Reizen & Hotspot

OUR GIRL IN NEW YORK

On Saturday, the sun had shone. I intentionally write this in the past perfect tense. Because since then, I have not been able to behold it again, a dull gray has taken over the sky and it has been raining here for days. But without going directly into D Minor, let's go back to that Saturday. The sun was still there, and I walked the streets in sandals and in the vintage Giants jacket of the future. We meet up with friends to brunch. Outside, in that still wonderfully warm sun. I order a fruit salad in line with my ‘healthy week’. I label the wine today as grape juice, so that doesn't need to be skipped. At Morandi in the sun. It was a party.

On the way back, we stop at my secret bookstore. You first have to walk through Toby’s Estate on 5th Av. (the coffee café where I once had my very first cappuccino after the big move), and then you are in the sweetest bookstore in New York. So that was here. When I could still wear my new sandals.

The rain stopped. Just for a moment. I promptly closed my laptop at my favorite workspace in Soho and decided to walk home. But not without a stop at The Reformation, the super cool and super sustainable brand known for the flowy dresses with high splits, idyllic prints, and texts like this at the door. Just for that last reason, The Reformation is my favorite.

May is usually the month. Not too warm, not too cold, no rain, and every day that soft spring sunshine. The city smells of freshly fallen blossoms and new leaves on the trees. But now, there is nothing to notice... Oh well, it will be alright again. New York remains beautiful even without that spring-like May.

The rain taps against my umbrella. Quickly back inside. And while the rain steadfastly continues to tap against my window, I write little stories about my latest acquisitions. Including this top from ADAY. I actually never invest in sportswear. Coincidentally, I did buy new yoga pants, as my old Victoria’s Secret ones started to fray after two years. But that’s where it ends. Until now, because my eyes have been opened a bit. This top is so nice and so beautiful. It works perfectly as a bra too. No marks, no pinching, but super light, quick-drying, and holding everything together. That is the Don’t Stop Top from ADAY.

At exactly a quarter to ten, I walk to the place where it needs to happen today. Friend L. is already in line. At the front. We wait patiently and enter as the second and third of the whole queue. The room is filled with racks. With hangers on those racks that in turn are filled with skirts, dresses, pants, and jackets. At the back are the bags and at the front, there are still accessories to be found. A wild mix of a lot of ugly things and not in the right size, but in between, there are indeed pearls to be found. With the highest concentration, we make our way through all that textile and walk out two hours later like two lucky birds. She with one bag filled, I with two. This was again a good one, the sample sale of Sandro and Maje. It feels like we have earned money. That is of course not the case, but it feels that way. This is (besides the month of rain) also the month of sample sales. You can find them all on racked.com by the way.

Just in between. This doesn’t look very appetizing, but it is. The pop-up food market at Madison Park is back! And those balls, they are divine. I actually don’t even know the name and place of this little stall, but you will come across it among all the stalls with delicious dishes. So if the rain is going to annoy someone else one evening, then this is the place to eat under the lights and with a view of the Flatiron…

So, now let’s wait for spring. Where suddenly these kinds of cars determine the street scene of New York and I can wear my sandals again…