BABY GIFT

My sister is having a baby girl in Sept. We just had a big baby shower in NY on a rooftop, where she got a ton of amazing gifts from all her girlfriends. Its so great that she is having a girl, cause Shelley is such a fashionista, this little gal is going to be stylish. I have already gotten her three different gifts, but I found this tonight which is so cute. To purchase it, click on the title above, and it will take you to Nordstrom's website where you can buy this classic Burberry's bikini.

BURKEDECOR.COM

I have to be honest. MOVING SUCKS. You have to pack, then throw out a bunch of things that you love but never use...in fear of becoming one of those strange people that hoard like you see on Dateline or those home shows. Its a good excersise of letting material things go on top of Saying goodbye to amazing friends and great neighbors...ahhhhhh...

UNPACKING...this process also reminds you of all the money you have spend frivolously on clothing, bedding, and random things and makes you never want to buy anything again.

The day comes though, like TODAY, a week later for me, when I am looking at a new apt with next to almost nothing. The first that this new apt needs is new THROW PILLOWS.

Koko Company designs the most unique modern bedding and pillows. I sort of like these saturated colors unlike the maharam eames pillows that I have in my LA apartment. These are two that might be nice for fall. See the bottom two made out of wool. These will run about $80.
The other ones that I like are from Thomas Paul on the same website called burkedecor.com. The Thomas Paul ones are linen and quite graphic an vibrant. You can get to it by clicking on the title.

GREENPOINT BROOKLYN

Our first restaurant meal (after 10 days of driving cross country and eating at randome restaurants) was an authentic POLISH place in Greenpoint Brooklyn. Lucas is Polish and everytime we come to NY, Greenpoint is an essential on our to do list. If you like Polish Food,and cheap prices on groceries, then this is the place to go. Greenpoint (Manhattan Ave to Nassau Street) is populated with about 70% Polish people and the rest are young artistic types. It has about 25 polish delis, over 30 Polish restauarants that are all casual, dives I should say, but very homey, very clean and you feel like you are in Krakow. My favorite restaurant in Greenpoint so far (I have only tried 3) is a very small, completely bar bones place called BASIA RESTAURANT at 167 Nassau. Its sort of cafeteria style and there is a huge board that had about 30 different things to chose from. Everything is under $8, and the entrees come with your choice of two different Polish salads as red beet salad with onions, Cole slaw, sauerkraut,shaved apples and carrots or green salad. We go to Basia for their very thinly sliced pork cutlet and a side of a grain called Kashia. You can get boiled potatoes if you don't like Kashia, but it tastes like brown rice to me and its very healthy. The food is very fresh, clean and very good. When you walk in, you will think what is she thinking...but the minute you take your first bite of the pork cutlet or the red beet soup, and the fresh prepared sauerkraut, you will get what I am saying. Lucas mom has not been here so I can't wait for her to come visit and so we can take her here and see what she thinks. She is a great cook and so will be interested to see in what she has to say.
After the meal, we usually got to W-NASSAU MEAT MARKET where they have homemade cold cuts and Kielbasy. The black forest ham and the Kielasy is AMAZING. Not like an American Deli, but its seriously fresh and the ham looks like it just got out of the oven. There are over 6 kinds of homeade Kielasy, since its a busy store, and the meat moves daily, its super fresh. Its located at 915 Manhattan Ave.

FINALLY MADE IT TO BROOKLYN

Lucas and I finally made it to Brooklyn on Saturday. It was a pretty smooth move in on Saturday with a little rain, but it was totally fine.
Lucas was so excited to be here, he took this photo of the car on the street the minute we got out.(The white Lexus Hybrid with the black thing on top.)WE are located at Henry Street and DeGraw in Cobble Hill. The next morning, we took a walk and he snapped a shot of us on Court Street which is a few blocks down. Last shot, HE couldn't wait to have fresh toasted Portugese bread with drizzled olive oil, fresh tomatoes on toast with some feta cheese and olives...with hot coffee from a french press.

THINGS TO DO IN BALTIMORE

So I have to be in New York Tomorrow. We had been on the road for so long we decided to skip NY tonite and get up early tomorrow to finish the drive. We picked Baltimore rather than going through Phili to save a few hours. This city is NOTHING I expected. We didnt really get to tour alot of the places but I have a list for any of you that might come to this city! We had the most AMAZING DINNER at LUNA DEL SEA BISTRO. Lucas and I ordered the steamed Lobster, crab and shrimp platter. Lucas has never been a big seafood guy, but after tonight and having the famous Maryland crab, he loves it now. Here are some things to do...

