I love looking at old photographs of New York City. One of my favorite daily obsessions is the the Dirty Old 1970's New York City community page on Facebook where daily images are posted from the late 60's to the early 80's.  

Photo by Richard Greene with Gustavo Delamarques, taken from community Facebook page of Washington Street South of Chambers, 1979.

In a city that changes daily, it's amazing to look back at a moment in time and compare it to today. You can follow the photographs and nostalgia here: http://goo.gl/8PBAL5

I've been a New Yorker now for 12+ years and in that time the city has changed quite a bit from where it was was I planted roots here, and different yet from the first time I visited in the early 90's.  

Thunder Lingerie (now closed), 2009. Photo by Kari Hansbarger

New York City is constantly changing in such a way that before long your favorites will be lost and new gems will take their place and become favorites in their own right. To live here is to adapt to change and embrace it, but that doesn't mean that the oldschool NYC that is vanishing is not missed. It is.

From gritty Times Square to CBGB's to Empire Dinner and more...chances are if you've lived here for a while you have a favorite that may not be around anymore.

Thankfully, a few online resources are keeping the vanishing past alive through photos and stories so we can remember and appreciate how we got here.

Here are a few of my go-to's:

- Vanishing New York
- Lost City
- Forgotten NY
- Scouting NY
- Ephemeral New York
- Gotham Lost and Found

Do you have a favorite blog or website that chronicles NYC (or your city) that you want to share? Leave me a comment or send me an email, I would love to hear from you!

​Spring 2013 in NYC has been nothing short of stunning. After Sandy last fall and a long winter season I would like to forget, Spring is showing us how it's done and no one does it better than nature. If you haven't explored NYC in the springtime please make a point to add it to your travel bucket list. For more adventures in my city life, follow my photos here... xx

​Battery Park City, NYC

City Hall Park, NYC

City Hall Park, NYC

City Hall Park, NYC

​Park Avenue, East 70's

Tulips and flowering tress on Park Avenue, East 70's

Here in NYC we're due for a big snow storm that may or may not be named Nemo. Who names these storms? Anyway, we really haven't had a good, old-fashioned Nor'Easter in the city for a few years and I'm excited to pop outside and take pics or stay inside in my jammies all day. If you're in the Northeast this weekend be safe. x

Big Snow, 42nd Street
Andreas Feininger (American, born France. 1906–1999)
1956. Gelatin silver print, 10 1/4 x 11 3/4" (26 x 29.8 cm). Gift of the photographer. © 2013 Estate of Andreas Feininger
296.1965

It's a been a while. I blame Superstorm Sandy, or "Sandra" which is what my friend calls the storm and I find much more fitting. I haven't blogged since a week before the storm, which flooded my neighborhood and took my power/heat out for a while. We had it good though. Many are still cleaning up. There are still generators running and stories told in line waiting for your morning coffee.

I am happy to be back here. Until next time, and what I am hoping is a far more frequent updating of the stuff I like, I leave you with some images from Sandy...

Boarding up the subway.

The Weather Channel setting up.

The surge begins flooding the neighborhood.

Power out, flooding.

Lot's of trees down after the storm.

Brooklyn / Battery underpass flooded day after storm.

Food being delivered after the storm.

Cleaning out 4 feet of sand, salt water and mud out of the basement.

Water line.

Emergency power.

At&t store on Water Street.

W Hotel cleans out basement.

High School kids leave signs pasted up around the neighborhood!

October 2012 in New York City. City life means bike rides, spotting streetart, pumpkins at the bodega's and beautiful colors on the leaves.

All Images by LadyKdesigns via Instagram for iPhone.​

On a gorgeous sunny Sunday in late summer/early fall, with cool temps and a light breeze making for perfect strolling, I headed off for under the FDR by the South Street Seaport to The New Amsterdam Market.

Public markets in this area (Peck Slip) have been around since the 1600's and now there are efforts to transform the area through new public markets. Read more about the history and new efforts to revitalize this area with a focus on sustainability here.

As I got close to the market I ran into a pre-market of sorts, or vendors set up across the street from the market. I am not sure if these area's are separate or not but there were some delightful options that stopped my progression. I strolled past Dutch pancakes and I made a note to come back, an Italian vendor that I know my mom would love and that I plan to come back and try, there was wood fired pizza and fresh oysters... so many already! I made my way across Water Street, and because my sweet tooth has uncanny radar, my first stop was the pie stand.  

Savory pies, and sweet pies on a stick caught my attention and the presentation was fun. Two pies on a stick could not be overlooked, strawberry and apple, and they came home with me. As I strolled, there were multiple options for bread making it hard to choose, anything from baguettes to organic loaves. I settled on focaccia with fresh cherry tomatoes, garlic and sea salt.

New Amsterdam Market, New York City

I recently had my tooth fixed so apples are still out for me, and while they looked great, I went for the grapes from the Finger Lakes Region. I sampled a few and bought some amazingly sweet concord grapes that are in-season this time of year. Each season brings its bounty and I have learned to re-appreciate the fact that not everything is "in" season all year despite the fact that you can get it if you want it. Buying local makes you appreciate what is available now and what you look forward to next year.

There was a selection of wine, soda, cider and of course, coffee. Animals were not left out with beef jerky from Brooklyn, fresh meats from Upstate NY and fresh fish from Gabe the Fish Babe. Her name is enough to make you stop, once your there you realize she only sells to the public at NAMNY, otherwise she is exclusively selling to the best chefs and food purveyors in NYC. Everyone was really friendly and excited to talk about their product, learning about what you eat from the people who actually make it with pride and love and is a special thing you're just not finding at the big shiny grocery store

After I picked up my goods, took pics and enjoyed the scene I walked back across the street to get some of those mini Dutch pancakes, or proffertjes, which I haven't had in a few years. They remind me so much of the beauty of Holland and how special it is there. I took my mini pancakes over to the new elevated park and sat by the water to enjoy my treat.

Truly a wonderful Sunday afternoon in Lower Manhattan learning more about this historical area, eating great food and supporting local businesses and individuals who are making/growing their wares with hard work and pride. Give the New Amsterdam Market a try if you're in lower Manhattan on a Sunday. Visit their website here for a list of weekly vendors and events.

All images by ladykdesigns via Instagram.

Happy Friday, and happy long holiday weekend as we (in America) get started on the Labor Day  holiday. This is the unofficial end of summer where we make our way to the beach, picnics, outdoor brunches and savor the last remnants of summer Friday bliss. Being a New Yorker in the fashion industry means time feels like it moves faster and rarely does one ever look back and reflect when magazines need pulls for the holidays. It's certainly a hurry up and go now way of life, leaving you wondering what even happened to summer let alone sitting back to savor it.

That's why I like to jump on my bike as often as I can and (literally) stop and smell the roses. While there are not many roses left on my routes, there are plenty of gorgeous end-of-summer flowers and foliage around Battery Park City, the West Side Bike Trail, Central Park and The Highline. Anyone who tells you there isn't much "nature" in Manhattan needs to look closer.

The nice thing about getting out of your car and walking or biking is that you notice all the details and even in these last breaths of summertime, nature herself is still giving us all plenty to stop and enjoy.

Happy Holiday Weekend. xo

All photos by me, via Instagram. Taken with my iPhone.