An Afternoon on The Upper East Side

April 6, 2014

20140406-072436.jpg Tuesday last week I spent the afternoon strolling around the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Mister Sive was still in Montclair with family, and I had a bit of work to do in the city. I had Bailey with me, as pooches are plentiful on the UES, so she fit right in. The flowers spilling out from all the corner markets just putting me in a happy mood. After a meeting at Dempsey & Carroll looking over the proofs for my collection (which I can’t wait for you all to see) I spent the afternoon walking around on a gloriously sunny Spring day in an area that is also pretty gloriously sunny. That is what I love most about New York City. The neighborhoods vary greatly, so when you break it down to a particular area, it does not feel so big. The Upper East Side has a very gentile feel to it, and when you walk the side streets you feel transported a bit to another time. That is my advice when you visit. Walk the side streets. You will be blown away by the beauty. The trees, the buildings, the homes.

20140406-073705.jpg It was also a time for me to visit a few of my favorite shops. Treillage is a shop owned by design icons Bunny Williams and her husband John Rosselli. It is filled with new and antique furnishings with a garden flair, although many things are suited for interiors. Artwork, tabletop, lamps, along with all the furniture are all mixed together for one serious visual feast.

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20140406-074842.jpg Next up was a visit to the world of Eli Zabar. We have been a fan of Eli’s breads for ages, so it is always fun to pop in when I am in the hood and get a complete sensory culinary overload. Go hungry. A perfect spot to get things to take-away and have a little picnic on a bench. My carry-on bag was stuffed with crackers and such from this visit. They also ship their breads, which make great gifts.

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20140406-075656.jpg Next up was a trip to a transcending shop, de Vera. This is owned by Federico de Vera who I wrote about a few weeks ago when I wrote about his home in the Hudson Valley that was being featured in Elle Decor. I have been going to Federico’s shops for close to 20 years since he first began in Hayes Valley in San Francisco. He has a much larger shop at 1 Crosby Street in the city, but this one is a little jewel box and is just stupendous. I will let the images give you an idea of the beauty and his mastery.

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20140406-081048.jpg Being in creative spaces like all the above feeds my soul. I think when we are surrounded by beauty it makes us want to create more beauty. That is how I always feel after being immersed into such lovely detail. It makes me think. It nourishes me.

Put a walk around the Upper East Side on your list next time you visit New York City. A perfect way to spend a sunny afternoon. Then we were off and up in the clouds back to Seattle.