An Abundant Life - Designing Adventures

This past week and the week before were part of one of the times of the year that is such wonderful one for me. When the weather is beautiful and it's New York City X Design week too, there is something so special that happens all over New York City, with events and design talks and showrooms that are open to share their newest designs, visions, collaborations and special projects. I'll be writing about the different places I had the beautiful opportunity to visit in upcoming posts, but for today I'll focus on the event at Carl Hansen & Son.

For many years this company's designs have been classics that I've admired and enjoyed, and attending an event there for NYCXDesign and hearing a design talk about the topic of creating a circular and sustainable community in the design world was something that is so near and dear to my own heart that I knew the evening would be a special one. When I arrived and saw a room filled with their gorgeous chairs and seating, just waiting for us all to be seated for the talk, it was one of those moments when I thought how wonderful it would be to be able to go to events in a space like this one all the time where the chairs and couches were so beautiful and so comfortable that it felt as if were were in a luxurious and beautifully designed home. 

There was a wonderful man at a work table in one area, and we were invited to work along side of him to assemble our own miniature version of one of their classic chairs. He had traveled from Denmark, and had brought pieces which had been prepared for us to put together very easily, but there was a lovely touch that they still needed to be sanded so that each piece was smoothed and finished and would fit well in the places where the pieces needed to be joined. Speaking with this wonderful craftsman about the company and his own work there was part of the fun and enjoyment, and having one of these small chairs to bring home was delightful and such a refreshing part of the experience. I had to ask for his help to fit my pieces together after sanding, and he did it so effortlessly. It was such a joyful time and I told him I'd love to bring the idea as a hands on activity to YES Gallery.

After the design talk I was able to take a short video of the lively room, and the photographs I took while I was there were so beautiful because of the gorgeous design and views. It was truly an evening that I will always remember in so many wonderful ways, and I'm so grateful to everyone for the blessing of being there and all that they did to make this adventure so beautiful and so special!

At Carl Hansen and Son

For A Design Talk

And Celebration

For NYCXDesign

https://www.carlhansen.com

  

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Growing Peacefully

I had a few moments on the day before Mother's Day to walk through YES Gallery and video the new show. I've been planting all kinds of seeds and wonderful herbs and flowering plants that I've found at the local sharing crate at the church garden up the block, and taking time after the last opening to just enjoy the space as I put things back in order and add new decorations and plant new plants for the summer. 

Right before the last opening celebration I found another bunch of wonderful vinyl records at an Estate Sale, this time they were mostly classical with a few favorite old musicals mixed in. I've been listening to those albums regularly, enjoying hearing the classical music that I've always loved and some of the pieces I used to play in my youth orchestra and chamber groups. Somehow at this time of the year with everything growing, the sounds of Mozart and Beethoven with a little bit of Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann mixed in along with Rogers and Hammerstein's The King and I and The Sound of Music are giving me so much beauty and joy and peace as I clean and rearrange and garden and plant seeds.

Beethoven's 9th was on when I took my walk around to video, and it really made me so happy to hear it. I'm so grateful for the gallery and for the beautiful people who visit and the beautiful inspiration that they bring and for the wonderful joy and beauty and peace that are brought to me in so many ways every time I am there.

A Walk Through

The New Show

"I Will Remember This Dream Of Gentleness"

At YES Gallery

With The Beautiful And Powerful Music Of Beethoven's 9th

On My Vintage Stereo

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Seaside Dreaming

As I've written in these pages before, I grew up in Massachusetts and spent time in the summers in Rhode Island. Though I've lived in other places now for many years, New England is where I go when I want to feel fully at home. Sometimes I can't go there physically, but if there's a way to visit in my dreams I'll try, and when I heard about a class at the marvelous De Gustibus Cooking School with the marvelous Chef James Hackney of the marvelous Wequassett Resort on Cape Cod, I felt like I needed to go.

Because of so many projects that are in my schedule right now, it's very difficult for me to take a vacation, though a vacation feels very much needed. Just thinking about Cape Cod and the food of my beloved New England and the coastal towns I've visited throughout my life from my earliest memories can bring me a feeling of being by the shore, having days at the beach and evenings outdoors by rivers and oceans, enjoying the gorgeous weather and healthy flavor-filled freshness of of the seafood and locally grown produce of farms and gardens.

I wrote about De Gustibus for the first time a number of years ago when I first attended a class there because of a Chef who I know who was part of a class there, and it's just an enjoyable experience. Sal who is the owner and host is such a wonderful presence and the feeling of gathering together with such congeniality around beautifully prepared menus made by excellent and knowledgable Chefs is delightful. It had been a while since I'd been back to De Gustibus, and the class with Chef Hackney and his marvelous staff was such a beautiful one to mark my return, bringing back so many beautiful memories of wonderful times by the sea as well and giving me new dreams of a new place I want to go to for a visit.

Chef Hackney has a truly stellar biography, having been the Chef de Cuisine at Boston's excellent and renowned award winning L'Espalier, he has brought five star dining to Wequassett, continually creating dining experiences that are written about in dreams and memories, blogs, newspapers, magazines and of course Forbes which continues to award Wequassett, Chef Hackney, his menus and the resort and and restaurant staff with the prestigious and notable five stars that are truly meaningful and not easily attained.

