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6.14.2011

the fat radish. (and on my manhattan).

in figuring out what to do this go round (with my mom in town) my mind immediately went to the new leaf cafe. 

(let it be known, my love for the new leaf knows no bounds).

but it was my mother who pointed out that we first fell in love with new leaf two years ago when we went in the spirit of trying something new--expanding our own idea of new york.

so with this in mind, we tabled new leaf (after all, i can pop up to fort tryon whenever my heart desires {and my wallet allows}) and went in search of new restaurants. (recommended restaurants).

both peels and the fat radish were suggested by a co-worker and i must say: she done good. they both pleased and tickled my aesthetic sensibilities and rustic palate.

but more than the wooden tables, and farm-to-table food--more than the downtown-chic-beard-wearing-men or the beet chips and butter biscuits--more than any of that, what i really loved was that both restaurants got me to take in parts of manhattan that are foreign--foreign, to me, i should say. parts that i rarely see, rarely explore. but parts that when i do take the time to wander about fill me with a deep, rumbling satisfaction.

the reason i entitled the series in which i show photos of manhattan, my manhattan, is because manhattan is so many different things--so many different things to so many different people. it wears many masks, changes by street and neighborhood. one could live here their whole life and still not know all of it. 

manhattan is experiential. and it is because of this that so many come in search: in search of the city, in search of themselves. it is this that entices and excites--allows new yorkers to overlook the day-to-day grind that makes city living quite difficult. 

so for all my hawing about how much i dislike the city at times (and i do. dislike it. often.) that's on me. because that dislike can be changed, transformed--by simply changing my attitude, my perspective, or walking a city block. by taking a train to a new and foreign neighborhood and finding a new part of myself in what the city offers up in that small nook.

so here's to the rest of the week. and as many new moments i can unearth in this (mostly) concrete jungle. 

exterior

radish menu

red stools

rustic appeal

three ladies

15 comments:

Jenni Austria Germany said...

your hair down! i love it.

Little Tree Vintage said...

I really love finding new places, another you should add to your list is boqueria, on spring street! you won't be disappointed If you enjoy tapas and sangria!

m_b said...

oh my gosh, drooling over the beet chips! i love discovering new restaurants that are "the whole package."

Magdalena Viktoria said...

"the reason i entitled the series in which i show photos of manhattan, my manhattan, is because manhattan is so many different things--so many different things to so many different people. it wears many masks, changes by street and neighborhood. one could live here their whole life and still not know all of it".

Yes, that's totally right. That is why I love seeing how others view New York. Even though I've known it most of my life I like seeing it through another's eyes, and what they liked/hated/etc.

Stevie Leigh said...

I love finding new places and I love hearing recommendations! Last night my husband took me out to Raoul's in Soho for our anniversary dinner - I think you'd love it. Ask to sit outside :)

Dee Paulino said...

mother daughter dates ROCK! oh, that cafe looks so welcoming.

becky said...

Oh, I love this! And I want so much to live in a city. I am working so hard on that--working so hard on my bravery and quelling all these fears I have--to be able to. I think you're right, too, about there being foreign parts. I think that is true of any city, anywhere. We will never quite know its veins completely because they mutate and alter and are such the topic of subjectivity.

Brei said...

I stumbled upon Peels earlier this year when I was in New York visiting my best friend. I fell in love. I'm from the South and so is she so it was nice for her to get a little bit of home while I was in town. If you are ever in Brooklyn Buttermilk Channel is amazing as well.

Maria said...

Stunning. I would love to visit one day!

sarahannnoel said...

I like hearing your thoughts on this.

In another life, NYC is exactly where I would have been. Had not EVERYTHING changed that last semester of college, it is inevitably where I would have gone. I was drawn for some reason.

But things did change. And I didn't go.
Not to live.

So many dear friends there, so I visit at least once a year. And every time, on my way there, I think, "I'm going to where I might have belonged," and something in me thinks I'm missing out.

But then I can't wait to get home when the trip is over, to mountains, wide open spaces, thin, crisp air.

I guess what I'm saying is, I love that you love and hate the city. I guess that's how I am. So many pieces of me fit right into it, but other pieces, much larger pieces, for now, do not.

jenny said...

special places warm the heart. and warm the mother-daughter love!

Elizabeth said...

i always love when you post about discovering little places in the city, you have such a great perspective on trying new things. its so funny how something so simple can completely change an attitude =]

Rachael said...

You're making me feel like I should explore SF more before I condemn it forever. Who am I kidding... I kind of already have. But I admire your spirit of adventure.

Alex said...

And this is precisely why if the economy wasn't soo crappy, I'd run off to Manhattan right this very second.

Tiffany said...

This is great! I love your line about so many people being in Manhattan in search! So true!

~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com