Category — NYC (Manhattan, bien sur!)

No, I’m not lunching in Paris today (I will be soon!) but that’s the fab title of a new memoir by an American woman who has fallen in love with Paris…and a Frenchman…and French cooking.

Mark your calendar if you are in NYC on April 7 – Elizabeth Bard will be  at Barnes and Nobles to discuss her new book, Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes.

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I was flying off to visit Omaha bff J and needed a housegift, preferably something the whole family of 6 could enjoy. What do you get the girl who has everything…and more? J and I have been friends thru many moves, and through her homes in Paris, Chicago, and now Omaha. hmmm…let the shopping begin!

Score:
A set of 6 coasters decoupaged with vintage maps depicting where they have lived since I’ve known them: 2 of Paris, 2 of Chicago, and 2 of their new hometown, Omaha. Brilliant!

At the GreenFlea I discovered On The Fringe, with stacks of vintage map decoupaged, one-of-a-kind, handmade coasters at $6 each, 4 for $20, or 5 for $25. I also bought a set of 4 for the TBG, put them in a ready-made picture frame, and use it on his nightstand as a giant coaster: Paris, Chicago, SoFlo, and NYC!

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I just got a tip from Moi fave pilates studio, Pilates Shop/Yoga Garage, that they’re being featured on Groupon. This is the 2nd time in 24 hours I’ve heard of Groupon: my daughter just told me I have to sign-up in NYC, she’s a member in Chicago. So, I decided to check it out. And am I glad I did!

Groupon describes itself as: collective buying power:

1. Each day we feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.
2. You only get it if enough people join that day… so invite your friends!
3. Check back the next day for another awesome Groupon!

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more & more Antiques is the kind of store you’ll pass several times before going in. It’s on a good corner (78th and Amsterdam) but the storefront windows look, well, busy! And they are: on this March day the three windows framing the entry are cluttered with dishes, dangling Easter eggs, chocolate foil and papier-mâché bunnies, gilded mirrors, lamps, secretaries, silverware, glass fruit, paintings…and more.  It’s all too, too!

Get over the clutter, open the door, and go in. You won’t regret it.

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Forget the t-shirt: I’ve discovered the perfect souvenir gift: small, inexpensive, and comes in all sizes and colors: Socks!

A recent weekend in Vermont yielded these adorable moose themed sockies for my favorite 2 year old niece and nephew. I even bought a pair in xlarge for one of our fave guy friends celebrating his 56th!

My trip to Holland found me wearing these hot pink delft socks

Guests visiting me in NYC love to take home these subway map patterned socks

One of my favorite gift shops is Little Miss Matched, where I can find colorful, mismatched 3-to-a-pair socks for kids of every age: and even little coin purses made out of socks

A perfect baby shower gift is this adorable boxed set of Trumpettes

And of course, what would a Notre Dame fan do without a pair of Go Irish socks

Who Knew? Sock it to me!

I grew up in the suburbs. Chicken comes cut up and wrapped in plastic; and eggs are white, and packed by the dozen in cartons.

Brown eggs? Gross! Clearly diseased.

Or so I thought. When we moved to Paris, one of my big adjustments was that all the eggs were brown. With big orange yolks. And not refrigerated.  All of them. At the marchés and the grocery stores. Hmmm….who knew? And often times they were fresh from the chicken: meaning unwashed. Gross. But, over the years, this became normal. I even spent one frantic day with bff J searching all over Paris to find a few white eggs that we could color for her childrens’ Easter baskets: yes, we finally found 6.  They were expensive.

Moi tip: I was attending a cooking class in Paris with a group of other American expats. We were separating eggs for the recipe, and bien sur, someone broke the yolk. Naturally, l’Américaine dipped her eggshell into the bowl to scoop out the yolk. Le Chef was horrified! These were typical unwashed fresh eggshells: covered with nasty chicken poop (sorry!) We Americans are used to the sanitized eggs we buy at the supermarket, the shells are white and sparkly clean. We were immediately instructed to discard the now ruined bowl of eggs. And in the future, remove yellow bits with a spoon. Good to know.

Now that I’m back in the US, do I buy white eggs at the grocery? Mais non! TBG and I buy our eggs from Knoll Crest Farm at the bi-weekly Greenmarket on Broadway outside Columbia University. And of course, they’re brown eggs (but lightly washed, we’re assured). And they have the bright orange yolks, just like we had in Paris.

The incredible, edible egg!

Across from the bandshell on Sunday afternoons:

This is why New Yorkers love Central Park: there’s always something going on, and the show’s free! This Sunday in February, the temp was 44º, the sun was shining, the skies were blue, and the park was the place to be. As a member of the Central Park Conservancy I knew about, but had never taken advantage of, the free service to dial 646.862.0997, the Central Park Audioguide, from your cellphone at designated park attractions, and hear celebrity park patrons talk about the site: today I learned about the Minton Tile Ceiling near Bethesda Terrace (23#) from Sigourney Weaver!

Over 14,000 Minton tiles were restored several years ago to return the arcade to it’s 1870′s glory.

When I’m in one of my favorite NYC neighborhoods Union Square, checking out ABC Carpet and Home or the GreenMarket, I never miss checking in at Fishs Eddy. In the neighborhood over 20 years, right now its easy to miss under all the scaffolding. But don’t miss it: drop in, and you’ll smile, and find something special.

