Chic Oblik

I came across jewelry designer Mia Hebib's line, Oblik Atelier, at my favorite West Village haunt, Albertine General. I was wowed by the incredibly unique nature and feel of each piece. They certainly differed from anything I had seen before.

While some pieces exhibited firm structure and clearly defined shapes, others seem to be frozen mid-motion, capturing a look of permanent movement and liquidity. Her line ranges from earrings to necklaces to cuff bracelets and rings.

I was admiring this silver, crescent shaped necklace, but being partial to gold jewelry I was on the fence about purchasing it. However, when I put it on and saw how it shimmered and sparkled, like sunlight reflecting off clear Caribbean waters, I fell in love.

Intrigued by the pieces I saw at Albertine I came home, googled and found a plethora of pieces on her website that are truly extraordinary, provocative and wonderful! I am a Mia Hebib fan!

Photos Via

Blazing Pickles

There aren't too many things that I can recall loving in both childhood and on into adulthood, but one thing come to mind. Pickles. I have loved them wholly and consistently my entire solid-food-eating life.

As a kid I used to sidle up to my Great Grandpa (that's right, GREAT Grandpa - I was a real youngin' at the time) and ask for the whole jar. Not just a few or a handful, but the whole dang jar. Now that's love!

For the record, my favorite brand of pickles has changed over the years. I used to love Vlasic dill slices back at Great Grandpa's house, then my favorites became Clausen's, and now that I've discovered McClure's pickles... Well, let me just say: McClure's you trump them all! This tiny, friend and family, Brooklyn based operation produces the finest, freshest pickle around.

I was first introduced to McClure's pickles by my brother at Wilfie & Nell in the West Village. I had grown up with a Mexican Mom who fostered a love of spicy foods in all of her children, so when I met my brother for a beer and some Shepherd's Pie he told me about these amazing spicy pickles that we had to order... Spicy pickles?! "Sounds spectacular", I said.

Out came a dish of sandwich friendly slices that had a look about them that reminded me of Great Grandpa's house and my Vlasic dill slices. I popped a slice in my mouth and POW! The spice hit me like a ton of bricks. It's the kind of spice that hurts, but it hurts so good! As a lover of red pepper flakes, tabasco sauce, franks red hot and sriracha sauce I'm going to declare these pickles not for the faint of heart or those of you with a sensitive-to-spice palate. One slice led to another, and before we knew it we had demolished the lot of them and ordered another.

I went home that night raving about them to my husband who also shares my affinity for pickles as well as all things spicy. I wasn't sure if they we're a Wilfie & Nell exclusive or if I would be able to run out and get a jar somewhere, because that's exactly what I wanted to do - Needed to do! He had to try them! I checked the online menu and saw that these pickles were dubbed 'McClure's Spicy Pickles'. Thanks to a quick Google search I found their distributors and the very next day I was off to get a few jars of my own - One for me, one for my husband and one for "later".

If I've peaked your picking loving interest the Williams Sonoma in Chelsea carries jars of McClure's (which are also made in non-spicy form for those of you who are not a fan of spice) and the Whole Foods on Houston in the Bowery carries them as well (click here to find a distributor nearest you). If you are a lover of pickles I say this earnestly, you MUST try McClure's - You will fall in love, for I have never come across a better pickle.

GGL - this one was for you!

Warmest Regards

Remember that pre-Valentine's Day post when I paid a visit to Albertine General? I went there expressly to treat myself to a little something special that I had been pining over for quite some time.
This is that something! 

I saw this ring in one of the cases at Albertine the very first time I visited the store. It's a Regard ring. Comprised of a ruby, an emerald, a garnet, an amethyst, another ruby, & a diamond. It's simple and totally beautiful in my opinion.



Regard rings were popular as engagement rings during the Romantic period.

{side note: It's kind of amazing that there's actually a period of time in history referred to as the Romantic period. I digress}

A ring that spells out how you feel? Completely romantic! You rarely hear the word regard used in that regard anymore. It is, in itself, a reflection of the era's rhetoric - The sophisticated stuff you read in books like Jane Eyre and Pride & Prejudice; Love stories that transcend time.   My point is, I just know that if Mr. Rochester had whipped out a ring when he proposed to Jane Eyre that it had to have looked something like this.

Needless to say, for me, it was love at first sight in Albertine, but damnit man, every time I would try the ring on it was far too large for any of my fingers. I chalked it up to fate telling me to stay away. However, about a half a dozen visits later, I realized that every time I stopped into the store I would inevitably find myself lingering in front of the regard rings. I'd stare at them longingly until finally asking to see one, secretly hoping that it would no longer be the object of my desire and that our love affair would finally be over, but no.