At De Gustibus, each course that arrived was so beautifully layered in flavors and textures, inventiveness and freshness, and the presentation made for lovely photographs and a gorgeous experience in every sense. An amuse bouche of oysters so fresh that the sea seemed to be right in the room with us, an exciting flavor combination of a newly imagined surf and turf, scallops gorgeously seared placed as a crown on a fennel salad, stuffed morels carefully prepared accompanying the freshest of Cod filets, and a dessert of fresh bee pollen honey ice cream with oat crumble created by the gorgeous Executive Pastry Chef Ashley Corrao brought the outdoors inside and gave us all an evening's vacation to the beautiful ocean country of the Cape. Each course was beautifully paired with wines from the Artisanal Collection by Freixenet Mionetto USA, adding their lovely dimensions to the delightful culinary adventure. With so much gratitude to all at De Gustibus and to Chef Hackney and his marvelous staff for the seaside dreams you created and made possible!

Chef James Hackney

Executive Chef Of Wequassett Resort

Harwich Massachusetts

With Paired Wines

From The Artisanal Collection

By Freixenet Mionetto USA

At De Gustibus Cooking School At Macy's

https://degustibusnyc.com/

https://www.freixenetmionettousa.com/

https://wequassett.com/

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - The Art Of Sharing Our Gifts

I wrote a bit last week about the opening of the new show at YES Gallery and the wonderful people who shared their gifts and blessings to help make it so beautiful and possible, and this week I'll show some videos to focus on the gorgeous art and wonderful visitors in the space and that beautiful day and the gorgeous music and the gorgeous charcuterie and gorgeous film installation. When I am thinking about that day all I can think of is the joy of every moment, and how even passers by were smiling. When we share our gifts in community, everything that we bring together becomes even more beautiful than it is already on its own, and beautiful moments abound and lift off into something larger than ourselves. People keep telling me that YES Gallery has beautiful light, that everything looks beautiful there, that videos and films look like they were done on movie sets, that the sound quality is excellent for live music and vocals. The space itself is like a canvas, and I have joy every day just adding to the installation with the inspiration of grace and the spirit that flows through everything there. When beautiful people bring their gifts and blessings and inspiration into the gallery for events and performances, and for sharing with others on an every day basis, something happens that magnifies what is already beautiful and creates an experience of gorgeous abundance. 

YES Gallery

"I Will Remember This Dream Of Gentleness"

Opening Celebration

With Gorgeous Music

By The Gorgeou SofieLopez

Gorgeous Artisanal Charcuterie

By The Marvelous Executive Chef Season Shouse

Of The Marvelous Halifax Restaurant in Hoboken

And A Gorgeous Video Installation

By The Marvelous Luke Magette

Adding To The Gorgeous Work

Of Many Gorgeous Artists And People

Who Help Make It Possible

408 6th Street

Hoboken, New Jersey

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

 

An Abundant Life - I Will Remember This Dream Of Gentleness

When I was preparing to open the new show at YES Gallery, I had originally planned for it to be sometime in late January or early February, but my schedule was so busy during that time and the time just before and after that when I looked at the calendar and thought about what would really give me enough time to enjoy curating and recreating the space and design in the gallery, it seemed that I'd need to wait until least March. I was also waiting to hear from an Artist whose work I had discussed having as the focus for this show, and he was away for a while and when he returned, and with my schedule still very full, it seemed like it would be better to wait until April. 

Around the time that I was trying to plan I heard from one of the Artists who had been visiting the gallery and the events on a regular basis that he had a video installation he was wondering if I'd be interested in viewing. When he described it I thought it would be something that I'd really want to have in the gallery, and when I saw it I knew that I did. It's just the kind of interesting, experimental, unique, fun and also very layered in nuance. When you watch it, if you don't know what you're watching, it can draw you in to try to figure it out and keep you watching and enjoying and thinking.

The same Artist with the video had also said that his girlfriend had a band that would be interested in discussing performing if I had an opening for them, and when I listened to the link he sent me, I said yes immediately. A few months before that an Artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia who is also a Chef had contacted me to ask if I'd be interested in showing his work at the gallery, and when I saw his work I said yes immediately to that too. When I mentioned that Artist and his work to Chef Seadon Shouse at Halifax Restaurant in Hoboken, he offered to attend and bring some boards of his wonderful Artisanal Charcuterie with him. The Artist who I had been waiting to hear from originally did not get his work to me in time for April, but with all of these wonderful people who were appearing and bringing so many gifts and blessings of their beautiful and inspiring work, the gallery was going to be filled to overflowing with beautiful and special new things to enjoy.

