Palazzo Chupi

    You can expect to see the unexpected in New York City; characters and stores worthy of second glances. I regret not taking a picture of the man dubbed Chandelier and his friend King Charles V…or was it the VI? Chandelier had a head full of dreads that he habitually spray-painted gold, and King Charles was a wandering man with nothing but a rocking horse and a portfolio of amateur photographs. I had been putzing around NoHo with a couple of friends and when we came across these two, a quick chat was too tempting to pass up. Before ending our amicable conversation, I managed to touch one of Chandelier’s metallic stalactites (I honestly have no idea what prompted me to reach out) and purchase a King Charles original print for $1. I asked the King if he would sign the back with a personal message and indeed he did: “I like pizza”.

But I digress, on a completely different note, while I was walking down W. 11^th in the far West Village, I was awestruck by the site of of a massive pink complex looming over its’ neighboring apartments. Palazzo Chupi, the name that is printed on the front of the building, is a set of residential condominiums designed by artist Julian Schnabel. Schnabel has received both praise and protest for his lavish design that is debated to be a work of art and a homage to himself. 

The 50,000 sq ft structure includes a triplex, two duplexes, two single-floor residences, an indoor parking garage and a swimming pool. Before Schnabel discovered the building through artist Roy Lichtenstein, it had acted as a stable and a perfume factory. These days, Palazzo Chupi remains relatively vacant save for the duplex that Schnabel occupies. Apparently Richard Gere purchased one of the single-floor residences for $12 million a few years back but never moved in...I think all that pink left him chupified.

Here are the shots I took:

And now for some Chupa Chup access only pics:

via here

Last but not least, the artist himself: 

Julian Schnabel via here

Decades of Decorating

    My love for interior design began with a random obsession with dentist’s offices at the age of eight.  I would draft said rooms over and over, each one differing solely in theme. The chair would always be in the exact same place, but its form would vary from watering can to giraffe to candy corn. The chair was the focal point, and from there came the inspiration for the rest of the room. The candy corn chair was surely accompanied by a lollipop stool, marshmallow cabinets and chocolate dental instruments.

After my dental period came the hotels and mega mansions. The blueprints were never large enough, and upon completion, they resembled unfolded road maps of taped together printing paper. I would work on these designs for hours with my friend Ashley; much of the time was devoted to the addition of plants. The two of us shared the philosophy that when it came to vegetation there was no room for moderation. Empty corner? Throw a ficus in it.

These days, my passion persists, but I no longer spend my time drafting dentist's offices and small-scale palaces. I prefer to keep a portfolio of rooms, styles and products that I have discovered via the Internet. One of my favorite types of decor is Moroccan, so I've included a couple examples of this welcoming style that embraces the warm hues of Western Africa and the blue-greens of the Mediterranean. 

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Nearly Fifty Shades

     As per usual this time of year, all I can do is anticipate the warm weather. It hasn’t been the harshest of winters in Manhattan, but lately it’s been quite grey, which in turn, is making me feel a bit blue. So, in order to prepare for the upcoming sun I’ve been doing some cyber window-shopping for my favorite accessory: sunglasses. Classic is always a good move, but as far as shades go, I like some retro funk. But who says you can only have one pair? Below I've included a few beloved glasses, as well as some cheaper alternatives that look just as great.

Ray Ban Matte Transparent Mirror Aviator Sunglasses

SUPER by RETROSUPERFUTURE Lucia Sunglasses

Ray-Ban Original Aviator

Prada Baroque Round Sunglasses

Oliver Peoples Gregory Peck Sunglasses

Ray-Ban Rounded Wayfarer

Ray-Ban Original Wayfarer

Burberry Splash Sunglasses (Metallic Finish)

                                                     And here are some similar styles for less:

Top Left     Top Right     Bottom Left     Bottom Right

Top Left     Top Right     Bottom Left     Bottom Right

Tribute to the Homeland

 After a much-needed break spent in Vermont, I’m back in the blogosphere here in New York. It was great to relax, hang out with friends, sleep and eat home-cooked meals but I also made sure to fit in some outdoor activities while back in the Green Mountain state. Living in Vermont is of course different from living in New York City, for obvious reasons, but it can be equally as enjoyable as the city if you appreciate what it has to offer. Here are a couple pictures from my snowshoe, hike and run that only begin to capture Vermont’s natural beauty:

Leave the Sweets to the Swedes

If there’s a self-serve candy store in New York City, the chances are I’ve been. I’m very health conscious, but I’m also a Libra, so I think it’s important to balance one’s diet with a little something sweet. A few weeks ago I was exploring the West Village and stumbled upon the primo sweet spot, Sockerbit. This Swedish candy store offers varied and delicious treats with the most amusing names. I enjoy the Vattenmeloner, Skumshots, Pasta Basta Lordgubb and Surnyckel, which were labeled “Sour Wrenches” at the store.

It’s clean, visually appealing and all things gummy and sour (my personal favorites) are aplenty. Equally delightful is their cultural inspiration. "Lördagsgodis", which translates to Saturday sweets, is a tradition held throughout Scandinavia that allows kids to celebrate their weekends with a handpicked bag of "smågodis", or little candies. When it comes to sweets, leave it to the Swedes.

Smågodis available here: Sockerbit

The Ghetto Blaster

 Strolling is the most entertaining (and cheapest) activity to do in New York City. I try to pick a specific neighborhood when I wander and just comb through it. Other times I just go with the flow. Shop windows are fun to look at, but people watching is the nicest. My most recent and memorable spotting was the Ghetto Blaster. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, a ghetto blaster is a boombox. On my way down Madison Ave, ironically amidst high fashion shops, stands the Ghetto Blaster. A stalky man sporting a knee-length leather coat with the phrase “Ghetto Blaster” printed across the back, lingers in front of La Perla. I’ll admit it’s difficult to pick out an outfit on some mornings, but its essential to have a few go-tos. Here are some simple choices, Ghetto Blaster not included: 

                                                            Jacket    Pants    Shirt    Shoes

                                                               Jacket    Pants    Shirt    Shoes

                                                       Jacket    Pants    Shirt    Shoes