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Saturday, February 16, 2013

NYC gift show and The Bowery


























the night life

me

me

from freemans website
from Freeman website


from The General  website
from the General website

















The gift show is always fun, tiring, visually stimulating,  predictable, exciting, confusing and lots of walking. Usually for me it's with George which is nice because he keeps me together and besides companionship and support he helps carry my junk. I never thought of it but he acts like my assistant. I think I need one full time:)  He's great and puts up with me as I maneuver through it all with minimal growning. This trip around I went with Deanna which was wonderful. She's a hoot and hopefully we can go again. I promise I won't make you run to catch the train back. We'll wait for the next one:)  The first night we met up with 4 of her friends on the lower east end. They were on a girls get together and had been doing the town for a few days. We met them for drinks at a cool place called Freemans in the Bowery area. We were forewarned to not let the pee stained alley we needed to walk down make us turn back. It would be all worth it. They were right on both counts. I have to say at one point when the taxi driver dropped us off a little distance away from the address that I wondered....hum! The street was a little desolate and not well lit  and as we got to the address the doors was closed. Windows blackened out.  Where the heck was this place? Deanna always able to laugh in any situation helped calm me but all I could think of was if George was here he'd be having a bird:) He's mister cautious about everything. We asked a couple of nice ladies walking their dog if they knew the restaurant. They didn't look scared....what's my problem? maybe they were carrying mace? They told us to walk down to the next corner and turn right, then go down this alley. An alley?  Freeman's alley.....oh right that's the name they gave us. They were right, lots of graffiti on the walls but I didn't look for the pee stains.  There were lots of pretty twinkling lights at the end of the alley.  Nice touch,  twinkling lights are friendly. I felt a sigh of relief. We walked thru the door and immediately ran into a long black curtain. Ok this is weird, is this a theater? but as soon as I pulled the curtain open it was magical, warm and filled with people. I almost wanted to share my surprise with the first person who would  make eye contact with me and say something stupid like " were you scared too? but wow this place is really cool! "  We were swept up these big stairs by the hostess to where they were waiting for us at a cozy sitting area. Drinks already waiting for us and some of that yummy artichoke dip you see in that  photo.  Did I tell you Deanna I love your friends?  I didn't take enough good photos. Mine are the dark moody ones.  Notice all the taxidermy. Deanna's friends thought that she would love it. She and I both did. I am now hooked on the whole natural history look.  Freeman's was a great choice for the start of our evening. We later went to an asian restaurant for dinner called The General only a couple of blocks away. So much fun and loved the streaming service (means it comes out one at a time and you are encouraged to share) I was good.... I shared. Everything was delish. 
Afterwards we went to check out the fab decor at Gemma's and have a drink of course....that's the one with the dripping candelabras. I will never clean candle wax again. Think of the time saved. I am starting one right now but I have mostly the good non dripping kind so will have to buy the cheapy ones that leave the mess I'm after.  
They are on my list and so is going back to these places .....with George next time. I promise


21 comments:

PCovi said...

Oh my gosh you had me nervous for your safety! Ew to the pee alley!
Hope you wore old shoes LOL.

I want to go with you to market!!!
Someday, please?

suziqu's thread works said...

Despite all the cautions to get to Freemans it was really worth every step. How charming everything looks and how charming to have a husband like George - I too am so very grateful for one like him. They are precious, cautious and really care for your well-being.
Oh those dripping candles at Gemma's is a sight to behold.
I am sure you are still holding wonderful memories of this trip.
Sending hugs,
Suzy

Susan @ The Collected Cottage said...

AWESOME pics! A couple made me stop and drool ands it wasn't at the dip! Looks like you hit on some neat locals....love mystical!
Hope to see you soon...member I met you at X-mas time w/my Mom shopping!

Unknown said...

Being a (almost) country girl from Oklahoma, I can't even imagine walking down an alley like that to get to any restaurant. LOVED those dripping candles. So bohemian looking. Reminded me of the 70's! Oops! I think I just gave away my age! Hope you found some great goodies at market!