As I began to curate, I decided to give Alberte Bernier the focus this time around. I had been wanting to do that for some time, and with the season beginning to get warmer and the opening being moved until late April, it seemed the perfect time to have her vibrantly colored pieces in the windows and sprinkled throughout the gallery in prominent places. The name of the show as always is from one of my own poems, this one from a piece that I had written a number of years ago that I started reworking in December. It had originally been a love poem, and as I reworked it the love of life, as my Grandmother would say, began to shine through instead along with the faith that brings a deeper feeling of love and peace that is lasting. Originally titled "You" the title is now "In Your Presence" and the poem itself is this:

"I will remember this dream of gentleness

When the day comes on full and rushes in

You're here with me now and will be again

When I wake up

Your touch and your breath

Give life

And I am completed

And I have found peace

Here with you"

"I Will Remember This Dream Of Gentleness"

At YES Gallery

408 6th Street

Hoboken, New Jersey

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

 

An Abundant Life - New In The Neighborhood

For the past few months I've been walking by a space where a restaurant was being created. I'd see people going in and out on occasion, and as it got closer to the opening, sometimes I'd see people having a private party inside. The windows were always covered and the shades were always drawn, but when I could see glimpses through the door it looked as if whoever was designing this restaurant was doing it with such wonderful care. There were notes that said "Coming Soon!" and a sign that said "La Milpa Taqueria Authentic Mexican Cuisine" and little by little as the decorations and design became more visible I could see Mexican art and decorative pieces, and a beautiful, large back yard.

I love Mexican food, and I was so excited to see this restaurant on the way where I walk almost every day. Every time I walked by I'd look to see if there were signs that it was ready to open, and then just this past Friday I saw someone standing outside giving directions to people who were setting up signs and balloons, and I stopped and said how happy I was that they were opening. He told me that they'd be having their soft opening that night after 5pm, and I said I'd stop by on my way back that evening which I did, but I had a very busy and long day so I arrived around 7pm. When I walked in there was a Mariachi Band playing and people enjoying what smelled like really wonderful food. I walked up to the counter and the very nice and friendly young man there told me that unfortunately they had run out of food already. Although I wished I had a chance to get there earlier, I was so happy for them. It seems as if I'm not the only one who had been watching to see when they would open. When I walked by again on Saturday evening the place was full of happy diners, so it seems as if this wonderful place is already very welcomed in the neighborhood.

My schedule is a very busy one these days, but I'm going to find the time to walk in that door and try all kinds of wonderful things. It's such a beautiful place and everything I see about it is something that is welcoming and excellent, so I'm looking forward to visiting often.

La Milpa Taqueria

45 Franklin Street

Jersey City, New Jersey

Blessings,

Jannie Susan

An Abundant Life - Face Forward

I've written about my adventures at Chanel Beauty at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City before, and there is such a long and beautiful history that I've had at that store and at others over many years that I've shared. For anyone who is new to my experiences with Chanel, I'll say a few things now just to give a taste of why, even though I more often choose to write about smaller businesses and people and Artists and Designers who are not big name brands, I am loyal to Chanel and love to write about the times I am blessed to visit and the people I meet there.

When I was a teenager and into my early college years, one of my first grown up jobs was working at Lord & Taylor in Boston during summer vacations and holidays. On quieter days and when I had my break time, the people who worked in the makeup and beauty area were always so friendly and willing to let me try on different things, sometimes giving me a makeover if we all had the time at the same time. Everyone was wonderful, but my favorite people and products were at the Chanel counter, and because I grew up with a Mother who loved Chanel No. 5, when I started noticing that the products not only were beautifully packaged, but they also did not bother my skin or my eyes at all and they were really things that made me feel special and beautiful when I wore them, I asked if my Mother could come and visit one day too. We both had sensitive skin, and very often things I liked would bother me in some way, and Chanel was the one product that didn't bother me at all. It was just pure joy to wear it. 

This most recent visit to Chanel Beauty at Saks in New York was to meet with the National Skincare Specialist, Laura, and it was with so much gratitude for the invitation from Alicia who made the reservation for me for a Friday afternoon at 4pm. My schedule has been a very busy one for some time now, and there have been some things I've needed to focus on that have been taking so much of my physical and brain power that taking a vacation, though needed, hasn't been possible. I had been feeling somewhat worn out with everything and the weather, though warmer at times, has been on and off colder and rainy which has made everything else I am doing a bit more difficult. When I heard about the skin care event, it was described as a treat, and it sounded like just what I needed.

Laura was such a delight, and our time together was so relaxing and enjoyable. She not only described the products in such wonderful detail, but she gave me so many new tips and such excellent information about everything that I feel much more knowledgable and capable of taking good care of my skin and myself. Self care is such a catch phrase these days, but it is very important, and especially so when we have so much that we need to do and focus on. Being able to have the time I shared with Laura was a blessing, and it is one that will keep on helping me treat myself with good care. When we look good we feel good, but the same is also true in reverse. When we feel good we look good and when we are cared for and we give ourselves the care that we need, that helps us feel the best we can be.

A Visit To Chanel Beauty

At Saks Fifth Avenue

New York City

With So Much Gratitude To Alicia

For The Invitation

And To Laura And All The Staff 

For Such A Very Beautiful And Very Special Afternoon

Blessings,

Jannie Susan