmon: on the special Sushi role list… But we loved Eel and Shrimp tempura. Quietly warm yet simple and light. Mushroom Tuna was excellent with good bite of Enoki mushroom, red pepper and asparagus. We chose sake by carafe. 2 of them at the end. “Chikurin”, Junmai Sake that carries round and earthy taste. We loved it! Gael’s miso soup was also excellent with home made soft tofu in it. Also we shared a starter of warm Mussles from the daily special and it was very lovely with pickled strings of lemons in it. For more different dishes, please check out their website, www.oneoreightbk.com
And… the Dessert was amazing and very different. Very Japanese in terms of the ingridients but not so traditonal the way they were executed. The contrast between sweet, warm, crunch, cold, salty, warm and even bit of bitterness. Great great dessert! We tried 2 and both were daily specials.
A Chestnut flan with Caramel ice cream, an almond biscotto and caramel sauce over the flan. The focus on this dish is not the sweetness as most of other typical desserts are. This dish was all about Aroma ( the true essence of Chestnut and slightly bitter caramel ice cream) and crunch but not hard and touch of chewiness of Almond biscotto. Nothing on this is really sweet but it was perfectly lovely as a dessert. Very beautiful.
An Ajuki red bean tart with Green Tea ice cream. The ice cream was the best kind ever! Gael loved it! The Tart is bit like bread and also cake like at the same time. Again not so sweet here even though the Ice cream was, but it was perfect amount of play on contrast of flavors here.
Totally Satisfied!!
The Bar area.
Great food and a Great place!
Autumn in New York : Patrick Dougherty’s Natural History.
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Japan Garden at Brooklyn Botanical Garden: I totally had Monet moment here…! All the beautiful leaves…
Ahhh, It was a beautiful sunny autumn day to stroll around Brooklyn. We had visited Brooklyn Botanical garden to check out an artist, Patrick Dougherty and his work, “Natural History“: a first site specific art project that was done for Brooklyn Botanical Garden for garden’s 100 year anniversary, an amazing stick work that Dougherty had done for 3 weeks time period back in August this year. It’s a beautiful work and I’m just about to share some pics and my thoughts with you, but also please enjoy the peak of beautiful autumn in right here in Brooklyn, NY! It is almost a privilege to be able to see seasonal changes of the mother nature around us in a big city like NY. Gorgeous Autumn light and colors…
Patrick Dougherty’s woven-wood sculpture in honor of Brooklyn Botanical garden’s centennial.
The woody materials come from Ocean Breeze Park on Staten Island. The harvest site was chosen of garden’s director of Science because of its proximity to the Garden and it’s large population of nonnative willow, which is designated an invasive species in New York State. The exhibition will run for a full year.
Weaving, snagging and flexing sticks into nest-like architectural forms evoke themes of shelter, habitat and sustainability. Created of organic matter, Dougherty’s works have a natural life cycle that changes over the time as the sticks settle and decay, eventually returning to the earth where they came from…
The sculpture gives you endless possibilities of new shapes and angles. Honestly, I felt like I could stay at the site forever. It was hard to leave. Look up, look down, go in, come out, follow the surface in circle… I kept feeling like my hair will start swirling with curved sticks. I can’t pinpoint out what exactly it is but it almost gave me a bit of butterflies in my stomach. I felt like I was a little kid and envied and imagined what if I had such a thing in our massive garden….
Gael mingled with bunch of excite kids for a while… If you only had a furry costume on, it could instantly turn into “Where the wild things are…”
Here we have a book purchased at Storm King Art Center: ” Natural Architecture“, The cover work is by Patrick Dougherty.
The Artist above and more shots from the Garden…
Get out there and Embrace this beautiful Autumn!
The Deer House, 2010 Next Wave Festival, BAM
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I’m So torn that I am NOT going to go see this piece, ”The Deer House” at BAM ( premiers on October 5). I’ll be out of the town… for the entire period while this piece is showing. The Next Wave Festival every year at BAM always brings something intriguing. And for this year, ” The Deer House” will be that intriguing piece to me. By the way Vollmondo ( Full Moon) , the modern dance piece by Pina Bausch ( with all my respect for her) also looks quite amazing. The short clip of the Deer House shows already enough of intensity of this piece in great amount of mad beautiful costumes very much inspired by Matthew Barney’s works ( actually maybe TOO much inspired and not sophisticated enough as Barney’s that is disappointing in a way I have to say). I would love to go see this show so I can properly review the piece but anyhow seeing it from the video clip and reading what is all about, it sounds quite interesting. So if anyone of you go see it, drop me an e-mail like you always do.
Here I collected a few of what main inspiration of the Deer House may have come from (apart from the story) : watch Matthew Barney’s cremaster . And below a few pic of Matthew Barney’s work. I mean how much he had inspired this world we all live in. Genius!
“A lot of my work has to do with not allowing my characters to have an ego in a way that the stomach doesn’t have an ego when it’s wanting to throw up. It just does it.”
– Matthew Barney.
A hidden Gem: Alexander Campaz
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Jaehee wearing Alexander Campaz Burn out tank with shot of sueded woven stripe applique cut on bias and Alexander, the designer in his next to come proto: Black and White stripe and checkerboard block jersey top.
Not long ago, I stumbled into Cooper Hewitt Fine Art graduate turn into a fashion designer, Alexander Campaz at Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A fresh line focused on geometry and color blocking for men’s and women’s. Especially knits. Great colors. Black and white to daring pop colors and I really dig them. Each and all of pieces do instant twist and cool.
I bought this baby. Loooove it!!!
My first Sweat Shirt from Campaz. Ohhhh, Don’t mind my silly face, Focus on his awesome Sweat!
All of them are Unisex. Alexander offers full size run on every pieces. Like a magazine shop, like a candy shop. Go find him and support a rising hidden gem!
You can find his line at Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Check out artistsandfleas.com
And also check out his awesome look book and more at alexandercampaz.com
Lacasapark Flea Style!
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It was very windy when we were setting it up this morning but it got calm down bit and sun came out and Emi got quite a sun on his face. Ha ha! It was quite a day for us and thank you everyone who came by to say hi and also hang a bit and all the new friends we met. Thank you and Thank you!
We sold many fresh items and met so many great peeps! And you all stylish people! I guess this is the beauty of the flea. Blue sky, great people, fun coversation and providing what you want!
Sure we will do it again soon!!! Thank you again for great business today!
Go Brooklyn Flea!!
The Hotteset New Bird in Town!
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Meet the Hot Bird. Corner of Atlantic and Clinton, Brooklyn, Literally 2 blocks from my home! I Loved it!
Go check it out, It’s Awesome!
Lacasapark at Brooklyn Flea this Saturday!
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Lacasapark will be attending Brooklyn Flea on this Saturday the May 15th!
We will be carrying Designer vintage to cheerful summer dresses, accessories, shoes and Vintage and Antique Barn objects, lamps and awesome period crates! So come hang and shop with us!
Where: One of the ” Fence” booths at Brooklyn FLea on 176 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn
How to ge there: C to Lafayette Ave Station. G to Clinton Washington Station. B/D/Q, M/N/R, 2/3, 4/5, to Atlantic Ave.-Pacific St (www.brooklynflea.com/map/index.html)
Flea Hour: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
See you all at the Flea!!!
p/s there are ton of delicious gourmet food vendors at Flea from Red Hook Taco stand to brick oven pizza to Organic Ice creams!!
Question?: contact Jaehee 917-373-1548, Jaehee@lacasapark.com
