Class Is…

CANCELED!

Isn’t it the best feeling in the world when you find out that your last class for the week is canceled? I am indeed incredibly pleased. This new found time also allows me to write a lovely post and tell you about some cool stuff to check out. Tonight I have two finds for you, one band and one cafe. Here they come

The Band

I went to The Gaslight Light Anthem concert a few weeks back and it was so awesome. They had 3 opening bands one of which I have already told you guys about, Murder By Death. Each band that performed had a totally different feel to them. Tonight I want to tell you about the band Broadway Calls. I arrived at the show during the tail end of their performance, but I was immediately hooked. They are a three member punk band from Oregon with an early 1990’s punk vibe. Broadway Calls has two albums out since starting the band in 2005. They have since toured with bands like Alkaline Trio and The Gaslight Anthem. Broadways Calls is signed by Adeline Records which is co-owned by Billie Joe Armstrong (lead singer of GreenDay), his wife, and Pro Skateboarder Jim Thiebaud. The label itself only has a handful of bands signed, but they are all great. It is obvious to me why Broadway Calls is signed to Adeline; they have a grungy punk sound that skateboarders love and could even be compared to the early sounds of GreenDay. This band is neither emo or hardcore, two genres of punk music that I usually do not relate to. They have a lot of fun with their lyrics, but I can still feel the emotion behind it. I just picked up their new self titled album that has 14 songs, and all will keep you jamming along until the end. They are fantastic. Check out the songs “Life Is In the Air” and “Call It Off” or slow things down with “Save Our Ship”.

Album Cover

The Cafe

On a Thursday night before my night class I can usually be found at Antique Cafe. It is well Known to F.I.T. students like myself, but to others it is virtually unknown. On 27th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, it is stuck right in the middle of F.I.T.’s campus, but definitely goes beyond your regular college coffee house. Antique Cafe was established in 1998 when two men, Jon Wolohojian and Marcial Cavero, decided that the neighborhood, Chelsea, needed a coffee house. They now have 2 locations in Chelsea, their original on 26th and 6th and now their newest on 27th. I love going to Antique Cafe because the staff is always so friendly and ready to make you any coffee concoction you would like, and they have an excellent menu of food, too. Their grilled cheese is definitely something to write home about, and all of the meals come with a small mixed greens salad. Their selection of baked goods is wonderful too. Last week, I tried an incredible pumpkin spice bread, and my roommate raves about their chai latte. Antique Cafe doesn’t only provide great service and a tasty menu, it is also a great place to grab a cup of joe and sit in one of their mismatched chairs while studying or getting some work done. It is truly cozy. I love going there to do my homework before my poetry class. It has all the right vibes to bring you back to a simpler time with just coffee and music. It has just the right atmosphere to have a nice conversation with friends or focus on a good book. Please check it out!

The Inside of Antique Cafe

I hope you have enjoyed my finds for this week. It’s getting quite cold outside so get your mittens on and a cup of coffee. Listen to some good tunes and snuggled up in bed until it’s Spring again .

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

Happy Halloween!

Boo!

Oh how my festive juices are flowing! Autumn is here and I’m loving every beautifully colored leaf, bundling up in sweatshirts, and sipping coffee on those frosty mornings. Halloween is this weekend and I am very excited about getting dressed up and baking pumpkin-shaped cookies. Before I begin this post, I should warn you that I’m going to start changing things up on this lovely blog. I want to post more. Every post I have made has been in three parts, but sometimes I can’t post for an additional week or sometimes two due to my lack of a third part. I want to start posting every time I find a cool place or band or restaurant. So from here on in, I won’t hold back on you guys. Whether I have one or three things to tell you about, I’m posting! So this time around, I have one wonderful find for you .

Murder By Death

I recently went to see The Gaslight Anthem concert here in New York at Terminal 5. Murder By Death was the opening band and they were fantastic! They are a four member band from Indiana with a very original sound. The lead singer has one of the deepest voices I’ve heard in a while and has an awesome range. Attributing to their unique sound is the electric cello and keyboard which is used in most songs. I would have to say their sound is alternative country punk, but it’s hard to only classify them in those categories because they embody a lot of different styles. They have songs about everything from zombies to drinking whiskey. I bought their newest album Red of Tooth and Claw, and the first song, “Comin’ Home,” has the deepest vocals of the whole CD; its my favorite song thus far. With lyrics like:

“I got that taste in my mouth,
I got a hunger in my gut.
My skin has turned to leather.
My hair is banded rope.
My knees have buckled beneath the weight of doubt
but now i miss the things I have done without.

