Hello Springtime in NYC

the tulips & dafs are flowering in Brooklyn.. must be springtime and with Easter round the corner New York is starting to look even more beautiful. Last week we found a way up to the Prime Focus rooftop... wow what a view. That is where you will find me when i'm rendering...

I had an amazing March.  I took part in my first flash mob with flashmobamerica.com. Amelia & I spent a tuesday morning in a dance studio learning the moves...The flash mob was for Oreo cookies 100th birthday and happened in union square. Great Fun.

I visited that weird and wonderful place called Coney Island. It was still early in the season so the wonder wheel was closed...boo..... It was a beautiful day to sit on the beach with a portion a chips from the world famous "Nathan's"- home of the hot dog eating competition.

I spend another street art saturday in Brooklyn discovering some more great pieces including a beautiful Dface & Faile. Missing the Faile on Houston & Bowery... the new art installation is good...but no faile..

After a crazy couple of weeks on Madonna last week i had some downtime. Went to see Amelia Robinson play piano and Ukele at the Rockwood music hall. She was incredible. Wednesday was time to catch up with my new lovely british friends at our Brits nights and Thursday we queued for free beer at the sound lounge re-lunch party at their Hudson Street facility. Friday was the 1 year anniversary of the PFNY teams move to the new facility so it was time for cake and champagne... great way to end the week..

superbowl sunday

GO MADONNA!!!!!!  Not sure I understand the Superbowl  but i'm looking forward to seeing Madonna at halftime. Today has been amazing in NYC, such a great atmosphere... can't wait to see what the city will be like tomorrow if they win!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cItHOl5LRWg&feature=g-logo&context=G28d77edFOAAAAAAABAA

So December and January have flown by. Still having a Gas in NyC ( as mick Jagger would say- reading his biography).... 
December is NY was so exciting . All the Christmas lights around the city, shopping in Macy's and on 5th Avenue, the tree at the Rockerfella plaza and sidewalk Santa's and carol services! But not mince pie was found so I was excited to fly home to England. 
A crazy day in London catching up with the VTR now smoke & mirror/UNIT boys finished with Pinchy, Arge and myself in Byron Burger.

The next morning with the help of a good Samaritan I was driving to the
Countryside in my beetle... Listening to Christmas songs ... Driving home for Christmas came on as I left the M4. A week with family is the best way to relax after 10 weeks in New York. Found the perfect snow boots in Blunsdon Market.

 
Before I knew It I was on a plane with Arge flying back to celebrate NYE in NY. We had dinner at Brasserie 8 1/2 (very SATC) and then went to central park. Thousands of Crazy New Yorkers do a midnight 5k run to see in the new year..... Arge & I sneakily drank champagne and watched the firework display. 

We spent the rest of the week discovering street art in Brooklyn...

Arge finally got to see The amazing Faile on Houston & Bowery....

Actually there's not a faile or an OBEY or an invader we haven't seen. 

We had a great week and it ended with great friends discovering Brussel Sprout pizza... YUM

 I could be a tour guide - which I was when my friend Ralph was here. We had a fun day in the snow taking photos. NYC is so beautiful in the Snow.

(c) robinpope

Went to my first gig at the mercury lounge, Fuji & Miyagi were amazing! 
It's a great venue, very intimate and considering the last time I saw them was at Glastonbury it was a big difference ! 

Last weekend was the Chinese New Year and I braved the parade in chinatown.. great fun!

Looking forward to the Oscars, Loved The Artist and watched The Descendants last night... Mr Clooney is great!

anyway....time to check out these SuperBowl commercials... and the legend that is MADONNA

love from NYC xoxo

Celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time

My first Thanksgiving week started with the launch of my friend Adams' 3D Christmas projections on Saks fifth Avenue. I went along to see the show. It started with Ballerinas stopping traffic and dancing down Fifth Ave, then the famous windows were launched the finally the projections lit up the building. We were kept warm with flasks of hot chocolate. The whole team then went to celebrate at a wonderful hotel called the Kimberly with the best views of the city including my favorite NY building, The Chrysler. A great monday evening. Checkout the film here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfK0h6rb6M4

The day before Thanksgiving was amazing, we had a Potluck lunch at work. everyone brings something and we had a wonderful afternoon. My Sweet potato & Butternut Squash Mash went down well I think. DJ B took to the decks and we sipped Rum spiced apple cider with a fabulous view of the Hudson River.
I finished the pre-thanksgiving day off watching the Macy's Parade balloons being inflated on the upper west side of the park.... Kermit & Snoopy are my childhood friends.

Thanksgiving Day involved great food and good wine and a long afternoon walk around Fort Greene, it did feel wonderful. Then to get in the spirit of the occasion it was off to Best Buy for the Black Friday madness. Seven hours, Harry Potter Screening & free yummy cheesecake and I am now the owner of a TV... who knew queuing... sorry I should say..standing in line, could be so much fun. I seem to be doing that a lot recently after successfully spending most of the night on the streets of Soho for H&M for Versace.