Nella Miller said...

Lovin' all the garden inspired finds from the show...I always found the New York show exactly as you describe it Carole!
Sounds like you are having a great time...it is always sweet to mix business and pleasure! I too loved going with my husband....great assistants! N.xoxo

oldgreymare said...

I loved seeing all the pics even though I had a few sneak peeks. Both places on my list when I go visit DD
<3

Ariadne said...

I loved going along!AriadnefromGreece!

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

I can't believe that the NYC gift show has come around again ....... it only seems a little while ago that you were posting about it !! All of those gorgeous things ...... how do you choose Carole ?!!
.....and Feemans ....... what a wonderful place ..... such atmosphere. We have a similar one in East London called Les Trois Garcons ...... I posted about it once ..... it's full of taxidermy and strange but wonderful things. I've never been but our daughter went a few weeks ago and loved it. Those candles look amazing. I have a couple that have dripped wax but nothing like that !! I, too, must get myself some cheap candles !!!! I love your dark and moody photographs ........ did you notice how everyone is resting their head on their hands !!!! Must be the new fashionable thing to do !! I do that quite a lot so I'm obviously in with the in-crowd !! XXXX

Sueann said...

What a fun adventure!! All the places sounded and looked fabulous!
I loved those drippy candles too!
Gonna start mine soon!
Hugs
SueAnn
PS That zinc planter is wonderful!

trash talk said...

First I just have to say...green, glorious green!
Second, I'm digging the drippy Phantom of the Opera-style candles. Even in my bo-ho days, I could never achieve that look with a wine bottle, let alone candle holders.
Finally, as long as your shoes didn't stick to the pavement...it's all good.
Great photos.
Deb

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Such beautiful things in every picture.. and I just LOVE the melted wax candelabras.. gorgeous!!.. how long do you suppose it takes to get that effect?

the old white house said...

That sounds like the best night ever! I will have to tell John about it, I think he would love all three. I loved reading the whole story, I would have made eye contact with you and said something equally silly :)
As soon as I saw the candles, I thought the same thing... how cool are they? Takes me back to a wine bottle covered wax mess! Thanks for sharing, this was fun!
love, t.xoxo
p.s. I immediately added fun. to my pandora stations and listen to them all of the time, and thanks to you I knew who they were when they won all of their grammys! xoxo

Dorthe said...

OH Carole, you almost also scared me....I would have been so chicken -just like you,- but oh my, such fantastic places both, your photoes are wonderful, and there are so many things to want, and to love. I also must say that the candelabres overfloated with wax are something just very special, and so magic looking.
I`m glad you returned home to George ,happy and with great experiences :-)
Hugs,Dorthe

MJ Ornaments said...

Looks like fun but scary Carole! I've always wanted to try a big gift show, but need to get organized. Hopefully someday I can come out to New York and do it. Hope you're doing we'll!
Take care,
Martha

MJ Ornaments said...

Looks like fun but scary Carole! I've always wanted to try a big gift show, but need to get organized. Hopefully someday I can come out to New York and do it. Hope you're doing we'll!
Take care,
Martha

Jeane M. said...

Love the place dear. The scare was totally worth it, hope I could drop by in there one day. Triple thumbs up. :D Got my eye on your next posts.

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Carole,

Your photos are wonderful and thanks for taking us along with you.
So many gorgeous things showcased at the Gift show and it must be so hard deciding what to order.
The night life looks wonderful and glad you made it safely back home to George.

Happy week
hugs
Carolyn

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Wow. May I please be your assistant the next time you go? I will carry anything you and Deanna want. Awesome photos. Jealous! :)

Anonymous said...

What an adventure!!! I LOVE those dripping candelabras. Gorgeous! :)

Cindy said...

What an adventure! I love all your pictures...swooooon!!

I will happily be your assistant next time!!
xo cindy

Evi said...

sounds scary and wonderful all at the time.
Glad you two had so much fun.
The pictures of the show are great. Can't wait to see what you got!!!!!!
Love ya,
Evi