2 Saturdays ago: 25th Birthday Fete!

Fact: Planning a birthday party is always harder than it should be.

NYC Truth: Organizing a party in Manhattan will drive you to madness.
Real Life-ism: Nobody cares about your party [as much as you do].
Conclusion: Calm the eff down, plan something fun for all, and wear a pretty dress and shiny shoes that make you happy.

It's such a blessing to gain WISDOM with age. *Whew.*

Thus:
The fun plan took the form of an improv comedy show at the UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE, starring actors and writers from "30 Rock," "The Office" and other hilarious shows, followed by dinner at La Bottega, located in the Maritime Hotel.

Pretty dress? Check!


Shiny shoes? Check!

(ELM, SB and The Bunny)


I think my friends are gorgeous.
I've noticed lately that my peers--meaning specifically those people born in 1984 and 1985--are looking ravishingly gorgeous and seriously radiant.
Quite simply, they look the best they've ever looked.
Even on Facebook, when I peruse current photos of people I haven't seen in the flesh since we were 9, it's obvious to me that they've reached a beauty "critical mass."
Mind you, that isn't to say that the best isn't yet to come, because I think it is, but this is a pleasant plateau to reach following the not-yet-distant-enough pains of pre-and-post-adolescence.

I think there will certainly be a time in my life when I'll gaze with jealousy upon the cellulite-free and curve-less figures of teenage girls, and long for that phase in my physical development (which, if I'm honest with myself, never actually existed).

But for now, I think my friends, and even I, look the way we're supposed to--and hopefully feel a little more comfortable in our own skin, too.
That sense of peace is a true birthday gift.

They're such a happy bunch; I'm tremendously and unduly lucky...

(A(K)K, EJS and LAT)


(LAT and BJE)


(DM and CCR)


(MVG, G(A)S, and CLB)


(ELM and SB)


(CJM)


(DM, CCR, ESG and CJM)


(CJM, MVG, G(A)S, and CLB)


(CLB and CJM)


(BJE, CJM and LAT: Even wearing heels it's sort of hopeless with these two...)


(Princeton Girls: LAT, A(K)K, MVG, EJS, and CJM)

I've got a GOOD FEELING about year #25...
In the words of the wrapping paper on one of my gifts, here's hoping that every day grants each of us a...

Cxx.

Singing Tom's praises: Colicchio & Sons

My boyfriend, The Bunny, has a solid track record of surprising me with special treats (most recently this took the form of tickets to "A Little Night Music," starring Zeta-Jones and Lansbury on Broadway).

I figured it was my time to return the favor, and after reading a glowing New York Times review (snippet: "Mr. Colicchio’s is the must-try New York menu. His restaurant isn’t perfect. But it is exciting. And the food is terrifically good."), I booked a table at
Colicchio & Sons.



Tom Colicchio, chief judge on "Top Chef" and proprietor/chef behind Craft, 'wichcraft, and craftbar (which I enjoyed so much last summer), opened this restaurant last month in the former craftsteak location.

It's the first of his endeavors to bear his name, which says something for his commitment to what he's doing there. In fact, while we were dining, the man himself emerged from the kitchen to deliver dishes to a table. He may be a celebrity, but he is first and foremost a chef.

The space is gorgeous, the food is exceptional, the service is top of the line,
and the thoughtful small touches round out a signatures
It may seem insignificant, but when they brought Mr. Bunny his iced tea, they delivered with it a tiny carafe of simple syrup rather than hideous sugar packets.
Those are the kinds of details that will have me coming back time and again.

And besides, how can you beat this view of The Highline?

Well done, Tom.
Cxx.

Things That Make Me Smile: Here Comes the Sun (Doo Dum Doo Doo)

It's been a LONG, COLD, BITTER winter in New York City.

The bleak weather has dragged down the moods and momentum of many people I know.

But recently I can't help but feel that the cloud (literal and figurative) has finally lifted.

Friends are getting new jobs (I'm looking at you, JCT!), acceptances to grad schools (three cheers for CCC going to Stanford Med!), embarking on new romances (*wink, wink* MVG), and carving out new career paths for themselves (proud of you, MBM)!