I’m comin’ home,
but I ain’t comin’ home for you.
I’m comin’ home and there ain’t nothin’ you can do about it.
Ain’t nothin’ you can do about it.”

Murder by Death taps into their life troubles and Midwestern roots for lyric inspiration. While listening to them, I feel like I’m in an old run down town in the middle of nowhere drinking my troubles away.

Photo I took at the Concert

Murder by Death is easy enough to listen to while doing work or painting; yet you may find yourself filled with a little more angst due to the tunes. I can’t write about them and not mention the similarity to Johnny Cash, the same deep vocals and simple ideas for songs but with more intense percussion and some bass and cello. A fantastic listen if you want to let your mind bring you to a dirt road out in Indiana.

Album Cover

I hope that I have satisfied your wandering minds. I know that this is a little different than my usual posts, but I hope you enjoy the more frequent finds. Now it’s almost Halloween, so get your fake spiderwebs out and listen to some band with a creepy name like Murder By Death or break out the classic monster mash . Happy Halloween!

-Kristin ( The Traveling Pickle)

Happy Autumn!

The October Issue.

As my loyal readers know, I am one of the most festive people. No matter the holiday or season, I have tons of fun decorating and celebrating in different ways. Now that it is Fall officially, of course I have already gotten my pumpkins and decorated with silly scarecrows and fake spiderwebs, although Fall isn’t all about Halloween for me. It’s my favorite season because the weather gets a little colder, the leaves start changing colors and I get to buy hot beverages to warm my paws. I have found some exceptional places and things for you to do this fall. Let’s get a little festive

Pumpkins

Recently my boyfriend and I went on a lovely trip to Wightman’s Farms in Morristown, NJ. It is a family run farm that has been around since 1922. They started out with just a few fruit plants/trees and have now grown into a full farm with a cider mill. During the fall season they go all out for families. It is really a one stop shop for all of your festive needs. They have pumpkin and apple picking, hayrides, and a bakery that makes delicious apple cinnamon donuts and freshly made seasonal pies.   During the fall they have daily hayrides for families with pick-your-own pumpkin patches. Wightman’s also has festive games such as a pumpkin sling shot, where they take all of the reject pumpkins and have people use a giant sling shot to try to hit a target.  It’s really a fun place to spend a nice fall day and it’s about $5 per pumpkin and $1 for “baby bear” pumpkins. If you are ever in Morristown, NJ you must go to Wightman’s Farms. I also must recommend that you try the apple cider ice drink, it is amazing!

Pumpkins!

http://www.wightmansfarms.com/

Peddlers Village

For most of my life my parents have been bringing my brothers and I to Peddlers Village in Lahaska, PA during Autumn. Peddlers village is a quaint little shopping village made up of unique shops and old restaurants. We go there every year at this time because they have an excellent scarecrow contest that spans throughout the entire place. Kids from neighboring schools all submit a scarecrow they created into the contest. At Peddler’s village you can get a cup of warm apple cider and then walk around and enjoy all of the silly scarecrows. The shopping area is filled with tons of shops but also a small chicken coup and bunny hut for the kids to feed animals and a scenic old fashioned water mill. There are always events going on and every Saturday in October there is a free hay maze for you to enjoy. One of my favorite things about Peddlers Village over the years was that it was so affordable and even if I couldn’t buy a doll at the very fancy doll shop as a little girl, I was still able to have fun. It is truly a place for anyone, there are over 70 unique shops and 6 restaurants. It’s a perfect place for a walk around on a cool fall day

Scarecrow at Peddlers Village

http://peddlersvillage.com/overview/overview.htm

Hot Apple Cider

Now this is my favorite thing about Autumn, Hot Apple Cider. I could give you a list of places I’ve gotten this before but I am not going to do that, I’m going to give you the perfect recipe to make your own delectable hot apple cider. For the past couple of years I have gotten together with  my friend’s to make a fire, s’mores, and apple cider. We have perfected our recipe and now I will share it with you. Start out by going to your local farmers market and buy a jug of apple cider, one orange, and some cinnamon sticks, that’s all you’ll need.  Then, invite some friends over and tell them to bring blankets. Put the apple cider into a pot on medium heat on your stove top, then slice the orange into about 5-6 round pieces, throw them in there, lastly put in about 4 sticks of cinnamon (or a bunch of cinnamon powder if that’s what you have) cover and stir periodically for 5-10 minutes. Then serve . This will cost you less than $10 to create and it is a fun way to be festive and enjoy the nighttime in fall. If you are in the city, like me, you can still enjoy this by having a bunch of friends over to prepare and make it and then put the hot apple cider in on-the-go coffee cups and go for a walk around Central Park.  Hot apple cider is so delicious and I think most people overlook how lovely it is and what a perfect mood it puts you in.

Some leaves changing colors

Although, I’m in the city wishing I was somewhere with trees so that I can watch them change colors, I have found little ways to enjoy this season here just fine. I love being festive because it’s fun and I don’t think anyone is too old or too busy to enjoy the simple pleasures of my favorite season. I hope everyone gets a chance to go pumpkin picking and to check out silly scarecrows, or at the very least make some hot apple cider.  Happy Autumn and happy exploring

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

Under where?

Delaware!

I must apologize for my lack of recent posts, I think I’ve come to a transitional point in my life where I can either choose to get organized or lose my mind. I decided to get organized (I’ll let you know how the not losing my mind thing goes). I’ve recently taken on 2 new positions, one at my college as a Resident Assistant and one as a Freelance Designer for RileyRoo’s children’s shoes. Those two jobs mixed with being a full-time student is certainly getting the best of me but I’m learning to give myself much needed “me” time. I started this blog because I had a strong belief in supporting the little guy combined with a love for exploring and finding interesting new places. I also started this because I wanted to do something for me that hopefully would help people get out there to see cool new things. I do hope I’ve kept everyone excited about exploring and fighting against the ever-so-convenient chain stores and restaurants! I’m here to tell you that it’s time for a new post filled with exciting things from some new places I’ve never brought you to before.. buckle up we’re hitting the road! Yes we are going to Delaware!

Boardwalk Fries

I recently went down to Delaware to visit my Aunt Tricia and my cousin Sarah for a trip to the beach with my mom. We headed down to Rehoboth Beach, a lovely place that I haven’t been to since I was a youngster. I forgot how nice it is down there, and the beaches are completely free unlike New Jersey! During the day on the beach we decided to head to the boardwalk and of course I spot the first french fry place and knew exactly what I was having for lunch. Thrashers French Fries is a must go to on the boardwalk. They have been around since 1929 and haven’t changed much since then. They serve hand-cut fries with salt and the only topping they offer is vinegar. That’s right, no ketchup! Their portions were enough to fill me and they were freshly made.  The fries themselves are perfect for any fry connoisseur because they are neither too soft or crunchy. I love finding places that are so good that they only need to have one thing on the menu, and Thrashers is simply true to that description!

http://www.rehoboth.com/

Thrasher's French Fries

ThunderBird

While Walking around the nice beach town in Rehoboth I was able to check out a lot of shops and even hear a live band playing in the middle of the main strip. One of my favorite shops in Rehoboth Beach was the Thunderbird Shop and Gallery, a large store filled with everything from home goods and jewelry to a small gallery. Thunderbird has been around since 1954 and has since been buying and selling handmade pieces from Native Americans from the southwest. Some of the art pieces in the Thunderbird’s Gallery were so beautifully crafted, you could feel the culture that went into making the paintings on wood or canvas  just by looking at it.  Thunderbird Shop was one of the best Native American shops I’ve ever been to. I love dream catchers and handmade pieces of jewelry that are special just to you and the crafter. Even the candle holders and  wind chimes were crafted with care and all are unique. I’m a proud owner of 5 dream catchers from all over the country made by tons of different tribes. This time my little cousin bought her first dream catcher, and I was able to tell her all of the stories and legends about them. So if you are in the market for some beautiful art, your first or 6th dream catcher, or just want to check out a really nice shop, go to Thunderbird!

http://www.thunderbirdshop.com

Thunderbird Shop & Gallery

Willies Farms

So of course I had to go to a farmers market in Delaware! If you didn’t know it already, Delaware has tons of farms and in my opinion the best farmers market around. Willies Farms of Delaware is an exceptional farmers market on Route 13 that has been around since 1975. They are a family run farm and market with a full garden and produce center with hand picked sunflowers and endless amounts of fresh fruits and veggies. They also have a wonderful bakery that makes delicious blueberry cinnamon muffins! I could spend hours just walking around enjoying the exquisite colors of the fresh produce and flowers or the country-feel to their home accessories. My mom bought me a tall vase from Willies and it’s perfect to put one large sunflower in. If you are in need of very juicy tomatoes or a nice vase, please take a long trip down to Delaware and hit up Willies Farmer market!

http://www.willeyfarmsde.com

Juicy Tomatoes

I know all of you are jumping out of your boots with excitement to head down to Delaware but I promise that I’m not steering you wrong with these finds. They are wonderful places!

