Mmmh blah

If you live in New York, you might never have to use this word.

But with humans, we never know. Everything can happen.

So we all know what blah blah blah means (like blah blah blah and blah blah blah and blah blah blah).
But do you know what just one blah means?

Aswer: you can use it to describe a feeling where you are a bit depressed, bored or even very depressed with no hope in future and you will say "I feel blah", "my day is so blah".

I told you though, don't worry : you might never have to use it here.

3,2,1...Surprise, this is really a dancefloor!

It is not a scoop if I tell you that New York is that kind of city where you can be pleasantly surprised at any moment.

But, it is a scoop if I tell you that I have been here for almost a year and just discovered this place that literally made me fall in love with NYC for the nth time!

Why? Where? How? Really?!!!

This is it!
Here we go, at the Jane Hotel, let's start your surprising night by getting there early (before 10 pm), have a saet on one of those incredibly comfortable sofa and admire the amazing decoration, listening to the nice music and sliping your not too expensive drink ($8 for a beer, $12 for a glass of wine, from $14 for a cocktail).

The night is yours, see how you natrally start feeling good.
Around you, the place is getting crowed little by little, the lights are diming slowly, the music sounds louder and louder and before you have even noticed it, the whole place has been transformed, people are dancing around, the DJ is crazy awesome and you made it!

I can tell you : You are not dreaming, you are not drunk (or maybe you are but it is ok ), you are in a club in Manhattan which has nothing to do with any other clubs in that neighborhood. Go on, shake your body :-)
No doubt, you have swag baby!

Oh yeah, there is no more doubt New York is the most amazing thing I've ever seen.
Enjoy!

The Jane Hotel
113 Jane Street
West Village
Subway A C E L - 14th St, 8th ave
http://www.thejanenyc.com/

Live Jazz in Marjorie's apartment

How many people on Earth would open their own apartment's door and invite, anyone who is willing to, to come over listen to a live jazz concert for 2 hours?


Hum hum...
No no, I am not joking at all.
Seriously a lady named Marjorie is doing it for more than 2 years now and it is a blast!

So the magic of New York has hit me again with this surprise. Don't even think about it, just take the Q-C subway all the way up to 163rd St, walk to 555 Edgcombe Ave, Ring the bell at 3F, go upstairs, open that door, have a seat wheter in the kitchen, the living room or the corridor and let the music make you dream  for a 2 hours journey. Your life will be changed forever, I promess.

Who is Marjorie?
She is this old lady playing the piano, running around to serve you juice and snacks during the intermission and organizing this free event every Sunday to help her copewith the sorrow of the deqth of her beloved son Philip who died of a kidney illness on a Sunday at age 32. This jazzy afternoons helps her turn a sad story into something joyous thanks to the enthousiasm and smiley-face her concerts bring to people from all over the world.

Like every good thing, there is a limit : only 50 seats or so.
So my only advice : be on time and even early to be sure to enjoy this gift from a to z.

Marjorie's parlour Jazz
555 Edgcombe Ave
Between W 159 & W 160 St
Subway A-C to 157 or 163 St
Every Sunday from 4 pm to 6pm

Books books books

If you find yourself one day walking around Bedford in Williamsburg, I am telling you : you have to stop-by this little bookstore on Berry Street and North 3.

Started by 4 independant booksellers who were selling books in the streets of NY, this little bookstore is now full of treasures from everyhwhere.

You can just come and leave your books here, they will make someone happy, for sure. Old books, second hands, new books, lectures, events, al lot is happening in this tiny little place. You, me, everyone can be part of it.

The only thing required : loving books. Easy.

Open daily from noon to 9 pm
100 North 3rd Street
Between Berry and Whythe
Subway : L - Bedford ave
http://bookthugnation.com

Indie cinema with a buzz

"Indie cinema with a buzz" - this is how this little theater freshly hidden in Dumbo bills itself.


If you ned a cosy place to watch an old or arty movie and run away from those usual american huge multicomplex, this is certainly one of the best place in New York, not to say the best.

 Go check it by yourself.

Like I did, you will probably love those refurbished old car seats, that bar decorated with hubcaps and number plates and this particular ambiance in general that makes you feel good like if you were travelling over the time. Check out the bar too, it is completely cool and laid back, full of weirdos like if you were thrown into some David Lynch's movie.

