KAYU's City Guide: New York Part II

Every couple of months, Kayu heads to NYC where we show our newest collection to buyers and press. Our last show in January was a big success and we added a lot of new accounts in places as far-flung as Milan and Santa Domingo!

No matter how many times I go to NYC I always find some new (and old) places to (re)discover. Here are some favorites from my recent trip -

EAT

Babbo
110 Waverly Place  

 

 Mario Batali  restaurants are institutions and Babbo is considered one of his very best. Reservations open up one month in advance and it is imperative to call immediately to ensure a table. The restaurant also has a limited amount of bar space so if you don't have reservations you can try walking in and grabbing a seat bar-side.

All I have to say is....PASTA PASTA PASTA!

Socarrat Paella Bar
259 W. 19th St

Per the name, the paella is the star of the show here. We chose the squid-ink paella and washed it down with pitchers of sangria. They also have a wide variety of small plates which are perfect for a large group.

Balaboosta
214 Mulberry St

This place makes the most incredible fried olives. It sounds strange but they are deliciously addictive. Other favorites include the ceviche and the weird yet yummy Knafeh dessert. 

SHOP

Sandro
415 Bleecker Street

I first discovered Sandro in Paris and was immediately taken by their stylish, well-made clothes. I've been waiting for them to open an outpost here in the US so was thrilled to learn of their newly opened store in Soho.  I spent too long than I care to admit poring over their delectable silk jackets and adorable knit dresses. They have a great selection of mens clothes too. Don't forget to pop next door into sister-store Maje which sells equally irresistible clothes.

The Strand
828 Broadway

It's getting harder and harder to find independent bookstores nowadays and I'm as guilty as the next person of purchasing most of my books online. There is however something extremely pleasurable about wandering around a bookstore and running your fingers along weathered binds. The Strand has a wonderful collection of secondhand and new books, and I was happily surprised to find their prices comparable to online retailers. While I was there I managed to snag a copy of Ishiguro's "Pale View of Hills" for my friend Jeremy as well as some Moleskine notebooks for 2012.

And the Colors of 2012 Go to...

Tangerine Orange, Sunny Yellow, Beachy Turquoise & Pinks

Refreshing, seasonless and energizing. Although we all love black, brown and grey, bright colors such as orange, yellow, turquoise and pinks are no longer just for resort getaway travelers. Having just returned from the NYC Accessorie Circuit trade show, Kayu created quite the buzz with our splash of colorful clutches. Visitors couldn't wait to get their hands on the bags (and we don't blame them)

Here are my favorite brights from Kayu:

Ada Straw Clutch in Orange


Shireen Straw & Wood Clutch in Turquoise

Lauren Straw & Wood Clutch in Yellow


With lots of color & love,

Karen

Happy Holidays!

Brooklyn Decker carries Kayu

We've been in love with Brooklyn Decker ever since spotting her in the Victoria's Secret catalog and have followed her meteoric rise to fame ever since. She stole the show in the romantic comedy "Just Go With It" and recently released a new movie "What to Expect When You're Expecting".

It goes without saying that we were thrilled when she chose to carry our Katherine clutch to the 2011 Unicef Charity Ball in Beverly Hills.

 Brooklyn paired the clutch with a gorgeous mint Tory Burch dress and bright Jimmy Choo shoes.

The clutch is from our latest collection and is available at www.kayudesign.com

Beauty From The Inside Out

When I think of beauty products that are both good for you and come in a variety of colors and textures, there are only a few names I trust. My salon only works with Aveda products so I know my tresses and skin are always in great hands. While I was planning on writing this post about my beauty makeover, I couldn't think of a better place then my favorite salon.

On a sunny autumn day, I entered Blue Remedy Salon in Mahopac, New York and was welcomed as usual by their warm staff. Gina, one of the owners introduced me to their makeup artist, Fawn Monique. As I sat on a plush chair, I closed my eyes and let Fawn work her magic. She began with Fire Nature All Sensitive Cleanser& Moisturizer which felt so refreshing, followed by a mild exfoliant (Botanical Kinetic).

