soffit and fascia

Soffit is up, Indonesian mahogany (mangaris) turned out nice. House is insulated, drywall is going up today, building inspection this week, then plaster goes up on the whole outside of the house, getting ready for stucco and stone.

good morning

I love fruit, all kinds. I love cream too so fresh blueberries and creme fraiche it is with a sprinkle of brown sugar on top.

east coast summer

Thinking of all my friends in NY this stormy weekend. Looking at these photos of my friend, May and it just isn’t right, hurricane and earthquake scares should never be part of summer plans,

only fun (May having fun with friends)

and warm water and sunny beaches in Montauk please. Irene’s a bitch! Stay safe everyone!

stoop life

NYC nights sitting out on the front stoop, be it waiting for a seat at a restaurant or just chit chatting with friends. Our favorite stoop this summer was right across the street from our hotel, the Mondrian Soho, late nights loitering on the front steps of the Derek Lam store as we figured out our plans for the evening, spacious stairs and well lit, the black coat on the mannequin was pretty sweet too.

(Pic. 1 Madewell nude silk skirt, Rachel Comey nude wedge sandals, Leifsdottir grey eyelash cropped tee and Marni laser cut black suede tote bag. Pic. 2 Madewell printlover’s silk top and

Pierre Hardy black suede bag and Marni patent leather platform sandals).

And thanks Roslyn for taking pretty pictures!

ramen

There’s never a NYC trip without a bowl of delicious ramen and tasty pork belly buns, Momofuku and Ippudo always do it right, the latter being closest to the hotel we were posted at this summer.

Is there never a wait at Ippudo?

Starters, pork belly buns and Hirata chicken wings

Ippudo’s traditional ramen and their modern style ramen, I prefer the modern.

Miss May

While in NYC I ran into my friend, beautiful Danish model, May Anderson and we grabbed some lunch.

We noshed on corn cobs at La Esquina on the corner of Kenmare and Lafayette St., not the easiest thing to eat in public but tasty. Grilled sweet corn, cotija cheese, a light dash of paprika/mexican spice and a squeeze of lime, yum.

And we kept on running into this tag all over town. True?

Ian

A simple text of “I’m in your town” to my man’s old friend and Brooklyn native, Ian Reid had us checking out an exhibit he’s a part of, “Photos Can Speak” showcasing emerging NY photographers at the Soho Diesel store on Lafayette St. The boys go way back, skateboarding bringing people together.

Yeah Ian!

dim sum

Dim Sum at NYC’s Jing Fong on Elizabeth St. in Chinatown with my friend, Roslyn was a madhouse, it was sunday and I was expecting nothing less. We waited with 100 or so other people, Hong Kong style dim sum in a large banquet hall. It reminded me of my family’s weekend dim sum (we called it “yum sa”) brunches when I was a kid, with all my cousins squeezing around a 12 person round table watching for carts with our favorites.

This sunday we were seated with 3 Chinese guys, all of them young finance dudes living and working in Manhattan entertaining us with their banter, “I went to HARVARD, I work at GOLDMAN SACHS,” no, not really but that line did make everyone laugh. Thanks Roger!

My favorites, ginger tripe

and braised chicken feet, too bad the sticky rice with marinated pork wrapped in lotus leaves cart didn’t make it to our table, next time.

A dim sum palace with cheesy chandeliers and escalators too.

Mondrian Soho

The Mondrian Soho is real pretty and a great location too with wonderful staff. Tucked away on a quiet street in Soho, 9 Crosby St., around the corner from Little Italy and Chinatown, a nice walk to the LES and mere steps away from the bustling parts of Soho, this place delivers. I was told the decor theme was beauty and the beast, beast being the city and beauty the hotel, light pale wood floors and white marble with blue and white accents/trim, inspired by Belle’s dress.

Breakfast in the hotel restaurant, Imperial No. 9 in the morning

and at night for dinner

and a cocktail at the hotel lobby lounge in between, Cocktail #2 was my favorite; prosecco, peach puree, a twist of lime.

and I love the pale hardwood floors, must be reclaimed old hardwood and oh, how I wish we could have them installed in our house.

lots of blue

and the view from our room. The empire state building changes its lights? very colorful tonight.

out front

NYC

Farmer’s Market at Union Square and fresh fruit in Chinatown.

surfing?

Many fine meals at Blue Ribbon Sushi and Omen in Soho. Noodle soup at Omen where we were once seated next to NYC legend, Patti Smyth.

Freshly made tofu at En Brasserie, I always order the kaiseki menu, never disappointed!

Sesame crusted yellowfin tuna steak with a soy/mirin glaze, wasabi mashed potatoes, sauteed baby bok choy and crispy leeks and homemade bread a number of times at Spring Street Natural.