*All links are provided below.
Scout Bags Featured in this Post: Spirit Liftah Wine Bottle Tote and the Grand Plan
1. The Millennium Trilogy Series by Stieg Larsson
2. La Croix Flavored Sparkling Water
3. Caroline’s 7 Layer Caramel Cake
5. Bazzini Nuts
* All links are provided below.
Scout Bags Featured in this Post: El Deano Insulated Tote , Original Deano Tote Bag, and Doggie Bag
3. Bull Frog Sunblock and Lip Protector
5. Dirty All Natural Potato Chips
9. Marshmallows
11. Honey Maid Graham Crackers
12. Bamboo Skewers
Hidden Kitchen is a private supper club in Paris. The dinners take place two times a week and cater to sixteen guests. There is no address disclosed until the reservation is placed.
I was lucky enough to attend a dinner during my most recent trip to Europe after hearing about the club through a friend.
I met other dinner guests from Germany, Canada, Italy, and France. There was also one other young couple from America who work as consultants to Williams-Sonoma and Whole Foods. All sixteen people sit at one table in a beautiful all white and beige dining room as pictured below.
There are ten courses, and each course is paired with a special wine. The courses are about the size of a kiwi. One guy at my dinner kept looking at everyone’s plate to see who would eat it all!
Home entertaining is a new concept turned business model that is becoming more and more popular overseas. A very cool thing to do!
Carts, stands, and trucks fill the streets of NYC, D.C., Philly, Seattle, and even Leesburg, VA! While some are mobile, others morph out of restaurants. Some even have their own Twitter followings as they mobilize around the city. It’s a reflection of our on-the-run, on-the-fly lifestyles because many people do not sit down and eat a meal. It’s the new anti-fast food because it’s healthy, authentic, targeted cuisine that gives you a much more culinary experience than traditional fast food.
Pictured to the left are the food carts and pop up foods stands I encountered on my most recent trip to NYC.
Interestingly enough, New York has created islands in the middle of major streets with outdoor sitting. You can sit outside without buying food. These islands were designed to create communities outside the parks. You can go get your food at these outdoor/pop up food cart and then plop yourself right down!
In D.C., track the Fojol Brothers truck @ twitter.com/fojolbros. In Philly, track the Hubub Coffee Truck @ twitter.com/hubbubcoffee. In Seattle, you must see the Armadillo Barbeque, and if you ever make it to Leesburg, VA, make sure to eat at the Mighty Midget Kitchen.
Home Design Ideas is an interior design book created by the very talented Caroline Clifton-Mogg, Joanna Simmons, Rebecca Tanqueray. This coffee table book can be used as a resource for interior design projects in every area in your home and spaces, big and small.
We were fortunate to have some beautiful shots of our own home featured throughout the book, which shed light on the Bungalow lifestyle we continue to live by and use as inspiration for the Scout brand. At Bungalow, we believe that once Scout is in your life, you’ll see how it makes sense for the way you want to live. Home Design Ideas was written with a similar idea in mind. It provides visual documentation of traditional living spaces reinvented to accommodate all the family’s needs.
Here we share the featured pictures along with their perspective, which appropriately highlight the Bungalow lifestyle.
Above: The vintage locker unit looks incredibly stylish while also providing masses of storage, so it’s perfect for the shared bedroom. The tough metal frame and doors make its hardwearing, too, and impervious to knocks or bangs.
Above: Positioning the bed across the corner gives this room an informal look.
Right:A child’s room should reflect his or her personality and preferences, while also remaining similar in style to the rest of your home, so it fits in.
Right:This room has been planned to allow plenty of desk space, a vital ingredient of a child’s room, whatever their age. These wooden desks have a beaten-up look that is warm and appealing, and come with handy storage sections built in. A high shelf above provides space to display favorite pieces, while metal lockers create secure storage, ideal in a shared bedroom.
Right: This is a busy kitchen; on one side of the island unit–which runs the length of the units on the outside wall–all is concerned with cooking and eating. On the other side, from the bar stools lined up against the countertop to the comfortable chairs around the extendable table, the room has been designed for sociable family life.
