Tea Time!

I make no secret about the fact that I drink green tea daily. Yes, daily. Always a huge fan of iced tea, I upped the ante to the green persuasion when I started eating sushi (way) back in my (early) 20's. A ceremonious cup of hot green tea came at the start of every meal, and I grew deeply fond of its flavor and health benefits.

When Brooklyn's first outpost of the Canadian tea retailer, DAVIDsTEA, arrived here in Park Slope, stylist Amy was first to embrace the goodness (lucky lady, it's literally right out her front door). The next thing I know, I receive the following:

So last weekend, while prepping breakfast for her family, I was tickled to get this text message: 

Did I love it? Oh, yes. 

So much so that a stop at DAVIDsTEA was first on the to-do list over the weekend!

The team at DAVIDsTEA gives customer service on par to the deliciousness of their beverages - in other words, they are flawless. The lovely Stephanie took me on the grand tour, first off making my iced matcha with soy & agave:

As I sipped away, Stephanie treated us to a lovely tea overview, complete with tastings and the delight of smelling many of the store's offerings. With flavors ranging from Citron Oolong to Birthday Cake, and Rooibos de Provence to Pink Flamingo, there was not one tea I wasn't ready to try! Even the Little Miss - who has never given tea a thought - could not wait to try her iced Forever Nuts:

Because Mr. Newman's iced Coffee Pu'erh was so unbelievably delicious, we came home with the following treats to get our mornings off right:

The Steeper, David's Perfect Spoon & Coffee Pu'erh

PS, don't worry. DAVIDsTEA makes online ordering a breeze if there's not a retailer near you. Since I do not want any one of you lovelies to feel left out, I decided that this is going to be one of yours. That's right - it's giveaway time!

Please note: the giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to "twicefivemiles" - you are the lucky winner! xx JN

Here's the deal:

1. Go over and "like" Delightfully Dishy's Facebook page (if you're already a "Fan" then share the post on your Facebook wall!)
2. Leave a comment below telling me the DAVIDsTEA flavor you're most intrigued to try.

The lucky winner (chosen at random) will be announced this Thursday!

Why, yes, I'll drink to that!

xx JN

DAVIDsTEA Park Slope: 234 7th Ave at 4th St
Follow DAVIDsTEA on Twitter & "like" them on Facebook!

Living In Wonderland

This Howard Wolf find was too perfect for words ... especially when paired with the Mayor's piece of 50's mini-luggage, and my stylist's own suede belt:

 

 

 

Dress: 80's vintage Howard Wolf retro fit dress / Belt: stylist's own

Earrings: Calypso by Julie Collection / Bag: 50's vintage houndstooth mini luggage

Sunglasses: Boulevard by Ann Taylor

Home: Jason Belz

Styled by: Amy Keller

Interview with the Mayor

He's been referred to as the unofficial "Mayor" of Park Slope due to his commitment & enthusiasm for our neighborhood. Here's my sit-down with longtime friend, Jason Belz:

View from Jason's brownstone down Berkeley Place

DD: Jason, your home evokes such a calm energy upon entering it - was it love at first sight? What first drew you to it?

JB: It was definitely love at first sight. After an exhaustive, year-long search that included about 45 apartments, I got off the subway and walked up this handsome, tree-lined block. I then entered this tiny, charming space and instantly felt the warmth of the old wood floors, tin ceiling, and the arch into the kitchen. Looking out into the small garden out front was just the icing on the cake - I knew this one was home.

DD: It's hard to believe your apartment is less than 300 sq. ft. How do you make such a small space feel so open and inviting?

JB: I have to give credit where credit is due. The former owners (a couple) built some incredible storage into the apartment including a lofted bed with storage underneath. They took advantage of every nook and cranny, adding shelving, storage boxes and the large unit in the kitchen which holds nearly all of my kitchen wares.

Despite its small size, there are dedicated and functional spaces: a comfortable living area, the queen-sized loft bed creates the feel of a small bedroom, the archway creates and a separate kitchen (well-sized for a studio!) with a full sized refrigerator and plenty of storage. The bathroom is a calming and relaxing space as well. 

