One Night In New York City

Well, the Gift Show came along, as it does every January/February, and once again I was caught up in miles of displayed goods…most of which none of us need.  The first day of the gift show is always a blur of those goods, as I whip up one aisle after another, head turning at a rapid speed just to attempt an overview of all this merchandise!

I wonder, on DAY ONE, what in the world I am doing owning a store.  I think of all the things I thought I might become when I grew up and not one of those fantasies (years ago) had me as a shopkeeper.  I was going to be a country/western singer (can’t carry a tune in a bucket) or a sporty type who played tennis and skied down the Sierras (don’t like to sweat, hate the cold. and once ran into a tree while wearing skis), a wife with a country home and a city house and a big car and big hair and two kids (I did some of that…ended up with two fine daughters, two divorces and no houses).  Now one might think the store is a default item or a booby prize, which is not what I feel.  This little store is the love of my life, but damn it is hard to find goods on day one at the Gift Show!

So, after the long days of walking the Javitz, I dine with friends I rarely get to see.  I eat divine meals…one of which featured the above menu.  John Derian, once again, treated for dinner at il Buco.  We dined by candlelight in il Buco’s wine cellar just as we did last August, and the place, the people, the food was simply magic!  Thank you, John!

I ate another amazing meal at Frankies Spuntino on Clinton Street over on the lower East Side.  Now that is a neighborhood to investigate!  In all of this food, wine, and evening conversation, the goods for 6 Birch surfaced during the day in booths I rarely visit.  By day two, the store had a direction, and I had written some healthy orders for merchandise that will delight all of you.  Who needs the skis, the big hair, the two houses, or a microphone and country band when you can own a store!

A Wee Corner of John's Studio

I am forever charmed by the bits of inspiration this man surrounds himself with.  A visit to any artist studio is a peek into his or her soul.

Provincetown... Race Point Beach... January 2, 2012

Is there anything a gal loves more than handsome company for New Years Eve?  We headed off to P.Town (we being Rita Rose, Dino and I) for a few days with John in his remarkable house.  The two pugs loved the beach.  I loved the white sofa that sits just under the big side window at the far end of John’s dining room.  I loved the bed on the second floor with its blue Kantha cover and I didn’t find the beach half bad either!  We dined exceedingly well for three days.   On New Years Eve, John and I went to three (count them!) parties.  Each one a delicious experience and I don’t “do” parties easily.   I looked at a small cottage for sale that would require deep pockets of bucks  for its restoration.  I toy always with a move to just such a cottage (totally restored, of course) with the dunes at my back and a small sliver of that blue water at my front.  Dino insists that I buy the two of them a little “something,” but he doesn’t seem to be coming up with the down-payment!

This wonderful old block of ancient wood has been the support of many a fine meal at John’s.  One hot summer evening, John’s friend Bill prepared a salmon for grilling and then like magic he fried up a black skillet of capers to toss over the salmon.  I have watched John do wonders with the prep of an organic chicken on this fine block of a table.  There have been glasses of wine poured while we all stand around and eat cheese and olives from dishes placed on its worn surface.  I love this table!  If I bought that cottage in P.Town,  this table and I could become quite bonded!

The Ninth and Final Pajama Party!

This is it my darlings… our final pajama party.  We have had a long and wonderful run with this event, and it is time to find another adventure.  I have a plan that will treat all of you who have supported my little shop throughout the year.  It is a doozie of a plan (no, I am not taking you all on a cruise nor are we heading off to Venice, and it isn’t even a fine meal out at some fancy dive).  I will keep it secret while working out the pesky details.  Trust that you shan’t wear your pajamas for the next caper!

Maizey, First in Line!

Last Thursday evening the whole store went to the dogs!  We had Jessie, Rudy, Duncan, Biff, Maizey and let’s not forget Rita Rose all lined up for a sample treat of Mosscuits.  The treats were a sell-out!   We just received a second delivery of these handmade, good- for-dog or master treats…stop in before they are scooped up by dogs carrying shopping bags and wee little leather wallets filled with dog-treat money.

Tonight we will host Elaine and Catharine, the creators of EHChocolatier.  Now, I can tell you for certain this is the BEST bit of sweet you might get this season.  We are honored to carry their chocolates and to have them visit the store.  If you live anywhere near 6 Birch Street…you would be a durn fool not to pop in for a sample.  If you don’t, maybe it’s time to consider moving!

One Image Says It All...

This Saturday, with the bones of Thanksgiving dinner sinking into soup, you, my dear friends, will be out visiting all of us small business folks with your American Express card in hand.  Oh, we accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, personal checks, and that rare item cash… but it is American Express that has launched, for the second year, the Shop Small mantra.  For me, I rarely shop the malls, I try my best to support other small business owners, and I know for certain many of my clients do just the same.  We want to thank you for the years of shopping with us…we want to thank American Express for this novel concept.  We will be holding court, plenty of change in the cash register, more mouth-watering merchandise than I have ever seen in the store.  It will be our pleasure to make this holiday season a joyful shopping experience.  Rita Rose will be on hand and writing up a few of her own sales so come on by….