As for me, the many things in my pipeline are aligning and executing quite nicely.

Fingers are crossed that this period of détente and good luck continues!

In order to celebrate these happy feelings, let me share with you a most spectacular day that I had last weekend:

I woke up and hopped over to Hotel Griffou, a fabulous and new-ish subterranean spot in the center of the Village. So taken was I with the eclectic luxe-English-country-estate-gone-slightly-mad aesthetic that I'm seriously considering planning to have my upcoming 25th birthday fête there!

My dear friend MVG and I nibbled on:

Above: Skillet of Fresh Baked Sticky Buns (we shared)
Below: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup; Griffou Burger with Gruyere and Bacon

Afterward, we could barely move.
But it's a good thing we did.
We caught up with AWC--in town on a quick business trip--just long enough to give her a BIG HUG and for her to give me a sweet little bracelet!
(As if her Valentine's Day serenade weren't enough to treasure.)
I think it goes just perfectly with another bracelet she gave me:

And it was certainly nice to see her back in the context of the Big Apple. I hope she'll be a permanent fixture soon!

Following that short but sweet rendez-vous, MVG and I trained up to the UES to see the Quicktake: Rodarte exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.
The exhibit didn't offer anything I hadn't seen before in the stores that carry Rodarte's young line, nor that I hadn't viewed in runway photos.
Nevertheless, it convinced me that the Mulleavy sisters are true craftsmen (though I still hesitate to elevate their status to "artists"). MVG and I both agreed that their initial concepts are delightfully singular, but only time will tell if their paradigm can translate into interesting variations on a theme, as well as profitability.
For everyone's sake, I hope it does...on both counts!

We walked through Central Park along the Jacqueline Kennedy Reservoir to the Upper West Side, and the rain that persisted through the entire day had finally stopped.

A perfect end to a perfect day.
I hope you find yourself having many of these, too.
Cxx.

Vicky B. at B.G.

Tonight my friend A.S. and I attended an event to celebrate Victoria Beckham's new line of jeans and sunglasses at Bergdorf Goodman.


Victoria Beckham jeans featured in Bergdorf's windows.

I had hoped to see samples of the excellent pieces Victoria debuted at her Fashion Week presentation on Valentine's Day. I cannot express how I covet this gorgeous red dress:

(And I really like these as well. It's a fresh English twist on the Americana sexiness that Michael Kors so successfully achieves season after season.)

But alas, I will have to be patient.

Instead we were greeted by racks of skinny patched and slightly deconstructed jeans, versatile metallic knit tops, and a variety of vintage-inspired sunnies.

Modeling the latest Victoria Beckham sunglasses.

The event was busy but not over-crowded, and Victoria mingled with everyone.
Bergdorf buyers Sunni and Samantha, from MTV's "The City," were spotted on the job and in the dressing rooms; I don't blame Samantha for succumbing to the temptation to slip on VB's sexy jeans.


Victoria and A.S.
---
Prior to the fete on the 5th floor, A.S. and I dined on the 7th floor at BG.

After a delicious dinner in the ambience of Kelly Wearstler's decorative magic, and with the snow falling down on Central Park directly outside, we indulged in Mariage Freres tea and cookies.

A promotional cookie arrived with the check to remind us of BG's new children's shop: Little BG!

We took a peek. Isn't it cute? A bit like J.Crew's crewcuts store, but nevermind that; I can't ever get enough of childhood fantasy.


It was such a fun night of adding a little *spice* to my life.
Cxx.

Love You More than Valentino

He wouldn't be The Bunny if he didn't have a surprise up his sleeve.
(That reminds me, I need to share the story about "A Little Night Music"!)

Anyway, sneaky Steven told me he was taking me out for Valentine's dinner.
We walked to the street corner to "catch a cab" and he abruptly navigated me into the Cooper Square Hotel (located mere yards from the apartment), where a table at the hotel's brand new and well-received restaurant, Faustina, awaited us.