1. HAMPDEN. For a few blocks along "the Avenue" (West 36th Avenue, between Falls Road and Beech Avenue), its seems like a flashback to the 60's. Follow your meatloaf sandwich from Cafe Hon (home of the beehive 'do) with some literate comic book browsing at Atomic Books. And coming in December, Hampden's famous annual billion-light Christmas display along West 34th Street. www.hampdenmerchants.com.

2. LITTLE ITALY. Washington is just a bit too Southern to have any proper ethnic neighborhoods. Not so Baltimore, second only to Ellis Island as a late 19th-century immigration port. You'll get fierce opinions on which of more than 20 restaurants is the best-of-the-moment -- Da Mimmo (217 S. High), Caesar's Den (223 S. High), Chiapparelli's (237 S. High). Sabatino's (901 Fawn) is always good for stick-to-the-ribs southern Italian in a Louis Prima atmosphere and Vaccarro's (222 Albemarle) is unbeatable for cannoli and other old-country desserts.


3. FELLS POINT. Colonial-era neighborhood on the harbor. The worthy Admiral Fell Inn is the cornerstone of the quarter, and its HAMILTON'S is said to be one of the area's best restaurants. Still, for breakfast it's worth walking across the square to Jimmy's (801 S. Broadway) for a short-order bender. Boutique, antique and specialty shopping holds sway during the day, but at night the neighborhood becomes a pub hub of live music and pool.

4. HELMAND. An Afghan restaurant on everyone's best-of lists, and it's owned by Qayum Karzai, brother of Afghanistan's head of state, Hamid Karzai. You may have to wait for a table, but the signature sauteed pumpkin alone is worth it and the eggplant will have all those Little Italy chefs gnashing their teeth in jealousy. Entrees range between $8 and $12. 806 N. Charles St., 410-752-0311.

5. MOUNT VERNON NIGHTLIFE. If your designated driver can get you as far as this centrally located, architecturally rich neighborhood, it's not a bad pick for one-stop bar-hopping. After dinner at the Brass Elephant (924 N. Charles), head up the carved stairs to the Tusk Lounge. A few doors up the street is the pretentiously unmarked Red Maple (930 N. Charles),inventive "Asian tapas." If feel like music,head back down to the Ruby Lounge (802 N. Charles)

KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE

We didn't have much time in Knoxville...less that 24 hours. Its a shame, since I did so much research on it. The drive through Tennesee was beautiful. Lucas liked the beauty of the Chatanooga River. This city was just picked on AOL's best one day getaways. Too bad Lucas and I weren't able to do all this city has to offer.See the article by clicking on the title.

Knoxville rests on the banks of the Tennessee River and in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. This city is in a temperate climate zone, so you can really take advantage of the water and the mountains. Winters are brief, and spring arrives early with dogwoods, azaleas and beautiful flowers. Hiking and Fishing here are a big attraction.

We ate dinner at Applebee's since we didn't have internet access to check the NY times suggestion... I had the grilled salmon with almond rice and steamed veggies and Lucas had the Tilipia with black beans and rice. I have to admit, it was really tasty. I was the only Asian girl in the whole restaurant. Lucas sort of blended in with everyone but his skater style and his accent sort of gave it away that we were not locals.
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WHAT TO EAT IN NEW ORLEANS

NEW ORLEANS RULES. This place is ENERGETIC. Coming straight from Texas, this place has so much more energy, cultural diversity and food establishments everywhere, its more alive and the options are endless. I am here for two days and so far, its been a blast. We got in last night and we decided to stay in the French Quarters. I have to be at a hotel with a pool, very much like the diva photographer Michael O'Neil who I used to produce for at Vanity Fair. He has a point...its good excersise after working all day or being in a car.
HOTEL. Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street is where we decided to stay. Its has a pool, and you must ask for a room in the back near the courtyard away from Bourbon Street or else you will think I am on drugs for recommending it. Its very inexpensive and very NICE for the price. Lucas and I found it on the NY TIMES 36 hours article on New Orleans. My room was $119 and considering it was $450 before Katrina, its a good deal. Very fancy lobby, nice bell man, 500 thread count sheets...flat screens with clean rooms that don't smell like beer or smoke.

