Restaurants »Le Gamin

108 Franklin St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

We used to love Le Gamin in Soho, it was perfectly situated between our jobs and when we could, we’d meet there for delicious ratatouille crepes in a Parisienne setting. It was very sad when it closed so when it reopened just around the corner it was a delightful day. Our first visit was iffy – the crepe was a bit dry and not the perfected dish I had come to enjoy in their old location. I’ve been back several times since though, and have become enamored of the new location for new reasons.

The cold soups (carrot and celery, potatoes and leeks) have been the best summer treat and paired with their baguette and homemade jam – smack! Bon Apetit! Their dinner specials have also proven to be well worth the few extra dollars – a lobster fettuccine and a garlicky chicken pasta a few weeks back were noteworthy. Recently, Jim devoured a dish of fried meatballs which were very good. The quiche is always excellent with a puffy pastry crust that is deliriously buttery. Wash it all down with their fresh squeezed lemonade.

Aside from the excellent food, Le Gamin, in a very short amount of time has made itself feel right at home, feeling as though it’s been a local favorite for years and years. It’s comfortably chic in a effortless way with fresh picked flowers, mixed farmhouse tables and an airy simple atmosphere.

We’re so happy to have it as our neighbor!

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Desserts »People’s Pops

in the Chelsea Market

As you can tell from all the photos I’ve been sent from Shaun, People’s Pops, located in the Chelsea Market, is his new obsession and subsequently, mine. Can you think of a more refreshing sweet than fresh local fruit popsicles with winning combinations like raspberry/mint, strawberry/rhubarb,  yellow plum/mint and apricot/cardamom? I was so jealous of Shaun’s many visits and finally went myself the other day. I ordered the apricot/cardamom at the counter guy’s recommendation and it was out of this world. Future days in the city will revolve around a stop by this place for the rest of the summer.

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Drinks »Coke Slurpee

Only at 7-11

The addition of a 7-11 to Greenpoint meant only one delicious thing to me – coke slurpees!! These frozen indulgences bring me back to my adolescence when mom would drive my sister and I to the 7-11 on 8th street in Colorado after school. It was a pleasure to be able to walk up the street for this long lost treat and it’s a yummy as I remembered.

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Spend a Couple Hours »Get a New Bathroom

A Big Job

Well technically, this should be in a new category called “things to do with a couple weeks or months”. Like most home improvements, this bathroom remodeling has taken much, much longer with much more inconvenience than expected.. but it’s truly all worth it. Some people scoffed at the idea of an all black bathroom (inspired by this photo) but I knew it was going to turn out divine!

We have Jim’s friend from High School and current contractor to thank for coordinating the job and were especially impressed with the tub reglazing (a cheaper option to getting a new tub) courtesy of The Painted Otter. Tiles came from Nemo and we used build.com for the fixtures – an extremely easy and affordable site for all your building needs. We had some hiccups at the Home Depot for paint (we rejected cans of paint that were meant to be grey but were green) and decided to pay the extra cash for Sherwin Williams. Our ceiling fixture was a refurbished art nouveau light that I found on ebay and spray painted white.

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Web Sites »Mila’s Daydreams

Adorable

Mila’s Daydreams, the joint effort of adorable newborn Mila and her mother Adele Enersen. As the new mother describes the blog as “This is my maternity leave hobby. While my baby is taking her nap, I try to imagine her dream and capture it.” The result is one of the sweetest, cutest website I’ve come across in awhile and it’s little wonder that many other websites have taken note. I find the project very inspirational, though I can’t imagine myself managing such an amazing creative exercise when baby Van comes along, (and I may as well tell you now, readers that Brix Picks will be on indefinite hold at that point- but a personal blog will arise).

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Laughs »Flirting with Magic and How to Seduce Women Through Hypnosis

Both Terrible Advice

This Flirting with Magic video is kind of a tamer version of the insane and hilarious Found Footage gem, How to Seduce Women Through Hypnosis.

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Recipes »Bucatini All’Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs

from Giada

I quite enjoy having Giada on in the background but this is the first time I’ve made one of her dishes, and this Bucatini All’Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs was spectacular! Bucatini is a hollow spaghetti, which I was happy to find was finally available at Fresh Direct, though it can also be purchased at any Italian market. While it may look like there are a lot of steps in this recipe, once they’re prepped, each element has a fifteen minute cooking or simmering time so it’s easy to get everything done at the same time in order to mix it into a sloppy, delicious plate. I didn’t have parchment paper for the meatballs – which have a cube of smoked mozzarella inside them!! – so they crumbled a bit, but with no sacrifice to the flavor. If this is any indication, I’ll be making more from Giada soon!

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Posted on August 1, 2010

Movies »Body Heat

directed by Lawrence Kasdan (1981)

I was a little surprised to learn that the neo-noir Body Heat was not adapted from a 1940’s novel by Block or Woolrich but an original story written by director Lawrence Kasdan, who has in the middle of a career high with Raiders of the Lost Ark and Empire Strikes Back behind him and The Big Chill and Return of the Jedi about to come. The story is a pitch perfect steamy noir set in foggy, sweaty Florida with a charming ladies man lawyer and a sultry femme fatale as the players, with just one pesky husband in the way.

Also perfect is the cast. You may not know it if all you’re familiar with is her early morning cursing, but Turner has the kind of womanly venom of a bad girl with a great body that is hard to find in actresses today. She eats men alive, makes them thank her for it and think it was all their idea in the first place. One of her best lines in the film is “You’re not too smart are you? I like that in a man.” Which, as a side note, is what my friend Bill used to say fit my choice in Junior High School boyfriends.

William Hurt, who again if you’re only familiar with the past couple years of roles as concerned Presidents (Vantage Point) or some father figure in the other Hulk movie no one saw, might surprise you with his sexual affability and greasy charisma. In lesser roles, it’s nice to see Ted Danson and Mickey Rourke round things out.

This is a steamy affair with tons of sex scenes and Chandler-esque dialogue. Perfect for one of these heat wave nights and available from netflix instant.

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Posted on July 25, 2010

Books »The Art of Vogue Covers 1909-1940

by William Packer (1988)

Vogue Magazine was not always the relatively artless showcase of the Jennifer Anistons and Sienna Millers of the world as this lovely hardbound book, The Art of Vogue Covers 1909-1940 proves. It’s an amazing trip through the legendary magazine’s past with hand painted covers that are beautiful, inventive, and in some ways as modern as ever. I’ve photographed a few favorites, but the all color book is full of inspirational fashion eye candy. Worth seeking out used for fashion and fashion illustration lovers.

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Posted on July 25, 2010

Albums »Dengue Fever

by Dengue Fever (2003)

We’re big fans of the psychedelic Cambodian pop band Dengue Fever and I have previously recommended their slightly more modern release Venus on Earth. Their exploration of authentic classic Cambodian pop – the fun, danceable and energetic tracks make this debut album, Dengue Fever remarkably enjoyable. Not only are Los Angelians Zac and Ethan Holtzman bringing a genre that was sadly demolished with the rise of Pol Pot back to audiences, the incomparable Chhom Nimol (aside from giving Jim hot pants) brings the classic songs to vivid life. I love when songs from this album come up randomly on my ipod, they add a bit of the 1960’s cinematics to your day. Many of the songs make me feel like I should be in a wild set piece for a Seijun Suzuki movie (which is a great way to feel). They are also pretty spectacular to see live and do so in California often for those that live on the West Coast.

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Posted on July 25, 2010