May's New York Diary

Days in New York last endlessly. You start early and every minute is an experience, so a day is so filled with adventures that it feels like a week. On Saturday we had dinner with friends at Babbo’s; a famous Italian where they play hard rock music. At max volume. When I asked the waiter if he thought this was enhancing the atmosphere in an Italian restaurant with linen on the table, he looked at me pityingly. “People come to Babbo’s for the rock music, miss.” But if I really found it annoying (we couldn't understand each other even though we were shouting), he would turn it down a bit. But then I would ruin it for the other guests. I don't think they took offense to it.

We first had drinks at The Bowery Hotel. The place where Kendall Jenner sleeps, the Olsen twins hang out in the bar, and where Courtney Love has a room. As a friend of mine who also stays at this hotel said: ”It’s a lovely thought when you wake up with a hangover that you know there’s always someone who’s more hungover than you; Courtney.”

Sunday was the day of Victoria Beckham and since there were two models from Micha Models walking with us, Femke Huijzer and Silke van Daal, we could arrange some backstage photos. Thanks! Victoria's collection was one where you needed a napkin to dry your mouth corners. Long skirts, pierrot collars, feminine trousers, and transparent skirts over long shirts. And then the colors…

After Victoria, it was a rush to Hell’s Kitchen where the Tome show was being prepared. MAC Cosmetics took care of the makeup and I picked up some nice tips from that. I’ll tell you later.

Because it was Sunday, we decided to walk to our neighborhood. That was an hour and a half. In the spirit of ticking things off, we wanted to have lunch at Cipriani’s on West Broadway. Among the New York families and Chanel bags. This is not a cheap throwaway place. But so delicious, what wonderful service and… no music.

’In the evening, the vernissage of two exhibitions at GRIMM Gallery was on the agenda. Jorg Grimm is a Dutch guy who already has two galleries in Amsterdam but wanted to expand to New York. After the drinks in the gallery, there was a private dinner. Somewhere on Canal Street with the stairs up and we entered a space where you would want to chain yourself and never leave. They cooked for us, we talked and laughed, and we turned out to know a lot of people. If you’re in New York and have a craving for contemporary art; Grimm Gallery at 202 Bowery. Go there.

We walked through the night, bought a coconut water, and now we’re thinking about what we will choose from the long list of tips and addresses that we can never all visit but want to. What it turned out to be, I’ll tell you tomorrow. Bye!