Found on Facebook!

Diane Hanna's Our Guest!

It must have been a lifetime ago when Diane Hanna showed up at the store with her basket of picture poems.  Now, mind you, I had no intention of buying them, but she sounded so nice on the phone when booking her appointment that I felt more than a slight obligation to see her.  Perhaps, I thought, I could direct her to a more suitable store.  Dream on!  She arrived wearing a couple hundred layers of tulle and a pair of heavy, black Maytag shoes with laces of sheer ribbon (and that was only a small bit of the day’s outfit).  It took about twenty-two seconds to adore her…and her work…and as they say in the real world, the rest is history.  Come see her latest work, meet her if you haven’t already, and if you’re new to Diane Hanna and the wonder she brings into all our lives…get ready for a swoon!  See you on Saturday 10-5PM.

Dino! The Other Pug in My life

Now this is a damn shame featuring Dino on the same bill as Diane!  So many of you have met the adorable Miss Rita Rose and think I lie when I speak of Dino who NEVER comes to the store.  Well, take a look at that dog…does he look like a shopkeeper?  Like our new state senator, he drives a pickup truck…the very truck he drove to Beebee, Arkansas to fetch Miss Rita a year ago.  When he isn’t hanging out in a pack of four- legged friends, he can be found at home, smoking a cigar, drinking my single malt scotch, and humping the sofa pillows.  What a guy!

This amazing photo of a rather difficult pug was taken by Robin M Flynn-Roberts. Robin’s tag line is “Good Pictures with a Cheap Camera” which is almost as delicious a line as the photo is an image.  Thank you Robin!

Decoupage Dreams in il Buco's Wine Cellar

Have I told you about the evenings spent after days at the Javits?  Of course I have!  I must have mentioned a time or two about the dinners out, right?  Well, this was a magical night hosted by John Derian at Il Buco.  Sadly, the photograph is a tad dark but the food was divine, the company splendid…I had as my main course Pappardelle, which is a dish of fresh ribbon pasta, beef cheek sugo (when was the last time you had beef cheek?!), mint, and ricotta salata.  It was truly worth the risk…beef cheek is not something I would tend to order.  There were assorted plates to start the adventure and a light red wine to sip while surrounded by cellar walls of old brick holding endless bottles of wine…all of it lit by candlelight.  HEAVEN!

The Magical Host...John Derian

It seems a fine time to chat about the goods ordered.  First of all,  if you have never been to the Javits Center, you have missed nothing!  The place is beyond huge, the air is forced in through some odd filtering system, the booths are too many to count, and the choices make one dizzy with decision.  I walk this show twice a year, and I am amazed by the wonder of it all and sometimes the why of it all.  Along with all our old favorites, I have added several new artists and designers, a number of new book publishers, more wonderful paper products, a new baby line, some amazing teas, and two new jewelry designers…the list could go on and on.  Good things are in store for us all!

Dog Does the Javits in Style!

This little pooch was all tarted up for the Javits, as was her owner!

Paletas Vendor on the High Line

The last day in New York City, I walked the new section of the High Line.  What a way to view the city!  I bought from this vendor a paletas which I have never eaten before.  I nearly ordered the paletas book for the store, and now I am sorry I didn’t.  The flavor I had was mango and jalapeno pepper…icy cold and delicious!

One last word on food in New York City before you all doze off!  You must eat sometime in The Red Cat on tenth avenue near twenty-third.  The last night I was in the city, I went unfashionably early to dinner and stayed unreasonably late!  I loved my waiter (Brazilian and handsome).  I loved my little table where I could watch the comings and goings of the room, but most of all I loved the food!  I ordered three small plates…lime Cesar salad, gazpacho soup made with heirloom tomatoes, soft shelled crab on a bed of thinly sliced celery root with fried capers scattered about…if that wasn’t enough I ordered dessert!  A coconut panacotta with carmelized pineapple and spiced macadamia nut crunch over the top!  Add to this a glass of wine, coffee to finish, and I was a happy camper.

Eureka, Nevada Has a July 4th!

Somewhere in America, a girl wearing a pink tutu marched her pet goat down Maine Street in the 4th of July parade.  I am told there were fire engines and dignitaries and dogs dressed for the occasion in this parade.  Folks lined the main street of Eureka (a small town of no more than 600 residents) for the annual event.

What More Can Be Said?

In my neighborhood, on the 4th, the folks who live two houses down and behind me, the ones with the above ground pool and the barking beagle started their annual celebration. When I considered buying this house, I stood out on the second floor balcony and I looked over at the above ground pool and a small voice inside me said “Think about this.”  It was the same small voice that said exactly the same thing just before my second marriage.  Both times I ignored that sage little whisper.  Just as on every other 4th, the shouting and belly-flops began with the addition of the barking beagle and lasted well into the night.

