Highline Park and walking around Chelsea

Last saturday, I finally got to check out the Highline Park with my sis and Nik. It was a really nice day out and it was surprisingly, not too crowded. My inner macro-geek got the best of me with all the pretty flowers everywhere and it was quite nice to be surrounded with a patch of nature among the buildings and concrete. LOVE the design of these gardens so so much!






Afterwards, we walked around Chelsea for a bit. I like to check out the graffiti, and I was hopeful that some of the smaller galleries would be open, but no luck on that front.





We happened upon this amaaaazing window farm in a window of a gallery. I tried really hard to capture a picture of it, but the reflections were really working against me here. Check out their website though! It was a vertical hydroponic garden! There were even little peppers growing! I was blown away, to say the least.

Follow the Leader!

Just a quick note to say that two of my illustrations that I did are posted up on Sub-Studio today. This was a super-fun project! You can read more about the project (or submit!) here, but the basic premise is that you start with one "seed" drawing from a template provided on the site, and you finish it off however you choose. The "seed" drawings that I chose are the jar and the boombox, respectively. There are some fantastic contributions up on the site, so check 'em out!

Chocolate-chip pancakes with Cherry Sauce and the South Street Seaport

Decadent brunch today with some chocolate-chip pancakes and a cherry sauce. That's a plum hiding in the background that I got in my CSA this morning. So pretty and fruity! Pancakes from VWAV and local cherries from my CSA. Lots of cherries! I'm going to make a cherry pie with them sometime this weekend!

Last night, we went to the South Street Seaport to check out Black Moth Super Rainbow. I was pretty impressed with the opener Dan Friel (Blank Dogs were eh), and Black Moth Super Rainbow was fun (although doesn't sound as good live as on album). They had fun video and costumes though. Afterwards, we went to see (500) Days of Summer, which was super-cute, but not as good as the trailer looks. Heading to Candle 79 tonight...mmm.

Italian Ice!

Happy Friday!

This is my sister's last weekend here, so I'm hoping it is a nice and sunny one. I wanna go see Black Moth Super Rainbow tonight at the South Street Seaport, but it's a no-go if it's thunderstorming. Hate that! Nik and I are taking Jenna to Candle 79 saturday night for a belated b-day celebration (she turned 17 on wednesday! My baby sister is growing up!) I had dreams of that Seitan Piccata for weeks after the last time I went there...any recommendations of what I should get this time around?? Other than that, I want to see 500 Days of Summer real bad!

On to the food!

White Bean burger with MEGA-GUAC! Used the black bean burger recipe from VCON, but with white beans. Why yes, yes I do like my guac topping to be equal to it's burger! Sooo yum. Kale chips on the side.


I had a muffin craving the other night at midnight. I know. I had cherries and blueberries in my CSA this past week and they are a super-win combo. These didn't last very long.


Jenna loves eggplant parm. and vodka sauce, so I combined the two for her birthday dinner on Wednesday. I used the vodka sauce from VCon and OH MY GOD why haven't I ever made vodka sauce before?? Seriously, I don't think I can ever make a plain tomato sauce again. I took great care in salting my eggplants and letting them sit and "sweat" out their water before rinsing and wringing them dry (it's fun to squeeze eggplant after they are salted!) This resulted in some super-tender eggplant. I dredged them in flour, dipped in soymilk, and then coated them with breadcrumbs + italian spices, before frying them up in some olive oil. Layered them with the vodka sauce and some Follow Your Heart Mozzarella and baked for 30 minutes. Lots of work, but worth it (plus we had leftovers for tonight!)

Um, guys? Have you gotten Hannah's new e-book yet? I made the Birthday Cake Ice Cream wednesday (yes, I was in the kitchen forever that night!) I mean, I knew this would be good, but this was seriously good. So creamy! I wanna try it with chocolate cake next! I can't wait to make more recipes from this!



Hope everyone has a rad weekend!

Shop Update!

Here are two new paintings that have been added to my shop!
Both are watercolor on a gessoed pine board.






My sis and I spent the day on sunday laying in the park listening to DJs and bands at the Pool Party, on the Williamsburg waterfront. We left before The Dirty Projectors came on, but managed to see Crystal Antlers and Magnolia Electric Co. The sun was kicking our butt and we were super-thirsty/hungry. The line was a MILE long outside as we were leaving. I'm guessing most people didn't get in before the final band came on. It's amazing how much the sun can drain you, even if you were just laying around!

Beach Fail. Bonus pizza and doughnuts!

