Little Birds

"Paris never gets too dark, because when natural light dissolves, you're never too far from a streetlamp—and they're often beautiful—set upon tall black stalks, each lamp a glowing pair of white balls in love with its very own length of street. Sometimes, they all flicker to life at the same time, as if together they can hold off darkness."

If you haven't discovered Simon Van Booy yet, I can't say enough about him. This lovely quote is from the story "Little Birds" in his collection titled The Secret Lives of People in Love. Last summer, I read his novel Everything Beautiful Began After, and fell in love. Go! Pick up one of his books!

Back to basics

Where would we be without the weekends? They're so essential and restorative.

This past weekend, I celebrated a friend's birthday, went to the movies (The Company You Keep - a solid B), tried a new yoga class and enjoyed the spring weather. More important, I let my schedule slide and indulged in just going with the day. It took me to beautiful places.

Saturday morning, I had what my old French tutor, Josephine, would have called "un gros matin." I booted Milo from the bedroom at 6:30 so I could sleep in, which I did to the (relatively) luxurious hour of 8 a.m. I then finished Hilary Reyl's Lessons in French, which gave me both happy memories of my first experiences and impressions of Paris and empathy for being that young in a foreign country. 

I puttered around my apartment and online (notice the new blog look? Accepting any and all comments!) and then head out for the day. It's been too long since I've had such a I Love NY weekend. 

From lunch (including the mindblowing Brass Monkey smoothie, made with bananas, peanut butter and almond milk) at the Butcher's Daughter...

... to roaming through Dean & Deluca, I had my culinary fix.

And then I popped around to some of my favorite stores, including Erica Tanov, Michele Varian, Ina and McNally Jackson. I sat for a good hour, researching and pondering and coveting this girl's cherry red Celine purse.

I left with just three books in tow and had some tea before heading to Brooklyn for date night.

Today was another futile effort of apartment hunting, but it was a beautiful day and overall such a soul-satisfying weekend and I think I loved it so much because it reminded me of the inspiration and contentment I used to feel in Paris.

Spring awakening

It's been a classic spring so far. Just a couple of weeks ago, we had a cool, grey Easter (and giant, prehistoric Easter eggs!)...

  

...which opened up into warm days, full of promise.

The New York vitrines are in the spirit. Fun, cheeky, ready for the party!

 

Then we nearly hit 80 degrees in New York. And then it came crashing back down to cold rain.

Where to, from here?

The agony of defeat

It’s a modern fairy tale: you meet someone, fall in love and decide, yes, you want to build a future together. Let’s start by finding the perfect place to call home! We’ll move in together, host dinner parties for friends, feed each other croissants in the morning, take bubble baths for two, it will be awesome. Let’s go!

And so, seeing as you’re on the cooler side, you decide that Brooklyn, not Manhattan, is the borough to find this home. Like, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill or Boerum Hill—quintessential Brooklyn. The search starts filled with anticipation, optimism, buoyancy. Look at all these adorable townhouses! Or maybe we should get a modern place down in DUMBO? So many options, where will we wind up??

And then you start going to the open houses. The first few weekends are like going to a friend’s friend’s cocktail party. It’s filled with people—if they could just get out of your way so you can check out the bathroom fixtures and living room view—who seem familiar, you’re all there for a common purpose, but they’re giving you the stink eye. Then these open house soirées become so popular that lines start forming outside. They trail down those covetable stoops, making you feel like an undesirable. So it's this competitive? Game on.

Weeks turn into months and you’ve been hauling your ass all over Brooklyn. Maybe Gowanus, Prospect Heights and Fort Greene should be added to the mix. So you go. And, apparently, so does the rest of the world. Or at least all the other young couples who are looking for a two-bedroom Brooklyn nest to call home. Then the self-loathing kicks in. You look around at all these people who look and act just like you. They want exactly what you’re looking for. And you thought you were so special. Silly girl.

Now you’re months in, devoting every Sunday to an open house circuit, and investing time in culling through financial statements and filling out offer forms and pre-approval letters. It’s not going so well. You’ve been outbid five times. By dozens of people and tens of thousands of dollars.  The price of apartments is going up before your very eyes.

Okay, it’s time to consider Lower Park Slope. Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy or Crown Heights? How important is convenient transportation? The length of your commute? A nearby grocery store? Do we really need that second bedroom? Or maybe we can get a loan big enough for a three bedroom?

You get to the “best and final offer” phase a couple times. It’s all within reach! If you can just pony up a more persuasive offer, a bigger down payment, a little more cash, then you just might get that apartment in that neighborhood that you’re just beginning to make peace with.

But no dice. Three and a half months, forty+ apartments, seven bids later, you’ve still not been granted the keys to a fabulous slice of Brooklyn. You're still searching, hoping, crunching numbers. And you thought Manhattan could be tough.

My Vegan Mondays

I've been remiss lately. If not with actually eating vegan on Mondays (which, admittedly, I didn't last week) than at least with posting about it. But I'm back on the Vegan Mondays!

Morning
Coffee with soy milk
Oatmeal with dehydrated raspberries

Afternoon
Falafel pita
Fuji apple

Evening
A homemade butternut squash salad
Jelly beans, lots and lots of jelly beans

Despite the jellies, I'm trying to cut back on sugar. And, gah, despite the jellies, I had a boost of renewed motivation after reading Mark Bittman's cover story on healthy fast food for the New York Times Magazine yesterday. Did you read it? If you still have it at home, be sure to read it. And then turn it over and check out the ad on the back cover—written by yours truly.

Some meals are more nourishing than others

Sweet. Creamy. Warm. Sexy. A well balanced a thoroughly satisfying lunch.

Has spring really sprung?

At least the cherry blossoms are blooming outside Shakespeare & Co. Have you picked up any good books there lately?

Une question: Paris with the husband

Dear Amy,

I've been reading your blog over and over again (loving it!!), but still have a simple question for you... We are planning a trip to Paris in May for 6 nights; I've been to Paris for several times, but my fresh husband hasn't. Please do name a few places I should 100% definitely drag him! You know the best.

Greetings from freezing Estonia,

JB

Salut, JB!

How exciting that you get to play tour guide for your husband. May is glorious time in the City of Light and you should have a wonderful visit. A handful of places you should 100% definitely drag him?

There are boat tour that leave from Pont Neuf. Take one that leaves at dusk for a beautiful and romantic perspective of the city. You can bring some wine or chocolates. It lasts about an hour and only cost 10-12 euro per person.

There are obviously museums a’plenty in Paris. The Rodin is especially pretty and romantic. It’s a very doable size, with inspiring sculptures and beautiful grounds.

Grab some picnic provisions on rue Moufftard or rue Buci and kick back in the Luxembourg Gardens.

It’s totally extravagant, but you will never forget lunch at Grand Vefour. It’s exceptional in every sense.

Simply follow the Seine: Walk from Ile Saint Louis, past Notre Dame, poke along the bookstalls, criss-cross the bridges, admire the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, absorb the beauty of Pont Alexandre III and stare at the Eiffel Tower.

Lastly, a few restaurants to consider: Au Vieux au Comptoir in the 1e is a meat-centric locals’ gem. Chez Georges  in the 2eme is an adorable old-timey bistro—tres romantique! And Chez Janou in the Marais is a Provencal bistro—boisterous and delicious. 

Have a wonderful time next month!

Amy