Don’t miss Seventh Street between First Avenue and Avenue A for the best vintage shopping ever! If you get hungry, stop at Luke’s Lobster Roll @ 93 E. Seventh Street followed by a cupcake at Butter Lane @ 123 E. Seventh.
Just up the block on Second Avenue @ 13th Street, treat yourself to the best noodles and steamed pork buns in the city. Try Momofuku Ssam Bar and its cousin around the corner, the Momofuku Milk Bar. Try the compost cookies and the Crack Pie, and then you will never be the same.
Pictures below were taken at the Vintage shops on Seventh Street.
Ace Hotel : a hotel chain out of Seattle as an alternative to hotels without personality. The Ace has personality in spades. Each room features original artwork painted on canvas. Many have Smeg refrigerators and some have turntables for those memorable LPs.
The Breslin Restaurant offers British fare with a twist for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Try the lamb burger and the baked eggs in tomato sauce and chorizo. If you’re staying at the hotel, you go to the top of the list for the restaurant. If not, plan to eat at off peak times or to stand at the bar with a boisterous crowd in this hunting lodge inspired space.
Opening Ceremony is embedded in the ground floor of the Ace with an outpost Howard Street and features fun fashions and fabulous gift items.
Stumptown Coffee: known for ultra fresh roasted beans…these are roasted in Brooklyn and brewed at the Café located in the lobby of the Ace. For tea fanatics, PG Tips is the tea featured in this British inspired café.
Lunch of the go? Try the No. 7 Sub on the Broadway side of the Ace Hotel. You’ve never seen a sub menu like this.
No. 8 Project: great gadgets and terrific totes located right inside the front entrance of the Ace. The Ace also sells a branded line of home furnishings and gift items at the front desk in the lobby .
…A high growth area for shops and restaurants. We’ll be back with more, but these are some of our favorites…
John Darien has two side by side shops @ 6 and 8 East 2ndStreet featuring John Darien’s glass covered decoupage as well as home furnishing treasures from around the globe.
La Sirena @ 27 E. 3rd Street: featuring Mexican kitsch bags, figurines, and religious icons. This of the moment shop will make you smile.
Rogan @ 330 Bowery: great men’s and women’s wear, hipster casual clothing. Perfect for downtown living.
Billy Reid @ 54 Bond Street: preppy redefined for men and women, a great space filled with classics with a twist.
Bond No. 9 @ 9 Bond Street: a giant space filled with Bond No. 9 fragrances and other fun items. Don’t miss the London cab parked outside.
The Noho Star @ 330 Lafayette Street: a longstanding hipster eatery with continental fare.
Prune @ 54 E. 1st Street: If you go for brunch, be prepared to wait an hour plus. Instead, go during the week for a late lunch or early dinner for an unforgettable dining experience in this charming space.
Bespoke Chocolates @ 6 Extra Place: these chocolates were featured on Gossip Girl this season, and their memorable aroma and flavor will soon make your favorites.
Pinche Taqueria @ 333 Lafayette Street: An ultra authentic, shabby chic eatery features great Mexican favorites for eat-in or takeaway.
Eye Candy @ 329 Lafayette Street: Fabulously edited vintage accessories and clothing.
The East Village and (Nolita) used to make people shiver who were more comfortable walking on Madison Avenue. Today, the East Village has pockets that are tricky, but mostly features young, trendy designers who can’t afford uptown rents. They have also become the best destination for vintage clothing, and many memorable eateries have sprung up to support hours of exploring. The Bowery Hotel has helped legitimize the area and DBGB, Daniel Baulud’s trendy new eatery is located on the ground floor of the hotel. We selected a few streets that we love, but we’ll be back with more soon.
Elizabeth Street between Houston and Spring is a short walk across Houston Street from our East Village faves.
Daily 235: @ 235 Elizabeth: a retro toy and gadget store, perfect for kids and adults who appreciate whimsy.
Metal Pointus @ 252 Elizabeth: displays this youthful French jewelry line in a fresh way.