Writing this blog is one of my favorite things to do and as always I hope you’ve enjoyed my post!  Please share with me your own discoveries so that I can check them out too! Happy Explorations!

-Kristin (TheTravelingPickle)

Home is where

My Heart is.

My summer has completely blown past me. I spent the first couple of weeks in Europe, continued by extensive work on my portfolio, a great internship, and very little beach time. I didn’t get to explore home as much as I would have liked but I’m glad that I could bring few, but great, finds to all. I’m heading back to Manhattan to start my fall semester at F.I.T. I do love New York, but my soul is still longing for the Jersey shore and a nice boardwalk funnel cake. This post will be about some of my favorites from this summer. Enjoy!

Jackson

Many college students this summer found it hard to get a summer job, especially in the Princeton area. I was one of the many. I spent most of my days trying to find inexpensive yet productive things to do. Most of them had to do with one of my greatest loves, Jackson Gavin; my 18 month old golden retriever. We went on adventures of our own. We went running and hiking and on long walks. One of the best things we did was go to the Montgomery Municipal building Dog Park off of Route 206. It is absolutely free and there is always a cute furry friend for your pup to play with. The dog park is a great asset to Montgomery and is very close to my home in Belle Mead. It is a fenced in area with an obstacle course and plenty of space for even a dog of Jackson’s size to run around. I think it is very important to spend quality time with your pets. What better way than to get some fresh air and exercise while your dog has some fun. Please check out Montgomery’s Dog Park, it is a true treasure for all dog owners .

Jackson!

Music

Gaslight Anthem has been a well known punk band in New Jersey for quite some time now, however I just recently jumped on the band wagon. The band from New Brunswick is rapidly becoming more and more popular. I heard their song playing one day and was immediately drawn in by the lyrics “your high top sneakers and your sailor tattoos”. Not only did the song, later to be identified as “Old White Lincoln”, bring me in with the lyrics, but also with the upbeat nature of the punk music with the deep smoky vocals. I have since downloaded all of their songs and have officially made them my favorite band of the summer. They embody a lot of lost punk band styles, not only with their clothing but with what they sing about and the way they play their music. While listening I feel like I’m back in the 1950’s, when rebels were just coming about with their leather jackets and white t-shirts, singing about anyway to get out of here. Gaslight Anthem is simply awesome and definitely worth a listen!

Gaslight Anthem

myspace.com/thegaslightanthem

Pizza Pasta

On South Main Street in Manville, NJ, one can usually find my parents at Pizza N’ Pasta on a Friday night. For the past couple of years, my parents have made a habit of eating here once a week. They know all of the waitresses, and the hostess is usually surprised when I am with them since she then needs to bring three menus instead of two. This summer I took full advantage of my parent’s weekly ritual to go out to eat and couldn’t have been happier. I quickly realized the reason why my family loves Pizza N’ Pasta so much is because the food is wonderful, simple Italian cuisine, with friendly Jersey girl waitresses and a great atmosphere. At Pizza N’ Pasta there is a long bar where you can catch the game or eat, a game room for kids, a classic dining room for adults and a great patio perfect for a summer dinner. They have one of the best Penne a la Vodka dishes I have ever had! They mix the parmesan cheese right in with the pink sauce to make an irresistible dish. If you are ever in Manville please go to Pizza N’ Pasta, it is decently priced and has something for everyone!

Pizza Pasta!

I hope you have enjoyed my posts this summer from home. Stay tuned because in the next post I will be talking about some of my travels recently and there are some great finds for you! Now please get out there and soak up the sun

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

Princeton

The Calm of Home

As you know I am home from Manhattan for the summer and am spending most of my time where I grew up in Princeton, New Jersey. I’ve lived here my entire life up until going to college in Philadelphia two years ago. As you can imagine, I felt that there was nothing left to explore or of interest to me after living here for 18 years. It also seemed to me that after living in Philly and NYC I would be bored with the finds here, but that was certainly not the case. I have been noticing that there are so many interesting things that as a kid I would have just passed by. Maybe my perception has changed since then. I’m seeing things from a more mature and definitely more curious eye. I have fallen in love with my hometown. Princeton offers something that you can’t find most places. You can find dozens of small shops and family businesses to support along with American history and a beautiful ivy league campus. It’s a calm town where you can take a Sunday stroll down Nassau Street on your own or hang out with your friends and get some delicious food. Enjoy the wonderful finds from Princeton