FOOD. So, being a low maintenence foodie and beening a alumnai of Bon Appetit Magazine, I have to say that I want to keep it real in New Orleans since my boyfriend is a harsher critic than I am. I know Brett Anderson is an award winning food writer but after reading all his reviews, I have to rebel and go for the local food that normal people want to eat. I am over spending $200 on a meal just because a writer that a Bon Appetit editor had to commission and get done in two weeks recommended OR listen to Brett Anderson who writes kindly about the restaurant if they are nice to him. Yuk. I know you may have not gotten enough attention in high school, but we just want to eat good food. I don't care if its $15 or $150.
So these are my choices if you are here for two days. I will also list the fancy places for those that want the whole dining experience or you can click on the title above to get names and address of all the places in one list.

MY PICKS.
1.K-Pauls on Chartres street. Get the Chicken andouille gumbo. Its the best.
2. Jacques-Imo's Cafe on Oak Street. Best Fried Chicken in town.
3. Casual Coop's Place on Decator Street. Blackened Redfish, Shrimp Creole, crab claws and creole green beens in bacon sauce. Yum.
4.Bayona by Susan Spicer on Darphine Street. Fancy. Expensive but innovative. Smoked Quail, liver and onion stuffed rabbit roulade.
5. Brigtsen on Dante Street. Seafood platter.
6. Guy's Po Boy on Magazine Street. Chill food for a chill price.

OTHER PICKS BY AWARD WINNING WRITER BRETT ANDERSON OR BON APPETIT MAGAZINE IN AN OLD STORY.
1. Antoine's on St. Louis street. Fancy. Fried Oysters, beef brisket.
2. Commander's Palace. Old School uptight. For fancy foodies.
3. Herbsaint. French. Fancy and for pretentious foodies.
4. Stella's in the French Quarters. New. For the person that needs to be at the hottest new hot spot. Fresh, creative food that pricey.

COOL PLACE TO STAY IN AUSTIN-KIMBERMODERN HOTEL

I am on a road trip right now. LA to NYC. The first day was brutal but we decided to go south, so that I could go to Austin and New Orleans...two cities I have not been to yet that I have commissioned stories over the years. We stopped in El Paso, and not really much to say about El Paso other than its flat and huge, and much more populated than I thought it would be. We stopped in and ate at DE CARLOS & MICKEY'S for some authentic Mexican. It wasn't so authentic but it was edible. Lucas ordered the pork tacos which was the best thing on the menu. Done. Next.

AUSTIN RULES. The next day, we drove 8 hours to Austin. My god, endless vast dessert till we hit the huge city of Austin. Its quite amazing how this city is so different that the surrounding cities in Texas. Very hip, very energetic artsy community with fantastic places to eat and hang out. I was only there for two days but we stayed at an AMAZING hotel that I cannot praise enough. KIMBERMODERN. We stayed in the blue room. There are only 6 rooms in the hotel and its very cool since you share a common area as breakfast is served in the AM. Free wireless internet, and also, free filtered water, snacks and the company of two cool chicks that run the joint. Owned by a super chic hip chick named Kimber, she and her partner own and run this modern oasis. You MUST Stay there if you are visiting Austin for vacation, or the next music festival. (Sidenote. Kimber has super cool hair and so I wanted to get a haircut by her guy but had to leave so make sure you ask her for it...some guy named Danny. She had Sally Hershberger hair for $50(,

The hotel is a bit pricy but its totally worth it every penny if you are a sophisticated traveller who likes nice 500 thread count egyptian cotton sheets with expensive Malin and Goetz beauty products and modern features like an ipod dock and fancy white wine with gourmet snacks. With all the little extras and also the location (right on Congress Street)...its worth the $250. Its next to the Continenal music venue, Amy's Ice Cream and Joe's coffee house. We ate at LAMBERTS at 401 WEST 2nd STREET...a great BBQ steakhouse with one of the best tomato beet, fried sheep's cheese salads and a grilled Romaine Salad. Its downtown which was a 15 minute walk from KimberModern Hotel. We also enjoyed the Texas rib eye steak, perfectly grilled Asparagus, and the best was the pork ribs marinated in maple and coriander. Lucas steak was undercooked, (he likes medium rare)...and when we sent it back, it came back well-done.
We ended up sharing the ribs, and then taking the $30 rib eye steak back to the hotel to make into sandwiches the next day.