New York Mon AMOUR

 

 Happy Monday my little cats! 

Merry Christmas! I hope you're all well and warm with your families, wrapping your presents! Thank you for your photos and posts on social networks of your gift-wrapping creations with My Little Box goodies. Bravo c'est canon, it makes me so happy to see you re-appropriate things I imagine, it's galvanizing even, to see a little idea spread, THANK YOU! As for me, over the last 24 days I've had a lot of fun spoiling you on InstagramI can't wait to read your reactions! I'm writing to you today to tell you about a trip I took a few weeks ago, and one of the clues to tomorrow's giveaway is inside this article! 

 

 

So many trips right now, it's crazy, I know, I hope this gives you some ideas for 2015! New York is clearly nothing new around here, but I go back every time with delight! I think it's really the city I could see myself moving to if I ever decided to leave Paris. This time, I left between two busy weeks of work, my head empty, and I was lucky enough to leave with a great company Openskiesfor 4 days of New York recreation. I have to admit, New York feels like home to me, and I don't need a day to get used to it. So I knew what I wanted to do as soon as I arrived! 

 

 

And right from the start, I was welcomed like a princess by our national Fred, who happened to be in New York, also on business! I got out of my cab and Fred took my suitcases up to my hotel room, which was brilliant. Standard Hotel in the East Village. I discover that from my room I have a breathtaking view of the city. I just can't get enough of New York's architecture, its rigor and mix of styles. I was trying to describe New York to the person who shares my life, and all he could think of to say was "Ah yes, it's a grid pattern a bit like Levallois". So I gave up, I'll show him for real one day... That New York isn't just a grid, it's astonishment around every corner, and crazy light, needless to say...

 

 

In fact, for this express trip, I had some sick weather, like summer in October, so I arrived on a Saturday late in the day, time enough to wallow for a few long minutes on my bed, in that sense of the trip, jet lag is unforgiving. But I was determined not to wake up at 3 a.m. with my eyes wide open. So Fred and I went out to Soho, and then all of a sudden, hunger surprised us as we wandered the streets of New York. I find that there are so many great places to eat in this city, that I'm afraid I'll walk into any one of them and be disappointed, because where there's a lot of great places to eat, there's also a lot of crappy places to eat... So a word of advice: make yourself a list, and check out the addresses before you go.

 

 

In the end, we went to an address I adore! Delicious Japanese food for very, very little money! KENKA, I'll let you discover it, but you'll be surrounded by Japanese students, with a completely crazy menu in an overloaded Manga spirit, fortunately the photos of the dishes are there to guide you. And it was here that I ate my first iced mochi, so if you've never had one before, you won't come away unscathed. I'd love to find the recipe, I'm working on it! And then, when it's time to pay the bill, which is absolutely not expensive (hohoho), you'll be given a little jar of sugar, which you can use to make your own cotton candy in the machine in front of the restaurant. We love it.

• KENKA: 25 Saint Marks Place, New York, NY 10003.

 

 

I won't hide the fact that I collapsed after my mochis, and that, as I feared, I woke up at 3am. But that's just a detail, I saw the sun rise over New York and that's priceless. Sunday was sacred brunch day, so we headed to Brooklyn for a hearty healtly breakfast at 5 Leaves, but I'd also recommend Allswell, which, like Paris, is hard to book. So you can either arrive at the crack of dawn, but since you're jet-lagged, that shouldn't be a problem, or you can take it easy and let yourself be immersed in Brooklyn's very special atmosphere. 

• 5 leaves: 18 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222.
• Allswell: 124 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

 

 

After brunch, we lost ourselves in Brooklyn, taking a shopping break at the Whisk kitchenware store, a tourist break at the Mast Brothers chocolate workshop and then heading back to Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge... Hot walk in the sun, God I love this city! If it weren't so complicated with the whole Visa and green card thing, I'd definitely be settled in by now... Maybe not forever, but for at least a few years. I already know that the energy of this city fills me with new emotions. I don't necessarily have to go to a museum, just a change of scenery, a different perspective, a different way of looking at a city, a willingness to be swallowed up by these buildings, that alone makes me electric. And I'm not even talking about the people, their moods, their looks...

• Whisk: 231 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211.
• Mast Brothers: 111 North 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 1121.

 

 

For this trip, I wanted to shop for accessories for my next book... Yes, between cheese and dessert, I'll let you know that I'm preparing a new book. I told you a few months ago about a book/compendium of ephemeral tattoos, and well, it's ready, but my editor and I thought it would be a shame to release it in the middle of winter, so get your short sleeves ready for "Tattoo, not forever" Ephemeral tattoos and decals. And a sequel to Make My Party, ahhhhh! I can't take it anymore! So I did a few boutiques like "Fishs Eddy" for funny and sublime tableware! Or another address I adore that will drive you crazy, "Paper Presentation", a huge store full of envelopes, incredible paper, notebooks, boxes, a daydream! 

• Fishs Eddy: 889 Broadway New York, NY 10003.
• Paper Presentation: 23 West 18th Street New York, NY 10011.

 

 

After shopping for the book, I joined my darling aunt, who has lived in this city for almost 40 years! A true New York guide in her own right, she introduced me to typical New York addresses, such as my new favorite store: Joe Fresh, stylish and inexpensive, with very fashionable pieces and excellent basics. Old Navy, a veritable institution, a mix of H&M and Primark. J. crew, still an expensive address, but so inspiring for its looks and merchandising, this boutique is real eye candy. And then there are the huge Anthropologie stores, which I recommend to you in Union Square and Chelsea Market!

• Joe Fresh: 110 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10011.
• Old Navy: 503 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.
• J.Crew: 91 5th Avenue New York, NY 10003.
• Anthropology: 6th & 5th 85 Fifth Ave New York, NY or Chelsea Market 75 9th Ave New York, NY 1001.

 

 

I'm not going to detail every minute of my trip between my aunt, my Fred, and the time I took to walk up and down this city. But I loved taking photos in this incredible light, by the way. You can see all the photos from this trip in large format in this Facebook album. Thanks again to Openskies for allowing me to travel in such good conditions, and I almost forgot, with Fred, you were lucky enough to attend a mind-blowing show: "Sleep no More", the play Lady Mc Beth revisited. I won't say more, but I've never had an experience like it. There were moments when I felt the same sensation I could experience as a child, that of going even further, even if it's scary, curiosity stronger than anything else. All spectators are masked, and must follow the actors through different levels of a building set up for the show. A must-see. But if you're in the mood for a truly magical experience, with glitter and magic in your eyes, I recommend "Fuerza Bruta", a dance show like you've never seen before! I've seen it twice, and I think I'd be up for a third! 

Sleep no More 530 West 27th Street New York, NY 10001.

Fuerza Bruta 101 East 15th Street New York, NY 10003.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this, and I wish you a wonderful Christmas! I look forward to hearing from you! See you soon!