Keys to the castle (aka No Sleep Till -)

It's official - I'm moving boroughs. I fought long and hard against the idea - yeh, I know Brooklyn is a cool place but given I've just moved the New York shouldn't I get some of that Manhattan experience?? The conversation between myself and I went something like this for at least a week. But eventually I caved in and chose space over a shoe box.

I picked up the keys yesterday to my Park slope residence. So for all you old skool letter-writing types, I can now be found at 812 8th Ave, Apt 3B, Brooklyn, NY 11215. Here's a sneak preview of the new digs, and for those interested in the colourful history of the area click here.

The view from my rooftop - see... Manhattan isn't that far away.

I love the old marble and mosaic tile staircases.

The entrance to the apartment makes it seem so much grander... a huge long hallway with exposed brick leads you in.

Living room with non-functionaing fireplace.

Bedroom looking back out past bathroom, kitchen and into living room.

Julian kindly blowing up my one piece of furniture - an air mattress.

And finally, the view from my bedroom, which looks out towards the city through the back yards of a block of brownstones. Noyce.

Windows 5th Ave

If you love nothing else about Christmas shopping and crowds, you at least have to love the eye candy. Hands down winners this this year were Bergdorf Goodman, with amazingly intricate displays and total control of colour. It wasn't about moving parts, glitter and fairy lights here - just STYLE, in capital letters. Hey ladies...

A handful of Liberty

Ah, sweet sweet liberty. Julian is in town for Christmas and New Years and we have made the huge effort of leaving Manhattan for a glimpse of Liberty and the strangeness of Staten Island. I understand why New Yorkers don't really see it as 'New York' - it's like stepping into a colonial movie set with less actors in it. But I will go back and eat there some day - there are some good restaurants I need to try out. Meanwhile, I'll simply enjoy the view of Big City Manhattan (the bum end)...

Absent friends

It's been a while, and I'm feeling the pressure to post. It's been 3 weeks of schizophrenic living (West Village, East Village, and from next week, Brooklyn), coupled with strange office parties, good food and a growing ass. I've seen hoochimamas, gangsters, all kinds of curly wurlys, and I'm starting to wonder why my brothers won't be getting out of jail this Christmas? Look, even the spelling has gone whack!

Recently, I have been carrying a camera but not taking pictures - just getting caught up in the intricacies of life in New York (read here: apartment hunting, job sniffing, trying to find the perfect boots for winter). It's all finally falling into place. Boots have been bought, leases almost signed, and jobs almost ready to choose from. Who could ask for more than that this Christmas? The Hanukkah trucks are even honking their crazy horns and flashing me the 9- candled salute as we speak.

Here's a building in Nolita, marked for demolition. It has been an artist's haven for the past x+1 years and now it's bing visited by pilgrims in its final hours.

Today was a good day (in Central Park)

Chicken noodle soup dance

If you haven't caught on already, you simply must get on board with the latest dance craze - comin' straight outta Harlem - The Chicken noodle soup!

Credit

Anyone who has ever tried to live in the US will know how bloody hard it is to get credit in this country. Julian has already been refused, and the whole system is so logic-defying that some people have taken 3 years to get it. Everything you've ever bought, tried to buy or done is all contained on a big devil computer somewhere in Washington, and it paints ugly pictures of you. But you know what's worse than an ugly credit record? No credit record! Now that's enough to scare the bejesus out of everyone...

Thus it is wiuth great pleasure that I can announce that after 5 weeks in the country, I have successfully scored a credit card with a whopping $1,000 limit! And it's all thanks to my fuzzy-haired Brazilian friend at Chase Manahttan - big props go to Diego Rogers for pulling strings or weaving whatever magic was necessary to get the job done. You rock!

I feel almost human again...

East Village

I'm in the Village, people! In my record-breaking second last move, I have been able to enjoy the pleasures of unpacking my bag, eating salad and doing everything worth doing from the comfort of bed. Welcome to East 10th Street, right across from the Russian Baths (I am working up the courage to submit to a scrub down by large women in even large underwear who don't know when to stop using eyeliner).

Staying in the apartment of a lovely producer Jenn, who is in Paris for the month, I have a bookshelf with books, and art on the walls, and a kitchen worth cooking in. Very lucky indeed. Oh, and an awesome sushi place only 30 metres away. More on the area when I've had more time to explore.

Books!Bed!

Art!

Art about

Spent a day climbing through Chelsea warehouses in search of Fine Art. I was exhausted after 2 streets worth and had to stop. It's strange... there doesn't seem to be anything there other than galleries and residential. It could feel like a fishy seaside port if it weren't for the models walking around exhausted after the latest photo shot. Perhaps it's got to do with the cold - all cities grow more desolate-looking in winter.

Wandered up through Soho artist-run spaces a couple of days later and found myself in the halls of buildings that not only housed the galleries I was looking for, but also Martin Margiela, Helmut Lang and a host of other names that make you feel small.

View from warehouse staircases in Chelsea.

LEESA & NICOLE ABAHUNI's video and crazy bead work at Location1.

A door that can apparently be ignored, no matter how cool it looks.