Hey friends. I'm gonna be slow blogging in the next few weeks, as my 'lil sis is still here and I kinda forget about these things when I have visitors. We're having so much fun! We tried to go to the beach this past saturday, but that was kind of a major fail. In fact, it was so bad, it was downright comical. Original plans were to venture to Long Beach, in Long Island, but after reading up on the temperature of the ocean (48F!!!), we decided to keep it cheap and just stay on Brooklyn sand. Off we trekked to Coney Island, with the sun shining on us, only to arrive to clouds galore and really really harsh winds and coldness. Brr! We brought a lovely picnic and everything, but it was pretty frustrating to try to eat a sammich with sand flying at your face. Gross! Coney Island sand! There were a bunch of crazies swimming in the water, but we only cautiously dipped our feet in and ran shrieking away (wusses, I know). We did manage to bury Jenna up to her neck, and it was pretty funny watching her try to wiggle out of the piles of sand we heaped on her. Our train ride there was longer than the time we stayed there, ha! All three of us had a layer of sand covering us when we left, and I'm still finding it around the apartment. Should have went to the park!




I made some Isa Pizza, from Vegan with a Vengeance, last week, topped with the cashew ricotto, pesto, tomato sauce, zucchini, and fire-roasted red peppers. Um, yum!! I love this pizza and it is worth all the time it takes to make all the different toppings.


The other night, my sis and I made DOUGHNUTS. Heavenly, I tell ya. I used this recipe, which I have used once before, with great results. We rolled them in a powdered sugar/cinnamon mix and I even piped in some raspberry jam in a few (we just used a regular heart-shaped cookie cutter for the filled ones). I stuck a chopstick in and moved it around a bit, to create a little space and just piped it on in. Easy-peasy! Total sugar-coma!




There has been lots of healthy smoothies and salads also, but pizza and doughnuts are way funner to photograph!

I have been tidying up my Etsy shop, unlisting older things that I don't feel fit well anymore, and working on adding new listings. I took a bunch of photos this weekend of art cards, so I'm mostly listing those in the next few days. I want to re-photograph some of my originals also, but that will most likely have to wait until next weekend (please sun, cooperate). A recent new addition to my shop are these blank notecards, from my Love and Peace series. I had them at Renegade and they did really well, and I finally got my butt in gear to put together a listing online for them. Yay!


More to come soon!

Yummy weekend

Happy long weekend! My lil sis arrived latelate friday night (stupid bus) and we have been walking all over the city this weekend. We enjoyed the car-less streets on Bedford ave. in Williamsburg yesterday afternoon and sat in the park to people-watch for awhile too. We went to dinner at Soy and Sake (my fave all-veggie sushi place) later in the evening and headed west in Manhattan to try and catch the Macy's firework display. We ended up with a pretty clear viewing spot, despite getting there kinda last minute and there being millions of people. It took forever to get out of there, after the fireworks, but it was a nice night out. Here's a pic of my sis and I (I'm on the left). Isn't she the cutest?? Dimples! :)




French Toast!! I used the recipe out of Vegan with a Vengeance, but put a coating of sugar/cinnamon on the outside because french toast without it is just not right! Soooo delicious.



Nik, my sister, and I went to Soy and Sake for dinner on the 4th of July and we stuffed ourselves. This was the rock shrimp tempura appetizer, which is my favorite at this restaurant. Mock shrimp with a really light tempura batter and a delicious sauce.

Grilled Bourbon Chicken appetizer with a sweet sauce. I love their fake chicken and it hits the spot everytime.

My entree was the Vegetable sushi platter, which had Kampyo / tofu skin / asparagus / oshinko / avocado & mix vegetable tempura rolls. The tempura rolls are my favorite! This is the 2nd time I have gotten this here. So good!


Ahh Monday. Back to work!

Da Gunks

Last weekend, some friends and I went hiking and camping up in The Gunks. So pretty! I can't believe I've never been there before. We spent all day saturday hiking around and to the Ice Caves. Sadly, there is no actual ice in the ice caves in June, but the hike was pretty beautiful in itself. Must go back next early spring to see the ice! We went into New Paltz for a little bit for dinner and then set up camp at one of those free camping sites, near the parks.









Water! Such a pretty change from the water I'm used to seeing around NYC. Haha.

Campfires are the best.


I laid around on a big rock/cliff overlooking a gorgeous lake alllll day sunday. So relaxing!



I got out of work early today and have the day off tomorrow for the 4th of July. My lil sis is coming tomorrow night! She's taking some classes at FIT this coming month, so we'll get to do all sorts of fun things together. Hooray!

Happy belated Canada day to my Canadian friends! Happy 4th and lonnnnng fun weekends!