NYC, in pictures.

I've skipped sharing the work part of the trip because that's not as pretty.

"Room 525 doesn't look like it exists...but, it's there!"

I arrived in NYC late on Sunday night. After lots and lots and lots of prep, we finally met yesterday for one last day of prep before our shoot began today. After our pre production meeting was complete, a couple of us went out for dinner at Bond Street Sushi. Pretty tasty! I really wish there were hot towels at the beginning of every meal-so soothing. Our favorite dish was the big-eye Tuna Tart topped with micro shiso and white truffle oil. They come on a thin cracker type thing made by pressing wonton wrappers together through a pasta maker and searing them. It was the perfect amount of crisp!

When I woke up this morning, I felt like 6:30am came too soon. I was tired! Off to the shoot I went. Things went really smoothly overall despite the one model who got stuck in traffic and arrived almost an hour late. We wrapped things up on time and I headed out to meet my lovely friend Alex for some dinner. Dinner tasted good but, the service was flat. Thanks goodness the company was 5 STAR! Ew. After dinner, we made a few attempts to go shoe shopping but, alas (and probably for the best) the store we wanted to visit was closed. So, we walked and talked about the days events including: spying on Diane Von Furstenburg, lost mail...found by an unknown neighbor, NYC thieves (successfully) scamming for cash and creepy professional acquaintances. Be safe out there!

A week in NYC.

After a bumpy flight into JFK last Thursday, I headed into Brooklyn to meet up with my friend Alex. She arrived home from work a few minutes before I walked through her door so, we decided to keep dinner simple. We hit up a Mexican restaurant around the corner from her place: a short walk and some delicious food! It's always nice to Jude, Alex and Lily (meow).

On Friday morning, I headed into the city for our pre production meeting at Hudson Studios. Everything went smoothly and we were able to finish up a few minutes early. Here is the studio we're shooting in, (lots of beautiful light) and another picture of our view from the 13th floor.

I had a nice long walk from the studio to my hotel. My plans for the evening were up in the air. It's kind of rare and really neat that I had two, mostly free, days in NYC. I wanted to do something since it was a Friday but, I was running low on energy. I ended up at Le Poisson Rouge to see the band Asobi Seksu. It was such good music and just my speed. I was at home in bed by 11pm. Oh, and here is a picture of the scandalous tank filled with coy fish that was hanging in the lobby.
I woke up on Saturday with plans to head to the Tim Burton exhibit at the MoMa. I checked on line to get more info. They were offering timed tickets sales only during the weekend and every slot was SOLD OUT!! I wasn't sure when I would be back in the city again so, I was a little disappointed. I decided to make the MoMa my destination and walk from 29th street to 53rd just to see what I could see. I picked up a coffee and a treat (yes, I like to take pictures of my food) and headed out.

It was very cold, (not as cold as Vermont this week but, still cold). I made a few stops along the way to sip my coffee and warm up. I finally made it to the MoMa and lucky me, they were still selling Tim Burton tickets for the 2:00 pm time slot. Lucky me!

Here is a picture of an installation created by Gabriel Orozco that was dangling in the entry way of the MoMa.
The Tim Burton show was great but, at max capacity, a little too crowded for most people. I caught a cab back to my hotel and got ready to head to Williamsburg to meet my friend Deena. She and I dined at a place called The D.O.C Wine Bar, (If you ever find yourself there, please check out the bathroom. SO COOL). Deena is wonderful. She always will be!

Tim Burton's timeline:

This morning, I sent a few work emails in preparation for the shoot tomorrow and then coordinated to have brunch with my long lost friend Brooke. I met her at this little spot in Carroll Gardens called Char No. 4. They are known for their whiskey drinks but, it was brunch so I decided upon a mimosa instead. Brooke had a bloody mary with the special house whiskey in it. It's been a few years since we've gotten together so, we didn't really ever stop talking!
After a little shopping session in SoHo, I arrived back at my hotel, had some dinner and retired to my room. I'm going to sleep shortly to help ease the blow of an early morning wake up call. Goodnight!

Dried up weeds never looked so good!

Yesterday was the 3rd and final day of the shoot. It's been a busy few weeks and an intense couple of days but, it went well. There is nothing like the moment when things wrap up and you realize the list of tasks is getting shorter and shorter. David, Douglas, Georgia, Fabienne and I took some time after the shoot to walk The High Line. I have been wanting to see it for some time. What a delightful experience it was! I took a few pictures along the way with an unsteady hand. Sorry about that. I was carrying a laptop, small printer and two giant binders. 

Oh...and for those of you who don't know about The High Line, here is a quicky explanation from their site. 

The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan's largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. The project gained the City's support in 2002. The High Line south of 30th Street was donated to the City by CSX Transportation Inc. in 2005. The design team of landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, created the High Line's public landscape with guidance from a diverse community of High Line supporters. Construction on the park began in 2006. The first section, from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street, is projected to open in June 2009.   

This is the hotel where the lovely couple were spotted sowing their wild oats. They were perfectly back lit and knew they had an audience. The best part was when this 60ish year old woman said, "I hear what you're saying but, I just can't see. Where are they?"

Pretty in purple: