Preparation for the 2010 Central Park Conservancy "Hat" Lunch

On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, I'm off to Central Park Conservancy's 28th Annual Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon. Each year, I look forward to this date on the social calendar because it's always an afternoon filled with the beauty of the Conservatory Garden, the resonant sounds of strings and horns, and a vibrant show of finery.

After decorating my hat for the last couple of years' lunches, I decided to make a tradition of it. As the year passes, I'm always on the lookout for supplies for this special project.

For this year's hat, I used two birds from last year's hat.

Last Year's Hat (Side and Back View)

A flower from gift wrapping on a present from my parents, a branch of faux ivy from Gracious Home, and a butterfly from the wrapping on a jewelry store purchase rounded out the ingredients for this year's hat.

Front View


Side View


Overhead and Back View

Recycling rules.

and

Two birds in the hand are worth less than two on a hat.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

RIP Payard

Sunday brunch was the last meal served at Payard.

A very sad day for Krom, and for all Upper East Siders for that matter. This was my canteen. I am going to have to rethink my entire routine.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

D. Porthault's Semi-Annual Sale

This just in...D. Porthault is reducing its prices on selected items by 30% to 80% from June 15, 2009 through June 30, 2009. This is a must check out; you never know what you will find here! At one of the sales, I was able to get beautiful towels, tub mats, plates, cups and saucers, table cloths and sheets drastically reduced.

D. Porthault's Vitals

New York
470 Park Avenue, at 58th Street
(212) 688-1660
Monday through Saturday, 10 am until 6 pm

and

Dallas
85A Highland Park Village
(214) 526-3545
Monday through Saturday, 10 am until 6 pm

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

Muji Magic

Everything in your home can look SuperFab including you, and you can find it all at Muji, a great Japanese store with branches in New York, Europe, and Asia. The design of their products is right, along with the price.

For Your Home

For Clothes

For Food

For Your Eyes and Ears

For You

The Perfect Canvas Bag, $26.50

Another Great Canvas Bag, $54.50

Gingham Smock Tops, $39.95

Muji's New York Vitals

MUJI SOHO
455 Broadway, (Between Grand and Howard Streets)
Tel: 212.334.2002
Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

MUJI Times Square
The New York Times Building
620 8th Avenue (at 40th St.)
Tel 212.382.2300
Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

MUJI Chelsea
16 W. 19th street, (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Tel: 212.414.9024
Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

MUJI to GO JFK International Airport, Terminal 5
John. F. Kennedy International Airport
Tel: 718.917.8989
Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.

If you don't happen to live in a place where there is a MUJI, don't worry. The MOMA Store has a great website that carries some of MUJI's products.

Click on Images for Details

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

Uniquely Uniqlo

Uniqlo is a Japanese clothing store chain much like the Gap in the U.S.; however, its price point is lower and its selection vaster. Its only location in the U.S. is New York. Aren't we lucky?

Krom's Picks
Front and Detail, Very Coco Chanel Meets Jean Paul Gaultier, $15.50

Back

Superhero or Villain Ts, for the Totally Fierce Exerciser, $9.99

Keith Haring T and Artist Edition T, $15.50

Plus tons of cashmere, sweaters, jackets, and jeans.

Very Important and Dealmaking Note : Uniqlo does alterations same day and complimentary on all pants purchased. However, sometimes the alterations get backed up and take a few days, but they are still free.

Uniqlo's Vitals
Address : 546 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 USA
Telephone : (917) 237-8800
Opening hours :
Monday through Saturday: 10 AM until 9 PM
Sunday: 11 AM until 8 PM

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

I Had a Dream about Cupcakes...

This was THE cupcake.

Deep down I knew where I had to go to get this cupcake, but I thought maybe I was over exaggerating my need for it and the place I had to go to get it. During the week, two other cupcakes happened to cross my path, and I gave them a chance. After a bite of each, I knew I had to go to the

.

I ordered two small cupcakes, one chocolate cake with mocha buttercream and the other vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream. Once I took my first bite, I knew these were the cupcakes of my dream.

CUPCAKE CAFE HOURS & LOCATIONS

18 WEST 18TH STREET
BETWEEN 5th & 6th AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10011
MONDAY through SATURDAY: 9:00 am until 8:00 pm
SUNDAY: 9:00 am until 7:00 pm

545 9TH AVENUE
BETWEEN 40th & 41st STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10018
MONDAY through FRIDAY: 7:00 am until 7:00 pm
SATURDAY: 8:00 am until 7:00 pm
SUNDAY: 9:00 am until 7:00 pm

PHONE: 212.465.1530

These are the most SuperFabulously delicious cupcakes I have ever tasted.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

Preparation for the 2009 Central Park Conservancy "Hat" Luncheon

After decorating my hat for last year's Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO) Awards Luncheon, I decided to make a tradition of it. As the year passes, I'm always on the lookout for supplies for this project. At this year's Chocolate Show, one chocolate company was using blue birds as part of its gift packaging. When I saw the birds neatly lined up on the table, I immediately thought of the "Hat" Lunch. I explained to the woman at the counter what I wanted to do with one of their birds, and she gladly let me select a bird to join me for lunch.

My friend Jane who introduced and accompanied me to the Chocolate Show, later saw this pink bird on display at a department store. With me in mind, she asked the salesperson about the bird, and he said go ahead and take it.

Back

The hat is an inexpensive straw hat I bought a few years ago with the "Hat" Lunch in mind. The final ingredient was the leaves. They were left over from another project, and I thought the colors worked well together. After I collected all the materials, the design fell into place.

Remember a bird in the hand is worth less than two on a hat.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

Midnight Madness Sale with Roberta Freymann

30 to 70% off select merchandise

plus warehouse specials

Thursday, March 12th
10:30 am until Midnight

Friday, March 13th and Saturday, March 14th
10:30 am until 6:30 pm



Only at
153 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212)585-3767

You never know what kind of treasures you will find here.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

The PS on this sale is GO! There are many great deals, and many styles to choose from. In the basics department aka the standard Roberta Freymann tunic, there are many sizes and superfab fabrics to choose from. There are exquisite silk ombre scarves and other snappy patterned wool scarves. If you buy 10 items ranging in price from $10 to $50, the total comes to $150 which is $15 per item; it would be a challenge to find a better deal, even in this economy. Take advantage while you can.

Old School French Bensimon Sneakers Are Back...

Thank G♥d!

You can find them at Tani in New York on the Upper Westside.

2020 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
(212) 873-4361

and

131 W 72nd St
(between Amsterdam Ave & Columbus Ave)
New York, NY 10023
(212) 595-1338

The more basic styles are $55, but right now at Tani, there are several styles and colors on sale for $30.

The most SuperFab thing about these sneakers is, in addition to their uber good looks, they are coed with no age minimum.

They sure do have that certain je ne sais quoi. The Bensimon Girls keep up with the sneakers' latest antics on their blog so if you want to be in the know, check it out.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom

Super Sample Sale to the Rescue

WHAT
Tocca: stock, samples & accessories for women
Gustto: one of a kind clutches, handbags & totes
Milly: samples for women
Iisli: samples for women
Edit: assorted designer merchandise from this Upper East side boutique
Design History: stock & samples for women
Canterbury: men & women

WHEN
Week of January 12
Monday 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

WHERE
Clothingline
SSS Sample Sales
261 W. 36th Street
(between 7th & 8th Ave)
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10018

You never know what you might find.

U r 24K!

xoxo,
Krom