by gg
It’s back-to-school time and home lunches can pack a little CHIC on the side with these easy-to-clean coated linen lunch and snack bags. With simple retro inspired graphics and a fully insulated interior, Toronto based company So Young Mother, blends function with design. Think Mad Men starts kindergarten. Portability is increased with three ways to sport this very necessary accessory. Detachable straps allow little ones to secure their valuables either backpack or messenger style. Or you can also opt for the basic hand-to-handle technique. Whatever your style, rest easy knowing that your bounty will be stored in an environment free of pesky PVCs and phthalates and kids can enjoy lunch by the craters of the moon, the plains of the Serengetti or wherever their imaginations invite them to dine. Reservation not required.
Fine Dining with SYM
Eairth Goodness
by gg
After the birth of her second son Melissa Ramsay, designer and co-founder of Eairth, was inspired to create a line for the younger inhabitants of our planet. Her own story is also very inspiring. She was at the top of her game having designed for brands like Victoria’s Secret, Express, Todd Oldham, Theory, and Levi’s when she packed up everything and surfed off on a voyage of self-discovery. It wasn’t long before her innate desire to design brought her to Eairth, an eco-friendly clothing company based in the Phillippines. Their philosophy of “sustainable luxury” is evident through their exclusive use of natural fibers and dyes. Organic fabrics made from cotton, wool, silk, piña (woven from pineapple leaves) and abaca (a sort of banana plant) are given earth rich tones through sources of natural dyes like tree bark, indigo, and coconut husks. These cozy down-filled nests are the next best thing to being swaddled in the womb! It’s like a cocoon of love gifted straight from Mother Nature.
Namhee’s Pretty Pieces
by gg
A big thank you to our friend Sam for introducing us to the romanticism of Namhee NYC. It was litterally love at first sight when new mom and designer Namhee Lee presented her handmade works to us. By combining her passion for fashion and interior design, Namhee has succeeded to makeover not-so-ordinary vintage pieces like wall hooks, foot stools and chairs in delicate patterns and sweet liberty prints. The result is a creative, beautification and renewal of plain Jane props that could have pranced directly out of a Bronte novel. Oh how the little girl in me would love to sit tea with any one of these!
Parks and Recreation
by gg
Summertime and the living is easy…. in the city, the mercury rises and heat radiates from the pavement but New Yorkers always know how to have a good time taking advantage of all that the city has to offer. Music, theater, sports, you name it, chances are you can find an event to suit everyone. One of the best places to be in the know about outdoor happenings is the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation website.
The Highline, our newest neighborhood park, will host Imagination Playground on July 17 to encourage creativity and free play for all ages.
For music lovers and aficionados there is Play Me I’m Yours, presented by Sing for Hope. I stumbled upon an installation on Gansevoort Street and secretly wished I knew how to play a tune to impress the patio crowd at Pastis. This awesome Trans-Atlantic project is the brainchild of British artist Luke Jerram. New York City is his 9th stop on this global tour since 2008. He has placed sixty…that’s 60 pianos all over the city for public use between 9am-10pm until July 5 as well as 21 pianos in London. The goal is to inspire a sense of community and self-expression through art and play as participants are also encouraged to connect and share their experience through their perspective city website.
The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park productions are always very popular if thou art so inclined but there are also several performances that cater to a variety of spectators. I was fortunate enough to experience an updated version of Sleeping Beauty for the under 10 crowd. There are also dynamic ‘gorilla’ productions in Central Park which should be experienced at least once.
Officially Summer
by gg
It’s official. Summer started yesterday and if you were waiting to hit this milestone before starting to shop for the season, don’t worry….we still have sizes. Yoya’s Summer Collection is gorgeous and we’ve sent in our reserves to make sure you’re able to find a special ensemble. These sleeveless floral dresses have just enough color burst and twirl factor to make any garden party blossom! Our line offers beautiful prints in lightweight fabrics that make rising temperatures bearable; and designs that challenges you to discover simple details like polka dot accents and flower-tipped belts. Accessorize with Mathilde de Turckheim’s new collection of precious butterfly and dragonfly pins that are sure to spark a few conversations and will be, by far, the only flies welcomed at the picnic.
