Whirlwind NYC

What a trip! I had a quick yet adventurous visit to NYC that lasted less than 24 hours, but I got a lot done. I missed a turn somewhere on the Merritt Parkway and ended up on the west side of Manhattan rather than heading through the Bronx to Queens where my friend that I was staying with lives. So I decided to drive through the city making my way to Columbus Circle where I cut across 59th Street heading toward the Queensboro Bridge. That was an adventure in itself! It's a bit weird driving your own car by places like Central Park South, The Plaza, and FAO Shwartz. I finally made my way to Long Island City where I parked my car and jumped on the subway. Stomach grumbling, I headed to VP2, one of my favorite vegan restaurants in the city, and enjoyed some yummy Creole "chicken" with rice ball dumplings.

From there I headed up to the Javitz Center to attend the Fame/Moda Manhattan Trade Show, which was the reason that this trip took place at all. What a disappointment. I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, but it was a total snoozefest. Granted, the designers/companies showing here were much more mass market mainstream than is my style but can I see one thing that is slightly innovative that I haven't seen a million times before? Please? I didn't go to buy but rather check out what other designers are doing, how they display, what their promotional material looks like, etc. Needless to say, I wasn't very inspired. However, it did give me a big boost of confidence in the sense of knowing that I can definitely do this. Big box retailers and overproduced mass market clothing are on the way out. Small guys who use alternative ways to procure materials, produce garments, and are eco friendly are for sure the way of the future and I am so happy to be a part of that.

I walked up 5th Ave to Bergdorf's to see their always amazing window displays. They were working in collaboration with the Met's Costume Institute on their exhibit "American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity" which runs until August 15. They had time period themed windows using new vintage inspired garments and stunning dresses and props made out of paper. Check out the amazing close up shot of the gray dress. I met up with my friend when she got out of work and we sat for a while in the park right on the water in Long Island City. We had the most spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and it was the most beautiful evening. After a bottle of wine on her balcony and a delicious dinner in a small restaurant in her neighborhood, it was unquestionably time for bed. I don't miss the city and am so happy to be living in Rhode Island but I did have the most spectacular time with an old friend, in my old city.