This month I had the opportunity to collaborate with Fujifilm to promote their new instax mini LiPlay camera. It's a camera and printer all in one. I took it out for a day in Brooklyn to snap some little moments that inspired me. The camera was so fun to use. It's great that you can see the photos right on the screen after you take them and actually pick which one you want to print. You can also choose from a bunch of filters, effects and borders to add to your photos. Once you're done, you can print the photos out right from the camera. It's such a cool little gadget, I highly recommend it if you're looking for a fun camera to take photos with!
0 Comments
Last Saturday afternoon, my friend Emily and I headed to Coney Island to take some photos. We both had some colorful and quirky dresses we wanted to photograph there, and Coney seemed like the perfect backdrop. Aside from taking photos, we also rode The Wonder Wheel, even though we were both a little scared ha. We also stopped into the Coney Island History Project. It's a hidden gem with photos and artifacts from Coney throughout the years, if you want to learn more about the history. They also have postcards and some other little knick knacks you can buy and the proceeds go to keeping the history alive. The weather was beautiful this day we went, plenty of sunshine and not too hot. I'm glad I made it back one more time before the summer ends. I'm looking forward to fall, but I'm already sad about summer coming to an end soon...
This Saturday my friends Emily, Katie and I went to check out the Mrs Maisel pop up at the Paley Center for Media here in NYC. The exhibit is a combination of interactive sets, costumes and screenings from Season 2 of the show. The exhibit is FREE and open until September 6th. Read on for more information about our experience there.
The first room was definitely my favorite and where we spent the most of our time. It's the set from when Midge performs on the telethon. Not only can you stand on the set and take photos, but there is a camera that is hooked up to 2 different monitors, so it looks like you're really on TV. I did my best attempt at doing the bop dance performed in the episode. As you continue through the exhibit, you'll see some of Midge's costumes, and mood boards for different parts of the show. My favorite outfit was definitely the black dress Midge wears on the telethon. I loved the mood boards too, they were honestly probably my favorite part of the exhibit. I especially loved the boards for the Stage Deli and Steiner Resorts. Next you'll see some more mini sets, like Rose's apartment in Paris and the beauty counter and switchboards at B. Altman's. We had fun sitting in the seats pretending to work the switch boards. They even had a voice talking into the headphones, which was a nice little touch. Downstairs, there are some more mini sets, like the beauty parlor in the Catskills and a booth at the Stage Deli. There's also some more costumes, including Susie's uniform when she pretends to work at Steiner. There is also a theater where they are showing episodes from Season 2 everyday. The exhibit is free, but if you can RSVP to guarantee entry. We went at 12pm right when they opened on opening day. There was a line, but it moved quickly and they monitor how many people can come in, so the exhibit never got over crowded. It's open Wednesday-Sunday 12pm-6pm and until 8pm on Thursdays. They are closed on Monday and Tuesdays. If you want to learn more or make a reservation, you can check out their website here. The Paley Center is located at 25 W 52nd Street. It's just a short walk from the Rockerfeller Center subway station. I guess I didn't have enough 1960's last Friday, because the next day after visiting the lounge, I made the trek back to the TWA hotel at JFK airport. I recently found a TWA bag when I was out vintage shopping, so there was really no better place to shoot it than the TWA hotel, specifically outside of The Connie, the airplane turned bar.
Since I really had my heart set on shooting photos of this bag here, I didn't want to wait around for anyone to go with me, so I packed up my tripod and headed to the airport on Saturday afternoon. I guess since I was alone, people assumed I was part of the hotel, especially because they have people dressed up in the TWA uniforms throughout the years walking around the hotel. I shared this anecdote on my Instagram stories how one woman even told me she thought I was "a little nuts" after I told her I wasn't part of the hotel and just dressed up that way because I like too... After taking my photos outside The Connie, I headed inside the plane and ordered a Roy Rogers mocktail. I also brought along some vintage drink stirrers my aunt recently gave me to photograph. They had a new vintage car parked out front and a new seating area that wasn't there the first time I went. I also stopped in the gift shop and picked up a few little things for a giveaway. Visiting the TWA hotel makes me so happy, it truly feels like going back in time. I can't wait to go back again. If you want more information about it, you can check out my post about my first trip here. Last Friday, my friend Katie and I headed to the TWA lounge in One World Trade Center for a Peggy Olson + Joan Holloway inspired photoshoot. We've both been to the lounge before, but Katie just recently started watching Mad Men for the first time, so we wanted to do a shoot that paid homage to the ladies of SCDP and we thought the lounge would be the perfect backdrop.
The lounge serves as a showroom for the newly opened TWA hotel but also as an office space for their corporate team. There are a few small meeting room areas that feel straight out of SCDP, complete with midcentury modern chairs, a typewriter, and vintage magazines. The lounge is open to the public, you just have to email in advanced and get an appointment. Now that the TWA hotel is open, I recommend just making the trip there instead. We decided to take photos in the lounge because it was closer to my work plus it had more of an office feel instead of an airport vibe. However, when we got there, they told us they were going to close early for the day, so we really had to hustle as we only had about 20 minutes to get our photos done. You can really make a whole afternoon of going to the TWA hotel at JFK airport. Last weekend was one of my favorite events of the summer (if not the whole year): The Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governor’s Island. This event is a 1920’s style party with live music, dancing, cocktails, antique cars and vintage vendors. I first attended this event in 2014 with my sister, but last year I got to attend both days and weekends because I perform in the last number as part of the dance class I’m in. Even though the days are long and hot, it’s always super fun. I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in NYC during the summer. They put on the event one weekend in June and one weekend in August every year. It’s very easy to get to from lower Manhattan, it’s just a 5 minute ferry ride. They have a few food trucks on the grounds, as well as various alcohol sponsors you can purchase a cocktail from, but you can also pack your own picnic if you’d rather bring your own food (your own alcohol is not allowed though). If you don’t know how to Charleston, don’t worry because they do a lesson in the beginning of the day so you can learn. Even if you don’t like to dance, it’s still a great event for people watching and taking in the music and watching the performances. It truly feels like traveling back in time for the day.