Nearly New

I love thrift stores and consignment shops. One of my favorite things about Princeton is their plethora of great consigment shops. This summer I went to Nearly New consignment off of Nassau Street for the first time and thought it was wonderful. Nearly New is a little hidden, I had to look for the sign on the side of a building and walk up a drive way to get to the door on the side. From the outside it doesn’t look like anything special, but once you walk up the old stairs and enter the shop, you are bound to find an excellent treasure. I found a great pair of barely worn white canvas flats with rainbow fish and swirls on them, and to top it off, they fit perfectly! It isn’t a very large space but the shop has everything from accessories to children’s toys and clothing. They accept donations on a seasonal basis so everything in Nearly New is ready for whatever season you are dressing for. All items are in great condition, and the prices are excellent! My flats were $6-what a steal! Nearly New is a very cool find and I hope you have the chance to explore it, maybe you can find your own perfectly fitting flats too!

Nearly New

Yoga

I do yoga on a regular basis. I think it is a wonderful release for the soul, mind, and body. I have taken classes at many different studios that all have their own methods and philosophies about the art of yoga. One of my favorites is Yoga Above on Nassau Street. I feel that yoga is meant to be a spiritual experience where you don’t worry about any outside distractions like money, competition, or any other stressors. Yoga is for everyone and shouldn’t have a price tag. Yoga Above has the same beliefs; they are a strictly donation based studio. For any class you choose to take they ask you to make a donation rather than making a set price for the class. If you can’t afford more than a few dollars, that’s just fine. The instructers and owner of the studio are open and friendly, which makes the classes have a nice atmosphere. There are classes offered in all styles of yoga- asana, ashtanga, hatha, vinyasa, etc. Their power yoga class left me shaking from working my muscles so much but the instructor and owner, Micheal Cremone, made the studio have an open and calm energy. Yoga Above provides a soothing environment to practice any style of yoga with any price you choose. If you have a passion for yoga or even want to give it a try for the first time, try Yoga Above, you will surely love it.

Yoga Above

Canoeing

Something that truely makes my summer at home is canoeing at the Millstone River/D&R Canal with Griggstown Canoe and Kayak. It is a super inexpensive way to have some fun. For about $10 you can rent a canoe and go out on the canal for as long as you’d like. The canal is very relaxing and the trees arch over the canal to provide the perfect amount of shade. It’s lovely to fish off the canoe, have a picnic in the boat, or just paddle around. There are never too many other boats on the water, so it can be a very quiet experience (unless you are as bad as I am at canoeing). One canoe can fit an entire family. My parents used to take my brothers and I when we were younger and we loved it. Now that I’m older, It’s fun to get two canoes and race with my friends. Whatever your skill level or age, it’s fun! Grab a sandwich and some chips around the corner at Plaza Deli then head over to Canal Road for a day out on the water. It’s quite a wonderful view of nature.

Canoeing

I hope you’ve gotten a nice view of my hometown and enjoyed my finds .  If you are ever in Princeton, check these places out!

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

Home

Sweet Home

I’m back from Europe and home for the summer in Princeton, New Jersey. I was a little worried about being home for the summer and that there wouldn’t be much exploring to do because I have lived in the same town my entire life. My worries are long gone! I quickly realized that there are tons of cool places, restaurants, and music that I am really excited to tell you about. This is going to be my home grown post and I hope I can show you a little bit about where I’m from. Enjoy!

Acoustic Hits

I’m really excited for this because I am writing about a good friend of mine, Alec Milewski. He just self recorded and released his first album, Acoustic Hits, on iTunes. It’s easy for me to tell you about Alec because I’ve been a fan of his music for a while. Back in high school everyone was aware of him being a talented musician, but now that he is beginning his junior year at Berklee College of Music in Boston, his skill level and broader music tastes came as a result of the environment that Berklee inspires. While at college he got really into singing, but he says,

” I remember always complaining to my friends, and my one friend Mike Squillante the most; that I couldn’t write for my life and he always would tell me that ANYONE can ( by the way that is true.. everything is music somehow thats why i love it so much) and I sat down one day and wrote the lyrics to what would be Love Story.”