Hand drawn floorplan I created for Jason's entry in the Small Cool 2011 Contest

DD: Have you always ascribed to a vintage-infused design aesthetic, or has your style evolved over time?

JB: My personal style has really evolved. I have always had a passion for older things and antiques stemming from my days flea market shopping with my mom as a kid. About five years ago, this really started to blossom. When shopping for my apartment and my wardrobe, I don't ascribe to any specific 'style,' but look for items I love for their beauty or particular uniqueness. Somehow, everything manages to work together. It is a wonderful feeling to come home every day and be surrounded by so many visually delightful objects.

DD: With a garden-level apartment, how important is the communal outdoor space, and do you have a hand in maintaining it? 

JB: Living on the garden level of a brownstone, it is impossible not to be intimately connected to the outdoor space fronting the street. When I met the co-op members for my interview, I made mention of my love for gardening. The board told me they had previously hired a gardener to come a few times each season for the front area, and I wondered aloud whether I might take over instead. They were agreeable, and for the past 5 years, I have taken on the gardening of both the space in front of the building as well as the 20 foot tree garden by the street. We have a beautiful 10 foot tall Japanese maple tree, a Morning Glory along the fence and lush beds of perennials and annuals. Neighbors and passersby regularly start up a conversation about the garden, so it's really been a wonderful way to meet people and feel a part of the community.

Candid shots I started taking in 2008 of Jason's 20-foot street garden - it literally stops traffic!

DD: Rumor has it you love to cook - but your kitchen has minimal counter space. Any recipes you care to share?

JB: I do love to cook, but with limited counter space I try to keep things as simple as possible. One of my favorite things to make is a pan of roasted vegetables with freshly picked rosemary from the garden, a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. It's healthy, easy, and when paired with a chicken breast and my favorite Brooklyn beer, it's the perfect summer meal!
 

Interested in what Jason cooked up above? Then make sure to join us on Facebook as he shares some of these delicious recipes with us.

More from the Mayor's place tomorrow!

xx JN

Seeing Red

This week, I'm featuring the home of my dear friend, Jason Belz. Over the course of our 15-year friendship, we have always shared a distinct love of home interiors. When I first saw Jason's Brooklyn apartment in 2008, I was overcome with inspiration - to the tune of knowing that when Team Newman returned a few months later, we would call Park Slope our home.

Jason's incredible mix of old-meets-new is one of the things I love most about his space. And drawing from my collection of vintage wares, my stylist, photographer & I decided his home, garden, and surrounding block were the perfect canvas:

 

 

 

Dress: 80's pleated v-neckline with extended shoulder line and drawstrings from Vice Versa 

Necklace: oversized acrylic pearl bead strand (personal collection)

Glasses: Brooklyn EyeWorks Optical 

Home & Garden: Jason Belz

Styled by: Amy Keller

Check back tomorrow for my interview with Jason!

xx JN

Street Smarts

Sometimes in order for this lady to embrace the summer heat, a change in perspective is everything:

Shirt: Vintage Yves Saint Laurent / Shorts: Pinstripe Cuffed Trouser Shorts from Gap / Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Sunwear: Moscot / Earrings: personal collection

Styled by: Amy Keller

I Love a Parade!

Every June, Brooklyn Pride's annual parade passes directly by our apartment. As Team Newman stands proudly as straight allies for the LGBT community, we are always sure to represent during the parade. I knew this certain 60's caftan was just perfect for the occasion, and it even received a great deal of praise from one of the Festival's hosts!

 

Outfit: Vintage 60's floral patterned caftan from Vice Versa / Scarf: personal collection / Earrings: Calypso by Julie Collection / Shoes: thrifted

Styled by: Amy Keller

Looking for ways to show your Pride?