Afterwards, the makeup transformation took place starting with foundation and finishing with mascara. I loved the Golden Jasper eyeshadow trio which is made from oil of orchid, geranium, jasmine and mica. Having sensitive eyes, I am very selective with my eye makeup; the eyeshadow and Mascara (Iceland Moss in Black forest) are a must for any sensitive eye or contacts gal!

For the evening look, she deepened the color palettes to create a more intense look . Fawn created my signature ruby red color by combining 2 colors; Lip Vandanite and Cherry Blossom.

Fawn & I flaunting our red lips

Aveda was one of the first pioneers of mineral makeup (1987) and their mission to make you beautiful from the inside out without any harsh chemicals is still true today.

Blue Remedy Salon is located on 912 S Lake Blvd, Mahopac, NY 845-621-1022

www.blueremedy.com

Fawn Monique - http://www.fawnmonique.com/

KAYU's City Guide: Vancouver

Most people don't know that in addition to running Kayu I've also been pursuing my Masters of Fine Arts with The University of British Columbia. I've been doing the degree part time and finally, after years of work, I graduated!

I hadn't been to Vancouver for over ten years and it was just as lovely as I remembered. Here are some of my favourites -

SLEEP

MODA HOTEL

900 Seymour St

We stayed in a charming hotel in the heart of downtown Vancouver called Moda. The hotel is housed in a heritage building conceived in 1899 and blends the original building structure with modern elements. Check out those fabulous 100 year old mosaic floors! The rooms are small but chic and the service incredibly attentive. It's also attached to a great wine bar (see below).

EAT

Uva Wine Bar

900 Seymour St

Uva was attached to the Moda Hotel and we found ourselves coming here each morning for breakfast. They have the most amazing coffee and croissants. It's also a great place for pre-dinner drinks. 

JAPADOG

899 Burrad St

We first heard about Japadog through Anthony Bourdain's TV show "No Reservations", and we knew we had to try this strange phenomenon. Part-Japanese/part-American, Japadog fuses their hot-dogs with elements like seaweed, bonito flakes and soba noodles. The result is one of the most delicious hot-dogs I have ever tasted! Don't forget to try their incredible fries.

GUU GARDEN
888 Nelson St

Guu Izakaya is an institution in Vancouver and they have several locations throughout the city. We decided to go to Guu Garden which is on the rooftop of a building surrounded by a garden. This location is famous for their oden, a dish where ingredients are slowly simmered in a soy-sauce soup. I highly recommend the black cod and salty ice-cream.


ITALIAN KITCHEN
1037 Alberni St

My DH and I came here to celebrate my graduation and had a great time. It's a bustling place, with a sexy interior and lots of beautiful people. Excellent kobe meatballs and Italian donuts.They have an extensive wine list and were happy to change our bottle after opening it when my DH said he didn't like the taste. The epitome of great customer service.

SHOP

HOLT RENFREW
737 Dunsmir St

They have the most beautiful things in this store which is oft compared to Barney's here in the US. Keep your eyes peeled for luxurious Canadian brands like WANT Les Essential de la Vie, Wings + Horns, Smythe and Jeremy Laing.

SEE

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

I have to give props to my alma mater whose campus is located 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver and features a spectacular campus where snow capped mountains meet the ocean. A visit to the iconic Museum of Anthropology is a must.

GRANVILLE ISLAND

This island directly across from downtown Vancouver's peninsula is a great place to spend the day. There's a large public market, the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and lots of craft studios and boutiques. On a nice day I recommend taking a water taxi and stopping off at Yaletown or the West End.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

One of our favorite things about Thanksgiving is all the leftovers! Here's a simple recipe we love that makes use of all that extra turkey you have (via Marthastewart.com) -

Turkey Banh Mi

INGREDIENTS
Chilled cooked turkey
Mayonnaise
Asian chile sauce (such as our favorite, Sriracha)
Thinly sliced peeled cucumber
Grated carrot
Generous handful of fresh cilantro
Whole wheat baguette
Jalapeno chiles if desired

DIRECTIONS
1. Chop chilled turkey, and mix with Mayonnaise spiked with Asian chile sauce.

2. Layer turkey with sliced cucumber, grated carrot and fresh cilantro inside a whole-wheat baguette. Add more heat with jalapeno chiles if desired.