If you're interested in getting tickets for August, you can check out the website here. Last Saturday I went to check out the new TWA hotel at JFK airport. If you remember, last year I went to visit the TWA lounge in World Trade Center (you can check out the post here), which is basically a mini version of the new hotel, so I was so excited to check out the full scale version. The hotel is in the original TWA Flight Center, which was built in 1962, and has been abandoned since 2001. They spent $265 million dollars to restore it to its original 1960’s glory. On May 15th it officially opened to the public, so anyone can go check it out. Here’s some more details if you’re planning a visit:
Getting There: Most New Yorkers dread trekking to JFK airport for an actual flight, so you might think we were crazy for making the trip there willingly, but to me it was definitely worth it! You can take the A or E train from Manhattan then transfer to the AirTran. The AirTran costs $5. In total, it took us about an hour to get there from lower Manhattan. Once you get on the AirTran, you get off at terminal 5 which is the JetBlue terminal. We got a little lost at first once we were in the terminal, but they did have signs directing us downstairs. Once downstairs, you then take an elevator to the TWA hotel. Cost: Even if you’re not actually staying at the hotel, you can still go to check it out. It’s free to go, but there are places you could spend money if you so choose. Things To Do: Connie: When we first got there, we headed right outside to Connie, the airplane turned bar. Because last weekend was still sort of a soft opening, they weren’t fully functioning yet. I called the night before to see what time they opened and they said “late morning to early evening”, so they didn’t have set hours yet. The plane was open when we got there around 12 so we were able to go on and take photos. They were also serving free Prosecco, so we took advantage and had a few glasses each. Around 1 they opened for the day and passed out menus. Since we were already a bit tipsy, we didn’t order anymore drinks. The prices are definitely on the high side, but expected for New York City and the ambiance is totally worth it to pay a little extra for a glass of wine or beer. It’s not everyday you can drink on a vintage plane with 60’s music playing in the background, right? I took a photo of the menu if you want to get a better idea of pricing. The Sunken Lounge: This lounge is back inside. We took some photos here but didn’t get anything to eat or drink, but I did see a lot of people ordering martinis. I imagine the pricing is comparable to Connie. Paris Cafe: This is the Jean George restaurant located upstairs. We didn’t eat here this time around since we had brunch before coming and weren’t super hungry, but from what I’ve heard, like the other bars, it is a bit pricey but worth it for the atmosphere. I definitely want to make a reservation and come back to eat here! TWA Store: There was a little store where they were selling TWA merchandise. I bought the pin I’m wearing in the one photo for $2. You can easily come here and not spend a penny and still have plenty of fun. There’s lots of photo ops, from the pay phones, to vintage cars, to magazine stand. They also have flight attendant uniforms on display through the years, which is really cool to see. If you get hungry while you’re there and need some food on a budget, they also have a food court with different vendors. Overall, we spent about 3-4 hours here. If you have any other questions feel free to ask! You can also check out their website here for more information or to make reservations. I took these photos in one of my favorite bars in NYC. I've posted about it before, it's called the Trailer Park Lounge and it's located on 23rd street between 7th and 8th avenue. It's super kitschy with lot's of vintage photos and antiques decorating the bar. I highly recommend grabbing a drink here if you're in NYC. They even have a mini trailer parked inside. I thought it would be the perfect backdrop to take photos in this dress from Karina Dresses. Now if only I had a pink lawn flamingo to pose with...
If you're interested in shopping my dress, you can find it here. Dress: c/o Karina Dresses Bag: Sun Jellies, Scarf: Target: Sunglasses: Rainbow Optx Location: Trailer Park Lounge (Chelsea, Manhattan) Yesterday, my friend Emily and I went to The Gutter, a bar and bowling alley in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for some good old-fashioned fun. Like me, Emily is also a vintage-loving gal, so we decided to both dress in our vintage bowling shirts for the occasion. The front of The Gutter is a dive bar, and then there are 8 lanes for bowling. The whole place has an old-school 70's vibe, so it's one of my favorite spots in Brooklyn. On Friday and Saturday nights, it gets packed and you can end up waiting hours to bowl. Emily and I headed there right at 12pm when they opened on Saturday, so luckily we were able to get a lane right away. There are a lot of bowling alleys in NYC, but this one is definitely my favorite because it has a lot of vintage charm. It's also more affordable compared to some swankier bowling alleys. In total, it cost us each $30 for bowling shoes, 2 beers and 2 games. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday in Brooklyn if you ask me.
I snapped these photos last weekend after brunch and in between vintage shopping. Spotting a vintage car when I'm out wandering through the city always makes my day. People always ask how I manage to find so many vintage cars for my photos. There's certain cars I know are often parked on the same street or neighborhood, but of course it's not guaranteed they're always there. This particular car is often parked on 12th street between avenue A and B, but last week we found it a few blocks away from its usual location. Aside from East Village, some of my other favorite neighborhoods it's easy to stumble across vintage cars are Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Red Hook in Brooklyn.
If you'd like to shop my dress, you can find it here (and it's currently on sale): Dress: c/o May 68 https://www.may-68.com/collections/dresses/products/clockhouse-dress-navy Location: East Village, Manhattan |
Archives
August 2023
|