Fishs Eddy sells dishes and glassware. And a whole lot more.

Not just dishes and glassware: stacks of hotel dishware, Chrysler Building Lanterns, barrels of silverware, Brooklyn skyline umbrellas, wooden cow-shaped cutting boards, toile blue teapots, floorplan dishtowels, strip tea coasters: it’s all here.  And of course Moi passion: cake stands!

If you’re looking for a

• souvenir of NYC, check out 212 New York Skyline dishware: perfect for a housewarming gift to an NYC newcomer!
• bridal shower, maybe a green glass cake stand
• birthday present: porcelain glove mold to display necklaces or scarves
• baby gift, try an Alice in Wonderland plate and mug set
• bon voyage gift? she’d love a United Airlines serving tray
• get well soon: Wizard of Oz  glasses for drinking juice when confined to bed

The Details:

Moi Tip: Fishs Eddy offers online shopping and flat-fee delivery

Moi eyes are lighting up at the tres chic postcard from Swann Auction Galleries announcing the upcoming auction December 16, 1:30 pm,  of “Rare & Important Art Nouveau Posers”. Swann promises “scarce and seldom seen masterpieces by… Mucha, Toulouse-Lautrec, Chéret, Bonnard and Steinlen.”

I’m not sure I’ll be buying, but I’ll definitely be browsing during the pre-sale exhibition:

• Saturday, December 12 10am-4pm
• Monday, December 14 10am-6pm
• Tuesday, December 15 10am-6pm
• Wednesday, December 16 10am-noon

These exhibitions are like an art exhibit: and they’re free! Moi learns alot by visiting auction pre-sale exhibitions: there are always specialists on hand to answer questions. Featured will be a color lithograph poster France-Champagne by Pierre Bonnard, circa 1891.

If you’re not going to be in NYC for the auction, check it out online: you can view the catalogue online, and place online bids! Now that’s smart cyber shopping.

Moi tip: If you’d like the poster but its out of your budget, consider purchasing the illustrated catalogue for $35. Or be chic and cheap like Moi and save the promo postcard!

Looking for that unique, quality gift that can’t be found in every mall or catalogue? Need a great holiday activity for you and your BFFs to share? Just want to shop in one place without running all over town? Look no further:

I’ve been lucky to attend the annual One-Of -A-Kind Sale in Chicago. I had never heard of it until sr L invited me to accompany her to the Chicago show…she attends every December and had a complimentary pass to admit 2. We cabbed to the Merchandise Mart, (it’s huge: MM has it own zipcode!) and took the elevator to the 8th floor. We checked our coats and accepted some complimentary champagne and cookies, then got to the serious business of shopping.

Shopping with a friend (or family) can be tricky: you can’t both buy the same things, you need to shop at the same pace or not be easily insulted if the other one wanders off.

I’m a wanderer…I like to float from aisle to booth and back again. With over 500 booths, plan to wander all day. Each piece sold at the One of a Kind Sale is hand-made by independent artists who are sharing their talents and wares with you. Every type of artisinal craft can be found there: from paintings to ceramics to jewelry to holiday decorations to clothing to gourmet foods. Sr L found a cool placque made from an old door knob and keys to hang buy her front door and hold her keys! She also bought gifts galore, like clever boot cuffs that change the style of any boot in seconds. Moi bought a reversible pleated silk jacket (for Moi, bien sur!) and some Cub-themed dog leashes, one for all the dogs in the extended family. All price points are represented: the presentation and dazzling displays and creative ideas alone are worth the admission price!

And not to worry: there are plenty of gourment cafés, lounge areas and even a big-screen television so you (or your husband) can rest-up between shopping spurts. Chicago amenities  include a licensed child care center, coat check, complimentary bag check, gift-wrapping and curbside package carryout: everything to make your shopping as convenient and hassle-free as possible: they want you to be happy!

One Of A Kind Show and Sale: Chicago

• Dec 3-6
  • Thursday, Dec 3: 12 – 9pm
  • Friday, Dec 4: 11am – 9pm
  • Saturday, Dec 5: 10am – 7pm
  • Sunday, Dec 6: 10am – 5pm
• Merchandise Mart, Kinzie and Wells Streets, Chicago 60654
• Tickets: (a ticket is good for all 4 days)
  • Adults: $12
  • Senior and Students: $9
  • Children 12 and Under: free

This year, Moi is really lucky: I can’t attend the Chicago show, but for the first time, the One of a Kind Show and Sale is coming to NYC! Offering the same high quality artisans and products that have made the show such a success in Chicago, the NYC show is sure to become an annual event.

One of a Kind Show and Sale: NYC

• Dec 10-13
  • Thursday, December 10: 5 – 9pm
  • Friday, December 11: 11am – 8pm
  • Saturday, December 12: 10am – 7pm
  • Sunday, December 13: 10am – 5pm
• Pier 94, 12th Ave at 55th St
• Tickets: (a ticket is good for all 4 days)
  • Adults: $15 (it’s NYC: everything is more $$)
  • Seniors and Students: $12
  • Children 12 & under: Free

NYC show promises to offer quality amenities, including a food and break lounge, coat check, free shopping package check, package and shipping service, and transportation and shuttle services.

She’ll be shopping soon at the NYC show!