Posts tagged culture

EWR > RIC > NYC

My week was spent between Richmond, VA and NYC. Though the travel flow was disrupted by delays at EWR (as always), it was a wonderful assortment of people and places. Herewith, some recommends for the next time you’re in either city.

RICHMOND 

Read: NYT 36 hours in Richmond

Do: The Picasso exhibit ends on May 15, but the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is a forward-thinking institution that beautifully blends the traditional with the modern. Gorgeous grounds and top notch dining make it a wonderful place to linger. 

Drink (and dine): Balliceaux, a stylish neighborhood farm-to-table restaurant in the lovely Fan district. 

NYC

Half of the week was spent at the (excellent) 99% conference, hosted at the Times Center in the theater district. It’s not a neighborhood that comes to mind when I think of great dining, but located around the Times Center are Dean & Deluca, for great coffee or a quick gourmet bite; and Schnippers, basic but excellent American (burgers, fries, shakes, etc).

Downtown: Commerce. The neighborhood is cinematic New York (W Village), the vibe super low key and local. Top notch cocktails and outstanding food. Highly recommended: Daisy cocktail and burnt garlic broccoli (one of the best things I have ever tasted).

Bryant Park: The Grill at Bryant Park is one of those places you go to experience New York at its best. We sat outside yesterday as the day was winding down, and there’s really no way to describe it other than perfect. And the food is good - I had the gazpacho, which it was very (very) spicy but went down nicely with a glass of wine, and was just right for the season.

Just bought our tickets. So excited.

Just bought our tickets. So excited.

newyorker.com

Part of the reason people live in New York is that the city attracts extraordinary people who do unbelievable things in public: walk a tightrope between the World Trade Center towers; crash-land an airplane on the Hudson River without harming a single person; volunteer for the pain of sitting still, without a sip of water or a bathroom break for an entire season. You want to be here to see them. You want to be present. Such acts invite us all to try the impossible, rather than just dream it. And under Abramovic’s unwavering gaze, people seemed to find strength they didn’t know they had.
from Marina The Magnificent, about the extraordinary “Artist Is Present” performance art exhibit at MoMA.

On why los angeles.

tumblangeles:

dearcoketalk:

Why LA over New York or San Francisco? Of those three fab cities, LA would be my last pick. What do you love about it?


Ah, yes. New York. Los Angeles. San Francisco. The three most fashionable tribes, each with their own unique rituals, mythologies, and standards of beauty.

We are tribal creatures, after all. It’s not the most evolved part of the human condition, but you can’t deny the anthropology of it. No matter how worldly and well traveled we may be, in the end we can each only belong to one.

I am of the Los Angeles tribe.

I love everything about New York. I spend as much time as possible in San Francisco. They are indeed fabulous, but neither one vibrates at the frequency of my soul. Only Los Angeles gets the harmonics right.

Being drawn to LA is a mysterious thing. It’s palpable, but totally indescribable. Steve Martin tried to explain it once, and he ended up making a delightful little movie. Still, it’s only something you can hint at without sounding like a lunatic.

Ultimately, there are no words. No list of most-treasured LA moments could ever get to the root of why I belong here. I just do, and I always have.

Not that I want to sound sentimental, because all the negative shit is true too.

Los Angeles is filthy and far too casual and filled with cruel and superficial customs. If you show weakness or disrespect this town will eat you alive, but fuck it. I don’t care.

I’m hopelessly in love with Los Angeles. It still makes me weak in the knees.

Me too. Here are a few other reasons why -

The fragrance of star jasmine and eucalyptus in the air,

sidewalk dining at ChinChin on Sunset and tacos from Paquito Mas in Studio City.

The architecture,

the music - from Silver Lake to the Baked Potato 

… and the light at the end of the day. 

dearcoquette

fashism: An Etsy find,  I find these tights to be incredibly creepy/hilarious.  Twitter-inspired fashion?  Really?  Whatever, get with the trend and follow Fashism.  -Cyrena

fashism:

An Etsy find,  I find these tights to be incredibly creepy/hilarious.  Twitter-inspired fashion?  Really?  Whatever, get with the trend and follow Fashism. 

-Cyrena

fashism