McDonald's in Times Square has a Las Vegas-style marquis with chaser lights. Most stores in Times Square do. Even the Duane Reade. It's definitely something to see. I took one quarter of this image on the way to Sephora today to get samples of Lancome's new Millenium Serum and Bienfait moisturizer with SPF 30. It was raining. I call it the McDiamond. I am totally going to use this for something. Something on my Website for sure.

Outfit of the day! Another new one! Shoes, scored last year from Endless.
They are still stylish and comfortable. Yes, comfortable. Amazing.

One day this week, my usual fruit shake guy had a line 10 people long. Figuring the line moves at a rate of 3 minutes per person (fruit shakes are all made by hand), I moved on to scour 6th Avenue for another fruit shake guy. Just 2 blocks away, I found my new favorite, a fruit shake girl. She is so friendly, and makes my papaya-watermelon-honeydew small shake for the same 3 bucks. Ahh, total happiness.

But this is all prelude to my shopping score. Wait, should I even be telling you what store I went to? Or should I keep that secret... I'll keep writing and decide when I get there. So on my way to my new fruit shake cart, I passed another location of a store I frequent near Grand Central. It hasn't been good for 5 years, but I keep trying, because I found a great tissue t with a deep V and puffy half sleeves by BCBG Girls for only $12. And wore it out for a fun evening with my husband at Grand Central (drinks at that bar that overlooks the concourse, now closed, what was it called? Charlie Palmer's Metrazur). We took a lot of pictures and had lots of fun. That's my reason for liking the store so much.

So I step in to this other location, and it is nothing like the one at Grand Central. It is all totally organized, the sales help is super-friendly (shock), and the merhandise is completely different. I was giddy. I got 2 dresses and a top. And should I tell you what I paid, or would that cheapen it?

The dress is so super duper. Wrap dress, with ruffle sleeves, neckline, hem. It looks like a Marc Jacobs. And it has a Japanese shippo print (one of my favorite prints of all time) in black, white and pink. Score! Happy!!

I didn't post these on the Bryant Park Facebook page, just the previous two, which they liked by the way. That's kind of gratifying.

Bryant Park always provides beautiful scenes. How I love it. I took these on my way to work this morning. I think I'll post them on their Facebook page. Why not.

Peer through this great grate to find a hidden gem in Midtown...

A contemplative little "Zen alley"

I have told you before about my unlikely-but-pet meditation spot in the middle of the chaos of the Garment District. How was I to know that shortly after I wrote this post, my urban Zen garden would be ripped apart? The trees have been removed, the name, "Springs Building" has been removed from the concrete facade, and the great grate and little "Zen alley" as I like to call it (pictured above), likewise have been removed. What???

Well, last week I finally asked one of the workmen what was going on. It seems that they are creating four new raised planters from cement bricks and putting new trees in.

Well, at least there will be trees.

But so far, things do not look so aesthetically promising. More photos to follow, because now I am obsessed, which is not really good for trying to be all "be here now" about it.

Ooh, how much are these?

A pair of chairs, currently in the window at ABC Carpet, the satellite location across the street from the flagship store. Great upholstery, great lines.


ABC Carpet & Home
888 & 881 Broadway
New York
212.473.3000

'Shadow' paper plate by French Bull, $4 set of 8, available at Loft Party'Delight' paper plate by French Bull, $4 set of 8, available at Loft Party''Mulitidot' paper plate by French Bull, $4 set of 8, available at Loft Party

'Fantasia' paper plate by French Bull, $4 set of 8, available at Loft Party

Can you believe these beautiful plates by French Bull are paper? I think I would feel compelled to wash them and save them. Well perhaps I wouldn't go that far. But I am afraid that as lovely as they are, they would fall into the 'too nice to use' category in my house. The melamine plates by French Bull, however, I wholeheartedly support. Ooh la la. Reusable is sexy.

'Barcelona' melamine dinner plates by French Bull, $36 set of 4, available at Loft Party

Coral Pillow by Inhabit, in moss, chocolate, tan and white.
Available on Velocity Art and Design, $60.

I like the way the coral pattern on this pillow 'morphs' into camouflage. A most inventive combination of two of my favorite patterns.

In other news, here's how I chose to mix down the camouflage. I must make a new coral necklace to go along with the ensemble. That gives me food for thought.

[image by way of emmas designblogg]

A placid meditative image for this snowy day. This reminds me of the kind of stylized waves you can find on Japanese screen paintings, lacquerware and textiles in the 18th century. I will look through my Japanese art books and try to find some good comparative images for you. Here is one for now.

Water tower wallpaper currently in all the Brooklyn Industries stores.
They have trademarked the water tower. Good idea.

The water tower makes me spend money. I have purchased an I 'water tower' BK shirt from Brooklyn Industries, and I would purchase the wallpaper if they start selling it. I live across from the water tower depicted. It is our apartment's signature water tower. It is our good luck charm. It watches over us. Word has it, Brooklyn Industries may start selling the signature water tower wallpaper in the near future. It was produced for all the store displays, and apparently people have been inquiring.

Below you can view the inside of my great new woodgrain tote. I was so excited that the lining is a map. I thought it was a map of Brooklyn. Or at least of Brooklyn's look-alike, France. But no. Strangely it is a German language map of Japan. There are so many great pockets inside the bag, that I have no idea what I will put in the outside flap pockets. The red topstitching is also a great feature. It is possible that the woodgrain tote will become my signature.

I moved into my bag immediately. We are very happy together.
Sadly, because of the snow, I had to use another bag today.
But when I get back home, I am reloading it.

Take a closer look at the shapes that compose this unusual grate at the ticket window at Grand Central. Two different repeating patterns. The repeating circles act to magnify the repeating quatrefoil-squares. Inside each circle you can begin to see an hourglass shape of sorts emerge. I would love to know more about this pattern.

Take a closer look. Art and artfulness is all around you.

I especially love the positive and negative space shapes created by this repeating quatrefoil pattern. New York is the city of quatrefoils. I have never seen so many.

This Spring, the print's the thing. From bold geometric (we like this best) to swirling Pucci-inspired retro to polkadot, highly patterned looks are in style this season. Keep your ensembles balanced by combining bold prints with saturated bright solids in green, hot pink, orange, yellow or red. And don't forget to accessorize! Try an over-sized necklace or some chunky bangle bracelets. And don't forget the sandals. Three inch heel espadrilles are hot this season.

Pictured:

1. TORY BURCH SEQUIN TUNIC at Bloomingdales
2. POLKA DOT SKIRT at Alloy
3. CHARLES GREY JACKET at Nordstrom
4. JEAN-MICHEL KAZABAT ESPADRILLE at Barneys
5. PHILLIP LIM BLOUSE at Net-a-Porter**
6. DIANE VON FURSTENBURG DRESS at Net-a-Porter

**Does this fabric look familiar? It should. It's my HANDKERCHIEF HALTER!