before/after

these are quite possibly some of the best "before and after" projects i've seen in a while (via design sponge). love what they did with this ikea dresser!

the great outdoors

longer days and warmer weather mean more opportunities for dining al fresco. check out some of these neat outdoor spaces:

the terrarium "comeback"

i keep telling myself that i'm going to buy all the fixin's for a terrarium one of these days. i'm starting to think i need to just go ahead and bite the bullet on this one, though... my affinity for hens and chicks is almost unbearable. must. plant. succulents.

check out what design sponge had to say about the terrarium "comeback" here.


and watch here as the good folks from sprout home in williamsburg show us how to make one from scratch.

artz a-plenty

just thought i'd share another great site for buying affordable art... 'cause that's what i'm into these days. i bought this 11x14 photo of the portuguese beachfront from 20x200. ( i'm dying for summer to arrive, can you tell?)

mine, all mine

i first spotted philippe starck's louis ghost chair some five years ago (probably whilst scanning an issue of domino), and i've been dreaming ever since about how to get my hands on one of those beauties. while surfing the interwebs on friday, i found one on sale via apartment therapy's classified section that was half the retail price. (half!!!) knowing i would never find such a great deal again (at least that's what i told myself), i swooped in and snatched him up. what a steal. i plan to keep close tabs on apartment therapy's classified/scavenger posts... talk about a gold mine!

a burrito grows in brooklyn

i've had a lot of greenpoint "firsts" this week. i ate lunch with my friend kelley at a new mexican restaurant in my 'hood called calexico (try their frijoles negros burrito--complete with "crack sauce"--and their tasty jalapeño mint margarita). i also grabbed drinks with kel and two of her friends at matchless the other night (note to self: wednesday = heavy metal karaoke night) . both places were fantastic.

these pleasantly surprising "firsts" only confirm that i need to explore my neighborhood more and break out of my sometimes unhealthy pattern of eating/drinking at the same places (see also five leaves and manhattan inn), especially now that the threat of winter is (almost) gone.

beirut in brooklyn

after four years of missing every possible beirut show within a 90-mile radius of nyc, i will finally get to see him/them play. beirut will christen the northside festival this summer on june 17th at mccarren park in williamsburg, so don't miss it! i'll save you a spot on my blanket...

get your tickets here.