Although Alec’s true love is metal music he has discovered a new love for indie rock. This album is called Acoustic Hits because thats exactly what it is, a blend of good lyrics and acoustic guitar. He writes stories, telling tales of love, loss, and dreams. It amazes me how Alec and other songwriters can tap into these huge topics like love and come up with these realistic stories but still make them catchy and fun. It’s a true talent. Alec also records and mixes all of his own music for himself and other bands that record at his studio (Pandora Studios). His music is left up to the listener to interpret and connect to it in their own ways. My favorite song is “In The Pictures”. His songs are catchy, fun, and inspired. Please go check out his new album, and if you like what you hear, look out for another one that is being released in July!

http://www.myspace.com/ajmilewski

http://www.myspace.com/pandorastudionj

The Deli

I have always wanted to have a deli that I walk into and order my usual, and I have one! For the past couple of years, I have fulfilled my dream of having a usual order at Plaza Deli in Hillsborough, NJ. The deli is a small place that is decked out in trains, even a live train set that you can control the noises to while waiting for your delicious sandwich. I live in NYC most of the year, but I still have not found a deli that makes a better sandwich than Plaza Deli. Maybe it’s the total package, they have nice people and the customers are never pushy and always looking to start a conversation with anyone. When I walk in there I feel welcome and at home. If you’re really nice, the owner Brian will draw a smiley face on your sandwich! If you are ever in the neighborhood please check out Plaza Deli! It’s the best.

Plaza Deli

Consignment

I usually don’t venture over to Hopewell, NJ too much even though it is ten minutes from my house. Recently I went over there with a friend to find a coveted consignment shop with only retro items. On Main Street is Hopewell Consignment, a shop on the first floor of a house. It only has merchandise from pre 1965 and is very reasonably priced. The woman who owns the shop is very sweet and trusting, periodically leaving the store for a moment and then coming back to see how we are doing. It is a real trip back into the past, but you aren’t likely to find any items that would break the bank. There is everything from clothing and jewlery to old newspapers and homegoods. I had so much fun looking at all of the treasures this consignment shop has and I really think it has something for everyone. Please check it out and then walk around the town of Hopewell, its very quaint.

Some cool stuff at Hopewell Consignment

It’s crazy to think that some of my favorite finds are just around the corner from where I grew up. So give it a shot, maybe you’ll find something new or somewhere old that you love. I hope you enjoyed my finds

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)

Milano!

The Pickle Goes to Italy.

I hope you all enjoyed my finds in Paris, but now I’m ready to tell you all about Milan, Italy! I should begin this post by telling you that I absolutely LOVED Italy. The people were so warm and welcoming, the language was fun and easy, and it was just beautiful. I was able to find great shopping, food, and beautiful history. I picked three of my absolute favorites from Milan. I hope you like them

The Place

After traveling from Paris, one of the first stops we made was the Duomo Cathedral. I had seen beautiful cathedrals while studying art history and in books, but I never thought I would have the opportunity to see one in person. During our tour of the city, our guide directed my attention to this massive and overwhelmingly beautiful cathedral to my left. The Duomo took 500 years to complete and stands directly in the center of Milan. The tour guide then asked us if we would like to go to the top, which I was all for, but didn’t realize just how many steps there are in a 16th century stairwell! Even though I had a minor asthma attack, I made it all the way to the top and could not have been more pleased. It is utterly breathtaking at the top. Not only could I see the entire city, but I felt like I’d been brought back in time. The work that went into the architecture of this cathedral was amazing. Needless to say, if you are ever in Milan pay the 5 euros to walk to the top of the Duomo, It’s stunning!

Me at the top of the Duomo

The Food

I know there are a lot of debates on where pizza was created, New York or Italy? I don’t know the answer to this, but I will say that I had the best slice ever in Milan at Pizzeria Spontini. The pizzeria was established in 1953 in Milan in Corso Buenos Aires. They only have a few things on the menu- large or small pizza slice, cheese or anchovies, and beer or soda. I went there on my first night in Milan and was so impressed that I went 2 more times during my week stay . When I walked in, it was a very simple place, big coal ovens and lots of tables. We were seated and asked if we wanted a large or small slice. I wanted large of course! We waited maybe five minutes and this huge slice with a little slice on the side was placed in front of each of us. Not only was the width of the slice big but the thickness was ridiculous. I had to use a steak knife to cut it! I hadn’t had much to eat that day and it smelled wonderful so I started carving. It was the best slice of pizza I’d ever had, and it was only 5 Euros. My professor went with me two other nights and he made me aware that they had this special sauce you could put on the pizza. It was a perfect mix of olive oil and jalapenos peppers, a little sweet and a little spicy. I can continue to go on making yours and my mouth water, but I will leave it at please go here!

