gray weekend.

My weekend has been bleak, literally. With gray skies covering the city there isn't anything much I could do but feel gloomy too.

I did try to have a weekend yesterday running about around the city. First stop was an uptown (WAY uptown, 86th to be exact) trip to Bard Graduate Center to catch the Shaker furniture exhibition. Shaker what?! Shaker. I know it sounds too crafty for my own taste but the whole thinking behind the idea is very similar to how I am drawn to everything that is "practical" in design. I didn't think I would be interested with anything Shaker but after seeing a whole section devoted to the Shakers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, I was hooked! Anyway, Shaker furniture is known and admired for its simplicity, extreme craftsmanship, innovation and high quality. I like the fact that some contemporary design roots to the Shaker ideals.

Exhibition poster outside Bard. Also the one Shaker object I am obsessed with: a yarn wheel.

Then had a quick bite at my favorite pizza spot in Nolita before heading over to my next planned spot to visit: Babycakes.

My table at L'asso.

I've passed by Babycakes (on Broome) a number of times but never got a chance to pop-in. So yesterday I did. They're actually a vegan/sugar and gluten free bakery. Meaning anything they put out doesn't contain eggs, wheat flour, butter and sugar. Sounds like a recipe for, well, paper pulp. However after trying out their vanilla cupcake and apple corn bread I must say that their treats are the tastiest I've had! It never felt like munching on cardboard. None of the stuff I tried felt heavy on the stomach or "evil". I say this because each time I eat at Magnolia I feel bad and think how much sticks of butter or cups of sugar I've consumed in just 4 bites.

Their window.

Vanilla Cupcake + Ice coffee

Guilt free.

I like how they asked their customers if they had any allergies before recommending anything from the counter. It is after all the whole premise of this place. I just wished they had a table and seats since I wanted to stay somewhere and draw... maybe thats one place I need to look for next time. A mom and pop coffee shop I can always sketch and hang out in.