Just Another Brooklyn Sunday

Most summer weekends mean running off to Long Beach.  But every so often I find myself with no plans.  Today was the perfect day to explore Brooklyn.

When I was away for a month, I started making a summer list of things I still wanted to do.  The Brooklyn Flea was on it- for no other reason except I had heard about it so much last year.  Because of the still sweltering temps, I opted for the indoor Sunday version at the Williamsburg Savings Bank.

I have to say, the architecture was pretty incredible and not what I was expecting for a Sunday morning.  I met a friend there around 11 am, which seemed a bit early as a lot of the vendors were still setting up.  So after browsing the usual: antiques, vintage clothing, artisan crafts, and jewelry stands, we decided to eat.  I settled for a chicken tamale and half a pupusa- which I would say is a much better deal than the gourmet food vendors there (my friend ended up with a semi-sandwich from the Milk Truck for double the price of my tamale).  Next time, I'd like to try Asia Dog's Banh Mi.  To finish off lunch, we decided to grab some fancy popsicles (raspberry basil and peach blueberry) from People's Pops- they were good but proved challenging the second we stepped outside.

After a quick trip into the city and a nap I still had a good chunk of today left.  I walked down by the waterfront to the East River Park just missing the outdoor concert Pool Parties.  The light was still good, so I was able to snap a couple nice long shadow shots on the grass.  After sitting by the water for a good bit, I took a walk around Williamsburg- down by the water, up South 2nd Street, and saw this meserizing flock of birds circling so that their wings reflected gold every time they angled towards the sun.

It's catching these little moments that no one seems to notice that makes a good end to a quiet weekend.

the weekend beet: Newport, Rhode Island

After being gone from New York for almost exactly a month, I pretty much threw myself back into catching up with my group of girlfriends.  This Newport beach trip had been in my calendar for months, and I’m glad that I arrived back in time to go on.  Strangely, I have this feeling these girls’ weekends will be less frequent now as almost all my close girlfriends of that group are happily engaged or soon to be.

I don’t really ever remember being to a small New England town, so I didn’t really know what to expect.   Luckily enough, I was able to get a seat in my friend’s car for the 3-ish hour drive.   We arrived at Easton’s beach to find the other half of our group, a crowded dark sand beach, impressive mansions perched high up on a cliff, and a strange red tide (apparently, this red seaweed filled water is native to Newport)

I found Newport to be a very cute town, but it also made me glad for the diversity that New York has to offer.  The highlight of my trip had to have been trying my first lobster roll at the Snack Stand and wave jumping with friends.  Being together with nine girls for any extended period of time is always tricky.  There were definitely some dramatic moments (not being able to get a cab back to the hotel for 2 hours after a night out, mini meltdowns, etc.) but overall everything worked out for the best.

Clear your Head

I just found this photo I took this spring while on one of my many Williamsburg Bridge walks from my apartment to Manhattan.  There was a lot going through my mind this spring and I always found that the walk was long enough to really get my body physically engaged and my mind cleared.  Though I didn’t always solve my problems, the view always reminded me of the fact that New York has been my home for a while now and that this is the life I built for myself. 

Too bad it’s been way to humid to do one of these walks this summer.  Perhaps in the fall?

Next Best Thing.

After my road trip plans got cancelled, I started to think of where I could go for a quick vacation.   In the past couple years, I’ve found Miami to be my go to spot.  It is probably the only place in the continental US where I have felt instantly transported to a faraway tropical destination.  It is so close to New York and very do-able in a weekend.  I tend to go for the beach to just relax, but it’s nice to have the option to go out to a swanky South Beach hotel.
 
My favorite moments of this trip include: feeling like a jetsetter while getting picked up from my hotel by boat, ending that night in a faraway restaurant in Little Havana, swimming with schools of clear fish, Lido lemonades poolside at The Standard Hotel in Miami beach, spending hours body surfing before leaving for the airport. 

Can’t wait to go back!

Not this time.

all photos by A Fish

On the last weekend of April, I had planned to go on a short road trip with my cousin from San Francisco to Big Sur.  Though, it took a decent amount of planning something about it still felt spontaneous and unexpected.  Sadly, we didn’t go but I imagine my photos would have looked something like these.

 

There is definitely something mystical about Big Sur- it feels preserved in time, still marked by the retreats of intellects, beatniks, and rock stars of past eras.  I hope to get the chance to experience it first hand.

Like a Dream: Luang Prabang, Laos

one of my most favorite photos, courtesy of A Fish

At the end of last year, I was fortunate to find myself on a plane to China to meet up with my father in Shanghai.  I had really been pushing the idea of taking a trip to Laos with him since my late teens.  Though he is ethnically Chinese, his family spent a lot of time moving around Southeast Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Vientiane, Laos.  I find it strange that for the greater part of my childhood I thought my dad was born in Laos. There seemed to be some mystery surrounding some of the stories I’ve heard and general reluctance to revisit. 
Nevertheless, I felt it was important to push the issue and basically forced the trip to Laos.  There were a lot of logistical issues: getting to Vientiane, meeting up with my dad’s old friends, etc., some of which brought about familial conflict as I think is the case with anyone who attempts to travel with their parents.  The trip was definitely rushed (I'll have to dedicate a post to Vientiane at another time), but the saving grace of the trip was definitely a hop over and up to Luang Prabang.
The city proved to be completely breath taking in a very non-traditional way.  It is quaint, dusty and carries an unmistakable density in the air.  In the mornings, a heavy fog floats just above the Mekong River.  As the day progresses the heat and humidity are inescapable, the streets become empty as locals and tourists alike hide under the shade of the cafes.  Almost immediately my memories of the passing hours felt sepia soaked and timeless.  There was something about the city that clicked with me, and though it was very foreign it felt familiar in a way.  I especially loved watching the little monks return to their temples on their way back from school in their bright orange robes and the sounds of little kids playing at the nearby school while drinking a watermelon juice on the second floor veranda of a Lao restaurant.

view of the Khan River

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO protected World Heritage Site.

Lily pond at the Villa Santi Hotel

Located about 5 minutes outside of the main part of town.

 This hotel had some of the most beautiful grounds and THE best massage I have ever had.

 the climb up Mount Phou Si

Wat Xieng Thong

3 photos from A Fish

boats along the Mekong

scbool yard and roadside markets from A Fish

Nice day for a drive

I have wanted to take a drive up the Hudson River for a while now and asked a good friend if she’d be up for a mid week drive.  We had all kinds of grand plans to visit Olana, take a hike along the Gunks, and do a little antique shopping on the way back.  Instead, we ended up doing a tour of the southernmost part of the Hudson: Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Pocantico Hills, and Ossining- about forty five minutes north of the city.  While it wasn’t quite the day we expected, it turned out to be a lot of fun.  It is really amazing how quickly the scenery changes once you get out of the city.

 

taken at Washington Irving's Sunnyside Estate in Tarrytown 

and the drive along Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

 

We had lunch at the lovely Blue Hill Cafe at Stone Barns- highly recommended!

 

docks at Ossining

  

Tappan Zee Bridge

Next time, the Gunks are a priority.

 

 image source unknown