I'm not sure what it was about February 13th, 2012, but I woke up that morning and said to myself, "I'm doing it. I've coveted this long enough - I must have it." Naturally it didn't fit - but that day I didn't care - "I'll take it!", I said!

And here it is, on my hand, accompanying some Sarah McGuire stackables (also found at Albertine General).
I know I made a big fuss about this ring, but there's something about it - Maybe it's the simplicity of it, maybe it's the romantic history of its existence, or perhaps it's because it makes me think of a love like Mr. Rochester and Jane's. Either way I'll love you forever, regard ring.

A fabousse mousse

I was at dinner with friends on Sunday night when one of them declared, "I just had the most incredible chocolate mousse cake today."
Whoa whoa whoa, incredible chocolate anything? "Where?!", we all demanded."At Sant Ambroeus", she replied.

Sant Ambroeus? I had never been. I decided  that I needed to pay a visit to this establishment, pronto. So I called up a friend, made a date and set out this afternoon to meet her at the cozy and cute Sant Ambroeus on W. 4th and Perry St. in the West Village.

We ordered a couple of glasses of wine, the Insalata Di Quinoa - a quinoa salad with diced vegetables and pine nuts -  as well as the Toast Farcito - parma cotto and swiss cheese, with marinated artichokes and roasted peppers - to split between the two of us. Utterly delicious. We ate, we drank, we gabbed, we laughed. Then it was time for the pièce de résistance - the Sant Ambroeus, a chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate custard center. 

Ohhhhhh yeaaaah - It was everything my friend had described and much, much more. I assure you that this dessert deserves an OMG...or several! Decadent, delicious, light, chocolatey perfection and the ideal portion to boot. Chocolate mousse can be rich and heavy sometimes and this was far, far from it. 

If you are in the neighborhood I highly suggest stopping by - The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff incredibly friendly and the food - délicieux! 

Albertine & Stage

Valentine's Day is literally rapping on the door!  You may still be on the lookout for the perfect something to give to your honey, or for your honey to give to you, or maybe you're just looking for something to treat yourself to - Look no further! Albertine General, a little boutique shop in the West Village, is the place to go!

I know I've said it before, but let me just reiterate: I adore this shop! Case after case of simply spectacular jewelry. They've got everything from one of a kind vintage and antique pieces, to a plethora of newer, more modern jewelry designs - Many of these pieces are exclusive to their store.

Jewelry not your thing? Hop next door to Albertine, their clothing boutique, and scoop up that incredible, sexy, soft and totally feminine floral dress in the window.

So, I wandered over to this favorite haunt of mine this afternoon looking to treat myself to a little somethin' fabulous and as I walked in the door I was greeted by the most beautiful hot pink flowers. Jessica Stage of Stage Floral Styling was there bringing in some fresh, impeccably styled bouquets for Valentine's Day. These flowers are drop dead gorgeous. The perfect blend of sweet, fun and flirty.



I said look no further folks, and I meant it - Not only can you find the perfect Valentine's Day gift inside Albertine, you can snag one of Jessica Stage's sublime bouquets. It's a one stop shop! Does it get any easier than that?! I think not.

Peruse Albertine General's picks for Valentine's Day


Gush over Jessica Stage's floral designs

My Bicycle, the Steed

Have you ever walked down the streets of Manhattan and taken a gander at all of the bikes chained up around town? There are loads of them! Living in a city where the bike community continues to grow each day is super cool, not just because it's a clean and amazingly efficient way to get around, but because the bikes themselves are pretty rad! Some of the very best, in my humble opinion, can be found in the West Village, and when I say "best" I really mean that their rating of vintage coolness is off the charts (their functionality is rarely a factor).

During my on foot adventures throughout Manhattan I started to pay more attention to these "two wheeled fun machines",  because...well, why not? And the more I looked at them the less they seemed like mere modes of transport. I began to see them differently... like loyal steeds dutifully awaiting their masters.

Some were all alone glowing with a quiet sense of honor; Some were in pairs like two best friends whispering and sharing secrets; Others were in groups like they were chattering and gossiping the day away.

There is something undeniably cool and beautiful about them. Each looks like it has a story. Rusted rims from countless nights in the rain. A ding here and a scratch there from that pothole that sent both man and machine crashing to the pavement. A bright new shiny coat of paint to hide the years of wear and tear as it passes from one generation to the next.





The bicycle has been around for a long, long time. It's classic and it always will be! To all you bike riders and your noble steeds, a hearty cheers!