The Shop

My study abroad trip included a lot of shopping. We were required to go to tons of stores each day to look for trends and inspiration for design. This became very mindless most days, but in Milan it was a little more exciting because they had very cool shops. One day on an excursion to Ripa Di Porta, I found the store Made In The Shade. This store caught my eye at first because they had really awesome photographs of 1960’s culture and nudity. Once in the store I was even more enchanted by the merchandise and the way the store was set up. It’s an old butcher shop that was renovated to be a clothing shop. Made In The Shade is a clothing and accessories shop that features local artists and brands and even some larger brands like TOMS shoes and Hunter Boots. They have limited edition artists T-shirts made on organic fabrics with a decorative vinyl above each display to set the mood. Not only do they support the local design movement, but they also support artists in the area by using their space as a gallery for painters and photographers. I really loved the ideas behind this shop and even the area it was in, a fun, young, art-driven downtown filled with galleries and thrift shops. It was definitely an excellent find!

Inside Made In The Shade

Now I’m back from Europe and happy to be home. I can’t wait to start telling you about my finds in my travels this summer. I’ll keep you posted! It’s actually sunny today, so stop reading this and get outside!

-The Traveling Pickle (Kristin)

Me In Venice!

Europe!

The Pickle Does Europe!

I just arrived home from my study abroad in Paris and Milan! It was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had. I got to try so many different types of food and went to a lot of wonderful places. I tried crepes and gelato, homemade pastas and pizzas, but I must say that I was disappointed to find that in Europe they don’t have pickles! Either way, I have some exceptional finds for you. This post will be all about Paris, and then in a few days I will tell you all about Milan. Enjoy

Paris!

At the top of the Eiffle Tower!

Before this trip I had never been out of the United States, so landing in Paris was a very exciting moment for me. I had taken a little French in high school, but for the most part everything I read was foreign to me and there was not one food name I recognized. I quickly learned how to order a poulet baguette (chicken sandwich) and a cinnamon sucre (sugar) crepe, which is pretty much what I ate everyday . I was able to do so many cool things in Paris. I went to Monet’s garden, rented bikes and rode them to the Eiffel Tower at midnight, and went to great museums. It is very difficult to pick just a couple to tell you about! I will try my best!

Food

The French are not known for their smiles or their food but they are known for their crepes. I frequently went to a little crepery that had no name, off of Avenue Saint Michael by the Luxembourg Gardens. It was just an old lady, two round hot plates, and pancake batter. Like I said, I ate crepes a lot but this lady was the absolute best! She made them golden brown and put the perfect amount of sugar on top. She also made hotdogs on baguettes for lunch! Hotdogs and crepes, my dream woman.

The second place was somewhere my professor took us to dinner one night, Le Plomd Du Cantal. He told us not to question him and he ordered us all the same thing. Obviously he said it in French, so I had no idea what I was in for. The entire place was decked out in old French countryside history. The tables were wooden; and we sat on long wooden benches. The waiter brought out plates of salads, so I began to think this was going to be one boring meal, but before I knew it the waiter came back with this pot filled with something that smelled delicious! While scooping large quantities onto our plates, he said in broken English that it was potatoes, garlic, and cheese. Bon appetit! It was amazing! It was recommended that we dip it in grey poupon mustard by the owner, which I was hesitant about but it was so so good! If you are ever in Paris you must go!

Le Plomb Du Cantal

Flea Market

The great thing I found about Paris is that most places are small businesses, not chains or big companies. So I had no trouble finding many wonderful shops I wanted to support. My favorite part of Paris though was that they had great flea markets that went on for blocks and blocks. We were lucky enough to be there when one of Paris’s largest markets was in full swing. Metro Stop Temple and on the surrounding streets is a great flea market where I found everything from old Louis Vuitton luggage to a woman who was selling only plaid shirts (heaven)! All you need to know is how to say “combien” (how much?) and the numbers 1-10 and you are set to bargain and shop one of the best flea markets.

LV at the flea market

Bikes

After a lovely day of bargaining and eating crepes, I would highly recommend renting a bicycle! In Paris there are bike stands every couple of blocks. Two hours only costs one euro. You can ride anywhere in the entire city and at the end of the two hours you return the bike to any bike stand. It is definitely the cheapest way to get around and the most fun I think. Now I should say that I don’t bike often and I do not bike in NYC, so this was quite nerve racking for me to be riding beside scooters and cars. I got over my fears very quickly because Paris is filled with bike lanes. Paris is “the City of Lights” after all, so what better way to experience that than riding around at midnight? After exploring around the city and getting lost for a while, some friends and I picked up some frites (french fries) and found our way to the Eiffle Tower right as it was beginning to glitter. This was one of the most inexpensive and wonderful experiences I had in Paris. If you are ever in Paris, please rent a bike and explore. It’s truly magical.