One of their specialities? BREAD.
Don't mind if I do....

Everything is tapas-style so we ordered several small plates to share:


Tuna and Avocado "Salad" with sea urchin viniagrette


Grilled Ciabatta with Poached Duck Egg and Fonduta//
Lardo Wrapped Prawns over Rosemary Lentils


Herbed Fries //
Black Truffle Risotto with Egg and Ricci di Mare (sea urchin)


Short Ribs of Beef and Spaetzle //
Stewed Eggplant and Pork Shoulder


Five-layer chocolate cake with mocha ice cream.

The Bunny and I both agreed that it wasn't the best meal we'd ever eaten (partially due to the service), but we feasted like kings and had a great time together.

Immediately following the end of our dinner I noticed a voicemail on my phone.
It was nothing short of a singing telegram from my friend AWC, who is a MASTER in the craft of wordplay.
Here are the outstanding lyrics to my singing Valentine:

Christine, oh, Christine, oh
I love you more than Valentino

On this Valentine's Day
I just wanted to say
That Christine, oh, Christine, oh
You know how much you mean, oh
To me

Now before I leave
Please also say hello to Steve
I hope you are filled with joy
for that boy
Today

Re: "That Boy"? I definitely am.
I hope everyone enjoyed the day whether with lovers or friends.
After all, love is love.
Cxx.

D.C.: The Place to Be (sans below-freezing temps...)

Last week I enjoyed the incredible opportunity of traveling to D.C. with curators from my museum in order to view object candidates for our upcoming exhibit.

Several years ago I interned at an auction house and worked hands-on with many pieces, but something about the idea of a trip that incorporated in-person art observation along with scholarly research was particularly enticing; it felt like my first real steps in a curator's shoes.

When I departed NYC it was snowing, as you can see from my view of Central Park. Since there was no snow in D.C.'s forecast I felt assured it would be warmer. Oh, the folly of assumption...


I arrived in The District to a lovely welcome from Union Station.

I set off straightaway into the cold to visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery. They boast an excellent art collection that structurally coalesces around Norman Foster's gorgeous Kogod Courtyard:



Following my afternoon spent at S.A.A.M., I met up with two D.C.-based childhood friends for dinner at Georgia Brown's!
WRG and PMH happily settled into heaping portions of sumptuous soul food...


The cornbread is molded to resemble actual corn on the cob!
It's a cute, somewhat kitschy detail in an otherwise elegant restaurant.


They also serve up some of the finest fried green tomatoes known to man:

Like any respectable D.C. institution, Georgia Brown's played host to a political fundraiser taking place mere feet from our table. It was just what I'd expect from a place that was (supposedly) Bill Clinton's favorite D.C. haunt!

---
I spent the following morning conducting research at the Archives of American Art.
It was an intellectually electrifying adventure. I read an RSVP that was written by Letitia Baldridge on behalf of Jackie Kennedy, and touched correspondence--from mundane receipts to major planning documents-- that shaped a crucial event pertaining to my exhibition. Had I known how to research this efficiently when I was 21 I would have savored writing my Princeton thesis.
Alas, I'm grateful for finally having acquired this skill set pre-grad school!

After wrapping up my queries I visited the Corcoran Gallery and was given a behind-the-scenes tour, and a peek into the conservation lab at a painting of particular interest to my project.

In taking the scenic route from the Corcoran to my next stop, the National Gallery of Art, I passed by the White House. Is it possible to feel anything but complete patriotic adoration at the site of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

I submit that it is not!

I also took a quick stop to admire the skaters at, and the sculptures around, the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink.

Anyone who's visited the Princeton Art Museum in the last few years will be struck by the familiarity of Magdalena Abakanowicz's contribution to the garden:


My final destination, the NGA, was a complete delight. Highlights from the Dale Collection merely underscored the astonishing breadth and depth of the museum's collection, and I think we should all be very proud to call these our NATIONAL holdings.

It was a short but worthwhile visit. I look forward to returning for more art, more research and more good time with friends (Miss Mindless, this means You!).
Cxx.