SUNDAY DATE AT JULIETTE

Concrete Flower: 101109: Sunday Date at Juliette

On a cold night, there’s nothing better than a cozy dinner in a dimly lit restaurant.

Concrete Flower: 101109: Sunday Date at Juliette

I think it’s nice to try and go out for a romantic dinner at least once a week.

Concrete Flower: 101109: Sunday Date at Juliette

This time, we chose cute French place Juliette. I love all the red accents in the interior. This girl in the bar fit in very well.

Concrete Flower: 101109: Sunday Date at Juliette

I was seriously craving moules frites and these were very satisfying but definitely not as good as the ones at my fave French place Bar Tabac.

Concrete Flower: 101109: Sunday Date at Juliette

I love when they stick cute little notes in with your bill. Kind of makes you feel better about paying.

Concrete Flower: 101109: Sunday Date at Juliette

All wined and dined, we walked home slowly in the cold night, stopping by a party for a friend who had finished the marathon earlier in the day. Perfect Sunday date night.

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NYC MARATHON

Concrete Flower: 101108: NYC Marathon

Over 43,000 participants ran the 26.2 mile course through all five boroughs on Sunday. About 2.5 million spectators also came out in support of the runners.

Concrete Flower: 101108: NYC Marathon

From my living room, I can see the Verrazano Bridge, where the start is, way in the distance. It was quite exciting to follow the race on TV and at the same time look out the window to see the runners pass in real life.

Concrete Flower: 101108: NYC Marathon

From my kitchen window I saw the wheelchair participants, elite women and elite men pass by. Later, along Bedford Avenue, I cheered the “regular” runners on. I live between mile 10 and 11, which means they had about 15 more miles to go at this point. I think they needed some encouragement.

Concrete Flower: 101108: NYC Marathon

As someone who has run a few half-marathons (best time, 1:55), I am of the firm opinion that you have to be crazy to run a full. I still want to do it some day. Maybe next year…

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ROUGE/NOIR

Concrete Flower: 101108: Rouge

I went to a concert at Le Poisson Rouge on the LES last week. When I got there I realized I had unknowingly camouflaged myself into the decor with my red stockings.

Concrete Flower: 101108: Rouge

Le poisson rouge means “the red fish” (which is the French name for goldfish). In case you were wondering.

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HAPPY DIWALI

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

Today is Diwali, also known as The Festival of Lights.

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

For Hindus, Diwali is the most important festival of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

On Wednesday, a friend hosted a Diwali gathering/showcase of goods from the site Exclusively In (today’s Friday Find — sign up!), which is kind of like a Gilt Groupe, with only Indian designers. There was lots of pretty jewelry.

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

I fell in love with this ring…

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

…and am head over heels in love with this harness/vest thing.

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

There were samosas too — all veggie and not too spicy. I had two.

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

The Indian cookies were crazy sweet. I think I ate two of those too, which was definitely one too much.

Concrete Flower: 101105: Happy Diwali

But hey, it’s Diwali, let’s celebrate!

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JUICED UP AT NORMA KAMALI

Concrete Flower: 101104: Norma Kamali

Popped over to Norma Kamali‘s 5th Ave store yesterday at lunch time. Turns out there’s an amazing Wellness Café there that I had never known about! (NYC’s just too big to keep track of everything, but that’s what PR people are for, right?)

Concrete Flower: 101104: Norma Kamali

Kamali is obsessed with olive oil and has her own line of oils and beauty products, made from olives straight from her own orchards.

Concrete Flower: 101104: Norma Kamali

The café has pretty displays of good stuff like Himalayan sea salts, rock salts & bath salts…

Concrete Flower: 101104: Norma Kamali

…and books.

Concrete Flower: 101104: Norma Kamali

Best of all, there was an Organic Avenue juice counter, with free samples! OA’s juices are completely natural, organic and amazingly fresh — I think I’m about to get obsessed with them. Kamali drinks them every day and told me they’ve changed her life. She opened the wellness counter beacuse she wants to share her discoveries in holistic health, beauty and nutrition. Quote of the day, Norma Kamali on juicing: “you know, fashion people would rather starve than do something healthy like this.”

Concrete Flower: 101104: Norma Kamali

Check it out: Norma Kamali, 11 W56th Street (@ 5th Avenue).

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