Don't worry, Dumbo is far from being a scary place.
Seems like a very nice and tranquille neighborhood, to be discovered...

http://reruntheater.com/
147 Front Street
Subway : F - York Street

Grain de folie

 

00:27- Je rêvasse. 

Je viens de finir le pot de Nutella alors que je déteste ça

Et ben tant mieux, bon débarras

Il y a des jours comme ça où je me demande ce que je fous là

Sur Terre, parmi ces gens que je comprends souvent, pas

Mais pourquoi on est comme ça

Trop gros, trop maigre, trop ci trop ça 

Et patati et patata

Jamais contents les gens

Hé toi l'aigri

Vas voir ailleurs si j'y suis

Les hauts Les bas

Les hauts et les bas

Comme ces gratte-ciels autour de moi

Un peu, beaucoup, passionnément

Mon grain de folie, ne t'égare pas

Cache toi un peu qu'on ne te vole pas

 Sers toi bien fort dans mon petit cœur

Ça glisse encore mais n'aies pas peur

Je viens de finir de nettoyer

Les éboueurs viennent de passer

Plus une seule trace d'ordures

Juste une petite brûlure

 Mais invisible à l’œil nu

Demain elle aura disparu

Et on pourra de nouveau 

Partir à l'inconnu

A magic soap

Do you think cleaning your house is a hard and boring activity?
Do you feel like the products you use don't smell good at all?
Do you pay attention to the quality of the soap when you wash your hands in public places?


Cleaning, washing, laundering...such routine stuffs but everyone has to do it.
So why not enjoying it! Impossible? Do not think that anymore, never ever.
Mrs Meyer came on Earth to save our lifes, I mean it!

Check this out:



All their products contain plant derivated essential oils and aromatherapeutic power.
Basil is my favorite for now.
Not only it smells like in a garden but it also makes you feel happy and relaxed. Simply Magic!!!

My objective : try them all, youhou!

http://www.mrsmeyers.com/

Resto cocooning de mes rêves

Froid glagla, pas envie de mettre le nez dehors et pourtant...

Il existe des endroits où on se sent tellement bien qu'on pourrait limite y enlever ses chaussures et s'étirer comme à la maison.

Et si en bonus vous aviez une ambiance musicale à la fois boogie, roots et zénifiante, des plats succulents servis par des gens souriants, une atmosphère entre le chalet de montagne et la brasserie française le tout agrémenté de la fameuse Brooklyn touch et détail qui tue un super savon pour les mains qui sent super bon et rend heureux (si si je vous jure! détails dans un prochain article)


Alors cet endroit fabuleux le voici:

Toutes les options sont à tester sans plus attendre, verre entre amis au coin du feu, diner en amoureux à la lueur des étoiles dans les yeux, brunch, dej, café à plusieurs ou même en solo au bar, why not...

Allez-y un point c'est tout!

Et en plus, le co-owner est celui qui a créé mon bar préféré, donc tout s'explique!
Merci donc à toi cher Josh Boissy, enfin quelqu'un qui a tout compris à la vie.

Le Barricou
533 Grand Stree (between Union and Lorimer ave)
Subway L to Lorimer
http://lebarricouny.com/

I'm not a spring chicken

Sling Slang Slung sling me a slong

Do did done don't be so wrong

Voici donc une nouvelle rubrique pour (bientôt déjà) une nouvelle année à New York.
J'en profite d'ailleurs pour dire merci à mes deux acolytes préférés pour cette perpétuelle inspiration.

Et donc cette fois-ci au détour d'un brunch (forcément dans un endroit génial que je m'empresse déjà de vous présenter dans un prochain article) me vint l'idée de partager quelques expressions bien typiques souvent issue du slang (argot) et qui me font bien délirer.

Si quelqu'un vous dit "I'm not a spring chicken" ne le regardez pas avec des gros yeux, ça veut tout simplement dire qu'il n'est plus un jeunot, naïf, débutant.

Maman si tu me lis j'ai une révélation : "I'm not a spring chicken!" (et tu le sais mais bisous je t'aime)

How to get a cab ?