At about the same time, my back-fence neighbor’s guests arrived for their annual barbeque.  Moments later the Karaoke machine was plugged in, the volume turned up to the highest frequency and the singing began!  All Latin ballads with a little of Bruce Springstein here and there.  What I can tell you is this…on a hot 4th of July evening, don’t attempt to serenade the woman who lives at #20.  She is thinking evil thoughts!

Ex-Votos Garden Shrine

This is it!  Saturday the 25th of June you can tuck yourself into one of the most magical gardens there could ever be.  Now, coming from an avid gardner and knowing fine gardens of all sorts this is some wild claim.  Truly these two men, Alan and Dale, bring new meaning to the words “secret garden.”  Added to the lush plantings of this garden will be a scattering of unique spirit houses hidden here and there…I can assure you a wonderful Saturday afternoon!  The garden is open noon to five; please visit the Events section on my website for directions.  After you have swooned enough at Alan and Dale’s magic, pop by the store and I will share a tray of cupcakes with you!

New York City's Wonder...the High Line

It is quite possible that I am the last person on earth to walk the High Line!  Not that I haven’t tried a time or two…too much thunder one time and then too much snow another time.  Tuesday morning, with the heat index hitting 90 degrees, I walked over to 10th Avenue and 20th Street.  It was there that I entered a world of utter divine deliciousness! Get thee to New York and this amazing adventure!  No dogs allowed (no dog poop), no skateboards (no clipping of the ankles), no bicycles (“passing to your left,” no thank you!).  It is silent up there on the walkway!  One side, looking down, is an Italian sausage maker, next to him is the house of veal  with its trucks parked like crooked teeth in front of the ancient brick building.  On the other side of the High Line, looking down, I see cobblestone streets and the likes of Diane Von Furstenberg’s chic boutique, and over there, to my right, Jeffries and the house of Prada!   All of them lining the streets of the meat packing district!

Beyond the sausage maker is the Hudson River and the Lackwanna bridge on the Jersey shore as if posed for my camera.  No end of attention has been paid to the plantings…makes me marvel at the randomness of it all, and the utter planning that must have been paid to each and every one.  To list only a few…there are smoke trees and birches and wild poppies and lupine and false indigo and rugosa roses and ornamental onions and then there are the grasses all low growing mounded tufts of lemon yellow, acid green, hunter green.  Here and there, the original tracks pop into view softened by all the underplanting.  Thank you, New York City for showing us all what can be done with much hard work and deep pockets!

One other thing I must mention is the installation of Stephen Vitiello who has his living art project, “A Bell For Every Minute.”  Divine!

The High Line as It Once Was

Maybe a bit hard to detect but there you have a project about to become something quite wonderful in a decade or two!

Robert Warner Swept Us Off Our Feet!

What can be said of a full day with a quirky artist?  Bring us all more days of this man’s imagination!  The world has become such an odd place, and yet there doesn’t seem to be too many options for living otherwise.  Robert, on the other hand, transported us and gave us a day of his amazing work and his wonderful gentle self.  For a full-on day, there was nothing else except jaw-dropping joy!  Thank you, Robert, come back anytime!

Robert Warner's Terners!

We have kept a small body of Robert’s work…come in to check it out!

Rita Rose...wart and all

Yesterday, a delicious box of kantha (vintage quilts) arrived at the store. First step is to bring them home and give them a good cleaning, then dry the dickens out of them, and then marvel at what beauties they are.  Well, that little Rita Rose (still sporting the world’s largest wart) found the pile irresistible.  We have some wagers going on at the store:  HOW MUCH BIGGER CAN THIS WART GET AND WHEN WILL IT FALL OFF? It’s sort of like the football pool at any ten-man office…winner takes all.  Dino is starting to flirt with Gracie, a bigger-than-him Golden.  I think his passion for Rita Rose might be on the wane.  I noticed last week he took out the little red motor scooter and was giving it a polish for those summer gadabouts.  I wonder will it be Rita in the sidecar or Gracie?

"Markets of New England" Book Signing!

Christine Chitnis presented her wonderful book a couple weeks ago at the store.  What a time we had!  I know, for a fact, there will be gobs of well informed folks out there on the four lanes of summer travel hitting new farmer’s markets they had no idea (previous to Christine’s book) existed.  We loved having her, her husband, and her beautiful seven month-old son.  While here, Christine took some mouth-watering shots of the store…made me fall in love all over again with 6 Birch Street!  We have put some of Christine’s photos on our website, and you can check out her site for more images.  What I should mention is this…all the photography in Christine’s book is a credit not only to her writing abilities but also to her talents as a photographer. .  Thank you, Christine!

Did I Say Mouth-Watering?

This is something I said I would never do…feature a tray of cupcakes before noon on my blog!  These were created by a client for Christine’s event, and they were inhaled by all who entered the store.  We are so lucky that we have amazing bakers who shop the store, who bring in goodies for me to try, and who make divine treats for many of our events.  Thank you to Amy and to Lori for adding a couple delicious pounds to my not-so-skinny self!