Meatpacking Sunset

A couple weekends ago, Beth and I were enjoying an early evening stroll around Meatpacking before a storm rolled in-the perfect excuse for some drinks and appetizers at Spice Market. And within meantime, the rain went away and the sun came out. I just love the way the setting sun reflects on the wet cobblestones. And the Hudson River looked oh so beautiful as well. 

**The quote is a great one I got from my friend Donna...she was having a conversation with her friend, Lauren, after recently returning from China.

Peace & Love

I came across this great photo book the other day, Pop Sixties. It had John Lennon's quote below that inspired me to dig up this photo from Climate Camp last year. 

Living a Charmed Life

I found this book, Living a Charmed Life, the other day, by Victoria Moran. Had some great quotes in it, one of my favorites I included below. And of course more of my Great Aunt's photos. 

London Calling

Although these aren't sticking to my New York theme, I have loads of photos from London that don't deserve to be kept in hiding. I loved walking past all the random graffiti letters by artist, Ben Eine and Cheshire St. is one of my favorites. 

Tribute to the Stars

Today's the 19 year anniversary of my grandfather's death. We both share the same love for photography (only difference-he loved shooting stars in the night sky, I love shooting clothes on models). Anyways, I thought I would dedicate a page to him and all of his amazing notes and photos I've found in various parts of my grandmother's attic throughout the years. They make for an amazing montage. 

City from the Clouds

Vintage New York: Part II

Here are a few more of my Great Aunt's scrapbook photos. And I also added in this vintage dress pattern I came across at the International Center of Photography's gift shop while I was visiting all their great exhibitions that are part of their Year of Fashion. Definitely worth a visit. 

A Taste of Russia

Last week, my friend Donna and I went exploring at Brighton Beach. It was a beautiful day, and we had such a great time, getting a bit of Russian culture here in the States. There were so many great photos, so I apologize if it makes your eyes a bit crazy with everything going on. 

And thanks to Donna for being such a great photographer, we had a mini fashion shoot with a new hat I found at Beacon's Closet in Williamsburg and an amazing vintage 80's shirt I picked up at Cluttered Closet last time I was in Cuse. The quote is from a book Jess introduced to me while we were living in London, called Delaying the Real World by Colleen Kinder. Read it, you're never too old for an adventure. xx

**All photos of me are taken by Donna DiDomenico

Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic

Saturday afternoon, my friend Beth and I took the ferry out to quaint little Governors Island to catch some of the 2nd annual Manhattan Polo Classic. Although Prince Harry and Ralph Lauren model, Nacho Figeuras were playing on the field, I couldn’t help but get distracted by all the fabulously dressed guests in their wide brimmed hats, floral dresses and summer suits. Can’t wait till next year.  

Vintage New York

I found these amazing photos from my great aunt's old scrapbook when they went on holiday in the city. I even used my aunt's blouse as inspiration for the background pattern. And of course my favorite sunglasses that I got at Syracuse's Regional Market for $1. Love them. I've got plenty more great photos from the '40s. I'll be sure to post soon. xx

East of the East River

I ventured over to Dumbo, Brooklyn to attend the New York Photo Festival. I love Dumbo. I can't wait to go back again. It started raining on my way to the festival but I saw a sign pointing to the Brooklyn Bridge Pathway, and couldn't help but take a stroll across it. What's a little rain, it only added to the excitement, and I was able to get some great shots of the city. Then it was on to check out some photos. Like a fashion week for photographers, I absolutely loved it. There were exhibitions in galleries around every corner and guest photographers giving presentations. One of my favorites happened to be, Venetia Dearden, she is a London based photographer, who spoke about the importance of personal work. Although she does various shoots for clients, she's producing a book documenting the photography she has shot in her hometown of Somerset. It was the passion in her voice that spoke so confidently of her personal work that I have been persuaded to make my own photos for the sole purpose of my enjoyment. And it's what you see here :) 

A Day by the Seaside

It was a bright, sunny day and I was up for an adventure. I had never been to Coney Island, so decided to make the hour journey on the Q train, through the streets of Brooklyn to the southern tip. It definitely resembled that vintage carnival feel you get at England's Brighton Beach, but not quite as kept up. I wandered around for the afternoon, made friends with some old Russian men (the streets just a few blocks down are filled with Russian immigrants to the point that store signs are in Russian) and admired the rows of Spanish fishermen on the pier. It really just felt great to be at the ocean. And I also couldn't leave without trying out one of Nathan's famous hotdogs. Although it was a delicious, I couldn't imagine eating the 50 or so those crazy hotdog contest winners eat each Fourth of July. So after my meal, I strolled down Surf Ave to hop back on the train. I left with two impressions of Coney Island. One had my imagination open to what an amazing tourist attraction it must have been like in it's prime days (my grandmother did tell me how it was one of her favorite vacation spots), and the other is this long forgotten, left over park that couldn't quite make the transition into today's culture. Maybe someday it will catch up... See you in the city xx

Afternoon on Amtrak

I've experimented with flying, driving and training (is that a word?) from Syracuse to the city. And although I've found the trains to be a bit bumpier and much slower than those across the pond, my trek yesterday changed my mind. It was a beautiful evening through rural New York, and I enjoyed the entire 6 hour trip. I didn't have my camera on me, but that didn't stop the photoshoot from happening. My faithful Blackberry and MacBook cameras were perfect for the job. 

Bon Voyage, Jess

I made a pact with my amazing flatmate, Jess, in London before we left that we would go out and do really cool things with our lives but return to London in 2012. Perfect timing for the summer olympics. So while I have made the move to the Big Apple to make a career for myself in photography, Jess has moved around the world to South Korea to give children there a little taste of English culture for the next year. I included my favorite travel quote in her Bon Voyage card, here it is:

Spring in the City

Flashback to a couple weeks ago, I couldn't help but spend every day of spring taking in the gorgeous flowers around the Upper West Side.

Hello, Big Apple

After going through a bit of a transition phase in my life, I'm finally beginning my next chapter, from London onto New York. Although I experimented with blogging in London, I kind of left that behind and became more artistic, creating altered vintage journals to document my thoughts and collect my memories. Although I love the end result of these, I'm going to attempt to be more with the technological times and have decided to create a blog for New York to display collages of my daily life. I'm so excited to get started on these. It's much better than just writing daily posts. And if I fall behind I'm going to remind myself how happy I get when I make these entries. My inspiration for this idea, of course, is from an old time favorite, Sabrina Ward Harrison. xx