SoOoo Hungry in Soho.

Dining in NYC is a like a jungle expedition: lush, continuous, spectacular, and well, dangerous {for your wallet}.
Ok, honestly - what do I know about jungle expeditions, really? ;)

Annnywhom. Over the past 6 months {whoa, already!!} that I've been exploring Manhattan, I've fallen in love with stuffing my face {with food, ahem} more than ever - as dangerous as it is for the wallet and waistline, ahaa.
There are endless scrumptious opportunities lurking all 'round, like a giant tarantula in the trees of the Amazon - just not quite as alluring.

The funny thing to me about NYC dining is that, while you can go to some of the most eclectic, chic restaurants in the world; you'll find yourself with overwhelming new cravings for simple things like falafel or mac 'n' cheese {two things I never craved as much as I have until living in NYC}.

So in the past week I've had the distinct joy of experiencing my very first NYC Restaurant Week, which, if you've not heard of it, is a week in which most of the city restaurants offer a Prix Fixe menu at a super deal. Somehow, the restaurants I've visited during this blessed week have only been of the Spanish persuasion in my 'hood of Soho {I do adore my guacamole!}.

My first Spanish Soho-ian meal was with my dear pal, Anthony, at a cute little spot on Grand Street and West Broadway called Papatzul. The decor in Papatzul is superbly charming and so is the guac. Anthony partook in some sangria, which he quite liked - and, I'm certain I would have, too, from munching his leftover sangria-soaked fruit. My avocado-stuffed sandwich was delish ... I'll just have to try the sangria next time. ;)

Playful Papatzul.


My beloved Anthony.


We took turns shooting each other in between bites. :P




From boar to banana bread pudding, Dos Caminos, {my 2nd Soho-ian Spanish Restaurant Week stop} was also a delight. My friends, Chanel and Charles, met me there for brunch in the chill bar/restaurant. While we weren't head over heals with everything we ordered, the three of us couldn't get enough of the guaca, and the desserts were a total hit all around.




Charles and I = shivering 'n' stuffed!


You know I went for the chocolate dessert. ;)


Zee plantain + calamari salad was definitely an appetizing appetizer!


The boar appetizer was Ms. Chanel's, and {I will try many a thing} no, I did not venture to trying that one - eck.


Charles, looking pensive in between platters. :)


All verrry yummy dips! We kind of filled up on these before the appetizers arrived, ha.
As I type this bloggity, I'm readying myself for breakfast pancakes after an overnight shift at the Soho Grand ... the jungle is about to get sticky {syrup! syrup! syrup!}.
I heart NY. I heart eating. Here's to NY Restaurant Week!

xo

The Sweet Ones: LES Vintage + Holiday Cheer.

I've been aching to find some truly great, charming {even somewhat affordable} vintage stores ever since I moved out to NYC ... thanks to some thrifty, stylish pals I've discovered a few {one of my favs being Brooklyn's About Glamour}.

Just the other evening, however, I fell in love with a practically brand-spankin'-new vintage store in the Lower East Side. This gem of a vs {vintage store} that stole my heart is called The Sweet Ones, and is owned by my fabulous new pal, Alyssa.

Ever since I befriended Alyssa, I've been dying to check out her store. I finally stopped on by the other night, during Alyssa's store holiday party. Camera in tow, I went GA-GA {literally - not Lady} over the treasure trove of gorgeous, glam 'n' retro-modern items tucked within The Sweet Ones confines. From Betsy to Chanel, fur coats to Burberry trenches - this place has an outstanding range of fashion finds.

Not only were the clothing, decor and accessories delectable, but there were adorable, sickeningly sweet mini cupcakes {which you KNOW i live for}, a working retro hot chocolate machine ::sigh:: and champagne galore. ^.^

I could mange on this type of spread everyday ... :P

Stuffed with an inordinate amount of mini cupcakes {the Peanut Butter& Jelly being my fav of the evening}, I mingled and made my list of "items to save up for" ... namely, a girly, chic Burberry trench {as noted above} and a romantic-thoroughly modern cropped jacket {don't you steal themm first!! ::shakes fist::} ...

I foresee greatness for The Sweet Ones ... not to mention, I shall be starting a blog for the store soon {so stay tuned}.

