Corner of Dekalb and Vanderbilt, in Fort Greene, Brooklyn
They say time flies when you’re having fun, but it can also happen when you’re busy living life. It’s been a while since my last blog post, mostly for both reasons explained in the previous sentence. And speaking of life and having fun, back in late March, my husband and I took a short trip to our beloved NYC, just because; and we were lucky enough to find out that the Architectural Digest Home Design Show was taking place that weekend. So I immediately purchased tickets online.
The Architectural Digest Home Design Show at Pier 94
It was still pretty cold in NY during that time, so I was excited because I got to wear my winter clothes for real. I have fond memories of winters in NY, although it becomes a nightmare once there is black ice on the floor and there’s slush on the curb as you are about to walk across the street.
Anyway, I was pretty psyched about our trip and about being able to visit my favorite place in the world, with my husband, if only for a few days, looking at furniture and design items. This would be the first time my husband attended a design trade show, so I was concerned and worried that he might get bored, going from booth to booth, learning about new products. To my surprise he really got into it and ended up loving it.
There were so many interesting, new, fun, things to look at. I was in heaven! I had really missed the energy that abounds during this kind of event. Every time I go to a design event I leave fully charged with inspiration to get back home and create. It’s like a breath of fresh air. So, we spent almost that whole day on Friday at the show, walking, meeting people and taking it all in. During that weekend we also got to go to the MoMA and to the Navy Yards Museum, in Brooklyn. That’s when I realized that after 6 years of living in Brooklyn, I had never visited the Navy Yards, which were just a couple of blocks away from my old apartment.
My old apartment building
During my time as a New Yorker, if I had people visiting, I always tried to make them come to Brooklyn, and not just stay in “The City” (Manhattan). I’m a Brooklyn girl. I worked in the city, but lived in Brooklyn, and preferred it that way. I remember people would ask me if I would ever move into the city, and I always said no. Manhattan is great, but it’s busy and loud. Brooklyn is toned down, homey and quiet.
The Habana Outpost bought the right corner of this building making Not Ray's Pizza (on the left) move after having been on that spot for over 25 years.
For this visit we stayed with a friend who lives a block away from my old apartment. So we were in my old neighborhood of Fort Greene. It was such a wonderful feeling to be back; to see how much things have changed and how much they’ve stayed the same. Some restaurants have closed and new ones have taken their place, while others are still in business. The park is still as pretty as it was on my morning runs and its Farmer’s Market on Saturdays is as concurred as I remember. We ended up spending most of our trip in this neighborhood. We didn’t have a scheduled plan of where to go, besides going to the trade show and both museums. We just wanted to relax, lay back and enjoy our time there.
This coffee shop is diagonally across from school (Pratt Institute) and have the best breakfast in the area, plus 6 years after I left they're still in business and have the same people working there. How great is that!
Our friend lives in a brownstone that needs a little bit of work, but overall is in good condition. I have always loved the architectural details in the interiors of brownstones, such as the moldings on the walls, the tall ceilings, the medallions on the ceiling from where to hang chandeliers, the marble mantels on the fireplaces, the hardwood or parquet floors throughout, the subway tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, the pocket doors that divide up the kitchen and dining room from the living room space and the beautiful bay windows in some of them. I’m an eclectic modernist in terms of the style of furniture and décor I personally prefer, but I truly love the historic details and elements of these kinds of dwellings.
I hope someday, in a not so distant future, I’ll be able to own one and move back into what I think is the best city in the world. I love New York (Brooklyn)!