Protect our Youth | Support Marriage | Embrace Equality

Summer Sweet Treats

Not only is it officially summer, but New York City is officially a blaze with a heatwave! (Well, at least for a couple of days, that is.) And about the time it's legal to wear white shoes after Easter, I feel compelled to eat frozen treats - after all, nothing makes a gal feel more youthful than popsicles and gelato ... so I thought I'd share two of my favorites:

Popsicles:
I have been smitten with the delicious treats at people's pops, both at Chelsea Market (where I devoured the Strawberry Ginger) and at their brick & mortar store in Park Slope (where I devoured Raspberry Basil). Don't worry if you're not in the neighborhood of one of their local NYC jaunts - you can now make their recipes in the comfort of your very own kitchen. Their new book (under the same name) is now available. Perfect for the coming summer months!

Gelato:
Once you've tried Talenti Gelato, you won't want any other brand. Whether you dive into a pint of Sea Salt Caramel, Tahitian Vanilla Bean, or Belgian Milk Chocolate, you will be head over heels! Their sorbetto is equally as delicious (and naturally dairy free). But when I found out about their newest flavor, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup, I may have almost shed tears of joy! Wondering what makes it all so delicious? Check out this video featuring founder Josh Hochschuler:

With these treats, you are sure to have a very happy summer!!

xx JN

Rainy Days and Mondays

I've been down with an icky head cold, and on this oh-so-rainy Monday, I thought I'd share the view from our room ... if you don't feel comforted by your bedroom, then it's time for a makeover!

Here are a few snaps from one of my favorite places in our nest ...

How I love a stack of pillows - not to mention these colors against our handcrafted iron bed.

Room with a view: overlooking neighboring brownstones, and on a clear day, a lovely view of Lower Manhattan.

Atop my vintage dresser which I have filled with accessories.

A picture I photographed while on the Oregon coast, and a 1950's bar tray.

Vintage ash tray and matchbooks ... bet you can tell whose nightstand this is!

My newest addition: vintage Japanese teacup and saucer.

Good reads.

I cannot resist the tapestry on this vintage hat box.

Talk about the best cold remedy!

Here's to a healthy, happy week!
xx JN

Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods, a Brooklyn-based online marketplace, is a fabulous resource for one-stop shopping! Here are just a few goodies I spied that may or may not need to come home and live with Team Newman. I don't know about you, but I think the Soup & Sandwich Tray Duo is literally beyond perfection. Love, love, love!

1. Unzipped Glass Zipper Bag 2. Glass Milk Carton Creamer 3. Soup & Sandwich Ceramic Tray Duo 4. Paper Pots  5. Hand Embroidered City Pillows (New York)

Do you have a favorite?

xx JN

It's Cosmo's Moon!

Taking inspiration from the impending "supermoon" scheduled to rise tomorrow evening, here are a few of my favorite things:

Margaret Wise Brown's infamous children's book Goodnight Moon:

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney:

An adorable print from Etsy quoting the end of that precious book:

A clip from one of Team Newman's fave movies of all time (and most quoted in our house):

Two magical tunes ... one Classical, and one Classic:

Dvorak's "Song to the Moon" from his opera, Rusalka, as sung by Renee Fleming:

and Henry Mancini's Academy Award winning "Moon River" from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's:

Hoping to snap some pics of Cosmo's moon tomorrow night from our Brooklyn rooftop ... so stay tuned!

Here's to an incredible weekend!

xx JN

Thought for You

While LG whizzed back and forth on her scooter, I happened to notice this lovely wish staring at me.

As we start this beautiful new month of May, consider this my wish for you!

Pass it on!

xx JN

Beauty ... at the Bodega

I am always fascinated by the "it's such a dirty city" stereotype New York City gets flack for. Granted, if your only exposure to the Big Apple is a crime scene on Law & Order or a snapshot of someone passed out on a bench in a subway station, you're likely to believe that depiction.

But it's the simple things ... like the man who walks up and down Broadway in NoHo with multiple wands of incense burning, making his little bubble of the world smell lovely. Or strolling by Ladurée on Madison Ave on a gorgeous spring day and seeing the rows of French macarons in their myriad of colors.

For me, it's the juxtaposition that always takes my breath away - because you may have just passed a dog doing its "business" on a pile of trash, but yet, right in front of you is a bodega full of splendor such as this:

I find it a lovely reminder to appreciate beauty everywhere.

Because after all. Beauty is everywhere. Even Especially in New York.

xx JN