giveaway on my new blog!

Please check it out and enter to win: http://myturtleneck.com/blog/2010/6/21/i-lego-ny-a-fabulous-gselect-giveaway.html

my blog has moved!

Please find my blog here going forward. All of my previous post have also been moved :) See you on the other side!

it's official : summer 2010

I'm looking forward to a leisurely (official) start to the summer. Time to break out your summer whites. Just don't caught sans umbrella in a sudden rainstorm – wear pretty underpants just to be sure ;)

Happy long weekend!

you know sometimes...

I saw this humourous painting at the AAF a couple of weeks ago. I love it. I have tried to remember the name of the artist and I have been unsuccessful. Do you recognize this piece? If so, do share :)

inspired at madame geneva

I attended a good friend's going away party at Madame Geneva a couple of weeks ago. It was another instance where I thought: "How did I not know about this place?!?" It is a gorgeous bar. It's adjacent to and is by the people behind Double Crown next door. I believe both are designed and owned by AvroKo, the company behind Public. It's small, dark, cavernous and sexy. The kind of place you could imagine trysts would be happening at all hours of the night and any day of the week. The crowd did not look too young (a plus for me). I also love a bar with a good bar menu. This one is colonial Asian inspired and well done. I particularly liked the duck steamed buns (they are more like rolls). They were so delicious. As I sipped cocktails, devoured steamed buns and chatted with friends that night, I realized that I just found a new favourite spot.

Click on photos to see source

portrait at the barbershop

I took a blog break last week to spend time with my dad. He was visiting New York, New Jersey and Toronto from Manila. I asked my sister Caroline to take some portraits of him. It had been a while since either one of us took proper portraits of him. I was excited about what she would come up with given all the recent family photo restorations that I've been working on as well as conversations about family history.

During his visit to Toronto, my sisters took my dad to Mankind – a spa and barbershop just for men. I must mention that my dad is no stranger to spa treatments. He's what we might refer to nowadays as "metrosexual." Only I remember him getting facials back in the late 70s and 80s – long before the term was coined and before I really understood what facials were all about. All I knew is it was a form of grooming for the face.

I really love this portrait Caroline took. It was shot exclusively with natural light (which is totally amazing to me). My dad looks like he's part of the mob here (yet again!). The photo looks very cinematic. He looks quite intimidating and sombre here. Ironically, he's usually more of a jokester but you'd never know it looking at this photo.

a break from my routine

I'm taking a blog break this week to hang out with my dad who is visiting from Manila. The weather is so lovely in New York. We're heading out shortly to take it in. I hope you have a great week!

the last of the waterfall necklace : spring/summer 2010

I have below, the final waterfall necklaces this spring/summer season. I can't guarantee that I'll be getting more of these in the future. The colors I have available are the only ones shown here (quantities also indicated below). I wasn't able to get other requested colors following my previous post, unfortunately.

8-layer necklace: $50

2 - red

1 - black

3-layer necklace: $35

1 - red

1 - orange

1 - gold

tribal necklace with bells: $35

(I have a few of these)

I accept cash or Paypal only and can ship anywhere. First come, first served.

porcelain promises : drew tal

The first time I came across these photographs, I was walking somewhere in Manhattan a couple of weeks or so ago. I remembered having to literally stop and stare. They are stunning (and large) images by artist Drew Tal. Last week at the AAF, I came across them again in the Emmanuel Fremin Gallery booth. I have little information about the artist and the intent behind these photos. But to me they speak of history in terms of it's fragile and precious nature and a desire to hold on to it. I see them, of course, as someone of two cultures and viewing both in high regard – and an earnest desire to not lose one for the sake of another.

a reincarnation : limelight marketplace

Opening day at the reincarnated Limelight Marketplace seemed quite successful. I must point out that this piece of architecture, formerly a church, has gone through many lifetimes and identities. It's been several nightclubs/performance spaces – which has had, at times, a very dark history. Overall, I like what they've done with the space. Some of the retailers beautiful and interesting, some not so much. It's a tight space which is also maze-like in some corners. There are three levels and no elevators. We helped one of our clients set up the store and design print and press material (that's for another blog for a different day). It'll be interesting to see how it fares. The opening of Grimaldi's Pizza will be a welcome addition to the neighbourhood (and to Manhattan).