Soho Baby @ 251 Elizabeth: you can never be too hip, too young, and this store gives the city baby all the chic wear it can possible desire.
Rainbow Sandals @ 245 Elizabeth: the cult brand worn on the feet of teens everywhere, this grass shack store front has the whole range.
Tory Burch @ 257 Elizabeth: this David Hickes inspired line of womens wear, clothing, and accessories is a club house of cool…need we say more.
United Nude @ 268 Elizabeth: futuristic to functional footwear, especially the rubber wedges and avant-garde well heeled options.
Blue Bag @ 266 Elizabeth: novelty handbags with an edge.
Sample Store @ 268 Elizabeth: Cut and sew fine gauge women’s wear knits in sophisticated colorations.
Jo’s @ 264 Elizabeth: serves brunch through dinner, American fare with a twist.
Steven Alan @ 229 Elizabeth: cool men’s shirtings in knits and high end checked and striped cottons.
Café Habana @ 17 Prince Street at Elizabeth Street: the best grilled corn on the globe. Get here early or late to avoid long lines and great Cuban food.
Jamin Puech is just off Elizabeth Street @ 14 Prince Street: Jamin Puech is a feast for the eyes and the soul. These handcrafted iconic handbags are collectible and irresistible.
Isabel Marant @ 469 Broome Street: First U.S. flagship, a stylish tribute to this French gamine…Shades of neutral abound in this ultra hip space.
IF @ 94 Grand Street: Good things never die, they’re just reinvented. This former West Broadway designer collective is now relocated on Grand Street. Edgy, hip, and expensive, highly inspirational, and very SoHo.
Café Café @ 470 Broome Street: Another healthy option with the entrance on Greene Street. Features breakfast and lunch options with Mexican to French and Italian influences.
Limelight Marketplace recently opened in a space that has been repurposed numerous times…First a neighborhood Church in Chelsea, then in the 80s and 90s, a club, and now a chic shopping destination. Reformatting our idea of (a mall)…
…Some of our favorite shops inside include…
Brocade: Ultra “brocante” revamped in white lacquer to silver finishes displaying a range of foil wallpapers to baroque mirrors, chairs, and tables.
Hunter Boots displayed in a big way for children and adults in every color of the rainbow. We learned that the oxidizing of the boot is a normal process called “blooming” (almost the way we expect Cashmere to pill). Hunter is coming out with a scrubbing agent to remove the bloomage for those who don’t like the vintage look.
Wanna Hava Cookie: A spot that features red velvet to chocolate “woopie pies” scaled down. These muffin/cookie creations can be shipped anywhere in the country or eaten before you leave Limelight.
Maris: Single bite sensations that resemble specialty brownies. Don’t leave without trying the salty caramel or the piquant pepper infused chocolate brownies. Packaged beautifully in bright orange boxes, the perfect gift to ship or take away.
Lulus: Features three boutiques offering Ralph Lauren exaggerated logo wear to Superdry Japanese preppy wear to other contemporary casual designers.
Alexander West, Havianias, and Petrossian also have shops…
Hungry? Try some of our favorite picks in SoHo for healthful dining to total indulgence…(Runs parallel to Greene, slightly West, and the best blocks are between Houston and Spring.)
Once Upon a Tart @ 135 Sullivan: features a café and bakery with sweet to savory tarts, daily specials, and great shabby chic atmosphere.
‘Snice @ 150 Sullivan: healthy dining with a wide range of culinary influences. Sunny, refreshing space with lots of room to breathe and enjoy a terrific dining experience.
Pepe Rosso @ 149 Sullivan: offers to go and dine-in options with limited seating available. Fresh Italian fair with a Soho spin.
Local @ 144 Sullivan: features fresh ingredients changing seasonally from local farmers, this tiny spot is both zen and contemporary. The bench outside offers alfresco dining.
A short walk away is the Peanut Butter & Co. restaurant and store located a couple of blocks above Houston in the West Village. From the Elvis sandwich to the Fluffer Nutter, peanut butter fanatics will get their fix in this friendly spot. Take a jar of peanut butter or strawberry fluffer nutter home.