New York will not be New York without its cabs.

However after a long night, when the weather is shitty or when bad luck has chosen to fall on you that day, it can be awful to find a cab.

Basics: stand on the side of the direction you want to go, a little between the street and the sidewalk, raise your hand as if the entire-world's self-confident was into you and look straight in the eyes of the drivers. Don't yell 'Taxi', that is useless and a complete tourist thing. Be careful that only the middle light is on:

Sometimes, they keep all the lights on means off duty too, stay calm don't spend your energy with that.

And if you are a lucky smartphone holder, download this and let me know if that really works:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cabsense-nyc

Good luck!

Oh and a very good car service if you have the chance to live arond Brooklyn, Williamsburg :
http://northsideluxury.com/ (seems to work in the City too, to be checked) -> Fixed price $35 to JFK!

Poinsettia - the winter flower

Since December, I have been quesionning myself on the reason of this curious invasion of red flowers everywhere in the City:

And it has been a pleasure to discover a nice story behind it. Sit down, close your eyes, be quiet and listen...

Once upon a time, in the early 20th century, Albert Ecke, a nice Californian little man was grewing different variety of flowers. One day, he figured out that he was harvesting this shning red flower every winter and that it could become the perfect Chritmas holiday plant. And that's how he started commercializing it.

With its star shape, this flower represents the Bethleem star which led the three wise en to Christ for some people. Back in the 18th century, in Mexico (where the plant is originated from), it was already a Christmas tradition due to this star shape. Besides, the name of the plant comes from Joseph Poinset, America's first ambassador of Mexico who brought the plant to the America in 1828.

And as evry Christmas story, the poinsettia has also its legend where it says that legend that a small boy in Mexico on a Christmas Eve discovered the plant . He was on his way to church, but he had no offering for the manger. An angel suddenly appeared, and told him to pick weeds for his offering. The weeds grew into what we now know as the poinsettia.

Chirstmas is already behind us but it's never to late to wish us all a Happy New Year.
Enjoy, life is even shorter!

A good dive burger?

Aaaaah burgers and New York!
Like a stormy love story, one day you hate them, another day, you would die for it.
Oh well, stop acting like a young virgin and eat it once in a while.
Don't get addicted though, you don't want to look like that:

So once in a while, go check out the cheeseburger, some fries at Commodore per un pugno de dollari ($7 the burger). This typical Brooklyn hipster pub allows you playing video games too, youhou.

Seriously, the beef is to die for, parole de fille qui n'aime pas trop la viande pourtant! (allez dire ça en anglais...).

Oh! and a rumor says that the fried chicken is off the hook.

To be continued then...

366 Metropolitan Avenue
Corner of Havenmayer
Subway:
Metropolitan Av (G)
Bedford Av (L)
Lorimer St (L)

Hours:

Mon-Thu, Sun 4 pm - 12 am

Fri 4 pm - 1 am

Envie d'un vrai phô?

Yes ok my title sucks but without joking, I have re-discovered the taste of Phô after a long period of abstinence due to a non-explicable phoebia of asian cuisine. I am so glad, it's so good!

But for that you have to go where the real New Yorkers are used to go!
Of course, forget your guides and go have a walk in Chinatown.
By the way, anyone who thinks this neighborhood is a shit or stinks is an idiot and does not deserve to be in New York! For me, Chinatown is one of the perfect example of this city's incredible energy and power.

So if you feel like eating a Vietnamese rice noodle soup (beef, chicken, pork, whatever), for $8 max, you can definitely try Nha Trang One.

That's it : D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.

87 Baxter Street

Mon-Sun : 10:30 am - 10:00 pm

N,Q,R,J,6 : Canal Street

Haute Gastronomy in a fast food

Il n'y a que les US pour oser ça!

Foie gras, confit de canard, risotto àl'huile de truffes, burger au boeuf de Kobe et autres mets délicats vous attendent chez Bistro Petit.

Comme son nom l'indique Bistro Petit est un tout petit restaurant (on y tient à peine à 8 tout cassé) où vous pourrez diner au bar en intimité servi directement par ce talentueux chef j'ai nommé Sung Park. On se croirait un peu chez soi avec son chef à domicile!