Photo I took at the Eiffle Tower

I really feel like I’m traveling! I can’t wait to tell you all about Milan! I hope you enjoyed my finds in Paris. Now it’s time for me to snuggle with my big golden retriever who I missed like crazy and get some sun.

-The Traveling Pickle (Kristin)

Me at Claude Monets gardens where he painted the water lilies

Lovely Things

For a Lovely 20 Year Old.

I don’t know where I found the time in the midst of finals to post this but I felt like giving myself a nice little break to blog. This week is very exciting for me because not only am I finishing up my first year living in Manhattan and going to F.I.T, but it’s also my 20th Birthday on Sunday! I’m actually a bit nervous about turning the big two zero but I hear that its the best time of your life so I’m beginning to not mind so much.  This post will be about some of my favorites I’ve found while living here this year and things I’ll definitely be doing for my big day

The Brownstone

A couple months back my roommate and I went to Fanelli’s Cafe on Prince street in Soho. Its a pub/restaurant that has been at the same brownstone location since 1847 and has the liquor licenses since then, proudly on the walls to prove it! It’s atmosphere is dark and small but lively and loud. It’s old fashioned, the tables are small with red and white checkered table cloths and the rooms haven’t changed since the 1800’s. The food is AMAZING. I have been actively trying to find the best burger in NYC and Fanelli’s is by far the best I have ever had! The burgers are served on an onion roll and the moment you sink your teeth into it the flavorful juices come out of the burger. The prices are doable, about what you would pay at a diner. Its a nice change from the stuck up New York mentality. The whole place is filled with people who don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s the kind of place where you could see anyone from an artist, a musician or businessman and anyone in between.  I will most definitely be going here for my birthday and enjoying a juicy burger!

http://nymag.com/listings/bar/fanellis/

Fanelli's Cafe

The Band

I usually like to tell you about a band that is less known by most of my friends but this is an exception that had to be made! Last summer my friends and I started to listen to The Wombats, an upbeat alternative rock Band from the UK. They have been around since 2003 and came out with their most recent album, A Guide to Love, Loss, & Desperation, back in 2006.  Not until 2008 did they make it big in America with their song “Let’s Dance to Joy Division”. I was so excited when I heard this song that I literally listened to it 200 times. Its so upbeat and fun but has quirky lyrics like ..
“Go ask for Joy Division,
And celebrate the irony,
Everything is going wrong,
But we’re so happy”.

All of their songs I could listen to repeatedly without getting annoyed or bored. The band is full of jokers that just want to make good, fun music. They are definitely one of my favorite bands. Certainly refreshing enough to take me out of the dulls and stress of finals and fun enough to be the soundtrack to my birthday! If you want to listen to them I recommend “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” “Patricia The Stripper” and “Moving to New York” but hell all of their songs are great!

http://www.myspace.com/thewombatsuk

http://www.thewombats.co.uk/

The Wombats

The Park

If you haven’t noticed I love finding places in the city that take me away from feeling like I’m actually in the city. I like feeling like I’m away from the millions of people and tons of skyscrapers. For my birthday I think I’ll be heading down to Battery Park. I know It is a very well known place in Manhattan but it is absolutely beautiful. If you take the 1 train all the way down to the South Ferry stop you will be at the bottom tip of the city and the beginning of Battery Park. It is right on the water, you can see everything from Ellis Island and the statue of liberty, to my home state NJ. The Hudson river water is surprisingly fresh smelling and pretty to look at. The entire park is along the west side of Manhattan and is filled with history, pretty gardens, and places to sit and people watch (my favorite!).  Exploring is totally free and this is a great place to do so.  Sometimes this city is a lot to take and I don’t mind taking a deep breath and looking at the pretty water for a while on a beautiful spring day. If you have never been I recommend you try out Battery Park, or come with me for my birthday .

Photo I took in Battery Park

What a crazy year it’s been. So much exploring has been done in such an awesome place. I have so many more places to tell you about and find in New York City but this is my last post based in the city until august! This summer I’ll be home in New Jersey but in two weeks I’ll be traveling to Paris and Milan to study abroad and will surely have amazing finds to tell you all about. I Can’t wait!

I hope everyone is surviving finals and had a lovely mothers day! Enjoy my finds and go find some of your own to tell me about !  I’ll leave you with The Wombats lyrics:

If you’re ever feeling down,
Grab your purse and take a taxi,
To the darker side of town,
That’s where we’ll be,
And we will wait for you and lead you through the dance floor,
Up to the DJ booth,
You know what to ask for,
You know what to ask for.
Go ask for Joy Division

-Kristin (The Traveling Pickle)