Happy hollydays and, if you're ever vintaging in the LES, don't forget to stop by for some Sweet Ones shopping! :)

xoLa & The Sweet Ones


did i mention i adore the decor of the store?? this quote makes me chuckle. :) i should paint+chalk up my bedroom walls ...


Chanel 'n' cupcakes - I'll take it!


::siiigh::


the black and white frilly dress is SO Eliza Doolittle at the races ... hehe.




little black jacket, i covet theeee ...


vintage + cupcakes = some level of divinity. ;)


frills. enough said.






fellow fashion vs mongers ... :)



"item to save up for" no. 1 >> Burberry dream trench!!


"item to save up for" nuero deux >> romantical cropped jacket ::SIGH::


<3 retro Chanel jeans and that quote - the end word being "GONE."


The Sweet Ones queen, Alyssa {can i please have that couch??}.

Sara's September {Wedding} Soiree.

On a loverly September evening, I had the distinct pleasure of capturing my dear, beloved first college roommie's {Sara's} wedding. If you recall, I shared Sara and Richie's engagement shoot earlier in the summer. She's one of my closest friends to have gotten married, so it was an extra honor to be her photog. :)
This blog has been a lonnng time coming - I do apologize for that - sara and richie!!


That evening, the weather was ideal: clear and crisp - but not too chilly to be warmed by a sweater or a glass of wine {or two ;)}.
After growing up and going through so many ups and downs with Sara together, it was wonderful to see her marry a man she is so obviously, mutually happy and in love with {i hate ending with a preposition, heh}.

My 3 favorite things about this wedding were:
1. the candy bar {which you will get to see here!}
2. the impromptu college reunion i had there
3. the fact that it gave me a reason to fly back to indy - i SO miss you all out there!!!!

This is my most recent wedding, but i'm really hoping to schedule some in/around NYC ::crosses fingers:: ... In the meanwhile, enjoy the snaps, and i pinky promise to be a much better blogger!

XO and cheers from NYC!




Bless the candy bar ...


Sweetest wittle flower girl - she loved the camera, which i loved!


Sara and her cuz+maid of honor, Ashley.


I'm so loving that shade of purple these days! The bridesmaids were all darling!

i'm baaack {erin & dan's wedding}.

boy, have i been a LAZY bloggerphotog.
it's been over a month since my last post, and MY has life been a mass of iiiinteresting and somewhat chaotic change since august 8th.
you've probably been heartsick with my lacking correspondence, and for that i am everso sorry.
;)

since my last post i've moved to Manhattan, learned to navigate the subways, contracted pink eye, met loads of adorable models, been OVERWHELMED, homesick, ecstatic, found+disposed of mice in my apartment, been to and from Indianapolis TWICE, saw Jessica Biel and PINK {and random other starst} around the city, had my camera+flash break annnnd shot 2 weddings {and that's just the Cliffs notes} ... WHEW.

i had some much needed time to do some photo editing, so now i have some brand-spankin' new wedding photos to share with you! {YAY}

erin and dan are an extremely sweet couple that i met via CraigsList back last winter. they got hitched a couple of weeks ago on a bipolar soggy-ish + sunny-ish day in September at Fort Benjamin Harrison. the couple only had 60 guests, but dan went ahead and rented out an entire inn for their wedding festivities {which the rain halted for just in time!}.

it may have been a more intimate group of guestes - but they certainly were not lacking in the hootzpah! the men and kiddies ripped up the dance floor like non other - perhaps it had to do with the custom bottled wine on every table {for the fellas, at least ;)}.

thank you, erin and dan, for the pleasure of shooting your engagement and wedding - i wish you all the very best!!!

enjoy the pictorial, and i promise more blogs to come soon {photos from the city - FINALLY}.

xoxo



you know i can't resist cute shoesies. ;)





not only was it an open bar, but every dinner table had 2 specially brewed bottles of wine, made by the groom's parents ... suffice it to say, everyone was having a grand ole time.


a rowdy group, indeed. dan insisted we do a modern day rendition of his parents's VERY serious old school wedding portraits - so cute.



arguably my favorite of the day ...





these were mocha ... and there were also carrot cake ... undoubtedly some of the most scrumptious wedding "cake" i've ever had, ever!


and i was in food photography heaven ... :)