Save the Mermaids

There's no better way to kick off summer than to grab a couple of Nathan's Famous hot dogs (yes I'll have fries with that) and take in the sights as the Coney Island Mermaid Parade makes its way down Surf Avenue. Hopefully the city will come to its senses and save Coney Island and all of its colorful flora and fauna including the mermaids.

Speaking of things worth saving, the beautiful parade posters above are certainly worth holding onto.

Pick Some Flowers & Find the Man of Your Dreams

Well at least catch a glimpse of your future husband. According to Midsummer's Eve lore, women who gather seven different types of flowers on their way home on the day of the summer solstice and place them under their pillow will dream of their future husband. Tempting but easier said than done in NYC. The Organic Type pictured above is a font by Neuarmy and absolutely beautiful.

Black & White Photography

Black & white photos can be just so beautiful. I admired this photo of Jane Birkin and baby Charlotte when I saw it and wished I had a great b&w photo of my little Brigid and I together. Well wish granted! Sort of. My friend Alyssa emailed me this photo she took today. I was about eight months pregnant and I remember it being a beautiful August afternoon. Thanks Alyssa, you made my day. Can't wait for you to take a photo of Brigid and I now that she is out and about!

Get Out the Maypole

Time to celebrate the true start of summer. This Saturday marks the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year. So what if you don't have your own Maypole, just get some friends together and celebrate. Elderflower martini's are deliciously festive and may lower your inhibitions just enough to wear a flowered wreath in your hair. You can brush up on Midsummer here.

My very simple Elderflower Martini recipe:

1 oz. Elderflower Syrup (Ikea is a great source.)
3 oz. frozen Vodka (Your favorite brand or just a decent one. The elderflower syrup can hide even a mediocre vodka's flaws.)

Rub a lemon twist around the rim of the glass and garnish.

Cool Thoughts, Cooler Art

It takes some creative thinking to stay cool when the temperature hits the mid nineties in NYC and "Who left the oven on?" is the question that comes to mind when you walk out your door. Luckily just looking at photos of Olafur Eliasson's The Waterfalls of New York City makes one feel refreshed. Four waterfalls are scheduled to make their debut around the city beginning June 26th. They may not lower the temperature but should definitely make the city a cooler place. And you can see more of Eliasson's work at PS 1 till the end of June.

Bee_utiful

While reading this month's issue of Domino on the train today, I was happy to see Häagen-Daz is giving out packets of bee-friendly wildflower seeds as part of it's "Save the Honey Bees" initiative. Now that's sweet. Just send a self-addressed stamped envelope to get your free seeds, start planting and make some bee happy.

Häagen-Daz Save the Honey Bees Program/Domino
50 Francisco Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94133

Sunflower Heaven

In her book Seventh Heaven, Alice Hoffman tells the story of a divorcee who flees the city for 1960's Long Island with her two young boys. Frustrated by the upkeep of the overrun 1/4 acre she inherited from the former owners, she turns her backyard into a sunflower field. While this dismays her neighbors, I love the idea and the book. I'm trying my own sunflower garden this year, albeit a slightly more contained version. Here's a wonderful example of a sunflower garden from Wouter Ten Broek. Check out his sunflower prints if planting seems too much of a hassle.