Travel & Hotspots

OUR GIRL IN NEW YORK

In Brooklyn there are rats. It's dirty there. It's disgusting there. It's dangerous there. At least, that might be somewhat exaggerated, but it comes pretty close, is the general opinion of the true seasoned New Yorker. According to this New Yorker, it's absolutely madness to cross the bridge. For lunch, or brunch, but certainly to live. Because everything in Manhattan is better. And I thought exactly the same. Manhattan was top of the bill. And the only reason not to want to belong to the islanders anymore is a one-way ticket to any other country than America. Brooklyn is nice in the summer, to visit boutiques on Bedford. And perhaps to brunch at Juliette once. Nothing more. Until two months ago when I started coming to Brooklyn more often. For Thanksgiving. For a brunch. For a dinner with too much wine. For another brunch. And then suddenly I was viewing apartments. Hand in hand with my fiancé, we walked and felt whether this place might become the next station in our we-are-becoming-adults adventure. The absence of all sirens and hysterically honking drivers made me take off my anti-Brooklyn glasses. Suddenly I saw all the nice places. The coffee shops. The lunch cafés. The stores. And mainly: just a bit more peace. Our heart rate and blood pressure went from Manhattan rush to Brooklyn chill. Suddenly I felt it: this is the Brooklyn vibe that makes people fall in love. This is what makes all those shouting New Yorkers quietly but in large numbers move to this place. This is our next station. Brooklyn, we are on our way.

Our new house is big. Almost twice as big as our old one, which means that my flowers and even more flowers and even more white lace and even more glitter in Italy clippings have been pushed aside for leaves and books about interior design. I love modern with a classic twist. Belgian cotton and gray. Restoration Hardware is exactly how I want it. Yesterday, the day before yesterday, today, and probably tomorrow I walk into my neighbors' house. Can I have everything?

For the second big crossing, I sip tea with Grace at Epistrophy. Maybe some of you have already noticed that my blog is on a pretty low flame. For a reason. The helm is turning and something completely different is coming. To be honest, I was tired of all those texts about which top should go with which skirt. I want to and will go back to how my website came to be. And Grace? She is going to help me with that. But that will all come next year. In other words: to be continued.

Given all the moving plans, we don't have a Christmas tree this year. Well, a Rudolph and the tree from the park where we live. We still have a bit of Christmas, with under the tree this year: a new house. Damn, I can't wait.