Ce jeune homme d'origine coréenne vient d'ouvrir son premier restaurant après avoir fait ses preuves dans les plus grandes cuisines françaises de la ville.

Pari réussi puisque Bistro Petit se veut avant tout de vous faire manger sain et redécouvrir des saveurs en ne proposant que des plats avec des ingrédients de saison, naturels, bios et pour la plupart choisis auprès de petits producteurs locaux. Le tout pour un prix raisonnable, c'est pourquoi ne vous étonnez pas de manger dans le plat avec des couverts en plastique. Il fallait bien faire des économies quelquepart.

Après tout ce aui compte c'est ce qu'il y a dans l'assiette et ce qu'il reste dans le portefeuille, du chef et du votre.

Voilà tout le monde est content.
A faire et  refaire sans hésitation.
Vous pouvez même commander à emporter si ça vous chante!

Bistro Petit
774 Driggs Ave
(between 4th St & 3rd St)
Brooklyn - Williamsburg

J-M-Z Marcy avenue or L Bedford

Mon-Fri 3 pm - 12 am

Sat-Sun 12 pm - 12 am

http://www.bistropetit.com

Diego Rivera is your man

After all those family reunions
After the usual New Year eve's useless crazyness
Surrounded by a sad economy
And a weird so weird weather
What is left?
How to get rid of this depressive atmosphere spreading around?

Let's get back to basics!
Family, love, very few best friends, good food, good health, cultural events, here we go!

Everything should be accessible in New York, just go get it, help yourself with all the treasures hidden here and there. Keep breathng, surviving I should say.
Friday nights, the Moma is free. Enjoy it once a while!

Until May 14, you can go see some master pieces done by Diego Rivera.
This magnificient exhibition recounts the different works of this artist, so famous for his murals.
You will be pleased to discover his drawings, sketches and paintings which are to my mind as impressive as his murals:

Who else can tell that he became friend with Modigliani, Orozco in few years in Paris, got married to Frida Khalo, had Trotski sleeping on his coach and his famous Zapatta's painting in almost every Spanish learning books:



Yep Remember the exhibit date is until May 14th!
It is a small exhibit, so take the advantage to explore the rest of the museum:
http://archou.blogspot.com/2011/12/follow-fluxus.html

http://archou.blogspot.com/2011/04/le-moma-en-mode-orgasmique.html

Le temps passe tellement vite, so go go go!

Réalisée sans trucage

New York New York

Pam pam padadam 

Me voilà à nouveau dans tes bras

Pam pam padadam

M'éblouiras-tu toujours autant

Si étrangère et si proche à la fois

Comme une étoile au firmament 

A peine quitté je ne pense qu'à toi

Tels une maitresse et son amant

A peine retrouvé je veux m'envoler

Au septième ciel

Nul par ailleurs

Unique plaisir indétronable

Zéro trucage

Nul maquillage

New York mi amor

Sers-moi plus fort

Essuie mes larmes

Encore une fois

Fais disparaitre mon vague à l'âme

Pam pam padadam

Day trip in a world of Art

New York is this kind of City which does not have any boundaries.

The best way to experience it is to go to Grand Central station , take any train and go for any day trip around.You will maybe no more be in New York but this so unique spirit of liberty will always be there.

Something you have to do absolutely if you like art is going to Dia Beacon.
The trip along the Hudson is very pleasant in any season.
And if you are at least 2 and have to wait for the train in Grand Central, you can play that game which consists in finding the spot under a curve  ceiling where the echo allows you whispering or speaking very low agaisnt the wall and your friend can hear you from the opposite side! One clue : it is in a small allee behind the counters and next to an oyster place...
 

There you will find a museum of modern art (1960to present) occupying a fomer printing factory. The halls are so spacious and bright, this is a very peaceful and mind blowing trip.

Very oftern, different kind of exhibits and performances take place and you could find yourself in the middle of a cocktail party surrounded by artists and art lovers, what else do you need for a perfect week-end?

Want some examples of art pieces you could find there? Louise Bourgeois, Richard Serra, Joseph Beuys, Max Neuhaus, Sol Lewitt, Robert Irwin and more infos here : http://www.diacenter.org/sites/main/beacon