Ride a Painted Pony….
by gg
In the case of the new carousel at Pier 62 aka Chelsea Cove (located just north of Chelsea Piers at 22nd Street) one can choose to ride one of 33 hand-painted creatures plucked from the depths of the Hudson River and someone’s wild imagination. Carousel enthusiasts will recognize similarities with the Bronx Zoo’s Bug Carousel as they were both made by the same manufacturer. What makes this one interesting and unique is the wildlife representation from both water and land that are or once were indigenous to the region. Yes, you can still dream while riding a fantasy unicorn adorned with butterflies but it’s hard not to pay homage to nature and our environment while spinning around and round on a log adorned by Horseshoe Crabs, and eels or flanked by sea-horses, turtles, foxes and deer.
Thank you Hudson River Park Trust for a great and welcomed addition to the neighborhood. But wait…there’s more, the Battery Park Carousel is scheduled to arrive this fall!
Open daily 11am-7pm weather permitting. $2 per ride.
Visit the Hudson River Park website for more information.
Kaiko’s Friendly Monsters
by ac
We love t-shirts with cool and unique graphics. Kaiko’s use of rare vintage Japanese fabrics in floral and plaid prints have helped to establish this new brand. Their organic t-shirts are deliciously soft, and have a slightly worn wash that gives that feeling of your favorite old t-shirt but without the rips and stains. In a monotone color, a cute pointed ear bat bearing a rose and old-fashioned space robot that has befriended a small bird adorn these cozy tees.
C is for Cordelia de Castellane
by gg
This is our first season working with the French label CdeC. This well-priced line started in 2006 and has everything you’d expect from Parisians, beautiful liberty prints, light comfortable fabrics, and style. Our customers appreciate it all as well as it has quickly become one of our better selling brands and since we are the only store on the East Coast to represent CdeC, you’re sure that the outfit will be something special. The style of CdeC is distinct casual chic from subtle airy tunics for boys (see previous our post) and adorable 2pc sun-suit for girls are just a few of the hits that we’re proud to offer. I wonder what will be for fall?
Paige Lauren
by ac
Paige Lauren’s collection of super soft organic cotton lounge wear is great for lazy days on the beach or just chillin’ in the crib. A smart selection of rompers, crawlers and short sleeve dresses offer an array of subtle colors and stripes to assure your baby has something perfect to wear everyday of the summer. Newborns can be treated to the best in comfort with Paige Lauren’s sleep sac which features fold-over mittens to protect baby from scratches and easy button down access for parents with open elastic footing. Paige Lauren’s use of micro modal, and supima cotton along with the line’s simple and cozy aesthetic have garnered them a prestigious iParenting Media Award.
Swaddle Dreams
by ac/gg
Muslin cotton, a textile that has been around for ages, is believed to have originated in Bangladesh. Aden and Anais uses the softest muslin to produce an amazing collection of swaddle blankets. Swaddling is said to protect from SIDS, comfort new babies by mimicking the womb, and allows for peaceful uninterrupted sleep by preventing reflex motion which may suddenly awake him or her. Purple monkeys, teal elephants, orange stars, or yellow giraffes are only some of the cute choices that are also adult aesthetic-friendly. The even softer bamboo collection made me exclaim, “It’s like butter”. Every package of Aden & Anais’ awesome muslin comes with swaddling instructions, making mastering the art a snap. Strong, washable, durable, and breathable are the qualities that make Aden & Anais a high quality product and a hot item.
Alas, if wrapping and tucking isn’t your thing, and you’re more concerned with style and function…take the quick route to swaddledom with Baby Bonkie! They’ve made 3am swaddling a breeze in 3 easy steps…1 - place baby in pocket, 2 -fold right side to velcro, 3 - fold left side to velcro….Voila, happy baby, happy parent. Baby Bonkies are available in a wide assortment of fabric styles and colors so you’re sure to find the perfect match for you.
Both options are must haves for new parents. It’s my belief that you can never have too many blankets and the same goes for Bonkies. Think of them as your Swiss Army Knife of baby survival tools.
