A Day in Brooklyn

In the freezing weather , my favorite daytime activities in Brooklyn are shopping and sipping wine.  My favorite evening activities are anything at BAM.  Here's my idea for a perfect winter's day in the best borough.

A LOVELY BROOKLYN DAY: 

Start at Sweet Melissa, on Court Street between Baltic and DeGraw.  To get there take the 6 to Bleecker and switch to the F (you switch at the station, dont need to go outside).  Then the F towards Brooklyn.  Get out at Bergen, and walk in the opposite direction of traffic for 2 blocks, and then turn right.  Sweet Melissa will be across the street to your left, or just ask someone .  Afterwards you can go shopping / browsing on Smith Street!  There are a lot of new shops!!  Here are my top picks of the ones that have been around for a few years:

 

1. Dear Fieldbinder:  Really adorable and girly or sophisticated clothes which all are very hip and Brooklyn-y.  So you can buy one item and instantly up the cool factor of your wardrobe. They have great sweaters, dresses, coats, shirts, pants, shoes, and jewelry.

 

2. Butter: Cutting-edge designers for clothing and shoes, but with such unique looks and high quality comes a bit higher price.

 

3. Soula Shoes: Great shoe selection including a big Chie Mihara selection, Coclico, and cute boots.

 

4. Free People: self -explanatory.

 

5. Specialty Food shops: Stinky (cheese); Smith & Vine (wine); Chop Chop (everything gourmet).

 

6. Flight 001: Travel accessories, luggage, travel beauty products, and guide books.

 

FOR A BREAK: We'll have wine & cheese (perhaps a wine flight & a cheese flight) at Jake Walk, which serves wine from Smith & Vine, cheese from Stinky, and cookies and treats from One Girl Cookies, the adorable bake shop at Smith & Dean.  This was opened by the same young Portland,OR-bred couple that runs Smith & Vine and Stinky.

 

And like I said, there are a ton of new shops amongst all of these, so this is just an idea . . .

My Island Love: ISCHIA

My first recommended itinerary for Beaches & Peaches readers is 5 days/4 nights in Ischia. Here you go.
Bon vacances mes amies!  xoxo

1st: Ischia porto:

                HOTEL: http://www.albergoilmonastero.it/en/posizione-albergo-il-monastero.asp

                VISIT:

                                Cartaromana Beach: This beach is located between Castello Aragonese and the Sant’Anna cliffs. The beach also offers one of the best views of the island. Cartaromana is well-known for its natural hot thermal water springs that spill out onto the shore, allowing tourists to swim in the sea even during the winter;

                DRINK:

                                Discotheque: http://www.valentinoischia.eu/home/

2nd: sant angelo:

                HOTEL: http://www.venere.com/hotels/forio-ischia/hotel-torre-sant-angelo/#information;swa20090908,20090910,2,1

                EXPLORE:

                                Cavascura Baths: While traveling around Sant’Angelo there are several footpaths that can take you up the hilltops. One of these is a footpath that goes to the thermal springs of Cavascura and Olmitello. To get there, take a taxi boat from the square of Sant’Angelo to the Fumarole beach. Here, with the beach behind you, take the footpath from the right side of the beach which is flanked by oleander trees. The first stretch is steep, with a few houses on both sides, then it levels out and there are Mediterranean bushes and a variety of plants such as figs, capers, prickly pears, etc. On the right, there is a view of the Maronti beach. Passing under a natural arch, turn right to reach the beach. Here is the entrance to Cavascura. There are all types of typical restaurants and at the back of the canyon are the antique thermal springs of Cavascura. Going back, climbing the steps through the vine yards, you will arrive at the antique establishment of Cava Olmitello, which sadly to say is in disuse. Here, as you make your way through the bushes, with only the croaking of frogs, you can imagine yourself traveling back in time when the world was a much simpler place.

Cava grado Beach: small cove located near Sant’Angelo; hydrovolcanic activity occurs in outpourings of hot water which can be used for relaxing baths. To get here, there is a steeply sloping foot-path starting at Succhivio;

Fumarole Beach This beach is supposed to be the island's finest. It's long, wide, clean and not too crowded; it's also of a dark colour, since it's of volcanic origin. It can be reached in 30 minutes by taking a footpath from Sant'Angelo, or in a couple of minutes by boat-taxi. There are some fumaroles here, and locals often go there and cook dinner in the sand. The beach is also a popular hangout at night.

                EAT:

                                Ristorante Mamma Mia, Via S. Angelo 48 Serrara,

3-4: Forio:

                HOTEL: http://www.hotelvillacarolina.it/index.html

                VISIT:

                                Baths: http://www.giardiniposeidonterme.com/

                                Church: The Soccorso's church

                                Tower: Il Torrione

                                Citara Beach/Bath: This beach is at the foot of Epomeo, and is one of the most popular on the island. The crystal-clear water that laps the beach mixes with the thermal water spas in several points, allowing you to bathe in the sea and reap the benefit of thermal water at the same time.

                EAT:

                                http://www.lacasereccia.com/

                                Ristorante Umberto a Mare, Via Soccorso, 2

                                Bar Ristorante Il Fortino Via Fortino, 37

                DRINK:

                                La Bella'Mbriana: Via Marina n. 7