I spent the rest of the four day weekend discovering more of New York. I went to see a movie at the incredible BAM cinema in Brooklyn, what a building. I watched A week with Marilyn, I'd forgotten what an amazing actor Kenneth Branagh is; Michelle Williams is radiant in the movie too.

My first saturday morning stop was The Faile at Houston & Bowery, Arge's fav artist. It fills am amazing space on in the East Village.

The area is filled with great restaurants and vintage shops.  I have my eye on some chic mittens for winter. The walk up to the Flatiron is great. Every street is filled with individual boutiques.. I feel I may get lost there most saturday afternoon's. My long weekend was completed with Veggi spagbol with great friends

This week christmas arrives in New York in the form of a giant tree at the Rockfella Centre. I tried and failed to get to see the lighting, Justin Beiber (pre- recorded) and President Obama in town on the same day means the streets were grid locked & full of tourists. I instead like most sensible New Yorkers went the next day!  With the help of a friend I discovered the upper west side and enjoyed an afternoon stroll down to the tree.

As they say this side of the pond.... The Holiday season is in full swing... I must unpack my boxes that the sea has just delivered,  I'm sure I packed christmas decorations somewhere .

Enjoying NYC with good friends

and my New York adventure continues......................

Friday morning, wakeup, look outside to check on the weather....

is that craft services at the bottom of my steps, is that a camera truck? ... oh yes, they were shooting one of my favourite shows "The Good Wife" in a church on my street.Ahh..... New York...

Friday evenings are free at lots of the museums so I braved MOMA. Get in, grab a free ticket and take a deep breathe! It's very crowded- but an incredible place. I took in as much as I could and loved the QR app. You scan the code of the art you love and you can get more info. Great way to remember things that grabbed your attention. 

The "talk to me" video exhibits are great.

a couple of my favorite pieces...

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2011/talktome/objects/146401/

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2011/talktome/objects/146213/

have look and see what else is in the exhibit

http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2011/talktome/objects/

I also found my "quiet and peaceful" place. The Monet exhibit on the top floor ... Just before closing..Perfect.

New York is a big city, and can be overwhelming some days... so... it's time to do some normal day to day things.

Saturday morning..quick stop at the bank... Super friendly and now I'm off to buy some fresh veggies and do the weekly shop.. This was never as exciting at home.  I went in search of a store called "Three guys from Brooklyn" Their shop has a great story behind it and it does great Deals on fresh food- plus weekly specials and a loyalty card!!! Never has grocery shopping been so exciting. At first it's slightly annoying not having a Sainsbury's / Tesco's on every corner but it means you have to explore! 

Thinking of things to cook for our Thanksgiving lunch at work ... I'm thinking apple pie and maybe butternut squash mash!! 

 

It was a Beautiful fresh sunny day in Brooklyn. Mary and Steve were in town and we went to explore central Park....Big Bird, Ghostbusters buildings, the new york marathon finish line....

After a quick dance on the BIG piano in FAO Schwartz we finished off with "red velvet" magnolia bakery cupcakes in Bloomingdales.

It was then time to continue my art weekend, tonight was the Guggenheim.. "pay what you want" from 5:45-8pm and it was the first day of an incredible exhibition by Maurizio Cattelen. Imagine a giant mobile hanging down the centre of the museum with pieces of work such as a giant taxidermied horse, JFK in a coffin and Hitler as a boy. A must see if you're visiting NY before January.

http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/exhibitions/on-view/maurizio-cattelan-all

Sunday morning arrived and it's no ordinary sunday, as I was about to pop to the launderette I realized I couldn't cross the street as 47,000 people were running down it, how amazing, the NY marathon route goes past my street. An incredible atmosphere. I found the gospel singers outside the church and cheered the runners on in a fabulous way.

This week has been very New York.. party hard, everyday..

Monday was a farewell dinner with Mary & Steve at the Tavern on Jane. On route i bumped into a friend i worked with in LA who was in town, cut to tuesday night dinner in Alphabet City with lovely people. Fantastic fresh food and a great atmosphere. No reservations, get there before 7pm and enjoy..

http://www.northernspyfoodco.com/

wednesday I drank far to much red with with work colleagues... phew it is the weekend yet!!!!!! 

Spent Friday night winding down listening Mark Ronson's show on to East Village Radio....a great find... don't worry seeksmusic.com, i was listening to you as well.

http://www.eastvillageradio.com/

And just when I think I can start relaxing... Toby calls me from JFK, he's in town. 1 hr later we are starting the night off in the Brooklyn Arms followed by my first trip to GreenPoint & Williamsburg. Great company, far to may cocktails and the Boardwalk Empire lot.

check out Toby's online magazine... http://www.arbuturian.com

"i'm just a teenage dirtbag is the song of the moment" :) ROCK AND ROLL...

love AnnieT in NYC xx